THE GARDENERS 



CHRONIC 



cov,rcl with Mo»- A slightly elevate.! stan.l, dimtjjr 



irthern 



V-. "feet in diameter, is occupied by hardy i 

 Rhododendrons, exhibited by Messrs. Standish 



of Hagshot. *>nnnt'«t them are ""*"" 



and 



Noble, 

 varieties 



?. larg" 



The centre of the group 



consists of 

 and on 



plant of Cryptomeria japomca, ana™ 

 the oatsides are some specimens of Cupressos Gove ni- 

 ana and C. funebria. K the left of tins, and fi Ihng a 

 large c^er, is a fine collect^ «£»%£*& 



Sise^gTA^tma;' nS&ZriK 



of various colours, as 



Oi various coiou:», *» «•* — , , ^ *> nt% ^la^t 



first hybrids; a yellow variety, and a fine plant 

 of R GW About the front of this group , . ar- 

 rang I a quantity of Cinerarias in fine condition ..On 

 the" opposite part of the building is a collection of 

 Conifer from Messrs. Paul, of Cheshunt. Conspicuous 

 in this group is a fine variety of Pinus excelsa, also I . 

 Rus !Hana,a few Cinerarias an 1 some cut flowers the 

 latter interspersed amongst the plants. Further down 

 the transept, near some Staffordshire vases are one or 

 two Wardiaii cases, filled with various kinds of Cacti, 

 Ferns, and small Palms, and by the group of plants 

 belonging to Messrs. Lane, is another collection of these 

 miniature plant structures. We remarked in the 

 Exhibition of articles in glass in the gallery, from 

 Messrs. Cogan and Co., of Leicester-square, a pretty 

 Fern temple, neatly filled with those int erestingplants. 



Miscellaneous. 



The TSco-rowed Ap*mogtte (Aponogeton Di&tachyon).— 

 We reproduce this plant in the hope of presenting a 

 better tf ire of it than has yet appeared, and of drawing 

 attention to a hardy aquatic of which too little is known. 

 Several years have now elapsed since it was reported 

 that a handsome sweet scented water-plant from the 

 Cape had been naturalised in the tanks of the Botanic 

 Garden, Edinburgh. It was to the species before us 

 that allusion was made, and it has since found its way 

 hero and there southward. It was introduced into 

 Com wall by Sir Charles Lemon, and there, as well as in 

 Devonshire, it seems to have as completely established 

 Uself as if it w. re a native of the country. The corre- 

 spondent, who first brought the Devonshire plant under 

 our notice, expressed a doubt whether it was really the 

 two-rowed Aponogete ; its flowers being so much larger 

 than they are represented in books. There is, however, 

 no doubt about its name being correct ; the differences 

 that have been remarked being the mere result of ex- 

 uberant luxuriance. The specimens came from an 

 open pond at Woolston, the seat of the Rev. Charles 

 Osmond, in the parish of Loddiswell, near Kingsbridge, 

 S. Devon, where the plants thrive in a surprisingly 

 luxuriant manner, producing thousands of delicious 

 fragrant flowers throughout the summer, and even 

 in January bearing 300 blossoms as fine as those repre- 

 sented. Innumerable seedling plants arise around their 

 parents. To Mr. Osmond we are also indebted for the 

 specimens, and for the following history of his acqui- 

 sition of the plant : * About three years since a root was 

 given me the. size of a shot, which I planted in a small 



J>an and sunk it in the pond ; it grew rapidly, and, in a 

 ew months, produced flowers ; and, unobserved by me, 

 seed also, from which have sprung up to the surface of 

 the water hundreds of plants. The spring which 

 supplies the pond is peculiarly clear, always running, 



and, in the severest winter, rarely freezes." The 



species is common at the Cape, where it bears the 



name of Water Uintjies. Mr. Bunbury mentions it 



thus : — " The flowering tops of the Aponogeton dis- 



tachyon, a pretty white-flowered floating plant, frequent 



in pools of water in various parts of the colony, are 



aometimes used both as a pickle and as a substitute for 



Asparagus." Residence at the Cape ; p. 201. Paxtoris 

 Flower Garden for May. 



Calendar of Operations. 



(For the ensuing week.) 



PLANT DEPARTMENT. 



Azaleis should be attended to as they go out of 

 bloom, potted if they require it, and placed in a favourable 

 situation for forming their young growths. Many plants, 

 particularly large ones, which received a liberal shift 

 last year, will not have filled their pots so full of roots as 

 to render repotting necessary, and it is better to allow 

 such to make their growth, and set their flower buds, 

 without additional pot room. This growth will, of course' 

 be a moderate one, and when this is properly matured' 

 and the danger of their starting again is past, we give 

 them a slight shift, and place them in a cool house. In 

 the new soil so supplied, they continue to produce roots 

 during the remainder of the autumn and winter, but 

 without making progress in the tops, and the roots bein* 

 thus in advance of the head, the plants are prepared to 

 meet the flowering season with extra vigour ; for in the 

 size and colour of the flowers, Azaleas so treated far 

 surpass those which have been treated in the ordinary 

 way. Though these useful plants succeed very well in 

 common peat, to which a small portion of leaf-mould and 

 sandy loam, with a liberal supply of sand, has been added 

 yet those who can procure Wimbledon peat at a' 

 moderate expense, will find it answer their purpose to do 

 so, as the high state of perfection to which the Azalea 

 attains in that soil, is ample recompense. Supply abun- 

 dance of drainage to large specimens, and let the compost 

 be rough in proportion to the size of the plants to be 

 shifted Hard-wooded plants, recently potted, should 

 be kept rather close till their new roots are in progress; 



by a gentle syringing. During this season, when tne 

 heater part of the plants are in active growth, and re- 

 quire more warmth and moisture, those which are in 

 flower should be kept by themselves, where their blos- 

 soms can be preserved by shading, free admission of air, 

 and a drier atmosphere. As the cooler pits and frames 

 are set at liberty, they may be made very useful during 

 the summer by filling them with suitable composts, and 

 turning out young greenhouse plants into them, there to 

 make their summer's growth. Treated in this manner 

 they make much greater progress during a season than 

 when grown in pots, and are with less difficulty induced 

 to form handsome plants. Young Azaleas, Camellias, 

 &c, can by this treatment be induced to make double 

 the growth, and thus acquire a vigour which will be 

 maintained for years, and which is not so easily obtained 

 under any other course of management. The principal 

 points requiring attention are, to secure a good drainage, 

 to give each plant sufficient space, and to elevate the 

 surface of the soil as near to the glass as possible, allow- 

 in only sufficient height for the plants themselves, and 

 a vigorous summer's growth. The extent to which this 

 plan 5 is adopted should be regulated by the facilities at 

 command for -preserving them after they are taken up 

 in the autumn, and potted, as the frames will then be 

 required for other purposes. 



FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



Pineries. — The increasing power of the sun's rays 

 will now tend to raise the temperature of the Pine pits 

 considerably higher ; but care should be taken not to 

 allow it to get above 90°, as the leaves are very liable to 

 be injured by excess of heat. If it cannot be kept 

 down by a moderate increase of ventilation, recourse 

 must be had to shading with thin bunting, which is pre- 

 ferable to opening the sashes too much, and thus 

 causing excessive evaporation. Success in the cultiva- 

 tion of the Pine depends in a great measure upon the 

 avoiding of sudden changes, which tend either to check 

 their growth or to cause undue excitement, and the con- 

 sequence of which would be to throw the plants prema- 

 turely into fruit, at the expense both of size and quality. 



Cherries Where the fruit is ripening give abundance 



of air, and maintain a drier atmosphere, but let the 

 trees on which the fruit is swelling have plenty 

 of water, and syringe them freely in fine weather, 

 to keep the foliage and fruit free from . insects. 

 Strawberries should now be abundantly supplied with 

 water, or they will change colour before they have 

 attained their full size. Melons. — Keep up the heat 

 in the beds by adding fresh linings as they require it. 

 If plants, on which the fruit is near ripening, are in 

 need of water, give it in the morning, that the vapour 

 arising from the soil may pass off during the day. 

 Keep the shoots thin and regular, allowing not more 

 than three or four fruits to swell on each plant. As it 

 is not necessary that Melons for preserving should be 

 very large, those which 'are intended for this purpose 

 may be left thicker on the plants than those which are 

 grown for table ; for, in the latter case, size is almost 

 as much an object as flavour. Endeavour by all means 

 to preserve the foliage of early plants in a clean and 

 healthy state, that they may produce a second crop. 

 Frames, in which Potatoes have been forced, should 

 now be prepared for late Melons. Let the soil be good, 

 18 or 24 inches deep ; and if the frames are not 

 furnished with hot-water pipes, a bottom heat of 80° 

 should be supplied by means of linings or fermenting 

 material between the beds. 



FLOWER GARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES. 



The newly planted beds in the flower garden will 

 require watchful attention, lest any of the plants suffer 

 from drought ; and the watering should be done in the 

 morning or rather early in the afternoon ; for if done 

 late, and there should happen to be a frost during the 

 night, they would suffer. I would still recommend the 

 use of evergreen prunings as a protection against 

 scorching sun and cold cutting winds. The surface of 

 I the ground may be left very rough, to prevent evapora- 

 tion, until the plants are sufficiently established to 

 admit of the branches being removed ; after which, if 

 the ground be dry, it should receive a good watering, 

 and then, for appearance sake, should be made smooth 

 with a small rake; or, if this course be not approved of, 

 it may be made smooth at once; and, to prevent the 

 escape of moisture, it may be covered over with a thin 

 layer of short Grass from the lawn, which the extending 

 foliage will soon conceal. In either case the plants should 

 be well watered immediately. After planting, taking care 



to moisten the bed thoroughly, as plants, turned out of 

 pots, are liable to suffer much if not well attended to, 

 until they make new roots into the soil. Many late 



propagated plants will be better if they 

 am a little longer in the frames, as unless fairly 

 established previous to being planted out, they will be 

 a long time before they start into growth, in a satis- 

 factory manner. Where the young plants have been 

 pricked out into frames of soil, attention should be paid 

 to lifting them with a sufficient ball of earth and roots, 

 and also to conveying them to their destination, and 

 planting them as quickly and with as little injury as 

 possible. 



FLORIST FLOWERS. 



The side beds, and wdiere breeder Tulips are <*rown 

 should be examined, and any promising buds covered' 

 even if with a piece of board, having a hole through 

 it, so that by introducing a Carnation or other stick it 

 may be kept the requisite height above the flower — 

 Dahlias in pots should be kept growing, so that robust 

 healthy plants may be insured when the time comes for 

 planting out. See that the manure is well incorporated 



in the soil where they are to be planted R ^"r^r^— . 



are generally looking well ; keep seedling T^ 1 ' 5 * 

 much sun, and quicken their growth by b a ll \ *** 

 means. Shade Auriculas, and as the pips decav^S* 

 them from the calyx, so that the seed may ha* 

 possible chance of ripening. Stake Ca^tion^ 

 Picotees, and keep the surface of both Pint *r,7t> an * 

 beds loose and friable. nd P **y 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Beds should now be prepared for Vegetable Marrow 

 and Ridge Cucumbers, by taking out a trench in n? rf 

 the quarters, 4 feet wide and 15 inches deep throwi 

 the soil to the two sides to raise them higher Th ? 

 trench should be filled to the top with rotten dun? f 

 the surface of the earliest Vine borders, or from m 

 other convenient source ; this should be' trodden soHl 

 and covered to the depth of 16 inches with part of tte 

 soil taken out in forming the trench, mixed with some 

 fresh soil and a little manure. This should be done 

 immediately, that the bed may have time to settle 

 before the plants are put out. Let old Mushroom be<k 

 be examined, by removing the soil as soon as they w 

 out of bearing. If the dung appears decayed or ex- 

 hausted, the bed should be immediately renovated • bu> 

 if, as it often happens, the beds are found in good 

 order, solid, and teeming with spawn, they should be 

 watered moderately with tepid water, if they require it 

 and covered in a day or two afterwards with 2 or 3 

 inches of fresh loamy soil. In hot weather, the house 

 should be kept as cool as possible, and a moist atmo- 

 sphere obtained by sprinkling the paths and walls with 

 cold water ; allowing excessive evaporation to escape by 

 means of a top ventilator. 



spring 



State of the We&ther near London* for the week ending May S # 1SL 

 as observed at the Horticultural Garden, Chiswick. 



May. 



Friday.. 2 



Satur. .. 3 



Sunday . 4 



Monday 5 



lues. ., 6 



Wed. .. 7 



Thurs... 8 



Average .... 



■ 



a 



u. 









Tbm 



PEH1TUI1. 









< 



a 



a 



o 

 c 



S 



1 



BAROMBTia. 







1 1 * 



Of the Air. 



Of the Earth 



Wind. g 



Max. 



1 

 Min. ! Mean 



1 





N. M 



Max. 



Min. 

 29.659 



1 foot 

 deep. 



2 feet 

 deep. 



48 



29.835 



57 



29 



43.0 



48 



2 



29.826 



29.732 



54 



32 



43.0 



41 



48 



H.W, 



M 



3 



29.702 



29.665 



60 



30 



40.<> 



47 



474 



If. 



m 



4 



29709 



29.677 



54 



38 



46.0 



47 



47* 



n. 1 m 



5 



29346 



29.775 



52 



36 



440 



47 



47 





6 29.863 



29.8a0 



5S 



33 



48.0 



47 



47 



) 



29.770 i 29.r>74 

 29.7911 29.710 ! 



61 



33 



49.5 



48 

 473 



47 

 47.4 



S. 



m 



J4 



1 



44.8 i 



34 4 



448 



May 2— Clear; fine; clear and frosty at night. 



— 3~Fiue; rain commenced at noon ; cloudy. 



— 4 — Cloudy; fine but cold; clear; slight frost. 



— 5— Overcast ; cloudy and cold ; slightly clouded at night. 



— 6 — Rain; cloudy and cold; overcast. 



— 7— ¥'me ; cloudy and cold ; overcast. 



— 8— Fine throughout. 



Mean temperature of the week, 8 deg. below the average. 

 Erratum.— in last week's Chronicle, read mean temperature of the w«k, 

 9 deg. below, instead of above, ttie average. 



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



ensuing week, ending May 17. 1S51. 



Prevailing Wind*. 



May. 



Sunday 11 

 Mon. 12 

 Tues. 13 

 Wed. 14 



Thurs. U 

 Friday 16 

 Satur. 17 



£ -S-2 



62.6 

 63.4 

 64-2 

 63.7 



64.7 

 65 .S 



Co. 4 



a *j 



« 3 S 



41.2 

 41.4 

 39.6 

 41.6 

 41.3 

 43.6 

 42.6 



ad 



a 



a 



V 



51.9 

 52.4 

 51.9 



527 

 53.0 



54.7 

 54.0 



No. of 



I ears in 



which it 



lvained. 



9 

 11 

 11 



9 



7 

 9 



9 



Greatest 



Quantity 

 of Rain. 



0.26 in. 



0.40 



0.22 



0.56 



0.41 



11.31 



0.53 



x 



4 

 2 

 3 



3 

 2 

 5 

 1 



• a • 4 .j i 





i 3 



5 7 



6 

 4 5 



6:2 



4i a 



- 



1 

 1 



1 

 1 





4'r 



1 



5 



3 



3 43 



3 (3 

 3 3 



O 



7 



5 



1 

 I 



4 



J 



3 

 3 



I 

 1 



1 

 3 



The highest temperature during the above period occurred on the l'ta, 

 lS33-therm. 85 deg. ; and the lowest on the 16th, 1833 -therm. 26 def. 



Notices to Correspondents. 



Back Numbers. Full price will be given for the following 

 Numbers, with the Newspapers, or half price for 1 the New*, 

 paper alone: 1845-12, 34, 35; 1846-25, 41, ii, 50; 1848- 

 82, 38,49,50; 1849-52. 



Books: CC. " James's Gardening." J 



CnarsANiHEMDMs: G L F. We never recommend dealerB.; 



Cuccmbebs: A Correspondent. The leaves are ™ l! ™ nf tt b J 

 very great extent. Cat off the worst, and apply * u f^f °* 

 means of some of those " sulphurators " whic* arc 1 tound ,» 

 admirably adapted for the purpose.||-J C. A rerj handsome 

 Black Spine, measuring 26 inches in length t . 



Gutta Pebcha: Woglog. We have no personal expeneaej^ 

 pipes made of this Stance J but we hear hem well spoken 

 off We do not believe that rats would eat them, uu ^ 

 have no doubt they would gnaw te™***™'^ m ^than 

 through wood and lead. *<"• sables, nothing is Detier 



good Dutch lumps set on edge. Mfl o„ w*e» unleM 



hLting: A JB. No stoves are suitable for greeny 



the dryness they cause is counteracted by water e*F ^ 



in sufficient quantities to keep the air damp. " "* 



secured, the kind of stove is unimportant. 



HOBTICDLTOBAL SOCIETY: A ^»"/#^ 



sent themselves at the garden be ore half ; pHSt»in^ gf 



are admitted to see the exhibition and to ^^^ Others, in 



which hour the garden is cleared of spectators ana 



order that the final arrangements may ^ompletea^^^ 



Insects: A B, 

 ministrauus , _ , __ 

 by the Noctua, which was loose. 



illosnf 



by tne isoctua, wmea was *««*«. "• ;. lUS vuios«» 



dewing, No. 3, evidently represent. ^ g8»^tog it lr> 

 of Du^es. We cannot determine >o. 4 wunuiu 

 F.Ker. A male of Sircx Gigas. W. . gree nm 



Melons : J II. The Cassabar Melon is large f . ^"^ths* 

 yellow, tolerably good, but not eq** 1 * . * general crop 

 Hybrid and others recently obtained. J? or h 

 you cannot do better than grow the B^. a ^ n s, if ** 



nImes of Plants : A B C D. We » n9We f^ 1 jd bate rsc«^ 

 inquiries relate to gardening ; and you w°» reVO t u tujfl \, 

 a reply, if your letter had arrived. 1, J * 8 r 7 naica .--i. ApP* 

 2, Polygala cordifolia ; 3, Fritillaria P^ e D a f lc Goo d Hope, 

 rently Sparmannia africana, from the tape Rose trgj 



Roses: W C J. We doubt whether the jstete ^ ^ probaWJ 



is attributable to mildew only ; its effect* na the boshes- 

 aided and abe ted by some constitutional deiec ^J 



Are you sure that the stocks agree *»* £ c ^ t tbem "**£ 

 are well manured ? At all events, wswouw ^^ {oT tne 

 back," when they first began to sweu 

 purpose of strengthening them. atmosphe 1 ? » 



Vines : A B. Luxuriant growth and a damp m ^ ^jj 

 caused the small green excrescences, J^_. n d0 ao li»n** 

 you, to appear on your Vine leaves 



tfa* - 





SEEDLING FLOWERS. it 8ga in. * 

 Pahsim : It r. Promising. Can jou let us »« 













