856 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



any 



scarcity of bloom next May, 



Achimenes and Gloxinias should be 



prospect of a 

 portion of the 



repotted at once 

 and placed in a warm part of the stove, choosing such 



and a few Cleroden- 



state 4:* 3 grains; the lining wool, the cotton wool, de- 

 tached weighed 2i*7 grain?. The shell or epidermis of, 

 the seed is black, thin, hard, and tough. The substance 

 of the seed inclosed is of a light yellow colour," of an 

 oily taste followed bjj a slightly acrid one. Under the 

 microscope it is found to consist of oil globules, which 

 are abundant, and of a fine granular matter. The 

 seeds are broken (for instance when crushed in a 

 mortar) without much difficulty, and with water on 

 trituration yield a yellow emulsion. Thrown in a filter, 

 the liquid which passes through is turbid and yellowish. 

 It is not apparently altered by boiling; but on the 

 addition of acetic acid flocculi separate, and on cooling 

 subside. Now filtered the fluid is clear and colourless. 

 The precipitate, it may be inferred, is in part at least 

 casein. The larger portion of the washed kernel, that 

 which is retained in the filter with the oil, soon acquires 

 an unpleasant smell ; kept a fortnight and then mixed 

 with lime, it gave off a distinct odour of ammonia. The 

 oil is of a yellow colour, not volatile, and is fluid at 80° 

 Fahrenheit. The seed incinerated without the pellicle, 

 after burning — it burns with much flame — leaves a coal 

 that is easily reduced to ash, inconsiderable in quantity, 

 • -composed chiefly of carbonate of potash, phosphate of 

 lime, and magnesia. The same were found in the ash 

 of the epidermis with some silica. Though growing 

 in calcareous marl no carbonate of lime or free lime 

 could be detected in either. Dr. Davy in the Edin. New 

 Philosophical Journal, 



Calendar of Operations. 



(For the ensuing week.) 



PLANT DEPARTMENT. 



Conservatory, &c. — Attend carefully to valuable 

 .-pot specimens of hard-wooded plants which it may be 

 . necessary to winter in this house, for many of these are 

 very impatient of fire-heat and a confined atmosphere, 

 and ought therefore to be kept as much out of the way 

 , of its iufluence as circumstances permit. And such 

 things should be placed near the glass, turning them 

 partly round every week so that all their parts may be 

 equally exposed to light ; and admitting fresh air on 

 every favourable opportunity, but carefully avoid cold 

 cutting winds, which if allowed to blow through plants 

 just alter they have been kept close with fire-heat for 

 some time are sure to disfigure the foliage. Use no more 

 fire-heat than may be indispensable, and be careful to 

 counteract its drying effect on the atmosphere, either 

 by means of evaporating pans or by sprinkling the 

 borders, &c, as may be necessary to prevent anything 

 like a dry parching state of the atmosphere. It is in 

 many cases a very difficult matter to maintain a suffi- 

 ciently moist atmosphere without causing drip, as the 

 moisture in the house gets condensed upon the 

 glass, and unless provision is made by means of 

 inside gutters and pipes to catch the condensed mois- 

 .ture and carry it off, it is nearly impossible during 

 frosty weather to preserve the beauty of flowers for 

 Any length of time ; and in cases where there is no 

 provision made against the condensed moisture falling 

 upon the plant?, the temperature should be kept as low 

 as may be consistent with safety, avoiding moisture in 

 the atmosphere as far as possible whenever the glass is 

 affected by frost. Cold Pits. — Plants that have 

 been excluded from the light and air for but a few 

 days must not be too suddenly exposed, especially to 

 cold northerly winds, but should be very gradually 

 inured to free exposure. Take advantage, however, of 

 mild days to give air freely, and keep the plants very 

 sparingly supplied with water at the root, so as to pre- 

 vent weakly sappy wood. Look frequently over 

 anything subject to the attacks of mildew, apply 

 sulphur the moment this pest is perceived, and 

 see that everything is perfectly free from in- 

 sects. Stove. — If there is 



of bloom 



as have been the longest at rest 



drons, Allamandas, a plant or two of Echites splendens, 

 and Dipladenia crassinoda, may also be started ; but 

 unless plants of these are at command with well ripened 

 wood, and that have been some time at rest, there will 

 be nothing gained by attempting to start them into 

 • growth at present, for in most cases it is difficult at this 

 season to maintain a sufficiently warm temperature to 

 secure anything like free growth from these unless the 

 plants have been well prepared for an early start. A 

 gentle bottom-heat of about 80 Q or 85° will be of great 

 service to such things in inducing a healthy root action, 

 and if this can be secured there will be little difficulty 

 about obtaining free vigorous growth. Let Ixoras and 

 other hard-wooded plants that have made sufficient 

 growth be kept rather dry at the root, in order to check 

 their growth, and induce a tendency to form bloom, but 

 do not let the balls become so dry as to endanger 

 the foliage. Look sharply after insects here, espe- 

 cially mealy bug, and endeavour to get the whole 

 collection clear of this tormenting pest, for if neglected 

 now it will not fail to demand attention in spring and 

 Bummer, when time with the plant grower will doubt- 

 less be fully as precious as now. Be sparing in the 

 use of fire-heat, save in the case of things being forced 

 into flower or growth, and it is in every sense good 

 policy to have a separate house or compartment for 

 these, as it saves fuel, avoids over-driving the whole 

 collection for the sake of a small portion, and ensures 

 a more satisfactory result than can be obtained where 

 there is but one house for the whole collection of what 

 is generally termed stove plants. 



bloom be placed in the most favourable positions for 

 prolonging their beauty, and be careful to preserve the 

 flowers from damp. Admit a little fresh air on the 

 forenoons of mild days, but do this very carefully, unless 

 it can be made to pass over the heating apparatus, so 

 as to get warmed before it reaches the plants, See to 

 having plenty of soil for potting under cover, so that it 

 may be dry and fit for use at any time it may be wanted. 

 Also get spare pots washed, crocks broken and sorted, 

 stakes made and painted, spare trainers cleaned and 

 repainted, and whatever else can be done now to facili- 

 tate operations in spring. Look well to the watering of 

 things standing near the pipes or heat-giving surfaces, 

 and examine these frequently for red spider, and see 

 that they are not allowed to form a nursery for this 

 enemy, as is often the case ; and if spider is perceived 

 lay the affected plants on their side, and thoroughly 

 wash the under part of the foliage with the syringe, 

 repeating the dressings as often as may be necessary to 

 perfectly clean them. 



FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



Pineries. — The supply of ripe fruit from May until 

 August being usually obtained from plants that start 

 into fruit without making growth in spring, a fair propor- 

 tion of the stock should therefore be in a well matured 

 state by or shortly after this season, and any sudden 

 changes of temperature which might induce too many 

 of them to show fruit at once should be carefully 

 avoided. That portion of the stock expected to furnish 

 the autumn supply of fruit should not be too much 

 checked at present, indeed these may be kept growing j 

 slowly all the winter, which is perhaps the most certain j 

 method of preventing their fruiting too early in spring. 

 Where the stock of plants likely to fruit without making 

 farther growth is considered insufficient to meet the 

 demand until August, the stronger plants of those for 

 autumn fruiting should be encouraged to make growth as 

 early as can be done without weakening the foliage, with 

 the view of preparing them for showing fruit in April. 

 Examine the soil occasionally about young stock grow- 

 ing in the open bed, and do not allow it to become un- 

 healthily dry, for this would probably result in a great 

 portion of the stock showing fruit prematurely, and it is 

 also a work of some difficulty properly to moisten the 

 bed if it is once allowed to get too much dried up. Use 

 no more fire-heat for the present than will suffice to 

 maintain the requisite temperature, which, for the 

 general stock, need not be high for some time yet 

 Vineries. — As soon as the buds in the early house are 

 fairly started the temperature should be increased to 

 60° at night and 65° by day, allowing it to rise 10° on 

 bright days. Take every opportunity of admitting a 

 little fresh air, but recollect that the foliage will nor 

 bear exposure to cold drying winds, therefore air should 

 be admitted in contact with the heating apparatus, and 

 when it may be necessary to give back air the sashes or 

 ventilators must be opened but very little, and if pieces 

 of netting could be nailed over the openings this would 

 greatly assist in preventing cold currents blowing into 

 the house. If fermenting material has been used 

 inside the house this should be removed as soon as the 

 leaves make their appearance, as it would probably be 

 found to keep the atmosphere too moiBt ; this will how- 

 ever greatly depend upon the facilities which may exi^t 

 for safe ventilation in all states of the weather, but any- 

 thing like rank steam must be carefully avoided. If the 

 fermenting materials are removed the evaporating 

 troughs must be regularly supplied with water, and the 

 borders and passages, &c, moistened with the syringe 

 two or three times a day, so as to keep the 

 atmosphere moist, but discontinue syringing the Vino 

 after the foliage begins to expand; attend to starting 

 houses in succession, according to the anticipated de- 

 mand, and wherever heat can in any way be applied to 

 the border see to this a week or two before attempting to 

 start the Vines, for if the roots can be moved there will 

 be no difficulty about getting the buds to push. Where 

 the border cannot be # warraed, see that it is well protected 

 from wet, &c, by a thick covering of dry litter or what- 

 ever more efficient covering can be commanded. Look 

 over ripe Grapes often, removing any decaying berries, 

 and aim at securing a dry atmosphere with the least 

 possible application of lire' heat. Strawberries. — 

 Where ripe fruit is wanted early, a portion of the most 

 promising plants should now be selected and placed in a 

 pit where they can be afforded a gentle bottom heat; or 

 if this cannot be commanded, a Peach-house or Vinery 

 which has just been closed for forcing will do. They 

 must, however, be kept close to the glass, for they re- 

 quire all the light that can possibly be afforded them at 



29, 1855. 



kind of work now ^^1^^^^==^= 

 paring the spaces now the soil will h» ;„ u. y 



dition than would be the case if it we re delav*/ C0D ." 

 planting out time. Also see that coarse gS^fi 

 witch may be encroaclnng upon their weaker 3 

 bours are reduced by pruning as ma^ k~ ^ * n * 



by prunin 

 to prevent their injuring 



a »o may be neceeaaij 



as 

 more 



valuable thin 



this season, and a free admission of air on mild days, 

 with a low temperature until the fruit is fairly set, and 

 if these conditions can. be combined with bottom heat 

 success will be more certain than under any other cir- 

 cumstances, and this will be more easily done in a small 

 pit than in a house the temperature of which must be 

 regulated for other things. 



FLOWER GARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES. 



, The winterly weather which we have lately expe- 

 rienced may have served to remind parties who have 

 neglected to apply protection to tender Roses and other 

 things which are found to require this care that it cannot 

 with safety be delayed any lon-er. And where this ha* 

 been neglected so far it should be attended to as quickly 

 as possible. If not already done get shrubbery borders 

 trimmed up for the winter with the least possible delay 

 and in doing this places intended for Hollyhocks! 

 Dahlias, &c, next summer should be prepared by deep 



Let specimens in 



digging and working in plenty of good rotten manure, 



for theye is generally as much time to spare for thia 



Valuable plants, as variegated Hollies, Rhododendron 

 &c, if not growing as freely as it is desirable that* ' 

 should do, would be benefited by a liberal allowanc/Jr 

 rotten manure or well-decayed leaf soil applied as at 

 dressing, covering it with a little fine soil, and wor£ 

 it into the ground round the ball towards the ex tremit 

 of the roots. But Rhododendrons, and what are general 

 termed American plants, bear removal so well that th 

 where not growing satisfactorily should be taken up ft! 

 ground well prepared by a liberal addition of peat or leaf 

 soil, and replanted. Continue to give careful attention tn 

 half hardy plants in cold frames, taking advantage of 

 every favourable opportunity to expose them freely to 

 air. Anything of which there is but a spare supply f 

 plants to propagate from should be placed in growing 

 quarters at once, taking care to keep them near the 

 glass and free from insects, mildew, &c, for soft-wooded 

 plants in heat at this season are very subject to the 

 attacks of insects. 



HARDY FRUIT AND KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Make a point of regularly examining every week aQ 

 the choicer kinds of fruit that may be approaching 

 ripeness, or are found not to be keeping well, so that 

 everything may be used at the proper time, for the 

 finest Pears are worthless enough if allowed to get over 

 ripe before being used, and the same is the case with 

 many varieties of Apples. Also look over the whole 

 stock as often as time can be spared, removing any fruit 

 that exhibit symptoms of decay, and put; them aside for 

 immediate use. Any of the choicer kinds of Pears 

 that do not appear to ripen properly in the fruit-room 

 should be removed to a warm dry room for a few days, 

 which will be found to greatly improve them. Keep 

 the fruit as cool and dry as possible, aud if frost is ex- 

 cluded it can hardly be too cool where the object is to 

 preserve the fruit plump and sound as long as possible. 

 Push forward pruning, nailing, tieing espalier trees, and 

 such like tedious operations as fast as the weather and cir- 

 cumstances will admit. Get manure wheeled upon vacant 

 ground when the weather is frosty, and this can be done 

 without injuring the walks, and get all spare ground 

 turned up as soon as possible, so as to expose it to the 

 action of the weather as long as possible. Tor land 

 that has been long cropped with vegetables a dressing of 

 fresh loam would in many cases be preferable to manure, 

 and where this is wanted and can be obtained it should 

 be got to hand, in order that advantage may be taken 

 of frosty days for wheeling it upon the ground. Where 

 fresh soil cannot be obtained, charred vegetable refuse, 

 such as prunings of shrubberies, edgings of walks, aid 

 many things which turn up in course of the season, 

 may be cheaply made to form an excellent substitute. 



STATE OF THE WEATHER AT CHISW1CK, NEAR LONDON. 

 For the week ending Dec. 27, 1855, as observed at the Horticultural Uaniw.8. 



Dec. 



Kridaj 21 

 Satur. 21 

 Sunday 23 i 

 Mod... 24! 

 Tnea. 2a 

 Wed. 26 

 Thura. 27 



BlBOMBTlS. 



Max. 





Tbmfkbaturr. 



29.803 

 29>9» 

 29 576 

 29-.fi 68 



29.626 

 29.2 J3 



29.601 



29.6 n 



29.702 

 29.752 

 . 9.463 



29.6 rj 

 29.386 



29.1*7 

 29.487 



Ol the Air. 



M 



Min. I Mean 



Oi the Earth Wind -3 



Hoot 2iect 

 i deep. deep. 



O 



P5 



26 



11 



IS.5 



29 



9 



19.0 



50 



37 



435- 



49 



• ■»# 



41.0 



5fl 



3S 



V2.5 



51 



45 



4-U> 



53 



37 



49-.0 



29.514 ( 44 f 29.5 



Dec. 21 Sharp frost, evil at noon ; severe frost a< nisht. ^^ 



— 2 J— frosty ; clear »nd frosty ; severe frtst in t Ue erenis ^ 



rise of temperature between 9 and 10 r.M.; ra 1 



— 23— Overcast; fine; showery. , --kratiflterrtl*- 



— 24— Vine; very fine, almost cloud 1<*' ; rain; «*rj* / 



— 25— Rain; cloudv ; overcast; boisterous with ram. 



— 26- Rain; boisterous; cloudy; hazy witira" 1 * 



— 27- Slight rain ; cloudy and fine. , . .-«»•*• 

 Wean temperature of tue week £ dejr. below the a*c » 



RECORD OP THE WEATHER Al cH i?* t^S. 1»6. 

 Uurin jr toe last 29 years, for the ensuinjf wee*, en^m^Jau^j^^ 



PrevaUiui^t 



Der. 

 and Jan 



Sunday 30 



Won. 31 

 Tues. 1 

 Wed. 2 

 Thurs. 3 

 Friday 4 

 Satur. 6 





2»« « 



Si a 



a o. 



No. of I 



** ** JT 



SS| 



« g 



Tears in 



^^ *^ ^^ 



$2& 



32.6 



3h 



which it 

 Rained. 



44.4 



BM 



10 



42.6 



H*& 



37.7 



8 



42.6 



30.9 



:.*».7 



9 



41.9 



29.6 



S5.7 



11 



42.5 



3 1 Ji 



36.9 



14 



42.3 



31.6 



36.9 



13 



41.' 



30.7 



36.3 



10 



Greatest 

 Quantity 

 of Ham. 



o.30 m. 



0.44 



f.70 



0.21 



0M 



0.86 

 040 



3 l \ Z I 6 4 



3539 



Tut highest temperature dorm* the above ""^.S^de?. 

 1832— therm. 56 deg.; and the lowest on the 2d, 18o4-therni. 



Notices to Correspondents. ^ fat 



Cigars : JRed Hand. They are bad, bitter, » n <J *° okfl rs *«<>* 

 least as bad as the French ones. Very * e * itjr f tbe* 

 what first-class cigars are, so great is J« ^ h Jd withoa? 

 even in the Havannah. They are, however, ™ ^ ^ 

 difficulty in Guatemala, where they ar * ™i* p0 W> ^ 

 Maria Samayoa; and, what is not a Uttie f 

 price is as low as their quality is hign. .. Mar eh ***- 



Names OF FBXJITS.-NH. 1, Winter Nelis * "J"^ CoUntf; 

 gamot; 4, Easter Beurre; 5, appears i to t> e r ^ 

 7, Hacon's Incomparable; 8, Beurrf R» nce ^5 &&&Z 

 11, Crassane; 13, Beurre D«el : 19, AW hojp ? #-~ 



C. 1, Winter OMMMV *, ^ ! JU ^.BW^SSLr 



10, Passe Cotmar ; 7, Catillac; iM^^ol^* 1 ^' 

 3, Mincball Crah ; 4. Court-pendu Plat , D> * s ^ 



6, Bumelow's Seedling. fc ^ 3 nS to **lJ™ ti t 



The Uahtfobd N^^kkt: ^rJ^ (* r«* Asides at We s^' 



has quitted this establishment, and now re ^ 



near Dartford. vum** Trees: R** 9 in -.htW 



Top Dressing for O^ard II. "™ }*£%„& its ag*^ 



strong manuw la "* ^ reilelT^h s«*P le ' J& 

 smell are objectionable the 1 en«w> J ^ tbell cover • £ ^ 



some powdered charcoal on tb e mm nur e a ^.^55, 



a light covering of ™uld, sayha * » n » t ^r. 



charcoal will at once absorb any implead* 









i 





