•7 



712 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



they were both in form ami colour. The deep loamy 

 soil of this nursery appears to be just what is wanted to 

 have them in perfociiotij 



Fruit trees are also largely cultivated here ; but 

 these we had not time to inspect. 



fOcT. 27, 1855. 



FLORICULTURE. 



Tulips. 



Examine the bulbs, and if not previously 

 done, let them now be arranged for planting, making 

 the alterations and improvements noted down in the 

 Tulip book during the blooming time ; this should be 

 done immediately the bulbs are taken up, while the 

 changes intended to be made are fresh on the mind. 

 New varieties should be procured at once, and then re- 

 arrange them. The bed should now be got ready for 

 ianting. If the soil has been only in use one year, and 

 roe bulbs did well in it, there is no advantage to be 

 derived from changing it, for they will do well in the same 

 soil (if it is good) for two or three successive years ; 

 all that is required is, to remove about 3 inches from 

 the surface, laying it in a rid^e by the sides of the bed ; 

 then fork orer the mould left in the bed, laying that 

 also in a high ridge for a week or ten days. If the soil 

 requires changing, it need not be removed ; take about 

 40 inches off the top, then put about 6 inch 

 year-old rotted turf and loam and road 

 mixed together (three- fourths loam and 

 grit), on the soil left in the bed ; fork it 

 two or three times, turning some of 

 with the mould just added, so as to mix it well, 

 and lay it up in a high ridge ; two or three days 

 before planting, rake it down, lay in? it 2 inches higher 

 in the middle than the sides. In planting, place a small 

 quantity of river-sand on the spot the bulb is to occupy, 

 and put as much sand on the bulb ifcelf as will just 

 cover it ; then carefully put the mould on the bed, 

 covering the bulbs 4 J inches deep in the centre, and 

 3 inches on the outsides ; protect the bed at once, by 

 placing small-sized iron hoops over it, rising about 

 6 inches from the surface, and run some small strin 

 diagonally from each hoop. About the second or third 

 week in October is the best time for planting in general, 

 but it is not yet too late. Choose dry weather if pos- 

 sible for the operation. As a rule the bust plan is to 

 begin planting whenever the bulbs push forth their 

 green spear, and the fibres swell at the bottom of the 

 bulb ; for the longer they are kept out of the ground 

 when this is the case the greater injury they will sustain. 



es of two- 

 grit, well 

 one-fourth 

 well over 

 that left 



g 



Miscellaneous. 



On the Juice of the Star Apple. — The juice of this 

 luscious fruit (Chrysophyllum Cain i to) has, I have found, 

 the property of coagulating on exposure to the air very 

 like coagulable lymph. I have a note of one trial only. 

 After dividing the fruit with a knife (the knife was 

 much blackened, chiefly, it would appear, by the cortical 

 part), the inner mucilaginous portion with the Jseeds 

 was scooped out, well mixed with about an equal bulk 

 of water, and pressed through a coarse linen cloth. 

 What was thus obtained was semifluid (its coagulation 

 •had commenced), of a creamy appearance, and uniform 

 •consistence. Under the microscope it appeared to be 

 composed chiefly of exceedingly minute granules, the 

 largest not exceeding the ^^ of an inch in diameter, 

 which were rendered brown by tincture of iodine, with 

 the exception of a very few that were tinged blue. 

 After two hours a pretty firm coagulum had formed 

 with the separation of a transparent fluid, and so great 

 was the contraction as to be equal to about one third 

 of the diameter of the con raining vessel, a circular glass 

 one ; and 60 coherent and firm was the coagulum itself, 

 that it admitted of being lifted out without breaking or 

 change of form. On the following day the coagulum 

 was found still more contracted, and in all its dimensions. 

 The transparent fluid surrounding the coagulum was 

 . sweet. 



Il was not rendered turbid by nitric acid.~In 

 a few days it began to ferment, and in a few moTe it 

 became acid. The contraction of the coagulum continued 

 increasing during several days. 



it softened, became pultaceous, and emitted an offensive 

 smell not unlike that of chyme as met with in the 

 cadaver. Under the microscope, as before, it exhibited 

 a granular texture, without the admixture of any fibres. 

 .Dr. Davy in the Edin. New Philosophical Journal. 



FOltCING DEPARTMENT. 



PlPCEltiFS. — Plants swelling their fruit must be 

 assisted with a warm moist atmosphere, for it is difficult 

 to get Pines to swell properly after this season under 

 any circumstances, and unless the atmosphere can be 

 kept warm and moist they will make but little progress. 

 Therefore DM sufficient fire-heat to secure a night tem- 

 perature of at least from 65° to 70°, and 75° by day 

 allowing it to rise considerably with sunshine, and admit 

 a little fresh air during the day when the weather is 

 mild, using sufficient fire-heat to allow of doing this 

 without lowering the temperature, and if there is the 

 means of admitting fresh air so as to bring it into con- 

 tact with the pipes on its entrance into the house, a little 

 may be admitted with advantage in all states of the 

 weather, and in the case of houses which have to be 

 kept warm in winter there should always be some con- 

 trivance for admitting fresh air under or again- 1 the 

 heating apparatus so that it may get warmed before 

 coming into contact with the plants, and with proper 

 arrangement a moderate supply may be admitted con- 

 stantly without requiring any extra amount of fuel to 

 keep up the temperature. Also endeavour to secure a 

 steady bottom-heat of about 85°, and endeavour to keep 

 the soil about the roots in a properly moist state, giving 

 clear, rather strong, manure-water v hen necessary ; 

 but if the atmosphere is kept properly moist the soil will 

 not require much water for some time. It is very 

 difficult however to get Queen Pines to swell properly 

 after this season, and any plants of this variety showing 

 now should, unless in cases where ripe Pines of any 

 size or quality will be valuable early next spring, be 

 kept cool and dry ; s soon as they have done flowering, 

 until the middle or end of January, and then be afforded 

 a brisk moist temperature ; and treated in this way, we 

 have often found them to swell off exceedingly well, and 

 where ripe Pines in winter are in demand Cayennes, 

 Black Jamaica, and Montserrats should be grown to 

 furnish the supply from November to April, for those 

 not only swell better in winter than Queens, and the 

 larger sorts of blacks, but are also less liable to be hard 

 and inferior in quality. Fruit approaching maturity 

 must also be kept warm, but the atmosphere should be 

 kept rather dry, admitting fresh air freely on every 

 fovourable opportunity, for anything like moderately 

 well- flavoured fruit will not be obtained at this season 

 without a liberal use of fire-heat. If any of the young 

 stock in pots appear to want shifting examine these at 

 once, and shift such as are found to be at all pot-bound, 

 for young plants if kept short of pot room through 

 the winter will be apt to start into fruit instead of 

 growth in spring. But in repotting at this season be 

 careful to have the balls and soil to be used in a healthy 

 state as to moisture, and place the soil where it will get 

 warmed before using it, so as to avoid checking the 

 roots. 



FLOWER GARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES. 



The season is now so far advanced that it will be very 

 unsafe to trust such things as large plants of Scarlet 

 Geraniums, Fuchsias, &c, which it may be intended to 

 winter for use next season to the mercy of the weather 

 any longer, and these should be taken up and placed in 

 safe quarters without loss of time. Plants, however, 

 which are still in good condition, and which can be 

 covered at night when there is reason to apprehend frost 

 may be left for some time longer. It will also be ad- 

 visable to get the whole stock of variegated Geraniums 

 into their winter quarters at once, for the hardiest of 

 these will not bear much frost without the foliage and 

 young wood being injured, and where the plants have 

 to be wintered in situations which are not very suitable 

 for them they should be taken up before they are at all 

 injured by frost, as they will be much more liable to 

 damp and die back in winter if the wood is at all injured 

 by frost. Unless where there is a sufficient stock of 

 these they should not be cut back, as is usually done 

 with the old Scarlets, but should be kept over the winter 

 just as they are lifted from the beds, and cut back early 

 in spring after starting them into growth, when the cut- 

 tings will root very freely in heat, and in the case of 

 After about a fortnight " Flower of the Day," or other free growers, will make 



useful sized plains by turning out time, and even the 

 strongest growers ot these do not cover a bed very 

 quickly unless planted thick, and the plants should there- 

 fore be wintered in as lanre a state as the accommoda- 



Calendar of Operations. 



{For the ensuing week.) 



PLANT DEPARTMENT. 



"Conservatory, &c. — Whatever watering may be 

 necessary here should be done early in the day so as to 

 allow of getting the superfluous moisture dispelled 

 before night, for there is much more danger from damp 

 among plants in flower at this season than from a 

 rather low temperature, and on cold dull cloudy days it 

 will be advisable to use a little fire-heat with air during 

 the day so as to secure a moderately dry state of the 

 atmosphere before night. Use fire-heat very sparingly, 

 however, and only where it may be uecessary to prevent 

 injury from damp, or to prevent the temperature falling 

 below 40°, or where things are brought from warmer 

 houses it will hardly be safe to allow the night tempera- 

 ture to average below 45°, but in houses containing a 

 mixed collection of plants there is more danger to be 

 a »preht nded from a high night temperature than by 



tion will permit. The autumn rooted stock of Verbenas, 

 &c, must be well attended to, keeping them perfectly 

 clear of greenfly, and exposing them freely to the air 

 on every favourable opportunity, so as to prevent any- 

 thing like growth after this season, and keep the plants 

 hard, in which state they will be much less liable to fog 

 and die off under a week or two's confinement in winter 

 than if they were kept in a growing soft state until over- 

 taken by severe weather. Things which are not suffi- 

 ciently established must, however, be treated somewhat 

 more kindly, for there is but little chance of carrying 

 | such things over a severe winter unless they are at least 

 well rooted, and these mij^ht with advantage be placed 

 upon a gentle bottom-heat to encourage the roots, but do 

 not keep the atmosphere close and moist, for growth 

 should not be encouraged after this season. 



HARDY FRUIT AND KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Any fruits remaining on the trees should be gathered 

 at once, for there will be little gained by allowing them 

 to hang longer on the trees, while there will be some 

 danger of their being blown down and bruised. Keep 

 the fruit-room cool and^airy, but Pears approaching 



\ 





eeping it somewhat lower than may be suitable for maturity will be improved in flavour by removal to a 



«ome of the inmates. warm dry room a few days before they are wanted for j 



» use, particularly such as are not fully ripe. Proceed 

 with the planting of young trees, and root pruning, or 

 lifting such as require this attention, and take care after 

 disturbing i)ye roots to secure the trees well against wind 

 so as to prevent their being rocked about and the roots 

 injured, and do this before there is any chance of their 

 being blown down. If not already done take advantage 

 of dry days, when th-e ground is in working order, to 

 take up and store Carrots, Beet, Parsnips, &e„ and 

 stack them in sand in a cool place where they wifl be 

 conveniently got at when wanted for use. 



STATE OF THE WEATHER AT CHlSWlCK, NEAR LONDON. 

 For the week ending Oct. 25, 1855, as observed af the Horticultural Garden*. 



Oct. 



Friday 19 

 Satur. Co 

 Sunday 

 Mon.. 22 

 Tues. 2:t 

 Wed. 21 

 Thuxa. 25 



Av*THifP 



a *» 

 3 



S 

 10 



11 



12 

 13 



C 



BiBOMITXK. 



Max. 



Min. 



30.134 



3O.0 >$ 



30.177 



30.1 ; 3 



SO 169 



3i».08H 



3-iJ8S 



30. <r> 



29.966 



29.*U1 



30.0*2 



HMl 



29.961 



29.545 



T^1P1BATII*» 



Oi the Air. 



Of the Karri 



Max. Min. 



30.092 29 941 





_ 







6< 



39 



61 



50 



62 



45 



66 



46 



6i 



40 



55 



33 



65 



50 



60.4 I 



43.3 



Oct. 19—1 ight clouds and fine throughout. 



— 20— Fine; cloudy; fine. 



— 21 — Fine ; cloudy ; slight rain at night. 



— 22— Foggy; very tine; cloudy. 



— S3 — •'OKxy; uniformly overcast ; cloudy. 



— 24— Fine; clear; fine at night. 



— 25 — Uniformly overcast; cloudy and boisterous; rain; exceed 



ingly boisterous at night. 

 Mean temperature of the week 3 dejr. above the average. 



RECORD OF THE WEATHER AT CHISWICK. 



During the last 29 years, for the ensuing week, ending Nov. 3.1H&5. 





* *- 



Oct. 





and Nov 





Sunday 2- 



54 1 



Mon. 2- 



53 7 



Tues. $ 



55 



W ed. 3 1 



53 9 



Tliu. l 



55.1 



Frid. 



54.6 



Satur 3 



1 53.4 



i 



if- si 



*> s £ 



^ r 



36.0 

 39.0 

 38.8 

 SJ 9.0 

 39.1 

 37 6 



° 2* 

 * 2 



45.6 

 44.4 



47.0 

 4S.4 



47.* 

 4 69 



45.1 



No. of 



Years in 

 which it 

 Rained. 



i; s 

 l.i 

 13 

 16 

 16 

 12 

 14 



Greatest 



Quantity 

 of Rain. 



1.06 in 

 0.42 



(.58 



O.sS 



61 

 0>2 



Prevailing Wind" 





3 



3 

 3 



5 

 3 



I 



7 



W 



-^ 

 & 



2 

 3 



1 



4 



5 



$ 



1 



3 



3 



li 



6 8 



6 o 



3 12 



4 6 



3 10 



5 7 



3 6 



3 :, 

 1 2 

 1 1 



eh 



6 4 



5. 2 



The highest temperature eiuring the above period occurred on th* 29th 

 and 30th. 1833, and 31st, 1S54— therm. 6/ deg.; and the lowest on the 3d, 

 1S43— tiierm. i0 deg. 



Notices to Correspondents* 



Insects : T G. It appears to us preferable to allow the rooks to 

 hunt for the grubs which you have sent (which are the young 

 larvae of the common May-bug, Melolontha vulgaris) rather than 

 to let the latter go on growing, as They will do f«»r at, least a 

 couple of years, during which time they will of course quite 

 destroy the Grass which would shoot up again. After the 

 rooks had taken their departure, it will be worth your while to 

 employ children next summer to catch and destroy the May- 

 bugs. — Eochford. The little yellow oval masses are not eggs. 

 They are the silken cocoons spun by the larvae of .small para- 

 sitic Ichneumon flies (Microgaster glomeratus), which have 

 lived within the bodies of the Cabbage caterpillar.— A G. We 

 suppose the grubs which eat the roots of your turf are the larva? 

 of the May-bug (Melolontha vulgaris). The dead patches 

 should be turned up and the grubs collected. Fowls and clucks 

 will find them out. — Ohl Sub. Dust your Pear and Plum leaves 

 with powdered lime, which will destroy the slimy grub of the 

 Tenth redo ^Ethiops. W. 



Lotteries: Hortus. We believe the schemes you mention to be 

 just like other gambling transactions. Had we not, during the 

 last war, grand British, lotteries ? 



Names of Fruits: J Newton. 1, Golden Russet; 2 and 12, Bra- 

 bant Hellefleur ; 3. Dutch Mignonne; 4, Northern Greening; 

 6, Fall Pippin; 7, Gravenstein ; 9 r Hall Door, probably; 10, 

 Sam Young; 11, Flat Nonpareil; 13, Nonsuch; 15, Early Non- 

 pareil; 17, Scarlet Nonpareil; 18, 19, 21, Hawthornden; 22, 

 De Neige; 23, Screveton Golden Pippin; 24, Pennington's 

 Seedling; 25, Cockle Pippin; 27, Cornish Gilliflower; 28, 

 Easter Pippin; 30, Adam's Pearmain; 36, Calville Blanche 

 d'Hiver; 37, Sturmer Pippin; 38, Blenheim Pippin. Pears: — 

 2, Passe Colrnar; 3, Beurre de Capiaumont ; 4, Winter Nelis; 

 5, Napoleon ; 6, Marie Louise ; 7, £), 12, Beurre Ranee ; 8, Swan's 

 Egg: 10, worthless: 14, Black Worcester; 15, Beurre Diel. 

 - J E H. 5, Tulip Apple; 7, Pigeon; 9, Early Nonpareil; II, 

 Beauty of Kent, but a small specimen; 15, apparently the 

 London Pippin.— P W J. The Fear is the Chaumontel. The 

 Apples cannot be at present identified. — B M 1, Aston Town ; 

 2, Autumn Bergamot ; 3, apparently Ambrosia ; 5, Bishop's 

 Thumb; 6, Dovenne* Blanc: 7, Swan's Egg; 8, Urbaniste.— 

 W 11. 1, Beurre' Ranee; 3, Cutillac; 4, Beurre Diel; 5, Louise 

 Bonne (of Jersey); 6, 7. Vicar of Winktield ; 9, probably 

 Figue de Naples; 10, Beurre* Bo*c; 11, Ross Nonpareil; 12, 

 Minchall Crab.— Dalla. 1, Wyken Pippin; 2, King of the 



, Pippins; 3, Golden Reinette; 4, Lamb Abbey Pearmain; 5, 

 Hawthomden; 6, Do»nton; 7, (?) Court of Wick; 11, 16, 

 Ribstone Pippin ; "15, Bedfordshire Foundling; 17, Dutch 

 Mignonne; 19, 20, Franklin's Golden Pippin. Pears: 1, Tan 

 Mons Leon le Clerc; 2, Glou Morceau; 3, with the exposed 

 side dtep red is the Spanish Bon Chretien. || 



Names of Plants : We have been so often obliged to reluctantly 

 decline naming heaps of dried or other plants, that we venture 

 to r»M nest our correspondents to recollect that we never liave 

 or could have undertaken an unlimited duty of this kind. 

 Young gardeners, to whom these remarks more especially apply, 

 should bear in mind that, before applying to us for assistance, 

 they should exhaust their other means of gaining information- 

 We cannot save them the trouble of examining and thinking 

 for themselves ; nor would it be desirable if we could. Ail we 

 can do is to help them— aud that most willingly. It is now 

 requested that, in future, not more than four plants may be 

 sent us at one time.— Theta. The " Ipomoea" is Argyreia 

 speciosa from the East Indies, The ugly Orchid is Acampe 

 papillosa. — W h\ The true Service Tree is Pyrus domestic*. 

 What they have sold you for it is a totally different plaot, 

 Pyrus americana, the American Mountain Ash. 



Poplars : An Old Pupil. We cannot imagine these to be ever as 

 proti table to the planter as Larch, and certainly not in exposed 

 places. The t favourite habitation is low damp alluvial land. 

 See Agricultural side 



Primhoses : A M P. Taken up now and packed in stiff clay in a 

 wooden close box, the roots will travel safely for four mouths. 

 If you wish for seed it must be sought iu the woods. It is not, 

 we. believe, a trade article. 



Sunflower: An OUi Pupil. If you have no machine you had 



better treat yonr Sunflower stalks like Hemp, steeping or 

 retting them until the pulp is rotten, then bleaching them by 

 exposure to air, and afterwards scurching them In the usual 

 way. Wo suppose this to be the read: t means of separating 

 the fibre from the stalks of the Sunflower. Can any one 

 favour our correspondent with better advice? He would be 

 much obliged. 

 %» As usual, many communications have been received too late 

 and others are detained till the necessary inquiries can be made. 

 We must al>o beg the indulgence of those correspondents, the 

 insertion of who*e contributions is still delayed. 



4 



