420 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE, 





cirf^ic acid in the atmosphere, that it would be 

 wars before any visible increase could be produced 

 from any natural source, and consequently also, it 

 mifiht be months before the counteracting in- 

 fluence of vegetation began to produce any sensible 



diminution, . . . v 



The growth of land plants however, is not the 



only means by which the atmosphere is i 

 the sea also performs a very important part in the 

 absorption of carbonic acid ; the proportion of car- 

 bonic acid in the air appears to be generally 

 diminished by storms ; and the air collected out at 

 sea, especially in stormy weather, contains a smaller 

 proportion of carbonic acid than that which is 

 collected some way from the sea-shore. It is 

 probable that as much carbonic acid is absorbed and 

 decomposed by marine plants every year as by those 

 which grow upon the land ; that which is abstracted 

 by the latter is for the most part sooner or later again 

 returned to the atmosphere, by decay or combustion; 

 but that which is removed by marine plants is appa- 

 rently altogether lost as regards the growth of future 

 £Iants, possibly it in part goes to form beds of car- 

 :>naceous matters, analogous to coal. The practical 

 conclusion which we would draw from these remarks 

 is, that the quantity of carbonic acid decomposed by 

 the vegetation of the whole globe in a year, may be 

 greater or less, by many hundred thousand tons, than 

 the quantity formed during the same time, and yet 

 no sensible difference may be perceived in the com- 

 position and properties of the air. 



It is a well ascertained fact that the power of 

 plants to decompose carbonic acid varies very con- 

 siderably, according to the conditions under which 

 the plant is placed ; it depends on vigour and vitality 

 in the plant, on temperature, and on the influence 

 of the sun's light. Ingenhousz and Saussure found 

 that the power of decomposing carbonic acid was 

 greatest at a certain hour in the morning, and that 

 after that period it began to decline, even though the 

 strength of the sun's rays continued to increase. It is 

 true that many of these experiments were made in 

 small glass receivers, and consequently under highly 

 artificial and unnatural conditions, but they arenever- 

 theless quite varied and accurate enough to establish 

 the general conclusion, that at some periods plants 

 are much more able to decompose carbonic acid 

 than they are at others. It is probable that in the 

 free and open air those conditions most favourable 

 to the growth of the plant are also favourable to 

 its obtaining carbonic acid ; but when plants are 

 cultivated in a close house, and more especially 

 when the house contains a comparatively small 

 surface of earth, it is certainly quite possible that 

 the plants may not always be able to obtain as much 

 carbonic acid as they could decompose, and in such 

 cases the artificial addition of carbonic acid to the 

 air might be advantageous. It is an experiment 

 which could easily be tried, and one which 

 might very probably lead to interesting results. 

 It is obvious, that the gas should only be intro- 

 duced at that period of the day when the grow- 

 ing powers of the plants are most active ; and pro- 

 bably not more than from a thirtieth to a fortieth of 

 the whole volume of the air should be introduced at 

 a time. In an ordinary hot-bed or tan-pit, the 

 effects produced are chiefly due to the increased 

 temperature, but at the same time some benefit is 

 certainly produced by the carbonic acid evolved ; 

 in this case, however, the gas is constantly and 

 regularly evolved, and bears no relation to the 

 powers or wants of the plants ; very nearly as much 

 food is offered to them in the middle of the night 

 when they are wholly unable to make use of it, as 

 in the brightest part of the morning. If an experi- 

 ment were tried on the artificial addition of carbonic 

 acid to the air of a forcing-house, it is hardly neces- 

 sary to add pure carbonic acid must be used; it 



in a tub, two feet in diameter, and flowered, however 

 shabbily, in a bushel of mud, and struggle as other 

 aquatics heretofore had to be contented with, we should 

 never have Jseen the splendid effect that Nymphseas 

 produce in an aquarium 30 feet wide. Not only have 

 gentlemen built tanks of immense size for the Victoria, 

 but nurserymen have done the same ; and besides 



The "growth of land plants however, is not the grow i ng t h; s w hite Water Lily, they have tried the 



lv means by which the atmosphere is purified, supe rior culture applied to the Victoria upon other 



y J - iA ~* ~— * ; *» *^ ' plants, and the experiment has nobly rewarded them 



for their pains. 



I cannot help stating that I felt rather disappointed 

 on first seeing the flower of the Victoria, after the 

 marvellous display made by its foliage. Such a leaf 

 seemed to promise much, and measuring the bloom by 

 the proportion that Nymphaea flowers bear to their 

 leaves, one might have reasonably expected the 

 Victoria to produce a flower as large as the top 

 of a bushel basket ; and if it had been rich in 

 colour, in addition to this large size, it would have 

 been still more desirable ; however, with all its beauties 

 and all its shortcomings, it is fair indeed ; but its ephe- 

 meral life extends only to a day, the morrow dawns only 

 upon its decline, its work is finished, and the foot prints 

 of decay are stealing over its loveliness. In colour, too, 

 it suffers by comparison with aquatics of less pretensions, 

 for I need only refer to one well known genius, the 

 Nymphseas — plants of the easiest culture, where there 

 is room and warmth afforded them, to show that the 

 tanks erected for the Victoria may be greatly enriched 

 by a margin of Nymphaeas — a square yard or two of 

 space is all that they require ; in fragrance they are not 

 to be surpassed ; in colour, some are of the purest 

 white, others are of the fairest shades of blue, whilst | 

 one or two are crimson. 



On visiting the new Victoria house'at Messrs. Knight 

 and Perry's the other day, I was handsomely rewarded, 

 after the many long miles I had travelled, to see the 

 u Lions of London" with a sight of by far the loveliest 

 flower I had ever set my eyes upon. It grew in a 

 corner of the tank, and might be 25 feet from where I 

 stood ; it was a Nymphaea with a flower about as long as 

 my hand, possessing the colour of Le Geant des Batailles 

 Rose, and like all other plants or flowers that grow upon 

 the brink of still water or tint float upon its bosom, it was 

 reflected in the a liquid element" and consequently 

 counted double; therefore, if any one is at all disappointed, 

 as I confess I was, in the flower of the Victoria regia, let 

 him try a verge of Nymphseas, and* he will not go 

 unrewarded. I would also just hint to the London sight- 

 seer, that a cab-hire of half-a-crown to Chelsea will not 

 be thrown away in a visit to the nursery in question, 

 where this beautiful plant is in bloom ; and before I 

 take leave of this subject, I would beg to remark, that 

 as the Victoria Lily has raised the tanks to a dignified 

 standing, as compared with what they were, the same 

 dignity ought to be observed in the plants that are made 

 to associate with this queenly flower. 



The Nymph&eas are worthy of a place in every large 

 tank, and those who can add Nelumbiums will find that 

 these three genera, well grown, will form such a selec- 

 tion as cannot be excelled by any aquatics in cultivation. 

 I was led to this remark, by seeing in one place the 

 gouty legs of Pontederia crassipes, and the light foliage 

 of Limnocharis Humboldtii, floating under the heavy 

 batteries of the Victoria, which seemed ready to swamp 

 them with the next leaf that it unfurled. Alex. Forsyth, 

 St. Mary's Church, June 26. [Now that 3500/. are 

 voted for an aquarium at Kew, it is to be hoped that 

 we shall see water plants as they ought to be seen.] 



science we muatT^ look^Tr^ 

 time, with scarcely a jrlimmL back •■_ 





* 



^ 



* 



been made, which practical 7 n m *. n J n *flu 

 servien to the comforu and n T ni ^ h»T3 

 removal of the duty on .£■ £ appin «« **»• 

 sc.ence which only a short tiL a * ^ *«t^- ; * 

 have called into action Tnw\ a * 0n ° eff*t>*»a 

 building such as I am now ^I^ 1 ^ffifiO 

 erected, and without an extend 8 0, «w1«m? 

 snd diffuse a subdued light nn? 1 ieof #*£t 

 have been secured gQt ' no '"eh dual,"'. 11 



The achievements of Hortiimi^ 

 here, or merely consist in B f^' b '»««r L 

 ■ he Great Exhibition BuHdta "...'i** ««££* 



and the most tender fabrics m" £ dr J «« Mfc, 

 leads onwards to the formation of !, 8aftl T P^S** 

 opposite influences are rend ered fr". *Sf± * 

 wants and requirements of man P* ahhj - 5- 

 were congregated beneath a ria., .? m " l »> 

 was mvanaoly deteriorated and ! T^ *• 

 more than transiently inhaled flf d * n * ■* W 

 witon being to take a hurried view ofaL V** 

 and then retire to a more «r-„T*?! the chief 



turesare no longer oXalth,^!'" *«»tS2j 

 immense variety of objects theV™m P !«"',r*^ % 

 contrast with the meagre apnea, J?" fora « 

 these objects are seen g?ZC«I <**"*•*- 

 vigour which, with the linUTk " LV U •"•& 

 sessed formerly, it was impossible to wf *" **£ 

 and climate of our dwellin^^T** >^* 

 and many additions to our comfort W ?**• — 

 made The perfection of thSS n ern ?l U thh »*Z 



froetarl u Uh + U~ »e i_ . _ ""filial ftrP4«-Jj 





WHAT IS TO BECOME OF THE CRYSTAL 



PALACE ? 



By Joseph Paxton. 

 The time is approaching when the World's Fair will termi- 

 nate, and the vast roof under which it is held, being no longer 

 required for that purpose, must, according to the terms of 



might be obtained with great facility and of great 

 purity by mixmg chalk and snlnhnric arirl i«%T„ 



ulphuric acid in any 



suitable vessel. The gas should be introduced pretty 

 early in the morning, allowed to remain in IJ 



*ith the leaves of the plants during the greater part 

 of the day, the house being entirely closed, and in 

 the afternoon a certain amount of ventilation might 

 be allowed, m order to permit the free circulation of 

 air and the escape of the surplus gas before night. 



THE CRIMSON NYMPttffiAAND OTHER 



WATER LILIES. 



h Jhlw 1 S 0dUeti0n ° f Vict0ria re S ia int0 this country 

 has been the commencement of a new era in the history 



of stove aqua fan. The Victoria required a tank or 

 bae n of gigantic «ze, and would not be put off with 

 an instalment of ,ts demands ; setting potsand tubs a 

 defiance, it scorned all reasonable bounds and To,,?, 

 not be stowed into any kind of coopery sbe'e a brewed 

 vat could scarcely float more than one of its splendid 

 leaves. We have, therefore, to thank this noblS rfant 

 for such a reformation in tanks, as never could P 

 been anticipated by the warmest admirers 



half 



agreement with the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, be 

 removed; and, by this time next year, the ground is to be 

 made as smooth, and the Grass is to look as green, as before 

 the 25th of September, 1850. The Exhibited articles will all 

 be removed, and many of them will be looked upon as precious 

 relics, connected with an event, the greatest of our times, and 

 they will be cherished more and more as they become sepa- 

 rated further from the day of their great triumph, whilst the 



S U t , W.HM°- Pa By ."? wilh,,Ilt vanit y)-'-be great feature 

 oi the Exhibuion-must, if removed, be either transported to 



another country, or be rent asunder and dispersed in frae. 



ments to perform a variety of inferior offices Now, if I can 



show- as I believe I can-good reasons wbv the structure 



rin fl U iHn e t h am9tand, . ns J- 1 '"»*«>• R °val Commissioners will 

 do all in their power to further that object. 



r«f£*.m »h e °' from * u Noughts of its present use, and also 



from all those considerations which fairly entitle It to ereat 



rlZ rr^f Buildin *. I w °™d *ag«eHt, should be allowed 7o 

 remain standing, on account of its peculiar fitness'to iunnlv « 



mUtiLW? K*^ WWch L0Dd " n ' with it. two and a^a 

 ?.!! T of "'. h . ab,t » nt «. »tand. most essentially in need of 

 "*%$• "W"^ ? a rk and Garden under glass/ ° f 



Pa7ace 1 bZT^Z Li ° D f™*™* ia a Seei * n f °* the Glass 



whichVe Bnud"„gTo««d q be e ,d a apted U t ?,? ^ PU ? 0ie ,0r 

 immediately required ; and £ , mv oriel„«i w° bjeCt then r more 

 minently mentioned the fact «. ™.-i? £1' P ros P ect u». I P™- 



share of my atSon. Since that davnnth^ '1"'™' a ,ar *? 

 to alter m/views, but, on the conrrarv ilW" trans P ired 



tributed to strengthen and eaUbHshVw ?*™a*. V T" 

 convince mp if .„"v> *....».._ _ D ". sn mem, and to further 



va 



large 



propose 



Within the last 20 vear« th« -'«■- • i 

 requirement, of animated natnr« ife 010 ^' ec ?? om y. a «>d 

 locality, and variouicontimS t he effecU wMch «•«=»>», 

 habit, have been studied «nrt - h . a *« up-mtheir health and 



t s as ! &«-- ;-s ~#« 



us with particulars, and but for this 



recorded biitory furnishea ua with nmrrin„i« M - 



and in the neighbourhood of LoTdoHip c ^ *L 

 many months in the jear impure, mnZ 3 "£** 

 recreation and enjoyment; ?nd itW^^S 

 offer the present recommendation. AllhThJ* 1 ** 

 tures, however great and noble some of ffil** 

 of answering this end, and I cannot but recall 

 we do possess a building like the CrjitalpS?^ 

 dimensions is the best adapted for such a nnZTT 1 

 that has been hitherto attLnJS ^,!!!^ 



selected : connecting as it does tbose'two ^tT^ 1 *^ 



en nitnerto attempted, that it shonuiT ^ 

 priated— and especially as its peculiar site bftwlTif 

 and Kensington Gardens is the best spot that eSfiT 



it appears exactly calculated to concen'rite beurtL 

 the pleasures of both. **■*•• 



A Building like thi S if properly laid out, will*,* 

 field of intellectual and healthful enjoyment- ittflf 

 I hope, stimulate the wealthy in large raanufirJZ.5? 



a similar adoption of what may now be raisd liiZI; 

 when judiciously furnished with vegetation, otitiSa 

 sculpture and fountains, and illustrated with fe km 

 works of Nature, how pure, elevating, and taeicJZ 

 its studies and exercises be. At present E^liBrffctifci 

 such place of public resorr, for although Kew but aM 

 Palm-house, where daily are con. regated a gmtnaatotM 

 viduals, yet its warm and humid atmosphere it oaly o|fc 

 to admit of visitors taking a hasty view of the wafauft 

 tiopics, as they pass in their walks through the prta t 

 the contrary, in the Winter Park and Garter p* 

 climae would be the principal thing studied ;i!ld»feac 

 and fitting up would have special reference to that aitk 

 the pleasures found in it wouli be of a charatttrtbr 

 who visit could share ; here would be supplied tfctcki 

 Southern Italy, where multitudes might ride, walk. 

 amidst groves of fragrant trees, and here they mifk 

 examine the work9 of Nature and Art, regardlearftliia: 

 east winds or the drifting snow. Here vegetatioi a ■■ 

 its beauty might be studied with unusual adrantyail 

 singular properties examined of those great filt<nn i f " J 

 which during the night Beason, when the talktffltan 

 are in a quiescent state, inhale the oxygen of then:, din 

 the day, when the mass of animal exis r ence hsTiafltfi 

 activity, they drink in the carbonic supply, gi-« "»^JJ 

 and animals, which goes to form their solid s aMp* m 

 same time pouring forth streams of oxygen, •"*•]■ 

 with the surrounding atmosphere, gives vigour to uH* 

 and cheerfulness to his spirits. ,_,_ t .^ 



In this Winter Park and Garden, the tw« wjj" J 

 be so arranged as to give great dirtmtfotmm* 

 re? que effect. Spaces might be set apart for 4""J" 

 cise, and for carriage drives ; but the """JgjUZ 

 ing should be arranged with the ^ of - , ?J^ 

 and variety for those who promenade on ™* '" 

 statuary, and every description of P^'^SSUa 

 would greatly heighten the effect and beaatpm ^ 



Beautiful creeping plants might M' 1 *?^ 



columns, and trailed along the g* «"" J W 



anmmer. while the effect they would ? rod f j£J# 



-er the Bmldwf, wouW|W" , 



every diversity of form over tae Buiiu^g, -~ . , 

 a most enchanting and gorgeous ^\.r^m- 

 might be introduced a collection °f j5L- f # 

 temperate climates, and the science of fljg^, 



connected with the study of V } ™$**^m* 

 large and natural scale, thus making pracu 

 th.dogy, and Geology, familiar to ^jg^J0 

 The alterations necessary to the M ^,0* 

 the effects I have suggested would ^ ifh J*5j» 

 money. Shortly will be published 1^™^ — ^c 

 the whole may be finished so as to do J^ ^ 



smoke, chimneys, or ^^i^^l 

 the alterations necessary I do not pro^ ?°^ tttlMJ 

 I may mention, for the information ot ^00*** 

 the Crystal Palace, that I ahonW ^**+ 

 boarding round the bottom tier of tne rflt 

 and replaced frtlh glass ; the pres n aP^i* 

 ,nd gives anything but the idea ui^^ ^pj 



Klass if 



in winder 

 will have a 



and gives anything but the ■-— - Dpe arance %— 

 ■ • substituted for wood L the_ WV^*f*& 



.anged ; those who dr ve and no % *V* 

 see the objects within as ^tm J V ^1g 



a light aerial ^^X^^ff 

 at present. In summer I should r b t lfe ,ft# 

 glass tier to be entirely reared ^ ^ 

 g e. opposite tbe_ Pala<* 



and the hou* 



an app^jjpf 



tinuous park and garden. " e {J!/ Jii«*Sfe 

 wil be the position of those iwho hw ^j «>*%&» 

 I fully admit they have had l)^ cw „*,•* 

 all the WrmaU of so vast « uud« „ d ** «V 



bition developed under the ir ej ^M*^ 

 attendant inconveniences j ; but » t ^Oifgg,* 

 .tand, and be adapted »• I pwPJ, 1 '„ the«< 

 to them will fully compensate f » ^ j«y ^ 

 sustained in that respect. The m*»» ,»J 



and glass substituted, they w W n ^ Wjjj 

 walkf a beauttful park, ^ecora ed cliffla ^«^> 

 and Art, under a sky-roof,^* ^, me ft £g^» 

 .Uated for the parpo-e of hear ^jlrfj* ,# 

 their own firesides, a promen ^ tatt **$fi* 

 for the six winter n»'^*VdwW **S5< 



Southern Italy ; » nd * ha w o a ld, fro* ««J^< 

 immediate neighbourhood ^ ^ «> 



considerably advance ".Jb.WtanM ^%f&L 



exercise aff.rded «•'*•'&» «&*$*& 

 The advantages derivsble i ^ ffl]iJ W|j uV ^ 



would ►• 



Crystal Palace would be ,m» J. ^ , ..- ^ ^ 



In a sanitary point ot w«^, d produce , » ^ * 

 r^ it. various objects it *°»V/. t trod« » 



By its various objects 

 pleasura to the mmd. 



The gre» { 



