40 Hints from Evelyn. 



conductor of heat, such as charcoal. The stratum of air 

 between the olasses produced a similar effect. 



The plan of inarching with a cutting, mentioned in Vol. III. 

 p. 29., suggested to me the idea of laying a cutting, and 

 inserting the end in a bottle of water {fg. 4. c). 

 I have lately tried a cutting of Lonicera 

 flexuosa, and I feel very sanguine of success. 

 1 have lately met with an old book written 

 by the celebrated John Evelyn, which he 

 calls Kalendariuin Hortense. I was much sur- 

 prised to find in it many remarks and advices 

 which have from time to time been promulgated as novelties. 

 It would appear that John Evelyn was the inventor of the 

 method of warming green-houses with heated air. In the 

 above book are drawings and descriptions fully explaining 

 the way in which it may be effected. If I mistake not, 

 patents were taken out some years ago for heating houses on 

 that plan. In his remarks, under the month of July, he says: 

 " Now with lime, brine, potashes (which is the very best of 

 all, because, being cast on fine turf, it destroys the worms 

 and improves the grass, which most other applications mor- 

 tify) and water, or a decoction of tobacco refuse, water your 

 gravel walks, &c., to destroy both worms and weeds, of which 

 it will cure them for some years." Soot is also recommended. 

 He also says, " In wall-fruit borders, which should be 

 4 or 5 ft. wide, plant neither herb or flower." He mentions 

 " that sick trees, as oranges, &c., are many times recovered 

 by a milk diet; that is, diluting it with a portion of water 

 discreetly administered, as you find amendment." I do not 

 remember seeing this last recommendation in any late writer. 

 It may, therefore, pass for a novelty. As to removing trees, 

 of which so much is written in our time, he says, " That 

 you may transplant not only any fruit trees, but remove 

 almost any of the foresters, even in the midst of summer, if^ 

 taking the trees with some mould about the roots, you imme- 

 diately plunge them into earth made into a pap like mortar, 

 keeping it fresh and under shade, and not suffering the 

 ground quite to dry up and harden till rain comes down." 

 This very much resembles some of the modern plans. As to 

 straw mats lately so strongly recommended, he says, in the 

 month of November, " Cover also your most delicate stone 

 fruit and murals, screening them with straw hurdles, as long 

 as the east and northern winds continue, even to the end of 

 March, to be sure of the fruit. Stand, therefore, not so 

 much upon the beauty, as for its preservation and pro- 

 duction." 



