

r H E GARDENERS' C 1 1 I [ C L 



53 



which, under ordinary circumstances it would not 

 touch -a fact which is often lUuttwted by the 



introducers of some marvellous new kind of fodder 

 for cattle ; but in such cases it is frequently found 

 that though they will eat it when they can pet 

 nothing better, vet they derive comparatively little 

 benefit from it ; and the fact that they are able to 

 live upon it is no proof that it agrees with them, or 

 can be fairly called a good and wholesome food. In 

 the case of plants all this appears to hold good, but 

 to a far greater extent ; for when we take away from 

 them or diminish their supply of what constitutes 

 their' food, or is in any way necessary to their 

 healthy growth, we generally find that they make 

 extraordinary efforts to continue growing, and to 

 struggle on as long as they have a chance. Some 

 of Saussure's experiments well illustrate this, for he 

 found that when certain plants were confined under 

 glass bell jars, shut out from all connection with the 

 atmosphere, and not in any way supplied with gaseous 

 food, they still continued to grow, but they fed upon 

 themselves ; the weakest leaves withered and faded, 

 and by their decay furnished carbonic acid, &c. 

 which enabled the "stronger young shoots to continue 

 their growth and development. From these, and 

 many other similar facts, we may be led to conclude | 

 that, even if it should be proved that under unnatural 

 •circumstances plants are able to absorb and appro- 

 priate the free nitrogen of the atmosphere, it will 

 not at all follow as a necessary result, that under 

 natural circumstances, they ever do so absorb it. 

 We shall again advert to this subject on a future 

 occasion. 



" Warblers,'* have all of then a soft, silky, plumage ; 

 ami are, in point of substance, u light as air." He e 

 their sleekness, trimness, and fair symmetrical pro- 

 portions. The time to view them in their glory is in 

 the morning, while feeding ; or when the sun streams 

 into the aviary, through the windows. They may then 

 be seen basking in the sun s rays, ranged on one of the 

 long perches in the front window ; or lying stretched 

 out at full length on the margin of the rippling fountain. 



The * Warblers " are also remarkably fond of sitting 

 opposite the looking-glasses; before which they habitually 

 make their toilet, and perform some excruciatingly-droll 

 antics. If ever birds may be said to "think," it is at 

 such seasons as these. It is long before they can bring 

 themselves to believe that the reflection of their own 

 person is not in reality another bird. Many are the 

 assaults committed on the face of the glass iu con- 

 sequence ! 



To get these little rogues, one and all, to be your 

 associates, you need only provide yourself with any of 

 the luxuries in which they delight— such as a few wood- 

 lice, ants, spiders, mealworms, or earwigs. Your advent 

 will then be heralded with a rapturous song. One or two 

 of these savory morceaitx, kindly presented with the 

 hand, will get rid of all mauvaisc i ite on their part, 

 and cause you to be (i A 1 " in the estimation of the 

 colony. William Kidd, New-road, Hammersmith. 



BR] i;>H SONG BIRDS. 



"No. X\ —We w . . 



for enjoyment * complete;" for I believe very few 

 matters of essential import, connected with an aviary, 



Iiave escaped notice. 



The first thing now to be done, is to make yourself 

 thoroughly acquainted with the natural history of every 

 bird in your possession. You could not do this satis- 

 factorily, unless you had several of the same species ; 

 for to judge of all by one, would be manifestly incorrect. 

 Three of each, I think I may conscientiously say, will 

 suffice for your purpose ; if you chance to have more, 



so much the better. 



You will find there are many books extant, which 

 profess to treat logically of " British Song Birds ; " and 

 I recommend, if you feel so disposed, a perusal of the 

 whole. You will then satisfactorily convince yourself, 

 how totally insufficient they are to teach you any large 

 amount of practical knowledge. They appear to me to 

 be mere servile copies, one from the other. 



For several years, I kept a regular * diary " of obser- 

 vations ; and I most earnestly advise every possessor 

 of an aviary to do the same thing. They will feel, as I 

 have ever done, fresh sensations of delight every time 

 they refer to their note-book. Truly different indeed 

 will be their own remarks, by comparison with those 

 they have been in the habit of reading in printed books ! 

 You will first note the peculiarity in disposition of 

 each separate inmate ; observing, for instance, in whose 

 company the canary and goldfinch are principally found ; 

 also the linnet, chaffinch, bullfinch, &c. Certain birds 

 you will find to be of solitary, retired habits — others, 

 gregarious ; and many, partial to mixed society. Every 

 day will unfold some new and interesting discovery, and 

 bring to light some Pylades and Orestes vowing eternal 

 friendship for each other, &c. 



It is beyond all question, that social intimacies are 

 formed in an aviary, and that they are of long con- 

 tinuance. This remark applies as well to male birds, 

 as to those which live together in pairs. The most 

 singular instance of attachment, in illustration of the 

 latter, that I can call to mind, is that of a pied mule 

 canary (a hen), associated with a cock robin. The 

 mutual affection of this out-of-the-way pair was as strong 

 as it was remarkable. The two were never to be found 

 apart. The mule, which I had originally imagined to 

 be a male bird, and purchased as such, in due course 

 laid three eggs. They were artfully concealed behind a 

 >art of the lining of the wall, in some dried chickweed. 

 I removed these eggs as quickly as possible, and placed 

 hem under a hen canary, which was just beginning to 

 it, in a breeding cage. 



There being a wise and universal law in nature, that 

 10 mules, males or females, can reproduce their own 

 pecies, I felt quite confident in my own mind of what 

 oust be the necessary result with regard to the hatching 

 f the eggs. There was, of course, no embryon— con- 

 equently, no offspring. I merely experimented in this 

 >ne extraordinary instance, to satisfy some amateurs, 

 irho were morbidly sanguine of a contrary issue. 



It is worthy of notice, that immediately on the 

 •emoval of the eggs from their hiding-place, both the 

 •obin and the mule grew melancholy. Their affection 

 ras, if possible, redoubled; but, sick at heart at the 

 rustration of their fondest hopes, they pined gradually 

 way, and found a resting-place in the silent grave. 

 In their deaths they were not divided : * I placed them 



1 a small deal box, and buried them beneath the same 

 nnb. 



When you have carefully studied the dispositions and 

 abits *£ *k« imi«i u:ii«j i^—i- ?n *•_ j «i _i •_ xt_ - 



GRAFTING. 



No. IV.— Inarching on Stems or on Branches; fig. 2 

 (Oreffe Monceau of Thouin). — This mode of inarching 

 may be employed for the same purposes as that of the 

 former, or Michaux inarching ; and it answers better 

 for the propagation of evergreen plants and others ; but 

 in all cases in which it is adopted, it is better to operate 

 with wood of one or two years old, and that the portions 

 joined should be of the same age and thickness. 



Operation {see fig. 2.) — Prepare beforehand a stock, of 

 which the dimensions shall be regulated by the place 

 where we would wish to join it to an allied tree, of the 

 same thickness ; make in the latter a cleft through the 

 substance of the young wood ; it should be made from 

 below upwards, and prolonged even to the medullary 

 sheath, dividing it into two nearly equal parts (see 

 letter A) ; then the other (letter B), is cut long wedge- 

 shaped, for being inserted into the cleft, so as the whole 

 may perfectly coincide. 





Fig. 2. 



Fig. 3. 









-» 



A 



B 



r 



» 



; 





When we wish to employ this mode of inarching for 

 propagating rare plants, difficult to unite by other 

 means, we rear the stock in a pot to the height which 

 the plant to be inarched may require. When well 

 taken, the inarched portion is detached from the parent 

 plant, to form a distinct individual, depending entirely 

 on the stock, which has no other merit than that of 

 being vigorous, and of belonging to the same family as 

 the species we wish to increase.* 



Hymeneal Inarching (Oreffe Hymen) ; fig. 3 — This 

 may be employed for the same purposes as the pre- 

 ceding ; if it be intended to form kiosks, pavilions, or 

 arbours in gardens, or elsewhere, we may unite three 

 or four trees. I have inarched some in this way, under 

 which a coach could pass in every direction. It 

 be practised more simply with two subjects, such as 

 are represented in the engraving, and in this way they 

 may be used instead of posts for rural gates or doors 



-Prepare two plants or trees of the same 



bring their tops together at 



J of the hard-billed birds, you will find that in the 

 >it-uilled, you have yet more to admire 

 "eatures, more particularly those 



These little 

 known as the 



Operation. 

 height and thickness 



points where they readily touch, in consequence oi a 

 slight bending ; cut from each of them at this place a 

 longitudinal slice, of equal dimensions, deepest in the 

 middle, where it should raise a small portion of the j 

 medullary sheath ; thus prepared, the two cut surfaces 

 are united, so as to mutually cover each other, and they 

 are then firmly secured by means of ligatures, &c. If 

 the parts are of the thickness of the little finger, and this 

 should be the maximum, their consolidation would be 

 aided by a wire nail, driven through the junction. If 

 the tops of the respective trees thus inarched are 

 intended to form an aggregation, som e precautions a re 



♦ Thii separation or severage is often prepared for by inotcb 

 or, what is better, an annular cut, which renders the final 

 .eoaration less hazardous. 



necessary tor preserving an equilibrium in uuu vege- 

 tation. In employing this mode for the propaga «n of 

 rare plants, these are suited with young stocks of 

 kindred species, reared in pots, &c, and as soon as the 

 organic union is well-formed, the head of the stock is 

 cut off a little above the union ; the sort inarched upon 

 it should be separated from the stool or parent plant, by 

 the proceeding indicated in treating of the previously, 

 xplainedmode of inarching. Translated from Ou Frcwk 



f D'A Ibn t . 



MARKET GARDENING ROUND LONDON. 



No. IV. Carrots.— The Early Horn is the only kind 

 employed. It is sown in frames and hooped beds in 

 November and January." The plants are thinned out to 

 4 inches apart Long Carrots for winter use are grown 

 largely in the red sandy soil in the lower parts of Surrey 

 as well as in Bedfordshire, &c. 



Early Turnips.— The Early Stone or Dutch being in. 

 great demand in spring, various ways of producing it 

 are practised, such as growing it in frames ; but the 

 best plan is to raise it like Potatoes, in hooped beds, ft. e. 9 

 in trenches dug out and filled with 9 feet of hot dung. 

 Sow In February, hoop and cover with straw, and 

 expose the plants daily, the quality of a Turnip depends 

 much upon quick growth and plenty of moisture. 

 Late Turnips are not cultivated upon the dear land 

 about London, tiiey generally come from 10 or 12 

 miles off. The reason why a farmer cannot raise Tur- 

 nips like a gardener is owing to the poverty of the 

 land ; so small a seed wants immediate and available 

 nourishment the moment it vegetates. It is then able 

 to grow away from the fly, and if the seed was mixctl 

 with Irish peat charcoal it would greatly assist in effect- 

 ing this. Early and forced Turnips fetch from 2d. to 

 3d. apiece in Covent Garden market. 



Onions.— The ground for the mam crop is dressed 

 with strong dung, such as night-soil or cow-manure 

 'Hie seed for this crop is sown in February or the 1st of 

 March, in beds 5 feet wide, the soil from the alleys 

 being thrown on to cover the seed. The beds are then 

 raked, and a light wooden roller passed over them. 

 When up, small two-inch hoes are sent through them, 

 which is all the labour they receive, the ground being 

 so clear of insects, owing to ite being often turned over 

 Market gardeners seldom fail to obtain a good crop of 

 Onions. Where insects occur, however, a good dose of 

 salt and soot sown with the crop will kill them. Another 

 way of managing Onions is to sow about the middle of 

 August, to allow them to stand in beds all the winter, 

 and to plant them out on well prepared land 4 inches 

 apart in the rows, and 6 inches row from row. A t hird 

 plan is to save all the smallest bulbs, and plant them 

 out in February, the same distance apart as the last. 



Horse-Radish.— The root is like that of beakale, as 

 respects propagation; the whole roots are thickly 

 studded over with eyes, and in order to make a new 

 plantation all that is needed is to plant small pieces of 

 them, or the tops cut off, in the bottom of a trench 

 1 foot apart each way, and about 15 inches deep. 

 Horse- Radish is generally planted in February. When 

 it comes up all the weakest shoots are pulled up, leaving 

 only one ; and should any more make their appearance 

 afterwards, they are destroyed by the hoe. "hen 

 taking up time arrives in autumn they are trenched up, 

 cutting them down to about a foot or more with the 

 spade. They are knifed after the mould is moved. 

 The roots are sorted into best and second-best 1 tie 

 best are tied into bundles of 12 heads or more for 

 market ; the ground is then well manured with rotten 

 cowdung, and the roots are again left to come up for 

 another year's crop. The best ground for Hone-Radish 

 is the " Jerusalem level" between London-bridge and 

 Greenwich, and some parts of Battersea, where the 

 river Thames, in days of yore, had thrown up a deep 

 deposit. This ground also produces the best beakale ; 

 hot dug ground or clay renders it hard and indigestible. 

 Winter Radishes.— These are sown from the first to 

 the last week in December, choosing as warm ground 

 for the purpose as possible ; but acres of them may be 

 seen in very exposed places. The ground being pre- 

 pared the seed is sown broadcast. The alleys are 

 marked out, and the mould from them is thrown over 

 the seed. A wooden rake is then used to make all level ; 

 no iron rakes are employed iu market gardens. After 

 sowing, straw which has been previously shaken out of 

 the London stable manure, is put over the beds 2 or 

 3 inches in thickness. When the plants come up, which 

 depends upon the winter, the straw is removed every 

 may cU* and put on every night until all danger from frost 

 ' is past ; it takes 5° to hurt a Radish after it is half- 

 grown. ' When off, the ground is again dug, for French 

 Beans or Vegetable Marrows, &c. James Cuthill, 



Camberwell. 



ii 



i 



Home Correspondence. 



Some Facts about the action of Cold on Plants. — Facts, 

 however trivial in themselves individually, become in 

 the aggregate of immense value in building up a theory, 

 or illustrating a practice ; for we must recollect that a 

 theory is as often the child of experience, as that 

 practice is illustrated by it, although such may not 

 appear evident at the moment. The action of cold on 

 plants is of vital importance to the practical gardener, 

 as well as interesting to the natural philosopher. The 

 relation of temperature to the healthy development of 

 vegetable life is as yet but imperfectly understood. 

 Every day, however, adds useful knowledge on this 

 head to our acquired stock. In the early spring of 

 1846. a auantitv of Geraniums and other Boft-wooded 



