200 1'liJfi CU11 AG ii GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, July 5, 1850. 
relieved of i(a tight, bracing ligatures. Consequently, when there 
is a danger of trees being strangled by this cumbrous appendage, 
it is the oest way to cut it at the bottom, and take us much off 
as can be got at. If it only be cut it will save the tree, and the 
dead Ivy will bo shaken off in time. 
Ivy, however, is not so difficult to keep down as some other 
pests ; but its insidious attemps to climb require frequent 
attention. Trees infested with it must not be injured by carelessly 
chopping the Ivy in two at the bottom, using the tree as a block, 
as that cuts and wounds the living tree at a place where it is im¬ 
portant for it to bo sound. But in this case, as in many others, | 
the work of keeping Ivy down is not so serious when it is timely 
attended to ; for delay and inattention, as in many other things, 
ruin the objects in question. In districts where Ivy predo¬ 
minates, means must be taken to keep it down, otherwise healthy 
trees may be looked for in vain ; but iu some places where a 
picturesque object is to be attained, Ivy accomplishes this sooner 
than most things, and though some have to expend a considerable 
outlay to get rid of it, others incur as much in its cultivation. 
The difference in the two places rendering this course necessary. 
— J. Robson. 
ALOES v. APHIS. 
Four ounces of aloes, and four ounces of soft soap, dissolved 
in a gallon of soft water, will kill all the species of aphides. But 
a much better and cheaper composition is tho “ Gishurst Com¬ 
pound,” two ounces of this (it costs Is. per lb.) dissolved in a 
gallon of soft water is the most efficacious remedy I have yet 
found. If tho shoots of the infested trees can be dipped in the 
composition, the aphides are at once destroyed ; but if used with 
the syringe, it will probably require to be applied twice.—T. It., 
liurseries, Scnvbridgeworth, 
VARIETIES. 
Novel Digestion. — In the incoherent rambles which the 
Amoeba makes over the glass-slide, he meets occasionally with a 
bit of food which tempts his appetite: how will he appropriate it ? 
Hands, to carry it to his mouth, he has none. Mouth, to receive 
it, he has none. Stomach, to digest it, he has none. One feels 
inclined to pity the hapless young gentleman who, to all theore¬ 
tical appearance, must die of starvation in the midst of plenty. 
But Nature lias provided even for this tiny existence. The care 
which extends throughout the universe will not fail even this 
microscopic point of life. We saw the Amceba dispense with 
legs and arms; we may now see him dispense with mouth and 
stomach; ’tis an accommodating creature, taking life by the 
easiest handle. There is the food; and he is seen deliberately 
wrapping himself round it. He will soon become all mouth and 
stomach. Tho food will be received into the substance of his 
body, a portion of which gives way, and closes again. There, 
such of it as is available will be assimilated, and the undigested 
remains will find tlieir way out as they originally found their 
way in. 
Value or the Earth-worm. —The common earth-worm, 
though apt to be despised and trodden on, is really a useful 
creature in its way. Mr. Knapp describes it as the natural 
manurer of the soil, consuming on the surface the softer parts of 
decayed vegetable matters, and conveying downwards the more 
woody fibres, which there moulder and fertilise. They perforate 
the earth in all directions, thus rendering it permeable by air and 
water, both indispensable to vegetable life. According to Mr. 
Darwin’s mode of expression, they give a kind of under-tillage 
to tho land, performing the same below ground that the spade 
does above for the garden, and the plough for arable soil. It is, 
in consequence, chiefly of the natural operations of worms that 
fields which have been overspread with lime, burnt marl, or 
cinders, become in process of time covered by a finely-divided 
soil, fitted for the support of vegetation. This result., though 
usually attributed by farmers to the “ working down” of these 
materials, is really due to the action of earth-worms, as may be 
seen in the innumerable casts of which the initial soil consists. 
These are obviously produced by the digestive proceedings of the 
worms, which take into their intestinal canal a large quantity of 
the soil in which they feed and burrow, and then reject it in the 
form of the so-called casts. “ In this manner,” says Mr. Darwin, 
“ a field, manured with marl, has been covered, in the course of 
eighty years, with a bed of earth averaging thirteen inches in 
thickness .”—("Encyclopcedia Britannica, New Edition.') 
Purifying Water. —In every age, and in every hoi climate, 
from the healing of the waters of Marah until the present time, 
some vegetable has been employed lo render noxious water 
palatable. In some parts of Ceylon, especially in the neighbour¬ 
hood of the coast, where the land is flat and sandy, the water is 
always brackish, even during the rainy season, and in the dry 
months it is undrinkable. The natives then make use of a 
berry for cleansing it and precipitating the impurities. I know 
the shrub and the berry well; but it has no English denomi¬ 
nation, (qy. Strychnos potatorum?) The berries are about the size 
of a very large Pea, and grow in clusters of from ten to fifteen 
together, and one berry is said to be sufficient to cleanse a gallon 
of water. The method of using them is curious, although simple. 
The vessel which is intended to contain the water, which is gene¬ 
rally an earthen chatty, is well rubbed in the inside with a berry, 
until the latter, which is of a horny consistence, like vegetable 
ivory, is completely worn away. The chatty is then filled with the 
mucldy water, and allowed to stand for about an hour or more, 
until all the impurities have precipitated to the bottom, and tho 
water remains clear. I have constantly used this berry ; but I 
certainly cannot say that the water has ever been rendered per¬ 
fectly clear. It has been vastly improved, and what was totally 
undrinkable before has been rendered fit for use; but it has, 
at the best, been only comparatively good : and although the 
berry has produced a decided effect, the native accounts of its 
properties are greatly exaggerated.—( Baker's Ceylon.) 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Orchids unhealthy (T. P„ Rastrick).— The blooms of your Stanhupca 
tigrina have turned brown and shrivelled because you have kept the soil in 
the basket too wet. When Stanliopeas are flowering very little water 
should be given them; therefore mind not to water your S.oculata now 
showing flower. You say the 8. tigrina is sending up three new growths. 
This should not have taken place till the flowers had dropped oil'; and 
confirms our opinion that you have overwatered the plants, and thus 
killed or rotted your flower-stem, and started a premature growth. The 
best accounts of the culture of orchids is in the first volumes of Tins Cotta c, k 
Gardener. There is, however, a useful work on their culture by Mr. 
Williams, easily procured through your bookseller. 
Lime Water ( W. Worth). —This is made by putting one peck of freshly- 
slaked lime into forty gallons of water about half an hour before using it. 
Stir it well, and when quite clear it is fit for use. You are quite right 
about growing Liliums well; but it is a question whether three or four in a 
pot may not be as well grown as if grown singly, and if they can they look 
richer. We have said all that we can about dressing flowers. There ought 
to be prizes for dressed flowers distinct from the prizes for undressed ; at 
the same time, when it is known that dressing is allowed, there is nothing 
dishonest in the practice. 
Boiling Water for Weeds (P. Burrell). —The only apparatus for this 
purpose that we know, is that invented by Mr. Fleming, and manufactured 
by Messrs. Shanks. 
Manuring Hoses Pegged down (All Old Subscriber). —In the spring 
and summer apply liquid manure. Late in the autumn give a dressing of 
thoroughly-decayed dung and earth mixed together. 
Gas Lime ( W. Mellon).— This is much more partially useful, and re¬ 
quires more care in using than the ammoniaeal liquor. It ought to be 
mixed with earth some weeks before being used ; and then we could not 
recommend its use except as a dressing to Clover, Lucern, and newly- 
sown Turnips. 
Propagating Double Lychnises [It. N. E.). —The Lychnis family is a 
very mift'y one, they so soon tire of the same soil, and are gone oil' before 
one is aware of them. The L. dioica plena alba should be attended to every 
spring, divided and fresh planted in fresh places; or even now, after 
flowering, into new and well-prepared spots, with all other attention to 
watering and earth-stirring when required, and the latter should he very 
often. Spigelia marylandica is a choice hardy plant, and delights in a 
moist soil composed of two parts peat, and one part loam. It increases 
but slowly by root division. The enclosed leaves are from the Alpine, or 
Silver-leaved Lady’s Mantle, Alchcmilla alpina. 
Gardening Disappointments (An Old Surrey Subscriber). —Mildew on 
Strawberries, black aphis on Broad Beans, green'fly on Roses, and mildew 
on Grapes, will occur even in gardens under the management of the best 
of gardeners; but such gardeners do not allow either the diseases or the 
insects to be the conquerors. They destroy the insects, and apply sulphur 
to the mildew immediately it appears. One test of a good gardener is 
his promptitude. He never puts off until to-morrow what ought to be 
done to-day. Wc cannot give an opinion as to the capabilities of your 
gardener, not having seen his practice. Read what Mr. Fish says in 
another of our pages to-day. 
Names of Plants (J. Your Fern is Cystopteris bulbifera, a hardy 
deciduous Fern from North America. ( James Rollins). —Yours is the com¬ 
mon Burnet, Potcrium sanguisorba. 
POULTRY AND BEE-KEEPER’S CHRONICLE. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
July 21st. Prescot. Sec., Mr. James Becsley, Prescot. 
August 10th. Orwskirk and Southport. ’ Sec., Mr. James Spencer, 
Ormskirk. Entries close the 22nd of July. 
August 19th and 20th. Bradford. Secs., Mr. A. Hardy, Bowling Old 
Lane, Bradford, and Mr. E. Blackbrough, Black Bull Inn, Ive Gate, 
Bradford, Entries close August 13th. 
