112 
November 7. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
GROWING TOGETHER THE BARBAROSSA AND 
BLACK IIAMBOROUGH GRAPES. 
“ Can you tell me if the new Barbarossa Grape will safely 
class with Black Hambros in a greenhouse, with a tlow and 
return simply to keep out frost, and to force a little gently 
in February ? Its good qualities of keeping, Ac., are 
spoken highly of; but if it ranks with the Tokay section, 
its introduction into such a house and in such company 
would only eventually disappoint. But I am, myself, inclined 
to think of it somewhat otherwise.—J. S. L.” 
[Tho Grape is quite of the Humbro section, and very 
similar in habit, although, perhaps, a little more tender. 
It has little in common with the Tokay, so here need be no 
bias. We think, that under the circumstances you described, 
you may fairly venture.] 
POTATO-SETS FOR AN ACRE.—AUTUMN-SOWING 
CELERY. 
“ Will any of your correspondents kindly inform me what 
quantity of Seed-Potatoes (whole sets, medium size) will be 
required to plant an acre of land ? Also give me their 
opinion upon sowing Celery seed in October, which is 
strongly recommended in a work of some years standing ? 
—B. H. S.” 
[The following is the best answer we can give you:— 
Table of tho number of sets of potatoes and total weight of 
the same, required for planting an acre at the following dis¬ 
tances ; each set containing only a single eye, and weighing 
two ounces ; the distance between the sets in the rows being 
nine inches: 
Number of sets 
per acre. 
Weight of sets 
per acre. 
cwt. 
lbs. 
Rows 18 inches apart. 
38.720 
43 
0 
19 
30.682 
10 
101 
20 
31.848 
38 
97 
21 
33.188 
37 
4 
22 
31.680 
35 
40 
23 
30.302 
33 
88 
21 
29.040 
32 
44 
25 
27.871 
31 
12 
26 
20.806 
29 
100 
27 
25.813 
28 
88 
28 
21.891 
27 
84 
20 
21.033 
26 
92 
30 
23.232 
25 
104 
Have any of our readers tried autumn-sowing Celery ? 
If they have, they will oblige us by communicating the 
results.] 
THE TREASURES OF THE VEGETABLE 
KINGDOM. 
GUTTA PERCHA TREE (Ison an dr a gutta). 
From a tree growing in the jungles of the Indian Archi¬ 
pelago is obtained that substance which is now so well 
known in commerce, and to the application of which, in the 
i al ’t s all d sciences, there is scarcely a limit. Notwithstanding 
: all the homely and vulgar uses to which it has been turned, 
I gutta percha is eminently suggestive of calm and serious 
thought. Converted by the skilful artist and artizan into 
. objects fitted to elevate the taste or embellish the mansion, 
it is made to supply the wants of the poor, or increase the 
luxuries of the rich. In domestic affairs, gutta percha ro- 
{ ceives extensive patronage, and, with the exception of such 
as are made of steel and iron, the utensils and other light 
j articles of furniture which are made of this substance are 
j too numerous to remember. But useful in such a mundane 
capacity as gutta percha is proved to be in all these things, 
its highest claim to consideration must rest on the great 
impetus which, in connection with electricity, it seems 
destined to give to the progress of civilization throughout 
the world. Our snuffer-trays and picture-frames could be 
manufactured without it; and it is somewhat doubtful 
whether it will ever supersede good leather in keeping our 
feet dry and warm ; but if its power in withstanding the 
action of the salt water is so great as scientific experiments 
have confirmed it to be, the electric wire might have been 
confined a long time to terra Jirma, before being laid 
over the bed ot the channel as a realy aud indefatigable 
messenger bearing the thoughts and wishes of one people 
to another. Now, as the first instalment of this connecting 
chain lately “payed out,” are the two greatest powers of 
Europe, though separated by thirty miles of water, enabled 
to communicate with each other with all the rapidity of 
lightning itself. And the day is not far distant when, by 
means of gutta percha cords between distant continents, 
all the nations of the earth will be made cognizant, with 
the same rapidity, of the leading events which are passing in 
any particular direction of the globe. In considering this 
subject, what pleasing thoughts crowd upon the mind! Wlmt 
grand and hopeful visions haunt the imagination! Gutta 
percha, it is true, forms only a part, and perhaps the most 
insignificant part, of the wonderful medium of communi¬ 
cation just completed between the shores of England and 
France, aud yet that medium would be incomplete—probably 
impossible—without it. Who first found out that this tree 
contained within its bark a juice that could bo turned into a 
substance more durable than leather? How did he find it 
out? How was it only found out just when the progress of 
science had revealed the means of making the lightning 
subservient to human purposes of the highest importance— 
in fact, just when, like-long parted and unknown relations, 
one people yearned more and more to form a system of con¬ 
stant communication with another? How were all these 
parts of which the submarine telegraph is formed brought 
together in their present perfect condition ? These, and 
many similar enquiries, suggest themselves to the anxious 
mind When we endeavour* to pass in review the various 
phases which the line just completed between Dover and 
Cape Grinez may be supposed to have undergone before 
arriving at that stage at which it forms one of the greatest 
facts of the age, we are naturally filled with awe and admira¬ 
tion at the mighty works of creation. For hundreds— 
perhaps for thousands—of years, the sap, in the form of gum, 
had been oozing from the bark of the Isonandra gutta tree, 
unheeded, because unknown, till by some purely accidental, 
yet fortuitous circumstance, and only a few years before the 
middle of the 19th century—after thousands of the wise, the 
good, and the great, had lived and died—its wonderful 
properties are discovered and made known to the world! 
How much have we not to learn of all things! But how 
much may we not have yet to learn of trees, and how 
important is the study of them!— P. F. Keir. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Perry.— -A Constant Reader will be glad to know when it should be 
racked and bottled, and to have any hints for its management* 
Error. The signature to the article on Calceolarias at page 6q 
should have been J. Perkins. 
Botanical Terms (B. B. Old Lane ).—There are many cheap works 
where these are explained ; and it would take up more time and space 
than we can afford to spare. 
Covent Garden Prices (F. G .),—Those given where the wholesale 
prices. 
Poultry-keeping (A Young Bcginnci -).—You will find all the in¬ 
formation you a*lc, and much more, in The Poultry Book , published bv 
W. S. Orr & Co. J 
Potato-growing (A Beginner ).—Your soil, which has only grown 
green crops for years, will need no manure now you wish to plant it with 
Potatoes. No variety we know exceeds RylotVs. Flour Ball as a table 
1 otato. Plant eight inches deep. We never use lime nor any other 
nostrum. A good, well-drained, light soil; well-ripened, sound, whole 
Potatoes of medium size, planted about the middle of November are 
the best precautions to win success. 
Names of Plants (/. Rcyds).-\, 2, and 8, are Aspidium felix- 
mas. 3, loo small a specimen. 4. Cyrtomium falcatum. 6. Cassebeera 
hastata. 6. Adiantum formosum. 7. Pteris cretica. 9. Blechnum 
occidentale. 10. Gymnogramma chrysophylla. Wc arc not quite sure 
of your written numbers 6 and 9, they are either as we have stated, or 
*” e names must change places. ( Philo ).—Caprifolium senipervircns. 
and Pmus Austriaca. 
No 2. 
ixccvury no i. .uuenesse L) 
Over-ripe and crushed. ( Robt. Sells ).—Beurre Diel. 
London : Printed by Harry Wooldridge, Winchester High-street, 
in the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published by William* 
Somerville Orr, of Church Hill, Walthamstow, in the County of 
Essex, at the Office, No. 2, Amen Corner, in the Parish of Christ¬ 
church, City of London.—November 7> 1854. 
