THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, July 10, 1860. 
231 
The infusion of vegetable reds in alcohol takes a deeper tinge 
by the addition of an acid, but gives no uniform result by the 
addition of an alkali. The infusion of vegetable yellows is dis¬ 
coloured by the addition of an acid, but rendered more intense 
by the addition of an alkali. The infusion of vegetable blues is 
rondered red by the addition of acids, and green by the addition 
of alkalies—furnishing the well-known chemical test. 
From what has been said, it follows, according to De Candolle, 
that the modifications of the chromule, occasioned by the degree 
of its oxidation, are the cause of the diversity of colours in the 
appendages of plants at least—that is, in the leaves, or modifica¬ 
tion of leaves, whether spathe, bract, calyx, or corolla. The 
degree of oxidation proper to leaves produces green; a higher 
degree leads to yellow and red; a lower degree to blue.—J. 
(To be continued.) 
BRITISH POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
A meeting- of the British Bornological Society was held at 
Hanover Square Rooms on Thursday, the 5th inst.; Robert 
Hogg, Esq., Y.P., in the chair. 
At this Meeting prizes were offered for the best Seedling 
Strawberry, and for the best collection of already-known kinds. 
For the seedling prize, Mr. Willis Reeve, of Rochford, sent a 
dish of his seedling Eclipse, raised from Keens' Seedling crossed 
with Myatt's Surprise. It was not found to possess sufficient 
merit; and Mr. Reeve stated that his soil, which is stiff clay, is 
most unfavourable to the growth of Strawberries; but that this 
variety, when forced in pots and grown in soil which is suitable, 
possesses a strong pine flavour, and is a most abundant bearer. 
Mr. Myatt, of Deptford, sent two Seedlings, Nos. 14 and 15, 
neither of which were sufficiently ripe to enable the Meeting to 
form a correct judgment of their merits. No. 15 is a very pro¬ 
mising varioty, and Mr. Myatt was requested to bring it forward 
again at the next Meeting. 
Mr. S. Ford, of Horsham, was the only exhibitor for the 
collection of Strawberries, and received a second prize for My alt's 
Eliza, Keens' Seedling, Viscomtesse Ilerioart de Thary, Princess 
Alice Maud, and Plack Prince. 
Mr. Ford also exhibited an Apple called Old Wife, which, 
however, had lost its flavour, although the fruit was in ex¬ 
cellent keeping condition. 
The Floeal Magazine.— Since our former notice two more 
parts of the “ Floral Magazine,” under the editorship of Mr. 
Moore, have made their appearance, and in them the same 
ability and taste are displayed which characterised the first part. 
As a portrait gallery of strictly ornamental flowers, this is the 
most worthy of the name which has yet appeared ; and whether 
as a book of instruction or of pictorial interest we know of none 
better. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Lists or A Few Superior Florists’ Flowers ( R.L.G .).— The follow- 
ins; selections will answer your purpose admirably. They are selected for 
their good qualities, not because they are new or expensive, but such as 
will when well grown please any cultivator. Six Azaleas.— Alba magna, 
Criterion, Iveryana, I’erryana, Gem, Rosy Circle. Six Camellias.— Alba 
plena, Bruceana, Countess of Orkney, Eximia, Imbrieata, Marchioness of 
Exeter. Six Roses for Pot Culture. —General Allard, Coup d’Hebe, 
Devoniensis, General Jacqueminot, Gloire de Dijon, Viscomtesse de Cases. 
Tioelve Dahlias .—Beauty of Bath, Lord Palmerston, Sidney Herbert, Lady 
Franklin, Annie Salter, Duke of Devonshire, Lady Bathurst, Queen of 
Whites, Royal Scarlet, Henrietta, Jenny Lind, Sir John Franklin. 
Eighteen Fuchsias. —British Sailor, Catherine Hayes, Chancellor, Crown 
Jewel, Eclat, Estelle, Glory of Stoke, La Crinoline, Little Dorrit, Magic 
Flute, Marquis of Bath, Lord Clyde, Princess of Prussia, Premier, Queen 
of the Sea, Rose of Castille, Sir Colin Campbell, Wiltshire Lass. Eighteen 
Pelargoniums. — Large: Admirable, Belle of the Season, Blink Bonny 
(Foster’s), Bride, Pride of the West, Criterion, Duchess of Marlborough, 
Empress Eugenie, Fairest of the Fair, Fire Queen, Governor General, 
Hyperion, King of Scarlets, the Belle. Spotted: Conspicuum, Edwaid 
Henderson, William Bull, Virginie Miellez. Six Fancy Pelargoniums.— 
Clara Novello, Decision, Crimson Pet, Madame Rougier, Princess Royal, 
Sir Joseph Paxton: 
Chrysanthemums ( P. TV.).— Cedo Nulli is a fast rate Pompone. Annie 
Salter is as good in the older kinds. The rest are second rate Pompones. 
None of them ever bloomed or could bo made to bloom at the end of 
August, nor yet at the end of September ; hut by the 20th of October 
Daphnis will probably be in bloom, and the rest will follow if you stop 
them all for the last time this season between the 15th and 20th of July, 
except Annie Salter, which, unless her legs were very long Indeed, we 
would never stop after the 10th of July; and in such a late season as this, 
not later than the 1st of July, 
Cai.adium Ciianotii (11. Marshall). —Caludiums, Arums, Colooasias, and 
all other Arad plants never had flowers as we call them—they want the 
floral envelopes, the calyx and corolla. Your plant is probably producing 
a flower-head which is called a spathe; their naked flowers sit round and 
round on an axil ealled a spadix ; and the broad blade whioh folds round 
them is called the hood. A hooded spathe is their family coat of arms, and 
good gardeners can keep the pots in saucers of water from May to October; 
but that is a dangerous plan for those who are not well versed in the 
culture of plants. Therefore writers who are teaching the art of cultivation 
never recommend that plan, although they all adopt it. 
Pansy Culture (D. Browne). — A treatise such as you require will 
appear in our columns ere long. 
Calceolarias (II. Major ).—Your seedling Calceolarias are particularly 
good and well marked this year ; and being of the half-shrubby kinds, and, 
therefore, more easily managed in winter, we recommend them to public 
notice. 
Preserving Green Peas, Gooseberries, &c. (Tyro ).—The following 
is extracted from M. Appert’s publication on the subject: — “ The details 
of the process consist principally—1st. In enclosing in bottles the sub¬ 
stances to be preserved. 2nd. In corking the bottles with the utmost 
care; for it is chiefly on the corking that the success of the process 
depends. 3rd. In submitting these enclosed substances to the action of 
boiling water, in a water-bath, for a greater or less length of time, accord¬ 
ing to their nature, and in the manner pointed out with respect to each 
several kind of substance. 4th. In withdrawing the bottles from the 
water-bath at the period described.” As an example of his practice, we 
give his method of preserving Dwarf Kidney Beans. “ I cause the Beans 
to he gathered as for ordinary use. I string them, and put them in bottles, 
taking care to shake them on the stool, to fill the vacancies in the bottles. 
I.then cork the bottles and put them in the water-bath, which is to boil 
an hour and a half. When the Beans are rather large, I cut them length¬ 
ways into two or three pieces, and then they do no; require being in the 
water-bath longer than one hour.” AVhen they are to be used he i ives 
the following instructions:—“ Scald the French Beans as :f they were 
fresh, in water, with a littlo salt, when not sufficiently dressed by the pre¬ 
serving process. This often happens to them as well as to Artichokes, 
Asparagus, and Cauliflowers. If sufficiently boiled, on being taken out of 
the bottles, I have only to wash them in hot water, in order to prepare 
them afterwards for vegetable or meat soup.” This author furnishes 
several recipes for other vegetables, all of which are on the bottling prin¬ 
ciple; but there is another process, whi-h consists in evaporating the 
watery parts of vegetables and preserving them dry. We recollect, some 
eighteen years ago, receiving from Hamburgh or Holland, we forget 
which, a few packages of Sugar Peas, Kidney Beans, and other vegetables, 
in this dried state, which, when cooked, were as well-flavoured as they 
would have been in the green state. These, we believe, were obtained by 
drying in chambers through which currents of Leated air were introduced ; 
they were completely dried and shrivelled up, and had the appearance of 
strips of thick parchment or leather, until they were boiled, and then they 
swelled out to their usual dimensions. We : ave also seen Kidney Beans 
preserved by first boiling them tender, and afterwards drying them in a 
warm, airy place, when they may he kept for any length of time in bags 
or boxes, till ready for use. This dry.ng process may be applied to Peas, 
Beans, Kidney Beans, Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Spinach, Beet, Parsnips, 
Carrots, Potatoes, &c., the latter being cut in slices. We are glad of this 
opportunity of bringing before our readers a subject which is ot no small 
importance in these days of wars and emigration, when food, and par¬ 
ticularly vegetable food, is so greatly desiderated ; and we do so also in the 
hope that it may induce them to communicate to us any information they 
may possess which may he made useful to others. 
Carpet Sweeping (S. M. S .).—We never heard of a machine for this 
purpose. 
Geranium Cultup.e (A Nonice in Gardening).—It you require a treatise 
immediately, buy lt Florists’ Flowers for the Many, published at our 
office, price' sixpence, A series of papers will appear on the subject in 
our columns shortly. 
Heating a Conservatory (A Subscriber, Isle of Wight ).—As it is 
connected with vour drawing-room, we recommend you to employ hot- 
water. The outlay in the first instance is rather more than lor a flue, 
but it is less liable to disagreeable fumes, and more neat in appearance. 
The expense for fdel is much the same. 
Melon Culture (A. B .).—There is no modern treatise on Melon culture. 
If you admit air freely, the plants do not need shading. You may now 
water and otherwise treat them just the same as Cucumbers. See w hat 
Mr. Bailey says to-day. 
Removing Greenhouses, &c. [T. -R.). —You may remove ail the parts 
not attached to the freehold. You may take away the sashes and doors ; 
but. although a nurseryman, you must not remove the flues, nor seed- 
shop . bu.lt of stone, although you took them at a valuation from your 
predecessor, unless lie had an agreement with the landlord permitting 
their removal. If he had no such agreement, you paid your predecessor 
for what he had no right to sell. 
Jork ON LANnscAPK Drawing (A Young Gardener). — Barnard s 
lieory and Practice of Landscape Painting,” is an excellent and beau- 
- - It was published by Messrs. Orr & Co., tut now is only to 
_ -1 T_,1 . _vD,,, 4 -vi -fxx-nlxjti cVlillitl If A. 
.1 volume. —- 
Yni + Vi ennonrl Viand 
Name of Orchid (A. B .).—It is impossible to name such a small flat¬ 
tened bit of an Orchid. You should at least have sent some descuption of 
the pseudo-bulbs and the habit of flowering; also if imported, and wheie 
from. Does it flower in long spikes with branches . or does it pi oduce its 
blooms singlv? As far as we can judge, it is one of the numeious small- 
flowered Fpidendrums that are often imported from bouth Amei ica, and 
thrown away as worthless even to a curious botanist. If it produces 
abundance of flowers on a long branched spike it may be an Uncidium, and 
worthy of culture. Send us in a box, packed m damp moss, the ent e 
spike, and add description, as mentioned above, and then we will gladly 
determine the name, if possible, 
