THE GARDENERS 



CHRONICLE 



botanist, lie was also a most enlightened Hortieultuust 

 and contributed much, by his exertions and writings to 

 promote the gardening of Scotland. He was one of the 

 early founders of the Caledonian Horticultural Society , 

 he acted as Secretary to that Institution for the Jong 

 period of 40 years ; and it is mainly to his exertions 

 that its present high position is due. With him this 

 Society was always a favourite object, and he devoted 

 himself to it. His exertions were crowned with success, 

 and he lived to see the Society struggle through many 

 difficulties, until it was placed in such a position as to 

 ensure its stability and permanency. JJfc Weill em- 

 braced in the range of his study all departments of 

 natural historv. He was particularly fond of Zoology, 

 and he always had in his garden living specimens of 

 some of the rarer animals, which were objects of atten- 

 tion to visitors. He promoted the establishment of the 

 Edinburgh Zoological Garden, and in his capacity of 

 Secretary to the Wernerian Society he had many 

 opportunities of advancing the science of Natural 

 History. By Dr. NeM's death one of the links 

 have been broken which united us with the Scotch 

 naturalists of last century. His loss will; be deeply 

 felt, for he was beloved by all who knew^ him, 

 and with all his acquirements he exhibited an innate 

 retiring modesty, which was peculiarly pleasing. 

 He loved science 'for its own sake, and lie did all in his 

 power to promote a love for it in others. His collections 

 were open to all, and his house at Canonmills was the 

 resort of everv naturalist who visited the Scottish metro- 

 polis. Till within a few months of his death, he was 

 able to take'an active interest in his favourite pursuits'; 

 ami even when he felt that his strength was failing, he 

 retained that calm equanimity which ever distinguished 

 him, and he spoke with composure of his departure from 

 the scene of his labours. His death has left a blank in 

 Edinburgh which will not be easily supplied. He was 

 forward in every good work, and many are the institu- 

 tions which were indebted to his liberality and kind 

 offices, Ifc is not for ns at this time, when the tomb is 

 but newly closed upon his mortal remains, to enter into 

 details of his long-continued and usefully-directed labours 

 in the fields of science ; this we reserve till a future 

 occasion, in the meantime simply recording the melan- 

 choly death of one of Scotland's best naturalists, and 

 one who has been identified with the history of Scottish 

 horticulture, throughout a period of more than half a 

 century. Perhaps no one has ever done so much for 

 the horticulture of a country, as Dr. Neill has done for 

 ours ; and no one has ever shown greater anxiety for 



the education and welfare of practical gardeners. Scot- 

 land has been long distinguished for horticulture, and 

 the skill of her gardeners has caused them to be sought 

 after by parties in all parts of Britain. Much must 

 be attributed to the early education which they re- 

 ceive. This puts them on a high vantage ground, 

 and enables them to prosecute horticulture in a 

 scientific manner, and not according to mere empi- 

 rical laws. Unless a gardener is intelligent and 

 enlightened, he cannot be expected to advance horti- 

 culture. He may continue in a beaten path without 

 knowing the why or the wherefore, but he will not be 

 ready to discard what is wrong although it has anti- 

 quity to recommend it, nor to adopt those improvements 

 which the progress of science has suggested. There 

 can be no doubt that the information of our gardeners 

 has increased much of late ; the theory as well as the 

 practice of horticulture has been studied by them, and 

 we have every reason to hope that by the enlightened 

 exertions of Horticultural Societies, a new era has 

 dawned, which will give rise to a most intelligent class 

 of gardeners. To no one was the horticulture of Scot- 

 Land more indebted during the last half century, than to 

 Dr. Patrick Neill, whose loss we now deplore, and, 

 indeed, whose decease is a subject of deep regret to all 

 who feel an interest in horticultural operations. We 

 are sure that the gardeners of Scotland have lost their 

 best friend. In the disposal of his effects, by his will, 

 Dr. Neill has not omitted the Caledonian Horticultural 

 Society, for which he laboured so long. We believe 

 that he has bequeathed to the Society a sum of 500Z., for 

 the purpose of founding a medal to be awarded to dis- 

 tinguished Scottish cultivators. 



Calendar of Operations. 



(For the ensuing toeek.) 



PLANT DEPARTMENT. 



Let immediate attention be paid to die collecting of a 

 f good stock of the most useful soils that can be obtained 

 By getting them into the compost yard at this season 

 Opportunity is afforded of turning and exposing them to 

 the action of the atmosphere during winter, and thus 

 taking advantage of the frost to destroy the insects with 

 which fresh soil naturally abounds. In collecting turf 

 it is a good plan to cut it during the next two months' 

 and allow it to he with the grassy side downwards until it 

 has been penetrated by the first frosts, by which alt insects 

 will be driven out or destroyed. Before the turf is cut, the 

 herbage should be mown off it as closely as possible ; 

 the sods should not be cut more than from 3 to 5 inches 

 thick, as the part next the surface contains the greatest 

 proportion of vegetable fibre ; and fron* having been 

 more freely exposed to the ameliorating influences of 

 the atmosphere, they are in better order for early use. 



FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



PiN E RiES._Keep a constant eye to the bottom heat, as 

 at n ■ seaaou is 1 1 more liable to vary, and never is it more 

 essential to prevent such variations, especially with fruit 

 m progress. To assist in maintaining an equable state ! 



of heat and moisture about the roots during the winter, 

 it is a good plan to surface the beds about two inches 

 thick with some half spent tan, or leaves taken from a 

 pit where they have heated, and are partially decom- 

 posed. This mulching will in a great measure do away 

 with the necessity of watering the roots of Pine plants 

 during the dark months. The quantity of water intro- 

 duced should be very much restricted, as the evaporation 

 arising therefrom is liable to condense, and run into the 

 hearts of the plants. This evil may, however, in a 

 great measure, be prevented by due attention to ventila- 

 tion, and by keeping the laps between the glass clean, 

 thus allowing the excessive vapour to be carried off. 

 Where dung linings are used for Pine frames, a cover- 

 ing of mats will be necessary in severe weather ; and as 

 these tend to prevent any escape by means of the laps, 

 a little air should remain on all night. Vineries.— 

 Once more we mention the propriety of adopting some 

 efficient mode of protectingVinery borders from autumnal 

 rains, and the cold produced by the consequent evapora- 

 tion.* However well drained the border may be, and how- 

 ever porous the material of which it is composed, the 

 continual wetting and [partial drying of the soil, besides 

 keeping the roots miserably cold and wet, will so injure 

 the texture of the soil that it will cease to part so freely 

 j with the surplus water ; and as the evaporation is in- 

 creased, the warmth of the border will naturally decline 

 in a similar proportion. ■ Proceed vigorously with the 

 pruning and cleaning of the Vines from which the fruit 

 is cut, and at the same time let any needful painting or 

 other repairs be done, that the houses may have a neat 



and finished appearance, and likewise be in perfect 



readiness for their next year's campaign. By getting 



this work speedily completed, the houses may be made 



immediately available for sheltering Chrysanthemums, 



Geraniums taken up from the flower garden, and other 



similar plants, which merely require to be protected 



from the frost. 



..... 



FLOWER GARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES* 



Now that the summer flowering half hardy plants are 

 removed, make the best amends in your power by draw- 

 ing upon the reserve garden. All the important beds 

 should be filled with dwarf evergreen shrubs, or spring 

 flowering plants, as Hepaticas, Primroses, Polyanthus, 

 Alpine Auriculas, Wallflowers, &c. These will supply 

 the beds with foliage, and in spring the flowers of the 

 latter will considerably assist the display produced by 

 the Crocus and other bulbs already planted. Dahlias, 

 if so far injured by frost as to be no longer ornamental, 

 may be cut down, preparatory to their being taken up 

 in a few days' time. Tigridias and other summer bulbs 

 may be lifted and laid in a cool dry shed, till they will 

 part easily from their haulm. Salvia patens should be 

 taken up and potted, or planted in a frame of mode- 

 rately dry soil, where it will keep without any trouble, 

 by merely excluding the frost. 



HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 



Planting and root pruning of fruit trees, where neces- 

 sary, should now be in progress, to the exclusion of all other 

 work of secondary importance, that as much as possible 

 of this work may be completed before severe weather 

 sets in. Those planted on this side of Christmas have 

 a decided advantage over those moved at a later period ; 

 their roots require a very short season of repose, 

 especially if assisted by a little mulching on the surface 

 of the ground, and are in action. long t before the tops 

 evince the slightest evidence of activity. With regard 

 to soil, the errors most commonly committed are in 

 making it too deep or too good. For Apples, Pears, 

 and all stone fruits, good loam is all that is necessary ; 

 it may be mixed with sand or burn^t clay, if the 

 loam is too tenacious ; and if the whole, or at least a 

 portion of it, has been charred, it will thereby be con- 

 siderably improved. When any additional stimulus is 

 necessary, it can be supplied in the shape of mulching 

 or liquid.* manure. The depth of soil should never 

 exceed 12 or 18 inches ; and if the bottom is not 

 naturally impervious, it should be made so by artificial 

 means. Where the situation is very damp, let the 

 border for the choicer fruit trees— as Apricots, Peaches, 

 and Nectarines— be made entirely above the ordinary 

 level, as it is well worth while to sacrifice a foot of the 

 height of the wall, if by doing so the remaining portion 

 is rendered more useful. We form platforms of rubble, 

 6 to 9 inches in thickness, and concrete the surface of 

 it before depositing; the soil. This impervious bottom 

 prevents the roots from getting ;down into the subsoil, 

 and keeps the trees healthy and fruitful. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Let Cauliflowers, under handlights, have all the air 

 possible, protecting them only from frost, rain, or very 

 cold winds. Watch closely for slugs, and check their 

 ravages by timely applications of soot. A little finely 

 sifted clean coal ashes is an excellent thing for covering 

 the^surface of the soil between young plants of any 

 kind, as our slimy friends have an insuperable objection 

 to crawl over it. The same remarks apply to the 

 Lndive and Lettuce planted in frames for winter use 

 Let .dead or decaying leaves be carefully removed, and 

 the surface of the soil, loosened, to allow the free action 

 ot the atmosphere. It is an excellent, but by no means 

 a common practice to plant Garlic and Shallots in 

 autumn : the advantage is in their commencing to root 



[o 



immediately, and continuing to grow below ground in 

 all favourable weather during the winter, while their 

 tops are not emitted till the usual time in spring. We 

 have often dwelt upon the importance of this point as a 

 general principle, viz., affording the roots of a plant an 

 , opportunity of getting in advance of the tops. 



State of the 



asc 



Oct. 



< 



m 



a 



c 

 c 



3 



Bahomktir. 



o 



16 



Friday.. 10 

 Satur. ». It ., 

 Sunday . 12 IJ 

 Monday 13 If 



ChUwick. 



%•*•*> 



TB3| P « k4TtJll 



_, „ s 



Tues. ,. 14 19 



Wed. .. 15 20 



Thure... 16 21 



Averaare . . 



Max. 



■ 



30.163 

 30.224 

 30.283 

 30.129 

 29.928 

 29.430 

 29.60G 



Ot the Air. 



^*m- j Max. JMin. Mean 



29.535 



30. 1 88 



30.274 

 29.959 



29.841 

 29.336 



29.502 



68 



68 



68 



62 



C2 

 5f> 



4G 

 53 

 54 

 54 

 44 

 32 

 28 



o7.0 

 60.5 

 61.0 



58.0. 

 53.il 



44.0 

 42w 



29.967 I 29.809 



l foot i km 



al 



51 



56 



56 



55i 



53 



Waifj 





iiiiwj 04.3 



October 10-Densely overcait ; cloudyTand mild utT^T 



— 12*-Umformly overcast ; cloudy • den**w -1. * , 



— 13-Orercatt, cloudy aid fiuefutn dy cVwd * 



— 14-Fme; very fine; cloudy. 



~ ?JTri A Jl ; c * u,t * ut r *\ n i dw at Bight. 



— 16- Clear ; very fie; clear; frosty. 



Meaa temperature of the week, 2j deg. above the avtnit. 



State of the Weather at Chiswick, dunnjr the last 25 mJ , * 



ensuing; week, ending Oct. 25, 1851. ^ tb 





Oct. 



Sunday 19 

 Mon. 20 

 Tuea. 21 

 Wed. 2-2 

 Thurs. 23 

 Friday 24 

 Satur. 25 



fccfi 



as 



<v a. 





a 



59.7 

 59.2 



58.2 

 58.2 

 57.5 

 55.7 _ 

 55.4 





39.4 

 40.4 

 38.9 

 43.9 

 40.9 

 40.5 

 38,2 



8* 



49.6 

 49.8 



48.5 



51.0 



49.2 

 45.6 



46.8 



No. of 

 Years in 

 which it 



Rained. 



10 

 12 

 10 

 17 



17 

 12 

 10 



0.14 in. 



0.34 



0.61 



0.50 

 0.46 

 0.83 

 0.72 



3 1 u ; a* 



a 



- 



The highest temperature 

 1830 -therm. 73 deg, ; and th 



durin^lhT^bove period" occurrtd on tWn* 

 e lowest on the Wit, 1842-theiiS +}* ** 



Notices to Correspondents. 



Back Numbers. Full price will be given for th? Mi^ 



Numbers: 1844-46'; 134«-9, 26, 51 ; 1845-49 - mSut 

 Banks: Qallicus. We have no experience of such a place -to 

 we presume that Quercus coccifera, Tree Box Holli Yw 

 Berberis aquifolium, Hypericum calycinum/ CotoiW 

 micropnylla, Savin, &c, will succeed-and perhaps Deofa. 

 which could be cut away when too tall. * / ™^ 



Birds : J W. It is, no doubt, a crested lark, of an awmj 

 size. — Jane L. We must refer you to the Gardener*' Ckmfr 

 of Feb. 15. — William T. The average number of mnfc 

 four,— WE. Try ripe Groundsel, and a little hard-MW 

 yolk of egg.— Elizabeth F. Nothing but warmth can s&rejw 

 little friend. He has been carelessly exposed to dravfe 

 during his moult. — M A B. Bruise some chalk, and safer 

 it on the bottom of the cage.— CTiarfotte C. By no num. 

 At this season, baths must be dispensed m\h.-Lomf. 

 The vermin are at work. Peruse carefully wbatwefcw 

 alrtady said about them in former numbers. - Joanna. Tfcj 

 are kind, affectionate birds; and will never quarrel, wi 

 though three or more dwtll together under one roo -itk, 

 You may succeed by keeping them in a room, at oo« reri 

 lated heat, throughout the winter ; not otherwise. W, K, 

 Books : H. Moore's " Hand-Book of British Ferns." 

 Fruit Trees : J A M. From what you state, the followisf 

 selection will most probably suit you. Peaches : 2 Qrvm 

 Migaonne, 2 Royal George, 1 Royal Charlotte, 2 M- 

 garde, 2 Noblesse, 1 Barrington, 1 Late Admirable. 5k. 

 tarines : Elruge, Tiolette Hative, and Baldwin, iprt. 

 cots : 2 Moorpark, 1 Royal. The border sbwld fet 

 trenched, and in doing so mix rich turfy loam with tin 

 present soil. \\— Novice. We are of opinion that the decaj 4 

 Apricot trees is accelerated by excessive dryness at tk 

 roots, by sun scorching of the stems, and by mildew onw 

 leaves. The Moorpark, to which you more partienjf 

 allude, has very broad leaves, and 'consequently evaponta 

 more than the smaller-leaved varieties; and in dry ieai«j 

 in order to supply this evaporation, the roots woa nam 

 nearly all available moisture within their reach ««J» 

 the trees must suffer. This should be guarded igiH 

 watering so as to thoroughly soak the subsoil; wftttwf 

 th-s, take care that the water is warmer than twiwg 

 otherwise the fruit will either drop or swell W* aw 

 obvious that scorching can be prevented t>J Mm ■ 

 exposed part of the stem. Sulphur .is the best remedy m 

 mildew. Try the Royal Apricot. II . , ,. ^ 



Insects: Quaro. The little insects which you misUMW- 

 spiers, and which you found beneath the ^^^X- 

 a scale insect, are in fact the young active ^ oiw^J 

 insect. They have only six legs-red «Pi?f wb * Te W 

 latter are in no way related to the Cocci. 1a . w.-« ' 

 luminous worm sent is the Geophilus electncns, agj 



uncommon, the light being S™?™ U J e f"'\h e w 

 time. W.- Margaret. The grub you des f***^ 

 destroyed your Carrots and 0:£>ns •P^«j£5S 

 state of the common cock-chaffer. It jours u 



infested with it the beds ought to be dwup t 

 earth well turned over, and the grubs PJ^^rf 

 •will now, very soon, burrow deeper in the grow 

 the frost. W. __ . . . „ ; „„. 3. 



6, Uvedale'B St. werraaui, «, V"^„«i7 fi h CodliD 

 9 II. Bern-re" de Capiaumont; 1^^?^% & 



Pippin or French Crab ; 1\YTlbTb^^ 

 Crab ; 21, Scarlet Nonpareil. f^^>6f A, W a 

 French Russet; 3, Gloria Wundi.(-i^ ft 

 C, F, King of the Pippins ; W**£ '21 «,<*£ 





Names of Plants 



diuin lend 

 peciosa, 



3* 



C L. Oncidiun. 



1, some Desmodtum 



icarrtf 1 

 mar** 1 ! 



from the East Indies^ ^^rf jg-g 

 Leptospermum ; and 3, an Acacia, not dete^ mt0 ^ 



flowers.- W F. 1'jniB An^'"^ ^^SSf 



Pal-lgvnia: recto. We ^ od S" wd we fin * 1^ 

 had once flowered at Ciaremont ano Yflf; j*r 



Court also claims the h^-^' flfU l« *£ 

 U in the same state as that of . v * c ghou id fffLrf 



The Kiiine 

 Boo:h and 

 better than we, 



1 



Tb 



A Constant Subscriber 



Son*, of Ilaoiburgh, •J^fct* 

 , we: who are tmac<J«s"» eu 



•J*!T* 



lit* 



r* 



» 



found a *ood material for n> *«»£ ^ **°°£L*i 

 potted. When the le««^ $ lis A **£S*P 



;. 6 «me a wbitl. h-y f^ t e ^ i8 not m&^ 0J 

 U too wtt and cold, or beuu»° 



to air. t 



