430 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 7, 1891. 
Cucumbers, Musk-Melons with. Water-Melons, and 
Musk-Melons, Water-Melons and Cucumbers with the 
Wild Cucumber or Balsam Apple (Echinocystis lobata). 
Another interesting feature of the work was the 
grafting of one fruit upon another, as a Tomato fruit 
upon a Tomato fruit, or a Cucumber upon another 
Cucumber. This work is still under progress, and it 
promises some interesting results in a new and un¬ 
expected direction, reports of which may be expected 
later.— Bulletin of the Cornell University , Agricultural 
Experimental Station. 
* -->$<=--— 
THE FINCHES. 
All the members of the Fringilla or Finch family 
deserve our attention, and their habits our closest 
investigation ; for, being so strongly represented in 
almost every part of the country, they evidently and 
in no small way influence the result of the season’s 
grain, vegetable and fruit crops. The best known, 
excepting the Sparrow, and the most beautiful, though 
one of the scarcest of British Finches, is the Gold or 
Thistlefinch. This bird is no doubt gradually becoming 
less and less in number. Localities which twenty 
years ago used to be visited by flocks of Goldfinches 
are no better off than other places ; and round my own 
village, where the Thistle-covered banks of our 
meadow streams, the prickly hedgerows, and scrubby 
upland used to be frequented by these birds in con¬ 
siderable numbers, I have seldom seen one. 
A week or two ago I was talking to one of the rather 
numerous band of Finch-catchers, to whom the Gold¬ 
finch greatly owes its lessened numbers, and he told 
me that he was quite sure the song of the English 
Goldfinch was not so pure and sweet as it used to be, 
the reason of which he ascribed to the diminishing 
number of old birds, from whom the young ones are 
able to learn the correct note. “Why,” he said, “I 
have not caught an eight-year-old Finch for half-a- 
dozen years or more.” The Goldfinch is a friend to the 
gardener, feeding mostly on the seeds of various 
Thistles, Dandelions and other wild plants. It is 
sadly affected by the cold winters, and many of the 
older birds either die of starvation or are caught in 
such a weak state that they only survive their capture a 
few days. A dealer told me that this winter out of fifty 
birds he had in only twenty-four lived to be sold. At 
this time of the year they often frequent the Groundsel- 
studded orchards and kitchen gardens, eating what 
green leaves and bloom buds are visible above the 
snow-covered earth. Such a diet, as may be imagined, 
makes them very “ poor.” 
The Chaffinch is a very different bird from the 
former. It is common, and considered by many to be 
most destructive ; in fact, quite the “ mischievous 
devil ” that the old country folk so ofren term it. In 
the flower garden, we hear that these birds will destroy 
various blooms, particularly those of the Polyanthus 
and Primrose. Yet, though we grew these flowers all 
over the garden, and though Chaffinches were very 
plentiful, I have never noticed a single bloom touched 
by them. They certainly caused us great annoyance 
on the seed beds, in both the flower and vegetable 
garden ; and the seeds which were not protected by 
guards or netting were either seized directly they 
were sown, or uprooted when sprouting above ground. 
In common with certain other birds, they injure 
young corn and spoil fruit—a little. 
The buds of Apple, Plum, and Cherry are not 
despised by them in winter, and unlike the Goldfinch, 
they do not seem to mind cold a bit. Freshly sown 
lawns, unless very well covered with soil, are sources of 
delight to Sparrows and Chaffinches, and unfortunate 
results often ascribed to ill-germinating power of Grass 
and Clover seeds, are, in many cases, caused by these 
birds. Nevertheless, Chaffinches are birds I would 
always encourage ; for besides the number of weedy 
seeds which they naturally prefer, and at certain 
times of the year mostly feed on, insects form a con¬ 
siderable item in their varied diet, particularly during 
the breeding season. 
The nest of the Chaffinch is considered by many to 
be more beautiful than that of any other bird which 
inhabits this country. It is always most carefully 
hidden, though its position is very variable. I once 
found one containing nine or ten eggs, some of which, 
however, were probably laid by the cock bird’s second 
mate, the former having met with a fatal accident. A 
similar circumstance with Robins has been noticed by 
the Rev. Theo. Wood, in his interesting book, Our 
Bird Allies. In itself the Chaffinch is the embodiment 
of sprightly neatness. Swaysland says, “The song 
... has a charming air of rusticity in it that seems to 
breathe of trees and flowering fields,” and truly it 
seems associated with all the joyous recollections of a 
lovely spring day’s country ramble. It is very notice¬ 
able, however, how the song differs, in point of merit, 
with individual birds; and particularly with Chaffinches. 
I remember two years ago the male of a pair which 
frequented and finally built in our garden, was 
possessed of very fine vocal powers, so much so as to be 
remarked by several persons besides myself. The nest 
was built very near the ground in one of the lowest 
branches of an immense Cedrus deodara. 
It is curious that both the Linnet and the Greenfinch 
are very local birds ; in some places positively abound¬ 
ing, in others rarely seen. Linnets here, in Devonshire, 
are very common indeed; and so are Greenfinches. 
And yet near London, where I formerly resided, it was 
quite the exception to see either, though our neigh¬ 
bourhood was of a very rus in urbe type. The 
former cannot be said to do any estimable harm, but 
performs good services by consuming the seeds of many 
nasty weeds, as Dandelion, Groundsel, Chickweed, and 
Thistles of sorts. Linnets, in the autumn, move 
generally in flocks, often composed of fifty or more, 
either flying high up in the air, or settling down to 
feed on the wastes, stubble, and marsh lands. They 
are sociable birds, and it is not uncommon to find four 
or five nests in one large clump of furze. 
The Greenfinch, or, as it is known here, the Green 
Linnet or small Grey-bird, bears quite a different 
character, and is anathematized most severely by 
the surrounding fruit growers. The partiality of this 
bird to ripening Pears and Apples is most annoying, 
and as their selection of the fruit is generally made 
with the taste of an epicure, the best is generally spoilt, 
both for sale and keeping. As a rule, the diet of the 
Greenfinch resembles that of the Sparrow, except that 
it comprises more weedy seeds and insects. The nest 
of this bird is, I think, often under-valued from an 
architectural point of view, as, although not so beautiful 
by a long way as that of the Chaffinch, it is still a very 
neat and strongly built structure, generally placed in 
an evergreen, and often at a considerable height from 
the ground. 
Last spring I found a nest of Greenfinches within 
a foot or two of a Goldcrest’s, at the top of a tall Cedar. 
The parent birds are very cautious, and if they think 
their movements are being observed, will not attempt 
to visit their nest, but sit near each other on some 
neighbouring tree, while the male utters his long 
mournful “tway,” and the female a series of three 
notes, resembling the open chord of A major on the 
piano—a, c sharp, and e. The young birds make so 
loud a noise in the nest, that they may be discovered 
from a distance. 
With regard to Bullfinches, I cannot say much from 
actual experience, as every locality I have visited has 
been, at least, but poorly favoured with these most 
beautiful birds. The well-known authority on all 
matters relating to the “feathered world,” Dr. W. T. 
Greene, in a most instructive and interesting article 
cpntributed to this year’s Live Stock Journal Almanac, 
which probably some of my readers have enjoyed, 
defends their bud-eating on rather similar ground to 
the Rev. M. C. H. Bird, quoted in Our Bird Allies, 
before mentioned. He says, “Let us look into the 
matter a little : in the first place, the race is not a 
numerous one, consequently the amount of damage 
done by their combined efforts, scattered as they are 
over an extended area, cannot be very great, especially 
as, instead of being gregarious in their habits, like the 
Sparrows and Greenfinches for instance, each pair has 
its own well-recognised district, so that the apparent 
injury done to trees must be admitted to be incon¬ 
siderable. Secondly, do they do any harm at all to the 
trees they frequent ? I doubt it extremely. They 
knock off a few buds, I know—a few more, perhaps, 
than they eat ; but do gardeners never prune their 
fruit trees l Of course they do, and destroy more buds 
by one stroke of a pruning knife than a pair of Bull¬ 
finches would demolish in a week—and birds, let it 
be well remembered, are nature’s pruners. 
Granted, if Bullfinches were very numerous in a given 
locality their bud-eating propensities might be inj urious; 
but there is no chance of their numbers increasing to 
such an extent, for, as a rule, they are not a long-lived 
race, neither are they particularly prolific, and they 
have many enemies. He goes on to say how foolish 
it is to destroy Bullfinches, as very considerable profit 
might be made by sheltering the birds, and, when they 
breed, taking the young cocks to rear, and teaching 
them to whistle. When thus taught there is no 
difficulty in disposing of them at a high price. The 
great objection I see to the “ pruning-knife theory ” is 
that whereas the gardener exercises care and discretion 
in thinning the growth of his fruit trees, we cannot 
say the same of the birds, who would probably select 
the fattest and best buds—those which, if left alone, 
would produce good fruit. 
We also know that what with blight, late spring 
frosts, &e., &c., the percentage of crops of Cherries, 
Apples, Pears, and other fruit that are as heavy as we 
would wish, and the trees could well stand, is com¬ 
paratively small, so that we could well do with the 
buds that the birds consume in addition to those they 
leave. Another author says of this bird : “ When the 
Cherry buds begin to come forward they quit the 
Gooseberry, and make tremendous havoc with these. 
I have an early wall Cheny, a May Duke by reputation, 
that has for years been a great favourite with the 
Bullfinch family, and its celebrity seems to be com¬ 
municated to each successive generation. It buds 
profusely, but is usually so stripped of its promise by 
these feathered rogues that its kind might almost be 
doubted. The Orleans and Greengage Plums next 
form a treat, and draw their attention from what 
remains of the Cherry. Having banqueted here awhile 
they leave our gardens entirely, resorting to the fields 
and hedges, where the Sloe bush in April furnishes 
them with food.” 
Personally I have never known anyone who has had 
any complaint to make against the Bullfinch, and 7 
cannot imagine these birds being sufficiently numerous 
to do all the injury that one hears about. Sometimes 
I have had the pleasure of seeing a few in our orchard, 
but only occasionally. They are almost the gayest of 
any British birds, and being such favourite cage-birds, 
let them rather be caught and sold than destroyed.— M. 
-- 
OXFORD BOTANIC GARDEN 
SEED LIST. 
A copy of the seed list annually published by the 
authorities of the Oxford Botanic Garden has been sent 
us ; and as it runs to twenty pages, we think the number 
of species it offers for exchange is very creditable, con¬ 
sidering the small size of the garden. Amongst others 
are mentioned Nymphsea alba 'rosea. We wonder 
whether this beautiful variety would come true from seed. 
Then again, horticulturists must not mistake Erysimum 
Marshallianum for the supposed hybrid generally 
known in gardens under the name of Cheiranthus 
Marshalli, but which is indeed an Erysimum, as both 
its supposed parents were species of that genus. 
Moreover, the plant in question produces no seeds. In 
the compiling of the list, great care has evidently been 
taken to keep abreast of the times in matters botanical. 
For instance, the Skimmia japonica of gardens is 
correctly given as S. Fortunei; and Acacia lophantha 
as Albizzia lophantha. But why adopt the Rhodiola 
sibirica of Sweet as a synonym of Sedum Rhodiola, 
when Linnaeus himself called it Rhodiola rosea? 
Thapsia edulis, and not Monizia edulis, is now the 
accepted name of the Tree Carrot of Madeira, if we 
may be allowed to be critical. The catalogue is 
arranged on the natural system and the species under 
their respective natural orders, so that those using the 
list may see at a glance what representatives there are 
in each. The director of the garden is Dr. &. H. 
Vines, and Mr. W. G. Baker is the curator. 
-- 
Hardening Miscellany. 
-- 
Hepaticas. 
The Hepaticas are amongst the most beautiful of 
spring-flowering plants. At the present time strong 
established clumps in herbaceous borders will be 
flowering profusely, and their different hues harmonise 
nicely with those of the Crocuses and Snowdrops. 
The culture of the Hepatica is extremely simple. 
Being perfectly hardy they require no protection 
during the winter months, and can endure the severest 
frosts and most penetrating cold without injury. The 
roots of the Hepatica have a natural tendency to strike 
deeply downwards, consequently they require a deep 
retentive soil to grow in. When planted in a shallow 
soil in a dry situation they seldom or never produce 
satisfactory results. There are two methods of propa¬ 
gating the Hepatica, (1) by division of the root, and 
(2) by seed, the former beiQg the mode generally 
resorted to; and immediately after the plants are done 
flowering is the proper time to perform the operation. 
It is important to encourage the plants to produce an 
abundance of foliage, as a magnificent head of bloom 
