304 



THE GARDENERS 



9 



CHRONICLE. 



kiuus. liie blown** ot scuMiarii .Fears have Dot vet 

 begun to expan<i. and Apples are not even in leaf. 

 - ne of the latter have been painted over with a mix- 

 ture erf lime, sulphur, and lamp black, with a view to 

 ascertain whether or not that will keep down American 

 blight* Some yang pyramidal Pear trees, presented 

 by Mr. Hivers and Mr. Glendinning, have been planted 

 along the front of the Peach border, together with 

 others from M. de Jon_;he. 



hi the kitchen-garden, collections of different sorts of 

 vegetables have been sown for the purposes of trial, the 

 result of which will be given in succeeding reports. 

 It may be mentioned now, however, that among Let- 

 tuces, the hardy Hammersmith Cabbage, the dwarf 

 Black Seeded Cos, and the Bath Cos have stood the best. 



house affords more space for the peeimen plants ; fiftd may be requisite to effect this. In the case of ft; 



FLORICU LTURE. 



v . \L FLORICULTUBAt SOCIETY. April 2&.— Mr. Robinson in 

 'the chair. On this occasion several seedling Cinerarias were 

 exhibited. Mr. Lidgard sent the following varieties, viz .. Blue 

 beard, Mnall with rather coarse disc; Bridesmaid, white, but H 

 improvement on Kite Kearney; Lady Batburst, scarcely s 

 g< I as Mrs. Beecher Stowe ; Hector, white witli deep lavender 

 edging, but Insufficient in breadth of petal; Emperor, white, deep 

 Mce edging, deficient in form and substance; .Mary Anne, rosy 

 purple, neat second-class flower; Lydia, like Kate Kearney, but 

 hardly so good : Fame, white with rosy purple margin, too much 

 n. flexed; Brilliant, pure white, medium margin of delicate azure, 

 compact dark disc, petals slightly Indented, good form but rather 

 v'iIBi premising and distinct— a Certificate of Merit was awarded 

 it. Mr. Lock ncr sent Query, white, broad rosy lilac margin, but 

 only of average merit. Mr. Crock ford furnished Morning Star, 



a flower of little value. Mr. Turner exhibited Kmperor of the 



French, rosy crimson with broad white rim: round a dark disc. 

 Rose of EngUi whit edged with rose. To each of these 

 varieties a Firjt Class Certificate was awarded. From the same 

 Nurseryman also came Lord Cardigan, white, wirh a broad 



mar 1 of violet purple ; M arch, shaded plain with brighter 



centre; Magnum bonnm, purplish crimson with a small 

 white ring round a black disc, and Princess Royal. Mr. G. 

 5i itli sent Verbena Lord Raglan, bright vermillion, good 

 truss, and habit of Defiance : to tl is a First Class Certificate was 

 awarded. The same grower also sent four seedling Mimut uses, 

 viz. Portia, Unique, Enchants 8, and Lydia ; the last, a striking 

 variety, received a Certificate of Merit. Of Pansies there were 

 se ral. Mr. Turner produced Perfection, yellow ground, with 

 lwlting of dark maroon, and Constellation, yellow, with broad 

 vary dark margin; each of these obtained a First Class Certi- 

 ficate. Two other seedlings, and pans of named varieties, also 

 came f n the same exhibitor. Messrs. Henderson, of Pine- 

 apple Place, sent a collection of Hyacinths. Mr. Rosher con- 

 tributed Rhododendron Kdgworthi, with large white flowers 

 spotted v ith lemon, and deliciously fragrant. A Certificate of 

 Merit was awarded to an Epacris named purpurea rosea, a cross 

 between miniata and Tauntoniensis; this came from Mr. King- 

 horn. Messrs. I very, of Dorking, sent Azalea Admiration, a 

 striped variety. 



Calendar of Operations. 



(For the ensuing week.) 



PLANT DEPARTMENT. 



Conskrvatory, &c. — Look over specimens growing in 

 the borders or beds of this house frequently, in order to 

 regulate the growth, and see they do not become a prey 

 to insects ; also keep them properly supplied with water 

 at the root, and in watering be careful to give sufficient 

 to well moisten the soil about the 



there is nothing more ruinous to well-grown speci- 

 mens than the want of sufficient space at this season. 

 Be very careful to give plants of all sizes a proper 

 supply of water at the root, and do no' trust this work 

 to any inexperienced hand, but carefully and frequently 

 examine every plant, and see that nothing is either 

 overwatered or allowed to suffer through dryness. In 

 the case of small or moderately-sized plants, there is 

 little difficulty in ascertaining the state of the ball as to 

 moisture, but it is sometimes very difficult to feel certain 

 as to whether a large old specimen is in the right state 

 in this respect ; for when a plant becomes weakly 

 through the want of pot-room, or some of the many evils 

 attendant upon age, &c, most of us incline to lay the 

 blame on Under or over- watering, and doubtless some- 

 times judge incorrectly, and the remedy decided upon 

 proves the death of the specimen. With loose bottomed 

 pots this difficulty is avoided, and these are invaluable 

 tor large specimens, as the pot can easily be removed in 

 doubtful cases, and the exact state of the soil as to 

 moisture ascertained without the least risk of injuring 

 the ball or roots, and if this was the only advantage 

 gained by the use of these pots they are certainly deserv- 

 ing of the cultivator's preference for large plants where- 

 ever they can be obtained. But they are hardly within 

 the reach of the mass of cultivators at present, and if 

 proper care is exercised in the preparation of the soil 

 and potting so that the water will permeate equally 

 through the ball, and moisten the whole of the soil before 

 making its escape by the drainage there will be little 

 danger of the ball becoming either too dry or too wet, 

 provided the old rule of " Water only when necessary, 

 and then thoroughly," is observed, 



FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



Pineries. — In cases where a regular supply of fruit 

 is required at all seasons of the year, it will be neces- 

 sary to examine the stock of plant*, frequently marking 

 tru se considered the most likely for fruiting, so as to be 

 able to keep them rather dry at the root for a month or 

 so, which will, in most instances, have the desired effect 

 of checking growth and throwing the plants into fruit. 

 The only effectual method, however, of securing a supply 

 of fruit at any particular time is foresight in the manage- 

 ment of the stock, taking care to get the growth well 

 matured in sufficient time to allow of affording the plants 

 a short period of comparative rest, which is the only 

 certain means of inducing them to fruit at any desired 

 season. With plenty of convenience this is easily enough 

 managed, but where the accommodation is limited, it is 

 by far the most difficult part of the culture of the Pine. 

 And in cases where a regular supply of fruit has to be 

 furnished from limited accommodation, it is safer to 

 grow the plants in pots, so as to secure perfect command 

 over the roots, and also be able to move the plants to a 

 cooler pit or otherwise, as may be necessary. Black 

 Jamaicas and Cayennes are the best varieties for winter 

 fruiting, and the stock of these should receive every 

 attention at this season, so as to induce them to make 

 free growth, and a portion of them should be shifted 

 whole^of the roots mto their fruiting pots as soon as possible. Use every 

 ; serve to keep the | means to afford growing stock a moist atmosphere, 



which in the present state of the weather is a work that 

 requires much attention, but roust be done if the plants 

 are to be kept in first-rate condition. Give air freely, 

 but avoid draughts of cold drying air, and use shading to 

 assist in keeping down the temperature without being 

 under the necessity of admitting cold drying air too freely. 

 Vineries. — In cases where Muscats are grown in the 

 same house with Hamburghs, and other free setting 

 varieties, the temperature must be kept sufficiently high 

 during blooming, and until the berries are fairly set to 



suit the Muscats ; for a crop of these cannot be de- 

 pended upon from the most healthy Vines, unless they 





for mere surface waterings will not serve to Keep 

 p aits in a vigorous state, and unless this can be secured 

 weakly growth will be the result. Examine Orange 

 trees carefully for red spider, and if they are found to 

 be at all infested with this pest, lay those in pots or tubs 

 upon their sides, so as to avoid saturating the ball, and 

 give them a liberal washing with the engine ; turning 

 them so as to make sure of cleaning every leaf, and this 

 should be done before the blossoms are so far advanced 



as to be liable to injury. If kept in vigorous health, 



however, these are by no means subject to red spider, 



and a liberal supply of manure water at the root, during 



the growing season, will be of great service in effecting 



this. Should black fly make its appearance upon the can be afforded a brisk temperature while in bloom and 



young shoots of those growing in heat, which it is very setting their fruit. It will be better, however, to risk 



apt to do, and the plants cannot be conveniently smoked, having the Muscat bunches somewhat thin than to 



dip the young shoots in tobacco water made by steeping injure other varieties by maintaining a night tempera- 

 tobacco in warm water, and straining the decoction ture of 75 u , which is the practice of some good growers : 

 through a piece of flannel so as to have it clear, for 63° or 70° will be found quite sufficient. Get the 

 tobacco water, as frequently obtained from the tobacco- borders prepared for planting out young Vines, and if 



• • . 1 • 1 1 ■ • , 1 ■ 1 % % • ^ __!.._ _____.-_ — -_.___. __________ J_ __._ 1 *___.__ l_ _P_ 1 . __* _■___. ___ _ 1 _ 



these are started into growth before planting do not keep 

 them too warm, or it will be difficult to prevent their 

 sustaining a check after planting out. Peaches.— 



nist, is so thick and dirty that plants caunot be dipped 

 into it without soiling and disfiguring their foliage, 

 ittend to removing the seed vessels from Azaleas 

 directly the plants go out of flower, and those intended 

 to bloom early next spring should be removed to where 

 tney can be kept rather close and warm, in order to 

 induce early growth, and get the flower buds pro- 

 minent before winter. Such as require more pot 



room should be shifted before starting them into things the effect of the present 

 growth, using good strong rich fibry peat, well carefully examined while the 

 broken un and intermixed with plenty of silver 



Where the fruit is approaching maturity the atmosphere 

 should be kept rather dry, with a free circulation of air, 

 whenever the state of the external atmosphere will admit. 



FLOWER GARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES. 



Where the beds are filled with spring flowering 



Id 



which are liable to suffer in severe winters when 

 young wood is not well ripened, watering i s some 

 overdone, and we have seen many such tiling m___» 

 injured through the soil being run together \ndT»_? 

 <!ered very unkind for the roots by too heaw *"* 

 frequent waterings. All such things should t herd 

 be well mulched at once, in order to avoid the neefrift* 

 of being continually watering. Herbaceous pJS 

 lately planted will also require occasional attention w_Z 

 water until they get hold of the soil. If the retnonfrf 

 any large shrubs or trees has been delayed through oil 

 favourable weather, this had better be deferred until v» 

 experience a decided change. Get bedding stuff, h. ? 

 dened off as expeditiously as possible, but see that 

 they are perfectly clear of green fly before remon* 

 them from the pits and frames, and do not be in too 

 much haste to expose the stock to drying winds t«| 

 bright sunshine. Encourage any backward rlauto to 

 make free growth for seme time longer, for the fob 

 will be sooner furnished by planting out good stronqr 

 stock at the beginning of June than by planting wetklr 

 ill-prepared plants early in May. 



HARDY FRUIT and KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Recently transplanted trees, &c, must be akrefaUr 

 attended to with water. Take advantage of the drv 

 state of the ground to get manure wheeled upon quarter! 

 where it will soon be wanted, and see that there is a go^ 

 supply being prepared for the Celery crop \ for without 

 plenty of old rich manure large crisp Celery caahwdl? 

 be obtained. Directly the weather becomes mow 

 favourable get the spring-raised Cauliflowers and 

 Lettuce planted out, if not yet done, seleeiing for 

 them a sheltered situation and light rich soil. A few 

 branches of evergreens stuck amongst such thisgs after 

 planting, so as to screen them from the sun, is a great 

 protection, and prevents their being dried up until the 

 roots get hold of the ground. 



STATE OF THE WEATHER AT CHISWICK, NEAR L0ND0 

 For the week endinif May 3, 1855, aa observed at the florticniltur-l__r4_i 



Babomktbr. 



Tbmpbratubr. 



27 



Kriday 

 Satur. _S 

 Sunday _9 



Mon.. 80 

 Tuea. 1 



Wed. 2 



Thurs. S 



Averts? 



10 

 11 

 12 

 13 

 14 



o 



16 



Max. 



Min. 



80.522 



30.162 



30.091 



30.046 



30.184 



?0.954 



30.224 



ao.ecn 



30.06» 



30.019 



30.»'47 



29.K57 



29.702 



29.638 



Ul the Air. Ot the Ear th Wmi 1 



30.07* 



Max. 



60 



57 

 54 



5:$ 



62 



62 

 64 



Min. 



28 

 36 

 41 



38 



20 

 35 



Mean 



1 toot 

 deep. 



44.0 



48 



46.5 



48 



47.5 



47 



45.5 



47 



42.0 



4S 



41.0 



48* 



49.5 



48 



.tect 

 deep. 



48 



48 



47 



47 

 4S 



49 



49 



i 



I 



\ 

 I 



i 



N.E. 

 5. 



29.996 I 57.4 » "...8 f 45.1 





ft 



M 

 r 



April 



27— Hazy ; fine; froaty at night. 



2S— Dry haze; fine; overcast. 



29— Densely clouded; cloudy and cold; overcast. 



:,i — Uniformly overcast ; cloudy. 



M ay 1 - Densely clouded ; dry haze ; clear at night. 



— 2— Clear ; air very dry ; clear ; sharp frost, 12 dejj. below 



— 3— Frosty ; quite clear; fine; overcast und cold. 



ASean temperature ot the week 5_ de*?. below the averse. 



freninf- 



Durnur 



RECORD OF THE WEATHER AT CHISWICK 



the last 29 years, for the ensuing week, enduuc Mtyi^w"' 



May. 



Sunday 6 



Mon. 7 



Tues. 8 



W ed. 9 



Thu. 10 



Erid. I_ 



Satur 13 



Hi 



<u y ^ 



60.7 

 62.4 



62.2 



61.7 

 61.6 



62.2 



F.i.4 



2 * a 



40.3 

 41.2 

 41.0 

 40.3 

 39.4 

 40. 8 



41.6 





50.5 

 51.8 

 51.6 

 51.0 



_f».l 



51.:, 



5 2 .5 



No. of 

 Years in 

 which it 

 Rained. 



PreTs0i_r w »t-:* 



Greatest 

 Quantity 

 of Rain. 



».- " 



12 



10 



12 



12 



11 



I 



12 



0.68 in 



0.39 



0.62 



0.60 



0.10 



0.26 



0.40 



The highest temperature durinst 

 1830, and 12th, 1833— therm. 81 deg. 

 11th, 1833- therm. 27 deg. 



< - 4 14.5- 



the above period ocjrH °i ^ ^ 

 and the lowest on the iota, »»* 



3 



9 



6 



t. 



x r. 



— .i 



3= 2 4' i 



1'- M 



5K Market: 7. You are allowed to sell ^"J£ 



; but growers at a distance general ly nwn 



. commission some agent to sell lor tn«ni.+ ^ ^ 



Notices to Correspondents .j T 



Covent Garden Market: I. You are allowed to sell Ipe ■ ^ ^ 

 if you choose 

 convenient to commission some »g-u* *" "XX "a *\n<uted 



Insects: J B. The eggs were most probably aep<> ]0n 

 seeds of the Pinus imbilis whilst on the tree, tan > 

 the particulars of the importation of the coue . s ' f .^ w i<ki 

 the specimens.-./ H. The Orange leaves are ""JJjjt:.- 

 scale different from that which is now doing so mu ^_ ^ 

 the fruit. The leaves should be sponged w'ltn w* ^ ^ 

 the scales destroyed by hand. Smoking tbe no " in5e ct$o" 

 young are hatching will be useful.— #• >> ? J° "™ -^l til 

 your Gooseberry twigs, the leaves of wuien seem 



withered from some, other cause. IF. V i: •*_.-! to reto ctlBt ^ 



We have been so often obhgM w Jf ^ 



Names of Plants : 



decline naming heaps of dried or other PJ»« l, J ^r^ver 



tn rpmifiar our corr^snoTidftnt3 to recollect tn« ... 



other plants, that we 



t that we *«* ^ 

 or could have undertaken an unlimited duty ^^q* 



to request our correspondents 



arrangement should be 



en up ana intermixed w 

 and, which ia the mostg suitable compost for them. 

 Keep young plants of scarce sorts which it is desirable 

 to grow as rapidly as possible near the glass in the cool 

 end of the stove, and attend to regulating the growth by 

 pin chingany over-luxuriant slioot,and stopping regularly 

 over when necessary to secure compact growth. Also 

 keep the foliage clear of thrips and afford theni plenty 

 of pot-room.Jand they will make rapid progress and form 

 nice sized plants in course of the season. Young stock 

 of hard- wooded greenhouse plants will now be fairly 

 starting into growth, and in the present unfavourable 

 state of the weather will require very careful attention. 

 Take every advantage of mill days to give air freely, 

 but do not expose the young tender growths to currents 

 of cold drying air by opening the front sashes in every 

 state of the weather. We have invariably found young 

 Utock of greenhouse thing* to do best in cold frames 

 after this season, and their removal from the tr. en- 



principal part of the 

 plants is in bloom, making a memorandum of any 

 alterations which it may be deemed proper to effect at 

 next planting time. Light well drained soils are already 

 so dry that a good soaking of water will be serviceable 

 to Anemones, Turban Ranunculuses, and many other 

 things which are generally used for the spring decora- 

 tion of the flower garden. Do not water in the evening 

 when there is the slightest danger of frost, as this might 

 injure the foliage of Ranunculuses, &c; and give a 

 thorough soaking, which will save labour and be of more 

 use than repeated slight waterings. If the surface can 

 be covered with a thin coat ot tine dry soil or sand after 

 watering this will greatly assist in preventing evapora- 

 tion, and keep the surface of the ground from getting 

 hard and cracking, as is usual in dry weather after 

 heavy waterings. Give every necessary attention 

 to shrubs or trees that have been recently jhnted, 

 especially large evergreens, keeping the soil about 



their roots moist by a liberal soaking as often as 



Young gardeners, to whom these remarks more * v ^ttf* 

 should bear in mind that, before applying to u* in f 0I »ti£ 

 they should exhaust their other means ot fffti x« n th| ^j 

 We cannot save them the trouble of «annning ^ _* 

 for themselves ; nor would it be desirable *f w * lv . It i* ■** 

 can do is to help them- and that most ^"""^ ' Untf vMJ* 

 requested that, in future, not more tn * n ^msoides.^ 8 ^ 

 sent us at one time.-Cmut. Sub. Primula cor u*> perW * )£ 

 The Rhododendron is thoroughly out otwwi • ^ pin0 _ 1^ 

 grafted. The other is Anthyllis cytisoides^ ^ ^ Mrcf«^ 



Should U£ "y,; 



—or Stone Pine-probably from Italy. 



Roof for a Summer-house: Const. Sub. vv e mpIo yit \ ' 

 made of Heather. Any handy thatcher could en^ ^ or <* 

 will hardly get wooden tiles of a good patter , ^^ 



will stand. .,t ^ n _| tbe in, ?Tj5lf 



Sarracenia Drummondi: -# ^ Y 011 otuer column- ^ 



you seek respecting this plant in anoiu ^^ 



Sarracenias should be treated m the same wa Vi* ""JS 

 Vanilla: J M. If y«ar*M read the _»«f£ n V *a»>**^ 

 you will find that you have misunderswuu ^^ 



years ago at Liege. rtv /»rpscepces • a *0r 



Vink leaves: M 11. The small green excreseen ^ „ ^ 



of are barmhss. They are induced oy ^ 



sphere and want of sufficient ventilation i ^ w&** 

 Weiokla: Yorkshire. Your plant w f^^U V^J^ 



bloom ; it that is the case try what ene ( >tT <w 



\T 



it. The great point is to get it to m**> * ood 

 your summers can thoroughly ripen + ^ ^ een r ^ei 

 %• As usual, many communicationfl i Ja* - DeCf #flt-, rf|P p- 

 and others are unavoidably detained I till « lge0 c« ^^ 



_.. __._.___ «r„ m ,._t .un beg tni - __fc«__i im 



can be made. We must also j*£ .- f 

 numerous correspondents, the mseru 

 coutributions is still delayed. 



win** 



