Sept. 1, 1855.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



5^3 







^r^nTTljo^tli of France, and in Spain, with and 



ir t he extreme B vw»« ~. 7 - r — „ - and it is well ventilated, every second sash in the . mentioned by our correspondent at p. A >, Oi raisin.: 



^ful culture, it may succeed, but with our cloudy slues roof moving as well as those in the upright side the ground on which the plants stand, and edging i 



*.,«,„ fool* \t Will nnf AVAIl WWBVn \vliistl« «».« „~i. 1_ *_1_ ll O C .__a • 1_ « . mi ■.« » i -i • i l • .1 . il _ ^-«... 



As an 



!*ter can be of the slightest utility, and it is really a 

 •it that so much was done in the puffing way with it, 

 A verr clever French gardener has made a fortune by 

 > md when he was with me a short time since I showed 

 him my P^uts, telling him at the same time that I 

 «tf aware it had filled his pocket, but that I thought it 

 lould never fill our stomachs. His sagacious grin and 

 sljrug were things worth looking at. Yam. 



$ottre$ of Boohs. 



+ 



In a closely and admirably printed 4to volume, of 

 3" pages Mr. Newdegate has collected The Customs' 

 Tarifso/all Nations, up to the Year 1855 (Murray). 



Of such a work, if executed with care, as this evidently 

 is, it is difficult to overestimate the importance as a book 

 of reference by financiers and merchants. Even to 

 those who only seek for general information the .details 

 of foreign tariffs possess the highest value, demonstrating 

 as they do what products are abundant enough to be 

 exported, and what in such demand as to be imported. 

 Mr. Newdejjate's avowed object has been to obtain better 

 commercial information than is furnished to Parliament, 

 and to collect in one volume the data upon which all 

 changes in our own tariff should be founded. He has 

 taken as the basis of his work Mr. Otto Hiibner's " Com- 

 mercial Tariffs," but to the information collected by that 

 eminent statist in 1852 he has added all that has since 

 been done in our own or other countries. So complete, 

 indeed, is the compilation that Mr. Newdegate announces 

 the tariffs of the Sandwich Islands, Nicaragua, Hondu- 

 ras, and the Mosquito Territory as being the only four 

 he has been unable to procure. 



which are set on a brick wall 3 feet in height. The 

 bricks for this wall were obtained from an old New 

 Holland house (No. 7), which has been pulled down for 

 the purpose, and the plants which were wont to occupy 

 it, but which are now out of doors, will, we are informed, 

 be wintered in the old Aloe hou^e, till the new conser- 

 vatory is built. 



The most important improvement, however, about to 

 be effected here is the erection of a new museum, for 

 winch, as our readers have already been informed, a 

 grant of money has been voted. The size and form of 

 this building are, we Relieve, not definitively deter- 

 mined ; but we understand that it is to be placed at the 

 south-east corner of the garden, near the entrance 

 from the Richmond Road called the Unicorn Gate. 



Mr. Gosse has published the first part of a Manual 

 of Marine Zoology (Van Voorst, 12mo), explaining the 

 distinctions between the orders and genera of those 

 curious animals which have become familiar even to 

 Londoners through the marine vivaria in the Zoological 

 Garden. The classification seems well managed, has 

 the great merit of being concise as well as clear, is 

 written wholly in English, and is illustrated by wood- 

 cuts which, although slight, are amply sufficient for the 

 purpose intended. We can recommend it as a capital 

 •easide companion for alt who wish to know something 

 of the zoology of their native shores. It wall afford 

 pleasure to the old, and excellent exercise to the young 

 and intelligent. A good pocket lens will generally show 

 all the structure with which it is necessary to become 

 acquainted in order to understand Mr. Gosse's little 

 book. The second part, to contain animals of a higher 

 order, up to Mammals, is announced as being nearly 

 ready. Much as we esteem the manner in which the 

 author has proceeded in this attempt at popularising an 

 obscure subject, we should have much preferred seeing 

 the names of the orders Anglicised a little, by converting 

 Ponphora into Porifers, Cirrhipedia i 



and so on. 



into Cirrhipeds, 



The Isthmus of Suez Question (Longmans & Galignani), 

 is a pamphlet by M. de Lesseps, written with a view to 

 lowing the mercantile advantages of a ship canal 

 connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas. We 

 believe it to be admitted by practical engineers that the 



It is not intended to supersede the museum at present 

 in existence in the garden, but to be as it were a kind 

 of auxiliary to it, the objects worthy of exhibition in 

 such places accumulating so fast that it has been found 

 absolutely^iecessary to provide additional accommoda- 

 tion for them. Of the more important rarities trea- 

 sured up here, some account was given at p. 451 ; that 

 they greatly interest the public is certain from the 

 numbers of persons that daily inspect them, even to 

 overcrowding, and on that account it has been deemed 

 better to have two moderate-sized buildings in different 

 parts of the ground than one very large one, in order 

 as much as possible to avoid this evil. 



The supply of water to the plant houses has hitherto 

 been maintained only by keeping an engine continually 

 pumping it up to the top of a tower by the side of the 

 lake ; but it has been thought that if accommodation for 

 storing up a greater quantity than could be done in the 

 water tower alone could be provided, it would be more 

 convenient, as well asjeconomical, and to that end a reser- 

 voir has been formed under ground, on the 6ummit of 

 the rising knoll at the upper end of the lake. This is 

 an oblong square, 25 feet in length, and 9 feet in depth, 

 lined inside with Portland cement, and being turfed all 

 over, can offer no unsightly object to offend the eye. 



As regards the general collection of plants under 

 glass, it appears to be in a better condition than ever 

 we remember to have seen it. The services of a new 

 cultivator (Mr. Brown, late foreman to the Messft 

 Rollisson, of Tooting), have been obtained. The Orchids 

 more especially have been put under his care, and since 

 he has had them he has repotted nearly the whole of 

 them, and otherwise placed them under circumstances 

 as advantageous as the season of the year would per- 

 mit. One great drawback to the successful culture of 

 plants of this kind here, as indeed it must be in all gardens 

 to whose houses the public has access, is the continual 

 opening of doors in winter, by which cold air is admitted, 

 and for this there is no remedy except shutting up the 

 house during the coldest months. In summer, we need 

 not say, the evil is but little felt. Pitcher plants have 

 also all been fresh potted, and plunged in Moss at the 

 | warmest ends of the stoves, and the extensive and very 

 valuable collections of Ferns which this establishment 

 contains, and which Mr. Smith himself takes special 

 care of, have also all been gone over and shifted where- 

 ever they required it ; and some of the hardier New 

 Zealand, Madeira and Mexican kinds that were planted 

 out on a bank in a house with a north aspect have 

 been lifted and potted, and replaced in the same house 

 on terraces, faced with burs which will doubtless in time 

 be covered with rock plants. The appearance of these 



Ferns may not at once be improved by lifting them and 



with Lycopods, and we agree with him that the aspeci 

 both of the place and plants is agreeably improved by 

 the alteration. Most of the plants here, with the excep- 

 tion of some huge specimens of Eehiiiocacti, have been 

 re-potted, and the condition of others, where this was un- 

 advisable, has been carefully looked to ; in short, every- 

 thing is being done to increase the interest which has 

 always attached to this singular tribe of plants. 



Of real novelty there was little. It will, however, be 

 welcome news to many to know that -me hundreds of 

 young plants of the Pampas Grass (Gynerium argeu- 

 teum) have been Raised here from s< I sent home from 

 Buenos Ay res. It was sown in pans in peat and loam, 

 mixed with a little sand and leaf mould, and placed in a 

 cold frame. Treated thus it germinated freely, ana 1 the 

 young plants have now nearly all been potted off into 

 3-inch pots. Among the useful plants may be remarked 

 an extraordinary and new species of Sanseviera, with 

 very large terete leaves, from Angola. Beautiful cordage 

 made of this has been received by the Admiralty, and 

 there are also samples iu the great " Exposition w at 

 Paris. 



Out of doors the flower beds along the sides of the 

 main walk and in front of the Palm-house are now in very 

 good order, considering the heavy falls of rain we have 

 had, which has somewhat impaired their brilliancy. 

 The Grass too is in fair condition, considering the dis- 

 order occasioned by the pulling down one large plant- 

 house and the erection of one still larger, and at no time 

 during this season has the garden looked better than it 

 does now. The herbaceous ground is very attractive, 

 and we learn that a thorough revision of the names in 

 it is in progress, under the direction of Dr. Hooker. 



Among Conifers in tubs placed out of doors we re- 

 marked some noble specimens, more especially one of 

 Araucaria Bidwilli, which could not measure less than 

 10 feet in height, and as much in width. Of the New 

 Zealand Dacrydium cupressinum there was also a noble 

 tree, as well as of Cunninghamia lanceolata and others, 

 it may be worthy of mention that Araucaria Cooki, 

 which, by-the-bye, is so like the Norfolk Island Pine 

 (A. excelsa) as to be scarcely distinguishable from it, 

 was injured by the frost which we had on the 

 morning of the Chiswick exhibition on the 20th of 

 June last, and other of the more tender Conifers, 



also suffered slightly on 



e insuperable provided money enough is applied to the 

 ^ er ^ tl0n - But it strikes us that politicians, not engineers, 

 are the persons to consult; and that the true question 



« not whether the plan is feasible but whether it is 

 advisable. ~~ 



offer. 



Upon such a point we have no opinion to 



The reader who wishes to look at the subject 



ms * K - o well to 



nf v m P fl,et > which is accompanied by two good maps 

 ™ tae country, and a third which 



from M i MUC1 wiiu wisutjs iu iuuk iti me suojeut 



L- M ' d f Lesseps 1 point of view will do well to peruse 



called for. 



was scarcely 



nhLf? V Book f° r the 7mm 9 ( Van v <> or st), is a nicely 

 MtH ii plainl y written account of the habits of 



custom il 1 ™ 68 iu the East ' as iHu strated h Y the 

 *nvJ?*i . observ ed in the unchanging countries once 

 kerned by Noah and his descendants. 



Botanic Garden, Kew. 



o 



reason 



This great public 

 thorough revision 



have 



R ^ Garden Memoranda. 



E n i appears t0 be undergoing a 



°niy in one department but in all ; and we 



Prespnf • Relieve tl *at the spirit of improvement at 

 thin* m °P eration here will not be satisfied till every- 

 verv ^ neeted with h 8ha11 have P ut on an as P ect 



aJn£ nt from what U ever has done ' For the 

 in jj om l colIectio11 of Aloes, Agaves, &c, now kept 



Provided • ai J" t0 house, better accommodation has been 

 Sreenh m slla P e of a handsome new span-roofed 

 This ir" 86 * Which is al1 but read y for their reception. 

 Which ; Uiated near ** end of the large Orchid house, 



°rchids h m - almo8t whc *y occupied with Ferns, the 

 Do W , aviD S be en removed to another house, and is 

 meaJJJ an 200 fee * long and 26 feet wide inside 

 With Pr !' ! tS 8 reare8t hei ght is 1 3£ feet, and it is glazed 

 SJ*n tinted slass, deeper coloured than that of the 



a 



**fcr n£? *J° USe - lt is heated with four rows of hot- 

 Pipes Irom one of Burbidge and Healy's boilers, 



conspicuous ana accessiuie man mey wcic uciwc 

 Many of them have acquired a size which they could not 

 have done had they been kept all their time in small pots. 



The Victoria regia, both in the house specially 

 devoted to its culture and in the large square slate tank 

 of the old aquarium, is, we regret to state, not thriving. 

 The water with which the tank is now supplied is loaded 

 with a green slimy Conferva that fastens on the under 

 sides of the leaves and rots them. Last year it grew and 

 flowered tolerably well ; but this season it is doubtful 

 if it will blossom at all. Other aquatics, such as white, 

 blue, and red Njmphseas, Nelumbiufns, and even the 

 Euryale ferox succeed as well as could be desired ; but 

 the water in which they are growing, especially that in 

 the great basin of the new Victoria house, is anything 

 but clear and pleasant to look at, and all that can be 

 done to clean it has failed to make it better. 



The Palms in the great stove have made much 

 progress in growth since we last saw them : the different 

 kinds of Cocos have already reached the top of the 

 house, and other sorts have proportionately increased 

 in size. Of Urania speciosa, we remarked a magnificent 

 specimen with a stem quite 18 inches in diameter at the 

 base. Some Bamboos have grown to the surprising 

 height of 68 feet in 5 months. This includes a long 

 period in their first stage in which they make little or 

 no progress, but after they have attained a certain 

 altitude they rush up at the rate of 2 and often 3 feet 

 a day. Of Strelitzia augusta we observed very fine 

 specimens, as well as of Seaforthia elegans, Sabal um- 

 brae ulifera, and others. It may be worthy of notice 

 that the great dead looking trunks of Encephalartos 

 pungens received here seine three years ago from South 

 Africa, have pushed noble heads of leaves, and are now 

 remarkable for their size and grotesque appearance. 

 The various kinds of Cycasin the south end of this great 

 building have also become objects of much interest. 

 Passing on to the Cactus house we remarked the change 



last, 

 even the Funereal Cypiv^., 

 that occasion, lt is evident that many fine Mexican 

 and other tender Conifers, as well as the larger 

 greenhouse shrubs generally, are suffering from - 

 want of space, especially height, and of more pot 

 or tub room. While speaking of the effects of frost, 

 we may mention that no fewer than 2000 Scarlet 

 Geraniums perished by it here last winter, and other 

 bedding plants in proportion. They had been stored in 

 pits to which no artificial heat could be supplied, 

 and therefore there were no means of keeping 

 the frost from them. This would indicate 

 the advantage of running a hot water-pipe round such 

 places. A good span-roofed pit has, however, now been 

 put up here with the old lights from the New Holland 

 house, and this has been efficiently heated with hot 



water. 



Shrubland Park, near Ipswich.— I send you a 

 report ot* a grand promenade concert held in the iiower 

 gardens here en Friday, the 24th hist. The promenade 

 was in aid of the funds of the Ipswich Hospital. Princess 

 Mary, the Grand Duchess of MecklenHurgh, the 

 Duchess of Cambridge, and a very numerous assemblage 

 of nobility who were guests at Shrubland, honoured the 

 gardens with their presence. The bands of the Grena- 

 dier and Scots Fusilier Guards were in attendance. 

 Upwards of 7000 people entered the flower gardens by 

 the north and south entrances ; not the slightest thing 

 occurred to mar the pleasure of the gay and exciting 

 scene ; every one seemed highly delighted, and ap- 

 parently felt grateful to Sir William and Lady Middle- 

 ton, who with the Koyal persouages were loudly cheered 

 when retiring from the gardens. R. O. Foggo. 



FLORICULTURE, 



Hollyhocks.— A beautiful exhibition of these took 

 place at Ciemorne on Thursday last, a full report of 

 which will be given next week. Much has been said 

 of the beauty of French Hollyhocks, but they must be 

 fine indeed if they surpass those of English growth. 

 According to Mr. Paul, however, they are inferior 

 to ours on this side of the channel. He says (see 

 Hour with the Hollyhock), "I have taken consider- 

 able pains to visit the principal French collections, to 

 ascertain whether they were worthy of introduction to 



Those of MM. IVle and B*cot, both 



They 



British gardens. 



in the neighbourhood of Paris, are the best, 

 are superior to old English varieties, but inferior to 

 the modern ones. In conversing with the French 

 growers, it was evident that the Hollyhock had not yet 

 taken a very high standing in their country ; they 

 had not learned to view it critically ; it had not, so to 

 speak, become a Florist's flower ; and hence any variety, 

 the tout ensemble of which produced a pleasing effect, 

 was cherished, without much regard to the individual 

 points of form, colour, substance, &c. Some of the 

 mottled, or variegated kinds, were very p etty and 

 distinct ; but I could not discover any that would 

 sttud the test to which they would be submitted by 

 the English florist." It is, however, to the culture of 

 Hollyhocks and to the kind of appearance they produce 



