THE GARDENERS 



CHRONICLE 



and 



jSSto^Tmen of the highest attaints the 

 cost being a matter of no comparative importance, 

 not to be weighed for an instant against ac- 

 curacy. At each of these models a demonstrator 

 should be stationed, thoroughly qualified to give ex- 

 planations, and he should hourly give such explana- 

 tions unasked, in the most simple, intelligible and 

 unassuming manner, carefully pointing with a light 

 wand to the Ipart to which he was alluding. If a 

 plant or animal of interest was peculiar to either 

 Continent, of which there are numerous instances he 

 should be able to point out in what particular locality 

 it occurred, and every other fact of importance con- 

 nected with its history. Thus, if asked what species 

 of monkey was found in Europe, and where, he 

 should be able to name the Macacus Inuus ; to 

 point at once to the rock of Gibraltar ; and to state 

 that this ape abounded there, feeding chiefly on the 

 leaves and tender shoots of the young dwarf Palm 

 (Chamserops humilis). The plan of structure, and 

 of connecting the various continents, need scarcely 

 be discussed, but between continents which are con- 

 nected only by water, the mode of transmission 

 should represent a ship's deck, and those which join 

 should be united by dry land. Each continent 

 should be further illustrated by some of its abori- 

 ginal inhabitants, in the ordinary dress of their 

 respective countries. I imagine there would be no 

 difficulty in procuring the Negro, the Hindoo, the 

 Australian, the Red Indian, or the Indian of the 

 Pampas. This idea has been already pictorially 

 carried out in the < Physical Atlas/ but only the 1 

 very rich can see that beautiful work ; this practical 

 illustration of the idea every one [should, and every 



one would see." 



Our limited place forbids our offering this week 

 an opinion upon these suggestions, which some may 

 think practicable, and others romantic. In our next 

 we shall examine them with the care that such a 

 question demands. 



n^Ti^le^ upward direction, immediately at their 

 i unction with the trunk. Another certain indication is 



besetting sin— but 



ORCHIDS FOR THE MILLION.— No. XII. 



By B. S. Williams, gr. to C. B. Wakner, Esq., Hoddesdon. 



Climate hot and damp. — Terrestrial Orchids 

 growing in Pots with Loam, Leaf-mould, and 



decomposed cow-dung. 

 Calanthe veratrifolia.—A. showy plant from the Indian 

 Islands ; flowers from May to July. The blossoms are 

 white, and remain long in perfection, if they are not 

 wetted by the syringe. It is best ^ grown in a pot in 

 loam, leaf-mould, and cow-dung, with good drainage ; 

 and when in a growing state it requires plenty of heat 

 and moisture, with a little manure water at its roots ; 

 afterwards, when resting, it should be kept much cooler, 

 and have less moisture, but the roots should never be 

 allowed to become too dry. 



Calanthe Jlava comes from Java, and flowers in 

 October ; it is lemon m colour, and remains long in 

 perfection, if the flowers are kept free from wet. It 

 succeeds best in a pot in loam, leaf-mould, and cow- 

 dung, with good drainage ; it requires plenty of heat and 

 moisture when in a growing state ; afterwards it may 



be kept cool. 



Phaius Wallichii, a stately Orchid from India ; 

 flowers from February to June. The blossoms are 

 orange yellow in colour, or buff tinged with purple, and 

 they remain five or six weeks in beauty. This is best 

 grown in a well drained pot filled with loam, leaf-mould, 

 and cow-dung, and when growing it requires a strong 

 heat and abundance of moisture, but after it is at rest it 

 may be kept cool, and supplied sparingly with water. 



Phaius grandifolius comes from China. It flowers 

 from February to May ; it should be treated like the 

 last ; but when at rest it should be kept rather dry. 



Cyrtopodium punctatum, from Demerara ; flowers in 



April and May. This succeeds best in a pot in loam, 



leaf-mould, and cow-dung, with good drainage. It 



should be put in the warmest part of the house, and 



ahould have a good supply of water at the 'roots when 



the plant is growing, but afterwards it should be kept 

 lather dry. 



Cypripedium barbatum, from Malacca ; blooms in 

 May and June, and keeps long in beauty. It grows 

 best in a pot in loam and leaf-mould with a good supply 

 of water during the growing season, and care should be 

 be taken not to allow it to get very dry afterwards. 



Cypripedium venustum comes from Sylhet, and flowers 

 from February to April, remaining long in perfection. 

 It thrives best in a pot in loam and leaf-mould, and 

 otherwise requires the same treatment as the Bearded 

 Lady's Slipper. 



Cypripedium LowiL — This fine species comes from 

 Borneo. It succeeds best in a pot in loam and leaf- 

 mould, with good drainage ; it needs plenty of water 

 during the growing season, and it should never at any 

 time be allowed to get very dry. 



Cymiidium ebunieum.—This beautiful Orchid flowers 

 in April and May. It thrives best in a pot in loam 

 and leaf-mould, with good drainage. The flowers are 

 white as ivory, and they remain a Ion? time in bpanfv. 



in the lower branches being as large, and often much 

 larger, than others above them. The reverse of this 

 occurs in a pruned tree, where branches have been re- 

 produced from the bases of those removed— a circum- 

 stance which frequently happens, and which is repre- 

 sented in what should be fig. 1 in the woodcut alluded to. 

 If such branches are not produced, the indication of prun- 

 ing is not the less prominent. Examine such trees, and 

 though many years may have elapsed since their branches 

 were°removed,you will detect the effect of the mutilation m 

 the confused organisation of the bark, which being con- 

 stantly pushed outwards, of course retains the characters 

 it acquired, when surrounding and covering the wounds 

 caused by the removal of the branches. In trees which 

 never cast their bark such indications can never be 

 effaced by natural processes ; they remain indelible 

 evidences of the injury the tree has sustained. In the 

 wood cut representing a pruned tree having produced 

 new branches, the latter are shown as growing m a 

 downward direction. Sometimes they shoot at right 

 angles with the trunk, but they never take an upward 

 position. Why that is, I shall explain. The latent buds 

 existing around the base of the removed branches, 

 or others which are produced from the new albur- 

 num yearly deposited around the wounds, themselves 

 shoot into branches, but as the energies of the tree are 

 mostly directed or appropriated by its upper portions, 

 these young shoots obtain but a scanty supply of 

 nourishment. From the latter cause, coupled with a 

 deficiency of light, they become elongated, without 

 acquiring much diameter. In a few years there arises 

 another and more powerful obstruction to their progress. 

 As layer after layer of new wood becomes deposited 

 around the trunk, in accordance with the law of increase 

 in the diameter of exogenous trees, these young branches, 

 from their occupying a position at variance with the 

 proper organisation of trees (as will be more fully 

 alluded to hereafter), become as it were choked, and 

 their yearly increase in diameter is reduced almost 

 to nothing. Wanting the firm basis of naturally pro- 

 duced branches, added to their length and weakness, 

 the weight of their foliage, and other self-evident causes, 

 induces a downward direction, and forms the slow, 

 the sure, although indirecfc indices of damaged or 



decaying timber. t 



An analogous effect naturally occurs in the'Silver Fir. 

 The branches of this tree almost invariably take a down- 

 ward direction, and increase but triflingly in diameter, 

 becoming imbedded in, rather than connected with, the 

 outer portion of the trunk. Carpenters find the timber 

 difficult to "work," from the knots produced by the 

 drooping branches, being contrary to the perpendi- 

 cular direction of the tree. They complain much of 

 the damage which their planes sustain when working 

 on this wood. (7. L. 



and 



* toilet, | 



m 



** 



diverted by the consciousness he •!• ** ^ 

 being « somebody." His voice Jif^? 

 late ; and as for a candle-light J?J?* 

 himself can be his parallel." ^r, 



be exajZJ 



I have before remarked, that unless » 

 enthusiast, he need never be so na^ i a *■* V » 



uie purenase oi •• oranchers," clean mi 

 birds speedily become reconciled to & ^ 



break out in song. Their cost is trifl^ ** ■* 

 season they are plentiful. SomepeoDfenJS^ 



People prefer* 





%r %r — *"«»vuit tvj fear 



The advantage you obtain in keeping a ku* 

 preference to a nightingale, consists in th* ™? 



food they eat. Although both birds are in 

 meat. Indeed, several of my very be^tsonastew*^* 



yet the black- cap can, in many instances do 



moflt. TnrlAArl Qovorol rvf minrA.... i_ 



in the nafan^ 



birds on raw 





! 



JOTTINGS ON FOREST PRUNING. 

 The references to the woodcuts in last week's Chro- 

 cle, representing pruned and unpruned trees, are un- 

 rtunately misplaced ; they should be reversed. 

 A distinguishing characteristic of the tree which has 



it been pruned excessively, is in its branches taking a 



BRITISH SONG BIRDS. 



Cage Bieds.— No. 20.* 



No. XLII. — The silence of which we spoke last week, 

 still prevails, to a great extent, among the feathered 

 choir in the woods and in the fields. The fine clear 

 note, however, of the "bird with russet coat," heard at 

 early morn, and also at * dewy eve," tells us plainly 

 that autumn is at our doors ; and we note his approach 

 to our hospitable dwellings with feelings of real pleasure. 

 Of all birds, we could least spare him; for in the 

 gloomiest weather his sweet song brings with it the 

 elements of u comfort. * — Availing ourselves of the 

 repose of Nature at this season, we will now speak about 

 the purchase of those unfortunate black-caps whose 

 destiny has placed them at the disposal of the callous, 

 iron-hearted dealers in the Seven-Dials. 



The black-cap arrives here about the same time as 

 the nightingale ; but being a more shy bird, a few only, 

 comparatively speaking, of the old birds, are made 

 prisoners. The temper of this bird, in the month of 

 April, is very variable. He is frequently sulky and 

 morose when placed in confinement, and refuses to perch 

 — hiding himself at the bottom of his cage and looking 

 doggedly stupid. As in the case of the nightingale — if 

 captured whilst wooing his mate, grief frequently strikes 

 him suddenly dumb. 



It would be foolish for you to attempt to buy such 

 birds as these. Observe, therefore, very carefully, 

 which are the most sprightly and cheerful. If you find 

 their crest erect, their plumage trim, and their whole 

 appearance to indicate contentment, you will do well to 

 select such. You may readily recognise the male from 

 the female, by his having a jet-blac cap, or crown ; 

 that of the female is a rusty brown. Do not be in any 

 hurry to complete the bargain ; but call again and again, 

 until you hear a bird sing, and are able to judge of the 

 quality of his voice ; for all are by no means alike 

 excellent. This precaution is the more needful, because 

 old birds newly caught, fcing for a very short period the 

 first year. If you act foolishly in the matter of your 

 choice, you will entail endless trouble upon yourself and 

 get no adequate remuneration. 



The black-cap is by no means so sulky as the night- 

 ingale. If you suspend his cage at a moderate height, 

 and use him to your company and that of your house- 

 hold, he will soon become reconciled. He is by nature 

 singularly joyous ; and if you make much of him, you 

 will quickly win upon his good graces. Vanity is his 



* Our treatise on •'The Black-Cap" is this day completed. 

 The lame honour, we may observe, has been paid it, as was 

 lavished on its predecessors -lar^e portions having been trans- 

 ferred to the columns of most of our pubHc journals. 



German paste, sponge- cake7tarTtK^ 



of egg, and bruised hemp seed (freed from Tj l5 

 Of course, as this is comparatively a dryfood the Jw 

 of a mealworm, 'spider, wood-louse, ants' e4 a35 

 similar delicacies, should be lovingly tendered tm* 

 intervals. Those who are wedded to feedbtfc! 



beef, will find my instruc 

 prcpamtiuu uuiy recorded in the article on "Cage Bft 

 No. 1 3. Much care is requisite in administaiTL 

 food, as on its perfect freshness depends the he2 

 excellence of your birds. ^" 



To cause your birds to warble sweetly, and to b 

 them in continuous song, — study all their little iam 

 and render their homes " happy." Thenvilltkik 

 be one round of pleasure and delight. I hare beat 

 of Fortune's favourites in the matter of the bkia 

 Such songsters have I had, as perhaps are very 

 indeed to be met with. And as for their tamateis 

 familiarity, — they could not be exceeded. It k « 

 true that I loved their company, and that I stndUit 

 every want. Of all luxuries, I found themmostjn^ 

 fond of soft boiled cabbage, green peas, bread &nd& 

 milk, grocers' currants (soaked), and 

 these, and all other seasonable tid-bits, I felt u 

 pleasure in providing, as my little friends did in pa 

 of them, when offered. My reward was ample ; 't I 

 their little throats were in a constant state of 'jm I 

 excitement, — anticipating the treat in the first ariaa,| 

 and gratefully repaying their obligations afterwui 



The longevity of the black-cap, in a state of our. £ 

 supposed to be about 14 years. In confioa^i 

 carefully attended to, the average period is abort « 

 years. My advice is, to act with him as li* 

 nightingale,— viz., to give him his liberty at the aH 

 three years. He will then troop off with ottatf ■ 

 tribe, renew his youth in foreign climes, and rete • j 

 very year following to his old quart^-a* «■ 

 hope, to be again immured. This would be to**, 



indeed ! , .,-„,,- 



I have often thought that these innocent little mm 

 were formed not only for their own happy en]** 

 but to teach us mortals great moral \e*m** 

 events, of this I am very sure,--I have dj* ~ 

 much sound wholesome knowledge from the g 



I have found them easily w™ *» 



their ways. *—;- "r"/^ «•«;«<« toil* 



evens 



been rewarded by some pie<»» g »-«-- ■ y„ 

 which have been pronounced by othen to w ■£ 

 Many persons, I am aware have JJ^f^ 

 philosophy ;" some have nd.culed my J g^ 

 hobby." With the first of these-unreflec* jj-J 

 I ca/petiently and cheerfully argue J.J-J, 

 last-a merry, harmless tnbe-I ***« p 

 peredly to exchange a laugh. Oth*S , 



from their profession, ought to knoj ° ^ 

 hesitated rudely to express the* » 

 of what I have advanced Ibese » „ ¥ 

 from their own limited observation, ^ 

 faith implicitly on what they have r etf ^ ^ 

 good as far as it goes-are not g^^ 

 oracularly on what » to *f£^Mf ' 

 To such I would say, " more m 





.. Let no presuming, caving « «* ^ 

 Creative Wi*<Iotp,-» • » »#" nJ ,. 





In vain, or no i<» ■»«""--- pronoun" i 

 8b all litt le haughty '""^^mallert/ 

 HIS W orka unwi... of wtachd* ^ . 

 Eiceeds the narrow vision or „, 



A fflioogh kaowiedje of ^JSfoffl 



gained from books only. AH ?"° habi{ 3 of** 

 intimate acquaintance with the ft £ 



insects, must rise at -Jf^jJ E^JJ 

 *„u* 1„a mo bp Nature thex> stmy. ltto iH^i 



\A-Ms, and make Nature iw» — - d itl s 

 "Lne'new fact to a close JJ^S^jJ 

 of such interesting facts ^^^1**" 

 Science. Such pursu.ts as h ^ e coB fe* 



from infancy. Nor am ^Khebl^V 

 I need only add, that although ^ ture .v^ 

 of a silky and most debate 



freely in a cage He must, £ , 



but not too closely covered UP 



18 



:JtB 



culiar wjjjrf 



but not too ciusurv ~ ■- .. nt9 pecui ,«- 



« pull him through" the admen* P^ J 

 v;L;*«Hnnof nature; and he »i ,, * 





visitation of nature 

 a suit of new and be 

 have recommended 



black-cap equally 



for the nig 



htin. 



>* 



ICk-cap equanj. one 



By the way, you may n» ve 



of** 



