r 















THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



199 



will will b 



iiious. I find, liow- 



•kited in 



L?£nduloiiB character of the summer shoot adds 

 * 5v to the beauty of the tree. My trees are 



poor »ndv soil, on an elevated situation. 

 VsmA 'ier grow, on an average, about 2 feet a year, 



USX u3*"> **»<* aud dense M * , be in , i P ervi ^ s - 



S«to-rT* beautiful light green, with a bloom like 



rfCTMC **• AU the Co nifewe £ row wel1 Wlth me > 

 . SfEsFir growing 4 feet in a year. But no Fir 



SJi die Deodar in beauty. ^1 Constant Reader, Sussex. 

 National Floricultiral, ifarcft 27.— Mr. Arthur 



M0DEBSON in the chair. At this, the first general 

 SSn** the minutes of the preliminary one were read 

 «d confirmed, and such other arrangements as were 

 jmitaed necessary, to commence the business of the 



_ji? on April 3d, were completed. In addition to 

 the 54 members already enrolled, the names of 44 new 

 candidates for election were proposed. The first 

 Meeting, for the exhibition of seedlings, will take place 

 on Thursday next ; and the following censors are spe- 

 ciallv appointed to attend at 12 o'clock on that day, for 

 the examination of such subjects as may be submitted 

 to their inspection :— Mr. J. T. Neville, Peckham ; 

 Jlr. C. Lidgard, Hammersmith ; Mr. John Fraser, Lea- 

 bridge ; Mr. A. Parsons, Ponder's-end ; Mr. J. Cole, 

 Birmingham ; and Mr. E. A. Hamp, South Lambeth. 



Caledonian Horticultural, March 6. — Professor 

 Balfour in the chair. There was a good display of 

 spring-flowering hardy and exotic plants ; and the day 

 being fine, the attendance was large. Prizes were 

 awarded as follows -.—Nurserymen : 18 Hyacinths, first, 

 Messrs. J. Dickson and Son, with the following varieties : 

 Tubiflora, Lord Anson, Bouquet a Vend re, Mammosa, 

 Voltaire, La Grande Vidette, Orondates, Prince Albert 

 of Prussia, Grand Lilas, La Candeur, Nimrod, Prince 

 of Waterloo, La Patrie, Belline, Pronjuwell, L' Unique, 

 Baron von Thuil, and Emmicus. Second, Messrs. 

 Dickson and Co., with Lord Wellington, Tubiflora, 

 Oscar, Laurens Koster, Charles Dickens, Madame 

 de Stael, Goudbeurs, Bellona, Poniatofski, Amy, 

 Baron von Thuil, Bloksberg, La Grande Vidette, Tullia, 

 Prinz Metternich, Kroonprinz, and Voltaire. Practi- 

 cal gardeners and amateurs : first, Mr. Douglas, gr. to 

 Sir J. D. Lauder, with Lord Wellington, Orondates, 

 Elizabeth de Valour, Prince Albert, Grand Lilas, 

 Voltaire, Tubiflora, and Baron von Thuil ; second, Mr. 

 Nicol,gr., Orphan Hospital, with Prince Albert, Nimrod, 

 Emmicus, La Tour d'Auvergne, Baron von Thuil, Grand 

 Tainqueur, and Laurens Koster; third, Mr. Mitchell, gr. 

 to Lady Keith. Camellias : first, Mr. M'Lean, gr. to 

 W. F. Mackenzie, Esq., M.P., with Fimbriate, Cars- 

 wellianna, Candidissima, Hendersoni, Imbricate, and 

 Double White ; second, Mr. Reid, gr. to J. Wauc- 

 chope, Esq., with Eximia, Imbricate, Fimbriate alba, 

 Restowii, Double White, and Gray's Invincible. The 

 prize for the two best and most distinct varieties of 

 Epacris was assigned to Mr. Reid, gr. to Professor 

 Syme, for two seedlings raised at Millbank, named 

 Chnstisonii and Thomsonii. For the two finest and 

 mo*t distinct varieties of Cineraria, two prizes were 

 awarded ; the first to Mr. Addison, Gosford, for Climax 

 and Lady Prudhoe ; and the second to Mr. Mitchell, 

 Kavelstou, for Pauline and Cerito. The prize offered 

 for the three finest spring-flowering hardy herbaceous 

 plants, grown in pots, was awarded to Mr. Addison, who 

 produced Narcissus pumilus and Bulbocodinni, and 

 oaxifraga oppositifolia grandiflora. For the three best 

 sorts of Pears, fit for the dessert, the prize was gained 

 Jy Mr. Hamilton, gr. to Sir D. Kinloch, with Glout 

 Morceau, Passe Colmar, and Poire d'Auch. There 

 *»s a close competition for the prize offered for the 

 heaviest stalks of forced Rhubarb. The first premium 

 *as awarded to Jlr. Goodall, gr. to the Marquis 

 of Lothian, for six stalks of Victoria, weighing 7 lbs. 9 oz. 

 A second prize was voted to Mr. Henderson, gr. 

 to C. K. Sivewright, I j., for six stalks of the same 

 JJtfiety, weighing 7 lbs. 6 oz„ and of excellent quality. 

 iQere were many excellent productions sent for exhi- 

 bition only, not for competition, and thanks or honorary 

 awards were voted for them according to circumstances. 

 Messrs. Dicksons and Co. sent a hamper of beautiful 

 hyacinths, and a finely flowered plant of Daphne For- 

 ^ Messrs. J. Dickson and Sons likewise sent fine 

 Hyacinths. Mr R. M. Stark produced plants of Acacia 

 "***a and pentadenia, and several other exotics. Mr. 

 flairs exhibited a dozen stalks of Prince Albert 



Cinerarias and several fine Rhododendrons, including 

 the true R. cinnamomeum, and a light coloured 

 seedling of good form raised at Dysart. Prof. Syme 

 sent two beautiful seedling Epacrises ; and J. Ait ken, 

 Esq., several fine Hyacinths. Mr. Shearer, gr. to the 

 Marquis of Tweeddale, sent four seedling Cinerarias, for 

 two of which, a blue and a purple, a Certificate of Merit 

 was granted. Mr. G. Stirling contributed a fine set of 

 Alpines, including beautiful Scillas, Primula speciosa, 

 and cut flowers of Helleborus olympicus. Mr. A. For- 

 rester also exhibited a collection of Alpines, including 

 the rare Leontice altaica, Primula alteica, and Coch- 

 learia acaulis. Two beautiful bouquets were exhibited 

 by Mr. Jaffrey, foreman at Warriston Lodge. A fine 

 bouquet also came from Mr. Reid, of Edmonston. 

 Several well flowered plants of Cinerarias and Camellias 

 were furnished from the Society's collection. Messrs. 

 R. Thomson and Son sent for exhibition a new portable 

 garden engine ; and specimens of Hall's garden netting, 

 for protecting fruit blossoms, were exhibited from the 

 manufacturers. Several new members were elected, 

 and the following communications were read : 1. "On 

 Growing and Preserving Cauliflowers for Winter Use, 

 by Mr. Pender, Moredun. 2. " On the Cultivation of 

 Plants in Sphagnum Moss," by Mr. Shearer, Yester 

 House. 



Botanical of Edinburgh, March 13. — Professor 

 Balfour in the chair. The following papers were read: 



1. On Lastrea uliginosa, Newm. By T. Moore, F.L.S. 

 The author endeavoured to show that this Fern cannot 

 be reckoned as a species. He considers it as a variety 



of L. cristata. 



2. Notice of British Hieracia* By J. Backhouse, 



junior. 



3. On the Berwickshire Station, for Anacharis Alsi- 

 naslrum. By Dr. Johnston. 



4. Report on the state of Vegetation in tJte Edinlargh 

 Botanic Garden from Feb. 14 to March 13, 1851. By 

 Mr. M'Nab. 



Date of flowering. 

 1851. 



Feb. 14 



... 14 

 15 



>j 



■ ■ • 



■ • ■ 



• « • 





• • • 



>•• 



• . • 



« • • 



• • • 



• • • 



« * « 



■ * • 



• • • 





■ • 



• • ♦ 



• • • 



16 

 17 



18 

 19 

 20 

 24 

 26 



. . . March 1 



1 

 2 

 3 

 4 

 4 

 4 



Date of flowering. 



1850 





February 



• • ■ 



• • ■ 



• • • 



• • • 



• •• 



t • • 



■ • • 



. ■ • 



• • » 



• • • 



• •» 



• • • 



• • • 



• •• 



• * • 



5 



5 



5 



6 



6 



8 



10 



10 



11 



12 



13 



Feb. 20 



March 

 February 



• ■ • 



March 



• • • 



• * • 





• - • 



. . . 



• • • 



• • ■ 



23 



23 

 16 

 27 



2S 



1 



11 



24 



2o 

 21 



20 



« • « 



April 

 March 



. . . 



• t • 



.. t 



• • • 



• • • 



• ■• 



11 



4 

 8 



14 



• ■ • 



• • ■ 



• •■ 



18 

 20 



of Moorpark 

 the Experi- 

 The earliest 



with a surface heat of about 70°, while that of the 

 water is about 80 Q . These pipes are warmed by a boiler 

 14 "yards from the basin, and which also supplies heat 

 for a range of houses immediately in connection 

 with it. After the frame is removed, it is pro- 

 posed to cover it with canvas supported on iron 

 rods in such a manner that it can be opened or closed at 

 pleasure. This has been provided in order to guard 

 against very unfavourable weather ; but it is appre- 

 hended that its use will not be much needed. The basin 

 was constructed in this manner : After removing the 

 mould to the required depth, the bottom was well 

 puddled w r ith clay about 9 inches thick ; over this a 

 layer of loose bricks was placed, commencing in the 

 centre, and carrying them up to the top of the basin. 

 The hot-water pipes are raised one brick above the rest. 

 In this way a tank has been made at a very trifling 

 expense, for the culture of the different low-growing 

 stove aquatics which are intended to be placed in it. 



Mr. Solomon's Forcing Grounds, Peckham Rye. — 

 Mr.~Solomon, who is a large fruiterer in Co vent garden, 

 has established these grounds with the view of furnish- 

 ing his shop with good fruit of his own growth, instead 

 of depending entirely for his supply on extraneous 

 sources. The whole place is not much more than half 

 an acre in extent, and is nearly covered with glass. One 

 house, a lean-to, about 100 feet long, was full of Grapes, 

 and presented a fine appearance. The Vines are 

 placed one under each light, with their roots spreading 

 into the outside border ; the bunches were (March 24), 

 just beginning to colour. They were very large, and 

 appeared as if they would be excellent Grapes. 

 The straw with which the outside border had been 

 covered had just been removed. Straw, as a covering, 

 is preferred here to old tan, which is said to be objec- 

 tionable on account of its not allowing heat and air to 

 penetrateitsufticiently. No heating material is employed; 

 the only covering the borders receive is a good thickness 

 of longjoose straw. Attached to this Vinery is a Straw- 

 berry house, which, when we saw it, was full of bloom- 

 ing plants of Keens' Seedling, and for health and show of 

 blossoms it would be difficult to surpass them. This 

 house was succeeded by a third and a fourth, both full 

 of Vines bearing fruit about the size of Peas. In the 

 fifth house, a long one, Vines are planted on the back 

 wall as well as in the front. Lastly, we entered a 

 Muscat house, containing a very fair crop of this de- 

 licious Grape ; the bunches were large, and will be 

 very forward. The whole of the houses are heated 

 with hot water in iron pipes, and the fuel used is 

 coke. Small coals are not liked ; they do not give 

 out sufficient heat, and they choke up the passages 

 and small flues which surround the boiler with soot 

 In the Pine pits, of which there are several, there 

 was a promising crop of fruit, and all the plants 

 hibited excellent health. A pit was filled with Cu- 

 cumbers upon trellises. The sort was Cuthiil's Black 

 Spine, which had been in bearing all the winter 

 Another pit, full of Keens' Seedling Strawberries, ii 

 flower, being passed through, we entered a small house 

 full of Vines in pots. These had a fair crop on them. 

 The Vines are all painted over annually with a mixture 

 of lime, soot, sulphur, and soft soap, and the houses are 

 also washed with hot lime, which keeps them sweet and 

 clean. 



the 



and averaging 9 inches in length. Mr. 



-Oill 



J^ghingSlbs., 



«andasyde showed fine plants of Helleborus olympicus", 

 ■jrinchium grandiflorum, Iris persica, new large 

 «jssian Violet, &c. There were beautiful plants of 

 ^^. tn phyllum zebrinum, A. cornutum, Epimedium 

 D^^? um > and other rare Alpines, from the garden of 

 Ta^Tr CanonmiuS Cottage ; together with a plant of 



E«*c Grass (Dactylis ceespitosa) in flower. From the 

 I ^i Wishaw 1Iouse > a seedling Camellia, named 



of irLi Ven? ° f a rosy pink colour > wel1 formed, and 

 «nif*u ^ 1Ze ' havin g the P efcals regularly arranged in a 

 y™iy imbricated manner. From C. K. Sivewright, 

 -^7 tnere were eight beautiful Cinerarias, and two 

 P^imens of Chinese Primula, showing superior ma- 



^? eD V m and from Pro,essor Dunbar, a peculiar 

 flowA t Trililum grandiflorum, with party-coloured 



the? i - Wh5te and Rreen " From the 8 arden « of 



Cortius mascula 

 Anchusa sempervirens 

 Primula denticulata 

 Holoateum umbellatum 

 Orobus vermis ... 

 Adonis vernalis 

 Tussilago Farfara 

 Nordmannia cordifolia 

 Hyoscyamus Scopolia 

 Arabis prsemorsa 

 Erythromum Dens-canis 

 Aubrietia grandiflora 



Gagea lutea 



Aubrietia deltoidea 



Kerria japonica 



Saxifraga cras.-ifolia 



Mercurialis perennis 



Ribes t-anguineum (first flower 



opened) 

 Narcissus pumilu6 

 Hyacinthus orientalis 

 Narcissus Tazetta 

 Sciliabifblia cacrulea 

 Scilla bifolia alba 

 Omphalodes verna 

 Lamium garganicum 

 Hyacinthus botryoides 

 Viola suavis 

 Fritilla ria imperialis 

 Sciila precox (Canonmilis 



Cottage) 



Mr. Evans observed the first flowers 

 Apricot to expand on the open wall in 

 mental Garden on the 21st February, 

 flower produced on the same tree last year opened on 

 the 1st of March. — Mr. M'Nab exhibited flowers of 

 Camellia pceoniflora from a plant growing on the open 

 wall of the Botanic Garden. The plant is 10 feet in 

 height, and the spread of its branches is in all 1 4 feet. 

 There are at present 560 flow r er-buds on it. No other 

 variety has been grafted upon the plant ; but some of the 

 flowers exhibited were completely white, others com- 

 pletely pink, others with one half white and the other 

 half pink, and some with shades of white and pink in 

 the same petal. — Messrs. P. Lawson and Son sent for 

 exhibition a collection of wax models showing the ap- 

 pearance of the various cultivated Potatoes, Beans, Peas, 

 Kidney Beans, and Onions ; also specimens of woods so 

 cut and arranged as to exhibit at one glance the trans- 

 verse and longitudinal sections of each tree, both polished 

 and rough. The models and specimens illustrated the 

 mode in which Messrs. Lawson purpose to supply 

 articles for the Exhibition of 1851. Messrs. Lawson 

 also exhibited a large collection of coloured drawings, in 



which the varieties of cultivated vegetables were accu- r i_ ±\. «« ..*. -». .* » 



a- i j l- 11,1 wu^ a ®i a - ±- -'•irom each other, so that it iurnishes us wi 

 rately delineated, lhe drawings embraced varieties of ^T v **» . * _, ^•..^Txl. 



Turnip, Carrot, Radish, Mangold Wurzel, Beet, Onion, 



was elected a r ellow. 



Miscellaneous. 



On the Composition of the Walls of the Cells in 

 Plants; with Observations on the Potato Disease 

 By Prof. Mitscherl i ch. — The change which cellulose un- 

 dergoes by the action of a peculiar ferment is of very 

 remarkable interest, and characteristic of the substance. 

 This fermenting agent is obtained when half-putrid 

 Potatoes cut up into pieces are placed in water, with 

 portions of fresh Potatoes, and allowed to stand, in a 

 not too cold place, until the cells of the fresh portions 

 begin to be easily separable ; it is also formed, though 

 more slowly, when fresh Potatoes, cut up, are Bet aside, 

 covered with water. The liquid is filtered, and fresh 

 Potatoes, cut in slices, added to it ; when these are de- 

 composed, a portion of the liquid may be treated with 

 water, and more slices of Potato added, which soon 

 become decomposed, and in this manner increase the 

 activity of the liquid. Hence, just as in the fermentation 

 of r an infusion of malt, the yeast, the fermentative 

 fungus, becomes augmented, so does the ferment increase* 

 It only acts upon the cellulose, which, without any other 

 admixture, forms the walls of the cells of the Potato, 

 which are filled with starch ; first, the cells separate 



ith a more 

 convenient and perfect means of obtaining the cells with 

 their contents separate from each other, and facilitating 

 their examination ; the walls of the cells are subse- 

 quently also dissolved, and the starch particles fall out ; 

 in this manner, in 24 hours, a slice of Potato is rendered 

 so soft, to a depth of 2 lines, that this portion can be 

 removed by a pair of forceps, the hard mass of the 

 Potato lying beneath the softened layer : so that tins 



Garden Memoranda. 



Messrs. Weeks and Co.'s Nursery, King's Road, 

 Chelsea. — An attempt has been made here to cultivate 



the Royal Water- Lily in the open air. A circular basin, process takes place successively from the outside towards 

 •21 feet in diameter, has been formed for it. and the the interior ; not by the whole of the Potato being 

 Lily has been planted. It is at present covered by a | simultaneously permeated by the ferment to the inner- 

 three light frame ; but it is intended to remove this as 

 soon as the plant has become perfectly established. 

 Since it has been in its new situation it has made 



■ 



two or three fresh leaves, which are about 2 feet in 

 diameter, and apparently healthy. The root occupies 

 a brick tub in the centre of the tank, containing 

 about two cart-loads of loam and river sand. Round 

 this are led two row 



most portion. No trace of a fungus can be found in the 

 active liquid ; it is, however, full of Vibrions, which may 

 in this case be the effective agents. The author is in 

 the hopes of discovering the substance into which the 

 cellulose is converted ; hitherto he has not succeeded 



Exactly the same process as that which 



we can produce spontaneously, occurs in the Potato 



of hot water pipes, and a disease, which, during late years, has done so much 



iii obtaining it. 



- p "iiitc ana green, rruiii me gardens ot tins are lea two rows ot not water pipt aim a , disease, wnicli, during late years, nas a one »v *«•*«*< 

 wi of Rosslyn, blooms of promising seedling j raised one passes along the frame, furnishing the latter , mischief. In this also, the cellulose, and not the starch 



