SOS 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



'* 



trary. In 1854 about 2.5 lbs. of nuts sold in Hanover 

 for U. Gel. ; 25 lbs. yield about 5 lbs. of oil, 1 lb, selling 

 for about Id. The oil is of a pale yellow colour, and 

 has an extremely agreeable taste. It is often adul- 

 terated with Walnut oil ; the latter is even sold as 

 Beech oil, and that may account for the difference of 

 opinion entertained respecting the quality of the Beech 

 oil. The townspeople use it chiefly as salad oil, but the 

 peasantry employ it generally as a substitute for butter, 

 &c. f and only when there has been a good harvest of 

 nuts, fop burning in their lamps. The husks (epicarpia) 

 are, after the oil has been expressed, made into cakes 

 about 9 inches square and 14 inch thick; these are 

 used for combustibles, and not given, as some people 

 imagine, as food to cattle. Both the oil and the cakes 

 alluded to are exhibited in the Museum at Kew. 

 Healers Journal of Botany. 



[Dec. 



IS 



00, 



Calendar of Operations. 



{For the ensuing week.) 



PLANT DEPARTMENT. 



Conservatory, &c. — Some of the early Chrysanthe- 

 mums will probably be getting past their best, and these 

 should be replaced at once, as the plants have but a very 

 shabby appearance when lbs beauty of the flower is 

 -over. While the principal collection is in bloom a 

 selection should be made of the best and most useful 

 sorts, for there are many worthless varieties in cultiva- 

 tion, and it is better to grow duplicates of the really- 

 good kinds than to retiin such as are but indifferent, 

 merely for the sake of having a Jong list of names. Give 

 timely attention to providing a succession of bloom with 

 which to keep this house gay, and avoid as far as possible 

 the expense of hard forcing, which is moreover so very 

 injurious to most plants. Be careful not to let 

 things in bloom suffer for the 



weak 





giving 



clear manure 



want of water, 

 water to Chrysanthe- 

 mums, Salvias, Camellias, &c, and use every means to 

 preserve the beauty of specimens in bloom as long as 

 possible. Greenhouse.— Damp and mildew are the 

 great enemies to be guarded against here in the present 

 state of the weather, and these must be sharply looked 

 after, especially in the case of plants that have not well 

 matured their growth, and are in a rather soft state, 

 it t ie former is troublesome it must be got rid of by 

 means of free ventilation on mild days, using a little 

 ■lire heat at the same time, and for the latter a dry airy 

 atmosphere is the best preventive, but the plants 

 should he frequently examined, applying sulphur on the 

 first appearance of the enemy. Very little water will 

 be required here at present, but the plants should be 

 carefully looked over about twice a week, so as to make 

 sure that nothing is allowed to feel the want of it. If not 

 already done, get the plants tied with the least possible 

 delay, for it is very difficult to tie a plant so that it will 

 not look somewhat stiff and unnatural, and the 

 sooner all this kind of work is done the better 

 the specimens will look when in bloom. Cold 

 Pits. — The present is a very trying season for 

 the inmates of these structures, and every advantage 

 must be taken of mild dry days to give air freely, and a 

 little must be given every day when the temperature is 

 above freezing. Also look over the plants carefully at 

 least once a week, and remove decaying leaves, &c, 

 winch when left only encourage damp and mildew. 

 Scarcely any watering will be necessary here for some 

 tune to come, and the plants will be all the better for 

 being kept rather dry at the root, but strong healthy 

 plants will probably be found to require water occasion- 

 ally to prevent the balls getting unhealthily dry, and 

 when water must be given select a dry morning for 

 doing so, and give air freely during the day. See that 

 t.ie frames are well banked up, so as to be proof against 

 any ordinary frost, and do not neglect covering up 

 securely at night. 



materials in the house, which will also afford a little 

 warmth, and the moisture from this is much more con- 

 genial to vegetation than anything that can be effected 

 by the most careful use of the syringe or evaporating 

 pans. But the most essential point in successful early 

 forcing is securing a healthy and vigorous root action, 

 and unless this is provided, the best and most careful 

 management of the atmosphere will be of but little 

 importance. An occasional application of water at a 

 temperature of about 90° will greatly assist to infuse 

 warmth into the soil and excite the roots, and there isuo 

 good reason why the roots of Vines for early work 

 should not, to a large extent, be inside the house. But 

 where this is not the case give careful attention to the 

 fermenting material placed on the outside border, keep- 

 ing it well protected from the weather and frequently 

 turned over, and by additions, as may be necessary, 

 endeavour to secure a steady warmth of about 60 Q at a 

 foot below the surface. 



FLOWER GARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES. 



The weather is still comparatively favourable for ex- 

 . ecuting alterations ; and where these are in hand they 

 should be prosecuted with the greatest possible despatch, 

 taking advantage of frosty mornings, &c, for wheeling. 

 Planting, or the removal of large trees or shrubs, cannot 

 be finished too soon ; for it is of the utmost importance 

 that the plants should be afforded some chance of making 

 fresh roots before the trying winds of March. See to 

 even small plants being secured against the wind ; for 

 these are often greatly injured by being blown about 

 after planting, which a small stake and a few minutes' 

 work would prevent. Get in a stock of briars for bud- 

 ding upon next season. Let the roots be well trimmed, 

 cutting back closely the strong ones ; for these, if left, 

 will be of little use save to furnish an endless supply of 

 suckers. As soon as alterations are completed, and the 

 beds and borders are put into proper order for the 

 winter, let a little fresh gravel be put upon the walks if 

 necessary, in order to render them firm and dry for 

 the winter. The stock of half-hardy plants in pots for 

 next summer's decoration must be freely exposed to the 

 air on every favourable opportunity, and every means 

 used to protect them from damp. Very little water will 

 be required for some time to come, and no more should 

 be given than will suffice to keep the plants from 

 flagging. Keep the surface of the soil clean, and the 

 plants perfectly free from insects. 4 



FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 



Carnations and Picotees. — By no means smother 



these very hardy plants, they will stand any amount of 

 frost provided they are inured to it. Abundance of air, 

 and a medium state of moisture is a sine qua non. Then 

 give air at every favourable opportunity — rain at this 

 season it is as well to avoid. Dahlias. — Examine the 

 tubers, probably the labels may be getting nearly 

 illegible, or the ties decayed ; in either case, immediate 

 attention is requisite. Tulips. — Those who had not 

 planted at the time-honoured date (Nov. 9) would have 

 had something to do to find a right period for intrusting 

 their bulbs to the ground ; like late sown corn they may 

 occasionally be up to the mark, but we prefer taking 

 time by the forelock. 



HARDY FRUIT AND KITCHEN GARDEN. 



If any transplanting or root pruning of fruit trees has 

 yet to be done let this be attended to without further 

 loss of time, and see that those exposed to the wind are 

 securely staked before leaving them. Also get the 

 ground prepared for fresh plantations, and the trees 

 planted as soon as possible. Take every opportunity of 

 pushing forward pruning and nailing. Give air freely 

 to Lettuce and Cauliflower plants under glass ; indeed 

 the sashes should merely be used to exclude frost, and 

 throw off rains, for they will do all the better in spring 

 for being kept hard and stocky over the winter. If 

 not already done make a sowing of Peas and Beans on 



Nov. 

 Dec. 



SO— Overcast J verjmie; frost? at night. 

 1— Hazy ; very fme, »kh sun; rain at night. 

 2~ Cloudy throughout; rain at ni^ht. 



3-Clear and trosty ; Overcast j slight shower of mow i« tk# 

 evening. ^ 



4— Fogyys drizzly; cloudy. 



5—Clear ; cold inert- isins; from morning to night. 



Gj-Sliirht snow ; densely overcast : piereing cold wind; frcstr 



Mean temperature ot tue week 4J deg, below the average. 



RECORD OP THE WEATHER AT CHISWICK. 

 During toe last 29 years, for the ensuing week, ending Dec. 15, 1855. 



Prevailing W^J 





•fgpL 



l??o. 



* 5* 



Dec. 







* S 



3h 



Sunday 9 



46.0 



35.7 



40.S 



Mou. 10 



4*.2 



34.2 



4".2 



Tiies. 11 



•45.9 



32.6 



39.3 



Wed. 12 



45.7 



Si. 3 



39.9 



Thurs. 13 



47.0 



83,3 



40.1 



Friday 14 



46.2 



34.2 



40.2 



Satur. 15 



46.8 



35.9 



41.3 



No. of 

 Yeara in 

 which it 

 Rained. 



14 

 10 



7 

 12 



10 



12 

 18 



Greatest 

 Quantity 

 of Rain. 



0.31 in. 



0.20 



f.62 



0.26 



0.16 



0.32 



0.50 



3 

 2 2 



1 a 



2 3 

 i 3 



1H a!) 



1 4 5 s 5 3 



2 } Hi!] 

 4 18 2 1 

 2 2 S > 4- 



1 3 9 7 4 1 



The highest temperature during the above period occurred on the I3tk, 

 1842— therm. 61 deg.; and the lowest on the 13th, 1846— therm. 11 deg. 





Notices to Correspondents. 



Ailanttts glaxdulosa: An Old Subscriber being about to throw 

 a large tree of this, will feel obliged by some of our ren&Ts in- 

 forming him whether or not the timber is good for building or 

 to what other use it can be advantageously put. The tree U 

 about 40 feet in height. 

 Arbutus : A. If you do not cut it down to the ground it vfll 

 spring again. Cutoff its head, leave 6 feet of the stem, aad 

 prune any laterals back to one-third of their length. 

 Books: An Anxious Improve?'. Cobbett's English Grammar is ft 

 good book for you ; but it has nothing to do with gardening. If 

 you want an elementary book on gardening bay Nichols 

 Gardeners 1 Calendar, which can be had of any bookseller. 

 What is the " seam" mode of training?— we never before heard 

 of it. — K M. There is no such book as that which you seek 

 for.J— C J. Wo know of no book "on the management of a 

 greenhouse" likely to be useful to your gardener. Hg cannot 

 perhaps do better than follow the instructions relative, to plant 

 culture given by 4l Alpha" in our volumes for the two Ia3t yenis 

 and beginning of this. They for the most part relate to-green- 

 house plants, the management of all the more important of 

 which has been fully described %—R D. The last supplement to 

 Pax ton's Botanical Dictionary was published in 18534 

 Cbinujis : W J II. Your C. amabile, as far as we can see-, has 

 been properly treated, and in time will doubtless prodar 

 flowers. C. capense is a hardy aquatic. It is bad practice to 

 keep Amaryllids " constantly excited." They should be per- 

 mitted to have a season of rest like other plants. % 

 Dried Plants: J P. Arrange them systematically, according t& 

 the catalogue you name. Take care that all the species of the 

 same genus are kept in the same cover: and then when you 

 get a better book, such as Lindley's Vegetable Kingdom, yon 

 may rearrange them without loss or trouble. 

 Ferns : Itusticus. Your Adiantum seems to be suffering from too 

 much damp combined with too low a temperature. At all 

 events we find no trace of insect work. 

 Forcing House : 11. The best way is to apply to some of the 

 makers whose advertisements appear weekly in our columns, 

 and ask them for what sum they will deliver such a house as 

 you want, complete, fixing included ; your village bricklayer 

 doing the brickwork. Don't put the heating into the hands of 

 country ironmongers, for they have not experience enough in 

 such work to execute it properly. But why use iron? For a 

 small house wood is better, much cheaper, and, if well seasoned 

 good stuff, will last with care for a century. There are or were 

 wooden houses iu the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew which 

 must have been nearly as old, and they were as sound as on the 



first day of being used. 



Fruits: A B. Your seedling Fears are of good size; but their 

 quality is not equal to many others which ripen about the 

 same time. Nos. 14,20, 23, deserve, however, a further trial. 

 The Seedling Apple from the American Ortley (that is the 

 name, not Orkley) is tolerably good, and as it is an abundant 

 bearer may deserve cultivation. If you send your Seedling 

 Pears that are not yet ripe they will be noticed. || 



Grapes : J II H. We are not acquainted with the " Scotch white 

 Cluster Grape." What is it ? Are you inquiring about Grapes 

 for wine or table ? Be so good as repeat the inquiry with the 

 explanations now asked for. 



Insects: W G S. The minute insects found in such great num- 

 bers in a field of Wheat recently sprung up, and which were 

 attracted beneath Turnip-tops scattered over the field, are the 

 young grubs or (arm of one of the many species of daddy-long- 

 legs (probably Tipula maculosa). You cannot do better than 

 pursue the Turnip- top trap system, removing and destroying 



the grubs every three or four days. W. 

 Labels: G Bond. Your zinc labels, with short upright supports 



and oval tops, painted white, and neatly lettered, are useful- 

 looking contrivances of the kind, and with care may last a 

 long time. Whether cr not they may answer all the purposes 

 for which they are intended, however, can only be proved by 

 experiment.^ 



well sheltered dry ground, and do not spare the seed of Microscopes: Amateur. W« know nothing of the instrument 



PlNEMES. 



FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



Plants in bloom will require very careful 

 management to prevent their being; injured by damp, 

 and the atmosphere must be kept dry, with a rather 

 brisk temperature, admitti no; a little fresh air on every 

 favourable opportunity ; and if there is the means of 

 admitting air over the pipes, so that it may get warmed 

 before coming [q contact with the plants, a little should 

 be admitted constantly. Plants in bloom Bhould also 

 be near the glass, and where they will catch every ray 

 et sunshine. It is nearly impossible to get fruit to 

 swell anything like properly at this season, therefore 

 unless a succession of ripe fruit is indispensable, and 

 cannot be secured save by driving plants that bloomed 



ridges in case of severe frost. 



kie 



> in autumn, these had better be kept rather quiet until 

 the sun gains a little more power. Where an attempt 

 must be made at present to get fruit to swell, a moist 

 warm temperature of about 70° at night and 75° by day 

 must be maintained, allowing it to rise to|80°, with 

 the assistance of sunshine, and the bottom-heat must 

 be kept regular at about MP, taking care to keep the 

 soil in a healthy state as to moisture. But it is difficult 

 to get the fruit to make v much progress at present, 

 and & httle time lost now will be easily overtaken in 

 spring when the plants will enjoy a high moist 

 temperature, and the fruit will increase more in 

 weight in one month then than in two at present 

 Vineries.— As soon as the early house is closed for Pr.day 30 2t 

 forcing, be careful to secure a thoroughly moist state of i l" D u d r * i £ 

 the atmosphere by frequently sprinkling the floors and '*<».■ a 24 

 ev ry available surface, but as observed previously, a wSl 5 26 

 regularly moist state of the atmosphere is most effectu- Tbura - 6 . 



ally secured by means of a slight bed of fermenting Av*r»y« - 



the former, for it will be some time exposed to the 

 depredations of mice, &c. In favourable localities a 

 second sowing may be made if the first sowing is through 

 the ground. Take advantage of the first dry day that j 

 may occur with the ground in a rather dry state to earth 

 up closely any of the Celery that may have outgrown 

 the previous soiling, and be d prepared to protect the 



Dry stable litter answers 

 very well for this purpose, but where they can be 

 afforded, light straw or reed shutters are preferable as 

 being more easily applied, causing less litter, and these 

 are also useful in excluding wet. It will soon be time to 

 be providing seed for the early crop of Celery next 

 season, and for this purpose we know no variety equal 

 to Cole's dwarf white. This is, as its name indicates, 

 a dwarf variety, and cannot be grown to a large size, 

 but where quality is preferred to size it will give satis- 

 faction, for it is very crisp, soon blanches, and the 

 flavour is everything that could be wished. Attend to 

 keeping up a regular succession of Seakale, Asparagus, 

 and Rhubarb, by introducing moderate quantities at 

 short intervals into heat. 



STATE OF THE WEATHER AT CHISWICK, NEAR LONDON 

 For the week ending Dec. 6, ISfca.at obterred at the Horticultural GardeVa. 



Not. 

 and Dec. 



o-< 



Bahomitib. 



Max. 





'27 



3fu»r 



30.1 

 29 879 

 29.98 

 29.S2S 



*2<).o57 



23 i4 



4,8 S3 



Ta«rs 



HATUaa. 



Ottfae A»r. 



Max. 



Mis 



OftheEawh Wind j o 



Men * l00t 2,e<st ' ^ 



deep. 



29.«80 

 29.^7 



29.MI 

 >.% 



29.373 

 29.7*4 



43 



26 



46 



3i 



44 



26 



40 



SI 



47 



m 



44 



:;.) 



42 



1 



3».5 

 39.5 



US) 



41.5 

 37 A 



3">.0 



■ 



44 

 44 



43 

 4C 

 «2i 

 43 



deep. 



46 

 4« 

 45J 



45 

 4o 

 45 



44.0 



30.0 I 37.0 I 43.0 ; 4-).3 



w. 



.00 



N.w. 



0i 



N. 



.04 



N.E. 



.12 



s.w 



. 



U. 



.00 



N .W. 



- 





.10 



you mention. Nor can we insert any such statement as you 

 have sent, unless it is consistent with our own experience. 



Names of Fruits: W B. 1, Beuvre DM; 2, Passe Colmar; * 

 21, Glou Morceau ; 4, Betu-re" Ranee; 5, Princesse d'Oraoge; h 

 UveOale's St. Germain; 8, Cra.ssane; 9, Doyenne" Blanc; 1U, 

 probably Beurre' Diel ; 13, Easter Beurre; 14, Passe Colmar. 

 16, 17, Brown Benrre"; 20, 21, Bishop's Thumb; 22, Brown 

 Beurre: 24, Gansel's Bergamot; 26, Verulam ; 27, Bezl Vaet. 

 28, Chaumontel.— 2?. 1,3, King of the Pippins; % a PP?*!? f 

 be the Golden Reinette; 6, Gloria Mundi; 7, Court of w ici« 

 —MB. Your Pear from 8 pain is the Bergnmotte d T Autonine, 

 difivient, however, from the English Autumn Bergamot.- 

 HJ S. l t Easter Beurre* ; 2, Glou Morceau. (j .. 



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

 decline naming heaps of dried or other plants, that we ye ™°*~ 

 to request our correspondents to recollect that we n ^T er £"Li 

 or could have undertaken an unlimited duty of this Kin- 

 Young gardeners, to whom these remarks more especially app . » 

 should bear in mind that, before applying to us for a? slSta, .^ T 

 they should exhaust their other means of gaining inft> ^? a ^ n « 

 We cannot save them the trouble of examining and tninK m> 

 for themselves; nor would it be desirable if we could. :* 11 

 can do is to help them— and that most willingly. It ^ n 

 requested that, in future, not more than four plants roa £ 

 sent us at one time— J P. We have compared your jeav ^ 

 with the tree in the H 



that if it be Pinus Sabi...»..«, .. ...^.. .- — — . ^g 



must be a poor weakly plant from which votir specimen 

 taken.- J 31 A. Encharis grandiflora. There is no doubt id* 

 the disease, both in the leaves of Oncidium as well «s » 

 flowers of I'rmhvnoosts, is produced by the cause we rnentio 

 last week.-// IS.' It is a variety of Red Cedar, J" n, P^ 

 vh-inhma. AU these Junipers vary greatly, like *> l, |[ ow ^* t rf 

 Juniper, of which a score distinct-looking forms may be se ' e ; 

 from any hillside in limestone districts.— N B. Kuscus n)F^ 

 glossnm.— E W II. Common Stramonium. , , ;ir 



White JI.uii.troh Gk.spe: E O. At last we have received 7 



letter, but we do not understand it. What is "the Nj»^"l 



:, ' and who its M sale editor?" The most s ^ m ;^. 

 von can give to inquiries why your Grape is J 10 * t 

 hibited is to produce it before the Horticultural SocieO n - 

 vear, when its true value will be ascertained and p UD .jL 

 mentioned. The world will not take the endorsement of counuj 

 shows. 



J P. We have compared your i«t 

 orficultural Garden, and can only s»; 

 ibiniana, which is not impossible, » 



Meeting, 



answer 











