Nov. 3, 1855.J 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



? 





of the British Museum. Our correspondent's name is 

 C. Winchester ; he is the intelligent foreman in the 

 Royal Gardens at Osborne, and will, we hope, furnish 

 the additional information asked for.] 



Cucumber Growing (see p. 710). — I was much sur- 

 prised to see the account of my hybrid Cucumber in 

 your Paper of last week, which account was communi- 

 cated totally without my cognizance. I feel it an im- 

 perative duty to say that the party has exceeded the 

 bounds of truth, both as regards the quantity of fruit 



previously, and turned several times before wing it. To 

 this may be added a portion of well decaved cow- 

 dung and leaves, and if the loam is rather ©tiff, a 

 portion of sand may be introduced. This should also 

 be pressed firmly down, and the whole may remain in 

 that condition till planting time ; the beds should belittle 

 above the level of the surrounding ground, and in order 

 to <*ive th\ m a neat appearance the\ should be edged 

 round with slate. Fork the soil over lightly pr« vious to 

 planting, but not exceeding 2 inches in depth. Plant 



cut, and the average length. I am not acquainted either fog should never be dt rred after themiddle of February, 

 with the merits or demerits of Mr. Sutton's Cucumber, and the roots will be benefited by being placed in the light 

 R. Massey, Kirby Bail, Oct. 19. 



Management of Roses in Beds (see p. 709). — Permit 

 me to ask Mr. "J. M.,» of Folkstone, whether he 

 would recommend Rose3 in beds to be manured in 

 autumn or in spring— say in November or in March, 

 and why he would so recommend it. I do not ask for 

 any other than real information, being by no means 

 actuated by a spirit of criticism. Devon. 



Cuphea plat y centra. — My employer has succeeded m 

 raising standards of this beautiful plant, 4 feet high, 

 with large heads, which are at this time loaded with 

 fine foliage and flowers. This has been effected by 

 beginning with them when they are cuttings, keeping all 

 lateral shoots stopped, and the leader of each tied to a 

 neat stake, shifting the plants into larger pots as 

 soon as they required it, and using a rich compost. 

 Treated as standards they show to better advantage 

 their small but beautiful flowers, and afford a pleasing 

 variety during the summer months in shrubberies and 

 flower borders, where they should be plunged in their 

 pots for convenience in lifting and housing them at the 

 approach of frost. They should be liberally watered in 

 dry weather, using for them occasionally a little liquid 

 manure. R. Gilbert, Abbey Wood, Bexley Heath. 



Atmosphere of Hothouses. — Having occasion to refer 

 to your reprint of my description of the plant-houses 

 erected by me at this place (in your number of July 

 21st), I find that you have perpetuated a mistake, 

 which, if I had been aware that you were about to 

 honour me with a republication, I would have begged to 

 rectify. The passage to which I refer runs thus — " the 



air of plant- houses of this description should be in direct 

 proportion to the light, the moisture, and to the heat." 

 It should have been H the temperature of the air should 

 be in direct proportion to the light, and the moisture to 

 the heat." This is a rule which I consider most im- order that they may be easily looked over, still bearing 



by being place! in the iigl 

 a few days before they are put into the bed. Embrace 

 the first opportunity of a fine day to rake the beds and «jet 

 them perfectly level and marked neatly out previous t«» 

 planting, in order that the roots may be put in at equal 

 distances ; they should be placed about 5 inches apart 

 and 6 inches asunder row from row. It is better to 

 give them a little extra room at all times than to over- 

 crowd them. If the collection is small they may be 

 dibbled in with the finger, carefully set with the 

 prongs downwards, and covered over about 1£ inch 

 deep ; but if the collection is extensive, drills should be 

 drawn at equal distances across the beds, placing th* 

 roots at the bottom of them, and covering them with 

 the loose soil ; as soon as the plants appear above 

 ground, which will be about April, the surface soil 

 should be carefully and firmly pressed round about the 

 roots, and if the weather should set in very hot in May, 

 the beds should be carefully watered, in order to prevent 



old tan placed over them at 

 this stage ot growth will also be found very beneficial. 

 In order to prolong their blooming season a temporary 

 shading should be erected over them, just sufficient 

 to protect them from the hot sun and rain, but the beds 

 should nevertheless be kept in a moist state. Wire- 

 worms often attack the roots, and therefore they must 

 be guarded against. As soon as the foliage has begun 

 to decay protect the beds from wet, or the roots may be 

 excited to grow again, which would be very injurious to 

 them. The -most essential point connected with their , 

 cultivation is, as I before observed, taking up the roots 

 and properly storing them away. They should be lifted 

 as soon as the foliage has turned quite yellow, and 

 stored away in a dry airy situation, drying them as 

 gradually as possible, in order to keep them plump. 

 When sufficiently dry they may be placed in drawers, in 



the soil from cracking 



portanr, for I have observed that a moist atmosphere, 

 at a low temperature, in the winter, is most dangerous 

 to plants ; indeed, on one occasion, when by accident 

 my open troughs were left uncovered in the winter, with 

 a temperature of 62°, several Orchids suffered, and some 

 died. This, I believe, would not have happened in 

 summer ; and if I am right in my belief, I can 

 only account for the difference by supposing that, in 

 summer, the light, which is the main source of vitality, 

 being more intense, the plants are in a more vigorous 

 state and better able to resist any unfavourable con- 

 dition of the atmosphere. I think, too, that humidity 

 at a low temperature degenerates into what we call 

 * damp," and I suspect that some otherwise fine Orchids 

 which I saw at Chiswick this summer, had suffered in 

 their health and appearance from some such treatment 

 during the last winter. Whether the light has any effect 

 on the quality of the air, I leave others to decide ; my 

 impression is that it has. The subject is an interesting 

 one in connection with the all-important question of 

 ventilation, and the public, and plant growers in par- 

 ticular, might be much benefited by seeing it discussed 

 by yourself or some of your scientific correspondents. 

 T. Phillpotts, Porthgwidden, Truro. 



the 



only 

 New 



in mind that a cool but dry atmosphere is 

 means of preserving them in a sound state.'' 

 varieties are raised from seed, which may be sown 

 now or in January, in beds furnished with frames and 

 glasses; it should be strewed thickly on the surface of 

 the prepared soil, and then covered with a sprinkling of; 

 mould, not exceeding the eighth of an inch in thickness; 

 the plants usually appear in about a month, they should 

 be regularly watered and air admitted day and night, 

 except in severe frosts, when it will be necessary to pro- 

 tect them. The Turban varieties make splendid early beds, 

 and should be extensively planted by all lovers of floral 

 beauty — they are very cheap, so that no florist need be 

 without them. The properties of a good Ranunculus 

 ■are a strong straight stem, from 8 inches to a foot 



in height, supporting a large well-shaped blossom at j weakness for Caper buds whenever there is a talk of 



tag two-thirds of a boiled legs of mutton ; for Borage and Nasturtium 



of Charles III., King of Navarre. The trees which 

 prang from them were pr ?rved in the same case up 

 to 1499, at Pani|>eluna ; they afterwards passed into 

 different hands as rare and recious objects, and then 

 became the proj -ty of the Constable de Bourbon, who 

 placed them in his chateau de Chantelle, in the Bour- 

 bonnais. The property of the constable having been 

 confiscated in 1522, the Orange trees were sent to 

 decorate the Palace of FontaiiKuleau, which Fran is I. 

 had caused to be res* red and enlarged. When 

 Louis XIV. had terminated Versailles, and built its 

 magnificent Orangery, he g.we orders that all the 

 Orange trees existing in the ro>al residences should be 

 conveyed to it ; tl was in 1684, and the <>range treat 

 Of Pampeluna, which were among those thus removed, 

 were then two and a half ct uries old. The " Grand 

 Constable," the most remarkable of them,!-, nor 

 standing it- :reat age, still perfectly vigorous. Qal^jnani. 

 Far ite Flowers. — Every flower is a favourite with 

 somebody, though everybody does not fix his affections 

 on the same identical favourite. As in matters matri- 

 monial, ev« ry Jack finds his Jill (cl i trouve $a 

 chacune) ; so, in floral attachments every obp ct of 

 attraction bewitches its own special object whom its 



influence attr.i ts. 1 *cau had his iVri winkle, Giro- 

 falo, the painter, his Gilliflow. r, whence he derives his 

 pictorial name. Linnreus fell into a rapture of adora- 

 tion the first time be behold the Aden blossoms of the 

 Furze ; while Burns worshipp< with fond den on 

 that wee modest crimson- tipped flower, the Dan The 

 late Kiiu and Queen of Otaheite wore Sunflowers in 

 their b< ins on drawing-room days. There are 



memorial flowers ; the Flos Adonis, or Pheasants' Eye, 

 sprang from the blood that fell from Adonis's thigh 

 when the savage boar inflicted the death-wound ; the 

 Hyacinth rose to perpetuate the perishing beauty of 

 another comely stripling. The Ver ss-nn-in-nn lit, or 

 Forget-me-not, is a modern remembrancer of lovers* 

 vows. There are dynastic Bow er s ; the Lily of the 

 Bourbons, the Violet of the H<»napartes, and the Broom- 

 twit r , the Planta genista, or Plants des Genets, of our 

 own vanished Plantagenets. There are national flowers ; 

 the touch-me-not Thistle of Scotland, the delicate 

 Wood-sorrel or Shamrock of Ireland, the blood-stained 

 Roses (both white and red) of England, the perfumed 

 Rose of the orientals, the Water-lilies of India, the 

 Tuberose of Italy, to which might be added the 

 Geraniums of the Cape, 'he Cactuses of America, the 

 Lilies of Guernsey, the double Pomegranates of Morocco, 

 the Scarlet Quince and a hundred other l>eau f s of 

 Japan, the Chrysanthemum and a thousand more 

 charmers from China, the Gentian of the Alps, and the 



blushing crab-bh om of Siberia So, pray, 



which are your favourite flowers — the Lily of the 

 Valley, the Dandelion, or the Daffy do wnd illy, which 

 comes before the swallow dares to come, and meets the 

 winds of March with beauty ? I will candidly tell you 

 which are mine. As Cowslip, the dairymaid, v hen 

 pressed to patronise a bird (after the fashion of Venus, 

 Juno, and Minerva, who selected doves, peacocks, and 

 owls n spectively), answered, ■ Well, I should like a 

 nice roast duck ;" in like manner, if you put me to the 

 question about my flowers, I must confess that I have a 



FLORICU LTURE. 



The Ranunculus. — In Mr. Atkinson's (of Worcester) 

 catalogue of Dutch bulbs just received we find the 

 following useful remarks on the culture of this flower, 

 which he states were originally intended for our columns. 

 * What can be gayer," he observes, "than a bed of well- 

 grown Ranunculuses ! Their fine forms, richness, and 

 diversity of colours claim for them universal admira- 

 tion ; and yet, singular as it may appear, with ail their 

 attractions, they are not half so extensively grown as 

 they deserve to be. If lovers of lloral beauty, however, 

 were once to pay a visit to the maguificent collections 

 of Messrs. Tyso, Lightbody, and others, when these are 

 in the height of their bloom, I feel satisfied that they 

 would never rest contented until they had a bed in their 

 own grounds to view at their pleasure. 1 am aware 

 that the Ranunculus has been termed by many a shy 

 and uncertain flower, which, in fact, it is if planted with- 

 out trouble or care, and afterwards left to chance, but 

 Under skilful cultivation it will be found to blossom most 

 Profusely. The only difficulty is in gettiug up the 

 tubers at the proper time, when sufficiently ripe, and 

 preserving them as plump as possible until planting 

 time. A few brief remarks as to the best mode of 



The situation for the 



should be a 



culture may not be out of place* 

 »*ds, which are best prepared in autumn 

 moist cool place, where they will only be subjected to a 

 few hours' morning sun, bearing in mind that a moist 

 subsoil is required in order to ensure successful cultiva- 

 tion. The place being selected, remove the old soil *e 

 «*e depth of nearly 2 feet and 4 feet in width ; sods cut 

 from a rich old loamy pasture to the depth of 3 >r 

 4 inches, and about 16 inches wide, should then b* **id 

 at the bottom, to form the foundation of the be«S tread- 

 m gthem firmly down. The remainder shou'd be tilled 

 U P with the same compost collected 9 



least 2 inches in diameter, and forming 

 ball ; the petals should be thick, smooth on the edges, 

 and gently cupped ; the colour (whatever it may be) 

 should be dense ; if an edged flower, the edging should 

 be perfect, and the marking uniform on every petal — 

 striped or speckled flowers on the edges are termed im- 

 perfect ones. 



■ ' - 



Miscellaneous. 



Tfte Form of Aquarium which, after upwards of five 

 years' experience and observation on the natural habits 

 of the various animated tenants, I have now adopted, 

 consists in a four-sided vessel having the back gradually 

 sloping upwards from the bottom at an angle of 45° 

 to 50°. and the consequently extended top sloping 

 slightly downwards, and resting on the upper part of the 

 back. The bottom, therefore, becomes necessarily 

 narrow. The front for the purposes of observation, and 

 the top for the admission of light, are to be of glass ; 

 the back, ends, and bottom being constructed of slate ; 

 the whole fixed in a stout framework. The advantages 

 of this arrangement are : — 1st. That it allows of a most 

 extended view of the whole interior of the aquarium. 

 2d. That it enables the occupants to resort to water of 

 any depth they may desire, or even to ascend the sloping 

 back and emerge from the water. 3d. It admits of a 

 much larger surface of water being exposed to the action 

 of the light ; and, 4th. The sloping top allows the water 

 which condenses on the glass, from the etfect of radia- 

 tion, to trickle off and return to the aquarium without 

 first resting on the zinc or iron frame-work. I need 

 hardly mention that the sloping back is to be covered 

 with light rock- work extendiug to a short distance above 

 the water-line. Warington in Annals of Natural 



flowers to crown a salad ; for Cowslips and cream while 

 the cuckoo singeth ; for a dish of cooked Artichokes 

 whenever they are to be had (I cannot even yet manage 

 them raw a la point c) ; for Camomile fomentations 

 when seized with the face-ache ; for Marigold broth 

 when I want to bring out the measles or the scarlet 

 fever ; for Elder-flower water to strengthen and cleanse 

 the few scant hairs that remain on my cranium ; for a 

 glass of Clary wine asanexhilaratorand anti-lachrymatic ; 

 for a tisane of Violets and Lime-tree blossoms when the 

 doctor prescribes a cooling dilutent ; for decoction of 

 Rose leaves when he says I am feverish ; for the dried 

 bouquet, which 1 treasure flattened between the leaves 

 of a certain folio volume ; and for the pretty little pot- 

 flower (never mind what genus and species it belongs 

 to) which Mary Jane presented on my birthday. Dickens's 

 "Household Words." 



The collection of Orange trees belong- 



History. 



Orange Trees. 



ing to the Luxembourg is one of the most remarkable 

 of anv of the public gardens in France, both from the 

 number and age of the trees. Orange trees, it is known, 

 Attain a vast age. In the Orangery at Versailles is on 

 known under the three names of " Grand Countable,' 

 "Franco si.," and "Grand Bourbon;' which is more 

 than 400 years old. It comes from tome pippins of a 

 tree of bitter Oran planted in a pot at the commence- 



M *i be filled tree ot bitter Urang .planted in apoia. "™— ^ and in a fit stat e to perform its functions than 

 few months j ment of the 15th century by Eleanora ot castue, *ne 



Calendar of Operations. 



(For the ensuing week.) 



PLANT DEPARTMENT. 



Conservatory, &c— Attend to the last week's direc- 

 tions as to guarding against damp, giving air freely when 

 the state of the weather admits, and use fire heat only 

 when it is indispensable, and then as sparingly as may 

 consist with safety. It will probably necessary to 

 subject many plants to gentle forcing ill order to secure 

 a constant succession of bloom for furnishing this house, 

 for few plants will make much progress at this season 

 unless encouraged with a temperature considerably 

 warmer than would be required to preserve them in 

 health. But where forcing most be resorted to, use 

 foresight, and endeavour to avoid having to subject the 

 plants to a very high temperature, which is very inju- 

 rious to many things ; and the flowers cannot be 

 expected to last so long as if they were developed 

 in a temperature more suitable to the habit of the 

 plant. Take advantage of unfavourable weather for out- 

 doors work to get the foliage of Camellias, Orange trees, 

 &c, thoroughly cleaned, for it is hardly less essential to 

 the health of such things that their foliage be kept 



