1211 
THE FIELD. 
for effect’s sake, and for the benefit of the plants. Be as- 
sured that nil the light a British winter affords, is needed 
in our plant-houses. 
The Genus Cyclamen. — Several members of this 
charming family have been long esteemed for decorating 
t lie plant-house or drawing-room through winter and spring ; 
the C. persieum especially is ever agreeable to the ladies, 
provided it is fragrant, for there is n variety but too com- 
mon with scentless flowers. Whoever intends purchasing 
this species of a nurseryman, should by all means wait unti 
weeds rise on their ruins. But not only weeds mark the 
natural character of soils — the trees, if any, are pretty good 
indices also. Who would be nfraid to sow wheat where 
the oak tree attains high perfection, or where the bramble 
makes shoots nearly twenty feet in length in a summer; 
or, indeed, where the common thorn in the hedge, the wild 
sloe, or the crab, grows in luxuriance ? Another point may 
here be adverted to, as influencing the produce of the soil, 
| namely, adhesiveness, or that character which is over one 
of the chief features of what is called a rich loam. To say 
they are in blossom, in order to select highly-fragrant kinds. | nothing of the chemical character of such soils, the pro- 
file following extract so well describes their culture, that 
wc may take the liberty of placing it before our readers : — 
The Cyclamen hederrefolium is indigenous ; C. europeum 
\a from Austria, and was in cultivation in this couutry in 
1 59<3 ; C. coum and C. vornum are from the south of Europe, 
mid wore introduced iu 1731 ; iu the southern countries 
these species are hardy, and flower iu the open air freely. 
0. porsicum is from the island of Cyprus, requiring a warm 
green-house temperature to be grown to perfection ; of this 
species there are two varieties, the one scentless, tlio other 
highly odoriferous. C. repandum deserves especial notice, 
both from its variety and great beauty ; its flowers are of a 
rosy -rod colour, produced plentifully, and continue in bloom 
a long time ; it usually flowers in May. The C. europeum 
mid other hardy sorts seed freely, and if kept in pots undis- 
turbed from year to year, will produce youug plauts iu 
abundance without trouble ; which, ou the leaves dying off 
the second year, should be transplanted into a rich and 
light soil, aud set in a shady place, protected from raiu for a 
month, after which they should be occasionally watered, and 
housed through the following winter. The tubers will he 
about the size of marbles in three years, from seed, and 
and may be expected to flower in the fourth or fifth season. 
The C. persieum aud C. repandum are shy seeders iu 
general; the former takes twelve months to ripeu. On 
becoming black they should be sown in light and pretty 
good soil, aud if a little bottom heat is given they will 
quickly vegetate. Ou the dying away of the leaves they 
should he kept dry until August, when they should be oc- 
casionally watered, and carefully protected from cold during 
winter. After the first year they should be annually potted, 
and treated as old plants. If successfully grown, they may 
be expected to flower the fourth year. Iu propagating C. 
persieum some cultivators cut the tubers iuto pieces ; this 
practice, however, unless the plant divides itself or produces 
off-sets, cannot be too highly deprecated : for, even if the 
plants live (and it is often otherwise), they take years to 
recover the effects of the wound, and sometimes quite die off 
after a year or two's nursing. The only safe way is to wait 
for the development of the seed if increase is desired. The 
whole of the species and varieties require one general treat 
mont as to soil and water. After the flowering season of 
the spring-flowering sorts, and the decay of the leaves of the 
autumnal ones, the water should be discontinued gradually ; 
and ou the decay of the leaves the pots had better bo 
placed in a shady place on their sides, to prevent any water- 
falling ou them, a3, like bulbous plants, they require a 
season of rest. I would suggest that the whole of the soil 
be shaken from their roots early in August, and planted in 
a rich loamy soil, mixed with a good portion of well-decom- 
posed dung and a little fiue sand. I have not found peat to 
answer any good purpose, although some recommend it. 
They should then be plunged until September, putting r 
little soot iu the bottom and about the holes they are put in 
to keep out intruders. By November they will require 
shelter, but will also need plenty of air, and little water 
through November and December. In January they should 
he watered freely, top-dressed with rich soil, aud kept close 
to the glass in a warm situation, airy rather than otherwise ; 
they will he in flower in February and March generally. 
The pots should be twice the diameter of the tubers. Some , 
florists use liquid manure in February ; but, to those persons 
who wish a permanently healthy stock, I would advise a dis- 
continuance of it, as, unless applied with judgment, it will 
an moat cases prove injurious rather than beneficial. If 
tused at ell, it should be well diluted aud fermented, and 
should not he kept many day3, as it soon becomes acid, and 
this acidity is often the cause of its failure ; it is, moreover, 
in a nicely kept house, a nuisauce, which had better be dis- 
pensed with. Iu conclusion, I cannot too highly recommend 
the genus Cyclamen to all those persons who are fond of fine 
flowers aud are confined for room, or whose circumstances 
.enable them to keep hut a few plants, and those of easy 
The^vriter certainly gives an unnecessarily long period be- 
tween the sowing of the seed and the arrival of the plant at 
blossoming pitch ; we can bear testimony to the fact, that, 
as far ns size in the tubers is concerned, a whole year may 
be gained by a very high and attentive course of culture 
all through, and this is most material. We must beg to 
differ slightly from the writer as to the time of shaking the 
soil from the roots; by shaking it away nnd re-potting 
them in the end of June, they will be a month or two 
earlier in the ensuing winter. About twenty years since, or 
indeed move, the late Mr. Willmot published what was 
considered superior practice in London s Mnyazine ; it con- 
sisted in planting them out in raised and prepared beds m 
the end of May. This practice we have pursued in our 
day, and find indeed that they acquire great strength 
speedily ; by the end of September, when taken up to be 
re-potted, they have a mass of new fibres, with a host of 
fine young leaves, the flowers already appearing at the 
base of each leaf. Tlio writer suggests loam, dung, and 
sand ns a compost, doubtless having found it answer; we 
have grown excellent Cyclamens in our day, but always con- 
sidered heath-soil, leaf-mould, and sand, equal parts, the 
best material, using the compost rather coarse than other- 
wise. Wc do not, however, affirm it to be superior to the 
writer's compost. 
Indices to Soils. — All persons connected with land 
should learn to guess tolerably well at the character of the 
soil by the natural vegetation on its surface ; and not only 
by its kind but by its degree of luxuriance. In judging 
thus, however, they must take care to distinguish between soi 
and subsoil ; as also between mere mechanical and chemi- 
cal, or mammal powers. Many of our native plants derive 
much of their nourishment from a very low level, m fue , 
from the subsoil. The peculiar character or prevalence of 
certain weeds on soils is not unfiequently a consequence ot 
hard tillage, whereby everything of a more important 
character sinks in tlio scale, whilst the most worthless ot 
porty of retaining a permanency of moisture during trying 
droughts, nnd, with this, the facility in parting with u super- 
fluous amount of moisture in cases the reverse of the 
former — is a matter of extreme iinportnnce, nnd boldly dis- 
tinguishes them from either sands or clays. The following 
remarks, by Anderson, will prove interesting to some of 
our readers — 
There are few who do not know, although they may not 
he able to give the botanical names, that a light sandy soil is 
known by the presence of the purple archangel (Lamium 
purpureum), nnd tlio shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa- 
mstoria) ; that a barren unfertile soil is often productive of 
jedstraw (Galium), or the air grasses (Aira), &c. ; aud also 
the parsley piers (Alchcwilla npliaues) ; that a fertile loam 
is favourable to tho growth of common ragwort (Sonecio 
Jacobira), and the corn-field cirsium (Cirsium nrvense) ; 
that fertility is denoted by the presence of tho great 
nettle (Urtica dioica), the duckweed (Stellaria media), and 
the yarrow (Achillea millefolium), &c. ; that a soil too finely 
pulverised 13 readily covered with corn-field spurry (Spergulu 
arveusis). Moist, strong, black loam, with dry sub-soil, often 
produces the corn-field pimpernel (AnagallL arvonsis), corn- 
field madder (Sherardia arvonsis), corn-field gromwell 
(Lithospermum arvense), salad lamb's lettuce (Valeriauella 
olituria), &c. &c. Alluvial and aquatic soils are distinguished 
by the rush tribe (Juucus), tho meadow grasses (Poa), 
various species of the reed family (Anindin a), and the 
amphibious polygonum (Polygonum amphibium) ; and 
Aruudinas mark the better classes of alluvial soils, and such 
as may become very productive by draining. A calcareous 
soil is favourable to sainfoin (Ouobrychia sativa). Blue clay, 
or marly soil, produces the common coltsfoot (Tussilago 
farfara). A cold and retentive sub-soil is often marked by 
the corn-horse-tail (Equisetum arvense), and other species of 
EquLsetum. The inferior clays and tills, and peat, by the 
heaths (Erica), aud peat by various species of Sphagnum, 
Lancashire bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum), &c. — 
Anderson, in Far. May. 
THE GARDENER, 
Forcing Fruits, &c. — About the forcing of vines, which 
stands at the head of forcing matters, littlo need bo said at 
present. Few of our readers will have a desire to begin 
until Christmas has passed ; or, iu other words, until the 
days begin to lengthen, when it is well kuowu the chances of 
success are much increased, inasmuch as not only are the 
chances of light multiplied, but the trees, having recei ved a 
tolerable share of rest, have, iu the language of the scientific, 
“ accumulated excitability." Those who are commencing, 
or have already commenced, must, above all things, mind 
two points: the one to secure a moist condition of air, the 
other to make all advances iu air-heat progressively. We 
need scarcely remind such, that in proportion a3 the vines 
“ break,” that is, bud slowly, so will he the chauces of a free 
development. The border where the roots are situated, if 
inside, must receive a liberal supply of moisture, if dry ; 
manure water, such as Peruvian guano, four ounces to the 
gallon, at a temperature of uinety degrees, may he liberally 
applied. If the roots be outside, and forcing must com- 
mence, let no water he used ; but let tho borders receive a 
coating of fermenting material, care being taken to sustain a 
temperature of seventy to eighty degrees. As to the peach- 
house, under early forcing, greater moderation still must bo 
exercised. People complain of the blossoms casting, but 
many do not give them time to develop their parts with the 
freedom they enjoy iu a state of nature. Let the syringe be 
applied morning and evening. 
Pines.— By this heading, we, of course, mean the pine-applo 
—not conifers. Fruits ripening, of course, require a dryish 
atmosphere ; such will, doubtless, be of the Jamaica or Mont- 
serrat class, or, perhaps, Cayeuues. Of course uo water will 
bo required at the roots. Where pines are in houses possess- 
in'' every proper appliance, n liberal ventilation may ho 
allowed, and with liberal ventilation a liberal supply of air 
moisture. Rising stock, however, iu what are termed pits 
heated bv fermenting materials alone, will get more air 
moisture than they require. The walls, therefore, must be 
kept hot by renewed linings, in order that, through rarefac- 
tion, a motion in the air may be sustained, and, consequently, 
^Florists’ Flowers.— Of course the tulips and other bulbs 
are plauted ; about the second week in November is ac- 
counted a good time. See that young pansies, if iu beds out 
doors, do uot suffer by the slug, or earth-worm ; we have 
found a mixture of ashes aud quicklime very useful, sprinkled 
around their stems. Beware of coddling your carnations, 
niccotces, &c. ; let them have air most liberally it in frames 
and do uot fear a few degrees of frost; damp, stagnated 
moisture is mow prejudicial by far Do not give them water 
unless they really droop, and this they will not readily do at 
t ^Other deixn-tments of gardening will receive full attention 
in due time. Wo will endeavour to make all the gardening 
readers of The Field “ practicals.” 
Flower-pots you Rooms. -Fill a pot with coarae moss of 
any kind, in the same manner as it would be filled with 
farmers and gardeners could encrust their seeds in a similar 
way before sowing, with an artificial manure suitable to 
their early growth, it would be a saving, and perhaps a greater 
certainty that all tho seeds would he left by birds, &c., to 
vegetate . — Correspondent of Ay ricultural Uasrtte. 
A Gourd from France.— T here is now to bo seen iu tho 
shop-window of Mr. Watkiusou, seedsman aud florist, mar- 
ket-place, Manchester, a huge fruit of the gourd species, 
which has boon scut by M. Armand (Jronou r, of Rouen, to 
Mr. Michael Delaunay, of this city, for Mr. Watkinaon. Tho 
French name for this gourd is citrouille, or pompion ; and 
it weighed in Rouen 55 kilogrammes, which is equivalent to 
1 1 OIL. English. Wo had its circumference measured, both 
horizontally aud vertically, ami found it to bo horizontally 
eix feet round, and vertically, or across tho atom insertion, 
si.c f(tt one inch ! This enormous fruit, the Potiron Jaune, 
or yellow pumpkin, of the French gardeners, is used in Franca 
iu soups, as well as mashed like potatoes, as a vegetable, nnd 
also tor pies. It keeps well during most of tho winter, and 
is very thick in flesh. When mashed it has a very pleasant 
flavour, nun quite peculiar to itself ; and it is said to be an 
excellent substitute, a.« a variety, for carrots or turnips. Tho 
pocimeu at Mr. Watkinson's has evidently boon grown rest- 
ing upon the earth, for one side is much flattened by the 
pressure aud resistance of tho soil. It is in form like a huge 
apple, but of a pale buff or salmon colour, slightly ribbed (in 
this respect resembling a melon), and thickly reticulated over 
the whole surface of its rind with narrow vermicular pro- 
cesses. It is said to bo sufficiently hardy to admit of a treat- 
ment exactly like that of tho common gourd, growing best 
u a fresh, loamy soil, well enriched with manure. When of 
small size, it makes a very pleasant vegetable ; it should bo 
thoroughly boiled, and tho iuside — when spread on toast aud 
dressed with molted butter, pepper and salt — is an excellent 
substitute for marrow. It must not, however, be mistaken 
for the vegetable- marrow, oil tlio one baud, or for tlio squash 
or bottle-gourd on tho other. 
Why is a Garden Fruitful?— Tho almost universal 
opiuion is, because it is more highly manured tliau fields, 
and therefore has a richer soil. Yet this is not always tho 
case. There are other tilings to bo attended to, iu order to 
render tho soil prolific. One is, to pulverise tho soil ; though 
this may seem a small matter to many farmers. But it is 
owing to the finely polvorisod condition of tho beds of a 
garden that it possesses a highly absorbent power to attract 
the moisture of the atmosphere — a source of fertility that 
many farmers scarcely seem aware that they possess. If tho 
soil of the field was as carefully worked, and fresh earth 
constantly exposed to tho atmosphere, as in the well-attended 
garden, tho land would increase each year in fertility. Lot 
the rule he, plough deep, cultivate well, pulverise lump* and 
soils, return your straw to tho soil, nnd you may carry off 
an immense quantity of food, and have fertile soil still. 
Plants in thi-ir nature are organised beings. By means of 
their roots, they take up food from the soil, and often the 
very food which tho soil has taken up (by its power of 
absorption, from tho atmosphere), which power is in- 
creased to an almost indefinite oxtont, by separating tho 
particles of which it is composed. The acta of ploughing 
aud harrowing are a part of the process of manuring. Tho 
act of stirring the earth, in times of drought, serves os a 
watering of tlio plants. Tho moisture thus absorbed id 
loaded with fertilising properties. If, then, you would lmve 
your fields as fertile as a garden, you must not depend upon 
manure alone, hut pulverise freely, uot upon the surface, 
but deep below it. 
great advantage of not 
out of them when watered. The explanation of the practice 
seems 
jected 
WlUIU WUCU i - | . 
seems to be this : that mow rammed into np^,tod s ub_ 
d to continual watering, is soon brought .nto a state of 
Emi;^ 
and it is well known that very pure vegetable mould Ml th 
most proper of all materials for the growth of almost al 
kinds P of plants. Tho moss would nlso not retain moi 
moisture than precisely the quantity heat adapted to th 
absorbent powers of the root, a condition which can scaicely 
be obtained with any certainty by the use of ^carth 
Worth a Trial.— Most people know a litttle sweetmeat 
called comfits- viz., an aniseed, or something of the sorta^ 
encrusted with sugar to the size of a pea, or thereabouts, 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Can you give me any help with my chrysanthemums, which 
arc suffering from mildew ? My greenhouse is heated by hot 
water, and to which 1 attribute their destruction. Can I do 
anything to counteract the dampness consequent upon this 
method of warming ? — Yours, W. W. W. 
Durham, Dee. 18. 
1. Can plauts —say violets, roses, &c. — ho conveyed alive 
across to Australia, and the best way of doing so ? 
2. What are the ferns mentioned so often iu Australia and 
Now Zealand — i.e. tho height, &c. Arc they like our common 
feniB, the Bracken of Scotland ? Hu bert. 
ANSWERS. 
Chrysanthemums.— A grower of this charming tribe begs 
to inform “ W. W. W." that hot-water heating cannot cause 
mildew any more than other inodes of heating, unless the 
water bo exposed. Give air most liberally, ho that your 
plants are moist at root — neither wet nor dry — and apply 
flour of BuJpUur. to the mildewed portions. ^ ... 
“ A Subscriber,” p. 1137. -Your kidney potatoes, if at tlio 
enormous width of a yard between the rows, are too far apart. 
Beans between, by all means. Lime and soot mixed is very 
bad agricultural chemistry ; tho lime will dissipate tlio am- 
monia and other qualities. Use the soot in tlio drills, Liking 
care to blend it weU with twico its bulk of uny old powdery 
SKKDLING FLOWERS. 
[We shall be happy to mvive blooms of any choioe scodllnirs of Oorirt 
flowers, and will give our opinion candidly m t.. tlioir raorlt* They 
should be pin-kcd in boxes, and surrounded by <U,n pel thin brawn paper 
The boxes should he stout, .01. not to he crii.hcM ... • ra0 1 ^V. ‘~nD««d 
I>ost-ofliee. The postage must be paid, and packet* should be uddnssiu 
..LD m / re toy \ . • ■■■? /. -ep-1 
The Fiohtino Powers of Different Nations.— The 
French are brilliant and formidable in. an attack. If repulsed 
a revulsion equally violent usually takes place, and would 
often prove fatal if it were not for the precaution of placing 
reserves. When these arc not wanting, they are capable ot 
being easily rallied, and their livel y spirit is soon restored. 
The Russians arc less excitable.; but, nevertheless, in an 
attack they are not to he surpassed for bravery Mad per- 
severance by the troops of any European nation, with tins 
advantage, that they appear to b- incapable -of and, 
though they may be repulsed and defeated, they 
forced to run iu confusion from the field of battle. T x 
Prussian armies engaged] in these campaign were nc*f tor 
the most part, very young soldmr* ; a spirit ° f e " thus ^ 
of momentary hurry and 
SSTwK compare.. . it,. ,h„ I m 
physical powers could not bo compared with those of tho 
sturdy Russian soldiery. 
