THE GARDENERS* CHRONICLE. 



453 





iward, tfnd explore 



winged friends, I 

 of song iu any 

 It is curiou 



;. as I rambl. 



lee of our little 



w ^ »b!e I note the cessa >" 



L during the past few days. 

 g to obserre how, one by one, wen-mown 

 »t once become silent ; whilst others, eon- 

 modulated, are still di 

 *ere reluctant to cease 



as if their 

 >Tis 



that the lazy hum of exhausted insects breaks upon 



~" ' state of universal repose. 



wfc til aec^e u*c "iw - "*— «** pleasing stupor. 

 »» this rery season it is, that our hero, the black- cap, 

 I elevated perch, distils upon us the dew of his 

 ^e-like voice, and charms us with the richness of his 

 f^Tnote. It is quite a mistake in modern writers, 



fee 



an 



back *..- ~ 



1^ in * the light of other days," to call him a wild 

 Ej • and to say that he shuns mankind as if they were 



* This assertion is ridiculously false ; for next 



to uv robin, he is one of our most domestic, household 

 fafa Walk whither you will,— along the high road, in 

 orchard, a garden, a by-lane, or a field ; there shall 

 m find, crossing your path in all directions, my good 

 £od, the black-cap. Nor does he fail to make you see 



and hear him. He tells you plainly, and in the 



musical of all musical strains, that he loves your 

 company, and that he will escort you hither and thither. 

 Si teat is always on a lofty tree, and he usually sings 

 rith oee leg *■ ;htly elevated above the other,— his little 

 lody bein„' hidden by the leaves. When you move, he 

 moves, ft is a pleasing fact, that you can scarcely ever 

 walk abroad at this season, without some one of his 

 fcmilv presenting himself to sing to you by the way. 

 Thi* is the precise time of the year in which to ad- 

 tlie affectionate tenderness of the black-cap* 

 •better half.'* Never was wife more amiable, never 

 •as mother more sedulous and self-denying. Observe, 



bu / she is now occupied in feeding her five 

 callow offspring, in yonder Hawthorn ! See how un- 

 asasingly, yet cautiously, she flies backwards and for- 

 wards with some sweet morsel in her bill ; and how 

 overjoyed her little family are to listen to her approach, 

 and to partake of her savoury provision ! 



Then again shall you note another parent, full of ma- 

 ternal solicitude for her children who have just quitted 

 their cradle. How carefully she instils into their infant 

 ninds the necessity for their being ever on the watch ; 

 and how warily she coaxes them into the shadiest 

 thickets ! Well does she know, by an instinct bordering 

 rery closely on*reason, that those iron-hearted butchers, 

 the bird-catchers, are even now in their wake ; and 

 thus is her anxiety doubled. The disobedience of her 

 children, however, too often costs them dear, A tempt- 

 ing bait, set on a circular painted board, by an artful, 

 hatchet-faced villain lurking under a hedge, soon lures 

 them to their ruin. They transgress the command, 

 eat the forbidden fruit, and their doom is fixed. The 

 child of liberty is now on its way to the pest-houses of 

 fie Seven Dials ! What lessons of practical wisdom 

 *re wi thus constantly taught, if we would but bo apt 

 scholars ! 



The hen black-cap differs from the male, in the colour 

 pf her head-dress ; which, instead of being jet black, 

 o a dusky brown/ She is, too, of a more sombre, 

 Quaker-like aspect. She is often mistaken for the 

 garden warbler at a distance, though the latter has a 

 much longer and fan-like tail ; also a more taper and 

 genteel neck. The nests of both these birds are firmly 

 *nd strongly built, and of the same materials. They 

 are composed externally of dry Grass, twigs, and the 

 fibres of roots, and are lined within with fine hair, 

 Hieate blades of Grass, and soft, pliant moss. 



The number of eggs laid by each is from four to 

 ax Those of the black-cap are of a yellowish-white 

 colour, with brown spots ; whilst the eggs of the garden 

 nrbler have in addition a mixture of pale grey spots 

 ipon them. Their nests are seldom built at a height 

 exceeding 3 feet from the ground. They are usually 

 found in a Hawthorn. The notes of distress uttered by 

 both, during the season of incubation, are greatly alike, 

 being harsh and discordant. Those of the black-cap are 

 the loudest, and fall most gratingly on the ear. In song, 

 feese birds differ widely. The notes of the garden 

 **rbler are soft, gentle, and quietly Bweet. The 

 °f the black-cap is loud, bold, clear, and distinct. 



Whilst instituting a comparison between this bird and 

 ™* nightingale, much judgment should be shown. They 

 *re both equally excellent in degree. While the quality 

 *ad power of the nightingale's voice cannot be over-rated, 

 Jet he sings for a very limited time only ; and is subject 

 to great depression of spirit. The rapidity of his execu- 

 tion, and the " value " of his notes, while he is in song, 

 place him certainly highest in the scale of excellence ; and, 

 •^ far as this extends — " Palmam qui meruit ferat." 

 When, however, we weigh well the* comparative tempers 

 •» the birds, their general deportment in a cage, and the 

 ^ceasing attention they require, — it then becomes a 

 n ***ter of question how to choose between them. Both 

 ** equally robust in point of constitution ; both arrive 

 «■** nearly at the same time, and both are heartily 

 ponied when they do come. Of all the summer 

 w *™ers, these are " the " two, par excellence. 

 » *^* depression of spirit in the nightingale, it must 

 ••borne in mind, does not exist when he is enjoying 

 ?• "Wty out of doors. It is only when caged 

 ™t he is seen to mope ; and this is why I have so 

 waulously endeavoured to prevent his being numbered 

 * generally among *< cage birds." He may, and does 

 *** * kind master, dearly ; but his own kindred have 

 ™ sum of his affection. His heart is ever thinkine of 



song 





them. Not so, altoj her, the Mac-- p ; though / . 

 too, has his \n ulering thought! towards fatherland, At 

 « « rtaiu seasons of the year. 



As regards I \ternata, the ptrs> of the black-cap 



exceeds in beauty that of the I ;htingale. The latter is 

 of a long inelegant form, with a di cy breast, and a 

 seedy-brown coloured coat. The Mack-cap, on the 

 contrary, has a clear and gr -white breast, a handsoiu< 

 bonnet noir, a keen intelligent eye, and a crest for 

 the most part erect His tail, too, is trim, his feathers 

 close, and his whole form shorter and more compact. 

 His legs, which are slim, are of a blue-black cast, and hit 



claws always u neat." 



Nor is he ignorant of his personal attractions ; for 

 he makes his toilet with consummate taste and care, 

 and shows himself off at all times to the very best 

 advantage— singing all the while these domestic opera- 

 tions are in progress. If you humour the little rogue 

 by noticing kindly these manoeuvres of his, he will treat 

 you to an impn ptu of surpassing excellence, and you 

 will find no difficulty whatever in making a friend of 

 him for life. Try the experiment — and I shall secure 

 your good-will for the recommendation. William Kidd. 



< »« |i««m «i«» »» t %%■ ieii **»li.' * •.!»<! ull)«t * -*.TK f 



if kept properly paint. d and attended to, %%<? have >. i«M 



tpt-rieijce to be able to form u y >d opinion ; there ar* tout* 

 ase hgbes at Cbat* worth which hare, at lenst, i>ren In 

 >nsfnnt u*h for upward* of 100 year*, and appear Hke'y 

 > endure for a Ion* time to come. My estimate of dura- 

 tion for the sash and glass-work of the Crystal P*Uce it 

 • i years, bu in my statement of eipendtture pro*Uion was 



ORCHIDS FOR THE MILLION.— No. VIII. 



By B. S. Williams, gr. to C. B. Wabnie. Eiq., Hoddesdon. 



Hot Climate — Plants grown in Pots with Peat. 



Cattleya Stinneri.—A beautiful Orchid from Guate- 

 mala* It produces rosy-purple flowers in March, April. 

 and May, and they remain three weeks in perfection, i! 

 kept dry. It is best grown in a pot in fibrous peat. 

 with good drainage, and it should be placed at the 

 warmest end of the house during the growing season, 

 but afterwards it should be kept cool and rather dry. 

 The same treatment is required for the other species of 

 Cattleya hereafter mentioned ; they will all succeed on 

 blocks, but the pot and peat culture is the best. 



Cattleya Mossite. — A magnificent plant from Central 

 America ; flowers from March to August, the blossoms 

 being of every shade of colour from pale pink to rose 

 purple ; it remains a long time in perfection if the 

 flowers are kept dry. 



Cattleya crispa.—A beautiful Orchid from Brazil ; 

 flowers in July and August ; the blossoms are pure 

 white, with a purple lip, curled at the edge ; it remains 

 in perfection about two weeks, if kept in a cool house. 



Cattleya superba, from Guiana, flowers in June and 

 July ; it has a fine rich crimson lip, and remains in 

 bloom three weeks, if the flowers are kept dry. 



Cattleya lab lata.— One of the best of the Cattleyas; 

 it comes from Brazil, and flowers in October. The 

 blossoms are dark purple, and they remain two or 

 three weeks in perfection. 



Cattleya pumila. — A charming species from Brazil, 

 blooms in September. The flowers are rose-coloured, 

 with a rich crimson lip, and they remain long in beauty. 

 This should be kept warm whilst it is growing, but it 

 should not have too much moisture. 



{Jattleya Loddi'jesii, from Brazil, blooms in August 

 and September, and remains long in perfection. 



Cattleya Harrison'uv, from the same place, blooms in 

 July, and remains three weeks in beauty. 



Cattleya violacea, also a Brazilian species, produces 

 flowers in abundance, from July to September, and 

 these last in good condition three weeks, if kept dry. 



Cattleya guttata, flowers in October, and lasts 10 days 

 in bloom. The blossoms are greenish yellow, with cri 



spots. 



Cattleya Candida, flowers in November, and remains 



long in perfection. 



Cattleya intermedia, blossoms from April to June. It 

 remains long in beauty. 



Cattleya granulosa, blooms in September, and remains 

 long in perfection. 



male for a renewal every 25 years; howtver, with cure 

 and attention, my belief ii that 100 years would be Bearer 

 «he realm. The ' ura* n »f wood work defends very much 

 upon its position, and the attention paid to We moat 



Qotf<rget that manv of our most enduring public buildings 

 have wooden r<*>fs : for instance,— Westminster Hall, Lincoln's* 

 Inn Hull, and the dome of St. Paul's, all of which are stiil in 



excellent preservation. 



Iu ororr to render the building a* it now stands nt for a 

 *ii. t*r garden, considerable expenses must be incurred; au 

 estimate of which I shall shortly be able to lay nefore the pub- 

 lic ; but without at this time entering into financial particu- 

 lars, I am convinced that when once formed the alter expenses 

 *or maintenance could be easily sustained without a public 

 .rant, and that the terms of admission could be nnde such as 

 'o suit the position and wants of all classaa of individuals.— 

 I have the honour to be, my Lord, jour Lord-hip's obedient 

 servant, Josim Paxtom. 



36, Gloucester- place, Portman-stjuare, July 14. 



THE CRYSTAL PALACE. 



To TH» Ric.nT TToif. Loan Campbell, —My Lord, T take the 

 liberty of Rddre*«ln£f the present letter to your Lordship feeling 

 confident you will be glad to receive any information likely to 

 correct the misapprehensions under which you appear to 

 labour respecting the construction, stability, and suitableness of 

 the Crystal Palace to be retained as a permanent building. 

 From your lordships reported speech in the House of Peers on 

 Friday last, it appears you had founded your principal 

 objections to the Building remaining as a Winter Park and 

 Garden upon Information derived from an anonymous 

 pamphlet, vpry much calculated to mislead you, and which, if 

 true, would furnish grave objections to the continuance of the 

 structure for the purposes I have suggested. The errors to 

 which I allude are tbe»e— That the building, as at present con- 

 structed, is not stable enough to be put to any permanent use, 

 being both frail and transient ; and that the only way to preserve 

 it would be to take the whole of it down and rebuild it. That 

 two-thirds of the columns of support are made of wood, which 

 will in a ehov-t time perish, and the girders being of the 

 same, are only calculated to endure for one season. That 

 the sashes and other portions of wood- work would endure only 

 for a very limited period, and would then have to be replaced 

 at 



Home Correspondence. 



Potato Disease. — We have now a proof that however 

 a wet season may give a tendency to increase the 

 Potato disease, vet that a dry one does not preTetv its 

 appearance. I usually grow several sorts of Potatoes 

 in my nursery, and am careful in ha\ ng the seta 

 •oked over, both when dujx up and also again previously 

 to planting. The small and perfect tuber I prefer, and 

 such were the sets, as far as the »•> « could discern, that 

 were planted. Yesterday, seeing a man at work 

 amongst them, 1 asked him if the blight had shown 

 Itself! He replied, "N©. w I told him to look 

 again. I had seen it, and in half an hour after he had 

 found it too. We have had but one shower 

 of rain for two months. We are literally parched 

 up, and yet the disease manifests itself as unmis- 

 takeably as if we had been flooded. It is proper 

 to State* that although five sorts were in the same plot, 

 that only one, "tin Cockm v," was affected yeMmlay. 

 To-day, a few of the Ash-leaved variety are affected. 

 Let us hope that although it has set in so < arly, }it that 

 it may not be wide-spreading, or so destructive as on 

 former occasions. We should naturally expect that 

 gardeners working amongst the crops would be the first 

 to discover and report any ailment the crops were 

 showing ; but it is not so, for in three Grape houses this 

 year, I have seen the parasite before the workmen 

 employed in the houses. I wish the Potatoes could be 

 rectified as readily as the Grape Vines. W. Masters, 



Canterbury, July 17. 



Picotee Seeds.— Having in the year 1847 saved more 

 Picotee seed than I could conveniently sow the succeed- 

 ing season, I tried the following experiments, with the 

 view of ascertaining if I could preserve its vitality for 

 some years. I dried some river sand in an oven ; when 

 cold I mixed some of it with the seed and filled a small 

 phial with the mixture, corking it down tight, wrapped 

 it in paper and placed it in a drawer. This season I 

 entrusted it to a friend to sow, and I understand that he 

 has obtained a crop of fine healthy plants. I took the 

 hint from having learned, some time back, that earth 

 raised many feet from the surface, on being exposed to 

 the action of the atmosphere, had produced several 

 plants of new varieties ; it therefore struck me that, if 

 I could exclude the air, light, and moisture from the 

 seed, it might probably retain its vitality, and I think 

 the experiment has verified the correctness of my idea. 



C. N. R. 



Fleming's Tar Paint. — " W. C. E.," Gloucester, and 



perhaps many others, seem to have been deterred from 

 the use of the above valuable and cheap composition 

 by the remarks of " L. L." Two years since 1 carefully 

 followed the directions given in your paper for the pre- 

 paration used by Mr. Fleming, and applied it in the 

 manner prescribed, viz., on a fine summer day, laid on 

 with a common tar-brush, the liquid itself being kept up 

 to boiling heat by means of a fire, built up in a little 

 portable stove mounted on a wheel-barrow, and moved 

 alon<* close to the operator. Had I 20 miles of iron 

 fencing instead of only 20 perches, 1 Bhould, from expe- 

 rience, set to work in the same manner, with the utmost 

 confidence of success. My railing had a few years 

 previously been painted. E. T. W. 9 Chepstow. 



A Sparrow recently built its nest in the hollow of the 

 lock attached to the entrance gates of the Han well 

 Asvlum. The circumstance is the more remarkable, 

 from the continual locking and unlocking of the gates 

 by the porter of the institution, rarely less than 300 tunes 

 in the course of the day, to say nothing of the noise rn 

 each shooting and movement of the bolt of the lock so 

 closely contiguous to its nest None of these inconveni- 





ences have, however, appeared to disturb the little in- 

 truder ; the work of incubation still went on, and three 



- a. ,i 1j_a 1 ».»• »* 



In adding ray corrections to these mistakes, I might just j young ones were the result ; the latter have within the 

 mention that, from the very commencement, when prepariog i^ f ew fays taken wing. I may mention, that for the 



my original plans of the building my views w.re to make it in * . ./ thig lock ha9 been a favourite spot, nestS 



every way suitable to be appropriated to a permanent u?e, Jasi *wu jeavre w»s» ' t > 



which fact 1 mentioned to Lord Brougham, and many others ; | having been made within it on previous occasions j out 



the entire frame- work and strength of the structure, as it now 

 stands, is, therefore, composed of wrought and cast iron, 

 fixed securely together, and firmly bedded in a concrete 

 foundation, and with ordinary attention to painting, this, the 

 most important part of the edifice, will last for ages to 

 come, with but little repairs of any kind being necessary. 

 Every column on which the hou*e rests is made of iron ; the 

 intermediate ones in the exterior row are merely placed there 

 for effect, and to divide the sashes, but have nothing to do with 

 the support or stability of the building. All the girders which 

 form part of the frame- work and security of the structure are 

 [ composed of wrought and cast iron. There are some wooden 

 girdera, bat they are only introduced for effect. 





owing to prying curiosity, they have been forsaken by 

 the parent birds, or the nests have been torn out by 

 some thoughtless or ruthless hand. F. Waite, Heath 

 House, Hanwell, July 1 6. 



Effect of Linseed Oil as a Cure for Scale.— Lust year 

 three old Vines in my garden (two Black Hamburghs 

 and one White Muscadine) were tremendously assailed 

 by * the scale" (I think you call it) ; the leaves were all 

 shrivelled, and the fruit mildewed and dried up. In 

 the autumn, the rods were perfectly covered with the 



