THE ftARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



[Atjotst 25, I85n 



l- -— 77^ co if Mv noicrh hours' bees are now attacking my Goose- i 4 feet more. The fourth 



gardens, belling to Melville Portal, Esq., M£, eon- , ^ JJy JJ^^^ £ d wiU doubtless make sad ' 



sisting of about 10 acres, was almost intolerable. 

 Having had an opportunity of visiting several adjacent 

 villages, I observed that the haulm of the early Potato 

 was completely scorched, while that of the later sorts 

 is considerably damaged. On examining a root ot the 

 Fluke Kidney the other day it yielded ten fine tubers, 

 neither of which exhibited the least signs of decay, 

 although the leaves were diseased. On lifting a root of 

 Yorkshire Kidneys in a contiguous bed, I found two out 

 of three of the tubers diseased and unfit lor use. Should 

 the present dry weather continue, the decayed leaves 

 may cease to generate a parasitical fungus, and a plentiful 

 crop may yet be realised. Should wet weather, or a 

 humid atmosphere return, I fear that the lately pro- 

 mising crops of Potatoes, as well as the hopes of the 

 growers, will be blasted. C. Taylor, Wdtchurch, Hants. 



Within the last fortnight the Potato crops in this 



neighbourhood have become unmistakably affected — the 

 disease diffusing itself with alarming rapidity. It 

 appeared here simultaneously with mildew, which 

 attacked some of my crops of Peas, and so far as 1 have 

 been enable to observe its nature and apparent progress 

 on the affected plants, I feel disposed to conclude that 

 it is a fungus analogous to the mildew which is so 

 destructive to Vines, wall trees, Peas, &c ; but it 

 appears to me that owing to the succulent nature 

 of the Potato, its pernicious property is im- 

 bibed and conveyed into its whole system far more 

 instantaneously than in the case of hard- wooded plants ; 

 hence the rapid changes which so soon take place after 

 the watery tissues of the Potato are attacked ; and I 

 think it may and has been observed that the nearer the 

 plant approaches maturity the more certain is its 

 safety. If that be so we cannot do better than follow 

 the advice from time to time given in your Paper, viz., 

 to plant early so as to be able to lift the crops before 

 the disease is likely to make an inroad amongst them. 

 If taken up free from disease and stored in as dry a 

 state as possible out of the reach of atmospheric influence, 

 they may be considered perfectly safe, I have found 

 it an excellent plan to keep by me a lot of dry 

 mould in sheds (and air-slaked lime) such as old potting 

 soil, &c. ; this I sprinkle amongst the Potatoes as they 

 are laid by, and likewise cover them with it to the depth 

 of an inch or two. By adopting this plan I find that 

 they keep much better, being in a more uniform state, 

 and the air— humid or otherwise — is, as it were, more 

 perfectly excluded. I took up some Potatoes about a 

 week or 10 days ago which were housed, with the 

 exception of the smaller ones, which I intended for seed. 

 These were spread thinly on an exposed surface, and 

 on examination to-day they were found to be very much 

 diseased, while the others are perfectly free. Thus I 

 consider the malady to result from the peculiar state 

 of the atmosphere which we have experienced of late. 



Geo. Fry, Lee, Kent. 



Hedges. — In the winter of 1849 extensive alterations 

 were made here, and quantities of Quick hedges were 

 planted in double rows. I gave is. per thousand for 

 the Quick. Immediately it was planted I had it all cut 

 to within 4 inches of the ground, and such has been the 

 progress of these Quickset hedges that they are now 

 4 feet 6 inches high and 3 feet through at the ground, 

 without a gap. A portion of one of these fences will 

 have to be moved this autumn. How am I to proceed % 

 J. M. [Take them up in September, and cut them 

 down to within a foot of the ground.] 



Hedge Knives. — Your correspondent, a A Yorkshire- 

 man," has made a mistake in the name of the best 

 hedge-knife maker in Scotland. It is Mr. Sanderson, 

 of Dunse, Berwickshire (not Harrison). His No. 70 is 

 very good for switching where the hedges are trimmed 

 twice a year ; but I always preferred the No. 80 for 

 switching, whether the hedges are trimmed once or 

 twice. No. 90 is a useful implement for breasting 

 (cutting large hedges over), but hedge-hooks of all sizes 

 can be had from Mr. Sanderson. His hooks are also 

 supplied by all the principal nurserymen in Scotland ; 

 but I would recommend nurserymen and others who 

 supply Sanderson's hooks to have them handled the 

 same length as those supplied by Messrs. E. Lang & 

 Sons, Nurserymen, &c, Kirkaldy, Fife, N.B. They 

 are 4 inches, or perhaps a little more, shorter in the 

 handle than those in general use. A. S., Horning sham. 



How to Cut Hedges. — In reply to " A Yorkshireman," 

 who says the hedges in his district are not clipped 

 square, I beg to state that only the north of Ireland was 

 referred to in the observations made by me. A Northern. 

 Camellias. — Having observed that " C. P. W., of 

 Penzance," is wishful to know how to bloom Camellias 

 with success, I send the following from an experienced 

 gardener :— How to set Camellias with or without arti- 

 ficial heat. When the growth is nearly made, that is, 

 when the leaves have expanded in the young shoots, 

 water should be withheld so as to allow the plants to 

 flag but not shrivel. This should be repeated twice, 

 after the first flagging water them copiously, filling the 

 pot three or four times after the water has sunk ; only 

 water them this once, then let them flag as before ; care 

 is required not to allow them to flag too long or the 

 leaves will be injured. This sudden check at that 

 period I have always found will cause the plants to form 

 buds, but unless they are in health this process to set 

 them for flower will be useless, as it would weaken them 

 still more. I have, been enabled by these means to cause 

 Camellias to bloom that have not flowered for three or 

 four years. Bella Donna. 



v. Fruit. 



There is no help 



berries and Raspberries. 



havoc with a fine crop of wall fruit 



for this, but I should be glad to know whether in other 



localities bees are so mischievous. Henry. 



Hmv to make Yeast.-* ow correspondent W. B. 

 complains (see p. 502) of the difficulty and expense of 

 procuring yeast for baking, and also of the bitterness of 

 Lt generally had from the brewer In order ■ to 

 obviate the many difficulties mentioned by W. B > 

 allow me to suggest the propriety of Ins becoming Ins 

 own manufacturer, so that (after the first time) he may 

 be quite independent either of the English brewer or 

 German distiller. The accompanying formula is much 

 used in Monmouthshire, and from my own ex- 

 perience efficient. I may add that the term yeast is 

 scarcely known in that locality, but that it is universally 

 known by the name of Barm. To make the latter, 

 boil 1 ounce of Hops in rather more than 2 quarts of 

 water during one hour. Strain ; if less than '2 quarts 

 make up the measure by straining more water through 

 the Hops. Add one table-spoonful of salt. Mix 

 together intimately £ lb. of fine flour and ± lb. of brown 

 sugar. When the Hop liquor is rather more than 

 milk warm, stir the mixed flour and sugar into it, and 

 at the same time a teacupful of good yeast. Put the 

 mixture into a covered jar in a tolerably warm place 

 (the hob of the grate) stirring frequently during 24 

 hours, when it will be fit for use. Keep it in a stone 

 bottle in a cool place not too tightly corked 

 keep good for three months. It iB necessary to stir and 

 shake before use. C Clifton, Bristol. 



Page and Co. 9 s Blight Composition.— In my experi- 

 ments with this mixture, I have found it to kill red 

 spider with as much facility as it does aphides, and 

 mealy bug as effectually as thrips or scale, and all with 

 one syringing. I have tried it upon Hop-bines, and 

 with one syringing it has completely cleansed them from 

 lice and fly. When better known, it will therefore, 

 doubtless, be extensively used by Hop growers as well 

 as by gardeners, for mealy bug and scale. I take a large 

 pan and lay the head of the plant in it, playing upon it 

 with all the force I can with a syringe. The pan pre- 

 vents waste, and I can use the same composition on 

 the plants two or three times. This mode of applying 

 it is therefore very economical. Henry Barham 9 Spring- 

 field Nursery, Hastings. 



Discovery of Red Crag at Comb, near Stowmarlet. — 

 Your geological readers will feel interested in the fact 

 that the red crag has been found 12 miles further 

 inward than has hitherto been recorded. Some shells, 



garden oi Clitfa 



» DIUUC 



It will 



the residence of Mrs. Prideaux, and has hZ , 

 within the last 20 years : it grows on a &+* 

 lew feet above high- water mark, and with m ^^ % 

 is conspicuous for its luxuriance, which k yo ***> 

 produced by its close proximity to the sea! Tfi* 

 Salcombe is almost the only spot iu England I 

 Agave Americana has flowered in the open* ' * 

 certainly it has no rival in producing four bul?* 

 plants in one season. Whether the late rigorous *2* 

 in concentrating the sap, has produced the How ' ' 

 results, 1 leave to botanical physiologists to det«2? 



A Devonian. |I have an American Aloe in 



garden that has been exposed without any shelter <T 

 tog these last 14 or 15 winters. It was an offset fr« 

 Aloe which, I apprehend, flowered at Salcombe aa<U 

 is now about 40 years old. Its height from the UJ 

 is 4 feet 6 inches; this likewise is the length of maTS 

 the larger leaves, one being 5 feet. The plant hai fe 

 less grandeur and symmetry than when grown under 

 shelter, as the lower leaves decay annually, and ihmt 

 get bruised or broken by the wiud. Nearly a|] the 

 numerous suckers from the roots were killed last winter 

 About five years since it was thought to show m^ of 

 flowering, but having little care bestowed on it, thig i* 

 not realised. Ten or 12 years ago it was transplanted. 

 and its roots completely disturbed, the weight W\» 

 otherwise more than four or five men could readily 

 command. The pit destined to receive it was fillad 

 nearly to the surface with rubble, and a brick wall nu^ 

 about 16 inches, with apertures in the sides to allow of 

 complete drainage. The soil in which it was planted 

 was garden earth, with a large proportion of Jersey 

 sand. The plant is now for the second time* much <* 

 of the perpendicular, as we see it frequently pictured in 

 views of the tropics, probably from the effect of the 

 wind, and the slight holding of its roots. L. P,,Plymtk. 

 Permit me to say, in answer to " Vectis, Carisbrook,^ 

 that the American Aloe which stood out last winter 

 without covering is a sucker springing from the old 

 plant that blossomed in the open air in the year 184/, 

 and which was reported in your columns. The original 

 plant was brought into Wales above 90 years ago, 

 where it remained for 45 or 50 years under glass, b* 

 from its being large and cumbersome to place in a new 

 range, it was laid in its tub in a warm south border i 

 the kitchen garden, and was never covered, and to tie 

 surprise of many (as stated) it flowered, throwing ^ 

 two stems 12 and 10 feet high. Anon., Rhyl,Av#Mt » 



We have a number of rery 



. . 7* ***** f<Mn<i *••• w> destructive to I averaged 5 or 6 inches in 24 hours, and they are i 



fruit that I b*ve long since given up keepiag them my j about 23 feet high, with the prospect of attaining i 



and ferruginous shelly sand in which they were found, 

 were sent to me a few days ago. The bed was disco- 

 vered while deepening a well at the malting of Mr. 

 Webb, close by the turnpike-road, near the bridge, 

 leading to Stowmarket. I at once recognised them as 

 belonging to the red crag, and my opinion was con- 

 firmed by Professor Henslow, to whom I sent a shell 

 and some of the sand. This morning I found a phos- 

 phatic nodule, commonly called coprolite, anions the 

 sand. Unfortunately the well was closed before I heard 

 of the circumstance. The men say it was deep and 

 full of shells, and filled with water. It is below, con- 

 siderably, the bed of the river, which runs through the 

 premises, C R. Brer, Strickland, Stowmarkety Auff. 22. 



Gooseberry Caterpillar. — The Gooseherry leaves fur- 

 nished by u T." exhibit two distinct kinds of objects on 

 their under surface. The small semi-transparent oval 

 bodies placed along the chief ribs of the leaves are the 

 eggs of the Gooseberry grub. There are about 20 on one 

 leaf alone. This will, I apprehend, fully answer " fgr V 

 observations in last week's Gardeners 9 Chronicle. The 

 oth( « .bjects are minute vegetable excrescences, pro- 

 bably arising from wounds made by insects sucking the 



leaves. /. ft Westwood. White Hellebore powder is 



by far the most efiicacious remedy for this pest I have 

 met with, and is of easy application, wliereas syringing, 

 removing the surface soil, or repeated dusting of soot 

 &c, over the bushes would be exceedingly troublesoms 

 on a large scale. I have had two attacks this season, 

 but have sustained very slight damage, not more than 

 1 bush in 100 being seriously injured. Early in the 

 seasr.n we captured and destroyed the flies before break- 

 fast; since that we have trusted to Hellebore alone, and 

 friends who have adopted this treatment at my sugges- 

 tion report its perfect success. R. Varden, Seaford 

 Orange, riear Per shore. 



American Aloes. — In the year 1842 I furnished 

 an account of the different plants of American Aloe 

 that from time to time had flowered in the open air at 

 Salcombe, near Kingsbridge, South Devon, which was 

 published in the 44th number of your Journal for that 

 year. 1 have now the pleasure of stating that, in dif- 

 ferent gardens in that favoured locality, four plants are 

 rapidly coming into bloom which have never received 

 protection of any kind. The first is at u The Molt," the 

 marine seat of Lord Courtenay, and the summer resi- 

 dence of Lord Justice Turner. This plant displayed, 

 early in July, a faint and almost doubtful symptom of 

 blooming, yet the flower stem is now (Aug. 13) 18 feet 

 high. The two next are situated in a small garden 

 belonging to Henry Strong, Esq., a gentleman resident 

 in the village of Salcombe, who with industry and task 

 has formed a pleasurable retreat in the wild, overhang- 

 ing sea cliff ; there, surrounded by the tangled brush- 

 wood, many tender plants luxuriate. Among them rise 

 the lofty stems of the Aloes, one of which was planted 

 about 30 years ago ; the other 27. Their growth haa 



now 



3 or 



Flo 



of the Crimea. , 



beautiful plants here, and their profusion in np 

 succession grouped in masses is very striking. I to* 

 seen at least 100 acres of Larkspurs and ropps 

 mixed, the Larkspurs 5 feet high ; acres of jdhf 

 Centaurea ; two or three sorts of Boragmeee, espee^ 

 a beautiful Echium. But none of these tqmim 

 carpet of Crocuses in the spring. I have ^{^ 

 42 species of Graminea*, many of them peculiar spec** 

 with some few wandering Indian ones. I spec** 

 Secale is common, and so is that remarkably jPWJ 



/„,„„„ which ban always belWihe "**^* 



whatever soil it may grow. Tnt^um^m^ 

 o.cam, and crutattm are all very beautifubp^ , i 

 Composites are very pretty; one, an ««J** J^ 

 much flower and so little leaf that it ought to be arj 

 desirable plant to cultivate. I enclose a flowe r. r. t 



fore Scbastopol, Aug. 3. [The flower referred: 

 Xeranthemum radiatum.J • $#0 



Honey Dew.~- Justus Liebig says J*^^ 

 of trees, as the so called honey-dew , are * ^ 

 produced by a disproportion m the a zotiseo ( . 

 azotiati matters which act as the ^J^rf 

 would reward the labour to put th . 1 f I«»Td be in iavotf 

 experiment, and I believe the resu ^^ w ^ 

 of it Bgainst the prevailing notion that honey 



rived Irom aphides. Qacestor, 



£otittit$* 



Entomological Aug. 6.-J. Carta, ,^ ^^ 



Amongst the numerous donaUo 



the chair. 



as having been receiveu t ^ anr e«;u*v- -, ,, 



extensive collection of Indian insect, pre- ^ 



Hamilton, containing many Jj ^ spe e* 



species of all orders ; 

 British carabid* by the Kev. 



Hamlet Clark. 





bad wr 



secre 



,sn carau.u« yj -^ ^gUion W ^ 

 >tary ™ notice > that a ^ req ^ ** 



sen ted to the President an 



regulating the ***** 

 Geneva, | 

 tbers in & 



I that a new V^^JL^ **£ 



settling the dispu.ed quest.on ^J^> *** J 

 of Associates. M. Pectet, ofG^eJ. stea d of *J 



Sr^eral menJrs descripj- of*** ^ 

 order*, a continuation of MivU r «*JJ 



the history of the Honey Bee^ ;„ *, . 



• Coleoptera recently J^ ^^ 



id* 



on 

 various 



Forest including the very rax* -a Mr . j* 

 exhibited a epec.nien of lroc proving «£ 



near Dover on 7he 25th J^V^ 



species, which had °<*« ^^Ji* aou»^ ££ 



Brit,sh is a genuine «*»•;«£ th . pr«« "JS? 



pecimen has also occurred d ■J^pidopWJ^. 



„ured in Kent ; Mr . J«J* ^ Mr. I-JJ* rf *» 

 ^c,es.romthelrieotW'ght^ A ^ 



from the lens of Cambridgeshire- 



captured 





