Oct. 6, 1855.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



603 



freely and vigorously. I coull take up at least 50 or 

 60 well-rooted plants from each original one turned out. 

 I hope the subject will be properly sifted. I scarcely 

 know of any introduction of late years which would 

 have been more acceptable to my employers than this 

 Strawberry. You will therefore judge of my disappoint- 

 ment. Samuel Bradby, Elton, near Nottingham. 



I am obliged by the notice you have taken of my com- 

 munication respecting the Delices d' Automne. Shall 

 I be trespassing upon the columns of your Paper if I 

 ask you to make the inquiry, not how many have been 

 disappointed like myself in believing the assertions 

 made concerning it, but whether any one single pur- 

 chaser has been successful with it, and can announce to 

 the public that he can exhibit now, and shall be able to 

 do so next month, fruit corresponding with what the 

 original advertisement led people to anticipate ? I think 

 this will be the fairest and best way of testing the 

 truth of the statements which they made. Henry Man- 



ton, Sleaford. 1 received last autumn 50 plants of 



the above-named Strawberry which I planted out late 

 in spring in a favourable situation ; they were small, but 

 some of them bore fruit in summer of good quality ; 

 for some time past I have not been able to understand 

 why such a difference in the appearance of the plants 

 existed, for the greater part of the plants ceased to grow 

 about the middle of last month, but 10 out of the 50 

 with large glossy dark green leaves have continued to 

 grow, are still in full growth, and two plants out of 

 the 10 have given and are now giving fine fruit of ex- 

 cellent flavour. I now find from the letter of Mr. Makoy, 

 p. 647 (I received my plants from him), that runners 

 of the British Queen Strawberry * got amongst n those 

 of the true sort, and that consequently 40 of my plants 

 out of 50 are of that well-known variety, and that my 

 autumnal Strawberry affair is what is called a * Flemish 

 account ,? or a <c Flemish bargain." I know Mr. Makoy 

 to be, in common with some other Belgian nurserymen, 

 a most honourable man of business ; but so much can- 

 not be said of the person who sold him the Strawberries. 

 Is it likely that Mr. Myatt, having a new seedling Straw- 

 berry under cultivation, plants of which he was selling 

 at 2s. 6d. each (the price at which plants of Delices 

 d' Automne were sold), would suffer an old sort, worth 

 one halfpenny each, or 4s. per 100, to "get amongst " 

 them ? I think not. That Mr. Makoy 



given. The president and Mr. A. H. Haliday gave an 

 account of a recent tour in Belgium and Western Ger- 

 many. At Liege they had visited M. Lacordaire, 

 who;*e third volume on the Coleoptera is in the press, as 

 well as M. Caudeze, who is engaged on a monograph on 

 the Elateridae. At Aix they had visited M. Foerster, 

 whose collection of minute Hymenoptera is extremely 

 rich and interesting, and at Crefeld they had seeu the 

 collections of M. Von Bruck, rich in Coleoptera, and 

 of M. Wiunertz, whose memoirs on the minute Diptera 

 have so much enriched the bibliography of that order, 

 and who had invented a very simple microscopic 

 camera obscura for drawing the veins of the wings and 

 other transparent parts. 



Garden Memoranda. 



Messrs. Veitch's Nursery, King's Koad, Chelsea. 



— This establishment, so interesting at all seasons, is 

 scarcely less so now than in the height of summer, when 

 flowering plants are plentiful. The diiierent houses 

 have just been put in order for the winter, and in doing 

 tliis their inmates have been so tastefully and skilfully 

 arranged that, although, as a matter of course, few 

 plants are in blossom, their want is scarcely felt. Well- 

 grown specimens, remarkable for fine foliage or elegance 

 of habit, have been liberally introduced among the 

 ordinary in-door occupants both in stoves and green- 

 houses, and with the best results, the effect produced 

 being at once varied and striking. In a new span-roofed 

 stove, 55 feet in length, and 19 feet in width, which has 

 lately been put up, this is especially remarkable — so much 

 so, indeed, that amateurs, and even the most experienced 

 gardeners, might profit by an inspection of it, exempli- 

 fying as it does so well how much may be effected in 

 the way of keeping up a large amount of gaiety, 

 even during the dullest months of winter, by judicious 

 arrangement alone, and the proper disposition among 



doors. In one of the portions thus partitioned off were 

 -oine remarkable tree and other Ferns, the most striking 

 being perhaps Dicksonia squarrosa • and Angiopteris 

 evecta, the latter a noble specimen, nearly filling the 

 whole centre of the place with its handsome spreading 

 leaves. The other wing is occupied by Palms. The 

 centre beds in both compartments have been margined 

 jwith vitrified masses of brick, which, when over-run 

 with small Ferns and Lycopods, which have been 

 placed on them, will have an interesting appearance. 



The main walk down the middle of the nursery has 

 been well drained and gravelled, and flagstones have 

 been laid down its centre as far as the aquarium, or 

 where the traffic is greatest In front of this water 

 house are two square beds, each containing good speci- 

 mens of the Pampas Grass, together with Yuccas, and 

 handsome standard Bays, whose tops could not measure 

 less than 5 feet through, and with stems at least 4 feet 

 high. These are indeed* noble trees of their kind. 

 Along the sides of the middle walk specimen Conifers 

 have been planted, and behind them beds containing 

 stock of the different varieties. One thing in regard to 

 these specimen Conifers must be said, viz., that 

 although planted out they are in tubs ; but the sides and 

 bottoms of the latter are not close, but put together so 

 as to allow roots to pass freely between the staves into 

 the border. This prevents that cramping and corkscrew 

 form which roots confined in pots often take, and which 

 has been justly so much complained of, while it has the 

 advantage of permitting the trees to be moved, packed 

 and sent any distance without danger of the ball being 

 broken. When finally placed in the pit in which they 

 are to be replanted all that has to be done is merely to 

 undo and remove the iron hoops at top and bottom, 

 which were intended for the time to hold the tub 

 together ; the wood, if thought fit, may be left in the 



ground where it will soon rot. 



A new pit is being built for young stock of New Hoi- 

 ordinary subjects of variegated and other plants with land p i antg> f wn i c h there is a fine collection here, and 



handsome leaves. Among the latter we remarked 

 various Theophrastas, of which one of the most striking 

 was imperial is, a kind with foliage quite 2 feet in length, 

 and 8 inches broad at its widest part ; Cinchona 

 nobilis, a handsome species ; a Sanseviera with upright 

 leaves mottled with white ; Browneas of different kinds. 

 Gastonia palmata, Aralias, Ficus Leopoldi, Bilbergia 



has been im- 

 posed upon there is no doubt ; and that he ought to ! gigantea, Brassaciopsis speeiosa, Crotons, the charming 





have exercised more care in making his purchase is 

 equally apparent. He has only one duty to perform — 

 he must publish the name of the impostor, so that he 

 may be avoided. T. R. 



Plant Growing in Mines — The Great Wheal Tor 

 United Mines, some of the most extensive in the 

 county of Cornwall, are situated near Helston, and have 

 connected with them some of the finest steam machinery 

 in the. world. A huge 100-inch cylinder engine pumps 

 the water from the main shaft ; a new 85-inch cylinder 

 has just been set to work, and there are several other 

 engines in the mines connected with the different 

 operations of procuring and dressing the ores. A novel 

 feature is about to be introduced in connection with 

 these mines. It is believed that the steady and sustained 

 heat of the engine-houses may render them favour- 

 able for stove plants ; and I understand that 

 the spirited managers of the mines, Messrs. Crease, 

 have sent to the Lea Bridge nurseries for a 

 number of Orchidaceous and other specimens, on the 

 arrival of which trials will be made to ascertain 

 what plants are more peculiarly suited to the engine- 

 house atmosphere. The managers also intend to 

 establish Cottage Gardening Societies in the neighbour- 

 hood, for the benefit of the mining and cottage popula- 

 tion. About 900 persons are now employed in these 

 extensive mines, which have every prospect of great 

 success. * 



societies* 



- J. Curtis, Esq.* 

 Donations to the 



Entomological, September 3d. - 



F.L.S., President, in the chair, 

 library from the Royal Society, the Society of Arts, the 

 Entomological Society of Stettin, Messieurs Chevrolat, 

 Guerin-Meneville, Jekel, Ac, were announced, as well 

 as 20 species of nocturnal Lepidoptera, new to the 

 Society's collection, presented by Mr. F. Bond. Mr. 

 Lubbock exhibited a number of galls of different kinds 

 growing on Oaks in Kent ; Mr. Foxcroft, a number of 

 species of Staphylinidse, together with Lamia textor and 

 Apamea conigera, from Scotland ; Mr. Douglas, speci- 

 mens of a new Elachista, reared from mines in the 

 leaves of Chenopodium vulgare, Lithocolletes comparelia, 

 bred from the leaves of the Poplar since the last meeting 

 of the Society, thus proving that there two broods in 

 the year in the species of this genus, the first having 

 appeared in April; also the very rare Gelechia 

 naaculiferella, taken on the windows of his own residence, 

 at Lee, in Kent. Mr. Waring exhibited some remark- 

 able varieties of several species of Geometridse, 

 recently captured. Mr. Westwood gave a notice of 

 three memoirs, recently published by Dr. Burmeister, 

 1st, a memoir on the veins of the wings of the 

 Coleoptera, as affording excellent characters for classi- 

 fication ; 2d, a monograph on the Mutillce of South 

 America, of which family a considerable number had 

 been captured by the author during his residence in 

 South America ; and 3d, a synopsis of the insects and 

 other objects of natural history represented by Madame 

 Merian in her great work on Surinam, with an identi- 

 fication of the species of which the modern names wer e 



Cissus discolor, and others, while the red aspect of the 

 different Dracaenas gave to the whole life and beauty. 

 Such are some of the materials, which, intermixed with 

 common stove plants, have served to set this house off 

 to unusual advantage. Plants of variegated Pine Apple, 

 which are now being brought forward in tan pits, are 

 also, we understand, soon to be added to the above, 

 which will, doubtless, still further tend to improve the 

 general effect. Among climbers trained along the roof 

 of this stove was a new species of Antigonum sent to 

 Messrs. Veitch from Guatemala by Mr. Skinner. It is 

 a very rapid growing plant, and its flowers are said to 

 be extremely handsome. 



The house in which the stove plants were wont to be 

 kept has been altered so as to be suitable for the growth 

 and exhibition of Pitcher plants, of which we need not 

 say Mr. Veitch has the finest collection in Europe. The 

 top of the centre bed has been converted into an open 

 tank, over which the plants are set on inverted pots. The 

 water in this tank is warmed by an iron pipe which has 

 been galvanised to keep it from rusting, and the air of 

 the house is also heated by hot-water pipes. The side 

 shelves are slate ; but in a damp house like this they 

 have always a cold, wet, comfortless appearance ; to 

 improve this Mr. Veitch has put a neat white painted 

 wooden curb along their edges, and sprinkled a little 

 brown river sand over their tops below the plants, and 

 since that has been done the general aspect of the whole 

 house has been astonishingly altered for the better. It 

 is intended to grow Pitcher plants up the rafters, so 

 that when that has been done sufficiently long to have 

 the roof well furnished with Pitchers, the appearance 

 they will make must be excellent, and this will doubt- 

 less become one of the most interesting houses in the 

 place. 



since our last visit the new orchard -houses at the 

 Brompton Road end of the nursery have been com- 

 pleted, and the trees in them have this year borne 

 capital crops of fruit. With the exception of that on 

 the Stanwick Nectarine, which is not yet ripe, verifying 

 the assertion that it is a very late sort, most of the 

 other fruits have been gathered. Outside of these 

 houses, in the open air, was a large assortment 

 of fruit trees in pots of all kinds, and in excellent 

 condition for this kind of gardening. A new house has 

 also been erected here for the growth of Vines in pots. 

 Its centre bed is filled with tan, and its atmosphere 

 heated by 3-inch hot-water pipes. Under these circum- 

 stances Vines grow amazingly fast Immense quantities 

 of them struck from eyes this spring are 9 feet in height, 

 and well ripened to the very top. 



Among rarities, in addition to Wellingtonia, of which 

 three lights of a pit were filled with nice plants, we 

 observed a fine specimen of Eugenia Ugni in fruit, the 

 latter very plentiful and just beginning to colour ; Rhodo- 

 dendron californicum, Eurybia alpina, a hardy evergreen 

 shrub ; Escalionia pterocladon, Philesia buxifolia, Des- 

 fontainia spinosa, a hardy shrub, with fine Holly-like 

 leaves ; Laurus aroma: ica, a greenhouse plant, with 

 fragrant foliage ; Abies bracteata and amabilis, Libo- 

 cedrus decurrens, Thujopsis borealis, and quantities of 

 young plants of Pin us Benthamiana, seeds of which 

 were sent home by Air. Lobb. 



We may add, that in the open grounds until within 

 the last few days the great feature has been China 

 Asters, beds of which have produced flowers measuring 

 at least 4 inches across, and with scarcely a semi-double 

 one among them. These were the French 4C Pceony- 

 flowered " varieties, which are now so much esteemed. 





FLORICULTURE. 





Common as these plants 

 We too often see tall 



Propagation 



Treatment of Clner 

 are, yet few manage them well, 

 drawn-up plants, instead of dwarf bushes, 

 is easily effected by dividing the young offsets from the 

 old plants, and potting into small sized pots ; but cuttings 



The collection of Orchids is in the best possible con- are preferable, which should be put in about the end of 



June, and placed in a cold frame ; or, select seed from 

 the best varieties, sow early in the spring, in wide- 





dition ; but, as may be expected at this season, few^of 

 them are in flower. One house is filled entirely with 

 Vandas, Saccolabiums, Aerides, white Butterfly plants, 

 and an Angrsecum or two ; while another is wholly 

 devoted to Cattleyas ; and a third to Dendrobiums, 

 Odontoglossums, Oncidiums, &c. Anions the few 

 plants now in flower we observed the rare Phaltenopsis 

 rosea, Cattleya Harrisonise, Miltonia Moreliana, with 

 lilac and deep violet-coloured blossoms measuring quite 

 4 inches in length; and the true Epidendrum vitelhnum 

 majus, with a flower-spike fully 2 feet long, and having 

 on it when we saw it 20 glorious deep rich orange- 

 coloured blossoms. 



The arrangement of the show house at the time of 

 our visit was not completed ; but we understand it is to 

 be ornamented with some very fine standard Orange 

 trees which have been brought from the Continent for 

 the purpose, as well as with smaller plants in the shape 

 of standards of Jasmines, which are now in flower and 

 deliciously fragrant; Myrtle-leaved Orange trees loaded 

 with fruit, Dracama indivisa, Norfolk Island Pines, the 

 hardier kinds of Palms, and other fine-leaved plants, 

 which are found to be so useful in the decoration of 

 such houses in winter. The centre of the conservatory 

 at the eud of this house is being filled with Camellias ; 



mouthed pots or pans, and place them where they may 

 receive a gentle bottom heat ; and when the seeds have 

 germinated, and the rough leaves are making their 

 appearance, move them carefully into small sized pots, 

 also contiuue them in a gentle heat, until the weather 

 will permit them to be removed to a frame. Let their 

 position be close io the glass— kept shaded and free 

 from air for a few days ; after which give a little air, 

 gradually increasing it until they become comparatively 

 hardened, so that, |after a short period, air may be 

 given without engendering any disorder in the plants. 

 Water should be applied moderately, just enough to 

 keep them moist. Never by any means allow them to 

 become thoroughly dry, for the insufficiency of water 

 is the sole cause of that destructive fungus called 

 mildew, which gradually increases, until the plants 

 get into an unhealthy state, and become next to 

 useless. Then how important it is to be on the watch 

 for this insidious foe ; for prevention is better than 

 cure, and it is much easier to expel the disease on its 

 first approach than when it has been permitted to ruin 

 the plant. Three things have come under my observation, 

 aa regards excluding this encroaching fungus. First, 



its side wings have recently been" heated with hot water by admitting a free circulation of ^hich should be 

 and separated from the central part by folding glass regularly attended to every day, shutting it off at 



