THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



629 



J^iSfuenee. The r earches which I have made da 

 ?L^3aw me to participate in the opinion of my honour- 

 SLfriends. M. Decaisne and myself have made vain 

 ^^diiscover under the epidermis the least trace of 



9 



for an admiring stroll. 



g lived 



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ourselves that all the phases ot the vegetation 01 

 ffcSdiam take place on the surface. The tissues are 

 jLetad fat!, nod when a white spot begins to appear, 

 EJefer minute it may be, the] mould is developed ; il 

 *, finger is simiJy p*a»d over it, it disappears; and it we 

 ^obe the spot "with a lens, we see at the point which 

 J^jgnpjed, and around it, where no malady was sus- 

 sed extremely minute black or brown specks upon 

 Jrhjdi the mould is successively developed. The paren- 

 Ayxn which corresponds with these specks, is equally 

 brown and less filled with juice than that which sur- 

 Ifnads it ; if at this time it were covered with or 

 •versed by mycelium, one ought to find it ; but this 

 g not the case. At a later period the epidermis is 

 foyed, the parenchym dries up, ai 

 wmm time, the fungus disappears. 



When the stalk is diseased through its whole extent, 

 the Grapes entirely perish ; when the malady attacks 

 the berries in the first stage of development, they dry 

 tp or fall ; if, on the contrary, they have acquired a 

 certain size, they are able to resist it ; some crack, split, 

 md expose their seeds ; others are deformed and arrive 

 it maturity, but they never acquire the size which they 

 would have done had they not been diseased. Like 

 fruits which have been punctured by insects, they appear 

 to ine to ripen before other Grapes : but they are 

 nther fleshy than succulent, and they are almost desti- 

 tute of flavour. 



Another question which preoccupies many minds is 

 that of contagion. I avow beforehand that I have no 

 belief in it. According to my views the fungus does not 

 propagate the malady, but the primitive derangement 

 tt the tissues of which I have spoken is endemic. It is 

 the same with the Potato disease. It is impossible for 

 us, notwithstanding the numerous researches to which 

 that malady has given rise, to say to what cause it is 

 due. To prove the existence of contagion we ouirht to 

 be able to produce at our pleasure the disease of the 

 tissues ; but we cannot do so. People, to prove con- 

 tagion, say that they have placed a sound Grape by the 

 sde of one which was diseased, and that on the morrow 

 or the day after the two Grapes were equally bad. This 

 experiment, which I have repeated myself many times, 

 ind which has always succeeded, may be interpreted 

 in two ways ; first, we may have placed by the side of 

 I diseased Grape another in which disease had already 

 commenced, or which was predisposed to contract it ; 

 *ad secondly, the ease with which moulds are developed 

 wises their spores when dispersed to germinate and 

 fructify on almost all kinds of bodies, provided their 

 erolution be favoured by moisture and temperature. In 

 tins case the remarkable circumstance is, that the points 

 of the fruit or leaves on which the moulds are developed 

 donot present the brown spots. Those who last year 

 attentively followed the progress of the Vine disease, 

 have remarked that it had an exacerbation which lasted 

 till the 15th of August. This relapse, though real, had 

 no destructive consequence; it was the result of the 

 torrents of rain which fell on the 6th of August ; its 

 violence had cleansed the Grapes and leaves, but in the 

 following days the spores which had been disseminated 

 germinated again. As the disease was over before, the 

 Oidium ran through its phases of vegetation, and the 

 Grapes did not cease to grow. Before the storm of 

 which I speak I had already acquired a certainty of the 

 fact that when the leaves were frequently syringed with 

 common water the fungus grew abundantly, and the 

 Grapes were not the more diseased. It is to this pro- 

 tracted mo;!e of propagation that we must attribute the 

 small influence of the malady on ( great number of the 

 berries which, though almost entirely covered, arrive 

 notwithstanding at perfect maturity. 



These spontaneous recoveries deserve more attention 

 than may appear at first sight ; they may take place 

 when some particular remedy is applied ; and since it 

 seems to have succeeded, all the advantage is attributed 

 to the remedy. I have never seen these recoveries at 

 the beginning of the disease, that is to say, when the 

 berries were forming ; but when they have acquired a 

 ^rUhi size the Oidium is then contagious, and may 

 appear two or three times on the same Grape without 

 »ts being sensibly inconvenienced, because it is super- 

 ficial, and there has been no primitive disease of the 

 tissues. T am however, exaggerating a little ; its 



old : and the evenings are bright enough to call us forth 



Of all months in the year, com- 

 mend us to October for this healthy exercise. When 

 the " leaf fades," then is the time 



m To contemplate and worship Him, who*e mind 

 Stirs in the stilly night-like solitude ; 

 Or breathes in whisper* on the pentle wind 

 Through vast cathedral groves, — and leave* a calm behind:" 



And viewed by moonlight, we revel in the rich, 

 glowing, and splendid ensemble produced by the stately 

 Oak, majestic Chestnut, the smooth Beech, with its lofty 

 head, and the silver-stemmed Birch,— all revealing their 

 natural florid hues of brown, yellow, red, and orange. 

 These, contrasted with the verdure of the trees yet un- 

 clothed, afford the lover of nature a treat inexpressible. 

 But we must not let our reflections carry us away from 



the main subject. 



The " birds of passage w being now, all of them, about 

 to take their final and immediate leave of us, till next 



-■- A • _ 



mend nothing but what 1 have my* 



sprin-, we shall necessarily have to seek "compensation 

 for their loss in the best way we can. The woodlark, 

 goldfinch, linnet, robin, and others of our popular fa- 

 vourite song birds are now in full feather— and, what is 

 still better, they are in full song. Such, therefore, of our 

 friends as ml 'anxious for a fire-side companion, durii 

 the [approaching winter, should not lose one moment 

 in providing themselves. In e\ « ry case, let me remind 

 my reader, he should hmr the bird he selects tt'ft£ before 

 he becomes a purchaser. This prevents any disappoint- 

 ment hereafter, and dissipates all doubt as to the Wtcel- 

 lence of the performer. It is also more satisfactory to the 

 dealer, for (if honest) he is aware that should you be well 

 satisfied with your first purchase, you will come again. 

 Full many, however, I fear, neglecting this precaution, 

 buy once,— but never a second time return to the same 

 shop ; unless, indeed, it be to complain of their having 



been * done ! n 



Now for a word or two on the subject of bird-cages. 



No opportunity could present itself, more fitting than 

 the present (whilst we are Introducing miscellaneous 

 topics) to offer a few remark son the miserable accommo- 

 dation provided in this country for the com tort of the 

 little prisoners whom we domesticate in our respective 

 families. In no one respect do we come more behind our 

 neighbours than in this. How is it? Can no ingenuity de- 

 vise a handsome and a nvpriat* dwelling for so interesting 

 and affectionate a little creature,— one which forms so 

 needful an appendage to our " Household Gods P It is 

 indeed time we awakened to a sense of shame in this 

 matter, for our English bird-cages are a national dis- 

 grace. While the * Great Exhibition * # yet remains 



If experienced to b 



best. My plan simply consists in having arrangemen ts 

 made for one crop to leaTe room for another, by which 

 process there is no occasion for the land ever to lay 

 idle (except for a month or two during winter), but 

 often to have two crops on it at one time. En this way 

 as much may be derived from 1 acre as is usually ob- 

 tained from 1 i acre, and that without much extra labour 

 or cost Many will, doubtless, object to ray syetem of 

 rotation, as being contrary to rules laid down in books : 

 but I would have such to understand that the market- 

 gardener observes no such rules, and where is the pri- 

 vate one who succeeds better than he does \ As during 

 lie coming week market-gardeners will be busy getting 

 in their Early Horn Carrots and Lettuces, it may not 

 be out of place if I give In detail here the cheapest and, 

 at the same time, the best plan of growing these vege- 

 tables, so as to have them early. I believe that, in some 

 localities, Horn Carrots are sown in the open ground in 

 autumn with the best results. In most places, however, 

 they would be found an uncertain crop ; but 1 y growing 

 them in the following manner success is certain. Let 

 Some light, rich soil be obtained (that of the garden will 

 do, provided it is light) ; choose a spot lying well to the 

 winter's sun ; mark out a space 8 inches wider than the 

 frame on all sides, Injr down 4 inches of stable littrr, 

 and on that I inches of soil, put on the frame, and fill 

 to within 1 inches with soil, rake level, and sow the 

 Carrot} rather thickly, so as to insure a cr . as it is 

 . asier to thin out than put in. Do not sow the L ucee 

 too thickly, as no'great quantity of a sowing - • ver 

 required in a private garden ; what should be aimed at 

 is a regular succession ; let the sort be the White Paris 

 Cos ; ft a lktle soil over the bed, just sunVient to 



first 

 in March 



.„- „~ M «*«t. 



. m , . myriads of rooks come every night to roost from all the 



There, on a stand in the nave, IN I roo i- ( . r i cs fa the neighbourhood. Is this an usual cir- 



i. , . 1:_„ k;-.i I . j gJt t | ie p rot ection from wind or what! 



Great 



open— a short week, let us urge some clever workman (if 

 he has not yet done so), to pay it an immediate visit, 

 and admire Austrian skill, as evinced in the department 

 of the Zollverein. 



v cumstance 



eagee, of the most fanciful character, at once a comfort 

 to°the inmate, and an object of admiration to the eye. 

 The tin—they are all of tin— is perforated by fitting 

 machinery, and represents filagree work ; and no other 

 substance whatever is used in the construction of the 

 ca^es. Hence, no blood-thirsty vermin can intrude ; 

 the article is imperishable, and its tenant rendered 

 •' happv for life." The configurations of these cages are 



cover the seed, put on the lights, and shut close till the 

 U ttnees make their appearance, then draw off the lights 

 every dry day ; if wet, let them remain on, but raise 

 them 6 inches at the back. If fatty, keep clone, except 

 while the sun shines on the frame, when air should be 

 given ; they reqirir no covering, except the lights, as 

 the chief tiling to guard against is damp, h p thoroughly 

 dry, and success is certain. Thin the Cm 

 to 1 inch apart, the Lettuces to 4 or 5 inche 

 plant out the Lettuce, and take away the frame, if it is 

 required for any other purpose ; bank up a littl< arth 

 round the 1 !, to keep the rain from washing down the 

 edges ; tin n thin the Carrots to about 3 inches apart. 



J. Stttl, Cltihtrot. . 



Jfahiti of Rook*.*- A friend of mine has a park, m 

 which are 'several acres of sylvan pasture, the trees 

 being nearly as close to each other as if in a wood. It 

 is protected from the prevailing west wind ; in fact, it 



There are no nests, but 



beyond all praise ; and if our artist-workmen only catch 

 the idea, and work it out, then will the " Exhibition ? ' be 

 held in everlasting honour by all lovers of birds.t 

 Our province does not go beyond this limit; else could 

 we be eloquent in elaborating the praise of our 



" " "• It has furnished ideas, of 



The bank is partly gravelly, partly ooggy, ana mu ™ 



natural springs. ObJUcus, At old, Sept. 30. 



Fuchsia Prinecps. — Allow me to correct a typo- 

 graphical error which has crept into my communication 

 of last Saturday. The fine and striking variety of 

 Fuchsia which I noticed in the nursery of 3 lessen. 

 Lucombcand 1'ince, is not named Princess, as pnn ted 

 at p. 614, but Trinceps. A Devonian. 



Meat Biscuit.— Among the remarkable novelties of 

 the Exhibition, there are, in the American department, 

 meat biscuits (No. 524), invented by Mr. Borden, of 

 Galveston, Texas, but no notice has yet been taken of 

 them in the public papers. It is known that the pre- 

 servation of meat has not been practicable except m 

 canisters; and that portable soup has been a mere 

 preparation of gluten. Mr. Borden has attempted, and 

 succeeded, in making a portable soup of meat, and the 

 ;., wn ^;nn «... Ka nnp of vast importance to Australia, 



Home Correspondence. 



How to Crop a small Kitchen- f/(m J m.— Believing it to 

 be the wish, as it certainly is the duty, of every gar- 

 dener to get as great an amount of produce off the 

 garden under his care as possible, I shall endeavour, 

 from time to time, to explain how this is to be effected 

 The system of cropping which I shall inculcate is founded 

 on that pursued by the market-gardeners round London; 

 slightly altered, of course, so as to suit the requirements 

 of a private establishment. Having been both a gentle- 

 man's and a market-gardener for years, I shall recom- 



u National Workshop. 



which, should proper advantage be taken, there is no 

 saying where our ingenuity may stop. It brings us 

 nearer than we have ever yet been, to " the Perpetual 



Motion;" and we do hope that, so far as our proteges, lliraiMV _ 



the birds, are concerned, they, at least, will hereafter \ where bullocks are killed for their fat skin, and bones, 

 be partakers of the immensity of benefits accruing j d where t he m t is wasted. Mr !5orden boiiea 



theifrom. William Kidd. down the meat of bullocks to a sort of essence, which 



tnereirom. ^ ^ ^.^ ^^ m ^ % flour ^ ^ ^ 



give it a firm consistence as paste, and it was then cut 

 out and baked as biscuits. From the appearance of these 

 biscuits it would be hard to detect them from fine 

 captain or sea biscuits. Four ounces of biscuit make 

 from a pint to a quart of excellent soup ; having, from 

 the meat, the nitrogenous qualities which -luten is 

 deficient in, and having the nutritive vegetable matter 

 of flour. The value of the discovery to exploring 

 parties— to persons going a long inland adventure— to 

 military on a rapid march, at a distance from naval 

 supplies- is exceedingly great. Added to this, it 

 affords to Australia the means of obtaining a new and 

 important article of export. X. X. [This is one of the 



r . . . __*«-.— :- *i, A Exhibition, You will do 



narmlessness is not always so great ; when it covers the 

 grapes with a thick mycelium it stifles the berries ; but 

 wen they do not crack, they dry up. 



No. XL VIII. 



BRITISH SONG BIRDS. 



(Cage Bibds, No. 32.) * 



We have now entered on the gratefully- 

 Pleasant month of October ; and are fast hastening 

 onwards to the last splendour of an autumn, the loveliest 

 J v «r known. The trees, partly stripped of their graceful 

 foliage, are bowing reverentially before the gales of the 

 e ^inox, and revealing those hidden beauties which 

 •ttnmer had so carefully concealed from sight. We now 

 ▼ww their symmetrical" proportions with greater facility, 

 j™ are, or should be, lost in admiration at the minute 

 *"***? of their branches. " 



among the trees 

 *«28 delightful. 



Wander where we may, 

 or in the woods,— all is inspiriting, 



*nat fair goddess of light, the moon, is now nine days 



and Co.). -owe power, of song joyou.ly put forth in their •«- 

 tenriT. flight trom end to end of the .yertment, can hardly be 

 iSned, unle.. heard. All who doubt what w have M k»g 

 a«* rted .bout the great natural affectum, the extreme lovel,- 

 «... and "e musical execution of *.. bird, ma, now pror. 

 our veracity, and for ever satisfy their own doubt.. 1 he bird, 

 fn question have free ingress ar.d egress ; but so Xrc j -do th ey 



love the society of man (and woman, » f . | co h ^!; n ^ ttt The best 

 the last t > quit the building after the bell has rung The best 

 mode of access to this room is through the eastern entrance o 

 ,h. building. It will be found immediately under^Amencan 

 Gallery, or more 



Stained 6la*«. V*, v.. .. vu .a«, — - — r *fr*.«hmpnt 



do we consider, though we are no b»d handful refresbmeDt, 



that we erer pay " too dear for our wh\>V.e . 



f It i*. Perhaps, desirable that I th •> u td mention the fact of 



•11 ihe*ec«*e* htmo* long i«^JS n i al ;^«;ti?tl^ 



nf thfm I am told, can be opined in thii cou^ry •- a^J 

 nrice but a, the •• principle" » n,', patented, the held it open 



STilSfal arti.au; and the .peculation ™u!d *»H be 

 " safe" one. 



vill oe lounu imui««"«'— j j" A, "Vj...„-„ „/ 



e properly speaking, under the Oallery „f 



Wf of rour-e are often "found here: nor 

 « *, or course, <»;c >i„r P ..hm.nt " 



You will do 



•eport of Jury No. III., 



..J 

 The Ribstvn Pippin A PP h.-lt may be interesting to 

 know, that the original tree has this season produced, 

 for the first time since 18S5, a few Apples, of the true 

 variety. At present the tree is m a fine healthy con- 

 Snf measuring about 10 feet in height, and 32 feet 

 in circumference 0. M., RibUm Hall, Wetherby, Yorl- 



*%So !b£u»-I. is stated at p. 611 that you haye 

 found the " Chinese » Potato very much diseased. My 

 experience is. however, very different. I have planted 

 thiVvariety in a strong loam, well dug and manured, for 

 four successive years, and I have never had a single 

 diseased Potato. 1 have just taken up the produce of this 

 season. It is small, but excellent in quality, and not 

 one of the tubers is diseased. The Russian is equally 

 w from Miaht. and the produce is greater. J. (routd, 





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