588 Effects of Kyanising Wood in Hackney Nursery. 



of this mode of treatment are so obvious, to me at least, that I 

 shall offer no apology in presenting it to the consideration of 

 an enquiring public. 



Castle Ashby, Northamptonshire, May 24. 1839. 



Art. II. Notice respecting the Effects qf Kyanised Wood on growing 

 Plants, in the Hot-houses, Pits, and Frames of the Hackney Nur- 

 sery. By the Conductor. 



We stated, in Vol. XIII. p. 365., that Messrs. Loddiges had used Kyanised 

 wood extensively, in constructing sashes, rafters, &c, with a view to rendering 

 them more durable. After the publication of Lord Manvers's experience on this 

 subject, we took the first opportunity that presented itself of enquiring of 

 these gentlemen whether they had experienced any bad effects from the 

 process of Kyanising analogous to those which had occurred at Thoresby. 

 The answer was, that they had, and the following is the substance of what 

 they stated to us : — In the large palm-house some of the sashes over the ferns 

 had been Kyanised, and the effect on the ferns was that all the old leaves 

 shriveled up and died off. The woodwork of one of the orchidaceous houses 

 was entirely Kyanised, and, though covered with five thick coats of paint, it had 

 a similar effect on the old leaves of the orchideous plants as it had on the old 

 leaves of the ferns. A pit, in which camellias were grown, was covered with 

 Kyanised sashes, and the plants in a short time lost all their old leaves. The 

 same thing happened to the old leaves of cucumbers in a cucumber frame. 

 It is singular, that in the case of the ferns, the Orchideae, the camellias, and 

 the cucumbers, the young leaves and points of the shoots were not in the 

 slightest degree injured; but, as the leaves grew old, they suffered. 



Messrs. Loddiges fully acknowledge the effect of the Kyanising process in 

 preserving the timber from decay ; and on this account, had it not proved in- 

 jurious to the plants, it would have been a very great saving to them in the 

 article of repairs. They have, therefore, left it off, but with very great re- 

 luctance, in every structure in which plants are to be grown. It may be 

 asked whether the bad effects in the palm-house and orchidaceous house still 

 continue to be produced, or whether time has lessened the evil. We believe 

 the latter is the case, because every evaporating substance must sooner or 

 later become exhausted. 



The following is the essence of some communications which we have had 

 on this subject : — 



Mr. Carton, at Syon, has used Kyanised deal boxes for more than four 

 years, for growing earl}' cucumbers, and never discerned the slightest injury 

 to the plants. " It is impossible," he says, "for anything to answer better." 

 On enquiring of Mr. Parsons, the clerk of the works at Syon, respecting 

 the Kyanising of these boxes, and the effects of Kyanising generally, as far 

 as his experience goes, he states that cucumber boxes made of Norway 

 deal painted, but not Kyanised, do not last above two years ; but that boxes 

 made of American white pine, which is naturally much less durable than the 

 Norway fir, and Kyanised and painted, last five years ; but then he always 

 planes the boards, so as to take off two or three shavings after they come out 

 of the tank, before making them into boxes and painting them. Mr. Parsons 

 also showed us a number of planks of deal, which had been Kyanised and used 

 for covering the sunk linings of fermenting dung, which planks, though they 

 had been in use for five or six years, were as fresh and sound as when quite 

 new. He has also used posts of beech inserted in the ground by the river 

 side, where they were liable to the action of the tide, and consequently to be 

 alternately wet and dry ; and none of them have rotted, either externally or 

 in the heart. He believes that the process of Kyanising is so effective as to 



