THE GARDENERS 



CHRONICLE. 



WlUi DO* 



room and a strong BUNM heat, thoj 



will be 



ed in any wam sbed during 



STta thrauu^n for placing in the -—• 

 Few things are m-re attractive when well manage^ 

 and as they may be preser 

 rintcr tney are not much trouble. 



FORCISG DEPARTMENT. 



I'erhaps nothing is more worthy of * ot '<* J"/™ 



' at the pre»sn* pstiod, than that one ot the 



Kreatest errors committed by the forcing gardener is to 

 SlTw too few leaves and too much fruit to "-nam upon 



department 



Vines. It is impossible to lay down anv rule for others 

 to go by in this matter ; but 



li an/ »— •" - — 



would rather reduce 



.hes upon a Vine of moderate vigour ^ ^ ^ 



vanegated leaves, the Lobelia Ermus ^P^^WcWv 

 the variegated Alyssum ; the latter planted tlncklj, 

 luswlrs the purpose very' well, as the flowers and leaves 

 are both white.^ The white flowering Geranmn is are 

 not vet perfect, but we have every reason tobeheve 

 that'by attention to hybridizing, we shall soon have 

 them everything that can be desired. Get the 

 varieties of Pelargoniums as strong and bushy 

 sible previous to planting out, so .that they ma* begm 

 to bloom evenly. Vey all flower in such abundance 

 that there is little doubt of their contmuing to make a 

 good display throughout the season, P artl f ar 7 **J J , e 

 foil is light. Sandy peat, a little loam, and leal-mould, 



Forcing : An Old Sub. No pi 

 made good roots 

 true of every ca9e 



flower 



fancy 

 as pos- 



; that is the first thin* to loow !^ 

 . After forcing Ghent and £r ?' fl 

 leni out and grow them in the I ***** 



is better to turn them out and grow them in the^ Az *^** 

 a clear year before forcing them again. I n forcing lir fc 



proceed slowly; haeta ruins a*** 





5 



ail other things 





They ought to be a month after their buda^swelu 6 ?^ 

 flowers open, if the flowers ara to ba fine and to t ' 

 Roses are forced every year- v»n* fi»«„ , 8ta ^d 



flowers open, if the flowers ara to ba fine and to* r iQre Hi 



* > but they are also w ?i d ** % 

 and well rested every year. All plants must hi *** \ 

 unless you wish to kill them; none demand tbiarn ^ 

 Chinese Azalea* in pots. Manure should be aDnliJ^ ?**** 



the number of bunc r — . lur . 



to six, and have these fine than ^£^f^ 

 bunches, if the Vine was likely to be 



i 



njured by them. 



An old but healthy Vine will brmg a great number of 

 Grapes to the best perfection, while a young \ me will 

 be injured for years, by being allowed to carry one or 

 two bunches too many. In the first place, the spurs 

 should be limited to a number which will allow' of their 

 leaves being freely exposed to the influence of the sun 

 and air ; and of (fail number not more than half should 

 be allowed to produce fruit this year, nor should any one 

 of these be allowed to mature more than one bunch. The 

 remaining half of the spurs ought to be confined to mak- 

 ing wood for next year's crop. Weak spurs, which are 

 not to bear fruit this season, should be encouraged, by 

 allowing them to produce six or eight leaves^ before 

 they are stopped ; this practice will be particularly 

 useful with Vines, which are weakly from excessive 

 cropping last year, or from other causes. To expose 

 the foliaze as much as possible to the action of 



shoots should be tied at right angles 



under 



the 



liriit, the spur 



with th* main 

 the Vines, 11 



Grapes be the 

 not lie allowed 



FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 



The season almost puzzles the oldest florists ; we 

 have Tulips far advanced above-ground ; they conse- 

 quently must be carefully sheltered from the dry cutting 

 winds of March. This can easily be effected by some 

 of the nets advertised in our columns. A slight pro- 

 tection will now prevent extensive mischief, and a little 

 trouble will be worth the while ; for we learn that the 

 Great Northern or the Great Midland (the last we 

 believe is the appropriate designation), is offering very 

 handsome premiums for the Queen of flowers. There- 

 fore those of our friends who mean to win must begin 

 their care now.— Plant Ranunculuses. The beds of 

 course are prepared according to our previous directions. 

 We recollect one of the best blooms we ever saw was 

 grown on a bed that had been previously well trampled, 

 and when the bulbs were pressed on the hard surface 

 and covered over, the surface of the bed was beaten by 



Give Auriculas plenty of air at 



in pots only while they are making their growth • $** 

 rest it does no kind of good, and may do much harm * 

 must kill green- fly with tobacco smoke. ^ \ 



Gardener in Paris : W. Such a person could be easil t 

 but not for such wages. Living is as dear near Pari/i^ 

 London, and here the minimum wages for such a I m 5 * 

 would be 801. a year. We are afraid it will be dfffiS? 

 induce men to go abroad for less than they receive at h 



Garden Memoranda : U M. We never allow any one to^ 

 these except our own reporter. Your statement is an J 1 * 



tisement and something more. 



Glass: J Redwood. Hartley's patent rough plate. The 

 Hamburgh Grape will possibly suit your purpose best + 

 >ld Fish : Horatio. These spawn exactly like other fi«l 



Bfa 



Gold 



fish. 



rods. Any plants m pots, 

 by this be much shaded ; but if your 

 chief object, oth< considerations must 

 to interfere with whatever is necessary 

 for their perfect development. Peaches.— In disbudding 

 I'each trees, it is desirable to retain as many of the 

 side or even foreright shoots as will fill with leaves any 

 part of Ihe tree which would otherwise be bare ; all the 

 young shoots 80 retain*' 1, with the exception of those 

 required for laying in, should be stopped above the 

 third or fourth leaf, as in spurring. By this means, the 

 appearance of the trees will be improved, and a supply 

 of fruit-bearing Bpurs secured, where there would other- 

 wise be nothing but naked wood ; and if at any time 

 it be found neceSBary, they will be available for the pro- 

 daction of young wood, to fill up where old, worn out 

 branches have been removed. We have generally found 

 the largest and finest fruit in our Peach houses upon 

 these spurs ; and sometimes on those situated very near 

 the main stem of the tree. Constant attention must be 

 paid to tying in the young shoots nearly parallel with 

 those from which they proceed, as, on early attention to 

 this matter, much of the beauty of fan-trained fruit 

 trees depends. Strawberries are rery liable to be 

 attacked by the green fly, for destroying which, recourse 

 must be had to smoking or fumigating. If any pot 

 plants are growing in the forcing houses, they should be 

 closely watched, for in nine cases out of ten they bring 

 mischief along with them. It is very necessary to nip 

 all these plagues in the bud, as by so doing much labour 

 is saved, and the disappointment consequent upon the 

 unchecked ravages of insects is avoided. 



FLOWER-GARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES. 



If the soil of any of the beds or clumps for masses 

 has not been prepared for its summer occupants, it 

 should be immediately done. Where a certain kind of 

 plant suits a particular situation, there is no impropriety 

 in placing it there every year ; but in such cases it is 

 advisable to remove the whole, or a large portion of the 

 old soil, once in two or three years, and to fill up with 

 new material. For some plants, however, as scarlet 

 Pelargoniums, this practice would be injurious, unless 

 the soil were very poor, for they generallv grow too 

 luxuriantly. Our situation being moist, and the growth 

 of Geraniums, consequently, being often too vigorous we 

 beat or tread the bed firmly, and then in planting,'lay 

 the plants on the hardened surface, and cover them with 

 light soil. By this means, our plants are entirely covered 

 with flowers. Pay every attention to the propagation of 

 the more excellent bedding plants, preferring those 

 which combine a compact habit, and hardy constitution 



witt a decided colour. Dwsrf, oompact,blu« beds will 



be best furnished by the different varieties which have 

 originated from Lobelia ^acilis ; and which may be in- 

 creased with great facility by cuttings or seeds. The 

 latter should be sown immediately in boxes or pans, 

 aiid pricked out m a frame of soil, as soon J 

 they are large enough to handle. The best variety 

 is the l,. fcnnus compacta grandiflora, than which a 

 more beautiful plant for dwarf dense 

 deep blue, or violet colour 



the back of a spade. 



all times, provided the air is not too cold, for a check at 

 this season is highly detrimental. Begin to make active 

 preparation for potting off the stock of Carnations ; the 

 soil ought to be under a shed, well worked, and a sixth 

 part of peat charcoal, whether Irish or English, will be 

 found highly beneficial. 



State of the Weather near London, for the week endin* Feb. 27, 1551, 



as observed at the Horticultural Garden, Cuiswick. 



Feb. 



31 



be 



< 



'JO 



n 



Friday.. 



Satur. .. 22 

 Suoday". 23 

 Monday 24123 

 Tuei. .. 25 2* 

 Wed. .. 26 25 

 Thura. .. 9J 25 



Tbmpbhatubb. 



L9U 



30.007 

 29.394 



29.7<i6 



29.947 

 3U.3--6 



30.3 ti3 



19.810 

 29.9i7 



29.79-* 



29.76' 



29318 



30.212 

 o 0.334 



Of the Air 



Max.] 



i 

 Min. | Mean 



! 



4S 



37 



37-5 



50 



29 39.5 i 



49 



31 



40.0 ! 



53 



31 



42.0 



53 



34 



43 5 1 



44 



23 



33.5 j 



45 



30 



Of >5 



Of the Earth 



1 foot '2 feet 

 deep, j deep. 



Wind. 



a 

 si 



Averasff 



• • 



30.030 29.951 4S.8 29 3 S9.0 



Ftb. 21 — Hazy; fine; alight fo$. 



— 22— Deo»e fog;; very fine; clear at night. 



— 23 — Fine; *ery fine; clear. 



— 24— Uazy ; cloudy; fo^gy ar night; alUht rain. 



— 2 — FoRjsy throughout ; ovarcaat at Dlght. 



— 26— tine; cl»*ar; suarp frost at night. 



«— 27— Cold, with a lew slow- liases; deute dark cloufla. 



Mean temperature ol the week lj deg. below the average. 



State of the Weather at Chiswick during the last 25 years, for the 



eoauiog week, ending Ma ch 8. 1S51. 



Ma ch. 



a 



- ! 



ti ! 



£•** 



Sunday 2 



Mon 3 



Tues. 4 



Wed. 5 



Thura. 6 



Friday 7 



Saiur. 8 



49.2 



50.0 



49.2 



48.3 



47.9 



49 



499 



£ * e 



38.2 

 35.1 



32.7 

 32.3 

 32.4 

 32.G 

 33.1 



8 a 



No. of 

 I ears in 

 which it 



Kaiued. 



1 



43.7 

 42.6 



4i 

 40.3 

 40.1 



40 9 

 41.5 



9 

 12 

 10 



7 



9 

 10 



9 



Greatest 

 Quantity 

 of Ram. 



Prevailing Winds. 



The highest temperature during the above period occurred on the 8th 

 1S26, and 7th and 8th, 1841— tuenu. 61 deg.; and the lowest on the 25th, 1845 



Notices to Correspondents. 



A Field : Constant Reader. You should put yourse'f in com- 

 munication wiih one of" the great London seed houses, and 

 contract with them to grow whatever they would like to have 

 saved in your field, which seems to bo v*-ry favourably placed 

 for a crop which requires nicety in saving it. 

 Arafcaeia : J H. The bleeding cannot be stopped, nor can we 

 judge the cause. There is nothing that vou can do except 

 wait the worst with hope or resignation 

 Campanula Jidalii : G This is a fleshyl.temmed straggling 

 shrub, with good-sized cream-coloured flowers, said to grow 

 two or three together at the end of a long stalk. What Tt 

 may be worth will be seen hereafter : we do not expect much 



crimson*; Lady 



a 



CiNERAaiAs: TgTioramus. Flora M'lvor, brilliant 

 Gertrude, dark Wue ; Nympb, white ; CerUo.^hUe^wUh 

 larend-r edg,..*; Climax, clear white, with a crimson 

 edgtng ; and Edmondiana, white, with a blue ed<in- • 



Club in Cabbaom: Tamworth. The usual remedy U to rut 

 wood-a-he* into the h -lea i n which fe Cabbage, are planted 



a 



masses of 



.,.-,,. . ,: - > does not exist. For a 



Uller bed of pale blue, the A^ratum Mex 



answer ; and for a purple bed the 



icanum might 



purple variety of 



Branching Larkspur i 3 a most desirable thine ; and in 

 afiulmv ^»t!.;„„^ — i. ..Z.7"V " ,, ."™ ! ' " uu,<1 r rov e 



tl^Z T ' be ? mat,y other t!,in S* woi.1,. ,._ c 



V^ZT' I""' v r 1 "' "* a ■* k blue ' th ^ late-flowering 

 rorget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides). Verbenas i 



tupply beds of all shades and colours ; exLntvell 

 and good blue ; but the greater portion 'ofSv^ 



Iff C t ? ar r e , *? d,ff,,Se in habit to m »ke compact 

 Hfccfve bed... If about a dosa of the most distinct 



frae-flowenng, compact-growing kinds are selected, the 

 real may be very conveniently discarded. For white 

 i-K one of the best and most satisfactory of flowering 

 £&«>ts,.s \erbena Mont Blanc ; and next to this we 

 «»7 mention, the varieties of Pelargoniums wS 



Coioo&a 



v . C E G, v 7 here is a c «rtain sort of tru'h In the n««r 

 ti,n that pure blue, and pure yellowa do not coexist f, X 

 same genus of plant.. F.,r instance, you have lo hi, « R, 





are handsome ; the best 



Verbenas will | Ciat.eguses : Constant Reader. All 



1 are the varieties ot oxyacaVtha ArnniJ " ttIia80me \ the 1 

 m*ra, cordara, tin^enfo?' ' od^M^ 

 Trust to a resectable nurseryman IZ* a " d v one ^^. 

 Azaleas ; it is of little o, to o „ fhi'h^ 116 Belgian 

 •peetable nursersman will mak^ n h^? b ? name ' a Pe - 

 than you can yourself * a beiter Section for you 



F W'uf B 'J he 8ort °^ Fi ^ ™>st 

 the Blanche ronde. Wi h 



buds of all shoots above 

 that of the leading sho« 



cultivated at Argentenil is 



I 



corertd in sprin/ • and lik»«iJl VT wnen the tret * 8 are un. 

 buds along these a^meshoo^r " lh ° half ° f tbe Wood 



/ 



it is important that they should have weeds and gravel ftU! 

 which to deposit it. ™ 



Heating : Inquirer. In distributing heated air, it may W 

 venient to have more openings than one; batnoirj 

 answer can be given to such inquiries. What it may orm* 

 not be desirable to do depends upon a variety of delicate 2 

 eidcrations, which vary with plans, objects, and circj 

 stances. 



Hebbabia : Bbrtus Siccus. If you wash your dried plants hi 

 weak solution of corrosive sublimate in spirit, they will^ 

 become mouldy. 



Insects : J P S. The small white grubs in the interior of fe 

 Wheat stalks are the young of the Wheat-fly (Chlorta 

 lineata), of which a full history is given in this workjj 

 1848, November 25 and December 2. We believe it b K 

 decidedly injurious to the plants. W.—G T W. The^ 

 found under-ground are the small larvae of the conn* 

 cockchaffers. Turn a lot of ducks into the field. JF. 



Lily of the Valley : T G B. You will find the cultivatiM 

 this in such books as Loudon's " Encyclopaedia of Ge 

 deniog." What it wants is well drained soil, and plenty 

 dead leave*, rotten sticks, &c, among which torunabwu 

 just what it gets in its native woods. It dislikes to bebmii 

 deep. You may trap the woodlice with piece3 of Potato,* 

 destroy them by toads ; but it requires perseverance tf 



patience. 



Molbebby Trees : Sub. We never saw Mulberry trees pit* 

 under glass, and trained against the back wall of a latekt 

 house; but we see no reason why they should not bei 

 treated, if they are worth the situation. 



Names of Fboits : F H L. We cannot pay the carriage 

 articles sent for names ; 2s 8d. were demanded by the Dull 

 Steam-boat Company, who have the box.— A r Z No, 1 j* 

 say is not so large as the Court of Wick ; this is probity 

 owing to the state of the tree, for it appears to be notbaf 

 else. 2, quite worthless ; one would suppose it had ta 

 produced by the stock, 3, Grange's Pearmain. 4, worthies 

 resembles the American Sops of Wine.ll— J J. The Flan. 

 Bon Chretien. H 



Names of Plants : J \K Schomburgkia rosea, and Maiillih 

 scabrilinguis— J P. 1, nothing but Centaurea nigra wal 

 white n>wers; 2, Juncus obtusiflorus ; 3, Lycopodwmw 

 vatum ; 4, Myosotis palustris ; 5, Trifolium fragifenim;! 

 Stachys sylvarica.— R E. Afrer a long search we are usti 

 to find any traca of the MaxiHaria-like plant ; but it » Mil 

 a state which will permit its being named and published I 

 new.— MA G. Erica herhacea ; the taller is perhaps M 

 diterranea very young. Bud Orange Btocks tither nowoti 

 autumn as soon as the bark will run ; but take care that* 

 bu-ls are quite ripe.—/ S C. Barbarea vulgaris, tbecoajl 

 Belleisle or broad-leaved Cress.— A Reader. Apparent 

 flower of Iris reticulata. . . 



Pawlovnia : QaUicus. There is no reason why it should bo" 

 moved, but there is no time to lose. It requires a I W JJ 

 place, and if you can give it a berth where the soil mmi 

 summer, so much tbe better. It will bear much more mi 

 than you ever have, but will not flower unless you canp 

 vent exuberant growth and ripen its wood well. weoa» 

 no one has yet tried training it to a pouth wall . 



Pine Apples : Amateur. You should have stated tbeip «• 

 Pines from which you wish to have ripe fruit in May, w 

 and July; and the temperature at which they nmm 

 kept during winter. -Starting" them, a s you prow 

 not so good as growing them without check until they jrm ' » 

 the temperature be about 60° by night, and from itf* 

 by day, with a bottom heat of from 80* to 8o . *J . 

 that may come up in March will be ripe in June » iw »j 

 but to have ripe Pines in May, the fruit should now » 



and swelltng.i ... BV a T itrt( 



Rhubakb : J V. The sample of Rendle's Prolific was wjir 

 solid, and well flavoured, About its earliness we 



personal means of judging, , xi^wiaii 



Rooks: 3/Pasks for information concerning tne dw 

 of persuading rooks to build in trees. Answers J n 

 sionally been given to this inquiry, but our corresyv 

 seem desirous of further information. ^^^ 



Scale: Sub. The best remedy tor it is hot water. ^ 

 apply it to Vines io a dormant state at a temperature 

 from 140° to lGa°.{ f Die* 



Steam-cot Sashbabs: Amateur. Mr. Montgomery, 



f°rd . H n v, e (w«8 



Stoves: IFZ?r. We do not perceive the connect 



Cundy's stove and horticul ure. t nTcelto Dl ' 



Vinegar Plant: MA. This is the spawn or ^% iQ ^ 

 Penicillium glaucum The^e substances are figure 

 ley's " Medical and (Economical Botany,' P« /'• AP pl^ 

 Vine t.W W. Your mixture wilt answer perlecciy. 



with a painter'^ brush.J . „u hrl oldi8f *, 



Wages: MP. A master is not justified in ^^< 

 wages of his gardener, earning 81* a wees, iiluess. troj 

 such gardener being temporarily disabled ?J ifl a d:^ 

 working ; a labourer earning Is. a week stanas 

 position, not being a domestic servant. -will be c* 8 ? 



Wall Teees : B L. Nail them up at once, or 'tney w ^ 

 by the frost while you are thinking of d ^Vf- t-tbif 

 Cannot you weave a few Birch twigs or *° m K*?* % \>%*r* 

 amongst the flowers of the earliest kinds, i" n8 il«dJ 

 on every account to leave the fruit » bo(> " ot so m 

 this time of year. Blossoms close to a wal "f ^protect*' 

 to be cut off as those which are loose ana u a 



frout of it. .intftne* 10 !* 



Willows : Salix. We are corrected by the fol">*i » f j^ 



dum. "The Huntingdon Willow is the Sahx a i"* doa 'i ^ 



according to Selb/s « Forest Trees' and uv» 



Brit.' ch. ciii. p. 1522, there quoted. S. S. 



/ 





i 



SEEDLING FLOWERS. bat D0 »y 

 Cineeabias: F PE. Both well worth 8 r0 ™*?'* 

 ficienUy distinct to be sent out as new varies ■ iff j|* 



\* As usual, many communications have *** n the n ece^ 

 late, and others are unavoidably detained in » iudulrj 

 inquiries can be made. We must also beg ™ T \s Qn of 1* 

 of those numerous correspondents, the mser 

 interesting contributions is still delayed. 



