1187 
THE FIELD. 
Artichokes. — The kind called the globe is here meant, 
which most of our friends know to be too tender to be 
nce lected. But here it is not produce that we protect, 
but to save the life of the plant, or so to foster it as to 
ensure its well-being in the ensuing summer and autumn : 
for the globe artichoke may be had from the end of May 
til the early part of November in high perfection. Its 
.* Itni'ir eimnln • nuv Is; nilp Ip.'IVPS — 
difficult to transplant, but the attempt proved perfectly 
successful. 
THE GARDENER. 
Plant-Houses. — This is a very general term to use, but, 
not every one has a conservatory, nor every one a stove 
— to say nothing of special geranium-houses, heathery, &c. 
until the early part oi i\ovcmuer m nign pence won. i of 3U ch wo need scarcely apeak in detail; our tune will, 
election is very simple : our practice is, to pile leaves — perhaps, be more usefully occupied in such general remarks 
tl e rakings of the shrubbery — around their collars, a foot las will suit the majority of our readers. We have before 
1 denth in the middle of November, and to earth these adverted to the necessity for vising much caution in the 
111 er with soil from the sides of the plant, to prevent the application of fire heat, and also of atmospheric moisture ; 
°; ' (] blowing the protection away. We then tuck a so little can bo added now. The dark days of winter are 
l a ncing bunch or two of straw in those openings which - m w nch it. will be tar safer and more wholesome 
bouncing u , , ,v 1 ^ • i as to the needs of vegetation, to submit to the minimum 
appear between iegioi] s o a^ , < • ’ point as to temperatures, than to risk uuduo excitability 
■file whole is uncovered in the end of hebruary n the | aud to waate fuel l 
ensuing spring, and by this practice we seldom lose a Flower-forcing. — We have previously given a limited 
plant. ^ j list of the indispcnsables iu flower-forcing; let us now, whilst 
Bulb-porcino. — As we wish to offer some seasonable! in time, endeavour to expand the list, iu order to suit, the i men win view t 
K-ire under tho above bend, we will preface it by a little purposes of those who have a desire to widen their objects. Yours faithfully, 
pvtract from Mrs. Loudon's works:— The Cyclamen family possess high eligibilities for what is 
There arc three kinds of plants which are said to have bul- termed " forcing, not so much that they require to he bur- I 
i JRoots Those which are solid, and which should be pro- lied by extreme temperatures, as that they tall well in with 
S\v called corms such as the crocus, the corn-flag, and many the winter groups. Of tins family we strongly recommend 
P tv/r of the half-hardy plants with similar half-tubular flowers; Cyclamen persicum, the sweet var L. comm, ( . repandum, 
♦he tunicated bulbs, which may be peeled off in scales, such as &c. &c. ; about their culture we will m due time after hints. 
♦ p onion the hyacinth, and the tulip; and the scaly bulbs, Rhododendrons in all their varieties, even some of the 
a , the lily Now the real roots of all these plants are Sikkim or Himalayan kinds; Daphnes hybndn, cueorum, 
the long fibres sent down by the lower part of the bulb, which | &c. Syringaa, ltibos, Batons Darmnu, duhes, See . 
upper park being blackish, and the under of an ash-colour. 
It attacks the roots of the crocus, and removes them to its 
general store, where, M. Buffon informs ua, they sometime* 
have above a bushel of food at a time. Ho must purchase 
of a chemist a pot of ltoth and Ringeinsin'a Vermin Destroy- 
ing Paste, which will cost him sixpence, and spread it rather 
thick on small pieces of toasted cheese, which are to be 
placed on tho crocus-bods. These ho will find partially 
devoured in a day or two, and the cause of the mischief will 
be speedily and easily removed. Although I believe it is 
stated that cats and dogs will not touch it, ho will not, 
without timoly notice, permit a favourite spaniel of any of 
his fair friends to roam at large. 1 have been a subscriber 
to your paper ever siuco its commencement, and heartily do 
I concur iu the gratifications expressed by many at the 
recent improvements in it. Wo shall uow have wherewith 
“ they who tarry at home may divide the spoil ; ” and, con- 
sidering tho iinmenso addition they are to our domestic 
comfort and happiness, I am sure all right-thinking geutle- 
men will view the matter in the same light as yourself. — 
V An t*a fntfltfnDn J,J Q 
Arboriculture. 
TO A “ READER.’ 
Silt, — I had hoped to have seen your letter of the 25th 
Nov., respecting the treatment of the Araucaria Imbricata 
answered before now, by some one of the numerous admirers 
of The Field, and a younger and more scientific pen than 
mine ; but, iu the absence of all other advice, I would 
respectfully suggest (since you are satisfied as to the drainage) 
T;\o7; e fibres sent down by the lower part of the bulb, which 1 ftc. ; Syriugas, Kibes, Berbens Uarwmn, mines. «c. ; | that the •oiling which the plant to* been placed is foo poor If 
. seen Plainly in hyacinths grown in glasses, and in any Azalias, Ledums. Kalmias, Deutzias. Ldacs (the Persian) you are at a loss how to remedy this, let me know, and my 
Of the kinds if taken up while in a growing state ; and what is Rhodora Canadinesis, the little Polygala chamfflbnxus, Lily of pen is again at your service. 
rilled the bulb is in all the corms, only a contracted stem, but the Valley, Wallflowers, Pinks, Violets, Roses ; such as these, | Dec. 13, 1864. 
in the tunicated and scaly bulbs, the bulbous part is formed of with bulbs as an adjunct, if well forced would keep the 
i contracted item and metamorphosed leaves. If you will take ladies of the establishment highly gratified m our very 
nfe trouble to examine a hyacinth, you will find, at the base of darkest weather, and tend, in a high degree, to dispel 
the bulb aflat fleshy substance called the root-plate, and this that ennui which is but too apt to accompany a British 
Pleasure-grounds. — Of course, by this time, these will 
have been cleansed from all dead loaves and decayed 
flowers, and now the gardener should make the whole look 
as comfortable as be can ; gaiety is for the present out of 
the question. Flower-beds, devoted iu summer to the 
massing system, or what is termed, popularly, bedding, 
should be dug deeply, and put in shape, and the walks 
being cleansed and edged, the whole will at least look 
neat and systematic. The lawns also should be well rolled ; 
THE FARM. 
the DU10, a mu- non, * > ' ' 
is in fact, the contracted stem of the plant, while the tunics or 
scales are metamorphosed leaves. In the scaly bulb the stem 
is plainly perceptible in the centre, and the scales are evidently 
metamorphosed leaves. . 
Thus much ns to the structural character of bulbs in general ; 
let us now see what “ forcing built! ” means practically. It 
is known to most persons that we obtain our superior hya- 
cinths from Holland annually, also many of the narcissi, 
The landed interest and farming pursuits have received a 
great impetus from the several meetings in London of the 
Royal Agricultural Society, the Farmers’ and the Smithficld 
Clubs, ns also the meetings of the Society of Arts, during 
the past week. These societies, by avoiding all political 
discussion, include noblemen, gentlemen, and agriculturists 
of all parties, who not only take an interest in tile welfare 
and well-doing of their country, but who are united, as 
well for the purpose of forwarding, ns of improving, the 
several branches of practical agriculture, and promoting 
the general communication of its acquirements as a science. 
Experiments in draining and subsoiling of land, and 
CintllS 110111 liuimmi u.1 .... " - — . 
tulips, and, indeed, various other bulbs adapted clnelly tor ^ 
forcing, as our seedsmen’s lists amply testify. In them will 1 g( vea .^pleasant appearance, and facilitates the mowing 
he found “ large Dutch crocuses,” but our readers must not tbo f, lture spring. Those who have much planting to do, 
suppose that all our crocuses, narcissi, &c., come from ol . aUerations to accomplish should not lose a day iu mild I o7 guano and 
Holland vast quantities termed Dutch being of British weather; not that mid-winter is tho very best period of all o b . . 
» As the hyacinth is the principal root, and every- othera , but that the .pring may opt he overburdened hy other portable manures, is there tie tailed - extet o. 
hodvl favo, vi e we “ "chat about it first. Our practice is .rrearl-it will Mam-edlJ bring busiuew enough of its own. and them operations dt.ctu.ed beta , togo nnom- 
S ™ . bkibl the moment they arrive, if we can Pumr-FOKCtso, fcc.-L.ttlv can be done beyond prepam- lilies, with a new to effect and accomplish whet s ic 
to -elect t Tlti-icnppfMivv on two accounts— first, tory measures ; these consist in pruning vine peaches. &c., societies and associations are expected to peifoini. J he 
discover that secret. 1 Ins is i S', q,„ I <1 rising their shoots afterwards, and fiually training general improve mcnls promoted under the auspices of 
I • 1 1.1. - _ hi. . f I .1 1 I I - ! » ’ . ..... ... . nn il.. V .sl ..tlw.rsl I I t It poll 
to select our bulbs the moment they arrive, if we can 
discover that secret. This is necessary on two accounts— first, 
in order to obtain good roots, not to ^ c^de mned^ «» nronti of May. 
leavings of previous selections ; and, • °£in° must begin to make advances. If fermenting material 
give them as long a period as possible to loot bctoie ioicing ^ ^ placed in the houses, it will prove a valuable adjunct 
them. The following maxims must be strictly obseiveu 0 f tire tire heat, and the trees will bud with greater strength 
1st, do not introduce them to heat before the pot or glass is ^ regularity. Much caution must, however, be exer- 
at least half-filled with roots; 2nd, keep the bulbs covered cbje( j iu rega J.j t 0 temperatures; the early forcer must not 
until the risiug sprout is three inches in length ; 3rd, when be t00 keeu afc The best way is to imitate what may 
uncovered, inure them gradually to the light; 4th, when be termed mild spring weather Where early spring buds 
expanding the blossoms, place them where they will enjoy are required, for cucumbers and melons, the dung must be 
a free circulation of air and plenty of light; 5th, never immediately prepared. A few strawberries may be mtro- 
suffer the soil to become dry from the moment the foliage ducedto a mild heat just before Christmas, and some kidney 
i w nnt in Sontpiulipr in moist soil, and imme- beaus planted where facilities exist for forcing them. As- 
expands. We pot in Septembei in moist sou, anu m J sea kale jhubarb, &c., must be introduced iu sue 
diately place the pots out of J®®” tStli 1 ci^dter ' aShes f LsL ’as required, and mushroom-beds receive proper 
ashes, covering the pots six inches deep wife .cinder ^aslies Rtteution We will aay more iu detail soou. 
and placing something over the whole to exclude rain, uy Kjtchen-gabden and Orchard.— P runing is the order of 
” " " r, ' n 5 fln( tbe j a y ber6j especially of trained trees; coarser orchard 
auu placing auiiKHiitig : „ -v 
the end of November the pots are nearly full of roots, and 
we then commence forcing them, introducing them in 
groups successively, according to the demand. The forcing 
fs conducted in a pit of fermenting materials, the bottom 
Iieat as near seventy degrees as possible, not more. As to 
those in glasses, they simply require the same moderate con- 
ditions as the pots in their early stages — above all, keeping 
them from the light. Where it becomes desirable to place 
the glasses for ornament sake in drawing-rooms or parlours 
where there is a fire, and, by consequence, a dry air, damp 
moss may be piled over the crowns, or green baize. 1 hose 
must be kept damp, and will foster the bud, keeping it in 
■comparative darkness. Let us offer one concluding remark : 
the moment your bulbs, of whatever kind, acquire such a 
length of rising sprout as to show the propriety ol a dev elop- 
ment of the foliage, &c., let them be instantly divested of 
.all covering, and inure them gradually to the light. 
Transplanting large Trees by Machinery.— Most 
of the readers of Tuf. Field have, doubtless, heard of a 
Mr. M'Glashan’s apparatus, which has made some stir in 
quarters of some consequence during the last two years. 
J t is probable that it may prove of some service where ex- 
tensive removals are contemplated. In these times, indeed, 
we may very fairly hail every advance in mechanical appli- 
ances as a public boon, and, in doing so, of course occa- 
sionally run the risk of appearing to sanction machines i not 
altogether worthy of general adoption. The following, from 
the Gardener's Chronicle, points to a trial made at St. 
Cloud by desire of the Emperor of the French. Further 
comment is needless : — . . 
We r« nd in the Moniteur as follows :-Somenew experiments 
•with a machine for transplanting trees, invented by Mr. 
M-Glashan, look place at St. Cloud, by the desire of his Ma- 
jesty the Emperor, who wished the first trial to be made in the 
Bois de Boulogne, in order that her Majesty the Empress might 
honour it with her presence. M. Matlueu, head of the gardens 
of St. Cloud, directed these experiments, which were as success- 
ful as the preceding one. It was tried upon a tree of about 30 
feet high, and more than *20 inches in circumference, which 
even a force of 20 horse power could scarcely have raised fronr 
the ground, supposing the preliminary operations all complete 
such as removing the earth from around the roots, in order to 
facilitate the transplanting of the tree. The tree in question 
was an acacia, naturally firmly fixed in the soil, its straight 
roots offering a great resistance, which must have subjected t 
machine to a very hard trial. Twenty minutes sufficed tc » uproot 
and replace the acacia in its former hole. Die P rinc ‘P*® 1 ° fMr ’ 
Stewart M'Glashan’s machine was so powerful that »»tn an 
apparatus of reasonable dimensions it would be possible to 
remove the largest trees, such for example as the elm. and 
ancient chcsnuts of our public promenades. A third . expert, 
ment was tried, under the direction of M. Matlueu, at \ lllenemo 
l’Etnng, near St. Cloud, upon au apple-tree, which was very 
general improvements promoted* under the auspices of 
these valuable societies, among several others, have been 
the introduction of green crops, as artificial grasses, &e., 
and an improved method of turnip culture, the im- 
provement of agricultural machinery by means of 
portable or fixed thrashing-engines, steam-ploughs, and 
other ploughs of an improved nature, ns also drills and 
clod-crushers ; better breeds of all kinds of live stock, a 
more numerous variety of seeds, and a higher system of 
farming. Mr. Mochi, at the Society of Arts, entered 
Into a lengthened discussion on tho good effects of 
iquified and solid manures, and the great importance 
of circulation — earthly, vital, or monetary; and ho 
proved that stagnated water or air is as ruinous 
ito the plants ns it would be to ourselves, and lie chuckled 
over fanning prospects with a very satisfactory balance-sheet. 
A lengthened and animated discussion then took place 
tbe day here, especially oi trained trees; euuiaci A lengthened and aminaieu uinuubsiuu men i 
tree--, which occasionally require the bill-hook or haml-saw. u t p lc Vt .| llt ive merits of manure, ill which Mr. Sidney, 
may stand over for frosty weather. Early peas should be | Oakley, Mr. Davies, Mr. Morton, Colonel Clmlloncr, 
UlcVY OKkLiVfc v/ » fcv* * * w' •’ * » 
speedily sown, a row of Mazftgan beans, and some early 
radish, “ Wood's frame," on a warm sloping border. Let 
trenching aucl ridgiug of ground proceed, aud, m frosty 
weather, wheeling out manure. Let ua here ask our friend 
the gardener, whether he lias planned his next year's rota- 
tions ? if not, the sooner the better ; no man can tell where 
or bow to place his manure until this is done. See to the 
protection of vegetables ; iu our leading article will be fouud 
useful advice. 
GARDEN GOSSir. 
It is said that the highly respected clergyman of Chilton, 
a cheerful village iu Bucks, baa beeu expending about £300 
a-year ou his gardens. Iu cultivating tho beauties of garden 
produce, expense has beeu considered secondary. As may 
bo imagined, the rarest aud best is to be seen at the reverend 
gentleman's delightful residence. 
Quick-lime will neutralise mischievous acid substances in 
the soil ; it will displace, aud so fit for use, portions of the 
soil now fixed and useless— for it will so net upon vegetable 
matters in the soil as to make them capable of contributing 
to the growth of new vegetable structures ; and it id ltuelf 
directly, to some extent, the food of plants. 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
I have a meadow fenced in ou one aide by a brick wall, 
some six feet iu height aud thirty yards iu length ; the grass 
under the wall being of a very moderate quality. I have 
broken up the turf, two yards wide, the whole length of the 
wall ; in the spriug I intend planting the ush-le.it potato. 
Being new ground, what distance ought the aets to be 
placed, supposing the rows to be a yard apart I Might not 
beans bo planted between each ? Would lime or soot, as a 
top-dressing, be of any advantage. Any information on 
these points, or any other suggestions would be most gladly 
re C.m ' you also give me any remedy for the following I 
have some young apple-trees, which have been barked com- 
pletely round the stem by sheep. 
1 What is a cheap but satisfying diet for a puppy I liave 
one of tho Newfoundland brood ; its appetite u enormous, 
Ind will soon ruin me in keep. A Subscriber. 
Dec. 12, 1854. WT ~ ~ 
MICE. 
In the hope I may be of some service to your corre- 
spondent who complains of tho depredations of mice on his 
crocus-beds, I would, through tho medium of your very 
excellent paper, recommend him to adopt a plan I have 
myself adopted on similar occasions with tho most favoura- 
^ The injury is committed by the short-tailed field mouse. 
Its colour is inclining to that of the domestic mouse, the 
and Mr. Guild took part, and the feeling of the speakers 
was, for the most part, in favour of the application ot 
manure in a solid pulverised form. At the Central 
Farmers' Club, held in Bridge-street, Blackfriars, there was 
also an animated discussion on “ the results arrived at 
from the several systems of drainage iu practice during the 
last few years." It was introduced by Mr. Bailey Denton, 
of Gravely, Herts. He advocated a deep system, say tour 
feet, in retentive clay lands, whilst Mr. Bullock Webster 
thought that in such soils a depth of three feet at moderate 
distances upon retentive clay Bubsoils was more efficacious 
than going deeper at wide distances. 1 hi* proved a 
vexata qutestio amongst the members of the club, and we 
believe a committee will be formed to ascertain winch mode 
is most beneficial on retentive clay subsoils, and whether 
porous soils ought to bo drained deeply. Die price ol 
wheat remains much the same* as last week, although 
on Wednesday last a rally of Is. iu prices took place ; the 
decline in barley in Mark-lane has been fully 2s. per 
quarter, and oats have not advanced in price. 1 ncos 
generally have been well supported. Farming prospects 
still remain good. If the farmer, amateur or working, of 
the present day, be not endowed with sound practical 
knowledge in the multifarious brunches of the art and 
mystery of agriculture, lie cannot attribute it to u dearth 
of instruction, which is now profusely distributed and 
dispersed, by aid of numerous societies; and it may, 
indeed, with justice be said, that the light of agricul- 
tural science, like other sciences, is beaming gloriously, 
dissipating the clouds of antiquated ignorance and super- 
stitious bigotry. 
FARMING PROSPECTS. 
THE CATTLE SHOWS. 
( From our Correspondent ) 
The breeding and rearing of cattle and ■he«P 
veaiu past been a prominent feature m the hwtory ot the 
agriculture of this Country, although ^cult^ conaJtt^ 
i*till an ancient art), auu as a moans 
of providing for an immensely increased 
population, made no considerable progress ^ Jhe m^dl^ 
or towards the end. of the last century, \otthc attention 
„ ud to the several herds of cattle and flocks of sheep has 
been so groat, that they have become for some years past an 
object of acquirement by continental nations, ^ bofme tbo 
present W;u\ oven to Russian princes ; and, I believe . two 
Jeur.s ago after the July Windsor Show 1 ruxco Deundoff 
purchased prize bulls, and other good breeds, to the amount 
