230 



THE GARDENERS 



CHRONICLE 



eriouaiv ad vine them to lmve m all tuo borders a lew 



S fetches (for all bulbs best in patches), of Snow- 



rops, Crocuses, Scilla 

 fodils in wees. A few patches of Hyacinths in threes, 

 early Tulips the one ; if these several patches were 

 10 yards apart they would still do wonders in " lighting 

 up" the garden as it were. I have patches of dwarf 

 bulbs, (> feet apart all along my border, but as I 



all of them fair play, the patches of each 



a considaable distance from each other ; 



nine inches of the 



ve 



lily 



all these are within six or 



edging. Half way between them I have patches of 



taller bulbs, Iris, Lilies, &c, but I only plant these 



patches 12 feet apart, so that they come in the centre, 



but further back between every alternate two of the 



dwarfs. I may be a little particular, but I place the 



same kind in all cases opposite each other. I have 



strongly recommended one of the great importers of 



bulbs to make out his catalogue for next season, with 



the name* of all bulbs flowering in the particular months, 



so that a tyro may order exactly what he wishes. There 



are many bulbs of great interest, but little known by 



their names ; and London seedsmen are generally 



unable to inform us anything about them ; but a descrip 



live list, with the heights, colours, season of planting, 



season of bloom, would be valuable. The principal 



points that require attention in the culture of bulbs are — 



1st, to have the ground well drained ; 2d, to have the 



soil rich and light ; 3d, to plant them before they make 



the least effort to grow ; 4th, not to take them up until 



the leaves have died down ; lastly, while they are out of 



ground, to protect them against heat, frost, and damp. 



I feel assured that if those who do not n fee bulbs a 



feature in the gardens will but try the effects of a few 



Hyacinths, a few Crocuses, a few Scilla sibirica, and a 



few early Tulips, they will very soon desire to add to 



their list of bulbs. R \\fordan, St. Dun star* ford, N.B. 



Tlu Chrysanthemum a Spring Flower (see p. 214). — 

 The plants whose blooms you were good enough to 

 approve of last week were treated as follows, in a few 

 "Words, for nothing could be much more simple than the 

 actual cultivation. Towards the end of their flowering, 

 and when they began to throw up their new wood, in- 

 stead of turning them out into a cold frame, I quietly 

 put them into the stove and there kept them from that 

 moment to this. This is the only witchcraft I have 

 used. I may remark that the plants were late and ill 

 bloomed. Two plants only were experimented on, but 

 both succeeded, No. 2 being s o very ugly I did not send 

 abloom. There is a peculiar look of hard dry health 

 about them not easily described, but which you do not 

 see in plants bloomed in our damp autumns. There is 

 not a dead leaf from top to bottom, and fresh bud- 

 blossoms and blooming wood are being thrown up daily, 

 as if the plant never would leave off. ft always seemed 

 odd to me that this plant should be 10 months, more or 

 less, preparing to flower. M HeivelL 



Th* Spanish Chestnut. — You desire more particulars 

 relative to the merits and demerits of this Chestnut, and 



C enquire at what age the tree first becomes " shaky;" 

 I am afraid no definite answer can be given to that 

 question, because amongst the class best qualified by 

 practical experience to give the necessary information, 

 size of tree, and not age, is the criterion by which they 

 are guided. Having been practically emploved in the 

 cutting up of timber for several years, as well as in 

 the purchase and sale of it, 1 need hardly mention that 

 the size of the tree, combined with its other properties, 

 regulates its value, and not its age ; however much the 

 latter may be interesting to the man of science, the man 

 of axes and saws can form an opinion of more value to 

 the mercantile world than the philosopher, as to th* 

 relative qualities of different trees of the same species. 

 But this is the most deceptive subject that he has to 

 deal with, no outward signs being visible of the mischief 

 which lies within. I have seen young healthv lookin- 



j wim a smooth shiny bark, turn out sadly shaken 

 lor a considerable length of the bole, not" in eon- 

 centric m s only, but transversely also to those rings ; 

 while, on the other hand, 1 have seen trees of 50 cubic 

 feet and upwards cut up pretty sound, but the latter 

 are exceptions ; not one in a hundred attain that size 

 and retain their form unimpaired. It is impossible to 

 say at what size they become unsound, as, like many 

 other evils, it comes on by degrees ; generally, trees 

 containing lees than 20 cubic feet of timber are 

 tolerably sound, but from that size up to 30 feet the 

 mischiet increases very much, leaving hardly one tree 

 m ten free from it at that size, while larger trees are still 

 worse ; a sheltered or exposed situation does not seem to 

 affect them ; the evil is purely constitutional, and to all 

 appearances not likely to yield to any artificial treat- 

 ment. When a tree of no great size is wanted for a 

 purpose that requires its full dimensions, or nearly so 

 as a gate-post, for instance, I entertain no doubt that it 

 will be found equally as durable as Oak, and in every 

 respect as efficient ; it is when the saw passes up it. 

 centre, or cuts it into smaller portions, that its defects 

 become so apparent ; splinters of great length rise up 

 or come off, and the whole, when put to any distressin 

 servicers very likely to give way. It is a matter of 

 regret that such should be the case, for I have no doubt 

 ttetthe timber is, m all other respects, equal to Oak, 

 and it may perhaps even exceed that useful tree in 

 durability, but this I leave others to prove, and content 

 mjmMby remarking, that the defects mentioned above 

 are such as to place it full 30 per cent, below the value 

 ot Oak iu a mei-cantile point of view, and that faet 



ought to have some weight witli planters, An Old 



Adauua v ncokr*— People complain that this Adamia 

 does not flower freely. Plants of it treated in the fol- 

 lowing manner will, I have no doubt, prove satisfactory. 

 Put in cuttings in the beginning of February as soon as 

 they are struck ; pot them off into 3-inch pots in a com- 

 post of equal parts marl, loam, leaf-mould, and peat, 

 mixed with a little silver sand ; place the pots in a 

 Cucumber frame, or a similar situation, for a few days, 

 until the plants have become established, and then 

 remove them to an intermediate house, which I find 

 suits them best; shift them into larger pots as they 

 require it, which will be found to be pretty often during 

 summer, and finally place them in their flowering pots 

 about the end of August. If they have been grown 

 Well they will require 11 -inch pots at this shift, to make 

 the plants bushy. Moreover, the ends of the shoots 

 may be pinched out two or three times in the course of 

 the summer, but not later than the end of August. After 

 they have had their last shift, place them on an airy 

 shelf in the greenhouse for a month or six weeks ; then 

 remove them to the intermediate house, keeping them 

 rather short of water for a time, in order to give them 

 a partial rest. When they begin to grow again, water 

 plentifully, sometimes using weak liquid manure. They 

 will flower in the end of March, and will continue in 

 beauty some time. Cuttings are easily struck in heat 

 under a bell-glass. It is a comparatively new plant, 

 which, in my opinion, is its only recommendation. 

 /. L. M., Bentham Hill, Tonbridge Wells, March 27. 



Protection of Wtubarh. — The advantages of covering 

 Rhubarb with straw, not only to render it more tender 

 in the flesh, but to keep the leaf small, were strikingly 

 exemplified last Monday morning, when the frost took 

 no effect whatever on that protected, while many of the 

 stalks that were exposed burst, and were destroyed ; 

 and if the sun had shone strongly, the damage done 

 would have been great. The Plum trees in blossom had 

 all their blooms destroyed by the frost, which must have 

 been severe at about five in the morning. Straw is 

 cheap, and serves three excellent purposes ; first, it 

 preserves the Rhubarb from frost, &c. ; secondly, it may 

 be used afterwards for Strawberries ; thirdly, for ma- 

 nure and for clayey soils it is the best material, for every 

 straw makes a drain before and after it rots. James 

 Ciithill, Camberwell, London. 



The Turkey Oak. — The information that my inquiry 

 with reference to the Spanish Chestnut has elicited, will, 

 I presume, discourage the planting it with a view to 

 its timber : but there was another tree that was ad- 

 verted to in that inquiry, of which it is also I conceive 

 very desirable to ascertain the quality of the timber : I 

 mean that commonly known as the Turkey Oak (Quercus 

 Cerris) which of late years has been extensively planted, 

 as well on account of its beauty, as its quick growth in 

 soils where the common Oak makes slow progress. 

 There must I imagine be trees of that sort in the 

 country of sufficient age for the testing of their qualities, 

 (indeed I have seen such myself), and if any of your 

 correspondents can furnish information on the subject, 

 they would I conceive be rendering service ; I had 

 some conversation, long ago, with the late Mr. Atkinson 

 (whose judgment and taste as a planter, as well as an 

 architect was good), respecting the different sorts of 

 Oak, and my impresion is, that he was inclined to 

 think that it was not merely as an ornamental tree that 

 the Turkey variety was likely to prove valuable. W. Jf.. 

 April 9th. [Mr. Atkinson's opinion was, that the wood 

 was excellent for in-door work. We rather think some 

 drawing-room doors were made from it at Penshanger.] 

 Deodars. — I send with this a branch cut from one ot 

 the Deodars, about which I asked your advice a few 

 weeks ago. You will perceive how very densely covered 

 it is with foliage ; this branch is characteristic of the 

 whole tree. There is no want of vigour, but it has not 

 taken the direction I hoped. In answer to your cor- 

 respondents, "Pinus Hibernicus," and " H. C," to 

 whom I am much obliged for their opinions, on the 

 treatment my trees require, I beg to say that the trees 

 are planted m an old garden, still under partial culti- 

 vation ; but there are no trees of any size or sort near 

 the Deodars. I have submitted some of the Deodars 

 to the ordeal « H. C." and you recommend, as I un- 

 derstood you, for I interpreted your advice to be to thin 

 out the branches, not to cut down the trees. Your 



* fat** 



**5 





I believe is, that the adjective Caspicu^ 

 another adjective, not on a substantive 

 the substantive India. But then i' s 

 Caspia, only Mare Caspium. I think r° 

 good as Virginicum, which should 

 ginianura. A. IT. 



Size of Conifers. 

 ments of a Deodar growing hire™ *u^ ** 

 girth of stem at 3 feet fro°m the 'J£$\jl * 

 lateral branches, at 2 feet, 5 feet 9 L, ,' , "**»• 

 4 feet, 5 feet 6 inches long ;'andat oft^** * 

 long. The tree is well furnished with hi** 3 »*i 

 sides. 



4 feet hich when it was planted. Tlie soil 



It has been planted eight yeST?** 

 igh when it was nlanted ° T,,l ^ ** * * 



about 8 inches deep of common garden mould 

 clay. The stem is as straight as a walki 

 has lost its leader twice tlimnoV. t u.i- 



oa 



t 



+* 



bird perching upon it, and on both occasions it? ^ 

 replaced by a lateral, which answers as we'l ^* 

 leader, and from which, in a short time it i " *» 

 tinguishable. G. Taber, gardener, Braxtcd-rLl 'n^ 

 Essex, April 9. ^ mk > '*««, 



. • u x readIng y0Ur " Caleadar <* Ope***, 

 (from which I get many useful hints) of the*? 



April, I was struck with the following advice • «* 4 



Sealcale. 



cession of Seakale should be brought into the M «h 

 shed, or frames, to keep up the supply.' 1 \ U*** 

 required any artificial means for for cui* Seakale* * 

 the middle of February. In May, 1850. 1 fa* 



ground 2 feet deep, marked out the rowTZ! 

 in number, 3 feet apart, placed in the centre of at 

 row about 2 inches of rotten dung, covered it witifS 

 mould, 4 inches thick, and sowed Seakale seed iia2 

 ately, which grew very strongly during the ^ 

 I covered it about 15 inches deep, in January w&fw 

 mould, from the turf house ; and since the mijjL?[ 

 February, I have cut a great quantity of most exceW 

 Seakale, without any covering whatever, except tvf 

 mould ; which I have found, ever since I aunt ti 

 Ireland, to be of great service in gardening especab 

 in covering Seakale, Rhubarb, protecting 6 plants2 

 frost, &c. A. Matthew, Moore Abbey, MwwtmHL 

 April 8. 



Coronilla glauca. — This, although nearly, if not alto- 

 gether, hardy, well deserves attention as a winter 

 flowering pot plant. It is not very showy, its colour 

 being a somewhat faint yellow, but it flowers" abundantly 

 from any time in the autumn at which it may be wanted, 

 until its services are superseded by the ingress of more 

 gaudy subjects in spring. Its pale green foliage, too, 

 contrasts well with the dark broad leaves of the 

 Camellia. Its great recommendation is, however, tie 

 long period in which it remains in full floral beauty, ad 

 that during a season when flowers are scarce. I bow. 

 indeed, of no plant which equals it in this partieok 

 and I think that this alone affords a sufficient mm 

 for our not altogether turning it out of doors. It 

 is very easily managed, requiring merely shelter to 

 flower it abundantly during the dull months. Suppe* 

 we begin with small plants now. Shift them into pots 

 two sizes larger than those they occupy. For soil 

 take one part turfy peat, one part turfy loam, and m 

 decomposed cow-dung, to which add a portion of sharp 

 sand; mix these intimately together, and use the cat 

 post in a rough state. Place the plants in the green- 

 house, or in a close pit, and protect them from currofc 

 of cold air. You will soon find them disposed if) gro* 

 vigorously ; give them then more air, and, in order to 

 induce them to become bushy, stop such shoots as are 

 inclined to outstrip their neighbours. By the latter ai 

 of May you will probably find that roots are plentfm 

 on the outside of the ball ; and remember that iti » 

 bad practice to allow the roots of anything to be- 

 come matted before shifting ; therefore, as soon as f* 

 discover that the plants have filled the soil with fibre* 

 shift them. If tolerably well treated, they will Id 

 12-inch pots during the season, or they will fl ° W( f ^ 

 well in 0-inch pots ; therefore regulate the shift fljj '» 

 ize of plant you want ; but recollect that thetaP 1 * 

 time during which they will continue in bloom giwj 



depends upon their having plenty of pot-room. 



r „ , ____ °._.r_u -L:i . an( ] return the 



ex- 



tr 



px .»« on was - eut out ;" my hrst impression was, that the 



fault lay ln the richness of the soil ; hut I have not found 



hat other Pinus have disliked it ; it may not, however 



suit the Deodar. I hope to report next year the result 



, .f e v , er y iree use wh'^ has now been made of the 

 Knite. J. If. [Our meaning was to cut down ; the spe- 

 cimen seemed to be out of condition, but it bore no 

 evidence of what ailed it.] 



8tudt.—It "A Lady" (see page 216), wishes to be- 

 come acquainted with the system of « studdin- walls " 

 with a view to its adoption, allow me to acquaint her 

 that I have been informed, upon good authority, that it 

 was done away with in one of the first places in the 



f ^^ ng f° m ' ,B conse( f uenc e of the "studs" bein- 

 found difficult to employ without injury to the tre ei T. 

 J. 1., Hedjord, April ii. 



Oak Wood and Bark.— I read a request a little time 

 ago in your paper, that some correspondent would 

 publish what the price of Oak wood and bark was la* 

 year, and what they were likely to fetch this season. 

 From inquiries m this neighbourhood, I find that the 

 average price of Oak timber of a good si ze was 2a 6d. 

 per foot, and bark 3J. 10 a . per ton, and I think th 



10 toys, 



prices are likely to be got this season. A., Peterborough. 



yore Aquanrs (see p. 214)._I n fact, there is Caspius, 



and rarely Caspiacus, but never Caspicus. The reason^ 



shifting, drain well, and use rough soil 

 plants to their former situation for 

 order to prevent the soil from becoming drenc f^ 

 heavy rains, and to encourage the plants to [ 'usn 

 roots. Afterwards, remove them to a warm pw" 

 of doors, but sheltered from the morning s f"' 

 they may remain until the time for hoosmg the . 

 house plants takes place, merely requiring to be a 

 to with water, and to have any rambling sliooi 

 may appear pinched back. They will now w 

 state for flowering, and may be removed to j™^ 

 house, or sitting-room window, where they wi ^ 

 to display their little clusters of sweet-smew 

 blossoms all the winter. They require P leDt L henrt , 

 at the roots, but dislike a damp atmosphere. « - 

 are tired of them, slightly prune them m, -j^ 

 them in a cool situation, supplying them ™™ er ? % ^ 

 with water for a time. When they begin torn ^ fc 

 position to grow, water more liberally, a«a i . ^ 

 the better for a shift into a larger-sized pot, ^ 

 is inconvenient, feed them with manure wac-^,^ 

 ail danger of frost is over, remove ttiem ^ 

 year's station out ,of doors. You will niw ■ * * 

 plants bloom more abundantly and rem»> ^ 

 flower than old ones; hence it will *^™*" t ft*fr* 



lney coolF** 





Amateur. 



Linings every wmxi season. 



under a glass, and kept in a rattier 



i 



