324 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



tinction not unimportant in , M 



the general slope or fall of the ground towards a 

 cold or a wfrm quarter : the exposure to any wind 

 more than another: and, lastly, the quality— not 

 the richness— of soil as taken in conjunction with 

 all the above particulars— must be considered, before 

 pronouncing on a climate in relation to practical 

 purposes of horticulture. 



The most striking feature in the climate of 

 Britain, the increase of dampness and mildness— or 

 absence of extremes, of either heat or cold, at any 

 season— is well laid down in the papers of the 

 Agricultural Journal before alluded to. Adopting 

 this as a principle more or less applicable to the 

 whole length and breadth of Great Britain (Ireland 

 will be separately accounted for), it will be inte- 

 resting to trace the points successively along the 

 coast,° at which the gradual change of climate 

 becomes perceptible. 



Beginning from the mouth of the Thames, and 

 following the shores of Kent, we find a large mass 

 of country, in some parts of considerable elevation, 

 exposed to the full blast of the east wind, which 

 the storms of the German Ocean, combining frost 

 with violence, pour in a continued stream from the 

 icy Baltic to the two Forelands. 



Proceeding westwards, the more sheltered tract 



•«* 





as is sufficient to keep the peat in^Slh^ *& 

 grown moist, f As they advance in IS** W 

 given ; and, when the pseudo bulbs Ir! T ' *<** 

 they may have a good supply at the ?jt"'£* *1 



is to shut up the house in the snrin» ?\ ] 

 3 o'clock, and in May, June JuTv T ° f the 



w ^ o - — «w "cany a* 



temperature as that of the house. 



5 *? a y be of tbe^ 

 , In fine weatkj 1 * 



ever have P vn?7* 



of the Weald of Kent and Sussex opens as soon as 

 we have passed the bold chalk heights of Folk- 

 stone, and immediately a slight improvement is 



observable in the temperature of the districts near 

 thei 



a sanitary point of view): latitudes. It will be understood that here^as every- by whaTis~term^^^ 



- - • * ■- - where else, the neighbourhood of the sea gives some shoots are young, only enough of > ^ 



additional advantage over even the sheltered dis- ~" : xn -- — * 



tricts inland, excepting in the development of the 



foliage of trees, which is usually earlier, if not 



finer, in the inland district near the sea, than in the 



strictly maritime one. This is owing to the effect 



of wind, not of temperature. 



Cornwall, being narrow and near the sea on every 



side, and, moreover, entirely protected from the east 



by Dartmoor and its spurs, enjoys, with the Scilly 



Isles, a more complete exemption from cold than 



any other county ; but its summer temperature is 



not high in proportion. 



The climate of Scilly, Penzance, and the Channel 



Islands, has been thought something exceptional, 



and beyond even what has been here described as 



that of Cornwall in general. It were much to be 



wu uiuuii. ±uv syringe should be furnish 

 rose, so as to cause the water to fall on t)" T 1 * 

 imitation of a gentle fine shower of n2 P ^ 

 syringing should only be done after a hot - ' ** * 



question. m ' ■ ■•-■ U01 



Ireland is generally known to be milder than 

 England, but its southern counties being consi- 

 derably to the north of the English ones here 

 treated of, it is probable that the south of Ireland 

 only partakes of the climate of the south-west of 

 England and Wales without any decided improve- 

 ment on it. 



any injury from this, so long as the boiTe^* 1 *** 

 with moisture, m which case ther 



experimental horticulture (the best of tests where 

 sufficient time is allowed) to settle so interesting a 



injury to the plants, 

 once a day, if possil 



^-r^ 



isno fetf ^ 



driei 



itilatba. I 



; among which the neighbourhood of Hastings 

 is the first that can be said to possess any decided 

 advantage. This advantage, however, is soon lost, 

 and the bleak downs of Sussex, from Beachey Head 

 to Brighton, and nearly to Bognor, separate by a 

 long distance the warm nooks of Hastings and St. 

 Leonard's from the next district whose climate shows 

 a marked improvement. That district is comprised 

 in the low tract around Chichester, between the 

 downs and the sea. 



Next comes the larger tract well known as a great 



horticultural district ; the environs of Southampton, 



and the Southampton Water, including the Isle of 



Wight. This tract is worthy of remark for two 

 reasons. 



First, the influence of the sea air and consequent 

 mildness of the atmosphere, extends further inland 

 than in any of the before-named instances. Secondly, 

 the breadth, north , and south, of the district in- 

 flaenced by this milder temperature is already 

 become, as we advance westward, so considerable, 



At any rate the favoured part of Ire- 

 land is probably comprehended within the south- 

 east point of Wexford and the mouth of the Shan- 

 non. Without positive data it is useless to hazard 

 a more than general opinion. The north of Ireland 

 and south of Scotland would most likely form one 

 region in respect of climate. S. 



syringing snouia only be done after a hot n»Z Zf * 

 Those plants which are growing on w ^ 

 should be syringed twice a day in tL !l ° f ^ 

 and I also find it a good method, during *S 

 season, to take the blocks down and din°them ■ P ** 

 till the wood and moss are thoroughly soafcJ? M* 

 in baskets should likewise be taken down and* • 

 and, if they are dry, they should be soaked in £? 



This is also a good mode of getting rid of man , £ 

 that harbour in the Moss, such as the woodlj J2 



cockroach ; when flip, mnae \a c^«i.~.i .i 



cockroach ; when the moss is soaked, they will cm. 

 tli a ton. and then tn»v may be easily killed. ]£* 



pond water is the best. 





ORCHIDS FOR THE MILLION.— No. IL 



Introductory Remarks. — Now that the nature and 

 the habits of Orchidaceous plants are better known than 

 they were some few years ago, we have become 

 acquainted with the conditions of their growth in the 

 countries where they are indigenous. Here they are 

 exposed to a dry season, during which they are at rest ; 

 and to a rainy season, when the heat is higher, 

 and the air moist nearly to saturation. And to grow 

 Orchids in any perfection, their native climate must, 

 to a certain exteht, be imitated, viz., they must have a 

 period of rest in a dry and comparatively cool atmo- 

 sphere, and during their growth and flowering they 

 should be exposed to a high moist atmosphere ; but as 

 they principally grow on the trunks and branches of 

 trees, it is important that they should be exposed to a 

 free current of air, and also to the light ; this is essential, 



FOREIGN GARDEN GLEANINGS 



St. Peteksbdkg. 



Forcing.— As, in consequence of the extreme aU 

 the inhabitants of St. Petersburgh can preserve £ 



are sought 



after 



that as HfnXr ZZZ f '-m COnSiaeral ? le ' except in some few species, to prevent the plants being 

 nt t'£i2 r ?l5Kti^^tfLJ^ eX ?° Sed to *»*?** acti ™ «* ** «■* i which if 



may be termed a sub-division of climate, begins to 

 be observable in the southern parts of it. 



apt to scorch the leaves. The great, heat and moisture 



or more strictly speaking with Undercliff and 

 southern coast of that island ; and may be taken for 

 the commencement of the climate of Devon and the 

 western counties. Further westward, the isle or 

 rather peninsula of Purbeck, together with the 

 southern part of the New Forest, are a continuation 

 of the Southampton range of climate, the sheltered 

 nooks along this coast partaking to the full of the 

 advantages of the southern coast of the Isle of 

 Wight 



The whole Weymouth district south of the chalk 

 downs, and now all the coast further westward, the 

 pat valley behind Bridport and Lyme, appear to 

 be on a par with the mildest parts of the Isle of 

 VV ight, and in the sheltered combes and southern 

 slopes near the sea, attain a combination of winter and 

 summer temperature perhaps superior to it. On 

 descending from the chalk downs, the climate of 

 Devonshire may be said to begin, at least of De 

 east of Dartmoor, which seems to 

 meteoric ruler of the climates of 



mr. ij... , . .\ , . - ls . onlv necessary during the time the plants are in 



1 his sub-division begins with the Isle of Wight, vigorous growth, and this period should bearing spring 



mnrft tbnM ~ m~M-m -ufc n-A—u~ - . and summer, the best periods of rest being from abou°t 



November till February - and it is the long period of 

 rest which predisposes the plant to blossom. Of course 

 the rules as to the periods of growth and rest can only 

 be stated in general terms. There are certain kinds which 

 do not stop growing, to some extent, all the year 

 round And again, even of those which do go to rest 

 periodically, m the completion of their growth, it does 

 not always happen that the time of rest corresponds 

 with that time at which the largest numbers go to rest 

 Period op G R ow T H.-When the growing season 

 commences, raise the .temperature of the East India 



von 



England. 



be the 

 this 



great 

 part of 



arriving at that narrowes 



West 



house 



™*„ u~ n Zi /""°" w ~~ ' v *V u *\y i u y sun neat it 



may be allowed to range to 75*, and as the days lengthen, 



so the temperature may be permitted to increase, and 



during the months of May, June, July, and August it 



?/ a f fro *70° ^ 75- by night, and from 75- 



to dO by day, and by sun heat to 85*, or even 90* ; this 



frl D ttt^ thG Plants are sl ^d 



should be 60- by night, and from 65° to 70- b y dav • 

 and as the days lengthen, so the temperature may be 

 allowed to increase; and during the months of kay 



i^A^T"^ a? heat ma * "*«" frS 



05 to /0 , and by day from 70- to 85°. Great 



vegetables from one year to another, there a » 

 great demand for forced vegetables ; the few fat 

 A mi-, are Asparagus, Salad, earlv(fc 



rots, Mushrooms, which are, however, found wild a 

 abundance in the neighbouring woods, and especially 

 Water Melons. Peas are grown in pots, into which th 

 seed is put at the end of autumn, and which are then 

 put under cover for the winter. This plan was innv 

 duced into Russia some 20 years ago by a French gar- 

 dener who was enabled to gather Peas in February id 

 to sell them for 41. per lb. As this sum is, however. t» 

 large for most people, the Russians keep the P* 

 through the winter. We have ourselves tasted Pev 

 thus kept, and to our taste they were as good as icr 

 we ever met with. 



No idea can be formed of the quantity of pite ad 

 houses employed for raising early eatables. Par, 

 Apricot, Cherry, and Plum trees are all treated in tk 

 same way ; but the houses in which they are kept ta 

 roofs sloping in opposite directions, one side being takoi 

 off on the approach of fine weather ; the trees ttea- 

 selves, always small, are placed in rows which alte 



Apple trees and Gooseberry and Raspberry tabes 

 are generally in the open air ; however, they are ofa, 

 together with Fig and Peach trees, sheltered nder 

 houses with a single slope. These plants are, in ach* 

 case, put at the bottom of the house, against the woote 

 wall which supports the sashes ; before them, other 

 plants are arranged according to their heights. If & 

 house is low, the Peach trees are allowed to keep tlw 

 upper branches only, which are then made to follow dw 

 gl*ss sashes, so as to get as much heat and Bghju 

 possible ; the spaces between the stems of the Pe*ei 

 trees are filled up with Vines, and, under the sort « 

 cradle formed by the falling branches, S fcrawbernes ifld 

 little trees in pots are forced. 



No gardeners in the world, perhaps, understand^ 

 to imitate natural temperature so well as the Ra»»» 

 it is to their excellent management in this respect m 

 their success in forcing is almost entire!/ own* 

 Another great advantage, due to the cllD f\ B 

 facility with which Russian gardeners can cbeet fep; 

 tation by means of cold. Ice-houses are generai^^ 



attention 



paid to 



, w --, — ~ ».v.ou of Somerset 



between Lyme and Bridgewater, constitutes a sort 



of isthmus, which makes a peninsula of Devon and 



Urnvvall, we find that the mild temperature, which 



has been gradually increasing in warmth and 



extending m range at every successive valley alone 



the coast of the English Channel, is now becomi 



the climate of the whole of these counties, and their 



borders, from sea to sea, the heights only excepted. 



It even extends beyond the Bristol Channel, and gentle steam to *'«, -*.s T"-' "7~" "'" vauae a mce 



may be saul to comprehend the whole coast of South ' ^I'tT^t rise ' whlch ,s of. especial value whilst 



Wales between the mountains and the 



*u . . • s „ ho , uld > at the same time, be paia to 

 the 6 tate of the atmosphere, as regards moisturL ; at 

 all times of the year this is of much importance to the 

 successful growth of the plants, for they derive the 

 greater part of their subsistence from the moisture Tn he 

 air, so that wherever any plants are jrrowine the atmo- 

 sphere should be well supolied with J n ?J.l 8 '. ut* "T 



moisture 



is ob- 



sea. 



Dartmoor with other high lands occupying the 

 ntre of Devonshire, forms the great 

 dimmn between the Eastern and Western sections 



of the Atlantic, and the latter from frosts of winter 

 and spring As may be expected, a marked differ- 

 ence is to be observed between the' vegetation o the 



ZJ ?? S \ th l CaStern bein S more favourable to 

 tiees and fruits, the western to tender shrubs and 



evergreens, as well as to herbaceous plants of warm 



*«• « i i -~rr— -"- ■"*•» "luioiiuc ; una IS OD- 



?fX £Z P ° UrUlg Water -° Ver the tables > wa,1 s> and paths 

 ,tt T ! GVery m0ni! "S aild afternoon, and by keep! 

 mg the hot-water tanks full, which will cause a nice 

 gentle s earn to rise, which is of especial value wS 

 the plants are m a vigorous state of gAwth, especiX „ 

 regards the East Indian Orchids, such as AeX Sacco! 

 labiums, Vandas, Phalamopsis, Dendrobinmc 3 « 

 wall of J fhers requiring a high temWu" ^ ^3 



degree ot moisture. The Mexican Orchids mort of 

 which come from a cooler climate, not so 'saturated 

 with water of course require less heat ana moistre bnt 

 these should have a considerable degree o v« 

 during then- growing season. ° ^armtn 





for this purpose ; but, in our opinion, better m 

 might be obtained by other means. Why, fc JJJJ 

 should they not do in St. Petersburgh that Jf ^JV^, 

 in the agricultural and horticultural school in ri » 

 to keep milk and meat for summer's consumptw n , 

 is, why should they not have next to a c f d ' h0 ^ J^y 

 set apart for ice-houses, and separated from tn - 

 a wall pierced with valves? By opening or. ^ 

 these valves, the air in the plant-house migw J m 

 at pleasure ; in this way, not only fruit trees, ^ 

 mental plants, might be checked in their grow 



ever necessary. „ . t^ jfc 



r Cf Peters*"* 



Vegetable and Fruit Markets.— St. J whicbs 



possesses several fruit and vegetable marke, ^ 

 supplied from the interior of Russia and ™ -^ 

 by way of Havre. The principal and best l ^ 

 daily market is that of the Sennaia, where -ua, ^ j, 

 standing its abundance, is 20 per cent. rfr^B & 

 Paris. This is the more surprising, as tne p ^ e 



not nearly so fresh as our own. In tne . L £0 m** 

 little except what is forced, and that is ^.^ 

 first-rate. Lettuce badly grown, long A 7< ^ three 

 Radishes and Carrots may be met witn , ^ ,01 

 in great abundance. Cabbages, Fotatoe , ^ 

 fun|i may be had until July. P«» ar f ^^^i 



» 



which the Russians 



