290 Transactions of the Horticultural Society. 



the radiating properties of surfaces. As an excellent com- 

 bination for the growth of vegetables in the open garden, we 

 would suggest the formation of beds in the direction of east 

 and west, the surface of the bed sloping to the south,' the 

 steeper the better; on these beds sow or plant herbaceous 

 vegetables and fruits ; if in rows, let them be from north to 

 south, or across the beds; then, to moderate the effects of 

 radiation, and evaporation by drying winds, place wattled 

 hurdles at the distance of ten or twelve feet across the beds, 

 or stick in rows of pease-sticks, or other branches and spray, 

 in that direction, during the Winter and Spring months. The 

 judicious employment of rows of fruit trees and gooseberries 

 will greatly contribute to the same effect in Winter, but are 

 injurious by their shade and roots in Summer. The advan- 

 tage of hurdles or branches is, that they can be moved at 

 pleasure, and that they admit of keeping the ground in sloping- 

 beds or ridges. 



The system of matting plants, Mr. Daniell thinks, is not 

 carried to that extent which its simplicity and efficacy would 

 suggest. Mats are generally bound too tight round bushes, 

 or laid too close on the ground, or upon glass. To produce 

 the full effect, the mat should always be kept at the distance 

 of six or eight inches from the body it is meant to protect. 

 This doctrine will be found ably illustrated in Dr. Wells's 

 work on dew, and also in those parts of the Encyclopedia of 

 Gardening which treat of the construction of hot-houses, and of 

 the atmosphere. As a familar illustration of the principle, we 

 shall farther observe, that a person standing before a large 

 fire, or fully exposed to the brightest sun, may defend himself 

 from excessive heat and light, by holding, at a few inches from 

 his body, a sheet of the thinnest muslin ; but if that material, 

 or any other, is applied to his body in close contact, it will have 

 very little influence as a screen. The same muslin integument 

 will be equally effectual or ineffectual in protecting from cold, 

 according as it may be placed at a short distance from, or in 

 contact with, the body to be protected. A gardener will sel- 

 dom go wrong in practice if he bears in mind that heat is given 

 out by all bodies in straight lines or rays, as light flows from 

 the sun ; that those rays of heat may be reflected back again by 

 any body, however thin ; and that any covering, whether 

 thick or thin, placed in close contact with a heated body, will 

 not reflect back its heat, but, on the contrary, if of a dark 

 colour, or black, will promote its escape by radiation. 



The above is what may be called the practical essence of 

 that part of Mr. Daniell's paper which treats of the improve- 



