









■ 



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o 



THE GARDENERS 



CHRONICLE 



read. 



hierochuntina, or Rose of Jericho, was exhibited, and a 

 stem of Arrive from the Mauritius. Dr. Balfour gave 

 an account of a botanical excursion which he had made 

 in company with the Rev. .Mr. Drummond to Ben 

 Chonzie and other mountains near Crieff, in October, 

 last year. The following communication from Mr. C. 

 Lawson, jun., relative to the growth of the Tussac 

 Grass (Dactvlis ca?spitosa), in Orkney was 

 Mr. Traill, of Woodwick, in Orkney, has been the 

 most successful cultivator, and from a letter written by 

 him, I proceed to give the under-mentioned particulars 

 regarding his method of culture : — In leisure time, 

 previous to June, some pasture ground is selected and 

 trenched. During the first week of that month Turnip 

 seed is sown in drills 4 feet apart. So soon after as wet 

 weather sets in, Tussac Grass plants are dibbled in be- 

 tween the rows of Turnips, at a distance of 3 feet apart. 

 After the Turnips are removed for use, manure is wheeled 

 in and Potatoes set on the same ground. By adopting this 

 method of culture, the Tussac is cultivated with no 

 expense beyond the outlay for the plants and the labour 

 of dibbling. The work requisite for the two intervening 

 crops is found to be quite sufficient to keep the Tussac 

 plants clear, after which they need no further care, and 

 speedily close up the rows. Where practicable, how- 

 ever, it would be much better to commence with a field 

 previously manured for Turnips, by which a saving of 

 the ground in wheeling manure during winter would be 

 effected. Mr. Traill thus sums up the advantages of 

 the Tussac : 1. The enormous produce of a highly 

 nutritive food for cattle. 2. Having this food every day 

 in the year equally plentiful. 3. The conversion of a 

 poor unproductive field into the most productive of the 

 whole farm in two years, without outlay beyond the 

 plants themselves. 4. The ease with which it can be 



All the plants stand the winter , The master orderin it to be lowered and n^^T^T 

 rdener is mclim-d to attribute f ift Mm-df t ;„™™A- Lx\ i ■ \ ,' ~ - ettl »g mto 



only between 4 and 5, 



very well. Mr H/s gardener is inclined to attribute ( iVttmsehfi teS*£ ^thhi We m \\A . ? 3 

 the decay of the cut plants to the nibbling of mice, "fast boat,- to K K8& 



talking to the harpoonerof 



and 



--- T- "iv, uui.iv MIKMIJT IU11S. 



— JJr. Ualiour read a communication from James Back- 

 house, jun., York, relative to rare alpine plants picked 

 by him in the Clova, Glen Isla, and Braemar districts. 

 Mr, Anderson gave a short account of the Flora of the 

 district around ClonmeL There was exhibited from 

 Mr. Murray, of Henderland, a specimen of Rhodoleia 

 Championi, brought from Hong Kong, by Captain Cham- 

 pion. The plant is very showy, and belongs to the 

 natural order Hamamelidacese. Mr. Storey presented 

 a specimen of Quercus intermedia, Don. He also sent 

 for exhibition a specimen of Naias flexilis, picked by 

 Mr. D. Oliver, jun., in Ireland. Several new members 

 were elected. 





we < hardened up' to the 

 plunged it into her side. 



An Arctic Voyage to Baffin's Bay and Lancaster Sound, 

 in Search of Friends with Sir John Franklin. By 

 R. A. Goodsir. 8vo. Van Voorst, pp. 3 52. 



Mb. Goodsir sailed for the Arctic regions in March 

 1840, in search of the unfortunate expedition, in which 

 he had a brother. Although his attempt was, like so 

 many others, unsuccessful, it enabled him to collect some 

 curious facts respecting the natural history of the icy 

 seas ; and this he illustrates in the simple, unaffected, 

 and interesting narrative before us. Criticism on such 

 a book is misplaced. Extracts are all that we feel 



cut and carried off in snowy weather, and the certainty 

 with which a farmer can count his supply of fodder. 

 5. When cut down for use, it recovers its bulk in two 

 months in winter, and in about five weeks in the summer. 

 During the four years, over which Mr. Traill's experi- 

 ments extend, the plants have been steadily increasing 

 in height, and at the present time, the oldest ones have 

 attained 7 feet. When not cut, Mr. T. notices that the 

 leaves continually augment in number, length, and 

 breadth, whilst about a fourth of the older leaves 

 gradually turn yellow and dry up, become brittle and 

 fall to the ground. It is somewhat remarkable, that 

 this decay does not take place at particular seasons, but 

 is progressively developed throughout the year. January 

 is the time of flowering, but the flower-spikes are fully 

 formed in December, generally during the first week. 

 While the necessity of procuring strong and healthy 

 plants will naturally suggest itself to all, the cultivator 

 must bear in mind, that it is necessary to the vitality 

 of the plant, that it be kept free of weeds for at least two 

 years. This, Mr. Traill very satisfactorily proved last 

 year, by selecting 12 fine healthy plants, and sowing 

 Rye-grass around them. As the Rye-grass got up, one- 

 half of the Tussac was completely killed, and of the 

 remainder, scarcely a single plant can be discerned. 

 As to soil in which the plant is grown, Mr. Traill gives 

 the following, progressing from the best to the worst : 



entitled to indulge in. 



'. Dry sandy peat. 



2. Wet do. 



3. Any dry sandy soil. 

 *• » wet do. 



£• n dry peat do. 

 6. „ wet do. 



7 - » dry peat and earth. 



8. Any wet peat and earth. 



9. Dry peat and clay. 

 Wet do. 

 Dry friable clay. 

 Wet do. 



Dry stiff retentive clay. 

 Wet do. 



10. 



11. 

 12. 



13. 



14. 



Mr Traill's soil, generally speaking, is of the very worst 

 Kind; but he overcomes this disadvantage by mixino- 

 sand peat, and retentive clay. The specimens sent to 

 tne botanical Society were grown in the worst kind of 

 sou Ihe principal objection to this soil is, that the 

 plants, perhaps a tenth, die out the first year, and some- 

 times a few m the second. If they survive this period 

 they thrive quite as well as those grown in the bette 

 soils Mr. Horsburgh, of Tongue, one of the factors of 

 the Duke of Sutherland, has, at the request of his 

 brace, also instituted a series of experiments with the 

 Tussac, which, however, in their results, are somewhat 

 different from those of Mr. Traill. Mr. Horsburgh ob- 

 tained from us in 1346 two plants of the Grass, which 

 tillered out,'' to use his own words, " beautifully." In 

 the Mowing year, by a division of the roots 60 plants 

 were obtained, which were planted in his garden at 

 ■tongue. In 1848 the plants were again divided, and a 

 portion of them dibbled into mossy ground, exposed to 



no <oT Ue n °? ° f , the Sea s P ra ^ In tlle y ear Allowing 

 n a ' j Plants, with few exceptions, flowered and 



produced abundance of apparently good seed, which 



vpLT™ T m ^ u S usfc of the same year, but did not 

 «,* i J n December > the plants in the garden were 

 Sh-n t ? EaM P ven to cattle, who devoured it 

 Et , / n the s P™g of 1850 a number of the plants 

 w men had been cut, withered away and completely « died 



and set the health y P lants were a g*in divided, 



TnntniA 7 a P atch of sandy ground near the Ferry at 

 Et c f oa ?t of Sutherland), and at the present 

 few o ?L V T Vt ? d . t0 be healt1 ^ and thriving. Very 

 Z yet *T n 5 ^ J^*** 9 * &**** bore seeu 



Bave/f^fnd^ 011 - 0f laSt ^ ear ' s ***> which wa3 

 f.I!i:° r furfchc * ex Periment, was sown in June of the 



year and vegetated free! 

 hoed up by au ignorant 



r ; out in consequence 

 exnerimon+ rt A S C~ --©—■*-«• !ad, the result of this 

 ^Te^l7^ h u kn ° Wn - Mr * HorBbun* states 

 bei in rll ? obs ^ation that the Tussac thrives 



riant ^ h ^\ garden SOll > where its 8*> wth is very luxu- 

 Werlntl v 4 W m ° SSy land the P lants thri ve very 



HorsbuS ,J greatest len S th of blade of Mr- 

 ™>urgn a specimens was 6 feet ; but the average was 



lo the oft-repeated tales of whale fishers, the follow- 

 ing may well be added : — 



* We captured one middling-sized whale off this bay, 

 and then slowly worked our way southwards. For some 

 time we saw nothing worthy of notice or comment. A 

 little to the southward of this, however, a few days 

 afterwai-ds, we fell in with a ' run 1 of fish. It was about 

 mid-day, the water was very free of ice, and a good deal 

 ( of sea was running, there being a sharp breeze. Tliree 

 of the boats were lowered, and they had a pretty good 

 tossing about for some hours, but were completely unsuc- 

 cessful. It moderated, however, as the afternoon wore 

 on, and we were again rejoiced to seethe horizon broken 

 by the spouting jets of numerous whales. A large 

 * sconce, 5 or rather small floe, lay some distance a-head 

 — round this they were playing in dozens. All sail was 

 crowded on at once, though there was a strong breeze 

 blowing ; but there being three or four other vessels in 

 company, it was, of course, necessary to be a-head of 

 them. This we accomplished in gallant style ; the good 

 old ' Advice,' when well handled, clumsy as she looked, 

 could still sail well ; and, indeed, throughout the whole 

 voyage, when we were in company with the others, I 

 think we showed as good a pair of heels as any of them. 

 " Well, we got into the midst of the black floundering 

 masses ; one^ two, three boats were in an instant low- 

 ered, and in five minutes one of the largest of the oily 

 giants was writhing and struggling under the tortures of 

 a deeply-planted harpoon, — c she' made rather a long and 

 hard fight, but was ultimately subdued. 



" In the mean time, ail the other vessels had ( got 

 fast,' each had secured his whale, but the rest of the fish 

 had beat a quick retreat. Interested as I was in the 

 success of our own boats, I could not help enjoying the 

 interesting scene that was going on amongst those of the 

 1 Truelove ;'— they had got fast to a large whale, but she 

 showed better fight than any I had as yet seen. For 

 some considerable time she lay on the surface, never 

 diving, raising her huge tail and rump high out of the 

 water, and lashing it into a foam, that even at the dis- 

 tance I was, seemed like that at the foot of Niagara. 

 The boats during this time lay at a respectful distance ; 

 but soon the immense animal getting exhausted, one 

 after the other cautiously advancing, drove their weapons 

 into her, and she was soon thoroughly vanquished, when 

 the happy conquerors found themselves possessed of 

 more « blubber' than their ship could well stow, as they 

 had previously been very fortunate." 



Even in the whale ships it appears that horticulture 

 begins to be practised ; and we should not be surprised 

 to hear that in some future expedition, a regular Cab- 

 bage-garden had been established. Mr. Goodsir speaks 

 with exultation, as well he might, of the early Potatoes 

 which Captain Penny's ship rejoiced in. 



"It may appear rather strange that we should have 

 early Potatoes on board ship within the Arctic circle, 

 but for upwards of three months, from June to Septem- 

 ber, we had every day more than a quart of them at 

 dinner. A large supply of excellent Potatoes had been 

 put on board at Dundee, a good deal of mould being 

 amongst them, and the place where they were stored 

 being not far from the stove, and under the water, they 

 had sprouted, and formed young tubers. The steward 

 having informed us of this, orders were given that he 

 should be careful in removing the daily supply, and 

 rather to encourage than interfere with the growth of 

 this unlooked-for delicacy. They were about as large as 



almost before we had time to turn, bang ! went one of 

 their guns, and the fish was made almost secure. She 

 seemed to dive under the floe, and reappeared almost 

 at the same place, for she next came up within a very 

 short distance of where she was first struck, when a 

 third boat got fast to her, and before she dived again 

 she was mortally lanced. When she next appeared at 

 the surface, it was close to our boat ; we were at her in 

 a minute, when the ready lance of the master was twice 

 buried deep behind her fin. She made a rush forwards 

 winch pulled the lance out of his hand, but he soon had' 

 a second— we < lmrdPii#*l up' to the fish, when he 



- She had been quiet enough 



hitherto, but it was now full time for him to cry, <Back, 



men, for your lives !' I heard a sudden whizzing 



whistling sound in the air— I thought a black cloud had 



passed between us and the sun— a drenching shower of 



spray passed over us, and there was a loud thud upon 



the water on the other side of the boat, as her hu^e tail 



descended into the sea, which it continued to lash into 



seething foam for more than five minutes. It may be 



believed that whilst this was going on we all kept at a 



safe distance. It was, however, only the last struggl 



'the dying flurry,' and the huge mass was soon" I vine 



powerless and motionless before us. This was a female 



whale, and one of the largest we had yet seen." 



Miscellaneous 



Death of Mr. Wilmot 



We 



regret to 

 announce the death of Mr. Wilmot, which happened on 



the 2d inst., and in the 74th year of his age. As a 

 market gardener, no man in his time held so prominent 

 a position. From early youth, to the day of his decease, 

 he evinced an ardent enthusiasm in everything relating 

 to gardening ; for although it is well known that he 

 pursued his profession most successfully and profitably, 

 yet no cultivator for the market ever expended so much 

 as he has done in mere experiments. He tested the 

 efficiency or inefficiency of every plan connected with 

 the construction of glass houses, and in heating them 

 has proved every system devised during these last 26 

 years. In the cultivation of the Pine-apple, during his 

 long career, Mr. Wilmot has been, upon the whole, 

 eminently successful; and every mode propounded, from 

 Speechly's to the Meudon plan, has been tried by him; 

 the same may be said as regards the cultivation of the 

 Grape. Every variety of soil, and all the various modes 

 of constructing borders, have been amply proved undefc 

 his supervision at Isle worth. It is scarcely possible for 

 any one to have exhibited a greater degree of interest 

 than Mr. Wilmot did in the introduction of new and 

 improved varieties of fruits. During the period of which 

 we speak, he made numerous excursions to the con- 

 tinent, in order to inspect the gardens of Belgium, 

 Holland, France, and Germany; and on these occasions 

 he made extensive purchases ol* varieties which appeared 

 to him worthy of cultivation in this country. lie was, 

 however, often deceived, still this never damped his 

 ardour. When Cayenne Pine-apples first became known 

 to English gardeners, Mr. Wilmot was early in the field, 

 and made large purchases, in order to test their value. 

 His experienced eye, however, soon detected that instead 

 of the smooth-leaved variety, the French were import- 

 ing a large .intermixture of the smooth-leaved Havannah, 

 a comparatively worthless kind. Whatever he con- 

 sidered likely to suit the taste, and that would benefit 

 the English public, that he procured, be the expense 

 what it might ; and so late even as -last autumn, he 

 planted a large breadth of the Jefferson Plum. Upon, 

 tasting that variety, he at once saw that it was an acqui- 

 sition. In his relations with men interested in his pro- 

 fessional pursuits, he at all times evinced the utmost 

 frankness of manner, and explained everything without 

 the least reserve. His mind soared above what are called 

 garden secrets ; consequently he imparted, especially to 

 young gardeners, much valuable advice and information. 

 Generous and kind-hearted, he was ever ready and willing 

 to help the distressed ; and everything he did was in a 

 liberal and princely spirit. Naturally endowed with a 

 vigorous mind, and great honesty of purpose, he was 

 largely entrusted with the valuation of garden property. 

 In short, he has left a blank in the community of horti- 

 culturists. G. 



Horticultural Meetings in the United States. — The 

 recent fairs, horticultural, agricultural and mechanical, 

 have made a glorions era in the history of our State and 

 City. The effects of such an in-gathering of the people, 

 to witness the collected results of their own and neigh- 

 bours' industry and genius, and the enlarged views 

 produced upon the minds of all, may be imagined ; but 

 few will be able, even in their imaginations, to realise 

 the effects of fhe exciting causes which have been 

 brought to bear in this way upon the great mass. 

 Time alone will show the result. It is like a great 



a pigeon s egg, and exceedingly good— better, indeed, Q Cn0 ol to most men-being an occasion upon which new 

 than forced early Potatoes at home. As I am upon the ideas or roore liberal views are received— and the mind 

 subject of eatables, I may mention that the captain and thereby improved, the heart expanded. A minute 

 I not unfrequently indulged in a broiled whale steak, j description of this fair would not be appropriate for a 

 and broiled whale skm, both of which are very fair | horticultural paper, but a few words in our own deparfc- 

 eating, indeed, and which, if it came to be a matter of I meQt may BOt be am i SSt especially, since the merits of 

 necessity, I should think excellent." horticulture begin to be so highly appreciated by the 



The death of a whale, 65 feet long, is thus narrated : 

 " The stern-boat was the only one now left on board. 



agriculturists of our State, that horticultural societies 

 are likely hereafter to have a representation in the body 



