/|A'\^ 7/ J-2> 5 LIBRARY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE .RCE.M..P...V.VUdeT >Z^2. /rr^ ^ Jfc**'. Jul- Dec THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE, No. 26.— 1871.] SATURDAY, JULY i. I Registered at the General j Price 5d. I Post Office as a Newspaper. ( POST FREE, s\d. Nollinghan Paper fibre Eainfal].... Sleam oill lion, the S47 ■ation at Wol- n 848 NEW GARDEN PLANTS— CONTENTS. HOME CORRESFOXDEXCE— Horticultural boilers 837 li-y ,. 836 Manley Hall, a visit to .... 838 MarScfial Niel Rose 836 Past winter, the 837 Peach trees, condition of . . 836 Pear erafted on Apple 836 Phospliate manure 852 Professors Gamiree and McBride .ngola , 849 nowcr ^^' inRpl.int 834 Peaches in orchard-houses.. 834 Sewage irrigation at Rugby 850 HOME CORRESPONDENCE— Agricultural experiences .. 852 Cool Orchid-hou cSftedP^oSlos' Grape setting . . . 837 Utihs wage at Barking and ^and Agricultural 853 FARM MEMORANDA- VOr/CES OF BOOKS- OBITUARY- M. Charles 1 Mr. J. C A. Notice to Subscribers. rriHE SUBSCRIPTION to the GARDENERS JL CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE i! jCi 3r. lorf. for 12 months, including postage to any part of the Unitec Kingdom. May be had of all Booksellers. I, Wellington Street, Covent Garden, Kingdoi Publish, BF y^tfCloclc^^^GENERAL MEETING at 3. SHOW, FRUIT and FLORAL COM on WEDNESDAY NEXT, July s. ai - • - ■ ftoj-al'Hors. the e the day, at all the usual Music-se Gardens), Friends of Fellows, 31. bd.; on the day, 5!., ide Admission to the INTERNATIONAL E.XHIBITIOI ROY.'^L BOTANIC SOCIETY, Regent's Park.- EXHIBITION of PLANTS, FLOWERS, FRUIT, ai FLORAL TABLE DECORATIONS, WEDNESDAY ai THURSDAY, July i2 and 13. Tickets 5s. each, to be obtained the Gardens; and of the Society's Cleric, Austin's Ticket Offic St. James's Hall, Piccadilly. 'The NEXT MEETING for tl ELECTION of NEW SUBSCRIBERS, SATURDAY, July 8. B M IRMINGHAM ROSE SHOW, TULY 6 and 7.— For PRIZE LISTS apply to Mr. A. FORREST, Secretary. "•"•— °irmingham. ENTRIES CLOSE JULY 1. ENTRIES CLOSE , les are ready, and may be had on application to the Under : Garden, Manchester. ^RUCE FINDLAY. JOHN WATERER AND SON'S EXHIBITION of RHODODENDRONS is NOW ON VIEW, DAILY, at t above Gardens. Orders of Admission can be obtained from Fello of the Society, or by production of Card, at Waterer's Gate, West the Botanic Gardens, Sundays and Wednesdays excepted. EVERY GARDEN REQUISITI KEPT in STOCK at OTS, Uitgerst, near Haariem . CATALOGUES wiU be seni n Office, 14, John Street, Minories, E.C. , 9. Lower Thames Street, London. E.t ETo the Trade only. H. KRELAGE AND SON, Nurserymen • Seedsmen, and Florists, Haarlem, Holland, have oublishei theii- NEW WHOLESALE CATALOGUE of BtJLBS for th" season, and will be glad to forward it to Nurserymen, Seedsmen, ant Hyaoliitlis, Tulips, Crocus, «5C. P VAN -WAVEREN, JuN., AND CO., Florists X • Hillegom, near Haarlem, Holland, beg to call the attention 01 be° £d''° '° '^'''' '^'^'^^^°'^"^ "' DUTCH BULBS, which ma> SILBEkRAD AND SONr''sf"H ■ Tower siri ADutcli Buabs.-Seasoni871. E. BARNAART, Florist, Vogelenzang, Haarlem, • Holland, begs to inform Nurserymen and the Trade ircnemllv that^hi^NEWCAfALOGUEor HYa'cINTHS, TULIPS, &cTfor 'Lildl^'f^"^™*~"°'^°^^'''=''''"^^ " The most complete and detailed List out, upwards of 1500 sorts i and described." To the Trade. /^ALCEOL.^RIA, saved with the greatest care, from JAMES DICKSON AND SONS (Old I FAND .-' . of the a F.: , West Dulwich, near London. •^ UTTINGS of GERANIUMS, &c.— 100 Geraniums, _^ in 30 choice varieties, including Tricolor, Gold and Bronze, aricgated Zonal, Nosegay, and Ivy-leaf, for los. ; 50, sr. 6d.; 25, or. I Fancy Pelargoniums. 3s. 6d. ; IJ, 25. 24 CHRYSANTHEMU^NIS, r. M. ; 12, IS. 6d. 24 POMPO.-^S, 2S. &f. ; 12. is. 6d. 24 FUCHSIAS, r. M. ; 12, IS. 6d. All post free. CATALOGUES, one stamp. J. COOMBS, The Ferns. Enfield. CHOICE GERANIUMS, strong Plants.— Golden Tricolors, Gold and Bronze, Silver Variegated, good Doubles, ' pI?R1'Zf. kInc; verbena, us. per 100; good FUCHSIAS, 3s. per dozen, all in single pots, package free. A LIST, with prices, post \V. 'POTIEN, Seedsman and Florist, Sissinghiirst, Staplehurst.Kent SIXTY THOUSAND DWARF TEA-SCENTED ROSES, in pots, also specimen TEA ROSES, in 6-inch pots, for Greenhouse Culture or Exhfbition. CATALOGUES now ready. WM. WOOD AND SON, Woodlands Nursery, Marcsfield, near Uckfield, Sussex. D^ ROSES, in pots.— AH the finest in cultivation, strong, in pots, for Bedding or Conserva " - ^. .^, disposable. Priced CATALOGUES r Conservatory Decoration. Five Thou: LOGUES free. KNIGHT, Floral Nursery, Hailsham, Sussex. Dwarf Rosea in Pots. TjlRANCIS & ARTHUR DICKSON & SONS fines, varieties in cultivation, including the new ones of 1871. Descrip- tive Priced CATALOGUE sent post free on application. F. & A D. & Sons respectfully invite inspection of their extensive COLLECTION of ROSES, which is NOW in FULL BLOOM. Upton Nurseries, Chester. Paul & Son's Roses In Bloom. PAUL AND SON'S COLLECTION is NOW finely in BLOOM, and worthy of a visit Trains leave Bishopgate at 6,45, 8, 9.30, 10.45 A-M. : 13.45, 245, "i^S P.M. ; Sl Pancras : 7.52 AM. ; '•We=.5Sld"N„rs Great Eastern Railw unt, one mile from Chcshunt Station, New Englisli Roses and Conifers. )AUL AND SON, The "Old" Nurseries, Cheshunt, "' ' " '" , Royal Horticultural Society iociety.) Plai NEW ROE Crystal Palace Rose Show), the r icess Louise (First-c New Roses of 1871. JOHN CRANSTON offers a selection of TWELVE NEW ROSES of the present year. Fine plants ready in April. Descriptive LIST on application. ROSES.— The ( RICHARD SMIT ihant, Worcester. O^ 1 and Seed Merchant, Worcester. B. S. WILLIAMS has recently rebuilt and enlarged his PINE HOUSES, and can now offer splendid grown TS of all the best kinds. Prices on application, toriaand Paradise Nurseries, Upper Hollow-ay, London, N. To Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Nurserymen. PINE SUCKERS for SALE of the following varieties : Queens, Moscow Queens, Black Jamaica, Providence, Smooth For"p"rice Tppfyto J. SMITH, Back Common, Turnham Green, S.W. HIGHEST MARKET PRICES GIVEN for MELONS, PINES. PEACHES, NECTARINES, APRICOTS, PLUMS, T0MAt6s, GRAPES, &c., in any ouantity. W. PATERSON, Fruit, Flower, and Vegetable Merchant, 85, West George Street ; and 116 and 118, Buchanan Street, Glasgow. W^ Larch Stakes. -ry- ANTED, LARCH STAKES, 6 , PEARSON, Chil M ■Wanted, Seeds of Choice Strains. R. WILLIAM BULL will require NEW SEEDS, I, show Pelargonium, fancy Polyanthus in 1 Pansy, fancy and show 1 Violas And Seeds of other choice Florist Flowers. Stale ^antities and prices per ounce. Satisfactory proof must be lins of the above seeds are all of the first quality. WILLIAM BULL. F.L.S., Establishment for New and jply to King's Road, Chebes, London, S.W. PARIS, I BUTTONS' GRASS SEEDS for ALL 1867. SOILS. The PRE.MIER PRIX SILVER MEDAL for GARDEN SEEDS, GRASSES, and GRASS SEEDS, was , Reading, Berks. SUTTONS' RENOVATING MIXTURE of fint GRASSES and CLOVERS for improving Pastures deficient o bottom herbage, may be sown after the hay is carried with advantage 6 to 12 lb. required per acre. Price 9rf. per lb., or cheaper by the cwt. SUTTUN AND SONS, Seedsmen to the Queen and H.R.H. the New Catalogue. JOHN H. LEY, E.votic Nursery, Croydon, S.E,, be happy to forward, post free on application, his NEW CA LOGUE (price very low) of PALMS, FEKNS, STOVE PLAN r< TXTM. CUTBUSH ree on app ication^,^^^^^^ ^ ir 1871. SON'S Descriptive Priced ery requisite for the Garden. Post ries. Upper Holloway, N. NEW CATALOGU Viola comuta Perfection. EORGE SMITH is now sending out this beautiful ue SprinfT and Summer Bedding Plant, at 31. per dozen ; O per too. Wilton End Roadj present sowing of best quality. ; Nurseries anf Seed Warehouse. Wallham To the Trade. rPWENTY THOUSAND HYBRID X RHODODENDRONS, i and 2-yr. grafts, in about Fifty leading ties, near Glasgow. w. New Verbenas and Fuchsias. KNIGHT solicits orders for the above, which he has now ready in extra good, clean Plants, by the dozen, t Floral Nurseries, Hailsham, Sussex. Verbenas, Verbenas— 6s. per 100, 60s. per 1000. — -.LIAM BADMAN offers VERBEN.\S from V V store pots, well hardened off. Purple, White, Scarlet, Rose, w BEGONIA SEDENL— Fine young plants of this, the best and finest flowering Begonia in cultivation, 3s. 6J. each. SILVER TRICOLOR, MRS. COL. WILKINSON, si. each; 55s. per dozen. Usual discount to the Trade. J. JANES, North Road, Highgate, N. British Fern Catalogue. ROBERT SIM will send, post free for sbc postage stamps. Part I. (British Ferns and their varieties, 36 pages, including prices of Hardy Exotic Fems)j of his Priced DESCRIPWE CATALOGUE 01 BRITISH and EXOTIC FERNS, No. 7. Foot's Cray Nursery, Sidcup Hill, Kent. W^ w ■.— Mr. WEBB, f ?afcot. i G RIGOR'S AQUILEGIA GLANDULOSA.— Seeds ' ■ picndid Plant can now^e forwarded free at 2S- 6d. per Columbine, sec the Ganietttr^ ilue Plants will ) well to VISIT our N URSERIES at FAI RFl ELD, and lemselves our plan of GROWING ORCHIDS in PINE so the New House we have put up, embodying this plan JAMES BROOKE AND CO., 16, Nurseries, Fairfield, near Manchester. :t, Manchester : Russell's Pyramid Primula. [.EORGE CLARKE has this season secured this very fine strain, in excellent condition, which "&sfr" ■Wright's New 'White Grove Celery Plants. W WRIGHT can offer a few thousands of the above • splendid variety, strong, healthy, transplanted. 6d. per score, 2S. Id. per 100. JOS. per 1000. Also WRIt^.HT'S EARLY ,\fARKET CABBAGE, 6d. per packet, 4s. per dozen packets. WILLIAM WRISHT, Market Square, Retford. ROBERT T. VEITCH has just completed harvesting a fine pure stock of this most excellent TURNIP, the best 830 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 1/1871. #--t Royal Horticultural Society. GREAT SHOW OF FRUIT AND FLOWERS, IN THE PARK, NOTTINGHAM, JUNE 27 to JULY 1, 1871. AWARDS OP THE JUDGES. PLANTS and FLOWERS. B I.-50 STOVE and GREENHOUSE PLANTS, distinct, in pots not exceeding 12 inches in diameter. (Open.) rile, Messrs. laclcson & Son, Nurserymen, Kingston, Surrey.iio. virs. E. Cole & Sons, Witliington, Mancltester, £?. s 2—0 STOVE or GREENHOUSE PLANTS, distinct. (Open.) ilr. T. Haines, Gr. to H. L. Micliolls, Esq., Southgate, £g. ,lrs. E. Cole & Sons, Withington, Manchester, jCj. ilessrs. G. &W. Yates ,•■ ' 5 STOVE or GREENHOUSE PLANTS, distinct. , Laric Hill, Timperley, j[,6. W. Worswick, Esq., Leicester, £5. )T. Cross, Esq, ,Ruddington Hall, Notts, ;C4- Class 4.-9 FINE-FOLI AGED or VARIEGATED PLANTS, distinct. (Amateurs.l it, Mr. Pail -. T. Stevenson, r. J. Bolton, Gr. ■.T. Mitchell, Gi s Lord Eetpcr, Derby, £5. 3d; Mr. J. Woodlield, Gr! to J. S. Foljambe, Esq.', 4lh, Mr.°Ste"e''nson. Gr., Lark Hill, Tin E.xlra 4th, Mr. I. Bolton, £2. Hall, Mr. I. : Mr. E. iFINE-FOLTAGEDo , Charlesworth, Esq., Leiceste VARIEGATED PLANTS, :ry, Beverley, £4. ad, Mr. W. E. Dixon, td, Mrs. Cole & Sons, Withington, ^3. Equal 3d, Messrs. Bell & Thorpe, Slratford-on-Avon, £z. CLASs6.-6FINE-FOLIAGEDor VARIEG.ATED PLANTS, distinct. (Amateurs.) 3d, Capt. H. Farmer, Lenton, £2. Class 7-9 EXOTIC ORCHIDS, distinct. (Open.) 2d,' Messrs. W, Rollisson & Son, Tooting, £7. Class 8.-6 EXOTIC ORCHIDS, distinct. (Amateurs.) 1st, Mr. E. Mitchell, Gr. to Dr. Ainsworth, Broughton, £6. 2d, Mr. J. Stevenson, Gr., Lark Hill, Timperley, £5. Class g.-i EXOTIC ORCHIDS, distinct, ist, Mr. B. S. Williams, Victoria Nurseries, £5. 2d, Messrs. James Brooke & Co.. Manchester. £4 3d, Mr. W. £. Dixon, Beverley, £3. Class 10.— 6 PALMS, not fewer than three k ist, Mr. B. S. Williams, £5. 2d, Messrs. Bell & Thorpe, £4. \ 3d, Messrs. G. Class ti.-6 FUCHSIAS, 2d, Mr. R. J. Beard, Forest R , 3d. j. E. Mapplebeck, Esq., Moselcy, i 4th, ilr. F. T)iompson,.<;i. Class 12.— 6 FUCHSIAS, distinct, in 13-inch pol 1st, Mr. George Edwards, York, £i. ;OW PELARGONIUMS, dis , York, £6. Class 11. -9 E iington Hall, £2. Class i,;.-6 FANCY PELARGONIUMS, distinct. (Amateurs.) 1st, Mr. T. Mitchell, Gr. to T. Cross, Esq., Ruddington Hall, £4. Class 16.-* FANCY PELARGONIUMS, distinct (Nurserymen.] ist, Mr. George Edwards, York, £4. 4th, Messrs. 0. Small & Sons, Ilkeston, £1. Class 17.-6 ZONAL PEL, MS, disi Esq., Notti , excluding UMS, distinct, excluding (Nurserymen.) ;"h,"'Mcss"r's. S. Small & Son, £t. PELARGONIUMS, distinct. (Open.) ssrs. Bell & Thorpe, Slratiord-on-Avon, £5. . F. Perkins, Leamington, ^[4. G. Edwards. York, £2. . J. Bolton, Gr. to \V Worswick, Esq., Birstall Hall, £1. !o._6 VARIEGATED PELARGONIUMS, distinct (Open.) " Mapplebeck, Esq., Woodfield, £2. (Open.) . 6'ell & Tl ASS 2I.-6 VARIEGATED ZO (~ , Mr. C. Turner, Slough, £3. Class 22.-9 HERBACEOUS CALCEOLARIAS. (Opci Class 23.-6 CAl.ADIUMS, distinct. (Open.) , CapL H. Farmer, Lenton, £4. PELARGONIUMS, distin Mr. G. Edwards. York, £1. DRAC/1 ■ CORDYLINES,, EXOTIC FERNS. ct. (Open.) Hall, £1. St. T. M. Shuttlcw-onh, Esq.. Golden Hill, I'rcslon, £6. '' id, Mr. T. Baines, Gr. to H. L. Micholls. Esq., Southgate House,i;4. id) Mr. J. Bolton, Gr. to W. Worswick, Esq., BirstairHall,;(;3. 26.-9 EXOTIC FERNS, distinct. (Nurserymen.) i. Willi - - - - ' ,-E°°B=i; Id, Mr. G. Cooper, Derby, £x >d, Mr. W. E. Dixon, Beverley, £2. (th, Messrs. Bell & Thorpe, Stratfor Class 27.-6 EXOTIC FERNS, distin Mr. J. Stevenson, Gr., Lark Hill, Timpcrl J. E. Mapplebeck, Esq., Woodlield, £2. Class 28.— 20 BRITISH FERNS, disti J. E. Mapplebeck, Esq., Woodlield, £s. Class 29.— 12 BRITISH PERNS, distinct (Amateur Mr. F. Thompson, Gr. to T. Charlesworth, Esq., Leicesi 3d, Mr. W. Yates. Manchester, £,. Class 3L— Pair of TREE FERNS. (Open) isl, Mr. B. S. Williams, Victoria Nurseries, £3. Class 32.-6 LYCOPODIUMS, distinct. (Open.) 1st, Mr I. Bolton, Gr. to W. Worswick, Esq., Birstall Hall, 2d, T. IVI. Shuttleworth, Esq., Golden Hill, Preston, £2. 3d, Messrs. Bell & Thorpe, Stratford-on-Avon, £i. Class 33.-6 AGAVES, distinct (Open.) ist, Mr. B. S. Williams. Victoria Nurseries, £3. 2d, Mr. W. E. Dixon, Beverley, £2. Class 34.-RHODODENDRONS, 18 cut trusses, distinct. ;nho Ion, K Mrs. Cole . Cooper, Derby. s 36.-6 Greenhouse ERICAS, distinct. (Am: 37.-6 Greenhouse AZALEAS, distinct (An S.-6 Greenhouse AZALEAS, distinct (N»i 24 Bunches of CUT FLOWERS, each bunch 1 jJloseS; (Ooen. ■ the same n , Mrs. Cole Worswick, Esq., Birstall Leamington, £2. of CUT FLOWERS, each bu jt^w'^Rt!'""" " "'" "" Mr. D. Lumsden, Gr. to Rt Hon. R. C. N. Hamilton, Bloxholm ' hey,Gr. to H. E. Hole, Esq., Quorndon, £} , ,•-.. .„ w W„„...;.-|, !.■,„ „i„..ii u.,|^ Class 41.-6 ANTIRRHIN Class 42.-6 PYRETH RUMS, Victoria Nurseries, £2. S, distinct, cut blooms. (Open E. Perry, Fulmer, Slough, yr. Hall, 151. ots. (Open.) ts. (Open.) , Esq., Colston Basset Hall, Class 66.— NECTARINES, single dish. ope.Gr. toC.Clar- - , W. Lynn, Gr., Maidenl d, Mr. G. Sage, Gr., Ashridge Gardens, 10s. d, Mr. J. Miller, Gr., Worksop Manor, 71. Class 68 —CHERRIES, single dish, st, Mr. J. Miller, Gr., Worksop Manor, 15J. d, Mr. G. T. Miles, Gr. to Lord Carrington, loi. J, Mr. Garland, Gr. to Sir T. D. Acland, Bart, 71. Class 69.-STRAWBERRIES, six dishes, distinct kinds, it, Mr. G. T. Miles, Gr., Wycombe Abbey,;£3. Class 7a-STRAWBERRIES, single dish. ) LoriJ Carrington, Wycombe Abbey, . W. Staples, Braunstone, G. T. 3d, Mr. T. Mitchell, 7 Cuss 71.-MELON, Green-fleshed, ist, Mr. G. Lamb, Gr. to J. Davy, Esq., Colston Basset Hall, £1. 2d, Mr. T. Mitchell, 15.. 3d, T. M. Shuttleworth, Esq., Golden Hill, Preston, loj. Class 72.— MELON, Scarlet-fleshed, ist, Mr. R. Gilbert, Stamford, £1. 2d, Mr. A. Meikle, iss. | 3d, Mr. T. Mitchell, loi. Class 73.— MISCELLANEOUS, for Fruits not mentioned in ist, Mr. C. Frisby. £1 los. Extra, Mr. Tillery. lETABLES, including Laxti Hundredfold. Laxton's Quality, Dwarf Ws offered by Messrs. Tames Carter & ( . d, Gr., killert- ' Lumsden, Gr., Bloxl , T. Laxton, Esq., (Nur. 1st, Messrs. G. Small & Son, Ilkest 2d, Mr. W. Peachey. Gr. to H. E. 3d, Mr. H. Cannell, Woolwich, los 4th, Mr. D. Knight, Nottingham, 5s. Class 45.-12 Double ZONAL PELARGONIU.MS, ■ ngle trusses. . .. i£: F. Perkins. Leamington, igr, 3d, Messrs. Bell & Thorpe, Stratford on-Avon, los. 4th, Mr. H. Cannell, Woolwich, 55. Class 46.-24 CUT ROSES, distinct. (Amateu 1st, Mr. T. Laxton, Stamford, £1. 2d, Rev. E. N. Pochin, Silsby Vicarage, £2. Class 47—24 CUT ROSES, distinct, three trusses of Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, £4. Class 48.-12 CUT ROSES, distinct (Amateu Mr. G. Johnson. Nottingham, ' Rev. E. N. Pochin, Silsby Vi. Mr. T. Green, Nottingham, £1 Class 49-6 CUT ROSES, distinct. (Amateurs.) Mr. R. Timson, Nottingham, iss. Mr. W. Wise, kottingham, los Mr. M. A. Hoe, Nottingham, 51. Class 50.-12 Hardy Deciduous TREES the beauty of their foliage, dis t, Messrs. W. Barron & Son, Borrowash, CLASS SI.-12 Hardy E t, Messrs. W. Barron & CLASS 52.— 20 Hardy VARIEGATED ALPINE and HERBACEOUS PLANTS, distinct. (Open.) ist, Mr. B. S. Williams, Victoria Nurseries, £3. Class 58.— MISCELLANEOUS, for Plants not contained in any of the above Classes. (Open.) ist, Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for Collection, £2 las. 2d, Mr. B, S. Williams, Victoria Nurseries, for Collection, £2. 3d, Messrs J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for Bed of Plants arranged for effect, £1 las. 4th, Messrs. H. Lane & Son, Great Bcrkhampstead, for 12 Pyramidal Extra, J. kaye, Esq., Manchester, for Group ol Skeleton Leaves, &c. Vicarage, £1 (Open. FRUIT. ALL OPEN CLASSES. COLLECTION of FRUIT, I2dishes,6distinct kin '. Miles, Gr. to Lord Carrington, Wycombe House, , Class 60.-3 PINE-APPLES. --.. - -.. '. Miles, Gr. to Lord Carrington, £3. 2d, Mr J. Simpson, Gr. to Lord Whamcliffe, Worsley Hall, £2. Class 61.— PINE-APPLE, any variety. J. Simpson, Gr. to Lord Wharncliffe, Worsley Hall, £2. G. T. ivliles, Gr. to Lord Carrington, Wycombe Abbey, £t —BLACK GRAPES, single dish, r. to — Statter, Esq., Manchester, £3. ,, Gr. to Sir G. H. fieaumonl, £,. Sage, Ashridge Gardens, Bcrkhampstead, £1. Class 63.-WHITE GRAPES, single dish. . Holah, Gr. to Capt. Saville, Rufford Abbey, i Peachey, Gr. to H. E. Hole. 3d, Mr. M. Henderson, Gr. to Sir G. H. Class 64.— Basket of GRAPES, 12 lb. ist, Mr. J. Smith, Gr. to Earl Gainsborou ' 2d, Mr. M. Henderson, Gr. to Sir G. H. liS^ >eaumon. /"■''"''" w^li^i'ck; ii. LOCAL PRIZES. Prizes offered by G. E. Pagel^Esq. H. L. Micholls, 'Esq., Southgate House, £'. " " " - " rndon,i;i loi. I Hall, 10! Peachey, Gr. to H. E. Hole, Esq Stevenson, Gr, Lark Hill, Timperley, j£i. Woodlield, Gr. to J. S. Foljambe, Esq., Osl Prizes offered by W. B. Paget, Esq. Class 76.— Specimen GREENHOUSE PLANT, in flowei (Amateurs ) , Mr. T. Baines, Gr. to H. L. Micholls. Esq., Southgate Housi Mr. J. Bolton, Gr. to W. Worswick, Esq., BirstairHall, £1 1 Miss S. Smith, Nottingham, £1. 1, Mr. W. Wright, Sandiacrc, 101. Prizes offered by C. Paget, Esq- THURIUM SCHERZEl ) H. L. Micholls, Esq., Southgate Hotise', £i Prizes offered by ^ •. T^Baines" r. B. S. Willi . F. Webb, Esq. 2d,' Mr. I.Stevenson, Gr. to B. H. Jones, Esq., Lark Hill 3d, Mr. J. Woodlield, Gr. to T. S. Foljambe, Esq., Osberl ith, Mr. J. Bolton, Gr. to W. Worswick, Esq., flirstall H Extra, Mr. G. Daniells, Gr. to M. Mundy, Esq., Derby. ist, Mr. T. Baines, Gr to H. L. Micholls, Esq., Southgate House, £1 2d, Mr. G. Daniells, Gr. to A. Mundy, Esq., Shipley Hall, £1 lot. 3d. Mr. J. Bolton, Gr. to W. Worswick, Esq., Birstall Hall, £1. 4th, H. Farmer, Esq., Lenton, loi. St, Mr. T. AUsop, Gr. to C. T. S. B. Reynardson, Esq., Holywell Hall, i;2, id, Mr. W. Cruickshank, Gr. to Lord Eelpcr, Kingston Hall, £1 lOr id, Mr, F, Thompson, Gr. to T. Charlesworth, Esq., Leicester, £t. 1th, Mr. W. Peachey, Gr. to H. E. Hole, Esq., (Quorndon, jos. Prizes offered by C. Seely, Esq. Class 83.— Specimen HEATH. (Open.) St, Mr. T. Baines. Gr. to H. L. Micholls, Esq., Southgate House, £2. id, Messrs. Jackson & Son, Kingston-on-Thames, £1 tor. 2d, Mr. J. Stevenson, Gr., La 3d, Mr.). Bolton, Gr. to W. Equal 3d, Mr. J. Woodlield, 1 L Micholls, Esq., Southgate House, c Hill, Timperley, £1 is. orswi'ck, Esq., filrstall Hall, loj. 6J. : to J. S. Foljambe, Esq., Osbertoi merce. (Open.) 1st, Mr. C. Turner, Slough, , 2d, Messrs. Bell St Thorpe, Stratford-on-Avon, 131. 3d; Mr. C. Frisby, Gr. to H. Chaplin, Esq., Blankney Hall, ; ! St'ratford-on-/ July I, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag:ricultural Gazette. 831 Royal Horticultural Society. AWARDS OF THE ]UDGES—Conim2ced. i,' Mr.' C. Frisby.'Gr. 10 H. Chaplin, Esq., Blankney 1 Prizes olTered by the Right Hon. Earl Manvers, and the Loca Cl.\ss SS.-.o ORCHIDS. (Amitcurs.) Prizes offered by Mr. B. Walker, the Local Committee. Henr Hcymann, Esq., and Thomas Adams, Esq. Cuiss S9.-9 STOVE and GREENHOUSE PLANTS, in Flow Bolton, Or. 'to W.'Worsw'ick, Esq., Eirstall Hall, £7. 1st, Ml. I. Stephenson, Gr., Lark : Loughbi Mr. R. , Cl,iss 00. -4 PLANTS in FLOWER. Beard, Noi sd, Mr. Prizes offered by the Local Committee. Class 01.-6ACHIMENES. (Open.) ist, Mr. J. Bolton, Or. to W. Worswick, Esq , Birstall Hall, £^ 4'- Prizes offered by Sir E. S. Walker, Kt., the Hon. Arthur Strutt, and the Hon. Mrs. Hudson. Cuiss 9a.-6 HERBACEOUS CALCEOLARIAS. (Open.) 1st, Mr. E. Smith, Nottingham, £2. Frizes offered by Thomas Bayley, Esq., and R. Birkin, Esq. Class 93.-6 Erect-flowering GLOXINIAS. (Open.) St. Mr. J. Fellow , Esq., Beeston Fields, .£3. Prizes offered by Thomas Cross, Esq., and Captain Parry. Class 04.-6 Pendant-flowering GLOXINIAS. (Open.' St, Mr. J. Bolton, Gr. to W. Worswick, Esq., Eirstall Hall, i i by I. W. Lea' Hall, lb. Smith, Esq., the 1 ,V. Leavers. Esq., H_.. , ommittee, and]. H. Lee, Esq. Class 05.— Four LILIUM AURATUM, (Open. Ist, Mr. C. Turner, Slough. £4 4s. Jd, Messrs. W. Rollisson & Son. Tooting. £3 3!. 3d. Messrs. G. & W. Yates, Manchester, £2 2!. 4lh, Mr. G. Edwards, York, £t is. es offered by Messrs. Percy Goodall & Brown, and the Hon. and Rev. C. J. WiUoughby. Class 114.— Three EUCHARIS AMAZONICA. (Open.) zes oftered by James Thorpe. Esq. (High Sheriff), J. E. Taylor, Esq., and J. Watson, Jun., Esq. Prizes offered by the Local Committee. Collection of HARDY EVERGREEN TREES and SHRUBS. (Open.' it, Messrs. W. Barron & Son, Borrowash, £ Class 117. , Mr. E. S. Will .Colle. 2d,' Messrs. Bell & Thorpe, Stratford- Fifty fruit ■ered by ! L dish. (Open.) Thomas Forman, Class 120— Six Bunct produce o* ' 1st, Mr. R. I'Ansoi 3d, Mr. W. Lynn, Maidenhead, £2. (Open.) lall, £2. IS, for Bloom, six best varietie -- - . toutiniSyl. (Open.) ist, Messrs. Bell & Thorpe, Stratford-on-Avon, £3. Prizes offered by Samuel Morley, Esq., and the Local Committee. Class 99.— NOSEGAY PELARGONIUMS, for Bloom, six best Tst. Me"rrs:-BeT&'Th»prs7Sffo-r3ro1f.'k'vr, '&■'"■ '^"^ ' 1 J. Manning. Esq. St, Mr. C. Turner, Slough, £2. le Right Hon. Lord Helper. F.R.S. ss lOi.-Twelvc distinct MAIDENHAIR FERNS (Adia T. M. Shuttleworth, Esq., Golden Hill. Preston, £0. Messrs. Bell & Thorpe, Stratford-on-Avon, £5. '{fr^F^T^; jSered by E. J. Lowe, Esq. F.R.S. : New Varieties of BRITISH FER ■ce (Open.) I Nursery, £3. Prizes offered by H. R. Clifton, Esc iistinct CALADIUMS, in pots not e across. (Open.) ill & Thorpe, Stratford-on-Avon, £4. Prizes offered by Henrj- Akroyd, Esq.. and Rev. C. Hudson. Class 106.-4 MARANTAS. (Open.) 1st, Mr. G. Lamb, £3. I 2d, Messrs. Bell & Thorpe, £2. Prizes offered by F. C. Smith. Esq., M.P., and Rev. F. Morse. Class 107.— 4 ALOCASIAS. (Open.) ist, Mr. G. Lamb, Gr. to G. Davy, Esq., Colston Bassett Hall, £3. Prizes offered by Col. Boddam-Whetham, and G. Davy, Esq. Class 108.— Collection of HARDY and HALF-HARDY VARIE GATED and ORNAMENTAL FOLIAGE PLANTS. (Open ) ist, Mr. B. S. Williams, Victoria N—— '"■ 2d, Mr. W. E. Dixon, Beverley, £-■ 3d, Messrs. G. f S'^cLster £■ Foljambe, Esq., Prizes offered by F.J, . Class log.— Twclv ist, Mr, W. E. Dixon, Beverley, ^^3- EW PLAN aonsj Chelsea, ao. n & Sons, Tooting. £ fHollotay, £3. zes offered by the Local CL.4SS IIL-Six HARDY Jr R. Edwards. Nuthall, £3. . Preston, £2. ! the Local Committee. PCI ) H. L. Mi PITCHER PLANTS. (Open.) iq. , Southgate House, £2, ■izes offered by F. Wright. Esq., Rev. S. Cressx F. G. Rawson, Esq., and the Local O Class 121.— Four Varieties of GRAPES, twc (Opei ■ t, Mr. E. Broadbridge. Gr., Walto , Mr. W. Cruickshank, , Rev. J. L. Prior, Prizes oftered by the Rev. S. R. Hole, and the Loc; Class 136.— Twelve CUT ROSES, distinct varietie ,t, Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshiint. ,5.0 los. I. Mr. H. Merryweather, Southwell, ;£3- I, Mr. G. Edwards, York. £2. h, Mr. G. Johnson, Nottingham. £1. Class i37.-Forty-eight CUT ROSES serymen.) ist, Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, £5 5^ 2d, Mr. H. Merrj-weather, Southwell, £. 3d, Mr. G. Edwards, York, £2 21. Mr. Alfred Page, the Local Committee, and J. Fellows, Esq. jfeach). (Nur- , Sneinton, los. | 4th, Mr. W. Wise, ss. ffered by Mr. W. Edgcumbe Rendle. e CUT ROSES, three trusses of each. (Open.) s offered by the Local Committee. -CARNATIONS (12 blooms). (Open.) War. > Lord Bclper, Kin| s offered by Col. I. C. Wright, and C. Wilde, Esq. 23.-Six kinds of FRUIT (Pines excluded.) (Open.) Mitchell, Gr. tn T. Cross. Esq. Ruddington Hall, £:. Holah, Gr. to CapL SaviUe, Rufford Abbey, £2. d H. H. Carter, Esq. md NECTARINES. ;n.) ori,£3 3'- St, MV. G. Jackson, Gr, Tixall Hall, StaB Id, Mr. J. Miller, Gr., Worksop Manor, £: Prizes oftered by T. Close, Esq. Mite" d, Mr. W. Prizes offered t MELONS. (Open., Cross, Esq., Ruddington Hall, £2 fcr. io Capt. Saviile, Rufford AbTjey, £1 le late S. T. Cooper, Esq^, the Local Committee, ■;^.T Class 125--TWO PINE APPLES. (Open.) Mr. G. T. Miles, Gr. to Lord Carrington, Wycombe Abbey, £22. Mr. J. Simpson, Gr to Lord Wharncliffe, Wirtley Hall, £1 los. 3d, Mr. T. Mitchell, 4th, Mr J. Thompson Extra, Mr. D. Lumsdi rstall Hall. IS». ington Hall. los. T. Charlesworth, Esq., Leicester, 55 s offered by 1 -AGi fine-foliaged | to T. Cross, Esq., r. to T. Ch ■ £s. : Right H. Local Commi Class 127.— A Group of 25 PLANTS, arranged 'oliaged plants, stove and Orchids, Erownlow, a .use flowering [ nches across. (Open. id'.' Messrs. Bell & Thorpe, £$. '\ 3d, Mr. W. E. Dixon, £3. Prizes offered by the Local Committee. Class tag. -Six PLANTS suitable for DINNER-TABLE DECORA- TION, in pots not exceeding /inches across. (Open.) 1st, Mr. F. Perkins. Leamington, £2 12s. 6d. 2d, Capt. H. Farmer, Lenton, jCi iif. ftd. 3d, Mr. W. Peachy, Gr. to H. E. Hole, Esq., Quomdon, £1. 4th, Mr. J. Bolton, Gr. to W. Worswick, Esq., Leicester, 10s. Prizes offered by Rev. J. C. Girardot, and the Local Committee. Class 129— HAND BOUQUET. (Open.) ist, Mr. F. Perkins, Leamington, £2 los. 2d, Mr. J. House, Peterborough, £15^. 3d, Mr. D. Wotton, The Hall, Wirksworth, £t. 4th, Mr. J. Smith, Loughborough, loi. Prizes offered by George Fellows, Esq., and the Local Committee. Class 130.— GENTLEMAN'S BOUQUET. (Open.) ist, Mr. J. House, Peterborough, £1 is. 2d, H. Farmer, Esq.. Lenton, 155. 3d. Mr. D. T. Fish, Gr., Hardwicke House, Burj-St. -Edmund's, lOJ. 4th, Mr. F. Perkins, Leamington, y. Prizes offered by the Local C Class 131.— Group of Three VASES for DINNER TABLE (Fru and Flowers). (Open.) :st, Mr. W. Cruickshank, Gr. to Lord Belper, Kingston Hall, £4. 132.— Six PEACHES and NEC! . J. R. Pearson, Chilwcll, £5 S*- Class 133- ist, Mr. Pearson, Chilwcll, ^^4. i Grapes). (Open.) : Local Committee. Prizes offered by Thomas Laxton, Esq., and the Local Co Class 135.— Premier Dish of POTATOS. (Open. - ■"- ^ Taylor, Malpas, Cheshire. j£i. iener's Prize of Eit;ht kinds 01 and Four of SALAD, urghley House, Stamford, £6. 6r. to Lord Carringtr- ''^' Warwick, Chapman's Prizes offered by the Loughborough Class 144.— Four Dishes of POTATOS {four vari (Cottagers and Artisans.) Mr. H. Biddle, Loughborough, £2. ' (Cottagers Mr. J. Montiney, Lougl 4th, Mr'. G. Basford, Loughl 2d,' Mr'.J.Nicl 3d, G. Heafton red by the Loughborough Ho r Dishesof POTATOS (four v, worth, Loughborough, £1. olson, Collingham, 155. & Son, Loughborough, los. wir. J. Nicholson, £1. Society. s offered by the Loughborough Horticultural Society. 5.— Six kinds of VEGETABLES (Potatos excluded), to mt, G. Heafford & Son, Loughborough £2. 2d, Mr. W. S. Draper, Dornnglon, Slealord, £u Prizes offered by the Loughborough llortic iss r47.-S:x kinds of VEGETABLES (?ot: lown on trays not exceeding 30 inches squ Mr. G. Basford, Loughborough, £3. Mr. H. Biddle, Loughborough, £2. Mr. Clarke, Loughborough, £1 10s. , Mr. J. Lacy, Gr., Bloxham, Slealord, £1. Prizes offered by W. Windley, Esq., E. Patchett, Esq., NE-W PLANTS. FIRST-CLASS CERTIFICATES. From G F. Wilson. Esq., Lilium californicum, pcnduliflorum, L. canadense flavum. L. puberulum, L. From Mr. C. Turner, Pelargoniums Aehicvemen Pompey, Charlemagne. , Zephyr, Caesar, From E. J. ,Lowe, Esq., F.R.S., Scolopendrium vulgare, vars. nerfectum,virginale, acceptum, cochlcatum, tumulum, Moonise, inno- cuutn, Davyi, kraspedon, Thaumaston kephaloton, Fellowsii, Smeei. niummaringm,vars'. Thompsoniae, admirabile. capitatum ; Pleopeltis (Microsoriuro) irroides, var. cristata, Lastrea Fdix-mas, vars. Belpen, depauperata.Padleyi.variegata; Atfiyrium Filix-fojmina, vars. (5ull- secule, Lawsonii'; Lastrea dilatata, >-ars. talomelanos, speetabile Capillus- Veneris, vars. amabile,daphnite,perfectum; HS'menophyllum unilaterale, var. Kinahani. From Messrs. Veitch & Sons. Begonia Chelsoni, Dieffenbachia Bausei, Dracienas Wisemani and araabilis. From Mr. E. S. Williams, Trichomancs auricular um. From Messrs. Fisher, Holmes, & Co., Thymus citriodorus aureo- From J. E. Mappleback, Esq., Pteris acquilina Iu3i^! SILVER FLORA MEDAL. Classes i, 2, 4, 7. a. 25, 28, 35, 46, 59, 60 62,63. In flie above Classes a Silver Flora Medal was awarded to the BRONZE MEDAL. CLassks 3, 13, 15, ig, 20, 31, 23, 27, 29, 31, 39, - the above Classes a Bronze Medal was awarded 832 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. U"iy I. 1871- ; Gardeners' Chn vini; flcihy BUgM. Gardeners TROunr.ED with the above, would do well to Try WILKIES BLIGHT COMPOSITION" for their DESTRUCTION. It offers a safe and speedy remedy, and make a considerable reduclion. Sold' iT'i and i-gaSon jars ^'y.td. and 6s. each. It bears being considerably diluted. Post Office orders "wiLKlS" CONDEfflED 3J. W., and 61. each. The above articles may be had througli and Seedsmen, and wholesale of A WILKIE, Oak Lodge Gardens, Ad( Fems, Ferns, Fema. TO THE TRADE and OTHERS. LO M A R I A G I B B A, 9,/. each, 6j. per dozen. GYMNOGRAMMA LAUCHEANA (best Gold Ferns), **. GYMNdGRAMNIA"wETENHALLIANA, beautifully crested DICKSONIA ANTAlicTICA (beautiful Tree Fern), 21. each, i8s. PTERIS^^NGIFoYlAf sirong plants, in 48-size pots ASPLENIUM BULBIFERUM, Jo., do., ij 6d. each SELAGINELLAS, strong plants, in 6o-size pots, 6i. pet NEW FUCHSIAS DOUBLE GERANIUMS, Four Firstcl plants, ss. bd. per dozen. Also other Plants as Advertised J Buttons' Superb Hybridised Florist Hower Seeds. Battersea, London, rj-i H E THI' SII.KA To CURE DAM I Decay. Manufactured Composition and Graniti For Particulars and Manager, 39A. King Wil ;ranitic paint COMPOSITION. Preserve Stone, &c., fron r by the Silicate Zopissa Paint Company, testimonials apply to THOMAS CHILD, '.^i^tS S'^ Manufacturer of Arches, Flower Stands, Baskets, Trellis loscries, Wire Wor' " . _ . j . inds of Wire Work Illustraled Cataloj i, &c Conservatories f ; and Testimonials o Society, and to United Kingdoi PHILLIPS GLASS for ORCHARD HOUSES, ly them to Mr. Rivers, to the Royal Horticultural most of the Nobility, Clergy, and Gentlemen of the SQUARES a : prices only apply X ,»by , SB. ii }Ti 16 by J3 %t% ^kVy^> ?« by 7 9g ROUGH PLATE. URTLEYS IMPROVED PATENT LINSEED OIL, Genuine WHITE LEAD, CARSON'S PAINTS. PAINTS of various colours ground ready for use. SHEET and ROUGH PLATE GLASS, SLATES of all siies. BRITISH PLATE, PATENT PLATE, ROLLED PLATE, CROWN, SHEET, HORTICULTURAL, ORNAMENTAL, COLOURED, and every description of GLASS, of the best Manu- facture, at the lowest terms. Lists of Prices and Estimates JAS. PHILLIPS AND CO., 180, Bishopsgatc Street Without, E.C. trom .\Ir. GEO. Eosd, Or. to the Earl of Powis, Walcot Gardens. had of you are splendii Fram Mr. CHAS.^\VAECROrT. Gr. li, A. R. Hudson, Esq., Pershore. good, nearly two feet across. Pr^"cI™Wal'er"'^°-'*' ^'""'""'=" '° ""= "^ueen, and H.R.H. Ih, Establlsned 1793. OHN K. KING, Seed Grower. Coggeshall,' Essex, supply his unrivalled :ocks of MANGEL DS (carefullv sel large roots] Hardy Prize S WURZEL, SW TURNIP SEEDS (carefully selected moderate prices. Large purchasers supplied pecial moderate prices. FARM SEED LISTS post free. R^ Address, 26, Seed Market, Mark Lane, E.C. ; or Bas Samples and prices post free on application. Prize J r Wheat; i86a, for " Excellent Seed Corn and Seeds." B Holloway, London, N. New and Cbolce nower Seeds, Post Free. 5. WILLIAMS, Nurseryman and Seed 'Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper .,..„= .upe.u »,riun Of PRIMULA, Red, White,"r''Mi'xcd~'' * II. &f.,3i, 6 nd six in flower (Orchids excluded) : ist, £10 ; offer £2^ to be competed for at the Royal Rules and Regulations may be obtained of WM. PALLETT, Scci Noteworthy Horticulturists and Botanists. NOTICE.— A SERIES of PORTRAITS of NOTEWORTHY HORTICULTURISTS and BOTANISTS is being published in the "GARDENERS' CHRONICLE AND AGRICTjLtURAL GAZETTE." The following have already appeared, and copies may be had on application to the Publisher, vii. :— Dr. HOOKEK, C.B., F.R.S.: W. Wilson Saunders, F.R.S.; Rev. M. I. Berkeley, F.L.S. ; M. Decaisne; G. F. Wilson, F.R.S.; Professor Reichenbach, of Hamburgh: Dr. MooRE, of Glasncvin; Rev. S. R. Hole, M.A. ; and E. J. Lowe, F.R.S. Published by VV. RICHARDS,4i, Wellington Street, Covent Garden. SATURDAY, JULY i, 1871. MEETINGS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. Monday, July 3— Entomological I Royal Horticultural (Fruitand Floral ommittees), at S. Kensington .. to (Scientific Committee) to (General Meeting) Wednesday, NOTHING seems wanting, at the moment we write, to secure the full success of the Royal Horticultural Society's Visit to Not TINGHAM, but a continuance of the glorious weather of the opening day, when a large and fashionable company was drawn together regale upon a feast of flowers. To say it was thoroughly good display, would convey but half the truth, for we may fairly add, there has been no more effective show than this since the great International, which ' look back upon with so much pride and pleasure. The capacious tent under which the main part of the display took place, permitted a picturesque plan of arrange- ment, which only needed to be appreciated and seconded by the exhibitors themselves, to have been a paradise of flowers. Here, however, was the greatest defect of the exhibition, from an aesthetic point of view, and we feel the exhibitors need only to have it pointed out to remedy the evil for the future. What we allude to, and specially deprecate, is the sloping of the plants, a plan which has come into vogue through the jjlants having in most cases to be staged in narrow lines with a background, but which is utterly and entirely inappropriate when, as in the present case, the plants come into view in all directions. In some instances the effect of the mode of staging was painful in the extreme, whereas if a more natural grouping had been adopted, the picturesque effect which Mr. Gir.SON aimed at in his design would have been secured, and the plants, instead of looking well from one point of view only — which seems to be the main object of sloping them -would have looked well from every point. This was especially evident in the case of some Ferns with fine spreading fronds, and which, had single plants been brought forward We may supplement our recent remarks on the Effects of Frost on Vegetation by the following notes, extracted mainly from a recent publication by Prof. GCEPPERT, of Breslau. It appears that during the unusually severe winters of 1828-9, and 1829-30, the Professor made many observations and experiments on the influence of low temperature on vegetation, and published the results of his researches in a pamphlet of 244 pages, with numerous statistical tables. The winter of 1869-70 offering another good oppor- tunity, he resumed his labours in this direction, of which the following is an epitome. 1. All plants in the open air would eventually be killed by continued frost, according to their bulk, or the more or less fluid contents of their cells. Cellular tissue, therefore, sooner than ligneous tissue, and herbaceous plants sooner than shrubby plants. The cell-contents, or protoplasm, as confirmed by Nageli and S.4CHS, manifests great changes. The cell-walls and vessels, on the contrary, are not torn or fractured, even in plants killed by cold ; hence the free extravasation of water on the surface of frozen plants. Chemistry is everywhere active. Cellulose and chlorophyll are decomposed, hence the discolouring and ultimate blackening of leaves — the commencement of humiiication. This change takes place also in the medullary rays, subject to a higher degree of frost, causing the trunk to split through to the medullary sheath ; and, as these clefts never unite (merely grow over), the process at length extends to the wood fibres and vessels. Naturally, all the other organic constituents of the cell-contents suffer like changes, as, for example, the change of starch to sugar in frozen Potatos. 2. Individual constitution alone governs the different degrees of susceptibility evinced by plants, for which we have at present insufficient explanations. Plants never become accustomed to an abso- lutely lower temperature than is natural to them in their homes. We often see plants of this description in cultivation, but we have never succeeded in habituating them to frost. Wit ness Dahlias, cultivated for upwards of sixty years, and even now as tender as when first ' troduced. Even plants from countries equally cold, or colder, than ours, but with later or earlier seasons, do not readily adapt themselves to the change. For instance, Robinia Pseud Acacia (Pennsylvania) has been cultivated in Germany some 200 years, but has not become thoroughly acclimatised. Our spring is earlier than in Pennsylvania, bu the Robinia does not vegetate so early as ou native trees, and docs not lose its leaves until the frost kills them, and in consequence of this it is often killed by a degree of cold that would not injure it in its native habitat. Gleditschia and even young Planes occasionally succumb from the same cause. 3. There are many local and occasional causes to which this susceptibility of plants may be ascribed. — {a), difference in fluid contents ; {b), winds ; (f), changes of heat and cold ; (n'), degree of frost ; and (c), situation, Brassica oleracea and Helleborus fostidus (with perhaps Crambe maritima), are the only native German plants with herbaceous stems that withstand the ordinary winters. Winds injure, as is well known, through cold currents, and also, which is not so well known, through the drying up or evaporation of the ice or frozen fluids of the cells, which in the frozen condition cannot be replaced. Frequent changes of heat and cold are ulti- mately fatal to very hardy plants. Such plants as Lamium purpureum, and Senecio vulgaris, will bear rapid changes of freezing and thawing "ve or six times, but not more frequently. The degree of frost which vegetation is capable of withstanding has not been satisfactorily proved, chiefly owing to the neglect of modifying conditions. MiDDENDORF estimates it at 23 — 19° F. ; Robert Kane, in lat. 78^ 37' N., mea- sured — 43°.5 R. ; and McClure even— 47° R. Beyond this latitude, up to 82° N., Kane fou id luxuriant vegetation, though only herbacco.i?. The limits of trees are much lower — the high it latitude in Siberia (Taimyrlande), 72° 30' N., ft.r Larix sibirica ; Europe, 70° N. ; North America, between 68' and 69° N.* Great importance must be attached to the fact that the lower parts of trees and seeds and herbaceous plants altogether, are protected by snow. Kane found, in 78° 50' N., a tempe- rature of 27° in snow, at a depth of 2 feet, 17^ ; at 4 feet, I3°.03 ; at 8 feet, i°.o6 ; probably ground only 1°. Prof Gceppert made the first connected series of observations on the temperature of snow in the coldest winter — 1829-30 — of the pre- sent century, and again in February of 1870. With the snow very equally distributed at about 4 inches deep, after three of the coldest days (2ro to 21°) it was 5' to 6° ; 4 inches in the ground 2° 1 2 inches below the surface 0° Reaumur. From all these observations it appears that plants in high latitudes, and also on the higher Alps, are not exposed to very intense cold, for snow invariably falls in quantity before severe frosts set in, preventing radiation and ensuring a gradual and more uniform degree of cold. And it may be inferred that luxuriant vegetation exists even at the North Pole. Snow practically is the best covering for alpine plants in gardens, the absence of this may explain the cause of many dying in our gardens. Never- theless, the snow covering does not prevent the roots from being frozen. Growth takes place in winter only when we are free from frost for some time, and then slowly. Bellis perennis and Helleborus niger freeze and thaw without injury whilst the roots remain frozen. Lastly, it may be mentioned that plants can bear different degrees of temperature at different parts without injury. MiDDENDORF saw Willows in North Siberia (Taimyrlande) in flower whilst the lower portions were still frozen. X The Delphinium nudicaule, rec troduced by Mr. Thompson, of Ipsiwich, pre a much finer garden plant than was at first It is a tuberous-rooted and hardy species, usual finger-lobed leaves ; but what is most remark- able about It are the brilliant scarlet flowers, which contrast so strongly with the usual blue tint which pervades the genus. We have indeed already had a scarlet Larlcspur in the D. cardinale, but in that the flowers were of a dull red only, and the plant itself seemed unmanageable- Here, on the contrary, the colour is bright and effective, and the plant appears to grow freely enough planted out in moderately light soil. The flowers with these rosy spurs are very sug- gestive of some brilliant Tropreolum, such as T. trico- lorum, only that the mouth of the calyx is more widely spreading than in the flowers of that plant, approaching in size and form very nearly to those of D. sinense. Everyone should try if this fine novelty will thrive under the conditions which his garden affords ; and those who find that it will do so, will discover that they have added a gem to their collection. There is an opinion abroad, formed possibly from the exhibition of indilTerent examples, that the plant is far less meri- torious than it really is seen to be when growing in the garden ; and Mr. Thompson informs us that he has himself been surprised at the different effect produced by bringing the plant into an ordinary sitting-room. In the open ground, whether in strong or weak light, the colour is glowing, and in a mass vei7 striking, hut in a room it is dull. Our own opinion, formed from watching the development of the plant in the open ground, "is that it is really a good garden plant. At the dinner given to the judges after the Rose show at the Crystal Palace on Saturday last, the Rev. H. II. Do.MBRAIN presented to Mr. Wilkin- Sibcria, > found in North 834 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July I, 1871. England 1 72°.9atl SON, the General Manager of the Palace, a very beautiful silver claret jug and cup, bearing the follow- ing inscription : — " Presented to Isaac Wilkinson, Esq. , by Judges and Exhibitors at the Crystal Palace Flower Shows, as a mark of their appreciation of his unvarying kindness and courtesy. " Mr. Dombrain, on behalf of the subscribers, tendered their thanks to Mr. Wilkinson, and expressed their regi-et that, owing to the increased duties devolving on him as General Manager of the Palace, they should not be brought into such close contact with him as formerly. Mr. Wilkinson acknowledged the gift in suitable terms. A few weeks ago some specimens were sent to us of Camellias, which very unaccountably lost their leaves. As it seemed possible that something might be made out of the case if we had an opportunity of watching how one of the plants which had a pretty good root might go on if re-potted, the attempt was made ; but the remaining leaves fell, no fresh roots were made, and as the plant was evidently slowly dying, we thought it well to examine its condition before death had made the several parts undistinguishable. Accordingly on making a section we found that in con- sequence of death of the portion of the wood of the stock in contact with that of the graft, disease had extended downwards, quite sufficiently to account for the unhealthy state of the plant. This adds confirmation to the views entertained by Mr. Andrew Murray, in a late communication to the Scientific Committee of the Horticultural Society, — a communication which well deserves the attention of all propagators. M. J, 1 The extreme Maximum Temperatures ; J the week ending June 24 ranged fro : Blackheath to 65° at Leeds, with a mean f( all stations of 68°.8, and in Scotland from 73° at Perth to 64° at Dundee, with a mean for the several stations of 67°.5. The extreme Minimum Temperatures ii England were 38° at Hull and 40°. 9 at Wolverhampton, and in Scotland were 39" at Edinburgh, 39°. 5 a Paisley, and 40° at Dundee and Perth: the means for the two countries being, for England 43°. 9, and for Scotland 4i°.8. Mean Temperatures.— 58" Portsmouth, and 56°.2 at Blackheath, were the chief of these values recorded in England, and 54°.9 a Greenock, and 53°.9 at Perth were the chief in Scot land, the means for tlie two countries being 54°. i and 51°. 9 respectively for England and Scotland. The Rainfall in some parts of England was very heavy during the week, and thunderstorms, accrimpanied by vivid lightning, occurred at most of the stations, particu- larly those in the midland counties. Wolverhampton is credited with the largest fall at any of the stations, viz., 2. II inches, Birmingham and Salford being next with a fall of 1.74 inch at both places. In Scotland, where the mean for all stations was 0.38 inch, the largest falls took place at Glasgow (with 0.76 inch) and at Perth (o. 73 inch). The mean for all stations in England was 1.37 inch. (See Mr. Glaisher's Tables in our present issue. ) The second annual exhibition of the Metro- politan Floral Society will be held at the Crystal Palace on August 24 and 25, when prizes to the amount of /■170 will be given. Schedules are being prepared, and may be had on application to the Hon. Sec, the Rev. H. HoNYWooD Dombrain, Westwell Vicarage, Ashford, Kent. We give the following statement, attributing a Fungoid Origin to Whooping Cough, and which appeared in the Nezo York Tribune, for what it is worth : — "Dr. Letzerich, the pathologist, who some time ago published his observations on a Fungus, supposed by him to produce diphtheria, has more recently made a series of experiments with another form of fungoid growth, which he believes to be the cause of the very infectious disease, whooping-cough. The spores found in the expectorated mucus, causing the irritation and coughing, were allowed to vegetate into large masses, and small portions were then introduced into young rabbits by an opening in the windpipe. The wounds thus made soon healed, but the animal became affected with a violent cough. Several animals thus diseased were killed, and the air-passages in each were found to contain very large quantities of similar Fungus. These observations, so important to the .advo- cates of the germ theory, have not, as yet, been confirmed by other investigators in the same field." Mr. Tillery records in the "Florist and Pomologist " an interesting cross between Rhododen- dron Aucklandii and the Veitch's Stella Azalea, Stella being the female parent. The pollen from the short anthers of Aucklandii was used in effecting the cross. The young plants from seeds so produced are now growing vigorously, and are expected to flower next year. At present all the difference visible is that they are stronger in growth and with larger foliage than that of other young seedling Azaleas sown at the same time. Stella was selected for experiment in this case, on account of its being a very strong-growing variety and of fine habit. Africa appears to be capable of supplying the wants of all our Paper-makers, since it furnishes, besides the Esparto-grass and the bark of the Adansonia, a fibre-producing plant called Diss-grass, which, though difficult to work and not so valuable as the rather more than that of Esparto, as each leaf is picked separately, and its manufacture into paper is i difficult and expensive, the texture of the fibre varying in different parts of the leaf, one portion of which tains some yellowish wax or resin, extremely difficult to kill, and almost impossible to detect till it is dis covered on the hot rollers and the paper is spoilt The rivers of South Africa are in many places choked with a plant known as the Palmete, a kind of large rush, 8 or 10 feet in height, of which large quantities can be obtained, and which in all probability will be found of use in the fabrication of ropes and paper. New Garden Plants Icnge petiolato- Masdevallia attenuata, Affinis Masdcvallix floribundse Lindl. Fol attenuatis lineari-ligulatis acutis (.-ipice s tridentato), pedunculofi bene excedentibus ; pedun, bractea vaginata ovarium pedicellatum longe nor memo .angulato, cupula subcylindracea : sepalorum a triangula basi caudata, caudis carnosuli petalis supra basin unguiculatam antic acutis uninerviis ; labello ligulato ant; carinis depressis a basi in discum anticum lOi m lineas callosas subparallelas excurrentibus ; coiumna apice postice in dentem retusum extensa, utrinquc juxta antheram rotundata. A small-flowered little plant, with whitish flowers, having orange-yellow tails, and a greenish hue on the white of the flower. The petals are white, with a green middle nerve. The column is greenish. The lip yellow, with an orange-coloured base and apex. It is one of the recent introductions from Costa Rica, obtained by Messrs. Veitch. We must state a very surprising fact, viz., that our wild flowers are quite even inside, while the fresh ones have a very thin but quite obvious cover of velvet inside. We should not have been astonished so much if the dry flowers had been scabrous, the fresh ones quite glabrous, for we have observed that very often, and particularly in Masdevallias. H. G. Rchb. fil. Oncidium cucullatum Dayanum, «. var. I have lately obtained this lovely variety from J. Day, Esq. It has quite white flowers, with beautiful violet blotches on the sepals and petals, and on the inferior part of the lip. Thus it becomes, indeed, much like Oncidium Phatenopsis. That, however, is widely distinct by the three long reeds at the base of the lip. It appears to be very rare. H. G. Rchb. fil. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF A FLOWERING PLANT . [The following is a report of Dyer's course of lectures on '" J Flowering Plant," in the theatre Science, Stephen's Green, Du'olin.J In the course of his remarks uu "The Root, lecturer said : — The transition from the consideration of the leaves to the root of a plant is less abrupt than it ap pears at first sight. Foliage is spread abroad int( the atmosphere so as to bring the largest possibh plant-surface into contact with it ; the leaves are feed ing organs, and their food is taken hold of in tht gaseous form. The roots are also widely spread, and expose in their aggregate a considerable surface, though not all equally absorbent : they are, in fact, another feed- ing system, complementary to that formed by the leaves. The two are joined together by the axis, or main stem, which breaks up, therefore, above and below, into ramifications terminating in parts specially adapted to collect plant food from the different media in which they are placed. External circumstances have given each their special character. A somewhat perverse experiment made by Duhamel, an industrious investi- gator of plant life, will illustrate this. He bent down the stem of a young Willow, and buried the crown ol branches in the ground ; the branches ceased to pro- duce leaf-buds, but developed rootlets. Willows are ious of life ; the internal resources of the young supplied for a time the want of leaves. Finally, Duhamel disinterred the original roots and elevated them into the air, the inversion became com- plete, and they bore buds and leaves. All plants are not quite so complaisant as this ; but the great majority of them will develope from fragments of the stem, more rarely from fragments of the root, the parts needed to make the plant complete. It is a great part of the art of the gardener to make use of this interchangeableness to multiply plants which it may not be convenient or possible to raise from seed ; not that the process can always be effected in the same way : individual peculiarities of constitution intervene, and various artifices have to be employed to get a suc- cessful result. As a general rule, cuttings root with less facility in proportion as the stems they are taken from are hard-wooded and old ; the vitality of such portions is less active. Plants which are propagated on large scale for sale are often made to produce, by posing to heat while diminishing the light, a number of young shoots which can be easily rooted. The study of plant life is a science, while the practice of horticul- involving no very recondite scientific prin- within which the formation of new cells takes place. The tip of every rootlet has this growing point pro- tected by a kind of cap, which is continually abraded and renewed, but which is easily to be seen in many water plants, such as Duckweed. The newest parts of the roots are covered with delicate hairs, formed by tubu- lar prolongations of the cells forming the surface ; these become inserted between the smallest particles of the soil, and are bathed by any matter in solution it contains. This, consequently, passes by absorp- tion into their interior, and, by a repetition of the process, from one cell to another. Generally grow unless a plant has 5 not universally true, as the colourless protoplasm of the root cells can nourish itself on nutrient material already stored up in the plant, and in plants the result of nutrition is growth. The points of growing rootlets once destroy^, they will not grow again, but new rootlets have to be formed ; this is the cause of the shock plants sustain when they are transplanted, and of the often irreparable injury a plant sustains from having its supply of water neglected. A great deal has been stated as to the direction of plant growth ; one observer thought all roots were directed by centripetal force towards the earth's centre. The true explanation would seem to be that roots travel in the direction where they can feed most easily. It is easy to see this in the case of the hedgerow timber of cultivated fields. The roots of an Ash have been found running beneath the well fed surface for 95 feet ; in the same way they will develope enormously in water-pipes and drains. The roots of an Elder stopped up completely the 6-inch main of the Berwick waterworks. Roots, it must also be remem- bered, are organs of support. The habit of taking a deep hold upon the ground will, of necessity, be impressed upon them ; and this will operate dis- advantageously in the end, if, as sometimes happens, they strike down too vigorously into a bad soil. Fruit trees, which are to have their roots kept superficial, so as to be well fed, must, as a conse- quence, be grown of small size. The extent of feeding ground occupied by roots is very great. In a tree, it far exceeds the spread of the branches. Schubert traced the roots of Wheat to a depth of 7 feet. The of air to roots has been found essential to their health. Trees, the roots of which are too deeply buried when any change is made in the surface of the ground, are apt to die in consequence ; and, when trees are planted in towns, a space should be left un- paved immediately round them, which will allow them be watered in very dry weather. While the leaves are the means by which carbon is intro- j r T, r Tf , duced into the plant, it is by the root that second of f'rofessor fhiselton ,,„ ,1 , f V -, r . . "The Natural History of a '"^ °'"<^'' elements of Its food are secured, of the Royal College of These are dissolved, as saline and mostly highly substances in the water which per- form they pass by , . , . I the roots ; thence, by means to be traced hereafter, they are transferred to the upper parts of the plant. In the leaves the excess of water is got rid of by exhalation. Hales found that a Sunflower with a leaf surface of 39 square feet exhaled 22 ounces of water in 24 hours ; and in the Pea every 100,000 grains of water which passes through the plant carries about 40 grains of solid matter with it. The sulphur, phosphorus, and nitrogen contained in these matters are, in the leaves, torn from the oxygen with which they are combined. But the disposition of the plant food would again be treated of in the next lecture. better-known Esparto, can yet be obtained in such I ciple: quantities and at such a price as will render it a useful amoi luxury. The dwarf Palm can be obtained in almost destructive friction which would otherwise be involved, any quantity in Algeria, but the cost of collection is ' confines the growth of roots to their extremities, just but requirmg often in their application : of skill and ingenuity. The immense < oxidised meates purely physical pri EARLY PEACHES IN ORCHARD HOUSES. Though the season is too little advanced to speak decidedly on early Peaches in unhealed orchard, houses, and, in spite of the heavy rain which has been falling lately, I cannot refrain from expressing my admiration for that most valuable Peach, Early Rivers. Well did my friend know its value when he adopted it by his ovra name. I have now some half-a- dozen trees of each of his earliest seedlings, and among these— up to this— there is none I like so well as Early Rivers. It has all the merits a Peach should possess ; it is fragrant, juicy, early, and prolific. It was raised from the Early Silver Peach, which with me is delicious, but not a first-early, rather a second- early, and which was itself raised from the white Nectarine. Any one purchasing Early Rivers should note that it has large flowers and kidney glands, and is not very liable to mildew. This adverse season it has actually ripened on the 1 5th of the present month, on a diagonal cordon against the back wall. In 1869 it ripened on July I, and in 1870 on the loth, so that this is an enormous advance. Accustomed as I am to see my fi-uits advance, from 10 to 20 days in 10 years or so, this is considerably more. The fruits are not so large as last season, there being too many on the trees. "Thus, in an unheated house, we have Peaches at a time when they are half-a-crown each at Covent Garden, and, as to Algiers, there are not generally any early in the Paris market in the very best of seasons, 1869 Early Beatrice ripened here on June 12, but the tree subsequently died, this was an abnormal case. It is, however, quite coloured, but small, and not ripe this season yet. At Sawbridgeworth, Early Rivers is ripe at alxmt the middle of July, so that here re just one month in advance. Has any one ever July I, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 835 ripened Early lieatrice as early as the 12th, and Early Rivers as early as June 15, in an unhealed house before this ? If any one could witness our generally late and cold springs, he would be speedily disabused of the fallacy that our climate is the sole cause of early ripening. Cornwall sends Potatos, Strawberries, and Rhubarb to the London markets quite as early as do the Channel Islands. Though our winters are comparatively mild, they are often severe, and always stormy and damp, while our springs are notoriously late. To what, then, is this early ripening of this Peach due? I answer ■ivithout hesitation, after a longer experience than any man in England or in these islands in pure cordon training, that it is due chiefly to the peculiar advantages of the diagonal cordon on the back wall of a solid lean-to orchard-house. These houses are more than a week earlier than the span-roofed. The diagonal cordon is so easy to train and expose to the sun's rays, and the roots are so naturally restrained, that a just balance is established between root action and the parts in bearing which is eminently favourable for fruit culture. Thin out rigorously, water freely, and no other system of training can surpass — I think excel is the right word — the diagonal cordon. I may add here, that Early Louise presents a very fine appearance, and is colouring freely. My half dozen trees of this sort are all very well cropped. It is a prolific variety evidently. Early Leopold seems a second early at present. Rivers' Early York will be an acquisition, for, side by side with Eariy York, while the last is slightly mil- dewed the seedling is perfectly free from it. On the whole it bids fair to be a good sea- son under glass, but on the walls we hear many complaints. 77;. C. Brchaut, Kich- vtond Hoitse, Giternse^'^ jFujie 17. Nearly all the species I encountered are erect, or more or less spreading shrubs, from i to 2, or 24 feet high, with the exception of one species, which forms a pendulous bush, with slender branches, 4 to 6 feet long. Most of the species of Loranthus, and also the single species of Viscura I met with, were growing on the lower or higher, or even on the top branches of ever- green trees, less often on trees with deciduous leaves ; but a few of the most brilliantly flowering species 1 encountered in the burning and treeless coast region, gi-owing at the base of small low shrubs of Barlerias and Sidas, very much in the same manner as Cytinus hypocistus occurs on Cistuses in the sandy plains of Portugal. Sometimes in the hot littoral region, a beautiful Loranthus is met with, growing, not at the base, but on the middle branches, or even on the main stem of low slender twiggy shrubs ; and in such instances the natural combi- nation of the bright green and broad-leaved parasite and its gay crimson flowers with the more tender and differently shaped foliage of the foster plant, forms one of the most striking features of parasitic vegetation along the sea coast of Benguella and Mossamedes ; so in one instance I was most agreeably surprised to find a small bush of Gossypium microcarpum, only between 2 and 3 feet high, bearing several stems of a pink- flowered Loranthus, nearly a foot long, on its slender branches : whilst on another occasion I met with several low shrubs of the intensely glaucous Tamarix articulata, DARLINGTONIA. One of the plants which attracted most attention at Nottingham, was the smgular Darlingtonia exhibited by Messrs. Veitch. This plant is a native of California, where it was recently met with by Mr. Robinson, who communicated an account of it to the Linnean Society a short time since. The plant had, however, been previously well known to botanists, and had indeed been exhibited by Messrs. Veitch at the Royal Horticultural Society. It is a near ally of the Sarracenias, but differs in several technical points, and amongst others in the singular tails which spring from the mouth of the pitcher. The floral conformation is like that of the Sarracenia, but the stigmas are compa- ratively Email, and do not present the large umbrella-shaped expansion so characteristic of the Sarracenias. Moreover, as lately pointed out by M. A. De CandoUe, the five lobes of the ovary alternate with the sepals, instead of being placed opposite them. We have not ourselves yet had the opportunity of verifying this statement, of the correctness of which, however, we entertain no doubt. The leaves of this plant are 12 — iS inches long, tubular, twisted, veined, of a dull reddish colour above, and curved at the apex into a hood, from which proceed the two curious processes before alluded to. The flowers are borne singly at the end of a long stalk, and are bent do\vnwards, each one about 2 inches across. The sepals are greenish-yellow, the petals purple. The stamens are 15 — 20 in number, the ovary is 5-lobed. It is one of the most interesting plants in cultivation, and, as it naturally grows in damp places, exposed to extreme cold, or extreme heat, according to the season, it would hardly seem to need the coddling treatment to which it is sometimes subjected in this country. Tarchonanthus. The forest trees most frequently in- habited by Loranthuses are the Adansonias, several of the larger trees ofthe orders of Mimosere, Combretaceae, Sterculiace^e, and Sapindacese, as well as most of the different Fig trees, whilst in the southern parts of Ben- guella, and near Cabo Negro, many beautiful Loran- thus may be observed on the Tamarix articulata ; on the contrary, I seldom or never saw a Loranthaceous parasite on trees belonging to the orders Anonacese, Hypericaceai, Zanthoxylece, and Euphorbiacece, although every one of these orders is rather copiously represented by large and mostly evergreen trees in the woods of the Angolan highlands ; but I have frequently seen some scarlet flowering Loranthuses investing introduced trees of Citrus Aurantium and Citrus Limonum, and also those of Ficus Carica : and it seems to me that this curious parasite unmigrates with a kind of predilection from the original habitation to the neighbouring fruit trees, for on one occasion I saw a whole orchard of Orange trees invaded with a blood- red flowering Loranthus, and in another instance I met with a plantation of Fig trees (Ficus Carica), most of them covered not with Figs but with a grey-leaved Loranthus, with yellow flowers. It seems also that the quality of the sap or juice of a tree exercises little or no influence upon the vegetation of Loranthacea;, for in several instances I found one and the same species growing, equally vigorously, on Adansonia, which has a watery juice, and at another time on Fig trees, of which the sap is milky and glutinous. These two latter circumstances seem to hint at the probability and perhaps even facility of the future culture of these pretty parasites in European gardens, wherein such an introduction would vary the rather weary- ing "Pelargonism" and "Orchidism," or, at any rate, these plants would be contrasted with manynew and graceful forms and strange- looking productions of the tropical zone, never yet seen in a living state in Europe, and until now only admired and praised by THE LORANTHACE^ OF ANGOLA. [The Sci cultural Society.] The singular beauty and richness of the gay- coloured flowers of the numerous species of Loranthus, which enhance in so considerable a degree the variety and charm of tropical forests, is noticed and acknow- ledged by every attentive traveller in the torrid zone ; and the introduction and culture of these interesting para- sites form worthy objects of attainment by skilful and persevering horticulturists. I beg, therefore, to offer some brief observations on the occurrence and distribu- tion of the species of this order in south-west tropical Africa, and to add a hint to encourage, and perhaps to facilitate, their future introduction into Europe. During my travels in Angola I collected about 30 species of Loranthus, but only one species of Viscum. The number of species, and also that of individuals of the same species, I found to increase progressively from the sea-coast towards the highlands of the more distant inner regions, and to culminate in the mountainous forests of the districts of Pungo Andongo and Huilla, at an elevation of between 4000 and 5000 feet above the sea. DARLINGTONIA CALIFORNICA. of which nearly every main branch was adorned by dense patches of a pretty Loranthus, with splendid yellow flowers. The greater number of the Angolan Loranthus glitter with flowers of a more or less pink or scarlet hue, but about half-a-dozen of the species are adorned with golden or orange-coloured blossoms, and nearly all the species are exceedingly free flowering. The principal flowering season of the Loranthaceje coincides in Angola with the spring, that is, from September till November, but many of the finest species continue their blooming almost during the whole summer, when they may be found not unfrequently covered with ripe fruits at the base while they are still in full bloom at the top of one and the same branch of the respective foster tree. The yellow-flowered kinds, however, seem to begin their season much later, for I met with several golden-blooming species in the months of June and July, which time in Angola is the very middle of the dry and chilly winter season. All the species have fleshy and rather broad leaves, which, however, vary considerably in colour, being on some species of a dark shining green, in others glaucous green, and, in a few species, they are covered with a greyish tomentum. Although some few species evince a decided predilection for particular species of trees, I not unfrequently found the same species of Loranthus growing on trees pertaining to very different species, genera, or even orders of plants ; but the pendulous species of Loranthus I observed exclusivelyon species of Ficus, whilst the Viscum I found constantly growing on an arborescent Composite, a species of THE AMATEUR GARDENER. ' The Strawberry.- — The amazing difference which often appears at this season between the Strawberry beds of one gardener and another, and even between two beds in the same garden, is matter of notoriety, and leads to inquiry as to the cause. We want to know how it is that one man has such a profusion of fniit, while another is disap- pointed and vexed by the scantiness of his crops ; and while, in some instances, there may be reasons of an apparently arbitrary kind, which even science cannot discover, the cause which produces such diverse results are sufficiently patent. Sometimes half the plants in a bed may be barren, and if the WW cultivator lets them remain, in the hope that next year the loss will be made up by increased fruitfulness, he may again be dis- appointed. Our own method of guarding against this, is at once to pull up every barren plant, and to take fresh runners only from those which have borne well. We have generally found this plan effectual, though not to the extent of making every plant in a row prolific. Three years ago we had a new bed of Underhill's Sir Harry, and only three of the plants bore fruit. We took eariy shoots from these, and tlie next year they all bore as well as their parent Some gi-owers lay stress on the second or third shoot in a runner, but we always take the first. It is a common practice to let the runners root as they will, and in the autumn to take up promiscuously as many plants as are wanted for new beds ; but this is a careless mode of proceeding. We are now getting shoots rooted as fast as we can, and we remove them, imme- diately they are ready, to a nursery bed, where, in about six weeks, they are fit to be planted out where they are to remain. They have thus four or five months to perfect their growth, and will be finishing plants next year. A whole season is thus saved. As soon as a runner has a plant at its terminus, we peg it down or confine it in a fixed position by a stone or oyster-shell ; the latter is the best, because the white shell indicates the place in the path where the runners are, and in gathering the fruit they need not be dis- turbed. The runner is prevented from growing any further, and all the possible strength is thrown into the young offset. We hope to have our new beds filled in this way by the first week in August. There is a great temptation to allow too little room for growing Strawberries, but it should be resisted, and not less than 4 square feet should be given to each plant. This will seem too much when the plants are young, but, by the second year, when they will be in their perfection, it will be found not to be too much. In some cases we allow runners to root as they please the third year, and the year following dig up the bed as soon as the fruit is gathered and sufficient offsets secured for a new plantation. The soil should be rich, and deeply dug before planting, after which there should be only a surface stirring, as disturbance of the The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. rjuly I, 1S71. rools is lo be avoided. We find the barbarous custom is not yet obsolete of cutting oiT all the foliage of Strawberry beds in the autumn. If there were no other objection to this, it would be sufficient that the crowns of the plants are thus deprived of their natural protec- tion during the wmter, and barren plants will be vety common. If all runners are removed as they grow, the plants will need very little trimming up. The old leaves will gradually die away as the young foliage advances in the spring, until all marks of decay will be gradually obliterated. A thin layer of short rotten manure, such as an old Cucumber bed furnishes, should be spread over the plants in the late autumn, and worked among the leaves with the fork. We place the same in the alleys also, and, if the proper kind of dung is selected, it will, when the time of fruiting arrives, be found suffi- cient to keep the fruit clean. In the very heavy rains we have had in the last fortnight, the fmit lying on this stratum has seldom been soiled. There are many contrivances to secure the same object, but we know no better one than this. The fruit may be forwarded in the ripening by tiles or slates placed under it. Slates, about 5 inches wide, put in a row on each side of the plant, make a tidy and effectual protection from the splashings of the rain in wet weather. We will say little about tlie sorts of Strawberries which best repay cultivation, for they are very numerous, and the best plan is for a grower to visit the beds of his friends when fruiting, and make his own selection. More things have to be considered than the kinds of fruit, some kinds having a more compact and dwarf habit, which makes them more suitable for small gardens. We have been for some years contented with Keens' Seedling, British Queen, Underhill's Sir Harry, and a late Pine, of which we have forgotten the name. We must not omit to mention that Strawberries olten do well along garden edges, and when so planted the fruit is easily gathered, //. B. lome Comspnknce. The Condition of the Peach and Nectarine Trees.— I fear the statement made in your leading article at p. 770 is but too true of the above trees out- of-doors. Such as I have seen and heard of are in a miserable condition, some describing their trees as in a moribund state, and others as in the condition described by Mr. Barnes, namely, "blistered, covered with green aphis, and spiders." None of this is the case here out-of-doors. I live on the apex of the parish, wholly open for miles to the south and south- west, unprotected towards the east, and with only a low, 5, 6, or 7 feet brick wall to keep off the west wind, and the north wind, which latter comes from the Wiltshire hills some 20 miles off, with nothing but here and there an Elm tree to defend my trees. The winter here was Siberian, and the spring very severe, but I had not to cut from 112 of the above trees more damaged wood than would amount to I foot. This arises mainly from being a short-pruner in summer. I have seen long-pruned trees this spring with as much dead as living wood. The crops of Peaches and Nectarines are excellent on south walls, very good on the west walls, but, with four or five exceptions, bad on the east walls, owing to the severe May frosts, accompanied by the biting east or north-east wind. The trees are all in most vigorous health, the foliage is free from blister, curl, aphides, and red spiders ; it is as good as could be desired. Between 600 and 700 people have been here in the last ten days, chiefly to see the Roses, and amongst them several gentlemen's gardeners. To them the Peach and Nectarine trees were the great attraction, and subject of astonishment. Their account of their trees put me in mind of Milton's lazar-house — ' ' Dives' oft the tossings, deep the groans, Despair the sick doth tend." Tliere is no wonder connected with it. I look after them myself all the year round, and I will not suffer severe winter or spring, red spiders, or aphides to blister, curl, or afflict my trees. The miserable state of the Peach and Nectarine trees out-of-doors in England is a disgrace to science, and the result of neglect and gross ignorance. I hope some of the readers of this article will come and review my -trees. iV. F. Kadclyjfe, Okeford Filzpaine, Blandford. Marechal Niel Rose. — In the Belfast Botanic Gardens I saw a sample of this Rose under very good culture. It was growing in a square tub at one end of a show house, and was trained under the glass for a considerable distance. During the time of my visit at the first North of Ireland Flower Show, held in the gardens in May (not the first show of the year, but the first show of the kind held in May in these parts), the roof was literally covered with flowers. There could not be less than a couple of hundred expanded at one time, and you would require at least to multiply that by two to get at the sum total of the blooms at that period. The Lord-I.ieutcnaiu and party formally opened the show, and the Countess Spencer was so delighted with the "Marechal," that a bouquet of the flowers was presented to her. My principal object in notifying this is to state that the Rose had been budded on the Brier, and, not contented with the food supplies which that stock sent up, had taken root itself, and quite eclipsed in time its foster parent. One might judge from this it would do best on its own roots, but Mr. Johnson, the curator, observed that it seemed to prefer the help of the Brier stock in its younger stages, and that by earthing it up past the junction of stock and scion it would set away roots for supplies on its own account. The Manetti does not seem a good stock for ill ; it would soon die were it forced to live upon the resources which that stock can supply, and it would seem that tlie proper way to grow it well is to treat it as Mr. Johnson has done. The pale yellow shade of colour is not shown to advantage against "blinded" glass of the ordinary character. It would be better, therefore, to have a screen of, say, light blue, which is an agreeable eye colour against bright white. This would, in such a case as that we have described, exhibit its beauties to much greater perfection. It is really a grand Rose, seen under such culture as I saw it. I know there are a few other places where it has been equally well done, even in Ireland, but your readers generally may be none the worse of hearing of this particular case, and some of them may profit by the information given. Jas. Ajidcrson. Watson's Lawn Sand. — I think few can any conception of the wonderful effect that takes place after a dressing of this sand on a bad law When I say bad, I mean that the lawn contains every sort of weed and bad varieties of grass, for such was the one here, with the exception of about 2 acres, until I obtained Watson's lawn sand. Being some- what doubtful of the effect, from the flowing de- scription given in a circular sent, I only tried the smallest quantity sent out by the vendor, namely, 36 lb., the result being as follows :— I selected a place in the middle of the lawn where the grass was as bad as it was almost possible to be, giving it a dressing at the rate of 4 oz. to the square yard ; and at the first appearance everything seemed to have been burned, the grass becoming brown while the weather kept dry ; but as soon as rain came everything seemed to change, the coarse grass and Daisies giving way to grass of a far finer character. Clover also making its appearance ; and although the whole of the Daisies did not dis- appear after the first dressing, yet, after applying about 2 oz. more to the square yard, they did so — the result being so highly satisfactory that I have used 6 cwt. of it, and we have now as fine a lawn of grass as could possibly be wished for as far as the dressing has been used, but where none has been used it is nothing but moss and filth of almost every description. James SteumH, Belhfield House, Windermere. le impri dered t Viola cornuta Perfection.— Permit me to say that I have giown this plant to perfection for three years past. I have now a " star " bed with a 3 feet band of Violas, which are a complete mass of bloom. One can hardly put a finger between the blooms with- out touching them. It is undoubtedly a first-class bedding plant, and I shall be happy to .show my flowers to any person who may be making a ' ' pilgrim- age " to the quaint old church of pious George Herbert, only a few yards distant. E. Lampard, Gr. to Km. W. P. Pigoll, Bemerton, Salisburv. Buds below the Seed-leaves. — These are pro- duced very quickly in the common Pimpernel — Ana- gallis arvensis. When the top of the young stem with the cotyledons is cut off, minute protuberances arise on the sides of what was before the smooth and naked stem, and from ' these issue buds with leaves. In seedlings of Dodecatheon Meadia, I find that th< cotyledons remain for a considerable time fully ex- panded without the least trace of a bud showing itself in the axil ; but at length a bud breaks forth througli a longitudinal cleft in the apparent stem, just above where the radicle enters the earth : in this case, which is quite different from that of the Anagallis, the which supports the cotyledons may be only their united prolonged bases, in which the bud is immersed, as it i in some American Composite-, which expand tliei cotyledons above the surface of the earth supported upon an apparent stem, which is, however, tubular, and the bud really arises from a point below the surface of the ground, and pushes its leaves up through the axil. iV. Mitten, Htirstpierpoint, June 27. Pear Grafted on Apple.— M. Carritre's state- ment respecting the Pear growing on the Apple is quite correct. Last summer, while buddmg some young seedling Apples, the thought occurred to me. Why should not the Pear grow on the Apple ? I then inserted two buds, viz., Marie Louise and Fondante d'Automne, on the Apple, both of which are growing vigorously. This season I intend carrying the experi- ment into a wider field. Last spring I grafted a St. Michael's and Blood Oval Oranges on seedling Shad- docks, to see what influence the stock will have on the scion. The foliage is looking remarkably healthy. A. Hossack, Ashburnham Place, Battle. Ivy. — Allow me to add a word to the testimony of " H. B." at p. 772. Ivy does harm to growing timber. I cut down some large Larch this spring, some of which were tightly compressed in folds or coils of strong Ivy, and the boles of the Larch could not swell. When sawn, the grain of the Larch was remarkably close and fine — like pitch Pine, while that of trees free from Ivy was coarse. This, I conceive, would arise partly from compression of the Ivy not permitting the bole of the tree to enlarge itself, partly, perhaps, from robbeiy of nutriment at the roots of the Larch by the roots of Ivy. Ivy does good and not harm to good walls— adds to their dryness. Mem. It must be a good wall to be entrusted with Ivy upon it. My old vicarage barn gable was covered with Ivy of a century's growth. On re-roofing the barn I found the gable leaned over inwards so much that it was necessary to rebuild it. We could not understand why the gable had got out of the perpendicular in this way, till we discovered the roots of the Ivy had got into the wall, and, as it were, wedged up the stone-work. The mortar was very bad. The roots had not come through the wall, or the lift would have been uniform throughout. Some 25 years ago we had an archdeacon who was under the i sion that Ivy injured all walls, and : churchwardens everywhere to remove Ivy from our old Norman church towers around. As the walls are 6 and S feet thick, and the mortar like adamant, the Ivy could do no harm, and we have lost a very pictur- esque feature of our neighbourhood. W. M, R., Bishop's Castle Vicarage, Salop. Phormium Flowering. — Two years ago I flowered in my nurseries the Pliormium tenax fol. aureo-mar- ginatis, a fine plant, with a stem of about 4 yards high, and with many flower-spikes, but which did not give me any seed. I kept the plant all the time indoors, in a well-aired cool span-roofed house shaded with laths. This year the Phormium Colensoi fol. argenteo marginatis, is about to flower. The stem is up- wards of I \ yard high. It is a fine plant, very healthy, and at present is kept in a span-roofed house devoted cool Palms, as Latania borbonica, Corypha australis, Chama'rops Fortunei, Phoenix reclinata sp. P. de G., Steenbaugge. The Setting of Grapes. — Within the whole range of horticulture nothing can be of more import than the proper setting of Grapes. Mostly setting freely of them- selves, at times a failure occurs that ruins the crop. I regret that amid those experimented upon (see p. 737) two of the most irregular setters are omitted. These are. Lady Downe's, in certain places ; West's St. Peter's, now and then, and especially the Canon Hall Muscat. Should an opportunity offer, perhaps, the latter especially will be subjected to careful examina- The most striking and, at the same time, t provoking peculiarity about it is, that while w of the berries seem over-set, the majority not set at all. What I mean by over-setting lis— some berries, or parts of berries, have one more seeds abnormally developed, so much hat these seeds press against the rind of the y so forcibly as to induce premature decay. In these instances of excessive development the seeds are likewise unsound and of a darker colour than usual. The flesh of the berry also adheres to them, almost as tenaciously as the flesh of a clingstone Peach or Plum does to the stone. Moreover, the berries are frequently misformed, bulged out of shape by the size of the seed. It is seldom that such berries have the usual number of seeds ; more frequently only one or two of such monstrous seeds are found. Can these malformed seeds be the result of compound fertilisa- tion, or is there any explanation of their origin? Again, is their unusual size the cause or product of their unsoundness? Also, why are they most fre- quently found on Vines that are shy setters, such as, pre-eminently, the Canon Hall Muscat, and the Dutch Wilmot's Hamburgh, which sets much less freely than the common Hamburgh ? There is another curious coincidence connected with these monstrous berries. It is this, that they are generally, if not always, found on the same bunch with unset and seedless berries. How often, for instance, are the bunches of Canon Hall Muscat Grapes seen with a few large berries like Golden Champion at their largest, only rounder, and all the other fruit on the bunch about the size of the Corinth or Currant Grapes ? It seems as if the large berries had absorbed all the seed-bearing power of the plant, and concentrated enough for all into one or two monstrous growths. Can there be such a thing as an intercommunion of seed-bearing force between different portions of the same bunch? Explain it as we may, the coincidence of abnormally large and small seedless berries on the same bunch is well nigh constant, and is perhaps most commonly seen in the Wilmot's Hamburgh and the Canon Hall Muscat varieties. But the abnormal growth of particular seeds is likewise common among Muscat of Alexandria. Wherever found it proves injurious to the quality of the Grape. I have scarcely ever met with an abnormally large seed without the quality of the fniit being lowered thereby ; the flesh is coarse, or incipient decay is set in, and, as already stated, these big seeds are mostly unsound. There are exceptions, however, to this. But there is another peculiarity about large seeds of Grapes, which is constant as far as my experience goes. They are scarcely ever found in their right position. Of course it may be held, that their size must needs throw them out of place ; but their displacement is greater than can be thus accounted for. It almost seems as if the displacement were the cause of their extraordinary development, rather than that July I, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 837 their mere size was the reason of the altered position. It would be interesting to inquire into the effect of a change in the position of seeds or stones in reference to external influences upon their size and quality. Would the mere bringing of them out from the centre of the fruit and placing them close to the rind affect the changes we find in misplaced seeds or stones? Are the instniments of change— external or internal accidents from without or vital alterations of structure springing forth from within, the offspring of external errors or injuries or the legitimate development of misformed or differently formed gemmules. These queries have an important practical bearing upon the setting of Grapes, for the variations of normal structure proceed from some latent power of variation implanted in vitality itseU : we may not alter them. But if not, greater knowledge, higher skill, especially of the mysteries of setting time, may enable us in future to prevent such freaks, and all others incident to that critical season of the plant's life. That is a most suggestive saying in your leader (P- 737)- 'hat the gardener wants the Grapes, not not the Vine itself. And doubtless this shy setting, or not setting, or setting a few berries only on a bunch, are a!I fair weapons given to the Vine by Nature to enable it to protect itself from our grasping greed and short-sighted improvidence. Probably a moderate crop is almost the best antidote to shy setting. David Tell Fact. [Among the causes of bad setting not men- tioned at p. 737 may be set down the following : the formation of a gummy substance on the stigma, and the presence of a small dipterous insect, which eats up the pollen which may gain access to the stigma. Eds.] When reading your leader on this subject, at P- 737. I w^ struck with the theory there laid down, viz., *' That syringing can at least do no harm " [under the particular circumstances alluded to], such being opposed to an opinion in which I felt to have been educated. It brought to my mind a fact which came under my notice some 16 years or more since : I was passing through a vinery with the gardener at the time of thinning, and, speaking of the tedious straight-jacket affair it was, he took me to another house, more forward, and on which little or no labour had been bestowed in that matter, at the same time remarking, "These I gave a good syringing at a certain stage of blooming, as is usual with me to do, and save the trouble of thinning. " Now the result here obtained would prove it a great risk, and probably the total failure of the crop, if syringing was the constant practice during the flowering period. I have always looked on a rainy time, when trees or flowers were blossoming, to be detrimental to a crop of fruit or seed ; and I am further reminded of boyhood days by hearing a fruit grower, of near fourscore years, say, after three or four rainy days at the time of Peaches, &c. , blossoming, *' Not much fruit this year; too much wet." jfosiah Blcomdif, Exeter Nursery\ Southampton, Bats. — My church is infested by these creatures. We never see them, but their droppings are swept up a quart measure at a time. How could I attack them with any hope of expelling or destroying them ? Could I fumigate them ? With what ? or how ? The roof where they lodge is very lofty. IV. M. R.^ BisJiofs Castle Vicarage, Salop. A Cool Orchid-house. — I now propose to lay before your readers a practical illustration of the home treatment of cool Orchids, by giving a short description of the cool house of which I have the charge, also the names of many of the plants grown The Odontoglossum house built on the north side of a wall nearly so. The house is a rather large 45 feet long, 10 feet wide, 9 feet high at the back, and 4 feet 6 inches in front. It is heated by four 3-inch pipes. They go along the front only, and there is no other pipe, flue, or anything of the kind in the house except this iSo feet of piping. The back table is 3 feet 6 inches in width. It is simply a pit filled with rubble, and finished with a presentable surface. The path comes next — 2 feet 6 inches wide ; the front table is 3 feet 10 inches wide. It is not carried close up to the wall in front, but a space of 2 inches in width is open all along the front for free circulation of warm air from the pipes below. Under this table and close to the pipes there are a number of shallow (cemented) water-tanks running the whole length of the house, and presenting a surface of about So square feet of water, thus insuring a con- stantly moist atmosphere in the house under all circum- stances. There are 18 ventilators, six of them opening on the pipes, and these last are opened a little when the outside temperature is 50°. More air is given as the outer temperature increases ; and, when it rises to 65°, not only all the ventilators, but the door also is opened, and an outer canvas door closed to break a rush of air, keep out insects, &c. The plants are care- fully shaded from the sun ; but, as both ends of the house are glazed down to the tables, and there are front sash-lights about 2 feet deep, they get plenty of light, and, owing to the position of the house, no shades are required from the third week in October to the second week in March, and it is during this time that the young leaves acquire the ruddy brown and Copper Beech colour mentioned by me at p. 677. Your readers will see from this rough description that his house very nearly agrees with Mr. Bateman's idea of a cool house, mentioned by Mr. Anderson at p. 741, and six years' experience convinces me that it is very nearly correct for the plants named below. The col- lection of Orchids grown in this house is a rather large one, numbering upwards of 550 plants, and more than 70 distinct species, 64 of which are here given, and about 100 plants have not yet bloomed. Allow me to add that, in the present letter, and in that given at p. 712, will be found much of the information asked for by ** G. H." at 615, when he desires to know "what this cool treatment really consists of ?" and I am sure it would be very interesting to many of your readers if he will tell us how many of this list he grows in the "stewpan." Galeottianum ;; grarainifoHum gtoriosum „ *iiiacranthum grande Hallli Lyc^tecruentr „ hastilabmm ., Deppei InsUayii :; fa„%"f „ Schllkriana " Lindleyanum „ Skinneri Barkeria Skinneri '!, membranaceura „ spectabilU ., Llndleyana ;; nebulosura LElia albida „ Pescatorci furfuracea „ Phalajnopsk „ majalis pulchellum „ *ramuIosum Cattleya citrina Nanodes Medusa „ ^ReichenheimU Epidendnim *erabescens " Rossii" Polys'tachia pubescens ;; •Schlimii „ grandiflora „ triumphans ,. violacea „ Uro-Skinneri Ma.\illaria venusta Disa grandiflora Those marked thus* have not bloomed. Ex-Cantab. The Past Winter. — I think we may safely con- sider all trees and shrubs that stood the past winter without protection as hardy. At this place there are a great number of Conifers which have been planted at different times within the last quarter of a century. With a few trifling exceptions they stood the past winter uninjured. The soil varies considerably. In some places it is a sandy or gravelly loam, resting on a gravelly subsoil ; and in others, a clay loam resting on a subsoil of strong retentive clay. The plants do well in all situations where the soil is not too light fir strong. They do remarkably well where there is a good depth of gravelly loam, and many of them are now beautiful specimens. The last three hot dry summers have been very favourable for ripening the wood. They have broken finely this season, and are now making splendid growths ; and most beautiful objects they are, the newly born foliage contrasts so strikingly with the old. The few that suffered a little were either too near other trees, or the soil a little too wet ; the injury done was trifling — a little browning of the foliage on a few of the branches. As it would take up too much space to give the names of all the kinds, I may mention that all the more ornamental and hardy kinds are planted, some by scores and others by hun- dreds. Other trees and shrubs have suffered little. Laurustinus, that in lS6o-6l was killed to the ground, was very little hurt. Berberises have stood well, with the exception of Wallichii, which seems very tender, it being much injured in every situation. Hares are very destructive to B. japonica ; indeed, it is scarcely worth planting where hares have access to it. I noticed among standard Roses one or two have had their heads killed, but the stocks are alive, and one has put out strong shoots. Fruit trees were not in the least injured by the frost of last winter. In 1S60 and 1S61 many a fine Peach tree was killed. One valuable lesson we may learn from the past, and that is, whatever we plant, or in what- ever situation we plant anything, to secure well ripened wood. If we do this, we have little to appre- hend from the severity of our ordinary winters ; but if we plant in such places, and under such conditions as cause late growths and succulent unripened wood, then we may expect serious injury from the first severe frost that sets in. Formerly Conifers were planted in confined, sheltered situations, which caused late growths and unripened wood, which the first severe frost in- variably injured. These matters are now better understood, but still there is always a desire to see trees grow away freely and vigorously, and sometimes people are tempted to plant in circumstances favourable to rapid strong growth : but as we cannot ensure fine hot weather always to ripen such growth, it is much better to be content with moderate growth, well matured. AT. Saul, Stourtou, Yorkshire. Grafted Potatos. — When last I \vrote to you upon this topic, I believed Potato grafting to be all " leather bottel ; " but I am neither afraid nor ashamed to con- fess that my views on the subject are now somewhat altered, and that experience has convinced me that changes are produced in the Potato by means of graft- ing, thus showing physical connection between the scion and the stock, but whether these changes are likely to prove beneficial or otherwise time alone can show. My conversion began when, last -August, I paid a visit to that persevering apostle of the Potato grafting theory, Mr. R. Fenn, of Woodstock, who pointed out to me such certain differences and divergences of character produced by grafting that I at once threw up the sponge and cried " peccavi." But Mr. Fenn meant that I should become well grounded in my new faith, and to this intent he sent hither to me, that I might grow them under my own eyes, some I2 tubers or so each of five grafted kinds that were originally worked in 1869, consequently this is the third year of trial- All the sets were large and plump, and very equal in started growth and appearance, and were planted in two lines side by side, so as to bring the respective kinds into close comparison. The kinds worked origin- ally were Fenn's Onwards, Yorkshire Hero, Milky White, and Fluke — several tubers of each of these kinds being also sent to make the test of growth and character more perfect. The whole were planted in the first week in May, and the notes taken of their growth on June 3 and 1 7 respectively will tell their own tale. I. Earliest in growth of grafted sets are Yorkshire Hero in Onwards, having Lapstone foliage a shade lighter than Yorkshire Hero ; through the ground as early as Onwards and several days before Hero. A further comparison on June 1 7 showed that the leafage of the grafted form was narrower and more pointed than that of the parent Hero. 2. Yorkshire Hero grafted into Fluke showed a growth about equal to Hero, and with no special divergence. 3. Onwards in Yorkshire Hero presents a marked change of character, as the growth on June 3 was not only several days behind Onwards, but on June 17 it is made apparent that the haulm is not only not more than one-half the height of the parent, but also that it is very short-jointed, leafage about the same. 4. Milky White, grafted into Yorkshire Hero on June 3, was ingrowth a few days behind Milky White ; another comparison on June 1 7 shows that the leafage is smaller than is that of Milky White, and that the haulm in its growth exhibits that upright character so peculiar to the Lapstone tribe. 5. Milky White, grafted into Fluke June 3, about even in growth with the Fluke. June 17 showed haulm less robust than either parent, and having an intermediate shade of green also. These are my latest observations, and I doubt if I shall find any other special peculiarities until the time of maturation arrives. Any differences that may be observable m the tubers shall also be carefully noted. Alex. Dean, Bedfont. Horticultural Boilers. — Many of your readers have been misled by the expression, turning the flow into the return, and vice vcrsd. It will be seen on reference to the sketch accompanying Mr. Cannell's letter, that the pipe rising from the top of the boiler is (as it must always be) the flow in both cases, the only difference being, that in one case, that on the left hand side, the water rises to its highest point soon after leaving the boiler; on the other, the right hand side, it gradually rises to its highest point, and then descends quickly into the boiler by the return-pipe. I had a short and rather hurried conversation with Mr. Cannell at Woolwich, and quite agree with hun in what he says up to a certain point. He however, in my opinion, errs in the opposite extreme, and impedes the circulation nearly as much by making the water rise continuously through too many yards of pipe, as those do who make the highest point on the flow-pipe too near the boiler. The whole motive- power of water in a horticultural boiler is due to the difference of weight between equal volumes of water at different temperatures. As every one knows, water when heated is lighter than cold water, because under the action of heat it expands ; but it is not generally known that the difference in the rate of expansion is greater the nearer the water approaches the boiling point ; thus 1000 parts of water at boiling point when cooled 36°, or at a temperature of 176°, occupy only the bulk of 9S6 parts. When cooled 144° F. below boiling, or at 68°, these loco parts will have become 960 in bulk, that is, it is reduced ^, while losing 36° of heat, and -gin while losing the next IoS° of heat, the difference in contraction being twice as rapid during the loss of the first 36° as it is while losing the next 36°. Mr. Cannell is quite right, therefore, in saying it shows a quick circulation to have the flow and return pipes nearly equal in point of temperature, and the higher that temperature is main- tained the more perfect is the command that the boiler has over the system of water in circulation, though it is not practically so good for plants to have the temperature of pipes too high. Any person who has ever studied the laws of radiation of heat will know that Mr. Fish (p. 710) is wrong when he says that it is a proof of rapid circulation to find the return much colder than the flow. Heat radiates off equally in every direction, and under similar circumstances each foot of piping will radiate off the same amount of heat from the water in the pipes during equal periods of time. The rapidity with which the water flows through the pipes will not in any way affect the amount of radiation from the pipes, but the slower the motion through the pipes the colder the water mil be on its return to the boiler, because the iron pipes, acting as conductors of heat, have conducted so much more heat away from it in proportion to the time it has been in the pipes ; the only difference being, that it parts with its heat more rapidly the greater the difference between the heat of the water and the heat of the house in which the pipes are placed. The 838 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July I, 1871. reason, I think, Mr. Cannell has erred pipes continue to rise too far water to leave the boiler, we return at 120°, after passing through piping, it will have cooled 60°, or 1° on a every 5 feet of piping. The specific -Supposing the 180°, and to every 5 1 water hj: cted by ( .980 to .960, feet of ■rage for gravity of the 3, roughly at those that the tendency of the water at the last is not to rise but to fall back, and so impede the circulation. It is far better to make the pipes rise gradually till they reach a point half way of the total length of pipes, and then gradually to fall again till they reach the boiler. It is better to avoid confusion in the meaning of words, only to call the actual junctions at the top and bottom of the boiler the flow and the return, and to consider the rest of the pipes merely as so many yards of pipe to be heated, or to convey the heated water. Many persons make a great mistake in thinking that the pressure of water in the pipes has anything to do with the motive-power. The water in the old system of boiler and pijies is in a state of equilibrium or rest before the heat is applied by the fire at the boiler. When the heat is applied, the water in the boiler gradually expands and rises as its specific gravity becomes less, and colder water supplies its place below. " A Practical Hand," p. 712, is wrong -if he thinks, because the bottom of Mr. Cannell's boiler is hottest, that consequently the water there is hotter than the water at the top of the boiler, and that consequently its tendency would be to rise up the return. As water must rise when heated, and as the return is at the bottom, it cannot, after once it begins to rise in the boiler, find its way again into the return, but as it continues to rise so it acquires additional heat both by convection and also by direct conduction from the iron superficies of the boiler ; and will continue to acquire additional heat so long as the temperature of the heated air in the flues of the boiler is greater than that of the water. lam not going to say much on the merits or demerits of Mr, ell's bo : think nod but it does not seem in my mind to economise the heat which might be given to the outside of the boiler, and also in the drawings the Too many persons cons: boilers is heated by convection only, just as water is boiled in a kettle, or steam produced in a steam-boiler ; forgetting that the water in a horticultural boiler is always in a state of motion, that colder water comes in at the return and rises hotter through the flow, and during its passage through the boiler is continuously impinging on the iron sides of the boiler, and will obtain heat by direct conduction from the iron, whether that heat is transmitted by vertical or horizontal flues on the upper or under surface of the boiler ; in short, in whatever way you can heat the iron sides of the boiler, and the more thoroughly you can surround it with flues, the greater the saving of fuel, and the more thoroughly will the boiler do its work. Again, it ought to be borne in mind, that as the whole circulation in boilers depends on the difierence of the specific gravityof water, underdifferent temperatures, the motive- power is by no means great, so that no obstruction should be placed to circulation, by using small pipes as junctions to the boilers, or by sudden bends, such as going up and down under pathways, or again by run- ning long lengths of pipe continuously at the same level. Pipes do not vary in the measure of their capacity in the direct ratio as their diameter, or radius, but as the squares of their radius ; thus, a 4-inch pipe does not contain only twice as much water as a 2-inch, but four times as much water ; and if an inch pipe is used as a junction into the boiler, and 4-inch pipes used in the heating system, the water has to pass 16 times as quickly through the inch pipe as through the 4-inch. As a rule, whatever sized pipes are used to heat the houses, the same sizes ought to be used for all bends, junctions, &c., and no unnecessary impediment should he placed in the circulation. I do not know what Mr. Fish means when he says he is not prepared to give up specific gravity, which costs nothing, in favour of caloric, which Does Mr. 'Fish reflect that the differ- be produced without this imon mistake of confusing ,ce in specific gravity co istly caloric ? It is the Mo by the heat through the difference of specific g powers of he; ter pipes is caused :ific gravity, which : to the expansive leats most rapidly The boiler which heal t necessarily cool most rapidly ; tl secures the most perfect and rapid circulation, and in which the difierence between the heat of the flow and return is least, must be the best for night purposes, because, if (as Mr. Fish wishes to make out) a hot flow and a cold return is a proof of rapid circulation, the water when it returns to the boiler must be acted on by a very hot fire, if it is to be heated to this diflerence between flow and return during this its rapid transit through the boiler ; whereas if the circulation is good and the difl"e;ence between flow and return is small, less fire is required to bring the water again up to the heat it has lost, and the slighter the difierence between flow and return the better will be the boiler for night purposes. A boiler which can be heated quickly with full force of fire will keep up its heat best with a small amount, the great secret of success being to have a boiler large enough to work the pipes with a small amount of fuel. A cheap and small boiler is generally the most costly in the end. I suppose nearly every one has his pet boiler. I like Ormson's concentric and convoluted boilers when properly set, and one of the best cheap boilers is one which I have recently put up for a friend, and which does its work perfectly— Jones's " Double L" saddle boiler. The first boiler I ever set, I set on the principle which I now advocate, of making the highest point of the pipes half-way in the length of pipes ; I have set every boiler since on the same prin- ciple, always making the pipes rise gradually about 2 to 3 inches in 10 feet, sometimes more. I see nothing consequently very novel in Mr. Cannell's plan, except that of making the water rise up to the furthest point, which, as I have before tried to explain, is a mistake ; and in his sketch, unless he surrounds his boiler with a flue, he is wasting a great amount of heat from the external radiating surface of his boiler. C. P. Peach. A Visit to the Gardens of Manley Hall.— It was my good fortune to be in Manchester during the Whit-week exhibition, and hearing that the famed garden of S. Mendel, Esq., could be seen by any one connected with the profession, I availed myself of this opportunity to see what is undoubtedly one of the finest gardens in the three kingdoms ; and it occurred to me the few notes made during my visit might prove interesting to those who have not had the advantage of a personal inspection. In the first place there are 44 houses, with an area of 75,000 feet of glass. Entering the conservatory a charming sight meets the view, for here is what I consider the imu-idhl of what a con- servatory should be, — large ornamental-leaved plants, such as Araucarias, Tree Ferns, Aralias, Dracaenas, Yuccas, &c., are planted at intervals, and make a basis for the general arrangement. Between these are placed various flowering plants, which are brought from the other houses, and which are removed as their beauties fade. The adjoining house is called the stove fernery, and here a magnificent sight meets the view— deep rocky chasms and large boulders of rock, beautifully covered with Ferns and Lycopods in great variety, with water trickling over and about them, the whole relieved by Ferns of larger growth, which prevent it liaving too rough or rugged an appearance, altogether quite a fairy scene Amongst the finest plants thus placed were beautiful examples of Cyathea princeps, dealbata, and medullaris, Alsophila contaminans, Dicksonia antarctica, and Todea africana ; a few Palms also were luxuriating here, such as Seaforthia elegans, Areca lutescem and Baueri, Caryola urens, with its large bipinnate leaves, and the beautiful fan-leaved Thrinax elegans. In another house, devoted to ornamental-leaved plants, were many grand specimens, the most striking of which were a pair of Anthurium Scherzerianum, 'ith of athe on each plant, the spathes large, deep brilliant scarlet, and measuring nearly 6 inches in length, Another fine Anthurium, called acaule, is far too little grown, its large, bold, dark greenleaves, making a noble ornament ; and, as it can be used with advantage in the subtropical garden, it is doubly valuable. Alocasia intermedia, one of the Messrs. Veitch's hybrids, was in grand order, with large and beautiful leaves upon foot- stalks upwards of 4 feet high. Another Alocasia, for which we are indebted to the energy of Messrs. Low (A. metallica), was represented by a superb plant up- wards of 8 feet in diameter, its large deep bronzy leaves contrasting beautifully with such plants as A. macro- rhiza variegata and A. Jenningsii, Caladiums, Anthu- riums, and various Marantas ; but the crowning plants of this house were three Palms of surpassing beauty : first a glorious Cocos Wedelliana, and with some 30 of its beautifully arched, pinnate, dark green leaves, which were about 5 feet long, undoubtedly the most grace- ful Palm at present in cultivation ; next, a very fine grown plant of Phcenicophorium sechellarum, bearing 10 leaves, which were in the blade alone 5 feet in length ; and a very fine Geonoma Seemanni, with its broad, bifid, plaited, dark-green leaves. Here also is a house devoted to the genus Gymno- gramma ; it was, however, a little too early in the season to see this at its best, but the hundreds of young fronds just unfolding gave promise that these alone would amply repay a visit in the course of a month or two. Next came a house devoted to green- house plants, remarkable for the beauty of their leaves. Here, amongst good examples of Dasylirions, Yuccas, Dracaenas, and Cordylines, was a truly grand plant of Phormium tenax variegata, measuring about 14 feet in diameter, with the broad leaves beautifully variegated, and the remains of an enormous flower- spike which it produced last year. Gleichenias, which are looked upon as the aristocrats of the Filices, have here a house devoted to their culture, and all the kinds in cultivation are to be found in this collection, amongst them some extremely well-grown plants, such as G. spelunc;e, 10 feet diameter, 6 feet high ; G. flabellata, 8 feet diameter, 6 feet high ; G. dicho- toma, 8 feet diameter ; G, rupestris, 6 feet diameter ; and many others, all of which were in the most robust health, and a sight of which would fill the heart of any lover of Ferns with rapture. Amongst the many fine greenhouse flowering plants the following were blooming most profusely : — Erica Massoni major, geminiflora superba, tricolor rosea, eximia superba, and a very fine Cavendishiana, in which a pair of thrushes had built a nest and reared a brood of four young ones this spring, Blandfordia nobilis was also very fine, although it had been flower- ing some two months, a fact which speaks volumes for its decorative properties. Several plants of Darwinia tulipifera and fuchsioides were in superb health and densely flowered. A grand plant of Acrophyllum venosum, with flowers and foliage to the pot, measur- ing 5,1 feet in height and 5 feet in diameter, but which showed no sign of being worn out, although of such elephantine proportions. An immense plant of Draco- phyllum gracile was also charming, with hundreds of its pure white heads of bloom contrasting beautifully with the rich colours of the many finely grown and flowered Azaleas by which they were surrounded, but these I was just a few days too late to see in all their beauty. Again we pass into some warm houses, and really it seems that the collection of plants is inex- haustible ; here were some very fine plants of Crotons, such as maximum, Veitchii, and interruptum, besides richly coloured examples of the commoner kinds ; a magnificent Cycas revoluta, and the curious but rarely seen Vriesia Glazouiana in flower. Several varieties of Pandanus, whose peculiar spiral growth render them very attractive, were growing vigorously, as also was a very fine collection of all the Sarracenias in cultivation, including the curious Darlingtonia califomica, all showing signs of being handled by a thorough master of his art ; the new and beautiful Cochliostema Jacobianum, and many grand Ixoras, amongst which was a specimen of I, coccinea, M'ith 150 trusses of bloom, AUamandas and Dipladenias were lending a profusion of their large trumpet-shaped flowers to com- plete the grand eflfect of this glorious display, Achi- menes and Gloxinias are grown here largely, and, I need scarcely say, they are grown well ; they are lovely plants for decoration or for cutting for vases, and I sincerely hope they will not be discarded from our stoves, although I have sometimes thought there is a growing tendency to neglect them. Leaving these, we turn to the Orchids, which are such a speciality at Manley Hall, and, taken as a whole, they seem to be growing well, although some still retain the evidence of having been in bad health. The collection com- prises, as far as I could see, the majority of the best species and varieties, the following of which were blooming during my visit :— Lajlia majalis, bearing three splendid flowers 64 inches in diameter ; Pesca- torea cerina, a superb plant, with 16 of its beautiful yellow and creamy-white flowers fully expanded ; a fine variety of Cattleya Mossiae, bearing 16 flowers, known amongst Orchid growers as the Manley Hall variety ; it has large and broad sepals and petals, and a spreading dark rich rosy-purple lip ; Odonto- glossum hastilabium, a fine plant with extra large flowers ; many plants and numerous varieties of the charming Barkeria spectabilis ; Oncidium crispum, bearing large branching spikes and an immense quan- tity of its rich brown flowers; a fine Saccolabium ampullaceum, with eight fine spikes ; a grand plant of Epidendrum prismatocarpum, with fine long spikes of its curious and sweet scented blooms ; the old but very showy Promencea citrina, Trichopilia crispa, Anguloa uniflora superba and Clowesii, the latter with six flowers ; Oncidium ampliatum, Odontoglossum Pesca- torei, Miltonia festiva, Dendrobium formosum gigan- teum, a grand specimen of Vanda teres, literally covered with its large rich rosy blossoms; Aerides crispum, Oncidium Lanceanum, Renanthera Lowii, bearing two long spikes, the singularity of which species is that the two flowers nearest the base of the spike are yellow instead of cinnamon-brown; Dendrobium M'Carthiae' of which there are several good plants, one of which had 26 of its superb cherry-coloured flowers fully expanded ; a superb variety of the rare Dendrobium Wardianum, and another of D. Falconeri, with growths 5 feet long ; a nice plant of Phalajnopsis Luddemanniana, bearing upwards of 40 blooms ; Saccolabium guttatum, a plant which bids fair to be a giant in its family, it has 13 growths, and although not well established, had produced six good spikes ; a good Thunia Bensoniae, with six good heads of flowers ; Vanda tricolor Leo- poldi, which is one of the very best, its rich deep violet-purple lip rendering it most distinct ; Epiden- drum vitellinum majus ; and some fine Cypripediums, amongst which were caricinum, Stonei, and barbatimi grandiflorum. Amongst the things which are gi^own as specialities for winter blooming, the Calanthes Veitchii and vestita (both red and yellow eye), hold first rank, for the large specimen pots of these may be counted by dozens, and are said to yield a fabulous quantity of bloom, which can be used either in vases or for bouquet making, and always with a pleasing effect. The last but not the least house which I shall notice is the tropical and temperate fernery, the former being 70 feet long, 26 broad, and 1 7 high ; and the latter 96 feet long, and the same breadth and height as the tropical one. They are separated by a glass partition, and the interior has been most artistically laid out with large and massive boulders of rock, and winding walks and small lakes, in which aquatics thrive beautifully. Between the crevices, and in the niches. Ferns, Lyco- pods, and many Mosses are growing luxuriantly ; and larger plants, such as Ferns, variegated Begonias, and coloured-leaved Dracaenas, occupy positions more suit- able to their proportion. Large specimens, also, stand in various places throughout the place, and comprise splendid examples of Cyathea medullaris and princeps, July I, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Aofricuitural Gazette. 839 Angiopteris evecta, Sciadocalyx pulcher, Theophrasta imperialis, and Alocasia violacea, &c. Before passing into the temperate fernery one is introduced to a little rugged rocky recess called the Todea and Filmy Fern house, which although but recently established bids fair to become the gem of the establishment. It has a beautiful little waterfall, and in the water which runs along the floor are large stepping-stones, so that one may easily imagine they are really in a rich Fern valley in a state of Nature. In and about the tufa rocks, of which this is composed, are fine specimens of the filmy fronded Todeas, such as superba, pellucida, pellucida compacta, and Fraseri, as well as numerous Hymeno- phyllums and Trichomanes, the gems of which are certainly T. auriculatum and T. Luschnathianum. The larger plants occupying prominent positions are a good Marattia Cooperi and Thyrsopteris elegans, Asplenium myriophyllum, Cyathea dealbata and Dicksonia squarrosa. The cool fernery is entered by crossing a rustic bridge over a small stream, in the vicinity of which are fine examples of Todeas, Tricho- manes reniforme, radicans and pyxidiferum. Junger- mannias, Rlarchantias, and a great variety of British Mosses clothe the masses of rock, from amongst which many seedling Ferns have sprung, forming beau- tiful groups. In various recesses are good plants of Hymenophyllum caudiculatum, crispatum, ceru- ginosum, dilatatum, unilaterale, tunbridgense, and many others ; and among the large specimens are many Dicksonia antarctica and squarrosa, Cyathea dealbata and meduUaris, Alsophila australis and excelsa, and the largest plant of Asplenium caudatum I ever saw ; it has a stem, and its long fronds are beautifully arched, and fall gracefully down, looking somewhat like a broad-leaved Weeping Willow. Of the forcing houses and kitchen garden I shall say nothing more than that the latter in particular was in the highest state of culti- vation I ever saw — the crops good, and not a weed of any description to be seen ; in fact, the whole of this princely establishment is in a first-class condition, and reflects the greatest credit upon Mr. Fetch for the skilful and systematic manner in which every- thing is done. Everything is neat, clean, and polished, indoors and out, from the tool sheds and stokehole to the conservatory and lawn ; indeed, no matter where one looks, every place is fit for inspection, even by the most severe disciplinarian. W. H. G. Societies. Royal Horticultural, at Nottingham, yune 27 to July i.— The first independent visit of the Royal Horticultural Society to the provinces, so far as we can judge up to the time at which we write, must be looked upon in no other light than as a decided success ; for we are quite certain in our own minds that, with the notable exception of the famous International E.xhibition of 1866, there has never been held such a fine one as that which commenced with great Ulaf on Tuesday and concludes to-dav, in the ancient and picturesque town of Nottingham, the weather on Tuesday was as brilliant as could be desired, and the ceremony of opening the exhibition brought together a brilliant crowd of visitors. A procession of the Mayor, the Sheriff, the Council of the Society, accompanied by a guard of honour of the famous Robin Hood Rifles, and the band of that regiment, was formed at the Castle Lodge, near to the show ground, at a quarter to i o'clock. The mayor and other local officials were all attired in their robes of office, and the procession slowly defiled into the show ground and marched to the lawn in front of the archery pavilion. The Robin Hoods were drawn up in line on a slight eminence SO yards away, and a ring was formed, the spectators standing round. The Mayor then read the following address : — Colonel Scott, my Lords and Gentlemen, Members of the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society,— It is my pleasure and privilege, as Mayor of the borough of Nottingham, to offer you, in the name of the inhabitants of this district, a hearty welcome on the occasion of your exhibition in this park. The peculiar nature of our manufactures has been the means of creating and fostering amongst our artisans a love of horticulture, as in its principal branch, periods of work, followed by corresponding periods of leisure, have •furnished them with opportunities of cultivating this taste. The result has been that in the immediate neighbourhood of Nottingham more than 10,000 gardens of small size are held principally by the workmen of the borough and suburbs, who find during the cessation of their own duties a relaxation that is at once invigorating to the body and elevating to the mind. We trust that your meeting in Nottingham Park may strengthen and elevate this taste still further, and we hope that while the Society is benefited pecuniarily, we may gain a corresponding advantage by serving and trying to emulate the brilliant specimens of horticultural excellence which your Societys influence collects. I trust you will open an exhibition brilliant in character and satisfactory to us all in its results. Colonel Scott, in reply, said : Worshipful sir, and ladies and gentlemen— In the name of the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society I thank you most sincerely for the kind welcome which you have given us to-day. You have received us with such great honour, that we cannot sup- pose it is paid to us as individuals, but only because we represent, astheparent, allof thosenumerous.societieswhich have of late years sprung up in this country, and which give so much delight and satisfaction to all engaged in gardening. When first the idea of holding country shows was mooted, we feared to make the attempt single- handed, and for the last four years we have supposed it unwise to separate ourselves from the Royal Agricultural Society ; this year, however, we decided to adopt a bolder policy, and determined to do what we could of our own strength. Amongst the towns which in\ited us for this year was the town of Nottingham, and I assure you that we did not hesitate for one moment to accept the offer. It is well known that whatever Nottingham undertakes she carries out with vigour and determination. Whether it is manufactures or horticulture it is the same, and I may perhaps even venture to say that in pohtics you show the same vigour. I believe that in horticultural matters some of your '-lambs" become something like lions. I have noticed that among your allotment gardens — which are so well managed, and make such a noise in the world —the chief man is a Knight of St. Ann's, and the best budder of roses a General Jack. All these symptoms are indications of vigoiu*, which we thought would lead to success if came amongst you ; and, from what I have seen so far, I believe our success will be as great as the weather is glorious. I regret that the task of opening the exhibition has not fallen into worthier hands. His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, the President of our Society, would have been present to-day, but he is prevented by his military duties. The Royal Prince connected with our Society, whose visit we anticipated with so much satisfaction, has been commanded by Her Majesty to attend a State ball to-night ; and Mr. Wilson Saunders, one of our most honoured members, and, as we consider him, the father of horticulture, is too much indisposed to attend. I am quite certain, however, that althougli we have been disappointed in this respect, you will more than make up for any defi- ciences on our part. From the vigour displayed by Mr. Lowe, who, we are glad, is now a member of the Council, we are convinced the show will be a success, and in the name of the Duke of Buccleuch and the Royal Horticul- tural Society I have great pleasure in declaring it open. Following this announcement there was a general rush of visitors to the immense marquee, which was laid out as a model garden, and which contained as fine a lot of plants as could well be brought together. The general arrangement and the principal features of the display will be better seen than we can describe from the annexed views and plan of the ground. Coming now to more detailed particulars, we must com- mence with the Sioi'C and Greenhouse Plants^ which were a very prominent feature of the large marquee. In the first- class for 20, distinct, in 12-inch pots, the competition was confined to Messrs. Jackson & Son, Kingston, and Mrs. E. Cole & Sons, Withington, near Manchester, the prizes being awarded in the . order named. Nothing remarkable was shown in either group, the former of which consisted of young half specimens, fairly grown, of Ixoras, Darwinias, Dipladenias, Pimeleas, &c., the most notable examples from the Messrs. Cole being a nicely flowered plant of the nirely seen though very beautiful Roella ciliata, and a similar one of Ixora amboinensis. The best 9 in the open class came from Mr. T. Baines, gr. to H. L. Micholls, Esq., Southgate House, Southgate, and a very good lot they were, though cer- tainly not so fine as the coUection which he staged at the Crystal Palace at the first spring show. His most perfect specimens were those of Dipladenia amabilis, well grown and fairly flowered, these being of excellent colom: ; a capital plant of Dracophyllum gracile, well flowered and fresh ; Dipladenia splendida, very beautilul and immensely attractive ; Ixora coccinea, well bloomed and large: Erica Cavendishiana, E. semula, a fine example of Darwinia tulipifera, and a grandly flowered Alla- manda nobilis, &c. Mrs. Cole & Sons were second, their collection containing a very good example of Ixora salicifoha, well grown and well bloomed, and a very nice Dipladenia amabilis, &c. In the amateurs' class for 6, the ist prize was taken by Mr. J. Stevenson, Lark Hill, Timperley, Cheshire, who had, amongst others, a very good Ixora coccinea, and Clerodendron Balfouri- anum, a healthy plant, well flowered. In the 2d prize group, which was contributed by Mr. J. Bolton, gr. to W. 'Worswick, Esq. , was a well-finished specimen of Rhyn- chospermum jasminoides. The special prize, offered by G. E. Paget, Esq., for the best specimen stove plant, was also won by Mr. Baines, with a wonderfully fine specimen of Ixora javanica, 5 feet high, and 3 feet through, well clothed with foliage to the pot, and superbly bloomed ; a remarkably well shown BougainviUea glabra, from Mr. W. Peaehey, coming in 2d. Specimens of Anthurium Scherzerianum were staged by Mr. Baines and Mr. B. S. Williams, in compe- tition for the prizes given by C. Paget, Esq., Ruddington Grange ; the first going to the former for a specimen on which were about 14 magnificent spathes. Heaths were very fairly contributed, considering the lateness of the season. The best 9 greenhouse kinds in the open class came from Messrs. Jackson & Son, who had, amongst others, E. jasminiflora alba, E. tricolor coronata, E. Ver- nonii, E. tricolor speciosa, E. Paxtoni, and E. depressa, &c., in nice condition. The next best lot came from Messrs. Cole & Son, whose collection, though uneven in size, had much merit to recommend them. The finest single specimen in the show was a wonderfully fine one of E. obbata, large, very healthy, and perfectly bloomed, and staged by Mr. Baines to compete for the prize given by C. Seeley, Esq., M.P., BrookhiU Hall; Messrs. Jackson coming in 2d with a very good example of E. retorta major. The prize for 9 stove and greenhouse plants, given by Mr. B. Walker, Lenton, was won by Mr. J. Stevenson with a very good group, including very nice specimens ot Dipladenia acuminata, D. amabilis, both weU flowered and of good colour, and a remarkably fine plant of Ixora alba, &c. The 2d prize, given by the local committee, was taken by Mr. J. Bolton, who had a first-rate specimen of the old Cassia corymbosa, and another of the beautiful scarlet Clerodendron fallax. Fine-foUagcd Plants, including Ferns, were very numer- ously contributed, and of excellent merit too, more espe- cially the Ferns, which were altogether much better than we have seen at any exhibition for a long time. The best four Dracaenas, or Cordylines, came from Mr. B. S. WilHams, as well as the best collection of 9 fine-foliaged or variegated plants amongst nurserj-men, which contained remarkably handsome specimens of Palms, Cycas revo- luta, Encephalarlos latifrons, probably the finest specimen in the country, a good example of Pandanus elegantissi- mus. and the same of Cordyline indivisa, &c. Next to Mr. WiUiams came Mr. W. E. Dixon, showing, amongst others, one of the finest specimens of Phormium tenax variegata we have ever seen, a handsome plant of Cyathea dealbata, and a specimen of Gleichenia MendeUi, about 5 feet through. Messrs. Bell & Thorpe were a good 3d. In the corresponding class for amateurs. Mr. Baines again stood ist, having large handsomely furnished specimens of Stevensonia grandiflora, Croton variegatum, Dasily- rion acrotrichum, &e. Mr. W. Cruiekshank, gr. to Lord Belper, Kingston Hall, was 2d, with an excellent group, comprising some grand Tree Ferns, a splen- did specimen of Phoenicophorium sechellarum, a gi- gantic plant of Alocasia gigantea, a remarkably good A. metallica, and a beautilully coloured Croton angust:- folium, &c. Mr. J. Woodfield, gr. to J. S. Foljambe, Esq., was 3d with notable examples of Sanchezia nobilis vanegata, a fine bush about 5 feet through, suffering a httle through the cold, and DiefTenbachia maculata, &c. The best specimen Croton, one of C. angustifoMum, about s feet high and 4 feet through, splendid both in foliage and colour, came from Mr. Baines ; the next best being a large, well grown and coloured C. variegatum, from Mr. J. Stevenson ; Mr. J. Bolton being 3d with a good C. angustifoliura. Mr. J. Woodfield. Osberton, sent a beautiful pyramidal trained plant, about 8 feet high and received an extra prize. From Mr. B. S. Williams came the best 6 Palms, grand trees, of Sabal Black- bumianum, Areca lutescens, Latania borbonica,'Thrinax elegans, Phcenix sylvestris, &c. ; Messrs. Bell & Thorpe being 2d with smaller but well furnished specimens of Pritchardia Martii, D^monorops plumosa, &c., and Messrs. G. and W. 'Vates, Manchester, 3d. Mr. Baines took the prize given by Henry Smith Wright, Esq., Lenton Hall, with a grand example of Sarracenia flava, about 3 feet through ; Mr. J. Stevenson being 2d with a grand Alocasia Lowii, about 3 feet high, and finely developed. Mr. Baines also staged the best 3 Pitcher plants, as well as the best single specimen ; Mr. B. S. Williams being 2d in the latter class. Orchids were not by any means so numerous or so good as might have been expected. Mr. B. S. Williams took the ist prize for 9 and 6 in the former class with Oncidium incurvum, a nice plant, with eight spikes ; Ltelia pur- purata, Cypripedium superbiens, with 16 fine flowers ; and a nice example of Anguloa Clowesii, &c. ; and in the latter with Sobralia macrantha, a large, very healthy plant, sparsely flowered ; 'Vandas, Cattleyas, Cypripediums &c. Messrs. RoUisson & Sons were 2d in this class, with, amongst others, a plant of the rarely seen Brassia Wrayii ; while in the former the 2d and 3d awards were taken by Messrs. J. Brooke & Co., Fairfield Nursery, Manchester, and Mr. W. E. Dixon. The amateurs were only repre- sented by Mr. E. Mitchell and Mr. J. Stevenson. Exotic Ferns were rennarkably well shown. The best 6 amonf^st amateurs came from Mr. J. Stevenson, among5t°which were a very large and handsome specimen of Gleichenia semivestita, another of G. flabellata, and capital examples of Leptopteris superba, Acrophorus immersus, and Leucostegia chajrophylla, &c. Tlie 2d prize was takenby Mr. J. E. Mappletaeck, Moselcy, near Birmingham, with a cofiection containing nice specimens of Neottopteris australasica, Dicksonia squarrosa, and Cibotium regale, &c. In the collection of 6 hardy exotic kinds, contributed by Messrs. R. Edwards & Son, were very fine plants of Struthiopteris pennsylvanica and S. ger- manica. Mr. Baines took the prizes given by H. Sher- brooke, Esq., O.xton Hall, for a single specimen, with a plant of Gleichenia rupestris, over 4 feet in height and the same through, an exceedingly weU-grown specimen ; and Mr. G. Daniells, gr. to A. M. Mundy, Esq., came 2d with a first-rate example of Gymnogramma calomelanos. The best specimen of Adiantum was a handsome plant of A. farleyense, shown by Mr. T. AUsop, gr. to C. S. T. B. Reynardson, Esq., Holywell Hall ; Mr. Cruiekshank being second with a good specimen of A. tenerum. In the amateurs' class for 12, Mr. T. M. Shuttleworth, GoldenHill, Preston, came first with Cyathea princeps, very handsome, beautiful large specimens of Alsophilla excelsa, Cibotium Schiedei, and C. regale, Gleichenia dichotoma, Todea superba, &c.; Mr. Baines being 2d, and Mr. Bolton 3d. Mr. J. Bolton had the best 6 Lycopodiums, and Mr. B. S. Wilhams the best pair of Tree Ferns. In the nurserymen's class for g, the last-named exhibitor was ist again, with handsome speci- mens of Cyatheas, Cibotiums, Gleichenias, Todeas, &c. Mr. G. Cooper, Derby, being 2d, Mr. W. E. Dixon 3d, and Messrs. Bell and Thorpe 4th. Twelve distinct Maidenhair Ferns were contributed by Mr. T. M. Shuttle- worth and Messrs. Bell & Thorpe, in the former of whose collection was a pretty pair of Adiantum assimile. Of British Ferns, a" magnificent coUectic bited by E. J. Lowe, Esq., F.R.S exhi' In the class for 12, Messrs. R. Edwards & Son, Nottingham, came in ist, and the best 10 new varieties not yet in commerce came from Mr. J. E. Mapplebeck ; Mr. F. Thompson, gr. to T. Charlesworth, Esq., The Hollow, Leicester, coming in 2d. A collection of subtropical plants, suitable for the summer decoration of gardens, consisting of medium- sized Palms, Dracsenas, Musas, Azaleas, Beaucarneas, and others, was contrilu ed by Mr. B. S. Williams. Messrs. Lane & Son, Berkhampstead, sent a much admired group of neatly trained pyramidal plants of Ivies, which are exceedingly useful for decorating halls and corri- dors in the summer time, and even the conservatory in win- ter. Mr. B. S. Williams also exhibited 6 good specimens of Agaves, especially of A. filifera major, A. heteracantha, A. geminiflora, and A. americana variegata, &c., for which he was awarded the ist prize ; and the best col- lection of hardy and half-hardy variegated and ornamental fohaged plants, which included some fine young Palms, Yuccas, Conifers, Eurya latifolia, and Euonymus albo- marginata, and E. japonica aureo-variegata— both very beautiful and useful subjects for the flower garden. Messrs. Barron & Son, Borrowash Nurseries, Elv.aston, 840 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July ., 1871. "MODEL garden" AT THE NOTTINGHAM SHOW. (Looking! exhibited a very excellent assortment of hardy trees and 1 shrubs, for which they received the ist prize. For four j specimens of Lilium auratum, Mr. Turner was ist, viith fine plants, Messrs. RoUisson & Sons coming in 2d, and Messrs. Yates 3d. The only exhibitor of 6 Pyrethrums was Mr. B. S. Williams, and to him the ist prize w.is awarded. Messrs. Veitch & Sons had a remarkably fine group of New and interesting Plants which was much admired, they also took the first prize for 6 new plants, with a beautiful specimen of the elegant PauUinia thalictri- folia, and Dieffenbachia Bausei, one of the handsomest of its class, Dracsena amabilis, Araha Veitchii, Croton Wisemani, and a nice little plant of the beautiful Todea Wilkesiana, In their large group were many Orchids, new Dracaenas, Marantas, Dieffenbachias, Palms, some beautiful Darlingtonias (see p. 835) and Sarracenias, a collection of succulent plants, and a charming specimen of the handsome Davallia Mooreana, figured at p. 964, 1869. In that department of the exhibition including the classes for Florists Flowers— z. designation which, as the Rev. S. R. Hole justly asserts, denotes a little restric- tiveness that is not true in fact, but which it is expedient to retain for the sake of convenience— some of the points were rather weak. Fuchsias, for instance, were very inade- quately represented ; so indifferent were they in the amateurs' class for 6 varieties that one would not have been surprised if the leading prizes had not been awarded. Mr. Bolton, gr. to W. Warswick, Esq., Leicester, had the best group ; and in the nurserymen's class for the same number, Mr. George Edward, York, staged very fairly grown and bloomed plants of 'Vesta, Avalanche, En- counter, Rose of Castille, Schiller, and Blue Beauty ; and there was no other competitor. It is really too bad that Fuchsias were so poorly shown, seeing how easily they can be cultivated. Some fine young pyramidal plants would have filled up several places at the sides of the great tent that were occupied by small plants dwarfed almost to insignificance. The best 9 show Pelargoniums also came from Mr. George Edward, of good size, and trained after the usual fashion. They consisted of Beacon, Royal Albert, Desdemona, Clarissa, Virginie, Mary Hoyle, Lord Clyde, Pericles, and Charles Turner. Mr. Turner, Slough, had the next best group, consisting of nice young upright plants of about the second season's growth, that were beautifully bloomed, and comprised such fine new varieties as Regent, Eldorado, Sunshine, Magnificent, Emperor, Nabob, Lady of the Lake, Example, and Congress. The quality of the flowers borne on these small plants was something remarkable. The show Pelargoniums for amateurs Pelargoniums and Orchi plants (Willia ' Heaths, &c. ; J, :. : L, Rockwork, Orchids; Q, Fountain : K, ;» Group' of British Ferns, &c. Fine-foliage plants £ were so indifferent that only a 3d prize was awarded Mr. T. Mitchell, gr. to Thomas Cross, Esq., Ruddington Hall, had the only 6 fancy Pelargoniums. They consisted of Marginata, Queen of the Ocean, Ann Page, Evening Star, Matilda, and Mr. Homer ; they were fairly grown, and received the ist prize. Mr. George Edwards had 6 nicely grown plants, and received the first prize in the open class, with Madame Sainton-Dolby, JuHet, Tor- mentor, Brightness, Zoe, and Ann Page. A 4th prize was awarded to Messrs. G. Small & Son, for some apologies for specimen plants. The Zonal Pelargoniums furnished by amateurs in class 17, were so indifferent that no ist prize was awarded. H. Smith, Esq., Nottingham, received a 2d prize for six huge specimens, that might be 4 or 40 years of age. There was something better in the nurserymen's class for the same number, and here Messrs. Bell & Thorpe, Stratford-on-Avon, were first with the Queen of Beauties, John Thorpe, of a dull orange-red hue. Fairy Princess, Lord Derby, Indian Yellow, and Mrs. William Paul, very prettily flowered. Mr. George Edwards was second with Glow, Mrs. William Paul, En chantress, Shirley Hibberd, Clipper, and Alphonse Karr; these bore excellent quality of flower, but were not well grown. Messrs. Bell & Thorpe had the best 6 double varieties, consisting of Delight, Marie Lemoine, Wilhelm Pfitzer, Miss Evelyn, Victor Lemoine, and Madame Lemoine ; strongly grown, but not particularly well- bloomed plants. In fact, there was a marked falling off from the excellent quality of the double Pelargoniums shown at Oxford last year. Mr. F. Perkins, Lea- mington, was second, with Capitaine L'Hermitte, Madame M. Buckner, and four of the foregoing. "Varie- gated Pelargoniums in the open class were of moderate quality. J. E. Mapplebeck, Esq., Woodfield. Bir- mingham, had the best, consisting of Miss Kings- bury, Flower of Spring, Silver Star, Queen of Queens, Stella variegata, and Oriana. There was a considerable quantity of Cut FlowfTS, and they made a very effective display in the fruit and Rose tents. In class 39. for 24 bunches of cut flowers, each bunch distinct, Mrs. E. Cole & Sons, Withington, Manchester, were ist with a very choice collection, com- prising Saccolabium Blumei Dayii, Allamanda grandi- flora, and A. cathartica : Erica J ubata rubra, E. Exqui- site, E. Vemonii, E. ventricosa BothweUiana, Dipladenia amabilis, Ixora coccinea, I. amboinensis, I. Colei, Phalae- nopsis grandiflora, Cypripedium Stonei, C. barbatum, Dipladenia crassinoda, Lselia purpurata, Oncidium leuco- chilum, and BougainviUea glabra. Mr. J. Bolton, gr. to W. Worswich, Esq., was made equal ist, his stand being July I, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Asrricultural Gazette. 841 nicely set up, the bunches were backed with Maidenhai Fern, and rested on green Moss. Among his flowers wer Clerodendron fallax, Stephanotis floribunda. Begonias Pentas rosea, Phimbago capensis, Salvia patens, &c Mr. F. Perkins, Leamington, was 2d, his stand containinj Petunias, Kalosanthes coccinea, Bouvardia jasminoides Tacsonia Van Volxemi, Statice purpurea, &c. In the class for 12 bunches, Mr. D. Lumsden, Th( Gardens, Blo.'diolm Hall, Sleaford, was ist with SobraU; macrantha, Aerides odoratum, Aphelexis macrantha pur purea, Stephanotis floribunda. Gloxinias, Brassia verni cosa, Cattleya Mossia:, Calanthe veratrifolia, Pimele; Hendersoni, Erica ventricosa superba, AUamanda Hen dersoni, and ^chmea fulgens. 2d, Mr. Peachey, gr. t< H. E. Hole, Esq., Quomdon, who had Medinilla mag ■";a glabra, Dipladenia amabilis, Clero Mr. Bo ome glo npetit elegant ar C. Turner, Christabel, Presic William, Eustace, Kirkcaldy, and a E. Perry,' Fulmer, Diadem, Lord H( blooms of Hibi; Geo. Je nt The best r2 nsis ed 0 ■ Rev. C lent, l)r Maclea l)e Attrac ling Mr. ngea. the Arthur Pean Frederick on, Bertram, Lord I. Pizzey, gr. to Sir s, was 2d, with good flowers of Victory, President, Genevieve, oing. Mr. J. Taylor, Sneinton 3d. Messrs. G. Small & Son, 12 cut trusses of Zonal Pelar- sed J. F, Nunn, Blue Bell, Hy- n, and others, the best part of this lot. Mr. Peachey was 2d : his Blue Bell, very finely coloured, Mn Hecla, Clipper, Charlotte Corday, Violet Hill Nosegay. Mr. Turner ntained 1 through contc rkably fine, and uded eties. They some of the newer Gibhard, Madame Geon ; Mons. J Sand, Vic Wi Mil La Toi Wick, Mon arnaise, Mari Marquis de Hufford, and Gladiator. The best 12 double Zonal Pelnrgoniums came from Mr. Thomas Laxton, Stamford, who had The Beacon, a seedling pink variety; Wilhelm Pfitzer, Victor Lemoine, very fine ; Gloire de Nancy, The Marchioness, a seedling pink ; Marie Lemoine, Triomphe, Victor de Lyons, of a very fine shade of violet, but does not expand well ; EmiUe Lemoine, Madame Lemoine, and E. y. Lowe, vivid red, very distinct in colour, and as double as can be ; quite an acquisition, as it is a shade of colour much needed. 2d, Mr. F. Perkins— Madame de St. Jean, scariet ; Madame Rudolph Apell, deep piink ; and Madame Michel Buckner, bright pale pink ; in addition to some of the foregoing. Messrs. Bell & Thorpe and H. Cannell also competed, the latter staging some very fine trusses of the high-coloured Zonal Jean Sisley. ~ " whole the Roses were very good, considering whai I trymg s has been. Mr. Tho the ifor having capital blooms of Devoniensis, Marechal Niel, Coupe d'Hebe, LEnfant Trouv^, Le Pactole, Annie Laxton, a seedling H.P. of a pale rose colour ; Gloire de Santenay, Madame Knorr, Baronne de Noirmont, Oliver Delhomme, Marguerite de St. Amand, Mar&hal Vaillant, Madame Rivers, Madame JuUe Daran, Souvenir de Mons. Poiteau, Charles Lawson, Francois Lacharme, Mrs. B. Ker, Francois Arago, General Jacqueminot, Pierre Net- ting, Thorin, Madame Bonnaire and Senateur Vaisse. The Rev. E. N. Pochin, Silsby Vicarage, Loughborough, was 2d, the best flowers being Celine Forestier, Madame Bosanquet, Xaxier OUbo, La France, Horace Vernet, John Hopper, Senateur Vaisse, and Madame Bonnaire. Messrs. Paul & Son were the only e-xhibitors of 24 Roses in the nurserymen's class, having very fine examples of Souvenir dun Ami, Senateur Vaisse, Madame C. Wood, Modele de Perfection, Abel Grand, Xavier Olibo, Nardy Frires, Baronne de Rothschild, Dr.Andry. Centifolia rosea. La France, Maurice Bernardin, Duke of Edinburgh, Miss Ingram, La Fontaine, G(*neral Jacqueminot, Mar- guerite de St. Amand, DupuyJamin, Camille Bernardin, Marquise de Mortemart, Madame C. Joigneaux, Duke of Wellington, Charies Lefebvre, and Marie Baumann. In class 48, for 12 cut Roses, for amateurs, some fine flowers were staged. Mr. George Johnson, 28, Peas Hill Road, Nottingham, was ist, with capital flowers of Elie Morel, Madame C. Wood, La France, Charles Lefebvre, Jean Goujon, Marechal Niel, Horai " ' " ' Mary of Cambridge, Abel Gi 2d, the best flo d, Due de Rohan, John The Rev. E. N. Pochin Fran Maurice Bernardin, Souvenir de Malmaison, Gloire de Dijon, and Laurent Descourt, the nearest approach to a purple Rose exhibited ; 3d, Mr. T. Green, Nottingham. Turning to the Spin.il Prize List, for the best Golden Tricolor Variegated Pelargonium in class 85, Mr. C. Turner was placed ist, \vith Baroness Burdett Coutts, a small but finely-coloured plant. Messrs. Bell & Thorpe were 2d, with Macbeth ; and Mr. C. Frisby, Blankney Hall Gardens, with Magnet. Mr. Turner had the best Silver Tricolor in Mrs. Rousby, well grown and coloured ; and Mr. Frisby was 2d with Lizzie Frisby, a very promising stiff'-habited variety. The best 6 herbace- ous Calceolarias came from Mr. Smith, Nottingham, the varieties pretty good. The prizes offered by Mr. T. W. Evans, for 6 Clematises, did not bring any competition, notwithstanding the adaptability of these useful plants for cultivation in pots. The leading prize, given by Lord Belper, for the best 6 Tricolor Zonal Pelargoniums not yet 1871, was taken by Mr. C. vho ha I Miss Mo nd Mr Ruttei . golden-edged ; and Mr Rousby and Mrs. Brooke Brydes, silver-edged. The; were nicely grown and well-coloured plants. Mr. C Frisby was 2d, with Magnet, Lady Folkestone, Hermi i-edged; Miss H. Bou . The best 6 Zonal I goniums, shown under the same conditions, were staged by Messrs. BeU & Thorpe, but they did not caU for an) particular remark. The best 6 new Nosegay varieties came from the same exhibitors, and were a poor lot also. Their new Nosegay variety, David Garrick, standing by the side of the group, was much superior to anything contained. The best 6 new show Pelargoniums came from Mr. Turner, and consisted of Sunset, Black Prince, Charlemagne, Imperator, Brigand, and Zephyr- every plant containing some very finely formed flowers. J. Fellowes, Esq., Beeston, had 6 very nice forms of erect flowering Gloxinias, and Mr. J. Bolton the same number of pendant flowering kinds. Mr. Turner had the best group of 4 Lili carrying o Londo & So 2d; Messrs. G. & W. Yat . Geo. Edwards, York, 4th. erable greatly helped the exhibition Ir. B. S. Wmiams had the best collection of succulent 1 class 117, Messrs. Bell & Thorpe being 2d. Thes omprised Aloes, Agaves, Echeverias, Sempervivums lacti, &c. The best hand bouquet came from Mr. F 'erkins, Leamington, elegantly arranged and handsome le next best from Mr. John House, Peterborough. Th Mr. J. House, Peterbo Fern ; the othei St with vardis ed of Eri from Mr. H. Farmer, Lenton, 'o blossoms of a pale Fuchsia, and Fern; Mr. Cruickshank, Kingston Hall Gardens, was 3d, with a beautiful flower of Gardenia Fortune!. In several cases these button-holes were much 'too bulky. The handsome Silver Cup, given by the Rev. S. Reynolds Hole, for 12 cut Roses, was won by Messrs. Paul & Son, who had magnificent blooms of Leopold Hausburg, La Fontaine, Duke of Edinburgh, Miss Ingram, Maurice Bernardin, La France, Marie Baumann, Centifolia rosea, Joseph Fiala, Nardy Freres, Camille Bernardin, and Dr. Andry. The next best 12 came from Mr. H. Merryweather, Southwell, who had good examples of John Hopper, Madame C. Joigneaux, Jules Margottin, Marguerite de St. Amand, Celine Forestier, Exposition de Brie, Gloire de Dijon, Senateur Vaisse, Charles Lefebvre, Prince Camille de Rohan, Abel Grand, and Madame Boutin. Six collections competed for this handsome Rose trophy. The best 48 cut Roses also lessi Paul & So: much admired. Here were fine examples of Madame Hector Jacquin, Madame Marie Rady, La France, Ar.nie Wood, Marquise de Mortemart, Leopold Hausburg, Miss Ingram, Dupuy Jamin, Madame C. Joigneaux, Duke of Edinburgh, Lselia, Madame A. Wood, Souvenir d'Elise, Camille Bernardin, &c. Mr. Merryweather was again 2d, and Mr. George Edwards, 3d. The leading special prize for 12 cut Roses, to be shown by artizans, given by Sir H. Bromley, Bart., was taken by Mr. H. Grundy, 21, St. Ann's Well Road, Nottingham, 'who had remarkable examples of Charles Lefebvre, Dr. Andry, La France, Camille Bernardin, John Hopper, Marquise de Morte- mart, Comtesse d'Oxford, Elie Morel, Pierre Notting. Madame Marie Cirodde, Francois Lacharme, and Gloire de Santenay. 2d, Mr. H. Biddies, Park-lane, Lough- borough ; the flowers unnamed. 3d, Mr. R. Rodgers, Welford Street, Nottingham, who had nice flowers of La France, Charies Lefebvre, Madame Vidot, Madame Hector Jacquin, Mons. Noman, John Hopper, Gloire de Dijon, &-C. There were 9 capital collections in this class, and it served in a remarkable degree to illustrate what beautiful Roses can be produced by the artizans in the allotment gardens round Nottingham, as well as at Loughborough. The premier Rose, shown as a single flower, in competition for the prizes offered by Mr. T. Laxton, was a fine example of Duke of Edinburgh, shown by Messrs. Paul & Sons. The next best was Marquise de Mortemart, shown by Mr. George Burnham, of the Scots Greys' Inn, St. Ann's ; the 3d, President, from Mr. J. Brown, Sneinton : the 4th, EUe Morel, from Mr. W. Wise, Newcastle Street, Nottingham. The desire to possess the patent plant protectors, offered by Mr. W. E. Rendle for 12 cut Roses, three trusses of each, appeared to have awakened no ambitious desires in the breast of any rosarian, as no competition took place, or at least no signs of it could be found. It was much too early for cut blooms of Carnations, and the only Picotees staged was a stand of 12 blooms of Prince of Orange, from Mr. Perkins, Leamington. A very fine stand of Verbenas came from Mr. C. Turner, also a stand of 24 fine Pinks ; Mr. Cannell also contributed Verbenas, and Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing stands of English and fancy Pansies, the superb colouring of the latter exciting much admiration. 16 chief of the novelties shown for certificates consisted of two fine groups of seedling Ferns, from Mr. E. J. Lowe and Mr. J. E. Mapplebeck. A few other subjects were, however, selected from the fine miscellaneous collection of the Messrs. Veitch & Sons, amongst which were too new Dracasnaswhichwillbewelcomeadditionstothisfinedecora- tive genus, namely, D.Wisemani.abronzy-leaved plant, with red margins, and breaking out into white in the younger growth ; and D. amabilis, a broader-leaved form than D. Guilfoylei, and much superior to it, the leaves green, variegated with pink and white. These came from the South Sea Islands. Dieffenbachia Bausei, another ol the same group, is perhaps the finest of all the DieiTenbachias. It is a stocky-growing broad-leaved variety, of hybrid origin, with leaves of a yellowish-green, irregularly edged and blotched with dark green, and also spotted with white, the marking being particularly effective. Begonia Chelsoni is another pretty hybrid form, with light red flowers of adiff'erent tint from those of the related B.Sedeni. In Mr. Williams' group was a nice plant of Trichomanes auricularium, a very elegant creeping-stemmed tropical filmy Fern. Mr. G. F. Wilson had cut specimens of four rare Lilies, namely, califomicum, the flower reflexed. deep red with dark spots, a broad-leaved kind, the leaves somewhat whoried ; puberulum, of Torry, orange-red ■s, spotted with black, lifolium, with the flow< 5r scattered leaves ery pretty bell-shaped flowei with black. All the foregoing received First-class Cer- tificates. Messrs. Veitch had also a very curious Orchid. Epidendrum pseudepidendrum, a species \vith leafy stems and small panicles (in this case two-flowered) of very re- markable flowers, the sepals and petals being a deep green, and the lip expanded and deep orange-coloured, appearing to stand out on a long stalk. Mr. E. J. Lowe had also a curiosity in the shape of a variegated Rose (? Gen. Jacqueminot) which, if thoroughly fixed, would be Mr the leave ;, and the '°X idsomely marked , of Slough, staged which had been already ngs, and the following ar the fin the London meetings, and the following amongst them were in a condition to receive first-class awards, viz.. Achieve- ment, a lovely tint of rose, with blotched upper petals ; Pompev, Cffisar, Zephyr, all high-coloured sorts, and Charlemagne, a soft rose. Imperator had remarkably high-coloured lower petals. Of New Ferns the name is legion, and we can only indicate some of the more striking. The following forms of Scolopendrium vulgare, shown by Mr. Lowe, were particularly good : — Fellowsii, with tall, recurved sculp- turate fronds ; Smeei, tall and erect, with a narrow sculpturate line within the smooth undulated edge, perfectum, dwarfer, recurved and sculpturate ; acceptum, dwarf, broad, multifidly-lobed and sculpturate ; Davyi, narrow, erect, and sculpturate ; pnscinctum, dwarf tufted growth, sculpturate, with a frilled excurrent line ; virgi- nale, bold and divergent lobed ; dichotomum, irregular and ramose ; cochleatum, undulate, with the top spirally twisted ; Moo ery I very; rked supn ely plicate, and 2, the apices less divided ; kraspedon, somewhat frilled at the end ; thau- undulated, the apex recurved and umulum, narrow base, broad, spread- divergently 1 ing, flat multmea apex ; Keratopnoron, snort, oroaa, with a pocket-like apex, and forked excurrent horns ; omnilaceram Lowei, one of the obtusidentate set, but broader and more deeply cut. Lastrea dilatata calome- lanos and spectabilis ramosa, two pretty, finely cut dwarf forms, in the way of cinca ; Lastrea Filix-mas Belperi, a narrow, irregularly fringed form of cristata, analogous to Craigii, amongst Athyriums ; L. F.-m. depauperata Padl'eyi, with curious dilated apices to the pinnK ; L. F.-m. variegata, greyish white, as if invaded by thrips ; Polystichum angulare ariprepes, a deeply toothed form, in the way of grandidens ; P. ang. trans- forme, a drooping crested form ; Asplenium marinum Thompsoniaa, the gem of the whole collection, with fine, symmetrical bipinnatifid fronds ; A. m. admirabile, dwarf, and very ramose ; A. m. capitatum, dwarf, and finely cristate- lobate ; Adiantum CapiUus-Veneris ad- mirabile, a fine, spreading-habited sort, with cuneate- trapeziform pinnules; A. C. daphnites, dwarf, and crested with very large concave pinnules ; A. C. perfectum, a very free-growing, large-fronded variety ; Pleopeltes iridioides cristata, a grandlyimultifid cristate form of this well-known stove Fern ; and "the following forms of Athy- rium FiUx-fcemina :— GuUsonse, with the fronds partially cruciate ; Alexandra, a subsymmetrical form of Victorise, fimbriately toothed, and crested ; invincere, in the way of very neat ; decorum, a large, subsymmetrical form, with laciniate pinnules; trossulum, like a robust flabeUifohum, with a multifid-cristate head ; Lowes, full, ply-toothed, and symmetrical ; Triumphale, a dwarfish I somewhat iriegukir form of Victorias ; Bellairsiae, large and subsymmetrical, and laciniate ; Lawsoni, a very legant narrow-lanceolate form, with few toothed pinnae nd cristate apex. .These, with a Hymenophyllum Kina- bani, said to be intermediate between unilaterale and tun- bridgense, but with the habit and aspect of the former, all received First-class Certificates, and were shown by Mr. E. J. Lowe. A smaller, but select coUection, came from Mr. J. E. Mapplebeck. The most remarkable amongst them were the crested forms of Pteris aquilina, namely, incur\'a, tasselled, but with the bunches en- curved ; cristata Gloveri, regular, with the pinnse nicely crested at the ends ; and grandiceps irregularly dilated into large crested heads, and without sym- try. Mr. Mapplebeck had several good Athyriums o wit, Mapplebeckii, symmetrical in outline but ;gular in the pinnules, which are deeply cut, tl ng forked or tasselled ; GiUsoniEe, symmetr flabellate, lacerate, refracted pinnules, and caudate glomeratum, a narrow glomerately of Craigii ; rectangulare, a large symmetrical frc les, both them and the lobes set leir base ; dilatatum, large and symmetrical, losely set, dilated, almost m, irregulariy sted form audicula learly ca d symn )ifid pii idate flabellifol , with a few normal pi the frond like Aspleniu Lastrea FQix-mas revolvens, v ;cur\'ed; and Blechnum sf ivarf dense form, 2 inches high, fronds, twisted, and sometime These all received First-class Ce The Fruit Slio e at the base, and flabellifolium ; also h the pinnce singularly 1 eithei Manche: ferent hi the fruit Oxford, but the from either of the above places, masn i vegetables on this occasion were stagi ime tent ; and, as the vegetables were shown b than at any former show of the Society, the made an excellent display of themselves. A stri dof of the :eds, &c., shown by Messrs. Carter & Co., in which was so included their prize cup for vegetables. Down the :ntre of the tent, which separated the fruit from the jgetables, were the splendid specin Nectarines in pots shown by Messrs Chilwell Nurseries, and the pc of Peaches and n & Son, of staged by 842 The Gardeners' Chronicle and A^s^ricultural Gazette. (July I, 1871. :-apple Messrs. Lane & Son of Berkhampstead, in competition for the prize offered by the local committee. For the prizes offered for a collection of Fruit, 12 dishes, 6 distinct kinds, there was only one exhibitor, Mr. Miles, gr. to Lord Carrington, Wycombe Abbey, Bucks, and to him the ist prize was awarded. He had two very hand- some Queen Pines, weighing about sV lb. ; 3 bunches of Black Hamburgh, fine in size, if deficient in colour ; a fine dish of Foster's White Seedling, excellent Violette HJLtive Peaches and Murray Nectarines, Mr. Radclyffe and Sir Charles Napier Strawberries, and Black Circassian and Bigarreau Napoleon cherries. A collection of fruit was also staged by Mr. Brown, fruiterer, Nottingham, parently not in competition for these prizes. "' were not very numerously shown, but they «=. = v^. ^^- cellent quality. The best three came from Mr. Miles, gr. to Lord Carrington, consisting of a very large Provi- dence, weighing 11 lb. 5 oz., and 2 Queens, averaging Sj lb. each ; Mr. Simpson, gr. to Lord Wharnchffe, Wortley Hall, coming in 2d with handsome Queens, weighing about 4 lb. 12 oz. In the next class, for a single fruit of°any variety, Mr. Simpson came in ist with a beautiful Queen, Mr. Miles being 2d with a capital speci- men of the same variety. In the class for 2 specimens, Mr. Miles was again ist, taking the special prize offered by the late S. T. Cooper, Esq., with magnificent Queens, Mr. Simpson securing the 2d prize, given by the local committee, witli admirable representatives of the same variety, weighing about 41b. Grapes made a very interesting exhibition. The best single dish of Black Grapes came from Mr. R. r,\nson, gr. to T. Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, Manchester, good both in bunch, berry, and colour, and more noteworthy still from the fact that they were cut from Vines 27 years old, and grown on the restrictive system. The second honours were secured by the veteran Mr. Henderson, gr. to Sir George Beaumont, Bart., Cole Orton, with examples not over large in bunch, but perfection in size of berry and general finish ; Mr. Sage, gr. to Earl Brownlow, Ashridge, was 3d, with a very good sample. A very good sample was also contributed by Mr. G. Daniells, gr. to A. M. Munby, Shipley Hall, Derby. A very good dish of Muscat of Alexandria, per- haps hardly as ripe as they might be, from Mr. W. Holah, gr. to H. Saville, Esq., Rufford Abbey, Notts, was ist in the class for White Grapes, Mr. W. Peachey, gr. to H. E. Hole, Esq., Quorn- don Lodge, Loughborough, being 2d with Golden Champion, of splendid size but bad colour ; and Mr. M. Henderson 3d, with nice examples of Buckland Sweet- water. Mr. Smith, gr. to the Earl of Gainsborough, Exton Park, Oakham, sent the best basket of Grapes, which consisted of six very handsomely finished bunches of Black Hamburgh, Mr. Henderson coming in ad with smaller but equally well finished examples, and Mr. W. Broadbridge, gr. to Sir C. Mordaunt, Bart., Walton Hall, Wa^^vick, was 3d. Mr. Forman's prizes for six bunches of one or more varieties of Grapes, the pro- duce of Vines more than 25 years old, brought out a most interesting display. The ist prize was awarded to Mr. R. I'Anson, who had large bunches, with good berries of excellent colour. These also were cut from Vines 27 years old, grown on the single rod system. Mr. M. Henderson came in 2d with small but highly finished examples of Black Ham- burgh cut from Vines 39 years old, planted and grown on the extension system ; Mr. Lynn, gr. to Lord Boston, Hedsor, being 3d with handsome bunches of Black Prince, Black Hamburgh, Buckland Sweetwater, and General de la Marmora, an early White Grape of consider- able merit— they were, however, scarcely ripe enough, and no information was given as to which of the rival systems they had been grown upon. From Mr. Simpson, Wortley, came some capital Black Hamburghs, cut from Vines more than 50 years old, which are restricted to one rafter, and pruned to the best bud. Mr. G. Craddock, gr. to Lord Willoughby de Broke, Compton Verney, War- wick, sent admirable specimens of Muscat of Alexan- dria, Black Prince, and Black Hamburgh, from Vines which were grown on the restrictive system, on their own roots, and which have produced Grapes that have regularly taken a ist prize for the last 12 years. Mr. A. Meikle, gr. to S. Howard, Esq., Read Hall, Whalley, had Black Hamburgh, and a small Red Grape cut from Vines grown on the moderate extension system, and there were several other productions of which no particulars were furnished. For the prizes given by Colonel J. C. Wright, Stapleford Hall, for 6 kinds of fruit, Pines excluded, there was only one competitor — Mr. W. Holah, who had good-shaped bunches of Canon Hall Muscat, with immense berries, some fine Golden Hamburghs, Ruddington Hall Seedling, and King of Melons, a capital dish of Apples, and the same of Lee's Perpetual Figs, Peaches, Nectarines, &c. Peaches and Nectarines were not by any means numerous, but of excellent quality. The best single dish in the former class was a handsome dish of Eellegarde, shown by Mr. P. Hope, gr. to F. C. Clarke, Esq., Vinery House, Allerton, Liverpool ; Mr. Sage, gr. to Earl Brownlow, Ashridge, coming in 2d with the same variety; and Mr. Lamb, gr. to G. Davy, Esq., Colston Basset, 3d, with very fine Galande. Mr. Jack, gr. to the Duke of Cleveland. Battle Abbey, Sussex, also sent admirable specimens of Bellegarde ; Mr. Brown, Gopsal, and Mr. Lynn had Royal George, and Mr. Miles had Violette Hative. Mr. P. Hope was also ist for Nectarines, with Elruge, wonderfully fine in size and colour ; Mr. Lynn being 2d, with exceedingly hand- some Violette Hative, and Mr. Brown 3d, with the same variety. The same kind was also shown by Mr. Brown n, and Mr. Lamb and Mr. Miller, gr., j and primitive mann competed with good specimens of ! were staged, and ■ shes of Brown Turkey Figs were shown j that Mr. Gilbert Sage, and Mr. Miller, the prizes being by showing them and Mr. Hender Worksop Mane Elruge. Capital by Mr. Brown, I awarded in the order named — Mr. D. Lumsden, gr the Hon. R. C. Nesbit Hamilton, Blo.xholm Hall, also competing with the same variety. The best single dish of Cherries was one of Black Circassian, of excellent quahty, from Mr. Miller, Mr. Miles coming in 2d with Bigarreau Napoleon ; and Mr. Gariand, gr. to Sir T. Dyke Acland, Bart., Killerton, was 3d, with capital specimens of Elton. The same exhibitor also sent a dish of the Black Tartarian ; Mr. Miles had another one of Black Circassian ; and Mr. J. Woodfield, gr. to F. J. S. Foljimbe, Esq., Osberton, and Mr. Lydiard, Batheaston, had May Duke. In the class for 6 dishes of Straw- berries there was only one exhibitor, Mr. Miles, and he received the ist prize. The best green- fleshed Melon came from Mr. G. Lamb, Colston Basset, a handsome high-flavoured fruit, named Colston Basset Seedhng ; Mr. t. Middleton, gr. to G. T. Cross, Esq., being 2d, with Ruddington Hall Seedling ; and Mr. T. W. Shuttleworth, Golden Hill, Preston, 3d, with Gilbert's Improved Victory of Bath. The best scariet- fleshed variety was a small fruit of Scarlet Gem, shown by Mr. Gilbert, gr. to the Marquis of Exeter, Burghley ; Mr. A. Meikle coming in 2d, and Mr. T. Mitchell 3d ; Mr. Woodfield, Mr. Holah, Mr. Miller, Mr. Cox, Mr. Calder, and Mr. D. Lumsden, also competed. Mr. Frisby, gr. to H. Chaplin, Esq., Blankney, sent three dishes of Apples, and from Mr. Garland, gr. to Sir T. Dyke Acland, Bart., came three nice dishes of Currantsand Raspberries. Mr. Henderson, Cole Orton, exhibited the Black Mammoth Grape, a largevariety, raised in Australia ; and Mr. Miles had a Providence Pine-apple, weighing 10 lb. 14 oz., and an Enville, 8J lb. in weight. Mr. Til- lery, Welbeck, sent a collection of Strawberries. Mr. G. 1 which the "cook's favourites" have much pleasure in stating an admirable example here, a shallow box, with a garni- FiG. 174. — Voice's Patent Hothouse. Lamb had a brace of the Sooly Qua Cucumber, of immense size ; and Mr. Woodfield, Osberton, exhibited fruit of Vanilla planifolia, of the years 1870 and 1871. At no previous provincial exhibition of the Society have Vegetubles been shown in such magnificent condition as they were here. Indeed, considering the season we have had, we doubt if a larger, cleaner, and better grown lot could be brought together. The great centres of attraction were the splendid collections shown in compe- tition for "The Gardeners' Prize," subscribed amongst the gardeners of Great Britain and Ireland, with j^5 added by the Marquis of Exeter, and the handsome silver cup given by Messrs. Carter & Co. for a collection, including Laxton's Supreme, Carter's Hundredfold, Lax- ton's Quality, Dwarf Waterloo, and two other varieties of Peas. This prize was won in the most satisfactory manner by Mr. J. Gariand, gr. to Sir T. Dyke Acland, Bart., Killerton, Devon, who staged a collection which roused to enthusiasm the admiration of his brother gar- deners, and which, besides splendid examples of the specialities mentioned, contained 50 heads of Aspa- ragus, weighing 7V lb., and of an average length of 8 inches, the' largest sample we ever saw from the garden of an English amateur, though at the same time we do not consider it the most useful size for satisfying the requirements of a gentle- man's table ; and perfect examples of Cabbages, Lettuce, Onions, Parsnips, Celery, Carrots, Broad Beans, Turnips, and Beet, &c. It is only fair perhaps to state that Mr. Garland procured the seeds of these remarkably fine vegetables from the firm who gave the prize. The 2d prize was taken by Mr. D. Lumsden, also with a capital lot, in which were admirable Globe Artichokes, Onions, Broad Beans, Cabbage, Leeks, Potatos, and a fine dish of the Rat-tailed Radish. Mr. Gilbert, gr. to the Marquis of Exeter also competed in this class, though unsuccess- fully, he having thrown his greatest efforts into the com- petition for the Gardeners' Prize, which was suggested by him in these columns some months ago, and which he now won very cleverly. When he made the suggestion, Mr. Gilbert made some observations upon the generally rough of beautifully curled Parsley, an arrangement which we should be pleased to see generally followed on all future occasions. There is an old proverb, that " good wine needs no bush," and so in the matter of good vegetables many gardeners hold the opinion that they require no other setting off than that which is afforded by white plates ; but as the production of good vegetables is, or ought to be, a matter of the first importance with every gardener, we think it strange that those gardeners should have such a poor regard for their hardly gained produc- tions. Mr. Gilbert's box of vegetables and salads con tained, in the first place, the cleanest and most perfectly developed Cauhflowers in the show, and the same may be said of his dish of Orangefield Tomatos, which were excellent in size and perfect in colour ; a capital dish of Mushrooms, the same of Globe Artichokes, and Fulmer's Early French Bean, as well as a nice dish of Laxton's William the First Pea, &c. His salading materials con- sisted of a beautiful brace of Telegraph Cucumbers, Beet, Cabbage and Cos Lettuce, and Mustard and Cress. The competition for the other prizes was particularly close, the Rev. C. C. Ellison taking 2d honours with a collection deserving much praise. Following him came Mr. Miles, gr. to Lord Carrington, and Mr. G. Craddock, the latter of whom secured the patent exhibiting case, given by Mr. Chapman, of Gloucester. First-rate collections were also staged by Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Frisby, Mr. T. Mitchell, Mr. F. Soar, Mr. W. Holah, Mr. W. Peachey, and Mr. A. Meikle. The prizes given by the Loughborough Horti- cultural Society were also very well contested. More Cucumbers were shown than is usually seen at an exhi- bition, and amongst them were excellent representatives of most of the leading kinds. For the prizes offered by T. R. Stavey, Esq. , and the local committee, there were 12 competitors, the ist prize being won by the Rev. C. C. Ellison, Bracebridge, Lincoln, with a very nice brace of a white-spined variety, aptly named " Lickemall," Mr. J. Bolton com- ing in 2d, with very good specimens of Telegraph, and Mr. Mitchell 3d, with Berkshire Challenge. Mr. J. Allan, Norton Hall, Sheffield, had a brace of Hamilton's British Challenge, over 30 inches long. Mr. D. T. Fish sent a nice brace of Telegraph, and so did Mr. A. Meikle. Pearson's Long Gun was repre- sented by Mr. A. Parr, and Mr. D. Lums- den sent an immense brace of the new Chinese Cucumber, Sooly Qua. There was also a brisk competition for the prizes given by Mr. W. Edgcumbe Rendle, but nothing calling for special comment was contributed. First in importance among Horltciil- tural Buildittgs are hot-houses, though the field seemed left to the pro- vincial builders — Messenger, of Lough- borough ; Denman, of Chelmsford ; Fos- ter, of Beeston ; Wheeler & Humfrey, of Nottingham. These are well known, and call for no special remark. Ayres" im- perishable house, which has been pre- viously noticed in these columns, appeared in much better condition than at Oxford, and now seems a business-like, useful structure- It is formed of iron, glass, and a composition hard and, said to be, durable as stone, the stages and side walls being thus rendered imperishable. Ample provision is made for ventilation, and the inventor says the cost will not exceed that of the best wooden houses ; if so, these houses ought to take. It must be a boon to have imperishability and cleanliness combined with cul- tural facilities and structural merits of the highest order. Mr. Bickley, of Birmingham, hkewise exhibits an ingenious mode of glazing. He reverses the usual order of the roof bars, and runs them across the house. On narrow slips of wood, deeply serrated strips of zinc are nailed ; a few of these saw-like teeth are reversed, so as to hold the glass firmly, and the squares abut side or lengthways. On steep pitched roofs no water will get in, and even on those of ordinary character, it is said, the attraction of the two edges prevents drip. If the immunity from drip at ordinary angles can be ensured, these roofs will prove exceedingly light and cheap. Another novelty in ventilation is exhibited by Mr. Voice, of Harcross in Sussex. The house is furnished with a centre cap or lantern, one or both sides of which can be elevated rapidly with a rack and screw at pleasure (fig. 174 — I to 4). By this mode ventilation can always be given on the end side of the wind, while, by lifting up the entire top, the heated air can escape at once. Side ventilation is given in the ordinary way under the wall- plate (fig. 175— 5 and 6). Mr. Foster seems to have brought the mechanical contrivances for the movement of ventilators to a high state of perfection. By a peculiar arrangement of bevelled gear and screw, the heaviest ventilator can be moved with the utmost facility. The open ventilator is elevated by a horizontal movement which throws it up, so that air is given while the rain is kept out. The houses and pits of this builder have wooden sides and iron feet, which makes the tenant's fixtures removable at pleasure. Mr, Richardson, of Darlington, likewise exhibits models of his patent hothouses. The improvements shown by Mr. Rendle in his plant protectors bring some of them almost within the category of houses. The old forms are still retained, while new facilities for the removal of the glass are afforded by a movable coping, that is simply laid on the upper edge of the glass. Nothing could be more simple. The protectors are also shown in more pretentious size and form ; glass walls and miniature houses, The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 843 ich zinc is used for grooves and wood for sides, 1 of bricks and tiles. Tlie Peacii-case and ur's plant-case have folding backs of wood, which down to tend the trees or plants, while the top is lovable. The cordon frame has a hole at the end, nit the tree, and there can be little doubt of their with the efficient shelter these cordon cases pro- We hear a good character of these protectors on . hands, ; I doubt the nded. columns, the great want of modern g glass, and we hail every attempt to ] and in useful forms. A good specimen of Beard's glass ■ stantial, and business-like, was also sho From glass structures we naturally tu; heating them. Boilers were not nume aptation in these ■ng, sub- and then eltys •the: Mr. Weeks showed his upright tubular, and Mr. Ormson put up some substantial-looking convoluted saddle and flued saddles, and a new form in which the fire is swept through the centre and four spaces around it. There :ion of the power and the durability of these boilei The Witley Court boiler V nace door and everything cc the deep pan water, and the fire around the ;e show Its chief fee the ash-pit to be kept suppli fith its fur- the fire. Id with It looks capable of he: amotmt of water that may be required ; but the semi- detached end seems to us a defect. Mr. Ormson showed a double-flued saddle— with the water carried under the bars, and a solid end that seems to combine most of the advantages without the complica- tions of the Witley Court Boiler. Among miscellaneous e.thibits, a fine lot of pottery, in- cluding vases, fountains, baskets, and pots, was shown by Mr. John Matthews, of Weston-super-mare ; garden chairs with shades, in endless variety ; engines, mowing machines, sewing machines, fancy stationary, carriages, perambulators, ad liHtum : rollers, vases, and even reapers ; steam-engines— and, last, though in many re- spects by no means least, as an adjunct of the time, a printing machine, driven by steam-power, to print the Guides and Prize Lists of the Royal Horticultural Society on the grounds. The Di, Clarke, Messrs. I =nson Ingr: ic Exchange Hall.— On Tuesday ev ■ was held in the Exchange. The Re icar of Caunton, presided, and amor le Mayor, Colonel Scott, Major Trev. irson, of Chilwell; Stevens, ofTren of "vdt° Edmunds W. Barro: London ; Turner, Slough ; Lane, Berkhampstea Laing, Forest Hill ; Barron, Chiswick ; Williams, Hoi way ; Dickson, Chester ; Baines, Southgate ; Dei London ; Paul, Cheshunt ; Gadd, Wollaton ; W. Pa Waltham Cross, &c. The Chairman gave "The Health of the Queen," a afterwards proposed "The Prince and Princess of Wal and the rest of the Royal Family." He remarked that, an individual, he was glad to see that his Royal Highn had missed 12 pigeons in succession. He trusted that Royal Highness would seek healtWer pursuits, 0 among them horticulture, especially ithe ^Den He should like this toast, the amiable ; He , but he fel ; the p( dined day.' EngUshmen used to have no difliculty about dining ; but somehow or other there had been some difficulty previously in holding a gardeners* dinner at these annual meetings. 'They had previously wanted the presence of those who were at the head of the Society, but here they were to-night. They had had the best show to-day that ever the Society had had in the provinces, and there had been no want of harmony in making it a happy one throughout. The gardeners who came to these meet- ings had great sympathy and fellowship with each other ; they wanted to cement their old friendships, and to meet men they had heard about all their lives. Did not our painters wish to know a Millais, or a young soldier a Napier? He had known the time when he would have gone 40 miles to meet Thomas Rivers, of Sawbridgesvorth. What they wanted was unity, and they had it to-day more than they ever had it before. He gave them the " The Health of the Chief Magistrate of the Town," who had done so much to insure the success of the meeting, and he might congratulate him on the happy day this had been for Nottingham and on the grand exhibition over which he had, so to speak, presided. (Cheers.) The Mayor, in reply, said he felt that, as one who filled the honourable office of Mayor of Nottingham, he should have been a recreant to the trust confided in him if, when an important Society all he uld the ha success of the meeting. The Mayor Council of the Society, coupling with the toast the i of his friend Colonel Scott. observe that the ;e mankind. Mr. Ho tion with this dinner. He did not know and-outs of the question, but he reminded them t Society had a great many difficulties to contend w was made up of heterogeneous elements. There 1 the florist, who looked at a flower in relation to i lariiy ; then they had the horticulturist prope delighted in looking at everything in the light of colour or beauty of form ; then there was the botanist, who thought that it was the most important thing that a flower should have its right name given to it ; and then the physiological horticulturist, who thought of nothing but the scientific point of the question. Besides these classes, however, they had the outside public to consider. Horticulture was like painting, there were wanted not only the artists, but the people to admire the works that were produced. Many of those present were men of business, and they were pretty ;tha the absen )f the public would be the worst thing that could befall hem. Still, he did not think the Horticultural Society leeded any apology ; they were doing their duty man- ully and well. He dwelt on the progress the Society vas making, and said the show in Nottingham was ig thousands to see it. He could 0 the local committee, who had ;cure a success, and he wished also ifforts of those who had brought uld bri nber of 1 tho had judged them so \ four days, would n Last, but not least, Mayor for the hone for the ; thn returned their thanks to t had done them, and also I and all those qualities I ■bted to so grc which thev had been for the siiccess of the exhibition. He thankei from his heart for the way in which they had been receive! and hoped this would be one of a series of meetings i which they would meet together. (Cheers. ) The Chairman, in giving the next toast, proceeded 1 refer to a few names which had not been previously mei tionedinthe first list of "scientific persons" attendir the meeting in Nottingham, mentioning Mr. Gruntle Mr. Tho Mr Mr. St( ndalso ned Mr led d He the exhibitors, ply, made some practical obsen e health of the Cha the latter gentleman, es might have arisen, he thought they should do all honour to their secretary for his energy and activity in bringing about this great success. He then mentioned Mr. George Eyles and Sergeant Johnson, and concluded by saying that the show of flowers and plants he^ had^seen that day best he had evi Baines to reply Mr. Baines, in reply, upon the growing of pli The Mayor, in proposing th referred to the good wiU he had shown in promoting the meeting, also to his being an excellent clergyman and an excellent gardener, who looked from Nature up to Nature's God. Mr. Hole was really and truly, and in the highest sense of the word, a gardener, who culti- vated not only his own garden, but the souls of those who lived in his parish, and he was glad of his presence that night. He hoped he would long continue in his Chris- tian work, and in the promotion of horticulture, and grace by his pleasant and agreeable presence many such meetings as this. The Chairman, in reply, said he should look back upon this day as one of the happiest in his life. This was the first day in which they had bridged over a Uttle chasm which had existed between science and practical garden- ing. He did not pretend to be anything but a lover of flowers. He loved every flower that was grown — that was his idea. The man who could not admire every flower in a wood as well as any Orchid was not a true gardener. If he did so, however, he was a true florist. The Chair- man then told a very droll anecdote. In a village nine miles from Nottingham there lived a clergyman, Wei ired this the gettn due between the pars lived in this village ; clerk, an propriety flourishing. But thei he did not think he w; len he stated that h r, and he played on the violin. ' All things went very happily, the clergyman employing the clerk to make clothes for him- self and livery for his man, and he (Mr. Hole) thought it right that native talent should be thus encouraged. Unfortunately, one day there came to the clergyman a new groom, who declared that he would not have his clothes made by Kemp. The clergyman weakly and thoughtlessly listened to the council of the groom, and allowed him to go to a very excellent man and tailor, whom they all liked— Mr. Finn. The man went to Mr. Finn, and the next Sunday when the clergyman gave out the hymn the fiddle of Kemp made no sign. Again the clergyman gave out the hymn, repeating the first verse, but the fiddle made no sign. There was consternation in the heart and countenance of the parson, and he turned to that part of the church from which the music ought to have proceeded for an explanation, and after a pause there was a messenger sent, and the reply was, "If you please, sir, Kemp says as Finn may fiddle." He hoped that in the same way that working gardeners would not be put on one side for science, or they might reply " Science may fiddle." He said to the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society, "Come to us, as you have done to-night, in a kind and friendly way, and be friends with the British gardener." He then warmly thanked the com- pany for the way in which they had drunk his health. Major Trevor Clarke and Col. Scott both denied that the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society was in any way inimical to the practical gardener. Mr. Baines proposed the Judges, to which Mr. Fish re- plied, and said the Council of the Society might be practical gardeners individually, but they did not seem to understand the gardeners, nor did they understand them. The only way to get out of the difficulty was to put their Chairman on the Council, and there would then be an end of the difficulty for ever. The Chairman proposed the health of Mr. E. J. Lowe, and said the success which had attended this day's pro- ceedings must have entirely obliterated any objection any- body might have held to any particular view he had taken. They must all feel gratitude to Mr. Lowe for the energy Mr. Lowe, in reply, said any little labour he had bestowed was amply repaid by the promise of success which he saw before him, for he always noticed that when the first day started well they were sure to go on pros- perously to the end. He assured them that he had both the Horticultural Society and the success of the gardeners equally at heart. He pointed to his production of British Ferns as a proof that he was a practical gardener— (Cheers) —and after some further observations resumed his seat amid applause. Mr. Fish in proposing the next toast, said that practical men laid the elements of science, and the difference between them and the bookmen was, that whilst the latter put their science into books, the former put it into plants and flowers. He proposed " Success to Horticul- ture," to which Mr. Ingram, of Belvoir, replied in an appropriate speech. The Chairman gave the Horticultural Press, and coupled with it the name of an old gardener— Mr. W. P. Ayres. Mr. Ayres might have been a little venturesome in his zeal for horticulture, but if they looked through his writings, they would find him an advocate of the gardener.', Mr. Ayres had made many valuable suggestions both in print and in private about this show, and his (the Chair- man's) only regret was, that he had not been working with them, when his heart lay so much in the cause. Mr. Ayres said there was no one living who was willing to do more for horticulture than he was, and he really thought he was doing good, although some might think he was doing harm. He was no truckler ; he should always pursue an independent course, and do that which he considered to be right. The Mayor then proposed the ladies, to which Mr. Pearson, of ChilweU, replied in a humorous speech. The proceedings shortly after terminated. Crystal Palace, Rose Show ; June 24.— The extremely unfavourable state of the weather, was the reason assigned by many of the most noted rosarians, who flocked to this popular place of resort on Saturday last, for the shortcomings of this exhibition. In the first place, it was not so large as usual, and, in the second, the blooms, as a whole, were below the average merit, being, with the exception of those sent up from the south-west country, stunted in growth and poor in colour — an attendant consequence of the late heavy rains. In the first four classes, which were confined to nurserj'men, the honours may fairly be said to have been divided between Messrs. Paul & Son and the the forme varieties, and the latter for collections of 48 and 24, three trusses of each. Messrs. Paul & Son's best blooms were of Centifolia rosea. Alba rosea. General Jacqueminot, the best of the lot ; Dupuy Jamin, a Rose which was shown well in all the leading groups ; Jean Goujon, a beautiful red ; Leopold Hausburg, very fine ; John Hopper, Charies Ma Ma de Chabril- lant, a variety which, like General Jacqueminot, Charies Lawson, Jules Margottin, and others, will probably hold its own as long as Rose shows are in existence. Mr. Keynes came in 2d in this class, and a good one too. His flowers were as bright in colour as of old, if they were not quite so even, especially those of Madame Clemence Joigneaux. a first-class show Rose; Mdlle. Eugene Verdier, Nardy Freres, a new variety, of excellent merit, rose, with a shade of violet, large and full ; Elie Morel, Dupuy Jamin, Alfred Colomb, very fine, Camille Bernar- din, and Marechal Niel. Next to Mr. Keynes came Mr. J. Mitchell, of Piltdown, followed by Messrs. E. P. Francis & Co., of Hertford. Mr. John Durbin, EnglUh- combe, near Bath, was also a competitor. Mr. Keynes had his revenge in the class for 48, three trusses of each, Messrs. Paul & Son being here placed 2d. His collection contained large and well-coloured examples of Ferdinand de Lesseps, Devoniensis, Madame Willer- moz, Marechal Niel, first-rate, Alfred Colomb, .also e.xcellent. La France, Lomse Peyronny, Souvenir d'Elise, and Edward Morren, finer and of better form than we have seen it before, but a little deficient in colour. Messrs. Paul & Son had the following in capital order :— Beauty of Waltham, Dr. Andry, Dupuy Jamin, ModMe de Per- fection, John Hopper, Camille Bemardin, CentifoUa rosea, and La France. Mr. Turner was 3d, and Mr. Mitchell 4th. In the next class, for 24, three trusses of each, the first three prizes were taken by the same exhibitors, and in the same order. The best flowers in the three groups were examples of Marguerite de St. .'\mand, Madame Clemence Joigneaux, Marquise de CastiUane, Abel Gand, Duke of Edinburgh, Leopold Hausburg, Nardy Freres, Miss Ingram, Camille Bemardin, and Miss Poole, a new variety, staged by Mr. Turner, delicate rose, large, and of good form. For 24 varieties, one truss of each, Mr. Walker, Thame. Oxon, was ist ; Mr. G. Cooling, Bath, whose collection was very unsatisfactorily labelled, 2d; Mr. Parker. Rugby, 3d ; and Mr. Knight, Hailsham, 4th, — four npetii The freshest and brightest Roses in the exhibition were contributed to the amateurclasses by Mr. R. N. G. Baker. Heavitree, Devon, who was pre-eminently first, for 48, 36, and 24 v,arieties respectively. Amongst his 48, of which all were large and good, the following especially were splendid in colour :— Madame Marie Rady, Alfred Colomb, Maurice Bemardin, Marie Baumann. Madame Rothschild, Centifolia rosea, Mrs. Charies Wood, and Antoine Ducher. In this class Mr. W. Ingle, gr.. Round Hall, Colchester, was 2d, with, amongst others, grand blooms of M.arechal Niel, Rubens, Madame Crapolei, Mart'chal Vaillant, Gloire de Dijon, and Cloth of Gold ; Mr. Chard, Clarendon Park, Salisbury, 3d, and the Rev. G. .\rkwright, Pencombe Rectory, Bromyard, 4th, In 844 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. Quly I, 1871. the class for 36, Mr. Baker beat fifteen other competitors with a collection of great excellence, comprising especially good blooms of Dr. Andry, Due de Wellington, La France, Duke of Edinburgh, Louise Peyronny, Fisher Holmes, and Charles Lefebvre. Mr. Chard came 2d. Mr. Excell, gr. to J. Hollingshead, Esq, Maidstone, 3d; and Mr. J. Davis, Wilton, SaUsbury, 4th. Next to Mr. Baker, for 34, came Mr. T. Gravely, Crawfield, Mr. J. Davis, and Mr. Stoddart, gr., Wivenhoe Park. Colchester. The best 12 single trusses, distinct, were contributed by Mr. J. E. CaveU, Walton Manor, Oxford. In the open class for 12 trasses of any new Rose of 1868, Mr. Keynes staged Marquise de Castellane ; Mr. J. Durbin, Madame Rothschild ; Mr. Turner, Duke of Edinburgh ; and Messrs. Paul & Son the latter and Marquise de Mortemart. Messrs. Paul & Son had the best collection of 24 new Roses of 1868-9, one truss of each, including a fine seedling from Duke of Edinburgh, named Robert Marnock, deep maroon ; and staged excellent representatives of the former variety and Centi- folia rosea, in the class for 12 blooms of any single variety. Mr. Keynes was 2d in the former class. In the latter class Mr. Ingle staged Jules Margottin ; Mr. F. May, Braintree, Essex, Devoniensis ; Mr. F. W. Bridge, of the same place, Marechal Niel and Souvenir d'un Ami ; Rev. G. Arkwright the last named variety, and Mr. Keynes La France. The best collection of yellow Roses also came from Mr. Keynes, a very fine lot of Marechal Niel ; Messrs. Paul & Son coming in 2d with Celine Forrestier and Gloire de Dijon. In addition to the Roses, prizes were also offered by the Metropolitan Floral Society for Ranunculuses and Pinks, two classes of each ; the Rev. H. H. Dombrain winning both first prizes for the former flowers, Mr. Turner having the best Pinks. Mr. Hooper, Bath, and Mr. A. Evans, Marston, Oxford, took second honours for Ranunculuses, and the first named was 2d for Pinks, Mr. D. Pizzey, gr. to Sir E. Perry, Fulmer, Slough, being 3d. In the class for miscellaneous productions were n fine boxes of Roses from. Mr Turner, a large and effective group of fine- foliaged and flowering plants, including some well grown pot specimens of garden Phloxes from Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing, bo.xes of Pinks and Ranunculuses from Mr. Hooper, Bath, a nice group of pot Roses from Messrs. Paul & Son, and a group of new Zonal Pelargo- niums, including Lord Lome, bright scarlet, pip large, round, and smooth, and Frances, Countess of Waldegrave, a lighter scarlet, with a white eye, from Messrs. Burley & Martin, nurserymen, Brentwood. 'goiim ai §00hs. The Honey Bee, its Natural History, Physio- logy, and Management. By Edward Bevan, M.D. Revised, enlarged, and illustrated by William Augustus Munn, F. R. H. S. London : Van Voorst. With 21 plates, Svo, 1870. The common hive bee. Apis melHfica, together with its various local or geographical varieties, and a few other distinct species, found in tropical countries, have, from the earliest ages, attracted the attention of mankind ; and probably there is scarcely any subject upon which a greater amount of ingenious trifling has been bestowed than in inventing and modifying receptacles for their domicile, with greater or less facilities for robbing the inmates of their honied stores. Dr. Bevan's work, published in 1838, has ever since that period been the standard English work upon the honey bee. After 32 years it has been deemed advisable to publish a new edition of it, in which it was intended that the many new and curious facts relating to the physiology and economy of the insect, which have lately been recorded, as well as the various improvements in the construction of the hive itself, should be brought together and described. This task was undertaken by Major Munn, an enthusi- astic bee-keeper, and inventor of a peculiar kind of hive, which attracted much attention in the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, where so many differently constructed hives from various parts of the world were brought together. We regret that it is our conscientious duty to state that this task has not been satisfactorily performed. That the arrangement of the various chapters has been transposed is not very material, although we think that Dr. Bevan's plan of giving the description of the insect at the commencement of the work was more judicious than placing it in the middle, where we find it in the new edition ; but we are justly entitled to complain that throughout the work the editor has thought it proper to introduce words and passages and even chap- ters into the work, altering also the original text in many places, without the slightest indication of what was original, or what has been altered or added by the We will confine ourselves in this review to the description of this hive (as illustrating the practical portion of the subject comprised in Part I.) and to the manner in which the editor has treated the physiological or scientific division of the work (Part II., to which, however, he has injudiciously transposed several of Dr. Bevan's practical chapters). With reference to the origin of bar and frame hives, we read in the original edition (pp. 106, et scij.) : — " It has been said that Huber borrowed from the Can- diotes the first idea of his leaf-hive. These descendants of a highly intelligent people, without being aware of the principle of their proceeding, continue the practice of their ingenious predecessors, in so far as simply sur- mount/«^ their hives with loose bars can be considered of it, and are thereby enabled occasion- ally to raise artificial swarms and sometimes to practise partial deprivation, in a very easy and simple manner, but there is much casualty in their proceedings, little of science, for in answer to enquiries, which I have repeatedly insti- tuted through the medium of persons residing in the Archipelago, I have learned that the attainment of either of the advantages referred to is liable to great uncertainty; the mere removal of loaded combs among the Greek apia- rians, so far from being at all times a simple and easy process, to use the language of one of my informality, often involves a very delicate and difficult operation. Huber extended and rendered the system more complete, pro- Golding, myself, and others, already detailed, have shown that this hive admitted of still further improvement, the leaves are too narrow to be applicable to all purposes, and the hive altogether has been so much simplified by Mr. G. that I shall confine myself to a description of the parti- cular form and dimensions which he has adopted. As to the quality and thickness of the wood, &c." Then follows a description of Mr. Golding's hive, with its various bars or leaves, and which the author concludes by saying, that it will "constitute what, I think, will be found an improved modification of the hive of Huber." The whole of the passages printed above in italics have been left out by the editor, who thus sacrifices an instance of Dr. Bevan's careful research, as well as the doctor's appreciation of Mr. Golding's success. He has altered the passage commencing above with a * thus — "Later experiments,however,haveshownthatthis hive admitted of still further improvement, and the hives of Du Beauvois' construction [exhibited in the Great E.\hibitionin iSsiJare the best and most useful," and then instead of describing De Beauvois' (not Du Beauvois') hive, he copies the whole of Dr. Bevan's description of Mr. Golding's, commencing "As to the quality and thickness of the wood," &c., pp. 305, 306. We see, therefore, that the idea of compelling the bees to store their honey in separate leaves of frames, capable of being removed for examination or deprivation, has been known in all ages, and several modifications of the principle were exhibited by De Beauvois, Golding, and Munn, in the Great Exhibition in 1851. The last- named, however, claims (p. 37) to have first used his hive in 1834, to have patented it in Paris in 1838, and to have published a description of it in 1844, but unfor- tunately no copy of this description can now be found. As exhibited it was certainly one of the most ingenious and at the same time most complicated of the hives then assembled, resembling rather " a lady's work-box with a stand and ornamental fittings," as was said of it by Prof. Hamet in his report on the Paris Exhibition of 1867, than a working beehive. It was in fact a triangular box of mahogany enclosing seven movable frames, each fixed by a hinge at one of the angles, so that it could be drawn up, when the top of the box was lifted off and received into a larger sized "observation frame" with glass sides of the same triangular shape. Not only, how- ever, has the inventor found, as he admits, that the triangular form is inconvenient, but that for practical purposes the glass observation frame is an incumbrance, and hence the hive which he exhibited at the horti- cultural show in Oxford in 1S70, was square in shape, inclosing square frames without any "observation" apparatus, and thus scarcely varying, except in some slight details, from those of De Beauvois and Golding. In his work the editor dwells much on having made the floor of the hive slant downwards from front to back, which enables any dead bees or other refuse to fall out of the hive at the entrance, which extends along the whole width of the back of the hive, and to reach which entrance the bees have to crawl up a second and lower alighting board of the whole width of the hive slanting upwards in the opposite direction from front to back. We consider this arrangement a very unnatural one, as bees invariably select a hole with a small entrance aperture, when left to them- selves in swarming and choosing a place of abode ; moreover, they certainly have the instinct to clear away any objectionable matter lying within the hive. As to the name "honey-trough," which the editor has applied to his hive, it Is a simple delusion, being simply applicable to a flat tin box, with perforated zinc cover extending over the greater portion of it, used for feeding the bees from a bottle placed neck downwards in communication with the perforated portion — and which is placed on the top of the bars when it is neces- sary to feed the bees. In his description of the plates representing his hive, the editor says that the "bar-frame principle consists in having a * bar with a frame ' to carry each separate comb in a hive where the combs can be attached by the bees to the sides of the frames, and not to the sides of the hive, as in all Grecian and other bar-hives or boxes." This statement is not, however, correct, since De Beauvois' hive consisted of nine four-sided frames, for as many combs enclosed within a square box of wood with a movable roof, which is precisely the principle of Major Munn's hive, although he triumphantly remarks, on p. 45, that " a law suit in America has quite decided the question of the bar-frame hive being the invention of an Englishman, and not French, German, or American, as has been supposed ; and I am rejoiced to revive the question with such evidence in favour of the ' bar-and-frame hive.'" Turning 1 i the scientific, or second part of the work, we find that the editor has adopted various opinions quite at variance with those of the more advanced and philosophic naturalists of the day. Thus his description of the young larva of the bee, and the manner in which it is nourished, is a strange jumble of fact and fiction, the fact being found in the reprinted description of Dr. Bevan (pp. 9 and 10), and the fiction being the additions of the editor (pp. 175, 176). Take, for instance, the following passage from the latter :— "It is a question which will be fully explained when treating more fully of the larva state, whether it is not supported, in combination with vital force [!], by endosmosis ; for the quantity of food left by the queen [!] in the larva cells, whilst the young is in the pupa [!] state, is neariy twice as much as the whole weight of the larva, and it seems to be the more solid parts of the food left from the mere [!] bee bread and honey (by the result of capillary attraction, according to the theory of Mons. Dutrochet), taking up the sugar and water and more liquid parts of the mixmre." And yet, although adopting this idea of endosmosis, or nourishment by absorption through the pores of the skin, he tells us in the next line that the larva is fed with farina or bee-bread ; and in the next page (p. 176) how eagerly the young larva opens its lateral pincers [mandibles] when in want of food, of which a most liberal supply is given to it by the nursing bees, which calculate the quantity which will be required so nicely that none remains in the cell when the larva is transformed to a nymph. Again, at p. 346, he reasserts the principle of endosmosis, stating that " M«-; if no mouth developed in the larva, but the point of the spinnaret [sic] at the head, which enables the larva to spin itself into its own cocoon." This spinnaret is the nipple at the extremity of the labrum or lower lip, the action of the mandibles is above alluded to, and a care- ful examination with a lens clearly shows the rudimen- tal upper lip (labrum), and a pair of rudimental lower jaws (maxilte). This completes the parts of the growth of a mandibulated insect. In fact, how is it possible for a larva to feed upon bee bread without a mouth ? The structure of the bee larva is, indeed, precisely similar to that of the wasp — larva which has no means of feeding on honey or sugar and water, but only on solid food. The question of endosmosis is far too diflicult to be treated in the cursory manner adopted by Major Munn. We had further marked the long passage descriptive of Plate H, at the end of the volume, in which a magnified figure is given of the larva of a male bee, as every line exhibits either an error in grammar or science ; it is, however, too long for extract. The doctrine of parthenogenesis, or the power of the queen to deposit eggs which produce male insects, without any previous fecundation by the male, is as easily discarded as that of endosmosis is accepted by the editor. Every entomologist, however, knows that female insects occasionally produce fertile eggs under similar conditions, and every bee-keeper knows that queen bees only produce male eggs if not impregnated by the twentieth or twenty-first day after her having hatched from the eggs, or if not impregnated at all ; so is it equally certain that the queen must have the power of depositing male or female (worker) eggs at will on arriving at male or worker cells. All these facts are explained by parthenogenesis, which principle has now been further applied to explain the singular anomalies exhibited in the propagation of other insects, such as the Polistes amongst wasps, and the Strepsiptera. Major Munn, on the contrary, believes that in all these cases impregnation had really taken place. If such, how- ever, had been the case, the anomaly in the production of nothing but male eggs would not have occurred. We have not space or inclination to enter into further detail on this subject, but would advise Major Munn to study Signer Bulbiani's paper on the development of the aphides in the last published part of the "Annales des Sciences Naturelles," and its beautiful figures, where hej will be able to discover the proper name, structure, and functions of the organ which, in the description of Plate K, he has misnamed the "sper- mathetica," and then, perhaps, he will also be ashamed of having given to the world such a set of caricatures as are to be found in some of his ovm plates. Under the title Beitr'dge zur Systetnatischen Pflamenkunde (Observations on Systematic Botany), Professor Reichenbach has recently published a series of articles chiefly relating to Orchids, and specially interesting as containing a descriptive catalogue of the Orchids of Brown's "Prodromus." ©iJttuarg. We greatly regret to announce the death, in his 71st year, of M. Charles Lemaire, till lately editor of the " Illustration Horticole," a gentleman distinguished for his special knowledge of succulent plants and well versed in general botanical knowledge, as also in classical literature. M. Lemaire died in Paris, where he remained throughout the siege, suffering from a pain- ful disease, and, we are sony to add, in impoverished circumstances. We have received from his successor, M. Andre, a feeling tribute to his memory, which we shall have the melancholy satisfaction of publishing in our next issue. July The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 845 THE WEATHER. TURK OP THE AIR AND FALL OF . DIFFERENT STA T/ONS, NG THE Week ending Satuhdav, June 24, BirminRham Wolverhamp Sheffiefd Bradford' Leeds .. »\fi ti at Sunday. 301 Monday Vi Wednes liM t throughou nil midnight. 23,— Rain fell from rai{ 24.-— Cloudy till night. Fine and nearly clou A few drops of rain fell occasionally. 25._Variable amounts of cloud prevalent < 20.— A very fine day. Generally cloudless after 7 P .^ 27.— Variable but fine throughout. A cloudless night. 38.— Showers of rain fell m the early morning. Varjabl amounts of cloud were prevalent. Fine after noon. JAMES GLAISHER. Generally cloudy ilenL Generally fine. Miscellaneous. JUNE, T871.* Month of delights !— so poets tune _„ _Their lyres to make them all appear ; But all these pleasant things, this year, t"- Were of the scantiest kind in June. J»3- Sheep-bells did tinkle as of yore, » And scythes were whetted to cut hay ; ,/.;. But when in swathes, O, lack-a-day ! JJ^' No chance to shake or turn it o'er. .^ June, in whose com*se we look with hopes, ^,1^ , And watch the tender swelling fruits ; — ,, , But grubs and aphis on the shoots Have this year nearly spoil'd the crops. Month set apart for bedding out The tenderest of our gaudy flowers ;— But cold east winds, and some hail showers, Did all their earliest beauties flout. Few midges danced above the streams, Nor dragon-flies show'd on the wing ; And beetles nestled, shivering. For want of the sun's brightening "beams. Snow-capp'd, at times, the higher hills, And hoar frosts glitter'd in low sites, With heavy rains and chilly nights :— So June has brought us many ills. IK T, The Asplenium lucidu.m of New Zealand is regarded by the natives as a sacred plant, and Dr. George Bennett gives some interesting details of its superstitious uses. It is used by the Tohunga or priest when he is praying over a sick person, and ' See page 811. endeavouring to avert the anger of the gods, to whose influence the illness of the individual is attributed ; he waves a frond of this Fern over the parient, and, should it happen to break, it is regarded as a fatal o: When the Tohunga consults the gods, previou engaging in any war enterprise, he also waves a frond of this Fern whilst he offers up prayers to the spirits : if it breaks, it is supposed that the gods are averse to their engaging in war, and the enterprise is abandoned. It is also used by the natives as a badge of mourning : when a wife mourns for her husband, she sits wailing in her hut, with a frond of this Fern bound as a fillet around her head ; and a husband performs the same ceremony when he loses his wife. They are careful not to burn this plant. It is also used when the chief has his hair cut : after the operation is performed, th< chief holds a frond of this Fern in his hand, meanwhile the priest prays over him, taking the frond and shaking it ; after which it is dipped in water, and shaken over the chief : if it breaks, it is regarded as a sign that he will not live long ; and if one of the leaflets should break off, it is regarded as an omen that one of the family of the chief will soon die, but should the frond remain entire, it indicates success, health, and long life. (FOR THE ENSUING WEEK.) PLANT HOUSES. The earliest flowering plants of Cape Pelargonii whetherof show or fancy varieties, will have passed their best, and will now need attention in regard to pruning back, as a preliminary to another season's active cam- paign. Cut them down somewhat severely, but with an eye to secure as many well-placed eyes on the old matured wood as possible. After this operation has been performed place them in a cold frame or similar position, and where rain cannot reach them. They should be kept somewhat dry at the root for two or three weeks to come, and until some little progress is made in the formation of young shoots. Seeds of that very showy greenhouse bieimial, the Schizantkus, should be sown within the next week or two. Sow tlie seed in a rich unctuous fibrous loam, with a little sand, peat, and thoroughly pulverised cowdung intermixed. Seeds of Herbaceous Calceolarias should also be sown now, if not already done. Place the pans in a cool, shady frame, and where drips or heavy rain-showers cannot reach them. Chrysanthemums, where moderate bushy speci- mens are formed, may be again pinched back, though it is not desirable to pinch any back very severely after the first week in July, as this not unfrequently tends to decrease the size and beauty of the blooms. Afiord manurial waterings alternately, and proceed with staking and tying, so as to be prepared for any wind storms that may occur. Repot Vallotas in equal parts of good peat, fibrous loam, with a dash of silver sand and well decomposed manure intermixed, in all instances where the roots require fresh soil or larger root space. Water them with moderate free- dom during the next few months, and, indeed, until they push forth their blooms in or about August. Be particular at this season to keep Tuberous Tropirolmns which are at rest dry at the root. The best way is to turn the pots containing the tubers upon their sides in a cool, moderately dry situation. Let me again draw attention to the fact that when bright sunshine does come, shading should be resorted to in most glass tures to which but a moderate quantity of air is admitted. This is the more necessary, owing to the fact that we have had so much dull weather of late. As as the weather becomes at all settled, it will be well to attend to any repairs, and painting and glazing that may be needed in greenhouses, cool pits, &c. Proceed with the potting of all plants requiring that process. The many delicate or newer varieties of plants that we have been unwilling to shift at an lier date, may now be operated upon with greater freedom from risk, as these will now have time to make fresh roots, and re-establish themselves before the dull autumn months set in. FORCING HOUSES. Pines which are now advancing to the fruiting condi- on, or such as have undergone the preliminary stage 1 an early show, must now be regularly attended to, 1 regard to root-watering. It is difficult to say how frequently individual batches may need such atten- tions, as so very much depends upon the size of the pots they may be in, the texture of the loam, bottom-heat, &c. Should the weather prove dry and hot, however, they will need moderate sup- plies every three days or so, according to the dry- of the air and the amount of actual sun- heat. Those Pines which are about to ripen their must be kept rather drier, from the time when, by imparting an agreeable odour to the air, and by a slight change of colour, they exhibit symptoms of ripening. Give air always during mild periods as freely possible, but maintain such a degree of heat as has been suggested in past Calendars. Vines which ripening their crops evenly and kindly may be per- mitted to grow a few young shoots, if they push forth freely and are not likely to give too much shade to the older and more matured foliage. By so doing, the isary preparations for the future season's wood supply may be more successfully carried out. It has been previously suggested that late Grapes should be thinned more than those which may be termed mid- season ones, in view of their keeping better during the winter months, when a cold and necessarily damp atmosphere will often pervade the most carefully attended structures. Attend to the " root wants " of all Young Vines that are planted out. By neglecting to give periodical surface-waterings to such when they are planted out within-doors, we induce them to root too deeply, when, by greater attention, the roots may be maintained nearer the surface. Orchard-house Trees should now have a good mulching with rich, thoroughly- decomposed manure, and should be watered very frequently. Many kinds, such as Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums, will now have finished stoning, and should be treated very liberally in regard to syringing, so as to aid them as much as possible in the final swelling process. HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. In any case where the usual pruning, nailing, and thinning operations, connected with wall fruit trees, and which generally demand our greatest attention during the month of June, have not been completed, bring up all arrears with the utmost dispatch, for although the weather continued cold so long, and many things are backward in their growth in consequence, the year nevertheless does not loiter, and our routine of operations must keep pace with the seasons if we are to be prepared for the arrival of winter. The Aphis pests, especially black fly, seem to increase ivith amazing rapidity, even now when the young foliage has attained to a greater amount of consistency, and is more matured to withstand their attacks. Thin out the strongest breast wood or young shoots upon wall, espalier, and pyramidal Pears, Apples, &c. , and shorten the points of the stronger ones remaining for a future season's tree increase. HARDY FLOWER GARDEN. Proceed with the layering of Pijiks, Carnations, Picotees, and Clo~jes. Pegs should be prepared from old birch brooms, or similar material, some 3 or 4 inches in length, and nicely pointed. Provide a rich open compost, consisting of three parts loam and one each of decayed leaf-mould and sand. Clear away all litter from around the old plants, hoeing the soil deeply sub- sequently. Place a moderate mound of fresh soil around the plant, and proceed to prepare the shoots selected. First, pull off, without injury to the shoots, all old or injured leaves at the base of the young leaves of the current season's growth ; then shorten the points of those young shoots selected. Now with a sharp knife make a slit from beyond a well matured joint upwards to the next one, which is nearer the growing point, and slanting inwardly at least half way, if this can be done without injury to the other half of the shoot. Having made the fresh soil moderately firm, make an opening therein some 2 inches deep, and place the shoot therein, choosing a peg and fixing down securely in such a manner as'to leave the wound open, and so that some of thefiner soil may fall within the cut, which is done by raising the point of the shoot gently upwards as the peg is being fixed firmly over its lower portion. Whilst the shoot is being held in its position place more soil firmly over and arotmd it, and so proceed until all are done, when a nice gentle soak- ing of water from a fine-rosed watering-pot will nicely settle the soil amongst the whole. I have been some- what more explicit, from a desire to aid those who, being uninitiated in the practice, nevertheless would like to perform this simple operation. Seedlings of either of the above may likewise be planted out permanently now. Be careful in doing so not to bury them too deeply, yet plant them permanently, notwithstanding. Bring Bo.x Clipping to a close. Should a dry period follow the late changeable weather, remove the tem- porary lights from Auriailas, clearing from around their base any decaying leaves, and giving them every requisite attention "in regard to root-watering during dry weather. Belladonna Lilies may now be trans- planted where necessary, though it is not advisable to do so oftener than every three or four years. Pro- pagate Double Rockets and Scarlet Lychnis by aid of the matured growths at the base of each bloom-spike, and, when properly prepared, dibble them into a cool, shady border. KITCHEN GARDEN. Following the late rains, transplant permanently more Celery, Endives, Autumn Cauliflowers, such as Walcheren, Coh-uorts, &c., for early winter supply. Plant out Cardoons in rows about 50 inches asunder, the plants being at a like distance apart in the rows. Thin out finally aU Salsa/y, Scorzonera, Beet, Ham- burgh Parsley, grown for the roots, and Rampion, he customary distances apart. Make sowings of Cabbage and Coleivorl Seeds for use, by means of successional transplantings, during the months of October, November, and December, when they will prove very useful. Seedling plants of Thyme, S-neet Marjoram, Savory, Hyssop, Burnet, Borage, Angelica, Sorrel, and all similar Herbs, for which a demand :curs, may likewise be permanently planted out on to sheltered favourable border. Make an effort to aster all weeds thus eariy, and so insure immunity fi-om them during the season. IV. E. 846 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. Notices to Correspondents. AsPArw\GUS Spinach : Taylcr. Chenopodium Qu Certainly different from ordinary Spinach, or from Goosefoot, and acceptable for variation sake. Chinese Mustarii : Toylcr, We believe this to be variety of the White Mustard, Brassica alba. Nos. and 3 are also forms of B. alba. No. 4 is B. nigra, the Black Must.ird. Fungus: W. M. We have little doubt that your l-'ungus is that state of Agaricus disseminatus which occurs occasionally in grass plots. It is doubtless verv near Copriinis, but dries up rather than melts. M. J. li. — IV. A/, 'llie latest memoir on Penicillium that has fallen within our notice is that by E. Loeu , in "Jahrbuchcr fUr Wissenschaftliche Botanik." Prings- heim. Vol. vii., part 4, p. 472— 511. 1870. M. J. B. Gun License : H. R. V. Yes, he must have a license Insect on Lawn : H. E., Greenaway. The insect is the common tick, Ixodes Ricini. Their profusion on the lawn is probably due to the sheep which fed on it having been much infested, and dispensed them liberally around. For the sheep, the best remedy is careful washing with any good sheep wash, such as Girdwood's, or carbolic acid of proper strength. For the lawn we do not think you can use a better application than that you propose, a good dose of slack lime. Insects : T, M, The insects on your Verbenas are one of the many species of Thrips. /, O. 1 V. Masdevallia : K. V. You do not state the tempera- ture, nor describe the atmospheric conditions or treat- ment. Probably the decay may arise from moisture hanging too continuously about the young tender growths. Masdevahias are essentially "cool" Orchids. Mean Temperature : P. G. For your purposes it will suffice to take the ma.\imum and minimum twice a-day, add the sums together and divide by four, which will give you sufficiently nearly the mean temperature of the day ; or, simpler still, observe the temperature between 9 and 10 a.m., at which time the thermometer indicates nearlv the mean temperature of the day. Names of Plants : A. W. Orchis conopsea. We do not recognise the Fir.— A'. &• L. If wild. Geranium pratense. — March. Geum urbanum. — D. A. Deutzia scabra.— ^. G. Sisymbrium officinale.— C. W. S. Oncidium triquctrum. — E. C. C. D. Scrophularia aquatica. Passion-flower : H. B. There are some 200 species— which is the one you mean ? None are poisonous, but only a few worth eating. Pitchers on Cabbage : T. IV. These are not un- common. Roses : IV. F. Your Roses seem to have a complication of diseases. We obser\-e Coleosporium pingue and Lecythca Rosa?, two leaf parasites, against which no remedy has been discovered. It is possible that there may be other fungal pests, but the specimens did not arrive in a good condition. M. J. B. We have also received, without any comment, specimens of the rootlets of some Moss (the old Conferva castanea), directed to King's Cliff instead of Sibbertoft.— ^. Mc M. It would not be right to e.\hibit Noisette Roses for Tea iarkts. CO VEN T GARDEN.— J u„! 30. Markets generally have somewhat improved with the change of weather, importations being heavy, and com- prising a large assortment of the articles usually sent at this season. Hothouse fruit is very plentiful, and of excellent quaUty. ^■d. s.ii. I s.- uselul.— J. R., i, Blandford St rce t , Manchester Square, W. ^ To Nurserymen. FOREMAN (GENERAL), or FOREMAN and PROPAGATOR.— Thoroughly understands the 'profession, :lass references.— S. D., A. Hen ' ' '" "' ' "' Maida Vale, W. Henderson & Co., Pine-apple Place, PROPAGATOR, or PROPAGATOR and FOREMAN. -First-rate experience in Hard and Soft-wooded Propagating ■ Plant growing.- Apply for character, &c., to O. P., Stretford Post .RM BAILIFF. — A practical young Man, ghly understands Farming in all its branches. — Y., Post Office, East Horslcy, Surrey. To Noblemen and ( STEWARD, or MANAGER of an Estate.— A Person of good education and business habits would be happy to take --■' position of trust, either at home or in the Colonies, and is prepared 'ive the highest references. Can Draw and prepare Plans, and is a td Correspondent— M. E C, Ganirnfn' ChrojticU Office, W.C. M Seed Trade. ANAGER, or TRAVELLER and CORRESPON- IJENT.-Thc Advertiser having extensive practical esperience °on .Sd''controrof°a''n"Es?abl"sh'n"?m,''ur'^as Traillir to a'lirst' ind references of the highest,— Address, i BETA, Messrs. JAMES CARTER AND CO, Holborn, London, W.C. IR.'WELLER, CORRESPONDING CLERK, or SALESMAN.— Thoroughly competent; has a practical know- -- • ■ •.Culture,Propagation,&c We" cof Plants, their Vail TRA\'ELLER,'G Leases at low rentals. The whole to be sold at a lair valuation in t "''por ""further particulars apply to Messrs. PROTHEROE Al MORRIS. Auctioneers and Valuers. Leytonstone, E. Seedsmen by ai the Queen and H.R.H, Wales, will exhibit theii SEED MUSEUM of AGRICULTURAL, HORTICULTU and FLORICULTURAL PRODUCE, EED BUSINESS, in Yeovil, Somerset, for SALE S^wfrfh examined. Real : Market House, and commands one of the 1 West for Fanning and Gardening. It consist , Fixtures, and Lease (7 years unexpired, and Price il2 ;OTT, M Pine-apple Place, Malda Vale, Edgware Eoad. R. T. C. STEVENS begs to announce that he has eivcd instructions to offer for SALE, by Private Contract, the LE.VSE (38 years une.spiredl. STOCK, and g60D\VILL of the old and well-known NURSERIES of Messrs. ARTHUR HENDER- SON & CO., which have been established upwards of a centurj;. M^ „7"X SALES BY AUCTION. Imported and EstabUslied OrcMds, Palm Seeds, &c. MR. J. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 38, King Street, Covent Garden, W C., on TUESDAY, July 4, at half-past 12 o'clock precisely. Several COL- LECTIONS of ESTABLISMED ORCHIDS, including many lint plants: an importation of ORCHIDS and BULBS from India; ita.ooo SEEDS of PALMS, and other Plants, from Pelropolis; and a variety of choice GREENHOUSE FERNS. On view the morning of .Sale, and Catalogues had. Rooms, 38, King Stn Eare Orchids. MR. J. C. STEVENS has received SELL by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 3». Ki Covent Garden, W.C, on THURSDAY, July 6, at half-past 12 o uiocK precisely, a magnificent importation of RARE ORCHIDS, including Vanda Cathcarti (rare), vT Roxburghi, V. Roxburgh! ccerulea, v: cristala (rare), V. Batemanii. Dendrobium taurinum, Aendes Lindleyana, A. Warneri, Saccolabium giganteum, S. Hamsoni, fine new Aerides in the way of maculosum, with spotted leaves ; CatUeya Adandai, &c., all in the finest possible health. On view the morning of Sale, and Catalogues had. M Orpines, Wateilngbmy, Kent. IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. R. STR.AFFORD is favoured with announce for SALE by AUCTION July 5 next. 4^ Head of First-class SHORTHORN HEIFERS and YOUNG BULLS, from Messrs. F. Leney & Son's renowned Herd, which has been bred with great care, and without regard to cost, from the best sources They are chiefly by Bulls of the unrivalled Duchess and Oxford blood, and from Cows of the favourite Knightley strain, including Charmers, Fawslcys, Sweethearts, and^ other very choice lribes.__ Fully half the Calf, 1 by tsth Grand Duke (21,852), who has proved ■ery first class, and they do credit to this favi nongst the Bulls will be found a very promising e magnificent 7th Duchess o' '" -* nmended with confidence to 3 SON, Orpines, Wateringburj', Kent. Smeeth, near Asliford, Kent. IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. "R. STRAFFORD has received 'ILVER SAND and PEAT, in any quantity.— > This Sand is acknowledged by Florists to be the best yet tained. Price Lists on application to Mr. JOHN ARNOLD, lilder, 29, Clarendon Square, St. Pancras, N.W, Small orders scuted at the Wharf. Maiden Lane, North- Western Railway Depot. The Cheapest and Best Insecticide. lOOLEY'S TOBACCO P O W D ] Of all Nurserymen and Seedsmen. JL or PLANT "rh" ' N en'Tshow^rI 3S. 6d. each. S M E G M destroys Scale, Mealy Bug Sussex Wbarf, Wappin TO B A C CO for FUMIGATING GREENI Insects, and not injure the Plants, and burns without the of blowing. Price 3J. M. per lb., carriage free. A reducti< To be had of Messrs. R. ROBERTS AND SONS, it! Street, Clerkcnwell, London, E.C. ; and of all Seed Nurserymen. the London and B,, Post Office, Stain • Station, Ashford, Bacon, at the Office of Mr. John Bolton, of Kendal, in the County of Westmoreland, Solicitor, on TUESDAY, the 25th day of July. 1S71, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon precisely (unless previously disposed of by Private Contract), the GOODWILL and STOCK in TRADE of the BUSINESS of N URSERYMAN and SEEDSMAN of the late JAMES MELDRUM Forms of Tender may be had gratis of th< of Kendal, aforesaid, and of Mr. JOHN ' Dated this 23d c ' ' latural Grasses, and 1 in height. All Goods Carriage Free. Priced Descriptive SUTTON AND SONS. Stand 348, Show Yai id Royal Berks Seed Establishment, Reading. Sutlons' improved Italian Rye-grass olverhampton j THE LANDS IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. (Incorporated by Special Acts of Purliamenl.) Drainage, Reclamation, Farm Buildings, Labourers' Cottages, &c Directors. John Clutton, Esq. I Granville R. Ryder, Esq. Frederick L. Dashwood, Esq. GranvilleR.H.Somerset,Esq.,Q.C. Henry Farquhar, Esq. Henry W. West, Esq., M.P Lord Garlics, M.P. Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, John Horatio Lloyd, Esq. I Esq., M.P. (Chairman). The Company advances money, unlimited in amount, for all purposes of Agricultural Improvement, including the Erection of Cottages and Farm Buildings, to the Owners of settled and other Estates, and to the Clergy in respect of their Glebe Lands, Tenants may, with the consent of their Landlords, execute the necessary Improvements upon the Farms which they occupy, charging UTILISATION of SEWAGE.— The Company also advances money for the purpose of Works of Sewage Irrigation. The whole outlay and expenses are liquidated by a rent-charge upon the land, redeeming principle and interest, over 25 years. For Forms and further information, apply to GRANVILLE R. RYDER, Esq., Managing Director, No, i, Great George Street, Storey's Gate, Westminster, S. W. ^ FARM BUILDINGS. LABOURERS' COTTAGES, &c. THE GENERAL LAND DRAINAGE and IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. (Incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1849.) Directors. T. Chapman, Esq., F.R.S. I The Right Hon. Viscount Com- "■.eorge Thomas Clark, E llt-ryS Cob bold, Esq. Edward John „ _ _ Sir William Tite, MP., C.l Principal Engineer. Mr. J. BAILEY DENTON. Agricultural Improvements of every kmd arc executed :ompany, or the outlay thereon repaid to Landowners who Tenant Farracrf i^-aiaic, and paid off by a Rent-charge of about 6 per cent., in 31 years, or at the option of the Landowners in a shorter term. _ No investigation of title necessary, and no legal expenses mcurrea. UTILISATION of SEWAGE. ^„ ,. „ Special arrangements will be made with Boards of Health; Sewer -„ with all Worfts men thereof may be repaid either yearly payment, discharging i irtaking \ ew^c 1 MANCHESTER and LIVERPOOL AGRICUL- TURAL SOCIETY.-Prizc Lists for the Show at Liverpool in SEPTEMBER NEXT may be had on application to the Secretary. Upwards of THREE T^HOUSAND fOUNDS are offered m PrTzES, including iioo for the best Hunter, £80 for the best Short- hnrned Rul! uowards of /220 for Dogs, /;25o for Poultry, upwards of /2'fforHgs?nd?!~ for Sheep. ^'MeS CLOSE AtfGUST I. \\7insford Cheshire. THOMAS RIGBY, Secretary. SHOW of HORSES. C.-ITTLE.SHEEP Biddenliam Annual Sale. MR. STRAFFORD is instructed by Mr. Charles Howard, of Biddenham, near Bedford, to announce that the ANNUAL SALE by AUCTION vrill take place on FRIDAY, luly 28, and will consist of about FIFTY O.XFORDSHIRE DOWN SHEARLING RAMS and a few OLDER SHEEP. Luncheon at i o'clock ; the Sale immediately afterwards. Biddenham is within a mile of the Midland Station at Bedford, London : 13, Euston Square, N.W.— July i. M Important Shorthorn Sales. R. TOHN THORNTON will SELL by AUCTION the following HERDS of PURE-BRED SHORTHORNS, THURSDAY, August 3, the second day of the Yorkshire Show, in a field adioinine the Railway and the Show Ground, at BOOTHAM, Stray, York, about FORTY HEAD,rrom the Rev. J. D Jefferson's herd, including some of the Waterloos, Daisy, J, and other choice EDNESDAY, August 23. bred by the late Thos. Barnes, Esq., at WESTLAND, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland, from the best Booth blood for the last 30 years. The small select HERD, the pronerry of R. W. Reynell, Esq., will TUESDAY, Septei Staffordshire. N the far-famed Bates blood. THURSDAY, September r4.— Messrs PANTON HOUSE, Wragby, Lin head, including several prize wii ton, the property of 1. N. I! ; J tribe, crossed with first-c TUESDAY, September 26.— About HEAD, includinj °Vni""/ NETHERHOUSES, t OZLEWORTH PARK, i-under-Edge, Gloucestershir >'TON, 15, Langham Place, Regent Stn Admission-Saturday (Implement Yard only), 2s. M. Entire Showyard-.Monday, es ; Tuesday and Wednesday, 2S. 6d. "ihursday and Friday, IS. ^^.,;,m, Btojul'y 14, maybe ottai Messrs. ' SOLLOM "iS! M.' jl BARNETT, Secretary'. SATURDAY, JULY i, 1871. MEETINGS FOR THE TWO FOLLOWING WEEKS. J"'^ 3 I Agricultural Society's Meeting at Wolverhampton— Julj° a) Trial of steam Cultivators. July lol Agricultural Society's Meeting at Wolverhampton— Tulv 14 j Showyard open on Monday for open judging. IT is a curious illustration of the way in which an engrossing subject gathers food from every quarter, that a recent article in the Daily News on the Census of 1S71 ends in a discussion of The Sewage Question as its proper issue and conclusion. The population is more and more massing itself in towns. Rivers— the natural drainage system of the country — are thus becom- ing more and more polluted. The town which robs the country of its power for cultivation robs it also of one great means of its fertility. Man, the best " farm stock " in the world, is, by the fjrce of circumstances, being more and more turned to wasteful and even to mischievous account. The w.ater supply of our great towns is being perfected— the water-closet is every- where adopted, and the sewerage of house and street is carrying valuable manure to waste — and the whole evil is growing with the growth of population and of improved town management. Meanwhile the hopes of those who imagine The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July I, 1871. that from the ton of sewage which, in ordinary circumstances, proceeds every ten days from each member of a town population, it may be possible to precipitate the small quantity of fertilising matter which it contains, so as to obtain a sohd manure suitable to ordinary farm management, have been aroused by the announcement of a company using Dr. Forbes' patent for this purpose. A phosphate of alumina, insoluble, and therefore useless in its natural condition, has been found in large quantities in a West Indian island. This is decom- posed by sulphuric acid, and the mixture of phosphoric acid and alum thus obtained is passed into the sewage as it flows from the mouth of any town drain. The alum, decom- posed by the lime in the dirty water, throws down its clay, and this flocculent precipitate carries with it all the suspended matter of the sewage, which is thus clarified and dismissed in a clear and an apparently clean condition. More- over, to the stream in which the mixture of alum and phosphoric acid flows to mix with the sewage, a small trickle of milk of lime is added ; and this unites with the phosphoric acid, and the neutral phosphate of lime, in extremely fine division, also falls, and thus helps both to hasten the precipita- tion of the sewage and to increase the value for agricultural purposes of the precipitated material. A sediment composed of the mud of sewage, to which 20 to 30 per cent, of phosphate of lime has been added, is a valuable manure, and though it has been hitherto true that the mud of sewage as thrown down by the " A. B. C." and other precipitating processes has been of little value, yet now that the precipitant contains a large quantity of phosphate of lime, it is probabl that sewage mud may have a considerable marketable value. If this result should be obtained along with a purification of the sewage, enabling it to run with impunity into any stream or river course, it would certainly be a fact of great importance towards the achievement of a satisfactory plan of sewage utilisation. Unfo; innately we are not yet able to say that it is. The effluent water goes off clear, but not neces- sarily— and, indeed, not probably — clean. Unless some result very different from all hitherto known results of alum precipitation be in this case obtained, the effluent water, though clear, will not prove to be clean — it will be still putres- cible. Containing organic matter in solution, this will putrify in hot weather, and the nuisance will not be abated. We fear, therefore, we are no nearer, even yet, to the achievement of any success in sewage purification by precipitation. The only plan by which sewage can be utilised at the same time that it is purified, is by offering it to the roots of growing plants. They will feed on its filth, con- verting it into useful food, and the water will thus go from them purified. The supremacy of sewage irrigation, including within its single agency as it does all the methods, whether of treatment by mass of earth, or treatment by intermittent mixture in the earth with air, or treatment by bringing to bear upon its contents the influences of the various chemical substances which the soil contains— at the same time that all the while the main and leading agency of using the filth directly as plant food is in full opera- tion— seems to be more and more established. Every other scheme results more or less in failure. This alone has always been more or less a suc- cess, and towns, large and small, — Norwich, Bury, Chelmsford, Croydon, Norwood, Worthing, Reading, Merthyr, Birmingham, Blackburn, — are being gradually driven to its adoption. In this way, ultimately, we may hope that some return may at length be made by the town to the country for that process of depletion and exhaustion which, our census returns show to us, have been for so long a time in constantly in- creasing operation. We shall not be able to give our readers any serviceable account of the proceedings of the great agricultural meeting at Wolverhampton until Saturday next. These proceedings have, however, really begun this week — and a staff of stewards, judges, and officials have been engaged, at first under difficult, but latterly under more favourable circumstances, in subjecting the various steam-cultivating machinery which has been entered in competition for the Society's prizes to the preliminary trial, which will no doubt have the effect of weeding the list of the less efficient implements, so as to enable a concentration of the testing process next week upon the smaller number which survive the trials that are now proceeding. The prolonged ex- amination thus given cannot fail, we should think, to increase the confidence of those who are intending to adopt steam cultivation, and who may be waiting for an authoritative verdict for their guidance. The competition for Lord Vernon's prize of jC'oo. offered for the best combination of machinery for the cultivation of the soil by steam-power, the cost of which shall not exceed ^700 — the engine to be loco- motive, and adapted for threshing and other farm purposes— is not a very extensive one : Messrs. Howard and Messrs. Fowler alone having entered for it ; but it is an extremely interesting one, and no doubt many are waiting the issue of the trial. The prizes offered by the Society arc (i) for the best combination of machinery for the cultiva- tion of the soil by steam-power, .£100 and £^0 ; (2) for the best combination of machinery for the cultivation of the soil by steam-power, the weight of the steam-engine not to exceed 10 tons, £S° and £2$ ; (3) for the best combination of machinery for the cultivation of the soil by an ordinary agricultural engine, whether self-pro- pelling or portable, ^^50 and £2^ ; (4) for the best windlass, ^20 ; (5) for the best snatch-block, ^10 ; (6) for the best plough suitable for steam cultivation, £2^ ; (7) for the best subsoiler suit- able for steam cultivation, ^20 ; (8) for the best digger, £2$ ; (9) for the best cultivator, ^25 ; (10) for the best steam-plough or scarifier, ^20 ; (i i) for the best roller suitable for steam cultivation, £10; (12) for the best harrow, ^10 ; (13) for the best drill, /lo ; (14) for the best root or stone extractor, ^10; (15) for the best combination of those implements not qualified to compete in classes i, 2, and 3, /lo ; (16) for the best imple- ment or part of tackle suitable for steam cultiva- tion of any other description not qualified to compete in the preceding classes, ^20; (17) for the best agricultural locomotive engine applicable to the ordinary requirements of farming, /50; and (18) for the best waggon for agricultural pu: poses, to be drawn by an agricultural locomotive engine, ^20. For these several prizes there are entries in the various classes varying from three to thirteen in number. No one will deny the merit of great com- pleteness to the scheme by which it has been thus attempted to cover the whole field of cultivation with motive to improvement : and we are glad to see that a very large number of the agricultural machine-makers of the country come forward to compete. Messrs. Fowler & Co., and Messrs. Howard & Co., are, of course, the largest competitors. Messrs. Ran- SOME, TUXFORD, AVELING, AMIES & BARFORD, Barrow, Burrell, Coleman, Hayes, Roby, Williams, and others, in alphabetic order, are also present ; and the list of judges, including names both new and old — Messrs. Bramwell, Hemstey, Hichin and Sherborn, among the former, Messrs. Menelaus, of Dowlas, Major Grantham, Messrs. Kay, of Darlington, and KiMBER, of Abingdon, among the latter, is ample and strong enough to give confidence in their decisions. The trial is being held on the farm of Mr. Taylor, Barnhurst, rather more than a mile from Codsall Station, and nearly three miles from Wolverhampton. It commenced on Tuesday morning with Messrs. Fowler's two 20-horse power engines and their 13-tine cultivator, by which, after some little difficulty, owing to the quantity of Couch in the land, 3 acres of land were torn up and cultivated 9 inches deep within an hour. Another pair ol engines of less power afterwards did some good work with a smaller cultivator, and a single engine subsequently worked a 7-tine balance cultivator, taking a width of 6 feet. There was a fourth set of Fow- ler's tackle tried later in the day, in which a 7-tine turning cultivator was worked with an 8-horse power double-drum engine and disc anchor. The Ravensthorpe Iron Company then exhi- bited at work FiSKEN's patent process, in which, as our readers know, a light rope driven at 10 times the rate of the implement that is being drawn, gives the requisite speed to the plough or cultivator, which thus makes its way to and fro across the field with a comparatively small strain y rope or anchorage on which it pulls. These occupied the judges on Tuesday. On the following day Messrs. HOWARD'S double engine :et of tackle and Messrs. Barrows & Stewart's oundabout tackle were submitted to similar tests, in the presence of Messrs. Menelaus, C.E., and Messrs. Hemsley and Sherborn ; and the other judges were engaged in testing the ploughs and other implements in classes 4 to 16. An accident to one of Messrs. Howard's engines has had the effect of postponing a portion of the competition in which they are engaged, until the final trial on the stiff land provided for it near Stafford. The whole of these trials will be described in detail next week, when we hope also to lay before our readers some account of the other contents of the showyard. A North Lancashire correspondent sup- plies us with a satisfactory explanation of that Non-increase of the Agricultural Population which successive census returns reveal. The decrease of the agricultural class in England may to some extent be attri- buted to the introduction of farm machinery — threshing, mowing, reaping, hay-making, pulping, and turnip-slicing machines. The greater part of these are now in general use, not only on large holdings, but almost on every farm, from 30 acres upwards, throughout the country. Before the common use of these ma- chines, which are now regarded as an indis- pensable part of the equipment of a farm, all the uses to which they are devoted were performed by hand labour. By their aid the holder of a few acres, who kept but two men-servants, is now enabled to work his little farm with the assistance of a boy ; and whatever his acreage may be, the agriculturist is enabled to dispense with a pro- portionate amount of manual labour. Some years ago, in the districts of North Lancashire and Yorkshire, where the time of hay and grain harvest varies a little, the harvestmen used to go n large companies from one county to the other ; and a farm of 500 or 600 acres required from 50 to 100 additional hands to get ' the harvest, the time employed varying from a fortnight to a month or six weeks, according to weather, and every room and available out- building was brought into requisition as a lodg- ing. Those drones of harvestmen are now things of the past, and by the aid of machinery harvest operations are usually now completed in a very short time. The old adage, " As one door shuts another opens," has had its application here. North Lancashire, from an isolated agricultural district a few years ago, is now become one of the most important iron-mining and iron-produc- ing districts of the kingdom, and the agricultural labourer, driven from his legitimate employment, finds better wages and shorter hours of labour at the mines and the blast furnaces. The above reasons for the decline of the agricultural population apply with equal force to the counties of Yorkshire, Westmoreland, North Lancashire, Cumberland, and some of the border districts of Scotland. At the recent agricultural hirings, held in these counties, the following have been the average rates of wages paid for the half year :— Best men, £1^ to ^16 ; second class, £<) to £11 ; boys, ^4 to ^6 ; — first-class women, .£6 to /lo ; second class, £^ to £7 — (domestic servants, ranging from girls of 16— maids of all work — to experienced cooks, varied from ;£4to^i5); to this, of course, is added a good dietary, all found by the master. The food in farmhouses is plain, but of the best and most substantial kind : breakfast of good milk porridge, and bread and cheese — bread and cheese and beer in the forenoon — substantial meat and Potato dinner, with pudding and bread and cheese and beer— supper of milk porridge, and bread and cheese, or, very frequently, bread and meat (cold from dinner) and beer : tea on Sundays. On these terms the utmost difficulty is experienced in procuring farm servants. It is thus only that the agricultural labourer can be kept in the fields and homesteads of the North. How much easier is it not to account for the phenomenon of a reduced agricultural popula- tion in the South, where agricultural wages are so ch lower. — Prices have been unchanged, with, however, rather a downward tendency, in Mark Lane during the past week. There has been a very small supply of English Wheat offered, but the receipts from abroad more liberal. In the Metropolitan Cattle Market the number of 'beasts has been larger, that of sheep shorter, than usual ; a fair clearance of both has been effected, and prices have been maintained. The Act of last session, requiring a Ten Shillings Licence to be taken out yearly by every July I, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag^ricultural Gazette. person carrying a gun, came into operation last August. Before the close of the financial year on March 31, 1871, 93,679 licences were issued— 83,048 in England, 7615 in Scotland, and 3016 in Ireland. 965 cases were reported to the Excise of guns without licences, and 7 10 prosecutions were instituted. Messrs. Sutton, of Reading, send us a single ear and straw of their Italian Rye-grass, 5 feet 6 inches long, together with a note firom Mr. J. Snook, of the Irrigation Farm, Norwood, in which he states that the average weight of the first cut there this year is no less than 28 tons per acre 1 If any one would appreciate the conservative effect upon the soil of a vegetable coating, whether of grass or cultivated crops, by witnessing the extraordinary Power of Ordinaky Rainfall under circumstances fatal to the growth of plants, he should visit the neigh- bourhood of Swansea. The sulphurous gas from the copper smelting works in that neighbourhood has in- volved woodland, crop-land and pasture in one com- mon destruction. The visibleplant has disappeared, and the root accordingly is dead and gone. The consequence appears in fields, once cultivated and yielding large and valuable produce, now entirely bare ; while, even where the slopes are not excessive, the whole surface is furrowed and seamed so as only an excessive flood or waterfall could, under ordinary circumstances, have shown its power. There is nothing to hold the soil together, and the fine particles are washed away. The gravel in the midst of the soil at length is bared, and, by-and-by, the fainfall collecting into rills upon this gravel surface, furrows out deeper channels for itself, until at length that which was a fertile meadow, or a market garden, is scored and seamed, and covered with debris of rock, as if the victim of an avalanche of stones, such as one sees in upland Alpine valleys. When the slopes are greater the result is even more extraordinary'.; and it appears as if the tender roots of grass, which are here destroyed, were the only safe- guard which hinders in our climate the conversion of our hill sides into cliiTs, and our lower slopes into barren wastes of gravel. The Rev. M. J. Berkeley would be much obliged if Mr. Odams' friend, whose specimens of diseased Wheat have reached him after considerable delay, would be good enough to forward further specimens to him at the Horticultural Society, South Kensington. OUR LIVE STOCK. CATTLE. The sale of Aldemeys at Buckhurst Farm, Berks, noticed in a recent impression, came off on the 23d ult., when Mr. Thornton sold 13 pure-bred animals. One lot, Minnie, brought i,20 \os. ; lot 2 brought £1% los. , and other heifers made from ;Jl0 los. to ^15, according to age. The following Booth cattle were shipped from Liverpool on board the Magellan, last May, for Messrs. Delgado Brothers & Sons, of Callao, Peru :— Viscount, calved April 8, 1870, bred by Mr. E. J. Smith, Islan- more, County Limerick, got by The Earl (27,623), and out oi Lunette \>'j Best Hope (23,413) ; Charming Nell, bred by Mr. Jefierson, Preston Hows, got by King Charming (22,033), ^"d of the "Gwynne" or " Princess " tribe ; and, lastly. Dainty Dame, also bred by Mr. Jefferson, by Charming (22,033), and descended from Dnekess by Cleveland Lad (3407). Viscount won the 3d prize in a class of 135 animals at the Royal Dubhn show this year. His sire. The Earl, stood 2d at the same show three years in succession, and was out of the dam of the well-known Sovereign. Charming Nell is in calf to Mr. Booth's Vain Hope (23,102) by Lord of the Valley (14,837), the sire of Ladv Fragrant. Dainty Dame is in calf to Knight of the Shire (26,552) by Commander-in-Chief (21,451), the 1st prize bull at the Royal Agricultural Society of England's meeting in 1 868. The Smeeth saie takes place on Thursday, July 6, the day after the Wateringbury sale, and will be conducted by Mr. Strafford. Myra, lot I, the first cow in the catalogue, is by Photograph (20,492), and from Mint by Captain Shafto (6833), a good strain, which traces through such well-known names, as Titania, Zinc, Roguery, and Pageant, to stock long bred by Mr. Mason of Chilton. Four heifers and a young bull, all from this cow, will be sold. Lot 2, Kentish Lassie by The Don (18,980), is the first of a group of 16 individuals which owe their origin to Miss Beau by The Beau (12,182), a son of Belleville (778), from Mr. Bates' Cambridge Rose bth by 3D Duke of York. Lot 3, by The Don (18,980), is the first of four representatives oKJuventus by LoCKSLEY (4240), and Jiiventus by Stanhope (5315) ; Princess by the Don, and out of Red Empress by Cambridge Grand Duke (15,722) comes of the Verbena by Cedric tribe ; Wanton, by Kentish Lad (22,027, is a grand-daughter of Wanton by Mameluke (13,289), and the female section of the catalogue contains other well bred animals. In the bull section are Safeguard {27,409), by Grand Duke of Essex 4TH (24,068), and out of Surmise 4//; by 2D Duke of Kent, and some young bulls of the tribes above noticed. Most of the cows and heifers are in calf to the last named bull, and he is included in the sale. Smeeth station adjoins the farm, and is four miles from Ashford, a central station on the South- Eastem line from London to Folkestone and Dover. The Farnley Hall sale, in which the entire herd, so long bred by the late F. H. Fawkes, Esq. , is to be disposed of, takes place on August I. Mr. Strafford informs us that the present herd has been bred with "great care and judgment" for 40 years, and that it commenced with animals from the herds of Messrs. J. Whitaker and R. Booth—" Nor- folk (2377) by Mr. Bates' 2D HuEBUCK (1423) was purchased from the former in 1832, and was followed in the succeeding year by Mr. Booth's Medora and Verbena." Other ancestresses of the herd were Laura by Boughton (2868), bred by the Duke of Buccleuch ; Spots by Garton (2052), and Thornasine\>y ?>T\\A.VSG- TON. Upon examining the catalogue further we find these good strains of blood have been further improved by tlie use of Norfolk (2377), Sir Thomas Fairfax (5196), Laudable (9282), Borrowby Boy (9980), Beaufort (9943), Lord Marquis (10,459), Re- former (18,687), Lord Cobham (20,164), and Re- former (24,930). The young stock are principally by Lord Darlington (26,633), a son of Duke of Darlington (21,586), and Anemone by Duke of Kent (19,619), and of the Acomb by Belvedere tribe. ON FACILITATING THE TRANSFER OF LAND. The heavy expense of investigating the title to real estate has long been felt ; and though Parliament has often made attempts to remedy the grievance, nothing effectual has yet been done. I have drawn, in outline only, a scheme which would, I think, reduce to a minimum the labour, and consequently the expense, of investigating titles. The substance of it is far from new, and may be stated in a single sentence. It is simply to give absolute power of sale to the person or persons in whom the legal estate vests. The purchaser, then, would need only to see that this estate really vests in the vendor. Now the proposition will be met, at the outset, by two objections. 1st, That it will jeopardise trust property ; 2d, That it will injure the lawyers. In reply to the first, why should trustees be more likely to deal fraudulently with land than with consols? No one fears putting consols into t though the trustees have absolute power of sale, the sale of land is a more public transaction thai transfer of stock. I have, however, endeavoured to give security against a wrongful sale by trustees. The second objection is founded on truth, for what the parties gain the lawyers will lose. But for the comfort of the latter I would state that my plan ii one which, like magic, is to convert bad titles good. Though it sows the seeds of a better state of things, it will not produce its full fruit for many years. Now then for details. Let a " Commissioner of Landed Estates " be appointed, with deputies where needed. The use of this Commissioner will appear hereafter. His office may, by fees, be made self- The first case of transfer which presents itself is the sale by a freeholder. This can hardly be simplified, The Act would, however, give a form (No. I), con- taining, 1st, the names of the parties ; 2d, the con sideration ; 3d, description of the land ; and, 4th, notice of fee-farm rents or other liabilities. A copy, holder would convey by a similar deed, specifying heriots and alienation fees. Perhaps it would be convenient to hold, in accord- ance with the principles of Roman law, that a deed executed according to the prescribed form implied covenant for good title, and that vendors who wished to avoid this liability must enter into a separate agree- ment with the purchaser. The second case is that of mortgage with power of sale. Here the form (No. 2) would differ from No. i only in reciting, — "In consideration oi £ , secured by a mortgage deed of even date herewith." If it be objected that two deeds will thus be required instead of one, I reply that the transfer deed being copied from the Act will cause no appreciable expense, and that the two together are not to bear more stamp duty than is now levied on one. Most mortgage deeds contain a clause that the mortgagee may sell without proving to the purchaser that the mortgagor has made default, so that, practically, the mortgagor will lose no security by the change. Mere equitable mortgages, where the legal estate remains with the borrower, would not be within the purview of the Act. Upon repayment of a mortgage, the reconveyance would be by form (No. 3), differing from No. I in reciting " In consideration of the repayment of £ advanced on mortgage. " The third case is that of trustees. Here the transfer deed (No. 4) would recite "In consideration of a deed of trust of even date herewith," .-ind the trustees, if they finally sold, would adopt form No. I, or if they made over the property to any one named in the trust, would only have to recite, instead of a pecuniary considera- tion, " In conformity with the provisions of a deed of trust under date," &c. If the parties beneficially interested chose to take an invidious security against the dishonesty of their trustees, they might be empowered to compel the latter to deposit %vith the Commissioner the deed under which they hold the legal estate, until certain events shall have taken place. Deprived of the possession of this deed, the trustees could not sell. The fourth case is that of land inlierited or bequeathed. I propose that when any one dies, seised of land, the legal estate should not pass direct to the heir or legatee, but, like personal property, to the executors or administrators, and that they should by a deed (No. 5), bearing only a nominal stamp, transfer it to the proper party. In the case of a will, where there may be some patent or latent ambiguity, it is easier for executors to decide, or to bring the point to a decision, than for a purchaser, who is a stranger to the family, to investigate the subject in after years ; and such deed by executors should bar action of eject- ment against a purchaser for value, the claimant being left to his remedy against the executors. In the case of intestacy, the argument for throwing the onus upon the administrator is still stronger. For we have, in England, three distinct rules of descent. In some places all sons inherit equally, in others the eldest alone, in others the youngest. To prove any one to be the youngest, that is, that there is none younger, is like proving a negative. Surely, then, it is for the administrator, while the heir or heirs are living, and the facts recent, to ascertain and record those facts, by making the land over to the legal claimant. When a testator creates an estate tail, the executors could not, of course, transfer the legal estate abso- lutely to the life tenant. The law therefore should require, that in order to effect an entail a testator must appoint trustees, to whom the executors can transfer. The above four cases comprehend the commonest transfers. Others, such as the transfer of a bankrupt's estate to assignees, may suggest themselves, and be disposed of in analogy with the preceding cases, and as to any peculiar case not provided for by the Act, the Commissioner might have the power of sanctioning a form. No person should be compelled to adopt the new forms in the case of ordinary sale, mortgage, or trusts. It will take time to reconcile the public to them. But a gentle pressure might be put on by charging higher duties on all other forms. Next, let us see the practical working of the scheme. You have purchased land with the condition that the title shall commence with A., who died, at a reason- ably remote period, intestate, leaving an only son, B. C. administered to the estate; B. mortgaged to D., who put the mortgage into trust with E. and F. Sub- sequently B. repaid the loan, and now offers the land for sale. He produces — i. Letters of administration to C. ; 2. Transfer from C. to B.; 3. Transfer from B. to D.; 4. Transfer from D. toE. and F.; 5. Trans- fer from E. and F. to B. To look over these short deeds would not take half an hour, and any one of moderate intelligence, with sufficient knowledge of the stamp duties, might trace the title himself. If a professional man were employed, the charge would be a mere trifle compared with an ordinary bill of the present day. The above scheme differs from most others in not requiring registration or parish maps, the continual alteration of which would be a source of great expense.- I would, however, allow the Commissioner to register deeds drawn in conformity with the Act, and provide that in the event of the originals being destroyed, copies attested by him should be received as evidence. While desirous of avoiding matters extraneous to the scheme, I would just remark that the present mode by which copyholders can compel enfranchisement is too expensive to be generally useful. An Act should lay down principles on which might be valued not only fixed annual payments, as quit-rents, but also more uncertain dues, as heriots and ahenation fees. The chance of escheats is perhaps too small to have an appreciable value. The copyholder, then, having calculated, according to the Act, such charges on his estate as were therein specified, and having added, for any particular charges not so specified, a reasonable sum, should tender the same to the parties interested, and upon their offering, either actively or passively, any opposition to the proposed enfranchisement, the copyholder might petition the Commissioner, who, after hearing the other side, should have power to determine both as to the subject-matter and as to costs. Freeholders might be allowed to extinguish fee-farm rents in the same manner. G. Sparkes. AGRICULTURE AND CHEMISTRY. In the year 1S66 I made an experimental trial of the plan lately proposed by Mr. Marshall Hall. I then commenced a series of 40 lectures to a class of farmers' sons at Kingscote, a village about 15 miles from the Agricultural College. The lectures were given under the auspices of the well known Kingscote Agricultural Association, a thriving and enlightened farmers' club. The class, numbering something like 20, was quiet, regular in attendance, and passed a fair examination at the close of the course, which extended over two years. The lectures were devoted to inorganic, organic, and agricultural chemistry, the subjects being taken in this order, that a good scientific basis for the agricultural application of chemistry might be secured. At the same time an agricultural bias was 850 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. IJuly I, given, even to the earlier lectures, by illustrative experiments, made, as far as possible, with sub- stances produced on the farm or useful to the farmer, with plants, soils, and manures. Morethanthis, the pupils of my class were encouraged to repeat the chief experi- ment shown in the lectures, and several of them actually fitted up little laboratories of their own at home. I regret that I have not been able to repeat so encouraging an experiment, but the great difiiculty was in the distances which both students and teacher had to travel in order to reach the place of meeting. My own journeys, during this course, give a total length of 1200 miles, and, owing to the absence of a railway, had to be per- formed under peculiar difiiculties. But I am convinced that tlie system which I carried out in 1866-7, and which Mr. Marshall Hall has just suggested in his letter to the Devizes Gazette, may, when suitably modi- fied in accordance with local circumstances, be carried out with immense advantage to the general farming interest. I ought to add that the scheme above described owed much to the suggestion and help of the Principal of the Agricultural College. I hope, on another occasion, to develope further a method of scientific instruction for young farmers, and to describe a plan for the creation in England of agricultural ex- perimental stations where chemistry might be brought to bear upon agriculture in several directions. I would now ask for a little more space, in order to describe briefly one of the most obvious aspects of the questK How that manufactured "such as the different varieties of superhos- phate of lime, are often sold to farmers at a price so much higher than that at which their crude consti- tuents can be purchased ? We know that the process of manufacture is not tedious or troublesome, and that its cost is small. And we know also that many manufacturers of superphosphate supply manure dealers wholesale with fair qualtities of this manure on terms which allow the latter a broad margin of profit, but that the farmer has to pay not the manufacturer's charges only, but those of the dealer as well. Mr. Little has pointed out one of the ways in which a farmer may get a manure for, say, £n per ton, which shall be guaranteed to contain 26 cent, of "soluble phosphate," and for which he would have to pay, in the ordinary course, from 5 to 6 guineas, if not more. But it is only fair to point out that two manures may analyse equally well, and yet differ in their effectiveness very considerably. This remark applies with especial force to nitrogenous manures, in which the nitrogen may exist in various degrees of availability. It is, on the other hand, highly probable that the soluble part of a mineral superphosphate, provided some decom- posing carbonaceous matter be present, is as useful as the corresponding constituent of bone superphosphate. Thus, tlie argument for difference of price, which 1 of their employment of be pushed too far. An point may serve to illustrate my meaning clearly. In the spring of this year some samples of manure :re sent to me for examination. I was subsequently informed that the price charged for them was ^8 &s. per ton. Now, on analysis, I could only rate them at about £$ $s. per ton, assuming their several manurial elements to have been derived from the most valuable crude materials. But what was the argument against my valuation which Messrs. A. & Co., the well-known manufacturers of this manure, urged with the farmer who had purchased the manure ? It was to the follow- ing effect ; — " Our manures are the final result of long- continued thought and experiment ; they have been successfully submitted in the field to the severest trials by numerous farmers ; we have sunk thousands of pounds in arriving at our present processes of manu- facture, &c., and, moreover, our manures are com- pounded and mixed in such admirable proportions, and with such exquisite skill, that they must not be judged of by the inadequate test of chemical analysis." Let us pursue this admirable argument a step farther : let us apply it to an animal's food instead of a plant's food. Only mix stones with bread, with a sufficient amount of exquisite skill, and anxious tliought, and long expe- rience, and the innutritions stone or other rubbish becomes a most useful material for sustaining life ! Unfortunately, the farmer has not only to deal with mixed manures (which too often justly deserve the epithet " nostrum " which Mr. Little uses in this con- nection), but he has to suffer from the gross frauds of purposed adulterations. We shall not easily forget the revelations as to the ochre-grinding machine at a Liver pool guano works, nor the exposes which are continually made in our agricultural journals. But most manures are tempting subjects for adulteration. After all, they won't crystallise and won't distil, and so come under the great class of "dirts." Here is an analysis of a very dirty dirt indeed, which was analysed in my laboratory last week, having been purchased for a good superphosphate, at a good price, by a deluded agricul- turist. Analysis 0/ Superphosphate, from Mr. , May 34, 1871. Water Organic matter and combined v nitrogen equal to 0.372 per cei Monocalcic phosphate cent, bone earth made soluble) . phosphate . . 1733 P=r< Calc It is evident that in making this exquisite mixture the zeal of the operator had outrun his discretion : he had evidently scraped the floor a little too hard. A. IJ. Church, Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, in the " Chemical Neivs" A GRICUL TURAL ST A TISTICS. New South \V.iles . New Zealand Natal Cape of Good Hope The produ 6.48 Statement of the Number of Live Stock in various British Colonies at the End of each Year. Canada (Dominioi Newfoundland British Columbia 143.934 161,810 46.2" 45.867 968.279 No. 15,080,625 ■4.989,923 9,756.819 9,923,663 4.477,445 4,987,024 8.921.784 8,646,243 ■,715.617 i.S3'.i87 .6,7671 281,486! 332.832! 9,836,065} 2.399,799 176,901 ■75.9=4 136,206 111,464 89,304 82,306 17.203 * Including mules and : Including African sheep. SEWAGE IRRIGATION AT RUGBY. The question of sewage irrigation, after being long ■egarded by the public at large as the hobby of a few enthusiasts, has of late years taken to a greater extent its proper place as a subject of national importance— indeed, as one which can no longer with safety be neglected. The public, ever slow to adopt new ideas, has come to see and acknowledge the necessity of dealing with the sewage of cities and towns upon recognised principles. These arc, that impurities of all kinds shall be removed from the centres of popula- tion in a prompt and eflTectual manner, and without contaminating our rivers and streams. Legislation has made the latter point imperative, and no excuse will now be accepted for the continuous pollution of streams. This being so far settled, the question presents itself how sewage impurities can be prevented from becoming a nuisance, and their fertilising pro- perties preserved and used for the best. This question [ now propose to consider, assuming, in the first instance, the necessity of dealing with sewage in a strictly sanitary point of view, and viewing the subject by the light of the experience acquired at Rugby. The subject seems to divide itself at the outset into three propositions : — 1. The application of natural principles indicates water as the readiest and best means of removing animal impurities. 2. Dilution, within certain limits, presents the fer- tilising properties of sewage in the best possible form for assisting the growth of vegetation. 3. The medium of communication between the fer. tiliser and the plant, namely, the soil, at once extracts all valuable properties, and affords the only effectual means of purification. The question would therefore appear to shape itself to an inquiry how these natural principles can best be carried into effect. And here it may be said that hard and fast " line can be drawn, no " rule of thumb " laid down, which shall apply to any and every case. General principles being agreed upon, they must be subject to modification according to locality and surrounding circumstances. It will be well to indicate the conditions which are requisite, and the causes likely to render modifications necessary. The first requisite is an ample and regular supply of water. In considering the quantity of water, it should be noted that while 20 to 25 galls, per day for each unit of the population will suffice for sanitary purposes, it may become necessary, for the purposes of irrigation, to increase the quantity to 35 or 40 galls. Happily, we have been enabled at Rugby to secure an abundant and unfailing supply from the river Avon. And here we reach the important question of separa- tion of rainfall from sewage. It is an immense advan- tage in every way when the quantity of sewage to be dealt with day by day can be ascertained and provided for. In a warm, dry season, like that of last year, when greater dilution would be desirable, the rainfall fails to accomplish it ; while in a rainy season the fall upon the land may make it advantageous to reduce the dilu- tion. This is essentially the case in winter, when vegetation is nearly or quite at a standstill, and when excessive dilution by rainwater reduces the temperature of the sewage. The balance of advantages would seem to be in favour of separation when required. Nothing in the shape of storage is permissible. The sewage must be distributed at the earliest possible moment, to prevent decomposition and consequent nuisance, as well as to secure its full value to the land. Mechanical filtration is necessary to remove the solid parts. This is readily effected by tanks, with screens through which the liquid freely flows. A simple mechanical contrivance for agitating the more solid parts of tlie sewage before it enters the tanks would, I think, add materially to the value of the liquid. Next in order would appear to be the question of suitable land. It may be laid down as an axiom, that the better the land in the first instance, the better the results to be looked for from irrigation. Sandy or gravelly soils are a mistake if better can be got. A good loamy soil, 15 to 18 inches deep, with some admixture of clay, and a gravelly subsoil, may be said to be the best. It will produce a greater variety of crops, of finer quality, and will more readily absorb and retain the valuable ingredients of the sewage, than any other soil. It must not, however, be understood that only this description of land will produce good results. Experience tends to prove that inigation may be employed with advantage, under proper arrangements, no almost any kind of soil. The most important con- sideration, in an economical point of view, is to select land upon which the sewage can be made to flow by gravitation. Unless this can be accomplished, I con- sider it more than doubtful if sewage irrigation m ordinary seasons can be made a source of profit. Ordinary pasture land is not fit for irrigation, nor is any other land without more or less of special preparation. This fact having been ignored, has led to most of the so-called irrigation failures. Due consideration must be given to the natural formation of the land, and all inequalities of the surface carefully levelled, or stag- nation of the sewage, which means destruction of the crop, will ensue. The distribution is generally recommended upon one of two different systems— the " Catch- water," or the " Pane and Gutter " system. Much has been said for July I, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ap^ricultural Gazette. 851 and against the catch-water system, but my experience leads me to regard it as by far the best system for distribution. Under the catch-water system, the sewage is brought to the head of the field or section of land to be irri- gated. " Carriers" are then laid out across the fall of the land, at distances apart regulated by the gradient and general contour. Then, by means of sluices and stop-boards, the sewage in the carriers is made to over- flow at such points as may be requisite, or along the whole line of carrier. Some distance below it is received into a smaller carrier or " catch-water," from which precisely the same process is repeated, until the bottom of the hill is reached, and the effluent water thoroughly purified. The "pane and gutter" system consists of a main carrier running at the head, and small ones or " grips " running with the fall of the land. In these latter the sewage is intercepted by stop-boards, and made to overflow right and left, until it finds its way to the lowest level. Under almost all circumstances, a modification of both systems is to be preferred. Under the first system, pure and simple, the section next the main carrier always gets the first dressing of sewage, the next section always the second dressing, and so on, until by the time the lower levels are irrigated, nearly all valuable properties have been absorbed by the higher land. To remedy this obvious defect it is necessary so to lay out the land that each piece in turn can receive a first dressing. This I have done in several instances, with the best results. This being done, the width of the sections should be progressively increased, the widest being at the lowest level, to ensure proper purification. Unless the land is of very slight gradient, this system is to be preferred to the " pane and gutter." Where the latter system is neces- sary, the "grips" or downward carriers should not be of great length, but should be crossed by intercepting carriers, to admit of the advantages of first dressing, and consequent proper equalisation. The advantages to be derived from these modifica tions are, that a smaller quantity of sewage is neces sary, a shorter period of application suffices, and th( crops are equalised over the whole surface. Next in order will come the consideration of the kind of crop, and the times and modes of planting. The results of my experience show that Italian Rye- grass must be the staple, at least in extent of cultiva- tion. The best season for sowing is early in Septem- ber. The land must be first well irrigated, then ploughed, and properly levelled. This being done, and the best seed selected, about 6 bush, to the acre should be sown. In an open season the grass will spring in eight or ten days, but no sewage should be applied untS there is a good growth over the whole surface. A slight irrigation will then suffice. Another dressing in the spring, preferably in mild weather, will prepare the crop for the first cutting. After cutting a copious dressing of sewage should be given at once, and again after each cutting during the season. It is usually considered that one sowing suffices for three years ; but, if the sewage is properly applied, and the seasons reason- ably favourable, the growth will be so luxuriant as to exhaust the plant, or nearly so, in two years. After Rye-grass a root crop should be substituted on land of a flat gradient, but on 'a steeper surface cereal crops may be best grown, due regard being paid to the nature of the soil, and the aspect. My experience is that all root crops should be sowed on ridges, high enough for the sewage to be carefully applied in the intervening furrows without touching the plants. The number of dressings must be varied, according to the season and the dictates of experience. The rule of ridging applies to all crops, except Rye-grass and cereals, and almost any vegetable may be advanta, geously grown, as Cauliflower, Cabbage, Carrots, Mangel Wurzel (which gives a specially good result), Onions, &c. After one root crop the land may again be laid dowi in Italian Rye-gi'ass. If the land is poor, and of steep gradient, successive sowings of Italian Rye-grass may be made, with no root crop between. The solid deposit from the filtration tanks is of great service, if applied to the land immediately after removal. It will very much enrich poor soils, and increase their capacity for retaining the more valuable parts of liquid sewage. It is a great point in favour of irrigation, that, in growing large crops and selling them to be consumed off' the land, a sewage farm directly promotes, to a very large extent, the fertility of the surrounding district. It must be borne in mind, in conclusion, that the mere application of sewage to a given quantity of land will not of itself ensure success. In this, as in every other pursuit in life, watchful care and untiring perse- verance in applying the results of experience will be needed to secure the great benefits to be derived. Granted these are given, then experience proves that sewage irrigation may be made to yield the most astonishing and lucrative results. Johti E. Palmer, Town Surveyor, Rugby. [We understand that Mr. Taylor, tenant of Bamhurst, on which the Agricultural Society's trials are this week being held, is to receive the sewage of Wolverhampton on his land ; and Bumingham is about to lay out large sums in the pur- chase of land for the abatement of the nuisance it creates. All these places have to come to Rugby, Croydon, Barking, and the other pioneers, to learn their lessons. Mr. Palmer's opmion is therefore of great value. ] LABOURERS' COTTAGES. Messrs. Baily Denton, Son &. North's Cottages. The above cottages {the design for which appeared in your issue of May 1 3) are a very fair sample of the modern style, and unquestionably contain all the con- veniences you mention. But to my mind there are one or two slight defects which might be easily remedied without additional expense. The primary objects in designing a labourer's cottage ought to be comfort and convenience, both of which are, in a great many instances, sacrificed to external appearance. I do not allege that this has been done to any great extent in the design under criticism, yet I think that without much detriment to outward symmetry the internal arrangements might be im- proved. In illustration of my meaning I submit to you a design for a pair of cottages (of which fig. 175 is an elevation, and fig. 176 ground and chamber plans), occupying almost precisely the same space as those above referred to. In comparison with them I admit that mine are less pleasing to the eye, but, estimated by success in attaining the main pur- poses of such erections, I think that they have more than counterbalancing advantages. It will be seen at a glance that the door being placed at the extreme side, and the omission of a second upper window, are faults in point of taste ; but my contention is that the designer of labourers' cottages must be prepared to forego the purpose of larder as well, it is placed too near the living-room fireplace. I would also point out there is no provision made for cupboards, and there is not a single bedroom com- pletely rectangular, the landing robs them all. I have omitted in my design a fireplace in one of the bedrooms. The third room being necessarily small is better without one, if well ventilated in the ceiling. Messrs. Denton & Co. in giving three have exceeded the requirements of the Inclosure Commissioners, who only stipulate for two. Below I give comparative Tables of cubical space contained within the cottages. Owing to the larger size of my fireplaces, my total amount is less than Messrs. Denton & Co.'s by 20 feet, but by the space saved in staircase, landing, &c., I still gain 351 feet in the rooms, distributed thus — living-room, 91 feet ; scullery, 34 feet ; pantry, 136 feet ; bedrooms, 90 feet. By making the cottages deeper I save a great deal of frontage, and in consequence economise in various expenses incidental thereto, such as road-making, superior workmanship, material, &c. Of course wherever (as is often the case) eligible frontage is limited, there would be the additional advantage of being able to build a greater number by one-fourth : — Tables of Cubical Contents. Denton &' Co. , " »'. A. M." Feet. I FeeL :: lie and I . . .. 846 .. .. 638 Total Reference. -Ground Plan (A to E) : A, Living-room mth Dwarf Cupboards; B, Scullery ; C, Pantry: D, Fuel Closet under Stairs ; E, Stairs. Chamber Plan (F to I) : F, G, H, Bed- rooms : I, Landing. IK A. Makins, Charing Cross, fune 23. gratification of his own taste whenever by so doing he can add to the comfort and convenience of those who are to be the inmates. If proprietors insist on build- ings which shall in no way strike the observer as faulty, they ought to be prepared to pay for their satisfaction without making their tenants suffer. You will observe in Messrs. Denton & Co.'s design that the front door, so well placed for outward effect, opens directly on to the foot of the stairs, and would have to be closed before anyone could pass up or down. The stairs themselves are much too narrow and awkwardly twisted. They cannot fail to be incon- venient for general use, and on exceptional though inevitable occasions will, I fear, be useless. I remember a case in the North, in which it was necessary to lower a coffin from a window in the upper room. Possibly this might be avoided by dexterity, but I see no neces- sity for the stairs in their present form, when, by a different arrangement, they can be made more con- The windows appear to be casements, 'which are pre- ferred by many for the sake of appearance, but are never so convenient as sashes, and are seldom, if ever, made water-tight. I have already noticed the omis- sion in my design of a second upper window, another could be added if thought desirable, but it is not necessary, as I have appropriated the space over the entrance to the front bedroom, which is already well lighted. Messrs. Denton & Co.'s pantry is much too small, and, taking into consideration that it has to serve the gome Corresponknte. Quantities of Sewage Applied per Acre by the Metropolis Sewage Company at Barking. — I am surprised that one who is so ready to attack others should complain of my vindication of my state- ments as an unjustifiable attack on himself. Mr. Hope publicly — and, as I submit once again, without reason— asserted that my statistics were totally in- coiTect, and I publicly, and after inviting investigation by independent practical engineers, brought forward the results of Mr. Hassard's tests in support of what I had stated. In opposition of this, Mr. Hope desires your readers to believe that, owing to the lengthened experience which he claims to possess, his simple contradiction is sufficient to negative any statement he disapproves — very especially those which emanate from the secretary of the Sewage Company, who, in his letter of June 4, he speaks of as his pupil— and that should anything more be necessary to cast doubt upon my figures, it is to be found in an occasional possible interference with the working of our machinery. Mr. Hope must not, however, rely too much upon the help which this last affords him, because we have little or no interruption from the causes he cites, and should any arise to interfere with the proper delivery of sewage on to the farm, or cause a temporary sus- pension of the flow altogether, it would be at once detected and attention given to it. Neither can Mr. Hope be permitted to mislead your readers without my offering a distinct denial to his state- ment as regards my pupilage, since it is perfectly well known that when this farm was taken and placed for the purposes of experiment in the hands of Mr. J. C. Morton, both Mr. Hope, the manager of the International Financial Society, and I, the secretary of the Sewage Company, were alike ignorant, in common with most others, of everything connected with practical sewage farming. However much, then, I may regret to deprive Mr. Hope of the honour attaching to the position, I must say that it is worse than absurd in him to plume himself upon having been ever my master. With regard to the use of decimals, to which Mr. Hope attaches so much importance, as to admit that had I confined myself to round numbers he would probably not have questioned my figures, I am quite ready to admit that, although the breaking of gross quantities into numerous subdivisions necessarily entails fractions, the use of the one place in decimals, of which I was guilty, might have been dispensed with without really affecting the general results, although no doubt the want of exactness exhibited by the figures would have led to hypercritical objections similar to those which Mr. Hope now takes. dulgence than is necessary to express my thanks to you for the opportunity you have afforded me of endeavouring to show your readers that the statistics we have collected are practically correct, and to suggest that Mr. Hope s claim to superior practical experience in sewage farm- ing, so constantly asserted, requires to be supported by , . M_j -.-. »„ ....^1, oc H.oVi^v.^ nnnii.iUvDresentetl, which he Hiiiry Morgan, I do not propose to trespass 1 detailed statements, such as we have annually present, tending over and through those years " that he had the start of 1 852 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agfricultural Gazette. [July I, 1871. Lodge Farm, Barking, June 21. [The discussion seems to us to Iiave been permitted long enough. Our readers may now be safely left to draw their own con elusions as to the risk of inaccuracy attendant on the methods by which successive managers of the Lodg( Farm have honestly endeavoured to report the quantit] of sewage which they have annually used, and the pro portionate quantities which reached the different plots t< which the sewage was applied during the year.] Enacti Nature'i — By reading y which I am glad of your oldest anc nded of the old distich : nents and Acts of Parliament, late articles on land tenure (in ecognise the handwriting of one espondents), I am forcibly 'OfaUth( How fe\ I have l i the hu tha ■ kings led ink that if the owners and occupiers of land would study the laws of Nature more, and Acts of Parliament less, they would come to the conclusion that of all the remedies offered to us as panaceas by the different land doctors the most homoeopathic would prove the best, in short, that all artificial barriers are more or less erroneous. And first, as regards ownership : When the inhabitants of these islands emerged from barbarism, and the population had become sufficiently numerous to occupy and culti- vate all the best of the soils, it became a matter of necessity that the occupier who had reclaimed, fenced, and tilled the land, and perhaps built a house for his family and houses for his cattle, should have a permanent property in his outlay, — a fixity of tenure subject only to the services, quit-rents, tithes and other charges which the feudal laws, where- ever they prevailed, or the Saxon customs in other places imposed on landed property, that being the only property that existed in a tangible shape. Hence the law of inheritance became also a necessity, and the power of making wills and settlements, otherwise no one would have taken the trouble to make these permanent improvements ; the desire of founding and perpetuating a family being one of the most natural passions, and most conducive to the improvement of property. True that in times of civil war and uncer- tainty these precautions were multiplied by the inven- tion of entails and uses to an extent now become unnecessary, and which have been to a great extent repealed ; and I doubt whether any further removal of restrictions would have much effect in bringing more land into the market, or in reducing the price, in the face of the passion I have just alluded to, by which rich men are tempted to give 30 or 40 years' purchase for a property—a price no person of moderate income At the same time there is no lack of ifford. land to be hood of tc either indi properties to pa ubdividi lilding su usT'^'^he the neighbour- e land jobbers, sally buyirig up rket ga rr these centres owners are easily t'enipted their land ; at a distance from them small Id be ruinous to any owner or occupier. ' can see, any ' nterfered with upply and demand would be either ichievous. 2dly, The laws which So tha the natural law of inoperative or m govern the occupi should be ample so long as he farms'with justice to the farm and with profit to himself, in the interest both of his landlord and himself; when he loses his capital and when he deteriorates his farm, this security should cease. His rent must be something more than the ovmer could make after paying the expenses of a bailiff or steward, otherwise he would farm himself. The size of his occupation is limited by his means. He must not hold less than will produce him the means of live- lihood according to his station after paying all out- goings. He must not hold more than his capital will enable him to stock and manage to the best advantage. Other things being equal, the larger the farm he can thus take, the larger in proportion will be the profit. The modem and expensive appliances, such as steam cultivators, &c., will be often remunerative on 1000 acres, while they would be ruinous upon only lOO acres. Nevertheless the size of farms in England is, from the natural causes above referred to, gradually decreasing — the proportion of tenants holding 5 acres and under being one-half, and of those holding less than 100 acres being four-fifths of the total occupiers of land. And if the wealth of England continues to increase the size of farms must go on diminishing. More land will be taken every year for villas, for pleasure farms, for market gardens, &c. ; and from the same causes con- tinuing to act on a lessened area, it will follow that the value of land must increase irrespective of any farm- ing profits. Gentlemen will continue to purchase and rent land regardless of the interest it pays, for the sole pleasure of occupying, as they do now in the neigh- bourhood of London and large cities. This natural law will, I apprehend, gradually prevail, whether we like it or not, whether we try to modify it by Acts of Parliament or not. It has already cut up one-half of the area of England into plots of less than 100 acres, and will flow like a tide, gradual, but resistless, over the remaining half. In the meantime, let neither owner nor occupier of land be discouraged, but make the most of their present opportunties. Prices keep up, especially of meat and all perishable produce. High i. pester Parliament lor unattainable, while v our reach. J. B. M. ig is paying very fairly. Let us cease to , * ^^ laws, or agitate for what is neglect the advantages within Gardening and Farming. — I could never under- stand why there should be any difference between the two as regards draining, deep cultivation, and abun- dance of manure and produce. I have asked why there should be any difference, and I am told by farmers:— I. That it would not pay to treat the garden as they do the farm — they would not grow enough. 2. When I say that is the strongest argu- ment for gardening the land, I am told by the same parties that they have neither manure nor capital enough ; they don't mean acreable capital enough, but, in plain English, they admit that they hold too much land in proportion to their capital. Now ther is nothing so easy as to double a farmer's acreabl capital. I often say to my farming friends who havi 600 acres of land, and complain of want of capital "Take a farm of only 300 acres, and you wil at once double your acreable capital, and fron my practical experience I can assure you tha you will thus considerably increase your per centage of profit." That question of increased acreabli farm capital is one of the questions of the day, under going revision and solution, and the time is fas approaching when the important question will be, not how many acres do you farm, but how much acreable capital. I am daily more and more convinced that from £i(> to ;^3o per acre is not too much c arable farms. I know several who have that amoun and thus make farming pay more than the commc rate of profit. A cottage gardener who fattens his or hog on 20 rods of ground, absolutely makes at tl rate of 640 lb. of meat per acre, or eight times as much as an ordinary farmer, therefore he also thus makes eight times as much manure. The result mus be obvious. Therefore the quantity of meat a farmei makes on his farm, especially with food not the pro duction of his own land, is a measure of his crop-pro ducing powers. Britain is not half farmed, nor will ii be until the acreable capital of both landowner anc tenant is vastly increased. 7. J. Mechi, Tiptree. June, 1871. Agricultural Experiences. — I got two root; to-day of Rye-grass, each the produce of a singh grain, on one of which I counted the stems — 193 ; thf other not so large, and I suppose it to number abou 150. It grew in a place manured for Parsnips, which failed. I enclose a stem. I had last season, and have it still, a root of Wheat which grew in a thin place in the field, the produce of one grain, that had 55 stems, and of these 42 had good ears, another had 37. I conclude this will not be credited ; but I have them, and would send them if I had an opportunity. I con- sider both cases a most extraordinary increase — beyond anything I have ever seen. J. M. E. Co-operative Prices of Phosphate Manure. — Will you kindly grant me space to answer the ques- tions asked by Mr. W. Gurdon in your number of June 17 ? Mr. W. Little, of Heckington, Hull, is the representative member on our Council of the Licoln- shire Association, and the price named by him is quite correct. It refers to mineral superphosphate of lime ordered by members of the Lincolnshire Society (and of our allied Association) in the preceding autumn, and delivered in bulk anywhere within a given area (of which I shall be glad to give Mr. Gurdon a map), being ordered in advance, and paid for before delivery, the Society only puts \s. per ton 1 it, to cover cost of analysing and other The higher price quoted by Mr. Gurdon, from the May number of the Agricultural price for manure ordered out of stock at the busiest time of the year. To supply such orders the Association has to incur considerable penses of warehousing, &c. , and the rule, therefore, to charge the current market price of the day, and then return to the members all the surplus profits after iding for working expenses and payment of 5 per cent, per annum interest on capital. If Mr. Gurdon 11 refer to the June number of the Agricultural Economist he will see that the price has already been :luced to £,'-, per ton, and if he deducts from this ice I2J. per ton for the average return to members, d 5.f. bd. per ton for the bags, he will find the nett St of the manure to members is now about £^ 2J. bd, r ton, delivered out of stock and carted free to rails, hilst I am writing, perhaps you will permit me to swer a veiy serious charge against us, made in Mr. Spooner's letter in the following terms fp. 658 of the Agricultural Gazette) :— '. aim of co-operative societies also to pander iving for cheapness,' and to attract by such perphospl 3bje plea much per cent, of soluble save that it must be low vishes to supply it, of c profit, buys a very cheap rial, and treats it with s amount of solubility requ materials vary to the exte undue stimulus is given t fair-dealing manufacturer phosphate, and in price. A mar ourse, in order t and low class phc ired ; and it is a nt of 45 to 75 pe the mferior ma is injured to the othit nufa( thus fairly quoted Mr. Spooner at length, I ;rt that the entire aim and scope of true co- 2 societies (not omitting our own) is of a totally nature, both in theory and practice. Their not to pander to the " craving for cheapness," out in all cases to supply an honest article at a fair and reasonable price, of reliable quality, and without adulteration or trickery of any kind. They pro- mote the true interests of producers as well as consumers, all honest interests being identical. The rule of our Association is to buy the best articles of each kind, and we refuse to deal in inferior or adulterated ones. As regards cheapness, all we do is to economise the cost of retailing the goods. An agent or broker adds nothing to the quality or value of goods, whether he is paid \s. or £1 or £,z per ton for selling them ; and if by the union of our members we can distribute manures, and at an average 4 per cent, instead of 20 or 25 per cent, profit, that is a clear gain to the public— all political economists from Adam Smith to the present time proving it. Nor do we seek to attract customers by such pleas, as the ' ' cheapest " articles are in most cases entirely ex- cluded from our list. Thus genuine (second quality), (third quality), marked and unmarked oil cakes, we do not deal in, only the pure article. Then as regards superphosphates, if we want a mineral superphosphate for our members we act on Dr. Voelcker's advice, " Pay only for soluble phosphate ; " but we stipulate for the highest percentages obtainable, the use of the best materials by the contractors, and perfectly dry condition. What is more, we take care that we get what we bar- gain for, and Mr. Spooner will not venture to deny the force of the following statement. Seven analyses by Dr. Voelcker and Professor Sibson of our stocks of mineral superphosphate, taken at different times from September, 1870, to April, 1871, showed an average of 27.60 of soluble phosphate and only 14.37 of moisture. Mr. Spooner knows as well as I do that it would be impossible to get such high results of so permanent a nature out of the low-class phosphates he speaks of. I may add, that when we want dissolved bones we stipulate for the insoluble phosphates and ammonia as well as for the soluble phosphates, and tie the con- tractor to make the manure out of pure steamed bones. We pursue the same policy in all our contracts, and so far from stimulating the taste for spurious cheapness, we claim for our co-operative system that it induces a demand for high-class goods ; our members know that they get unadulterated articles when they pay for them, a certainty they cannot always have when they buy in the outside markets. Edward Choen Greetiing, 35, King Street, Westminster, S. W. Professors Gamgee and McBride.— Having given insertion to "A Practical Farmer's" letter in yours of the 3d, you will probably think it only fair to give insertion also to so much of the enclosed, from the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard of to-day, as shows that Professor McBride has never sought to rob Pro- fessor Gamgee of any honour that is due to him, but, on the contrary, has spoken highly of him, as he deserves. I observe in your paper of to-day, that Professor McBride does not allude to this point, thinking, no doubt, that it is sufficiently well known that he is not honestly liable to " A Practical Farmer's " charge; but all persons may not know this, and the charge having been made, its refutation should have equal publicity. George Walters, Clifton, Bristol, June 24. [The fol- lowing is the extract referred to: — "We are very pleased to see ' A Practical Farmer ' stand up so bravely for one who has deserved so well of his country in general and of agriculture in particular, as Professor Gamgee, and we much regret that he should be left to experience in his own person that ' virtue is its own reward,' but it is rather hard upon Professor McBride to attack him on this subject, since there are few men in the kingdom who more heartily appreciate the benefits which Professor Gamgee has conferred upon the farmers ; and perhaps the best answer to the above will be to print an extract from Professor McBride's lecture on Cattle Diseases at our Cirencester Chamber of Agriculture, as reported in the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard of May 14, 1870, in which he said — ' Many veterinarians have drawn the attention of those interested to this subject, but none to the extent of Professor Gamgee, or with the same originality of thought. Since 1858, till the cattle plague appeared, he never failed to point out what must ultimately be the result of the traffic in foreign cattle. Strange to say one uld ,rdly the: Wl ,n idle drea It if they persisted in introducing foreign stock, Id be certain to have a visit from the dire destroyer, cattle plague, he was laughed at. In fact, he IS said to be suffering from a peculiar form of m.adness his hallucination being that this country would soon ffer from a plague which would destroy nearly all our ttle. Agriculturists said it could not occur— it was nsational— a myth— a mere shadow ; and further, when informed you how cattle plague could be stayed, I mh' believe if Lvnch law had been an English custom, e cattle dealers and others interested would have made . example of one who was, and is still, your best friend, ich has been the recompense tliat one of the most ; your hands; why? ; he km nore than July The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. B53 his contemporaries, and because stock-holders were not sufficiently educated to receive the truths he commnm- cated. I take this opportunity of saymg that he has the most comprehensive view of all that pertains to epizootics What did he do for Wihshire ? Stopped small pox. I am not aware of anyone, who has wntten or lectured upon this subject, advancing anything that he did no advise years ago- They but echo his words, without gWing him the honour of being the lirst to suggest such measures. Government adopted his suggestion for catte plague, after the loss of millions, but neither agricultunsts nor the Government have either recognised or remtmerated his valuable services. Every profession has had its martyrs, and I expect ours is no exception to the rule. However, gentlemen, it is satisfactory to know that it is never too late to mend.' Could any recognition of Professor Gamgee's services be more complete, or any appreciation heartier? 'A Practical Farmer' has probably not seen this, or he would hardly have dragged Professor McBride s name before the public as an individual depreciator of Mr. Gamgee, because lie is not perpetually acknowledg in? in every word that he writes how much veterinary science is indebted to that gentleman. Let it suffice to say that if every one did Professor Gamgee as much justice as our worthy veterinary professor here, he would not have gone so long Gloucestershire Standard. "] Cattle Si^ •• •• ;; "■■ PoSt% ■■. Dairy produce Implements Perth, 187.. Perth, 1861. 630 15^ 335 a9 3^ 850 3120 =484 nrewarded. Wilts atid Utilisation of Sewage interest in this question. -Taking, as I dc common with \ sewage, may I ■ adyt a great 50 many ask Mr. who advocate the Mechitoaddto the obligati by informing us whether the sewage of Romford about which there appeared a paragraph from him in the Tivies of Tune 26, averages as much as 100 tons per head of the contributories, and whether in that case it nevertheless pours over the farm in a black state ? Taking the figures set down, nearly 600,000 tons of the sewage are delivered in one year on to a farm not exceeding 120 acres, and when a deduction is made on account of buildings, yards, roads, gardens, &c., it will be near enough for the present purpose if we assume that 100 acres are under sewage cultivation- each would, on an average, receive 6coo tons per annum. The population of Romford, as regards the farm, is said to be no more than 6000, so that each acre of land receives the sewage of 60 people, which is paid for at the rate of 2s. per head, or £(1 for 6000 tons, or something less than a farthing per ton. I lately noticed in your journal a statement by Mr. Hope, the lessee of the Romford sewage farm, that the pump upon it was worked continuously night and day ; but whether this is so always or not, Mr. Mechi tells us that the results are the same as regards the annual quantity of sewage pumped and disposed of. I also noticed that, in Mr. Hope's opinion, the value of the sewage of each head of our population is %s. what I would ask Mr. Mechi is, whether, m his opinion, one-fourth of the value of sewage is all that I, were I to become a sewage farmer to-morrow, could afford to pay? or whether, in other words, I must have the benefit of three-fourths of it to recoup me for the expenses attending the working of a sewage farm Unless I am altogether wrong in my quantities, and do not think I am, I cannot reconcile them and the price paid for the Romford sewage, with the price which I have always been assured sewage will fetch, namely, \d. per ton, and at which price the Romford farm would now be paying ^^2500 a-year, or ^25 per acre. The value of the Romford people, 6000 by %s. per head, nearly approaches this sum, being ^^'2400 ; but the quantity of sewage which Mr. Hope is obliged to take is double that which it is considered safe to estimate as the average due to the population of towns generally. F. P., June 10. Mr. KiNLOCH said he had to state the result of what the directors had agreed to in reference to the follow- ing motion, which was proposed by Mr. Munro, and seconded by Mr. Ord last January : "That a class of implements for competitive trial be annually fixed on, the implements to be exhibited at the show, and the trial to be held at the time of year best suited for test ing the strength of the implements and the work per formed. That the trial be extended over a longer time than has hitherto been the practice, and that it b( remitted to the directors to make arrangements witl the manufacturers as to the manner in which the trials may be most satisfactorily carried out." Mr. Munro was kind enough to withdraw his motion on the assurance being given that the subject would receive the consideration of the directors. The directors sent the matter to the general show committee and to the machinery committee. These committees had had a meeting with Mr. Munro, and at that meeting they went over the whole of the ground on which the present system was founded, which was embodied in a report and approved of by the Society in January, 1S62. They resolved unanimously to adhere to the present system, but they agreed, as an experiment — and only as an experiment, which they did not at all approve of— to recommend that it would be competent for the local committee of the general show to select any description of machinery for special trial, the competition to be held when and where they might appoint. One year the implements chosen might be reaping machines, another potato Hfters, another double-furrow ploughs, and so on. The directors undertook to give prizes for the competition, but they washed their hands altogether of the competition otherwise. They had very good reasons for doing that, inasmuch as they found it ex- ceedingly difficult to manage on previous occasions. The report of the committee was approved of by the directors, and it was remitted to Mr. Menzies to sub- mit the matter to the local committee at Perth. He did so last week, and he had told him that the local committee at Perth declined the responsibility of choosing the implements, but they were willing to do so with the aid of the machinery committee. The local committee also undertook the management of the competition. HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL. At the general meeting, held in the Society's Hall, George IV. Bridge, Edinburgh, on Wednesday of last week. Sir James Gardiner Baird, Bart., in the chair : 194 new members were elected. Mr. Murray, of DoUerie, moved the adoption of the byelaw No. 2, altered as follows :—" That pro- prietors farming the whole of their own lands, whose assessment on the valuation roll does not exceed pf 500 per annum, and all tenant-farmers, office-bearers of local agricultural associations, resident agricultural factors, land stewards, foresters, agricultural implement makers, and veterinary surgeons, none of them being also owners of land to an extent exceeding ^f 500 per annum, shall pay at admission, and afterwards annually in advance, the sum of ioj., with the option and power of redeeming the same by payment of 5 gs., as the pur- chase of a life subscription, and which life subscription may be so purchased, under deduction of any annual payments that the member may have previously made, with this limitation, that at no time shall a member have the power of redeeming the annual payments for a less sum than ^3." The alteration was agreed to. Mr. KiNLOCH, yr., of Gilmerton, said he had to report that he had been given to understand that the arrangements for the next show at Perth were progress- The Chemical Department.— V>x. in a verbal report on the experiments carried on in this department. In the first place he had to thank the Society for the leave of absence they had granted him during his protracted illness. He might mention, how- ever, that during the period referred to he had per- Uy conducted the whole of the correspondence of the laboratory, which was not little. During the last six months the business of the laboratory had been unusually large— the number of the analyses had been greater than in any previous half-year— and had embraced analyses of all kinds. He had had an unusual amount of adulterated and inferi manures brought under his notice, while there had been two or three cases of suspected poisoning of cattle, sheep, and dogs, which had been examined into, but only in one "case did he find poison. Speci- mens of water had also been examined, and he had seen enough to satisfy him that care was required the erection of new farm buildings, and that attention should be paid to the position of wells, so as to provide against the possibility of their becoming con- taminated. With reference to the adulterated and inferior manures. Dr. Anderson stated that he would not have brought them under the notice of the Society had it not been that the specimens examined were bought from manufacturers of the highest reputation — gentlemen who were making thousands a year from the business. In conclusion, he mentioned that he was at present engaged in an investigation of the scab in Potatos — a disease which had of late occasioned very considerable loss to the farmers. Mr. Menzies said, with regard to the minutes of the special committee of the Chemical Department, that the board approved of the following suggestions, and resolved to act upon them as opportunity occurred, in any ; re-arrangement of the Chemical Department : — "I. That the chemist should have his laboratory at the headquarters of the Society in Edinburgh, and reside there. 2. That in fixing the salary of the chemist the scale of prices for analyses should be revised, with the view of reducing the rates. 3. That the field experiments carried on by the Society should have the chemist's special attention. The publication of the results to be periodical, and under his entire charge and control." Mr. Harvey wished to know when the re-arrange- ment was hkely to occur ? The minute said "When an opportunity occurs." He had been speaking about it for the last ten years. In other ten years he might be me where else. A long discussion followed, but no resolution was put on the subject. Mr. Menzies reported that the following premiums ,d been awarded since the general meeting in January : — I. The gold medal or £\o to A. H. Church, Professor of Chemistry, Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, for a Report on the Cultivation of Sugar-Beet ; 2. The gold medal or l,\o to W. J. Moscrop, agent for the Earl of Zetland, Oliver, Rich- mond, Yorkshire, for a Report on the Best Modes of Housing Fattening Cattle. Steam Ploughing.— Yroksiov Wilson laid on the table the following memorandum as to ploughing at Dunmore, by Thompson's traction engine and Gray's balance plough, on February 28 : — " The ploughing took place in a large field at Dunmore Park, which had lain about 40 years in grass, and was nearly level. The soil was a strong clay, and in good order for ploughing. The engine is of 8-horse power, and weighs 75 tons, with vertical boiler and cylinders. It runs on three wheels, with indiarubber tyres, each 2 feet broad, and covers a space 7 feet wide. The steam-guage, when the engine was drawing the plough, indicated a pressure of from 120 lb. to 125 lb. per square inch. Five cwt. of coal and 700 gallons of water are stated to be consumed in a day of nine hours. The plough is a balance-plough, made by Gray of Uddingstone, and is the first of the kind which has been constructed. The plough had three mouldboards. The engine travels the unploughed land, dragging the plough behind it. The length of furrow was 12J chains, or 275 yards. The furrows made by the plough were 6 inches deep by neariy 9J inches broad, and were fairiy turned, considering that the ploughman had not much experience of the work. A heading 20 yards wide was left at each end of the field for turning the engine. To travel the distance of 275 yards and to turn the engine, and attach it to the plough ready for the return journey, occupied a space of eight minutes ; and this required considerable activity on the part of the engine-driver when turning the engine. The engine was driven by one man, with a boy to attend the fire and watch the pressure and water-guages. The engine carried a supply of coals sufficient for four hours' work, and four hours' supply of water. The plough was steered by one man, whose duty also was to hook and unhook the engine to the plough at the commencement and end of each journey. At the rate at which the engine and plough were working, viz., three furrows 28 inches wide and 275 yards long, or 214 square yards, in eight minutes, the time required to plough an imperial acre was within a smaU fraction of three hours ; and supposing the plough to work nine hours a-day, which, taking the average length of days in the ploughing season, is a firll allowance, it would turn over 3 imperial acres per day, or about what three pairs of horses would have done. It was observed that while the three ploughs turn over a space of 28 inches wide, the engine-wheels cover a space of 7 feet wide, so that the wheels of the engine pass three times over the land before it is turned by the plough. It was also noticed that the engine passing over the land depressed the surface about ij inch, and the soil was also compressed to this extent. The Highland Society's self-registering dynanometer, made by Messrs. Easton, Amos & Anderson, of London, was tried on the engine and three-furrow plough, and indicated a draught of 21 cwt. A common swing-plough, drawn by two horses, was tried to ascertain the difference in draught on the land in its natural state and where the engine had passed over, and it was found that the land, where com- pressed by the engine, required an additional power equal to the draught of i cwt., the single plough making 6 cwt. on the unpressed land, and 7 cwt. on that which the engine had passed over. The committee were desirous of seeing the engine and plough at work on stubble or ploughed land, but Lord Dunmore had no field on which it could be shown. The committee would also wish to see the engine and plough tried in a field with a considerable slope. Lord Dunmore handed to the committee the following statement of the cost of his apparatus and of the daily expenditure in working it : — Cost of engine, 8-horse power .£700 o o Cost of ploughs, Cost of water-tank. Allowing engine to he under steam four days a week = 208 days, which gives 8^. id. as daily cost for engine ■ . - - '• ^ Ploughs, cost ;£70, at s per cent, on outlay, and 5 per cent, for wear and tear = ij per annum, and for 100 working days that would be ir. 5a'. per diem Tank would cost ;£30, which at 10 per cent. = £-2 per annum, would give for 100 days Engine-driver's wages at 241. for 6 days Ploughman, at 2j. 6rf. per diem Coal, at 4t^- per cwt., 5 cwt. Autumn stubbles— in 10 hours ploughing we could do 7 acres easily— equal to 2j. <)d. per acre ; spring plough- ing lea, 5 acres— equal to 3s. lod. The committee cannot close their minute without an expression of thanks to Lord Dunmore for his kindness when they went to inspect his lordship's apparatus, and the gratification that it gave them to see his lordship interesting himself in such an important subject as steam cultivation, in which they trust he may be successful." 854 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. Uuly I, 1871 ofessor Wilson submitted the under isken's system of steam-tilkge : — ■laving, together with Professor Macqu appointed by the Society as a deputati •orl'ill, Alton. Sussex Cow in calf, or if in milk, having had a calf within 6 months, —ist, £$, Messrs. Heasman ; 2d, £^, Mr, J. Turvill. Devon Bull of any age.— :st, £s, Mr. W. Taylor, Westham, Sussex (only HANTS AXD HERTS. This Society held its tenth meeting the other day at Portsmouth, under very difficult circumstances. The weather was extremely unpropitious, and a very excel- lent show was thus unable to attract the usual number of visitors. The following is the list of judges and their awards ; — JUDGES. Sheep.— Mr. Henry Fooks, Whitechurch, Blandford ; Mr. E. Olding, Woodford Cottage, Salisbury ; and Mr. H. Bone, Avon, Ringwood. Horses. — Mr. J. B. Spearing, Kllbume Lodge, Hurst, near Wokingham : Mr. W. Wheatly, Reading : and Mr. W. C. Spooner, Eling, Southampton. Bulls and Cows. — Mr. A. Craddock, Lambourne, Berks : Mr. William Champion, Reading: and Mr. Game, Church Hill, Chipping Norton. Pigs. — Messrs. Craddock, Champion, and Game. PoULTRV.— Mr. J. Baily, 113, Mount Street, Grosvenor Square, London, hook ; and Mr. Ch; Ploughing.— M Mr. George Pittis, »E Co:..PETlTlON-.-Mr. W. Chalcraft, Lip- as. Clark, Olanfield, Homdean. r. John Turvill, Hartley, Mandit, Alton : and Wymering. ,£5, A. Morrison, Esq. : 2d, £1, Mr. Itldd, Overton, Hants :'^:Mr. (only entry)- Shearling Ewes of the same flock, which have never been housed and dean shorn.— ist, ^lo, Mr. W. E. Fill : 2d, £s> Mr. John Barton. Ram Lambs. — 1st, ,^^8, A. Morrison, Esq. ; 2d, .j^s, Mr. John Moore ; 3d, £,z. Mr. W. F. Bennett, Chilmark, SalLsbiiry. Ewe Lanibs.-ist, £s, Mr. F. S. Schwann ; 2d, £^, Mr. A, Budd, Overton, Hants. The whole of the animals in this class v ; commended. Shearling Rams, hichester. Southdown. , £\o, Mr. J. E. and A. Heasman : 2d, ; 3d, £3, Mr. H. Penfold, Selsey, Ramofany age.— 1st, £S, K VIt. H. Penfold ; 3d. £^, Mr. A. T. Newmai . late Mr. J. A. Finnic, Westdean, Chichester. Shearling Ewes.— ist, £\o, S. W. Seward, Esq., Westo Petersfield ; 2d, £$, Mr- G. Pittis, Wymering, near Cosham. Oxfordshire Down. ■ling Rams.- ■n, Farringdon; 2d. £'^,A. F. M. Druce, Esq. , Biirghfield, F. M. Druce, Esq. (only znlry\ Reading. Shearling Ewes. Shearling Rams.- , Wooiley House, Romscy. COTSW 'ooiley I ling Ew ; Farm, Dorchester. £s, Mr. W. Taylor, Glynley, Westham Channel islands Bull, any age.— ist, £$, Lord Chesham ; 2d, Mr. H. Drewitt, MiUvill, Titchfield. Channel Islands Cow.— ist, ^5, Lord Bolton, Hackwood Park, Basingstoke ; 2d, Mr. Henry Drewitt, Millvill, Titchfield. Channel Islands Heifers, — ist, £$, Lord Chesham : 2d, ,,^3. Mr. Henry Drewitt , .,_. L". Barton, Sherborne, Basingstoke. Breeding Sow, any age,— ist and 2d, Mr. H. Humfrey. The whole class generally commended. Pair of Sows, under 6 months. — ist, £^, Mr. H. Humfrey ; 2d, £z, Messrs. Wheeler & Sons. Boar of any age, large breed, not being Berkshire. — 1st, £%, Messrs. R. E. Duckering & Sons ; 2d, £3, Messrs. J. Wheeler Breeding Sow, any age. — ist, ,;^5, Messrs. Duckering ; 2d, £v>, Messrs. J. & S. Wheeler. Boar, any age, small breed, not being Berkshire. — ist, £$, Messrs. Duckering & Son ; 2d, A. F. M.^Druce, Esq. Farmers' Clubs. EAST LOTHIAN. Injwy Dime to Grain in Threshing. — At the late monthly meeting of this Club, held on Friday, the 2dult., Mr. Douglas, Athelstaneford, presiding, said Mr. Cunningham, brewer, Athelstaneford, had kindly sent a detailed communication with reference to the deteriorating effect for malting purposes of bi-uising or breaking grain in the process of threshing. On the same point, Mr. Punton, Aberlady Mains, wrote : — "As regards the overdressing of Barley, a serious loss is the consequence in malting, particularly in the spring months. When the pickles are broken or bruised they do not germinate, and when only a few days in operation they become quite mouldy and sour. The damaged grains also contaminate the sound ones, arid the whole 'floor' has to be thrown on the kiln before the malting process is half-finished, and the quality of the malt is consequently very much deteriorated. I observe that Bariey threshed with the English high speed mills is very often a good deal broken and bruised, but I cannot say whether it is something to do with it. I may mention the machinery we have here (the old style of rollers and hummeller) threslies the Barley without breaking or injuring a single pickle, and the weights during the past season ran from 57 lb. to 59 lb. per bushel. I have no experience of Wheat. No doubt overdressing will act against it too, but not to such an extent, I should think, as with Barley." With regard to the mechanical aspect of the ques- tion, Mr. Bridges, engineer, North Berwick, wrote :— " This evil has been brought on by the introduction of drums running at high speeds. First, there were the peg mills, a few of which I erected in this county about 1850. and were discontinued principally on this account. Then immediately followed the present high-speed drums, which are not free of the same fault. From 1852 to i860, I made a considerable number of them in this county, and tried various plans to overcome this defect, but had not at this period availed myselfof any of the English patents, but rather avoided them. The greatest advantage I found was in making the concave as open ps possible, particu- larly at the entrance, where the bulk of the grain was knocked out, so as to allow it to escape more readily the instant it was out of the bar. For the last 10 years, the concave I have been using has carried out this principle more effectually than before, having sub- stituted malleable for cast iron. I have used drum beaters of various kinds, and for several years past have used only the patent serrated beaters, which are now made of steel as well as of iron, and during this period - viz., the last ten years— I have had no complaints made. As an evidence of the effects of tlie improved concave, there were lately complaints made of two mills I had erected in 1858 bruising the grain. The old beaters on tlie dmm were replaced by the patent serrated beafer without improvement, ones, which ei construction, a careful millman is indispensable for the proper working, and keeping these mills in the best order. Several cases of bad management have come under my notice, considerably affecting the bruising of grain. In putting Bariey through the mill a second time, in cases of smut, when the hummeller cannot be used, it is highly needful to screw back the concave a little ; also, when rough elevators discharge into the drum, no more grain should be allowed to come up than is necessary. I do not recollect of any case where the hummeller was at fault in bruismg grain, where it was not found to be running too part of the casing." close £ The subject you name has had a great amount of my for several years back, namely— the evils arising from the breaking of corn by machmery. The causes of the same are not few, from which I may mention two or three, ist, the kind of drum used ; 2d, the way the drum and concave are adjusted and kept in order. 3d, the state the corn is in when threshing. In dry seasons, the drum must be kept in first-rate order to prevent breaking. The thing suggests itself to me, that if the farmers would get their millwrights at shorter intervals to examine and adjust their drums, instead of their own men shifting them, we would see less broken corn than at present. In this district, where the drums are not meddled with, there are no complaints of broken corn. In making this suggestion I do not mean to blame the men in charge of them. On the contrary, I think they deserve credit for the way that they manage them. The only kind of drum I use is Goucher's patent drum, with grooved beater plates. Mr. Cunningham, Athelstaneford, after a few introductory remarks, said : — F.rst, then, as you are aware, the object sought in malting is to change the starchy substance of the grain into grape-sugar. This is accomplished by steeping the Barley in water, for a longer or shorter period, to produce fermentation. When the grain begins to vegetate, it is extended on the floors, and kept there from 10 to 20 days, the time varying with the condition of the grain and the tempe- rature of the atmosphere. During this period the plumule or acrospire, which springs from the root end of the seed — the future stem of the plant, in fact — gradually ascends until it emerges from the seed at the end opposite the root. Now, it is found that the chemical change effected by the gradual extension of the acrospire— viz., that of changing the starch into sugar — is limited to that portion of the corn up which the acrospire has crept, and no further — the upper part of the corn not covered with the acrospire still retaining its starchy consistence. It is evident, then, that the secret of malting consists in promoting, by natural and regular process, the growth of the acrospire until it reaches the end, or very nearly the end, of the com, because when it extends further it extracts the substance of the seed. Now, it will be evident, I think, from what I have stated, that when grain is damaged to any extent, it is more than useless for malting purposes. In the first place, the broken and crushed corns not only do not grow, but they change colour, and become mouldy. The crushed corns, by absorbing moisture internally, rapidly decompose and putrify when exposed long to the temperature of the working floor ; whilst those grains that are rubbed, although they do spring, rapidly discolour and decay before being ready for the kiln. The loss thus sustained in malting damaged Barley consists first in paying duty for a portion of grain incapable of undergoing the necessary chemical change for producing malt, in the loss of quality and flavour by the damaged corns becoming mouldy with decay ; and, lastly — and this is the greatest loss connected with the handling of the article — in being obliged to hurry the floors to the kiln before the sound grains have had time to mature, thereby leaving the acrospire only half developed, and a considerable part of the corns still retaining their starchy consistence, leaving the malt hard and flinty, in place of coming out crisp and flowing in texture, as good malt should be. I may remark here that these observations are applicable to all Barley which has sustained damage in the way indicated, when used for malting ; but of course the evil is modified by the degree to which the evil has extended. Some of the Barley may be only slightly rubbed, while some may be both broken, crushed, and rubbed, and the results I have explained will follow in the proportion to which the damage has extended. Let me say, that a good deal of damage may be sus- tained by grains which can only be discovered by looking somewhat closely into it. And buyers, on some market days, have little opportunity to inspect the grain as it should be. A number of farmers, with the view of improving the colour of their Barley, when they had much smut, were in the habit, in the early part of the season, of putting their Barley twice through the mills — a most pernicious practice, as the Barley was so damaged as to be very unsafe for malting pur- poses. I have on more than one occasion bought parcels of Barley coloured to some extent with the dust of the smut, and I have found that by putting the water into the steep first, and giving the Barley an extra water, a considerable quantity of the smut came off. So long as the body of the corns have sustained no damage, something may be made of them. The evil maltsters above all things deprecate is the damage of com by breaking or bruising it. I men- 856 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July I, 1S71 tioned in the first part of my letter tliat the evils re- sulting from damaged Barley date from the introduc- tion of high-speed mills into East Lothian. Such is my experience. The particular phase of the com- plaint was contemporaneous with their introduction into the county. I am quite aware that the high- speed mill, with all the necessary apparatus for finishing the grain for the market as it comes from the machine, is a most desirable implement. It threshes quicker, it threshes cleaner, it turns out the straw in a whole state, it has many recommenda- tions, and, I believe, cannot be dispensed with now. I consider, however, that much of the evil resulting from their use is the result of faulty construction or mismanagement. I often get Barley threshed with high-speed mills perfectly free from any damage what- ever. If one farmer can use it to good purpose, it is surely possible for all to do it ; the effort is worth try- ing. I know that parties whose grain is known to be sound and good not only command a more ready sale in the market, but invariably get, I believe, a higher price. My object in writing this is more to point out the evils resulting from defective threshing, leaving to others the task of devising the remedy ; but I may remark that I think the damage is often sustained by the grain in passing through the mill, the concave of the drum being screwed too close to the convex of the frame. I cannot otherwise account for the rubbing and crushing of the corn. It is the opinion of some that the hummeller is the cause, but the grain runs through the hummeller in a thin stream. The knives, indeed, are sharp, and may possibly cut the grains. They sometimes appear as if they had been cut, so clean across does the division appear, without a dimple or break on either side of the grain. If such should be the case, is it not possible to alter the hummellers as they come in connection with the old beating drum, viz., to have the machine placed vertically instead of horizontally, the knives blunted, and the speed very much reduced ? There would then be a solid body of grain to act upon, and although the inlet and outlet would require some nicety of regulating, that might be accomplished. Another defect with some high-speed drums consists in their being screwed without any guage to regulate the distance of the drum from the frame. Consequently the space for the gi-ain and straw to pass between is regulated with no certainty — sometimes it may be closer and sometimes wider, as inclination or accident may determine. The great bulk of the Barley grown in East-Lothian being bought for malting purposes, and the climate, soil, and means of the farmer combining to produce a first-class article, so far as the raw material is con- cerned. I think there can be no doubt that it is greatly the interest of farmers to study the requirements of the trade (the malting trade), and prepare the grain in such a way that its value may be in no way deteriorated by the process of preparing it for the market — I repeat, the interest of farmers. I might sug- gest an appeal to your professional reputation, and say that while East Lothian can boast of a class of farmers who have led the van in the march of improvement, and been foremost in utilising any discovery in science applicable to their particular domain, it seems like a stigma on their character— their professional character — that grain of such superior quality should be spoiled in the dressing. But I feel persuaded that, were buyers assured of greater security against damaged grain, coming as they now do from all quarters, a spirit of confidence would be implanted, and they would be the more prepared to give the utmost value for the article. I know, from conversation with parties in the trade, that the feeling has been that rubbing is one of the drawbacks to East Lothian Barley. As I remarked, in many cases it is very slight, in some there is no defect ; still there must have been a con- siderable amount of mischief when the feeling extends to the whole district. Had there been no such feeling, it is probable prices might have been better. I must say that when I have pointed out the evil to any of my friends engaged in farming, they have invariably admitted it, and expressed a most anxious desire to remedy the evil did they know how. The difficulty lay in applying a sufficient amount of friction to separate the awn without damaging thi grain. I hope that some wiser heads will be able t( devise a remedy, and that no such suTsject will need t( be discussed next year. In these remarks I have con fined myself to Barley as applied for malting purposes Other kinds of grain are broken and bruised, but ; would suppose that, unless used for seed, or stored fo a length of time, the damage sustained is nothing lik^ so great in the way of destroying the value of the grain as in the case of Barley making into malt, the rest being all manufactured in a dry state. The Chairman (Mr. Douglas) said that after the statement of Mr. Cunningham, it could not be doubted that an evil connected with the dressing of both Wheat and Barley did exist, which in the one case deteriorated its value as seed, and in the other for malting purposes. Farmers would be glad if practical men could fall upon some expedient to remedy the evil. It was their desire not only to get the best price for their grain but that the purchaser should have the full value from it, and not be subjected to the waste which it had been shown had sometimes to be borne by the maltster. A thresh- ing-mill should, above all things, thresh clean, for they could not afford to throw away any of the grain, seeing they had little enough of it on the deal of the evil complained of, he tho\ hummeller, to which much atten :;ht, arose I should be )f the he hummellers were too hori- :red the upright action the best, re under control. There ought scale for regulating the speed i shosving the importance of a ioned a case in which . stack, and its weight His mill then under- rest of the stack was lighed 16 St. 6 lb., but nill not having broken ■ higher than the heavier properly working mill, he a farmer threshed a portion of in the market was 16 st. 11 lb. went some alterations, and the threshed. This portion only w in consequence of the improved so much, it sold 3s. per quarti sample. Mr. Hope, Fenton Bams, as bearing out the state- ments of Mr. Cunningham, said he had been told by an extensive brewer in Edinburgh that he frequently got over the fingers by buying Barley from parties he did not know. There were some farmers, this gentle- man said, from whom they could buy with perfect security ; and when the Barley was unbroken, he had no hesitation in giving 2s. or 3s. more a quarter for it. .Sometimes, too, he had been told, that when severely bit, brewers had recourse to laying in a quantity of foreign Barley. These things showed the necessity for farmers paying attention to this subject. For his own part, he believed the evil had arisen in a great measure from the high-speed dnims ; but at the same time he thought it arose often from the inattention of the farmers themselves. They left the matter to men who, in order to get through a good day's work, put too much grain in the hum- meller, which he found always caused broken grain. A good portion of the injury arose from too much hummelling. As to smut, he might mention that the first sample of Barley he threshed in his high-speed mill was quite white when it went into the hummeller, and quite black when it came out. He stopped the mill at once, and put the Barley through the fanners, and he found by that process the smut was blown away, and the sample came out quite clean. Mr. Harvey said he had no wish to speak dis- paragingly of high-speed drums ; but about 30 years ago it was an uncommon thing to see broken grain coming into the market, and there was no doubt that broken grain had increased since their introduction. He admired the fine action of the high-speed drums ; but when the grain came out broken where was the benefit? Mismanagement had been bla but what did that mean? It meant th needed to be superintended by men ace ed for this ; ; these mills stomed con- Mr. H ALL] day, engine make high-speed threshing before doing so he had g. machines in use there. Alter ms work, he came to the conclusion thi fault of breaking the grain. The re made him think that the system of cave by six or eight screws was a \ to put into the hands of farm servar fore constructed a system of regul whereby any gentleman could rej dress-coat on, and without stopping mill was not threshing clean, theatt England to see ispecting several lat they had all lating the con- iwkward thing He had there' : the concave, : it with his : mill. If the id nothing to do but to turn a small handle, and the whc cave was regulated from one point. He foui expedient of great benefit. He had put up a 1 Mr. Tod, Bearford, about 12 years ago, and aftei in operation they had to search the whole " bing to try to get a broken pickle. He thought th( a good deal in the width of the concave. He made the concave of Mr. Tod's mill pretty wide, to alio the grain to g( " it to escape from the drum whenever the grai taken from the ear. He found that with the C( which therefoi ; gram, f Mr. Tod Dwn after be: the drum who •. He found tli were portions of the : the pickle being take ;ed to straighten the leads getting through I t, had a greater tendei -to allov and he therefor reed in the let the corn get out. He believed, also, tha the speed of the drum had something to do with th, breaking of the grain. When the grain was very dr the velocity of the drum would cause this breakage- the mere contact of the drum would break very dr corn. The drum acted as a disintegrator when the speed was very high. To obviate this he had put two speeds on the drum, so that in threshing Beans and Wheat the speed of the drum could be reduced, while the rest of the machine was going at the full rate. H( had done this to several mills, by putting on anothe; pulley for threshing Wheat, and he believed that sinc< then there had been a great improvement. As to th< hummeller, his were all horizontal, and delivered at tlu top instead of the bottom. They were not worked full The velocity of the drum keeps the grain always on th( " " ■ " 't does not look very natural fact. When it stops ,meller than there wou that 1 the hu at the I be if that the drum was equally set, there would be less kage. He had seen mills working with one side 2 open \ I 1 the other quite close ; and in such a it was[ .ii= ...-ossible that the Barley could be threshed properly. He held that, with a well-set um, nothing could beat the high-speed mills. Mr. DURIE was still working with the old Scotch mill, and he was never bothered with either broken Wheat or Barley. Mr. Halliday — I neglected to say, with regard to the Goucher beater, that I believe it is far too closely grooved, and that if it were wider it would have more tendency to let the grain get through un- The Chairman summed up the discussion, which he said had brought out some very valuable informa- tion, and that upon the whole it had shown that it was not desirable to dispense with high-speed drums. Speed and safety, he believed, were both quite attain- able in the use of these mills ; and by the application of skill and the results of experience on the part of engineers, and careful attention on the part of farmers, they might hope in the course of time to get a stop put to the evil which had given rise to the discussion. Farm Memoranda. Harvey's Dairy, Port Dundas, Gl.\sgow. — The establishment about to be described is situated on the very top of Hundred Acre Hill, at Port Dundas, Glasgow. Whatever ff/e Nature may have in- tended for Port Dundas, it is now about the most unlikely spot in the world for the locality of a monster dairy. Rope-walks and anchor-foundries, dirt and dry docks, seem in their element. But the dairy is also there, and, until the outbreak of the cattle plague, a very notable establishment it was. From 800 to 1000 cows in milk were then the usual number, and were the raisoit d'etre of a series of long wooden sheds that stand, as black as coal-tar can make them, in long parallel rows, with their gables abutting against an open space in front of an engine-house. The latter structure belongs to a distillery, to which the dairy is most ex- tensively indebted. By means of its engine, liqu' " from the cow-sheds is pumped i on the highest eminences on the farm belon Dairy Company, and the distillery refuse is and milk-producing food, which is used in c quantity. The following description, extracted fn Mr. H. H. Di.von's "Field and Fern," w idea of what this dairy was a few years ago rected to the Mr Harvey's byres are disi The Parlour,' 'The This iterloo,' 'TheMalakoff,' gran The the of the ed by different he Halloween,- n. There were it Tooo of them w, and distilled are mostly the Ayrshires, with the exception of a few polls, and recently a sprinkling of Dutch. They stand in long ranks tail to tail, and the scourings fall into the gutters behind them, which are duly flushed down. Hence each beast has to be very accurately told off. on her arrival, into a byre, whose stallage exactly suits her length. In some of the byres there is only one line of cows, and the calves are in small partitions opposite them. "About so of the queys are kept ea Clyde, fthe Thi the buti the lilker, seven of whom live on the spot, and the rest of whom amve at milking hours from Glasgow." Since the cattle plague the dairy has dwindled but not decayed. Not more than 150 cows are now housed in the home shippons ; but the Company •ith t I very large quantity of milk, which of the pply of ises tne total the estimated id Shorthorn kept on for bought are Mr. Baton believed the complaints made by Mr. Cunningham to be well founded. For his own part, e thought the whole fault lay in the setting of the rum. If farmers would look well after that, and see produce of 800 cows. Ayrshire cows bulls are preferred at the homesteading. Cows are bought just previous to cah those which have gone to the butchei about 50 passed through the manager': way. Those of their own breeding a four, five, or six years ; and those that retained according to the age at which they March, April, and May are the months most preferred for bulling, as they suit the winter trade ; but great care is taken to have a sufficient number of late calvers, as many of the earlier cows run dry suddenly towards the fall of the year. A cow should become dry at least five or six weeks before calving, and the late calves should all be dropped by the middle of May. No cows are put to the bull in September and October, nor in the eariy part of November, as June and July calves are not wanted ; therefore the season preferred commences about the end of November or beginning of December. Calves get 2 galls, of milk each every day for about five or six weeks, and then skim-milk for the same length of time. In summer they are turned out very early, but a large proportion are winter-calves, and require the above treatment, especially as the Ayrshire and Shorthorn cross gives a heavy calf that requires a good deal of feeding. In some years, when food is plentiful or milch cows July I, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 857 are dear, a certain number of stirks are bought ; and similarly when feeding-stock is cheap the cows are kept longer. The cows are milked three times a day, and about one-half of the produce is set for cream. As the Dairy Company do a "family trade," a large quantity of cream is sold in the ordinary course of things ; and there is a good demand for skim-milk among the working classes. On an average, the quantity of milk to be dealt with is 1500 galls, daily, of which about Soo are set for cream. The morning milk is all sent away warm, the afternoon yield is about half set, and cream is taken away from the whole of the evening produce. This practice is necessary because, although 12 salesmen are employed, there are but two deliveries daily, although there are three milkings, and the last delivery is over by 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Wooden tubs, as shallow as possible, are preferred to set the milk in ; and it is liked to let the milk remain as long as possible, in the shallowest possible tubs, so as to obtain the maximum yield of cream. In June and July, a certain proportion of the pro- duce is churned, as about this time of year there is a slack demand for milk during six weeks or thereabouts. Milk, cream, and skim-milk are mixed together before churning, this being considered the most profitable method. All the milk is soured, and about I lb. of butter to 3 galls, of milk is regarded as an average return. Three of the old-fashioned Scotch churns are used, if necessary, and about 300 galls, can be dealt with at one time. The butter comes in about an hour and a-half, including the time occupied in taking off the butter once or twice and brashing ; the actual churning, therefore, does not occupy more than about About the first ten days of October it is reckoned that the grass land requires the cows to be taken off, and after that time they remain entirely in the shippons until about the latter end of April or the beginning of May. During these seven months the daily food com- mences with draff (distillery refuse) about 4 or 5 o'clock in the morning, mixed with bean, pea, or Indian meal, but preferably the first-named, unless Beans are too dear, when mixed kinds of meal are substituted. Linseed cake is occasionally given at this time to cows beginning to run dry, and also in spring to those that require a little laxative. After the first milking, viz., about 7 o'clock in the morning, as much distillery refuse as they can take is freely given ; and at S o'clock either oat-straw or hay (if possible). The latter is generally Rye-grass hay off the irrigated fields to be described presently. The next feed consists of raw Turnips or Cabbages, given about 10 o'clock, and at n the cows are milked for the second time. The afternoon meal is given at 2 o'clock, and consists of steamed meal. Turnips, and draff. At 4 o'clock some fodder, generally straw in the afternoor placed in the mangers, and between 4 and 5 ] draff is run in. Some Turnips are always put ii steamed food. At 5 o'clock the cows are milked for the third time, and are afterwards made up foi night. During the summer the cows get nothing in shippons except a little draff in the morning, when they come in to be milked, except towards the fall of the year. They are then allowed some fodder at day ; and in a bad season they get a little meal with their draff in the morning. They are kept on pastures all day, but are brought up to the steadii be milked at about 1 1 o'clock, as well as at night. The solid manure from the shippons is sold to the neighbouring farmers ; but the liquid manure is pumped to a fountain-head a few feet above the highest part of the farm, and distributed by gravitation to auxiliary tanks by two branches, which run east and west from the main receptacle. The pipes (2.1 inches diameter) run underground, and are furnished with stopcocks, so that the manure may be shut off from portion of the (arm and diverted to any other. The engine begins pumping in the morning after chun and continues as required. Irrigation is done on the well-known Kennedy system, which at one time took some hold in the south of Scotland, and is probably better known, as it is certainly more favoured, in France and Belgium than it is in England. The method is briefly as follows : — An iron pipe is connected with the nearest tap to the portion of land to be irrigated ; and to this 4-inch iron pipes, in lengths of 6 feet, with spike and faucet joints, are connected so as to reach the farthest point to be dealt with. To the last piece of tubing a hose and jet are attached, the sewage ' turned on, and the land "watered" by the man charge, who has a boy with him to carry pipes to ai fro, lay them in their places, turn taps on or off, and do other odd jobs. When the land within reach of the hose has been sufficiently saturated, a certain number of lengths of pipe, generally about 100, detached, and the terminal length with the hose shifted accordingly. By this system a man and a boy can irr gate 2 acres per day of 10 hours, the expense for th portion of the work being is. 6if. per acre. The great objection to the Kennedy system is the large initial outlay in underground pipes, and laying them down. Another objection, which would be serious on an ordinary farm than it is there, i; expense of pumping the sewage every day to fountain-head. The interest on the first outlay, added to the contmuous expenditure included under the second head, probably requires a larger margin of profit cover them than can be reckoned upon, except der special circumstances. Nearly 500 imperial acres are held in connection th the dairy, and are farmed under the following lation : (I) Oats, (2) roots, (3) Wheat, and (4) seeds left for two or three years, or sometimes four. There are about 300 acres of seeds and grass, and the extent f land in corn and roots ranges from 160 to 170 acres. The Wheat crop is sold, and the straw used for litter. A large quantity of the Oat crop is required for the horses, of which, about 25 are kept, on dairy and farm ; the remainder is ground and sold as oatmeal, and the oat-straw is used for fodder. rigation commences with the Oat stubble, which gets two runnings in the autumn, one before and one after the autumn ploughing. In the spring a running again given after the spring ploughing, and for Turnips another at seed-time if possible. Potatos are not irrigated after autumn, as it tends to make them soft. The root course is generally one-sixth Cabbages, one-half Turnips, and one-third Potatos. The latter crop is sold ofi the farm, with the exception of the small and diseased tubers. The green crops being grown on the ridge, the last irrigation is done by running the liquid manure down the furrows. The Turnip land is generally left strong enough for Wheat ; and even the Potato land, unless it happens to be a very poor field, gets nothing from the last irrigation before the Potatos are planted until the February after the Wheat is harvested. In February the liquid manure is turned on the Rye-grass for cutting, say about 50 acres ; it is then sent on to the land being cropped, and during the summer it irrigates the pasture land in rotation, one or two fields being done at a time. From 30 to 50 acres of hay are got every year, three cuttings being obtained if required ; but pasturing is always preferred as far as it is practicable. The mixture of seeds generally sown is about 3 bush, of perennial Rye-grass, and from 3 lb. to 4 lb. each of red, white, and Alsike Clovers per imperial acre. Italian Rye-grass is too soft for dairy cattle, and is therefore never sown. Mr. Jenkini Report on some Features of Scottish Agriculture. ©jbttuavfi. We sincerely regret to announce the death of Mr. J. C. Adkins, of Milcote, Stratford-on-Avon. Few men in the midland counties were more widely known and more universally esteemed. His portly form and manly bearing, his cheerful smile and apt and wise sayings, will long live in the memory of many sorrow- ing friends. He was the thorough type of the English gentleman— straightforward, courteous, hospitable. Of an eminently social disposition, he delighted to gathe his friends about him. In his oak-panelled sanctum during many pleasant and instructive hours, his privi leged friends have listened to the outpourings of his powerful and well-cultivated mind, and felt the in- fluence of his great and kindly heart. He certainly possessed the power which only great and good men have, of moulding the opinions and character of those with whom they come in contact. He was well-read in a wide range of varied subjects, including literature, art, science, and the current topics of the day — no subject came amiss to him. He was possessed of great clearness of perception, and much readiness and humour. He was an uncompromising enemy of deceit, hypocrisy, and cant ; and with good-humoured satire would often raise the laugh against humbug, foUy, and empty pretension. He was equally at home amongst agriculturists, mechanicians, racing authorities, medical men, and savauts. On endless subjects connected with farming, with Shorthorns, and even on commercial matters, he was applied to for advice. His sound sense and varied experience were ever at the service of his neighbours ; and as a clear-headed judicious ad- viser he will be missed by many. He was too diffident of himself to meddle much with public affairs ; he eschewed farmers' clubs, meetings of Chambers of Agriculture, and other such gatherings. Although no man was better qualified, he persistently refused to act as judge either at the Royal or any local shows, but with considerable persuasion was, some years ago, induced to become one of the directors of the Stratford- on-Avon Railway. His admirable powers of observa- tion, and his determination to do well and thoroughly whatever he undertook to do, have long made Milcote one of the model farms of the midland counties. He early made use of steam cultivation ; he was a great advocate for modern and efficient farm implements and machinery ; thorough and clean cultivation he con- sidered prime essentials of good arable farming ; in the selection of his seed-corn he was particularly careful, and by employing pedigreed sorts he had recently greatly increased the quality and yield of his barley. Ever since he followed his elder brother as tenant of Milcote, now nearly forty years ago, he bred Short- horns. Robert Colling's favourite strains were his early choice ; his Charmers and Sweethearts at his own and other Shorthorn sales have realised such prices as abundantly testify to the judgment and skill of their founder. The Milcote do\vn sheep, which have occu- pied a large share of the breeder's attention of late years, now promise to be almost as celebrated as the Milcote Shorthorns.— Sra//<;/•(/-o«-^^w^ Herald. \t^h Mcrh. July i. — Buckwheat or Vetches may yet be sown, where other crops have failed. Anything is better than the exposure of the earth's surface to the wasting influence of the weather. What is it but the scorching sun that has turned immense tracts of Africa and Asia Vetch is one of our best forage plants. Cabbage, where Buckwheat and Vetches do not suit, may be planted. The weather has been favourable, in some districts, for planting. If too late for Drum- heads and the hearting sorts, try the leaf-producing varieties, with plenty of manure, if possible, in a liquid form. Turnips sow after forage crops of Rye, Vetches, &c. The practice of preparing the land for the seed is as diversified as farm practice generally is in different places and on different soils, much depending upon the condi- tion the land is in, the manure to be used, whether the crop is to be grown on the flat or in stetches, and, last of all, the weather. If the land is clean, and the crop to be grown on the flat, with farmyard manure, and if the weather is dry, well soak the manure from the liquid manure-tank, pond, or river, before it is carted ; and, after it is spread, keep the water-cart going ahead of the plough. Plough in with the sap, harrow fine, sow, and roll down hard ; if the weather is rainy, the water- cart will not be needed. If to be grown on the flat with superphosphates, in dry weather, well water the land before ploughing, and sow as above, remembering that water is the best manure that can be applied in dry weather. If some means could be devised for throwing in a good stream from a hose, just behind the furrow horse, it would be much superior to sprinkling it over the surface, as all poaching would be obviated, and the newly turned furrow-slice would drink up the water by capillary attraction, and thus supply the roots of the plants at a very early age. It would not take many water-carts to keep a plough going, and, where there is plenty of water at hand, why not thus manure the land ? Turnip Hoeing. — The early sowings prosecute as soon as the plants will stand singling. In some places the braird is equal, in others patchy, but, upon the whole, complaint, this year, is below an average. Where there are gaps, they should be re-sown with a gaping drill, well watering the ground before sowing if the weather is dry. Keep the horse-hoe going, is an old familiar nile, from the time the plants will stand it up to when they meet in the drills. The thicker the plants braird in the rows the sooner they require to be singled, f6r, when they are allowed to spindle, the stem takes a set from the injury it receives by blanching and pulling, and the crop consequently cannot bulb well, and the bulbs thus produced are of inferior quality. There is great art in growing a Turnip, and to begin training early is the sure road to success. In the northern counties, where sowing is earlier, the second hoeing may by this time be finished. As you remove weeds, well loosen the soil about the plants. All the Brassica family are grateful for fresh air at the bottom, if there is anything in the land to work upon. When done by the drill or acre, by task, the work is too frequently skimmed over, doing more harm to the plants than good to the land. As soon as the leaves begin to rise off the ground, and the bulbs to form, the last horse-hoeing should be given, the double- mouldboard plough following, which concludes the work. When the land is thoroughly drained, and the crop to be eaten off with sheep, or to be pulled and stored, some do not set up with the double plough, or, if they do, only very hghtly. Haymaking, which commenced here (Surrey) about the middle of last month, will, in some places, be later than was at one time expected. The season has been favourable for the growth of "Buttercup," "Sorrel," and other weeds, so that the heating of the haystack will be attended with greater difticulty ; and, when overtaken by rain in the making, more loss will be sustained. Where there is a command of town sewage or river water, the hay stubble should be irrigated the moment the hay crop is carried, so as to set up a rapid growth, either for pasturage or a second cutting for soiling or hay. Mangels, Sugar-Beet, and Kohl Rabi should receive an early second hoeing, more especially when much rain Iras fallen, so as to loosen the soil and let in fresh air to the roots ; and to do the work effectually the surface should be dry. Practically speaking, the hoes should keep themselves clean. In wet weather, when weeds grow plentifully, the work is attended with no httle difficulty ; but just so much the more need is there to persevere. If the land is clean, it is better to defer the hoeing until the surface dries sufficiently to leave the soil open behind the hoes. Hoeing the land immediately after a shower when it sticks to the hoes, consolidates it, thereby excluding air and favouring the growth of weeds where seed is present, as it too gene- rally is. And even when the land is clean and free from the seeds of the ordmary weeds, by poaching the surface with the hoes and the feet of the hoers the land gets into an unhealthy state, forming a favourable nursery for the growth of plants whose spores float in the atmosphere. In common language, the surface of the ground becomes covered with a green coating of The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, moss — the worst class of weeds in the world, as they readily take root in all decaying animal and vegetable matters in the land. The season at the time we write is extremely favourable for their production, and there- fore their growth should by every means be guarded against. They are the sure ruin of all our root crops, their presence indicating the very reverse of what Turnips require. Sheep Washing and CHpfiiigconWrmts into this month in the Cheviot and Blackfaced flocks of the North. A pool in a clear nmning stream, with a pebbly shore, is chosen for washing, a large fold being made on each side to hold the flock. From being annually washed for four or five seasons old sheep become accustomed to it, take the water freely, the younger following, jumping in between the shepherds as fast as allowed, or as they swim across and walk out into the fold on the other side. A few times across the pool completes the operation of washing without a hand being put upon the sheep. Shearing commences im- mediately the wool is dry. In the large hill flocks of the North it is common for shepherds to join, shearing first one flock and then another, each flock being thus put through the shears in less time than were they to be shorn each by its own shepherd. Sheep Folding on all forage crops attend to. If com- pelled to eat the fold bare, and are consequently turned into a fresh break of Vetches, Rape, or Clover when thus hungry, the flock may sustain very serious injury. In warm, moist weather, the best plan is to mow such crops, cut them into chaff with a little dry hay or straw, season with a sprinkling of corn-meal and salt, and feed in troughs. In dry weather the newly mown forage may be allowed to dry sufficiently in the sun before it is cut into chaff alone, and then seasoned as above with meal and salt. If all three crops are grown they should be mixed together, and if Sainfoin and Lucerne can be added, so much the better — sheep like savoury food. Our down and hill pastures, that yield the healthiest flocks and best mutton, furnish a practical recipe at the present time what they require. W. B. ENGLISH WOOL. During the last week Wool has been in good demand, and prices are still gradually hardening, and we anticipate considerably higher rates after the bulk of the clip has come to market. Colonial Wools are 25 per cent, dearer than this time last year, and sometimes even more, and fully 10 to 15 per cent, dearer than last month. The Americans, who have not been in the market to any extent for some years, are now buying largely, and must have taken 15,003 bales of Australian, weighing about 400 lb. each, within the last three months ; this new competition alone will account for part of the rise. HOPS. Borough Market, June 29. Messrs. Pattenden & Smith report that the this morning from all parts of the plantations are decidedly worse, and on the Continent the prospects for the coming crop are as unfavourable as our own. The market is very firm, without any great amount of business passing, but good healthy Hops are gradually becoming absorbed. HAY.— Per Load of -3,6 Trusses. Smithfield, Thursday, June 29. PrimeMeadowHay,i40J.toi5cw. , Clover, old .. . . 150J. Inferiordo 120 130 Inferior do 130 New Hay .. .. 60 120 Prime new do. ..120 ] Inferior do — — Inferior do — Straw 40 50 I Cumberland Market, Thursday, June 29. Sup. Meadow Hay i6o5.toi7&r. I Inferior Clover ..i3M.to Inferiordo 130 147 Prime 2d cut do. .. — New do 90 132 New do — Inferiordo — — Straw 44 Superior Clover ..168 175 I Joshua Baki METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET, Juiu Best Fresh Butter 15^. per dozen lb. Second do. do. \-^s. ,, Small Pork, 4J. 4^. to \s. lod. \ Large Pork, 35. 40^. 3^. 8 5 8—6 MARK LANE. MONDAV, June 26. There was a very small supply of English Wheat to this morning's market, which was sold at the prices of day se'nnight. The attendance was good, and holders of foreign Wheat were not disposed to accept lower prices, and a fair consumptive business was done on last week's terms. Barley was dull. Beans is. per qr. cheaper. Peas unchanged in value. Oats were 6d. per qr. cheaper ; inferior qualities sold at very irregular prices. There was no change in the value of Flour. Wheat, Essex, Kent, Suffolk. .White'4'7— 60 fine selected runs do. 59 —65 Talavera :62— 66 Norfolk ! — Foreign 43 — 65 urind.&dist.,3OJt0 34J..Chev. 43—46 ng and distilling 29—33 55—60 .Potato '28— 30 Feed . . Feed Foreign Poland and Brew 25 — 27 ' Feed . . . RvE 34— 36, Foreign . 3-36 . . .Grey 36 — 40 Foreign .. [36- ■ — [Foreign ..'33— 36 persack42— 50 , . . . ditto 36—42 [Country . . 36—42 :r barrel 25 — 29 'Per sack. .'38—60 eans, Mazagan 37^. to 4^s...T\zk 49— 50 Harro' — Pigeon ....^is. to <;qj... Winds — iLonen — Forei Whii . Maple, 40^. to 4. Flour, best marks, del — Foreign Wednesday, June 28. The grain trade to-day was exceedingly quiet, the ten- dency of prices being unfavourable. The show of EngUsh Wheat was small, but the receipts from abroad were more liberal. Transactions in both red and white produce cted, but no material change took place in value. Barley sold quietly, on former terms. Malt was dull, but unaltered in value. Oats, the supply of which was large, experienced a slow demand, at declining prices. Beans were dull, at Monday's reduction. Peas limited request, at about late rates. Flour was depressed, and generally cheaper to sell. t London by Water Carriage. English & Scotch. . Irish .. Foreign .. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Flour. Qrs. 390 13.560 Qrs. - 1940 Qrs. 4=.6oo Sacks. 13.950 >940 -"" fair attendance of the town and country trade, but owing to the more genial weather little disposition to buy, except for the supply of immediate wants. Wheat and Flour met with a slow retail sale, at the prices of this day week. In Oats and Oatmeal there was little done, and no quotable change in value. The same may be said of Barley, Beans and Peas. Averages. Barley. 27 7 SEED MARKET. The weather during the past week has been changeable, but more favourable on the whole to the growth and maturity of seeds. Our trade is still in the same unsettled state noted in our last report ; holders seem inclined to raise their pretensions, and buyers beiiig unwilling to accede to their demands, transactions are in consequence limited to the few articles actUiiUy required for present use, such, for instance, as Mustard and Rape seed, both of which are firm. Bird seeds move off steadily, at unaltered rates. COALS.— June 28. Holywell Main, ijs.; West Hartley, 16s. bd. ; Walls End Thrislington, ids. yl. ; Walls End Hetton, i8f. ; Walls End Hawthorn, 151. ; Walls End Original Hartle- pool, r8r. ; Walls End South Kelloe, i6j. 9^. ; Walls End Tees, ^^s. grf.— Ships at market, 24 ; sold, 15 ; unsold, 9 ; at sea, to. Great Reduction in Prices for 1871, OF GREEN'S PATENT 8ILENS MESS0R8 have no alterati hasbwn^ :, i ....f..r.,nprtUlnr They arc warranted to be superior to any others. We guarantee them to give entire satisfaction, otherwise they can be returned, free of cost to the purchaser. With the increased facihties we possess for the Manufacture of Lawn Mowers, we are enabled to Sell them at a reduced rate on former years, as will be seen from the following Scale of Prices : — To cut 8 inches . . Price ^2 lo o ^ ,, 10 ,, .. .,3001 Can be worked ,, 12 400/ by one person. .. 14 s o o; ^^. ^^_ ^^^ „ 16 60 o|by oneTerson^o" L (even Lawn ,, 18 , 700 By Man and Boy. ,, 20 ,, .. .. 7 10 o ,, 22 800 T. GREEN 6" SON have plcisiirc in announcing that the demand for their La-wn .^faiccrs this season far exceeds all previous ones, and from this fact they are led to believe that tlu machines of their niaiuifactiire are luld higher in the estimation of the public than ever. Prices oi HORSE, PONY, and DONKEY MACHINES on application. ^^ Repairs executed with efficiency and despatch^ both at Leeds and London Establishments. GREEN'S IMPROVED PATENT ROLLER, FOR LAWNS, DRIVES, BOWLING GREENS, CRICKET FIELDS, and GRAVEL P.\THS, Suitable for Hand or Horse-power. Mm: Diameter. Length. These ROLLERS possess many advantages over all others ; they are made in two parts, and are free to revolve on the a,xis, affording greater facility for turning, and the outer edges are rounded off, or turned inwards, thus avoiding the unsightly marks left by other Rollers. They are manufactured of the best materials, and are got up in a manner surpassing any ever yet brought out. The ROLLERS, 24 by 26 inches, 20 by 22 inches, and 16 by 17 inches, are also made in one part, at a reduced price ; and for Rollers of th.it size, will be found to answer many requirements, as the handle can be reversed to either side of the Roller at pleasure. PRICES. 24 inches by 26 inches ^'400 16 Delivered Carriage Free to all the principal Railway Stations and Shipping Ports in England, Ireland, and Scotland. THOMAS GREEN and SON, Smithfield Iron Works, Leeds ; and 54 and 55, Blackfriars Road, London, S.E. July I, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 859 FOLLOM^S & BATE'S PATENT "CLIMAX" BACK-DELIVERY Lawn Mower for the Million. Price 25s. The Times, December 10, 1869. " Follows & Bate, of Manchester, bring out the latest little wonder in Lawn Mowers, which is a machine cutting only 6 inches wide, being propelled with surprisingly little force, and costing almost a fractional price as compared with the large machines." These Machines having no roller in front of the knives, cut LONG or short Grass just as it grows, do not miss the bents, and never choke, however wet the Grass may be. They are specially applicable for Slopes and Steep Embankments, and are the only Lawn Mowers that can be used effectually with or without the Box. Between 3000 and 4000 of the "CLIMAX" have been Sold this season. Every Machine is warranted, and a trial allowed. CATALOGUES, with Testimonials and full particulars of other sizes, on application to any respectable Ironmonger or Dealer in Horticultural Machinery, or sent Post Free from the I'ATE.NTEES and MANUFACTURERS, FOLLOWS AND BATE, MANCHESTER. THE "ARCHIMEDEAN" AMERICAN LAWN MOWER, The only Lawn Mower that Cuts Wet or Long Grass (as well as dry) without Clogging, Leaving the Cuttings in small particles, evenly scattered, never looking untidy, serving as a Mulch to Protect the Roots from Heat and Drought, and Fertilising the Sod, which cannot fail to invigorate and beautify the Lawn. Perfectly adapted to SLOPES, UNDUL.ATING LAWNS, RIDGES and VALLEYS ; and for the CROQUET GROUND is invaluable. NOTICE.— GREAT REDTTCTION in PBICES for 1871.— We have great pleasure in stating that owing to the unprecedented success our "Archimedean" Lawn Mower met with last year, manufacturing, and notwithstanding that several important improvements have been mac large Reduction in Prices for iSjr. " Far superior to any of ours." — Vide The Field. " We feel bound to recommend it to our readers as one of the best Mowers we have acquaintance with." — Vide Floral World, " Remarkably easy to work." — Vide Gardeners Magazine. "The quickest, most simple, and most efficient Mower ever used."— Vide Gardeners Chronicle, '.rous Testimonials from the highest authorities in horticulture have been received. ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUES and TESTIMONIALS Post Free on application. yet mado Kit MANUFACTURERS and PATENTEES— WILLIAMS AND CO., I, CITY ROAD, FINSBURY SQUARE, Wholesale Agent— lOn'ii G. ROLLINS, American Merchant, Old Swan Wliarf, London, E.C. E.C. John Fowler & Co., *-^ EXHIBIT AT THE EOYAl AGRICTJLTTIEAL SHOW, WOLVEEHAIPTOIf, JULY, 1871, FIVE DIFFERENT SETS OF STEAM PLOUGHING AND CULTIVATING MACHINERY, Adapted for all circumstances and conditions of the Soil ; with their NEWEST PLOUGHS, CULTIVATORS, HARROWS, ROLLERS, VANS, WATER-CARTS, &c. TRACTION ENGINES, of various horse-power ; and WAGGONS, of corresponding strength and size. Some of these Engines will be fitted with India-rubber Tyred "WTieels, and others with Plain Wheels. The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. nuR HORTicuLiuKA, sHAiiNc.s forn, a WINDOW GLASS, SHEET LEAD, PAINTS, &c. fyacinths. Seed I No. 1, Peel Street, Manchester, 1871. I and stroncly ^i iinlific Horti- on applicatior No. i.-s< i Thomas Millington & Co, IMPORTERS AND MANUFACTURERS. ol .-ibout 30 yards ca Ncttcashinaod NEW LIST of PRICES for MAY, transmitted or furnished on application. S;, BISHOPSGATE STREET WITHOUT, LONDON, E.G. BY HER MAJESTY'S ROYAL LETTERS PATENT. lO MEET A WANT WHICH HAS BEEN LONG FELT BY THE HORTICULTURAL PUBLIC, MAW & CO.'S PATENT IMPERISHABLE TERRA-COTTA PLANT MARKERS Are offered as a cheap and permanent substitute for WOODION and ZINC TALLIICS fur tlic Labelling of Plants in Pots and in the Open Border, and for suspending to Roses, Orchids, Ferns, Fruit Trees, &c. These Labels, unlike Wood and Zinc, combine perfect durability with a Listing legible inscription, and form an elegant adjunct in the Garden and Conservatory for the naming of Horticultural and Botanical Collections. They are also 'invaluable for the labelling of Wine Cellars and for general use to situations where other materials are perishable by damp. COCOAorCHOCOLATE] Theobroma Cacao.L. lilors of tlic CardcHcrs Chronicle, and the Floral Committee of the Roy.il Horticultural Society. (See Gardeners' Chronicle, July ii, i£ Can be procured from the Manufactory, or through any Nurseryman, Seedsman, or Ironmonger. Specimens sent Post P'ree on application. .. 8 by I inch. I No. ii 3t by 3 i •■ !l;" if .,:„•' No. 12 5 .. 4* No. No. 8 i4i No. 9 31 No. 10 zf No. 13 No. 14 Roy.!! Botanic Societies, Battersea Park, the Roy^U Botanic Garden I be written upon, and whilst ic fith a hard fin Can be seen in use at the Royal Gardens, Kew ; the Gardens of the Royal Horticultural ; Edinburgh ; and Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, near Dubhn, &c. Directions/or Writing on the Labels with Black-lead Pencil. — Apply a little white-lead paint thinly over the part t pointed black-lead pencil. The writing will be perfectly indelible and unaffected by wet immediately the paint is set. Black Enamel Writing on the Labels.— AW the above sizes can be supplied in several colours, ready written upon, with black enamel, having the appearance of jet bl.-ick ink, but perfectly permanent. On receipt of Lists of Names, Estimates of Cost will be sent for any quantities of Pot or Border Labels, Suspending Labels for Orchids, Roses, Ferns, Fruit Trees, &c. Consecutive Sets of Numerals printed on the Labels, and Labels for Wine Bins, ready written with Enamel, kept in stock. MAW & CO.'S ENCAUSTIC TILE and GEOMETRICAL MOSAIC PAVEMENTS and WALL LININGS FOR CONSKRV.VrORIES, GREENHOUSES, ENTR.VNCE HALLS, VERANDAHS, DAIRIES, &:c. Printed Patterns of various Designs suitable for the above will be forwarded on application, and Drawings, free of charge, of any of (he Designs adapted to the given dimensions of spaces proposed 10 be Paved, will be supplied, accompanied by estimates of cost, including the expense of laying or otherwise. Applications for Estimates should be accompanied by an exact plan of the space drawn to scale, with all the dimensions marked in figures, and care should be taken that tlie size and position of all door-entrances and recesses that ha\e to be p,aved are correctly represented : and when the walls are not exactly parallel, the measurements between the opposite angles, as well as along each WHITE GLAZED TILES for DAIRIES, &c. Aall, should be i Address— MAW and CO., BENTHALL WORKS, BROSELEY, SALOP. rclcgraph and Railway Station at Ironbridge. on the Severn Valley (Great Western) line is within three minutes' walk of the Works. July I, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 861 VASES AND FOUNTAINS FOR THE GARDEN AND CONSERVATORY. ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE, con- taining Prices and full information concerning FOUNTAINS and VASES, and witli 30 large Pages of beautifully Lithographed Designs, Post Free for 12 stamps, which will be allowed if an Order is given. Roaher's Garden Edging Tiles. KITCHEN GAK ANDREW HANDYSIDE and CO., Britannia "Works, Derby ; LONDON OFFICE: — 32, WALBROOK. THE "ATITOIATOI" LAWI lOWERS, THE BEST, SIMPLEST, AND MOST DURABLE MACHINES. They leave no ribs in the Grass, and are unsurpassed for keeping a Lawn or Croquet Ground in first-rate order. They will either Collect the Cut Grass in the box according to the approved English method, or leave it on the lawn, by taking the box off. They are fitted with the best wheel gearing, the best steel-cdged knives, and hardened steel pivots and bearings, 5000 are now in use. Sizes from 8 to 20 inches. Prices from 55s. 1^ Carriage paid to all the principal Railway Sic They are warranted to give satisfaction, and a months' trial is allowed. ORDERS EXECUTED m, RECEIPT. ILLUSTR.VTED LISTS Free by Post, and TESTIMONIALS from THIRTY ENGLISH COUNTIES NEW AND IMPROVED GARDEN ROLLERS. GARDEN VASES, FOUNTAINS, id of superi _ o "-inufacturers, Upper Gkuu.Hj .jLtti, «,a..fc- West, Chelsea, S.W.: Kingsland Road.E. LOOKERS PATENT "ACME FRAMES," PLANT COVERS and PROPAGATING BOXES ;. also for fOXLEY'S RNAMENTAL PAVING TILES for Conservatories, Halls, Corridors, Balconies, &c., from 3r. per s(^ua^e yard ards. Pattern Sheets of plain or more elaborate designs, with RANSOMES, SIMS, AND HEAD, IPSWICH. THE STEAM-ENGINE TRIALS ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY "of ENGLAND, OXFORD, 1870. The FIRST PRIZES at this SHOW were again AWARDED to CLAYTON AND SHUTTLEWORTH, viz. ;- First Prize for Horizontal Fixed Engine of lo H. P. ; First Prize for Steam Engine, with Bi previous Trials of Steam Engines, at Bur/. iK?. CLAYTON AND SHUTTLEWORTH look ALL the FIRST PRIZES for , ■ -' - -..--- - •-•iCHINES, and the Society's SILVER MEDAL. d FIRST PRIZES at all Trials of the Royal Agricultural Society of England at irincipal Makers of Portable Engines, &c., Compete for this Society's Prizes, being I Great Britain conducted by competent and impartial Engineers, and where the capability and value of each Engine is 1 PRIZE of /lis for THRE: CLAYTON AND SHUTTLEWORTH 1 which they have competed since 1849, N.B.— A the only Trials in C thoroughly ti PORTABLE ENGINES, from 4 to 2 5- Horse Power. THRESHING MACHINES, Single, Double and Treble Blast, with Patent EoUed Steel Beater Plates, and all other recent improvements. GRINDING MILLS, SAW BENCHES, STRAW ELEVATORS, IKONM0NGF^<,^b^.^a^,|,„inlm|:n^_ to IMU^ .THE PUBLIC ARE CAUTIONED AEAINST XT' I N A I . L L . WHISKY.- ir; old mellow spirit is the very CREAM of II I II II I ; 11 , in quality unrivalled, ncrfeclly pure, and mnfi- i luicst Cognac Brandy. Note the words, " K I N .\ 1 1 \ ■ ■ II 'i •.'-tl, label, and cork. New Wholc^al'j !'_,. •■:,<. ,'.r. ii I it' lifidd Street, Oxford Street, W. TT/" ILLIAM YOUNGER AND CO. DINNER ALE.— Sparkling and Refreshing. INDIA PALE ALE.-Unsurpassed as a Tonic. EDINBURGH AI-E.-Noiirishinc and Invinoratinff. I Cask and Bottle. Sauce.— Lea & Perrins THE "WORCESTERSHIR E," pronounced by connoisseurs "the onl^ good Sauce," improves 11/ Kooa s; ds digestion, unrivalled for piquanc £ for LEA AND PERRINS' SAUCE, ions, and bcc the names of Lea & : IE AND BLACKWELL, London; a D INNEFORD'S FLUID MAGNESIA.- The best remedy for Acidity of the Stomach, Heartburn, Hca Gout, and Indigestion ; and the best mild aperient for delica ciating JT and i%d. and 1$. t)d. per t lOCKLE'S ANTIBILIOUS PILLS ^ THE SAFEST FAMILY APERIENT, In boxes, at u. ij^^f., 2J. r)d., 4*. W., and iii. lOCKLE'S ANTIBILIOUS PILLS,— ^ These Pills consist of a careful and peculiar admixture of the t and mildest vegetable aperient ;orpid action ol the liver and which, by circulating i which produce indigcs* i liver complaints. They tatc of the stomach, allay removing the causes productive of so much re the energies both of body and mind. To those curies of the tabic, these Pills will prove highly ) pain in their action, unless they meet with an ns on their arrival in India or China they are scrvative against the fatal disorders peculiar to cir occasional use, if combined with the strictest be frequently found to remove at once, by their ctions, that congestive and unhealthy conditioo 3 often the earlie to possess depends as much upon the selection of pure drugs, j unusual labour and attention bestowed upon their subseque paration, as upon the acknowledged peculiarity of Ihcir comp They are not recommended as a panacea, nor are they adaptci complaints; but as a mild and efficacious aperient and tonic various forms of indigcstioi perhaps, be an exaggeration to state that they have been resorted to under all systems of diet.changes of climate, or atmospheric alternations, with an extraordinary degree of success, for upwards of 70 years. This celebrated Family Aperient may be had throughout the United Kingdom, in boxes, at i/. I'^d., 71. gd., 41. 6d., and tir,, as well as in India, China, New Zealand, and the Australian Colonies. lOCKLE'S ANTIBILIOUS PILLS. ' THE OLDEST PATENT MEDICINE, In boxes, at u, i^i., v. gd., a*- <>d-, and lu. 864 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. J. WEEKS & CO., HORTICULTURAL BUILDERS, AND HOT-WATER APPARATUS MANUFACTURERS, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, LONDON, S.W. BY HJ. ROYAL LETTERS PATENT. HEATING BY HOT-WATER APPARATUS. J. WEEKS & CO.'S "PATENT DUPLEX COMPENSATING ARRANGEMENT" OF THEIR UPRIGHT TUBULAR BOILER Note its Advantages ! Nothing equals them III The average DURABILITY of this BOILER is twenty years, and we are prepared to issue an INSURANCE POLICY and GUARANTEE its safety lo'c fifteen years. This BOILER may justly be styled INDESTRUCTIBLE. All sediment can be removed without emptying the Apparatus. In case of repairs to ONE SECTION of the BOILER, the REMAINING PORTION can be left in operation. This BOILER can be instantly converted into TWO DISTINCT HALVES, one left WORKING and the other taken away. One of WEEKS'S UPRIGHT TUBULAR BOILERS is equal in SAFETY to two ordinary BOILERS, and will do the work of a dozen, which has been proved over and over again. Their Illustrated BOOK OF DESIGNS a2th Edition) Free by Post. J. WEEKS AND CO., HORTICULTURAL BUILDERS and HOT-WATER APPARATUS MANUFACTURERS, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, LONDON, S.W. i should be addressed t ' The Publisher," at the Omce, 4t, Weinngton Strt t Garden. London, \ THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. No. 27.— 1871.] SATURDAY, JULY Registered at the General ) Price 5d. Post Office as a Newspaper. ( PoST FREE, ^^d. LEADING ARTICLES, &-c — Conservator of trees 86 Eyies, leslirnonial 10 Mr. .. 86 CONTENTS. HOME CORRESPONDENCE- Peasant Farmer Fund Southdown sheet), '■ ORIGINAL ARTICLF.S- Oilcake. adulterated . , Orchid c SOCIETIES- Notlce to Sutscriders. THE SUBSCRIPTION to the GARDENERS' CHR'ONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE is j£i 3J. led. for 12 months, includinc postage to any part of the United Kingdom. May be had of all BooKsellers. Published by W. RICHARDS, 41, Wellington Street, Covent Garden. Royal Agricultural Society's Show at Wolverhampton. NOTICE.— The GARDENERS' CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE for JULY is will contain a FULL and ILLUSTRATED REPORT of the SHOW; also PORTRAIT and MEMOIR of J. B. LA WES, Esq., Rothamsted. Copies may be obtained on Friday, July 14, at STAND 345, Messrs. W. H. SMITH and SON'S EmiE. Implement Yai lished by W. RICHARDS, , , Wellington Street, W.C. R^ FLORAL TABLE DECORATIONS, E06QU WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY NEXT, July 12 aiid 13. Tickets; «. each, to be obtained only by Vouchers Irom Fellows of the Society; at the Gardens; and of the Society's Clerk, Austin's Ticket PLANTS, FRUIT, ROSES, luly 5. Admission, first day, from iz to 3 o'clock, 55. ; from on Wednesday, is, and Thursday, bd. Further particulars and Schedules may be obtained frc LOWE, Queen Square; or Mr. W. A. GREEN, 21, : Street, 'WiSverhampton. R OYAL NORTHERN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.— The SUMMER SHOW of this SOCIETY will ■ in a MARQUEE, on the LINKS, at ABERDEEN, on For 6d Schedul 130, Unioi e Secretary, JOHN T.HENDERSON, LOUGHBOROUGH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.-EXHIBITION, JULY 12. SPECIAL ROSE PRIZES (Open to all England). 1st, For the best Collection of 72 Roses (72 varieties), single trusses : ist Prize, £5 5S. ; 2d, C, 4s. ; 3d, d ; 4th, iz lOs. ; 5th, i,i lot. ; or the best Collection of 48 Roses (48 varieties), single trusses ■ W ih'?bls.' Coilfctio'n •„?''24-^Ros"s V^ v'afieties) single trusses ■ ,..'., .....'.. ..^.. ^-...!.tion"if^?2°Roses'S'vSS')'iin' ittJusses 'for'Amatelirs o'nU^ : ist, 155. ; ^i'los" li"^!" ' '""^ "^ "usses, SPECIAL PRIZES for PLANTS. For the best iz Stove or Greenhouse Plants (distinct varieties) six foliage and six in flower (Orchids excluded): 1st, £10; 2d, £7; The Society offer £2^ to be competed for at the Royal Show at Nottingham. Rules and Regulations may be obtained of WM. PALLETT, Secretary. Hollyhock Seed "TTtTM. PAUL'S COLLECTION of 12 finest nametl PAU L's'N'ifrserie°s"'nif See("' , Waltham Cross, London, ! G Russell's Psrramid Primula. EORGE CLARKE has this season secured a quantity of this very fine strain, in excellent condition, which he recommends, feeling assured that no other possesses such a robust character, with really splendid flowers. Mixed, Red and While, Mottingham, Kent, S.E. Instructions lor raising and growing sent if n Streathm Place, Brixton HUl, London, S.\ Koses la Bloom. ROTHEROE and MORRIS' first-class COLLECTION of KOSES is NOW in BLOOM. An inspection lectfuily solicited. The Nurseries are easily reached by train 1 Fencliurch Street, or Bishopsgate Street, to Leytonstone Station. W' CATALOGUE free. edding, Pricej Nurseries, Hailsham, Sussex New Eoses of 1871. JOHN CRANSTON offers a selection of TWELVE O NEW ROSES of the present year. Fine plants ready in April. Descriptive LIST on application. Nurseries, King's Acre, near Hereford Dwarf Koses In Pots. FRANCIS & ARTHUR DICKSON & SONS can supply strong healthy Plants tor present planting, of all the fines, varieties in cultivation, including the new ones of 1871. Descrip- tive Priced CATALOGUE sent post free on application. F. & A. D, & Sons respectfully invite inspection of their extensive COLLECTION of ROSF.S, which is NOW in FULL BLOOM. Paul & Son's Roses In Bloom. PAUL AND SON'S COLLECTION is NOW fine in BLOOM, and worthy of a visit. Trains leave Bishopgate 645,3,9.30, 10.45 A.M. ; 12.45, 2.45, .3-4S PM. ; SL Pancras: 7.52 A.S ■ Tilt " did " Nurseries, Cheshunt, one mile from Cheshunt Statii PAUL AND SON, The "Old" Nurseries, Cheshunt, N., have now ready for delivery their New Climbing H.P. ROSE, " '" Royal Horticultural Society Certificate Crystal Palace Ro: mingham Rose Show), new in SIXTY THOUSAND DWARF TEA-SCENTED ROSES, in pots, also specimen TEA ROSES, in 6.inch pots, for Greenhouse Culture or Exhibition. CATALOGUES now ready. WM. WOOD AND SON, Woodlands Nursery, Maresfield, near Uckfield, Sussex. DWARF ROSES, in pots, by the dozen, 100, 1000, or 10,00a The largest stock of Roses in the Kingdom. CATALOGUES on application. WM. WOOD AND SON, Woodlands Nursen', Maresfield. Uckfield, CHOICE ROSES.— The finest stock of Tea, Noisette, China, and other Roses to select from, all strong and healthy, in Pots. Descriptive Priced LIST on application to RICHARD SMITH, Nurseryman and Seed Merchant, Worcester. ORCHARD HOUSE TREES, Fruiting in Pots.- Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, Pears, Apples, Figs, Apricot: Cherries, Mulberries, and Oranges. RICHARD SMITH, Nurseryman and Seed Merchant, Worcester. PINES. — Queens, Jamaicas, and Cayennes, fi^iting and succession. Very fine plants, that never had Scale. M. ROCHFORD, Market Gardener, Page Green, Tottenham, N. now supply fine clean F.; Calceolaria, Cineraria, Primula. ) A. SMITH are now sending out NEW SEED FAND A. SMITH'S large COLLECTION of the . above are now in fine condition, including many specimens ol R' Miscellaneous Plants, for BEDDING and DECORATIVE PURPOSES, &c OBERT PARKER begs to announce that he can BEDDIN LENTS, DOUBLE PYRETHRUMS, SWEET VIOLETS,. Priced and Descriptive LISTS are published, and will to applicants. Exotic Nursery, Tooting, Surrey, S.W. CUmbing Ferns. T YGODIUM SCANDENS, the most beautiful of ; ursery, Croydon, S.E. To the Trade. JTOVE PLANTS, in 50 or more choice and 7 varieties, at os. to 121. per dozen ; sor. to 755. per 100. Pac Jtis for cash. Names on application lor CATALOGUE. , SPLENIUM GERMANICUM.— Very nice plants JOHN H. LEY, Brltlsli Fern Catalogue. ROBERT SIM will send, post free for six postage stamps, Part I. (British Ferns and their varieties, 36 pages, includingpricesof Hardy ExoticFerns), of his Priced DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE o( BRFITSH and EXOTIC FERNS, No. 7. Foot's Cray Nursery, Sidcup Hill, Kent. W^ Wi DEVONIENSIS, and otherTea and Noisette ROSES. State q id price. L. WOODTHORPE, Monro Nutserj-, Sibic Hedingham, Essex. EVERY GARDEN REQUISITE KEPT in STOCK at CARTER'S New Seed Warehouse, 237 & 238, High Holborn, London. Seeds for 1871. "VX/-M. CUTBUSH AND SON'S Descriptive Priced S. WILLIAMS' SPRING CATALOGUE of NEW and RARE PLANTS is now ready, in which will be a selection from all the best Plants of recent introduaion; I addition, descriptions of some very fine Plants, which B. S. W. Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper Holloway, N. Summer Fiowenng and otber Ornamental Plants, PETER LAWSON and SON will be glad to forward their NEW CATALOGUE, just published, free upon applica- enng and SON AND NEW CATALOGUE, just publi; ion. It contains all the leading Hothouse a bedding-out Plants, and many novelties well ;very Flower Garden.— Ed London, May, 1871. New Catalogue. OHN H. LEY, Exotic Nursery, Croydon, S.E., will ■ ' pplication, his NEW CATA- LOGUE , FERNS, STOVE PLANTS, &c. RAYNBIRD, CALDECOTT, BAWTREE, DOWLING AND COMPANY (Limited), Corn, Seed, MANt;RE, and Oilcake Merchants. Address, 26, Seed Market, Mark Lane, E.G. ; or Basingstoke. Samples and prices post free on applir--'— "---- .--j-i- -«— for Wheat ; 1862, for " Excellent Seed Cor 1 and Seeds." SONS, Seedsmen to the Qui , Reading, Berks. For Sowing after Haycart. SUTTONS' RENOV.ATING MIXTURE of fin GRASSES and CI.O i to 12 lb. required per acre. Price gJ. per II SUTTON AND SONS, Seedsmen to thi Prince of Wales. and' I^.R.Il'' blishment, Reading. price, &c., apply to ANTON. F.RH.S., The Nurs w EBB'S PRIZE COB FILBERTS, and other PRIZE COB NUTS and FILBERTS. LISTS of these sfrom Mr. WEBB, Calcot, Reading. . W^ ■S NEW GIANT POLYANTHUS, t Flower, and GIANT COWSLIP SEEDS; also Plants ; PRIMROSES of different colours; -ery sort of Early ;, Calcot, Reading. CUTTINGS of GERANIUMS, &c.—ioo Geraniums, in 30 choice varieties, including Tricolor, Gold and Bronze, Variegated Zonal, Nosegay, and Ivy-leaf, for tos. ; 50, «. 6d. ; 25, 3*. 24 Fancy Pelargoniums, y. 6d. ; 12, 25. 24 CHRYSANTHEMUMS, 2s.6d.;i2,is.&. 24 POMPONS, 2s.6rf.: 12, iJ.W. 24 FUCHSIAS, 2s. 6d. : 12, IS. 6d. All post free. CATALOGUES, one stamp. J. COOMBS, The Fems, Enfield. CHOICE GERANIUMS, strong Plants.— Golden Tricolors, Gold and Bronze, Silver VarieRated, good Doubles, all good varieties, at 2s. 6d. and 35. per dozen ; 20i. and 22s. per 100 ; '^ pt^RP^E KING VERBENA, I2J. per 100; good F per dozen, all in single pots, package free. A LIST, wi free, on applicalion - - W. FQTTEN, See. FUCHSIAS, 3r. wilh prices, post Florist. Sissinghurst. Staplehurst, Kent- G RIGORS AQUILEGIA GLANDULOSA.— Seeds of this splendid Plant can now be forwarded free at 2J. 6rf. per out from September till April i, at from 4s. to 12s. per dozen. For a descrifjtion of this rare and beautiful Columbine, see the Cardtners' Chronicle, and the " Gardeners' Magazine" of Jure 10. JOHN GRIGOR and CO., Nurseries, Forres, X.B. E. E. , and Florists, Ha Hyacinths, Tulips, &c. ROEST, Florist, Voorschoten, ■" ind, begs to call the attention of the T _. DUTtTH BULBS, which can be had po . . BETH AM AND SON, 9, Lower Thames Street, London, E.G. Haarlem, o his CATA- ofhisAgei ROELINK, Sole Agent for E. Cultivator of Flower Roots, Uiteei ■ - ■ ' — ■~\Co . the Trade that CATALOGUES will be ! London Office, Minories, E.C. Dutch Bulbs.- Season 1871. E. BARNAART, FLORIST, Vogelenzang, Haarlem, Holland, begs to inform Nurserymen and the Trade generally isNEWCA-fALOGUEof HYACINTHS, TULIPS, &c. for . SILB^RRAD ANn SON, e, andon, E.C. " The most complete and deta , Great Tower Street, upwards of 1500 sorts 866 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 8, 1871 " In our opinion this is equal to, if not superior to Endive."— Frvm the Editor of the Gardeners' Chronicle. "The leaves sent are 18 inches long, and broad in proportion, a the midrib is nearly half an inch broad and a third of an inch thu As the common Dandelion when blanched is one of the most dclica flavoured and wholesome of Salads, this vigorous growing flcsl leaved variety of Messrs. Stuart St Mein must be a desirable pi; for the kitchen garden."— ^j- comple on of all wo k unde aken guaran eed T G M so c s Pubic attenton to hs PAlENlED BOILER, which is exceedinely powerful and economical in fuel. His Patented Valve gives complete satisfaction in every case. Many thousands are at work. Prices on application. A richly Illustrated Catalogue for- warded post free for 33 postage stamps. TAMES W\TTS AND CO Hothouse Builders 353 Old Kent Road London S E 30 m les of London pain ed fou coa s n bes o 1 co our nc ud ng one t me heat ng stag ng b ck vork not ncluded — 20 ft by 2 ft 40 ft by 6 ft 60 f by 20 f 100 ft by 24 ft. ;£40 0 o £79 o 0 i; 3- o o ;£ 38 10 o GARDEN LIGHTS AND BO\ES 3ft by 4 ft 1 ghts 2 n th ck unglazed 3s each glazed 6-oz good sheet glass w 6 ft. 2 n th k unglazed 5s „ „ g a ed, 6oi good sheet glass .. 115. „ Portable box containing one 6 ft. by 4 ft. light, painted four Portable b s given for rics or Greenhouses to any Design. G azed and Pain ed comp e e ready for mmed a e use packed and sen o a 1 parts of the K ni:.dom Strong GREENHOUSE LIGHTS, 6 feet by 4 feel, «. each. GLASSES, all sizes. References to the Nobility, Gentry, and Trade in most of the Counties in England. John Warner & Sons, Hydraulic Engineers, Bell and Brass Founders to Her Majesty, Manufacturers of Hydraulic Machinery of every description, Wind Engines, Water Wheels, Water Kams, Deep Well Pumps and Frames for Horse or Hand Power, Garden Engines, Swing Barrows, &c., &c. Branch Pipes for Rubber Hose, with Jet and Spreader, or with Haswell's Patent Director, from 3s. 6d. Syringes from 5s., or, fitted with Haswell's Director, 12s. 6d. Lists sent on application. , CRESCENT, CRIPPLEGATE, I 0\D0\ EC. No, S47A. GARDEN ENGINE. 12 Gallons . . . . ^3 o o 16 ,, .. .. 3 16 o 24 S I o 30 5 13 o WARNERS' AaUAJECT. Useful for e^ Flowers or'xrees in Gardei washing Carriages layinc Dust, Src Price complete £1 8 Small size for the hand, as an ordi- nary Syringe . . o 15 No. 35. CAST-IRON PUMPS. i inches . . ^i 9 THE CRYSTAL PALACE GARDEN or FIRE ENGINE. S. Owens & Co., HYDRAULIC ENGINEERS, WHITEFRIARS STREET, LONDON, EC THE IMPROVED SELF ACTING HYDRAULIC RAM This useful Self acting Apparatus \vhich worlvS day and night without needing attention wiU raise No. 37. DEEP WELL PUMPS for Horse, Hand, Steam, No. 63. PORTABLE IRRIGATORS with Double • Treble Barrels for Horse or BARROW for Watering No. 46<7. IMPROVED DOUBLE ACTION PUMPS Gardens, &c. No. 49 !i ili> I lui studied with ardour, and which bui mm iI; :; iml ]ias^ioii of liis life. About the yea )■ 1^ ;", "^ i ' "i m, ,1 I'aiisiaii publisher, conceived the idc < I ' Ih Inn.: a Iioiticul- tural journal, and he entrusted its e. Iitorsiiip to M. Lemaire. For many years the "Jardin Fleuriste" and " L'Horticulteur Universel," were almost entirely the work of his pen. I le there passed in review the plants numerous in those days than at present. Tliis descrip- tive talent recommended him to M. Van Houtte, who h,ad recently established at Ghent the "Flore des Serres et des Jardins de I'Europe." After several years passed in the publication and description of the plants introduced by M. Van Houtte, M. Lemaire undertook the editorship of the "Illustra- tion Horticole," a horticultural and botanical journal, then belonging to M. Ambroise Verschaffelt, of Ghent, which post he occupied for 16 years, until M. Linden became the possessor of M. Verschaffelt's establishment, and with it of tlie above-mentioned journal, the editorship of which was then confided to the present writer. From that time (January, 1870) to the time of his death, M. Lemaire lived in Paris with his devoted daughter, who never left him until his death. In addition to the editorship of the journals we have already mentioned, M. Lemaire collected the materials for a systematic monograph of the Cactacece, of which fragments only have been published owing to the want of a Mtecenas to undertake the publication of the book. Latterly, however, the Librairie Agricole de la Maison Rustique of Paris commissioned him to draw up two little volumes, one on Cactacea:, the other on succulent plants. These two books (reviewed in these^columns, pp. 140, 994) were of too restricted a character to allow their author to devote much space to his favourite subjects ; but the book on Cactese contains a synonymy and a reformed nomenclature very useful to botanists studying these plants. Lemaire paid but little attention to the minute anatomy and physiology of plants. With the exception of broaching a theory concerning pollen tubes, which he brought before the Congress at Amsterdam, and which found but few adherents, his studies were principally confined to descriptive botany. His determinations were often accompanied by lengthy dissertations of a very learned and detailed description, appreciated by classical scholars, but having littleattrac- tion for those not devoted to philological studies. Lemaire was somewhat of a purist as regards nomenclature ; he never ceased to call attention to the numerous bar- barisms and solecisms committed by his colleagues, and in general he was right, though he complained much at the indifference with which his complaints were received. If he did not succeed in reforming every- thing that is erroneous in the orthography and etymo- logy of botanical names, he at least called attention to many errors, and pointed out the right path to be followed by young students of the science. Unfortunately, 40 years' devotion to botany did not lead him on to fortune. Devotees rarely live by science — they often die for it. The example of M. Lemaire is not a solitary one, and we might cite many others equally unsatisfactory. The only compensation for such privations hes in the satisfaction experienced by the discovery and contemplation of so many of Nature's marvels. Posterity will esteem M. Lemaire more liighly than did his contemporaries. Man passes away, his work remains. M. Lemaire's name will be honoured and respected by all the botanists who have occasion to consult his numerous publications, and who will reap the benefit of the materials laid up for them during a long career wholly passed in the study of those charming creations which furnish a compensation for many of the misfortunes mcident to human nature. Edoiiard Andn'. New Garden Plants. Fronds deltoid, acumi Hu.mata Tyermanii, Moore, n. sp. glabrous, coriaceous, tripinnate ; basal pinna; obliquely-deltoid, the posterior portion larger, and .again divided : secondary rachides narrowly winged; pinnules oblong, deeply pinnatifid, the lobes oblique, bearing usually a single sorus, with an external tooth ; son transvereely oblong, clothed with white, narrow, tapered, slightly-toothed scales : stipes semiterete.— //dA West Coast of Africa. This elegant little Davallia, which has been received by Mr. Tyerman from Western Africa, bears in many respects a close resemblance to D. buUata, the size, out- line, and division of the fronds being very similar to those of that plant, but the fructification is quite different, being that of the Humata, not that of the Eu-Davallia, gi-oup, while the rhizome, instead of being clothed with rich, golden-brown scales, as in D. buUata, has the scales of a silvery whiteness. The fronds, moreover, are not deciduous, as in D. buUata, but persistent, as in the related Davallia dissccta, and D. decora of Java. The African plant bears, indeed, a striking first-sight resemblance to the Indian Davallia Griffithii, which has fronds of the same form, combined with a white-scaled rhizome, but it is altogether larger, and the fructification is different. The plant now before us (fig. 178), though a small- growing species, is much the largest of the Humatas, and with its elegant form, evergreen fronds, and white- scaled rhizomes, will be quite an acquisition for our Fern stoves, being especially suited for basket culture. Tlie fronds measure about 7 inches in leugtli from tlie setting on of the basal pinna; to tlic apex, and are about ^ inches in width across the base ; the basal anterior pinnule of the lowest pinna.' is barely an inch long, the basal posterior one an inch and a lialf, while the average length of the pinnules on the second pair of pinna: is about lialf an inch. Tlie stipes, which is reddish-brown towards the base, is, as well as the rachides, and Ijotli surfaces of the frond, quite glabrous, rounded behind, flat, with a rim at each margin in front. The veins are prominent on both surfaces, and the position of the sori is marked by boss-like protuberances on the upper surface. The short broad sori are covered by scale-like indusia, attached by the base only. Mr. Tyerman, the excellent curator of the Liverpool July 8, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. Botanic Garden, himself a pteridologist of long stand- ing, who has been the medium of mtroducing this charming plant to our gardens, well merits the compli- ment of having his name associated with it. Though technically a species of Humata, it is in a wider sense a Davallia, and will no doubt become best known to cultivators as Davallia Tyermanii. T. M. FRUIT-BEARING CONIFER.E AT LINTON. [The foUowing paper, which accompanied a very ' collection of Coniferae in fruit, exhibited by Mr. Robson, and to which an E.ttni Prize was awarded at Nottingham, and which, moreover, was sent in anticipation of a Horticultural Congress, has been handed to us for publication by the local secretary, E. J. Lowe, Esq.] The collection of Conifers from whence the fruit exhibited was taken occupies a position about mid-way down the southern slope of a ridge of hills of about 400 feet elevation, the ground occupied by the Tinetum being from about 220 to 290 feet above the sea level. The soil is a dry loam, of good depth, and more or less mi.\ed with stone partaking of the Kentish rag character, but that stone is not found in quantfty near the surface, but a partly decomposed substitute of it, locally termed hassock, forms the principal ingredient in the subsoU, and is of so inviting a nature to the roots of most kmds of indigenous trees, that they find their way to a great depth amongst it, and grow quickly and attain a great size. The surface soil, how- ever, though good, would not be regarded by a farmer as being remarkably so, being better adapted for the growth of trees, hedges, and plants of esta- blished character than such farm- ing crops as depend on the surface soil alone for theh subsistence. Nevertheless, most things thrive tolerably well, especially those having a liking for calcareous matter, with which it is charged. It may be added that it is dry, but not sandy, water being only obtained at the depth of 50 or more feet. With these prehmmary observations, and a further remark that the Conifers are mostly scat- tered over the dressed grounds, some 25 acres, surrounding the mansion, and pretty weU sheltered from the north, but in a general way open to the south-west, from whence we have our highest winds, I may leave other points to be indi- cated when the individual species are treated of. It may, however, be proper to mention that, with the exception of the Araucaria bearing fruit, which has been planted about 40 years, none of the others have been more than 27 in their present position, and all were small when planted. It will thus be seen that the site suits many of them, Pinus insignis, for instance, being nearly 60 feet high, and others exceeding 50 feet. Phttis excdsa. — There are evi- dently two varieties of this, if not two distinct species, included under the name, one having its spring leaf-buds covered with green scales, the other with the same of a deep rosy-crimson hue. The fruit seems alike, but the habit of growth is different, one being much more spreading than the other, the largest specimen at Linton having a spread of branches of 47 feet, although only 38 feet high, the branches resting on the ground to within a yard of their tips. The other variety has a height and width of about 35 feet. Both have the same long hanging foliage of a glaucous hue, and neither of them have been at any time injured in the least by our hardest Pinus insigiiis, — The largest tree is 59 feet high, with a spread of branches of 49 feet, and doubtless this tree would have been higher, but it lost its leader about 20 years ago, and remained four or five years without one ; this perhaps accounts for the great spread of its lower branches, for the upper part of the tree is more conical. Its growth, after again forming a leader, was, I need hardly say, most rapid, and the bole, now that it has attained timber-like propor- tions, does not show that it had ever lost one. Its circumference at 4 feet from the ground is 7 feet 8 inches, the bark very rugged, more so than either the Stone Pine or Pinaster. I may further add, what may perhaps surprise many, that it does not appear to have suffered in the least from any of the hard winters we have had, although a smaller tree of the same species, not more than a stone's-throw from it, was much cut in the winter of 1S66-67, and has been slightly injured again in the present winter ; but I may observe that the rich.'dense, deep green hue, which enhances the beauty of this tree when in a young state, or, say up to the height of from 30 to 40 feet, seems to leave them then — the great number of abortive blossom buds of a dull yellow colour, and the husky remains left after they fall, detracting much from the rich emerald-green the tree previously possessed ; it is, however, a tree of of P. Pmsapo, it may be easily distmguished from that fast growth. Near to the largest example of P. insignis species, with which it has been sometimes compared ; a belt of common Scotch and Spruce Firs was planted it contrasts strongly with P. nobUis, and, in fact, with at the same time for protection to the Pinetum, but most others. In a collection it well deserves a place, none of them approach by long odds the size of combining as it does a sort of a feathery outline with P. insignis. I may farther add, that amongst some of j a dense foliage. The tree from whence the cones were the latter species that were planted in 1S55, one that I ; taken is 46 feet high, and nearly 36 feet in the spread incidentally measured is 40 feet high, healthy and of the branches, vigorous, and, like all the other Pines we have, j Cryptomeriajaponka. — A fine tree of this was broken clothed to the ground with excepting P. pondi foliage. Pintts auslriaca. — A deserving species, more upright- growing than P. insignis, and when young more densely clothed with foliage than P. ponderosa, or macrocarpa, but as it gets older, its lower limbs, like those of the two kinds mentioned, get thinner of leaves. In outline, however, it is a fine tree, and in colour next to insignis. It grows fast, outstripping some Scotch Firs in the same plantation ; but I should doubt if its timber is as good. It appears to like a dry stony soil, stands the wind better than the Spruce tribe, and in 1 Linton. It is, many respects is deserving of more extensive planting, j which checks ' by the wind in 1867, and had to be removed, the tree ^SS^- broken being 36 feet high, upright as it was possible to wish, and clothed to the ground, forming a beautifiil cone, slender and tapering, the diameter of its branches at the bottom bemg not more than 12 feet. As will be seen by the section, which has been lymg outdoors since 1S67, it has begun to form heart timber, so that there is reason to believe it may be a useful tree in this respect. Its great drawback is the liability it has to turn a sort of sickly brown in some places ; but it does not do this much at lowever, too prone to produce fruit, growth, otherwise it is a fine-looking being certainly one of the hardiest of the long-leaved , tree when well grow class. Our best tree is upwards of 50 feet high. variety of this, if it Picea Webbiana. — The beautiful colour of the cones , not been able to detect any difference, the supposed of this species seems to be its principal merit, for it is ! more robust habit of the last-named being more ideal seldom that a healthy, vigorous specimen is -met with, j than real ; and I beUeve situation and other circum- Amongst several we had here, planted at the time stances have much to do in preparing the plant to alluded to, viz., 1844, only one has attained the height stand our winters. of 36 feet, and is moderately healthy, with a spread of, Cryptomeria elegans. — If the two above-named be branches of*25 feet. Its great fault is that it com- identical, there can be no question about this one bemg distinct, and a great acquisition to the Pinetum, as the rich brown its beauty rather than otherwise, especially when (as is often the case) it is associated with other trees, as the reddish-brown tint comes on long before cold weather sets in, and here at least it has stood several winters without the least injury, and fully exposed. This is the first season it has fruited here; but as none of our plants much exceed 10 feet in height, there is plenty of time yet. It also seems to withstand the winter pretty well, and is in many respects a desirable plant. Cupresms Vcrvainemia.—K graceful, pretty-looking addition to this comprehensive genus, but the plants are yet too small to offer an opinion upon it. Citpressus Lambertiana. — If it were not for one great drawback, this would be a more desirable species, but the liability it has to be torn up by high winds is sadly against it. The largest one we have at Linton has attained the height of 38 feet, although only planted in 1S54, being then not more than a foot high — the best size to plant this tree, as I believe the best safeguard it has against high winds is a good tap-root, to the formation of which the soil here is favourable. The winter of 1860-61 did not in the least affect it, but that of 1866-67 browned it, the tree not showing it until April or later. The past winter has not taken any effect whatever. Its heavy massive foliage, of the darkest shade of green, entitles it to a place in every collection. In outline it is more of a bulbous cone than a pyramidal one, as its greatest diameter of branches is at some distance from the ground, the one here being 23 feet across at 5 feet up. I fear, however, it must be admitted that this tree is more handsome in a young than in an old state, specimens of 20 feet high or thereabouts looking better than when double that size ; the foliage gets thinner, and the presence of fruit is no improvement to its appearance. Cupresms mcurocarpa.—PL synonym_ of the last. ^ 17S. — HUMATA TV mences growth so early in the season that its tips get destroyed by our spring frosts ; hence, rival leaders are formed, and distorted branches, to be repeated, perhaps, the next year ; otherwise its broad fine foliage, of a rich green above and fine silvery whiteness below, would render it a great favourite. As it is, it can only be recommended for particular situations, P. Nordmanniana being its superior in many respects, especially so in point of hardiness. Picea mbilis. — Much as this has been praised, I do not think too much has been said in its favour, for its thickly set foliage, of a rich sea-gi'een colour, gives it a character quite its own, so that in most places it is a favourite. Unfortunately, the best one we have at Linton, after being planted some five or six years, accidentally lost its leader, and remained seven or eight years without one, when it formed two, one of which being removed, the other has rushed up very rapidly, and as straight as a gun-barrel, and is uniformly, but not thickly, furnished with branches, forming a fine tapering cone, very handsome and effective. It is now 38 feet high, and might probably have been 15 more but for the mishap in its early days. Like most of tiie Piceas, young trees of it do not start veiy quickly into growth, so that patience ought to be exercised in the case of their remaining a year or two in a round stumpy form. All the Silver Fir tribe, more or less, seem to do this. Picea ccphalonica. — A sturdy species, much inclined to spread its branches, and liable to form several leaders. It seems, however, to be very hardy, and its timber may also be good. In outline it is more irregular than any other Picea I know, but its branches are thickly set with foliage of the darkest green, and these being much longer and more pointed than those perceive any difference. Both transpla badly. Cupressus funebris. — The flourish of trumpets with which this was ushered in was speedily hushed ; for, instead of a handsome graceful tree, it was found to form a kind of unwieldy bush, never likely to exceed 20 feet in height, and, in addition, hard winters cut it up in exposed places. Cupressus Lawscniiana. — I expect to be found fault with when I say that this has been over-praised, for beautiful as some trees or parts of others may be, there are comparatively few that do not show a defect some- where — a nakedness of branches in some place or other ; out of upwards of 200 trees we liave here, there are not many but are faulty in that respect. Another evil is, that they seem so pei*sistently covered with fruit that I fear they will never attain anything like the pro- portions they are expected to do. Neither wUl they endure the wind so well as the two Thujas, Lobbii and borealis ; but the foliage is handsome, and the tree generally admired. We have no large trees of this species, 15 or 16 feet being the highest, and these do 872 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ao^ricultural Gazette. [July 8, 1871. not improve by age. The tree however appears to be quite hardy. Cupressiis Knighiiana.—'Wai differs widely from the last, but it is not so hardy. It is, however, a fast grower, but, like the Italian Cypress and some others, is addicted to forming a multitude of leaders ; and, while deserving a place in a large collection, it may be omitted in a small one. Quickness of growth is its principal merit. A small tree, planted here in 1S65, is now 18 feet high and 7 feet through the branches ; but it is no easy matter to keep the number of its leaders down — for not only two or three strive for the honours, but a host of them. Cupressiis Corneyana. — This seems to differ much from the others named, its branches, or rather branch- lets, being pendulous rather than upright, while it seems to confine itself to one stem generally. In a collection it forms a distinct feature, and is well worth growing. Its average yearly growth exceeds 2 feet, and its outline is good. Abies Morinda (Smil/iiana).—K fine pyramidally- formed tree, upwards of 45 feet high, and feathered to the ground, as are all the specimens of this tree, which is more symmetrical in this respect than even the common Spnice. It grows also quite as fast, and promises to retain a good appearance longer than that species, for with us Spruce Firs look shabby at 30 years old. It is also widely distinct from that Fir, its foliage being more pendulous, and the contrast be- tween the new shoots and the old wood very pretty in Abies Menziesii. — A silvery form of the Spruce with the outline of Morinda, but differing from both, as will be seen by the cones ; nevertheless, I am far from certain whether this is the true A. Menziesii, as I have seen another one of different character under that name ; but I believe it to be correct. The tree is 29 feet high, and 16 leet in diameter of branches. Abies canadensis (Hemlock Spruce).— This is only introduced to add variety to the collection. The tree is not so much patronised as it deserves to be, growing as it does very well in the shade of other trees, and contrasting well with the Yew in such a position. Araucaria imbricata. — If this tree could be induced to grow as rapidly as some others do, and to withstand the cold of our hardest winters, there is no question but it would it be a prince amongst its class, but its hardihood was severely put to the test in 1S66-67, and found wanting in so many places that it has not been so popular since. None of our trees suffered at that time, neither before nor since, and the largest one we have has borne cones for some years, but not having a male plant with flowers on until the present year, the seed did not mature, although the cone, as will be seen by the example of 1869, attained a good size. The tree producing these cones was planted upwards of 40 years ago, and is a fine specimen, being about 40 feet high, and pretty well furnished with branches ; some of the lower ones are gone, and some few more show an inclination to follow ere long, but the top of the tree is as healthy and vigorous as can be wished for, the outline being more cylindrical than conical, the top being rounded. The formation of cones has hardly begun, as will be seen by comparing the young with the old— the latter not so large as some we have had. The tree producing the male cones is much younger and smaller, not more than 20 feet high ; these cones are also not half-grown ; but I believe, from what I have seen at other places, that the male plant produces flowers at an earlier age than the female, a common occurrence with other things, as was evinced the past spring with a seedling Aucuba, several male plants but no females flowering amongst a batch raised here. Retiiiospora pisifera. — The promise which this plant gave of becoming a large tree by its free and tree-like growth, has been marred by its propensity to produce seed-vessels — it being loaded more freely than even Cupressus Lawsoniana, otherwise it is, I think, destined to be a useful tree, its dark green foliage and graceful form entitling it to a place in most collections. As it has not been introduced long into this country there are no large trees of it ; the one from which the fruit exhibited was taken is 12 feet high, and about 7 feet through the branches. Relinospora obtiisa. — Of dwarfer habit than the fore- going, and perhaps more graceful in outline, the colour a bright pea-green. I should expect this tree to be more likely to spread laterally than to get upwards, but in small gardens it may be pronounced a gem. Retiiiospora leptoelada. — A slow-growing pyramidal plant, a fitting companion to Abies pygmaea, or a small stunted Juniper, and well adapted for a position in small geometric gardens, and where it is not likely to outgrow the required size, as the one the accom- panying fruit comes from has been planted four or five years, and is now only 1 4 foot high respect I may coincide with those who decry it, and that is on the score of its timber not being likely to be of any use ; but on the score of beauty, hardihood, and adaptability to all kinds of soil, I have not a word to say gainst it ; on the contrary, much in its favour. There is, however, one point which I am not quite satisfied about, and that is its constitutional vigour. True it grows fast enough, withstands the winds when in an isolated position better than any evergreen tree I know of, and grows quicker than most trees ; but the fact of the finest tree we had at Linton dying in 1869, and some other trees I have seen elsewhere showing a sickly condition, implies a doubt whether it is destined to be so long-lived a tree as could be wished. The specimen from which the accompanying section is cut was planted in 1858, being then about 2i feet high, and the site a favourable one ; it made good progress, and towards the middle of the hot summer of 1868, when it ceased growing and showed signs of distress, it was 26 feet high, and the circum- ference of the bole at the collar was 5 feet 9 inches. Thinking it might be suffering from the extreme drought of the summer, a good watering was given it, but it only lingered on, and died the following year. All the other trees, however, that we have are very healthy, and none of them disposed to form cones but that from which the accompanying sprigs are taken, which is a perfect model of the pyramidal form of tree, 23 feet high, and upwards of 16 feet in diameter of branches. We have larger trees, but not in fruit. One peculiarity of this tree consists in its very shallow rooting, and on that account the ground ought not to be disturbed where it is growing. Although it will succeed pretty well on poor ground, it does better in a more generous soil. It is not the best tree to transplant when it has attained some size, but it is unquestionably the best of all the Pines for making a fresh leader when one has got broken or destroyed. It seems well adapted for an avenue, but I would not recommend its being planted as a memorial tree until its constitutional capacity has been more tried, though as a symmetrical tree, in an open situation when the soil is ^od, it has few equals, and certainly no superiors. Thuja Lobbii.—Ne\t to the Wellingtonia I would regard this as the most important addition made to our Pinetums during the last quarter of a century, as it promises to be something more than a mere shrub ; in fact, it bids fair to eclipse the mammoth tree of the fai West in rapidity of growth, upwards especially. It forms a 'nice clean stem or ^bole, tapering like a fishing-rod, and its slender graceful growth is still further enhanced by the bright green Fern-like spray with which it is clothed, not standing vertically, like so many of the Arbor-vitce class, but horizontally, curving over towards the beholder in the loveliest manner possible, so that I imagine the tree must be a general favourite. It is also very hardy, as our severest winters do not seem to have taken any effect on it, and, as before observed, it grows very fast ; our largest specimen is 3 feet high, its yearly growth averaging 3 feet, and on two consecutive years its leader was lengthened 7 feet 8 inches ; it has certainly a sheltered position, but other trees fully exposed grow almost as fast. I would recommend it as one in a collection that was limited t six species. T/iuJa Menziesii. — I can only look on this as being synonym of the last, and I believe it is now generally regarded as such. Thiijopsis borealis. — A very deserving species of the tree type, and, although not so fast-growing as the last named, it is quite as hardy, and its extremely dark green hue contrasts well with plants of a lighter colour The tree the fruit was taken from is 20 feet high, and about 7 feet in diameter of branches. Taxodium seviperz'ireits. Athough hardy, yet the tips of its leaves in most cases show an injured con- dition. The peculiar spongy character of its bark, when it attains some size, is very remarkable, having a sort of pincushion-like feel. The tree seems strongly inclined to spread out laterally, its lower branches resting on the ground and spreading out some distance, but when surrounded by other trees it gets up ; the specimen here being in the open its width is nearly the same as its height, 35 feet each way, and the cir ference of the bole at 3 feet from the ground is about 5 feet 1 1 inches. Where the number of trees are limited to a small quantity I would not recommend this to be one, but in a collection it is indispensable, having features peculiarly its own. Pieea Pinsapo. — This tree, certainly the finest ii collection at Linton, is 40 feet high, and its branches spread above 28 feet, resting on the ground, from whence to the height of 20 feet there is only c place where the bole of the tree can be seen wi out putting the branches aside, so densely is clothed, and so upright and faultless is it, as a poini cone pyramid. It has only once had cones upon it, circumstance not to be regretted, as the too early fruiting of such trees denotes an early maturity, and consequently a limited growth. This tree, however, bids fair to rival native ones. The short stout leaves, thickly set all around the shoots, instead of only on two sides of them, gives it a distinctive chara ' addea to which its dense green hue and symmetrical form are all that can be desired. A small sprig of it ' the collection, being the only one without fruit. In a paper of this kind it would be wrong to elude without saying something as to the absence from the collection of some three or four popular members of this family. First of these is the deservingly favourit Douglas Fir, Abies Dougtasii, which somehow has never done so well at Linton as most other kinds ; th< cause I attribute to the large quantity of calcareou: matter in our soil, as I have seen this species do best where Rhododendrons and such-like plants grew well which they will not do where the bulk of our Pinuses are. Picea Nordmanniaita does better, and we have some good-sized trees of it, but none of them have fraited. neither do I wish to see them do so for some years to ne, as the tree cannot be improved by being checked growth by bearing cones. Picea lasiocarpa is too young yet, our largest plant not being more than 12 feet high, and growing very fast, with long leaves. I believe this to be identical with P. Lowii, and, per- haps, P. Parsonsii ; but several of the species (so- called) of this genus run into each other so gradually that it is likely when they become old the number of names will be much reduced. My purpose, however, is to go into this question just now, but to apologise for absentees ; and the next is Cedrus Deodara, of which we have several approaching 50 feet in height, and between 30 and 40 feet in width, but none have yet shown fruit-bearing cones, though male catkins have been produced for many years. Some healthy, vigorous Cedars of Lebanon several years older have never yet shown cones. I attribute this to their vigor- ous growth, as smaller trees are often met with in a fruitful condition, but the trees in question are exceed- ingly healthy. I may here remark, what has been already stated elsewhere, that these two varieties — for they can only be regarded truly as such — are gradually blending into one ; in other words, the Deodar will become a Lebanon in course of years. Some trees that we have here are difficult to distinguish at any time, while one is a Deodar in summer and Lebanon in winter ; another is a compound of the two at all times— one part of each kind, while others retain their Deodar character still, and may do so for a few years longer than the others. If I were asked which of them I gave the preference to, I would not hesitate a moment giving it to the Lebanon. The fine old specimens to be met with in different places give a dignity to all around them, and a fine old Cedar of Lebanon and an equally noble Scotch Fir will not be easily excelled amongst the host of new trees of recent introduction. Both have been tried and proved good, and I am not sure but the Lebanon will do the best service in most places in the south of England, and perhaps the other in the far North. Piiius poiiderosa is also amongst the important trees of which there are no cones. This is, in my opinion, the best of all the long-leaved class, its tufts of foliage resembling a chimney-sweeper's machine brush ; it bids fair also to become a useful timber tree. The one we have at Linton is 50 feet high, with an expanded top, something like the Scotch Fir when settling into the condition of an aged tree. It has never yet borne fruit, but is a tree much admired ; as is also Piims Ceiiibra, an upright, cylinder-shaped tree, of moderate diameter, but very beautiful, owing to its silvery foliage. This is also nearly 50 feet high, and has never shown symptoms of fruiting. Neither have I noticed any on Ltbocedrus chileitsis, which, by-the-by, suffered with us in the winter of 1866-67, but a healthy tree of some 12 feet high shows no signs of fruit of any kind. Amongst those of which I cannot give a favourable report is Araucaria brasitiensis, which, although sur- viving some twenty-six winters out-of-doors, is not by any means happy in its position there, although it is one of the best we have. The fact is, it is not an outdoor tree, although it has struggled on and attained the height of 31 feet; its only merit is in showing its capability of living outside. As to thriving, it has no pretensions thereto ; at all events, it does not thrive well. One or two Mexican Pines are also in much the same condition, only less able to stand cold winters, suffering more than the Araucaria does on these visita- tions. In fact, I am not sure but the want of success m the Araucaria arises from the soil not suiting it, for a severe winter makes no more change in it than a mild one. In conclusion, I may be allowed to apologise for the imperfect growth of many of the cones exhibited, the fact being that it is a month too soon for them. Some of them, as Picea nobilis, Webbiana, and cephalonica, have not attained half their proper size ; and as they had to be cut on June 21, some may doubtless be shriveling up ere the exhibition is over ; whereas at a later period their appearance is better, and it is needless to say they keep better. This will be readily under- stood by all who take any interest in such matters, and to such the collection is more especially dedicated, and not to ordinary sightseers. John Robson, Linton Park, Maidstone. BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS.-XI. L\ selecting our illustrations we have been guided, first, by the desire to call the student's attention to such plants as may be in bloom at the time the articles are published, and to such as are readily accessible to all within reach of a garden or a field ; and, in the next place, to select those which afford the best illus- trations of the leading principles of floral construction. For these reasons we began in spring with iiitomfUte flowers of the simplest construction, such as those of the Willow, Elm, Poplar, and Ash ; and from these we proceeded to flowers of gradually increasing com- plexity, such as those of the Tulip, Hyacinth, Apple, Rose, &c. , pointing attention in each case to the par- ticular circumstances which produced the modification or complexity of structure. We began thus with flowers of the simplest construction, proceeded to those, such as the Poplar, in which a slight degree of modifi- cation was produced by the mere addition of parts, till we came to the Tulip, in which the flower July 8, 1S71.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 873 is said to be complete, because it possesses all the constituent parts which a perfect flower should have, viz., s. pmanlh of two rows, the outer one called calyx, the inner one called a corolla ; then the stamens, surrounding the central pistil. Our next step was to show how the parts of the flower were modified by what is termed cokesion, which is, as previously explained, more generally want of separation than absolute union of previously separate parts. Adhesion, or union of dis- similar organs, was exemplified in the case of the Apple, p. 5S1 ; irregular groivth by the stamens of the Wall- flower, p. 645, or the petals of the Laburnum ; sup- pression of parts was exemplified in the case of the pistil of the Laburnum, p. 676, and the flowers of the Willow or Ash, p. 4S0, destitute as these latter are of perianth. Multiplication of parts was illustrated by the Rose, and also the substitution of one part for another— of petals, for instance, for stamens, as in so many double flowers, while the St. John's Wort, p. 805, yielded an illustration of compound stamens. Incidentally in every case we have alluded to any salient features that the plant presented ; but our special object was to show the student how flowers are constructed, and to induce him to ascertain for himself what are the leading struc- tural peculiarities in any particular flower he may happen to gather. Of course when we use the words complete or incomplete, perfect or imperfect, we do so for convenience of arrangement only. So far as the plant itself is concerned, the simplest and least com- plex flower is as complete as one of greater complexity. What it has pleased the Creator to make is assuredly complete for the purposes for which it is designed. A complete symmetrical flower, then, in a botanist's sense, is very often merely an artificial device con- structed by the botanist for his own convenience as a stan- dard of reference. Nevertheless, very many flowers do really conform almost precisely to the standard in their infantile condition, though, as they emerge from baby- hood theybecome altered in some one or moreof theways we have above alluded to. Again, some few flowers do throughout their whole life maintain their original symmetry. As this word symmetry is used in different senses, it may be well, before proceeding further, to state that by symmetry we here understand the due proportion of the parts of a flower one to the other, thus we have a symmetry of form and size in which all the parts of the same kind, all the sepals of the calyx, all the petals of the corolla, and so on, are alike in shape and dimensions ; a symmetry oj number, accord- ing to which all the parts are in equal numbers, say five sepals, five petals, five stamens, or some multiple of those numbers, as five petals, ten (twice five) stamens, and so forth ; a symmetry of arrangement, according to which all the several parts are separate one from the other, and disposed in their proper order. In our previous articles we have given several illustra- tions, showing how this symmetry of form, number and arrangement may be interfered with in various cases, and it may now be well to put before the student a flower in which the symmetry of form and number is perfect, or nearly so, but which presents somedeviation from the symmetry of arrangement. Such a flower is offered to us by the common Stonecrop, Sedum acre {hg. 179). The branches of this hardy little perennial are round or cylindrical, throwing out here and there fine threads or roots, and bearing a number of closely set alternate sessile leaves. Funny things, too, these leaves are to look at — little fat conical masses of spongy tissue filled with watery sap. In truth the Stonecrops belong to what the French call platites grasses, fat plants. Our term succulent, though longer, is more correct, for the tissues are filled with wateryjuice, not with fat. These leaves are covered with a thick rind, or skin, which does not allow the juice to evaporate very readily from the surface, and so we find these suc- culent plants can grow and thrive in hot dry situations, where plants with a more scanty provision of watery sap in their storerooms, or with a thinner rind, would perish from drought. Our particular Stonecrop is obliging enough to live in almost any situation, but, when truly wild, it will be found on dry walls or rocks where little else will grow. The student must not imagine th.at all succulent plants are Sedums, or even near relatives of Sedum. Cactuses, Spurgeworts, indeed a very large number of the family groups into which plants are divided, have some succulent represen- tatives, which keep up the honour of the family name in quarters where the ordinary representa- tives could not do so — another hint, this, not to trust to external similarity only. Not to be too discursive, we come back to the leaves of our Stone- crop. Notice on the branches which have no flowers how crowded they are, and then look at a branch which is bearing flowers, and see how the leaves are scattered at short distances one from the other. In fact, the stem between each leaf and its neighbour has perceptibly lengthened. Moreover, if the leaves be looked at attentively they will be seen to be arranged spirally round the stem. The student .should take any leaf near the base of a branch, and mark it in some way, then cast his eye carefully up the branch till he finds a leaf higher up, and which stands immediately above the leaf first marked. It will now be seen, by tracing the leaves one after the other, from the marked one below to that which is immediately above it, that the leaves are arranged in a spiral coil. Now, this spiral arrangement of parts is extremely common in plants, and when the eye is once accustomed to look for it, few things are more readily discerned. A Fir cone will show this arrangement at a glance. In all plants where the leaves or other parts are alternate (p. 4S0), this spiral arrangement necessarily occurs. If the observer is of a geometrical turn of mind, he will find the study of these spirals will open up to him a new and most interesting object of research ; but the subject is one too complex for the majority of beginners, and hence we shall not pursue it further. The inflorescence of the Stonecrop is definite, as in the St. John's Wort (p. S05). Coming now to the flower, we find it in some respects a model of symmetry ; the parts are symmetrical in number, form, and, with some exceptions, in position. We have already suf- ficiently explained the alternate, the spiral, and the opposite arrangement of leaves and other organs. This Stonecrop flower gives us an opportunity of saying something on the whorled or vcrticillate arrangement of parts. The five sepals of the Sedum are in a ring or whorl, as also are the five petals, the ten stamens, and the five carpels. One sepal or one petal is not placed at a different level from the rest, but all come off at the same level. In the case of opposite leaves already referred to, p. 480, there are but two leaves in the whorl or ring ; here in the Stonecrop there are five sepals in a whorl, and so on. In this plant. , Carpel: Sepal. then, we have the leaves alternately and spirally arranged, while the parts of the flower are whorled. The symmetry of arrangement is thus different in the case of the leaves and of the parts of the flower ; but in other cases, as for instance the Bedstraw {Galium), the whorled arrangement is found in the leaves and parts of the flower both. In the Stonecrop, then, we have a whorl of five separate sepals, a whorl of five separate petals, and so on. Now, notice that though there is no alternation between individual sepals or petals, yet if the whole ring of sepals be compared with the whole ring of petals that there is alternation between them, thus one petal comes between two sepals. The petals alternate, as it is said, with the sepals. Five stamens alternate (and these are longer than the others,) with the sepals, five other stamens alternate with the petals. So far the alternation is perfect, but when we come to the carpels w-e find them, as it were, out of place ; they should alternate with the petals, but they do not. In this particular then the laiu of altentatiou, as it is called, is not followed. The diagrams at fig. iSi will exemplify what we have been saying, but we may perhaps make this matter even simpler by the follow- ing scheme, representing arrangement of parts in a flower where all the parts alternate, and wherein S represents the sepals, P the petals, st the stamens, and C the carpels : — the Stonecrop the arrangement is :— The explanation of tiiis peculiarity, as also of certain little glands, c, fig. iSi, which also deviate from the proper alternate position, is a problem for the advanced botanist to solve rather than the beginner, and hence we confine ourselves now to the mere mention of the fact. DOUBLE HYACINTHS. At p. 3S4 I find some remarks'upon the question of classifying some double Hyacinths, like Koh-i-noor, so as to separate them from bond fide double varieties, like the Lord Wellington (rose). I do not think that the term "double" is a good one to apply to such varieties as Lord Wellington, although it has been the custom for many years to call every Hyacinth which is not single, "double." It would, I think, be better to follow the example of the growers of the last century, and make a more correct distinction. In the " Treatise on the Hyacinth," by George Voorhelm, London, 1753, they are divided into classes called "single," "double," and " full," and this I consider to be the best system of classification, the terms indicating clearly the quality of the flower. Intermediate forms could be indicated as "half or semi-double," or "half or semi-full." 1 have already adopted these terms for years in my nursery lists. As regards the time when double Hyacinths were first cultivated (see p. 451), I may say that I think it probable that some double varieties were obtained from seed, and grown very soon after the introduction of the Hyacinth into Europe. It is also, I think, quite certain that Peter Voorhelm (Voerhelm or Footlem), was not the first grower of them. The Marquis de St. Simon, in his work on Hyacinths (17S6), states that Peter Voorhelm for some time neglected the cultivation of double sorts, and gave preference to the single, double flowers being considered as monsters unworthy of attention. These remarks can be depended upon, as St. Simon seems to have been well acquainted with George Voorhelm (grandson of Peter), the wTiter of the above-named treatise, at least there is in St. Simon's book a list of the Hyacinths planted in George Voorhelm's parade-bed. It is strange, however, to read in St. Simon that before the time of Peter Voorhelm there was neither cultivated nor estimated any double Hyacinth, and also that in "Swertius' Florilegium," printed at Amheim, 1620, no double Hyacinth is figured. I have never seen this Arnheim edition of the "Florilegium," but I have before me several Amster- dam and Frankfort editions, of which the first is dated 1612, and in all of them is figured a double Hyacinth at pi. 1 2, described as a violet-blue one — a poor thing, however, with only eight bells, but well double. Other works of that time give also figures of double Hyacinths. In the famous " Hortus Eystettensis," of Besler (1613) there are figured three double sorts, viz., Flore coeruleo-pleno with three full bells, and candidissima flore-pleno with one very full bell at the top of the stem (ord. ii. pi. 14) ; both engravings are apparently taken from young plants, so that the same sorts may have produced more bells later. These two varieties seem to be described here for the first time. On the following plate (ord. ii. pi. 15) is figured Hyac. orient, flore duplici, a strongly grown bulb, with 15 true double blue flowers. This variety has been mentioned before by Clusius in " Curis Posterioribus," fol. iS (161 1). In the" Hortus Floredus" of Passaens (1614), on plate 1 1 of the first book containing spring flowers, is figured a Hyacinth noted as double, but nothing double is to be found in the bells, though in one instance two bells are grown partly together ; and in consequence of this the epithet double may have been given to the flower. The description given of this flower in the English edition of the said work is as follows : — " But this double oriStall lacinth has at his first cominge greene flowers \i''^ afterwards appeare somewhat blewish, and being full blowne, are whyte yet somewhat greenish, 874 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. Uuly 8, 1871. yet those stripes or veines that go through the leaves are very greene." Popular writers of that time speak of double Hyacinths as being most esteemed by amateurs, and even preferred to singles ; at least Petrus Hondius, in his treatise on gardening, &c., called " Moufeschans " (1 621), and written in Dutch verses, gives them more praise than all the others. In " Laurenberg's Appa- ratus Plantarius" (1631), three varieties of double Hyacinths are mentioned ; but in the catalogue of the Leiden garden, edited by P. Hermaim (1687), seven different double full Hyacinths are described. These facts prove sufficiently that double Hyacinths were cultivated long before Peter Voorhelm, a fact to which Charles Morren, in his historiqiie essai on bulbs (1842), has already drawn attention. It seems that in the middle of the 1 7th century bulb amateurs gave their attention by preference to the Tulip, and that it was a century later before the Hyacinth became the preferred florists' flower. A curious Dutch book at that time ("Flora's Bloem-warande in Holland") (1734), ap- peared in consequence of this, and for the same season the pamphlet on the Tulipomania (" Flora's Samenspraken ") were printed again. At that time double Hyacinths were grown by preference, and it may be that Peter Voorhelm was the person who brought them again into fashion after their culture had been neglected, and the singles had for some time been the most popular. The figures given at this time, for example those in " Buc'hoz Jardin d'Eden" (1781), represent double Hyacinths, chiefly of the late sorts, with very full bells. George Voor- helm, in his treatise above-named (1753), gives a list of 244 double and 107 single best sorts, and among the doubles the following are named as sur- passing all others : Full Hyacinths with white grounds :— Chandelier o' the Church, Comptroller- General, Etat-General, Flos Soils, Gloria Florum alba, Gloria Florum suprema. Illustrious Beauty, Miroir, Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius (extra), Optimus. Full Hyacinths with blue grounds : — Aspasie Panachee, Baillif d'Amstelland, Bouquet de Fleurs, Directeur-General, Duke of Courland, Duke de Ken- merkind. Flora Perfecta, Fran9ois Premier, Globe Terrestre, Gloria Florum (blue), Gloria Mundi (blue), extra ; Illustrious of Holland, La Grande Violette, La Plus Belle du Monde, L'Imperatrice, Aspasie, Louis Quinze Triomphant, Merveille du Monde, Paix Douce, Passe non Plus , Ultra (blue). Passe all, Rien ne me surpasse, Sanspareil Panache, Tresorier- General. Full Hyacinths, with red grounds :— Coralin, Crown of Roses, Gloria Mundi rubra, Gloria Rubrorum, La Princesse Imperiale, L'Assemblage des Beaut^s, Monarch of the World, Mount Hecla, Pontife Romain, Revisoir-General, Riche Paix, Rose d'Hollande, Rose du Roi, Rose de Parade, Rose Sacree, Soleil d'Or. A few of these sorts are at present found in some collections. In this list is also noted a Roi de la Grande Bretagne among the fuU Hyacinths with white grounds, but not marked as superior. St. Simon, however, considers this Hyacinth to be the oldest in cultivation (it may be of the second period of double Hyacinth growing), and supposes it to liave been obtained in 169S. This variety was originally preferred above many others, and sold at a high price, much surpassing 1000 guilders. This bulb, continues the learned writer, grows much better in warm countries than at Haarlem ; it grows equally well in pots and in glasses, but perishes in some Dutch collections of the present time a sort of the name of King of Great Britain, a late flowering variety of no merit, which answers to tlie description of the old renovated sort, and which may be the same. At the end of the former century double Hyacinths were much preferred to single ones in England. The treatise on Hyacinths in the " Florists' Directory," by James Maddock, begins in these terms : — " Double Hyacinths, which are much more beautiful and estimable than those which produce single flowers, are, hke tlie latter, known by the general distinction of reds, whites, and blues, with a few kinds of yellow, more recently obtained from seed. In many instances double Hyacinths have a pecuUar advantage of a beautiful contrast of colour in the eye or centre of their bells, which the single sorts cannot possess." We may conclude, from these remarks, that the cul- tivation of double Hyacinths was at the tiine of the introduction of this plant an object of great interest to florists. In later times (before 1700), the preference was given to singles ; then, again, doubles had the pre- ference, till, perhaps 20 years or longer after, singles again became the favourites. The reasons for these changes must be sought for in the fine novelties introduced in difltrent periods in the double and single class, in the way of showing them, sometimes in show beds in the open ground, at another time forced in pots, and by the dini;rent system of bedding-out practised at difi(;rent times, in the more or less scientific direction of horticulture, and perhaps in other circum- stances. 7. H. Krdage, Haarlem, Holland. [It is doabtless the closeness and the symmetry of the spike which has led to the modern preference for single Hyacinths as compared with double ones, which latter, however, like most double flowers, continue longer in bloom. Eds.] Orchid Cultivation. — I think if your correspondent "Scrutator" will read my letters again, and then his own, he will find that he is not justified in the construc- tion he has put upon them. I did not arrogate to my- self the right to advance my opinion unsupported by experience, nor did I deny him the privilege of quoting instances of success because they were not his own. There was no ambiguity about what I said, and as 1 repeated it a second time, there should be no excuse for perverting the sense. If you have no case abuse the plaintiff or his attorney, is an old law maxim. I am also just a little afraid that your correspondent " Ex-Cantab " is making the defence of cool treatment too personal a matter. Let us flatter ourselves that there are a few lookers-on, who read our letters, and that they enjoy a smart hit now and then ; so far so good, I have no objection, but we should not forget that argu- ment requires examples to the point, to convince. I have read with great interest the account of the Odonto- glossum house at Ferniehurst, and note that "F. W. B.," who furnishes the report, says, that the winter tempe- rature of this house is a minimum of 40° and a maxi- mum of 50°, or a mean of 45°. Now this is the first time that I recollect having read such a statement, and it was to bring out such an one, if anyone could make it, that induced me to write at p. 310 : "I have never tried growing them for any length of time, say 3 or 4 months, at a temperature of 40° to 45° for a minimum ; nor has any one else, in my opinion, without seriously in- juring his plants." Mr. James Anderson, at p. 171, only gave us the mean of his minima as 49°.I9, and " Scruta- tor," in his letter at p. 274, only says that the house at Ferniehurst would average a minimum of temperature of from 40° to 45° during the late severe weather. I, therefore, thought I had a right to take exception to such partial accounts being considered as proving any- thing, and pointed this out in my letter at p. 310. The words I used were — " We have not before us, that I am aware of, either Mr. Anderson's practice, or that followed at Ferniehurst ; under these circumstances there can be no discussion." I am glad that they can be grown so cold ; such has not been my practice, and that a greater heat suits O. Alexandra; was shown by bulb furnishing 28 fidl-sized flowei also adds O. citrosmum as wanting right in concluding that a gardi ' F. W. B.' 'en Mr! Culiey's lengthened experience, dare not trust his house down to 42°, without its being sheeted up? — the term used is "covered up for the night." If this surmise is cor- rect, it is a very important element, and it should not be passed lightly over; the lower the heat the less moisture can the atmosphere retain, and the greater is the danger of frost by radiation. I gave Mr. Purdie's experience of 40° under radiation, but it was at 10,000 feet of elevation ; and as Odontoglossums do not come from that elevation, our gardeners may congratulate themselves they are not required to attend to their charges with their teeth chattering, for a minimum ; and, as they neither came from Sooo feet, need they fear a maximum, that will burst a thermometer in a man's pocket, because it will only register 130° : see also Mr. Purdie's letters, as confirmed by M. van Volxem, at p. 584. I was much pleased to see this explanation of the great height thermometers mark in the sun at high elevations in the tropics, for I men- tioned Mr. Purdie's experience rather m fear, yet hoping he was right,— for the disbelief I had ex- pressed, that Odontoglossums came from such elevations, greatly depended on his veracity. "Ex-Cantab" need not fear that I shall advise any one to follow Nature in the matter of temperatures, even in countries where such e-xtremes are unheard of. Since writing the above I have read Mr. Anderson's letter in your journal (at p. 741), and am glad that he is willing to jom in the discussion ; the cool treatment has certainly a chance of being heard, and as I am to be in such a minority, I must ask them to be careful that they do not make me say what I did not. " Ex-Cantab " says, I recommend a mean winter tem- perature of 70°, and Mr. Anderson repeats it ; once or twice more, and it will be considered proved. I have been very careful in advising any treatment. I have given my own practice, that I might create discussion, but I have not given a mean of 70° in winter as even my own practice, that I am aware of. Mr. Anderson begins like a lawyer summing up ; I* am obliged for the flattering way in which he says I can write upon subjects that are not his own particular pet subjects, but he must for the present allow me to think that his advice to your readers, and such as seek instruction from your pages, is a little premature. He may be right "that I totally mis- understood the climate necessary for the cultivation of Odontoglossums," and that during the trip he speaks of he may have mastered the subject ; but I hope he will be willing to give us the proof, and then I shall have some little consolation for the humble pie I must eat, in the information I have obtained. Perhaps in this I may be wrong, and it may already have appeared in your pages. As I am to have so many against me, I must mark my points, and claim what credit is due to me. Will Mr. Anderson tell me where he learned that 6500 feet is the elevation from which these plants come? Mr. B. S. Williams, in his 4th edition, p. 213, says O. Alexandra: grows at an elevation of 7000 to 8000 feet in Bogota. "Ex-Cantab" says that he advises, at p. 712 of the 3d edition, a winter temperature 45° to 50°, and in summer 50° to 60°. "F. W. B. " says that the Fernie- hurst house has a winter temperatiu^e of 40* to 50", in summer the natural temperature ; and then quotes Mr. Warner's practice at Brooinfield — a minimum of 40° in winter, and in summer as much natural heat as the summer affords. These winter temperatures will agree with Mr. Williams ; but what about the summer's ? Perhaps he is as far out there as he is in his altitude. "Ex-Cantab" says he thinks a minimum of 45° in winter, and a maximum of 85* in summer is cool treat- ment— these natural summer temperatures mean 85° at least ; thus, I only differ from them in my winter tem- perature. I have written for Isaac F. Hutton's book, M. Jean van Volxem mentions in his letter, and will return to this subject of temperatures when it comes ; but I am still of the opinion that it is a simple question of resting, and the advantage a long rest has upon an evergreen pseudobulb. I some lime since referred to the three types of tropical growth embraced in Mr. Fortune's lecture, and I should put all ever- green Orchids as classing with the Mangoiteen type. I at once repudiate the charge of killing an Orchid by my practice, and if Mr. Anderson says that he writes such things in "justice to your readers," lam sure that there will be found some of them who will tell him that if he wants to retain any influence over them, he must not seek to procure such a result by false inferences. This is strong lan- guage, so I will give the quotation of which I com- plain : — " In reply to the first question : ' Did he find any Odontoglossums grown as recommended by "G. H.?" I did, in one or two places, but the plants, instead of being cultivated, as I understand the mean- ing of the word, seemed in a bad plight. A continuance in the hot, dry atmosphere in which they were confined would certainly kill them." I am one of your readers, and I hope I profit by what I read in your journal. Will Mr. Anderson, in justice to me, say where I advised "a hot, dry temperature?" My own impression is, that the point above all others that has occupied my attention is, that when we have exhausted all the means at our disposal, we still cannot give moisture enough. I refer you to p. 417, where, at the end of my letter, I say : " Orchids come from the wettest parts of the earth alone, and supplying them with this moisture must always be our greatest difficulty. It is a point that has occupied much more of my attention than givhig them 10° of heat more or less." I am as willing as " Ex-Cantab " to keep the discussion to the point, which is, the relative advant- ages of a little heat more or less during winter, and the effect of a more complete, because longer, state of rest upon the healthy growth of Odontoglossums. G. H. The Weather in Westmoreland. — We have had a most remarkable season in the lake district. Although the crops are looking healthy, and there is a fair aver- age crop of hay, everything else has suffered more or less. I find, on referring to my note-book, that on May 17 heavy ram fell up to 11 P.M., the wind being west. A sudden change then took place, the wind changing to the north ; snow fell on the hills, and there was 5° of frost in the valleys. The latter wrought fear- ful damage upon the fruit crops, Apples being com- pletely destroyed. Pears, which were set most abund- antly, and nearly the size of small Beans, were left with a few scanty fruit, and the north-east winds still pre- vailing. The grub seems to have finished the few that were left, with the exception of some 36 trees, which I received from Thos. Laxton, Esq., of Stamford. These trees were removed, to make room for seedling Roses and new Peas, on October 24 — their height averaging from 8 to 15 feet, and I mention this to show that large Pear trees can be removed to a distance, and succeed admirably. Severe as the weather was — and it cut off the fruit of some 40 other trees that had not been removed — there are at present 22 of the lifted trees, sent here from Stamford, that are carrying excellent crops, and are swelling their fmit in a satisfactory manner. Some of your readers may think that I have dwelt a little too long on this subject, but I look upon it as a most important lesson to us gardeners in the northern counties, as to whether it might not add greatly to the securing of a crop of fruit if trees were periodically lifted, so as to retard them in the early spring. Gooseberries are a heavy crop in most of the sheltered gardens in the lake dis- trict ; for although the frost of May 17 destroyed about one-third, the remainder have swelled so large that there is a bomrtiful crop ; and the same may be said of Currants of all kinds, although they are smaller than usual, on account of the cold nights still prevailing. Strawberries suffered severely, but as there was a large quantity of unexpanded blossoms, there is a fan: average crop, the fruit being fine but inferior, on account of the earth being so ungenial. Just a few words about the trees. On May 17 most of the young shoots were cut, and the trees were much browned, and at the present time can be distinctly seen — Cedrus Deodara suffering severely, while a Taxodium semper- virens some 25 feet in height is quite safe ; Picea Nordmanniana having the young growth completely killed, and, in fact, in almost every case the young growth suffered the same fate. Bedding plants have The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 875 merely kept alive, some of the more tender becoming smaller than when planted out. y antes Slewarl, Bells- field House, mnde?-mere. The Condition of Peach and Nectarine Trees on the Open WaU.— At p. 836, the Rev. W, F. Kadclyffe thus writes :— " I fear the statement made in your leading article is but too true of the above trees. Such as I have seen and heard of are in a miserable condition, some describing their trees as in a moribund state, and others as blistered, and covered with green aphis and spiders." He then proceeds to state that his trees are perfectly healthy, because, for- sooth, he short-prunes, and looks after them him- self; and adds, "I will not suffer severe winter or spring, red spider or aphis, to blister, curl, or afflict my trees ; " all of which I should con- sider as wholly unworthy of notice, but for the following sentence, which is as devoid of truth as it is mischievous: "This miserable state of the Peach and Nectarine trees out-of-doors, in England, is a disgrace to science, and the result of neglect and gross ignorance." That is, the majority of the gar- deners of England are grossly ignorant, and the gi'and remedy for it propounded by the Rev. \V. F. Rad- clyffe in such brotherly terms is, "Come, review my trees." Under the circumstances my response, and that of hundreds more of sorely tried practicals, is, "No, thank you;" and my advice to a writer at whose feet I have often sat with pleasure is, "Speak not evil, one of another, bretlu-en." We often hear of the want of courtesy among practical gardeners, but do not believe there is one amongst us who, if his trees in the open had escaped injury this season, could have complacently sat Aowa and claimed the credit of it all, and poured contumely upon his suffering brethren, who had been harder hit by the sharp shafts of the Almighty's frost. However painful to me I must request permission to protest against such statements, as the character and daily bread of hundreds of gardeners are imperilled thereby. The fact is, that science and .skill are powerless to save tender trees from the grip of zero, as the merest tyro in horticulture knows too well. Protect them with glass, as recommended in your leader, and the matter is easy. But I boldly assert, that the sorry state of Peaches and Nectarines in the open this year is no proof, either of a lack of science, no, nor of neglect nor ignorance ; and on similar matters I claim to be as good an authority as your correspondent. I ne.tt expect to hear that the lateness of the Roses this season is attributable to the lack of science among gardeners, and that the wet haysel and late harvest result from the neglect and gross ignorance of farmers. Even this would be more reasonable than the broad assertion that the skill and perseverance of any man, can make tender trees endure such hardship as we have experienced this winter, spring, and summer, with impunity. D. T. Fish, F.R.ff.S., July 3. [We are glad to print this disclaimer, with the substance of which we quite concur. Get a good gardener, treat him liberally, and be sure that all that experience can suggest, or intelligence supply, will be done ; and then, if failure ensue, it must not be made a reproach to him. Eds.] Vitality of Seeds of the Shepherd's Purse.— In the autunm of last year I made a new croquet lawn from a meadow adjoining my premises, and turfed it with the turf that was growing there. This consisted of the ordinary herbage of our grass lands, and was very free from weeds. To get the level it was necessary to raise the lower part with earth dug from the same field, a fine mould, several feet in depth. To my sur- prise, upon the setting m of warm weather, the bank which supports the lawn below, and which was turfed over with a very clean turf, was covered with a crop of Shepherd's Purse as thickly as though it had been p posely sown over it ; and the same weed is bursting through the interstices between the turves laid on lawn, so far as the same earth was used. There is a plant of it to be seen on the undisturbed part of the meadow, and I can only account for its appearance by supposing that in former times there was a garden there, and that the seeds lay dormant till brought up to the influence of the air. It has been a meadow to my knowledge for 40 years, and usually fed with sheep. R. C. A. P., Halse, near Tauitlon. Laxton's "Alpha" Pea. — Will any of your readers (disinterested ones) who have grown this Pea please to say whether or no their experience of it differs from my own ? Sown amidst a lot of other Peas, I find it to be about as early as Daniel O'Rourke, with a pod about equal in length and size. The haulm is thin, bearing about the same relation in respect thereof to Supreme, Premier, Imperial, Wonder, Prince, and others, that hay does to straw. It is also very long jointed, and produces but one pod to a stem. In productiveness I think it to be decidedly inferior tc Daniel O'Rourke. My stock of it, the produce of ; sealed quart, obtained from Messrs. Carter & Co., v. growing where other Peas thrive luxuriantly, so 1 accept it as a fair trial, and am correspondingly disap pointed. Alpha had been specially commended as the best of Laxton's last batch of Peas : if it is so, tli fear indifferent is the best. Comparisons may be odious, but we must occasionally put up mth their ob- jectionable character, as they and upon that ground do I contend that, as compared with Dr. Maclean's splendid batch of dwarf Peas, Mr. Laxton's are far from being equal ; even Supreme, which is truly a grand show Pea, is neither earUer nor so acceptable at table as the old Champion of England. A. D. [This evidence differs from that previously re- ceived from other sources. Eds.] Ornamental Heracleums. — At this season the larger forms of Umbellifers will be coming into blossom, and now, therefore, that their value as decorative plants ire appreciated than formerly, it may be opportune introduce figures of two species of Heracleum, for which we have to thank Messrs. Haage & Schmidt, of Erfurt. One of these is Heracleum eminens (fig. 182) the other H. absmthifolium (fig. 184), or as De Candolli calls it, Zozimia absmthifoUa. H. eminens, which has leaves of gigantic dimensions, is well marked by the blunt rounded lobes of its trifoliolate leaves (fig. 1S3). These leaves are stouter in texture, and consequently more durable, than those of most of the other cultivated species, and they are covered with a fine velvety down, so that they take on a greyish hue. It is a grand plant, of stately dimensions, and very well adapted for planting in prominent, or even in isolated positions. The leaves keep, it is said, in a iresh and effective condition until the autumn. The stems support fine large umbels of flowers. Altogether, it is a highly ornamental plant. H. absinthifolium, a Caucasian and Iberian species, has much diWded leaves, which are clothed with hairs, giving them a hoary appearance ; the leaflets are somewhat distant, and the segments wedge-shaped subtrifid. The stems are sulcate, and grow some z or 3 feet high, and are almost without hairs ; they bear umbels of about 20 rays, surrounded by a many-leaved acre. As it forms a dense, close mass, a strong plant of this species would be a very picturesque object for the less refined portions of a lawn or pleasure ground. The foregoing plants are of smaller stature than H. giganteum, which latter is a grand plant lor wilderness scenery or bold distant rockeries, having, however, the defects of sowing itself rather too fireely and of losing its foliage before the end of summer. M. Watson's Lawn Sand. — I can endorse every word of your correspondent, Mr. J. Stewart, respecting the wonderful effect which the above has on a poor lawn. I used last spring i cwt., at the rate of 4 oz. to the square yard, and shall, if all's well, use 10 cwt. another spring, that being considered the best time for putting it on. I used 2 oz. to the square yard, and repeated the same dose a fortnight after. I cannot describe the wonderful improvement it has made on the lawn here, but shall be glad to point out the effect to any of my brother gardeners. Isaac Dell, Stoke Rochford. The Cool Treatment of Orchids. — Would "G. H." kindly inform us, through your columns, if (i) he closes the Odontoglossum house at night ? and (2) if he keeps the plants \yet, in addition to the damp atmosphere ? X. Heating by Circulation of Hot Water. — How easy it is to suggest and make improvements on almost everything that comes under one's notice, when the first principles — the most difficult steps — have been overcome ; and it is almost impossible to point out any object which has not been more or less improved since it first came in vogue. Perhaps no appliance has escaped the attention of the mmd of improvers more than our hot-water apparatus, particularly for horticultural purposes. If any gardener endowed with a practical mind, who has been engaged where forcing has been extensively carried on, casts a retrospective glance at the firebricks which he has burned almost uselessly away, the cost of doing so will be found to be something frightful. As my desire is solely to simplify and extend horticulture, it is a pleasure to me to see the opposition elicited by the discussion of this subject, since this gives fresh life and vigour to the whole matter. I have long been convmced that burying our heated pipes beneath the floors of our buildings, or placing them close beneath the staging, or directly over the pipes, must be wrong, both in principle and practice. I well remember Mr. Taylor, late of Shrubland Park, and formerly gardener to Mr. Coster, reading a most instructive paper at the Streatham Gardeners' Mutual Instruction Society, nearly 20 years ago, on the unnatural conditions that potted plants are subject to m the winter season, from the heat rising firom the pipes, the soil at the bottom of the pots becoming powdery from the excessive and unnatural heat from below the staging ; and he attri- buted a great deal of his success with stove and green- house plants at the Regent's Park shows to his placmg each pot in a pan of water for so many hours every spring, to remedy this evil. I have also read with great interest the long discussion that has been going on now for some years on the " cool " treatment of Orchids. This has been mainly brought about by the hot pipes being placed close beneath them instead of above them, so as to emulate sun-heat. To prove the value of this theory, 1 fixed a 3-mch pipe just mside the angle where the rafter and top plate meet, so that the pipe is about 2 feet 6 inches above the plants, and about 5 mches from the glass. This I found to effec- tually prevent damp and drip from the roof ; in fact it dried up the injurious moisture in the winter tune, instead of creating it ; and I was so satisfied, that I have been heating all my pits in the same manner, as follows : — I run the main 3 or 4-inch pipe just inside the end of the pit, a three-quarter hole with a thread is made, and a brass tap is screwed in ; from this is led a common inch barrel gas pipe running parallel with the front of the pit, and about 8 inches from the mside of the lower frame work, and at the further end of the pit, it turns upwards for 3 feet, and then returns a little more than half way up each rafter, and the highest point, or the air pipe, is directly opposite where it first enters. I have one of these inch pipes above 1 50 feet in length, and all this weight of water has to be lifted, as Mr. Fish will have it, through a j-inch tap ; nevertheless the circulation is the most perfect I have ever met with. The suspending of this barrel pipe by the means of a quarter round iron rod, bent from each rafter, and just above the plants and a few inches from the glass, is certainly a vast improvement ; it not only excludes the frost, but it effectually prevents damping, which is of vital importance in winters similar to the last. Should any of your correspondents who may doubt this statement only honour me with a visit at Woolwich, I shall expect them to satisfactorily explain how my hot water chculates contrary to their theory. Again, I have an inch pipe standing up 4 feet, with an elbow on the top, from tlie main supply from the boiler. This pipe is a flow, and supplies two 3-inch pipes 218 feet long, all inclining upwards. the water plunging suddenly into the boiler, heated. The point at which the be leaves the house is considenably higher than the flow, and within a few inches of it. The supply of hot water is through an inch pipe, and it finds its way rapidly through the entire length, and the whole length is almost of the same temperature," and this under the most adverse 876 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 8, 1871, ;s, for the small supply pipe is unquestion- ably much against the new system, yet the circulation is perfect. On the opposite side I have a house, which is heated on the contrary system ; the water rises up about 3 feet in a 3-inch pipe, and then branches into two of equal dimensions, and just where it divides into the two pipes is the highest part in the house, so the water has to travel downwards in these 3-inch pipes round the house, a distance of 170 feet. Now if the cold water has such an effect in forcing the hot water along the lower pipes in the house, and down the bends into the boiler, how is it that I dare not put small plants (without injuring them from the intense heat) near this highest part of the piping ; yet on the opposite side, when it is leaving the house, I cannot keep the plants from damping for the want of heat. If the new system is wrong, and this system right, how is it that I get a regular heat in one house and not in the other ? Again, I find when my flow- valve is shut, I get no back action up the return pipe, which is very dilTerent to what happens in the house Iieated in the old style. If any of those who advocate the old system of circulation can explain why all these facts should occur with me, and will not do the same elsewhere, I should be exceedingly obliged. By about August 1 5 next I shall have one of my new boilers ready to drive the piping of six houses separately or altogether {and two of these houses working on the new system), in all about 1200 feet of piping; and if any of your doubting correspondents will but come and elucidate the above mystery, they shall have the whole apparatus at their disposal, and I shall be only too happy to render any assistance required. H. CaniicU, F.R.H.S., Wookoich. Diverting a Watercourse.— I have a stream of water running through my freehold land— which passes through another field or two not mine, and then supplies a mill — have I any right to place a bay across the stream, and put a ram in my field to drivt ' water from the said bay into a tank erected about 14 feet high in my field, and to have pipes laid from the tank, to water plants, he, growing in the same field. There will be a pipe to take away ths waste water from the tank when it becomes full, tc carry it again in the same stream— before it gets to the mill, and of course before it goes out of my land. Or, if I have no right to bay the brook, have I a right tc use the water? J. K. (The reply to this question seems to us to depend on local customs and private rights. Perhaps some of our correspondents can furnish a more explicit reply. Eds.] The Horticultural Dinner at Nottingham Your remarks on the want of life and reality were only true of the dinner itself, and not at all applicable ti " speeches that followed. There was a little unforti grouping at table. While many sat among friends. others got — what they could. So much for the dinner, which we believe should form part of all future pro- grammes, and we trust will go on improving. But we are sorry to find so practical a writer persisting in holding what we quite believe is a false idea that the Council objects to meet the gardeners, and the equally unpractical notion that the Council should get up the dinner. The members of Council go as strangers to the selected locality, and all arrangements of this kind belong to the local authorities. To disseminate the contrary view has been the work of officious mischief- makers. The gardeners' dinner, if properly organised, and under the management of a respectable local com- mittee, would certainly always command the sympa- thies and support of the Society, both Council and Fellows, as it did on this occasion. Eds.] others found themselv ; among ngers, and we 1 not always be lively in the society of the unknown little arrangement by stewards would have grouped the diners better ; but, so far as I could see, there v no attempt at this, and hence a little restraint a dulness here and there. The same thing happens private dinners, where the hostess fails in pairing a grouping her guests congenially. But this dim was hastily arranged, and up to the last mom( the number and character of the diners remained i certain. The fact is, we dined under difficulties ; 0 it spoke volumes for the wisdom and tact of the chairman that most of those difliculties were conquered at the last moment, and that the Council of the Royal, scientific men, local notabilities, and practical horti- culturists, all dined together happily and harmo- niously. I trust that from this time the Council will take the dinner into their programme from the first, and constitute it an important part of the meet- ing. If the managers of the Society really hesitate about dining witli the men who make their shows, once a year, then the Society deserves to perish. And it will. Notwithst.anding the complete success achieved at Nottingliam, there was imminent danger of a breach being made there between the managers and the workers that might never have been ' healed. Horticulture has a heart as well as a head, and those who ignore that fact must suffer from it. There is also much truth in the saying that the shortest way to an Englishman's heart is through the short cut of his stomach ; or, to put it in more elegant words, one of the most binding cements in social life is a good dmner. But with the dinner anything like a lack of life and reality vanished. The chairman was never more eloquent, genial, or wise ; and all the speakers, from the Mayor and Council downwards, spoke with energy and force, while the audience endorsed their words with a heartiness and enthusiasm and an unanimity that is seldom seen or heard at public dinners. In one word, everything after dinner was a decided success, and there was no lack of good things at the dinner itself. All that was needed to render it lively and real was a good appetite, a grateful heart, and the belief that every one of the unknown was a brother horticulturist in disguise, and therefore, a jolly good fellow if we could broach him. A Practical. [Our correspondent, who we know writes from expeii- ence, substantially confirms our brief remarks on thi; subject. The fact is, no large assembly like this could be comfortably entertained without active stewards, and stewards there were none, so that some dined and The Weather. — Mr. Mechi's old proverb concern- ing a " dripping June " has been so extensively quoted in newspaper articles, that I fancy the general public has by this time been pretty well brought to believe that "all things are in tune." Perhaps, barring a considerable lot of spoilt hay, things were fairly in tune up to the end of June ; but how will it be if we get a wet July ? Here, on the 3d, things don't look prosper- ous or encouraging, as we have already got this month a continued series of heavy soakings, with strong winds that are far from acceptable, and bring up unpleasant thoughts of the Potato disease, too much straw, laid crops, and a wet harvest. This is rather a gloomy view of tilings, I know, but hot dry summers have of late been so much the rule, that a wet cold one can scarcely be conceived. As a companion proverb to Mr. Mechi's I will give another, and an original one, perhaps less pleasing but none the less true, ** A wet July makes all things awry." I do not want to prove a prophet of evil, neither shall I be like Jonah and quarrel should my fears not be realised. At present I think the prospect before us is far from bright, but this is in print we may have passed the worst. I fer- vently trust it may be so. A. D. years' residence in Si value of this grass thei luxuriantly here as it would, through difficulties about greei remind all who intend Foreign Correspondence. Adelaide. — The following passages are extracted from the Report of Dr. Schomburgk, the Director o Adelaide Botanic Garden, 1870 :— The Guinea G (Panicum giganteum), introduced last year, and which withstood so bravely the dry weather and hot winds la! season, has, I am gladtosay, also withstood the extraord nary wet and cold winter months. In July, I lifted all the plants and divided them for distribution, the remainder I replanted. As a tropical plant this transplanting should have been done in the month of September, but in .spite of it the plants have taken root again and an thriving most luxuriantly. I consider this a good tesi of its applicability to our climate. I mention again, that I can speak from personal observation of a five nth America, of the imm ; and, if it only grows half so does in South America, t" iths, be an end to all food for cattle. I must also ) plant and secure a luxuriant growth of the Guinea Grass, that it must be planted on prepared ground, the plants 20 to 24 inches apart, and the land kept clean from weeds. I would also mention that it will not bear being fed down, nor trampled upon by cattle. The grasses which I have already recommended in my reports, viz., Buffalo Grass, Lime Grass, Millet Grass, Meadow Fox-tail, Meadow Barley, have again stood well, and the cattle are fond of these grasses. Also the New Zealand grasses received from the Hon. A. Murray have not sufTered from the last year's drought, and seem to be adapted for our dry climate. The value of the Prairie Grass and the Bromus mollis cannot be spoken of highly enough as pasture grasses and for hay. From Dr. Hooker, Kew Gardens, I received a small packet of seed of Pentzia virgata, a much branched rigid little bush, i to 2 feet high, and a native of the Cape of Good Hope, of which Dr. Hooker remarks, that this plant is the most valuable sheep fodder for dry climates. I was so fortunate as to raise about twenty plants, which thrive remarkably well, and prove that our climate is well adapted for them. The leaves and branches contain an aromatic bitterness, which, as I understand, is very much liked by sheep. I hope to be able to increase this plant for distribution amongst the squatters. The distribution of about 1700 grafts of the Sultana Grape last season, and the information I received that the greater part grew, leads me to believe that this Grape is now established in the colony. I would again direct the attention of the growers to the fact that the Sultana, like the Zante Currant, is one of the varieties of the Vine which, if short spur-pruned, will yield little or no fruit. The system of long rod-pruning must, therefore, be adopted, and at least eight or ten eyes should be left on every rod. The encouraging news that the first sample of South Australian Flax, which has been sent home, won golden opinions in the English market, will, I hope, lead to the more extensive growth of this remunerative plant. We have to thank the energetic farmers in the th for laying the basis of this new industry ; many | years elapsed before an attempt was made, and, con- sidering the unfavourable season the flaxgrowers had to contend with, the result is highly gratifying. I hope, for the well-doing of the colony, other districts will follow the example, as there is no doubt that Flax will grow in most of our districts. From Lieut. -Colonel A. Crawford, Tasmania, I received last season a little parcel of white linseed, which this gentleman had received from East India. Colonel Crawford says in his letter :— " I am induced to forward it under the impression that it may prove a valuable variety. Certainly I never before saw any like it. A very small parcel reached me from India ; the gentleman who sent me this seed informed me that the Flax it yielded was exceedingly good both in staple and colour, and that he had taken the first prize for it at the Agricultural Exhibition at Jubbulpore." Not- withstanding the advanced season when I received this valuable seed (the commencement of September), it turned out a splendid sample, and I gathered so much seed that I am able to distribute a little amongst flax- growers to test the quality of the plant. For the introduction of gram into this colony we have to thank His Excellency the Governor. It has done uncommonly well at the garden, and the possibility of growing it is now beyond doubt. Notwithstanding that it was sown very late in the season, it has turned out a very good crop ; the plants looked strong and healthy, and the yield is very fair. The successful cultivation of this plant would be a great good, and the attention of the farmers can be very fairly directed towards it. With the exception of Oats and Barley, very little attempt has been made by our farmers to grow other grain for cattle. The China Grass cloth plant (Boshmeria nivea) which has become of such mercantile value, has now satisfied me that our climate is not adapted for it, and that it cannot be grown as a payable commercial article. Mr. Hill, Director of the Botanic Garden, Brisbane, re- marks in regard to this plant, " The Bojhmeria still continues to thrive exceedingly well, but though many have essayed to prepare it for manufacturing purposes, all have most signally failed. It has been experimented on by those who have spared no pains, and on every occasion with similar results. " The importance of the introduction of sericulture in South Australia is undeniable. I have advocated it for some years, and I am glad to say not unsuccessfully, as the sericulturists seem to increase. Through the liberality of the Zoological Society in New South Wales, a stock of silkworm eggs from Japan has been received and divided among our seri- culturists. I hope they will succeed in hatching and rearing the worms, and so improving our stock. The desire which I have so long cherished to see during the summer months, instead of the dreary and death-like appearance of our lawns, changed into a more verdant one, has at length, after many trials with different kinds of grasses from all parts of the world, been realised. As I remarked in my last report, it is only the Couch Grass (Cynodon Dactylon), which will stand the scorching heat during the summer months. Encouraged by last year's experiments with this grass, I have planted during the last winter about three acres ; and, favoured by the genial wet season, the growth has been remarkably vigorous, and has formed a beautiful green and close lawn — not in such perfection as we used to see at home, but rarely seen in Australia, and giving the garden throughout the summer a most cheering aspect. I mention again, it requires frequent mowing — and it must not be forgotten that its dul- ness of colour, during the winter months, will be overlooked in the verdant freshness of the surrounding vegetation and brilliant colours of the flower parterres. There never before was such an active interchange of plants and seeds with kindred institutions in Australia, the surrounding colonies, and Europe, as during the last year. The garden has dispatched 27 Wardian cases, containing Soo stove, greenhouse, and other plants, and several thousands of packets of seeds, to the following Botanic Gardens : — Kew, Dublin, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Hamburg, Java, Natal, Mauritius, New Zealand, Queensland, and Sydney, and to nurserymen and amateur florists in Tasmania, Melbourne, and Sydney for exchange ; and through these means our collection has again been largely enriched by numerous valuable plants, amongst which are many of economical and commercial value. Several cases, with purchased plants from England and the Continent arrived, I am sorry to say, in a de- plorable state — often more than two-thirds of the contents having perished. The value of a newly- imported plant cannot be appreciated highly enough, as the consignments from Europe an^ive so seldom in good condition. Societies. Royal Horticultural : July 5.— James Bateman, q., F.R.S.. in the chair. Before proceeding with the usual business of the meeting the Chairman, on behalf of the Council, formally received the following gentlemen in their official capacity of delegates to the horticultural section of the International Exhibition of 1871 :— M. Karl Koch, delegate from the Imperial Government of Ger- many ; MM. Regel and Volkenstein, delegates from tlie Imperial Government of Russia ; M. v. Heyder, also from Russia; M. Morren, delegate from the Belgian July 8, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and AsfHcultural Gazette. 877 ited the Government, together with MM. Lind( Professor Perard, from Belgium ; M. / from Austria ; Dr. David Moore, who Royal Dublin Society, and others. Mr. Wilson, the Chairman of the Fruit Committee, then announced the awards made by that body, at the same time remarking that the new seedling Grape shown by Mr. Douglas was of very high promise, but not being quite ripe it was requested to be shown again ; and also that a medal had been awarded by the Council on the recommendation of the committee, to the hand- some Queen Pines shown by Mr. Perki their e.\traordinarily quick productio lid that the ake any aw; ously tried : had ■ the proof of which he „etables which had not been pre- iswick. Having been requested by the lis experience of Nottingham, Mr. Wilson iUeted on the mayor, and he never before ch genuine hospitality from anyon that : by him every day, to which all horticulturists received a hearty welcome. The Chairman, in the absence of the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, whose indisposition he much regretted, then read the awards of the Floral Committee, and of the international jury appointed to judge the productions of foreign horti- culturists ; and exhibited some fruit of a Passiflora, of what species he could not ascertain. M. Linden sug- though somewhat ; in the quantity of 1 this mstance, was only a little xched to the seeds. He then Orchid from the Society's coUec- ;ted that it was P. ma( re resemblance to P. fering from the fruit of th oUectic vhich were quite dead when the u proof of which assertion h. vhich had been received in that Scientific Committee.— A. Murray, nbla ntroductic nany plan The the Exl Wilson duced by the Chairman. Mr leaves of various Lilies affected with spot, analogous to one of the forms of spot in Orchids. The cause of the disease was not obvious, and no further hght was thrown on the subject by the committee. Mr. Berkeley read the following communication from Dr. Schomburgk relating to a substance called in South Australia mineral gamboge, but which has no relation to gamboge :— " It is found on the margins of a sandy flat, overgrown only with Lepidosperma concavum, Br., near the River Coorang in South Australia, and is only known in one spot. It is found on bare sand in patches, and is not attached to the Lepidosperma. It encloses pieces of dead veget; ' ■ ' ' ' '" bals: uld. •does the sand. It is found on these sandbanks about 5—6 feet above the flat, at all aspects, N., E., S.,W., and is thickestin depressions in sand. It appears to be covered with spores in cups on the upper surface, and varies in thickness from that of Jg inch to li inch. It breaks up, and can be rubbed to a pulp under heat, but will not reunite like gutta-percha or gamboge. About half is soluble in spirits or ether, or forms a balsam that easily absorbs water when applied as steam, becoming creamy. There is no myce- lium or similar structure. Even should it be a Fungus, does the solid part forming the substance under the spores take the place of mycelium ? It has an ultimate composi- tion very similar to a fined oil, and cellular tissue, and gives by destructive distillation products nearly the same as those of rape-seed oil, viz., paraffin and aniline, ■ith other tarry products, such as that oil would yield. It do appear appea ;ighbouring spots has been news of this uff, has named it Coorangi: which neighbourhood it is ated that the production 1 termed mineral gamboge, tt resemble. It does noi id. A Mr. Francis, whc emarkable and interesting :, after the River Coorang nly found." Mr. Berkele> Mr. C. W. Strickland sent roots of Adiantum setulosum covered with little tubercles like those of the roots 1 Leguminosae. Dr. Masters expressed an opinion th; they were analogous with the root tubers of Nephrolep tuberosa, but much smaller. Mr, Berkeley again exhibited the specimen of Whe; received from Mr. Odams, and which was affected with Fungus allied to Sph.-Eria. and called Dinemasporiui graminum. Mr. Berkeley also exhibited the graft c Camellia showing the decay of the tissues already referre to (see p. 584). Mr. Laxton exhibited plants of variegated Pelargoniun (various types) inarched with plain-leaved varieties, also of different types, as negative evidence that variega in the stock does not run into the scion. The four pi; are :— i. L'Elegante, variegated Ivy-leaf, inarched 1 Triomphe de Thumesnil, double, of the inquinans r 2. Lady Plymouth, a variegated Cape variety, inarched with Double Tom Thumb and Crimson Ivy-leaf, both the same stock. 3. Duke of Edinburgh, variegated hybrid Ivy-leaf, inarched with Double Tom Thumb. 4. Variegated seedling (the shoot nearly an albino) of the Zonal type, inarched with Triomphe de Thumesnil, double. None of these, nor of several others which were worked in April, rS/o, have as yet exhibited, in the scions, an) sign of variegation, but the evidence being negative only, be of I ig featur the: twig of Beech from a plani bited by Dr. Masters, with Other trees in the same locality ' Berkel ed that the 1 in Ireland apparent wo: unaffected. like that of the Vii hoots in Australia ah-eady referred to. Leaves of an :im with a large bladdery gall, the work of an aphis, were xhibited by Mr. Earley, who also contributed some plants f Bromus mollis affected with a parasitic Fungus allied D smut, and on. which Mr. Berkeley promised to report arther on another occasion. From Mr. Eariey came a pray of Antirrhinum, exhibiting transition forms between lie ordinary blooms and that condition known as regular peloria. From Messrs. Ottolander, of Boskoop, grea •t. Mr. Mu Blights, which elic Charies Bastian. ntal ■ fain, but who will not d :ised as much as you lik It is especially strong am iny philosophical specul s therefore not to be wo: cussion which took plai ch abstn tha which 1 1 that ii )w that, udehas a practical application in its kernel, it has a not unimportant bearing on the origin of blight and mildew, or at least of some blights and some mildews, and on the proper mode of dealing with them and similar phenomena. With the endeavour to bridge over the chasm between organic and inorganic matter, between life and absence of life, I have nothing here to do. -■^s to that, I content myself with saying that although it may seem more philo- sophical to hold that life is only one phase of the general force which comprehends gravitation, heat, electricity, magnetism, and chemical affinity, still, in point of fact, no one has succeeded in showing that it is so, and many arguments and facts may be p ' Th( ese may be hereafte they have been so I not derived from, or ng things out of i jns) have failed, c imand beUef, the that all attemp that the old eli^ve 0 ipina ted 0 ,t of the dis ntegra ion of dead other way tha nbyla ying of eggs. ough as edo nntkii ow wha The ore nary way n whi ch such owerr duced, 0 tho ight 0 be produced, by so-called spon- eous gen n, is ery one , by steeping s°Xn s hav or leaves, in w vihri OS and other anima cules ippear in un- ntable n imbe the i ifusion. Thei sual-explana- .thatth .,^?g sand seeds of these animal or plants are of such invisible minuteness, and present in such incalcul able numbers in the air we breathe, and every part of thi round world, that whenever a suitable condition for theii development presents itself, they then start in thousand: into life, has, I think, been successfully refuted by th( precautions which have been taken by Messrs. Pouche and others to prevent anything like living spores being present in, or reaching the matters on which they 7-' mented, and by their demonstrations that in point of fact no such swarms of spores have ever been found in t atmosphere ; but even although it were not so, the on nary explanation of spores floating in myriads in t atmosphere, seems to me to be in itself unsatisfactory a inadequate. This is particularly the case with regard the phenomena of blight and mildew, whether ■ imagine the spores (as is more generally su posed) to float about in the atmosphere, or (as has been suggested by way of escape from th attending their atmospheric dispersion) that persed in the waters and in the earth, and are imbibed by the roots along with the liquids which they absorb, a that they are thus constantly present in the sap, ready start into life when the proper occasion presents itself. " If we take the view that the spores are dispersed and conveyed by the atmosphere, difficulty that they must be constantly present all the year round, for whenever the suitable occasion pi the blight appears. There may be only half-i in the whole year during which the suitab presents itself, but in order to be able to seize them they must also have been present during the other 350 day when the favourable conditions do not present themselve The immense multitude of spores of even one blight thi floating about constantly may be imagined when v remember that after a blight: leaf of the kind it attacks is: not only this but t for the stalk, ant anthers, another fc Separate cargoes c parts of all differ: ted by the blight through e must remember, too, that there arf aflecting one plant some another, anc ere is one bligl her for the flo eaf, anoth( for the I for aU these. ■the :beral crop of the blight has produced ny antecedent growth, or seeding, or fruiting, perhaps for months before. The objections to 'leory of the spores being dispersed by the waters and bed by the roots into the sap are stiU more potent, they; of the shall ■the g by suggesting them. I shaU only say that in addition to all the objections applicable to the other hypothesis, it has special difficulties of its own. * ' While these prior objections, therefore, throw grave doubt upon the received origin of bhght, the researches relating to spontaneous generation suggest another explanation, which, although not exhaustive, seems to me more in accordance with observed facts. The ordinary history of the appearance of blight and mildew is this. Let us take an example, for the sake of individualising the subject ; let us take the Rose. In spring or early summer the plants are pushing out their young shoots ; they are fresh, tender, and full of vigour, or, what is more to the purpose, full of sap. The last season has, perhaps, been a fine one, and no blight has been seen since the same time the previous year. Then comes a chilly easterly wind, perhaps only lasting a night or an hour or two, and within from 24 to 48 hours every young Rose leaf within the influence of that blast is shrivelled and covered with a white Erysipe. If we take the explanation suggested by the experiments relating to spontaneous generation, we should say that the blast had struck with paralysis the organic structure which performs the function of sphincter muscle to the stomata ; that in the absence of its vital action the leaf began to decay ; that being full of sap, a process equivalent to maceration of vegetable matter was set up, and out of the disintegration so induced the blight so peculiar to the leaves made its appearance. This corresponds, too. with a re- markable peculiarity which has been felt to be a great difficulty under the atmospheric dispersion theory, viz., that the different species of blight attack different parts of the plant. If the spores are free to fall on every part of the plant, there seems no reason why the different species should be restricted to diff-erent parts of it. Under the disintegration theory on the contrary (I really must be excused calling it the spontaneous generation theory, that implying a quality at once absurd and abhorrent to the views of its supporters)— under the organic reproduction theory. I say, it is consistent with the observations made rega tha then iduced alike out of all maceratior matter, the organisms produced var the different treatment of the infusion as by the degree of heat to which iubjected. procured uniformly from different plants, and from different parts of the same plant ; and this prevails to such an extent, that when a new substance (that is, an organic product which has not been previously examined, and which contains special or unusual ingredients) is sub- jected to maceration new animalcules, of form and proportions never previously observed, are said to be uggesting that the: esuit of the macei r of the sap, when other foi blight ced by the ifterwards si ead ethod. ' ' So restricted, it seems to me that the explanation I have fered is more consistent with observed facts than the old ;rmal theory, and so far a step of progress. But I have ill to meet the interpellation of our old friend, Cui bono f Tiat does it matter which of the explanations is the true the : ;ither uggest: ny remedy. ler suggests Both acknowledge that irtain atmospheric conditions, such as id the treatment adopted by judicious ■ly that which would be followed, which- Not quite, I think. There is a difference t adopted by the force of e soning perception of whal right 1 best. that followed upon principle from of the real nature of the case. So long as the c: lieves that blight is due to the descent of myria ;of; orbe- look for nostrums and specifics to protect theirplants from them. So long as bhght is looked upon as a diseased state of the plant, however produced, men will be apt to waste their time and their means in search of a remedy — they will say, ' ' while there is life there is hope. " But once convince him that blight is asymptom. not of disease, but of death (that is. death in the spot where the blight occurs, not necessarily death in the plant) — that it cannot appear until decay has begun— then they spare their pains, or use them in the right direction. They know there is no use galvanising a dead horse, and they tiuTi their thoughts to prevention rather than cure ; and although the precautions they use may not be different from what they would have taken otherwise, still the fact that they use them understand- igly, that they know what they are about, must, I appre- '" ' •---'- - "--" '-' the guiding and keeping them The Eose Show.— Unpropitious weather was the cause of the Crystal Palace Rose Show being of but a moderate description, and to the account of the same must be laid the charge of somewhat curtaihng the dimensions of the show under notice, the limits of which bore no comparison to the National Rose Shows of former years. On the whole the blooms were decidedly • ■ ... --^ kably clean. 1 the Monda the The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. guly 8, 1871. Messrs. E. P. Francis & Co., Hertford. The Cheshunt firm were well ist, with, among others, excellent blooms of Marie Rady, Dupuy Jamin, Alfred Colomb, Marie Bau- mann, Marechal Niel, Dr. Andry, Duke of Edinburgh. Louis Van Houtte, Triomphe de Rennes. Felix Genero, Antoine Ducher, Madame Caillat. &c. For 48, distinct, three trusses of each, the competitors were Messrs. Paul & Son and Mr. Turner, the former again coming in ist with a grand lot, including especially good examples of Charles Rouillard, Due de Rohan, Alfred Colomb (won- derfully fine), Dr. Andry, Pitord, Beauty of Waltham (exquisite), Horace Vemet, Paul Verdier, Antoine Ducher, Camille Bemardin, Duchesse d'Orleans, Marie Baumann, Marquise de Castellane, and Triomphe de Rennes ; Mr. Turner was 2d with admirable blooms of Climbing Devoniensig, Charles Rouillard, Baroness Rothschild, Madame C. Crapelet, Miss Ingram, Alfred Colomb, Victor Verdier, Queen Victoria, &c. Messrs. Paul & Sons were again ist for 24 Hybrid Perpetuals, Mr. J. Fraser, Lea Bridge, being 2d. Mr. Turner and Messrs. E. P. Francis & Co. also competed. Sur- veying the whole of the collections, the most notice- able varieties were Xavier Olibo, Duchesse de Caylus, Baroness Rothschild (fine), Duke of Edinburgh, Marie Rady, Charles Lefebvre, Marie Baumann, Clemence Joigneaux, Alfred Colomb, Lnslia, Baron Hausmann. &-c. For 24 distinct, one truss of each, Mr. Turner was ist, Mr. J. Walker, Thame, Oxon, 2d ; and Messrs Veitch & Sons 3d ; all showing remarkably fresh and good-sized flowers. The amateurs' classes brought out a greater number of exhibitors than the preceding. The Rev. G. Arkwright, Pencombe Rectory, Bromyard, was ist for 48 single blooms, showing, amongst others, Souvenir d'Elise, Esmeralda, Charles Lefebvre, Madame Hector Jacquin, Madame Knorr, Triomphe de Rennes, in very nice con- dition. Mr. Laxton, Stamford, came in 2d with a very fresh group ; Mr. G. W. Chard, Clarendon Park, Salis- bury, being 3d ; and Mr. R. N. G. Baker. Heavitree, Devon, 4th. Mr. W. Ingle, gr. to Mrs. Round, Birch Hall, Colchester, was ist for 36, with nice blooms of Baroness Rothschild, Beauty of Waltham, Madame Vidot, Moire, Nardy Fr^res ; Mr. Chard was 2d, Mr. R. N. G. Baker 3d, and Mr. P. Stoddari, gr. to H. J. Gordon Rebow, Esq.. Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, 4th. The varieties were very similar to the foregoing, but there was a great want of quahty amongst them. For 24, the ist prize was won by Mr. J. Skinner, gr. to Capt. Christy. Aperfield, Westerham, with a very even lot, fair in colour, but wanting in freshness. The same must also be said of the other prize groups, which were shown by Mr. W. Soder, Mr. J. Wakely, and Mr. R. B. Postans. 12 Roses, distinct, were shown capitally by Mr. J. C. Quennell, Brentwood, the Rev. C. C. Ellison, Bracebridge, Mr. J. Wakely, and Mr. W. Soder, who took the prizes in the order named, and also by several other exhibitors. Messrs. Paul & Son were ist for the best collection of yellow Roses, with excellent boxes of Triomphe de Rennes, and Celine Forestier, and also for the best 12 varieties of 1869 or 1870 — Mr. Turner being 2d in the latter class. The former had nice blooms of Paul Neron, Mr. Gladstone, Comtesse d'Oxford, Mar- quise de Castellane, Louis Van Houtte, and Madlle. Eugenie Verdier, &c. Mr. Turner contributed Louisa Wood, Lord Napier, Jupiter, &c. The best 12 Tea- scented and Noisette Roses came from Mr, H. Thorney- croft, Weedon. Northampton ; and Messrs. Paul & Son were ist in the corresponding class for nurserymen. The best 12 Roses, distinct, came from Mr. Turner ; and the best 12 of any Rose of 1869 or 1870 came from Messr. Paul & Son. who staged Comtesse d'Oxford, and they also took the ist prize for the best 6 trusses of any Rose of 1869-70, with Louis Van Houtte. a grand Rose, velvety shaded crimson. 24 Roses in pots were staged by Mr. Turner and Messrs. Paul & Son, the former having the best of a contest in which admirable specimens for the season were the order of the day. Messrs. Veitch & Sons also staged a very fine group in pots, as well as several fine boxes of cut blooms, notably one of Baroness Rothschild. In the class for a group of three plants suitable for dinner- table decorations, there was a strong competition, Mr. J. W. Chard, gr. to Sir F. Bathurst, Bart., Clarendon Park, Salisbury, coming in ist with remarkably graceful and effective specimens of Hyophorbe Verschaileltii and Areca aurea. the former occupying the centre. Mr. Bull was 2d with a group in which D^monorops plumosa occupied the centre, on either side being specimens of Deckenia nobilis and GeonomaSchottiana, all very graceful plants, but much too large for an ordinary table— Messrs. E. G, Henderson & Son were 3d, also contributing a group of Palms. In the next class, for three groups suit- able for the decoration of the dinner-table, to consist of flowers or fruit, or both combined, for which there was also a very strong competition, the ist prize was awarded to Messrs. Phillips & Pearce, the 2d to Mr. J. W. Chard, and the 3d to Mr. Hassard, Upper Norwood, an extra prize being also awarded to Mr. W. Soder. The miscellaneous class was greatly enriched by collec- tions of plants from M. J. Linden, Brussels, and M. Alexis Dalli^re, Ghent. Notably in the collection from the former were Epidendrum Frederici Guilelmi, AUo- plectus vittatus, Dioscorea chrysophylla, D. Eldorado and D. prismatica. Maranta Mazellii and M. Waiiisii discolor, Dieffenbachia imperialis and Dioscorea meleagris. which received First-class Certificates ; and Araliajaponica aureo-reticulata, which had one of the 2d class. M. Linden was also awarded Silver Flora Medals (or the groups of Dioscoreas, Marantas, and Orchids. M. Dal- U6re sent a magnificent collection of Marantas. which included well-grown specimens of M. splendida. M. Wag- neri, M. Veitchii, M. virginalis major. M. orbifolia, M. illustris, M. majestica, M. Van den Hcckii, M. vittata. and M. argyrea, for which he also was awarded a Silver Flora Medal. He also exhibited a series of Palms, &c.. which received a Special Certifi- cate. Mr. Denning, gr. to Lord Londesborough, again brought up a choice group of Orchids, including a splendid specimen of Anguloa Clowesii, Dendrobium formosum, with 6 beautiful flowers ; Epidend spikes of a species of Stanhopea and Cattleya Leopoldife. Messrs. Rollisson and Mr. Bull each staged rfine groups of Palms, Orchids, &c., and from Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son came a very effective group of Tricolor Pelar- goniums and Petunias. Mr. Turner sent a splendid lot of show Pelargoniums, cut Verbenas, &c. Mr. Hooper, Bath, had some fine Carnations and Cloves, and Mr. Parker, Tooting, had a fine specimen of Ixora amabilis. Messrs. Carter & Co. offered a series of prizes for 6 dishes of Peas, fo include Laxton's Supreme, Laxton's Quality, and Hundredfold, for which there were seven competitors, the ist prize being awarded to Mr. Cox. gr. to Earl Beauchamp, Madresfield Court, who had very fine examples of the varieties named, two other of Mr. Laxton's new varieties, and Veitch's Perfection. Mr. C. Frisby. gr. to H. Chaplin. Esq., M.P., Blankney HaU, was 2d. Mr. J. W. Chard, Mr. Gariand, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Miles, and Mr. G. Brown also exhibited, with first- Floral Committee. — Dr. Denny in the chair. First-class Certificates were awarded to Mr. J. Croucher, gr. to J. F. Peacock, Esq., Sudbury House, Hammer- smith, for Agave Verschaffeltii variegata, the variegation in which consists of a golden band down the centre of the leaves ; to Mr. W. Bull for Alsophila ShepherdiJ, a very graceful miniature Tree Fern ; to Mr. C. Green, gr. to W. W. Saunders, Esq., for Houlettia odoratissima antio- quensis ; to Messrs. J. Backhouse Sc Son for Linum salso- loides, pinkish white, and Lithospermum petrasum, blue, both apparently very free bloomers ; to Mr. Wiggins, gr. to J. W. Beck, Esq., for show Pelargonium Ada; to Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son for Petunia Coquette, a semi-double variety with flowers of a white ground and crimson flaked margins ; and to Mr. Turner for two very large heavily laced Pinks, named Dr. Masters and Shirli _ Hibberd. Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son also received a Certificate of the Second-class for a free flowering show Pelargonium named Enterprise, a very useful variety for cutlmg ; and Mr. Bull had also one of the same order of merit for Lobelia Erinus Omen, a pretty dwarf bedding kind. From Mr. Cannell came a collection of cut bloom: of Verbenas ; and Mr. J. Stevens sent an exceedingly fine group of Balsams, to which a Special Certificate was awarded. Fruit Committee.— G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair. Special Certificates were awarded on this occasion to Mr. Gilbert, gr. to the Marquis of Exeter, Burghley Park, Stamford, for a fine-sized, highly-flavoured Melon called Selected Cashmere ; to Mr. Till. _ """ " beck, for excellent dishes of Gaiande Peaches and Violette Hative Nectarines ; to Mr. Perkins. Warren House Gardens, Stanmore. for very handsome fruit, weighing over 5 lb. each, of Queen and Ripley Queen Pines, from unrooted suckers in 12 months ; to Mr. J. Douglas, gr. to F. Whitboume. Esq., Loxford Hall, Ilford. for a magnificent dish of Lucas Strawberry ; and to Mr. Turner, for excellent dishes of Buckland Sweetwater and Black Hamburgh Grapes. Mr. Douglas also exhibited a bunch of his new seedling Grape, a cross between Buckland Sweetwater and White F"rontignan, which possesses the rich flavour of the latter with the largei bunch and berry of the former. It was not quite ripe, so that the committee requested to see it again, when its very useful character will no doubt meet with due recog- nition. From Mr. W. Cruickshank, gr. to Lord Belper, Kingston Hall. Derby, came examples of Chasselas Musque, and Wilmot's Muscat Muscadine. Mr. Parsons, Danebury, had a very fine specimen of the Giant Puff- ball, Lycoperdon giganteum ; and from Mr. A. Col- bourne, Woolhampton, came specimens of Mushrooms, g from 8 to 10 inches across. Mr. Wm. Paul ih of fruit of a new Strawberry, named Waltham Seedling!; and Mr. Trotman, Isleworth, specimens of Strawberry Royalty, but of the exceptional character of the seasi mittee were unable to decide upon their Laxton, Stamford, exhibited specimens, with the haulm, of a new dwarf eariy Pea. named Unique, about 12 inche; high, with a good crop of medium-sized, well-filled pods also specimen pods of two other varieties, named Superla tive and Achievement, which are said to grow 6 feet high, Mr. J. Walker, Thame, Oxon, sent capital specimens of Sugarloaf Brown Cos Lettuce, a good serviceable variety, which differs from the old Brown Cos in forming a close heart. Messrs. Wrench & Sons, London Bridge, exhibited Roiffea [?] or Reed Grass, a bast-like substance from Japan, to which, on account of its strength _and soft- for tying purposes, the Certificate. The West of England Rose Show at Here- )RD : J'une 30. — The fifth annual exhibition took place I Friday, the 30th ult., in the Shire Hall. There was a large gathering of exhibitors, and, considering the un- of the season, the show was an excellent Amateurs were in great force, especially the local Mr. R. N. G. Baker, of Heavitree, Exeter, was there, as elsewhere this season, /aci/e princeps. His blooms were magnificent. J. H. Arkwright, Esq., the Rev. George Arkwright, the Rev. G. B. M. Camm. the Rev. E. Bulmer, the Rev. P. M. Smythe, the Rev. R. O. Carter, Mr. S. Evans, and Mr. C. J. Perry, were the chief among the amateur exhibitors. Nurserymen imerically few, Messrs. Paul & Son, the "Old" 5S, Cheshunt, and Mr. J. Keynes, Salisbury, however, making up for the absence of others (and espe- cially for the absence, as a competitor, of Mr. John Cran- ston, the leading Herefordshire nurseryman, who only bited a small collection, "not for competition," the bulk of his Roses not being fully in bloom), by the great excellence of their numerous exhibits. Messrs. Paul & Son showed, as they always do, the best of Roses in the best manner. They won ist prizes ofj^ioeach for two collections of 73 varieties of single trusses, one open to the " lited Kingdom, the other hmited to nurserymen non- ident in Herefordshire ; ist prize of £fi for 36 varieties of three tmsses ; ist prize of /"s for 24 new Roses sent out voted a First-class in 1869-70-71 ; and equal ist prize of £-2 for 24 blooms of any one Rose, with a splendid box of Centifolia rosea. Mr. Keynes was just a shade below his usual mark, though his collections were, as is always tbe case, set up with excellent taste, and contained many magnificent blooms. He won ist prizes for 24 varieties of three trusses (.^3) ; for 12 new roses, sent out in 1869-70-71 [£-z) ; equal 1st for 24 blooms of any one Rose, with a charming collection of La France [£-2) ; 2d prizes for 72 varieties of single trusses in the same class (^^6), and a similar exhibit in the limited class {£^) \ and a 3d prize for a collection of 24 new Roses, sent out in 1869-70-71 (^i). The varieties shown in the winning stands need not be enumerated, being the same as have been shown at the other leading shows this season. The necessity for a contmued repetition of the names of the best varieties gets less and less yearly; for it is a rare thing to see a bad variety shown in even the smallest collection ; and as for the best sorts, are they not duly chronicled and described in the catalogues of all the leading "growers for sale," and their names and qualities known by heart by evea tyros among amateurs ? The severity of the past winter and spring was so deadly in its effects on Teas, tender Noisettes, &c., that Marechal Niel and the other dehcate varieties of these favourite classes were generally absent from all the stands. The table and floral decorations were praiseworthy, though neither so numerous nor, with one exception, so remarkable for excellence as they were last year and in 1869. On the other hand, it must in fairness be stated that they were all chaste in design, their chief characteristics being simplicity and elegance. There were some charm- ing bouquets of the proper size for holding in the hand, none being of such Brobdingnagian dimensions as they too frequently are. The cottagers made a large and admirable display, which afforded quite as much pleasure as the parts of the exhibition. Stamford Floral and Horticultural : June 21. — Had the weather been favourable, the first exhibition of this revived society would have proved one of the most attractive that has been witnessed in Stamford for years, the show in every department being of a superior character, notwithstanding the backwardness of the surhmer season. As it was the day dawned gloomily, and shortly before the time for opening rain began to fall, and continued for about two hours. Those who braved the weather, how- ever, had a real treat, as the display in each class was excellent, and the competition very keen. The largest tents were devoted to stove and greenhouse plants and Roses ; and in these the professional gardeners who helped to fill them met general commendation. The Ferns, Cordylines, Dracaenas, and other exotics, giant Fuchsias, Caladiums, and Coleus, of every shade and colour, and an endless variety of Pelargoniums, nearly filled one large marquee ; while in that devoted to Roses were exhibited some of the choicest specimens which the best growers could produce. Messrs. Paul, of Cheshunt, were in great force, but far from alone in their eminence — several other exhibitors, and notably Mr. Laxton, having sent trusses of the best sorts, excellent in size, colour, and form. Among the exotics and Pelar- goniums from the seats in the neighbourhood were specimens from Burghley, Casewick, Holj^ell, UffingtoD, and Lilford Park. The nurseries at Cheshunt, Hunting- don, Rugby, and Stratford-upon-Avon, were also repre- sented in the greenhouse productions. The collection of cut flowers, &c., came in for a large share of attention and praise, and they were really very pretty ; but the judges seemed especially struck with the taste displayed in the arrangement of the wild flowers, and they declared that in many respects these bouquets of Nature's humble beauty were unique, and regretted that they could not award extra prizes. In the fruit department, nothing approached the basket of fruit from Burghley Park, which consisted of Pines, Melons. Grapes, Peaches, Nectarines, Figs, Strawberries. Cherries, and Apples, the whole so skilfully arranged as to form a perfect picture. The Grapes were remarkable for their size. Some magnificent bunches were sent from the gardens of the Earl of Gains- borough and of Earl Brownlow. The vegetables also were exceedingly fine, some Cucumbers from Burghley being of immense length. Scottish Pansv Society : Ju7te 17.— The twenty- seventh annual competition of the Scottish Pansy Society was held on the above date in the vestibule of the Music Hall, Edinburgh. The present season has been one of the worst on record for the propitious growth of Pansies and Violets, and many of the regular exhibiting members of the Society had the most of their plants destroyed, at least for all show purposes. The entries in the different classes were consequently not so numerous as in previous years, but what blooms were shown were of excellent quality. The competition in the nurserymen's classes was limited, but in the amateurs it was good and interesting. Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing exhibited, but not for prizes, a long and varied stand of show Pansies— fine, as a rule, in colour, good in shape, and of excellent substance, Messrs. Dickson & Co. had a nicely arranged stand of their new bedding Violas. Mr. Duncan Kerr, Glencorse, received two Certificates of Merit ; Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing, four— three for fancy and one for bedding Pansies — and Messrs. Dicksons & Co. a First-class Certificate for a white ground Pansy, three of merit for bedding Pansies, and three for bedding Violas. Certificates of Merit were awarded Mr. D. Kerr, for a white self Pansy, Mrs. Shand, and a cream self Pansy, Jessie Cunningham ; to Messrs. Downie. Laird & Laing, for three fancy Pansies, namely, William Paul, Mrs. M'Lachlan. and David Syme, and bedding Pansy Whistle Binkie. Messrs. Dicksons & Co., Waterloo Place, had a First-class Certificatefor white ground Pansy, Jane Grieve ; Certificate of Merit for yellow ground Pansy, A. Brodie ; for a dark self Pansy, Robert Black ; for bedding Violets, Stricta Alba and Butterfly ; for bedding Pansy, Mauve Queen ; ' for Violet, Blue Beard. July S, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 879 THE WEATHER. TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR AND FALL OF RAIN . DIFFERENT STA TIONS. Du«NC THE Week ending Saturday, July i, 1871. TEMPERATURE OE THE. ,. 1 NAME. OE i. S ^.|l^ h h S g STATIONS. i ^ 3 $ is ^ S ^ Des. DeB. Deg. Dee. Dee, In. 'iki HS-ti- 73.2 40.0 32.3 00s 68.6 4^.8 27.8 30.6 r, 47.3 Jso ?tQ o?? ^.l m ro ?i^ iiISK',e. ;: r. 40,8 66.5 Bradford 25.5 49.6 55.3 Leeds .. °-3Z Newcastle . . ..» .. S6.7 52.8 040 lU Dublin .. .. T 42.0 Hygrometrical Dedu Q = A.R .5f 1 i a lit DeR. DeB. Des. 72.1 'so W2 ^■i — o!8 si ^"i ;:i ^ S0.3 Cloudless after g r.N jht. Frequent hea\-y year, the earliest date at which flowering plants are obsen-ed to blossom — a practice which tends to foster a spirit of careful observation, even if leading to no other results. In the last Marlborough report the les of more than 50 boys are given as having assisted this work, and Mr. Preston informs us that the eagerness of some of them is quite amusing. The last Rugby report contains a paper by Mr. F. E. Kitchener, the active president of the society, on ihi times of flowering of plants, generalising from the obser- ons of two or three years, and deducing certairi Its, which .are of considerable interest. To a casual observer such matters may appear trifling, but any on4 who is acquainted with Quetelet's voluminous obser- vations upon the same subject, wU admit that it is one of much interest and some importance. It must not be agined, however, that such matters are the only ones attended to. Both societies have collections of plants, of other objects, and the Marlborough herbarium is already assuming considerable importance. Mr. Pres- ton has issued, with the last report, the first instalment of an admirable local flora, ivith descriptions, for the use of the members ; and a plot of ground has been granted by the Marlborough authorities for a botanic garden. AVe have confined ourselves to the botanical work of these societies, as coming more within our province, but it is only fair to add that other branches of natural science are equally well attended to. Al- though, in each case, one of the masters is president, it must not be supposed that this in any way interferes with the fact that the society is mainly supported by the boys — that it is, in reality, their own. Wliile cordially wishing success to these and all similar institutions, we cannot do better than adopt a suggestion which has already appeared in a contemporary — that persons possessing a surplus stock of books cannc " better than forward them for the use of the "r generation." 4.— A very variable day. Frequent hea\'y showers. less and very fine at night. S.-Very ' '■ ------ throughout. Mighlning JAMES GLAISHER. Miscellaneous. Local Natural History Societies.— The yearly increasing number of these societies is a matter for congratulation, as showing a growing appreciation of science throughout the country; but, if "the child is father to the man," we have yet more reason to be hopeful for the future, when we observe the now general movement in our public and larger private schools in favour of the study of natural history. We have not yet heard of the establishment of a natural history society at Eton ; but, with this exception, we believe that all our more important schools possess such an association, more or less fully carried out according to circumstances. It must not be forgotten that it is to the Society of Fnends that we are indebted for the first school society. So long ago as 1834 their school at York has had its natural history class ; and the establishments of the same body at Sidmonton and Croydon are similarly supplied. Harrow has long possessed a Literary and Philosophic Society ; but, so far as public schools are concerned, it was at Marlborough, under the superintendence of the Rev. T. A. Preston, that a " Natural History Society" was established in 1864. Rugby was nol slow to follow suit, and these two schools may be con- sidered as faurly representing, in their respectivf societies, what such bodies ought to be. From the twc last-issued reports before us, we learn that the study of botany is among the most popular of those undertaken by the members. The interest in this is, in a great measure, kept up by the practice of recording, year by (FOR THE ENSUING WEEK.) PLANT NOUSES. JiANY kinds of stove and greenhouse plants will now be going out of flower ; stich as Clerodendron Bal- fouriamim, Pimeleas, &c., which do not shed their old blooms freely, should have them all removed at the earliest possible moment, so that the plants may not be impoverished thereby beyond what is necessary or desirable. Keep thrifty young plants of Coccocypsdum discolor in a moderate greenhouse temperature, so as to encourage a sturdy growth, that they may the more readily be enabled to furnish an abundant crop of its remarkably brilliant ultramarine-coloured berries for early and mid-mnter decoration. It should be borne in mind that though this plant is a native of Jamai< also inhabits the mountainous districts, hence it will thrive in a more temperate atmosphere than at first would appear likely. Indeed, there are many supposed exotics which might, were the altitude at which they are found better described, be far more successfiiUy dealt with. Epiphyllums which have made growths should be gradually inured to the fuU ai of the sun and air, as by these means alone can they be induced to bloom as freely as they are capable. The gorgeous Eucharis ama^onka should be repotted about this time, by way of preliminary preparation for the Christmas blooming. Choose moderate-sized pots for this shift, as it is not advisable to give too liberal shifts ice. A good rich fibrous loam, with a fifth part of , and a little silver sand and thoroughly decom- posed cow or sheep dung in admixture, will suit them well. As may be readily surmised, from a survey of their large, deep evergreen, ovate, glossy leaves, they delight in abundance of moisture, but that only which fresh and sweet. They will not, in a word, thrive in a stagnant unwholesome soil, which is too frequendy the cause of non-success in their culture. As is well kno\vn the fleshy bulbs increase somewhat rapidly, each older one producing annually at least a pair and often more young ones. Their doing so often causes either frequent shifts, which in the end demands somewhat large pots, or an occasional division of the increase within each pot. Now, as a rule, these plants do not like being torn asunder in process of dividing them, and take some time to re-establish themselves, hence it is not advisable to do so too frequently — not oftener, in fact, than when an increase of stock is desir- able, or the stools have exceeded in size the extent of pot-room that can be afforded them. Should sunny weather ensue, it will be necessary to shade seedling Primulas and Cinerarias which have been potted off. Keep them uniformly moist at the roots, and do not omit occasionally to look over them to detect at the earliest moment any symptoms of thrip or aphis pests, which not unfrequently attack them at this particular season. Orchids in bloom should now be removed into a cooler structure than an Orchid-house proper. It is often worth the outlay of time to improvise a temporary comer in a consen'atory or greenhouse specially for them. One thing must, however, be borne in mind in regard to them, i. e., no draughts must, under any circumstances, be permitted to reach them, or injury may be caused to the delicate young growths, which in all likelihood are now being made. Give the final shift to late blooming Fuchsias, and also alternate waterings of liquid manure to such as are in bloom. Give also less moisture and more air to those which are advancing to the flowering stage. FORCING HOUSES. Vineries, in which the Grapes are about to colour, and more especially those which have miscellaneous collections of plants growing beneath them, should have air afforded as freely as possible at this time, and it should not be necessary to add that a dry atmo- sphere should be uniformly maintained. To facilitate this, let all pot plants be watered in good time on the morning of each day, so that time may be allowed for the moisture to dry up before the cooler hours of night arrive, and with them the probable condensing of humidity upon fruit and on foliage. Fines should now enjoy an average mean temperature of from 78° to So°, with a decrease of 10° or 12° by night. Let the heat run up to 88° or 90° during bright w^eather, and by sun- heat alone. Should any increase in the size of the pots used for the forwardest batches of successionals be deemed necessary, it should be borne in mind that it will be advisable to use somewhat rougher compost. The "nobs" of fibrous loam maybe larger, and the crocking be rather more abundant, than heretofore. Attention should, in connection with all such shifts, be given to the bottom-heat, by the usual method of re- moving, and turning over, and moistening, iS:c. , of the tan. Be very cautious, however, not to afford too much fresh tan at this season ; do not, besides, plunge the pots much below half their depth, and examine frequently the state of the heat, that the roots be not scorched. Excessive humidity should be constantly maintained in connection with a firee supply of fresh HARDy FLOWER GARDEN. AVhere, o^ving to the somewhat late season and the cold, wet weather. Ranunculuses and Anemones have not yet been taken up, let the operation be done some- what by anticipation, rather than to wait longer and until any foliage, now somewhat green, ripens off fully. Attend well to the tying up of Dahlias, Hollyhocks, &c., which are so liable, through any neglect in this wise, to be broken in twain during such vanable weather, the loss being irremediable when once the injury is done. Gladioluses should in like manner be supported before the current growths become too large. A good mulching would do these latter good now. Sow seeds of Hollvhocks in the open borders. Make cut- tings, also, of such biennial and perennial plants as Fentstcmons, Fhloxes, Silencs, Fansies, of either of which a further stock is required. Any desirable variety of Antirrhinums may now be increased by means of cuttings also. Choose hard, well developed cuttings from near the base of the old flowering shoots. Those who undertake the budding of Xoses in their own gardens may now commence, as the stocks are suffi- ciently matured and the bark well run. It is perhaps as well to choose a dull day for the operation, though the buds generally take very well at any time if the above conditions are secured. HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. Moist as the weather is, and abundant as are snails and insects generally, the birds seem to choose in preference the produce of Strawberry beds and Cherry trees. Hence these "matters will now be forced under every gardener's notice, and the necessary kind of netting materials must be held in use. The planting of Strawberry beds must be brought to a close with all dispatch, so that the old forced plants be got mto the ground as quickly as possible, not only to lessen the labour of watering, but that they may make some pro- gress, in the matter of establishing themselves for the next summer's fruiting. Proceed with the summer thinning of shoots upon pyramidal fruit trees such as Pears Apples, Flums, &c. Thin out all lesser ill-placed shoots, and let those remain which are well placed, and may be used to extend the size of the trees, to be shortened to the necessaiy length at a later date, when the wood has become more matured than it is at present. Full attention must still be given to aphis pests and their attacks on waU fruits. The black fly is especially plentiful upon Morello Cherries and Peach and Nectarine trees, and can only be destroyed by the direct application of tobacco-water, Gishurst Compound, or other similar materials. Proceed with the naihng-in of all young shoots upon each of these latter to the walls, 'or fasten them by the usual secondary aids of small cross-sticks, &c. KITCHEN GARDEN. More D-.oarf French Beans should now be sown on a warm and fully exposed sunny aspect. Sow also certain kinds of Feas for a last main supply, though a of unny s ny quick podding kind may be auwn u.i « ithem aspect later. The sorts to be recom- mended for this sowing are Ne Plus Utra, Bishop s Long-pod, and any of the eariy and approved kinds of Sangster's No. i— such as Carter's First Crop, Sutton s Ringleader, or Taber's Eariy Perfection, which, by the way, is a stronger grower, and somewhat more distinct than either. Maza^an Broad Beans should be sown m like manner, to secure a late crop. And with the sowing of a successional batch of Endives, sow also Eraser's Bata-'ian Endive, or, for the matter of that, any approved kind of Batavian. If a sowmg of Dutch or Early Horn Carrots were made now, they would come in very useful for drawing during the eariy vnnter months, and it may be, if the season is not ot the The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. best, in the early spring months instead. Proceed with the trench-planting of Ceiery during showery weather, foraiing the trenches for their reception upon the ground previously occupied with Peas or other early crops. IV. £. TOWN GARDENING. The Chrysnut/iemum will now be growing fast, there- fore all lateral shoots should be removed as soon as they appear; and where it is intended to produce speci- men blooms, a top-dressing of rotten dung and loam will be beneficial, as liquid manure cannot be used this wet season. The management of the Pompon differs from that of the large varieties, inasmuch as that they should be pinched back up to the end of the month to produce as many laterals as possible. The Golden Fyrethrum^ a most useful plant for town gardens, should have all flower-buds picked off as fast as they appear ; they will then keep neat all the summer. Go frequently over the bedding plants, taking off all old flower-stalks and yellow leaves, at the same time stirring the soil between them with the Dutch hoe. Carnations should be propagated this month by layers or pipings. I prefer layering where the plantsare growing in the borders. Intermediate Stocks should be sown about the 20th of this month, and when they have four leaves be potted, three in a 48-sized pot, and kept in a cold frame till spring, giving all the air possible in fine weather. Dahlias should now be mulched with rotten dung, and tied to stakes as they progress in growth. Most of the species of the genus Centatirea are very showy, and do well in towns ; and I should recommend, as many of them flower this month, that varieties be marked down, so that a collection can be got for another year, by planting offsets this autumn. J. D. Notices to Correspondents. CoTONEASTERS : J. Morrison. Cotoneaslers are grafted on the common species, C. vulgaris, on the Quince, and on the Hawthorn. Employment in Vineyards: Vitis writes — " I shall be out of my apprenticeship to the gardening in a few months. Having a knowledge of the French language, and a desire to get into the wine-growing trade, would you mform me how to apply for a situation in a vineyard in the Bordeaux district." Unless our correspondent has some acquaintance, or private interest, in the dis- trict he mentions, we do not think he will obtain what Grapes : A. D. The Grapes sent are fairly ripened, but not well coloured. They will, of course, be better when more thoroughly matured. Insects : Old Subscriber. Send a specimen of the insect and a flower of the plant. Names of Plants: Jolm L. Lotus major.— y. Carter b' Co. ProbablvSisyrinchium convolutum.— 7". One of the varieties of Crinuni capense.— y. P. F., Chowncs. Deutzia crenata flore-pleno. Yes. — St. Aubyn. We do not undertake to name florists flowers. The Great Show at Nottingham.— In our report of the above show we gave Mr. P. Hope credit for showing the best single dish of Peaches, instead of Mr. Jack, gr. to the Duke of Cleveland, Battle Abbey, Sussex. We learn from Mr. R. T. Veitch, of Exeter, that he supplied the greater portion of the seed of the fine collection of vegetables exhibited by Mr. Garland, and that Messrs. Carter furnished the remainder. Worm : Alofimout/i. Send a specimen. Catalogues Received.— Osborn & Sons, Catalogue of Herbaceous, Alpine, and Bulbous Plants. — James Veitch & Sons, Catalogue of New and Beautiful Plants. —Joseph Meredith, Catalogue of Choice Stove and Greenhouse Plants, Roses, Bedding and Ornamental Plants, &c. Communications Received.— X. Y. Z.— J. M.— T. M.. delphia.— J. H. A.— F. L. P.— I. D. & S.— J. K.~( F. W. B.— Market Gardener.— J. W. PhiU- CO VENT GARDEN.— July 6. The markets have fluctuated considerably during the past few days, more in consequence of the unfavourable weather than of the supply — a great quantity of damp goods coming in, and realising very low prices. Bush fruit and Cherries have been much injured by the heavy rains. Hothouse fruit is amply supplied, Pines especially. > 3 o Oranges, per i ■60' Peaches, per d Asparagus.p. bundle t Beet, per doz, , . : Cabbages, p. doz. . . Carrots, p. bunch . . 1 — French, per Potatos, New Round, > Horse Radish, p. bun. 30 — 5 Mushrooms, p. pott. 20 — 3 Parsley, p. bunch . . o 4 — o Peas, per quart . . 10 — i Radishes, long,p.bun.o \\ — .. — round, do. ..02 — .. Rhubarb, p. bundle 03 — o M Indestructible Terra-Cotta Plant Markers. AW AND CO.S PATENT.— Prices, Printed THE ACME GARDEN FRAME and GROUND VINERY. The most perfect and effective, as well as the cheapest Frame and Vinery yet brought out. See the Gardentri Chnmidi, Dec. BEN'JAMINXC - ..... •.'JAM 1 N XOOKER, Inventor, Patentee, and Sole Manufa BICKLEY'S PATENT HORIZONTAL SASH- B ARS require neither Paint nor Putty, and are the cheapest and best for Orchard-houses, Greenhouses, and Roofs of all kinds. Two hundred feet can be firmly glared or unglazed in less than one hour. An ORCHARD-HOUSE constructed with these Bars will be Exhibited at the Royal Agricultural Society's Showat Drawings and Price Lists may be had, for i stamp, oi tnc in* and Patentee, THOMAS A. BICKLEY, 70, Smallbrook Street, Birminghai J. For Haymaking Maclilnes, lOWLER'S PATENT STEAM PLOUGH and CULTIVATOR may be SEEN at WORK in every ■icultural County in England. appK to"foHN FOWL d Steam Plough Works, 1 iRUSSIAN -WOOD GARDEN STICKS and TALLIES, commended bv the Royal Horticultural Society. The above can be had, of all sizes, wholesale of CHARLES J. BLACKITH AND CO., ■ower Thames Street. London, E.C. :ipal Seedsmen. Prices on application. Water Your Gardens. 1ANVAS TUBING for the above purpose 1 ' durable than India-rubber, and bearing very much g XHIBITORS of CUT FLOWERS, GRAPES, .... ._._ -AN'SPATENT ow in use, either mission purposes. May be obtained through PATENTEE, Gloucester ; or W. EASSfE ND CO., who have arranged for their sole manufacture. Price Lists nd Testimonials on application.— Gloucester. Exhibition or Tn lANNED GAE ; Protecting Fruit from Birds, Blo! s, 1, 2, J. and 4 yards. The Trade alsc 1 CO., iCovent Garden, London, W.C TANNED GARDEN NETTING, for Preserving Seed Beds, Fruit, Strawberries, from Frost, Blight, Birds, Sic, and as a Fence for Fowls, Sic— One yard wide. \i. ; two yards, arf. ; May^be^fild of"cHARLEs'\WjGyT^AND"'c'o.^"J>|'clnergate, Newark-on-Trent- To be had only at the above address. No Agents. N^ Frost, Blight, Birds, &c., a yards wide, 3^. per yard, or lOO yards, aoi. ; 4 yards wide, 6 & 7, Crooked Lane, London Bridge, E.G. Z50.S00, or 1000 yards, carriage Irce. EDGINGTON'S RICK CLOTHS for EDGING'J'ON'S MARQUEES for Hire, arc the most elegant and EDGi'nGTON'S CRICKET and GARDEN TENTS are the Nursery and Seed Business. THE Proprietor of an old-established and prosperous Nurserj- and Seed Business, wishes to be relieved from the active management, in consequence of other engagements ; he will, Ne'rSHIP.— Ap"piy, by"ette? sta'ting A. B. C, Mr. J. fc. Stevens, 38, King Si . Covent Garden, London. Seed Business. SCOTT, Merriott, begs to THANK all tl parties who have honoured him by Iheir applications I lanagemcnt of his Seed Business, and to say that the PLACE \ w ANTED, TWO experienced ROSE BUDDERS. iiion offered to a good Rose grower. The best of reference as to ity and experience will be required.- Mr iro Nursery, Sible Hedingham, Essex. WANTED, a GARDENER, for a place in Wales.— Must understand \'egetables, and be able to keep a Flower Garden in order. No glass. Wages, 14s. a week and a house.— Apply W letter to W. O., Messrs. Henningham Si HoUis, 5, Mount Street, W^ CO., Pine-apple Place, Edj^ware Road, London, w ANTED, as GARDENER,_a single young Man. 1 Street, Camberv WANTED, a young MAN, under a Foreman, to PropaK.ite Soft Stuff generally. None but sober, industrious, and energetic Illen treated with.— RANSLEY TANTON, F.R.H.S., WANTl 6o°StranROPAGATOR and GROWER of Stove and Green- house Plants, &c. Thoroughly experienced. Good reference.— E., 3, Croft Cottages. Catford, S.E. VI To NurserjTnen. ROPAGATOR of Stove, Greenhouse, and Soft- Hardy Outdoor Plants.— Age 36 ; has had long — :-_ Thoroughly steady. — he Nu'Vseries,^] , Northampton. FORESTER. — Twenty years' practice in the Manage- ment of Woods and Plantations; also the Renovation of Gardens, Lands, &c-_ Good references.— E. S. K., Mr. J. Stroud. , Bruton, Somerset. MANAGER Indoor , or MANAGER and PROPA- GATOR.-Age 28; energetic and practical. Highest testi- monials and references. -A. B.,35. Henry Street. St. John's Wood, N. W. Tolfoblemeii and Gentlemen. good Correspondent.— M. E. C. GartUfurs' C/in»iiVfg Office. W.C. WM. RUMSEY, HEAD CLERK. MANAGER of SEED and BULB DEPARTMENT, and GENERAL SALES- MAN to Mr. Wm. Paul, of Waltham Cross, for the last 11 years, and for 10 vears previous with the late firm of A. Paul Si Son, Cheshunt, is BUTLER, where one or more Footmen are kept. —Age 36, married; good character, height s feet g'A inches. Country preferred.— C, Uley Post Office, Dursley, Gloucester. July 8, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. The Royal Agricultural Show, Wolverhampton, 1871. STAND 3,S. ;UTTON AND SONS AGRICULTURAL, HORTICULTURAL, LTURAL PROnUCE, eties of Seeds, 250 Specimens of Dried f Sutlons' Improved Italian Rye-grass 6 feet 3 inches in lieight. All Goods Carriage Free, s per cent, allowed for cash payment. Priced Descriptive CATALOGUES on application to SUTTON AND SONS, Stand 348, Show Yard, Wolverhampton' and Royal Berks Seed Establishment, Reading. TAMES CARTER and CO. ROYAL SHOW, WOLVERHAMPTON, SPLENDID DISPLAY of AGRICULTURAL SEEDS, ROOTS, GRASSES, &c., including upwards of 280 samples of CARTER'S PRIZE MEDAL FARM and GARDEN SEEDS. STAND No. 35'. i Orders received | STAND No. 351. For CARTER'S PRIZE GRASS, new TURNIP SEEDS, &c. TAMES CARTER AND CO., Seedsmen to H.M.G. Majesty the Queen, and H.R.H. Prince of Wales, 237 and 238, High Holborn, SILVER SAND and PEAT, in any quantity. - This Sand is acknowledged by Florists to be the best yel obtained. Price Lists on application to Mr. JOHN ARNOLD, Builder, 29, Clarendon Square, St. Pancras, N^W. Small orders executed at the Wharf, Maiden Lane, North- Western Railway Depot. REES AND CO.'S BIPHOSPHATED PERUVIAN GUANO (Registeied Trade Mark, Flying Albatross), is now ready for delivery in Quantity and in fine condition. It is believed to be the best Artificial Manure yet produced. Its base is Peruvian Government Guano; it contains 21 per cent, of Soluble Phosphates, 5 to 7 per cent, of Ammonia with Salts of Potash. Sec reports of Dr. Voelcker, Dr. Anderson, Professor Way, Mr. Ugston, and Mr. Sibson. Delivered in 2 cwt. bags, each of which is secured by a leaden seal, bearing the Company's Trade Mark. The analysis is guaranteed so long as the seals remain unbroken. REES AND CO. (Limited), 32, King William Street, London, E.C. "Analytical Laboratory, "Silt,— Enclosed you sample of your Biphosj for themserves. I neej , Salisbury Squi Fleet Street, E.C. 'careful analysis of a therefore hardly add : These i dly ac ■ le contained only 10 per cent, of soluble and insoluble phosphate: icrally this Manure will'become MR. JAMES ERASER (of the late Firm of J. St I. Fraser, Lea Bridge Roati), undertakes HORTICU TURAL VALUATIONS of every di ' '-' AUCTION . 81c— Maylands Farm, Romford, ription, SALES by TO MARKET GARDENERS and FLORISTS with a Small Capital.— A Gentleman, having purchased above FOURTEEN ACRES of LAND, near a Railway Station, not far from Horsham and Tunbridge Wells, and within an hour of Brighton, is wishing to have the same OCCUPIED, for a few years or per- I Stream o'f'\?a™r%"u'ns a lillimore Gardens, Kensi TO BE LET, and seven years' unexpired LEASE to be SOLD, a snug CONCERN in the SEED, FRUIT and GREENGRodERY LINE, in the centre of Great kalvern, Wor- cestershire, where fine Fruit and Vegetables command high prices- Has been in the present Proprietor's hands for 16 years. Also can be LET with it, a Targe WALLED-IN GARDEN, well stocked with good bearing FRUIT TREES of all kinds. Satisfactory reasons for retiring will be given.- Address, in first instance, W. W., Sir. Wheeler, 7. Borough Market, London, S.E. rro SOLD, the BUSINESS of a SEEDSMAN and FLORIST, with Jobbing Business, in a firs road, and doing a good trade. This is a splenc y person in want ofthe above, and to be SOLD C TO I BE DISPOSED OF, on advantageous terms mmediate possession, the BUSINESS of a NURSERY Id FLORIST, in an excellent neighbourhood near London lock. Goodwill, &c., about £400. ALPHA, Post onCe, Deptford, S.E. To Gardeners. TO BE DISPOSED OF, in a Fashionable Town near London, a First-class FRUITERER, GREENGROCER, and POTATO BlJslNESS, with a good Family Trade ; handsome roomy Shop, good Cellars and Frontage : with or without a well stocked Garden ; and in the best part of the tow "" attention to both. Price /;200. y by letter only, to G. C. H., GardeHm' Chn 1 different trade) cannot Important to Nurserymen, Florists, and Others. ~0 BE DISPOSED f- ■ - LEASES, with possessioi Known CHISWICK NUI' — roomed Dwelling-house, wi 3 about I2!4 acres of rich and nroductive Land s_general Nursery Stock. Held under tw. RSERIES, comprising a substantial 14- th Seed Shop and Offices annexed, two Greenhouses and several ranges of Pits :, with the whole of the choice Stove and -TtJewh, ulars apply to Messrs. PROTHEROE s and Valuers. Leylonstone, E. Hayes, with the approbation of the Vic Office of Mr. John Bolton, of Kendal, in tl n •TUESDAY, the 25th day of July, 1871', at 3 o'clock in the Tccisely (unless previously disposed of by Private Contract). IWILL and STOCK in TRADE of the BUSINESS of afore , Mints Feet, Cai Pren about 14a. or. op., of I^na Kendal. The said Ni laid out as Gardens and well stocked. Particulars of the Stock, and particulars and conditions of Sale and Forms of Tender may be had gratis of the said Mr. JOHN BOLTON, ofKendal, aforesaid, and of ^lr. JOHN WILSON, Solicitor, Kendal. Dated this 23d day of June, 1871. JOSHUA BIRD ALLEN, Chief Clerk. NICOL & Son, 88, Queen Street, Cheapside, London, SALES BY AUCTION. DENDROblUM LITUIFLORUM, VANDA ROXBURGHII (scarce), SACCOLABIUMS, &c., from India; a consignment of ANGR.'ECUM FUNALE, EPIDENDRUMS, BRASSAVOLA, ONCIDIUMS, &c., from Jamaica; 65 plants of ODONTOGLOS- SUM BLUNTII, O. KRAMERI, and O. WELTONI, from New Grenada; and a small collection of Established ORCHIDS, in fine condition, including Trichopilias, &c. '" ij^e>vj!i= ----- -' ' ' "—' ■-'' M Fine-apple Place, Maida Vale. Edgware Road. "" J. C. STEVENS begs to announce that he :ivcd instructions from the Mortgagee to offer for SALI CTION, in one Lot, at his Great Rooms, 38. King Street, Cove o'clock precisely pirticulars \ ijrsia Arthur Henderson ImportEmt Sale of Sbortlioms At the PRINCE CONSORT'S SHAW F'ARM, WINDSOR HOME PARK. MR. STRAFFORD has the honour to announce that he has received instructions to SELL by AUCTION, withoul reserve, on WEDNESDAY, lulv lO next, at the Prince Consort's Shaw Farm. Windsor Park, FIFTY-SIX HEAD of very superioi PURE-BRED SHORTHORNS, the property of Her Majesty the Queen ; amongst them will be found some fine specimens of the Fawsley blood, including several descendants of the celebrated cows, Ahx, Cold Cream, and Furbelow. First-class Bulls from the renowned Warlaby Herd have been used for several years, viz.. Prince Alfred (13,494), British Prince (14,197), Fill Clarence (14,552), Lord Hopewel (18,239). and England's Glory (23,889) ; the young stock are chiefly b) the latter bull. The sire now in service is Royal Benedict (27,348) Lrith Pedigrees, may be had on application to Mr M r Kidderminster. IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. R. STRAFFORD is favoured with SALE bv AUCTION, wit ■%% HIURSDAY, July20 next, at Winterfold, a valuable COLLECTION SHORTHOS.NS. consisting of FIFTY-FIVE HEAD of BULLS, ind pure-bred American 8th Duke of Geneva: the two latter are now Catalogues, with Pedigrees and other particulars, may be had on ipplication 10 Mr. MINETT, Winterfold, near Kidderminster; or of tfr. STRAFFORD, 13, Euston Square, London^ M= t BULRRIDGE FARM, WILTON, on le Bath and West of Er M Important Shortliom Sales. R. JOHN THORNTON wiU SELL by AUCTION the following HERDS of PURE-BRED SH SHORTHORNS, FORTY HEAD, . J. D Jefferson's herd. ESDAT?, August 21.-1 bred by the late "rhos. Barnes, Esti. . a Meath, Ireland. The small select HERD, the Reynell, Esq., will be SOLD at the same time and pla^ ■" — ntire and first-class HEI LE GROVE. I t BROCKTOI Staffordshire, Mr. T. Bell's entire HERD. \Y, August 25.— The _ . Northampton, the property of J. N. Beasley, Esq. JAY, September 2^^— About FORTY HEAD, tel IS, Langham Place, Regent Strt r-Edge, Gloucestershire, Agricultural Land Improveme DRAINAGE, SEWAGE IRRIGATION, FARM BUILDINGS, LABOURERS' COTTAGES, Sic. rriHE GENERAL LAND DRAINAGE and f Parliament in 1849.) Directors. .Esq., F.R.S. I The Right Hon. Visco nas Clark, Esq. bermerc. bold, Esq. Edward John Hutchins, am Currre, Esq. | Sir William Tite, M. P., t rincipal Engineer, Mr. J. BAILEY DENTON, al Improvements of every kind are execute , or the outlay thereon repaid to Landowners w ay' also, by agreement with their Landlord; 11 official expenses, may be charged upon th the option ofthe Landowners m > investigation of title necessary, : UTILISATION c ;her3, for undertaking Works of Sewage Irrigation, Works incidental thereto. The outlay in respect ischarging in a fixed period ' mgs. Labourers' Cottages, &c ille R. Ryder, Esq. illeR. H.Somerset,Esq. ,Q.C Drainage, Reclamation, Fan John Glutton, Esq. Frederick L. Dashwood, Esq, Henry Farquhar, Esq. Lord Garlics, M.P. John Horatio Lloyd, Esq. I Esq., M.P. {Chairman). of Agricultural Improvement, including the Erection of Cottage; Farm Buildings, to the Owners of settled and other Estates, nr the Clergy in respect of their Glebe Lands. may, with the consent of their l^ndioraSt ..._ :upy, charging advances [luiicy iur inc purpose of Works of Sewage Irrigation. The whole outlay and expenses are liquidated by a rent-charge upon he land, redeeming principle and interest, over 25 years. No investigation 01 title is required. Tenani Landlords, 1 SEWAGE.— The Company 'EDFORDSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY ' ■ ■ ing the adjoining Countir5).-LAST DAY of ENTRY for nd PIGEON SHOW DEFERRED from JULY 1 to I3. ^ of a HAND SEWING lAuniiNt, value Az ai , win oe given by Mr. C. Pickering, of ledford, lorthebest COLLECTION of WILD FLOWERS, arr^ged 1 a small basket, open only to Ladies residing in Bedford or the County. LIST of PRIZES and FORMS of ENTRY can be obtained from 3. SL Peter's Green. Bedford. THOS. LESTER, Secretary. MANCHESTER TURAL SOCIEI _. SEPTEMBER NEXT ma^ be had LIVERPOOL AGRICUL- br the Show at Liverpool in , _. pplication to the Secretary. HOUSAND POUNDS are offered in •klZES, including ^[loo for lomed Bull, upwards o' '"-- 1225 for Pigs, and jCsoo Winsford; '^'^--'^■— upwards of j£220 for Dogs, £250 for Poultry, upwards of ' Sheep. ENTRIES CLOSE AUGUST i. THOMAS RIGBY, Secretary. BIRMINGHAM HORSE SHOW, 1871.— The SIXTH GREAT EXHIBITION of HORSES. PONIES, CARRIAGES, HARNESS, &a. will be held in Bingley Hall, Birmingham, on TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, and h'-F^l THE BIRMINGHAM CATTLE and POULTRY SHOW, 1S71.— The TWENTY-THIRD GREAT ANNUAL EXHIBITION of FAT CATTLE, SHEEP, PIGS, DOMESTIC POULTRY, CORN, ROOTS, and IMPLEMENTS, will be held in Bingley Hall, on SATURDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNES- DAY, and THURSDAY, November 25. 27. 28. 29. and 30, when PRIZES to the amount ot TWO THOttSAND TWO HUNDRED and TWENTY POUNDS will be awarded. PRIZE LISTS, CERTIFICATES of ENTRY, and every information may be obtained from the Secretary. ES CLOSE on SATURDAY, October 28. JOHN B. LYTHALL, Secretary. E' WOLVERHAMPTON MEETING, 1871. SHOW of HORSES.CATTLE, SHEEt, PIGS, and IMPLEMENTS. SATURDAY, July 8, to FRIDAY, July !<. ; Showyard— -Monda] Admission— Saturday (Implel ly), 2i. 6d. Entire Showyard ; Tuesday and Wednesday, Season*' Tickets', pnce'ios. M., available J uly 8 to July r4. may be obtained of rs. SOLLOM AMD BARNETT, H.tnover Square, London, W. Roya Prices,;: post free. 5!,,(. i by W. RICHARDS, 41, Welling SATURDAY, JULY Z, 1871. MEETING FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. J"'!- " the Uvrstoci;: an-'d" rSSitig theT awidi; Admi f sion, 51. each person. July II i Admission, 2S.&. each person. General Meeting July 12 J the Members in the Showyard, on Tuesday, at 2 P.I Ju y '3| Admission, IS. each person, he Showyard will be cleared of Visitors each Evening at 8 o'clo he Exhibition of Cattle in the Rings will take place at lo, and c ■ Monday. THE Steam Cultivation Competition at Stafford and Wolverhampton during the past week threatened at one time to be altogether a failure. A constant or frequent heavy rainfall appeared likely to beat the judges out of the field. On the one hand, the six or seven fields of light land at Barnhurst, Wolverhampton, on which rapidity and extent of work had been illustrated during the earlier trials — on which, too, exceptional tools, such as ploughs for deep work, harrows, rollers, drills, &c., had been exhi- bited, were inadequate as representative of the tillage difficulties of an ordinary farm ; and on the other, the four fields on Mr. D.\RLINGT0N'S farm, near Stafford, where stiffer land, uneven surfaces, and awkward fences presented some of the commoner conditions with which steam must be prepared to cope, were in the first instance too wet for work. On subsequent days, however, they were fit enough, and the report of the Society's judges will, we doubt not, be a service- able and trustworthy account of the latest contri- butions to the progress of steam cultivation. A journal of the last eight or ten days, so far as these trials are concerned, is given in another page. It will suffice here to call attention to one or two of the points in which, as it appears to us, this progress is exhibited. The trials in the light land fields have proved, in respect both of the surface of the land after steam cultivation, and that of the subsoil on which the moved soil hes, that not only can a large area be cultivated, but excellent tillage work accomplished in a very short time. Formerly speed was accomplished at the expense of unevenness and imperfection. Now, a seven-furrow plough can be depended on to turn land over with regularity of both width and depth of furrow.^lice, at the rate of 4 acres an hour ! Toct, moreover, for 882 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 8, 187 1. turning land 15 inches deep can now be trusted to do" their work regularly and thoroughly ; harrows, rollers, drills, &c., can be worked easily and effectively by steam-power, and the mere stirring of the land or throwing it up in a tangled mass of broken furrow-slices can be done rapidly and well. On the stiffer land near Stafford we think it has been made apparent — though the judges will hereafter speak with more authority — that that firm, having a fairly good tool at their command, who can pack the greatest quantity of power on four wheels for working it, must beat all weaker men. Messrs. Fowler & Co., with their pair of nominally 20-horse power engines, and with their balance plough or cultivator, thus still stand in the front rank of steam cultivators wherever difficult circumstances exist. Ample opportunity has been given during the experiment for judging the quality as well as the rapidity of the work accomplished, by occasional removals of the furrow-slice, or cultivated earth, so that the character of the unmoved subsoil surface was exposed. And here, too, consider- able improvement has been exhibited on all former experience. Even where the speed had been excessive, the work stood this test remark- ably well. The quality of the work accomplished, apart from the mere area of it, was thus and in other ways carefully observed. The weight of earth moved per hour and per acre, as most accurately expressing the work of cultivation accomplished, was, we believe, first tested at the show of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society in 1862, where Mr. J. C. Morton was employed by the Society as their reporter. (See Aoriailtural Gact/fe, 1S63, p. 795.) The work done was then ascertained by actual weighing of the earth moved per square yard of area, by the several competing ploughs and cultivators. It then appeared that where the speed was greatest, and the surface (left in heaps) appeared to have been most roughly knocked about, the quantity of material moved was really less than where the work had been slower and the apparent dis- turbance of surface had been less. At Stafford and at Wolverhampton we observed that the judges were applying the same test, but it appeared to us that they were not applying it in the right way. The object being to determine the weight of earth which had been moved, was quite within the scope of direct experiment, and ought to have been ascertained directly. It was only estimated, or determined indirectly. The weight of earth l foot deep per square yard was indeed determined in the several fields by actual weighing in the several fields, but the weight moved by the several competing tools w.as ascertained, not as it might have been, by putting I square yard of it upon the scales, but by applying the ascertained weight of 1 foot deep to the estimated depth of the work done. This, however, is incapable of accurate measure- ment, and the result arrived at is, therefore, after all, a mere estimate. This was plainly seen in the trials at York nine years ago, where the evil of irregularity during rapid work was illustrated by the proved superiority of the slower culti- vation as regards the quantity of earth (ascer- tained by many weighings) which had been moved. The report was as follows : — ' ' The weight was taken in so many instances because it was supposed that some mistake had been committed, the quantity of earth moved per acre by Fowt.er's culti- vator certainly appearing to be very much greater than that moved by Howard ; whereas repeated weighings proved it to be actually somewhat less. The fact w that it was thrown about so much more roughly in 1 former case, that it lay looser, and appeared to be deeper than it was. And one result of these weighings is to prove the fallacy of estimates of work of this kind by mere measurement, however honestly performed. It is of course the qnaniity of earth moved and stirred and tilled— not the acreage culti vated— which really represents the work accom plished ; and it is to be regretted that this has not in evei^ instance been ascertained by actual weighing in the several instances, instead of being left to calculation from measurements, which however carefully taken canot command the same degree of confidence. The work done on the farm near Stafford very fairly illustrated the superiority of steam-power over that of horses on clay soils. It is here that the advantage of tillage as a fertilising agent, apart from the application of manure, is best witnessed. " Such soils are dependent on proper cultivation for their fertility, even more than upon the direct application of fertilising matter. hich indeed is already abundantly present in their substance, for only plants could get at To this end they need to be broken and exposed throughout their depth to the free access of air and weather. But! there are comparatively few days when this can be done by horse-power, for they are gene- rally either baked by the sun, so that horses cannot pull the plough or cultivator through them, or they are so softened by the rain that the tmpling and the sliding of the team and tool 11 do more to close the land than open it. We mt a power which shall make the full use of the short intervals when such land is in proper ition for tillage operations, and which shall at the same time avoid the evil of poaching the land above and hardening it below, which in the horse cultivation of clays is too often seen. A four-horse team and plough weigh more than 40 cwt., and all this goes trampling and sliding from end to end of the field that is being ploughed, over eveiy 10 or 12 inches of its dth ; and thus, of course, a floor is formed beneath the soil, hindering drainage, which is the greatest improvement ot which clay lands are capable. We want a tool weighing not more than 4 or 5 cwt. for every foot of width worked by it, carried on wheels, so as not to close the face over which it travels, and driven by a power which shall not press upon the land that is being worked. All this we have in the steam- driven ploughs and cultivators that were seen at work yesterday." These words, written nine years ago, convey fairly enough the impression which this week's trials, even in the midst of heavy rain, in the steam-ploughed fields near Stafford, must have produced on the spectators. The progress visible to those who were present both there and at the trial ground near York in 862, appeared in the greater power of the engines, the greater consequent depth, thorough- ness, and speed of the work accomplished — and the much greater quantity of earth moved under each square yard of surface. Those who may visit Barnhurst, near Wolver- hampton, next week, to see the steam-ploughs at work, will be struck with the appearance, in one or two of the fields, of a poached and trampled face, worse than was ever seen before on any horse-cultiv.ated farm ; and the effects of which doubt not will be be visible for months and crops to come. This was the site of the " steam- horse race" described in another page. The course had been staked out, so as to include fair specimens of all the various difficulties incident to steam-traction on a farm. The engines had to traverse ploughed and unploughed land, hollows, crooked lanes, and narrow gateways. But they were for the most part ultimately beaten by the weather. Aveling's traction-engines did, indeed, overcome all the obstacles triumphantly, but the traction-engines with elastic tyres were beaten by the sloppy, slippery state of the land in the hollows.* The result, upon the whole, is, we think, to make it more than ever doubtful whether the traction-engine is adapted for aiding field work — however efficient it may be, and no doubt is, on good roads. being purchased slowly, at drooping prices. Trade in Beasts on Monday at the Metro- m Cattle Market was brisk, and occasionally prices in advance on those of last week were obtained. Prices for sheep were rather lower, but those for choice lamb dearer. On Wednes- day there was a short supply of beasts, and hose on ofter of choice quality made high prices. Sheep were rather better than on Monday — choice lambs fetching Monday's price. Wool is advancing, and is expected to attain to a still higher figure. In ' Seed Market the belief gains ground that the growth of Clovers and Trefoil will be defective. There is little business doing excepting in Mustard and ; seeds — which are in fair demand. — The following is the final account of the French Peasant-Farmers' Seed Fund, as forwarded to for publication by the Hon. Secrectaries : — The total amount subscribed to the fund up to May 24, £^\,<)^rj\%s. \d., including three grants amount- D ;Ji3,ooo from the Lord Mayor's Mansion House Relief Fund. List i, shows in what form the money remitted ; 2, through whose instrumentality col- lected ; and 3, is a list of counties and countries, giving mount received from each. No. I. Cash lii-i 3 4 =65 o o Stamps 35 5 51 Post-office Orders 372 16 2 Drafts and Bills 41,12413 ij ii4i,979 '8 I No. 2. Chambers of Agriculture ^^3.693 3 10 Guardians of Unions 1,7131910 Church Collections 1,473 1" 4i County Committees, private donations and col- lections 20,832 15 I Anonymously given 1,266 7114 On Monday, at Mark Lane, with a short supply of English Wheat and wet weather, factors asked full prices, but as little inclination to pur chase was shown by millers, the sales made wen at about last week's rates. On Wednesday prices favoured the purchaser — Wheat of all descriptions • We extract from a report in the Times, July 6 :— " It was quickly apparent that the elastic tyres, unassisted by spuds 01 other means of penetrating the ground, are out of place upon a wet. soft soil, rendered slippery on the surface by a recent rain- fall. In such circumstances, the metal tyre of the wheel rotate* without dnving the indiarubber, or the thick ring of rubber turn! round within the external chain of protecting shoes, or all thref revolve, cutting down into the ground without causing the engine to advance. After alternations of steady going and sticking fast, the engine came to a standstill in a deep hollow in a Vetch stubble field, having sides sloping at inclinations of i in 18 anc 1 in 12, from which position it w.as exu-icated by repeated anc laborious efforts of the Messrs. Ransume, Mr. Head, and theii in helping t 1 less undaunted n Mr. Ave such an unfavourable condition of th by preceding competitors, and now s ;£28,979 18 I Lord Mayoi^s Fund .. No. 3. ;£4r.979'8 i England:— Surrey .. . ^242 7 10 48215 . 1044 4 8 Sucks . . 6,8X2 10 Wilts .. . 46414 9 Cornwall 71 7 York .. Anglesey 3evon .. t Brecon . . Oorset .. 183 8 Cardigan ■064 .6 Carnarvon ; :n i Hertford 399 9 3 Glamorgan tent '.. .. ■526 18 Montgomery 32 10 10 Lincoln . . 338 2 4 London 4ml \ 10 -.4284 to 10 Sc«lhnd • ;£393 8 5 Monmouth .. 1;ii ;t Irdaud . ;£69 9 6 Northumberland Belgium Nottingham .. 107 I 8 471 3 ^:^rland Stafford 7 7 6 3 Totals. £26,673 » ro Ireland .. .. 69 9 6 Foreign Countrie Anonymous Subscribed by persons givi ng no address' . 2,88716 5 Lord Mayor's Total ;^4 1.979 ■ soaked and washy that any heavy expected to founder. Nevertheless, his lo-horse power cylinder engine, weighing with coal and water ii tons 4I c which 8i tons were upon the two i3-inch broad driving w and dragging behind it two waggons constituting a load of made a start, proceeded steadily round the fields, admirably through all the gateways, in spite of havi two cogs out of the drivmg ind three-quarte isumption of 2 c 1 congratulated :he trial narrated t ned it) the Slough of Des- d back. The round of a ^''coat 'Mr/AvELiNr^is surprising capabilities and The very useful Food Committee of the Society of Arts have presented their annual report as follows : — "Your committee have continued their inquiries during the past session, and have to report a great improvement in meats submitted to them, which have been preserved in tins. Both as to the quality of the meat, its appear- ance, and retention of nutritive qualities, there has been satisfactory progress, and your committee regard this process as furnishing a very valuable aid to other kinds of food, especially where it is desirable to have as large a quantity as possible of animal matter in a small compass. "The trade from Australia in tinned meats has very largely increased, in the exportation both of beef and mutton ; and, so far as the many specimens of this and other modes have been investigated by your committee, this one alone has as yet fulfilled the necessary conditions of bringing meat from a distance with fully-retained meat flavour, without deterioration by addition of chemical modified f probably . Scld LING himself, by Messrs. & Head, and by other : is upon hard roads or Stafford. But ; unless pro\'ided with hich enable ordinary traction-engines to July 8, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 883 No process of the latter kind bmitted to your committee cat thoroughly successful. Either the 1 ^ ; of the meat has been broken down or'harfened, and the flavour destroyed or altered, and in many cases such a distmct saline or mineral taste added as to preclude the adoption of such specimens as articles of general consumption. "Your committee still look with much hope to the pro- cess of preserving meat in cold temperatures, and are now engaged in a series of experiments, by which they hope to be able to determine the conditions most favourable for the practical appliance to animal and vegetable substances of this mode of preservation. "As yet, no successful plan has been matured for bringing live animals by sea from long distances." The disposal of the late Lord Walsingham's celebrated Southdown flock on Thursday of last week by Messrs. Thornton and Slater & Simpson, war attended by a large company, including many agri culturists from a distance. A gloom was cast over the latter part of the day's proceedings by the senous and sudden illness of Mr. John Clayden, who was struck down by a paralytic . stroke in the c< of the afternoon*. Eight hundred and seventy-one sheep fetched close on 2'5500. averaging about 6 gs a-head. The old rams made £21 i3-f- each, the shear lings £22, and ram Iambs, £i, los. The 3-year.old ewes made £1, Z! ; the 2-year-old ewes £4 i6s. ; the shearling ewes realised £6 iSj. apiece ; the ewe lambs £2 lis.; and, on the whole, as we have stated, 871 sheep averaged £6 6s. apiece. The following is the tabulated siunmary : — breeder aims at than what he has obtained. It repre- sents a square and well filled-up carcase, terminated by a small and pretty head, and exceedingly diminutive legs ; it is the ieau ideal ai what an animal ought to be, in the estimation of the artist, but is nevertheless impossible. It would not be difficult to point out grave anatomical faults in their drawings, and they are cer- tainly utterly worthless as representatives of the animals 871 averaged /6 6s. Total .. ..£548915 o The following circular has been addressed to the tenantry on the Stoneleigh Estate :— " Estate Office, Stoneleigh Abbey, Kenilworth, "June 20, 1871. " Dear Sir,— I am directed by Lord Leigh to inform you that, having gone over nearly the whole of his estates with draining, buildings, and other permanent improve- ments, effected at a large outlay, his lordship is of opinion (and is confirmed in that opinion by the advice of persons of experience) that a more satisfactory system lor the management of his estates— both for his tenants and himself— can be arranged, the main features of which " I. That all permanent improvements shall be effected by and at the sole cost of his lordship, a settled rate of interest on the outlay being charged. "2. That all repairs shall be done by Lord Leigh. "These very important changes, you will see, neces- sitate a re-valuation of your farm, and this his lordship has no doubt will be effected in such a manner as to give you satisfaction, and increase that confidence which has always existed between you, his lordship, and the late Lord Leigh. " This change will relieve you from finding and locking up in improvements that capital which will enable you more profitably to cultivate your farm, and give you more freedom to advantage yourself, by removing your capital and energies to a more beneficial occupation, without the possibiUty of leaving any of your money on his land. ' ' The subject of leases has engaged his lordship's attention, and he is not indisposed to consider any application for one. There are tenants to whom he would not grant one, and also farms so situated that he would decUne to lease them, but these tenants have his engagements to value and pay for their unexhausted provements on quitting. — Your very obedient servant, " George Jones. The North British Agriculturist states as a fact within the personal knowledge of the Editor,i that there are several farmers in the small county of Haddington, who annually expend upon Auxiliary Manures and Feeding Stuffs about £2 for each acre they possess. Some farmers in that county have estimated that the outlay on manures and cattle food nearly corresponds with the amount of rent paid. Our readers will find in another page at exhaustive and practical essay on Land Drainage, lately read before the East Kent Chamber of Agri- culture by Mr. Webb, of Sittingboume, who thus describes his o\vn long and extensive experience land agent and draining engineer. OUR LIVE STOCK. CATTLE. A good likeness either of a man or an animal must be truthful. That truthfulness is not studied by c Shorthorn and cattle artists is most painfully evident all who examine their productions. We almost fear that while the artists pourtray falsely, the owners ol Uic cattle love to have it so ; and this we say advisedly, vith properly what thi : going to press, ^ : sad intelligence t lines along the back of the animal in both drawings are made to coincide, and taking fig. 185, we seethe result of a comparison between the conventional and the real breast or brisket. We call attention to the increased depth of carcase, prominence of breast, and diminished size of the forelegs. Fi^. 186 shows how the artist gives 3 more than natural squareness to the tail-head, how he confers an impossible squareness at the buttocks, and an unmasculine fineness of bone at the hocks and shanks; Fig. 187 exhibits the wonderfulcontrast between thereaj. belly-line in a well-formed Shorthorn bull, and what the artist thinks it ought to be. An animal formed on the model of the Shorthorn artist would probably be incapable of "work," or even of motion, and at best is only a gross exaggeration of the fattest animals exhibited at Smithfield, and has no resemblance to a healthy animal in breeding condition. We consider it necessary to draw attention to this point because pictures of animals ought to be useful not oiily by giving a good idea as to the original, but also in the future when faithful likenesses of well-known animals may indicate progress in symmetry, beauty, and utility of form. after which they are named. Photography cannot fail to give a correct outline, and to maintain the proportions between the various parts of an animal. When properly used, it places before a breeder the best models of domestic animals, study them with even greater of the living and moving anims woodcuts represent some of the to enabli than ii The accompanying "mportant exceedingly well known Shorthorn bull, probably TEN DAYS AT WOLVERHAMPTON. The trials this year embrace "steam-cultivation and Hop machinery," divided into 22 classes— 18 for steam culture, besides Lord Vernon's Silver Cup, value ^100, and four for Hop culture. The trial ground consists of 17 acres on the Palmer Cross Farm, occupied by Mr. Fleming, and 103 acres on Bamhurst Farm adjoining, occupied by Mr. W. Taylor (who, by the way, is irrigating a portion of his farm with sewage from the town sewers) ; the adjoining lands make a total of about 120 acres, situated about 3 miles from the show-ground. The soil is light and in good working order, to the depth it has hitherto been ploughed, but in some places large stones are embedded in the subsoil, against which the implements struck, causing numerous breakages, and leaving the work not ly done as it otherwise would have been ; and even where there were not stones the subsoil turned up very hard, and bound together. This condition of the subsoil is much to be regretted, and in selecting land for steam culture it should be avoided, unless to test special implements, as it neither did justice to the common steam-tUIage implements, nor showed to those who visited the work with the view of starting steam-culture themselves, how such farms as Bamhurst and Palmer Cross should be cultivated by steam. Stony and moorland-bottomed lands should first, " fo^r example," be gone over with "arootor stone extractor (class 14), and then no mishaps would take place with engines, ploughs, and cultivators after- wards. And, besides, when the bottom is un- equal, the plots are also unequal, and the engines and implements do not get fair play. The Wolverhampton steam-culture trials have been looked forward to with no little expectation, and during the trials on the light land farms many farmers expressed very freely their disappointment. The heavy land consists of three large fields on New Buildings Farm, in the occupation of Mr. Darhngton, situated about 3 miles from the railway station at Stafford, or about 18 miles from Wolverhampton. This distance is extremely inconvenient, and the narrow lane into the fields is awkward enough. The light land is staked out in the usual way, into small plots of about 3 acres each. Monday, Jime 26.— The steam culture trials com. menced this day, chiefly on the 17-acre field on Palmer Cross. Some 20 engines were in the field, svith a strong force of implements and tackle, for the best combination of machinery for the cultiva- tion of the soil by steam-power (class I). Four firms entered as competitors. Messrs. Fowler & Co., one of the best living, but whose name we suppress, for obvious reasons. The woodcuts are taken from two pictures of the same animal, the one a conventional lithograph, from a painting, and the other a photo- graph taken direct from the animal. The dark lines represent the true outlines of this bull, while the dotted lines are those of the lithograph. Both pictures are as nearly as possible of the same length. The outlines are obtained by first transferring the original lines to tracing paper, and subsequently to a wood block. The Messrs. J. & F. Howard, the Ravensthorpe Company (Fisken's system), and Messrs. Barrows & Steward. The Leeds firm were the first to get into position with their 20-horse power double winding drum set (r. e., two engines on opposite headlands). This firm show other three systems of steam-culture, viz., their clip- drum system, double-drum set (/. <•., an 8-horse engitie, carrying two drums, with a disc anchor on the opposite headland), and their detached windlass system. The Messrs. Howard exhibit three systems— two engines and one implement, two engines and two implements, and one engine with a detached windlass. Fisken's system is distinct from any of the above, so there is variety from which to choose the best. The six judges are divided into two sets :— John Hemsley, Skelton, Newark ; Richard Kay, Forcett Valley, Dariington ; and F. Sherborne, Bedfont, Middlesex; with W. Menelaus, C.E., Dowlais, Merthyr Tydvil, as consult- ing engineer, taking classes i, 2, and 3, and also the Lord Vernon cup trial ;— Major H. V. Grantham, West Keal Hall, Spilsby ; John Hicken, Dunchurch, Rugby; J. W. Kimber, Tubney Warren, Abbington ; with Easton, Amos & Anderson, taking class 6 and the other implement classes. Not much was done on Monday, and at the close of the day the competitors in class I drew for precedence next day : Messrs. Barrows & Steward stood ist, Messrs. J. & F. Howard 2d, Messrs. Fowler & Co. 3d, and the Ravensthorpe Company 4th. Tuesday, June 27.— The Banbury and Bedford firms The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July not being ready, Messrs. Fowler & Co. again took the lead, with two 20-horse engines and a 13-tined cultivator, in a field on Barnhurst Farm. Owing to the wetness of the surface, the outermost tine on each side had to be removed to prevent clogging the wheels. The 3-acre plot was finished in- about 40 minutes, to the depth of from 7 to 9 inches. The I2-horse double engine set was next started on another plot, with a g-tined cultivator, smashing up the 3 acres in rather less than an hour, about the same depth as the preced- ing. A i2-horse clip-drum engine next started, with a 7-tined balance cultivator, doing its 3 acres in about an hour and a half, to the depth of 7 inches. An 8-horse double winding-drum engine and disc anchor opposite, with a 7-tined turning cultivator between, smashed up its 3 acres, 8 inches deep, in about an hour and three quarters. The Ravensthorpe Company had in the field a lO-horse traction engine, and lo-horse portable engine, a 4-furrow balance plough, a 3-furrow balance plough, a 7-tined Howard cultivator, and a 7-tined balance cultivator ; with a Howard cultivator going 5 inches deep : the 3 acres were finished in about 79 minutes. Wfdiiesdav, ywHt' 28. —Messrs. Barrows & Steward took their turn in class I, working a 5-tined Woolston smasher with a I2-horse portable engine, and de- tached windlass, with claw anchors which did not hold fast. The time occupied in doing the plot from 7 to 9 inches deep was about 2 hours 50 minutes, but out of this the stoppages, we presume, must be taken. Better things are expected of tlie Woolston anchors and implement in the heavy land field. This concluded the trials in class i, Messrs. J. & F. Howard, after the breakage of their gear on Monday, having in the interim ceased to remain competitors. The lots were then drawn for the precedence in class 2, and also in Lord Vernon's cup class. The two include seven trials, viz., I, Howard's double drum set ; 2, Edward Hayes, Stony Stratford, Bucks ; 3, the Ravensthorpe Company ; 4, Amies & Barford ; S, Fowler & Co. ; 6, Howard's roundabout system ; 7, Barrows & Steward : most of the afternoon was spent in the preliminaries. In the lower grounds the other judges were continu- ing the trials of the implement classes, which com- menced the previous day. Campain's anchor gave general satisfaction. The plough trials between the rival firms of Leeds and Bradford are to be resumed. Thursday, June 29.— The trials in class 2 were continued. The three first on the list were unfortunate from breakages. In this class the weight of the engine must not exceed 10 tons, and in reference to how the weight was to be ascertained the Council lay down the rule to the judges that "the weight of the engine shall be deemed to be exclusive of coal, water, and rope, but to include the weight of the drum or windlass." The effect of this condition, which its framers ought to have seen, is so much in favour of Messrs. Fowler & Co.'s clip-drum engine as to leave a poor chance for the other sets. Messrs. Amies & Barford took their turn, with their 7-tined Woolston cultivator, going from 7 to 8 inches deep, using a pair of Campain's anchors, which is a great improvement upon the Woolston system. After working about 2 of the 3 acres in their plot, the judges were so satisfied with the quality of the w-ork done as to allow the other acre to be ploughed, which was done with the Peterborough steam-plough. The depth of the furrow-slice was about 8 inches, and the time occupied L finishing the plot, including stoppages m commg s, tree roots, and the paying out . . „ of the tackle, was about two and a half h Messrs. Fowler & Co., the next in turn, started ■with their clip-drum engine and implements already described. They also use their 8-horse engine round- about set, and made good work in the cup class, ploughing an acre in 55 minutes, cultivating another in 39 minutes, and digging the third in 36 minutes. Messrs. J. & F. Howard and Barrows & Steward took their respective turns, the former with their cultivator, and the latter with a Woolston smasher. Friday, June 30. — To-day the competition was in class 3, for the best combination of machinery for the cultivation of the soil by an ordinary agricultural engine, whether self-propelling or portable. The Howards used a four-furrow plough capable of being converted into a digger by removing the common breasts and putting on digging breasts, a five-tined cultivator, steam harrow and drill, and their roundabout tackle. Fowler & Co. , a four-furrow plough or digger, a four- tined cultivator, harrow and drill, and roundabout tackle. Amies & Barford, their roundabout tackle, three-furrow plough or digger, seven-tined cultivator, steam harrows and roller, and Campain's anchors. Barrows &: Steward, plough and cultivator, with their roundabout tackle. In this class the judges used a i2-horse Clayton & .Shuttleworth engine for all the above competitors, which made the work slow. Saturday, July i. — The competition in class 3, and also in the implement classes, not finished under both sets of judges, and in the afternoon the " traction-engine race " began, which threw the other trials in the background. A goodly number entered competitors, but only a few came up to the startir and fewer still reached the winning post. The race- ;e was measured out on the ploughed fields, head- lands and lanes at Barnhurst. Aveling & Porter's 6- horse engine went the round in 22 minutes ; Ransome, & Head's 8-horse Thomson in 24 minutes ; Bur- rell's 8-horse Thomson in 28 ; and Aveling & Porter's lo-horse engine in 29 minutes. The race is to be resumed on Monday, July 3 ; and the " Derby Day," from Wolverhampton to Stafford and back, comes off Thursday, July 6. Monday, yuly 3. — The great attraction of the day IS the steam-horse race at Barnhurst. As stated above, a course, 316S yards in length, was staked out. 1 many sharp turnings, dips, and soft places, to the vain that had fallen since Saturday. On that day the judges decided that the waggons should be loaded according to the discretion of the owners, , few Derby Day jokes were passed as to the capabilities of the racers, and how they would show their paces here and there on the racecourse. Accord- ingly the waggons were loaded with "pigs," — "legiti- mate pigs of the Black Country." The morning pro- mised badly, but eventually the weather cleared up a little. Much precious time was spent in going through the routine preliminary testing of the engines, with which most of our readers are familiar. At length the judges gave the orders to start, and the racers took precedence in the order of their merit on Saturday, a safe distance being kept between competitorr. The test of merit being time, the number of minutes and even of seconds which the engines took to go over marked distances was carefully noted. On the order of the judges to start No. 7002 in the catalogue reached the ears of " Little Tom " (Aveling & Porter's 6-horse engine), away it started, amidst the acclamation of visitors, farmers, and scientific men, who had come long distances to see the race — one lady, we were told, drove from Ipswich by steam. But to the more interest- ing facts of the case. The engine, weighingwith coals and water 5 tons 4 cwt. 2 qr., started at 2.25 P.M., drawing a load of 5.^ tons, including the pigs and waggon. For soft ground the wheels were armed with clips and spikes, and on turning into the roads and lanes this armour was taken off. These shiftings occasioned some delay, but the winning-post was reached in 52 minutes. As soon as " Little Tom " was seen coming up the last field, "Sutherland" (Ransome, Sims & Head's engine) started — 7 minutes past 3 P.M. ; weight of the engine, 10 tons 64 cwt. ; load, 5 tons. Now came the test of the rubber wheels, but not long, for before the engine had gone 100 yards the indiarubber tires proved their unfitness for soft wet ground. "Poor Sutherland!" was heard from different points of the compass, whilst the opposite was louder in favour of a little auxiliary assistance being all that was needed. Accordingly, planks, chains, jacks, and the thousand and one engineering appliances under such circumstances, were tried, but in vain. In spite, however, of the odds against the wheel as at present armed, the efforts the engine made getting out of one difficulty into another astonished everybody, and when the tyres got upon the hard road the engine snorted triumph in the face of its rivals. There is nothing to hinder rubber wheels being armed with clips, spikes, or other contrivances, so as to carry them through soft ground with as much ease as Aveling &. Porter's or Burrell's. When the winning-post became hopeless to " Sutherland," BuiTcU'ssecond engine started, 4 minutes past 4 P.M., with a load of 7 tons. The tyres of the wheels of this engine are armed with "shoes" or "paddles," which take a better hold of the ground than clips with spikes. The weight of Burrell's 8-horse engine is 64 tons, and with its extra load it reached the winning-post at 5.6 P.M., having thus run the course in 62 minutes. Aveling & Porter's long engine, weighing 84 tons, started at 6.35 P.M., with two waggons, the total weight of the load being this was found too much, but on reducing the load to 9 tons it completed its journey in 60 minutes. Both the engines of this firm called forth the loudest approbation. The shoes are taken off the wheels when they get upon a hard road. ».!#>«/.— The three fields at the New Buildings Farm, occupied by Mr. Darlington, were plotted out on Monday, and, according to the programme, the engines and windlasses were to be weighed on the public weighbridge at the Shropshire Union Railway and Canal Stone prior to proceeding on the same day to take up their positions on the above fields, so as to be ready to complete the competition for Lord Vernon's cup and the other prizes not settled. Very little pro- gress, however, was made in this direction on Monday. Tuesday, July 4.— The morning and evening were fine, but from 1 1 A. M. to well through the afternoon it rained heavily without intermission. Very few engines and implements were on the trial-ground when we left at 4 P. M., but the three fields were taken pos- session of, and the Messrs. Fowler & Co., who were again first in position on the more distant and hilly field — the judges having placed them on the steepest and most undulating ground of the heavy land — were finishing the turning cultivator trial, actu.ated by two 20-horse engines, one on the top of the hill, and the other on the farther headland below. Prior to this they had finished the ploughing with the same engines, making excellent work abut 9 inches deep. The cultivator was set to the same depth. The ground is, perhaps, too wet and soft on the surface for the cultivator ; but it is in fine condition for ploughing, the furrow-slice turning up beautifully. The soil is a stiff" red tenacious clay, working as freely as at Christmas. In this respect the contrast between the steam-plough trials at the Wolverhampton meeting, and those at the Leicester meeting, is very remarkable. In 1868 the dust at the gateways was over the shoes, and blinding with the least breeze of wind. In 1871 straw is being used in the showyard under the waggon wheels, whilst at the gateways in the field people will require to take care of their shoes, or they will leave them behind them. It is, however, to the state of the land in the fields that we wish to turn attention. How different is the resistance which the furrow-slice pre- sents to the implement and the motive-power ! At Leicester farmers complained that the land was too dry and burnt up to exemplify a fair state of steam- culture, the same complaint cannot be raised at Wolverhampton. Go to the Stafford trials, and you will see a condition of land closely resembling that of your own land when the greater area of your farm should be cultivated by steam — say from October to March, and as often April. It is true that the subsoil in many places, as at Bamhouse, is un- sound, and that in such places it ought not to be brought to the surface, but that is only the greater reason why the unsound bottom should be subsoiled until it is thoroughly washed ; and the current season is unusually favourable for subsoiling, breaking pan, and washing land through the instramentality of steam- culture ; and although that opinion may not yet be general, the heavy land at Stafford, as well as the light land at Barnhurst, requires subsoiling and wash- ing, and those who are interested as purchasers should examine the different operations accordingly. Messrs. Fowler & Co., for example, are ploughing the land fully as deep as it can be done with profit, and when they come to try their deep ploughs, turning up other 6 inches of the raw subsoil, Mr. Darlington, like Mr. Taylor, last week, may justly conclude "that is not a profitable lesson in steam culture." On occasions like these annual trials, losses like the present cannot easily be avoided. The practical objection is, that the two tenants who are thus loser, ought to have ploughed their land before now with steam, subsoiling the bottom, and adding gradually to the depth of the staple. And in all cases where subsoiling is necessary, this should be practised with greater assiduity than it now is. Practically speaking, subsoiling, extracting stones, and the like, have not been tried this year as they ought to have been tried, so as to exemplify to farmers how the work ought to be done. Of course any omission that has taken place does not lie at the door of the Leed's firm, but the contrary, for they exhibit implements both for subsoiling and extracting stones. There is one practical lesson which Fowler & Co. teach, that merits special notice, and that is, how to plough and cultivate very hilly land, viz., by dividing the land at the top or ridge of the hill, plouging and cultivating first the one side and then the other. And they further teach how a 20-horse engine can be got to the top of a hill when the land is in a very soft and wet state, and also how to cultivate a steep hill- side when much undulated. The tracks of the engines going up and over the hill, and along the opposite headlands, must have struck everybody who visited the grounds to-day with the triumph of engineering skill aver all natural difficulties that lie in the way. And the manner the workmen got into position, and the way they afterwards held the balance-plough and the turning cultivator under all the circumstances of the case, including the pelting rain, proved how thorougUy they had acquired the art of steam-culture in all its details. Throughout the whole of the trials on the light land farms, the working staff of the Messrs. Fowler & Co. were universally admired for the ease and rapidity with which they get their engines and implements into position, and back again to the depots when the work was finished ; and also how few break- ages and mishaps attended their labours. Like skilful experienced workmen, success came natural to their hands wherever they turned themselves. They have, in short, got over an apprenticeship which the other competitors would do well to study with the We add to our report the following clever account of the "steam-horse xnce," itom \.\\e Birmingham Daily Gazelle oi ]n\y i^:— ' ' We have been assured from influential quarters for some time past, that the introduction of the Thomson road steamer, with indiarubber tyres, would entirely revo- lutionise the road traffic of this country ; that railways need no longer be made through thickly populated dis- tricts, for that the road locomotive would supply a better and cheaper substitute ; that the flexible tyre, by the enlarged area of its grip on the road, would not only and still more, that the new invention would sweep away all other systems of steam cultivation from the face of the earth, for that any farmer would find it answer his purpose to buy a neat little engine that, at a small expense of fuel, would thresh, grind, saw, cut chaff and roots, plough and cultivate his land, to say nothing about carting his corn in harvest, and afterwards carting it to market, better and July 8, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. cheaper than horses, and much more economically than the present cumbrous system of windlasses, ropes, anchors, and pulleys, which cost so much to buy, to repair, and to keep in order ; in fact, that it would be cheaper and quite as effective for one of these traction-engines to be yoked to a set of ploughs or cultivators, and thus pull them directly over the land, just as horses would do. " 'It is the last straw that breaks the camel's back,' and this last assertion was too much even for our credulity. ■We had listened with patience to the assertions about road traffic, and so on, but with the experiments of the Romain cultivator and the Boydell endless railway fresh in our recollection, we could not bring ourselves to believe in steam cultivation being efficiently and economically conducted by an engine walking over rough land, and pulling tillage implements behind it, Lord Dunmore's experience notwithstanding. "Messrs. Robey & Co., of Lincoln, had, however, entered for trial an 8-horse road steamer, and a 6-furrow plough adapted to be worked by it, by direct traction, and so we came to Wolverhampton unbelieving, yet anxious to see with our eyes how far the assertions, which to us had sounded so extravagant, had been borne out by the facts. "To our great disappointment, Messrs. Robey & Co. have not appeared at the trial ground to exhibit the new system of cultivation, but the road steamer, as a traction- engine, is entered in the competition for class 17, by two well-known makers. ' ' There is no doubt that considerable harm has been done by exaggeration of the merits of a very useful invention, for results falling short of expectations unduly raised do, perhaps, more to discredit an invention, by producing a reaction of popular feeling against it, than any amount of prejudiced hostility could produce. " The fine weather of last week having given place to a wet Sunday and showery Monday morning, some fears were enter- tained that the competition of traction- engines announced for 9 o'clock would have to be postponed. The day, however, bright- ened up, and after many delays had taken place, a traction-engine came up the road at last, followed, with some intervals between them, by five others. Then more delay took place in fetching coals and water, putting out fires and lighting them again, and so on, so that it was more than half- past 2 o'clock before the first could be started. The rule was that every competitor had to declare the weight he wished his engine to draw, and this being weighed out to him in pig iron, the engine was expected to pull it round the course the engines had run on Saturday. A plan of the course, with gradients, had been furnished to every competitor by the Society's engineers. "The first engine to start was Aveling & Porter's 6-horse agricultural locomotive engine, the same which ran round the mile and three-quarter course on Saturday in 22 minutes. lis price is ^'300. It has ordinary driving wheels, 5 feet high and 10 inches wide, to which, on soft land, are fastened angle-irons and spikes, to prevent slipping ; and on this occasion, the ground being wet and slippery, their aids were very necessary. It steers by worm and wheel motion from the driver's tank. The hind wheels are driven by the ingenious 'compensating motion,* or ' Jack in the box, ' as the men call it, which enables the outside wheel only to revolve in turning round a sharp corner, and checks the pace of the other in rounding a curve. The diameter of the cylinder is 7|-, and the stroke is 10 inches. The gross weight, including driver, coals, and 105 gall, of water, was 5 tons 4 cwt. The weight declared to be drawn was 5^ tons gross, including the waggon which carried the pig-iron. At 2.35 the start was made, and after a few stoppages on the bad places of the road, the little engine came in again at 3.27, having done the distance in 52 minutes. " But before the first engine returned the next was started ; this was Head & Thomson's patent farm steamer, manufactured by Ransomes, Sims & Head. "It has an upright boiler with globular copper pot in the fire-box, two vertical cylinders overhead, 6 inches in diameter, and the stroke of the pistons is 10 inches. It has three wheels, with indiarubber tyres, those of the two drawing wheels being 5 feet diameter, 15 inches by 4^ thick. Weight, including coals, water, &c., was 10 tons 6\ cwt., and the load drawn was 5 tons. The engine started at 3.6, and it was soon seen that the rubber tyre was no match for the spiked or spudded iron wheel on wet slippery land. Once or twice the waggon had to be disconnected and chains used to pull the load along. Attendants with planks were frequently in requisition to prevent the smooth wheels from slipping round. At last the crucial point was reached— the engine had to descend into a sort of pit, and having done so it seemed quite impossible that it could ever get out again with its load. " The waggon was unfastened, but the engine had to be jacked up and planks used before it could get out of the hole and on to level ground. " To add to the miseries of the situation, a violent thunderstorm came pitilessly down, and drove most of the spectators to seek any shelter they could. " Mr. Head, however, stuck manfully to his engine, and after some time succeeded in hauling the wagon out of its difficulty. Before, however, he had done so, and, in fact, before the rain came down, Mr. Burrell's S-horse engine, with ordinary wheels, dragging 7 tons of load, came into the field, ran down the pit side, and after vigorously trying the impossible feat of going up the hill with the waggon, unhooked it, and having gained the level, pulled up its load with chains, and went on its way. and after having to unlimber again at a soft place in the next hedge, it got its waggon through at last, and reached the goal, having run its course in 61 minutes. "The road steamer followed after some time, but found it quite impracticable to take its load home, so left it in the field. ' ' What made the misfortunes worse was that they happened under the very eyes of Lord Dunmore himself, and other influential friends of the road steamer. Mrs. Thomson, the wife of the. patentee, was also present, and also a lady who had just travelled from Ipswich 170 miles with her husband in a carriage drawn by a similar engine, "The lo-horse engine of Messrs. Aveling & Porter next went round the course. It is similar to the smaller engine, but its driving-wheels are 6 feet by 18 inches ; piston, 10 inches diameter and 12 inches stroke ; weight, II tons 4 cwt.; load, 9 tons gross, in two carriages. It ran round with hardly a stoppage, except to disconnect at the pit, and got home again in 61 minutes. "This finished the trial, as Messrs. Tuxford & Sons withdrew ; as did also Mr. Burrell, as regarded his road- LABOURERS' COTTAGES. The following design for a pair of cottages is contri- buted by Mr. Bailey Denton, jun. It will probably be recognised by many of our observant readers as an old friend in a new dress. There is a proverb which says, that there is "nothing new under the sun ;" and Mr. Denton reminds us that the original idea portrayed in A VALUATION OF MANURES. [The following report, by Dr. A, Cameron, Dublin, has been published. It was addressed to the Secretary of the Queen's County Agricultural Society, which has shown the good example of protecting the interests of its members and sub- scribers by submitting samples of the manure they purchase to an analytical chemist.] 1 HAVE altered the money values which I formerly attached to certain of the ingredients of artificial manures. These changes will be best understood by reference to the following Table : — MoNEv Values of the Constituents of Manures. Biphosphate Phosphate of Sulphate of li Valu Fig. 1S9, ND AND CHAMBER PLANS. this drawing was derived from the design usually called "the Leeds plan," for which Messrs. Ross & Richardson, of Darlington, most deservedly received a prize in 1861. It has, however, undergone con- siderable alteration ; both the ground and chamber floor plans have been re-arranged, and the elevation and details of construction have been altered and modi- fied, and, Mr. Denton hopes, improved. The agreeable appearance of the front elevation (fig. 188) has always attracted landowners, who have also appreciated the very convenient character of its internal accommoda- The roomy n, scullery, and pantry open into lobby, from which also springs tnder the s (fig. 1S9). There closet The cubical space contained within the cottages is as follows :— Living-room, 1200 feet; scullery, 672 feet ; pantry, 196 feet; fuel store, 126 feet; lobby, stair- case, closet, and landing, 982 feet ; parent's bed-room, 881 feet ; second bed-room, 722 feet ; third bed-room, 525 feet, which together make a total of 5304 feet cube. The cottages have varied considerably in price ; in fact, from /300 in Wiltshire, to ,^200 in Shropshire per pair ; but we may state that the average cost, with- out outbuildings and fencing, has been .^285 the pair. They have been erected under the superintendence of Messrs. Bailey Denton, Son & North, in many parts of England — amongst others on the Combermere Estate in Cheshire, the Cheswardine Hall Estate in Shrop- shire, the Walton Hall Estate in Yorkshire, the Henlow Grange Estate in Bedfordshhe, and the Belmont Estate in Herefordshire. Ammonia. — This year manufacturers have not been able to procure ammonia at less than ^66 per ton, whilst some of them have paid during the present jf So per ton of this substance. As, however, any farmer can buy sulphate of ammonia at ;£'20 per ton (vide "prices current"), and as that salt contains 25 per cent, of ammonia, it is evident that the chemist would not be justified in placing a higher value than .^80 per ton on Soluble Phosphates. — Superphosphate of lime is now produced of better quality than was formerly the case ; instead of containing from 20 to 25 per cent, of soluble phosphates, it now includes from 25 to 35 per cent, of soluble phosphates. As the price of this manure has been somewhat reduced, and as its composition has undergone improvement, I have decided to value biphosphate of lime at £Tf> per ton, instead of, as formerly, ^36 per ton. I would place a higher value on it were it not that the sulphate of lime with which it is associated is valued at 30J. per ton. Soluble phosphate of lime is prepared by acting upon insoluble phosphate of lime by means of sulphuric or muriatic acid. Whether obtained from bones, or guano, or from coprolites, and similar stony substances, soluble or biphosphate of lime is equally valuable to the farmer. It cannot, however, be produced so cheaply from guano or bones as from coprolites and other mineral phosphates ; but that is a matter which concerns the producer, and not the consumer of soluble phosphates. The artificial manure manu- facturer can purchase phosphate of lime at less than £% per ton in coprolites, whereas he cannot obtain it for less than .,^8 loj. per ton in the form of bones. But why make soluble phosphates from bones? Bone soluble phosphate is pre- cisely the same thing as coprolite soluble phosphate. No chemist could discover the slightest difference between them, for there is none. Therefore, even in " bone superphosphates," all the soluble phosphates should be derived from a mineral source or from bone-ash, whilst all the insoluble phosphates should be in the form of bone, or of soft guano. There may be practical difficulties in the way of producing a manure all the soluble phos- phates in which would be derived from minerals, and the insoluble phosphates from animal substances ; but the difficulties are not insuperable, and until they are overcome, a bone manure cannot be made as cheaply as a compound of equal value prepared from mineral superphosphate and sulphate of ammonia. hisoluble Phosphates. — The farmer can purchase earthy phosphates (insoluble phosphates of lime and magnesia) at /lo per ton in bone-ash or bones (allow- ing for the amount of ammonia yielded by the latter). I, therefore, value the insoluble phosphates in manures at ,j^ 10 per ton. I am aware that when farmers buy insoluble phosphates in the form of guano they pay more than £,\o per ton for it, even when the dealer only makes a legitimate profit by the sale of the article. In some guanos, no doubt, the phosphates are probably in so fine a state of division that they would dissolve more readily in the soil than the phosphates in bone-ash (burnt bones) ; but still I am of opinion that the earthy phosphates should be sold retail at the rate of;if 10 per ton, and at that price farmers may procure them in bones and bone-ash. Insoluble phosphate of lime is of but little, if any, value when it is a constituent of coprolites and dense minerals, such as phosphorite, &c. Manures which contain only from ^ per cent, to a mere trace of ammonia, and from 25 to 35 per cent, of soluble phosphates, are made from minerals or bone-ash. In the former case their insoluble phosphate is of no use ; The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 8, 1871, in the latter it is valuable. Now, practically, it would be impossible to determine whether the insoluble phosphates in a manure are derived from bone-ash or minerals, and therefore I think it the better plan to value uniformly the insoluble pliosphate in all kinds of manure at £ 10 per ton. It will, however, be found that the money value of the high-class so-called mineral superphosphates is but very little influenced by the value placed upon the amount of insoluble phos- phates which they contain. In valuing the manures analysed for the Queen's County Agricultural Society, I think it an excellent plan to value the more important ingredients sepa- rately. By this method it will be seen to what extent the amount of ammonia or soluble phosphate influences the total value of the article. By studying these figures the intending purchaser may easily determine the rela- tive values of the different manures as sources of I must now state that the money value which I have placed upon each manure now reported upon refers to its sale in Dublin ; therefore your members cannot expect that its money value will not be increased by Sy. or \os. per ton when it is sold in the towns in the Queen's County. Vou may, therefore, add, say \os. per ton to the money value which I have aftixed to each manure. Let it be clearly understood that when my value of a manure equals its selling, price, the purchaser of it may rest satisfied that he is getting the maximum amount of value for his money. The manures which 1 have this year examined for you are, on the whole, very good. The superphos- phates are, with but very few exceptions, vei7 rich in soluble phosphates. You have only sent me one specimen (No. l) of nitrogenous guano, and that I find to be extremely rich in ammonia. I notice, however, that there is a large amount of volatile ammonia con- tained in this manure, and I would therefore recom- mend the purchasers of it to mix it immediately with a little oil of vitriol, or with mineral superphosphate of lime, either of which will "fix" the ammonia. One manure (No. 20) contains nearly 41 per cent, of soluble phosphate, and no insoluble phosphate. No. 28, on the contrary, contains 12.23 P" ce"'- of soluble phosphates, and no less than 40.56 per cent, of insoluble phosphates. The addition of sulphuric acid in sufficient quality would have rendered No. 28 a very valuable manure. I regiet to state that the specimens of Peruvian guano which I have analysed this season are, with few exceptions, very inferior to former years' importation. Indeed, this manure is now .very often not worth the price demanded for it, and I would not recommend farmers to purchase it unless it is guaranteed to con- tain at least 1 1 per cent, of ammonia. I must also caution your members relative to the potash manure termed kainit, of which there are many spurious samples at present in the market. gome Correspondence. Mr. Morgan's Decimals. — As Mr. Morgan began this controversy in your columns, I am sure you will allow me a small space for a reply to his last. It is a fact that Mr. Morgan owes his position as secretary of the company which I created — the Metropolitan Sewage Company — as well as his connection with sewage in any and every way, to me, and to me alone. It is also a fact that in 1865, although Mr. Morgan was, as he confesses, "ignorant of everything connected with practical sewage farming," I had already made a special study of the subject for five years. These facts I never should have alluded to, because of their personality, had it not been for another fact, and that is, that of all the causes operating to retard tlie utilisa- tion of sewage throughout the country, the chief cause is the obstructive inaction of the Metropolis Sewage Company ; for it is a common argument in the mouth cial :illor opposmg sewage irrigation, that it must have failed at Barking, other- wise the Company would have carried out the works. And, according to Mr. Morgan's figures, it has "failed at Barking "— utterly, hopelessly— for out of the 8j. a-head which the sewage is intrinsically worth, he declares, in effect, that he is oTjliged to waste -js. 61/. in order to save 6d. It has, therefore, unfortunately, become a national necessity that the complete worthlessness of Mr. Morgan's statements, and the unscientific fallacy of his decimals, should be authori- tatively exposed. I challenged him to submit our respective statements to the implement judges of the Royal Agricultural Society. He shirks my challenge, because his figures are purely imaginary, and he dare not face an investigation ; but I pledge myself to bring the matter before the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society as a question of the greatest possible importance. Meanwhile, your readers will no doubt hesitate to accept Mr. Morgan's figures. W. Hope, Parsloes, July I. Mr. Denton's Cottages.— The fair spirit shown by Mr. Makins m his criticism of our designs may well claim acknowledgment, for it is by such means that truth will be elicited and satisfactory results obtained. In the first place, I must remark that in the design specially alluded to by Mr. Makins — as well as in all others which we may, through your kindness, present for illustration in the Agri- cultural Gazelle — the regulations with regard to "space within the cottage" laid down by the judges of the cottage designs exhibited at the Royal Agri- cultural Society's show at Manchester in 1S69 (see p. 564, vol. v., part ii., of the second series of the Society's Journal), have been as far as possible observed. They are as follows : — Report of the Judges on Plans. " The judges, on entering upon their duties, determined that no design afforded sufficient space unless the floor of the living-room contained an area of 150 square feet, that of the parents' bedroom 100 feet, and those of the children's rooms 70 feet each ; while the height between the floor and the ceiling of the ground floor should not be less than 8 feet, and that of the bedrooms 7 feet 6 inches, thus affording a minimum breathing space in the living- room of 1200 cubic feet, in the parents' bedroom of 750 feet, in the children's bedrooms of 500 feet each. They considered that the 'arrangement and convenience' essential for the comfort of a labourer's family should include a scullery containing at least 550 cubic feet, a pantry with shelves, having a cubical area of at least 250 feet, and a cupboard for fuel within the dwelling, as well as a copper or galvanised iron boiler, either in the dwelling or in an adjoining outbuilding, together with proper privy or earth-closet ; water supply, includmg pump ; and a perfect drainage of the whole premises." By a comparison with these rules I find that, whereas the accommodation provided in our design is generally in accordance with the figures just quoted, the cubical contents in the third bedroom in Mr. Makins' design are 28 feet less than those fixed by the judges as the least that should be adopted. Again, with respect to the pantries : although our dimensions are somewhat smaller than those taken as a standard by the judges, we are afraid it will frequently be found in actual expe- rience that they are quite large enough for the limited supply of provisions they are intended to hold. The staircases, which Mr. Makins says are "narrow and awkwardly twisted," are of our ordinary width, and repeat, also, that it is I place the pantry in direct communication with the scullery, especially when a boiler is placed in that apartment, and washing is likely to be done there and not in an outbuilding. One more remark, and I have done. Mr. Makins calls attention, with some degree of pride, to the exceeding plainness of his design. I agree with him that convenience and economy should have the first consideration, but I must also add that we have found in practice that designs of cottages may be made too ugly, and that landowners consequently are deterred from erecting them, especially on residential estates, where an agreeable elevation has a certain monetary value. I hope that each specimen we tender will be criticised, and in the same spirit as that adopted by Mr. Makins. Permit me to say, in conclusion, that I think you will do great service to the agri- cultural interest if you succeed in presenting the cottage question in such a way as to elicit discussion on the several features which govern the cost. By such means we may get rid of delusion and arrive at facts. Arthur Bailey Denton (jor partners and self), 22, W/iitehall Place. Adulterated Oilcake. — The unexpected publica- tion in your journal of my letters to Dr. Voelcker of May 23 and 29, respecting some cake sold by auction by Mr. Watling, of Great Yarmouth, has caused that gentleman great annoyance, and me much pain, for having unintentionally occasioned it ; and I hope that, for both our sakes, you will publish this letter in your next edition. I did not purch.ase of Mr. 'Watling the cake referred to in my letter of April 23, but simply, at that gentleman's request, tried the effect of it upon my cattle, and afterwards sent some of it, by his desire, to Dr. Voelcker to be tested ; and in my answer of the 29th to the Doctor's question of " Who was the seller of the above-mentioned cake, and the price it was sold at ? " I answered that the price was ;^io per ton. Unfortunately I added, "but, finding it produced disease in many cattle that were fed with it, Mr. ■Watling sold the rest by auction," — which, Mr. Watling assures me, is altogether devoid of fact. Had I contemplated my letters being published, I should have sought further information before I replied. I now learn from Mr. Watling that no complaints were made of the cake up to the time of the auction ; nor, indeed, until two of the purchasers at it communicated their complaints to the auctioneers, except only one by a gentleman who had purchased some prior to the auction, and, as he did not press his complaint, Mr. Watling took his to be one of the many cases which he believes frequently occur, when well-fed beasts are put on a change of cake, and this was also the opinion of an eminent chemist who tested some which was sent him to analyse. Mr. Watling further assures me that he sold only a portion of the cake in question by auction, with two other parcels, simply because his stock was in excess of his requirements, and the season near a close, as he has been accustomed to do ; but he kept the remainder, and went on supplying his cus- tomers with it for nearly a fortnight after the auction, and until he learnt from the two auction purchasers the effects it had had on their cattle, and which (risking the loss of good customers) he would never have done had he known of what the cake was composed. It would seem, therefore, that the cake was bought and sold in ignorance of its deleterious composition, and I much regret that my letters should have raised a ques- tion regarding Mr. Watling's integrity in a matter which appears to have been conducted, on his part, without intention to do wrong to any one. George Varncll, Beech House, Belton, Suffolk, June 22. Crops in East Lothian.— The bean land 'Wheat is this year very luxuriant ; there are also some good fields after Turnips, particularly that portion sown iri spring. However, in this neighbourhood, the larger part of the Wheat crop is after Potatos, and it is both light and thin on the ground, the straw being short, with rather under-sized heads ; still, taking the crop as a whole, with good weather and a favourable harvest, it may uldmately prove an average. Bariey has every appearance of being a large crop. The earliest sown fields are now in ear, and the straw is of great length. Oats have rarely looked worse, being apparently diseased at the root, and throughout the county a good field is the exception. Beans are excellent, and at present are loaded with blossom. The Potato crop, as a whole, is highly promising, though on different farms there is almost a total failure on late-planted fields. It is said, where planting was interrupted for a fortnight iu April by the wet weather, the sets were lying cut, and thus became heated. Perphaps fully one-third part of the Turnip crop has been already smgled, at present it may be considered promising. Hay cutting has commenced, the Rye-grass is tall, but from the deficiency of Clover plants, the weight per acre will not exceed an average. Jttly 3. Cabbages.— In a recent number of the Agricultural Gazette, p. 782, there is an article on the cultivation of this most valuable food for the stock of the farmer, a record of the seven years' experience of the writer. He writes — "Have any of our readers discovered a plan for keeping Cabbages ? " I have had more than 20 years' experience of the value of this plant to the stock farmer, which has led to my considering it, if not the most valuable, at least of as great a value to him as any plant grown on a farm. I stated as much in my "Handy-book for Young Farmers" some 14 yeais ago, in which will be found, at p. 21 of the 2d edition, directions for the cultivation, which I had found suc- cessful. I have tried various modes of preserving Cabbages into the winter, the following I have found to be the most successfuL My Drumhead Cabbages are fully grown and ripe at Michaelmas, and are then nearly as solid and hard as a Turnip. Lift them any time before frost occurs after some drying weather ; cut off the stem an inch or two beyond the outer leaves with a bill-hook, and then place the Cabbage, stem upwards, on the surface between the rows (discarding any immature or inferior plants for present use), close in single line ; and then cover the row with earth takenfrom each side side in a dry state, 3 or 4 inches in thickness. Into these trenches any rain will drain off down the outer leaves. The natural constitution of Cabbage does not admit of its preservation like other roots exposed to alternate rains and frost after the end of October ; but mine, treated as above last year, formed most nutritious and useful food for mUch cows, &c., into January last. Much of the early success in setting out Cabbage plants depends on the use of the small 3-pronged hand-fork, as I haveexplained elsewhere, both in taking up the plants and re-planting them. Thrust in the fork below the roots, and loosen the soil, when the plants come forth easily -without breaking off the feeding mouths, and with some earth attached ; then the planter, with a similar fork or a trowel, loosens the earth, and lays in the plant flat, without drawing up- wards, as they are too apt to do. The plants so treated will hardly feel the removal, and will grow away freely. Never allow the plants to be pulled up, breaking oflT the material part of the root, and to be replaced with a setting-pin, the usual course, in a firm round hole. Every "setting-pin" ought to be burned. Charles Lawrence, June 26. Utilisation of Sewage. — Your correspondent " F. P." is a funny fellow, and must, I presume, have been educated in the Circumlocution Office. He writes to you to ask Mr. Mechi to ask me the yearly quantity and value of the sewage of Romford, which I receive on my farm of "Breton's." I much fear he is not the simple and innocent inquirer after truth that he assumes to be ; however, whether friend or foe, he is welcome to the information. " F. P." will find full details as to the town of Romford and Breton's Fai-m in the last Report of the British Association [London, John Murray], which contains tlie report of the com- mittee appointed at the meeting at Exeter to investi- gate this subject ; meanwhile I may assure him that the sewage of Romford does not average 100 tons per he.ad per annum. The population is estimated (the Census return is not yet published) at from 7000 to Sooo, and the average dry weather sewage at 247,000 gallons daily, equal in round numbers to 1 100 tons. This is received in tanks, where it is stored, so as to admit of the whole 24 hours sewage being pumped in a day of 10 hours, and of the Sunday's sewage being pumped on the Monday. " F. P." therefore never saw any statement of mine that the pump "was worked continuously night and day." 1 pay ;^6oo a year for July 8, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. the sewage. But the ai ingredients of the sewage lual value of the manunal or rather of the liquid and solid excreta of "man," excluding kitchen waste and wash-house and bed-room soapsuds, has been ascer- tained by numerous and careful researches to be about Ss. per head of a mixed population of men, women, and chUdren, just as the value of the mineral ingredients of the Uquid and solid excreta of sheep is about 5J. per head per annum. In other words, this is the market price that shrewd money-making farmers give for the same substances in other forms, although until they are reduced by rain to the same stale of solution as that in which they exist in sewage, they are of no use to vegetation. The value of the Romford sewage is, therefore— if the population is 6000, ;i2400 ; if the population is 7000, j^28oo; if the population is Sooo, £3200. But although I sewage some 20 or 30 acres of my neigh- bour's land, and about 115 — not 100 — of my own, I still have not land enough to work up the whole of the manure contained in the sewage. I am not responsible for having chosen the farm, which I consider altogeth( too small for the sewage of even 6000 people, purify, but I do not really utilise, the sewage of Romford. Finally, Mr. Editor, if " F. P." is ser and will bring a certificate from you that he is really an anxious inquirer after truth, he shall have every other information and assistance that I can give ' IV. Hope, Parslocs, July i. Whitfield, Edward, Oswestry, Salop. Williams, M. Dryton, Wroxeter, Shrewsbury, Salop. Williams. W. G., Bodulivyddan, St. Asaph. Willis, H. R. D'A., Budgefield House, Halewood, Liverpool. Wise, J. P., Rostellan Castle, Cloyne, Ireland. Woodward, F. Spooner, Blake House, Great Sahng, Braintree, Essex. Wright, Lyons, 24, Worcester Street, Wolverhampton. Yates, F. G., Iron Bridge, Salop. Yates, James, Atchley, Shifnal, Salop. ROYAL AGRICULTURAL OF ENGLAND. Monthly Council : Wednesday, July 5. — Pre- sent : Lord Vernon, President, in the chair ; the Duke of Devonshire, K.G. ; the Earl of Powis, Viscount Bridport, Lord Chesham, Lord Kesteven, Lord Trede- gar, the Hon. H. G. Liddell, M.P. ; Mr. Acland, M.P. ; Mr. Bowly, Mr. Cantrell, Colonel Challoner, Mr. Clive, Mr. Dent, M.P. ; Mr. Holland, Colonel Kingscote, M.P. ; Mr. Leeds, Mr. Masfen, Mr. Ridley, M.P. ; Mr. Shuttleworth, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Torr, Mr. Wells, M.P. ; and Professor Simonds. The following new members were elected : — Asterley, William Lloyd, The Pentief, Llanymynech, Oswestry. Bagnall, George, Draycot, Che.idle, Staffordshire. Baily, John, Python Hill, Mansfield, Nottingham. Baldwin, Wm. J. A., Dalton-in-Fumess, Lancaster. Barber, Richard, Harlescott, Shrewsbury. Bate, John Wm., Astol, Shifnal, Salop. Billington, J. S., Netherset Hey, Madeley, Staffordshire. Briggs, Thos., The Homestead, Richmond, Surrey. Brown, Charles, Park Hall, Leigh, Cheadle, Staffordshire. Brown, Richard, Ruyton Eleven Towns, Salop. Bulkeley, T. F. , Clewer Lodge, Windsor, Berks. Cannon, H. R., Nagpore, India. Carr, Wm., Dene Park, Tonbridge, Kent. Cottle, George, West Felton, Shrewsbury, Salop. Cope, T. Berwick, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton. Corbett, W. A., Dumbleton, Evesham, Gloucester. Davys, W. H. Campbell, Nenadd-fawr, Llandovery, Carmarthen. Elwell, Paul, Evehth Manor, Shifnal, Salop. Ford, John, Portland Lawn, Leamington. Ford, W. H., Merridals, Wolverhampton. Gibbon, Hy. J., Holmescales, Milnthorpe, Westmore- Gosling, J. W., Little Bradley Place, Newmarket, Suffolk. Griffin, Thos. J., Preston Vale Farm, Penkridge, Staf- Griffilhs, R. C., Park Farm, Broughton, Chester. HoUis, Edward, Steam MiUs, West Felton, Salop. Hope, Wm., Parsloes, Barking, Essex. Ironmonger, T., Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. Jones, G. Stow, Downham Market, Norfolk. Kempster, Wm., New Cuckett, Ellesmere, Salop. Kelsall, Thos., Bethsfield, Whitchurch, Salop. Langford, Wm., Cherbury Hall, Salop. Lloyd, David, The Hayes, Oswestry, Salop. Lyne, R. S., Compton, Winchester, Hants. Mackenzie, J. H. , Northwood, West Hoathley, Sussex. Menzies, G., Trentham, Stoke^jn-Trent, Staffordshire. Miller, J. N., Pathingham, Wolverhampton. Mytton, D. H., Garth, Welshpool, Montgomery. Neame, Edwin, Harefield, SeUing, Faversham, Kent. Nutt, John, FiUougby, Coventry. Pearson, J. C. Newbridge, Wolverhampton. Pooler, Hy., Calvington, Newport, Salop. Price, Andrew, Bagley. Ellesmere, Salop. Rigg, ]oseph, Fellongley, Coventry. Robinson, John T., Leckby Palace, Asenby, Yorkshire. launders, G. J., Oswestry, Salop. Smith. Henry, Hamage, Shrewsbury, Salop. Smith, Henry Wm., Evesham. Stanley, Hy., Yieldfields Hall, Bloxwich, Walsall, Staf- Stewart, M. J., Ardwell House, Stranraer, N.B. Strongilharm, G., Rushall, Walsall, Staffordshire. Taylor, Wm., Bamhurst, Tattenhall, Staffordshire. Tennant, James, Newstead, Nottingham. Thomas, Edward, The Cross, Oswestry, Salop. Thomas, Richard, The Buildings, Barchurch, Salop. Thomas, Thos. , Treprenal, Oswestry, Salop. Thompson, Wm., Walton, Stone, Staffordshire. Turner, E., M.P., Panton Hall, Wragby, Lincoln. Wall, Wm. H., Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Wallis, Robert, Stocksfield, Northumberland. Walters, Stanley, Blythbury, Rugeley, StaffonJshire. Wardle, Joseph, Old Fens Hall, Whitchurch, Salop. Walker, John, Oil Mills, Leamington. FraANCES.^Major-General Viscount Bridport (chair- man) presented the report, from which it appeared that the secretary's receipts during the past month had been duly examined by the committee, and by Messrs. Quilter, Ball & Co., the Society's accountants, and found correct. The balance in the hands of the bankers on June 30 was ;^2528 171. iI. i25rods of cuttinffat S*/. ;£4 3 9 2281 pipes at 22J. per 1000 2 10 3 Mains, labour and pipes ..100 Heading drains 010 Laying in pipes . .' .. . . o 10 o Cartage .. .. .. ..060 Total ^8 II o Estimated cost, -^-^ feet apart. 8a rods of cutting at 8(2. . . X2 13 4 1452 pipes at 22^. I 12 o Mains, labour and pipes .. .. .. ..100 Heading drains .. 010 Laying in pipes 068 Total £1 17 o 4. The advantages ol-tained qxq so clear, that I need hardly take up your time much longer. That there is a considerable mcrease in the crop, and especially in wet seasons, is quite certain. To speak positively of the increased value from draining on pasture land is a much more difficult task ; one can keep the produce of an acre of corn separate, but to say how much more weight of grass or extra quality in the grass is not quite so easy. I can, however, give you some data that it does pay to drain and improve marshes, and I shall give these results for what they are worth, because, besides draining, there have been other improvements made. In 1S49 I had the management of 400 acres of marsh land ; the land was all undrained, and more or less covered with rushes and ant-hills. The produce of wool for the first seven years 1849 to 1S56 {before the land was drained) averaged yearly 25 pecks ; from 1856 to 1S63 (while the works were in operation) 31 pecks; from 1S63 to 1870 {since they were completed), 37 pecks ; being an increase of 12 pecks; and, as £\() has been the average price for the last seven years, the increased value has been ;i^228 per annum. I think the produce of wool almost a better guide than that of mutton on such an occupation, because the returns from sheep vary so much both as to prices made and the mode of grazing. I am, however, bound to say that owing to the drought of 1868 and 1S70, the returns for the last three years have been less than for any year since 1S49 ; and although the land is improved the loss has been considerable, indeed no human power can withstand the effects of such seasons, and we must bend to the will of One who ordains all for the best. But from the closest observation I have made, I have not found that the drained marshes have suffered more from drought than the undrained. We have had for the last three years a less downfall of rain than for many years. I find the average has been (taken three miles from Sittingbourne, and 156 feet above the sea level) not quite 22 inches, whereas for the 20 years previous to lS68 the average was 274 inches. We have, therefore, about l$h inches due to give us the same average for 23 years. The consequence is, out marshes and grass lands have suffered much from the want of water, and they do not recover. Vet the cold stiff uplands never looked better. Why is this? Because they have had no excess of wet, and are enjoying natural drainage. As we cannot very well store our superfluity of winter water, we must look forward to devising some plan of irrigating our marshes by water supplied from artesian wells ; and I hope the time is not far distant before some trials will be made. The expense of getting the water does not appear to me so great an obstacle as the cost of preparing the surface for irriga- tion, for our marshes lie very irregular. In speaking of storing water, a valuable member of this Chamber (who is not able to attend to-day) named to me yester- day the importance of some better steps being taken on the. hill districts to provide reservoirs for the winter water, either in large ponds or tanks. The cost of sending miles for water has been very great to many of the farmers on the hills. One other advant- age is that the temperature of a wet district must be improved by a good system of deep drainage. All writers agree that the evaporation of water adds greatly to the coldness, both above and beneath the surface, and especially of a retentive soil. And as regards the importance of climate, I can give you a very good illustration. In 1859 I sowed the same sort of Wheat on two farms, one in Sheppy, the other at Frinsted. Both crops were harvested as well as the year 1S60 would allow. The produce of both was sold in the same week in November, i860; one realised about 6^. per qr., the other 34^., and yet the distance, as a crow flies, was barely 18 miles. I do not say that you can expect to have the same climate at Frinsted as in Sheppy, but I do believe that the temperature of a large district like the Weald will be much improved by drainage. I shall conclude by saying that 1 do not see why draining, if done effectively, should not last from 50 to 100 years. I produce two pipes which have been taken up from two marshes, and which have been in the ground nearly 20 years. Although the bore is only i\ inch, you will observe there is hardly any deposit handed round to the member: examined attentively.] Discussion. The Chairman said he was sure they had all heard with great satisfaction the exhaustive and valuable paper of Mr. Webb, and it was almost a pity to detract from it by reading anything more, but he had a paper by Mr. Frederick Neame, who, he was sorry to say, was unable to be present, but who would be very pleased if they would allow his paper to be read, which would further elucidate the views expressed by Mr. Webb. He would therefore call upon the Secretary to read it. The Secretary accordingly read Mr. Neame's paper, as follows : — " Macknade, Faversham, June 23, 1871. " Dear Sir, — I am sorry to be prevented attending the meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Agriculture to be held to-morrow, to support our Honourable Chairman and to listen to the paper which Mr. Webb has so kindly undertaken to read on Land Drainage. It is a subject so important, one in which those who own land, those who occupy land, and those who consume the produce of the land, are much interested, because by good drainage, followed by good cultivation, the produce of the land is much increased. I also feel that our honourable chair- man and the gentlemen who have undertaken to read a paper before the Chamber are entitled to look for the support of the members ; without a good attendance of members the papers lose much of their interest to those who take the trouble to prepare them, and indeed for this reason (which I feel to be a very strong one), as my absence is unavoidable, I venture to offer a few remarks on the subject for discussion. " A few simple observations will, I think, satisfy many persons that deep draining— by which I mean drains cut 4 feet deep — must be more effective than shallow drains — by which I mean drains cut 2 feet (except on very tenacious clays) — the shallow drains scarcely draining the land that is tilled, the deep drains draining the land that is tilled and the subsoil also. When the land remains saturated with wet the roots of plants are deterred from entering it, or if they enter they perish. The evil lies generally deeper than .the vegetation. The hmit is not beyond our reach, at any rate we should endeavour to approach it. As the subsoil becomes drained the roots of plants perforate it more freely, and where the roots can go the water can follow, and by degrees the subsoil becomes porous ; but a very dry season is very desirable after land draining on very stiff land, for the purpose of opening the subsoil and ren- dering it porous. After wet seasons, treading heavy land by horses (especially in wet weather) often prevents the drains working so effectually as they othenvise would do. There is a doubt about deep draining on what we term very hard tenacious clays, which still exists among many eminent practical drainers. My own opinion is that deep draining should be the rule, and shallow draining the judicious exception. By deep draining there is no fear of the drains being stopped by deep cultivation, and less fear of their being stopped or interfered with by roots of Hops, or roots of Elm, Ash, or other trees. As the steam-plough renders all stiff land more pliable, there is not that fear of the pores of the earth being stopped as there is by horse cultivation. In fact, I almost incline to think that where the steam-plough is used deep drains will become a necessity, and as steam-ploughing is most useful on the heavy lands so deep draining must be adopted on them. " The facility of obtaining money for land draining and dividing the repayment over a number of years is worthy of consideration. " I was in hopes I might have been present to agree with the remarks Mr. Webb may make, or to have dis- cussed any points wherein we may differ. " I trust to the kindness of the meeting to receive this from one who wishes prosperity to the Chamber of Agriculture. " I remain, dear sir, yours faithfully, "Frederick Neame. " George Slater, Esq." Mr. MuRTON proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Webb for his paper. Mr. Webb had given great attention to the subject, and he thought no one could but agree with the main points of his address. In proposing a vote of thanks, therefore, he would suggest that the paper should be printed and published, in order that members of the Chamber might have the opportunity of reading it at their leisure. Mr. Dowker seconded, and concurred in the sugges- tion that the paper should be printed and circulated among the members of the Chamber. With regard to Mr. Webb's remarks, he entirely agreed with him. He could have wished Mr. Webb had said more about drain- ing the marsh land, because in this part of the county they were highly favoured as to arable land, for they had land requiring as little drainage as any other part of Kent with the exception of gravel soils. In the Weald it was of course very different. But they had a considerable quantity of marsh land ; and he was perfectly satisfied, and had been so for some years, that no land whatever in East Kent, would pay better for cultivation and drainage than marsh land. Some persons were of opinion that marsh land could not be drained without its drying up in dry sum- mers, but he must say that his experience of marshes which had been drained was the very reverse. Where land was very wet in winter time, it would be found to be all the more burnt up in summer time. Grass roots could not penetrate stiff soils ; but if the land was more deeply cultivated, it would produce better grass. In many marshes he knew, before they were drained they grew nothing but coarse water -grass, which perished in the summer heat, but the same marshes when drained pro- duced much finer and better grass. He considered they were all much indebted to Mr. Webb for his interesting and able paper. Sqo The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 8, 1871. COOLE AND MARSHLAND. Eeonomkal Management of Farmyard Manure— \i a late meeting of this Chamber of Agriculture, Mr. J. Wells in the chair, a paper was read on this subject by Mr. Conder, of Pontefract. He said : — This subject has an additional interest at present, when the question "How to prevent the pollution of our rivers by sewage from our large cities and towns " has become one of the great problems of the day. Every English farmer must deplore the waste occasioned by the present system of water carriage of sewage. It therefore must be a matter of some interest to us to discuss how best to conserve and how most judiciously to use the ordinary manure made on the farm. There is no doubt the system most generally pursued may be improved upon — in the fold first, by more carefully muting the different constituents together, so as to secure greater uniformity in quality ; then, by the pre- vention of waste occasioned by filtration or evaporation, by employing the means which chemistry has made known to fix that valuable but highly volatile sub- stance, ammonia. To secure this end, foldyards entirely covered over are prefer.able to open yards ; but when, on account of the money outlay necessarily involved, these cannot be had, the next best thing is to prevent the rain-water off the roofs of surrounding buildings from washing the most valuable portions of the manure out of the yard. Buildings should be carefully spouted, and the water conducted away in channels or drains under the surface. Another essential point is the application of gypsum, or some other chemical compound, in the stables, cow-bins, piggeries, &c., which will not only prevent any unpleasant smell, but will also fix the ammonia that is otherwise constantly escaping. By using gypsum or sulphate of lime (calcined, of course), this may be effected [This is very questionable. Ed.] ; also, by laying hold of the liquid portion of the deposits it will materially increase the value of the manure. Gypsum should therefore be liberally applied, not only inside the stables, &c., but occasionally over the whole foldyard. Where this calcined gypsum is difficult to procure, the principle of Moule's earth closet may be adopted, and dry clay, finely pulverised, ashes, or charcoal of any kind may be used with a good result. Thus the health of animals kc])t indoors will be improved by purifying the air they breathe, and a much larger percentage of fertilising matter will be secured in the manure. Some writers on the subject recommend that foldyards should be carefully paved with bricks, and so formed that the liquid portions may be drained off into a large tank, to be afterwards pumped out and carted on the grass s\vard or other green crops. In some speci.al cases perhaps this plan may be profitable, such, for instance, as where a large number of cows are kept for dairy purposes, or in any other establishment where large numbers of horses or other live stock are kept, and the most rigid economy in the use of straw has to be practised. But it may be questioned whether on farms where all the straw produced has to be consumed on the premises if liquid manure tanks are of any real value, and if the plan already described of absorbing the urinary deposits is not much preferable. The same principle should be carefully carried out when the manure is taken away from the farmstead. The system so common in some districts should be avoided. There is still sometimes to be seen in this country a process somethmg like the following : Manure is being carted out from the farmstead. You observe that it has the appearance of half-rotten straw ; little oilcake, corn, or roots have been consumed on the steading, and the most valuable portion has been allowed to run off down the surface drains from the fold. Thus made it is carted out into some bye-lane, perhaps alongside an open ditch, then lightly thrown out with forks to encourage fermentation. Thus the ammonia evapo- rates from the top as the steaming vapour arises, and at the bottom the liquid portion is being drained away as the heavy rains penetrate completely through the heap, and literally wash out its most valuable constitu- ents, its very life-blood. No wonder this treatment, when applied to the soil, fails to give the result the farmer looks for. This part of the subject has often been matter of discussion among practical agri- culturists, and among a variety of modes considered, the following has been most generally approved : In- stead of the manure being thrown out of the carts as lightly as possible, the cart is driven on the top of the heap, then upturned and emptied. If near the homestead, a man is usually employed with a kind of drag to pull the lumps about, keeping the surface of the heap level, building tliree sides quite perpendicular, and allowing a slope at one end for the earl to ascend and return. This prevents tlic heap from such rapid fermentation and consequent loss of strength, and pre- serves its most valuable properties for the cereal crops usually following the root crops to which such manure is applied. The heap should then be covered with some soil, ditch bottom or road-scrapings being gene- rally available, if with a coat of gypsum, so much the better. The preferable plan is to cart the dung direct from the steading, and apply it to the land previous to the winter ploughing. This plan, however, can only be adopted to a limited extent, as it necessitates ' keeping of one year's stock of dung ready for the next nn, when the state of the weather and the press of farm work might prevent it being applied. W'hen it considered necessary that the dung should be reduced to a shorter and more pulverised condition, this end can be attained by simply turning over the heap formed as before described two or three weeks before it is ntended for use. A quantity of gypsum should again be applied to the top after being turned. It is of com- paratively little importance whether the dung thus prepared is applied to the soil spread evenly over the surface, or, as it is most commonly applied, in drills or ridges, the great end having been secured, namely, the conservation of its most valuable constituents, and a large increase in the percentage of those valuable gases that cause rapid and luxuriant vegetation. Some atten- tion should be bestowed on the place where the dung- is formed. If not carted into a field, the bottom should be so formed that the liquid portion cannot be drained from the heap — this, on most soils, can easily be effected. [n further reference to the application of manure the field, there are several principles upon which s necessary to act. The soil must be in proper con- ion, not in a soft wet state, so as to be compressed by the feet of the horse or the wheels of the dung-cart. On the lightest and most friable of soils, some injury would be done ; but on heavy clays and loams it would be an act of great folly to cart manure while the soil remained in a wet condition. The question, whether or not manure loses value by being allowed to remain on the surface after being read, and whether it suffers by being applied when e earth is bound up with frost and covered with snow, during intense heat and drought, by being exposed the wind and sun — these topics have been discussed both by practical and scientific men, and have elicited 'ons diametrically opposed to each other. One is of opinion that if manure is only spread on the surface, the deodorising power of the soil is so great, it will absorb all the ammonia, nitrogen, &c., that it contains, and that nothing more is necessary. In this case, the mechanical action of the manure in preventing com- pression, in opening and pidyerising, to Tise a common ;e, in mellowing the soil in which it mixes, is overlooked. Another tells us confidently that frost 10 effect at all detrimental to the value of manure spread on the surface- -that it lays hold only on the ;ure contained in it, and extracts nothing but water. Practice has shown that manure applied while in a of fermentation and rapid decomposition, during either of the extremes of weather mentioned, does suffer in some degree — does lose some portion of its value ; a great deal depends on the state in which it is pplied, and of the agencies of evaporation at work *'hen so exposed. The point to be aimed at in all applications of manure is to bring it into immediate itact with the soil as soon as possible. It is the itom in many districts to cart out manure and lay it small heaps over the fields, and in this way it is netimes left for weeks previous to being spread over the surface. There can be no objection to this mode of laying it on the land, but the practice of allowing it inain is unwise, as in this case a very large propor- of surface is exposed, which, not coming into con- tact with the soil, as a matter of course is allowed to ste its sweetness on the desert air." In deciding eeu the relative advantages of manure being applied on the surface or under the surface of the soil, ;St not be forgotten that farmyard manure, while state of decomposition, is constantly giving off a in amount of heat, whether in the soil or not ; it follows, therefore, as a natural consequence that, unless n immediate contact with the earth, or some other deodoriser, it must lose value in some degree. But while strongly advocating the principle of immediate contact with the soil, it is not to be inferred that putting u'e down to the subsoil is to be recommended ; on the contrai-y, if put on the soil and slightly covered over, to protect from the extremes of weather, without doubt the most judicious method is adopted. In the best farmed districts of Scotland it is the practice to manure as much as possible previous to the winter ploughing, and in that climate, and in the months of November and December, when evaporation is at lowest point, of course the danger of waste pointed out in this paper is greatly diminished. In adopting these views and endeavouring to act on these principles, without entering into detail, it may be affirmed that the farmer will secure not merely a better article as manure, but the very best possible for him to make, and applied so as to produce the best possible effect on his crops. The Chairman said that he would give them some of his ideas suggested by the paper of Mr. Conder. The best way of making manure was to have boxes for the feeding of cattle. He had tested the principle during the thirty years he had been a farmer, and he had found it worse for the stock, but he got good manure. The next thing is to mix the manure. He had carried this out for some time, at Booth Ferry. It was considered the best to have covered farmsteads ; but he would ask them what would be the condition of their cattle brought up in a covered farmstead? It might answer if their stock was intended for the butchers ; otherwise it was unportant for the stock to come into contact with the atmosphere. At Sancton, Booth Ferry, and (The Pastures, through\fsprinkling with gypsum, he had not had a single case of disease, although several of his neighbours suffered from it. He approved of a manure tank ; but it should be cleaned out regularly. He used liquid manure on 8 acres of grass land with the best results. By saving the drainings it would save the very essence of the manure. He would conclude by hoping the time would come when they woidd have good farm buildings with half their foldyard covered in, and able to pay 5 per cent, to their landlords for the outlay. Farmers' Clubs. WESTER ROSS. The most Profitabk Mode of Consiiviing Turnips. — At the late meetmg of this Farming Society, Provost Mitchell opened the discussion for the evening by reading the following paper : — At a meeting of the Club on February 1 1 last, our friend, Mr. Walter Arras, Fodderly, favoured us with an able paper on "The Cost of Growing an Acre of Turnips " [see p. 6S9], and showed by a mmute and care- fully prepared statement of details that the outlays con- nected with growing and storing of an acre of Swedish Turnips amounted to no less a sum than ;if 12 iZs. ^d. The whole subject was fully debated at the time, and the discussion gave rise to the question for the even- ing, viz., "What is the most profitable way of dis- posing of an acre of stored Swedish Turnips, so as to repay the above outlay?" There are so many ways of disposing of Turnips, each having its own advantages, that I am sure it will at once appear to you a difficult matter to decide which is the most profitable. In the neigh- bourhood of large towns Turnips may be sold profit- ably for the feeding of dairy stock and' other purposes. But as such a system does not apply to this part of the country, it is unnecessary to enter upon it. In a district such as this Turnips must be consumed by stock on the farms, and I would cursorily glance at some of the ways in which this can be done, and is practised, to suit the various kinds of soil, modes of cropping, size of farms, accommodation of buildings, and other par- ticulars with regard to locality. One method commonly adopted is that of letting the crop at so much an acre, or by the week, to be eaten on the ground by sheep stock, and this method has in some ways its advantages. The Turnips may be stored in the field at a cost of " to \os. instead of 32.f. 2(/. an acre, the expense set down by Mr. Arras for carting them to and storing at the farm steading. The land being thus manured by the sheep, a further saving of cartage of manure to a small extent will be effected. But the price ob- tained for an acre in this way, say from £6 to £,%, even along with the saving in storage and cartage, will fall several pounds short of the expense of raising the crop. I am of opinion, therefore, that this is not the most profitable mode of consuming Turnips, but circumstances may sometimes occur which make it the only practicable one, more especially in the smaller sized farms. Again, Turnips may be partly eaten on the ground by sheep, and partly carted to the steading for cattle. This method on the larger sized farms, and in particular where a portion of the soil is of light quality and suited for Turnips beiiig eaten off by sheep, is advisable, and may be made profitable. It enables the farmer to keep a stock of both sheep and cattle on the farm throughout the year. A considerable saving may be effected on the cartage and storage, and the lighter and outside portions of the farm wUl be manured by the sheep, and thus also save cartage of manure. Straw is thereby economised, and a large number of cattle may be kept at the steading by supplementing part of the crop not consumed by sheep with oilcake, gram, and other approved feed- ing stuffs ; and I believe that these auxiliaries wUl come more and more into use, as their benefits be- come better known. By this method, I am of opinion that the outlay above stated will be more nearly realised than by the first mentioned plan. A third system is that of carting to and storing the Turnips at the farm steading, and this system brings us more directly to the question of the evening \ and without attempting more minutely to compare the three methods with each other, I would propose that we should con- fine ourselves to the latter system, and consider what is the most profitable way of consuming an acre of Turnips at the farm steading ; and thus, having some- thing definite in view, we can proceed to discuss it systematically. The first object is to secure the proper kinds of stock, so that of whatever age, they make the greatest progress possible in growth, and fattening in a given time on good feeding. Well-bred stock in condition are now allowed to effect these desirable results sooner than any inferior class, and should be secured at as moderate a price as practicable, for the profit of their feeding will so far depend on the price at which they are bought. They should be selected of such an age as will suit the accommodation at the farmsteading. Stock in condition under two years of age, or over two years if not in good condition, wiU thrive as well in comfortable open courts as in any other circumstances, but all; well-conditioned cattle of two years old and upwards should be placed in stalls in a well ventilated feeding byre, or in loose feeding-boxes. July 8, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 891 For heifers, I consider that the stall is always the most suitable place, but whichever of these kinds of stock or ways of disposing of them is adopted, I believe that the average returns from the cattle may be calculated on as remunerative, provided that due care and atten- tion are bestowed on the animals. This brings us to consider what is the best way of feeding. In courts young cattle usually are given a full supply of Turnips and straw— the former, if Swedish, are cut for them by a machine before being put in the troughs, or partially cut up after being placed there. There is, doubtless, a loss of Turnips by either of those ways, as a portion of them will find their way to the dung dep8t, and besides there is a certain loss of nourishment by lying in the troughs when so cut. In stalls and loose boxes this loss may be so far prevented, and the individual animals in their feeding more particularly attended to as circumstances may require. The Provost concluded by quoting details of the experience of those gentlemen who had given the subject their minute attention. Bailie D. G. Ross thought we could scarcely have a more important subject for discussion than that of the best mode of consuming Mr, Arras' acre of Turnips. They had already been informed that the acre of Turnips cost /12, and if they estimated the weight to be 24 tons, which might be taken as a fair average, it showed the crop to cost (>d. per cwt. Then how were they to turn this 24 tons to the best advantage? His answer was, convert them into beef or mutton. He was himself an advocate for eating the Turnips with cattle as far as possible. He would therefore confine his remarks to the manufacture of beef. He held that to feed a bullock on Turnips alone was the most expensive mode of feeding him of any, as to keep him going on anyways well it would take 2 cwt. of Turnips at a cost of Is. per day. Supposing, then, that instead of 2 c\^'t. Turnips, which contained 90 per cent, of water, fully three-fourths more than he needed to supply his tliirst, they gave him ^ cwt. Turnips, which cost 3(^. ; 6 lb. of cakes and meals of various kinds, costing, ^l^. ; and 6 lb. of hay, costing 2d., the cost in this case was not any more than feeding with the 2 cwt. Turnips ; the beef was produced very much quicker, and by that mode he was enriching his dung even from the cattle urine alone, which was not nearly all water, as it would be from Turnips only, to say notliing of the riches otherwise he was putting into the dung. He must now see how he was to get clear of his Turnips without a loss, and _ paid for his other stuffs also, and get at his rich dung for his trouble by the mode of feedmg he preferred, He would put on a well-bred 2-year-old bullock, rising three years old, I J lb. beef per day. He wa; not prepared to say the weight he could put on witl IS. worth of Turnips alone, but he felt certain thai after deducting the 90.70 water, the remaining 9,30 was not so much as his grf. worth of feeding stuffs. He contented himself with knowing that his system was not costing any more than it would to keep this bul- lock with the 2 cwt. Turnips : of course to eat one's whole crop of Turnips in this way was impossible within the time of year that they should be consumed, for want of accommodation to do it, but he was strongly of opinion it was the right way to get up the constitution of the farm to produce straw and corn and grass, and repair the soil that was sick of red Clover. Mr. Fenton's experience was that the most profit- able way on strong land was to give cattle half Turnip, and the rest oilcake and meal. On light land farms, such as he possessed, he thought the best plan was to eat one half off with sheep and the other with cattle. Mr. Ross, Keppoch, had his Turnips stored in the autumn, and took care to give them fresh to the cattle, letting them take as much as they would eat with a little cake and bruised Oats. During the last two years his cattle paid uncommonly well ; his 2-year-olds, even before they reached the age of two years, were quite fit for the flesher. Mr. Arras found that the calculation in his former paper, as to the cost of growing an acre of Turnips, was less than the actual amount. He would take it at £n instead of ;^I2. Now, 240 hogs on Turnips would eat about an acre a week, and there were some- where .about 29 weeks for the wintering. At /14 this would come to /406. Suppose that the lambs in autumn were bought at £\ a-piece, that was .^240 ; and that £z a-head of profit was made, which had been more than realised this year, the said £2 a-piece of profit came to £n%0. Put this against the cost of Turnips, .£406, and a balance of ^f 74 remains. Ac- cording to that calculation. Turnips would pay even at £lH an acre ; and to that fell to be added all the manure that was left on the ground. Mr. Walker, Mountrich, presented another calcu- lation. He tried to go in for sheep feeding. Take an acre of Swedish Turnips, 24 tons to the acre, .ind get ,^8 \os. an acre ; the benefit of the sheep to the land was worth £2 an acre, which brought it up to ^10 loj. Again, an ordinary-sized bullock, eating 2 cwt. a day, could be kept on an acre for 240 days ; at 3(/. per cwt., or dii. per day, the cost would be £6 for the Turnips. The manure for the period lie calculated at 30 loads, or £^ los. an acre ; total value of Turnips eaten Ijy a bullock, £10 los. But from this had to be deducted the value of straw eaten, the ordinai-y labour, the carrying of manure, &c., which he calculated as coming to £A ■5J'- per acre ; that only left £$ i^s. for cattle, •as against pflo los. for sheep. But it might be said that the quantity of Turnips was over-estimated and the value under-estimated. Say, then, that ij cwt. of Turnips was given daily, at a cost of bd. ; that comes to £g an acre, and the £1^ los., as above, brings it to ;^I3 lOs. ; deduct expenses, as before, £4 15^-., and the balance was only /8 15^., as against 10 gs. for sheep. But really there was no use giving so much Turnips to cattle. He thought 56 lb. a day was enough, with oilcake, bruised com, and straw. They could thus feed twice or four times the number of cattls on the same quantity of Turnips ; the cattle fed much quicker, there was better flesh, and much better manure. To carry out the plan, however, superior accommodation was required, even if they gave half the Turnips to cattle and half to sheep. Sir Kenneth Mackenzie said it was evident that the profit of consumption lay in the return given by the following crop, as well as in the increased value of the beasts fed. He had noticed two farms near Bunchrew Station, due having beautiful grass, and the other close by with miserable bare pasture. He was told that the farmer on one side was an Aberdeen- shire man, who kept nothing but cattle, and the farmer on the other kept nothing but sheep ; that the poor grass followed the sheep, and the rich grass followed the cattle. Now, it was quite possible that might be the case with grass, and yet the crop between the Turnip and the grass might be better after the sheep. The Chairman, after some further remarks, summed up the discussion, urging first the gi'eat advan- tage of having good accommodation for cattle; and second, the advantage of knowing how to buy stock, and getting them of a good kind. Looking over his accounts the other day from the time he came to Ross- shire, he found that while he had increased very little comparatively in the money realised from gram, he had increased about three times in the money realised for grass and Turnips. If that was the way things were to go on, then the more Turnips they had the better, and he was very much inclined to go into that kind of thing, as long as people were inclined to eat a great deal of beef, and to eat it at the high price they were doing. Sheep would improve a light soil immensely ; and, in regard to heavy soils, they had not only to consider the character of the land, but the time at which the sheep were put upon the Turnips. It made a difierence according to whether it was early or late, and there was a great difierence between the effect in wet and dry weather. Put sheep on Turnips in wet weather, and they would almost certainly lose their crop. A thing on which they all seemed to be agreed was, that Turnips shoiUd not be excessively used for cattle, and that artificial food was a great advantage both for the stock and the manure. He was sure they all felt exceedingly indebted to Mr. Mitchell for the pains lie had taken with his paper. Ilntias 0f §00ks. Stables and Stable Fittings. St. Pancras Iron Works Company, Old St. Pancras Road, N.W. Illustrated Catalogue. Musgrave Brothers, Belfast. Catalogue of Patent Stable Fittings. Cottam & Co., 2, Winsley Street, O.xford Street. List of Stable Fittings. J. Barton, 370, Oxford Street. Let us begin with the last upon the list. Mr. James Barton, stable-fitting manufacturer, 370, Oxford Street, obtained a prize medal at the International Exhibition, 1862, and his new catalogue contains a very flattering list of patronage since then received, including various royal personages ; more recently he has fitted up a stable for the Viceroy of Egypt to house 150 horses, embracing much novelty that merits special notice, of the Viceroy himself. Egypt has long been famed for the management of horses, and none of her previous rulers have been better versed the stable requirements of the horse than he who has succeeded them. The Khedive's stable is fitted up with 140 loose boxes and only 10 stalls. This preference of the loose box shows that he understands how to house this noble al, for the day is not far distant when stalls will be the exception for even farm-horses. A hard- worked farm-horse, contractor's horse, cavalry horse, coacher has more need of a loose box in which to :ruit his overtasked muscles durmg night than even the hunter and racehorse. In the Viceroy's stable enamelled iron plates extend further up the wall at the manger than is common, tinted sky-colour after the Egyptian style. The iron posts of the boxes and stalls are massy and ornamental, d surmounted eacli witli a ball on which is figured in lief the star and crescent in front, gilded in llarmony th the general design. Instead of wood-boarding rolled iron is used of sufficient thickness to defend the heel of the horse without sustaining any hann. This gives the sill below, and cross parallel ramp, sill, and capping above, a very neat and light appearance, with greater strength and durability than when wood- boardmg is used. The gutters are covered, and the whole drainage is on a much larger scale than effected by the Viceroy of Egypt in the stables at Cairo. The spring-bottomed racks, the enamelled mangers, and rotary water-troughs, although made to special order, are similar to those which Mr. Barton exhibited in the Agricultural Hall at the Christmas Show, 1870. Mr. Barton gives a great many designs for stall and box divisions, plain and ornamental, with all the other fittings required in the stable in his cata- logue, and to it we must refer for further particulars. Co/lam i^ Company exhibited in the Agricultural Hall, during the recent horse show, their usual selection of stable fittings and at their manufactory, 2, Winsley Street, Oxford Street, W., they have fitted up a first-class stable, with stalls and boxes for horses, which merits inspection. The details are variously arranged, so as to exemplify how best to economise space, and at the same time provide for the comfort and health of the horse. Light, ventilation, and cleanli- ness are special objects in a stable, and these are care- fully provided in the construction of the rack and manger guard fittings and trevice fittmgs of both stalls and boxes. As Colonel Fitzwygram justly observes m his work on '* Horses and Stables : " — ' ' Ample light is essential to the health of the eyes. Light is, indeed, food and exercise to them. Without ample light the eyes cannot be strong. If they are alto- gether deprived of light, the optic nerve becomes paralysed, and blindness is the result. Again, ample hght is essential to the cleanhness of the stable. A dark stable may be dirty without the owner finding it out ; and, in good truth, most dark stables are dirty, and a dirty stable must be unhealthy. Both eyes and lungs are especially Uable to injury from the gases produced by impurity." Cottam's ventilating manger guard fittings provide that impurity from hay, seeds, or green forage is readily seen and removed before contamination with the horse's breath takes place. Their "registered ventilating sill " makes similar provision for stalls and loose boxes. This provision is more especially needed for the latter (loose boxes), for however perfect the ventilation of a stable may otherwise be, yet the air in the bottom of a loose bo.x is liable to stagnate and become foul, unless it is allowed to escape below the sills at the sides and front. This firm have also obtained a patent for a project embracing the replacing of broken boards without the tedious operation of removing the ramp, as hitherto experienced. This is effected by a "dove-tailed wedge" in the sill, equal to the breadth of a board, so that when a board is broken by a kicking horse, it can be removed, and as the groove of the ramp is parallel to the groove of the sill, any board or boards between the broken one and the wedge can be driven home, so as to leave the opening at the wedge. The wedge can then be removed, and a new board put in ; by replacing the wedge portion of the sill, the trevice or division is thus quickly repaired. Their catalogue contains a variety of engravings of trevicmg, plam and orna- mental, from which to select. They prefer enamelled iron tiles for lining the wall in front of stalls and feed- ing boxes to wood or porcelam tile, and show patterns of different colours, as white, green, and granite. The floor of their stable is paved with " adamantine clinker," impervious to water, and never slippery. Adjoining the horse stable are shown " Cottam's patent portable united cow fittings" for four cows, which consist of an enamelled manger and sliding tye for each cow, with an enamelled water-trough between two cows, so elevated as to prevent the cows dropping their food into the water. St. Pancras Iron Works Company have' published a large illustrated catalogue (May, 1871), which ought to be in the hands of every landowner or horse-owner who is about to buUd a new stable or refit an old one. At the recent horse show in the Agricultural Hall, Islington, this firm exhibited loose boxes, in which the liorses of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales were shown. At their manufactory. Old St. Pancras Road, London, N.W., they have fitted up a stable upwards of 100 feet in length with stalls and boxes, each differing from the others, thus showmg a variety of patterns from which to choose. Spme of the stalls are faced with glazed tiles of various colours and shapes, against the horse's breath ; one is faced with slate, another with marble slab, and another with enamelled iron, and so on. The racks, mangers, and watering troughs are equally diversified, to meet the requirements of pur- chasers. For farm-horses low racks are useful for green forage when given alone, but when cut \ chaff along with hay c manger. Deep, narro There is great art in bai any successful experienc' him a small quantity at bottom of the manger S( on fresh food not " 1 it should be £ the mangers are objectionable. \ a horse, and all who have feeding only place before ime evenly spread over the to make him feed slowly ,-n upon," masticate and nsalivate well with relish, and thus insure perfect digestion. In a narrow box the horse's breath contami- food — he is liable to eat too fast when he hungry, bolt his food imperfectly masticated, .and thus to get little benefit from it. The St. Pancras manger is shallow, with a broad flat bottom rounded at the angles, so that the horse can feed with ease without from his common in England, the gutter and drainage pipes any annoyance to having a greater capacity for flushing out to keep contact with the sides ; and the lips them clean. | and curved inwards as to prevent the food being tossed so narrowed general outline of the improvements 'ith the nose. Some think 892 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 8, 1 87 1. be in the water-trough for the horse to drink when he pleases ; others affirm that it is better to water at stated intervals. A clever plan is here shown to meet both views. This is done by a cock below out of the reach of the horse, for turning on and off water at pleasure, so that the horseman can fill the trough, and when his horse has done drinking he can then turn off the remainder, or he can allow the horse to drink at his leisure, cleaning out the trough once a day. The waste water from the trough flows into the gutt washing it out clean, and keeping the stall or feedii box free from smell. There is a considerable diversity in the trevice posts, sills, and ramps of stalls and boxes, to meet choice and style of architecture. A great many specimens of stable-paving are shown, including their own non-absorbent grooved brick, small granite cubes, clinkers, red and blue Welsh and Staffordshire bricks (plain and grooved), and so on. Specimens of open and capped gutters for stalls and boxes, with trapped pots, &c., are also shown. All pots should, if prac- ticable, be outside the stable, so as the whole of their contents can be mixed with the manure in the yard or pit. A great variety of harness-room fittings is also shown, and means for the general ventilation of the stable in summer, and warming of it during winter. Musgravc Brothers, Belfast, have obtained several silver medals from the Royal Agricultural Society of England, one at the Leeds meeting, 1861, and a second at London, 1862, along with the International medal, and a third at Bury St. Edmund's, 1867— the latter for "continuous practical improvements," and the loose boxes and stalls which they exhibited last year and this year at the horse show in the Agricultural Hall, Islington, prove a continuance of public favour. They publish a comprehensive illustrated catalogue, to which we must refer for details. We can notice only a few of the useful novelties they have introduced into the stable and cow-house in this as in the sister country. A folding window, on the principle common in churches, is placed at the head of every stall and loose box for lighting and ventilation. In the summer time these supply an abundance of fresh air to the stable, and in winter they can be closed, and the stable ventilated and kept warm by one of their " slow combustion stoves." Their sliding-pole barrier across the gangway at night is another improvement which ought to be in every stable fitted up with stalls. We once had the hind leg of a fine mare broken by a kick from a horse that broke loose during the night — a dead loss of /■40 besides the disappointment — and with such a barrier the horses would have been kept safely apart. During day, or rather when the horseman is in the stable, the pole is pushed home through the heel-post into a strong iron tube, which has a groove on the under side for the boarding, and on the upper side for any kind of ramp fittings used. By dividing the boarding with a second or third "barrier sheath," two or three sliding poles may be drawn out, so that, if desirable, the horse may be left loose in his stall over night. Their low racks are so contrived that they answer both for hay and cut provender. When to be used for hay, the bottom of the rack is open so that seed can fall through. When filled a gridiron lid is fumed over upon the hay, and as the hay is pulled through the bars, the lid slides down'on vertical bars— thus press- ing upon the hay, and preventing waste. When to be used for chaff, a sheet-iron covering is turned down from the back of the rack, thereby converting it into a manager or trough. The "water-pot" turns on a pivot at each side, and is so balanced that it remains steady when full of water, and is easily turned upside down when to be washed out. The foul water falls into a pipe below, and is used lor washing out the gutters and drains. The front of the rack, manger, and water- trough is so rounded that the horse cannot grasp it in his mouth, or in any way injure his head and neck. Mangers are made after several patterns, to prevent the horse tossing out his food with his nose : one has the narrowed inward lip now in common use, another has a grated lid with a circular opening in the middle sufficiently large to allow the horse to feed. The open grating is for admitting air and allowing the breath to escape. A third pattern is a tumbling manger, on the principle of the water-pot, i^lready described, the better to wash and keep it clean when the horse is fed on cooked food. Their " harmless loose box mangers and racks " also merit special notice. An open iron hanging guard comes forward over the manger and water-pot, and is bolted flush with the edge. Boarding below descends perpendicularly to the floor. A high hay-rack is per- manently fixed also flush with the boarding, so that when thus left a spirited horse cannot injure himself in the absence of his groom. In a large stud a box or two on this plan should always be ready, to prevent harm to restless horses. Farm Memoranda. North Riding of Yorkshire.— If there is any truth in Mr. Mechi'soft repeated adage, that "showers in June put all in tune," we ought— with our rain- fall for the month of 3 inches— to have all in perfect concord. Not so, however. Our meadows are good, and give promise of abundant crops. Pastures are very much improved, and may now be described as good. Our Turnip braird is excellent, has not been good for many years, and, thanks to the cold, sunless weather, has altogether escaped the ravages of the fly, Potatos also promise well, and so far all is in tune, bul when we turn to our grain crops we strike discordant notes. Wheat generally thin, backward, and un- healthy, conveying to the mind of the experienced a distant prospect of meagre rickyards and sparse bushels. Oats, especially on the light lands, are very un- promising. Many have grubbed off, and where the main crop has had vigour enough to recover, the look of it is by no means pleasing, the plants being patchy, and of different heights, and the result at harvest dare safely predict will be under an average. Barley, on the whole, looks tolerably well, backward, but promising fairly. Stock of all descriptions were never before known to maintain for so long a time such high rates. Anything at all like prime beef has during the last two months readily made from gj. (>a. to \os. 61I. per stone of 14 lb. , and mutton, out of the wool, from %d. to (^d. per lb. Store cattle have been selling proportionately high, and there is considerable risk of many who have bought since April of having to summer graze for nothing. Wool sells freely and well, at prices from 2d. to 34/. above last year's prices. The stock of Wheat in the hands of the growers was scarcely ever known to be so low. IV. y. M., Juue^p. The SPIT.4L Irrigation Farm, Aberdee.v.— Last season 1 1 acres of land, between King Street Road, at Spital, and the Links, belonging tolMrs. Knight Erskine, of Pittodrie, which has been laid out for the purpose during the previous winter, were brought under sewage cultivation with very satisfactory results regards the crops raised. And this year, under the care of Mr. G. F. Cruickshank, factor on the property, a much larger extent of land has been prepared, and is now either cropped, or in process of being so, on the sewage system. The newly laid-out ground is imme diately northward of the : I acres cropped last season, and extends from Ladymill, King Street, down to the margin of the Links. The extent is 36 acres, making in all a sewajge farm of about 47 acres. The additional land to which we have referred h been laid out in accordance with a plan prepared by Mr. George C. Roger, C.E. In the case of the smaller section laid out last year by the late Mr. Anderson, C.E., the work was done by "day labour." This year Mr. Roger issued specifications and readily found a good contractor to work them out ; and the result thus far has been a very decided pecuniary saving with no less satisfactory workmanship. The newly laid out land is intersected lengthwise by : public road leading from King Street up the Old Towr Links ; and five service roads liave been made, divid ing it into six fields of manageable size ; each of which is, of course, subdivided by branch carrier drains, and waste water runnels, for the purpose of flooding the several plots— the main carrier which supplies the whole passing along by the side of the public road. In laying out the land, the first thing to be done, after having it all thoroughly furrow-drained and trenched, was to proceed with levelling and formation of carriers. In addition to having the levels very carefully taken and marked on the plan, the sewage was brought gradually forward as the work progressed, and as each plot was formed and the sluices adjusted and fixed, it was turned on. This served the double purpose of testing the levels, and administering forcing manure to the newly-stirred soil. From the care taken at the outset in taking levels, no difficulty whatever occurred in irrigating the different plots, though in numerous cases the flow of sewage from the main carrier turns either to the right or left, as may be wished, at the same point. The main carriers are laid with tiles fastened with cement in the bottom, which rendered necessary by the rapidity with which tl sewage water flows through them ; in the case of the branch carriers, where the descent is very little and the flow sluggish, an open trench simply is required. The main waste water channels have been so arranged now that the waste water from the whole 47 acres is brought to a point in the Powis Bum at the extreme north-east comer. In the laying out of the land, Mr. Roger has kept learly in view— what we think is a very important element— the conditions of soil and climate, and the character of the crops grown in Aberdeenshire gene- rally ; his practical knowledge of local agriculture enabling him to adjust operations accordingly. Some res have been sown down in Italian Rye-grass, the plots occupied in this way having been earliest prepared, to lose no advantage in giving the young plants a Next, about 10 acres were planted in Potatos, which are just now coming into vigorous leaf. About es of Swedish Turnips have been sown, and the remaining part of the land will be laid down in common Tumips and other green crop. The whole of the 1 1 acres irrigated last year have iw been put in grass, of which there is a vigorous crop. A first cutting has already been taken off a small part ; and we may say there is quite a ready sale for the grass when fit for cutting. In regard to the cost of laying-out the land now being brought under irrigation, in relation to probable Tis, it would be as yet premature to speak. As I we have frequently said in reference to the general question of sewage utilisation, experience in each indi- vidual locality where sewage cultivation is attempted must be a main element in directing to satisfactory results, whether as regards cost in laying-out and management, or the proper crops to be cultivated. In the present case, as we have indicated, a material saving has this year been effected in the matter of laying-out. And in that respect, as well as others, the results on the Spital Farm will, we expect, by-and-by form an important contribution to the solution of the general question of sewage farming in so far as Aber. deen is concerned. Aberdeen Free Press. We regret to announce the decease of Lord Bekners, at his seat, Keythorpe Hall, Leicester- shire, which happened towards the close of last week, after a long illness, at the age of 74. His lordship, who was born at Kirby Cane, Norfolk, on the 23d of Febraary, 1797, was the elder son of the late Rev. Henry Wilson, who in 1838 succeeded to the ancient Barony of Beraers (to which his elder brother a few years previously had established his claim) ; his mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. Thomas Sumpter, of Histon Hall, Cambridgeshire. He was educated at Eton and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and suc- ceeded in 1 85 1 to the Peerage as sixth lord in actual possession of the title. He was a magistrate and deputy-lieutenant for Leicestershire, and an active member of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, over whose meetings he presided a few years ago. His lordship was twice married ; firstly, in 1823, to his cousin, Mary Letitia, elder daughter and co-heiress of Colonel George Cmmp, of Alexton Hall, Leicester- shire ; and, secondly, in 1847, to the Hon. Henry Charlotte Cholmondeley, only daughter of the late Lord Delamere. But as he had no issue by either union, the title (which is descendible in the female line) devolves upon his niece, Emm^ Harriet Lady Tyrwhitt, as only surviving child of his deceased brother, the Rev. Robert Wilson, Rector of Ashwell- thorpe, Norfolk, by his second wife, Harriet, daughter of the above Colonel George Crump, of Alexton Hall, Her ladyship, according to " Lodge's Peerage," was born in 1835, and married in 1S53 the present Sir Henry Thomas Tyrwhitt, by whom she has a family, who are heirs to both the Berners and the Tyrwhitt titles. Miscellaneous. The Census and the Sewage Question. — Is the iconoclasm of Hunger an absolute impossibility in any country when the growth of population continues to press upon the means of subsistence, and when a reckless agriculture drains away the constituents of a people's daily food into the sea, and sterilizes while it cultivates the fields on which it lives ? Natural laws are implacable. Nothing is more remarkable in these Census Returns than the evidence of what may be called the congestive tendency of an industrial civiliza- tion in the aggregations of great cities. The danger to the peace of .States and societies arising from these vast aggregations is obvious enough ; but Nature suggests a remedy and a compensation in the observance of that great sanitary law of a perpetually self-creating and self-supporting food supply. There is nothing transcendental in the policy of organising the circula- tion between town and country of the essential elements of human subsistence, and the fertilising constituents of the soil. Yet this, after all, is the problem of problems for an increasing population, unequally distributed over a limited territory, the soil of which is becoming more and more a monopoly, dependent, in a great measure, for its sustenance on foreign countries, incessantly engaged in the competition of manufacturing industiy, and in the straggle for a bare existence. We trust we shall not shock any philanthropist who has been in the habit of indulging a more exalted strain of moral reflections, if we confess that these Census papers have turned our thoughts to the question how, in a country where the towns absorb the population, and wealth monopolises the fields, town and country may be made support each other a little better, without robbing : rich or pampering the poor. It is not a political, nor a social, but a sanitary revolution that is wanted. The utilisation of town sewage is not an inviting sub- ject for the philanthropists of the platforai ; but we contend it is quite as practical a question for the pre- sent age as the exhaustion of our coal-fields in a thou- sand years. Daily Ne-ws, yune 23. July 8 : — Cole Seed or Rape is usually sown on land that has been pared and burned ; but in exceptional seasons, when the weather is moist and growing, a crop of Turnips may be grown. Whether grown on the flat or on raised drills, the practice of manuring and seeding the land for both crops is similar. Cole is better adapted for fenny and peaty soils than Tumips. Drill in from two to four quarts of seed per acre, using the water drill in dry weather. Where Tumips have failed from the fly, or other cause, many prefer a crop July 8, 1871.] ITie Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 893 properly : hoeings a of Cole to the risk of a second sowing of Turnips, Cole may also be used for filling up blanks either by transplanting or sowing seed. When ready for cutting, it may be given to sheep in the pastures ; or if the Turnips are to be eaten off by sheep, the filling up of the blanks may be timed so that both may be folded together. The crop that was sown about the middle of last month, if it has brairded well, will require rough hoeing, and blanks, if any, may be filled by transplanting in moist weather, or after a heavy shower, or the water-cart may be yoked in dry weather. A couple of water-carts, and half-a-dozen watering pans, in active hands, soon go over a 20-acre field. Carrots, Parsnips, Chicory, and all advanced crops, horse and hand hoe, if the work has not already been finished. Keep the earth well up to the former three crops. It should always be borne in mind th ps will only luxuriate in a finely pulverised and • aerated soil, consequently frequent and deep hoeings are greatly in their favour. When a continu- ance of wet weather is experienced, so as to prevent the hoes being worked, and when weeds spring up abund antly, yoke the paring-plough, first ploughing the land from the one side of the plants, going as close as not to earth them up, and turning the earth close to the plants in the opposite row, so as to root up half the weeds between and cover the other half. In a day or two, as the weather and weeds direct, pare the opposite half, thereby reversing the former and rooting up the remaining half of the weeds. In this way Wild Mustard and Charlock may be prevented from exhausting and seeding the land, and any that cannot be reached with the plough should be pulled by hand, to prevent their running to seed. A too common mistake is to let the Wild Mustard get too far a length before it is thus ploughed down. When the weather breaks up, the horse-hoe may be yoked. In dry weather, the paring- plough should, if possible, be avoided, and Wild Mustard and the like kept down by frequent and deep horse and hand hoeing. Irrigation is a golden practice in dry weather, and July weather is seldom so wet throughout that water cannot be profitably applied to the meadows and pas- tures. At all events, where there is a command of river-water, the irrigation works should be ready for its application ; and where river-water cannot be had, the surplus water of a rainy season should be stored for application the moment dry weather sets in. Town sewage should be appUed to the hay stubbles and pastures, however rainy the weather may be. For a similar reason, where stored water or river water can be applied, it may be doctored with guano or grass manure, to fertilise poor land. And if rain is falling sufficiently plentiful to wash in the artificial fertilisers, they may be applied by a broadcast distributor. Whether, therefore, the golden treasure falls from the clouds, or comes from the town sewer, the river, or the pumps, it ought to be applied the one way or the other. As for the *' A. B. C." system, it is almost as hopeless in a wet summer as in a dry, even in places to which liquid sewage cannot be profitably conveyed ; for in our fickle climate no dependence can be placed upon July clouds washing dry sewage into the pastures, and as there is plenty of land to consume all the sewage of our large towns in a liquid form at this season, and as it can be more profitably used in a liquid than in a dry form, even in wet weather, the practical conclusion is obvious. In winter, when the growth of grass is almost nil, and when water is not required by the land, the sewage of towns may be more profitably utilised in a dry state, and stored for application when vegetation commences. There is reason and hope in the future of this, for in the winter time, when the sewage is worth nothuig to the farmer, and less than nothing at times, it is of most value for the dry system manufacture ; and on the other hand, if farmers have not to pay for the sewage during winter, that would enable them to give more for it in the summer time, when the liquid por- tion is for the most part of more value than the solid. The general conclusion, therefore, is obviously in favour of sewage irrigation at this season, let the weather be wet or dry. In wet weather irrigated meadow and sewage grass requires to be more frequently cut, to prevent lodging and rotting at the bottom. In this way a greater weight of grass can be mown, provided the temperature is sufficiently high. In dry seasons like the last, the foliage of all sewage crops suffer from the extreme heat. Sheep Washes include a long list of preparations poisonous to the insects which infest the skins of sheep shortly after shearing. When newly shorn the change Is so great that the extremes of heat and cold produce an unhealthy state of the skin ; ticks and lice follow, and to prevent or kill these insects, sheep are dipped in the various solutions termed washes. But what is poisonous to insects is too frequently poisonous to the sheep also. The better plan is to wash the sheep when newly shorn, oftener than once if necessary, afford them shelter from the sun during mid-day and fi-om cold during night and in bad weather, and feed them properly until their wool grows and forms a natural covering to defend them both from heat and cold, for were such done there would be no need of poisonous sheep washes. Washing newly shorn sheep is done for the twofold purpose of cleanliness and to obviate catching cold, just as some shepherds wash their o^vn heads when newly shorn. The practice has much to commend it. North and South, as it promotes the healthy action of the skin, upon which the wellbeing of the sheep so much depends, for a bright sun at noonday is as liable to injure the skin as cold at night. Hence newly shorn sheep should have shade to go under, and not be penned or turned out at mid-day exposed to the blistering action of the sun. The Watering of Cattle with pure soft water requires more attention at this season than is paid to it, gene- rally speaking. • Pump water is often too hard ; ponds and rivers are full of animal and vegetable life. The former, pump-water, should be exposed in a shallow trough for some time before cattle are allowed to drink it, and pond-water and river-water should be carefully filtered. Nothing deteriorates the quality of milk sooner than the dirty water of ponds and rivers, which milch cows drink in large quantities at this season. W. B. Notices to Correspondents. Artificial Manijkes. A Subscriber desires to know by what method bones can best be converted into manure ; the usual wholesale price of bones near towns ; whether, if a pit were dug in chalk, much loss would ensue ? Of the fertilising material, also, how pure ammonia is best fixed and mi.xed for broadcast sowing ? Bones must be broken or crushed, and mixed with about half their weight of sulphuric acid on a dry floor, and thereafter put in a heap to rot with sand. Ammonia can be fixed by adding acid to any liquid containing it, until the litmus-paper test shows that the liquid is no longer alkaline.] Diseased Cow : A Correspondent, near Coventry, writes : — " My neighbour has a cow that has been unwell for a week or ten days. She was calved about three months, very low in condition, I but has done very well till about a fortnight back, when her pasture was changed from a poor to a good one. In a day or two after she gradually sunk her milk and appeared very dull, refusing to feed or drink, and at times appears to be griped and blown, almost the same as though she had been in Clover. Her bowels are very much constipated. They have given her linseed-oil and castor-oil, which passes through her, bringing very little away, and then she is the same as before. She looks as full as though she had fed as usual. She appears to me to be fardel- bound, as I have had all the same symptoms when they have been so on dry food." [The disease is probably, as you suggest, "fardel-bound," or impactment of the third stomach. Give 2 oz. of hyposulphite of soda once a day in a pint and a half of water, to arrest fermentative action. To remove the obstruction in the alimentary canal, give compound tincture of aloes 4 oz., Epsom salts 6 oz., aromatic spirit of ammonia i oz.. water I pint. Four or five doses may be safely given, at intervals of eight hours, if the desired action does not follow the first dose.] Names of Plants : y. Rogers. Festuca ovina. ENGLISH WOOL. During the last week prices of English Wool have continued to gain strength, and are now about ^d. to 40'. per lb. above the rates current at this time last year. The tendency is still upwards, and we should not be surprised to see a further advance of izd. to yi. per lb, between this and Christmas. HA Y.~Per Load ofz^ Trusses. Smithfield, Thursday, July 6. PrimeMeadowHay,i45J.t Inferior do 125 New Hay .. ,,80 Inferior do — I Clover, old Inferior do. Inferior do. Cumberland Market, Thursday, July 6. Sup. Meadow Hay l4,^s.\.o^^ss. I Inferior Clover ..130^.101475 Inferior do 120 132 Prime 2d cut do. .. — — New do 84 140 New do — — Inferiordo — — Straw 45 50 Superior Clover ..160 176 I Joshua Baker. METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET, July 6. Best Fresh Butter \%s, per dozen lb. Small Pork, 4J-. 4^. to 45. \od. ; Large Pork, 31. ^d. to 3J. ^d. per 8 lb. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. Monday, July 3. The number of Beasts is very much smaller than last week, the falUng off being principally in foreign. Trade is not brisk, yet in a few instances higher prices are obtained. The supply of Enghsh Sheep is about the same as last week, but of foreign it is larger ; prices are rather lower, and it is difficult to make a clearance. There is more inquiry for Lamb, and choicest qualities are rather dearer. Trade is unaltered for Calves. Our foreign supply consists of S20 Beasts, 11,780 Sheep. 474 Calves, and 45 Pigs ; from Scotland there are 10 Beasts; from Norfolk and Suffolk, 800; and 1130 from the Midland and Home ( 2d quality Beasts 4 o — 5 Best Downs and Half-breds .. .. - . Do. Shorn . . 6 2—6 Beasts, 2760 ; Sheep and Lan Best Long-wools Do. Shorn Ewes & ad quality Calves Pigs :=7 \ Thursday, July 6. We have again a short supply of Beasts, and a good demand. Choice qualities are very scarce, and the few on offer make high prices. The number of English Sheep is about the same as last week, but there are more foreign ; on the average trade is rather better than on Monday. Choice Lambs are in demand, at fully Monday's quota- tions. The supply of Calves is large, the average quahty is, however, only middling. Our foreign supply consists of 280 Beasts, 5600 Sheep, and 739 Calves. Best Scots, Here- fords, &c. Best Shorthorns . . 2d quality Beasts Best Long-wools Do. Shorn Ewes & 2d quality Do Shorn Beasts, 750: Sheep and Lambs, 151220; Calves, 823 ; Pigs, 85. MARK LANE. Monday, July 3. There was a short small supply of English Wheat to this morning's market, and, with wet weather, factors commenced by asking full prices ; millers, however, showed but little inclination to purchase, and the sales made in either English or foreign were in retail, at about last week's rates. Barley was a slow sale. Beans ij'. per qr. cheaper. Peas unchanged in value. The supply of Oats was large, and the sales made were at very irregular prices, generally below those of last week. Flour : 47— «> 59-^5 Price per imperial Qu Wheat, Essex. Kent, Suffi — fine selected runs . — Talavera — Norf'olk — Foreign I48 — 65 Barley, grind.&d!st.,3OJt0 34J. .Chev. 43— 46 Oats, Essex and Suffolk ^ — Scotch and Lincolnshire.. Potato 28— — Irish Potato J27- — Foreign Poland and Brew, 25- Beans, Mazagan.. Peas, White, Esse: Forei^i irks, delivered . .per sack 42— ditto|36- 1 per barrel!25— Feed ... Feed ... Feed ... Egyptian Suffolk . Foreign . Country . 1 1 Per sack. Psi Wednesday, July 5. There was a thin attendance of millers to-day, and the trade throughout ruled dull, at prices favouring pur- chasers. The supplies of English grain were short, but of foreign they were liberal. Wheat of all descriptions was purchased slowly, at drooping prices. Barley was inactive, and for both grinding and malting parcels late rates were with difficulty sustained. Malt was quiet, at about late rates. Oats experienced a hmited inquiry, at prices generally easier. Beans were dull, at Mondays decline. Peas were taken off cautiously on former terms. The Flour trade was inactive, and prices were very weak. OF Grain, &c. ^Lond r Water Carriage. Wheat. Barley. Oals. Flour. Irish .. Foreign.. Qrs. i3.8 long, and broad in proportic Dandelion when blanched is one of the most delicate- flavoured and wholesome of Salads, this vigorous growing fleshy- leaved variety of Messrs. Stuart & Mein must be a desirable plant for the kitchen garden."— Fr,»« the Editor of the Gardeners' Ma^axiMe. New Seed, is. per packet. STUART AND MEIN, Seedsmen to the Queen, Kelso, N.B. LOAM.— Loam, unequalled for Fruit and Plant Culture. See Report of New Vineries, Gunnersbury. For ""' ^^rf^. VaNTON, F.R.H.S., The Nurseries, Epsom. THOMSON'S SUPERB CALCEOLARIA. -Seed of the abov, scnber for many years at Dalkeith Park, i sealed packets at ; " >st Office _ . _ WM. Thomson; Tw HERBACEOUS „ To the Trade. ^CALCEOLARIA, saved with the greatest care, from Price°o"n applicMion°"°" ^'' ■"°'' P'""'"^ "™"* '° ""^ '""""y- JAMES DICKSON AND SONS (Old Established Nursery and Seed Business), loa, Eastgate Street, and " Newton Nurseries," Chester. ^^ Calceolaria, Cineraria, Primula. JP AND A. SMITH are now sending out NEW SEED ries. West Dulwich, near Lon&on. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Variegated Geraniums. ' ND A. SMITH'S large COLLECTION of the t approved varieties, forming a display unrivallea for colour F. lUTTlNGS of GERANIUMS, Se- ll post COOM icludmg Tricolor, Gold and Bronze, T^eaf, for loi. ; 50, w. 6d. ; 25, 31. It. 34 CHRYSANTHEMlfMS, 1. 6d. -17, IS. 6d. 24 COOMBS, The Ferns, Enfield. EW DOUBLE GERANIUMS, &c.— 12 varieties Double Geraniums, 4$, ; 12 vars. new Double < 1 Golden Bicolor Geraniums, 6 FUCHSIAS (1870), 3S. ; _ ____ COLEUS, 1!. .2 select PHLOXES, jr. 1 U.MS (1870), 2S. 12 new VERBEN^AS < new CHRYSANTHE- K NIGHT Xfe;:;' Miscellaneous Plants, for BEDDING and DECORATIVE PURPOSES, Sc. ROBERT PARKER begs to announce that he can supply, in large or small quantities, all the best varieties of BEDDING PANsfES, HARDY and GREENHOUSE SUCCU- LENTS, DOUBLE PVRETHRUMS. SWEET VIOLETS, &c. Priced and Descriptive LISTS are published, and will be forwarded to applicants. Exotic Nursery, Tooting, Surrey, S.W. Britisli Fern Catalogue. ROBERT SIM will send, post free for six postage stamps. Part I. (British Ferns and their varieties, 36 pages, includingpricesof Hardy Exotic Ferns), of his Priced DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUED BRITISH and EXOTIC FERNS, No. 7. Climbing Ferns. LYGODIUM SCANDENS, the most beautiful of all Climbers. Can be supplied by the dozen at 61. to 9J. ; 401. to 60s. per too, a j"g^g,°^'i',_g j° s'lolfl'Nu'rse^y'croydon, S.E. To tlie Trade. STOVE PLANTS, in 50 or more choice and new varieties, at gs. to t2s. per dozen ; 50s. to 755. per 100. Package gratis for casii. Names on application lor CATAl6gUE. JOHN H. LEY, Exotic Nursery, Croydon, S.E. ASPLENIUM GERMANICUM.— Very nice plants of this scarce Fem, in 60-pots, for 6s. per dozen. JOHN H. LEY, Lansdowne Road, (iroydon, S.E. SEEDLING PALMS.— Nice healthy i-yr. Seedlings of OREODOXA OLER ACE A, at 30s. per too. This is an excellent opportunity to obtain a stock of a good Palm at a low price.' Mr. WILLIAM BULL'S Establishment for New and Rare Plants, King'i - ■ ~ ■ - ■ -- AQUILEGIA GLANDULOS.\, the true variety. •■ ■ - • ■ est FLOR'lS-r°FL<]wSs.*'^ A LIST on application BROWN, Seedsman and Florist, Weston-super-Mare. PANDANUS UTILIS, 18s. per dozen. May be supplied by tne too. Fine Plants of MUSA ENSETE, 3>s- dd. 1 Hyacinths, Tulips, &c. ROEST, Florist, Voorschoten, near Haarlem, Holland, begs to call the attention of the Trade to his CATA- FDUTtTH BULBS, wl Messrs. BETHAM / > SON, 9, Lower Thames Strt To tlie Trade only. H. KRELAGE and SQ^, Nurserymen, • Seedsmen, and Flobists, Haarlem^ BUDDENBORG BROTHERS, Florists, of Hillegom, near Haarlem, Holland, beg to inform Nurserymen and the Trade generally, that they have just published their CATALOGUE If HYAfclNTH, *rUHP, and other BULBS, for the coming Season, ' -' ' * "" ''- "*-• "* — * ' — "" W^ M^ Wanted, Seeds of Choice Strains. WILLIAM BULL will require NEW when ripe, of the following :— ^uricula, self I Cineraria I Piijl Auricula, show Pelargonium, fancy Pol) Antirrhinum Pelargonium, show Peh Carnation Pansy, fancy and show J Viol And Seeds of ot^er choice Florist Flowers. 'Ap"ply"'wfLL'lAM BULL,' FX.S., Ei all of the first quality. King's Road, Chelsea, London, S.W. )ARIS, SUTTONS' GR.'^SS SEEDS for ALL ~" >RIX SILVER ME GRASS SEEDS, : Queen, Reading, Berks. For Sowing after Haycart. QUTTONS' RENOVATING MIXTURE of fine O GRASSES and CLOVERS (or improving Pastures deficient ol bottom herbage, may be sown after the hay is carried with advant.-ige ; 6 to 12 lb. required per acre. Price gd. per lb., or cheaper by the cwt. SUTTON AND SONS, Seedsmen to the Queen and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. Royal Berkshire Seed Establishment, Reading. CHOICE ROSES.— The finest stock of Tea, Noisette, China, and other Roses to select from, all strong and healthy, in Pots. Descriptive Priced LIST on application to RICHARD SMlfk, Nurseryman and SeeUMerchant, Worcester. New Roses of 1871. rOHN CRANSTON offers a selection of TWELVE NEW ROSES of the present year. Fine plants ready in AprU. Ucklield, Sussex. ATALOGUES on application. WM. WOOD AND SUN, Wood , MaresBeld, Uckgeld, M ITCHELL'S renowned ROSES are NOW in BLOOM, the largest stock and the best plants in England, nagnificent Collection are all propaRatcd id the open ground, ising a hardy constitution suitable lor all climates. Pilt Down Nurseries, Uckfield, Sussex. ^^ Roses-One Himdred Ttousana Blooming Plants. TOHN CRANSTON'S superb COLLECTION of O ROSES, including all the newest and best varieties, is NOW in BLOOM. Carefully compiled Priced and Descriptive CATALOGUES New Roses, 1871. CATALOGUE free. Floral Nurseries, Hailsham, Su: OrcMds. AMES BROOKE and CO. beg to offer the following choice collection for 25 guineas :—Dcndrobiun» bridgeanum; Cattleya Wameri, Mossia, . . . Leopoldi ; Odonloglossum Alexandrae (Bluntii), Pescalorei, citrosmum, grande, Insleayi, Schleipperianum.bictonense ; Oncidium Lanccanum, Watlichii, Cipripedium hirsutissiraum, Cyrnbidium Mastcrsii', Phaius albus. Trichopiha suavis, Barkcria spectabilis, B. Skinneri, Calanthe vestita, C. Veitchii, Coslogyne cristata, Aerides Wameri. CATALOGUES, with full Descriptions, Remarks on Culture, prices, 18, Victoria Street, Manchester : Nurseries, Fairfield, near R AYNBIRD, CALDECOTT, BAWTREE. DOWLING AND COMPANY (Limited), Corn, Seed, Manure, and Oilcake Merchants. ess, 26, Seed Market, Mark Lane, E.C. ; or Basingstoke. :s and prices post free on application. Prize Medals, iSsi* Turnip and Mangel Wurzel Seeds-1871 Crop. "OHN SHARPE will furnish on application his LIST. with prices, of the principal SEEDS he is growing this year. Bardncy Manor, Lincoln.— July 6. : CHAMPION DRUMHEAD PLANTS, all at d will warrant them all to be a good stock, and strong Market Gardens, Biggleswade, Beds. ) SON, VVoncrsh Nursery, n Plants for Sale. ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND CABBAGE, COLEWORT, and COTTAGE KALE, 2S. 6d. per thousand. 800 YARDS of BOX EDGING. &c. T. MOSSMAN, Gardener, 213, Skinner Road, Peckham, Surrey, S.E 54. High Street, Exeter. been selected with ] of hair bushel FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PLANTS now READY (all true and fine). BROCCOLI, Carters' Champion, Ellctson's Mammoth I „ per looa Deal Early, Penzance Early ^ j-- k Purple Sprouting, Early, 4*. t>er 1000. SCOTCH KALE, COTTACliRS' KAL: -" " ■ "^ ■>AV0V, 31. ; a reduction rcspectlullylo offer the a II attention to the lacl that the two ftrst-namea uroccoiis siwu« frost, of last winter ^^^^=^'\^'fj,°'^^'o^°f ^J^^'^'^cLgc^'^d ace free to any part of England. hi. J. HARI)iF, Stour Valley Seed Grounds, Bures, Essex. The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. Quly 15, 1871. G RusseU's Pyramid Primula. EORGE CLARKE has this season secured a uanlityof this very fine strain, in excellent condition, which he perpkt, Instructions for raising and crowing sent if required.' eries : Strcatham Tlace, Urixton Hill, London, S.W. ; and B. New and Choice Flower Seeds, Post Free. S. WILLIAMS, Nurseryman and Seed se Nurseries, Upper Per packet.— s. d way, London, N. Williams' superb strain of PRIMULA, Red I J. erf . , 2J. Od. , 3S. Od. , ana 5 o Plants front this seed have always been awarded First Prizes Neill'sextrachoiceCALCEOLARIA,is.&i..!s.6i,3s.M.,and s o VVeatheriirsextrachoiceCINERARIA,i!.6rf.,2s.&/.,3J.M.,and s o WiKHns'priie strain of CYCLAMEN IS. M., 2s. &*., and 3 6 ECHEVERIA METALLICA 26 HOLLYHOCK, from Chaler's finest varieties .. is. and 2 6 HUMEA ELEGANS PURPUREA, new to MYOSOTIS SYLVAXicA^lrae !.' .'■ '.'. '.'. !! o 6 PANSY, finest show V East Lothian STOCKS, per collection 01 tnree colours . . SOLANUM HYBRIdOm COMPACTUM, new, awarded a First-class Certificate by the Royal Horticultural Society, March 16, 1870 3s. W. and Williams' Improved Hvljrid SOLANUM .. .. is. &i. and SWEET \Vi1l1AM, Hunt's Auricula-eyed VIOLA CDRNUTA var. PERFECTION IS. &f.,2S. M., and VIOLA UIJi iRATA LAUCHEANA, new, superior to the old WALlVloWEIv, SaunderVfin'e'dark variety .'.' .'.' '.'. Choice Seeds for Present Sowing, Free by Post. JAMES DICKSON AND SONS (Old Established Nursery and Seed Business), 102, Eastgate Street, and ANTIRRHINU.M, choice mixed ^'''w.and'i o AURICULA, from choice varieties IS. and 2 6 CARNATION, from pi CENTAUREA, candid CINERARIA, from ne> CYCLAMEN, Wiscins GLOXINIA, erect and HOLLYHOCK, from c HUMEA ELEGANS MYOSOTIS DISSITIFLORA 6d. and ) PRIMULA SINENSIS FIMBRIATA ALBA, , RUBE ■ Mixed SOLANUM, STOCK, Pro. ■waIlflom ..._r/^-" , RUBRA Mixed .. ..js.bd.,: FILICIFOI.IA ALBA, iRA, IS. M., 2S. 6d'. and s J ..IS. M.,2S. 6rf. and 5 .': iV.,":^;^"' ' - colours . . r. M. & 5 I. 6<<.,and s Cabbage Seed, for present Sowing. For the GARDEN, for SOWING at ONCE, to come in next Spring and Summer. QUTTONS' IMPERIAL, the LONDON MARKET. ENFIELD MARKET. EARLY DWARF YORK. NONPARIEL. COMMON DRUMHEAD, or FLAT , Seedsmen to tl /BARTER'S PRIZE MEDAL GRASS SEEDS, ^ For SOWING in JULY and AUGUST. Paris E.vhibition, &c. in packets, 3^. and C CATALOGl Our New Fuchsias.— Ten Varieties for £1. MESSRS. HOCK AND CO. beg to call their FUCHSIA NOVELTIES, which were otierea lor It first time in this country on April i. The Fuchsias have been raise by the well-known cultivator, Mr. Weinrich, who has succeeded i the last two years in raising, in this highly appreciated species, som thing really new and splendid, consisting in size, colour, and profu5 , The 1 CALCEOLARIA HVl COM PACTA, new CALCEOLARIA HVl COMPACTA TIGU CINERARIA HYERIDA, ( NANA „ncw,ex. dwarf,cannine PRIMULA NOVELTIES. PRIMULA CHINENSIS FIMBRIATA ALBA GLOEOS.'V, PRI M U la" CI h'SenTis" FUIB^i ATa' ' R UB R A, ' largi flowered variety „ „ PUNCTATA ELEGANTISSIMA „ „ COCCINEA NOVA " „ FIMBRIATA FILICIFOLIA RUBRA ,1 . >■ » „ ALBA.. Castel, opposite Ma Wholesale by PRICE'S PATENT CANDLE COMPANY (Limited), Battersea, London, S.W. For PERMANENT PASTURES, Carefully arranged to suit the various conditions of soils. For LIGHT SOILS, J For MEDIUM SOILS V 27s. to 31!. &i. per acre. For HEAVY SOILS j CARTER'S RENOVATING MIXTURE, for Renewing and Im iroving old Grass Lands (to be sown after the Hay Crop is removed) icr cwt., 80s. ; per lb., o4. ; per acre, 4s. to 8s. 6i. This Mixture comprises sever.-il quick-growing varieties, and will produce a Crop of Green Food, for Feeding-ofT, before Christmas, if sown " at once." To be followed by a heavy swarth of valuable Hay next May. r acre. Price on applic 1 Seeds Carriage Free ; 5 per c JAMES CARTER A^ ; Royal Seedsmen, 237 and 238, High I Caution. Tj^ I. DRECHSLER'S ADDRESS is now, and has X . been for several months past. No. 63, ARLINGTO.N STREET, LONDON, N. W., and not North Street, he. year's PORTABLE WINNOWING - MACHINE ORS, — ■-— FUMIGATORS, SEMINATORS, 1 lUR No. 1, Peel Street, Manchester, 1871. HORTICULTURAL SHADINGS form a 'an from Winds, Frost, and Hail, whilst at the Light and Sun. "They are used and strongly icommended by the most successful Exhibitors jiturists in the kingdom, as well as on the Conti renounced the only "proper shadings" ever offei jainst Birds, Wasps, Blight «- •- ' ' — [yacinths, Seed-Beds, Gre No. 2.-54 inches wide at 7i. per yard rur No. J— 54 inches wide at 5«i per yard r No. 4.-S4 inches wide at 4/ per yard run No. 5.— 54 inches wide at sj^rf. per yard r In pieces of about 30 yards each, or any longer lengths when specij rdered. Nett cash in 30 days from date of Invoice. VATER BRINGER. SONS' PATENT WATER 21J.— This simple Machine ■ the level of garden, and 100 feet th the Hydronette or any other Garden Engine. 3 SONS, 227, 229, and 231, Edgware Road, W. are genuine unless labelled " IlAVNES & SONS, Rosher'B Garden Edging Tiles. t5^ beiig mu5 GARDEN VASES, FOUNTAINS, &c., in Artificial Stone, very F. AND G. ROSHER, Manufacturers, Upper Ground Street, Black- riars, S.E. ; Queen's Road West. Chelsea, S.W. ; Kingsland Road, E. Agents for LOOKER'S PATENT "ACME FRAMES," PLANT :OVERS and PROPAGATING BOXES; also for FOXLEY'S ORNAMENTAL PAVING TILES for Conservatories, Halls, Corridors, Balconies, &c., from 3s. per square yard upwards. Pattern Sheets of plain or more elaborate designs, with Kitchen Ranges, Baths. &c. I Copings, Drainpipes and Tiles of all kinds'; R( s in great variety. Slates, Cements, &c. •JD G. ROSHER. Brick and Tile Merchants.— See addresses a vfS'c Wharf,! FLIN PEAT or LOAM supplied a 0 tL ■frad°e'. " The finest silvery-foliaged Plant for general usefulness that has ever been introduced." Sce ''The Gardener^' for February, 1S71. SENECIO ARGENTEUS. FIRST-CLASS CERTIFICATE, ROYAL HORTICULTURAL .SOCIETY. ' Will enjoy an popularity, and be much sought after by Flower Gardeners of all ^adei Price 5s. each; SOs. per dozen. JAMES BACKHOUSE and SON, YORK. Thomas Thornton, HEATHERSIDE NURSERIES, BAGSHOT, SURREY, Invites from the Coiintiy Trade a visit to the extensive Nurseries here, the most convenient Station to which is Famborough, on the London and South-Western Railway, where Conveyances will be sent to meet Visitors on receipt of an intimation of their intended arrival. The stock is in very fine condition, and includes large quantities of LARCH, SCOTCH, SPRUCE, AU.STRIAN, LARICIO, an.l oll.ir I'INKS; CONIFER^: of every description, FOREST TREES in great quantities, ORNAMENTAL TREKS and .SHRUBS, RHODODENDRONS in great quantity, ROSES, FRUIT TREES, LAURELS, PORTUGAL LAURELS, and other EVERGREENS; a large slock of Green and Varie- gated HOLLIES, VINES, &c. : all at moderate prices, and everything has been well transplanted and is well rooted. A SPECIAL OFFER to the TRADE of MANY THINGS will soon be ready, and can be had on application. July 15, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 899 THE STEAM-ENGINE TRIALS OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY of ENGLAND, OXFORD, 1870. he FIRST PRIZES at this SHOW were again AWARDED to CLAYTON axd SHUTTLEWORTH, viz. :- First rri,ce for Horizontal Fixed Engine of 10 H.P. ; First Prize for Steam Engine, with Boiler combined. At the nrevious TriaU of Steam Engines, at Bury. 1867. CLAYTON AND SHUTTLEWORTH took ALL the FIRST PRIZES for NGINRS- also a PRIZE of £r? for THRESHING MACHINES, and the Societv's SILVER MEDAL. ^^ , ^ Cl" VVfoN AND SHUTTLEWORTH have received FIRST PRIZES at all Trials of the Royal Agncultural Society of England at hichVhev have competed since 1840. N,B.— AH the principal Makers of Portable Engines, S:c., Compete for this Society's Prizes, beinj; itain conducted by competent and impartial Engineers, and where the capabihty and value of each Engine is J experiments. C. and S. therefore do not Compete at any other Shows. the only Trials in Great Britain condi thoroughly tested by practical experime PORTABLE ENGINES, from 4 to 2 5- Horse Power. THRESHING MACHINES, Single, Double and Treble Blast, with Patent Rolled Steel Beater Plates, and all other recent improvements. GRINDING MILLS, SAW BENCHES, STRAW ELEVATORS, &o. 1^ CATALOGUES ON APPLICATION, OR FREE BY POST. CLAYTON AND SHUTTLEWORTH, STAMP END WORKS, LINCOLN ; 78, LOMBARD STREET, LONDON, E.C. ; and TARLETON STREET, LIVERPOOL. BAM FO RD'S "MODEL' GARDXN ENGINE, FOR STRENGTH ^ DURABILITY UNEQUALLED. PRICE LISTS & TESTIMONIALS SErJT POST FREE BAMFORD a.S0NS,UTTOXETE:R, Cottam's Iron Hurdles, Fencing, and Gates. ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW AT WOLVERHAMPTON, JULY 10 TO 14, I87L Ransomes, Sims & Head, Ipswich, WILL EXHIBIT AT THE ABOVE MEETING THEIR NEW PATENT FARM STEAMER, WITH and WITHOUT THO:\ISON'S INDIA-RUBBER TYRES, NEW ROAD STEAMER, THOMSON'S PATENT, PORTABLE ENGINES, of various sizes, EXPANSION PORTABLE ENGINE, SINGLE-BLAST THRESHING MACHINES, FINISHING THRESHING MACHINES. PRIZE PLOUGHS, of various sizes, SINGLE PLOUGHS, with FRICTION WHEEL, NEW PATENT DOUBLE-FURROW PLOUGHS, NEW DOUBLE-FURROW TURNWREST PLOUGH, PATENT SUBSOILER for DOUBLE PLOUGHS, PATENT RAKES and HAYMAKERS, FOOD PREPARING MACHINERY. MACHINERY IN MOTION, STAND No. 2i ORDINARY SHEDDING, STAND No. 75. John Warner & Sons, Hydraulic Engineers, ft Bell and Brass Founders to Her Majesty, Manufacturers of Hydraulic Macbinery _ri of every description, Wind Engines, Water Wbeels, Water Rams, Deep Well Pumps and A ' ', A^ Frames for Horse or Hand Power, Garden Engines, Swing Barrows, &c., &c. Branch Pipes I ij i for Rubber Hose, with Jet and Spreader, or with Haswell's Patent Director, from 3s. - - Syringes fri ~ ~ ' .--— ■ FOUNTAIN JETS, In great variety, from 3^. 6d. or, fitted with Haswell's Director, 12s. 6d. Lists sent on application. 8, CRESCENT, CRIPPLEGATE, LONDON EC WARNERS' AaUAJECT Useful for every variety of pu K^re o™Trees in' Camden Cojsen Price complete ^r Small size for the hand, as an ordi- nary Syringe . . o ^Carriages o WATER BARROW £- 138 £3 is 900 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Asfricultural Gazette. Buttons' Superb Hybridised norist Flower Seeds. ^"f^W VERS H\bR D SED and a ed om h nON S p bCALCE LAR A p pa k TTONS S p b NEPAR A p p k -\RIA f( The Royal |jL ^^ y< Seedsmen (^.RTERS c o e n o f C ALCEOL\R ''\ i as Ihey are saved with l|ie greatest care, and fro m one of the JAMES CARTEH CO., The Royal Seedsmen, 238, High w M. PAUL'S ROSES are NOW in BLOOM ilul MvDrid Perpetval ?RINCEI liEATKICE, PRINCE LEOPOLD, ; nd Foreign Seedlings. " ' lishopsgate Station, Great Eastern Railva . Midland Railway, to Waltham Station, half an hour. Entrance ftom the platform, Waltham Station PAUL'S Nurseries. Waltham Cross, London, N. New E.F. Rose, Louis Van Houtte. H BENNETT has to DISPOSE OF looo young, • strong, thrivmg plants, in 5-inch pots (having from 12 to 14 working buds each) of this exquisite Rose, the best yet sent out by Monsieur Lacharm. Characteristics : habit vigorous, and branching : growth and blooming continues throughout the season; colour, dense rich velvety-crimson, the tips of the petals most brilliantly illuminated with a lighter shade : form, most perfect. A fine pot Rose, blooming to a certainty when forced. Price, per single plant, dozen, or 100, on application. Also very strong plants, in 5-mch pots, of the following new Roses of 1870 :— H.P. ROSE, Mademoiselle Eugt-nic Verdier. H.P. ROSE, Marquise de Castellane. TEA ROSE, Madame Levet. HYBRID TERPErUALS of iS; Cnpitaine LamureL I Mademoiselle ] Metiri Pages. • I Monsieur Cordier. Madame Guillat de Mont-Favet. Feius, leius, Ferns. TO THE IK.MiK ..nd OTHERS. LO M A R I A G I B B A, 9rf. each, 6s. per dozen. GYMNOGRAMMA LAUCHEANA (best Gold Ferns), ^. each, 6s. per dozen. GYMNOGRAMMA WETENHALLIANA, beautifully crested TIlAMNOPTEKjS AUSTRALASICA (Bird's Nest' Fern), fine prili 1 -, 1,1 IN ( .1 1 I > 1 I A , strong plants, in iS-size pels. It. each. M.W n I 1! I >car, own selection, 31. 6ii. perdozcn.gcod untingdoi Royal Botanic Society's THIRD SUMMER EXHIBITION, JULY 12 AND 13. AWAEDS OF PRIZES. LARGE BRONZE MEDAL. Pellat & Co., »5, Baker Street, for Epergnc, with Plants, ers, and Fruit. Ranslcy Tanton, Epsom, for Bridal Bouquet. Pea'rce", Gr. 'to'w^S. Burton, Esq., Regent's Park, for 8 . John Ward, for 8 Exotic Orchids. .\V. Lynn. Gr. to Lord Boston, Hedsor, I SILVER GILT MEDAL. Tray, Kent, for Dinner-i Micholls, Esq., SoutI Mr. F. Perkir I Mr. G - Caladiums. Mr. A. Wright, for 6 Exotic Ferns. - Mrs. Jenkins, York Gate, Regent's Park, Mr. Geo. Pcarce, Gr., Regent's Park, Growing Plants. Miss Annie Williams, HoUoway, for pair c Hanging Basket, with Vindow Boxes, filled with H. 'Filcc, Gr. to J. Hatter, Esq., Clapham Park, for 6 Scarlet Pelargoniums. _ Mr. T. Welsh, Hjllingdon, Myiilesex,Jor 6 Tricolor Pelargoniums. lictloiroffruii: SMALL SILVER GILT MEDAL. Miss E. Harris, Clarendon Park, Salisbury, for Epergnc with Cut Flowers and Fruit. Mr. W. Kemp. Gr. to the Duke of Northumberland, Albury Gardens, Guildford, for so Stove and Greenhouse Plants. Messrs. Jacks Mr. Thos. Bai Foliage Plants. Mr. A. Wright, gr to C. H. Roberts, Esq., Avenue Road, Park, for 8 Exotic Orchids. Mrs. Greenhaigh, for large Fern Case. LARGE SILVER MEDAL. Mr. F. Perkins, Regent Street, Leamington, for Dinner-table Mr. John Ward, for 6 Stove and Greenhouse Plants. Mr. E. Morse, Epsom, for 6 Stove and Greenhouse i'lants. Mr. J. Burley, Nurseryman, Bayswater, for 6 Fine Foliage P Messrs. Rollisson & Son, for 6 ExotitMOrchids. Mr.J. Carr, Gr. to P. L. Hinds, Esq., Byfleet, Wejbrid) Mr. T. Baines,' Gr. Southgate, for 6 Exotic Ferns. Mr. B. S. Williams, Nurseryman, for 6 Exotic Ferns. Mr. T. Russell, Rose Cottage, Hamnstead, for Pair of Boxes. Mr. F. Perkins, Leamington, for Rustic Basket filled with PI, Messrs. Ivery & Son, Dorking, for 12 British Ferns. Mt. B. S. Williams, for Pair of Tree Ferns. Mr. B. S. Williams, for 4 Palms. Mr. J. Weston, Gr. to D. Martineau, Esq., Clapham Park, fi Mr J. Catlin,' Gr. to Mr. Lermitte, Sen., Finchley, for 6 Scarl G. Goddard, Gr. to H. Little, Esq., Twickenham, for 6 48 varieties of Cut Roses. Messrs, Paul & Son, CI Mr. W. Ingle, Gr. to Mrs. Round, Bi Mr. B. R. Cant," Nurseryman, Colchester, for 24 Mr. C. Berry, Gr. to J. Da Silva, Esq., Wandsw 12 lb. of Black Grapes. Mr. P. Feist, Gr. to R. Ashton, Esq., Staines, fc Grapes Mr. B. S. Williams, for a collection of Plants. )inner-lable D s E. Harris, for Epergnc with Growing Plants. 5 Hassard, for Epergne. with Cut Flowers and Fruit, s Annie M. Williams. Holloway, for Table Bouquet. J. W. Chard, Clarendon Park, Salisbury, for Dinner-t Messrs, Dick Radclyffe & Co., Holbom, London, for Epergne ' Mr, John Wills, Sussex Place." Mr. F. Perkins, Leamington, fi Mr. Joseph Wheeler, gr. to I. Philpotts, Esq., 6 Stove and Greenhouse Plants. Mr. Rajisley Tanton, Epsom, for 6 Stove and Gret Mr. A. Wrieht. gr. to C. H. Roberts, Esq., for Fir for 8 Exotic Orchids. Mr. J. Wheeler, for Mr. W. Bull, Chelsi Iridal Bouquet. Greenhouse Plants i: .Mrs- Jeal, Park Street, Dorset Square, for large Fern Case. Miss Graham, Brookside, Haltwhistle, for small Fern Case. Messrs. Dick Radclyffe & Co., Holbom, for Hanging Basket with Growing Plants. Mr. C. Wood. High Street, Marylebone, for pair of Window Boxes filled with Growing Plants. Mr. W. Cole, Gr. to F. S. Budgett, Esq., Ealing, for Rustic Basket tilled with Plants. Mr. J. Carr, Byfleet, for 12 British Ferns. Mr. G. Wheeler, for a pair of Tree Ferns. Messrs. Wright, Nurserymen, Lee, Kent, for 6 Fuchsias. lor 24 varieties ol Cut Roses, russes of Yellow Roses. , own, Esq., Horsham, for a o . A. Johnson, Savernake, I SMALL SILVER MEDAL. . Joseph Wheeler, Stamford Hill, for 20 Stove : Plants, in 12-inc" - . A. Wright, for -. J. Sm.lh.Gr igdon, Middlesex, for( th, for b Tricolor Pelai Son, for 6 Trie I, for aZ varieiies Cut Ro! o Capt. Christie, Westerham, for 24 varietica Cut Lord Boston, Hedsor, Maidenhead, for collec- D J. F. Lermitte, Esq., Finchley, for a dishes of dge Nurserj', Friern, Barnet, for 2 dishes of the Earl of Gainsborough, ExtOD Park, Oakham, DOtS. ^ ^_^^ ^^ ^_^^ J. C. UuniiHe, Esq., Croydon, for i Queen I R. T. Crawshay, Esq., Cyfarthfa Castle, for i s Nursery, Finchley, for 12 lb. of Black Ci rapes. , for I dish of Black Hamburgh Grapes. , Ascot, for I dish of Black Grapes. Gr. to R. H. .Prance, Esq., Hampstead, for i Cole, for I dish of White Grapes. Rollisson & Son, Tooting, for a collectloi E. J. Perkins, Leamington, for cut Geranii Pinks, and Pansies. iE. Ha lanJ^B n, for ] Mr. John Cranston, King's Mr. G. Pcarce, for 6 Exof" [It, for Hand Bouquet. ■ "anion, for Ball-room Bouque.. for Ball-room Bouquet. 66, Talbot Road, Bayswater, for small Fem Case. Mr. F. Perkins, for 6 Scarlet Pelargoniums. Mr T W. Chard, for 24 varieties of Cut Roses. Mr. A. Reid, Gr. to Louis V 2 dishes of Peaches. Mr. W. Birse, for z dishes of Nt Mr. W. Cole, for 2 dishes c Esq., Possingworth, Sussex, , F. Pestndge, Nurseryman, Uxbridge, for4 disl H. Harvey, Gr., Woolcy Park, Wantage, for a J. Akchursi - - -^ ■ '^ "■ ' Pine-apple. , G. Ward, tlr. M. wJEcr, dishes of Strawben or a dish of Figs. Mr. J. Akehurst, Gr. to S. Copestake. Esq., Highgate, for i Qu Pine-apple. Mr. G. Ward, Gr. to T. N. Miller, Esq., Bishop Slortford, f Black Hamburgh Grapes. I dish of Black Grapes. _. .3 C. Scholefield, Esq., i,Gr. to Lord Ormathwaite, f of Foliage and Flowering Plants collection of Phloxes. Mr. W. Bull, Chelsea, for a collection of New and Rare Plants. Mr. W. Paul, for collection of Cut Roses. CERTIFICATES. Messrs. Carter & Co., Holborn, for Hanging Mr G. Pizzey.Gr. to Sir E. Fulmer. for collect; Mr. W. Bones, Gr., Havering Park, lor 2 dishe Mr. W. Kemp, for 2 dishes of Nectai if Peaches. Gunnersbury House, Acton, for 2 dishes of Mr.' T.DcviUe, Gr. to La Mr. M^.^Rochford!' Page C Mr. W. Lane, Gr. to J. Miles, Esq., Friern, Bamet, for i Scarlet- fleshed Melon. Mr. Barham, Gr. to Lord Ormathwaite, Warfield Park, for i dish oi Black Grapes. Mr. W. Kemp, for i dish of Muscat Grapes. Mr. D. Pizzey, for i dish of While Grapes. Mr. W. Chitty, Stamford Hill, for a collectit Mr. J. Akehurst, for 3 Pine-apples in pots. Mr. H. Harvey, for 4 Pine-apples. Mr. A. Wright, for a collection of Heaths. BOTANICAL CERTIFICATES OF MERIT. M""- J^obert Parker, Tooting, f ' ;, Chelsea, for Amorphophallus s[>eci , Chelsea, for Alocasia Marshallii. , for Dioscorca spcctabilis. , for Pteris scrruTata cristats , for Goniophlebium glaucophyllura Holloway, for Rhopala Granadensis. or Miltonia Warscewiciii. ispectorof Royal Gardens, Hanover, for,/Echniea & Son, Dorking, for Polystichum angulare Sons, for Polystichum angulare foeminatrifidum. " forPoIyi ■ ulgare Whytei Maria Regina. •ssrs! Jas. Ivery & Son, 'for Polypodi FLORICULTURAL CERTIFICATES OF MERIT. Messrs. E. & J. Perkins, Leamington, for Coleus Lady Leigh. Mr. Chas. Kiraberly, Coventry, for Tricolor Geranium Ge Tricolors. J>)iy 15. The GardciKTs' Chronicle and Aoricultural Gazette. 901 R OYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.— HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT of the LONDON INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 1871, , . ., . ng Awards to Foreign Department :— Silver Flora Med First-class Certili \'an Houtte, Ghent, for a Group of N< ,. Van Houtte, for Azalea Comtesse Azalea President Ghelllnck de Walle. r Azalea La Reine. Silver Floral Hollies. Azaleas, Second-class Certificate, M. A. Dallidre, 1 JUNE 7, 1871. Silver Floral Medal, M. A. Dalli^re. for a Group of 12 P M. A. Dalli^re. for a Pair of Pyran !,M. J. Linden, Brussels, for Xantho: „ M. J. Linden, for Accrpalm; „ M. L. lacob-Makoy & Co., Liege, for Lycopodium die „ M. L. tacob-Makoy & Co., for Lycopodium mandiocc; „ M. L. Jacob-Makoy & Co., for Lycopodium taxifolium „ M. L. Jacob-Makoy & Co.. for Tillandsia Morreniana. Second-Class Certificate, M. J. Linden, for Epidendrum pai " "nden, for a Group of lapanese J UNE 2 Special Cert :haffeltia melanochaite; IS^ JULY 5, 1S7.. r Flora lledal, M. I, Linden, for a Group of Orchids. „ M. I. Linden, for a Group of New Dioscoreas. IL 1 Linden, for a Group of New Maranlas. M. A. Dallifre, for a Group of Maranlas, ■lilicate, M. A. DalliSre, for Group ofGreenhouse Palms,) ■tificate, M. J. Hermans, HerenAals, for Cut Roses. Certificate, M. T. Linden, for Epidendrum Fredei , M. J. Linden, for Maranta Mazellii. . Linden, for Dioscorea Eldor; . Linden, for Dioscorea chryso SATURDAY, JULY 15, 1871. Wednesday, I Royal Horticultural (Fruitand Floral T.,1,. ,n/ Committees), at S. Kensington .. II A.M. '"'> '5 Ditto (Scientific Committee! .. I P.M. ( Ditto (General McctinK) .. ..3 P.M. IT is with surprise and regret that we have lately seen an attempt to dwell on the ditifer- ence between Practice and .Science, as if the two were necessarily antagonistic instead of being complementary the one to the other. In a subject like gardening, which is at once an art and a science, neither the one nor the other can be neglected without injury to both. He who ignores the science leaves his craft as he found it -he buries his talent ; he who neglects the practice injures his own interests, and has clearly no title to be called a gardener. We can only suppose that those who decry science really have no clear idea what they mean. We fancy it is the word which is in fault here. " Science " has a Latin twang about it which raises a sort of prejudice against the thing it symbolises. Substitute the Saxon term, " knowledge," and we have a word which comes home to every man's understand- ing, and which at once commands his sym- pathies. A gardener with knowledge is what every one wants— a gardener with science is fought shy of ; but this simply means that the public, in seeking a gardener, neither wish for a philosopher nor desire a quack. They want a man who can, as Mr. Fish well expressed it, put his science into his flowers or fruit. The Pine, as we were lately reminded, that was presented to Charles II., and of which ceremonial the picture still remains, was but a poor affair in comparison with what the "science" of a David Thomson, or any other of our noted Pine growers, has led us to look for on our exhibition tables now-a-days. The thousand and one illustrations of improve- ment in the art of gardening that might be adduced, were it not a matter of complete super- erogation to do so, are, we submit, all and each as much due to science — that is, knowledge — as to practice. Without knowledge there can be no progress — with it advancement is only limited by the finite ponders of individuals ; and their suc- cessors, profiting by what their predecessors have done, push forward the great work and earn the gratitude of their fellows by their power of sup- plying human needs and human comforts. The duly of the Royal Horticultural Society is plain, though we do not think that sufficient allowance is always made for the difficulties of its position. It must uphold the interests of all departments of gardening, scientific or practical ; it must not favour either at the expense of the other ; and it must get money. I f it ignore science. it loses its title to influence and respect ; it undoes all that Sabine, Knight, Lindley strove so earnestly to accomplish, and descends to the level ot a mere bazaar ; if it neglect practice and slight practitioners the main object of its existence is annulled ; while if it does not get money, naturally its own downfall must ensue. Happily we believe none of these contingencies are likely to ensue. It is obvious enough that on the Council of the Society are some members not so useful as -they might be, and who cannot be termed gardeners in any sense of the word ; but as they probably aid the Society, at least indirectly, in its money-making departments, we can only wish that their aid was more freely ren- dered. As for other members of the Council, and these the working men — Wilson Saunders, Bateman, Wilson, Marshall, Clarke, and others — we do not see how the Society could, on the whole, be more fortunate in its councillors. Every one of those we have named is a work- ing horticulturist of no second rank, and they are supported by men of business and tact who have succeeded so far in steering the Society amid many difficulties, and who seem now likely to enable the Society once more to bask in the sunshine of prosperity. That the Council of a Society, with so many conflicting interests to serve, should blunder occasionally, is only to say that it is human. It could commit no graver blunder than to slight either its practical or its scientific upholders. In conclusion, we commend the perusal of the following communication to our unscien- tific friends. It will probably lead them to think that if a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, no knowledge is often worse. " Understaniiing that prizes are offered for hybrid plants, I should like to be acquainted with particulars, as for several years past I have quietly interested myself in the matter, and accomplished some singular crosses. I enclose a flower, the result of one -Heartsease crossed with Calceolaria ; it slightly shows the cross, is a first blossom ; the plant is delicate, with smaller leaves than is usual with Heartsease. "The shoots, or off-shoots, which accompany it are a more curious cross, — Heartsease crossed with common Brake Fern. Three or four plants thus crossed show most of Heartsease, but ever and anon throw up similar shoots, which vary in strength and size, and sori on back of leaves, but after growing rapidly they die off. One of the shoots sent threw out two or three blooms, and appeared likely to give seed, but, as you will perceive, did not. The parent plants are large, stems strong and coarse looking, with few leaves and very marked joints^ A month since they threw up shoots, showing the cross very freely ; at present it is not the case, as the plants are rest- ing, but will soon take heart and prepare for a second growth, and then, no doubt, will more decidedly show the Fern nature, as they did last year. " I am repeating various crosses— one of interest. Geranium with Hemlock, or rather Hemlock with Pelar- gonium. The cross produces quite a small delicate plant, which seeds freely, and in the blossom shows the cross very plainly. I grew plants from this cross for two years ; it proved only an annual. I tried repeatedly to reverse the cross, but never succeeded. "Some years since I tried 'Borage,' or 'Bee-bread,' with Pelargonium, and the cross must have taken, for the blossoms hybridised invariably gave white seed, and they grew, but I could not see any trace of a cross in the plants. If I can, I shall repeat this cross." Of all the Horticultural Estaelishsients of Paris, none were more remarkable than that known as La Muette. At the time of our last visit, hardly more than a twelvemonth since, one vast conservatory was filled from end to end with nothing but Azaleas, grown in the French style, and constituting, when looked on from above, a marvellously beautiful parterre of floral mosaic. The Palms and decorative plants grown in this establishment were so numerous, and the general arrangements on so large a scale, that it is no wonder that the earlier accounts received in this country were treated with incredulity as highly coloured with the exaggeration pertaining to travellers' tales. This, however, was not the case. It was soon ascertained that there was no exaggeration in the account written of La Muette. We have been naturally anxious to know what was the fate of this, in many respects, unrivalled establishment. M. ANDRfe returns for answer that out of the 40 houses and their contents scarcely any- thing remains, but he attributes much of the disaster to the incompetency of the director appointed after the departure of MM. Barillet and Ermens. At the Luxembourg, M. RniiiRE has been more fortunate, and was enabled to save the greater portion of his plants. Of the destruction in other public establish- ments, we have previously spoken on more than one The last number of the "Revue Horticole," i.e., the first number since the termination of the new- Reign of Terror, contains a long list of persons con- nected with horticulture and botany who have fallen victims in someway or another to the direful calamities which have overtaken France during the last year. To some of these we have already alluded, hut we have not previously announced the decease under most painful circumstance, of M. Lierval, well known as a distinguished florist ; M. Fourreau, the pupil and coUaboratettr of M. Jordan, of Lyons, well kno\\'n for his extreme views as to the nature of species, and who died in battle, as also did Etienne de Vilmorin, youngest son of Louis DE Vilmorin ; and Alphonse MI'LLER, nurseryman, of Strasburg. Animated by noble patriotism, it is to be hoped their successors will show their love of their country by rendering the occurrence of such disasters impossible in the future. The Earls of Shrewsbury and of Dart- mouth have set a good example by inviting their tenantry to visit the Agricultural Show at WoLVERHAJiPTON, and providing luncheon for them on the occasion. This is a practice that might well be imitated by the proprietors of large garden establish- ments on the occasion of the provincial or other large shows of the Royal Horticultural Society. Chloride of Lime is an excellent disinfectant, but it is a depilatory, and, as they have found to their cost in Brussels, some time since, a defoliator. It appears, from the "Illustration Horticole," that a quantity of the substance mentioned was stored in some warehouses close to the Botanic Garden ; the result was that a large number of the plants lost their leaves in con- sequence of the emanations from the chloride of lime. A correspondent, writing from Christchurch, has forwarded us a specimen of Sisyrinchium bermudianum, L., found, as he states, in the moist part of a wood in the south of Hampshire, in a shel- tered position, about half-a-mile from the coast. There is no reason to doubt the correctness of this statement, which is extremely interesting, as being the first record of this plant in Great Britain, though it was discovered some years since in County Galway, Ireland (" Phytolo- gist " ii., 795). Bentham admits the plant as a native of Ireland, while Watson, Moore, and More, in the " Cybele Britannica," and " Cybele Hibernica," respec- tively, consider it as an alien. If the plant has not been purposely introduced, it forms an interesting addition to the other plants of supposed American lineage, Neottia gemmipara, Naias flexilis, Eriocaulon septan- gulare, &c. We should be much obliged if our corre- spondent would favour us with another specimen. The current number of that excellent periodical, the "American Agricultuiist," contains a woodcut and a descriptive account of tlie Buffalo Grass, Buchloe dactyloides. This grass is widely distributed throughout the central districts of North America, from Canada to Texas, and forms a large proportion of the food of the Buffalo. The grass in question is dioecious, the male plants having so different an aspect from the female that the two sexes of the same plant have been described asseparate species. Dr. Engelmann, of St. Louis, however, happened to meet with an obliging monstrosity, which bore flowers of both kinds, and which settled the specific nature of the plant. A grass like this, having such extensive powers of propagating itself by stolons, and one which can endure so great climatal vicissitudes, should be looked after by our Australian friends. • Mr. Albert MCller has recently published, in the Transactions of the Entomological Society, an interesting paper on the Dispersion of Certain Insects by means of the wind. The insects in question are such as, under ordinary circumstances, are not migratory, but are carried per force. Mr. Muller cites a large number of cases which led him to the con- clusion, in which we concur, that the amount of disse- mination by atmospheric means is much undeiTated. As the dissemination of some plants, seeds, &c., occurs in precisely the same manner, we advise all readers concerned in the question relating to the dispersal of species, to peruse Mr. MiiLLER's interesting paper. Those who advocate the claims of the Carpet System of Bedding-out, may be interested to know that Mr. Cannell has one of the largest beds we have seen at the Fuchsia Nuiseiy, Woolwich. It is 34 feet long, and 1 1 feet wide, and contains over 29CO plants, estimated in value at nearly ,^60. As ye', owing to the ungenial nature of the weather, the plants have not made much progress in growth ; but there is every reason to anticipate that, should we be favoured shortly with anything like summer weather, the bed will present many features of interest, inasmuch as nearly all the subjects available for this kind of work are represented in sufficient numbers to show the special merits of each, and grouped in such a happy manner as to make the bed a carpet picture of the most complete description. There is also another pro- mising feature in this bed wliich we do not remember to have seen before, /. e., ihe introduction of dwarf flowering plants of bright colour, to brighten up the sombre tints of the plants used for carpeting the grouml. The Maximum Temperatures in England during the week endinq Tuly S ranged from 77° at Leicester to 6S° at Sheflield, with a mean for all stations of 7I°.S ; and in Scotland from 73° at Leith to 66°.9 at Aberdeen, with a mean for Ihe several stations of 69°.5. The Minimum Temperatures in England, as recorded at the several stations, were 47°. 2 (at Salford), 47°.7 (Leicester), and47°.9 (Nottingham); with amean for the country of 4S°.9, or about four-tenths of a degree lower than the mean for the several stations in 902 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 15, 1871. Scotland — where 47° (at Taisley) and 47°. 5 (at Aber- , Petersburg in large quantities, fetching about los. 6J. deen) were the lowest temperatures. Mean Tempe- [ per cwt. The refuse, or marc, after the expression of RATURES. — These values, although as a rule below I the oil, is an excellent food for cattle. Horses, cows, their averages, were higlier than during the preceding and poultry are said to fatten rapidly after being fed week; 60°.$ at Blackheath in England is 14° above ] with tliese seeds. In many places in Russia they are the next highest, viz., 59° at Perth in Scotland : close boiled and eaten by the people, and, when properly to which follow Portsmouth, 58". 9 ; Norwich, 58°. 6 ; shelled and pulverised, they make good flour, whidi, Leicester, 58°. 4 ; and Manchester and Bradford, 5S°3, 1 being sweet, is very suitable for making cakes. The in England, and Leith with 58.5° in Scotland; the j dried leaves are given to cattle instead of straw, and means for the two countries were 57^.8 for England and | the stalks are said to produce a large quantity of alkali. 57°. I for Scotland. Rainfall" — Some heavy falls | One of the most recent applications, however, that has have been recorded in England, especially at the mid- been advocated for the stems of the Sunflower .13 inches at Nottingham, 1.76 inch at Slieffiekl, and 1.58 inchat Leicester ; of the remainder, 1.59 inch at Hull, 1.32 inch at Liverpool, and 1. 16 inch at Piirmingham, were the principal. In Scotland the falls ranged in amount from 0.90 inch at Edinburgh to 0.52 inch at Leith, while at Paisley no rain fell. The mean fall for England was 1. 16 inch, and for Scotland w.as 0.63 inch. (See Mr. Glaisher's Tables in our present issue. ) The plants composing the British Flora are now so Avell known, and England especially has been so thoroughly searched by careful observers, that any addition to their nuniljer, other than of critical species or evident introductions, is of great interest. More especially is this the case with the latest addition to our list— that of Silkk tkiloi:um. Scop. (Laserpitium aquilcgi;elolium, Gaitn.) which has been found by Mr. J. CusMo Melvill at Cherry Hinton, near Cam- bridge, close to the well-lmown locality lor Seseli Libanulis and Bunium Bulbocastanum. The locality is given, in the "Flora of Cambridgeshire," as producing Smyrnium Olusatrum, a plant which was recorded from the same place by Ray, Relhan, and Martyn ; and, almost incredible as it may appear, the plant seems to have escaped the notice of the many botanists who have made Cambridge the sLcne of their studies. Mr. Mel- AIIL fust i,ilhLii.lit m 1867, and we have '.i-t-n in In liLibauum the speci- men ll 1 L IV I 1 he libelled It Sill I I ll r tliL Cam- Inl lU plant f , 1 doubts manufacture of paper. Considering the ease with which these plants can be grown, and the quantity of seeds each one produces, it is time, if they are so really valuable, that they were made more generally useful. The genus Gazania is well known both for its showy flowers, and for being peculiar in its geogra- phical distribution to .Southern Africa. None of the species, so far as we know, have, until now, been found to possess any useful properties ; but one comes to us from the Bolwe River in Matabililand, Southern Africa, from the leaves of which the natives make excellent tinder. The long leaves are apparently beaten out, and the outer cuticle removed, leaving a soft, leathery substance, which is partly twisted like a rope in lengths of about 6 inches. New Garden Plants. Selaginella rubella, Moore, n. sp. fl/njsh-red tint, branched : dichotomously-forked ; Odontoglossum HINNUS, Rchh.fil. A new variety has come to hand, wanting the inner calli, and having entire wings of the column, with few toothlets, and without any tendrils. The lip reminds one of old Odontoglossum cristatum, Lindl. The sepals and petals, I may add, are undulated like those of Renanthera Lowii, what gives it a very peculiar appear- ance. It is a very beautiful and decidedly very rare thing. Sent by J. Day, Esq. //. G. Rclib. fil. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF A FLOWERING PLANT. [The following is a report of Professor Thisselton Dyer's ttiird the I admirable figure ' Whether the tulobum Vltliuugli m a juung slate thcie can be no doubt as to the ac- cuiacy of tlie identification, the lea\Ls alone, \vliicli are singularly like those of Columbine, being sufficient to show the distinctness of the plant from Smyr- autheutic Continent: well .IS with Tacqui: in "Flora Austri.i. plant is a genuine native we can scarcely pronounce at present, the Con- tinental distribution, \ wliile not in op- position to such a conclusion, being scarcely what one would expect for a Brilisli plant : it is, however, a species which would only be introduced by a botanist, and must have retained its present position for many years. Under these circumstances we direct our readers' attention to the matter, and would advise them to examine their specimens of Smyrnium in case the same singular error may have occurred elsewhere. . Any one familiar with old gardening books will recall the important Influence which the Moon was supposed to exercise upon the Growth of Plants. Directions for planting trees, or gathering herbs, were almost always regulated in some manner by the state of the moon. We learn from the " Scientific Ame- under the inllurniv nf tlic -,imc belief. A correspond- Ilickory timber. lH iiisiaii._c, be cut between the full three days after full muoii the \vorms will not touch iL" Another correspondent, who had heard this point dis- cussed for many years, tried the experiment, and, it is almost unnecessary to add, found the sticks cut at the different times mentioned in precisely the same con- dition, and quite free from worms. It is somewhat comforting to dwellers in the " old country " to find that even " Brother Jonathan " has his superstitions, as his ancestors had before him. ■ — — Some consideration has of late years been tiven towaids the giowth of fibious and oil yielding 190.— sel.\ginella rubella. auricled and slightly cilLUc at ilic L.vtLTinr liasc ; spike i incJi to i inch long, tetra- goiiMu-s, unh u\at!j .icimiinate squarrose bracts.— //«^. Not This is quite distinct from the other species of Selagi- nella known in gardens. It is of trailing habit, and being of a dull reddish colour, it will form an excellent contiMst to the iridescent blue tint of S. cresia, and the bright green of S. Krausslana (denticulata of g.ardens). It was found by Mr. B. S. Williams, of Victoria Nursery, HoUoway, on an imported Orchid, but beyond this the particulars of its history, as well as the habitat of the Orchid, have been lost sight of. Though it is thus obscure as to its origin, it will form the plants of this order already ors. T. M. . the hand- papulis quibusdam per discum, p laterales, anteposita ligula bicuspid Leaves nearly a span long, green, with a del ■iolet bolder and many violet spots on the 1 •■lowers up to 13, according to a peduncle in Hnts col nies and forei!^ the latter the Sunflowe annuus, has been favouiably spol en of lie] hnt I n May IS largely grov\n in Russia for the sake of tie 1 an 1 bttl li It IS Slid that un ler 1 goo 1 system of cullivaton a 1 s irj lushcl of s c 1 \ ill v el I 1 i,allon of excellent oil, eonln y which ca I 1 f bui ., in lamps for soap a gieat = main,, 01 t 1 a I fi opeily refine 1 itmakes disco\en I c\ ell t lal Ic I It 1 1 to be much 1 ed for science II he iti I, 01 vc I ml 1 cxpoitel Hon St dmgeioi nd petils >cllow ith I fictio 1 ic name it w ho rcn Ic ed the p ig himself m mi nei // G Rid pi a honour of the foitunate most eminent services to I very unusual and most "The stem" unites together the two great feeding systems of the plant — the leaves and the roots. The roots also serve the purpose of firmly fixing the stem to the ground, and therefore compensate partly the insta- bility arising from the enormous surface exposed by the foliage to the wind. Great strength of material is necessarily required in a tree's framework j but it must also have elasticity, otherwise it would be shattered by every sudden blast, instead of bending before it. Timber is by no means to be regarded as having merely accidentally useful properties : these are of precisely the same advantage to the tree that they are when used lor construction. There is a mechanical limit to the growth of trees— the stem increasing in a lower ratio than the strains put upon it, the weight of the upper portions would also eventually crush the lower. It should be noticed that the bulk of foliage in Palms is comparatively small — the roothold, from the want of a tap-root, being, at the same time, feeble. The unit of struc- ture in a stem is a fibrous bundle. There are two patterns upon which stems are constructed, though, in their youngest stale, both are at first similar. The substance of the young stem is cellular, and the first fibrous bundles are arranged in a circle towards the id; 1 ',]<;. The mass of cells in the in- : : this circle is more or less ! all our deciduous trees, and I- 1 ,iii> i i!ie pith. It is sometimes very -,;< !iil;c, .is in the Chinese plant, where it '^ is used in the manufacture of rice- paper. The fibrous bundles consist of an inner and an outer portion ; each consists of fibres which are really cells, extremely elongated, and with their bounding membrane very much en- crusted internally. Usually, except in Firs and 'similar trees, there are found associated with the fibres of the inner portion of each bundle tubes whose cut ends are often visible in wood to the naked eye. Such tubes are called vessels, and they are formed from rows of cells whose partitions have been absorbed. Between the two por- tions of each bundle is a layer of delicate tender cells, in an actively vital state, the fibres themselves being prac- tically lifeless and inert. These cells oblong : divide and grow, and are gradually converted into new 1'^:.! !:" fibres added to each portion of the bundle. In oiir forest trees this process continues till a bundle is converted into a wedge, stretching from the centre to the circumference of the stem. In many trees of warm countries the process goes on without break, and the wood formed is quite continuous. In deciduous trees, however, it stops when the leaves fall, and this produces a line of demarcation, one corresponding to every year. In Palms the cam- bium, as the formative layer of cells is called, soon loses its vitality, and new circles altogether of bundles are formed ; the cut ends of these can be seen dotted about in a section of palm-wood. In our own trees the inner part of the wedge already described forms the wood, the outer portion the bark ; the wedges are separated by often very manifest lines called pith-rays. The young one-year-old shoots bear the leaves ; in these the wedges or bundles round the pith are still slender, and form, in fact, a cylinder such as may be well seen in an old cabbage stalk. It will be noticed that this is perforated with holes, through which fibrous contributions pass out from the inside of the cylinder to fomi the framework of the leaves ; a contribution to which is also received from the bark on the outside. The outside of the stem, in its very young state, is covered with an external cellular layer — a portion, in fact, of the original cellular structure of the stem, separated from the pith by the development of the cylinder of conti- fnious fibrous bundles. The cellular material which hlls up the framework of the leaves may be looked I pon as an out-growth of this external cellular layer of the stem. In Pahns, the fibrous bundles take, eventu- ally, an outward course, and pass off bodily into the leaves ; these have often a sheathing base, wdiich, in some species, breaks up, leaving the fibrous framework projecting in stiff and rigid bristles. Under the name of I nssaba fibre (produced by a Brazilian Palm), these I are used for making the common brooms with which July IS, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 903 the streets of Dublin are swept. The sap absorbed by the roots is largely distributed through the plant by the compression, and relaxation of the vessels when the branches are swayed by the wind. It is found that if a plant is constrained from swaying in a particiUar direction, the corresponding diameter of the trunk is shorter. Liquid is always got rid of by transpira- tion from the leaves, while it continues to enter the roots by absorption. When the vessels are compressed, therefore, in the bent branches the upward direction is that in which there is least resistance to motion — of the downward motion of the sap after elaboration in the leaves the cause is less obvious. Its course is mainly in the cam- bium within the bark ; that it really takes place is proved by the swelling which is produced on a stem above a ligature. Decortication is commonly fatal to the parts of the stem above. If, however, the cambium is not destroyed, it may heal over with bark if properly protected. In this way Cinchona bark is removed ■without killing the young trees. When it is necessary to pmne trees, this should always be done by removing the branches without leaving a stump. This gives a chance for the wounds to heal over, and so avoids further decay. Trees lose heat in the conversion of the water of their sap into vapour, but their stems at any rate absorb in the sun more than they lose, and to- wards the end of the day become warmer than the air. A NEW SYNOPSIS OF ALL THE KNOWN LILIES.— V. Subgenus 2. Lilium Proper. — Bulbs squamose ; stigma a thick head to the style, with three blunt lobes — ( Continued). Group 2 : Archelirion {Open-flowered Lilies). — Perianth broadly bell-shaped, horizontal, or slightly drooping, its divisions ovate or lanceolate, broadest below the middle, not unguiculate, spreading from below the middle when fully expanded. Stamens diverging on all sides. Key to the Species. Leaves linear sessile, with bulblets in the ) axils of the upper ones. Stems > 9, L. TiGRlNfM. cottony. J Leaves lanceolate, with a short distinct petiole, not bulbiferous in the axils. Stems glabrous. Leaves ovate-lanceolate. Perianth "j segments usually banded down the >• 10. L. speciosi-M. Leaves linear-lanceolate. Perianth "j centre with yellow, j The three species of this section are so well kno^vn to every one that I describe them only for the sake of making my synopsis complete. To me they seem to form a distinct group, and not to range well with either the Martagons or Eulirions, but to differ appreci-' ably from both in the shape of the entire flower and of its divisions, and to form a clearly marked group inter- mediate between all the other three. 9. L, tignnu?n, Gawler in Bot. Mag. t. 1237 ; Red, Lil. t. 395 and 475 ; Ait. Hort. Kew, edit. 2, vol. ii., p. 241 ; Kunth, Enum. iv. 259 ; Spae, Mon. p. 39 ; Miquel, Ann. Mus. Lug. Bat. vol. iii., p. 156 ; L. spcciosum, Andrews, Bot. Rep. t. 586, non Thunberg. — Stems 2 — 4 feet high, erect, firm, robust, purplish-black, clothed especially in the upper part ^\■ith grey cottony pubescence. Leaves 20—30 at tlie flowering time, linear, scattered irregularly, erecto-patent or spreading, dark glossy green, stout in texture, paler on the lower side with 5—7 distinct nerves, the lower ones 4—6 inches long, 6 — 9 lines broad, slightly rounded to a sessile base, narrowed gradually from the middle to a long point, the upper ones much shorter, linear or often lanceolate, with round nearly black bulblets in the axils of many of them. Flowers usually 3—4, but when luxuriant up to 8 — 20 in a del- toid raceme 8—9 inches broad, the lateral peduncles rigidly erecto-patent, usually furnished with a bract at or below the middle, the lower ones 3—4 inches long. Perianth 2i — 4 inches deep, bright deep orange-red with a very large number of small distinct purplish-black spots on the face, the divisions lanceolate, the outer ones 4 — 6 lines, the inner 6—9 lines, broad below the middle, the lower part with a few raised papillre, the haft furnished with a groove bordered with two pubescent ribs. Fila- ments 6—12 hnes shorter than the segments; anthers 6 — 9 lines long ; pollen orange- red ; ovary 7—9 lines long ; style 1^—2 inches ; stigma deep purple, A native of Japan and China, introduced to our gardens along with L. japonicum in 1804 by Captain Kirkpatrick, but well known previously, although not named, by the figure published by Sir Joseph Banks in 1791. One of the most distinct, best known, and least variable of all the species. The principal points in which the different specimens are not uniform, are in the colour of tlie flowers and the extent to which they droop, which is usually but not invariably considerable. TO. Z. spcciosjim, Thunb. in Linn. Trans, ii. 332 ; Bot. Reg. t. 2000 ; Zucc. in Sieb. Fl. Jap. fasc. iii. p. 31, t. 12 and t. 13, fig. I ; Kunth, Enum. iv. 259 ; Spae, Mon. p. 36 ; Bot. Mag. t. 37S5 ; Flore des Serres. t. 276; Paxton Mag. v. t. i, viii. t. 127 ; L. superbum, Thunb. Fl. Jap. p. 134, non Linn.; L. laticifolium, Paxt. Mag. v. 267, non Thimb. — Stem i — 3 feet high, rigid, erect, glabrous, terete, greenish. Leaves about 20 at the flowering time, the lower ones ovate, or ovate-lanceolatc. 6--9 inches long, ij— 2 inches broad below the middle, bright green above, paler, with 7—9 distinct ribs beneath, rounded at the base to a short erect petiole, narrowed gradually from the middle to an acute or acuminate point, the upper ones lanceolate, 6—9 hnes broad, 3 — 5 nerved. Flowers usually 3 — 6, in a broad deltoid raceme, occa- sionally more numerous in cultivation, in a compound corymb ; the peduncles bracteated, rigid, erecto-patent, the lowest 4—5 inches long ; perianth 3—5 inches deep, the divisions spreading from near the base when fully expanded, the outer 12—18 lines, the inner 15—21 lines broad below the middle, the face in the lower half charged with copious, much raised papilla, which reach a length of 2 — 3 Hnes, the lower third with a distinct green glabrous hollow down the keel, the colour a pure white ground in the typical form, more or less suffused, and copiously spotted with claret-red, but sometimes both the face and papillae pure white, the bud extemafly greenish, the expanded flower measuring 6—8 inches across. Filaments 2|— 4 inches long ; anthers 9—12 hnes long ; pollen deep yellowish ; ovary an inch deep ; style i| — 2.\ inches. ative of Japan, long known through Kaampfer's drawing published by Sir Joseph Banks, but not intro- duced to Europe till 1S32. As everyone knows, it greatly in the size and colouring of the flower, but most distinct plant, with no close affinity except to L. auratum. Unfortunately it was first sent out into cultivation under a wrong name, Lilium lancifolium, hich belongs to an entirely different species of the lolirion group, which I shall have to notice pre- sently ; and a name when once put into garden lation, even when entirely erroneous, is very difficult to get changed. Let me beg of all my horti- cultural readers who have not done so already to call md best known of the Japanese Lilies, in their catalogues and on their labels, by its correct "speciosum," and probably some of these days we shall be having the proper *' lancifolium " rediscovered and introduced ; but let it be clearly understood that at present "lancifolium " is not kno^vn all. The principal named varieties nctatujHj with white segments, not suffused, but only spotted with red, figured in Paxton's Magazine," vol. v. t. 267, under the name of lancifolium, and there compared with speciosimi as distinct species; and 2, Tameiano of Zuccarini (albifiomm of Hooker, L. Broussartii, Morren, in Mem, Acad. Royal Brux., Feb. 1834, with a figure), with pure white flowers. This last is sometimes called Lilium eximium in gardens, but must not be confounded with the eximium already noticed under L. longiflorum. II. L. auratum, Lindl. Card. Chron. 1862, p. 6jf^b ; Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 5338 ; Flore des Serres, t. 1528 — 1531 ; III. Hort. ix., t. 338; Rev. Hort., 1867 t. 371; L. Dcxtcri, Hovey Mag. Hort., Aug. 1862.— Stem 2— 4 feet high, rigid, erect, purphsh-green, terete, quite glabrous. Leaves about 30 at the flowering time, spreading or defiexed, linear-lanceolate, the lower ones 6—9 inches , 9—15 Hnes broad below the middle, precisely similar ose of speciosum in colour and textiu-e, \vith five or rarely seven distinct translucent ribs beneath, slightly narrowed at the base to a short distinct petiole, narrowed gradually from the middle to an acuminate point. Flowers usually 3—6 in a deltoid raceme, occasionally up to 20 under cultivation, the peduncles rigidly erecto- patent, bracteolate, 3—4 inches long, and bracteated at the base by a large leaf. Unexpanded bud green. Perianth spreading just as in speciosum, the divisions 5 — 7 inches long, the outer 15 — 18 lines, the inner 18 — 21 Hnes broad near the middle, the face ivory-white in the ordinary form, with a distinct central band of bright yellow and numerous deep purple spots, the lower part copiously papillose, the haft with a glabrous greenish keel. Ex- panded perianth, 10—12 inches across. Filaments 3—3^ inches long; anthers i inch ; pollen scarlet; ovary 12 — 14 Hnes long ; style 3- 3^ inches. A native of Japan, and scarcely to be regarded as more than a subspecies of speciosum. Oldham writes on the label of a specimen he gathered near Yokohama in August, 1861, now in the Kew herbarium — "Udi of the Japanese : splendid showy plant, growing chiefly in light rich soil amongs the shrubs and between the rocks." Introduced into this country by Messrs. Veitch, who flowered it for the first time in 1862, not 1848, as was quoted, through a misprint, in the description appended to the plate in the ** Botanical There is now a pure white variety adver- and several with the segments variously suffused th red. I have not seen the Lilium IViitei^ described by Suringar in Koch's *' Wocheuschrift," 1S67, p. 294, but, judging from the description, it must be a mere variety of this. J. G. Baker. [Those of our readers interested in the culture and identification of Lilies will learn with pleasure that the publication of M. Duchartre's notes on these beautiful plants has been lately resumed, in the "Journal de la Societe Centrale d' Horticulture de France." The Franco-German war of course put a stop to this publi- cation, but now that the sword is once more sheatlied, the Lilies will bloom again, and we shall shortly con- tinue our translation of M. Duchartre's articles. Eds.] "^ NEW PEARS. New Pears, logue, where he says, "We advance but slowly in new Pears, and not more than 5 per cent, of the new varieties raised from seed on the Continent are adapted for universal cultivation." As these quoted remarks (made by Mr. Rivers about four or five years ago) may have a tendency to mislead parties with regard to Continental productions, and to make them s\ippose that we, as a nation, think ourselves before our neigh- bours in these things, I have sent you lists, which 1 am afraid will be too long for your columns, of Pears of English and Scotch growth, as far as I know them. The sorts enumerated have taken us many long years to produce, and are, as first-class fruits, few in number, especially when compared with the prolific productions of France and Belgium, a list of which I also send you, of kinds only produced within the last 20 years. Whilst the English and Scotch first-rate sorts produced, during 1 50 years or more, amount ordy to about 30, we have 120 new first-rate kinds produced on the Con- tinent in 20 years. Were I to go backward 50 years more the balance against us would be great indeed. Take the productions of Van Mons alone, what can we show against them ? The list I send you of new kinds, all of which, with a few exceptions, have been proved here as of excellent quality, and the greater portion of them are, in my estimation, adapted for general cul- tivation, where the locality does not stand at too great an elevation above the sea. The years affixed are those I received the sorts in, and these dates are gene- rally one or two years later than the years when the respective kinds first fruited. I think a perusal of the lists will make us cautious of giving credence to a state- ment which would limit the new good Pears of the Conti- nent, suitable for general cultivation, to 5 per cent of those sent out from the Continent. My experience is the very contrary, and I do not wish to cry up the extreme honesty of our brethren across the water, although I think that they will, as far as I am a judge, bear honourable mention beside us. My long rows of speci- men Pear trees do not speak very favourably of EngUsh nurserymen, when put in contrast with our Continental neighbours. I have purchased all the sorts of Pear that I could procure in America, Great Britain, or from Continental nations, and I have kept the names of all the parties from whom I purchased, and planted their trees each according to its kmd in juxtaposition with sorts under the same name, so as to enable me to judge which were the most correctly named, the Americans, the Contmentals, or Britons. Although I am ashamed, I am constrained to say that I have found the nomenclature of fruit in England very much behind either America (from which I have 150 sorts of Pear) or the Continental nations, from which I have imported nearly 1200 kinds, very few of which belie their names. In my specimen rows there stand against my English brethren a very sombre array of false kinds and false names, arid these are exceedingly vexing, as, unintentionally, one sends them all over the country, before the error of name and kind is found out, which to do takes years of patient attention. Alas ! it is the labour of a long life to do it. Uncorrectness of nomen- clature is now almost as bad as it was before Thompson tried his hand at the Augean stable, and it would, indeed, take a Hercules now to gather together our golden Apples and Pears and to send them forth into the world each under its proper character and name ; then how am I, a poor mortal, to grapple with the hydra of such nomenclature ? My collection of Apples contains about 1000 sorts, gathered from under the f the thankless duty of criticising its conduct. It has donegood work in improvingthe material of horticulture, but the time has come for it to win the love of horti- Iturists. It has it in its power to do so, by little cial courtesies that cost it nothing. But if it refuses, horticulturists are becoming strong enough to take care of themselves. Gardeners are proverbially gi-ateful for small favours, and it surely is a small matter that their dinner should become part of the official programme of these provincial shows, and that a Congress be held for their pleasure and instruction. ' This is, however, probably the last time the Society will be asked to undertake such matters ; I am assured, on good autho- rity, that both a dinner and Congress will certainly take place at those great gatherings, whether the Society patronises either or not ; and, further, that probably one of the first matters discussed at such independent Congress, will be the relation of the Royal Horticultural Society to practical gardeners ; and the second, "Heads and Hands; or. Our Press." A Practical, July S. [It will be well worth the time and space occupied if the discussion of this subject should lead to the removal of the misunderstanding alluded to. As to the dinner, we have already pointed out how it oughtto be managed. As to the Congress, it was all along understood that there was to be one, or something equivalent to it, at Nottingham, but why it was not carried out, we have never le.arned. Had we been aware that nothing would have been done, we should ourselves, certainly, as before, have taken some active steps to promote one. Eds.] Diverting a Watercourse. — As you justly say, "J. K.'s" inquiry is much dependent upon local customs. A precisely similar case existed not far from my abode a few years since, the water passing through other property ere it reached the mill below. In this instance, however, the water was only dammed back to form a waterfall. This was contested unexpectedly by the owner of a mill above, from the fact that it flooded his "mill-tail" unduly, to his injury, in regard to the working of the mill. The miller below "J. Iv." has not only a right to be recouped for the loss of the water maintained and kept from him during process of fiUingthe newlymade vacant bay, but also forthe fact that the bay will for all future time stay the impetus of the stream, which will act very detrimentally to him in all cases of a scarcity of water — independently of the fact that the increased area increases likewise by the absorp- tion of the soil, the loss of the water: to say nothing of the fact as to whether your correspondent has a lien on what water he requires from the stream for his use. William Ear ley. "Sic utere tuo, ut non Icedas alienum" is a good, sound old legal maxim, and one that seems to me quite applicable to your correspondent, who makes inquiries about " diverting a watercourse." It seems to me impossible for such a thing to be done without injury to his neighbour, or those below him on the stream, even though "there should be a pipe to take away the waste water from the tank when it becomes full, to carry it again in the same stream." I should think the miller below could be free to bring an action against the diverter, and of all questions arising in courts of law, none are so strongly contested as those arising out of the rights to water- rcourses, and, I may add, none so uncertain in thei results. E. C. The Gardeners' Dinner at Nottinghain.— In your comments upon the letter of " A Practical," there is a statement which is not correct. You say that "The gardeners' dinner, if properly organised, and under the management of a respectable local committee, Id certainly always command the sympathies and support of the Society, both Council and Fellows, as did on this occasion." The facts are, that at an early meeting of our local committee, the secretary, Mr. Lowe, was requested to ask the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society to assure us that a gardeners' ;r would have that support and sympathy ; and the answer which he brought was this, " the Council do lot seem to take an interest in the dinner, and they eave it to Mr. Hole." T/ie Afr. Hole referred to. [N'o dis- repancy here : they would not, because, as they think, they could not, take up the subject, as promoter.-. Eds.] A Caution. — Would you let me look at your Lawn Mower, Sir ? — Makers of these useful machines would do well to look after a set of cunning fellows who go about the country under pretence of being skilled in repairing, setting, and making old machines like new ones. Unless they produce more sub- stantial evidence than that of their ready tongue about friction, &c., gardeners should be aware of them. Of course there are some who will produce their card, d give satisfactory references. Caution. Flower Show Appeals. — The Chelmsford and Essex Horticultural Society offers a prize at its annual exhibition for "6 plants for beauty of foliage (distinct ies)," and last year one of the exhibitors showed in class two Crotons, viz., C. variegatum and C. angustifolium ; but as these were both varieties of the same species, he was very properly disqualified. This year, however, one exhibitor showed two Alocasias in :lass, viz. , A. Lowii and A. macrorhiza variegata, and, contrary to precedent, and to the expectations of the majority of the exhibitors there present, he was warded the 1st prize. This is all the more to be I'ondered at, seeing that it was awarded by the same judges as last year. If it be nothing more , this is rely a little piece of inconsistency ; for why should one collection containing two Crotons be dis- qualified, and another with two Alocasias be honoured "th the 1st prize ? Surely a little explanation is re- quired, and as both the judges and the exhibitor of the two Alocasias in question are readers of the Gardeners' Chronicle, I trust they will use that medium of convey- ing such explanation. I write this with no ill feeling, 'n order that a definite and proper understanding may be arrived at to guide us in future years. Thomas Simpson, Broomfield, Chelmsford. [The Alocasias men- tioned are a distinct species, and therefore comply with the terms. Eds.] The Last Trail of the Winter of 1870-71.— So at least we may surely venture to hope was the terrific hailstorm that swept across a great portion of East Anglia, from the coast to 30 or more miles inland , on July 5. A few very loud peals of thunder soon after noon, from a huge black cloud which was rent asunder, and the rain and hail poured down pell- mell in bucketfuls, tearing, rending, shattering, batter- ing everything' in its hurried course, converting, roads and walks into rivers of floating ice, and leaving on the level ground in many places a deposit an inch deep of blunt, conical hailstones, the form of a boy's spinning- top, and of the most ponderous size. Though the day wss extremely hot, and much rain fell with the hail, it was quite two hours before it disappeared from the shady side of walls or trees, and almost any number of cart- loads might have been collected on our lawn. I have never seen anything like it in summer. For the time, it chilled the air as ice-pudding does the mouth, and the noise and confusion while it lasted were indescribable. From what I can learn, we got the tail of it here, as it did not proceed above a mile beyond us in any direc- tion, except towards the east ; but it seems as if the strength and fulness of the cloud had been in its tail, for rl do not gather that more hail fell anywhere than over here ; and, singularly enough, consi- derably more fell in the kitchen-garden than in the flower garden, though the two are within 3 quarter of a mile of each other. But the kitchen garden is probably 40 feet lower ; and I have observed this difference in quantity of fall, both of rain and snow, before. It was a pitiable sight to see the Coleus, Iresine, Perilla, Pelargoniums, subtropicals, &c., shivering amid the large pieces of ice, which glistened like plump drops of crystallised sugar, such as delight baby eyes, and satisfy and fill their mouths with sweets. So late as the mornings of Jane 25 and 26 frosts had bitten into many of our Coleus and other tender plants, and it seems doubtful if they will get over this pelting with ice balls. I send you samples of fruits and vegetables to show you how hardly they have been hit. I confess I was somewhat proud of our crops of Apples and Pears. We had a better crop than most this year. I very much fear that the hail will ruin them. The indentations are so deep, that it seems as if the bruised portions must decay. It strikes me that the form of the hail had something to do with the depth of these bruises. Most of the hailstones, I suppose, would fall with their narrow points downwards ; but the mere weight of the hail may have been sufficient to cause the injury. The fruit on walls is also greatly bruised, that on cordons, perhaps, most of all. I mark the samples sent — cordons, wall, open. The Pear perhaps, reveals the severity of the storm more than aught else. You wiU see that they are bruised almost right through. I also send some The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 15, 1 87 1 Onion pbnts, which have suffered much. Before the hail they were a model crop— without speck or bruise, now the whole is battered and wounded. Lettuce plants are torn to shreds. Some Broccoli plants, just pricked out, strong and healthy, are, I fear, utterly ruined. In fact, it seems as if this last trail of winter in July was to prove more disastrous than all that had gone before it. Would that we, in East Anglia, could have taken a leaf out of your correspondent's book, and said to this stomi- cloud. We do not suffer hail in July to wreck and ruin our crops. But though all ministering priests, serving before the great altar of Nature, we have no such power to close the windows of heaven, even when they discharge such huge morsels of ice— to our utter discomfiture and heart-breaking — at mid- summer. We can but say, " Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight;" and reverently, hopefully, and mercifully set to work to restore what the storm has weU nigh ruined. D. T. Fish, July 6. [The samples sent were very much injured, some of them beyond recovery. Eds.] Vitality of Seeds of Foxglove.— Upon two or three roods of ground I had trenched deeply in the new works here last winter, a dense mass of seedling Foxgloves has sprung up, where no symptom of such existed before. Willinm Earhy, Valcntnus. Laxton's Alpha Pea. — Your conespondent "A. D.," commenting on the character of the above Pea, gives it a widely different description to what I should have expected from my own experience, excepting in one point, viz., its earliness, which I consider to be on an equality witli Daniel O'Rourke, but with pods double the size, and much longer, and Peas more rescmljlini; the Biuad Bean in size than a Daniel surpassmg The haulii iiq, as is the case in all Laxton's Peas. " I i ]uolific, hanging more like Hops in tlR > >:n \- I 1.1 lit. E. Mofgaiij Hamnit-oii-t/w mi. The Trade Yard at Nottingham.— "The true Epic of our time is, not Arms and the Man, but Tools and the Man — an infinitely wider kind of Epic." (T. Carlyle. )— The great success which has attended the Royal Horticultural show at Nottingham induces me to ask, through your valuable journal, whether the Council would adopt on the next occasion some better method in the arrangement of goods in that portion of the ground set apart for trade. It is scarcely in keep- ing with the high purposes for which the Royal Horti- cultural show is held that the visitor on entering finds himself in the midst of a fancy bazaar, and that the principal approaches to the grand marquee are lined with booths similar to those we see on fair day in market towns. None but the most persevering of sightseers would be likely to see anything beyond this in the tr.-ide gi'ound. The manufacturers of imple- ments, tools, and apparatus used m horticulture ought to be recognised by the Council as having a claim to a constant and prominent place at the show. There is no need to exclude other trades, but it is by no means necessary that dealers and manufacturers of goods having no special interest to the horticultural world should monopolise the best places. Next in point of attraction to the show of plants and fruit, come the implements and apparatus used in the garden. They have contributed some share, however humble, to the great triumphs of the horticulturist. It would but be in agreement with the proper fitness of things, if the principal avenue to the marquee were set apart for the use of manufacturers and their representatives. Then let the sellers of agricultural implements and miscellaneous goods take the second and third places. Of course if it is absolutely necessary to the prosperity of the Royal Horticultural Society that the vendors of toys and the retailers of beer should have the most pro- minent positions in the trade ground, by all means let them have it. No one, however, who saw the thou- sands that poured into the Park on each day of the show would suppose that they stood in need of any such support. A manufacturer does not attend the show merely to make sales. That branch of trade is now permanently established, and there is always ample stock in the hands of agents to meet the wants of the public. It is the only time during the year, and for that district in several years, *that he has the oppor- tunity of meeting both professional gardeners and amateurs, who have always some inquiries to make, or wish to test the merits of some novelty in garden requi- sites. By the present arrangem£nts that opportunity is not given them. Therefore let the Council institute a new organisation of the trade yard, which wiU give the visitors convenience of access to the manufacturers of implements and apparatus, concentrate their attention on the special purposes for which the show is held, and add to its completeness. George Baiiies. Orchard-house Culture made Easy. — One of the lions of Nottingham in the shape of frait tree culture is a long ladder and plank shed or general store of stock-in-trade of the well-known horticultural builder, Mr. Foster. This shed is 200 feet long, more or less, supported on pillars, the roof sufficiently high to admit of carts, &c., being safely sheltered from the weather. The roof is simply a common span, but instead of bemg slated or tiled it is glazed with strong glass, which enables Mr. Foster to make the best of this shed for two purposes, viz. , general store and orchard-house. The shed is open on one side and weather-boarded on the other up to the eaves, and appears to answer all the purposes of an orchard- house so far as securing plenty of fruit. After a scramble over planks, casks, and other sundries, I found that the trees in this house are all planted out, and are fruiting in a state worthy of a different situa- tion. I did not go the whole length of the shed, but the sorts of trees which I observed were Apricots, Nectarines, Plums, and Peaches ; and had they been put up for exhibition for quantity of fruit, they would have taken prizes in the order named. So far as I could see, the trees were all trained standards, or what are termed riders ; they are planted inside the house and close to the boards, and their straight stems reach to the eaves, the branches being afterwards trained in the fan shape to a wide trellis underneath the roof, where they are luxuriating in the greatest health arid vigour. A good deal of Mr. Foster's success lay in the large amount of ventilation, and in the shoots being close to the glass. Upon the outside of the house, and on the weather-boards, are the finer sorts of Pear trees, trained horizontal fashion, and they seemed to enjoy their situation. The above shows what can be done with a little ingenuity and forethought in turning such lumber sheds to a useful account. Had Mr. Foster known that his model orchard-house was going to be taken by storm, and inspected by a bevy of dukes', earls', and lords' gar- deners, he would no doubt have taken a leaf out of his neighbour Mr. Pearson's book, and had the trees duly pinched and stopped. J. Miller. [A most successful experiment, as we ourselves can testify. Eds.] Caterpillars and the Fruit Crops.— It is a general complaint amongst fruit cultivators this season that there has been not only a great destruction of fruit trees, but also of the fruit crops, by blight and caterpillars. Some of the returns are quite alarming ; therefore, any suggestions tending towards the mitigation of the ravages of these pests cannot be otherwise than acceptable to gardeners. I think the nature of the species of caterpillar that has worked so much mischief among our fruit trees is not getierally known. As regards its habits, I may say that it per- petuates its species by forming a ring of a hard substance round the small wood of the tree, in the months of July and August, where it remains until the ensuing spring. There is a most simple and effectual method by which this pest can be destroyed, viz., by cut- ting away the rings during the autumn and winter months. It is only by close observation that these rings can be discovered, because of the resemblance they bear to the bark of the tree on which they are placed. A sharp look-out should be kept spring of the year about March .AprU for any caterpillars, the product of any rings that may have escaped the eye of the pruner, and were not destroyed in the dormant form. As a matter of course the appearance of the caterpillars will depend very much upon the forwardness or otherwise of the season ; that presence can be detected by the appearance of a web, or nest, on the tree, encasing the progeny in a cluster, when they can readily be destroyed. A remark- able circumstance of the partial manner in which blight will ' fine, but unripe. Mr. J, Douglas, Mr. W. Lane. Mr. E. Sage, and Mr. A. Wright, all staged the last-named variety. The best single dish of any other while variety was a very nice one of Buckland Sweetwater, shown by Mr. W. Cole, gr. to F. S. Budgett, Esq., Ealing Park ; Messrs. Standish&Co. being 2d with Ascot Citronelle, a new Grape of excellent merit, com- bining the flavour of the Citron and the luscious Muscat ; it does not crack, and will carry well for two months after ripening ; and Mr. D. Pizzey 3d, with White Mus- cadine. Of Queen Pines, 8 were shown— the best, a specimen weighing 6 lb., coming from Mr. Jaques, gr. to J. C. P. Cunhfife, Esq., Hooley House. Croydon; Mr. J. Akehurst, gr. to S. Copestake, Esq., being 2d, and Mr. J. Deaville, gr. to Lady Edwards, Wooton Hall, Ashbourne, 3d. The best Pine of any other variety was a Providence, weighing 9 lb. 4 oz., from Mr. H. Balham, gr. to R. T. Crawshay, Esq., Cyfarthfa Castle ; Mr. G. Ward being 2d with a smooth-leaved Cayenne, weighing 7 lb. ; and Mr. M. Rochford, Page Green, 3d, with a nice fruit of the same variety. There were six other competitors. For the best two dishes of Peaches there were 13 competitors, good- sized, well-coloured fruit being the rule. Mr. W. Birse, gr. to J. F. Lermitte, Esq., Finchley, was ist with handsome examples of Violette Hative and Royal George ; Mr. A. Reed, gr. to L. Hath, Esq., Passingworth, being 2d with Harrington and Crosse Mignonne ; and Mr. W. Bones 3d, with Violette Hative and Royal George. In the class for Nectarines the display was not so numerous. Mr. W. Birse jiad very well-coloured dishes of Balgowan and Violette Hdtive ; and from Mr. A. Johnson, Due de Telliers and EIruge ; capital specimens of Newington from Mr. J. Davey, and Hunt's Tawny from Mr. Kemp. The best scarlet-fleshed Melon, in a collection of 7, was a small Scarlet Gem shown by Mr. W. Lane ; Messrs. Wright, Lee, Kent, had also a nice fruit of the same Variety. Mr. T. Crane, gr. to the Rev. L. Deedes, Bram- field Rectory. Herts, had Improved Scarlet Gem. In the green -fleshed class there were 13 examples shown, including a nicely ripened fruit of Triomphe de Nice, from Mr. T. Crane ; a nice flavoured example of Conqueror of Europe, from Mr. W. Lane. Golden Gem was shown by Mr. W. Cox, Madresfield Court, and Bailey's Green-flesh came from Mr. C. Ross. In the class for 2 Vines in pots, any kind, there were three exhibitors, Mr. Cole. Ealing Park ; Mr. Wesker, gr. to A. Rose. Esq., Fernside. Wimbledon Common; and Messrs. Lane & Son. The former sent very well- done specimens grown on the system described by Mr. William Thomson for table decoration, and from both of the latter came plants grown in the usual way. Mr. Wesker was placed ist, Mr. Cole 2d, and Messrs. Lane & Son 3d. Collections of 6 dishes of outdoor fruits of the usual description were shown well by Mr. Lynn, Mr. W. Bones, Mr. Kemp. Mr. Pizzey, and Mr. E. Clarke. Capital dishes of Bigarreau Napoleon and Black Tar- tarian Cherries were shown by Mr. W, Cole ; and Mr. M. Walker, and Mr. J. Smith, gr. to the Eari of Gainsborough, had nice dishes of Elton and Downton. Of Strawberries, Mr. J. Douglas had very fine dishes of Lucas, Frogmore Late Pine, British Queen, and Admiral Dundas. Mr. J. Smith had President. Sir C. Napier, and Lucas, &c. Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kemp, Mr. Pizzey, Mr. C. Kimberly had also very good examples. In the miscel- laneous class, Mr. Harvey, gr. to P. Wroughton, Esq., Wooley Park, Wantage, had 4 Queen Pines, grown on the Hamiltonian system. Figs were shown by Mr. A. Reid, Mr. H. Harvey, Mr. C. Osman. and Mr. C. Ross ; and Apples were shown by Mr. T. Crane. Mr. E. Clarke, Mr. DenviUe, Mr. C. Osman, &c. Mr. W. Cox had 4 Golden Gem Melons, and Mr. Harvey sent 2 fruits and flowers of Stephanotis floribunda. Edinburgh Botanical : ^pn'l 13. — Alexander Buchan, Esq.. M.A., President, in the chair. The fol- lowing communications were read :— I. JVoies on ike recent Progressy/ Botany in Denmark ; by Dr. Robert Brown. * Dr. Brown gave a review of some of the more important researches made by Danish botanists during the last few years, and published chiefly in the Danish language, in the Transactions of the Natural History Society, the Botanical Society, the Academy of Sciences, or as separate works. After noticing the proposed removal of the Botanic Garden from the centre of the city of Copen- hagen, where it has long been, he called attention to the foundation of the Botanisk Forening. or Botanical Society, which now numbers between one and two hundred honorary, resident, non-resident, and foreign members, and publishes a yearly "Tidssknft." or fasciculus of trans- actions, containing many papers of merit. The last part is occupied by Branth and Rostrup's "Lichenes Daniae." It is under the presidency of Professor Lange, and is yearly increasing in importance and numbers. The publication of the 47th livraison of the " Flora Danica," under the editorship of Professor Lange, marks an era in Danish botany, and keeps up the high reputation this work has attained. The present part contains, like its predecessors, 60 plates, representing 75 plants ( 14 of these being varieties already partially described in the "Flora Danica." and two hybrids), of which 24 have not been figured previously in any iconographic work. These 7s plants comprise 35 Phanerogamia (25 dicotyledons, 9 monocotyledons, and i gymnosperm). and 40 Cryptogamia(i Fungus, 7 CharaceiK, 12 mosses, 10 Hepatica?, and 10 Lichens). The plates are executed by Mr. Thomman, and very faithfully and beautifully pourtray the objects they are intended to illustrate. Perhaps next to the "Flora Danica." the most important botanical work produced in Denmark of late is " L'Amerique Central," of Professor A. S. CErsted, the result of a journey in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, in 1846-48. As yet only the first part is issued, partly at the expense of the Danish Academy of Sciences. It contains 18 folio pages descriptive of the physical features of the country, a map, two physiognomical views, and 18 mag- nificent plates, on copper, representing new species of plants. CErsted has also published an elaborate memoir on the classification of the Oaks, founded on the form of the pistil, venation of leaves, &c., which differs materially from that of De Candolle and other preceding writers, and is a valuable contribution to the history of the Cupuli- ferae. In the Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences, the same author has also contributed a paper on the "Silphion" of the ancients, w^hich, from a study of the classical writers, Greek coins, and vases, he considers is a species of plant allied to Narthex Asafoetida, and which he proposes to call Narthex Silphium. " Professor CErsted's numerous papers on the Development of Fungi, his recently published Introduction to the Study of Cellular Plants, and his Memoir on the Morphology of the Coni- ferse, were also noticed. Of late years Dr. Eugene Warming has visited Brazil, and made a collection of plants, chiefly in the vicinity of Lagoa Santa. These are now in course of description by himself and other botanists, chiefly Augustus Progel, J. A. Schmidt, Johannes Miiller (Argoviensis). Otto Bockeler, C. F. Meissner, A. W. Eichler, J. G. Baker, Ernst Hampe, George de Martens, and Otto Nordstedt. The memoirs of these botanists are published chiefly in the Natural History Society's Transactions, are written in Latin, and contain descriptions of, and critical and geographical notes on, many new or little known species. Warming has published, in the same place, remarks on the Develop- ment of Heat in Philodendron Lundii [n. sp.) from Brazil. The development of heat during the flowering period embraces two calorific undulations. The first day the greatest temperature is towards 6 to 7.30 p.m. It then abates and falls to the normal heat during the night. The next day the calorific movement attains its culminating point, 8.10 A.M. — and ceases towards noon. These ob- servations are made on a plant which flowered from November 16 to 17, 1864. The culminating point of the calorific undulation does not coincide when the tempera- ture of the air is at its maximum — viz., 2.30 p.m. How- ever, there has been obsen-ed a certain dependence between them, that when the temperature of the spadix was more or less high, so also was the temperature of the air. The first period of heat presented the greatest intensity. Not only did the temperature last a much longer time, but was more elevated than in the second period. The greatest heat which Dr. Warming has observed was 39^'' Centigrade, the temperature of the air being then 25I', showing a ditTerence of 13I'. The difference in the part occupied by the stamens was even higher — viz., 18^. The anthers did not open and discharge their pollen until the evening of the second day. after which the calorific movement ceased. At the time of the development of the heat, the inflores- cence gave forth an aromatic odour which was much stronger when the temperature was more elevated. The spadix is continually surrounded by swarms of insects, which certainly assist the fructification. Amongst the other researches noticed were CErsted's paper on Biden's Platycephala ; Warming on the Spiral Arrangement of the leaves of the Cucurbitaceas, and on Scopolia atropoides and other Solanaceae ; Lange's addition to his " Hand- book of the Danish Flora;" Didrichsen's "History of Danish Botany ; " and Warming's "Inaugural Thesis on the Inflorescence and Development of Euphorbia." II. On the Phyllotaxis of Lepidodendron ; by Professor Ale.xander Dickson. Dr. Dickson exhibited, and made some remarks on, specimens of Lepidodendron from the coal measures, which, in the arrangement of their scales, or lefif scars, illustrated the same spirals as. found in plants at the present day. III. Note on Li it urn canadense, L,, var. puberuijim, Torr ; by Dr. Robert Brown. In the enumeration of Dr. Bigelow's Californian collec- tion, in the fourth volume of the "Pacific Railroad Surveys," Professor Torrey notes a variety of Lilium canadense. distinguished by the stem and peduncles being minutely pubescent, the leaves broadly lanceolate, " " " margin and nerves puberulous, the flowers few (2—7), largely pedunculated, the sepals markedly reflexed and purple spotted within. In the course of examining his own and the late Mr. Jeffrey's collection. Dr. Brown had found specimens which corresponded to Torrey's description, but the characters are by no means constant, all found on one plant. In specimens of Lilium gathered in Canada, the leaves were found broad as any from North-West America ; and in IS specimens of Lilium canadense from Oregon, California, and British Columbia, the leaves were almost lanceolate. The pubescence is not a constant character, for while it was found on young plants, it was bsent from old, nor was constant on either. Most pro- bably it is caducous. The result of this is, that, in all likelihood, there is only one form of Lilium canadense found over the whole American continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and that any varieties (such as those mentioned by Torrey (/.f.) and Wood in " Proc. Acad. Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia," 1868, p. 166) are merely local, and the result of habitat, age, or other mstances, which do not give the character derived therefrom any kind of specific value. Specimens, and a coloured drawing of the plant from life in North- West America, were exhibited. IV. Report on the Open Air Vegetation at the Royal Botanic Garden ; by Mr. M'Nab. After the meeting of the Botanical Society (March 9) and until April 13, the weather was excessively dry, accompanied with north-easteriy winds. On 15 mornings the thermo- meter was at and below the freezing point, the lowest markmgs being on March 19, 17, and 29, and on April 7, 8, and 11, falling respectively to 22, 28, 26, 28, 25, and 24 deg. It is remarkable that those plants fixed on for the purpose of recording the dates of their flowering, this year came within a range of rather less than two months— viz., between February 13 and April 9. The plants enumerated generally extend over a part of four months. The short period this year was caused by the unusually long winter, which prevented the Snowdrop and Winter Aconite (two of the earliest spring flowers) opening their blossoms before February 13. Some of the latest recorded during April are fully 18 days earlier than last year. During 1870, the same plants ranged between February 2 and April 30 ; and during i86g between January 9 and April 3, showmg a considerable range in the periods of flowering of the same plants during different years : — Orobus vemus. . Scilla bifolia . . Hyoscyamus Scopolia Draba aizoides Symphytum Gagea lutea Hyoscyamus orientalis Aubrietia grandiflora . . Muscari botryoides .. Hyoscyamus physaloides .. Muscari botryoides alba Mandragora vemalis. . Erj'thronium dens canis Narcissus moschatus . . ,, Pseudo-Narcissus. . Pulsatilla vemalis Narcissus bicolor Saxifraga virginica Primula clliata purpi Triteleia uniflora Ornithogalum monts .8; .8,0. ^ihJ la April 9 20 March =8 " =o t^'-rl. .; I w April ^4 „ 22 " ;; March 30 ", =3 Apra '5 '.'. 4 '.', 2 '■'■ ;; A " ". Is Apnl 19 3 ^, R „ 28 " 9 ,. 30 i86g. Birmingham Rose Show and Exhibition of Garden Tools, &c. — We have to record a thoroughly successful e.xhibition, which was held in the Town Hall, Birmingham, on Thursday and Friday, July 6 and 7, being the tenth held in that noble building. As a Rose show it may be pronounced nearly, if not quite, the best of the season, and the collections of horticultural tools and appliances were both large and interesting. Mr. John Keynes. Salisbury, was ist with a fine stand of 72 varie- ties, single trusses ; with 48 varieties, 3 trusses ; with 24 varieties. 3 trusses ; with collection of 24 new Roses sent out by English nurserymen in the spring of i86g, 1870. or 1871 ; with 12 trusses yellow or sulphur Roses. all of one variety, and witli 12 trusses of dark crimson or rose-coloured Roses all of one variety. Mr. John Crans- ton, Hereford, was 2d. with 72 varieties, single trusses, 'ith 24 and nth white or blush Roses, all of one variety^ for which he showed a magnificent box of Baroness Rothschild. Of amateur exhibitors, the follow- ing won the principal prizes: -Mr. R. Draycott, gr., Hallaton Hall, Leicester ; Mr. Joseph Davis, gr. to Mrs. Ring, Wilton, Salisbury ; Mr. C.J. Perry, Castle Brom- wich ; Thomas Lloyd, Esq., The Priory, Warwick (gr., Mr. J. Moore) ; the Rev. P. M. Smythe. Solihull ; Mr. S. Evans, gr. to C. N. Newdegate, Esq.. M.P.. Arbury, Nuneaton ; J. H. Arkwright, Esq., Hampton Court, Leominster ; Mr. J. E. Cavell, Walton Manor, near Oxford ; and Captain W. G. Webb, Elford House, near Tamworth. There were many local prize-winners not enumerated above. The general excellence of the amateurs* stands was most marked. In some of the divisions there were as many as 25 entries. The following varieties were shown uniformly well by nurserymen and amateurs : — Hybrid Perpetuals : Abbe Giraudier, Alfred Colomb, Charles Lefebvre, Clemence Raoux, Charles Turner. Duke of Wellington, Duke of Edinburgh, Dupuy Jamin, Elie Morel, Emilie Haus- burg. Exposition de Brie. Ferdinand de Lesseps. Fisher Holmes, G^n^ral Jacqueminot, Hippolyte Flandrin, Horace Vernet, La France, La Motte Sanguine, Louis Van Houtte, Madame Charies Wood, Madame Liabaud, Madame Victor Verdier, Mdlle. Eugene Verdier. Marie Baumann, Miss Ingram. Marquise de Castellane. Mar quise de Mortcmart, Paul Neron, Princess Mary of Cambridge, Reine Blanche. S^nateur Vaisse. Thyra Hammerich, and Victor Verdier. Tea-scented varieties : Devoniensis, Gloire de Dijon. Madame Sertot. Souvenir d'un Ami, and Madame Willermoz. Noisettes : Mar^ chal Niel and Triomphe de Rennes. A very decided and beautiful feature in the show was the display of dinner-table decorations and bouquets, which were exceedingly numerous and of great merit. The principal exhibitors and prize-winners in these de- partments were Mr. F. Perkins. Leamington ; Miss Cole, Birchfields ; Mr. H. Pope. King's Norton ; Mr. C. H. Harrison, Edgbaston. Collections of Roses not for competition came from Mr. C. Turner, Slough, who showed a magnificent collection ; Messrs. Francis & Arthur Dickson, Chester ; and Mr. R. H. Vertegans, Malvern and Edgbaston. Garden tools and appliances were shown in great variety by Messrs. Mapplebeck & Lowe, Birmingham, whose collection, which was a very large one, included almost every kind known in the trade, and attracted much attention, especially on the part of the nurserymen and professional gardeners, for whom of course they had a July 15, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 911 special interest. They exhibited handsome iron vases, garden seats in great variety with and without movable awnings, garden engines, lawn-mowers, chairs and tables for the garden or greenhouse, a Fern stand of new design, flower-stands, and an exhaustive collection of garden tools, garden cutlery, &c. They likewise exhibited a recently patented invention of Messrs. J. & A. Pumphrey — ■•The Paxton watering-can and garden engine," which, as its name indicates, may be used as an ordinary water- ing-pot, or as a garden engine or syringe. It is a cheap and effective apparatus, well made, and likely to have a large sale, especially among amateurs. It is by no means cumbersome, and is made of various sizes, the smallest being especially adapted for ladies. The small garden engine with which it is fined is light but strong, fitted with an air vessel, and extremely useful for greenhouse and other purposes, where the diffusion of dew-like spray is desirable. Mr. G. H. Harris, Birmingham, exhibited a " garden or let-down garden lounge," with an awning raised or lowered with much ease, which was much admired ; water-barrows, hose-reels, garden-rollers, lawn- mowers, garden seats, &c. Messrs. Griffiths & Browett had an extensive exliibit of hydropults, watering-pots, a sulphurator. Sec. '. The annual dinner of the Society was held on Thursday afternoon, at the Acorn Hotel, Mr. Councillor Lowe in the chair, there being also present a number of exhibitors, subscribers, and members of the committee. Son, whose fine display was unchallenged. The special offered for dinner-table decorations, and for bridal and ball-room bouquets, brought out a competition which, lole. was satisfactory. The fruit show was Its excellent. . The exhibition owed its most garnishing to a number of old contributors, ho, though not competitors on this occasion, sent choice specimens of plants and flowers by the way of betokening ~ ' ' "jociety, which will Wolverhampton Horticultural : Jr/fy 11.— This show was held for three days in connection with the meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society. The success on the first day seems to have been marred by bad weather. The flowers, fruits, and vegetables were dis- played in five large tents, and the centre of the field was occupied with rockery, artistically arranged by Mr. R. Lowe, of the firm of Lowe & Co. The rocks were inter- spersed with Ferns, whilst a fountain, manufactured by Mr. J. Matthews, of Weston-super-Mare, played in the middle of the rock. For some distance around the foun- tain, the field was dotted with greenhouse plants, together with flowers and shrubs, which gave a pleasing appear- ance to the grounds. In a tent on the right-hand side of the entrance a collection of stove and greenhouse plants was arranged, and as this class was open to all comers, some very fine specimens of ornamental, fine foliage, and variegated plants were exhibited, and greatly admired. The next tent contained plants shown by gardeners of gentlemen in the counties of Salop, Worcester, Warwick, Hereford, and Cheshire, and in this class there was a fine display of greenhotise plants in bloom, which attracted considerable attention. There was a good show of fruit, and the ist prize for a collection of six varieties was awarded to Mr. Bannerman, gr. to Lord Bagot. In the open competition for cut Roses, Messrs. Paul & Son, of Cheshunt, succeeded in carry- ing away two of the first prizes, while one first prize was awarded to Mr. R. B. Cant, of Colchester. In the gentlemen's gardeners' class for cut flowers, the gardeners of Messrs. C.J. Perry, of Castle Bromwich, and Mr. J. Forsyth were amongst the most successful in carrying off first-class prizes ; whilst second-class prizes were awarded to the gardeners of Lord Hatherton, Mr. R. S. Walker, and Mr. J. Lee. In the gentlemen's gardeners' classes for stove and greenhouse plants, Messrs. R. S. Walker and G. H. Perry were awarded the largest number ol prizes. Mr. John Matthews, of Weston-super-Mare, exhibited a large number of well-executed statuary fountains, vases, Italian Fern and other baskets, as well as many other descriptions of pottery goods for the nursery and garden, manufactured in terra cotta ; and some of the articles— which contained spi mens of Ferns and other choice plants — belonging Messrs. Lowe & Co. , looked exceedingly pretty. " may also mention that Messrs. Lowe & Co. exhibited, but not for competition, a fine assortment of greenhouse and other plants in a separate tent. Lady Dartmouth's prize for wild flowers brought forth numerous competitors, and some of the designs were exceedingly pretty and well executed. The prize was awarded to Mrs. H. Underbill, who exhibited an ornamental display of wild flowers. How to See Norway. By J. R. Campbell. Long- mans. Svo. Pp. 84 ; tab. 5. ttle book of unpretending character, but of a degree of merit amply sufificient to justify its reprint from the pages of the ** Alpine Journal." The author gives a quantity of useful information in a short compass. Amongst other things he alludes to the comparative infrequency of crime in Norway, and the general absence of the " rough " element, and attributes much of this immunity from the worst features of more southern countries to the excellent education afforded to every child. '* Every child learns to read and write. Valleys where neither church nor road are found have each a schoolmaster during several months in the year. Where the valley is too long for all the children to attend one school, it is portioned out into two or more districts, and the teacher devotes a certain number of weeks to each in succession. * * Most peasant chil- ren are taught a little history and everyday science in addition to reading, writing, ciphering, and religious nowledge). The schools have the most admirable books on general knowledge I ever saw — far better than those used in English parish schools." This statement is confirmed by the admirable books and materials for instruction exhibited in the Swedish jlhouse at the International Exhibition, and to h we have already referred. Transactions of the 'Woolhope Club, 1S70. /fere- Jord Times Office. Svo, pp. 321. This volume worthily maintains the reputation of the Club— a club which not only attends to the amer of quasi-scientific picnics, but earns a right to e itself in that or any other way by the sterling value of the information which its energetic members get together. Edible Fungi, notable trees, Mistleto-Oaks, as usual, come in for a large share of attention ; but we have, in addition, capital geological papers, gossipini archaeological memoirs, besides notes on entomologica and meteorological subjects. The Rev. R. Blight contributes a good paper on the growth of the Mistleto, in which he asserts that the parasite has the power of penetrating the hard wood, and not merely of becoming imbedded therein by the formation of new wood over it. The photographs of remarkable trees ol the dis- trict are continued, and several other illustrations are added. As there may possibly be some difficulty ' securing more finished lithographs, we would suggest that the legend relating to them be confided to the printer, as the lettering of the plates greatly disfigures them. An interesting feature of the present volume consist! in the reproduction from Fries' " Monographia Hyme- nomycetum Suecije" of the autobiographical memoir o the veteran Swedish mycologist, accompanied by ; photographic portrait. We may conclude our notice of this interesting volume, by extracting from its pages certain details as to the growth of the Wellingtonia : — " The Sequoia Wellingtonia in Holm Lacey Park is the ' " ' "' untv. * * « It was Manchester Horticultural (Rose and Fruit Snow) : Julyj-Z. — The attempt made by the Manchester Botanical and Horticultural Society to establish a July Rose and fruit show at Old Trafford may be pronounced successful. As a spectacle, a Rose show cannot compare, either in magnificence or variety, with gorgeous displays of greenhouse plants and Orchids ; but whatever differ- ences of opinion may exist as to the special excellences of other gardening products, every lover of the art is more or less a rosarian. .And if trays of cut Roses, however well stocked, can never be supposed to equal in effect the luxuriance and grandeur of tropical plants, yet in minute beauties— in perfection of form, and in delicacy of colour and fragrance — they afford sufficient matter of study and contemplation to justify a special exhibition. In the first three classes of nurserymen's prizes, Messrs. Paul & Son were easily the winners, for although the famous Sussex grower, Mr. Mitchell, of Piltdown, challenged their claim to premier honours, the general excellence of Messrs. Paul's collection was cer- tainly unrivalled. The Cheshunt firm sent several extra magnificent stands of cut Roses, the most note- worthy being the Baroness Rothschild, a finely- developed flower, of a delicate pink colour ; the Comtesse d'Oxfcrd, a very distinct red ; and the Duke of Edinburgh, a very dark-red flower. In the amateurs' class the competition was keen and representative, the premier honours being pretty fairly divided between the Rev. G. Arksvright and the Rev. S. Reynolds Hole. In the competitions which were open to all classes, the most successful exhibition was of Tea-scented and Noisette Roses, in which Messrs. Paul & Son were again the winners. Mr. R. S. Yates also exhibited in thi: class a magnificent collection, yielding delicious fragrance A valuable prize was offered for the best collection of nev Roses, but the result was a walk-over for Messrs. Paul & while the general character of the articles is good and practical. The "Guide" is of a large 4to size, and may be had from Messrs. Silberrad, Harp Lane, Great Tower Street, E.G. The first part of a new edition of YarreWs British Birds CVan Voorst), revised by Professor Alfred Newton, is before us. The original work has been so highly esteemed by naturalists, that it has passed through three editions, the latest of which was issued in 1856. Since that time very great additions have been made to our knowledge — not that the abso- lute number of species observed has been very greatly extended, but the knowledge of their habits has been greatly enlarged. It is needless to say that the typo- graphy and engraving are equal to those of former editions, while the reputation of the present editor offers a guarantee for the value of this new edition, Knife and Fcrk is the suggestive title of a new journal, " devoted to the science of gastronomy," jnd edited by Fin Bee. The specimen before us contains a variety of savoury articles, not the least curious of which is an article devoted to the Knife and Fork Fund, and soliciting subscriptions in order to place the Journal on a thoroughly sound and lasting basis, and to institute various reforms in the culinary art. To attain the latter object, it is proposed to establish courses of lectures on domestic economy, cookery schools, competitive examinations for domestic servants, prizes for the cheapest and most nutritious dishes, economical cooking apparatus, and for methods of producing food abundantly and cheaply. All this we may look on as a prospective arrangement, con- tingent on circumstances — a menu for what may possibly be a Barmecide's feast. To deal merely with the spread before us, we can conscientiously recommend the piiees de resistance and relives as well served and substantial, the entries and entremets as light, varied, and toothsome. Not content with the boon offered to botanists by the publication of his " Refugium Botanicum," Mr. Wilson Saunders has laid naturalists under a further obligation by issuing a series of Mycological Illustra- (Va (of its kind) 1855. ' high ; planted in November, In 1B66 it was 18 feet high ; at i foot from the ground the circumference of the bole was 3 feet r inch, and at 5 feet, I foot 8 inches. At the present time, 1871, the tree is 16 years old and 27 feet high. It girths at i foot from the ground 5 feet 3 inches, and at 5 feet from the ground it is 3 feet 6 inches in circumference. Its rate of growth, therefore, is about f foot 9 inches a year." Introductory Text-Book of Meteorology. By Alex. Buchan, M.A., &c. Blackwood & Sons. Svo. Pp. 218; S plates. We have already had occasion to speak in the most favourable terms of the "Handy Book of Meteorology," by the same author, and we can as conscientiously recommend the present condensed treatise to the notice of our readers. Possible purchasers, however, should have been informed as to the relative status of the two books. Those who have the "Handy Book" will hardly require the " Introductory Text Book," while for very many, perhaps the majority of readers, the latter volume will answer the purpose as well as the larger volume. Two numbers of the Illustratid Gardeners^ Guide are before us, and demand some notice at our hands. The publication in question is published in the German, French, and English languages, in three parallel columns, and is devoted to horticultui its ramifications. It is edited by the directors of the Pomological Institute at Ringelheim (H the assistance of M. Emile Ri-3 dition, and manured at the right times, the Salangore Cane grows with such vigour, and in such thick tufts, that in five or sk months it fornis so thick a green covering that weeds cease to grow about it. The weedings are thus notably reduced. The cane goes through the period of flowering without injury. The tufts yield from 25 to 40 canes. In consequence of the enormous quantity of canes produced by each tuft, the weight to the hectare is much above that of an ordi- nary hectare of canes. In one case 16 tufts of canes, which were far from being the finest in the field, were cut in a square space of 38 metres 45, and they weighed 367 kilogrammes nett, from ■which, in proportion, we should find, in round numbers, 100, 600 kilogrammes to the hectare. To ascertain the weight produced from a hectare of ordinary canes, the minutes of an assembly of the Sugar Society of Point-a-Pitre, of December, 1869, were consulted, and an authoritative declaration was made as follows :— In Guadaloupe, an average of 40,000 kilogrammes of cane to the hectare is obtained, whilst at Grande Terre 30,000 only are obtained. The average at Beauport has been only 27,000 kilogrammes to the hectare. The bragasse of the Salangore canes gives so much fuel that only a small addition of straw is required, and this quantity leaves as much upon the ground for the use of the plantation as the other kinds of canes. The juice of the Salangore cane is abundant. The sugar is easily made, without any other ingredients than those used in the manufacture of sugar from other kinds of cane. The sugar is of the best quality, and of a hard and brilliant grain. The yield per hectare is considerably superior to that of other cane. Colonial Standard. THE WEATHER. TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR AND FALL OF RAIN . DIFFERENT STA T/ONS, During the Week ending Saturday, July 8, 1871. wXeria™ Norwich Nottingham Sheffierd Manchester Temperature of 1 atbjTS. 7." Frid"y : 8. Satur. . xo, Monday Barometer 32= Fahr. Hygrometrical Deduction from Glaisher's Tables, Temperature of the AIR. 1 •1 j II 1 ijii Uee. CeS- "■s- ?;? Deg. '97 1; To + 0.2 49, S r. = 39' ^ and continued steadily till midnifiht. JAMES GLAISHER. (FOR THE ENSUING WEEK.) PLANT //O USES. Those Camellias which have already finished their growth, and upon which the young wood is moderately firm, should be placed at once in a position where air to the fullest e.\tent can be afforded them. Do not expose them too freely to the more powerful rays of the sun at this early season, especially as the wood and young leaves are. but moderately ripened or hardened. These remarks also apply to Indian Azaleas in a like stage of growth. Continue the shifting on of C/wrararj and Herbaceous Calceolarias, as regularly as they fill the fresh pots and soil with roots, and require such attention. Encourage now by every possible means the growth of all plants specially grown for winter deco- ration, because the utmost amount of growth that can be made between now and the long cold nights of autumn will not be any too much, if, indeed, enough. Pinch back all strong young shoots as frequently as this becomes necessary, so as to secure size and beauty of form in each plant, as well as to increase their bloom- ing capacity. Amongst the many subjects to be thus treated, which are familiar to all, I may mention the old and greatly neglected Rondeleda speciosa, and what is equally as badly treated, but if possible more beauti- ful, Mitraria eoccinia, Jiisticia speciosa, Torenias, Peiitas, Liiiulias, Gesneras, Begonias, Aphelandras, .-lihimenes picta, Eranthemums, &c. Give to any a moderate shift as often as required, and when the fresh pots are moderately filled with roots, afford alter- nate waterings, with properly prepared and whole- some liquid manure. Use the syringe freely amongst them night and morning, and so endeavour to afford suitable conditions for the full development of their growth. Even at this season, however, I suggest that every means be employed to maintain, even around these fast-growing subjects, a cool night temperature — cool, be it observed, in a comparative point of view. The external air will often afford suffi- cient warmth for all their requirements at such times, then permit its invigorative properties to pervade the structure freely. In short, always give air freely at the apex of each stove when the thermometer out-of-doors registers 60°, and there is no sign of a change. Should, however, the thermometer, as it will do occasionally, maintain anything Uke a temperature of from 67° to 70° in the late evening, give air back and front, without any hesitation. One whole night of this free buoyant air, will do all the inmates of such structures mon good than a week's growth in a closed unwhole^ some atmosphere. In show-houses and conserva tories there will now be a great variety of plants ii bloom, many of which, especially of the soft-wooded sections, will have become pot-bound, and, if they have been in bloom long, somewhat exhausted in their energies. It is advisable, therefore, to have manure' water handy, so that a little can be given to such as require it, at each watering. I refer to Fuchsias, £rug- mansias growing freely and beginning to bloom, Tae- sonias with limited root-room. Balsams, Coclacombs, &c., to which manure-water may be applied with far less risk than to many kinds of hard-wooded subjects. Do not fail to afford to such " miffy " subjects as Boronia serrulata a little artificial warmth, whilst engaged in making growth. A nice gentle humid warmth, such as pervades an early vinery, suits it well just at the heighth of its growing season. The free- flowering Acacia Drummondii, and such like subjects, will also be much benefited by having a little of such FORCING HOUSES. Muscat Grapes be their last stage of ripening, and with the acquiring of their richly vinous flavour, should also be " puttmg on colour," — that golden tint so much sought after. Gently raise the heat, therefore, until in the course of a week or two, from 90° to 95* may be permitted ^vith perfect immunity from injury by sun, &c. In the event of dull, cold weather, give a little artificial heat ; at the same time be it remembered that air must also be afforded with no niggard hand. Ofttimes, between the stoning and the final swelling process, the Vines will make a growth from the points of sublaterals. Do not permit them to exceed two or three joints in length, excepting it be a few shoots at the back or front, or any position where they will not unduly interfere with the more matured toliage that does the work. Early Vineries, from which the whole crop has been taken, should still have all the air that can be afforded them. I do not advise a resort to too free exposure until the foliage has become properly developed. Keep Pines growing as much as possible, having a due regard to the proper maturation of the giowth made. I was much surprised at the last meeting of the Fruit Committee, by the production on the part of Mr. Perkins, a very expert Pine grower, of two beauti- fully grown "Queens, which had been grown from a rootless sucker in a few days only over 12 months. Even such grand results as these, I find, are attained under the most rational system of culture. As I have frequently urged, a mean minimum temperature only should be determined upon, the maximum being at all suggested by the external elements. By slow gradation get the trees in Peach and Nectarine houses inured to the full outer air, after- wards removing the lights altogether. Subsequently give all necessary attention to such cleaning, mending, and painting as may be required m connection with the several structures. Occasionally syringe all trees in this state during dry hot weather, should such favour- able weather visit us. HARDY FLOWER G.A.RDEN. Sweet Peas, properly selected, should never be dis- pensed with. They are so bright and so fragrant, affording besides one of the sweetest subjects for asso- ciating with the colourless Mignonette as cut flowers for the use of the boudoir, iSic. Moreover, by sowmg seeds successionally, their period of blooming may be made to last many months ; little outlayin labour being requisite. They also make excellent "shift -screens," to afford variety to the annual arrangements of all " by-ways " in garden enclosures, which sometimes possess unseemly back-grounds. Where Dahlias have not been mulched, as previously suggested, this should now be done, as by these means many more surface roots are encouraged, which otherwise would not exist to support the plants. Make up all deficiencies in beds of every kind of summer bedding plants. Hoe well the surface of each, subsequently raking them neatly, and make some progress in the pegging down of Heliotrope, Vei-benas, aird other similar semi-trailing plants. Tie out the Picotees and Carnations of the better sort, placing card-boards to the blooms where the kinds are worthy the attention, and high-class culture is aimed at. HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. Tie up the points of the growing shoots upon Espalier trees by the usual means of stakes. Spur back the shoots formed during the current spring to two or three eyes from the base. Continue the removal of all Stra-oberry runners as they form, when not wanted for the increase of stock. Give some kind of artificial support to Filberts in all instances where such a crop exists as to demand it, as is the case in some neighbourhoods this season. KITCHEN GARDEN. Trench up where practicable eveiy piece of ground now becoming vacant, if not done within the last two years. Use the hoe freely, and where practicable a ibrk, to loosen the soil well between growing crops, which is one of the most powerful of all incentives to growth. Sow more Lettuce, Spinach, Endive and Carrots of the short Horn type, where not done last week. "Drain" the crop of autumn Onions, and by full exposure to the sun, and by occasionally turning them over, encourage them to ripen ofl quickly. Make now a sowing for the main crop of autumn CoLiuorls. Keep all recently planted Celery well watered, should hot weather ensue. Do not let any crops assuming a seedy appearance remain one hour more than is need- ful ; they impoverish the ground beyond \vhat many unacquainted with the matter would surmise. IV. E. Notices to Correspondents. Anthurium Scherzerianum : E. B. C. Sow the seeds at once in a pan of nice, hght, peaty soil, in a warm, COLEUS : Subscriber. Ajax is a bronzy-crimson, with golden margin. Bausei is nearly of the same colour, with green margin, or sometimes, when at its best, almost wholly of the deeper colour. CuPRESsus MACROCARPA : C. C. H. G. The ground on which this plant grows in California is said to be rather wet, but not heavy. The destruction caused in these islands by the frosts of a few years since, prevent us from recommending if as a desirable tree to cultivate for timber. Diseased Peaches : R. G. The little protuberances on the Peaches noticed by you are caused through gum- ming and unhealthy action of the roots of the tree. Floral Device : Northwich. We do not understand your question, and therefore cannot ad\ise you. Grapes Decaying : J. D. >S~- 5. Wo. have never done. Is it general or only partial ? " We should like to know a few more particulars. Grapes Injured : T. H. B. Your Grapes are injtned through a settlement of damp upon them, and the neglect to give air early enough in the morning. Lady Downes is very Uable to this. Insects about Strawberries : A Constant Reader. These, no doubt, are encouraged by the mulching materials used ; but this season Strawberries are a prey to innumerable vermin, through the excessive wet. Names of Plants : IV. C. Trevcfyan. Pteris aquiUna, in the young or seedUng state. — jl. C. i, Scandix pecten veneris ; 2, Tragopogon pratensis var. minor ; 3, Ranunculus arvensis. — E. C. C. D. Asperula Cynanchica.— A?'. M. Specularia hybrida, if, as we understand, it is found wild.— A". fr= 5. .Apparently a 1).articularly good form of Athyrium Filix-fosmina laciniatum.— F. Desfontainea spinosa.— 7. 5. Francoa sonchifolia.— C IK H. Sisyrincliiiim beniuidianum : a great r.arity. The first record of the occurrence of this plant in Great Britain. Was discovered some years ago in County Galway, where it is now thoroughly established ; but has never pre\'iously been met with beyond that county.—//. Tisky. The two Lilies of which flowers are sent are both the same, botanically, Japanese forms of bulbiferum coming in about half-way between the type and Thunljergianum, as Lindley figures it. The finer flower has bro.ader perianth-seg- ( distinct a claw, and listinct papillas 914 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. than in the other. The colour of both is pretty much that of European Croceum. There are numerous garden names for the forms of this series, but different people apply them quite difierently, and they are nowhere drawn or described in any botanical work. J. G. B. North Border : G. ..';. A north border, where scarcely any sun is seen for nine months of the year, would suit hardy Ferns better than any other class of plants we can recommend ; and those are so numerous that if adopted G. S. had better select them at some of the nurseries where Ferns are made a specialty. If patches of peat soil were introduced, such plants as the hardy Cypripe- diums, the Trilliums, the Goodyeras, some of the choice Primulas, &c., ought to succeed. Pe.\ch Trees not Fruiting : J. K. Your failure may be attributable to various causes. Perhaps owing to the excessive vigour of the trees, which makes them cast their fruit, as\ve have experienced often ; perhaps dryness at the root about the time of setting. As the trees attain ac^e, if \ou treat them properly, you will get plenty of fruit most likely. Pelargonium St.\lks : F. L. The white spots on the Pelargonium stalks are very curious. We have never seen them before. The tissue beneath the spots looks unhealthy, having a brownish tinge. We will inquire further in the matter. M. J. B. KlluDOnENnRON : X. V. Z. The tuberiform bodies on the Rhododendron ferrugineum are caused by an unde- scribed species of .Ascomyces, one species of which causes blister in Peach leaves. We have seen nothing like it before. A/. J. B. Smut ; Earl of F.ssex. It is the common smut, Ustilago segetum. The spores are blown off by the wind and c not vegetate till the new crop is sown, so that there no remedy, as in the case of Bunt. M. J. B. Vine Roots : J. B. After a very careful examinatic of your Vine roots, we can find no trace of the ne insect pest, nor do we see any place where the eggs could have nestled. The larg:er roots have been dead for some time, and merely exhibit the usual conditii dead Vine roots. M. J. B. CATALOGUES Receiveo.— Louis Van Houtte, Catalogue of Bulbs, New Perennials, Stove and Greenhouse Pla and Hardy Shrubs. COVENT GARDEN.^JuIy6. We have still to report a very uncertain supply, in sequence of the unsettled weather, which has much injured the Cherries and bush fruit. Hothouse fruit i" amply supphed, and we notice an unusually large suppl of English Pines among the dealers. Those from the West Indies are also now in their prime, the quantity varying at sale from 20,000 to 25,000 weekly. Ii Potato market we have no alteration to report. Fru Apples, per \ sieve Grapes, per lb. Nectarines, per doz. AsparagTis.p. bundle i Cabbages, p. doz. . . : Carrots, p. bunch . . . — French, per bundle i Cauliflowers, p. doz. : Celery, red, p. bun. — white, do. . . Cucumbers, each . . < French Beans, p. 100 Gooseberries, per Oranges, per too .. Peaches, per doz. .. Pine-apples, per lb. Horse Radish, p.bun. 3 o Lettuces, per score., o 9 - — FrenchCos,each o 9 - Mushrooms, p. pott. 2 o Onions, per bunch ..04 Parsley, p. bunch ..04 Peas, per quart Rhubarb, p. bundle Shallots, per lb. . , Spinach, perbushel Turnips, p. bunch. , Water Your Gardens. CANVAS TUBING for the above purpose durable than India-rubber, and bearing very much r ^^BUTLER^'m'CULL^CH^, and CO., 27, South Row, C n Markel, London, W.C. IXHIBITORS of CUT FLOWERS, GRAPES. I CUCUMBERS.SALADS.&cwilllind CHAPMAN'S PATENT ow in use, either Dbtained through ; or W. EASSfE nged for their sole manufacture. Price Lists CKLEVS P.\TENT HORIZONTAL SASH- BARS require neuher Paint nor Putty; an orchard-house 01 louse, &c., may be easily, cheaply, and auickly made with them amateur. Four hundred feet can be firmly glazed or unglaied ir Dur. Drawings. &c, for i stamp, of the Inventor and Patentee, THOMAS A. BICKLEY. 70, Smallbrook Street, Birmingham. *roceedinfjs in Chancerj- < Caution to Gardeners.— "When you ask for SAYNOR AND COOKE'S WARRANTED PRIZE PRUNING and BUDUING KNIVES, sec that you get them. Observe the mark SAYNOR, also the Corporate Mark, Obtain S. &! C. regret having to caution Gardeners and others, but arc compelled to do so, in consequence of an imitation, of common quahty, having been sold lor the genuine one. and which has caused many complaints to be made to them of Knives which were not of ihcir make, all of which are warranted both by Sellers and Makers. S AND C.'s PRUNING and BUDDING KNIVES are the I Paxton Works, Sheffield. Established upwards of irg years. K^ t durable. Price List, wh SDERSON, 7, Commercial Street, Shorcditch, Londo R^ Petersburg, rptioii of Mats at equal! ^ BLACKBURN A and 5, Wormwood Sti J. BLACKBURN . rior close Mat, 455.1501. id 35s. per 1 SONS, Russia Mat and Sack ^ H ESSIANS and SCRIMS for COVERING. 4-4 Scrim, from zrf. to 5^. per yard, advancine \id. 54.inch Hessian and Scrim, 3^., Md 4^., Md. and Md. 72 „ „ „ 4j^rf:,5;3rf.,M.,6;:i4 .. 135. 6d. IMPROVED PATENT \D, CARSON'S PAINTS. SLATES of all sizes, ROLLED PLATE - ORNAMENTAL ' description of GLAsfe, of the best Mam terms. Lists of Prices and Estir -1 CO., 180, Bishopsgate Street Without, E.C. WOOL NETTING, 2 yards wide and ij.6i. per yard. "FRIGI DOMO" CANVAS." Two yards wide 11. od. per yai Three yards wide 2r. fcf. per yai Four yards wide 3J. 6rf. per yard. SCRIM CANVAS, 72 inches wide, 7oyardslong, sJ^rf. toS!^rf. p. yard. HESSIAN CANVAS, do., do., 54 and 72 inches wide, 6}id. and Siid. per yard. ELlSHA T. ARCHER, Only Maker of " Frlgi Domo,"3, Cannon Street, City, E.C. : and of all Seedsmen in London or the (Jountry. NOTICE.-Removcd from 7, Great Trinity Lane. Seed Trade. PARTNER WANTED.— An Active Business Man, having a first-class Connection, and a thorough knowledge of the Seed Trade in all its branches, is desirous of meeting with a Partner, active or otherwise, who would be willing to embark in trade with extensive Seed Establishment, doing a large wholesale and retail business, and is well known in the London Trade. The most satisfac- tory references can be given. None but Principals treated with.— For particulars and capital required, A. Z.. Messrs. Hurst Sr Son, Seed Merchants, Leadenhall Stree, London, E C. w ANTED, a HEAD GARDENER.— One who ly-out Gardens to a Plan ; must be a Competent Man, d the Sea-side climate.— Address, stating terms . RUSHTON, Secretary, Raikes Hall 1 c Gardens and Aquariui WANTED, a GARDENER (Head, Working), where two or three are kept. — Must be thoroughly up in th( ^AN-TED, a firsl-cb Nat?ve G°ul°n"o' Com '^V ' ' ss M. \KKET G. \rdi;xi:r. RANTED, n ,, ,; ab?uM!'r' -'''''■;• ' , M ,.,:,'.. \v;,;;. W-l^','^/' ■ \ I KSERY- . M, GARDENER (experienced), to any Lady or Gentle- man—Age 46, married, no children. Good character.— G. M. B., Post Office, Slough, Bucks. G ARDENER.— Age 29, Scotch ; 14 gears' sound experience; good practical knowledge of Kitchen, Flower, d Fruit Gardening ; also the Early Forcing of Fruits, Flowers d Vegetables, &c. Thoroughly proficient.— A. B., Post Office G^ , Osborn Villas, Lee Green, Kc ^ ARDENER, or GARDENER and BAIUFF.- JT Married, one child ; has had excellent experience and has hii commendations —AH particulars on application to A. R. M FOREMAN, in a Gentleman's Establishment, where one or two are kept in the Houses.— Age 23; thoroughly under- stands the Culture of Pines, Vines, Peaches, Early and Late Forcing, and generalroutineof Gardening.— A. B.,Mr. Baxendine, Nurseryniim, Guildford, Surrey. FOREMAN (General).— Age 22, steady; understands Forcing, Stove, Greenhouse, and Kitchen Garden. Two years' good character from last place.— W. W., Pine-apple Nursery, Slaida Propagating, Grafting and Plant Growir Bow'dcn, Chesfiir undcrst.inds Stock, &c.— R. R., To Noblemen's and Gentlemen's Gardeners. IMPROVER.— Has had three and a-half years' experi- ence. Can be hlKhly recommended —E. A,, i. Brook Lane, Seed Trade. SHOPMAN,— Fifteen years' experience with Agricul- tural, Vegetable, and Flower Seeds, with a good knowledge ~>{ the Nurser>- and Florist Business. Good reference.— A. O. F., J, St. Andrew's, U.\bridge. The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 915 ODAMS'S NITRO-PHOSPHATE or BLOOD MANURE. ODAMS'S DISSOLVED BONES. ODAMS'S SUPERPHOSPHATE of LIME. ODAMS'S NITRO BI-PHOSPHATE (or prepared) GUANO. Manufactured Norfolk. Chief Offices-109, Fenchurch Stn Directors. Chairman— John Clayden, LittlebuTy, Essex. Deputy Chairman— John Collins, 255, Camden Edward Bell, 48. Marine Parade, Brighton. Richard Hunt, Stanstead Abbot. H( Robert Leeds, Wicken House, Brar George Saville, Ingthorpe, near Slai Samuel Jonas, Chnshalf Grange, Es^ca. Charles Dorman, 23, Essex Street, Strand, W.C Thomas Webb, Hildersham. Cambridgeshire. Jonas Webb, Melton Ross, Lincolnshire. C. J. Lacy, 60, West Smithfield, E.C. Managing Director— James Odams. Bankin-iAessTs. Eametts, Hoares & Co., Lombard Street, E.C. SoKrt'tor^- Messrs. Kingsford & Dorman, 23, Essex St., Strand, W.C. Auditcr~-J. Carter Jonas, Cambridge. This Company was originally formed by, and is under the direction of Agriculturists, circumstances that have earned for it another title, viz., "THE TENANT-FARMERS' MANURE COMPANY." Several Hundred Thousand Tons of the Manures have been sup- plied to the Agricultural Public, and the increasing demand that exists for them is the best proof ol ; Secretary, or may ready lor delivery in quantity and in nne conaiiion. it is oeiievea to be the best Artificial Manure yet produced. Its base is Peruvian Government Guano; it contains 21 percent, of Soluble Phosphates, ^odcker. Dr.VndereSi°"professor Way, Mr Ogston, and Mr. Sibson! Delivered in 2 cwt. bags, each of which is secured by a leaden seal, bearing the Company's Trade Mark. The analysis is guaranteed so long as the seals remain unbroken. REES AND CO. (Limited), 32, King William Street, London, E.C. ry 15. 1B70. ilts of a careful analysis of a raple'of your Biphosphated Peruvian Guano. These results speak r themselves. I need therefore hardly add anything in commenda- m of the high fertilising character of this valuable Artificial Mapure. he samples examined by me contained only 10 per cent, of moisture, id fully the percentages of soluble and insoluble phosphates which I \derstand you guarantee to furnish, and was in a fine state ol cm.— Believe me, Sir, yours respectfully, (Signed) " Augustus Voelcker. 'The Secretary, RF,ES AND CO. (Limited), 32, Kinff William Street, London, E.C." will it be appreciated by PURSER'S BONE TURNIP MANURE. SUPERPHOSPHATE of LIME. NITROPHOSPHATE. MANGEL, HOP, ; ' *' " Thomson. Bonar The Cheapest and Best Insecticide. OOLEY'S TOBACCO POWDER. OTall Nurserymen and Seedsmen. HYTOSMEGM PLANT CLEANSER, dest^roys Scale, Mealy Bug, Spider. &c., without injury to I The NEW SHOWERER, I their Blight. Gardeners Troubled with the above, would do w WILKIE'S BLIGHT COMPOSITION DESTRUCTION. It offers a safe and speedy remedy, and and 61. each. It bears being considerably diluted. Post Office orders from unknown Correspondents. WILKIE'S CONDENSED COMPOSITION, in bottles at 2s., The a i may be had through all thepnncipal Nurse and Seedsmen, and wholesale of . WILKIE, Oak Lodge Gardens, Addison Road, Kensingtoi of blowing. P To be had of Me Street, Clerkenwell, FOWLER'S PATENT STEAM PLOUGH and CULTIVATOR may be SEEN at WORK in every Agricultural County in England. For particulars apply to JOHN FOWLER AND CO., 71, Cornhill. London, E.C. ; and Steam Plough Works. Leeds. For Reaping Machines, Catalogues free. IHE CELEBRATED GRANITIC PAINT. Manufactured Solely and Only by the Silicate Zopissa Tiposition and Granitic Paint Company. ^Fo/_ Price Lists, Testimonials, and Patterns of Colours, apph THOMAS CHILD, Managci n^ i.C. IHE SILICATE ZOPISSA COMPOSITION. To CURE DAMP in WALLS, and Preserve Stone, &c., from cay. Manufactured Solely and Only by the Silicate Zopissa mposiiicin and Granitic Paint Company. or Particulars and Testimonials apply to THOMAS CHILD, nagcr, 3gA, King William Street, E.C. VTR. JAMES ERASER (of the late Firm of IVX J. & J. Fraser, Lea Bridge Road), undertakes HORTICUL- TURAL VALUATIONS of every description. SALES by AUCTION. &c.— Maylands Farm, Romford, Essex, E. M^ PRIZE I'IGS, iand'sOVvi'fOT'sALE.' To Market Gaxdeners and Others. <: LET, on a Twenty Years' LEASE, from •""'■' -' - HALF ACRES of good FOURTEEN ACRES of LAND, near a Railwa. from Horsham and Tunbriclpe Wells, and within an hour of Brighton, is wishing 10 have the same OCCUPIED, for a few years or per- manently, cither by a Market Gardener or a Florist. Arrangements would be made for compensation for permanent improvements, and for Trees planted. A small Stream of Water runs along the ground. Mr. W. H. C, 7, Phillimore Gardens, Kensington, W. Important to Nurseiymen, Florists, and Others. LEASES, with possessioi CHISWICK 'NURSERIES, comprising a roomed Dwelling-house, with Seed Shop and Onict he°af?SwijhhM°wa' ' Greenhouse Plants; also'aboiii ! Greenhouses and : 3use Plants ; also about I2\i acres of rich and productive Land, with first-class general Nursery Stock. Held under two further particulars apply to Me: RIS, Auctfoneers and vSruers, Leytc PROTHEROE TO BE SOLD, by Tentier, pursuant to an Order of the High Court of Chancery, made in a cause of Meldrum v. Hayes, with the approbation of the Vice-Chancellor Bacon, at the Office of Mr. John Bolton, of Kendal, in the County of Westmoreland, Solicitor, on TUESDAY, the 25th day of July, 1871, at 3 o'clock in the fhe'cOofivVILll' a''nVsT'oCK"'in''T'RADE of the"BUSIN'EsTof NURSERYMAN and SEEDSMAN of the late JAMES MELDRUM deceased, now carried on by his E.secutors, at the Nurseries, at Castle Street, Mints Feet, Canal Head and Skewbarrow Garden, at Kendal aforesaid, and at the Shop and Premises situate in the Market Place, Kendal. The said Nurseries consist of about 14a. or. op., of Land laid out as Gardens and well stocked. Particulars of the Stock, and particulars and conditions of Sale and Forms of Tender may be had gratis of the said Mr. JOHN BOLTON, of Kendal, aforesaid, and of ^I^ JOHN WILSON, Solicitor, Kendal. Dated this 23d day of June, i87r. JOSHUA BIRD ALLEN, Chief Clerk. NICOL & Son, 88, Queen Street, Cheapside, London, Plaintifl's Solicitors. M' SALES BY AUCTION. Establlslied OrcMds. , J. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, f lis Great Rooms, 38, King Street, Ctjvent Garden, W.C.,c established ORC Ls'lia'Turlieri'"^"'" „ Schilleriana MMdevS'liaSd'eni Vanda suavis Aetides Warn! Cypripediumn Dendrobiuin V F Saccolabiura gi f Sale, and Catalogues had. Pine-apple Place, Malda 'Vale, Edgware Road. To CAPITALISTS, BUILDERS, NURSERYMEN, & OTHERS. MR. J. C. STEVENS begs to announce that he has been favoured with instructions to offer for SALE by AUCTION, by order of the Mortgagee, in Two Lots, at his Great Rooms, 38, King Street, Covent Garden, W.C, on THURSDAY, July 20, at 2 otlock precisely, the LEASES and STOCK, with possession, of the old and well-known NURSERIES of Messrs- Arthur Henderson & Co., of Pine-apple Place, Edgware Road. The Piiie"a'p^e"uc°e°"Home Vu^rsirj" "" ° ° °""' "*" House,'l Shop I ate"r"'com''*',^s! -a, and Scullei 1 front, and sm ny Ornamental Show House, bnop in in Chief Clerk's Office, Private oScc, tw house. Ornamental Stove-house, Hard-wooded Propagating-house and Shed, Vinery used for Camellias and Orange Trees, Four Ranges ol Brick Pits, Two deep Brick Pits filled with Azaleas, several Sheds, Ornamental Evergreens and Flowering Summer Plants, a large mass of Aucubas, Standard Ornamental Trees, Euonymus, Azaleas, Hollies, and Ten large Beds of good Rhododendrons. Also LEASE of GROUND, HAMILTON TERRACE, adjoining Pine-apple Place, 50 years to run, at £8g per annum, Spanrool Rose- specimin Az'alea"housc, specim'en' Heath-house, long House ftr Azaleas, large Three-Span-roof House for \-ines and Stove Plants, specimen Camellia-house, small Orange-house, 14 Brick Pits, Glass Lobby, Framing and Lights, a large number of Sheds, Stabling, Offices, Carpenter's Shop, Three Fowl-houses, Plants in Pots, &c- , Also LEASE of GARDEN ROAD NURSERY, rent ,£23 per 'Three Cottages 35, Old Jewrj', E.C: and 01 Mr. J. c bir-vt:-i\a. Auctioneer and 'Valuer, 38, King Street, Covent Garden, London, W.C N.B.— Part of the Purchase Money may remain on Mortgage. Bulbrldge Bam Sale. AUCTION of Mr. Rawlences RAM LAMBS and RAMS wifl take place at BULBRIDGE FARM, WILTON, on WEDNESDAY, Mr. Rawlence has luring the present year Fi Bath and VVest of' Englai TDEDFORDSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY /r:^..l-i"nl>->i<:i"-B-'l'=. adjoining Counties). — The SEVENTIETH — — -i at Bedford, on THURSDAY. Tulv20 A HORTICULTURAL and FLORAL EXHIBITION, togK ith a POULTRY SHOW, will be held on the same day in adioinin" rounds. The Band of the Coldstream Guards will attend, o'clock. The Committee hope to be favoured with the attendance Cheap Tickets will be issued by the Midland, London and North- I'estern. and Great Northern fcallwa ^ _ . - Railway Bills. Great Northern J; particulars see Railway Bills. THOS. LESTER, ~ ~ ' Green, Bedford. 3, St. Pet MANCHESTER and LIVERPOOL AGRICUL- TURAL SOCIETY.— Prize Lists for the Show at Liverpool in SEPTEMBER NEXT may be had on application to the Secretari-. Upwards of THREE THOUSAND POUNDS are offered in PRIZES, including £iin for the best Hunter, £80 for the best Short- horned Bull, upwards oi {fl20 for Dogs, £250 for Pc - ' - Entries cl THOMAS RIGBY, Secretary, BIRMINGHAM HORSE SHOW, 1871.— The SIXTH GREAT EXHIBITION of HORSES, PONIES, CARRIAGES, HARNESS, &c-, will be held in Bingley Hall. Birmingham, on TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, and FRIDAY, August rl, r6, 17, and 18 ENTRIES CLOSE on SATURDAY, July 29. For PRIZE LISTS and all other particulars, apply to the Secretarj-, 39, New Street, Birmingham. J. B. LYTHALL, Secretary. THE BIRMINGHAM CATTLE and POULTRY SHOW, i87i.-The TWENTY-THIRD GREAT ANNUAT. EXHIBITION of FAT CATTLE, SHEEP, PIGS, DOMESTIC POULTRY, CORN, ROOTS, and IMPLEMENTS, will be held in Bingley Hall, on SATURDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNES- DAY, and THURSDAY, November 25, 27, 28, 29. and 30, when PRIZES 10 the amount of TWO THOUSAND T\¥0 HUNDRED and TWENTY POUNDS will be awarded. PRIZE LISTS, CERTIFICATES of ENTRY, and every information may be obtained from the Secretary. The ENTRIES CLOSE on SATURDAY, October JOHN B. lVtHALL, Secretary. SATURDAY, JULY 15, 1871. WOLVERHAMPTON, which diviiies with curious exactness the iron and manufac- turing industry in its neighbourhood from the agricultural— the "black country" stretching directly southwards from it, and a green and fertile country coming up to its very suburbs on the north — has during the past week been the common centre of attraction for both the com- mercial and agricultural classes. Farmers from every county have been drawn together by the annual exhibition of the Royal Agricultural Society in its showyard, and crowds of spectators from its grimy southern neighbourhood have enjoyed the sight of whatever is foremost in the live stock and the implements of the farm. The agriculturist is yearly realising more and more his indebtedness to the ironworkers of the country — almost everything he uses now is iron, wooden ploughs and harrows are no more, carts and waggons and the frames of threshing machines seem to be nearly all that is left for the carpenter to do for him— and on the other hand, iron workers are beginning to realise the im- mense importance of a prosperous agriculture, not only as furnishing them with their home supplies of food, but as taking from them no small portion of the products of their industry. This Wolverhampton show has been thus a whole- some mutual introduction of two sets of workers, who are now more nearly related than they may have thought ; and each is the stronger and the better for being brought to feel its dependence on and interest in the other. The showyard in which they have met has been more than usually good. Classes of Short- horns, several of them unrivalled in the past history of English exhibitions, 161 entries in all, contributed by 42 breeders in 31 English and many Scottish and Irish counties — excellent classes of Herefords, and a good show of Devons, 87 and 47 entries respectively, shown, the one by 28 breeders, and the other by 12 breeders, in 1 1 and 6 English counties, and a few Scotch and Irish counties respectively — and a capital show of Channel Island stock, besides other less definite classes, make up a very good exhibition of our cattle. Noble classes of Leicester and Southdown sheep — fair classes of Cotswolds and Lincolns and Oxford and West County Downs— a very remarkable exhibition of the Shropshire breed— besides small classes ol Ryeland, Dorset, Cheviot, and mountain sheep, make up a very perfect representation of the sheep stock of the country. The pig classes include most perfect illustrations of the white breeds, a fair display of the black breeds, and a good show of Berkshires. The horses, which have proved the greatest attraction in the yard — the ring in which they are paraded having been continually surrounded by a dense throng— are a stronger and better collection of their several classes than has been witnessed .at any previous show of the Society. If this be a fair account of the live stock yard, 9i6 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. Quly 15, 1871. what shall be said of the implement department ? It is more useful and substantial, less disfigured by petty and bazaar-like stands, than we have seen— characterised by an appearance of business-like utility, with, however, but little novelty to attract the attention of those whom we hear described as "the miscellaneous judges," who award the silver medals at the disposal of the Society. It is impossible to walk round the 40 or 50 sheds here gathered full of implements and tools of every kind, adapted for every scale of farming — from steam-ploughs that will culti- vate a "land" in a single bout, to spades and forks and drills for hand use— without being impressed by the immense magnitude of the growth which the agricultural machine manufac- ture of this country has experienced during the career of the Society. This, then, has been the spectacle offered at Wolverhampton, and en- joyed, so far as weather would permit, by the crowds who have thronged the showyard. If we may now venture upon a criticism in- tended more for professional than for general readers, we would direct attention to the sources whence the show proceeds. The Shorthorns exhibited by 42 breeders in 31 English coun- ties are a remarkable illustration of the ubiquity of , the dominant breed of the country; never- theless, considering that ubiquity and the hundreds of our pure-bred herds, they dis- play less energy and public spirit on the part of breeders, than do the Herefords with their 28 breeders, or even the Devons with their 12 herds represented. In these last it is plain that a larger proportion of those who are interested in the fortunes of the several breeds have exerted themselves. In the sheep classes the difference thus exhibited amounts indeed to contrast. The whole of the Lei- cesters are shown by only five breeders — the whole of the Cotswolds by six, the whole of the Southdowns by nine. And the numbers of sheep in these'three classes are 67, 56, and 80 respec- tively. Look now at the Shropshires. There are 39 flocks here represented, and no fewer than 538 sheep shown, the whole of the other sheep classes together numbering only 401. Surely there is a lesson here of energy and public spirit — reso- lution to carry public opinion — determination to show what the live stock of a single English county can accomplish— that may be taken to heart by those who undertake to illustrate the merits of our other breeds, whether of sheep or cattle. Let us in particular call the attention of the Gloucestershire cultivators of the Cotswold breed of sheep. They have the very grandest of the Flock in their hands, but it is never ade- quately represented, and most of the exhibitors this year are from other counties, much the larger proportion of the prizes going to Norfolk ! In the implement yard the great feature is the success of Messrs. Fowler & Co. in the steam cultivation competition. They carry off both the 1st and 2d prizes (^100 and £^0) for "the best combination of machinery for the cultivation of the soil by steam-power ;" the ist prize (^50) for " the best combination of machinery for the cultivation of the soil by steam-power, the weight of the steam-engine not to exceed 10 tons;" the 1st prize (^50) for the best combination of machinery for the cultivation of the soil by an ordinary agricultural engine, whether self-pro- pelling or portable ; and Lord Vernon's cup (^100) for "the best combination of machinery for the cultivation of the soil by steam-power, the cost of which shall not exceed ^700." They also win the special prizes for plough, subsoiler, digger, cultivator, scarifier, and root-extractor. On the other hand, the FiSKEN system of steam cultivation receives a second prize in its class ; and Messrs. Howard, whcJ may be named as the great rival steam-cultivating house, receive the second prize in the class for cultivation by ordinary agricultural engines, and the prizes for the best harrow, and the best drill, and the best combined subsoiler and ridger. We confess that we are glad to find the judges in the first of the above decisions doing what in them lies to check that growth towards the gigantesquc, which in steam cultivation has threatened to become monstrous. It is Fowler's 1 2-horse power double engine set that is placed first — the 2o-horse power engines are placed second. It may be quite true that he who can pack the greatest number of horse-power on four wheels will beat his weaker neighbour at the pinch, yet it is well not to ignore the ordinary and average circumstances of English farms and English farming ; and the judges have done right to let the manufacturer know that these are what, in the opinion of the Society, should guide him in catering for his customers. The novelties of the showyard are not numerous. There is a thatch-making machine, and a simple pulley slide in the thatcher's ladder for supplying him with material ; a simple and very workman-like potato-riddle, for use in the field at digging time ; a potato-planter, which ribs the land, sows rather than " sets " the tubers, and covers them up ; a clever feeding- house arrangement, by which Turnips are sliced or cake broken and fed into the manger as the machine carrying both is pushed along the feeding gangway. We must refer our readers to the report in other pages for these and other particulars. This general reference to the yard must not, however, conclude without mention of the very admirable stands of plants and seeds con- tributed by Messrs. SuTTON, Messrs. Carter, Messrs. GiBBS, Messrs. Wheeler, and others, to which further reference is made elsewhere. We have again to report the triumph of the Four-course Crop Rotation— this year pure and simple. The prize farm in the Royal Agri- cultural Society's Wolverhampton district has been cultivated by its present tenant for more than 20 years upon this principle ; and no variation from it, for the safety of the Clover crop, has been permitted. There has been no such device as an eighth in Peas or Beans in order to create a double interval of time between successive Clovers — hardly anything in the way of a catch crop, such as the management of last year's prize farm sanctioned, in order to vary the rapidly recurring monotony of cul- tivation under the four-field course of crop- ping. Wheat, Turnips, Barley, and Clover, have been the almost invariable succession ; and the land at Sherlowe, the farm which has been this year decorated, looks as if it liked it. The Wheat, indeed, is only fair ; but the winter had destroyed so much that a great deal had to be re-sown, and it is very creditable to the management that it looks so well. The Mangel Wurzels, Swedes, and common Turnips are all first-rate. The Barley is magnificent. The second growth of Clover, with Rye-grass among it, is giving a good bite to lambs and yearlings — though the crop of hay from it has not been very good, and a good deal of the second year's growth had been kept on, owing to adifficult seed-time and consequent loss of plant last year. " You will see nothing very remarkable in the cropping," we were told, " but the live stock is undeniably first-rate." The country generally thereabouts is well cropped, and that may account for the judgment given us of this year's produce — for, as regards the half occupied by the Barley and the green crops, the land was covered as one rarely sees it on the best of soils at this season of the year; and the quality of the land at Sherlowe is not by any means of the best, although the soil is such as presents no difficulty to the cultivator. We were not fortunate enough to find Mr. Forrester at home (Sherlowe, High Ercall, near Wellington), during the short visit paid to his farm immediately after the announcement of its success in the prize farm competition ; but a very intelligent bailiff, who had been on the land as long as his master, accompanied us through the fields. The decision of the judges this year, unhke that of last year, has no doubt been materially influenced by the quality and management of the live stock of the farm. A better herd of Here- fords, a better flock of Shropshires, one rarely sees. So far as derived from them — the annual meat produce of the land (rather more than 400 acres, of which less than 300 are arable) may be put at 25 to 30 2i to 3-year-old Herefords, sold at from £2° upwards each, derived from about as many cows, which, with their produce up to this age, make up the Sherlowe herd ; and some 200 fat shearHngs, fed up to 15 months, and then fetching 50J-. and upwards as mutton— the produce of 150 to i5o capital Shropshire ewes, which with their lambs make upthe Sherloweflock — as compact, tidy, and symmetrical a lot of sheep as if they were pure-bred Southdowns. We do not see that these are equal to the consumption of 70 acres of such a green crop as is this year awaiting them — but of any further purchase of stock for winter keeping we have no information. Besides these there is a varying quantity of pork and bacon fed, not bred, upon the farm. The grain produce may be put at 4 to 45 qr., or sometimes more, of Wheat, over some 70 or 75 acres, and from 44 to 50 bushels — this year certainly much more — of Barley over a similar extent. This, it must be remembered, is the produce of only second-rate, and for the most part light and easily worked, red land. It is a produce due not merely to natural fertility and good tillage, but to the large purchases of oilcake and manures which are annually made. Four pairs of horses, with an odd one, accom- plish all the work at Sherlowe Farm — easily accomplish it, for everything is already done, and the horses are all at grass. The Mangels and earlier Swedes already nearly cover the land ; the later Swedes are being singled ; Kohl Rabi is a capital plant, all singled ; the com- mon Turnips are ready for the hoe. Seventy- two acres are all thus covered with a most promising plant. All the farm is as clean as possible ; we saw no Couch nor any other weed that we remember, unless the Plantain among a somewhat imperfect Clover plant be considered one. Some 20 tons of Proctor & Rvland's, and Griffin & Morris's Turnip manures, and 2 tons of nitrate of soda are ap- plied every year ; and a large quantity of farm- yard dung from cake-fed beasts is made in stalls and yards. The landlord has done his part as effectually as the tenant. The farmhouse is a mansion, and the buildings are as well equipped and complete a homestead as any one would wish to see. The roads are good, the land is drained, the fences are well kept, the lines of Thorn as clean, and tilled each year as carefully, as any other crop upon the farm. Credit is due, we understand, to Mr. FORRE.STER for much of the present arrange- ment of the land. It was formerly subdivided with great irregularity- and the larger fields and straighter fences are his handiwork. A large field of rough and marshy pasture-land has been lately drained, and is being gradually got into better cultivation, partly by paring and burning, partly by ordinary arable tillage, prior to laying it down again. A large extent of a most pro- mising crop of Oats standing on this temporarily broken up land is one of the features of this year's cropping. Sherlowe may be taken, on the whole, as a sample of clean and business-like, comparatively small farm management, where no great diffi- culties exist, but where by liberal treatment the soil has been made to yield much beyond the produce of its natural fertility. We are glad to see, from the extra prizes which they have been able to award, that the judges have had their eye upon the profitable character of the management as the main test of its merit. Mrs. Sankev, who receives one of these extra prizes, farms not far from Sherlowe. We can congratulate her upon magnificent crops of Wheat and Beans, a flock of useful large-framed Shropshire sheep, and well-kept fences, all of which we saw upon our way. And we can con- gratulate Mr. Forrester upon a success achieved apparently by long continuance in well doing according to the ordinary rules of management proper for light soil cultivation, upon a mode- rately sized farm of mixed arable and pasture-land. A hamlet, with the parish church, lies at some little distance, on the northern or north-western side of the farm ; large and open fields, with occasional woodland, slope southwards from it ; and Sherlowe itself, so liberally and handsomely equipped, looks out upon a smiling English landscape, the morning shadow of the Wrekin stretching over it, and the distant Welsh Hills bounding it upon the west. It is the very ideal of a gentleman farmer's home. ■ Trade has been dull during the past week in Mark Lane, in spite of small supplies, with a fall of IS. in English Wheat In the Metropolitan Cattle Market on Monday trade was active at fully late rates. On Thursday the tendency continued upward. The show just terminated at Wolverhampton has, we hope, turned out a financial success in spite of untoward weather during the greater part of the time. On Monday, a fine day, 2654 persons paid 5^. each for admittance ; on Tuesday, a damp and douhtfu! morn- ing, after a heavy rainfall during the night, 7064 persons paid 2J-. 6,i. each. The yard was in a very wet and miserable plight, but the authorities did what was possible to make dry footpaths here and there where it was wetted, by means of planks and straw. On Wednesday, 11,514 paid half-a-crown — weather still cold and dull and showery, land still soft and marshy. On Thursday, up to 2 P.M., 42,994 had paid a shilling each to see the show — weather fine, and footing firmer ! These are better than the Oxford figures. The visitors on that occasion through- July 15, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 917 out the week were about 78,000 in number. Here we have a total of 64,000 alreacly at 2 P.M. on Thursday, and a fair probability, therefore, that the total of the week may reach 100,000. ports of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, the Journal of the Chemical Society of London, the Proceedings and Transactions of the Royal Society of London, the Journal of the Society of Arts, the Journal of the Horticultural Society of London, the Edinburgh Veterinary Review, the Re- ports of the Royal Dublin Society, the Philosophical Magazine, the Agricultural Gazette, the Chemical A'eu's, some ollicial reports, and elsewhere. Mr. Lawes was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 854, and in 1867 the Royal Medal was awarded NOTEWORTHY AGRICULTURISTS. Mr. John Bennett Lawes. A Memoir of Mr. Lawes is a history of successful .agricultural investigation during the past quarter of a century— such as no other time or country offers. We can, however, give but a scanty outline of his life and him, conjointly with Dr. Gilbert, by th^ Council of labours here. I the Society. Mr, Lawes has also received a gold Mr. J. B. Lawes was bom in 1814, and on the medal from the Imperial Agricultural Society of Russia, death of his father, in 1S22, succeeded to the estate of 1 and a medal from the Society of Arts. Rothamsted, in Hertfordshire. He was educated at We append to this short notice two passages, one Eton, and at Brasenose College, Oxford, where he the address of the President of the Royal Society on ! remained from 1832 to 1835 ; and he afterwards spent the presentation of a Royal Medal to Mr. Lawes and ! some time in London for the purpose of the further I Dr. Gilbert ; the other a portion of the speech which study of chemistry. j He took possession of I his property at Roth- amsted in October, 1834, and at once insti- tuted experiments in • agricultural chemistry. He studied with great interest the researches of De Saussure on vegetation, and sought to apply his scientific knowledge to the solu- tion of questions affect- ing practical agricul- ture. Among other subjects, his friend and neighbour, the then Lord Dacre, particu- larly directed his atten- tion to the fact that bones, which proved so valuable as manure on some lands, were quite or almost useless on others. Several hun- dred experiments were made, some upon vari- ous crops in the field, and others with plants grown in pots, in which the constituents found in the ashes of plants, as well as others, were supplied in various states of combination. Of all the experi- ments so made, those in which the neutral phosphate of lime in bones, bone-ash, and apatite, was rendered soluble by means of sulphuric acid, and the mixtureapplied forroot crops, gave the most striking results. The results obtained on a small scale in :S37-S-9, were such as to lead to more extensive trials in the field in 1840 and 1 84 1, and to the taking out of a patent early in 1842. In 1843 Mr. Lawes established large works in the neighbourhood of London for the manufacture of the manure now generally known under the name of superphosphate of lime ; and it is under- stood that, after a so protracted a period. At the time your medallists com- menced their experiments it was generally supposed that certain saline bodies, or so-called mineral constituents, were essential to the growth and development of the plant, and that such substances must be furnished to it by the soil. The necessity of a certain quantity of nitrogen was also recognised ; but it was imagined, since wild plants could thrive without any artificial supply of nitrogen, that a sufficient amount of this element existed in the atmo- sphere (in the form chiefly of salts of ammonia) to render maintained for an indefinite period if the different mineral constituents carried off by the crop were annually returned in due quantity as mineral manure to the soil. "This mineral-ash theory, as it was termed, was pro- posed by Liebig; but it has been proved by Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert to be erroneous, as it embraces a part only of the truth. " The field experiments upon which this conclusion rests d in 1843. Fourteen acres, divided into about twenty plots, were devoted to experiments upon Wheat, and seven acres, divided into about 24 plots, to experiments upon Turnips. Subse- quently similar experi- ments were made upon Beans, Clover, Barley, and the mi.\ed herbage of permanent meadow land. The general plan of the field ex-periments consisted in selecting fields in a condition of agricultural exhaustion, that is, in a state in which a fresh supply of manure was needed to fit the soil for the growth of another crop. Upon this exhausted soil each of the most important crops in the rotation were grown, year after year, upon the same spot, both without ma- nure and with many different descriptions of manure, each of which was, as a rule, applied year after year to the same plot. By this means it was possible to determine the point of relative exhaustion or apply of any s of the JOHN BENNETT LAWES, F.R.S., F. C. S„ etc. "Wheat, for example, was grown year after year upon the same land for 24 years ; Tur- nips (with an interval of three years) for 25 years ; and in the experiments on rotation (which com- prised the ' four-course ' of Turnips, Bariey, legu- minous crop [or fallow], and Wheat) the last of the fifth ' four-course ' rotation was completed, comprising 20 years in all. ■' Parallel with the field experiments, re- cords relating to the fall of rain, atmospheric pressiu-e, temperature of the air, and of the dew- point, were kept or col- lated, so as to enable the observers to ascertain the effects of the vary, ing season upon the quantity and quaUty of the field produce. period of nearly 30 years, the amount manufactured at Mr. Lawes' works alone is now more than 40,000 tons annually. Mr. Lawes had for some years engaged the assistance of a young chemist, Mr. Dobson, who, on leaving Rothamsted in 1843, was succeeded by Dr. Gilbert, in conjunction with whom a systematic series of agricultural investigations in the field, the feeding shed, and the laboratory, was undertaken. An old barn was fitted up as a laboratory, but this in time proved insufficient for the requirements of the investigations that were carried on. About the year 1854 a considerable sum of money was subscribed as a testimonial to Mr. Lawes for the services he had ren- dered to British Agriculture ; and it was proposed to him by the committee to expend the amount in plate, when he at once expressed a wish that, instead of this, it might be devoted to providing a new laboratory, which would enable him the better to prosecute and extend inquiries, the publication of the results of which would be the best return he could make for the honour that had been conferred upon him. The results of the Rothamsted investigations, from 1843 up to the present time, 187 1, will be found in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, the Re- Mr. Lawes delivered on receiving his ratory at the hands of the subscribers to I Dresent labo' lat gift. I. Sir Edward Sabine, Pres. R.S., rSey. — " Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert have been engaged for the last twenty- four years in a systematic series of researches upon agricultural chemistry, with a view of determining, by exact experiments, the principles, chemical and physio- logical, which are involved in the genenal and fundamental of successful agriculture. These investigations have embraced : — r. Researches into the e.xhaustion of soils, including experiments on Wheat, on Bailey, on Turnips, on Clover, and leguminous crops. "2. Researches on the principles of rotation and fallow. " 3. On the mixed herbage of grassland. "4. On the process of vegetation generally, including researches upon the action of manures. "5. On the origin of nitrogen in plants (Phil. Trans. 1861). ' ' 6. Researches on the feeding and fattening of animals (Phil. Trans. 1859). difficult to give ' " conclusions arrived at from dent that much remained to be done in perfecting the methods of chemical analysis before comparative analyses could afford much assistance in determining the relative productiveness of different soils ; and to this object our medallists addressed themselves both with skill and success. ' ' The practical v.alue of these experiments may be seen from the fact that, taking the results of twenty years, the annual average produce in bushels of Wheat per acre without manure was 16J, with farmyard manure exactly double, and with artificial manures 35I bush., the latter being considerably more than the average produce of Great Britain when Wheat is grown in the ordinary coinse. "The produce of Wheat grown successively on the same plot without manure scarcely altered from year to year, whilst that of the Turnips became reduced to nothing ; the effect of a manure of superphosphate being most marked upon the Turnips, whilst the employment of salts nia mixed with alkaline salts and phosphates was titble for Wheat, although these are not the indicated by a simple analysis of the ashes of the crops. The authors remark, ' Indeed the whole ten- dency of agricultural investigation seems to show the fallacy of alone relying upon the knowledge of the com- position of a crop, as directing to the constituents p'-'^t'- number of subjects each so complicated in its nature, so ably more especially required to be provided for it by iportant in its object, and continued systematically over I manures ; and rather that the elucidation of agncuiturai 9ii The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 15, 1871. principles must be looked for from a due consideration of vegetable physiology as well as chemistry, of the special functional peculiarities and resources of different plants, as well as their actual percentage composition.' "The investigation into the feeding of animals was even more laborious ; but it was a necessary complement to the experiments upon the growth of crops. It was directed to the solution of the following among other important problems : — " I. The amount of food consumed, and its several constituents, in relation to the production of a given live weight, for difterent animals. "2. Thecomparative development of the different organs in the fattening of animals, and their composition. "3. The relation of the manure produced, both in quantitv and quality, to the food consumed. ■•4. The expenditure or loss, by respiration and exhala- tion of the animal, considered as a meat-producing and manure-making machine. " It is impossible to go into detail into this portion of the inquiry, the principal results of which are given in a paper published in the Philosophical Transactions for the year 1859. "It may be sufficient to sum up these remarks by stating that the various inquiries, to which a brief refer- ence has been made, have been conducted with a skill, perseverance, and success which have placed their authors, by general consent, at the head of those who have pursued this important branch of experimental inquiry." 2. Extract from speech delivered July, 1855 (Earl of Chichester in the chair). Mr. Lawes said :— "Gentlemen, I will now explain to you to what purpose we intend to devote your building, and to show you to what extent science is most likely to be beneficial to agriculture. The great chemists of old had an opinion that science could do but little in aid of agriculture. Sir H. Davy, one of the most eminent of that class, wrote a book on agricultural chemistry, but I am not aware that any improvement resulted from it. If you consult works on agriculture pre\ious to 1840, you will find no mention of the terms commonly used now. The French and Germans were the first to apply the science, and they made progress in the chemistry of agriculture. Little attention was paid to the subject till Baron Li ebeg's works were published in 1840, and this aroused the agriculturists of this countr>'. Allow me to say that some writers on chemistry have exaggerated its importance, which has been the means of retarding rather than advancing the matter. On looking at the great advantage which chemistry has conferred on manufactures, some have gone so far as to say that the same result would arise to agriculture ; but we must not be dazzled by such predictions. There is an essential difference between manufactures and agriculture, which it is necessary for us to bear in mind. The success of our manufactures arises from a combination of skill and capital with an abundance of such things as iron and coal, I am not prepared to deny that our agriculturists possess equal skill and equal capital ; but where is the abundance of their raw material ? Where are guano beds in Great Britain? We have large deposits of phosphate of lime ; but we are deficient in that very important article- ammonia. If science would give us an abundance of necessary manures at ver>' low prices, it would great a revolution in agriculture as it has done factures. But even then there would still remain a great distinction in favour of manufacti facturer a great and continued demand for his goods, and there is no limit to his productive powers. H fresh buildings : he can construct new steam-( I obtain the assistance of more factory girls, af excellent manures at a cheap ers would still be limited by steam-engi I abunda • productive The sun is the sh( climate, our factory children. These they will not do our bidding ; and therefore, with all the advantages that science can give us, we must not expect the productive powers of agriculture to increase in the same ratio, and with the same certainty as the productive powers of manufactures. Agriculture, as practised in Great Britain in the present day. is a very different pro- cess, requiring more skill and capital, than agriculture as practised in other nations. In ihose countries where land is cheap and abundant, and where a man has merely to cast his seed into the earth, without any previous prepara- tion, and pay no more attention to it till the harvest time, when he may go and reap 40 bush, of Wheat or 100 bush, of Indian Corn per acre, it would be a mockery to offer the assistance of science to agriculture. But in a like this, where land is scarce and fetches high rents, where the land requires a great deal of preparation, and where labour is dear, the application of science is absolutely necessary. The process of corn crops drawing the land, and the properties of various manures, are involved in the science of agricultural chemistry ; and the knowledge or these subjects which is to be obtained from that science should enable us to conduct our Operations with certaintj and success. I have often received visits from practica' agriculturists, some of whom have come from a great distance, and very glad I have been to see them. One question, however, they invariably put, but which I they should not put. It generally comes out where the finest crop is found ; the question is, ' Does principle of manures as will enable you to turn over your capital in a much smaller space of lime than you do at present. A great deal of your capital is placed in the land, where it lies dormant for a long time ; but science may correct that evil by enabling you to put the right manure in the right place. It is sometimes said the farm- yard manure possesses an advantage over artificial manures, in its great lasting qualities ; but this is a fallacy. The lasting qualities of farmyard manure are not an advantage ; for it is getting back your money by instalments, instead of getting it all at once. What is your farmyard manure, but so many tons of oilcake and Turnips ? Jf a man owed you j^iooo would you prefer having it all at once, or in ten instalments of ^100 a year? The artificial manure pays ready money ; but the farmyard manure pays by instalments. The application of science to feeding is only another phrase of the same principle. We give you that knowledge which will enable you to pursue that course which would be most profitable to you. Gentlemen, it is not the object of science to interfere between landlord and tenant ; but science will impart to the landlord a good knowledge of the qualities of his own land, and it will enable the tenant to turn to the best account the floating capital which he has em- barked in the soil. Gentlemen, when investigations such as these have occupied our attention many years, we are led to regard them in some way as our children, and are unwilling to desert them or leave them destitute at the time of our death. ■ This infant of mine fur which you have built this magnificent abode, combines with the helplessness of the babe the appetite of a giant ! The consumption is only limited by the supply. When, some 12 years ago. I delivered it into the arms of its present nurse, Dr. Gilbert, it was struggling for an existence. Under his tender management it has arrived at its present thriving condition. The interest in its welfare is not con- fined to this immediate neighbourhood, but extends even to foreign countries, for it was only the other day, in a work published in Germany, that my child was pronounced to be dead, and it was stated that Dr. Gilbert had been called in to attend its funeral. Gentlemen, you have had opportunities of seeing that this rumour is without founda- tion, and that the infant is in a thriving condition. I hope the only corpse we shall have to bury is that old building on the Hill ; the vitality of it has been transferred to this new building ; and I hope feelings of gratitude to you for your kindness this day, will cause such an electric current to run through its veins as to stimulate it to moii active growth, and a more flourishing existence. Mone\ , although a very important element in the conduct of these investigations, is not the only one. There must be a taste for scientific pursuits, which alone can give them vitality. If our tastes and habits were hereditary, and descended to our children in the same way that our property does, I should have no anxiety on this subject with regard to the future. But I cannot conceal from myself the fact that the pursuits of the father are very rarely the pursuits of the son ; and glad should I be if my son should prove an exception to this nile. So great is the amount of accumulated matter which I have not hitherto published, that I consider it would take at least five years to place it all before the public. I liave, therefore, although the subject is surrounded by many difficulties, provided that in the event of my death these investigations shall be still carried on, and the reports of what we have already done placed before the public, for a term of at least 5 or 7 years. A variety of circumstances prevented me doing more than this ; but 1 cannot conceive that the agriculturists of this country, who have shown so great a sympathy with the experiments I have carried on, will ever allow the building to fall into disuse. Gentle- men, I should be most ungrateful were I to omit this opportunity of stating how greatly I am indebted to those gentlemen whose lives are devoted to the conduct and management of my experiments. To Dr. Gilbert more especially I consider a debt of gratitude is due from myself and from every agriculturist in Great Britain. It is not every gentlemen of his attainments who would subject himself to the caprice of an individual, or risk his reputa- tion by following the pursuits of a science which has hardly a recognised existence. For 12 years our acquaint- ance has existed, and I hope 12 years more will find it continuing. Gentlemen, to you who have left your several important occupations to assemble here to-day, as well as to those who have subscribed to the testimonial, but were unable to be present, I return my most sincere thanks. The scientific investigations which I have carried on will henceforth assume an importance in my eyes not hitherto belonging to them. Whether they are eventually to become the guiding star to agriculturists or to sink into insignificance before others more grand and comprehensive, my gratitude to you will be the same ; and a remembrance of your kindness to me to-day will be engraven in my heart until my eyes shall become dim, and my memory shall cease to sen-e." Her/s Guardian, July 28, 1855. [We hope in a few weeks to place in our columns a portrait of Dr. Gilbert.] must rest content by referring our readers to the com plete list given below. Duchess of Brailes by DUKE OF Brailes (23,724), and of the Aline by Snow- ball sort, made 105 gs., and went into Mr. Anger- stein's hands ; and Mr. J. W. Larking gave the same sum for Specimen 2d by 15TH Grand Duke. A "Sweetheart" heifer, Twin Duchess t^th, by 15TH Grand Duke, brought 185 gs, from Mr. Angerstein ; and finally Oxford Faivsley ^dhy GRAND DuKE OF KENT {26,289), a very fat and not by any means faultless heifer, not more than six months old, brought the astounding sum of 310 gs. from Mr. W. Lancaster. Lady Bates by 15TH Grand Duke, was purchased by Colonel Kingscote at 160 gs. ; Baroness Fawsley, by the same bull, was bought by Mr. Sartorisfor 125 gs.; Charming Lady^ by the same bull, for 215 gs., by Mr. H. Brassey ; and Charming Duchess 2d, by the same bull, for 190 gs., by Mr. H. J. Sheldon. Such were some of the highest prices given at this remarkable sale, the total proceeds of which amounted to ^^3264 9^. The average over the 44 animals sold was £^^ ^s. lod. ; the average over 32 females being ;^90 icr., and over 12 bulls ^30 14s. Tfd. sped May Ditchess -zd . . Rose of Kent Baroness Fawsley . . Charming Duchess Fa^vsley iith Chaplet .. _ •.. Ditchess 0/ Brailes. . S/ecimen 2d.. Kflse of spring Lady LouiscHs Duchess "s'L' .. I April, 1870] 44| 2d. May, 1870 35 . . May, 1870 61 '. Aug., 1870 185 .. Oct.. 1870] 90J very say 'yes," but negative, then my friend, whoever he may be, is apt think. 'Ah, it's all very well for you who have got a lit money to spare for such pursuits ; but it is nothing to object of these in into my pocket, b you may be able t to do away with a judge of the xplain to you, gentlemen, that the ;;ations is not exactly to put money give you the knowledge by which . money into yours. Science is not ' crops ; but to enable you to he properties o lion ; and whether it wouia be Detter under certam circumstances to grow a second, third, or even fourth crop on the same land, or to follow your usual course. Science will not enable you to grow two grain crops in one year, but it may give you such information respecting the OL/Ii LIVE STOCK. CATTLE. The Wateringbury sale on the 5th inst. was undoubt- edly a great success. There was not a large company, but those who were present meant buying, and the prices were very high, especially when the age of the stock is taken into account. After the first two lots {see below) had been disposed of at fair prices, Specimen 2d by 15TH Grand Duke, and of the "Charmer" tribe, a thick, deep heifer, appeared, and was knocked down at 120 gs. to Mr. W. Angerstein. Baroness {lot 6) by 15TU Grand Duke, and of the Calhhcn by Caliph tribe, was bought by Mr. W. Lancaster at 150 gs. Charming Duchess^ by the same bull, and of the "Charmer" family, was purchased by Mr. J. W. Larking for 70 gs. ; but we have not space to mention prices below the 100 gs. in this remarkable sale, and Charmuig Lady . . Countess vt ** Chaff May Ditcluss 4/A . . Charming Duchess 2d February Buttcrjly Colnmbids Ducltess id Dncltess of Brailes ^d Rose of May Bulls. Mr. W. Angerstein. Mr. C. Howard. Mr. W. Lancaster. Colonel Kingscote. , Mr. F. Sarloris. . Mr. Gipps. Mr. Kingsnortn. Mr. H. Brassey. Sir G. R. Philips. Mr. White. Mr. B. Hale. MK H. J. Sheldon. Mr. F. Cobb. Mr. C. Howard. Sir G. R. Philips. Mr. Kingsnorth. Gen 3o:Mr. Philip. 52 Mr. Gipps. =5 Sir G.R.Philips. 51 Mr. F. Cobb. 25 Mr. J. Russell. 23 Mr Kingsnorth. 16 Mr. Kingsnorth. 21 Mr. Pitcher. May, 1871 25 Mr. The Stneeth sale of 38 Shorthorns, comprising Mr. F. Marton's entire herd, was conducted by Mr. Strafford, the day after the Wateringbury sale. The resuh was a general average of .^25 15^. jj. Twenty- nine cows made £2% os. bJ. , and nine bulls averaged ./fiS Io.r. each. No high prices were given, none of the animals fetching as much as 50 gs. We have received a catalogue of some well bred Shorthorns, which will be sold by Mr. Strafford, at Winterfold, on the 20th inst. These cattle are the joint property of Mr. Harward and Mr. Downing, of Turner's Hill, and comprise many specimens of well- known and much esteemed families. Lot 2 is the first and oldest of eight representatives of the well-known " Bates Blanches," tracing back to Blanche by Bel- vedere. There are also five Kirklevingtons, three members of the "Surmise" tribe, six Keturahs, of Didmarton notoriety, a Lady Waterloo, by 3D DUKE OF Claro, and from Waterloo Cherry, by Cherry Duke 4TH. jfoan of Arc and Clara Novella, both by Cupid (14,359), head a somewhat numerous group, and there are other well-bred animals. The bulls recently used have been of the most excellent sort, namely, 30 Duke of Claro (23,729), 5TH Duke OF Wharfdale, and Sth Duke of Geneva. On the 19th inst. Mr. Strafford will sell, without reserve, 56 animals from the Queen's herd at Windsor, 15 being bulls. The cows are said to be extraordinary breeders and good milkers. SHEER Last week our notice of the dispersion of the Merton flock was scarcely complete. We append a list of some of the most important prices given. The yearling ewes were put up in pens of five, and were purchased as follows :— One pen of 5, Duke of Richmond, ID gs. each; i do.. Sir G. Musgrave, £c, los. ; I do., J. White (for Australia), .^5 ; I do., Mr. Banks, for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, and Peru, .^14 each ; 1 do., Mr. E. Wilson, £% each; I do. , H. Gorringe, £&; I do. , the Prince of Wales, ;i!^io; I do., Hon. E. Kenyon, £^ ; i do., E. Wilson, July 15, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette 919 £t) lot. ; I do., H. Stone, £\o ; i do., Lord Sondes, £■] IOJ-. ; I do., /lo loj., IL Gorringe ; i do., jfS, the Prince of Wales. In the ram sale Lord Sondes bought a 3-shear, commended at Oxford, for 25 gs. I 3-shear was sold for 65 gs. to Mr. J.J. Coleman, M.P. ; i do., at 25 gs., Hon. E. Kenyon ; I 2-year-old, 40 gs., Mr. Wachter ; I do., 50 gs. (1st prize yearling at O-xford), Prince of Wales ; I do., 84 gs. (2d prize yearling at Oxford), Lord Portsmouth; I do., 60 gs., Sir W. Throckmorton. In the shearling class, i sheep was sold at 180 gs. to Mr. H. Chappel ; I do., at 35 gs., J. White ; i do., 41 gs., Mr. Turner ; I do., 30 gs., Mr. E. Wilson; I do., 100 gs.. Prince of Wales; I do., 45 gs., Mr. G. W. Homer; i do., 35 gs., Duke of Portland ; I do., 34 gs., Duke of Portland. Such were some of the highest prices in a ram sale which averaged £^^ ly. 2d. upon 19 old rams and £z2 upon 65 shearlings. Two-year-old ewes fetched from ']Os. to 175J. per head, the highest figure being given by Lord Portsmouth, who also secured another pen of ten at 145J. each. Three-year-old ewes made from 60J. to 1 25 J. each, the last named price being given by Mr. J. J. Coleman, M. P., and loar. by Lord Sondes. Mr. W. Taylor gave I20j. each for a pen of five full- mouthed ewes ; Mr. G. Smith gave i6oj-, each for a second pen, and a third was secured at 140X. by the gay roan colour. His head is not strongly masculine in character, and has even been accused of being cow- like, but we are informed that he has recently lost hair 1 from his head, which it is hoped he will regain. He 1 is of excellent symmetry, is very well made over the ! shoulders, is good in the girth and middle, but loses a little at the loin, which might have been better covered . He has just crowned a long series of honours, which we append, by taking the 2d place at Wolverhampton in a remarkably good class, in which the celebrated Edgar, bred by Mr. Saunders, of Nunwick, took the lead. Mr. Walton; of Burghley Park, thus writes " I bought his dam at Peterboro', at a sale held in the market there by Mr. Carr during the cattle plague restric- tions : and she was bred by Mr. Emmerson, Over Dins- dale, Darlington. We put her to our Gwynne bull Nestor, a first-rate sire, as all his stock prove. Nestor is by Mentor, who on his dam's side is of the old Burghley blood (known here nearly 60 years) ; Mentor was by the celebrated bull 4TH DuKE OF Thorndale (17,750), who was bought by the late Marquis of E.xeter, when three years old, for 410 gs., and after five years' service here was sold at the sale in March, 1867, after the late Marquis' death, for 440 gs. (when eight years old), — a thing unparalleled in the history of Shorthorns. ; closer attention of the meeting, and probably receive from the majority of visitors than united. Around the ring on Monday last, gazing with all their eyes, hung a crowd of all classes, young and handsome women, their elders and protectors, besides hosts of men— from the bishop of the diocese downwards— all of whom watched with the liveliest interest the various animals as they came before the judges. Whilst the latter were patiently discharging their laborious task, the public earnestly scrutinised, and formed silent opinions upon the animals. When the verdict went forth, and the distinctive badges were affixed to the victorious competitors, occasional murmurs might be heard in the crowd, as individuals assented or differed with the fiat of the judges. With but few exceptions, their selections met with approval, and these gentlemen are fairly entitled to praise for the care and excellent judgment which marked their decisions. In cases where exhibitors met with disappointment, exclamations against the choice of the judges might be heard, and accusations, too, of their penchant for breed or quality when an animal lacking these points was There is no question that men's judgments are influ- enced by their tastes, needs, and requirements, and if Fig. 193.— telemachus (27,603). Prince of Wales. Even broken-mouthed ewes went at from 55^. to 75^. each. The highest prices for ram lambs were as follows : — 17 gs., Mr. Delome ; 20 gs., Mr. Foljambe ; 20 gs., Mr, Majoribanks ; ;^20, Mr. N. Grenville ; ;^20, Mr. Seaward. Most of the lambs made from 4 to 6 and 8 gs. each, while others were sold as low as 45^. Ewe lambs commenced with the sale of lot I, a pen of 5, at 77.r. 61/. each, to Mr. Haar ; three pens were sold at 8oj. each, and others brought from 45^-. to 60J. each. PIGS. Mr. Swanwick, of the College Farm, Ci has, among other good sales, just disposed of his 2-year-old prize boar at Wolverhampton to Mr. Craig, of Edmundton, Ontario, Canada, for 65 gs. ; also the 1st prize boar in the young class for £30, to Mr. Cochrane, of Canada ; and the 2d prize in the same class for 30 gs., to Mr. Snell, of Edmundton, Canada. TELEMACHUS. Telemachus (27,603), the Shorthorn bull whose portrait is given above (fig. 193), is the property of the Marquis of Exeter, and was calved on April 13, 186S. He is by Nestor (24,648) of the Gwynne tribe, and from Louisa <)th by the pure Bates bull Prince Albert (18,579). His grand-dam was by Baron Farnley (14,129), and his_great-grand-dam by 3D Duke of York (10,166). Telemachus pleasing and Telemachus Wo.m iS69. — irt pri2e, Northampton Ci^ o o ,, 2d „ Peterborough .. .. .. 2 lo o „ s** ,, Lincoln 300 ,, 1st ,, Rutland 10 o o 1870. — ist „ Warwickshire 10 o o „ 1st ,, Northamptonshire .. . . 15 o o „ 1st „ Peterborough 10 o o ,, 1st „ Lincolnshire .. .. ,. 15 o o ,, Extra prize at ditto for best bull in Classes 1871. — 1st prize, Warwickshire 10 o o „ Extra prize best bull in the show .. .. 10 o o ,, Essex show, ist prize in All England Class 20 o o „ And President's Cup, for best in show. male or female, value 103 o o ^£240 lo o 7'HE WOLVERHAMPTON MEETING ROYAL AGRICULTI-R.4L SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. We refer to a leading article for general remarks on a meeting which has been held with great success, despite considerable difficulties of weather; and we proceed here at once to describe the several sections which have made up the very remarkable show just closed. HORSES. The exhibition of horses at the Royal show at Wolverhampton forms not the least interesting feature gentlemen who ride 12 stones have the selection it is ten to one that their choice will be a light weight beast. It might be well for the authorities to consider, in their appointments hereafter, whether judges should not be themselves a combination of light and heavy weights. The 35 classes of horses represent some 246 animals, which is about 43 in excess ef the number exhibited last year at Oxford. Some classes are not so well sup- ported at Wolverhampton, to wit, " thoroughbred sires," others again surpass those shown at Oxford, and we may justly pronounce the exhibition of 1871 a greater success, as far as horses are concerned, than the show on the banks of the Isis. The class list opens with agricultural stallions, foaled before January i, 1869 (not qualified to com- pete as Clydesdales or Suffolks). Mr. N. Welcher takes Ist prize with "Honest Tom," an animal of great strength and bone, with wonderful arms, back, and loin. You wonder how a horse with his characteristics has found his way to Westtoft, Norfolk, a locality celebrated for beasts of a far difTerent stamp. The 2d prize falls to Mr. J. Manning for a chestnut, " Young Champion," — not badly named, for it will take a good one to beat him. There is a weighty grey named "A i," and a thick cobby iron-grey, No. I, named "Lion," which bear inspection, besides one or two others that go to make up a very decent class. Class 2 — stallions, under the same rule, but only two years old, — and some very nice ones there are amongst them. No. 16, "Captain," 920 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, Uuly 15, 1871. owner Mr. Geo. Street, of Mauklon, Beds, is a cobby, fine-coloured beast ; and the 2d prize horse also deserves praise, but we thought some of the animals small. Clydesdale stallions next claim attention. Class 3 gives us five animals foaled before 1869. The next class, for 2-year-olds of this breed, has no entries. Her Majesty the Queen sends a grand horse, ".Sandy," with wonderful back and loins and great arms, but he fails to attract the attention of the judges, who bestow 1st honours on Mr. Henry Tomlinson's "Young Lofty," and right well we agree with them, but not so in tlie award of 2d favours to Colonel Lloyd Lindsay's "Prince Albert," a sour-headed beast we had no fancy for. In Class 5, six Suffolk stallions, foaled before 1869, enter the arena, and exceedingly fine fellows they are. But there is the same old fault — too much top-weight for the legs which carry it. The 1st prize, "Cupbearer," owned by Mr. R. Garrett, of Saxmundham, is a huge beast, with indifferent hocks, anything but good forelegs, and not so deserving merit as " Hercules," exhibited by Mr. Badham, who receives 2d honours for an animal of belter propor- tions and plenty of bone. The 3d prize goes to Bay- tham Hall, Suffolk, for " Bismarck," a lofty colt, with good body and clean legs. The Stonetrough Colliery Company show a grand beast, light in colour, with a finely-turned neck, and good lines generally, in character not unlike a sculptured outline of ancient days. The next class, No. 6, for Suffolk stallions, foaled since 1869, presents three capital animals, and the judges hail no little difficulty in selecting the most worthy. The choice at last fell on Lieut. -Colonel Mait- land's " Heir Apparent," a beast with an extraordinary back and loin, but otherwise somewhat cumbersome and to our mind not so good or deserving as No. 30, : horse with great bone and liberty and good feet ; and though named " Patriot," rumour declared him pure, nor did he appear quite the type of a Suffolk Punch, — a character thoroughly well supported by the 2d jjrize horse " Emperor," the property of Mr. Bad- ham, of Sudbury. The thorough-bred stallions in Class 7 are both fewer and inferior to those shown at Oxford in 1S70. We miss the contributions of Lords Craven and Norreys, and several others, and wonder why a spot so central as Wolverhampton has failed to attract a larger number of thoroughbred sires. The 1st prize goes to Mr. J. Casson, of Carlisle, for "Sin- cerity," an old stager of some 13 summers, with many good points; and Mr. John Watson, of Kidder- minster, takes 2d, with a spanking bay with black legs, "Blinkhoolie." We were glad to see our old friend "Laughingstock," and congratulate my Lord Coventry on possessing a nice little animal like "Umpire;" we have, however, no regard for "Pro- tection," which Mr. Stewart sent from Saint Bridge. Class 8, for stallions not exceeding 15 hands, formed a most creditable collection, and caused no little trouble to the judges, many of the animals being so evenly matched it was no easy task to define which was most worthy. Shropshire receives the 1st prize, Mr. J. Lockhart, of Bromfield, most properly getting it for his clever breedy little beast " Dick Turpin," a capital mover and pretty well grown. The 2d prize goes into Norfolk, to Mr. B. Mitchell's " Fireaway," also a fine mover, perhaps somewhat coarse in his hocks, but this colt has yet to furnish, and will come out well, or we are mistaken ; which cannot be said of the 3d prize horse " Cleartheway," with his straight shoulders and bad forelegs. Mr. Beart's " Ambition," which received only commendation, we should have preferred for 3d honours, as possessing really better points. No. 44, " Young Quicksilver," a cobby horse, moved well, but we did not like his shoulders ; " Enterprise " is a particularly square beast, but is too long in his fetlocks ; and his stable companion "Alonzo" lacks quality. The leaning of the judges being evidently towards breed and quality, animals devoid of these qualifications stood not the slightest chance, and bitter disappoint- ment was both expressed and felt at some of the awards ; our tendency being in favour of breed, we did not object to the decisions, in this class on the whole. Pony stallions not exceeding 14 hands, in Class 9, produced three competitors. Had there been ten times that number, Mr. Roundell's beautiful brown "Sir George," four years old, must liave held the position assigned to him at Wolverhampton ; anything more perfect than the shape and going of this little horse you could not see, and loud were the praises he received. Ilis quick clever going raised him to the same position amongst the horses as Messrs. Aveling & Porter's little busy engine obtained in the lists for traction-engines. Of course the 1st prize is in Mr. Roundell's possession, the 2d being held by Mr. C. Groucock, of Wymondham, Norfolk, for a breedy chestnut, named " King Arthur," with a capital middle piece, and good head and neck. Fifteen agricultural mares, with foals at foot or in foal, competed in Class 10, and a lot of powerful, useful animals they were. Few had foals at their sides, which is to be regretted, as the intention of the Society is clearly for the encouragement of brood mares, and for this reason we object to the honours going to aged mares without colts, unless the prize be withheld until the foal is dropped, a rule which applies to other Stock, Thejst prize goes to Mr. Henry Overman for a stylish, active, black lo-year-old, named "Diamond" {in foal), and no doubt she is an attractive, good beast, but we very much prefer the 2d prize mare, " Smart," the property of Mr. Crowe, of Downham Market, Norfolk, with her grand walk and well-turned quarters, although she is nine years old (and in foal to Honest Tom). No. 62 "Beauty," the property of Mr. Lamb, of Grantham, is a fine animal, with good points, some- what of the Clydesdale type, but she is a gummy goer. Norfolk gets 3d honours with a mare, also named "Beauty," owner Mr. Welcher, of Tofts, near Brandon, who deserves it for such a compact, well-grown beast. 66, "Diamond," owner Mr. Salt, of Kirby Frith, Lei- cester, is a quick, active animal, with a good colt at foot, and she struck us as a not unlikely mare to breed a coacher. Many mares in this class were clumsy and loose, their only redeeming pomt being a useful foal by their side. Class II, Clydesdale mares, under same condit as last, produces four competitors ; although a nice they do not approach animals which we still recollect with so mucli satisfaction at the Manchester show " 1869. Mr. Thomas Staffer's "Princess" worthily receives 1st honours, a compact mare with good limbs and G. H. Head gets the 2d place with a coarse, bold looking mare, whilst Col. Loyd Lindsay is nowhen with his " Polly," notwithstanding her excellent feet. Suffolk mares, under same rules as these Clydesdales, find five entries in Class 12, and we heard them prO' nounced excellent, and indorse the statement. The county which gives them the title in this instance, takes all the awards. The Executor of Mr. Capon, of Wickham Market, is 1st with " Mafchit," all over a good mare, and a grand mover. Col. Maitland gets 2d with a mare of great quality and length, with good bone and feet ; Woodbridge receives a pi in Mr. H. Wolton's "Diamond," a lumpy, rolling beast, with great back and loin, and bad hind legs. Salop sends one specimen from Oswestry, a compact mare, with first-rate legs. We observed with much pleasure that all the spec: mens of the Suffolk Punch, at Wolverhampton, had much better feet than heretofore has been the case ; a still further improvement may be effected in both legs and body, and in such case the animal must become more popular in counties which now do not care for it. An interesting class follows next in succession, and we wish that we could speak of the animals entered in it with satisfaction. No. 13, for mares suitable for breeding hunters, in foal, or with foal at foot, has 10 competi- tors ; the mares were not only weedy, but the few colts alongside them were the most miserable lot one ever saw. Tlie 1st prize mare, " Lady Emily," the property of Mr. Miller, of Lancashire, however, would not have attained the honour but for her creditable colt ; the 2d prize animal, "Lady Byron," from Leeds, though 18 years old, possessed a deal of character, and, despite her small bone, was rightly placed ; the 3d prize animal, "Jassy," from Salop, had no preten- sions to a prize, with her low straight shoulders and small girth ; whilst 95, a long roomy mare of the old school, \vith a fine colt at foot, left the ring, to our regret, without distinction of any kind. The next class, 14, for mares above 14 hands, scarcely commends itself to notice. Mr. Henry Over- man's "Jenny Lind " takes 1st prize: she is power- ful but rather under-bred, and the 2d prize, **Judy," the property of Mr. Thomas Jones, does not attract one, with her straight action and upright shoulders ; whilst 98, " Miss Dodson,'" the property of T. Latham, of Wittenham, Berks, is a breedy animal, of good shape and make, for which she receives commendation. Six mares compete in class 15, and they possess rather more merit than the animals in the two classes immediately preceding them. " Kitty," the property of Mr. Coates, of Wenchcombe, with her wall eye, gets 1st. and " Bright Eyes," from Southwell, receives the 2d, notwithstanding a plain head and bad loin. Mr. G. Stokes gets commended for his "Polly," an active, light-carcased mare, that looks like a hunter. Hunter geldings find seven competitors in Class 16. They are not an unuseful lot, and we agree in the selection which placed Mr. W. Armstrong's sweet- topped horse, "Banker," 1st. There is a deal of character in 1 10, a fine-coloured bro\vn, standing over a lot of ground, an animal that can move ; and " Roman," the 3d prize horse, though small, has many merits ; not so his neighbour, " Young Dago- bert;"and No. 109, "The Emperor," will be more rrectly placed in the army than by the cover side. Class 17, hunter fillies, exhibits six animals. "Luna," the property of Mr. J. Moffat, of Cumber- land, receives 1st honours, and well she deserves them, th her fine hock action. Mr. E. Philunore, of Prestbury Park Farm, Cheltenham, gets the 2d prize with a pretty beast, with good shoulders, but with a tail put on too low, and bad forelegs. The 3d prize is bestowed on Mr. Booth's "Duckling," a lady all over, with plenty of substance and good legs. The remainder, we thought, had few merits. Hunter gelding or filly, four years old. Class 18. — out of 16 entries compete. Great interest is evinced by those around the ring in these animals, and the judges find it no easy matter to draft the favoured ones from those which cannot win. Captain Barlow, of world-wide celebrity, is here with some of the right sort, and we were glad to see him mounted on one of the competitors, although we do not understand why the Captain preferred " Beckford" to " Tregolhnan ; " the latter animal most deservedly secured 1st honours, and "Beckford," not so properly, obtained the 2d; Gloucestershire gets the 3d place, and Staffordshire takes a commendation in "Blankney," a well-bred, clever gelding, with good middle. Several in this class looked to advantage as they were extended. " Magic," No. 135, and " Scale," 128, galloped well. As the next class entered the ring, the interest of the public seemed to have attained the utmost height. On one entire side the railings were thronged three deep ; in the front rank sat many ladies. Class 19 — hunters, mare or gelding, up to not less than 1 5 stones. Eleven competitors, but few with great claims. We speedily made our selection, as, indeed, we did in most of the classes, and we did not find that our view differed materially from the authorities. Mr. J. Booth, of Killerby, Catterick, Yorkshire, sustains his character by carrying off the 1st prize with " Banner Bearer," a strong hunter all over ; whilst Nottinghamshire receives 2d honours with "Borderer," a good-looking chestnut, with great back and loin ; and Mr. G. van Wart, of Birmingham, obtains the 3d distinction vrith "Loxley," a gentlemanly mover. We did not care for " Cymbe- line's" shoulders, nor for the substance of the Coleshill gelding, and far less for the puddling going of " Ace of Clubs." Class 20. Hunter, mare or gelding, up to not less than 12 stones. — Of the eight competing we cared but for four, and the judges were of the same opinion. My Lord Coventry got a 1st for a hot-headed black, named "Bird-on-the-Wing," breeder unknown, whilst the 2d prize went to "Loiterer," a real specimen of the old school, not an everyday beast, and from the right source, too— Mr. S. J. Welfitt, a name well known. A nice, active mare, named " Witch " (No. 160), that gallops in good form, got 3d prize. Class 21 contained but one entry— a pair of pretty- looking roans. Roadsters, mare or gelding. Class 23, produced some 18 very meritorious animals, which taxed the efforts of the judges to no small extent. After a preliminary trial of the whole, eight were soon shelved, and then the business became anything but easy. The preference which these gentlemen possessed for quality and breed again evinced itself as they dwelt over Mr. Moffat's breedy "Aiiy," "Covet," and "Land Agent," not omitting Mr. Cook's "Lizzie," a pretty goer, as quick cat ; and more especially evident in their selection of Mr. Fell's black gelding, which looked more like winning a plate than hacking on the road. Encourage- of this character will never forward the idea of good roadsters, for which England was once so justly celebrated. The before-named animals of Mr. Moffat's received honours — "Covet" obtaining 1st 1 "Land Agent" 3d, whilst the 2d prize went to Mr. Fell's gelding. 176, a black mare from Droitwich, was very attractive from her power and ke, but she performed badly, although rumour said that such was not her habit. " Quicksilver," a straw- berry roan, was striking, from his well turned neck and throat and short strong back, but both these animals lacked quality, hence their fate. For roadsters, mare or gelding, above 1 5 hands, seven competed in Class 24, and they were very commendable animals 30. The 1st prize went to "The General," the pro- erty of Mr. North, Cambridgeshire ; Mr. Badham, of udbury, took 2d ; and Lancashire had 3d, in a nice grey gelding of Mr. Horrocks Miller's. Class 24, which next occupied the attention of the judges, would, but for the rain which'had commenced teadily falling, have attracted the attention of many. It presented a very good selection of cobs, mares, or geldings, but there was a deficiency of bone and sub- even amongst these. A remarkably stout active animal, with hogg mane, a fine goer, was passed over for 1st place because his head was somewhat large, but then he carried it well, and what matters? 19S, a im, with white mane and tail, had no right to the prize, so all maintained ; and Mr. G. Smith may congratulate himself on his luck, whilst Mr. Wiley must bear the defeat of his "Bob" as he can. A breedy gelding, "Camperdown," from Southwell, received commendation, and nothing else deserved it. Class 26, for ponies, produced nine specimens, which may be pronounced excellent. The 1st prize (212), "Jumney,"a grey, seven years old, a perfect model. He held himself as though he knew it, and all his movements were equally correct. The 2d prize, • 'Billy," is a smart little pony, with a good back and 3in. Minnie, a dark chestnut from Cardiff, failed to attract the judges, although she possessed lots of quality ; and great was her owner's disappointment. Returning to the classes for agricultural horses, we find in 27 eight 2-year-old fillies competing. With but two exceptions, these animals are smafi, and it was Lombard Street to a China Orange that Mr. J. Linton took 1st honours with his " Princess." Mr. ivis' roan, " Darling," is a nice-topped animal. Clydesdale fillies in Class 28 brought four competi- tors ; of these Her Majesty the Queen exhibited two. The 1st prize most deservedly fell to Mr. Parker, his animal having all the merits, whilst the remaining July 15, 1S71.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 92] honours went to the Throne for beasts without any sufficient merit. The last class that we need refer to is 30, for agri- cultural pair of geldings or mares. Six enter, and that number compete. Without any exception, they are the best lot perhaps that ever came together as far as weight, substance, and matching qualities go ; but that the animals are such as an agriculturist would use is utterly improbable. With but two exceptions, they are perfect specimens of the dray-horse, and as such they should be disqualified to compete in this class. The judges were evidently of this opinion, as they con- ferred the ribbons on those pairs which exhibited the qualities we look for in horses for farm work. A grey mare, "Sensation," six years old, sho\vn by Mr. Brierley, of Rhodes House, Middleton, Manchester, is as fine a specimen of a huge, active van-horse as could be seen ; she moved like a pony, and when standing attracted the attention of every one. The show of horses we have written upon must be pronounced exceedingly useful ; and if it does not come up to the Manchester collection of 1869, it is, neverthe- less, a great success, and must have given both pleasure and satisfaction to the visitors of the Wolverhampton meeting. It is unfortunate that the site on which it was held lay so low : the soil being boggy; the weather wet, nothing could be worse for an exhibition of live stock and steam machineiy than the racecourse of Wolverhampton. The following is the list of judges and their awards : Judges.— The Hon. G. E. Lascelles, Sion Hill, Thirsk : N. Barthropp, Hacheston, Wickham Market : J. E. Bennett, Boswonh Grange, Rugby ; A. L. ^Tayna^d, Skimmingrove, Saltbum-by-the-Sea : J. H. Wood, Humberstone, Gnmsby ; D. Wright, Beal, Northumberland. Agriatllural S/nt//,w, foaltd hefore Jamiary i, iS6q \', Kidderminster, Blinkhoolie : 3d, W. Taylor Sharp, of Baumber Park, Homcastle, Suffolk. Commended: the Earl of Coventr>', of Croome Court, Severn Stoke, Worcestershire, Umpire. Stallion, aboz'e 14 hands httjtot exceeding 15 JiaJids 2 inches, suitable for getting Hackneys— ist, £,20; 2A,£io: 3d, ^5.— ist, James Lockhart. of Culmington, Bromfield, Salop, Dick Turpin : 2d, Benjamin Mitchell, sen., of Crome Hall, Downham Market, FiREAWAY 2D : 3d, Henry Bultitaft, of Bedwellhay Grange, Ely, Cambridge, Clear-the-Way. Pony Stallion, not exceeding 14 hands— i^t, £1^', zd, £\o\ 3d, /s.— T^t, Henrv Koiin(l offered by H. Ward, Esq., Samuel James Weliitt, of Tathwell Hall, Louth; 3d, iTio, offered by S. Loveridge, Esq., William Arm- strong, of Kendal, Westmoreland ; 4th, £5, offered by C. F. Clarke, Esq., George Smith, of Ailston, Stratford-on-Avon. Carriage Horses or Mares, in pairs, ittider six years old.— 1st, £-2^, offered by the Earl of Dartmouth, John Thomas Robm- son, of Leckby Palace, Thirsk. Roadster, Mare or Gelding, about 14 Juinds i inch, and iiot exceeding 15 hands 1 inch.—j^t, £zo, offered by C. W. Lyon, Esq.. James Moffat, of Kirtlington Park, Carlisle, Cumberland ; 2d, ^10, offered by the Wolverhampton Local Committee, William Fell, of The Close. Lichfield ; 3d, £5. offered by H. Rogers, jun., Esq., James Moffat, of Kirtlington Park, Carlisle. Commended : Richard Milward, of Thurgarton Priory. Roadster, Mare or Gelding, above 15 liands i tnch—\%\, £-20 ; 2d, £10 ; 3d, £s, offered by M. T. Bass, Esq^, M.P.— ist, John Warth. Sutton, Ely. Cambridgeshire ; 2d, George David Bad- ham, The Lawn, Bulmer ; 3d. Thomas Horrocks Miller, Single- ton, Poulton-le-Fyld. Commended : Thomas Statter, juu., Stand Hall, Whitefield, Manchester. Cob, Mare or Gelding, above 13 hands, and not exceeding hands 1 inch —1st, /15. offered by W. Sparrow, Esq. ; 2d, ;Cio. by Frank James, Esq. ; 3d, '^,5, by the Wolverhampton Local Committee.~ist, George Smith. Ailston, Stratford-on-Avon, War%vickshire ; 2d, William Edward Wiley, Tamworth Road, Erdington, Birmingham ; 3d, John G. Boraston, Kidderminster. Pony, not exceeding 13 hands— tsK, £\o, offered by T. J Perrv. Esq. : 2d, /=;. by R. J- Moore, Esq.— ist, Frederic! Bower, 10. Albion Street, i'-'—^—^--" ■ --^ w;n:.„ T„Ur Friday Bridge, Birmingh; Statter, jun., Stand Hall. Agricultural Filly, two years old, not gnalified to cotn Clydesdale or Suffolk.^ist, £^s, John Linton, of West< Hall, Cambridge ; 2d, £10, James Hawksworth, of Barton Fields, Barton Blount ; 3d, £s, Stephen Davis, of Woolashill, Pershore. Clydesdale Filly, two years old.— ist, £is, Thomas Townley Parker, of Charaock, Chorley ; 2d, £10. Her Majesty- the Queen, Windsor Castle. Highly Commended : Her Majesty the Queen. Commended : Thomas Statter, jun., of Stand Hall. Suffolk Filly, two years old.— 1st, ;6*i5, William Thompson, jun.. of Thorpe, Colchester. Agricultural Pair of Geldings, or Mares, of any age.— ist, £20, offered by Sir Smith Child, Bart, M.P., Charles William Brierley, of Rhodes House, Middleton ; 2d, ;£io, offered by W. P. Herrick, Esq., Thomas Statter, jun., of Stand Hall : 3d, £$, offered by the Staffordshire Agricultural Society, Charles William Brierley, of Rhodes House. Highly Commended : the Earl of Dartmouth. Agricultural Pair of Geldings or Mares, four years old.—isi, - • • W. T. C. Giffard, Esq., Thomas Statter, jun., 1 Thomas Lamb, of Welboume, Carlisle. Deborah. Suffolk Mare, 1 - .3d.;i:s.- in foal, or with foal at foot — ist, £20 ; 2d, Thomas Statter, jun., of Stand Hall, White 'rincess ; 2d, George Head Head, of Rickerby, •foal, or with foal at foot— ist, ;C2o : zc :he Executors of the late Thomas Capon, i Dennington^ Wickham Market, Suffolk, Matchit ; zd, Lieut Colonel Fuller Maitland Wilson, of Stowlangtoft Hall. Bury Si Edmund's. Suffolk, -A'nrj' Empress ; 3d, Horace Wolton, of Ne\i bourn Hall. Woodbridge. Diamond. Mare in foal, or with foal at foot, suitable for hrecdin Hunters~i^i, £25; 2d. £15: 3d, Z5-— ^st, Thomas Horrocks Miller, of Singleton, Poulton-Ie-Fylde, Lady Fntily ; zd, Joseph Clarke, of Beeston. Leeds. Lady Byron ; 3d, Leonard Lywood, of High Downs, Bridgnorth, yassy. Mare, abcr-e 1 4 batfds. but not exceeding 1 5 hands i inch, in foal, or-."ith foal at foot, suitable far breeding Hackneys — ist, £20: 2>\. ■ M. L ;, M.M,-. (I-, ..■,:,,.,!., nf W^eascnham, ^fw/zj/ Lind : -■■' 1 ■ ■ ' . '" I I 1 uil; Head, Bridgnorth. fndv I ,,,:■: I 1 , f l.ittleham, Abincdon. £1. ighly Commended : Thomas Hall. s old.' Agricultural Pair of Geldidgs or Mares, three yi ist, £20, offered by C. B. Wright, Esq.. Thomas Statter, jun., of Stand Hall ; zd, /lo, offered by the Staffordshire Agricultural Society, Charies Willi.im Brierley, of Rhodes House, Middleton. ■ linral Gelding, three years old.—xst,£io,offerQA by affordsbl mbe. K'itey n Prior^', Brighteyes. Hi led ; George Stokes, of Camp Farm, Kingsbury. rior^'. Brighter Esq., M.P., William Armstrong, of Kenda], ^ Banker; ad, .£15, by the South Staffordshire Hu Lawson. Bart., M.P., of BrayloUj^ Carlisle :_3d, £,\, verhampton Local Commit Park, Carlisle, Luna; =d, £15, by th Committee. Edward Philllmore, of Pi /.o, by the Wolverhampton Local Coi of KUlerby Hall, Catterick. Highlj Boyd, of Littywood, Staffordshire. Commended ; Charles CATTLE. Shorthonis. — The number of entries in this class was 161 against 159 exhibited at 0.\ford last year. The quality of the animals was considered by the many breeders and judges surrounding the ring to be exceed- ingly good, and this remark especially applied to the bulls above two and not exceeding three years, the yearling bulls, and the heifer classes. Bulls above three years old formed a grand class, in which Mr. H.Thomp-son's Edgar, formerly the property of Mr. Saunders, of Nunwick Hall, Penrith, from whom he was purchased by his present owner last autumn, took the 1st place. Edg.\r is one of the best bulls ol his day, and, from whatever point he is viewed, he is alike good. He is well kno^vn as a prize taker, and was 2d last year at Oxford, when Bolivar took the 1st place. Any one w^ho wishes to study a perfect form, will do well to spend a short time in examining this bull. His fine masculine head is succeeded by a finely formed neck, upon which the hair forms a definite mane. Age has told upon him, especially just over the shoulder tops, where he is a little bare, but in every other point he is level as a die. point to hook bone touches the animal during i test of merit. His girth i thoroughly well packed let down at both flank very nearly pure Bates s whole length — a crucial 9 feet 2 inches ; he is in the loins, and well and fore-flank, breeding, being Prince Patrick (18,633), and from Young Kmma, of Mr. Crofton's ' ' Emma " tribe, by Mac- Turk (14,872), g.d. Countess Emma by Heir-at- law, gr.g.d. Baroness Emma, by Baron of Ravens- worth (7811). — Telemachus, the 2d prize bull, is ol undoubted merit, but a little slack on the loin, which is compensated for by magnificent shoulders, refer to this bull, which is figured in the present number elsewhere, The 3d prize was awarded to the Rev. Walter Sneyd, for his Ironmaster, a very level, well-fleshed bull, especially forwards, but rather small and complained of by some as not quite let down near enough to the ground. Neither must we omit to mention Charlie by ist Fiddle, and therefore half-brother to Bolivar, a very good bull, and a prize winner at Manchester. This bull had many friends, and was considered to be a better bull than the 4th prize, Man's Estate, owned by Mr. John Wright. This 4th prize bull is a good animal, of taking appear- ance, and a son of Edgar's. We also spent some time over Mr. f.Willis' Windsor-Fitz-Windsor, a gaily-coloured bull, with famous loins, great length of carcase, very thick through the heart, straight below, muscular in the forearm, and short from flank to inside of hock. He is a little weak over the crops, which may account for his not having been placed by the judges. In the class of bulls above two and not exceeding three years old, Mr. William Linton, of Sheriff Hutton, York, took the 1st prize with Lord Irwin, a son of British Hope (21,324), and Hand Maid by May Day (20,323). This is a white bull, of large size for his age, with a famous girth and remarkably good shoulders, but paunchy withal, not very level on the top, and low in the loins. It is of good quality, and well deserves his place. The second prize bull is the property of Mr. John Outhwaite, of Bainesse, Cat- terick, Yorkshire, a well known and veteran agricul- turist. This animal. Royal Windsor, is white in colour, and was bred by Mr. Willis, of Caperby. He is by Windsor-Fitz-Windsor (25,458), and out of Royal Lily by FiTZ Clarence (14,552). He is a very good animal, with famous hind-quarters, albeit a little low in the chine and a trifle hard to the touch. Sir David Baird, of New Blythe, Preston Kirk, Had- dington, comes 3d with Baron Lawrie 3D, bred by Mr. G. F. Barclay, Keavil, and by the grand old bull Heir of Englishman (24,122). Lady Pigot's Bythis could only obtain a 4th place, although decorated last year at Oxford, as a yearling, with the highest honours. It may be remembered that last year, at O.xford, there was some little dissatisfaction when B\this was crowned, while Lord Irwin was placed 2d, and Lord Braybrooke's Haydon Duke only 3d. The last 12 months have reversed the decision, and now Lord Irwin takes the pas. The Messrs. Dudding, of Panton House, showed a good bull, Standard Bearer, of good Booth origin, which was highly commended, and would have been worthy of a better place but for his being somewhat patchy. The yearling bulls formed a remarkably good class, comprising 20 entries. A finer lot of young bulls were never brought together, and pitching upon the best was apparently no easy task to the judges. After much consideration, the choice was restricted to eight first-rate animals, including Mr. Richard Stratton's very good straight bull. Master Glanville ; Lord Sudeley's very good Seraphina bull Cherub, by Baron Booth, which eventually came out 2d ; Mr. G. Game's Earl of Warwickshire, bred by Mr. Sheldon, of Brailes, and uniting the best Booth and Duchess strains ; Mr. Lamb's pretty little bull Ignoramus ; Mr. J. Meadows' Prince Charles, and Colonel To^vneley's Baron Hubback 2D. Further sorting resulted in the red rosette being given to the last-named bull. He is by Baron O.vford (23,375), and out of Duchess -jth, by Grand Duke of Lancaster (19,883), and may be described as a level, red bull, a little deficient in loin, and rather spoilt in appearance by his droop- ing horns. Lord Sudeley's red bull, Cherub, is a good animal, especially in front, is level, but not very well haired. He was 1st at Guildford in the recent show, and was much admired at Wolverhamp- ton as he passed round the ring. The 3d prize bull. Ignoramus, is small, but young, and on the whole of good quality ; and the same remark applies to Mr. Meadows' Prince Charlie, which, after having been "sent back " by the judges, was afterwards re- called, and placed 4th. We should have liked a higher place for Mr. Game's Earl of Warwick- shire 3D, a decidedly useful, well-grown bull, which, however, must rest content with high commendation only. Although undecorated by the judges, we must mention as a very pretty but small, and at the same time very young bull, Mr. James Beattie's Baron Torr, of Alesby origin, and the winner of a 1st place at the Highland and Agricultural Society's show at Dumfries last summer. Bull calves were also a good class, 12 in all, of which Messrs. William & Henry Dudding's British Flag, by the Panton bull Robin, was very properly placed the 1st. He is a good toucher, has a level top, a good middle, and stands well on his legs ; he is also a good-sized bull for his age. Mr. William Linton's Leeman, of Booth extraction, was placed 2d, a not large bull, but of excellent quality and well haired. Messrs. Thomas Game & Son, of Broadmoor, Glouces- tershire, also showed a bull of good quality, which was placed 3d, and there were other excellent animals. Shorthorn cows were fairly represented, and the judges for long hesitated before deciding as to which was best. The struggle was principally between Mr. Beattie's IFarrior's Plume and Mr. Dugdale's Kent Cherry zd. The former was bred by Mr. Torr, and is 922 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, [July .5, 1871. by Breastplate (19,337), and from IVan-ioi's Pride by Dr. McHale (15,887). She has an immense but badly placed udder, and is exceedingly plain behind, being low in the rumps, and moving along in anything but good style. In spite of these defects she has many excellent points, especially about the loins and ribs. On comparing Warrior's Plume with Mr. Dugdale's Kent Cherry id, we find in her a large and handsome rival, having no glaring defect, splendid hind-quarters, and very good over the shoulder, a point in which Warrior's Plume is some- what deficient. The 3d place was awarded to Mr. James How's Windsor Butlerjly^ a thick, level, good, but rather low cow. Mr. William Bradbume, of Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, showed a very good cow. Miss Chesterfield by FiTZ Turk (19,763), and out of a cow by DuKE OF Manchester (15,934). The class for heifers in milk or in calf was a remark- ably good one. Lady Pigot's Dame Swift by Prince OF Buckingham, dam by Valasco, g.d. by British Prince (14,197), a handsome white heifer, but with a light neck, was placed 1st. Mr. How's Fesper Queen, of really good Booth origin, came 2d, and thus gained a step upon the 3d place she took last year at O.xford, when in competition with Mr. M'Intosh's Lady Knightley zd, and Mr. Dudding's Countess of Yar- borough. The 3d place was awarded to Mr. F. J. S. Foljambe's Coneert by Lord Lyons {26,677), and descended from Seraph by Lord of Brawij-h (10,465). Messrs. W. Hosken & Son received a high commenda- tion for an exceedingly handsome heifer. Countess of Oxford by 2D Earl of Oxford, a large heifer for her age, and the 2d prize taker at Guildford. Mr. W. H. Hewett also showed two very good heifers. In the class for yearling heifers, Mr. John Outh- waite, of Bainesse, Yorkshire, took the 1st place with a good, thick, wide heifer. This decision gave universal satisfaction. Mr. Foljambe, of Osberton Hall, came 2d with his Fleur de Lis by Lord Lyons, a well topped heifer, which, if she had a fault, stood too far off the ground. Colonel Towneley took the 3d place with Baron Oxfonfs Duchess, a level, neat heifer, with scarcely the substance of the two first. Heifer calves were represented by a large and good class, in which a very good calf, now the property of Mr. Arthur Garfit, a young gentleman who has recently commenced farming and Shorthorn breeding at Sco- them, Lincolnshire, was placed first. This heifer, named Brilliant Rose id, was purchased at Mr. Cheney's sale, and is by General Napier. She is a lengthy, pretty animal, good in most points, but | scarcely nice at the shoulders. The second place was awarded to Lady Pigot's Victoria Regina, a well-haired calf, generally well put together, but deficient in the beef-bed, i.e., between rump and hooks. The third place was given to the Messrs. Budding's Ladv Grace, a nice heifer, with beautiful touch, good shoulders, and belter between "hooks "and rump than the 2d prize heifer. Herefords. — The show of Herefords was considered a very satisfactory feature of the meeting there being 87 entries, which, at least, shows an undiminished interest when contrasted with the 86 entries of last year. In the class for old bulls, Mr. Warren Evans' Monaughty 3D, "red, white face," which, by the way, seems now to be almost unnecessary in describing a Hereford, was placed 1st. He was in somewhat low condition last year, when, in the 2-year-old class, he made a good 2d to Her Majesty's Prince Albert Edward. This year he has been more successful, and has been placed 1st at Guildford and again at Wolver- hampton. He is a large, good bull, with wonderfully developed buttocks, grand loins, and great depth. Mr. Philip Turner's Bachelor, the 2d prize bull, is eight months the senior of his rival, and yet is not nearly so large, and lacks the character which forms one of the points of Monaughty 3D. The 3d prize bull, exhi- bited by Mr. Nathaniel Benjafield, is an extremely level animal, with scarcely the necessary quality as indicated by touch, but is wonderfully improved since he gained his first honours at Southampton two years ago. Passing on to the next class, that that of bulls above two and not exceeding three years, we find Mr. John Williams the winner of the 1st prize, with Royal Head, a small bull of very excellent quality. The Earl of Southesk follows, with OsTORius (3295), the 1st prize calf at Manchester, from whence he went into Scotland, and has now returned to England. Mr. Philip Turner's Provost, son of the prize bull Bachelor above mentioned, is a nice level animal, who makes a good 3d. Among the yearling bulls, Mr. Richard Hill's Pearl Diver, a bull of extraordinary quality, makes a good 1st, and Mr. Child's Star of the West, also a bull of good quality and pleasing appearance, comes 2d. Both of these bulls are sold for Sidney. The 1st prize bull calf, belonging to Mr. H. N. Edwards, is a very good one ; and the 2d prize, bred and exhibited by Mr. Taylor, of Showle Court, is nice, but showed to disad- vantage owing to want of the necessary condition. The queen of Hereford cows this year is Ivington Rose, the property of Mr. W. P. Peren, a grand heavy- fleshed cow, standing on low legs, but full of sub- stance. Glancing at her pedigree, we find slie is by the celebrated sire Sir Thomas (2228), dam by Master Butterfly (1313). The 2d prize cow Livia belongs to Mr. P. Turner, of The Leen. Last year she was, as a 2-year old, 2d to Silver Star, since gone to Australia ; but despite this relief, she still remains only 2d. The year previously, at Manchester, she was also 2d ; but although she seems destined to rise no higher, she is a good cow, and requires a particularly good one to beat her. The 3d prize in this class was awarded to Mr. R. Tanner's Queen, which occupied a similar position last year in the same class at Oxford. She is again leads with a heifer by Bachelor — Rarity, a very nice young animal, only three weeks over two years old, and therefore competing most creditably with animals months older than herself. Mr. J. Harding's Dahlia received the 2d prize, and Mr. Fenn's heifer. Duchess oj Bedford 6th, the 3d place. This was rather a change from Guildford, when Dahlia made a 2d to Duchess of Bedford ; but this is accounted for by the last-named heifer being out of form from having calved on the show-ground. In the yearling heifer class, Mr. Harding's Lizzie Je^reys, a heifer not previously known as a prize-taker, took the 1st place, and Mr. P. Turner secured the 2d prize with Plum, another prize animal by the prize-taker Bachelor. The 2d prize calf at Oxford, Mr. Thomas Thomas' Sunjlcrwer, now makes a 3d as a yearling. Lastly, in the calf class, Mr. Thomas Fenn's Lady of the Teme is a perfect gem ; and Mr. Morris' Madelinehy the Royal prize-taker Stowe (347S), makes a good 2d. Dc-jons are pronounced to be a very excellent show, said by many to be one of the best ever held, but numerically inferior to Oxford by a dozen entries. The prize-takers will be seen by reference to the list ; but in giving a very passing notice of this beautiful breed, we may mention that the old-established breeders still continue to remove the Society's prizes. Mr. J. Howard BuUer's red, unnamed, and unpedigreed bull, takes the 1st place over Lord Falmouth's well-known Narcissus ; and Mr. Davy, of Flitton, is placed 3d with Duke of Flitton 4TH. The 2-year-old bull class is represented by three animals, each of which is decorated with a prize. Yearling bulls are a good class, and so are the calves, in both of which Viscount Falmouth, Mr. Walter Farthing, and Mr. Davy take off the prizes. In the cow class Mr. William Taylor, of Glynley, takes both 1st and 2d prizes. In the heifers in milk or in calf, Mr. Smith, of Hoopern, stands 1st, and Mr. William Taylor 2d. We have not space to speak at length of the merits of these animals, and their names and owners appear in the prize lists below. There was a fair show ol Jersey cattle. In the bull class, Mr. Walter Gilbey, of Hargrave Park, Essex, took the 1st prize with Banbov, and Mr. George Simpson, of Wray Park, Reigate, came 2d, with his old bull Prince. In the class for cows above three years old Mr. Walter Gilbey took the 1st place with an imported cow, and Mr. George Digby Wingfield- Digby came 2d with a nice 4-year-old cow, Julia. Mr. Wingfield-Digby also took the 1st prize in the heifer class with Miss Edith, daughter to Julia ; and Mr. J. G. Hubbard, of Addington Manor, Winslow, Bucks, showed the 2d prize heifer. Guernsey cattle appeared in considerable force, there being eight entries of bulls, and 1 7 of cows and heifers. The Rev. Joshua R. Watson carried off the 1st prize for bulls and cows, and Mr. Charles Le Page, of Guernsey, took the 2d prize for bulls, and the 1st for heifers in milk, Mr. Blondel Le Page coming in 2d. Norfolk and Suffolk cattle were not numerously represented. Mr. Benjamin Brown, of Thursford, Thetford, Norfolk, succeeded in obtaining all three 1st prizes, namely, for bulls, cows, and heifers in milk. For further particulars regarding the honours in this class, we refer our readers to the prize list. There were some fine specimens of Longhorns exhi- bited in the class for other established breeds. The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos' bull Young Conqueror was well worthy of his 1st prize, and Mr. John Godfrey's Samson 2d, the 2d prize bull, i also a magnificent animal. This breed took four ou of the six prizes offered for "other established breeds, the other two being taken by Angus cattle, both the property of Mr. Statter, jun., of Stand Hall, Manchester. In the two classes for the best pair of heifers and cows in milk, also, Mr. Statter was u rivalled, and carried off all four prizes with three pai of Ayrshires, and a pair of cross-breds. The following is the prize list of the cattle classes : Newport Pagnell. Herefordsand other Established Breeds : H. Haywood, Blakemere House, Hereford ; W. Taylor, ThinghiU Court, Hereford. Devons and Norfolk and Suffolk Polled : S. P. Newbury, ^, Boringdon Villas, ^Plympton ; and ThomiK Popi 'gsham, Warmi ' ^ Jersey, Guernsey, and Dairy Cattle : t. P. Le Corme, Trinity Manor, Jersey ; Henry Tait, Shaw Farm, Windsor. SHORTHORN'S. Bull, abo-vc three years old— isl, £,^o: 2d, £,20 : 3d, .£i5: 4th, /;io.— 1st, Mr. Henry Thompson, o( Maiden Hill, Penrith, Cum- berland, Edgar : 2nd. the M.irquis of Exeter, of Burghky Park, Stamford, TelEMACHUS (27,603; ". 3■ Walter Sneyd, ol Keele Hall, Newcastle-under-Lyne. Staffordshire, Ikdnmastf.k, red: 4th, berland, 1 Richard Forster, Soffe, of I ad, ;£iS ; 3d, iio ; 4th, £;,- , Eastleigh, Southampton, LoRO Blythe, Preston Kirk, Haddmgtt shire, Baron I.awrie 3D, red ; 4th, Emily Lady Pigot, of Branches Park, BvTHls, red and white. Highly Commended; - - House, Wra, shire. Stand & H. Dudding, of Panlon 1 , Lincoln- , £is : 3d, i;io ; 4th, ;(;5.-ist, -owneley, Burnley, Lancashire, Lord Sudeley, of Toddin, Yearling Sntt—isl, £25: Colonel Charles Towneley, t Winchcombe. Gloucestershire, CHERfB, red ; 3d, Lamb, of Eurrell Green Penrith, Cumberland, ic.S'ORAM . 4th, Mr. Joseph Meadows, of Thomville, Wexford, Ireland, E Charlie, roan. Highly Commended ; Mr. George ' , of Churchhill Heath, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OF Warwickshike 3I). Commended : R in, of Burderop, Swindon. Master Glanvill: Mr. John Reeve, of Leadenham Hrjuse, Grantham, ] ".EANUEE 2D, roan ; .Mr. George .Mann, of Scansby Hall, Don- ister, RORV of the Hills, ruan. Bull calf, abne s 5t £.5 : 2d, ;Cio ; ; ing, of Panton Ho ;d and white : 2C Richard rf /loi exceeaing tivelve mtnUts oia~ .-ist. Messrs. William & Henry Dud- Vragby, Lincolnshire, BarTiSH Flag, William Linton, of Sheriff Hutton, white ; 3d. Messrs. Thomas Game & Son, of Broadmoor, Northleach, Red Prince, red. Ccnu abtn,oha. rcil roan : Mr. William Bradbum, of Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, Red Rose, red and white. Heifer, in milk or iu calf, uot e.xceediug three years old- ist, J615 ; 2d, £\o : :id. ^-^. — isi. Emily Lady Pigot, of Branches Park, Newmarket. Dame Swift, white ; 2d, Mr. James How, of Brouehlon, Huntingdon, Vesper Queen, red; 3d, Mr. F. J. Foljambe. M.P., of Osberton Hall, Worksop, Notts, Oxfof W. H. Hewett, of Norton Court, Taunton. Neliy, essrs. William Hosken & Son. of Loggan'sMill, Hayle, Cornwall, Cojtm William Ladds, of Ellington, Kimbolton, Hunts; Mr. James Beattie. of Newbie House, Annan, Sonsie. Yearling Heifer-i^t, ;Ci5 : 2d, £10 ; 3d. ^5--ist. Mr. John Outhwaite, of Bainesse, Cattenck, Yorkshire, Lady Brough, roan : 2d, Mr. F. J. Savile Foljambe, M.P., of Osberton Hall, Worksop. Notts. Fleur de Lis, roan ; 3d, Colonel Charles Towneley. of Towneley. Baron Oxford's Duc/urss, red. Highly Commen'dcd : Colonel Charles Towneley, of Towneley, Butterfly s Memento. Heifer calf abore six and under twelve morMts—isl. ;^io . 2d. £,$. — ist, Mr. Arthur Garfit, of Scothern, Lincoln, Brilliant' Rose id, white ; 2d, Emily Lady Pigot, of Branches Park, New- market, Victoria Vietrix, Tostn. Highly Commended : Richard Siralton, of Burderop, Afahel, rich roan ; Messrs. W. & H. Dudding, Wragby, Lttdy Grace, white; Colonel Charles Towneley, Burnley, Lancashire, Butter/fy's Memento ^d, red Mr. Philip Tun , Sir Jo Her 3d, Mr. Nathar Shaftesbury-. H. N. Edwards, of Mr. Broadw vo and not exceeding three years old — ist, £,1% ; 2d, £.\s: 3d, ^Cs.— ist, Mr. John Williams, of St. Mary's, Kingsland, Herefordshire, Royal Head; ad, the Earl of Southesk, of Kinnaird Castle, Brechin, Forfarshire, .OsTORlus (32951 : 3d, Mr. Phdip Turner, of The Leen, Pembridge, Leominster, Provost. Commended : Mr. John Harding, of Bicton, Shrewsbury. Noblebov. Yearling Bull-^i^l, £2^ -. 2d, £1^ ; 3d, i;5.— iSt, Mr. Richard Hill, of Orleton Court, Ludlow, Pearl Diver ; 2d, Mr. George Child, of Weslonbury, Pembridge. Star of the West ; 3d, Mr. John Crane, oi Benthall Ford, Shrewsbury, Pkince George. Highly Commended; Her Majesty the Queen, Prince George Frederick. Bull Calf, aboz'C six and not exceeding twelve montfis old. — ist, ^10 : 2d, ^5.— ist, Mr. H. N. Edwards, of Broadward, Leominster, Herefordshire, Alexander . 2d, Mr. William Taylor, of Showle Court. Ledbury, The Wolverhampton Bov. Highly Commended : Mr. Richard Hill, of Orleton Court, Lud- low, 1"he Colonel : Mr. John Morris, of Town House, Madley, Vendome. Commended : Mr. W. B. Peren, of Compton House, South Petherton, Perfection. Co7v above three years old.— i^i, £20 ; 2d, ;Cio ; 3d, ,j£5.— 1st, Mr. William B. Peren, of Compton House. South Petherton, Ivington Rose; 2d, Mr. Philip Turner, of The Leen, Pem- bridge, Leominster, Livia; 3d, Mr. Richard Tanner, of Frodes- ley, Dorrington, Queen. Highly Commended : Mr. George Pitt, of Chadnor Court, Dilwyn, Leominster, Highlass ^tk; Mr. John Williams, of Saint Mary's Sir J. R. Bailey, " Riding Hood. Hei/er in milk «r in calf. ^ bridge, Rarity ; 2d, Mr. John Harding, of I Dahlia ; 3d, Mr. Thomas Fenn, of Stonebrook House, Ludlow, Duchess of Bedford 6th. Highly Commended : Her Majesty the Queen, Princess Amelia; Mr. John Baldwin, of Luddington, Stratford -on -A von, Venus jth ; IVIr. Richard Tanner, of Frodes- ley, Dorrington, Lady Milton; Mr. John Morris, of Town House. Madley, Chignon. Yearling Heifer— x^X., £is '• 2d, ^10; 3d, .^5.- Harding. of Bicton, Shrewsburj', Lizzie feffer^ Turner, of The Leen, Pembridge. PUnn ; 3d, Mi of St. Hilar>', Cowbridge. Glamorganshire, Sunjli Commended : Mr. Peter Davis, of Eickmarsh I Warwickshire ; Mr. J. Hungerford Arkwright, Court, Leominster: Mr. R Tanner, of Frodesley. Dorrir Mr. Henry Rawlins Evans, jun, . of Swanstune Court, Dilwyn. HeiferCalf above sux .,■:.- , -' .:. m.'ntlis-ist. £10; =d, i;5.— 1st, Mr. Thu;n.- ^ ; k House. Ludlow, Lady of the Teme. j'\ 1 i : . -f Town House. Madley. Highly Ctn,: 1 1 h in.is, of St. Hilar>', Cowbridge; Mr, Henry N I Iu ul , . ] ) ;i alward, Leominster ; Mr. Thomas Fenn, of Sroncbrook House, Ludlow (2I ; Mr. Wiiliam Tudge, of Adforton, Lcintwardine ; Mr. J. H. Ark- wright. of Hampton Court, Leominster. Commended : Mr. Tudge, of Coston Hall, Aston-on-Clun. Devons. Bull above three years old— 1st. ^25 ; 2d, £15 ; 3d, /s.— ist, Mr ]. H. BuUer, of Downes. Crediton, Devon ; 2d. Viscount Falmouth, of Tregothnan, Probus, Cornwall, Narcissus ; 3d, " ■ ; Davy, of Flitton Barton, North Mohon, Di;k- "- jhn Peake, of Mullaghmore, Monaghan ; Mr. Walter Farthing, owey Court, Bridgwater. Bull above two and not exceeding three years old— ist, £3$ '. 1, £iS : 3d, ^^5.— 1st, Mr. James Davy, of Flitton Barton, , Shrewsbury, , Mr. John 2d, Mr. P. The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 923 3d, Mr. William Smith, of yearling: BuU-z^x., ^25: £,^£.^S: 3d. ^5.-ist. Viscount Falmouth, of Tregothnan, Probus, Cinnamon; 2d, Mr. Walter Farthing, of Stowey Court, Bridgwater, Master Harry ; 3d, Mr. James Davy, of Flitton Barton, North Molton, Duke of Flitton 6th. Highly Commended : Viscount Falmouth. Bull Caif, above stjc and not exceeding tiuelve vwntlis old— ist, £\o ; 2d,;^5. — ist, Mr. Walter Farthing, of Stowey Court, MARyuis OF Lorne; 2d, Mr. James Davy, of Flitton Barton, North Molton, Conqueror. Reserved Number: Her Majesty the Queen. Cow, above three years old^isi, £,2.0 : 2d, £\o ; 3d, ^^5. — ist, Mr. William Taylor, of Glynley. Westham, Profifs Dncftess ; ad, Mr. William Taylor, of Glynley, Westham, Fredcrica ; 2d, notawarded. Highly Commended : Mr. James Davy, of Flitton Barton, Lovely Qtieen. Heifer, in milk or in calf, not exceeding ' ' 3d, ^5— :d, Mr. . , - . . . .v. Highly Commended: Mr. Trevor Lee aiior, of Broughlon House, Aylesbury, Bucks, Voung Daisy. Yearling Heifer— l^x, ^,5 ; 2d. ;£io ; 3d, Z5 -ist, Mr. J, avy, of Flitto " *' ' " ■ " -■ ' Exeter, Due/tea Smith, of Hoopern' , of Glynley, Westham, "Jorth Molton, Devon, Gaylas Farthing, ot bto' Commended : Mr. George Tui Heifer Calf, abo^'e six an .j:s.~'St. Mr. Jam« Iton, Devon, heiress t/ic st/i wey Court, Bridgewaler. Highly Commended ; Her M; Queen : Mr. Walter Farthing, of Stowey Court. , of Brampford Speke, E rcder twelve titonifts old — ist, ivy, of Flitton Barton. North Walter Farthing, of MISCELLANEOUS BREEDS. Ban near Stourbridge. Cow, aborve three years old~z%t, £10 : 2d, £5. — ist. Mr. Walter Gilbey, of Hargrave Park, Stanstead ; 2d, Mr. George Digby Wingfield-Digby, of Sherborne Castle. Dorsetshire. Highly Commended : Mr. Walter Gilbey, of Hargrave Park, Stanstead. Commended : Mr. P. Gaudin, of Spring Farm, Martin's, Jersey ; Mr. John Gellibrand Hubbard, of Manor. Winslow. Bucks. ^Heifer, in jtiilk or in cnlf, riot exceeding t/iree^yctirs old- ' Addingtt =d. .£5— ist, Mr. G. Di.uby Wingfield-Digby, of Sher borne Ca-stle, Dorsetshire ; 2d, Mr. J. G. Hubbard, of Addington Mr. George .uby Wingfield- Manor, Winslow, Bucks. Highly t^ommended : Simpson, of Wray Park, Rcigate. Commended Gatidin, of Spring Farm, St. Martin's ; Mr. J. G. Hubbard, of , Winslow ; Lord Chesham, of Latimer. —ist, the Rev. J. , , -, . -_. --. Charles Le Page, of Les Naftiaux, Guernsey. Reserved Number: Mr. E. A. Sanders, of Stoke House, Exeter, Devon. Co^u above three years old—i^t, £io ; 2d, ^£5.— ist, the Rev. Joshua Rundle Watson, of Le Socage ; 2d, Mr. T. Blondel Le Page, of Maison de Bas, St. Andrew's, Guernsey. Highly Com- mended : Mr. Thomas Statter.jun., of Stand Hall, Whitefield. Hei/erSy in tnilk or in calf, not exceeding three years old— ist, £10 : 2d. £5.— ist Mr. Charles Le Page, of Les Naftiaux, Guernsey ; 2d, Mr. Thomas Blondel Le Page, of Maison de Bas, St. Andrew's. Highly Commended : Mr. Thomas Blondel Le Page. J Suf: ,£5- 2d, Mr. M.P., of Carrow House, Nonvich. Highl-, _ Thos. Brown, of Marham Hall Farm, Downham. ■ ■ tliree years old^KU £10 : 2d, ^£5.- Mr. Ben jamin Brown, of Thursford, Thetford : 2d, not'awarded. Com mended : Mr. J. J. Coleman, M.P., of Carrow House, Nonvich. Heifer, in milk or m cnlf, not exceeding three years old.— in, £iO : 2d, £s. —ist, Mr. Benjamin Brown, of Thursford, Thetford ; 2d, not awarded. Highly commended : Mr. John Hammond, of Bale. Thetford. Commended : Lord Sondes, of Elmham Hall, red (Norfolk). Other Established Breeds (Not including the Shorthorn, Hereford, Devon, Jersey, Guernsey. or Norfolk and Suffolk polled breeds). Bnll above one year old— \A, £xo ; 2d, ;^5. — 1st, the Duke of I and Chandos, of Stowe, Buckingham (Longhorn) ; John Godfrey, of Wigston Parva, Hmckley, Leicester- " • -iMr.ThomasStatter.jun, ;r, ju Highly Commended ; the Earl of Powis Castle, Welshpool [Ayrshire) : Mr. Adam Du] Chester, black (Ai of Powis Castle, Rose Hill, Burnley, Lai Hemming Cha' mended ; the ] (Ayrshire). //ei/er, in ,n. ^10; 2d, £i. Hall, Whitefiel ,._.„__ . __, .... Chandos, of Stowe, Bucks (Longhom) .dam Dugdale. of (West Highland) ; Mr. William Hall, Derby (Longhom) ; Mr. Richard of Upton, Nc of H.arrington, of El (Angus) : exceeding three years old— Statter, jun., of St Duke of Buckingham Thomas Statter, Dah Pair of Heifers in milk, nm months tf/rf.— Prizes offered : ist Staffordshire A^icultural Society : ee years and eight £m (offered by the , (offered by Mr. J. W. PhUlips) ; 3d, /s (by Mr. A. C. Twentyman).-ist, Mr. Thomas Statter, jun., of Stand Hall, Whitefield, Manchester, Rose and Beanty (Ayrshires), just over three years old, breeders unknown ; 2d, Mr. Thomas Sutter, jun., of Stand Hall, Whitefield, Man- chester, Buttercup and Dairymaid (Ayrshires), about three years old, breeders unknown ; 3d, Mr. John Jervis Sharp, of Broughton, Kettering, Northamptonshire, ynlia ^th, roan (Shorthorn), three years and five months old, bred by exhibitor. Pair of Cows, over three years and eight montlis old, in milk — ist, £^0 (offered by the Staffordshire Agricultural Society) ; =d, jCio : 3d, ;<;s--i5t. Mr. Thomas Statter, jun., of Stand Hall, Whitefield, Manchester (Ayrshire), ages and breeders unknown ; 2d, Mr. Thomas Statter, jun., of Stand Hall. Whitefield. Man- chester (crossbred) ; 3d, Mr. Henry Crossley, of Watkinson Hall Farm, Halifax (Yorkshire cross). Commended : Mr. Thomas Nash, of Featherstone (Shorthorn) ; Mr. Josiah T. Poyser, of Stapenhill, Burton-on-Trent (Shorthorn) : Mr. Charies William Bnerley, of Rhodes House, Middleton, Manchester (crossbred). SHEEP. Lekrsiers. — There was a gootl show of these rams, and a meagre one of ewes. The older class of rams was indeed considered to be the best that had been shown for years. The names of exhibitors in this class still continue the same, with the exception of the substitu- tion of the Rev. George Inge for that of the late Col. Inge, who was an exhibitor for so many years. Mr. F. H. Hutchinson, of Manor House, Catterick, Mr. R. W. Creswell, of Ravenstone, Ashby de la Zouch, Mr. Turner, of Alexton Hall, Mr. George Sanday, of Holme Pierrepont, and Mr. John Borton, of Barton House, Malton, Yorkshire, all appeared in their usual places. The honours were not, however, completely divided, for Mr. Creswell, although exhibiting some very admirable sheep, was left out in the cold. Taking a more minute look at the Leicester classes, we may mention the 2d prize shearling, the property of the Rev. George Inge, as a very good animal, while the 3d prize, also from Thorpe Constantine, although a good carcased and well-topped sheep, was a little wanting in fleece. The highest honours were taken by Mr. George Turner, of Alexton Hall, with a sheep very good along the top, but a rather loose handler ; this sheep stands well on his legs, is of large size, and is covered with a good fleece. Mr. George Sandays' No. 664 in the catalogue was a good sheep, and received a high commendation. Mr. John Borton also showed a sheep which for neatness of form was surpassed by none, but he was deficient in wool underneath. The rams of any other age were a remarkably good class. The first animal we noticed was the pro- perty of Mr. Hutchinson, No. 278 in the cata- logue, a remarkable sheep, with good shoulders and grand breast, capital rumps and back, and of good Leicester character, the winner of 1 5 first prizes, 2d at Oxford, 2d at Manchester, and yet on the present occasion never even looked at. The next sheep, 279, also Mr. Hutchinson's, might be described as a splendid animal, well covered with firm flesh, very thick, covered with good wool, and possessing a good head. Mr. Creswell's old rams were also large and excellent. No. 681 in the catalogue was a good sheep ; No. 682 was altogether good, large, wide, and well woolled. Next to him was another beauty, succeeded by a wonderful sheep (684) for width at shoulders and at rumps, of very excellent form, and well woolled. The 1st prize, bred by and the property of Mr. Turner, is a good sheep "all round," and a firm handler. He was 1st at Guildford. Mr Sanday's 2d prize is a large, good sheep, well covered with firm flesh; and Mr. Borton's 3d prize is also a good sheep, but looser in the flesh. The ewe class was not well filled, and only contained three pens, all of which took prizes. The 1st place was awarded to a pen exhibited by Mr. Hutchinson, the 2d was awarded to Mr. Borton, and the 3d to the Rev. Mr. Inge. Mr. Borton has let two sheep at high prices to Mr. Hutchinson, and also sold him a pen of gimmers at .^10 each. Cols-wolds. — The competition in theCotswold classes was as usual carried on principally by breeders from Oxfordshire and Norfolk. The Cotteswold men appear satisfied, and do not apparently care to exhibit their wonderful sheep excepting at their own annual ram sales. The two pens of theaves exhibited by Mr. Russell Swanwick, of the College Farm, Cirencester, formed a pleasing exception to this rule, and Mr. Swanwick also appeared as an exhibitor in the class for rams. The 1st prize for rams was taken by lengthy large sheep, which however had lost most of his top-knot, if he ever had more, the property of Mr Thomas Brown, of Marham Hall Farm, Downham Market, Norfolk. Both 2d and 3d prizes and the reserve number went very deservedly into the same hands. The Ist prize for rams of any other age was taken by a sheep belonging to the executors of the late Mr. T. Gillett, Kilkenny, Faringdon, Oxon, and both 2d and 3d prizes were awarded to Mr. Brown, of Marham Hall, Norfolk. In the class for shearling ewes there were only five entries, and both Ist and 2d prizes were awarded to Mr. Swanwick, of the College Farm, Cirencester, for two capital pens of up-standing, large and lengthy sheep— both, we understand, sold on the ground, at good prices, to American purchasers. Luicohis formed a very excellent show. In the shearling ram class, Mr. William F. Marshall, of Branston, won the Ist prize, and Mr. Thomas Cart- wright, of Dunston Pillar, the 2d ; while Messrs. Dudding, of Panton, came 3d. Probably the firm touch and characteristic wool of the 1st prize sheep outweighed form in the estimation of the judges. Be this as it may, the Messrs. Budding's sheep is larger, heavier, and better carried out both before and behind, than those of his successful rivals, but we confess him to succeeding class, wool of the same character as that of this shearling has not prevented the judges from awarding a first place to a very firm and good sheep, the property of the Messrs. Dudding. The 2d prize is awarded to a ram, bred and owned by Mr. Algernon Hack, of Buckminster, Grantham. Mr. Gunnell's five ewes, shown in Class 82, are good in every way, and uniform both in character and fleece. In this class Mr. Cartwright is 2d, Mr. John Pears, of Mere, Lincoln, 3d. Oxfords formed a good show, well represented in all the classes, with the exception of the shearling ewes, which only contained three pens of good sheep. In the shearling class, Mr. Treadwell, of Winchenden, carried off the prize with a very true sheep, the first at Guild- ford, and Mr. Longland is 1st prize winner in the class for older rams. The 2d prize is taken by Mr. Wallace, of Old Stafford, who also holds the reserve number. In the class for older rams, Mr. Longlands leads the way with what was the reserve number in thes ; class at Oxford last Hei 1 every way a typical sheep, having a uniformly rich brown face', free from grey or white, a good top-knot, plenty of wool between the ears, a firmly fleshed and well- covered back, plenty of substance and weight, and in fact, a good sheep all round. The 2d prize is taken by a ram belonging to Mr. Milton Druce, of Burgh- field, a truly grown and firm sheep, like the last, but a year younger, and not quite so good at the neck. This sheep was 3d at Oxford last year. We may mention as an instance of the changes wrought by time, and a change of judges, that Mr. Wallis' 1st prize at Oxford was only commended at Wolverhampton, and that his 1st prize shearling at Oxford was only 3d at the recent Royal meeting. There were some good Oxford- shire ewes shown, but rather few of them. Mr. M. Druce's 1st prize pen of five were remarkably good, and Mr. Howard's 2d prize were well headed, and in other respects excellent. Soiithdinuns. — There was a fair show of rams and a good show of ewes in these classes, although the former were most numerously represented. The Ist prize for shearling lams was secured by Sir William Throckmorton, of Buckland, Faringdon, Berkshire, with a sheep which, although less in size than the 2d prize sheep, which was also one of Sir William's e.xhibits, was of more perfect form and better quality. Mr. Rigden's 3d prize sheep was also very excellent in his points. The Duke of Richmond's reserve niunber and highly commended sheep, although good in many respects, had a light neck, and was not quite true grown at the nmips. The same remark applies to Mr. Heasman's commended sheep. No. 840. In class 89, for rams of any other age, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales obtained a high commendation and the reserve number. Sir William Throckmorton is again placed 1st, with a good, straight, well headed and well woolled animal. Shropshire sheep formed, as might have been ex- pected, a great feature at Wolverhampton. Instead of the III entries made in these classes at Oxford, there were 186 entries, and this increase was no doubt par- tially due to the special cup offered by Mr. R. H. Masfen and other breeders of Shropshires for the greatest number of prizes which should be taken by any exhibitor of these sheep in all classes. We may men- tion at this point that the cup was won by Mrs. Beach, of The Hattons, a lady who has so long been asso- ciated with the improvement of this now well-known breed. The shearling rams were the largest class ever shown, containing 85 entries, the major part of which possess a uniform character and colour, and the few exceptions come from the flocks of younger breeders. The prize animals are of a bold type and of well developed masculine character, dark in feature with bold heads on long, heavy, well developed bodies covered with heavy fleeces, free from black or grey, mounted on short legs. This is satisfactory, since such is the type of Shropshire which ought to be cultivated ; and it is by giving prizes to such sheep that breeders wiU be stimulated to endea- vour to produce similar ones. The 1st prize shear- ling, bred by and the property of Mr. Charles Byrd, of Littywood, is such an animal as has been already described, with a lively countenance and perfect carcase, rectangular, and wonderfully symmetrical. He is of the same family as the 2d prize shearling at Oxford last year, which was let to Lord Chesham foi 1 16 gs. Mr. Mansell, the breeder of the sire of the Ist prize sheep, takes the second place with a shearling of precisely similar type and character, with more weight about him, but scarcely such symmetry. Mr. Stubbs' 3d prize sheep is similar in colour, seems to have led the judges in their decision, but is less stylish, has not so well covered a back, and shorter wool. In the class for rams of any other age, Mr. Mansell takes the head with a remarkably noble sheep, with extraordinary masculine head and fore-end. He has a long, heavy well-developed body, capable of making the heaviest sheep of his class, and is covered with a splendid pile of wool, free from grey or black. His features are some- what bolder even than Mr. Mansell's type, and there is in this sheep a little grey on the nose, which is not a characteristic of the flock from which he springs, but we are informed that this is traceable through a ewe to a remote progenitor, "Old Marquis." The Shropshire ewes were not so good as the rams— very numerous, but not a very excellent show. There was a large entry of Shropshire shearling ewes. The 1st prize was well won by a pen of five, exhibited by Mrs. Beach, of The Hattons. These sheep were of the best Shropshire type, having dark brown faces and legs. It is possible to imagine heads better wooled, but the general style of the animals, and the thickness and weight of carcase, fairly entitled them to their posi- tion. Lord Chesham, who took both 2d and 3d priKS in this class, showed sheep of the same uniform good -' ved type and Mr. H. Smith, of Sutton Maddock, high commendation for some good sheep, with icarcely frame enough to stand against the prize pens. 924 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag:ricultural Gazette. [fuly 15, 1871. The best lead' ten Shropshire ewes made another class, William Baker, of Moor Barns, took the 'ith an excellent pen which, if we must criticise, trifle too much grey on their faces. Mrs. Beach s pen, placed 2d, was free from this fault, but had not the weight of carcase of the 1st prize sheep. Mr. Thomas Nock's 3d prize ewes were also a grand lot of sheep, with scarcely the faces to please judges in a class of so much excellence. The class for ten ewe lambs was well filled, and the Ist prize was awarded to Mr. John Hanbury Bradbume, of Pipe Place, Lichfield, for some grandly carcased lambs, with scarcely wool enough between their ears, and the 2d place was taken by Mrs. Beach for a stylish, good pen. Lord Chesham's 3d prize pen might have been a little better matched, but were good lambs. We were particularly struck with the wonderful character and quality of Mrs. Beach's ten ram lambs, which took off the 1st prize in their class. They were all "as like as peas," and the wool between the ears and on the forehead was developed in a remarkable degree. The 2d prize pen, in the same class, also contained some very excellent lambs, which, although scarcely so grand in their frames as in the first pen, reflect credit on their breeder, Mr. Thomas Nock, of .Sutton Maddock. Mr. Henry Smith's lambs were 3d, and scarcely possessed size and condition to rival the first two pens. Such is a slight sketch of a remarkable show of Shropshires. The breed is distinctly rising in quality and uniformity, and the judges certainly appear to have had a model before tiiem to which they adhered, throughout all the classes, with praiseworthy tenacity. : the judges and their awards The following Judges. -Leicester : R. Fisher, Leconfield, Beverley : T. Potter, Yellowford, Thorverlon ; T. H. Simpkin. Hoby, Leicester. Cotswolds and Oxfordshire Downs : R. Carne, Aldsworth. Northleach ; R. J. Newton, Campsfield, Woodstock. Lincolt and Rylands and other Long- '' "' wick, Sleaforc' . _ _...„ .SedBreedV: C.Clarke, Scop; . Greethara, Stainfield, Wragby South Downs, nd other Short Wools; H. Fookes, White- S. Turner. Seaford, Susscy. Shropshires : B. Bond, Swansmoor. Great Haywood. Stafford : W. Kemp Bourne, Fisherwick, Lichfield : R. H. Masfen, Pendeford, Wolverhampton. Cheviots and Mountain Sheep : J. I Shap Abbey, Westmoreland " "■ Kelso, . B. Canning. Elston Hill, Hexham ; J. B. Workman, Jobson, Buteland, Rev. George Inge, of Thorpi , Tamworth, Staffordshire ; 3d, £s, the Rev^ George n.,AlextonHaIl t : 3d, ;£5 : the Rev Ram of any other age. — ist,;£2o, G. ' 2d, ;£io, George Henry Sanday, of Holme Pierref ■John Borton, of Barton House. Highly Commend George Inge. Class generally Commended. Pen of 5 Shearling Ewes of the same flock— ist, £,1%, Teasdalt Hilton Hutchinson, of Manor House, Catterick ; 2d. £jo, Johr Borton, of Barton House ; 3d, £s< ^1"^ Rev. George Inge, o: Thorpe Constantine. Shearling Ram— ist, £20. Thomas Brown, of Marham Hal Farm, Downham Market. Norfolk ; 2d, £10, Thomas Brown 3d. £s, Thomas Brown. Ram of any other age— ist, £20 [reserved), the Executors o the late Thomas GiUott, of Kilkenny ; 2d, .£10, Thomas Brown of Marham Hall Farm ; 3d, £$, Thomas Brown. Pen of 5 Shearling Ewes of the same flock— ist. i;i5, Russel Swanwick, of the Royal Agricultural College Fan Gloucestershire ; 2d, £\o, Russell Swanwick. William Baker, Moor Barns, Atherstone ; Sarah Beach, of The Hattons. Brewood ; Thomas Nock. Sutton Maddock, Shiffnall ; Charles Reynolds Keeling. Yew T Udlington, Shrewsbury Pen of s Shearling Ewes of the same flock.— ist, £zs< Sarah Beach, of the Hattons, Brewood, Staffordshire ; 2d, ;£io. Lord Chesham, of Latimer. Chesham, Bucks : 3d, £$, Lord Chesham. Highly Commended : William Baker, of Moor Bams, Ather- of Gri arster, of Apley Hall, Shiffnal. Ten Shropshir "" w. o. . having had lambs in 1871. —ist, £20, of Moor Barns, Atheretone ; 2d, ;Cio, Sarah Beach, of The' Hattons, Brewood ; 3d, £s, Thomas Nock, of John Hanbury Brad- Sarah Beach, of The Lord" Chesham. Highly Com- st,.£ bume, of Pipe Place, Lichfield ; 2d, £ Hattons, Brewood : 3d, £s, mended : William Baker, of Moor Bams, __ Five Shropshire Ram Lambs.— ist, £is, Sarah Beach. The Hattons, Brewood ; 2d, .£10, Thomas Nock, Sutton Maddock, Shiffnal : 3d, £i. Henry Smith, New House, Sutton Maddock, Shiffnal. Not qualif . - - Shearling Rams.— ist, James Rawlence, of Bulbridgi d, Alfred Morrison, of Fonthill House, Highly Commendi Wilton Shropshi ..:;;^i ... Robert and John Russell, of Horton Kirby. Commended : Robert and John Russell, James Rawlence, of Bulbridge, Wilton. Ram of any other age.— ist, Zno, James Rawlence, of Bulbridge. Pen of 5 Shearling Ewes of the same flock.— ist, £is, James Rawlence ; 2d, ^10, James Rawlence. DORSETS. Shearling Ram.— 1st. ;Ci5, Henry Mayo, of Cockers Frome, d. ^s, Hei Ram of any age.— ist, £,\$. John Robson, of Bymess, Roche: ter : 2d, £s, John Robson. Highly Commended : John Robsoi Pen of 5 Ewes of any age.-ist, £10, John Robson ; 2d. ^5, Ale.'^ander Roxburg, of Caerllo. Highly ander Roxburg, of Caerllo. Ram of any age.— Three em of Shearing. Pen of 5 Ewes of any age. - mere Manor, CHtheroe. The the Inspectors of Shearing. disqualified by the Inspectc & Henry Dudding, Pa.nton Ho' Highly Commended: Robert Johnson, Kirkireton, Wirksworth. )f any other age.— ist, ^^20, " Algernon Hack, of Buck ,i.£z John Pears £io, William & Henry Dudding ; " rkminster, Grantham ; 3d, £$, Highly Commended : William ' Dudding. five Shearling Ewes 01 the san of Willow House: 2d, £ji Pear Newcombe Morley, of Leadenhan Oxfordshire Downs. Ram.— ist,i;20, John Treadwell, of Upper Wlnchen ;io, George Wallis, of Old Shifford, Bampton 3d, £s, George Wallis, of Old Shifford, Bampton. other age. — ist, ;^20, James^ Longdon ' ^ don, Northampton : 2d, £ Reading ; 3d, £s, ~ Druce, of Burghfield. ., A,o, George Wallis. of Old Shifford. Shearling Ewes of the same flock.— ist. .£15, A. F. Milton Dmce, of Burghfield, Reading ; 2d, ^Cio, Charle-s Howard, of Biddenham, Bedford. Not qualified to compete as Leicester^, Cotswolds, or Lincolns. .Shearling Ram. — ist, i^is, John Lynn, of Church Farm, Stroxton: 2d, i;5, John Lynn. Pen of 5 Shearling Ewes of th« Shearling Ram— ist, £20, Sir William Throckmorton, BarL, ol Buckland, Faringdon : 2d, Zio, Sir William Throckmorton ; 3d, £s. William Rigden. of Hove. Ram of any other age — 1st, ^£20, Sir William Throckmorton, B.irt. : 2d, £10, William Rigden, of Hove: 3d. £s, VVilliam Rigden, of Hove. Highly Commended : H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, K.G. Pen of s Shearling Ewes of the .same flock— ist, £is, the Duke of Richmond, K.G. ; ad, .£10, Lord Sondes, of Elrahani Hall. Thetford, Norfolk ; 3d, £-:,, Colonel R. N. F. Kingscote. M.P., Kingscote Park, Wootton-under-Edge. Highly Com- mended : Sir William Throckmorton, Bart. Shearling Rams. — ist, £,■20, Charles Byrd, Littywood : 2d, £.10, Thomas iMansclt, Adcote Hall ; 3d, £$. John Stubbs, Highly ■ - - ~ ■ Freeford Farm, Uffington, Lichfield. nas Mansell, Adcott ircwsbury ; 3d, £s Lghly Commended Breeding Sow. — ist, Xio, Peter Eden; 2d, £s, Richard E. Duckering. Highly Commended : Edward Davis, 2, Old Mill Street, Wolverhampton ; James and Frederick Howard, Britannia Farm ; Peter Eden. Pen of 3 Breeding Sow Pigs of the same litter, above and under 8 months old. — 1st, ;^io, Peter Eden; 2d, £sp Richard E. Duckering. Highly Commended : Richard E. Duckering. Lord ths old.— 1st, £10, Peter Eden : John Sagar, of Lister Hills, Bradford. Highly C Thomas Comber, of Redcliffe. Newton-dc-Willows : Chesham. Boar above 6 months and not exceeding 12 months old £10. Matthew Walker, of Stockley Park, t Trent ; 2d. £^, John Edward Fox, of Mansion House, Great Horton, Bradford. Highly Commended : Richard E. Duckering. Breeding Sow.— 1st, £10, R. E. Duckering; 2d, £^, Charles Roberts, of Wakefield, Yorkshire. Highly Commended : Clement R. N. Beswick-Royds, of Pyke House, Littlebornugh. Pen of 3 Breeding Sow pigs of the same litter, above 4 and under 8 months old,— ise, ilio, Peter Eden ; 2d. £i, Richard E. Duckering. Highly Commended : John Clark Andrew, of Crew- keme, Somerset. Smali. Black Breed. Boar above 12 months.— 1st, .£10. William Mortimer Ware, Newham Hou.se, Helstone ; 2d, £^, Henry Crossley. Halifax. Highly Commended ; Henry Crossley. Boar above 6 months and not exceeding 12 months 0 £10, W. Mortimer Ware ; 2d, £^, George Mumford Highly Commended : George Mumford Sexton, of 1 Hall, Ipswich. Breeding Sow— 1st. .;(rio. George Mumford Sexton; 2d, £5, William Hope, of Paisloes, Barking, Essex. Highly Commended ; George Tumer, jun., of Alexton Hall. Pen of 3 Breeding Sow Pigs of the same litter, above 4 and under 8 months old.— 1st, £10, George Mumford Sexton, ofWherstead Hall, Ipswich; 2d, £s, Samuel Geater Steam, of cliffe, Newton-le-V Boar above 12 months old. — 1st, ;^io, Russell Swanwick, of Royal Agricultural College Farm, Cirencester, Gloucestershire ; 2d, £s, Arthur Stewart, of St. Bridge, Gloucester. Highly Commended : John Gilbert, of Half-way Farm, Perry Barr ; Heber Humfrey, of KIngstone Farm, Shnvenham. Boar above 6 months and not exceeding 12 months old.— ist, £\o, Russell Swanwick, of Royal Agricultural College Farm, Cirencester ; 2d, £st Russell Swanwick, of Royal Agricultural College Farm. Breeding Sow.— ist. £10, Ri • ' College Farm. Highly Villit Hill, Kenilw PIGS. The Pig classes are remarkable for the excellence of the white breeds exhibited. The bl.ack classes wer not by any means so good, and the Ber"kshires as whole are barely up to the mark of ordinary merit. I: a very good class of white boars over twelvemonths old, Mr. Eden, of Sallord, takes the 1st prize with a large well-made pig, showing perhaps a little more quality than the 2d prize boar of Messrs. Duckering. The younger class of boars are also a fair class, varyin however, more in size. Mr. Everett, of Thetfor takes the Ist prize with a long and rather slim specime Mr. Wheeler, of Shipston-on-Stour, being 2d. The soi of this breed are a wonderfully fine class. Messrs. Eden and Duckering are again Ist and 2d respectively — the former showing a sow with eight large and hand some pigs, the latter showing one with six, much younger and less prosperous Iookin_ class of three breeding sows of the same litter the same order obtains — Eden 1st, Duckering 2d ; the latter showing two pens. These three pens were remarkably even. Messrs. Howard in the same class showed a pen considerably smaller, being three months The boars of the small white breed are shovm classes. Mr. Eden, again Ist in the older class— a very even and capital lot — but unsuccessful in the younger class, where Mr. Walker, of Burton, and Mr. J. E. Fox, of Bradford, are respectively 2d. There are capital classes also of breeding sows and sow pigs — Mr. Duckering, 1st in the former class, Mr. Eden 1st in the latter, which certainly was a remarkably fine class. The older class of boars of a small black breed were a middling lot. Mr. Mortimer Ware, from Helstone all the way, was 1st, with a very good boar ; and Mr. H. Crossley, of Halifax, 2d. In the yoimger boars Mr. Ware was again 1st, and Mr. Sexton 2d. The sow classes of this breed were better than the boars. Mr. Sexton is 1st, and Mr. Hope, of Parsloes, Barking, 2d, with a very handsome specimen of the breed, showing both quality and constitution, and Mr. Sexton is 1st and 2d in the class of young sow pigs. The Berkshire classes are tolerably good, Mr. Swan- wick, of the Royal Agricultural College, who has for some years been exhibiting, at length succeeding in taking all the chief honours, i. e., 1st in the older class of boars, 1st and 2d in the younger class of boars, and Ist and highly commended in the sow class, a very large and good collection. There are very good classes "not eligible to com- pete in any of the preceding classes," and here we have the same names again succeeding — Mr. Peter Eden, who has had unrivalled success as pig breeder, at this meeting taking the 1st prize for both boars and sows. The following were the judges and their awards :— Judges —J. Angus, Whitefield, Morpeth ; H. Aylmer. West Dereham Abbey, Stoke Ferry ; J. Smith, Henley-in-Arden. Large White Breed. Boar above 12 months old.— ist. .Cio. Peter Eden, of Cross Lane, S.ilford ; 2d, £5, Richard E. Duckering, Northorpe, Lindsey. Highly Commended : Henry Goodall, Arcted, under 8 months Swindon. Wilts ; 2d, £s. John Barr. Highlj ^ ' ' " of Royal Agri* Russell Swanwick, , above 4 and the Rev. Henry G. Baily, of iilbert, of Half-way Farm, Perry I Agricultural College Boar.— ist, .£10. John Edward Fox, of Mansion House, Great Horton ; 2d, £5, Peter Eden. Breeding Sow.— ist, £10. Peter Parker, Bradford. Commi Pen of 3 breeding Sow Pigs of the ichard E. Duckering. N. Beswick-Royds, :ti, Lancashire: 2d, £s, Thomas Wolverhampton. We append, for the sake of cc of the judges in the undemoted ( Ji^ool. — Jason Gumey, Hounslow Butter and Cluese.—'^. Clark, 148, Temple Street, Bristol ; J. Robinson, Town Hall Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne ; J. Watson, Carr's Lane, Birmingham. Boar above 6 months and not exceeding 12 months old. — ist, £ia, Francis H. Everett, Bridgham, Thetford ; 2d, ;t5, John Wheeler. Long Compton, Shipston-on-Stour. Highly Com- mended ; Francis H. Everett, Bridgham. THE IMPLEMENT YARD. The implement catalogue is a more bulky volume than last year by some 500 entries, the total being 7650, numerous entries containing several articles. There are 363 stands, of which 232, containing 6535 entries, are in the main area, divided as usual by a central avenue. In the machinery in motion depart- ment there are 79 stands— 42 on the east side, and 37 on the west, containing 481 entries. In the seeds, roots, and manure, &c., department, there are 40 stands and 534 entries, and in the open space, com- prising greenhouses and other articles, 1 1 stands and 100 entries. On the left of the main entrance there are two long sheds for wool and dairy produce, not included in the implement catalogue. Of the special entries for the Wolverhampton meet- ing, there are 105 "for trial," under steam culture, traction engines being included in class 17 ; under Hop cultivation there are 20 entries "for trial," besides several doubles not thus entered, and two or three hop- presses for brewers, catalogued along with hop-presses for hop-growers. Some 19 entries claim novelty sufficient to merit the 10 silver medals, and are accord- ingly entered for trial. Total for trial, 144. In our report we shall first notice steam-culture implements ; 2d, hop-culture implements ; 3d, the mis- cellaneous articles entered for the 10 silver medals ; 4th, a few articles of special merit, and then, as we can, run over the other articles as we have hitherto done at the meetings of the Royal Agricultural Society. Steam Cultivation, i&=(-.— Premising that we must postpone till next Saturday a further account of the steam cultivation trials, we now report that there is a larger exhibition of implements and machinery under this head than has been seen at any previous meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society. There may be a few forced entries, where the articles shown have but a slender connection with steam-culture or engines employed in agriculture, but exceptions of this kind are unworthy of notice. We are nnable to take the articles in the order they stand in the catalogue, and must be satisfied with mentioning only a few of the leading stands. Messrs. J. & F. Howard, Bedford, have a splendid July 15, 1S71.] 'Ilie Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 925 systc show under 17 entries, (i). They show for the first time a pair of their tubular safety-boiler traction- engines adapted for the double engine and single implement system, or for the double engine and double implement system, which latter permits of each engine continuously working one implement, thus performing double work as compared with the single implement stems. The engines are each fitted with two winding lums, so that they can be worked conjunctly or sepa- rately on the right across or roundabout plan ; (2), a pair of their common patent traction engines with boiler across the framing, fitted each with a single winding drum for the double engine and single imple- ment system ; (3), a set of steam tillage implements with detached windlass and tackle, including snatch- blocks, rope and anchors, adapted for being worked by a common portable engine ; (4), a new improved patent detached windlass with tackle, &c., as entry 3 ; (5), a pair of steam traction waggons made entirely of wrought iron, except the axles, which are of steel ; (6), a 3.furrow semi-balance plough with three sets of bodies mounted on strong flanged steel beams, one set for ploughing, the second for digging, and the third scarifying or smashing; (7), a 4-furrow semi- balance plough in other respects similar to the last ; (8), a 6-furrow semi-balance plough, similar in other respects to the two preceding, for either ploughing, digging, or scarifying, according to the kind of breast fixed on the frame ; (9), a 2-furrow deep tillage imple- ment, also similar in principle of construction to the preceding, but adapted for ploughing, digging, or smashing to the depth of from 12 to 18 inches deep ; (10), a 4-furrow or double stetch ridging steam-plough, with framing as entry 7, and which can be used as a 4-furrow plough, digger, or scarifier — and by changing the breasts, the implement makes two drills or stetches at a time. This is an invaluable implement on all farms where root crops are grown ; (11), a one-way double-pointed rocking tine cultivator for i, 2, 3, 4, or 5 tines, as the nature of the ground requires. Each tine rocks in the frame, so that the point in action is depressed, and the one behind so raised as not only to avoid sole friction, but to aid in the work of cultivating the land; (12), a cultivator similar in construction to the last, with steel beams, fitted for seven rocking double-pointed tines ; (13), a steam cultivator for light and medium soils, covering 9 feet in breadth by 9 inches in depth, with simple, efficient steerage, and an improved method of carrying the slack rope ; (14), an improved steam corn-drill ; (15), a steam clod-crusher, similar to a horse clod-crusher, but fitted with steerage, so as to adapt it to steam-power by means of rope haulage ; (16), a set of patent zig-zag steam-harrows ; {17), a heavy drag steam-harrow. Very great progress is manifested in the exhibits of this firm, that of the tillage implements being based on the principles of construction of their horse implement, with which they have been for a length of time more than successful. Their safety-boiler traction-engine is one of the greatest advances in the implement-yard, and is based upon their safety fixed boilers, which are gradually obtaining adoption. No doubt the greater power of generating steam, as compared with the common boiler, will require a corresponding degree of caution during the excitement of trials to avoid breakage, but this is only a question of experience and calculation in the construction of gearing to secure safety in this respect, as in obviating harm otherwise by the peculiar construction of the boiler. A great many steam implements shown by the Bedford firm are not entered for trial. Messrs. Ransomes, Sims & Head exhibit an 8-horse (nominal) power traction-engine with elastic tyres, in- vented by R. \V. Thomson, of Edinburgh, and John Head, of Ipswich. It carries its own fly-wheel, so that its power may be transmitted to all sorts of farm machinery and implements when not applied to hauling waggons, &c., by direct traction. This firm also exhibit an 8-horse (nominal) power locomotive-engine, invented by R. W. Thomson and John Head, similar in construction to the preceding, but fitted with cast- iron road wheels of such a form that angle-iron spuds can be attached to the rims. Both these engines are adapted for driving a detached windlass for hauling implements, with an anchor on the opposite headland, or on the roundabout system, with a series of anchors and snatchblocks, and also for working Fisken's light rope system. This firm also exhibit one of the East Indian Government engines with a single carriage, already alluded to under the traction-engine race. Amies, Barford & Co., of Peterborough, have 13 entries for trial, viz., (i), a steam-culture set, consisting of a lo-horse power traction-engine, a detached wind- lass, 7-tine improved Woolston cultivator, a 3-furrow balance-plough and digger, a pair of Campain's patent anchors, an illustration of which was given in the Agrkulltiral Gazette at the Oxford meeting last year ; (2), a windlass driven by friction brakes, which enables the engine to run continuously without stopping to make the return journey ; (3), cultivating windlass, invented by Brown & May, of Devizes, driven either by a "tumbling shaft or strap," and furnished with improved clutch gearing. The drums have coiling apparatus, and are mounted on a four-wheel frame ; (4), an improved a 7-tined Woolston smasher ; (5), an improved 5-tined Woolston smasher for heavy work ; (6), a combined cultivator and scarifier, similar to 4, but provided vrith a set of steel shears for skimming, paring, or scarifying ; (7), press wheel-roller, or clod- crusher, for working on the roundabout system, with improved steerage for turning at the headlands ; (8), press wheel-roller for not turning at the headlands ; (9), patent drag-harrows, invented by J. Ostler, of Walrond Park ; (10), a combined cultivator.'and seed and manure drill, on the principle of a modern Suffolk drill, with Chambers' patent manure-distributor ; (11), Campain's right-hand anchor ; (12), a lo-horse traction-engine, manufactured by Tuxford & Sons, Boston ; (13), a portable wire-rope tarring machine. Campain's left- hand anchor is exhibited, but not entered for trial in the catalogue. -Campain's anchors were deservedly the most popular articles in the trial grounds. Their high merit, both for anchorage and the economising of manual labour, is fast recommending them to general John Allen Williams, of Baydon, Wiltshire, one of the earliest improvers and users of steam-culture imple- ments, exhibits for trial a steam-roller, consisting of three cylinders, each 3 feet in diameter, on a common axis in an iron frame, with steerage-wheel in front ; also ^ combined roller, cultivator, and set of three harrows. The roller is the same as described above. The cultivator is in front of the rollers, the set of harrows is behind. By means of a lever, the cultivator is raised at the land's-end, so as to permit of the combined implement being readily turned. Charles Burrell, Thetford, Norfolk, exhibits an 8-horse (nominal) power traction-engine mounted on springs, with a driving-chain on each side. It has a single steam-cylinder, with change of speed for double power when such is required ; also an 8-horse (nominal) power road-steamer under Thomson's patent, with double cylinder and fast and slow gear, adapted for road traffic, steam culture, and other agricultural purposes. He also shows a 12-horse (nominal) power double- cylinder engine under Thomson's patent, with fast and slow gear, and an arrangement for raising and lowering the boiler, so as to keep it level in hilly roads and ground. The Ravensthorpe Engineering Company, Mirfield, Yorkshire, exhibit for trial (i) a complete set of steam- ploughing tackle, invented by the Messrs. Fisken, consisting of two patent windlasses, six corner anchors, one tension-anchor, two claw-anchors, 30 light rope- porters, 1200 yards of Manilla rope, 800 yards of steel wire-rope, a 4-furrow balance-plough ; (2), a com- plete Fisken set, consisting of a lo-horse traction engine, two patent windlasses, six corner anchors, a driving-rope tension - anchor, two claw-anchors, 25 rope-porters, a 7-tined Howard cultivator, 1200 yards of Manilla rope, 700 yards steel wire rope ; (3), a i6-horse Clayton & Shuttleworth portable engine ; (4), a 7-tined Fisken balance-cultivator; (5), a 4-furrow Fisken balance-plough ; and (6), an improved Fisken harrow. Messrs. [Fowler & Co., Leeds, have no fewer than 40 entries for trial, of which four are complete sets — two on the double-engine system, and two single-engine sets — viz. (I), a20-horse power double set of steam-ploughing and cultivating machinery. The set includes two 20-horse power double-cylinder traction engines fitted with winding drums, tank, steerage, and all the more recent improved appliances necessary for steam-culture and tractive purposes; also 800 yards of best steel wire rope. The spokes of the fly-wheel are of wrought iron, the shafts and gear of steel. The extended use of steel in the manufacture of their engines show how thoroughly this firm study the requirements of field practice, thereby profiting by their extensive expe- rience. (2). A 12-horse power double set of steam- and cultivatingmachinery, the latter including 'S?.f and cultivators, also turning cuiti vators. With the exception of the horse-power and the single-cylinder engine, the set is similar to the preced- ing. (3). A 12-horse power single set of steam-plough- ing and cultivating machinery and apparatus. This is their clip-drum set, about which so much has been said during the trials in class 2. It includes a 12-horse power single-cylinder engine, fitted with clip-drum, a 6-disc anchor opposite, 800 yards of steel wire rope, and 20 rope-porters, with balance-plough, convertible into a digger or cultivator by change of breast, or a turning-cultivator, and all the necessary appliances for steam-culture and road-traction. The boiler, axles, and gear are made of steel. Total weight under 10 tons. The introduction of steel boiler plate increases strength and reduces weight, a most important improvement in traction-engines for farm and road work. (4), An 8-horse power double-drum set, comprising an 8-horse power single-cylinder engine, fitted with two winding- drums, a 6-disc anchor, 1200 yards of common steel rope, 16 rope-porters, a balance-plough, digger or cultivator, &c. ; (5), Fowler's winding-windlass and tackle ; (6), 8-furrow balance-plough ; (7), 6-furrow balance-plough ; (8, 9, 10), three 6-furrow balance- ploughs ; (II), 5-furrow balance-plough ; (12), 4-furrow balance-plough; (13), 4-furrow balance-digger; (14), 4-furrow balance-plough ; (15), 4-furrow balance-plough fitted with slack gear ; (16 and 17), two 13-tined turn- ing cultivators, extra strong, for 20-horse engines ; (18, 19), two il-tined turning-cultivators; (20, 21), two 9-tined turning-cultivators ; (22, 23), two 5.-tined light land turning-cultivators; (24, 25), two turning-harrows with steerage firame, so constructed as to take different weights of harrows. The frame can also be fitted with ridging breasts. The harrows can be lifted, to clear them of weeds, &c. (26), 7.tined balance-cultivator ; (27), 7-tined balance-cultivator, with slack gear ; (28), a patent Coultas seed-drill, fitted with the exhibitor's steerage harrows before and behind, which are raised at the headlands, to permit turning. The frame is entirely of iron, and the drill finishes the work at once. (29). General purpose seed and manure drill by Coultas and the exhibitors, fitted with steerage, turning apparatus, &c. ; {30), subsoil • plough, for turning over the furrow-slice and loosening the subsoil below to the depth of from 18 to 24 inches ; (31), trenching plough, for turning down the staple to the bottom and bringing up the subsoil to the surface ; (32), patent mole-draining plough ; (33), plough for cutting or cleaning open ditches, 20 inches wide by 18 inches deep ; (34), a root or stone extractor ; (35), 3-tined knifer ; (36), 2-tined knifer ; (37), two water carts, with hose for feeding boilers ; (38), i2-feet roller, with patent steerage apparatus ; (39, 40), two sleeping vans for the labourers of hirers-out, fitted with vice for small repairs and boxes for carrying duplicates. Robey & Co., Lincoln, exhibit an 8-horse power traction-engine, under Thomson's patent, for road work or steam-culture by direct or rope traction. Also a 6-furrow plough, adapted to their Thomson engine, for steam-culture by direct traction. Tuxford & Sons, Boston, enter for trial a lo-horse traction-engine or farm locomotive for drawing, culti- vating, and farmyard purposes. The engine is of extra strength, so that it can with safety work con- siderably above its nominal power. They also enter au improved cultivating windlass, with adjustable expanding friction-couplings and automatic friction- brakes, so that the drums can be thrown into and out of gear without shock or jar, and the brakes prevent slack in the rope and the injury so often experienced therefrom by windlasses without such improvements. Aveling & Porter, Rochester, Kent, enter for trial (1), a 12-horse (nominal) power traction engine, fitted with a single winding-drum for the double^engine system of haulage ; (2), a lo-horse (nominal) power traction-engine for road work, steam-cultivation by a detached windlass, threshing and other farm purposes. (3), a 6-horse (nominal) power traction-engine, for road and other farm purposes as the last ; (4), a 6-horse (nominal) power agricultural locomotive engine, with improved wheels ; (5), a low-sided steam-trolley, capable of carrying 5 tons ; (6), a waggon, also capable of carrying 5 tons of agricultural or other produce. Hop Cultivation. — '^\mx^. Coleman & Morton, Chelmsford, enter a hop-cultivator, fitted with wheels in front, having crank-axles for regulating the depth of working by the action of a lever ; also another hop-cul- tivator, or nidget, similar to the last, but lighter. They also enter for trial a hop syringing-engine, for washing the Hop plant when infested with aphis blight. It con- sists of a circular water barrel of iron, mounted on wheels, fitted with a force-pump and two jets, with i5 feet of delivery hose to each. The pump has an air vessel attached to the suction pipe, a strainer inside, so that two continuous jets of washing liquid can be delivered for washing two rows or hills at a time. Its general form may be gathered from fig. 194, which shows the same general apparatus adapted as a road-watering machine. This machine has gained the first prize of £\o. William Weeks & Son, of the Perseverance Iron Works, Maidstone, Kent, have a very excellent exhibit of Hop cultivating implements, machinery, and appa- ratus, well worthy the attention of Hop-growers, Twelve articles are entered for trial, viz. (l), a Hop- washing machine, capable of holding 28 gallons. The pump is fitted with double hose, each having 25 feet of 3-ply hose, with tap and jet ; the interior is furnished with a filtering or straining bag, similar to a coffee-pot, so that in washing off the aphis blight the leaves of the bine are not injured with thick matter, such being strained out by the strainer ; (2), a hop-sulphuring machine, for destroying mould in Hops. It consists of a small fan mounted on wheels, from which motion is given to the fan ; the exit blast is divided into two currents, so that when wheeled forward between two rows of poles, or bines otherwise trained, both sides are dusted over with the sulphur blown from the machine. The sulphiu: is fed in regularly as required from a hopper. This machine has gained the 1st prize al £\o. (3). An improved hop-presser with case and weighing apparatus, which has gained the 1st prize of £,\o ; (4), a hop-presser, with or without case, to which the 1st prize was awarded at the Canterbury meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society in i860; (5), a hop-bine cutting machine on travellmg wheels, for cutting hop-bines into short lengths for manure or other purpose. In principle of construction it is that of a portable chaff-cutter, the bine being drawn in be- tween fluted rollers, &c. (6). A hop-alley clod-crusher, invented and manufactured by the exhibitors ; (7), a heavy iron hop-skim or cultivator, invented and manu- factured by the exhibitors ; (8), a light iron hop-skim or cultivator ; (9), an iron hop-nidget fitted with steel shares for heavy work ; (10), an iron hop-nidget fitted with steel shares for light land; (11), a portable dip- ping-tank for dipping hop-poles in creosote ; (12), a fire-basket for drying Hops in kilns. Richard Read, of 35, Regent Circus, Piccadilly, London, enters for trial a hop-washing machine with double hose and jet for washing two hills or rows of 926 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July .5. 1871. Hop plants at a time. It has a copper wire-gauze \ Horse pitchforks and straw and hay elevators are strainer, through wliicli the washing liquid is drawn to exhibited on upwards of a dozen stands ; one of the the pump, and a safety-valve may be had to order 1 latter we shall hereafter notice, viz., Tasker & Son's similar to another hop-washing machine exhibited but 1 folding balance-elevator. Steam-engines, threshing not entered for trial. Mr. Read also exhibits for and dressing machines are above an average show. trial a small pail-washing machine for small Hop gar- Clayton, Shuttleworth & Co., Marshal & Sons, Tux- dens, which, it is stated, can be worked by one person. , ford & Sons, Ruston, Procter & Co., Robey & Co., the Mellard's Trent Foundry, Rugeley, Staffordshire (Alfred Giles, manager), enter three of Godfry's American _ revolving mould board-plouglis for trial. An illustrated notice of this implement was given in the Agriai/- tural Gazette at the Guildford' meet- ing of the Bath and West of England Society last month, and to it we refer. The judges awarded a silver medal to one of these ploughs, viz., entry 3012 in the catalogue. In a field not far from the trial gi-ounds at Stafford a farmer was working one of the American single ploughs, and making excellent deep ploughing. The work was better done down- hill than up-hill. The implement was hauled by three horses, all going in the furrow — old style. ^-^ LAI, ; (T OF Ijloughs on Lhe stands of Messrs. :- J. & F. lloivaid, Knnsomc, Sims & ^" Head, and Homsby & Sons. IJouble- furrow ploughs have increased ten- fold since the O.xford meeting. Very ■great improvements have been intro- duced by the Ipswich firm during the current year. We figure in particular the simplest and lightest of the exist- ing doiible-furrow ploughs, lying on its side for turning at theland's-end (fig. 195), and a one-way double-furrow plough— fig. 198 in the position in which it is at work, fig. 199 in the position half-way towards reversal, at the land's-end, in which it can be shifted from place to place. Cultivators are equally numerous ; broadshares and scarifiers are plen- tiful ; harrows and drags, including chain- harrows, are well re- presented by the How- ards, Hunt ^ Pickering, Larkworthy, Under- hiil, Ball, Cambridge, Corbett & Chipchase, Page & Co., Denton, &c. ; horse-hoes by Garrett & Sons, Clay, HUl & Smith, Page & Co., Priest & Wool- nough, and others. Rollers are exhibited on 25 stands, com and seed drills on upward: stands. ;$ of 60, turnip-drills Stable and cattle-house fittings are unusually well represented by Musgrave Brothers, Belfast ; the St. Pancras Company, London ; Cottam & Co. , London ; R. Willacy, and others. Pumps and pumping apparatus for irrigation and liquid manuring, sewage distribution pipes, water and liquid manure carts, are unusually numerous. Liquid manure pumps, and pumps generally, are shown on some 40 stands j liquid manure carts and distributors, on 15 stands ; such facts speak more than volumes for the progress of liquid manuring. The three firms who competed at Leicester — Whitehead, Pinfold, and Page & Co. — exliibit brick and tile machines; Stoner & Co., and Wade & Cherry also exhibit. Drain- ing tools are exhibited by several firms, so that this branch is fairly represented. Saw-tables, band-saws, circular- saws, turning-lathes, mortising ma- chines, &c., are very much as last year. Great progress has been made in this department of machinery in motion, which is annually becoming more and more attractive. Fencing of various kinds for large animalsand small, from bullocks down to rabbits ; gates and gate-posts, are abundant if not more niunerous than usual. Stone-breakers, steam-ham- mers, wheel-moulding apparatus, an- vils, annealing oven for iron and steel, bolt and nail forging machine, cop- rolite-mills, bone-mills, fans and Lincolnshire firms, appear as if an-ayed in competition, | blowers for smiths and blast furnaces ; fire-engines, and no doubt so they are. In short, threshing heating apparatus, gas stoves and boilers, form another machines are shown on no fewer than 32 stands. J class of articles well represented. Horse-gears, powers, and intermediate motions are 1 Dairy utensils are about an average ; kitchen and shown on 32 stands. The other articles of the barn ! cooking apparatus, and the various articles on the are innumerable. Riches & Watts, of Duke's Palace 1 house inventory, are above an average. Wm. Hill & Co., 15, Pavement, York, exhibit on stand 261 a very ingenious mode of cooking by steam. "Itseconomy," says the exhibitor, "is proved by the fact, that if 20 lb. of meat be roasted the loss is 61b. ; if boiled the loss is 4 lb. ; but if steamed in this apparatus the loss is only i lb." Mr. A. Mills Dbc, Shelton Brewery, Potteries, Staffordshire, exhibits a novel refrigerator for cooling worts, of con- siderable promise to brewers, large and small, and which is available for brewing family ale where a moderate quantity is consumed, '"he garden is superabundantly well represented on Fig. 194.— Coleman's watering-machine. Fig. 195 — .RAN30ME3 LIGHTER DOUBLE-FURROW PLOUGH. 15 , Iron Works, Norwich, Norfolk, exhibit in I Child's Patent " Asjiirator," for dressing all 1 There is an extensive exhibit of mowing and reaping j grain and rice by the combination of riddles, elevators, something like a hundred stands'. Some 'large stands machines, horse-rakes, &c. Burgess & Key have greatly and exhaust. The machine attracted much attention are exclusively devoted to supplying garden re- improved their conical reel-raker, which they recently during the show, and merits a more detailed notice quirements. introduced. Instead of wood tubular iron arms have , than our present limits will permit us to give it. To the following articles we give a special notice, been introduced. The leverage is taking them in the order they so arranged that the driver, riding stand in the catalogue. Further of a vertical lever rising up to his Reynolds' Patent Thatching Ap- hand, as complete control over tlie ^^T^l^ paratus (entry 171) is exhibited by whole machine as if seated on the *^ llStS^ Woods, Cocksedge & Warner, machine in the ordinary way. Wood ^ |^ii|ii\ /t Suffolk Iron Works, Stowmarket, has a fine show of American ma- I ^i|\ jry ^o's licencees and manufacturers, chines ; he has introduced a self S^ I Jlt|\ ^^^n, r—^-^ '^'^'^ thatch-manufacturing appa- reel-raker, in which] the arms are E |\ I 1 11|\ /^ fcjgjl. '"'"''^^lir'jj, "^^'"^ '^ extremely simple. By each hinged some 6 inches from the liflM JIfeJbXP'V-v k^K^ /jr ^' niiinJ^ ' '^j^^ ^ means of a winch on an axis, with end next the standard, and by •SS^feHf^^^^^T^^M^ // ^\^^ lilllllP^ ^^^^11) '^ forked termination, each with round to the seat of the driver, WlT Np^TiS^/KL^^^^IflP^^ \\\iA is used in rope-making, a and fall into the cam as they ccJme ikfmfiS.^AS'/^^^^ handful of straw or other thatch, as round. The main carriage wheel \ .»lHll§l^^^^^ft =_ reed or Flax, is twisted in at every wheels, woi king in the interior of ^K^ ^ K*^^" y"^ _^C^^^ — -— -^^^^- A web may be thus made the whole rod to work through the wheel, ^ |s^ — -^sl' venient length. At one end of the and the crank to have a direct ^ T^ web two or three turns are made to thrust in a line with the bearing of - _ ^ - fix the wires, whichare then cut off. the wheel. Homsby & Son exhibit ^-_]^-^^t '^ ,--=^^^ It is found from experience that their best machines ; so do the =^ = /kiLon webs or mats from 2 to 3 feet in Howards, Samuelson &Co., Picks- length are the most convenient, as ley, Sims & Co., Bamlett, the li 1 1 1 ING i LOUc a they can be made at some slack Reading Iron Works, Kearsley, time prior to harvest, folded up, tied &c. Hayes & Son exhibit excel- in bundles, and stacked until re- lent waggons; so do Ball & Son, Milfoid &. Sons, the Of floui mills and gimding mills foi man and beast, | quired for thatching. The thatch they form differs Bristol Waggon Works Company, CrosskiU & Sons, the number for hand, horse, and steam power exceeds little in outward appearance from thatch put on in the and the Beverley Iron and Waggon Co Single-horse that of pi evious years, when tliey weie included in the usual way in the southern and midland counties of special tfials The same may be said of chaff tutteis, England, where the thatch is wetted, " yarmed," as it root-cutters, pulpers, and cake-breakers. Chaff-cutters, is termed in Hants, carried up by the attendant, and for example, are shown on no fewer than 50 stands; put on, "yarm" atter "yarm," by the thatcher, the tumip-cutters, slicers, pulpers, &c., on 26; cake- wetness of the straw and the manner it is yarmed help- breakers on 27 stands, ing to bind it together. By the new machine the horse that of pie c shown on 13 stands ; two-horse caTts on S ' " cattle carts on 3, drays on 3, general purpose irts on 3, harvest carts on 6, market carts on 3, pony irts on 2, sanitary carts on 5 stands, watering carts stands, dog carts on 14, horse-rakes on 27 stands. July 15, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Asfriculturai Gazette. 927 ^', — ^:::^^< thatch is put on dry, and at a fraction of the expense of the lesser one below for the artificial manu the old plan, whilst it stands the weather and defends traveller bands with cups bring the Potatos o stacks better. hopper, one in each cup, and empty them According to the new plan, the thatcher places each spouts placed at the desired distance betwei mat on the roof, and pegs it down with a patent coulters or small ridging-ploughs open two furrows into "broach" or thatch-peg, composed of a sharpened which the Potatos drop, and as the distance between stick of the ordinary kind now in use, but having a hole the cups corresponds to that between the sets, they in its head, through which a twisted thong of wire is attached, havmg a loop in the opposite end— the length of the thong being equal to the breadth of the mat. Thatch-pegs and thongs being in readiness for use, when one mat is laid, the thatcher takes the thong of the pre vious peg, stretches it firm over the mat, puts a peg through the loop which holds the mat fast. Another mat is laid and pegged down in the same way, and thus the work pro ceeds. Mr. Reynolds has also patented lad ders for the use of the thatcher, and for hoisting the mats and pegs. With straw of an average length, he says, 20 mats, 2 feet in width, will cover a square These can be made in as many minutes — half a pound of wire for the same will cost 4// Twenty mats will require 20 thatch-pegs, and a man and boy will lay from four to seven squares pei day — so that the total expense does not exceed Id. per square. The thatch is adapted both for round and long stacks, and good straw may last more than one yeai The Oxford Patent Ridgmg Plmigh, e\hi bited by Southwell & Co., of Rugeley, has a very ingenious device for expanding or ; contracting the mouldboards, by the plough man standing between the stilts, either at the headland or whilst the plough IS going This is done by simply turning a crank lever, with a ratchet-catch, to the right or left , the one way to contract the breasts, and the other to expand them. From this crank lever a -^^ shaft extends to the body of the plough , upon the lower end of this shaft are fixed two cam levers, the one on the up side, the other on the down-side ; from these two hinged link-levers extend, one to each breast, so that when the crank-lever is turnea to the right the breasts are expanded, and when it is turned to the left they are contracted This implemenl was higlily commended at the Oxfoid meeting,, and 1; favourably noticed by the judges in then leport in this journal, p. 528. (.See fig. 196 ) t Willacy's Patent Cattle Feeding Ma Juno y (hg 197) Two of the Class Two & Ca. Section I.-Steam Cultivation. I. For the best combination of machinery for the culti- f the soil by stei,m-pov,er, ,st, £xoo. Messrs. Fowler 2. t or the best comDination ot machinery for the in of the soil by steam-power, the weight of the steam engine not to exeeed lo tons, ist, £$0, Messrs. Fowler & Co., i2-horse power cHp-drum engine and disc anchor, price .£740 ; 2d, £^0, the Ravensthorpe Engineering Company, lo-horse traction engine and set, price j^Sgo. y an ordinary agricultural stationary \\mding set ngine, whether self-propellir pnce'' £-S. Mith i plough di::ger Messrs nbined drill an Howtrdi*^ Co iirrow combined plough and diggers one set of rrows and combined drill and harrows .£416 los \ SiUer Cup value .£100 offered by I in Lord Vernon pre ident given for the 1 iTtion of mTchinery for the cultivation of the i For Ahich shall not exceed ;i;700 and adapted for threshing purposes Mes rs Fowler ^ Co luble drum engine and disc anchor Windlass detTchi,d £^0 L \ss 5 For the best Snatchblock or substitute eof ;£ 10 Amies Eirford S. Co L\ss6 For the best Plough suitable kr steam ivation j£25 Fowkr & Co Cl \ss 7 For the best Subsoiler suitable for stuim culuvation /20 Fowler Su Co Class 8 For the best Digger suitable for steam cultivation £25 Fowler & Co Clxssq For the best Culti\ator suitable for steam cultivation, £23 Fowler & Co Class to For the best Skim Plough or Scinfier s iitable for steam cultivation £-0 Fowler S. Co Class ii For the best Roller suitable for steam cultivation ;£io Anues, Earford &. Co Cl\ssi-' For the best Harrow suitable for steam cuhmtion ;Cio J 1\ENTED BV THE L\Ti: MB JOSEPH PaxtON. Manufactured in London, Ulvcrstone (Lancashire); Gloucester ; i. 1+1:. t^t IF L. _ Simplicity, Efficiency, and Economy is Secured I HE PATENT TERMINAL SADDLE BOILER. ^d very powerful- Illustrated Circulars postfree. dwar/street. Brr-'-— ■ -- ^ - J. IRELAND, : .anc, Manchestc IndestniotlWe Terra-Cotta Plant Markers. MAW AND CO.'S PATENT.- Prices, Printed Patterns, and Specimens sent post free on application; also Patterns of Ornamental Tile Pavements for Conservatories, Entrance Halls, &c. MAW and CO., Benthall Works, Broseley. THE ACME GARDEN FRAME and GROUND VINERY. The most perfect and effective, as well as the cheapest Frame and Vinery yet brought out. See the Gardtntrs' ChronicU, Dec 17, 1870. BENJAMIN LOOKER, Inventor, Patentee.and Sole Manuiaclurcr, 40 ft bj 16 ft 60 ft b> : ;C=3a to ( 3HTS AND BO\ES unghzed 3J t tood sheet glass & Portable bo\ c itninint, one 6 It bj 4 ft I coits read) for use ?sl'ini°ite°s''!;'iv "nT^C nlt'ri'iloneb or fi .„an>,5fs,,;' H OT-WATER APPARATUS erected Complete, or the Materials supplied lor Heating idCcttcal ^'^o^'^'^uVes^' Tubular Bnlif CONSERVATORIES, CHUKCHEb PUBLIC BUILDINGS I HOT WATER PIPES Elbons T Imprn>( 1 T 1 c tri 1 I \M HON 1 L bULAR 1 OILERS, CAbVand U ROL I HI IRC IN 1 OKT \iLF BOILERS, on Stand, [Brusewithoi W ORk of everi descripti INDIA-RUBBER RI> aSdarlpl?fe'c Goods, of the very best manu Z/ ^ facture, delivered at Railway or //f^ Wharf in London. £/' LYNCH WHITE m i Barge I on Wha f Upper |1_L s de I ackf Lond< rONESS PATENT DOUPLE L also considerably redui Sizes. 4 -'in!'pip°e. Price. '^t. Wide. Feet. 11 ;; 'Aw 3J ;; ?S »4 ", l\ ;; Vo W Ito '^". ii": f." :;S? 15 0 0 ■44 „ 10,000 ^"'',''.-.';?f'. n Slock an d sold only by the Invent Bankside, Southwarl VASES AND FOUNTAINS FOR THE GARDEN AND CONSERVATORY. ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE, containing Prices .ind full in- concerning FOUNTAINS and VASES, and with 30 large pages of beautifully Lithographed Designs, Post Free for 12 stamps, which will be allowed if an order is given. ANDREW HANDYSIDE and CO., Britannia Works, Derby ; LONDON OFFICE ;— 32, WALIIROOK, GRAY'S Oval Tubular Boiler. INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, Class IX., No. 2119. Mr. GR.-\Y begs to call the attention of the Nobility, Gentry, Nurserymen, Gardeners, &c., to his NEW OVAL TUBULAR BOILER. Acknowledged by practical judges to be a great improvement on every form of Tubular Boiler yet introduced, has proved itself superior to all other Boilers for quickness of action and economy of Fuel, doing its work with le-third less the amount required by any other. Extract from Report in Gardeners' Chronicle of International Exhibition, May 24, 1862, ^^^^476. rhe upright form of Boiler is usually made on a circular plan, I rather than a square, it seems feasible that the Boilers on the o' the oval form given to Mr. Gr,\y"s variety of it is. said to be plan should brine the tubes more completely within range of I ;rable in consequence of its bringing the tubes in closer contact burning fuel ; and this being so, the change, though a slight 01 the fire. The usual form of a furnace bei " ' 1 ■ . . . 1^" They are made of all sizes, which, with prices, may be had on application, JAMES GRAY, HORTICULTURAL WORKS, DANVER'S STREET, PAULTON'S SQUARE, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, S.W. J. C & J. S. Ellis, HORTICULTURAL ENGINEERS, NORFOLK FOUNDRY, SHEFFIELD, MANUFACTURERS and ERECTORS of HOT-WATER APPARATUS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION, FOR lEATlNG GREENHOUSES, CONSERVATORIES, HOTHOUSES, CHURCHES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PRIVATE RESIDENCES, WAREHOUSES, &c. The great advanl.ages of these Boilers are — The fire acting directly ider the flow pipe, the water begins to circulate imme- diately. The Flues all being formed by a continuous water-way, the fire and all the hot gases brought in direct contact with the heat-absorbing sur- face of the Boiler, thereby =^**% giving a greatly increased amount of power, and by which an immense saving of fuel is effected. These Boilers offer great , facilities for banking-up the -p fire, and will burn easily from 12 to 14 hours without atten- The arrangement of Soot- doors in the brickwork is such that all the flues can be cleaned in a few minutes. Arch Boiler for the i iny Boilers, of all so " Dear Sir,— After usmg your Patent Double srits : and I have no hesitation in saying, out of rr lieve it 10 be the best Boiler extant ; neither d- _ - n i eat credit o'n°yo"rgoo'd sense in designing it. I shall be glai to show the one I have in use to any pers_ o„„„ " Mr. EUis.^* t. fa *» J remain, dear Sir, yours truly, I ho.mas Speed. "Westboume Gardens, Sheffield, October 27, i8;o-_ " Dear SlR.-Your Patent Double-Arch Boiler, that you have put down for us lately, 10 heat the whole of our houses, answers adrair ly. Its healing surface exceeds all others which I am acquainted with. The small amount of fuel required, the way it is set, anu mt Jt-doors, renders it the most complete and economical Boiler I have had to do wilh.-Believe me, bir, yours truh-, lorfolk Foundry, SheHield." "■ "■ "'""' The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agfricultural Gazette. 931 Great Reduction in Prices for 1871 OF GREEN'S PATENT SILENS MESSORS report, as they are unnecessary. has I n g n n II c s ot compet t on They are warrinted to be super or to any others We guarantee them to give entire satisfaction other v se they can be returned free of cost to the purch-iser With the increased facihties we possess for the Manufacture of Lawn Mowers, we are enabled to Sell them at a reduced rate on former years, as will be seen from the following Pric ^210 T. CREI-Xa^ SOX h.,vc ph-;,sui the dcmaihl /,■!■ Hu-ir /.,n,'i, .l/,^ivr.t //,is season far e'xccc. 'all previous ,>ih-i. aiul fr.'iii llih f.icl t/icy are led to belle that the moiliiius of I'heir m.iii lijaelnre are held higher , the estimation of the public than ever. Prices ol HORSE, PONY, and DONKEYMACHINES on application. Ij^ Repairs executed with efficiency and despatch, loth at Leeds and London Establishments. GREEN'S IMPROVED PATENT ROLLER, FOR I..\WN'S, DRIVES, BOWLING GREENS, CRICKET FIELDS, and GRAVEL PATHS, Suitable for Hand or Horse-power. PRICES of ROLLERS, fitted with Shafts, Suitable for Pony or Horse-power. Diameter. LcnEth. 84 m. 19 These ROLLERS possess many advantages over all others ; they are made in two parts, and are free to revolve on the axis, affording greater facility for turning, and the outer edges are rounded off, or turned inwards, thus avoiding the unsightly marks left by other Rollers. They are manufactured of the best materials, and are got up in a manner surpassing any ever yet brought out. The ROLLERS, 24 by 26 inches, 20 by 22 inches, and 16 by 17 inches, are also made in one part, at a reduced price ; and for Rollers of that size, will be found to answer many requirements, as the handle can be reversed to either side of the Roller at pleasure. PRICES. 24 inches by 26 inches ^4 o o Delivered Carriage Free to all the principal Railway Stations and Shipping Ports in England, Ireland, and Scotland. THOMAS GREEN and SON, Smithfield Iron Works, Leeds ; and 54 and 55, Blackfriars Road, London, S.E. THE LANDS IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. Drainage, Reclamation, Farm Buildings, Labourers' Cottages, &c ; 'm.p;' Directors. Tohn Clutton, Esq. I Granville R. Ryder, Esq. Frederick L. Dashwood, Esq. GranvilleR. H.Somerset, Esq. ,Q.C. Henry Farquhar, Esq. Henry W. West, Esq. " " Lord Garlics, M.P. Charles Watkin Willi John Horatio Lloyd, Esq. I Esq., M.P. (Chairm; The Company advances money, unlimited in amount, for the Clerr-y in they occupy, charging UTILISATION of SEWAGE.-The Comp money for the purpose of Works of Sewage Irriga The whole outlay and expenses areliquidated b the land, redeeming principle and interest, over 25 No investigation of title is required. For Forms and further ir RYDER, Esq., Managing 1 Storey's Gate, Westminster, S ;' cottag'es. &c 'HE GENERAL LAND DRAINAGE and improvement COMPANY John C. Cobbold, Esq. Edward John Hutchlns, Esq. Henry William Currfe, Esq. | Sir William Tite, M.P., C.B. Principal Engineer, Mr. J. EAILEY DENTON. Agricultural Improvements of every kind are executed by tf Compiany, or the outlay thereon repaid to Landowners who prefi carrying out the works by their own agents. Tenant Farmers may also, by agreement with their Landlord The outlay, with all official expenses, may be charged upon t\ Estate, and paid off by a Rent-charge of about 6 per cent., in 31 year or at the option of the Landowners m a shorter terra. No investigation of title necessary, and no legal expenses incurred. UTILISATION of SEWAGE. Special arrangements will be made with Boards of Health, Sew< Authorities, and others, for undertaking Works of Sewage Irrieatioi together with all Works incidental the thereof may be repaid yearly * -'--'- discharging in a fixed period the pnr Application to be made to ARTHUR MILMAN, Esq., the f the Company, 22, Whitehall Place. S.W. yOOLOGICAL RECORD ASSOC I ATI ON. —This publicaS'^of°'lhe^RECORD""o^f ZOOLOGICAL LITERAT'lfRE^ The RECORD . complete Abstract preceding year; ani nd Index to the Zoological Literatu use has been so generally recognised ritish Association has voted {on the ui Committee of the Biological Section) a liberal The Contributors to the forthcoming Volume ar lia.Reptilia.and Pisces Dr. Gunther, F.R.S. f H. E. Dresser, F.Z.S., ■\ Sharpe, F.L.S. F. Kir Molluscoidea, Neuroplera and Onlioplera . . K. M'Laclilan, F.L. Rhynchola John Scott. Vermes E. Ray Lankester. ^ anS°P™™S' . ^°=''".'"'"=; } Professor Traquair, STAINTONTF.RTrMo'untsSiTewllhamiM^^^ Eighty of the leading Zoologists of the country ha THE EDINBURGH REVIEW, No. CCLXXIII., Contents :— I. THE MILITARY POLICY ■ " II. O'FLANAGAN'S LIVES of the IRISH CHANCELLORS :il. SWINBURNE'S TOEMS. IV. BURTON'S HISTORY of SCOTLAND. V. THE VATICAN COUNCIL. ... and CENSURED BOOKS. MAN. VIL DARWIN'S VIIL SCANDINA . IX. COMMUNAL NAVIAN POLITICS. THE NEW METHOD of GROWING FRUIT and FLOWERS. By the Rev. John Fountaine, Southacre, Brandon. As now earned out in a New House erected for the purpose in the Gardens of the K. H. S. at Chiswick. Third Edition, much enlarged. Free by post for seven stamps to the "Journal of Horticulture " Office, 171, Fleet Street ; or to the Author. The History of Shortiom Cattle. r the Kirkleavington Herd, with a Memoir, by Thos. Bell :rly of Kirkleavington), of Brockton, Eccleshall, Staffordshire, intended to publish only a limited number of Copies. Gentlemen ig for Copies of the Work are invited to send their names to Mr. , Newcastle-on-Tyne.— July 6, 1871. iSLER'S CRYSTAL GLASS CHANDELIERS, Table Glass of all kinds, CHANDELIERS IN BRONZE AND ORMULU, Moderator Lamps, and Lamps tor India, ondon— Show Rooms, 43, O.XFORD STREET, W. irmingham— Manufactory and Show Rooms, Broad Street. HortlcxUtural and ■Window Glass Warehouses. JAMES MILES, 6, High Street, and 12 and 13, Elosson Street, Shoreditch, London, E. CONSERVATORY and ORCHARD-HOUSE GLASS. Genuine White Lead, Oils, Colours, Brushes, b'c. GARDEN ENGINES, PUMPS, SYRINGES, INDIA-RUBBER HOSE, TAPS, CONNECTIONS, &c. Prices upon application. G ARDEN NECESSARIES, consisting of AR BASKETS, FLOWER STANDS, WIRE WORK, . GARDEN SYRINGES 41. 6if., 4i. 6rf.,and III., a : Australian Colonies. lOCKLE'S ANTIBILIOUS PILLS. ^ THE OLDEST PATENT MEDICINE, In boxes, at ir ij^Ay, July is. 1871. f Middlesex, and Published by the .aid WiLtJAH THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. No. 29. — 1871.] SATURDAY, JULY 22. Registered at the General I Price 5d. Post Office as a Newspaper. ) POST FREE, sj<^. LEADING ARTICLES, 6-c.- Implement-yard at V Hampton (With cuts Orchidcultivalion . Royal Gardens, Kew HO.VE CORRESPONDENCE- Catcrpillars. . Cottages, la Flower show appeals Fruit growing at C Grape judging.. ... Implemints'arNMt'i Laxton's Alpha Pea . SOCIETIES- NOTICES OF BOOKS- Poultrj- and Pigeons, &c. FLORISTS' FLOWERS- FARM MEMORANDA— Hampshire org Tillj-four 9I9 CA LEND A R OF OPERA TIONS Farm work of the week.... g6i Weather Tables Q17 Notice to Subscribers. THE SUBSCRIPTION to the GARDENERS' CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE is ^i 3J. lod. for 12 months, ifeluding postage to any pan of the United Kmgdom. May be had of all Booksellers. ..RICHARDS, 41, Wellington Street, Covent Garden. Lingdom.' M, ubfishedby^ R Park.— OYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY. Regents J THIRD SUMMER EXHIBITION.-In The AWARDS I7irs; ,rf,.„,l„J ;„ ,1,. n.^.i • ,-,. -v;, of July 15, between the names of W.llo^erf ckih' 1.. ...... Messrs. Ivery& Son wish the names of the Ferns for which obtained CERTIFICATES of MERIT printed thus :-Polysti angulare proliferum Marshallii, Polystichum anguiare pulchrun IRYSTAL PALACE GRAND SUPPLEMENTARY ' ROSESHOW and EXHIBITION of TABLE DECORATIONS SATURDAY August 5. Schedules and List of Prizes to be had ' WILKINSON, Manager and General Superintendent WorceatersMre Agricultural Society ^ GRAND HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION GROUNdTmYlVERN,' AUGUST "i'^o'l^nd'Ll when'' PRIZES .. .K r ,,.,^ HUNDRED and Tft'ENTY POUNDS will 1 Rules, &c., apply to Mr. I. S. HAYWOOD, ESter, Hon. iSecrelary to Horticultural Show For List < a6, Broad Si M ETROPOLITAN FLORAL SOCIETY -The SECOND AUTUMN SHOW will be held at the Crystal ^^l^^ J Hunt's Superb Sweet William. AMEb HOLDER can supply SEED of the above, in S4 50?ts di"incl"'fo'V''-°' "a ^am"'' ^' %' ^'^'^"^ ■ ^'^'' PLANTS, To tie Trade. CtlJ;'^f'°hch'^i^"^ ^^'''"* ^'""' ''^'^ Sn-eatest care, from Price°o"na°pplicftion°'"" ""' """^ "'''"'"'^ '"'^"^ '" "le country. JAMES 6ICKSON AND SONS (Old Established Nursery and Seed Busmess), .»;, Eastgale Street, anj " Newton Nurseries," ^hesle? Calceolaria, Cineraria, Primula. F. ofTe^b'ofeToI"het''we'll°k"^''"*"^°"' ^EW SEED Gold, Silver, and Brouze Va ated Geraniums. Russell's P3rramld Primula. G^u°a?tUy^„fthih^'*fi„cst,Sjf in""!" '^^°"- ^'''''^^ recommends, feeling assured thw'n'o'ot'her'oosL' character, with reiSly splendid Howers. Mixed, a.. M per pkt. Instructions for raising and growin v?,""T" ^ ,.5 '"•'"i"' f'^". Urixton Hai, Lo mo DC- o^T'k^°'^*° and Amateurs. T°on?i«i„f °f most^of the '^'O^^'-ECTION of CACTI, specimens of solears'^lrowlh' o,?iS'™"„'J."'^!.'.:'S"!?? "'' .','","' !•"= '''"ii'r.''QVri!cH.''3Ciib°i';Er GREENHOUSE, Cambcr^i-ell, Sumy, S.E. HLANE AND SON'S magnificent COLLECTION upwards of 100,000, is NOW in FULL BLOOM. Patrons and Friends are respectfully invited to pay an early visit. The Nurseries. Great Berkhamstead, Herts, 28 miles distant fron New Roses of 1871. TOHN CRANSTON offers a selection of TWELVE t) NEW ROSES of the present year. Fine plants ready in Descriptive LIST on application. JOHN CRANSTON'S superb COLLECTION of ROSES, including all the newest and best varieties, is NOW in BLOOM. Carefully compiled Priced and Descriptive CATALOGUES SIXTY THOUSAND DWARF TEA-SCENTED ROSES, in pots, also specimen TEA ROSES, in Greenhouse Cujture or Exhibition. CATALOGUES "PJWARF roses, in pots, by the dozen, ^A°£o',2'£?S ol'-'-tei^ "°^'' "' •'"'" '° ""= ■''"^'""°' LOGUES on apphcatic . WOOD AND S(5n, W oodlands Nursery, MaresSeld, Uckfield, M' WNew Eoses, 1871. ILLIAM KNIGHT offers a selection of TWELVE NEW ROSES, the finest of this season's plaiUs, now ready. Also ,n ,^ „ .,„.!, „f „.„,.„„g Plams. in pots, l-or Bcdd.ng, ly of previous years. Priced rOHN HARRISON begs to inform his Friends and CENT BLOO Public generally that his ROSES are NOW in MAGNIFI rsery, on the Richmond Branch of the North-Eastern Railw,, . waits for the 2 o'clock train on Tuesdays and Saturdays to convey CHOICE ROSES.— The finest stock of Tea. Noisette, China, and other Roses to select from, all strong and healthy, in Pots. Descriptive Priced LIST on application to RICHARD SMI-rtl, Nurserjman and See' '""""""d. onder tSe Firm of LITTLE AND BALLAN r\ NE, and they will endeavour to merit the confidence of iblic by close personal superintendence in even- department of lusiness. Lllll.K ,sn HAl.LA^TYNE. ^- 1111,1 Sole t> t87t. I / Partners. w PERSONS 'their CLAIMS to me. the undcrbirnVd, j'aMeI^EL^Yn, , before October it next; after which day the said Executor )e answerable or liable for any claims or den East Dereham, July i8. 1871. JAMES ELVIN. 934 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. Special Offer at Low Prices. ORCHIDS.— Broughtonia sansinnca, 5.1.; Cattleya Srandillor.-i, <>i,t. :' AcridLS \\.-ir»cn,;2ii. : Cypni.cdiLiTn Stniit-i, 15s.: ;ncidiuni .itiiitliatiim, 71. 6^ LONDON, E.C. FOTJNTAIN JETS, [n great variety, from ^s. 6d. No. S47A. GARDEN ENGINE. 12 Gallons . . . . / 3 o o 16 „ .... 3 16 o Useful for Ko^fs or Treel in Cardei w.-ishing Carriages or \\ mdo Price complete ;^l 8 imnW size for the hand, as an ordi- nary Syringe . , o 15 No. 35. CAST-IRON PTTMPS. \ inches . • j^t 9 FIRE ENGINE. 936 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. Quly 22, 1871. WM. PAUL'S ROSES are NOW in BLOOM insDection resDectfuUv invited. Amongst Novelties are the beautiful Hybrid Perpetual #RINCESS CHRISTIAN, PRINCESS BEATRICE, PRINCE LEOPOLD, and a number of other English and Foreign Seedlings. . ^ x- „ -, j c. Trains Trom Bishopsgate Station, Great Eastern Railway, and St. Pancras Station, Midland Railway, to Waltham Station, m about half an hour Entrance ftom the platform, Waltham Station. CALCEOLARIA (I splendid strain r I Queen. 1 II.R.H. The Prince of Wal choice strains of CALCEOLARI CINERARIA and PRIMULA. _^ ;). _ The plants of this !es at the Royal Botanic, t Hybrid, : Saved wit cFneraria PRI°MULA, ' dark Carmine . I Fringed, 2J. 6d. ; smaller packets. Cliolce Seeds For PRESENT SOWING. T EE'S CHOICE CALCEOLARIA, from James ised. Unsurpassed for colour, habit ana form. In packets LEE'?CHOIci'clNERARIA, from our own collection of namet flowers. In packets, 2S. 6rf. and 55. each. LEE'S CHOICE PRIMULA FIMBRIATA, in separate colours o mi.xed. In packets, as. 6d. and 55. each. JOHN I CHARLES LEE, , Ham , I.oni Suttons' Superb Hybridised Horist Flower Seeds. ¥f^B \LCEI)L\KIA SUTTONS SUTTONS' Superb CINERARIA, , SUTTONS' Superb PRIMULA, per packet. Ordinary Varieties, per packet, is. ( Frotn Mr. Geo. Bond. Gr. 1 May 23, had of you From Mr. Chas. Warcroft, Gr. to April 19, 1871.—" My Cinerarias Iro good, nearly two feet across." SUTTON AND SONS, Seedsmen 1 Prince of Wales, Reading. ' The ffow received LORISTS' : Calceolaria and Cineraria seed ' A. R. Hudson, Esq., Ptrshorf. Easlgale Street, CENTAUREA, 1 CINERARIA, fr CYCLAMEN, \V iLOXINIA, erei HOLLYHOCK, from choice named s; HUMEA ELEGANS „ ,, PURPUREA MI6NONETTE, Parsons'. MVOSOTIS DISSITIFLORA .. PANSY, from priie flowers. . POLYANTHUS, from a choice strain PYRETHRUM AUREUM, Golden Feather PRIMULA SINENSIS FIMBRIATA ALBA, is. id., „ „ „ RUBRA .. ..IS. 6 feet. [Mean Temfi. 40°.) Epidendrum frigidum. 11,000 /tJ 12,000 ^-f/. {Mean Temp. 46^} Restrepia parvifolia. I MasdevalUa affinis. I „ polyanlha. Epidendrum chioneum. maculata. {Mea. Pleurnthallis a Masdevallia Epidendrun 32°-) ,, refractum. Odontoglossum densiflonim. Pachyphyllum crystal linum. Telipogon angustifolius. (Mean Temf. 52".) Epidendrum flavidum. Evelyna furfuracea. hpterum. Crar 3gon latifolius. I multiflora. chis parvilabris. Evelyna furfuracea. Oncidium cucuUatur Sooo to 9000 feet. {Mean Temp. 56' ; Max. Temp. 69° ; Miu. Temp. 36°.) Pleurothallis chloroleuca. Epidendrum fimbriatum. „ torquatum. leucochilum, „, , tigrinum. Odontogloi Evelyna bractesccns >- epidendroides. „ luteo-purpureum. Maxillaria albata. Uropedium Llndeni. 7000 to Zooo feet. [Mean Temp. 59°.) Pleurothallis bogotensis. Epidendrum fallax. „ semiscabra. EveljTia flavescens. Restrepia maculata. ,, furfuracea. Epidendrum brachychilum Pleurothallis ruberr Evelyna furfuracea. dichotomum. Lindeni. Rodriguezia stenochila. Sobralia violacea. Ponthieva maculata. Altensteinia fimbriata. Cranichis monophylla. {Mean Temp. 65°.) grandiflora. nigrescens. ,, tigrmum. Schomburgkla rose Chondrorhyncha re "" t fragrans. igli Zygopetalum gramineum, 4000 to $oooJret. [Mean Temp. Masdevallia Irianguli Lycaste gigantea. Anguloa Clowesii. Scaphyglottis ruber Ornithidium sangui Cyrtopodiu Sarcoglottis picta. Physurus rariflorus. Sobralii ephiv 3000 to ^000 feet. Epidendrum stenopetalum. Cattleya Mossiae. Ghiesbreghtia calanthoides. Schomburgkia undulata. 1 Burlingtonia granac Odontoglossum hastilabiura. j lonopsis pulch^Ua. From this we learn that a species of Epidendrum is found where the mean temperature of the year is about 40", where trees are wanting, pastures only being found, and where it occasionally snows. This would be incredible upon worse testimony than Mr, Linden's, if did not know from Professor Jameson that one Oncidium (nubigenum) is found in Peru at the height of » feet, and rarely below it. Mr. Linden tells us his plant, which grows at only a short distance from eternal snow, is covered all over, flowers included, with a varnish, which is perhaps intended for a safe- guard. It is remarkable that all the Epidendrums, with one exception, occur above 5000 feet, and that they form a continued chain of species up to the gi'ound of E. frigidum. It is, however, the Pleurothals that principally occur such elevated regions : Masdevallia, Restrepia, Stelis, and Pleurothallis itself, constituting the most "king feature of the Orchideous flora until the mean temperature rises to 56°, where they begin to dis- The genus Odontoglossum appears to be more mpatient of heat than its nearly allied genus Oncidium, for a species is found where the mean temperature is only 49", and where it sometimes even freezes j the others are scattered over the mountain slopes till they reach the lowest limits of their order, where the mean temperature rises to 75°, where it is never cooler than 55'' nor hotter than So° ; in such a climate not one of ace is found except a Schomburgkia, a Burling- , an Odontoglossum, and an lonopsis. In the hot lands on a level with the sea the Orchids do not seem be able to exist. It is evident indeed that these Colombian species have no affection for a high temperature, and that many prefer a low one. No fewer than 13 occur be- tween 10,000 and 11,000 feet, where Humboldt tells us it is as cold as the mean of the month of March near Paris ; 19 where the mean is that of May in the same city ; while the mean temperature of the zone between 5000 and 6000 feet, where the largest proportion exists, is only that of Paris in August, according to the same authority. These, and many more interesting facts of a similar kind, will strike every intelligent observer ; tliey seem on the one hand to show to the gardener the great importance of studying well the climate of the plants he cultivates, and on the other they ought to teach the collector the incompleteness of any memo- randa in which the details of climate are not fully given. General observations are not sufticient ; parti- culars are indispensable. Suppose, for example, on the assertion of some generalising traveller, we were led to believe that the Masdevallias all require a cool climate, because the mass of them disappears below 9000 feet, how erroneous would be that conclusion when we find a species peculiar to a zone 5000 feet lower, and possessing a mean temperature of 16* It must not, however, be supposed that temperature is the only influence to be considered in the cultivation of these plants ; it should in all cases be regarded in its relation to humidity, light, and atmospheric pres- sure ; but unfortunately we have little information con- cerning the first, and the two last are beyond our control. ROYAL GARDENS, ICE IV. [The following are e.\tracts from the report of the Director on the progress and condition of the Royal Gardens at Kew, during the year 1870.] The total number of visitors in the year 1S70 has been 586,835, as against 630,594 in 1S69, and 502,369 Total number on Sundays 265,585 Total number on week-days ., .. ,. 321,250 586,835 Greatest monthly attendance Qune) . . . . 145,029 Smallest monthly attendance (December) . . 2,871 Greatest week-day attendance (Whit Monday, June6) .. .. .. .. .. ".. 41,57:. Smallest week-day attendance (Decemberg) . , n Greatest Sunday attendance (June 5) . . . . 19,365 Smallest Sunday attendance (February 13) . . 70 Nmnber of Visitors in each, month ofilteyear 1870. January 4,971 February 5.494 March .. .. .. 10,487 April S8,557 jufy' :: :: :: :: :: :: ;; lo^:^ August 74,831 September 58,119 October ., .. .. 21,706 November 6,585 December 2.871 Total 586.835 I. Botank- Gardens. — The improvements in the laying out of the grounds of this department, which have been in progress for the last five years, are now nearly brought to a close, by the remodelling, during the past year, of the herbaceous ground ; by the con- struction of the Rose walk, 215 yards long, along the wall bounding the herbaceous ground on the west, which has been heightened by the addition of 3 feet of pierced brickwork ; by the fencing off of the reserve ground ; by the completion of the terrace on which the new range of stoves, &c., stands (which is, however, only partially planted) ; and by the formation of the paths leading to this. Many Pines and other evergreen trees have been transplanted, chiefly by the transplant- ing machine, and placed as screens to shut out the view of the backs of the houses on Kew Green, and the fronts of those along the Richmond Road ; and many deciduous trees have been introduced along the walks ; large beds of Rhododendrons. Laurels, and other shrubs, have also been planted along the principal paths. An attempt has been made to utilise the Deodars, with which some parts of the garden were too much crowded, by placing a number of them at equal distances along a line concentric ^vith the Yew fence which encloses the Palm-house area, leaving a broad grass walk between the fence and the Deodars. Simi- larly, many of the scattered Atlas Cedars have been transplanted, and now form an avenue along the curved walk leading to the back of the old Victoria-house. Other Conifers, together with the scattered Welling- tonias, have been planted along the vista which leads from the west door of the Palm-house to the great Cedar in the pleasure-grounds. Large beds of mixed flowering, evergreen and deci- duous shrubs, have been planted on both sides of all the gates leading through the wire-fence into the pleasure -gi'ounds, and in other exposed places, with the view of mitigating the effects of the hot summer winds and cold winter ones, which since the denudation of the grounds by the loss of trees and old shrubberies, every now and then devastate the gardens. The terrace on which the Palm-house stands has been re- levelled for the first time since its construction in 1S46 ; its angles have been filled with large beds of Laurels and Rhododendrons, and the whole terrace bordered with Ivy. A great deal remains to be done in bringing the many young trees that have from time to time been planted in old shrubberies and on the lawns, into picturesque groups, and many more have still to be introduced. Most of the old shrubberies want renewal or clearing away, and the American garden behind the Palm-stove, which has suffered severely from the sum- mer drought, requires replanting throughout. The banks of the ornamental water are constantly being washed away by the ripple, owing to the depth of water close to them ; they should be wattled, and planted with clumps of Osier, Sedge, &c. The heating apparatus throughout the hothouses and conservatories has worked well, and notwithstand- ing the severity of the weather no accident has occured. 2. Pleasure Groimds. — The effects of the long and severe summer's drought on the old trees in this de- partment have been disastrous ; they have perished by hundreds — Elms, Ashes, Beeches, and Sycamores especially ; many, no doubt, from having approached the limits of the age which such trees attain on so excessively poor a soil as that of Kew, but more, perhaps, through having been drawn up in thick plan- tations, and thus starved from the first. In pursuance of the Board's directions, active steps have been taken to clear large areas of dying and dead trees, to trench the ground, and clear it of old roots, and plant closely a mixture of young trees of all sorts, which will be thinned out as they grow. This opera- tion has enabled me to airlve at an approximate esti- mate of the ages of some of the more common trees in the grounds, and of the average duration which the several sorts have attained. The oldest trees in the grounds are undoubtedly Oaks, English Elms, and perhaps Hawthorns ; of which some of the first and last may be relics of the aboriginal forests that covered this part of England ; whilst the oldest of the Elms were undoubtedly all planted. No data have been obtained for ascertaining the age of the Oaks, but probably none exceed 300 years, and the majority date from the reign of George II. The only large ones that remain are several near the Brentford Gate, one near the upper end of the lake, and several near the Queen's Cottage grounds. The largest English Elms of which the rings have been counted are about 250 yeai-s old, but there are a few near the palace gates which have probably attained 300 years. Of these the top of that nearest the gates was blown off" this winter, and the stump removed ; but the butt was too far decayed for its rings to be counted. All the old Elms in the grounds and their outskirts are in rows, and were either planted along former walks, or came up in hedge-rows, and were spared when the domain was enclosed and the hedges removed. Of Elms under 200 years old there were innumerable examples throughout the grounds ; these were for the most part suckers from the roots of older Elms, which, coming up amongst the other and better trees, have done irreparable damage to them ; the English Elm being of all plants the most impoverishing of Hght soils. Of the old Plawthoms, the last fine one perished during the summer's drought ; they abounded at one time on the gravelly parts, and appeared to be of the same age as the old Richmond Park Hawthorns. Beech, Oak, and Maple are the only other trees that have spiling up spontaneously in the grounds, and all 940 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 22, 1871. from originally planted trees. The oldest Beeches were planted in George II. 's reign, and are about 150 years old ; but of these there are very few indeed ; the largest of them is a magnificent tree near the Brentford Gate, with a trunk 104 feet in girth at 5 feet above the ground ; its branches, which sweep and root in the ground, form a circle 116 paces in circumference. It is showing signs of decay. The majority of the Beeches, which formed eight- tenths of the arboreous vegetation at Kew, are part of an extensive and dense plantation, made about 1750* but which, having been wholly neglected during the succeeding hundred years, have impoverished one another to such an extent that the majority are already diseased and fungused. It is upon this Beech forest that the winter gales and last summer's drought have told most heavily ; the majority, having no root-hold, could not resist the blasts, and the loss of one is imme- diately followed by that of its neighbours, both from the admission of the wind, and from the sun's rays drying and heating the surface of the previously shaded soil over their roots. Of other trees there arc several good Limes, ever- green Oaks, Spanish and Horse Chestnuts, all from 150 to 200 years old ; these trees have thriven well, and last long in the soil of Kew. The Ashes, Poplars, Acacias, and Willows average only from 100 to 150 years, and the Birches 60 to 80 years. The only good Coniferous trees of any age at Kew are Cedars of Lebanon and Larches ; many of the for- mer were planted about 1 750, but of these not a dozen remain ; the largest have attained a girth of 1 1 feet at 5 above the ground. The Spruces, Scotch Firs, Pin- asters, and Weymouth Pines, have all been ruined by being crowded amongst forest trees. The Hemlock Spruces, with which the path by the Richmond Road was ornamented 20 years ago, are every one dead ; the last, which stood near the Pagoda, having succumbed to the drought of the past summer. Of Planes there never were many ; a few fine orientals, planted in 1740-50, remain in the King of Hanover's grounds, one near the old palace, and one near the Temple of the Sun. The above enutneration comprises all the trees of which there were any quantity in the grounds pre- vious to their being made over to the public in 1845 J since which time four-fifths have either died or have been removed to make way for buildings, avenues, paths, &c. Between 1840 and 1865 many efforts were made by my predecessor to keep up the sylvan scenery of the pleasure grounds, by planting Conifers amongst the old trees, in every available open space, especially Deodars, Cedars, Scotch, Douglas, Austrian, Corsican, and Weymouth Pines, Pinus longifolia, Smithiana, and able ; but as permission could not be obtained, either to make sufficient clearances, or to disturb the roots of the old trees by trenching the ground, these plantations have utterly failed. On the other hand, he covered many acres of unoccupied land, by the river and else- where, and in the Queen's Cottage grounds, with plan- tations, which have all done well, and are now being thinned, by transplanting young trees from them to fill the clearances which are being made elsewhere. Eight hundred yards of "blind paths" for carts, &c., have been made through the woods, with gravel from the lake-bed. The lake in the pleasure-grounds, which was half finished in 1S69, has since been completed, and the whole of the ground on the south side of it cleared, covered with good soil, and prepared for the formation of the new Pinetum, the planting of which will be begun forthwith. In reference to this Pinetum I have to state that, as no complete public arranged and iramed collections of hardy Conifers exists in England, the establishment of such an one at Kew is looked forward to with much interest by both collectors and nurserymen. Of the latter, two of the most eminent, Messrs. Lawson, of Edinburgh, and Dickson & Turn- bull, of Perth, have presented to the Royal Gardens specimens of every species and variety that was to be found in duplicate in their extensive collections. Mr. McNab, of the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, has also sent many valuable plants for this department. Many thousand loads of good loam from the lake-bed have been carted to those parts of the grounds, especially on the east side, where the soil is excessively poor, preparatory to forming new plantations ; and the rest of the soil has been put round the roots of the trees wherever it was thought advisable. 3. Iiiterehangc of Living Plants ami Seeds. — The demands upon this establishment, especially from India and the Colonies, for tropical and temperate plants and seeds ; and from planters, forest and garden superin- tendents, for information of all sorts, increase annually; and these demands are of so miscellaneous a nature that it is often difficult to keep up with them. Six more active and intelligent young gardeners have been sent to the Cotton, &c., plantations in India, in which country there are upwards of 30 former Kew employe's engaged in various departments of horticul- ture and arboriculture. A skilful gardener has been sent to the botanic gardens in Jamaica, which are being revived under the energetic government of his Excellency Sir J. P. Grant ; and another to take charge of the Agri-Horticultural Society's Garden at Madras. ' The success of the Cinchona experiment is now fully established in the Sikkim-Himalaya, the Nielgherries, Khasia Mountains (East Bengal), Ceylon, and Jamaica. The bark from the first-named localities has com- manded a price equal to the Peruvian in the English market, 19 cases of red bark from Darjeeling having been bought by Messrs. Howard & Sons for is. grf. per lb., which these gentlemen inform me is what South American bark of the same age would have fetched. No less than a ton of prepared bark has been sent to London from Ceylon, the produce of seeds sent to Dr. Thwaites from Kew in 186 1. I was assured by the late Dr. Anderson, Superinten- dent of the Calcutta Botanic Garden, and the successful introducer of the plant into Sikkim, that it will in a very few years be produced there 'in any quantity at the rate of 3(/. per lb. I continue to have demands for Cinchona seed from many quarters, which I am enabled to supply from seeds ripened in the Ceylon plantations under Dr. Thwaites' superintendence. Great exertions are being made by the Indian Government to introduce the Ipecacuanha plant into India ; in which operation this establishment has been called upon to take an active part. This is due partly to the limited and uncertain supply of the drug received from America, and more to the revival of the old practice of administering it in large doses in cases of dysentery, upon which it acts as a specific. It is a singular fact that the introducers of the Ipecacuanha into European practice, the Brazilian traveller Marcgrav and the physician Piso (in 1648), explicity stated that the powder is a specific cure for dysentery, in doses of a drachm and upwards ; but that this information appears never to have been acted upon till 1813, when Surgeon G. Playfair, of the East Indian Company's service, wrote testifying to its use in these doses. Again, in 1 831, a number of reports of medical officers were published by the Madras Medical Board, showing its great effects in hourly doses of five grains, till fre- quently 100 grains were given in a short period ; testimony which, notwithstanding its weight, was doomed to be similarly overlooked, till quite recently, when it has been again brought directly under the notice of the Indian Government, which is making very vigorous efforts to introduce the culture of the plant into suitable districts of India.* The number of plants, seeds, &c., sent out, is as follows : — Hardy trees and shrubs 1494 Stove and greenhouse plants . . . . . . 5186 Herbaceous plants .. 1317 Packets of seeds 4911 Ward's cases 34 Recipients.. .. .. .. .. .. 150 The receipts have been : — Hardy trees and shrubs 971 Stove and greenhouse plants .. .. .. 1409 Herbaceous plants .. .. .. .. 1219 Seed packets 2676 Donors .. .. .. .. .. -■ 152 The greater proportion of plants sent out has been to Jamaica, Ceylon, India, Australia, Algeria, the United States, and to Continental gardens ; of seeds to all the Colonies, and the United States ; and of Ward's cases to the West Indies, Australia, and Natal. A very extensive correspondence was commenced last year with H. Capron, Esq., the active Commis- sioner of the Department of Agriculture of the United States of America, by which means a vast number of American seeds, and especially of Californian and Rocky Mountain trees, have been procured, and dis- tributed to the Colonies. Messrs. Booth, of Hamburgh, have presented a second selection of the rarer European and American forest trees of their nurseries, to the Arboretum, includ- ing many kinds that are not to be found in English collec- tions. It is a curious fact that the rage for introducing Coniferous trees into English parks and gardens has almost extinguished the culture of all but a few decidu- ous trees ; and I have now to apply to foreign nurseries for the rarer Maples, Oaks, Ashes, Limes, Poplars, &c., which were so extensively planted in English parks in the early part of this century, and which, when the Kew Arboretum was made, in 1840-50, were to be procured at the suburban nurseries. Messrs. Lee, of Hammersmith, have promised a full set of their hardy deciduous trees, &c. ; and Mr. W. Paul, of Waltham Cross, and others, have most liberally sup- plied many deficiencies. Besides the above, the following contributions are of special value or interest : — Mr. C. F. Carstcnsen, H.B.M. V. -Consul, Mogador ; the true Euphorbium of commerce, the drug of which has been imported into Europe for upwards of 2000 years, whereas the plant producing it was never pre. " I am indebted for most of these Chrislison, F. R.S. , who informs me referred to them in his courses of University lectures, and has long wondered how it was that medical men should have so long and so obstin.ately shut their eyes to this truth. The merit of proposing the introduction of the Ipecacuanha plant into India, is, I believe, due to Dr. Murray, Director of the Medical Staff of the Indian Army, and the operation was being energetically conducted by Dr. Anderson, late Superintendent of the Calcutta Botanic Gardens, who at the period of his untimely death (in October last) had procured a large quantity of plants for transport to India. viously known to Europeans. Seeds of the Argan M. Kuffmann, Botanic Gardens, Moscow ; live plants of the drug Sumbul, from central Asia, another important medicine, whose origin was previously A third hitherto unknown plant, yielding a drug of the greatest value, has been for the first time introduced into Europe during the past year, namely, the true medicinal Rhubarb, from Western China, of which a healthy live plant has been received from the Jardin d'Acclimatation of Paris. HOTHOUSE BOILERS. It has been said that in the multitude of counsellors there is wisdom, and it is to be hoped that amid the multiplicity of boilers, economy in heating may ulti- mately be attained. Considering, however, the number in use, and the suggested improvements which almost every experienced horticulturist is prepared to offer offhand concerning the best of them, perhaps the marvel after all is, not that we have so many boilers, but so few. The greater number, too, are made after a few well known types. Starting almost with bells hung over the fire, we have advanced to saddles, single and double, backed, topped, arched, and convoluted astride of it. We have also filled tubes and cylinders, vertical and horizontal, with fire inside, and wrapped them round with fire jackets outside, and cast or built up stacks of tubes of all heights or styles into boilers, with fire playing round and among them in all directions. The size of boilers has fluctuated more than their shape has varied ; the best size for a given amount of pipe is still, I believe, a moot point. If I remember rightly. Hood laid down certain rules upon the subject; whatever these rules were they 'have not been adhered to by horticultural engineers. We have rushed to considerable extremes in the matter of size, at one time using boilers about the size of cash boxes, and actually heating them to such a degree that the water could neither get out nor come in. From this extreme contraction many rushed headlong into the one-boiler mania. Now I find a good many seem to be returning to their first love of small boilers. Mr. Grix, as I understand him, is decidedly of opinion that more heat is got out of two or more small boilers than one of the same capacity as the series of small ones. I confess I cannot see it thus, but doubtless there is a considerable loss of heat in work- ing a large boiler for a small result. The one-boiler system I consider the best when worked up to its fiJl power ; but supposing it capable of heating io,oco feet of piping, and only 500 feet are wanted, then there must be a tremendous loss of heat upon the boiler, and the great volume of water tliat it contains. It is some- thing like filling a dry dock to float a child's boat. Of course this is putting it in a very extreme way, as no one could scarcely require to use such a small propor- tion of heating power at any one time who needed so much at any other. But nevertheless large boilers require large furnaces, and there is a marvellous waste of fuel on both when not worked up to their full capacity. Attempts have been made to remedy this evil by dividing the boiler itself. Mr. Baines, I think, showed how this was done with his flued saddle boiler ; and I think the boilers of Messrs. Weeks, Ormson, and others, are made in duplicate when desired, not only to guard against accident, but likewise to enable part of them to be employed at pleasure. The Messrs. Dennis, of Chelmsford, also offer a boiler formed of a series of horizontal pipes, which can readily be stacked higher or lower, thus increasing or diminishing the volume of water heated as occasion requires. All these are steps in the right direction. By such arrangement the boiler power is no longer a constant quantity. When little is wanted from it, it is reduced— when more, it is enlarged. This flexibility of capacity and power of boiler results in a great saving of fuel. The chief difficulty hitherto in working adaptable boilers has been the danger arising from the escape of water, or the action of the fire on joints or unions. It takes exact work to keep water in it, and better still, very popular. But keep the connections wholly from the fire, and the chief objections to adaptable boilers vanish at once. This is what Mr. Cannell, of Woolwich Nursery, proposes to do with his Registered Hot-water Circulator. I have notthepleasureof knowing this gentleman, but as my letter to the Gardeners' Chronicle (p. 274) brought me plans and a model of this invention, I venture to bring it before your readers. The inventor claims fourteen or more special merits for his new fuel economiser. But with these I will not trouble your readers. By his courtesy I have been enabled to form an independent judgment as far as models and diagrams will help one to do so ; and I wish rather to describe the new boiler than to dog- matise upon its merits. The mode of enlarging or reducing the area of the circulator is new, and the whole thing is novel in form. It is not unlike a railway carriage without wheels or windows, with a door in the end, and two guards to protect it on each side. These projecting guards are the pipes that connect all the parts of the boiler together, and convert it into one whole. The boiler is complete in itself, forming July 22, The Gardeners' Chronitle and Agricultural Gazette. 941 its own fiimace and flues. It only requires a few bricks at each comer to raise it sufficiently to form the ash-pit and admit the air. The fire-bars and plate at the far end are parts of the boiler. There is no dead- plate at the mouth of the furnace, but a movable section of the boiler fits on, to contract the end, and throw the furnace-door further back, so that less heat can be wasted through it. The sides and top of the boiler are slightly convoluted, after the manner of Mr. Ormson's, but nothing like to the same extent. The furnace is of the same area throughout, and the entire centreofthe boileris filled with a square compact massof fire ; the back is cast in a separate piece, and, like the front section, attached to the other at the corners with patent universal leakless joints. So far this cir- culator differs little from other boilers, excepting in its square slightly bent sides and three curved crown. Also in the fact that there is no contraction of the fire, nor forcing of it through narrow flues, so apt to be choked up by careless stoking at the far end ; on the con- trary, the fuel may fill the furnace throughout without fear of a block anywhere. The boiler might have finished here, and proved a complete, simple, and useful one ; but its chief characteristics begin at this point. It would never do to allow all the caloric generated in that roomy square furnace to make its exit at the end into the open air. The usual course is to divide the fire at the far end and make it branch back in two or more divisions along the outside of the boiler, and return by skirting its top. Doubtless there is a marvellous loss of heat involved in this arrangement. The flame hits the boiler side- ways, or from above, and the direction is unfavourable to the full development of force in both cases. Heat is ever struggling upwards. Eagle-like, it is ever soaring towards its grand source, the sun. It is only on this tack that its full energy and force can be brought out, and hence the chief merit, I believe, of Mr. Can- neirs hot-water circulator. The caloric is carried along the best line for heating the water, and none of it is expended in brick flues. Above the boiler proper other and fleeter ones are arranged, like a series of gas retorts, one above the other, and these are not only water- ways but fire- flues as well ; the flame and smoke are carried back- wards and fonvards in these till their heat is exhausted. Each of these additions is complete in itself, and is merely laid on the top of the boiler or each other. They are united together by the side pipes only, so that where the fire goes all is soUd iron without jomt or union, or any such thing. There is no doubt that more heat will be absorbed from flame travel- ling thus than in side flues, or flues above the boiler. Besides, in this arrangement the fire is wrapped all ]_ round with iron and water only. — =s^ Hitherto, the heat has not touched brick, excepting at the four corners. '"•" ^ Those of us who have burned out fire-brick furnaces with the fierce- ness ol our fires this winter can esti- mate to some extent the amount of caloric wasted on such destructive work. It seems as if Mr. Cannell's Circulator might have utilised nearly the whole of this wasted heat in driving the water through the pipes to heat our houses. If so, the saving of coal must have been immense. Mr. Cannell promises ocular demonstration of this at his nursery very soon. He certainly deserves credit for originality of construction and a simple mode of doubling or trebling the force. If the joints can be warranted leakless, and can be so readily put together as Mr. Cannell asserts, and the flues can be warranted not to choke at the ends, or rather the far end from the furnace-door, the Circulator is likely to have a future that will more than satisfy its inventor. Then, again, if the side pipes with their union-joints can be made to bear fire, the flame could be carried round the sides as well as over the top, until the smoke vanished into the air — cold, almost delicately blue, and sootless, that is, without unbumt coal. Pos- sibly, if coke were used, there would be no danger of the spaces between the lids blocking up. But it is needless to pursue the matter further, for I observe the inventor claims it among the advantages of the hot-water circu- lator that it can easily be cleaned out of either sediment from the mside or soot from the flues, when required, both being the work of a few minutes only. I can see how the first can readily be done, as a tap is shown in front at the bottom of the boiler. But how the flues are to be cleaned without detaching the far end of the boileritself isnot soobvious, as, of course, every addition to the bottom boiler abuts at one point against the end ; otherwise, the flame would stream up there in a vertical current, instead of moving backwards and for- wards in horizontal lines, to the warming of every por- tion. The end of the boiler would also have to grow with the addition of every part ; or rather, several ends would, I presume, be provided to fit each size of the boiler, while detached from brickwork. Such points in its working are simple enough, as it would remain accessible at all points, and the inventor asserts that it can be built up or taken down with the utmost despatch ; besides which, though these regulations of size, heating force, and, consequently, of consumption of fuel, are important characteristics of this Circulator, they are by no means essential to its working. A certain size, with so many retorts mounted on its back as shall exhaust the heat of the fire, may be fitted up at once, and worked as any other permanent boiler. The heat from the Circulator itself might likewise be econo- mised for the warming of Mushroom-houses, back sheds for forcing Seakale, Asparagus, Rhubarb, &c., or it might be sent into the houses with proper pre- caution. The whole surface could also be wrapped round with rough sacking, felt, or other non-conductors, so as to retain the heat in the iron and the water, instead of allowing it to escape from its sides. But all these are matters of detail — mere trifles some will say. Quite so. But successful heating consists in attention to such trifles, as an inch more or less air, a shovelful more or less fuel, ashes or clinkers in the right or wrong place, or a single turn of a stopcock here or there. The fact is, there are no trifles in our business. The greatest results arise from the smallest things. The art of heating, like that of gardening itself, can only be mastered a trifle at a time. It is upon the sure and solid foundation of numberless trifling facts — the grasping, collating, interpreting and applying an endless series of minute details— that all sound theory and good practice are based. Even genius itself may not be inaptly defined as trifles utilised, quickened, glorified, if you will, by the touch of a master mind. To the gardener, I suspect, no fact is trifling. These trifles are the rounds in the ladder by which, if at all, he must reach to fame and fortune. As to this hot- The preparation for lifting is done after the usual manner, but I prefer a square to a round ball in general ; and perhaps the best way is to cut down at both sides at a proper distance from the stem, under- mining it a little at back and front. The machine is then brought forward and the prongs jerked under, the lever is then applied, raising the block of earth to an angle of 45°, at which it is easily balanced, when another jerk brings the plate and the bottom of the ball to an equal angle ; the ball is then pressed forward, the lever being at the same time pulled down, which elevates the back part of the ball in turn to a similar angle, and is now moved off to its destination. The pit being ready, a track is cut for the wheels ; the ball is then gently slid into its place, and nothing else is required but watering to complete the work, and the usual careful adjustment of the soil. A weight of 10 cwt. is conveyed and planted with sur- prising facility with this machine. J'o/m Rdd, Haigh Hall Gardens. d's transplanting machine. water circulator, experience will soon determine whether it is to become one more useless trifle to be added to the long list of abortive inventions — or is really the coming boiler, that is to cut our coal bills in twain, and save the largest half of them. D. T. Fish, F.R.H.S. [We ought to state that the publication of this paper has been unavoidably delayed, and further, that we have others in hand from Mr. Fish totally dis- posmg of the reversal of the circulation. Eds.] TRANSPLANTING MACHINES. With the accompanying illustration (fig. 202) of an implement I have in use, it may perhaps be unneces- sary to give minute details of its formation, as I presume it will be perfectly clear to any one having a small measure of constructive genius, and under- standing the nature of a lever, that it is adapted lo raise and remove a mass of earth in proportion to the strength of its make and size. Under this impression, it may be briefly termed a combination of a huge shovel and fork mounted on an axle, with two wheels. The axle, it will be observed, is bolstered with timber, by which it is raised to the top of the wheels ; this timber is cased at back and strong iron straps, which are perforated. so that the sLx iron prongs being shouldered and threaded, pass to the shoulder, and are fastened by nuts. The prongs are 2 feet 8 inches in length, having a slight lift. The lever is 10 feet in length, with two side stays, supported at each end by the prongs and stays, &c., to which it is firmly riveted, and fastened to the axle in lines likely to afford strength ; the wheels are 2 feet in diameter, and the length of the plate 3 feet 10 inches, by 3 feet 4 inches in breadth, these dimensions allowing the prongs to project 6 inches beyond the plate. The plate is flanged at both sides, and at the front. The Cultivation of Loranthaceae. — I have read Dr. Welwitsch's interesting account of the African Loranths at p. 835, and as I can fully endorse all he says as to the great beauty of many of the species, permit me to supplement his remarks with some further particulars regarding them. My observations will be confined to such representatives of the order as are found in southern India, at various elevations. I have seen Loranths growing only too luxuriantly from the level of the sea up to elevations of 7500 feet and upwards ; some of these have gorgeous red and yellow flowers, others have beautiful berries, and most of them have foliage charmingly contrasting with that of the trees they live upon. One very common species has a very striking silvery pubescence on the under side of the leaves ; the flowers are much the same in colour as Migiionette, and the berries are also of a dull greenish white ; but as it grows principally upon dark- foliaged trees, such as the Acacia robusta, so called, and other ever- green trees, such as the Tea, the Citron, &c., the contrast is very striking. Another species, which would certainly be a gi-eat acqui- sition to our greenhouses, has most beautiful flowers, reminding one somewhat of the Trumpet Honey- suckle. It grows very commonly on the Peach trees about Coonoor and Ootacamund, on the Nielgher- ries, although I have not seen it flower on the Peach. On many of the indigenous forest trees, how- ever, it is often so covered with bloom as to entirely colour up the tree upon which it grows, and to lend it a glory which ought to compensate it somewhat for the loss inflicted upon it by the beautiful but ravenous parasite. The leaves of this species are of a dark shining green when young, and are as large as those of the Portugal Laurel. In the dry season, however, they often have a reddish hue, particularly on worn- out trees. There are other species too numerous to describe in a short note, even if I could recol- lect their peculiarities : indeed Loranths are so nume- rous that when I told Mr. Black, the late talented curator of the Botanic Gardens at Bangalore (and formerly of the Kew herbarium), that I had brought with me berries of the Mistleto, with a view to attempt their cultivation on the hills, he assured me that no one would thank me if I succeeded, as there were too many representatives of that order already in India for the well-being of arboricul- ture. I, however, duly inserted all my berries on either Apple or Pear trees, but although I had carefully packed them in sand, not one of them grew ; possibly the failure resulted from the tin box being too close, so that the berries were parboiled in their passage through the tropics. Some of the seeds were inserted in Coorg when comparatively fresh, the bulk were, however, quite dry and shrivelled, having been three months in the sand. I believe, however, that fresh berries could be had, and at Kew, the Crystal Palace, and other large conservatories, there are plenty of large trees of the kinds that the Loranths would be likely to grow upon. The Ficus, of species, is a great favourite of the tropical Loranthacece. James McPhcrson. The Condition of Peach and Nectarine Trees. — I have read the Rev. W. F. Radclyffe's sweeping assertions on this subject, but I have no intention of adding to the disclaimer made by Mr. D. T. Fish, as that gentleman is quite a host in himself, in defence of the British gardener. I confess myself much indebted to the reverend gentleman as a writer on many subjects, but I must assert that his last is not one of them. Still we should not criticise too severely. These assertions, made in an unguarded moment, while being 942 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1871. elated with his great success in the midst of what ' appeared to him universal failure, seem to me foreign to his usual liberal heart. That this failure is universal, however, I most positively deny, and also demur from his statement that the cause of liis success is owing to short pruning. I have under my charge about a dozen and a half Peach and Nectarine trees, all pruned on the long-shoot system, that occupy the usual space on a wall nearly 20 feet high, and which have on them at present an enormous crop of fruit. They are also perfect specimens of good health — scarcely a blister, an aphis, or a red spider to be seen. These trees I have thinned at different times, and have taken bushels of fruit off them ; indeed, I have just lately finished that operation entirely (but I don't think I should be sorry if some one else were to go over them again). Although the crops on walls are not so bad in this neighbour- hood as your correspondent asserts, yet from various sources I understand they are not up to an average. I do not know how it is that I am so favoured, as my treatment differs nothing in this from former years, nor, so far as I know, from that of my neighbours. Were I to offer an opinion, I should say that it is owing to soil and situation. The latter is slightly elevated ; the former is light and rich, of deep tilth, and well drained — such soil as is well adapted for growing early vegetables. When the fruit is swelling, I several times give the soil about the trees (with a water-hose) a good soaking of sewage water ; this ensures a good growth of wood, while the nature of the soil is favour- able to its early ripening, and if the wood is well ripened I do not think that an English winter, how- ever severe, will affect them in their dormant state. I am of opinion that the hard winter had nothing at all to do with the present unsatisfactory state of Peach trees. If we look for it anywhere, we must look to last year's unusually heavy crop. From my earliest recollection, I cannot remember such a crop of Peaches as we had last year. The northern markets were so glutted that I actually saw beautiful Peaches sold at 9 receive upper edge of glass ; E, clips, to receive lower edge. At certain dis- ■e turned the reverse way, and a nut fixed H) ; at these spaces the glass is inserted the groove to its place. The projecting wood bar formed in zin tances, they : on them {see and slid alon portions of I important purposi viz. , to carry the water far down on to the next lower row of panes, and also to hold them firmly down, acting as a spring. I find one or two of them ample for this purpose to each pane, it should be slightly bent down- wards, just before the glass is slid under it. The sloping part, G, carries all condensed moisture safely away from the inside of the glass on to the top of the next row of panes, thus preventing drip, which exists in all other methods of glazing. The bars may be either screwed or nailed on the rafters with zinc or iron nails, and the roof will be much firmer if they are let into the rafters a quarter of an inch. They may be painted ornamentally blue, with turned up part white, &c. They may be used for a variety of purposes, viz. : — Double glazing greenhouses, over an existing roof, never ripens, neither does Napoleon Savmieu. Passe Crassanne (in spite of even Mr. Rivers' good word) is a wretched thing ; and Poire Peche is quite con- temptible. If " Poiteau" be the same as Nouveau Poiteau, it is never fit to eat. These Pears have turned out as above, not in a cold ungenial situation, but in Middlesex, and in a garden where we gathered Peaches from the open wall on July 14 of the present backward season. I do not charge your correspondent with any desire to mislead anybody, for I hold it to be one of the very worst features of horticultural discussion, that it seems to beget personalities, even more than religious dissension. He may have a soil and climate of extreme optimising power as regards foreign fruit, while it sympathises more judiciously with our native products. But one thing he seems to pay small heed to, which is of first-rate importance, I mean the effect of season— an of undeniable force upon all fruit, but of para- import as regards the Pear, which is the most and capricious of all English fruit. There is no yet in our knowledge which can be relied upon OF GLAZING. curved roofs, ground vineries, frames, skylights, shed- ding with rows of glass and boards, or slates alter- nately, lie. I have constructed an orchard-house, 100 ft. by 18 ft. with these bars, glazed with 20 by 16 sheet glass, and though roughly put together, it carries the whole of the water off in the heaviest rain without the slightest drip inside the house. " New Pears.- — A correspondent of yours dissents from a dictum of Mr. Rivers upon this subject, and sends you a list of no less than 120 new Pears *' of first-rate quality," sent to him from the Continent during the last 20 years. I have fruited about a sixth part of these, of which only two (or 10 per cent.) have proved up to and over the second-rate ; one of those two, viz. , Doyerme du Comice, is perhaps the very best Pear known ; at any rate there is no better. The other, viz., Marie Louise d'Uccle, is decidedly a good second- rate, and a fine handsome fruit. Of the rest I would speak as follows :— B. Bachelier is large and fertile, but miserably tasteless ; B. Durand (if identical— wliich I only suppose — with a Pear received from the Continent as ' ' Durandeau ") is very handsome, but never loses its coarse acridity ; Beurre Six is quite worthless ; Calabasse Delvigne the same ; Desire Cornells is large and a fine grower, a juicy and sweet Pear, but with very little flavour ; Dr. Nelis and Dr. Trousseau are worthless ; and so is Duchesse Helene d'Orl^ans ; General Todtleben is worse, if that be possible ; which Leopold I. quite proves. Madame Elise is very poor, Marie Guise Pear: for first-rate excellence every year ; e.g. , D. du Comice was first-rate with me for three years in succession, the fourth year it was second-rate upon trees of all ages, and it might well be proud of premiership for three years out of four. Knight's Monarch has twice been A I ; but no Pear can be insured as "A I for seven years." Hence I venture to submit that we cannot draw so precise a line as your correspondent would establish. We must allow for stock, soil, and normal climate, and the effect of these three as diversified by perpetually mutable seasons. Only one thing seems reasonable, to wit, that a Pear which is not good in one year out of three, or a Pear which rarely ripens here, should accept the ChUtem Hundreds. I have piled and over-piled my list, having at one time 400 sorts, and being perhaps as enthusiastic as your agree- able correspondent ; but long experience has convinced me that five-and-twenty kinds of Pear are ample for any garden, or even for a nurseryman who wishes to please his customers. Even ^^ furor of young people is worn out at length with a talewhich is *'all sound and fury." I cannot but doubt whether your con'cspondent is correct in his ethnology, e. g. , B. d'Aremberg and Uvedale's St. Germain are usually believed to be foreign- ers, and so is Gansel's Bergamot, according to the well- known story ; and why does he omit from the English list Huyshe's Bergamot, and Thompson's [Thomp- son's is not English], both first-rate sometimes? Moreover, there is at least a tradition, which I have heard confirmed in this neighbourhood, that Marie Louise was gained in England, and by Mr. Braddick ; neither do I think that your correspondent, so charit- able to foreign stuff, is justified in banishing B. d'Arem- berg (whatever be its origin) to the second class. It is not always, but surely it often is first-rate. Broom Park, on the other hand, has never been good here, neither has Dunmore, but Gansel's Late Bergamot has. Hacon's Incomparable, on the other hand, never was worth eating here. In short, the moral of my tale is this : — We cannot dogmatise upon Pears, and there are very few sorts indeed which can be generally, much less universally, recom- mended ; and no amateur who cannot afford to put up with loss of time and ' money, should place any faith in foreign catalogues, nor even in an English one, unless it be that of Mr. Rivers, nearly all of which is true, according to my expe- rience. Through that great veteran's enterprise, the date of outdoor Peaches is extended a good month either way. His Early Louise ripened, on my walls, before the earliest Apricot, and his Princess of Wales prolongs the season, not of Turnips, like Late Admirable, but of first-rate Peaches, to the battle of Trafalgar. Pari Passu. Allow me to call your attention to a few clerical or typographical errors in the lists of Pears at pp. 903-904. In the first place, should we write Bergamotte, or "Bergamote"? The Continentals, I think, generally spell it with one " t," and the dictionary of the French Academy has it %vith one "t." M. Decaisne \vrites it with one also, as does MM. Leroy, Van Houtte, &c. ; but M. Lirou d'Airoles has the double "tt," as have several of the older writers. I follow the dictionary of the Academy. There is also the word Arenberg, often written ** Aremberg." Nearly all the French and Belgian writers write it ivith an "n." I think the Germans write it with an "m." I suppose that they should know best. The following names requne correctmg : — Elshan Hoft to "Haft"; Bergamote Flou to "B. Flon"; B. Jolais to "Jalais"; B. Luiget to " B. Luizet " ; Doyenne Flou Aine to " D. FlonAine"; General Davevier to "G. Duvivier" ; Jacques Cha- moret to "J. Chamaret " ; and Madame Vagille to "Mme. Vazille." I am sorry that I did not take greater pains in forming my letters, wliich no doubt caused the misprints. J. Scott, JlJerriott. Diverting a Watercourse. — Your correspondent 'J. K." (p. S76), asks for information respecting vater-rigbts, but does not give the name of the stream le is situated upon. My opinion is that he can place . bay or dam across the stream, provided it does not 944 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 22, 1871 obstruct the watercourse to the injury of any land or property above or below, and he can erect any machinery, and use the water as a motive-power, if no injury can be proved to the flow ; if so, he will be liable to an action for damages. He certainly cannot divert or abstract any water from the stream or river, even with a pail, unless lie can prove a riglit to do so. No person has a right to take water from any stream above the intake of any mill, unless such a right was gained before the erection of the mill, or by purchase since. Every landed proprietor has a right to use the water (if not polluted by liim) flowing through or over his land by a natural stream, but he cannot deprive or injure the rights of other proprietors over whose land the stream runs, unless he has a title or prescriptive right to otherwise use it. Thomas Garratt, Selc House, H,-rffoni. Societies. Royal Horticultural : July 19.— James Bateman, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair. At the conclusion of the pre- Hminary business, which included the election of one new Fellow— Mr. J. T. Peacock~Mr. Berkeley remarked, in regard to the show of Picotees and Carnations, in another place, that these flowers had not been shown in such good condition as on this occasion for several years, and directed attention to Messrs. Veitch's cut flowers of Spiraeas, which included S. sorbifolia, one of the most charming of the series, and S. Lindlevana. of which nothing could be more beautiful for planting in shrubbery borders. Mr. Berkeley then commented upon some coloured plates of Me- lastomaceous plants, from M. Linden, and upon some leaves of trees and shrubs, sent by MM. Ottolander, of Boskoop, of which further particulars will be found below ; and then directed attention to a remarkable new variety of Lily of the Valley, shown by Messrs. Standish & Co.. to whom a very large batch was forwarded by mistake from the Continent some months ago. Mr. Standish bought them to force early in the spring, but do what he would, a start into growth they would not make. At last he turned the lot into a cold frame, and the result was the plants now in flower, fully six weeks later than those out-of-doors. It was quite distinct from the common variety, having shorter, blunter, and more rigid leaves, and the flowers were very sweet-scented, which makes it a valuable acquisition. Alluding to the small group of plants from Mr. W. W. Saunders, attention was directed to a Rush- like plant, the flowers of which resembled those of the Statice, but which on examination were found to have the three stamens and inferior ovary of the Iridacese ; and to a white-flowered species of Rochea, which he had not seen before. Coming next to the subject of stoneless Grapes, Mr. Berkeley remarked that the production of a si.m.-Uss variety of Bhuk Hamburgh had long been i!, .!■, ! i ! . : i : ., To obtain this, the a'jir, , : . . ! .^ed with the Black M.ii,: ! ' . \ ■'. M ivoured, stoneless Grape, will. Ii ; . ... ; I .uh just in the proper con- diiiuii i"i Li'. .;i;,_;, lli: li.hl, however, been done by Mr. r..inon m1 ( liiswick, at great inconvenience to him- self, and he {Mr. Berkeley) was glad to say that the cross had taken place, as in plants raised from the crossed seed this year tlie di.^tinct foliage was plainly discernible, and he hoped that the fruit which these canes would pro- duce next year would prove stoneless. Concerning the Potato disease, Mr. Berkeley observed that, in his own garden, the Potatos were attacked by it in a more virulent form than he had ever seen. The disease in question was due to a species of mould, and the reason why it was more prevalent in wet seasons than dry ones was owing to the fact that this mould was capable of producing another form, resembling animals, or. as they were called. Zoospores, and these are unable to move without wet. Mr. Bateman then made some observations on Orchids, and the meeting was adjourned. Scientific Committee.— A. Murray, Esq., in the chair. Rev. M. J. Berkeley exhibited fragments of Rhododendron ferrugineum with a large fleshy gal' "" body on the leaves, and which he considered to be the result of a Fimgus mould, a species of Ascomyces, similar to that which produces blister in Peach trees. Professor Karl Koch, of Berlin, made some comments on the large and interesting collection of leaves of trees and shrubs, sent to the last meeting by MM. Ottolander, of Boskoop. The following is the substance of M. Koch's remarks : — "The Scientific Committee has honoured me by refer- ring to me a collection of branches of trees and shrubs tc report on. I know the establishment wliere they arc grown very weU. The nursery t>f Messrs. Ottolander, of Boskoop, is perhaps the largest establishment for the culture of trees in Holland. Boskoop is a village Gouda, where nurser>-men alone reside. The collection contains 83 species and varieties of ligneous plants, espe- cially Oaks (43) and Maples (18). Many of them interesting, and not much diffused m the gardens, also some quite new. Time does not permit me to speak about all the species and varieties which Messrs. Ottolander have sent, but I may allude to some of the most resting. Among the 43 Oaks are worthy to be mentioned the varieties with red and yellow leaves. The best are nigra and Concordia. I have seen in Belgium trees ah-eady large and wonderfully beautiful. All these are varief ofQ. pedunculata. Another section of that species are very remarkable for their small and incised leaves. Some of these have long been known, the others are new. "Among the species I recommend especially the Caucasian Oaks, Quercus castancefolia and macranthera (not macrantha), because the trees grow quickly and make a very good appearance. Quercus alba Rousseau is not the American species, but the true Quercus pubes- cens of the mountains of middle Europe. Quercus demata is a Chinese species, much resembling Quercus era of the Levant. Quercus glabra longifolia is the finest Oak with evergreen leaves, and merits recommenda- ion. I do not know 'Quercus Fan,' but I believe it is a ariety of Quercus pedunculata. with almost black petioles and branches. Among the Maples, all the varieties of Acer poly- morphum, Sieb. {not Spacli), merit the greatest recom- mendation ; but I believe that the trees suffer in England \ the winter time. An interesting variety of Acer latanoides is that which received the name palmatum ang ago. I saw that variety in my youth in the park of Veimar, but since that time it has disappeared. " Cornus sibirica is the true C. alba, L., and a fine decorative plant in the winter time, because the branches ave a coral-red colour. The branches are also so exible, that they afford excellent material for binding. " Finally, I have the honour to call attention to the ariety heterophylla of Fagus sylvatica. In Germany it > much used for decoration by reason of its beautiful ppearance. This tree is the Oak-leaved Beech of Goethe nd other German poets." A yet larger collection, containing, inter alia, a great lumber of HolUes, including many new seedlings raised t Boskoop, was exhibited. Messrs. Ottolander also sent Pterocarya caucasica and laevigata, two species which are ';en confounded. This collection, like the former one, IS referred to M. Koch to report on at a future time. Major Clarke exhibited an interesting case of herbaceous grafting in a variety of Cotton, in which a young seedling, ten days old, had been successfully grafted on a plant of Gossypium herbaceum, and had made rapid growth. The Chairman showed portions of a Pinus attacked by 1 insect, Tortrixhistrionella. which seems increasing. Professor Dyer showed capsules of Papaver dubium deformed and enlarged by some insect larva. Dr. Masters exhibited, on the part of M. Linden, of Brussels, some coloured drawing of the flowers of Melas- ;eous plants exhibited on a former occasion under the provisional names of Amaraboya princeps, splendida and amabilis. These are plants with all the habit of stomaceae, but the flowers differ in their size and re. A. princeps has in the drawing magnificent rs of a pale pink colour ; A. splendida has smaller flowers of a bright carmine, while A. amabilis has small flowers of a pink colour. The petals in all cases are six n number, and represented as being thick and coriaceous n texture. In all three species the stamens are repre- ;ented as partially united at the base, and forming an ncomplete ring. These stamens are stated to be of a waxy or ivory colour. The fruit is described as capsular. The plants were found in Choco. New Grenada, by Mr. Wallis, but the drawings, though serving to give a general idea if the plants, are not sufficient, from a botanical point " iew, to enable a definite opinion to be formed as to genus. Dr. Hooker suggested a relationship to Bel- a, but were it not for the capsular not baccate fruit, the plants would appear to be nearer to Blakea. In any the plants are grand additions to otir gardens, and it be hoped that M. Linden will soon flower them, and enable their botanical status to be ascertained. Dr. Masters also exhibited, on the part of Mr. Earley, me double flowers of Sweet Pea. Major Clarke stated had occasionally met with similar flowers. From Mr. Grote came specimens of Maize, in which the female inflorescence had the branched form of the male flowers. It was stated that this was common in parts of India, and that it occasionally occurs in this country. Dr. Masters, alluding to the four styles of Eschscholtzia californica, and two of which were described by Payer as processes from the placenta, stated that an examination of the course of the development had led him to the con- clusion that the supernumerary styles were really the rudiments of a second whorl of carpels above and at right angles to the first pair. This second pair of carpels remained in the rudimentary condition. Dr. Masters then read the following communication from Mr. Grieve, relating to the possibility of inducing variegation in the leaves of a stock by engrafting on it a variegated scion. The result of Mr. Grieve's experiments, like those of Mr. Laxton, alluded to at the last meeting, are of a negative character. Mr. Grieve's paper is sub- " I have been recently reminded of some experiments made *by me during the spring of 1869, with a view to ascertain if possible something of the influence which the stock exercises upon the scion, &c. " The experiments referred to were described by i a paper which I had the honour of reading before the Horticultural Congress held at Manchester on July 21 and 22 of that year ; and this paper was subsequently published, with others, in the Gardeners Chronicle and other horticultural periodicals. It may be remembered that, with a view of ascertaining the possibility of pro- ducing the condition of variegation in the scion on the stock by their influence upon each other, I stated that I had engrafted variegated varieties of plants upon green- leaved varieties of the same species, and plain or green- leaved varieties upon variegated stalks, &c. ; and in most instances allowing the stock to develope itself as well as the scion. And I have now to state that up to the present time the result is of a strictly negative character, and can now point to green-leaved varieties of plants, which have been growing for upwards of two years upon variegated stocks, without having in any instance shown the slightest indication of becoming variegated. Also to variegated varieties growing upon green stocks, which have ne^ any instance reverted to the green or normal conditi< "The plants on which these experiments have been tried are principally Pelargoniums, but I also endea- voured to transmit or reproduce the quality of scent by grafting many of the highly-perfumed Cape varieties, such as " tomentosum," upon green-leaved zonal sorts, but all with a like negative result. " I also at the same time, viz., early in the spring of 1869, grafted or inarched many varieties of legumin plants, such as dwarf French Beans upon Scarlet R ners, and Scarlet Runners upon dwarf varieties, Green Windsor Beans upon Early White Mazagan, and White Mazagans upon Green Windsor, Green Marrow Peas upon early white sorts, and early white sorts upon green marrows, &c. I carefully saved the seeds from all the grafted plants, and during the spring of the following year, viz., 1870, sowed them at the same time, place, and under precisely similar conditions, with ordinary seeds of each respective variety, and carefully watched for the development of any peculiarity which might be ascribed " e influence of the stocks upon which the plants which had produced the seed had grown. As regards the dwarf French Beans which had been produced upon Scariet Runners, I could perceive no difference whatever, while the Scarlet Runners which had been produced upon dsvarf sorts were exceedingly productive, but did not grow so luxuriantly at any time during the season as the plants produced by the ordinary seeds. But this season up to the present time I cannot perceive any difference. "With regard to the Mazagan and Green Windsor Beans the operation of grafting had no visible effect, and the birds having made free with the produce of the grafted Peas, I only succeeded in saving a very few seeds of the variety known as Yorkshire Hero, which had been grafted on Sutton's Ringleader, one of the earUest sorts in ■ ■ ration. These few seeds I saved by themselves during the spring of 1870, and managed to secure about half a pint of seed from them, and this I sowed as far as it went in a long row or line in the kitchen garden — February 23 finishing the line with ordinary seed of the variety Yorkshire Hero, also the produce of last year ; id they are now (July 15) quite fit for use, while the descendant of the grafted plant, although the tallest by quite a foot, will not be ready for at least a week from the present time, so that earliness has by no means been ob- tained by using an early variety as a stock. The pods of the latter have also the appearance of being considerably longer than the former, and contain morePeas. Altogether the line has at present the appearance of being composed of two very distinct varieties of Peas. But, notwithstand- ingall thisi the conclusion I feel forced to come to respect- ing the results of the experiments I have endeavoured to describe are, in the first place, that variegation cannot be produced by inoculation, and if there are really any authenticated instances of its having followed that opera- tion this fact will not by any means prove that it was the result of inoculation, as variegation is found in so many instances to produce itself spontaneously. " I am also inclined to doubt the existence of a ' graft hybrid,' for although, as in the case of the Pea alluded to— where a variety appears to have been produced distinct from both stock and scion, I still apprehend that, as in the case of the Scarlet Runner, this divergence will in the course of another year or two entirely disappear. Still this divergence, produced to all appearance by the influence of the stock, whether it may prove permanent or otherwise, appears to be interesting, and may be con- sidered as not unworthy of further investigation." P. Gricz'c. Culford. July 15. Floral Com.niittee. — J. Eraser, Esq., in the chair. The most interesting feature of this meeting was perhaps the exhibition of a group of fine new Agaves and other plants, from the nursery of M. Jean Verschaflfelt, of Ghent. Of Agaves there were a dozen, and the fol- lowing were selected by the International Committee for First-class Certificates :— A. elegantissima. A. sp. nov., A. Regeli macrodonta, and A. Mescal foliis striatis. We hear that this fine lot will not return to the Continent, having passed into the hands of Mr. J. T. Peacock, Sudbury House, Hammersmith, a gentle- man who makes this class of plants a speciality, and whose collection is already a rich one, gathered together within the last few years, from every available source. M. Ver- schaffelt also received similar awards for Encephalartos Vroomi, a very beautiful form ; for a new species of Zamia from New Caledonia ; .and for a new form of Dicksonia (? Sellowiana) from St. Catherine's, Brazil. Continental exhibitors were also represented by Messrs. Makoy & Co., Liege, who had a First-class Cer- tificate for a new dwarf Tillandsia (Platystachys) complanata, which bears beautiful blue flowers ; and by M. Wendland, the Royal Gardens, Herrenhausen, Han- who had like award ^chn- Ma several beautiful new hybrid bedding Lobelias, which, from the compactness of their habit and the density and bright colours of their flowers, give much promise. The most noticeable were Sunset, a medium variety, with very flat petals, in colour the nearest approach to a red that we have ; Ivory Peari, the best white, so far, in the pumila section ; Erinus Charming, white centre with coerulean- blue margin ; Purple Prince, a medium variety, flowers shaded purple, with a small white eye, very dense, and flat ; Celestial Blue, one of the pumila section, very dwarf and free-flowering; and Brilliant, rich deep blue, also be- longing to the Erinus section, and having large flat flowers. The two last named had First-class Certificates. A very free-flowering white variety of the speciosa type was also shown by Messrs. J. & C. Lee, under the name of White Perfection, and a similar award was made in its favour. Mr. Norman, Plumstead, exhi- bited several new seedling Picotees. and received the highest honours for two varieties, named respectively Mrs. Brown and Morning Star. Special Certificates were awarded to Mr. Stevens, Trentham, for a fine cut spike of Odontoglossum hastilabium, and a nice plant of Barkeria spectabilis ; to Messrs. Veitch, for a box con- taining cut flowers of 8 distinct sorts of Spirreas ; to G. F. Wilson, Esq.. for a beautiful group of Lilies, including one of the canadense type, brought by Mr. Robinson from the Rocky Mountains ; to Mr. Lawrence, gr. to Bishop Sumner, Famham Castle, for a wonderfully fine specimen of Dendrochilum filiforme, on which were 150 spikes of flowers ; and for a nice plant of the beautiful white Maxillaria venusta ; to Mr. Denning, for a group of Orchids, alluded to elsewhere ; to Mr, Mackintosh, Hammersmith, for a well-grown speci- men of the Ivy-leaved Pelargonium ; and to Mr. Cranston for some very fine cut Roses, of which several good boxes July 22, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agfricultural Gazette. 945 Hepper, Acton, sent a group of very dw; and from Mr. Cunningham, Moor Park, also came from Messrs. Veitch. Messrs. Paul & Son had First-class Certificates for Roses Comtesse d'O-xford, and Louis Van Houtte, and the same award was made to Mr. T. Milner, Bradford, for Fuchsia (tricolor) Sunray. Messrs. Paul & Son sent 9 boxes of cut Roses, Mr. B. S. Williams had an interesting group of new plants, and the same may be said of a small collection from the gardens of W. W. Saunders, Esq. Mr. Croucher, gr. to J. F. Peacock, Esq. , exhibited anew Agave, under the provisional name of miradorensis, which the Committee requested light be shown again when further developed. Mr. ^ dwarf Cockscombs, . Rickmansworth, : flowers of a pure white Verbena named White King, of which the Committee requested to see a plant. If it has the well known habit of the old Purple King it will be a grand acquisition as a bedder. In addition to the above, a medium-sized tent was erected near by, and was made exceedingly attractive with large collections of very choice plants from Mr. B. S. Williams, Messrs. Veitch, Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son, Mr. Denning, gr. to Lord Londesborough, Mr. Parker, Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing, and Mr. J. Mann, Brentwood, &c. In Mr. Williams' excellent group were a specimen of Cochliostema Jacobianum, with four spikes of flowers, a very healthy example of Thunia alba, with 13 beautiful spikes, capital pots of Miltonia specta- bilis, Cypripedium superbiens, and Cattleya Wameri ; some handsome medium-sized Palms, Dracasnas, Heaths, Yuccas, Pandanads, &c. , and a glorious plant of Adiantum farleyense. Messrs. Veitch had beauti- fully grown plants of Dracjenas Mooreana, regina, Yotingii, Wisemanii, Chelsoni, porphyrophylla ; of Orchids, Grammatophyllum Ellisianum, with one charming spike ; four beautiful examples of Dendrobium Ben- sonije, Oncidium obryzatum, Saccolabium Blumei, Dendrochilum filiforrae, Masdevallia Veitchii, Cattleyas, Cypripediums, Palms, Liliums, &c. From Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son came a nice group of Palms, Caladiums, Dracaenas, and other fine-foliaged plants: and Mr. Denning had in his rich collection of Orchids an example of Oncidium macranthum with a spike about 10 feet long, on which were 29 flowers, splendid in size and more bnlliant in coloiar than it has been seen before ; a very healthy specimen of Saccolabium Blumei, with a dozen beautiful spikes; and nice plants of Anguloa Ruckeri, Miltonia Regnellii purpurea, Catt- leya Schilleriana, Stenia fimbriata, &c. Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing sent a capital collection of Phloxes, (including 6 in 8-inch pots), which took a ist prize. The remainder were in much larger pots, and from their compact habit, capital spikes, and brightly coloured flowers, it is evident that the size above mentioned is much too small. Mr. Mann sent a dozen nice baskets of Zonal and Tricolor Pelargoniums, and from Mr. Parker came a wonderfully rich group of 12 perennials in 12-inch pots, which took the ist prize. The plants were about 18 inches through, and under 2 feet in height, clothed with foliage to the pots, and covered with flowers, especially Campanulata carpatica. Coreopsis lanceolata, CEnothera venusta, Betonica hirsuta, Tradescantia virginica rtibra, &c. Prizes were offered by the Metropolitan Floral Society, for 12 Picotees and 12 Carnations, Mr. N. j^orman. Crescent Road, Plumstead, being ist, and Mr. Pizzey, gr. to Sir E. Perry, Fulmer, Slough, 2d in the class for Picotees, the awards being reversed in the class for Carnations. Similar classes were also made by tha Society, Mr. Norman being ist for Picotees, and Mr. Turner for Carnations. Mf. Hooper, Bath, had an extra prize for capital boxes of cut blooms of the above-named flowers, and some fair Pansies, Pinks, &c., came from Mr. Bragg and Messrs. E. Shenton & Co. M. Verschaflelt, Ghent, sent over a dozen excellent standard Orange trees, nice bushy heads on clean stems, about 4 feet high. Fruit Committee.— G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair. Mr. Miles, gr. to Lord Carrington, Wycombe Abbey, Bucks, sent very fine [specimens of four varieties of Pine-apples cut from plants 16 months old; their weights were as follows :—Enville, 11 lb. 4 oz. ; Smooth Cayenne, 7 lb. 8 oz. ; Charlotte Roths- child, 6 lb. 8 oz. ; and Queen, 5 lb. 10 oz. A Special Certificate was awarded. Messrs. Rivers & Son, Saw- bridgeworth, sent fruit of a new large deep black Cherry, named Bigarreau Noir de Schmidt, to which a First-class Certificate was voted. The same award was also made to Mr. Bradley, Littledale, Southwell, for a large fine flavoured Strawberry, named The Amateur ; and to Messrs. Standish & Co. for their excellent new Grape the Ascot Citronelle, a variety having a very high flavour, and the excellent character of hanging well and not cracking. Special Certificates were voted to Mr. Tillery, Welbeck, for a collection of fruit, consisting of Cherries, Nectarines, and three varieties of Strawberries ; and to Mr. Bland, gr. to Earl Kilmorey, Gordon House, Isleworth, for a dozen finely-ripened and coloured Eariy Grosse Mignonne Peaches. Mr. Hepper, gr. to P. S. Millard, Esq., Acton, sent capital specimens of Veitch's Autumn Giant Cauliflower, and Mr. Smith, gr. to the Eari of Gainsborough, Exton Park, sent a brace of Cucumbers, a hybrid between Worcester Prize and Carter's Champion. Messrs. Carter & Co. offered two prizes for a collection of vegetables, the 1st of which was taken by Mr. Miles, gr. to Lord Carrington, he being the only exhibitor. His collection was a large one, and comprised first-rate examples of Asparagus, Carrots, Turnips, Parsnips, Salsafy, Scorzo- nera, Potatos, Globe Artichokes ; Carter's Hundredfold, Laxton's Supreme, and Carter's Imperial Wonder, Peas ; capital Broad and Kidney Beans, Cabbage, Celery, Lettuce, &c. Mr. James, gr. to W. F. Watson, Esq. , sent a seedhngPea of considerable merit, named "James' Prolific," which grows to the height of about 3 feet, carrying a first-rate crop of well-iUled straight pods, about 3 — 4 inches long. The Channel Islands Exhibition.— This exhibi- tion, in its scope and object, the variety and excellence ol its details, and its successful financial results, by far the most remarkable in the annals of the Channel Islands, has just closed after a three weeks' career. It was held in the building and grounds belonging to Victoria College, Jersey, a site which, by its natural beauty, materially contributed to the success of the show, in which were comprised agricultural, horticultural, and native art and industry departments, with such rare objects as the islands possessed added, and lent for the occasion. Though our remarks in these columns are necessarily confined to the hor.ticultural section, it is obvious that the most distinctive and interesting feature was the display of native cattle in numbers nearly equalling the great English shows, and exhibiting an amount of beauty unprecedented, and worthy of foreign admiration. Since Oxford, of last year, the cattle of Guernsey and Jersey have been classed separately, an arrangement which has obviated future disputes, and which any observer would here acknowledge as just, and long delayed. To the English mind these breeds, so distinct, were long known as Alderney— an islandwhich contributed no specimen to the show. It is sufficient here to say that the characteristic features of the Jersey and Guernsey cattle, while assimilating as opposed to the larger English breeds, have each their sturdy partisans in the islands, and are now generally recognised as best when kept from intermingling. But to our task. The horticultural section, though deficient in some parts, owing to the cold and backward spring, and lately to the incessant rains— this is our fabulous spring and glowing summer '—presented, as a whole, great excel- lence. The florist accustomed to London, Manchester, or Leeds, would miss the gorgeous foliaged plants which by their facility of grouping diversify the monotony of staged specimens. There is not a stove-house, worthy of such designation, in either island, and those scientific head gardeners, the glory of the mother country, would not find scope here. The work seen is, therefore, mainly amateur, and very good as such. The same may be said of fruit culture, and especially in Grapes, which are largely exported, and generally grown to suit the market, and do not exhibit that standard of merit which scientific training produces. The best grower Pond, the well known proprietor of rseries. The Grapes exhibited by this veteran were of an excellence and perfection in staging seldom seen in our best metropolitan shows. The tent containing the fruit, vegetables, and flowers was designed by the secretary. Major Howell, and a great advance— resisting bravely the fierce easteriy gale which raged round the exhibition buildings, and had previously ungiillantly poured its fury on the choir of ladies, and raised the hair on many an official head momentous instant devoted to photographic ; The blooms of Roses were generally good, though the lateness of the season and the cold rain had been most adverse. In these Mr. De Faye was 1st. The Roses from Guernsey had besides a rough sea voyage to endure, but sustained the competition without disadvantage. Much of the show consisted of Zonal Pelargoniums, Cap- tain Saumarez talcing the silver medal, Mr. Le Sueur was 2d. Mr. Markland showed very good double Pelargo- niums. In Ferns the competition was keen, Mr. Cutlan taking the silver medal. Mr. Saunders, nurseryman, showed the rarest Ferns in the sixes. Probably the choicest gems of this section were Mr. Pond's seedling Pelargoniums, Silver Tricolors, in which were Mrs. Rousby (which Mr. Turner lately exhibited, and was 1st as the best new variety of its class), a beautiful plant, of good size ; and Miss Pond, which to us seemed even superior and richer in colour, though not so flat in the leaf as Mrs. Rousby. These two will prove decided acquisitions. Among the fruit were dishes of Peaches and Nectarines, Mr. Pond being awarded the silver medal for his collection of Grapes, comprising noble Canon Hall, Black Ham- burgh, Muscat of Alexandria, Golden Champion, and Muscat Hamburgh, number, but very good ine, but. Early Rose specially, these climates to make them "l/„ Vegetables American Potatos as usi too apt to degenerate profitable. Me Hay nes & Son, of London, for their The other departments of the exhibition were wel filled, and the whole matter has proved a great success originating, as it did, with the energetic President, Mr C. P, Le Comu, and patronised by as many as io,oo< visitors in a single day. WOODBRIDGE HORTICULTURAL : Ju/l' 13. — This Society held its annual summer show in the grounds of W. P. T. Phillips, The Grange, a situation admirably adapted for such a display ; indeed, a more beautiful spot it is scarcely possible to conceive. The mansion stands upon rising ground in a well-wooded park, in which may be seen many fine examples of Cedars, Oaks, and Beeches; it also commands many enchanting views of the surround- ing country, with the pleasant waters of the river Deben in the distance. The visitors were further permitted to feast their eyes upon the beauties of a very nicely laid-out and well-kept garden, which added materially to their enjoyment. Not only did Mr. Phillips assist the Society by thus throwing open his beautiful grounds to the visitors, but he also rendered material assistance to the show with the productions of his own gardener, thus making it the finest and largest exhibition ever yet held in the town of Woodbridge. One plant in particular, from Mr. Phillips' garden, deserves special notice, a remarkably handsome and well grown pyramidal Fuchsia, called Julius Andrd. which measured 8 feet in height and nearly 6 feet in diameter ; it was, indeed, a perfect model, from which many of our London exhibitors of this grace- ful plant might take a lesson with advantage. Stove and greenhouse plants, both those with beautiful commg flowers and those with ornamental leaves, wei creditably represented, so also were hardy : Ferns, the best collection of fine-foliage plai ^ from Mr. Mill, gr. to Lord Rendlesham, and the bes*t collection of Ferns from Mr. G. Berry, Ipswich. Heaths, Geraniums, and quantities of soft-wooded plants, were also shown in excellent condition, proving how valuable they are for decoration at this particular season of the year, for, without them, our greenhouses and conservatories would almost be without flowers ; amongst them may be named Achimenes and Balsams, which were shown in excellent condition by Mr. Goldsmith and Mr. King. Cut Roses were another conspicuous feature in the show, Mr. Cant, of Colchester, carrying off the silver cup for the best 24 ; whilst Mr. Keen, gr. to J. G. Sheppard, Esq., was 2d with a very fine set, and Mr. W. NichoU, ist in the class for 6. Carnations and Picotees are exten- sively grown in the neighbourhood, and the flowers exhi- bited on Thursday were amongst the finest we have ever seen. We were also very pleased to see prizes offered for on. of Ipswich, being st, and Mr. J. Buxjoii 2d. This is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, for we have certainly been losers by banishing so many of our fine hardy plants from the flower-borders. The table decorations produced exhibited excellent taste, the prize offered by Lord Mahon for the best going to Mrs. Wrinch for an exquisitely-arranged epergne : Mr. Goldsmith, gr. to Mrs. Day. also carried off' 1st honours for dinner-table plants. Hand bouquets were shown in quantities, and were very tastefully arranged, Mrs. Keen carrying off the ist prize in this class. The Woodbridge show has always been famous for its excellent display of fruit, and this season has been no exception to the rule. The Grapes, in particular, were very fine, both as regards size of bunch and berry, as well as general finish and colour ; indeed, we have not seen their equals at any exhibition during the present season. The principal contributors were Mr. Blair, Shrublands Gardens ; Mr. Wright, of Whitton ; Mr. Wallace, of Nacton : and Mr. Irving, of Easton. Peaches. Melons, Cherries, and Strawberries were also very good. For the best basket of fruit, artistically arranged, not less than 8 varieties, Mr. Blair, of Shrublands, was ist with a choice lot, and Mr. J. Groom 2d. The cottagers* classes were admirably sustained, and the fine collections of fruit and vegetables contributed gave ample proof that great attention must have been given to the garden after the usual toil of the day was over, especially when we consider the many difficulties with which every one has had to contend during this changeable and fickle season. There was a large attend- ance of visitors, to whose enjoyment the band of the 2d Queen's Bays, under the leadership of Mr. Cousins, added considerably, continuing to enliven the company with exquisite music up to 10 o'clock in the evening, when the gathering was brought to a close by a grand display of fireworks, thus ending the most successful meeting the Society has yet held. South Notts Horticultural.— The 20th annual exhibition of this flourishing society was held on the Sconce Hills. Newark, and was by far the best ever held (with the exception of Nottingham) in the county. The floral and horticultural exhibition took place in several large tents, and immediately adjoining them was a tent devoted to a show of poultry by the Newark Society. All the tents were well stocked with an excellent display. The stove and greenhouse plants were a manifest advance upon previous years, while the fruit in quality was very good, the Roses fine, and the vegetables even superior to the late show at Nottingham. The great prize of the day was a silver cup. value ten guineas, for 12 stove and greenhouse plants, half to be blooming, the other foliage. For this prize three competitors put in an appearance — Mr. Cooper, nurseryman, of Derby ; the Rev. S. R. Hole, of Caunton ; and Mr. Nevile. Many of Mr. Cooper's were large plants, especially the foliage, but several of them had seen their best day, while some of the flowering plants were not A i. The specimen of Stephanotis floribunda was first-rate, but the Dipladenia amabilis, though nicely bloomed and coloured, rather spare in foliage. Allamanda cathartica and Hendersonii wanted finish, while Erica Parmentieriana rosea, though a nice plant, was not in bloom. The spe- cimen of Pandanus elegantissimus was superb, and the same must be said of Croton angustifolium. finely coloured, with its golden tresses sweeping almost to the ground. The other Crotons were not good, but there was a fine plant, 10 to 12 feet high, of Seaforthia elegans. and fine Fan and Sago Palms. Mr. Hole's plantswere smaller, but more rare, most of them in fine health. Anthuriiim Scherzerianum, with a dozen or more of its brilliant spathes ; Dendrobium chrysanthum, in nice condition ; Dipladenia amabilis rather pale ; Ixora coccinea, with a dozen or more nice heads of bloom ; Erica Parmentieriana plants ; A. metallica ; the Thief Palm. Phcenicophormm sechellarum, with its broad, handsome foliage ; Thrinax radiata. another elegant Palm, and nice specimens of Veitchii, Sanchezia nobilis, and a very promising young specimen of Croton angustifolium. The plants matched well, and formed an admirable group. In the collection sent by G. Nevile. Esq., the best plants were Croton augustifolum, Alocasia Lowii, very fine, in fact superb ; Croton variegatum, a pyra- mid. 6 feet high ; Rhynchospermum jasminoides. nicely bloomed ; and Alocasia metallica. In the collec- tions of 6 plants Mr. Cooper also obtained rst honours, with a finely bloomed Allamanda grandiflora. Erica Aitoniana, E. Turnbullii, in fine condition. E. Irbyana. E. Spenceri. not good ; Dipladenia amabilis, fine in colour ; and a passable D. crassinoda. The 2d prize went deservedly to Mrs. G. Gilstrap, who had a superbly bloomed Pleroma elegans. the bright purple flowers pro- ducing quite a glow ; Stephanotis floribunda. finely bloomed, but ratherformal ; Rhynchospermum jasminoides, 946 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. good ; Erica depressa, an upright growing and very remarkable variety, nearly 3 feet high. For foliage plants Mr. Hole obtained the ist posi with some nice healthy plants— Caryota urens, Blechi corcovadense. Maranta vittata, Gymnostachyum Pie and Fittonia ar^yroneura. Mr. Cooper sent Dicksonia antarctica, the Fan Palm, two Crotons, Gymnogramma Martensii. and Dasylirion gracile. A 3d prize was awarded to Mr. Moore, gr. to Eari Brownlow, who had the perfectly powdered silver Ferns, Gymnogramma pern argyrophylla, we ever saw. In the Ferns Mr. Moore took the ist position, with really fine plants of Woodwardia radicans, Cyathea medullaris, Adiantium cuneatum the singular Lomaria cycadifolia. Mr. Cooper wa and W. Newton, Esq., and Mrs. Bradley took equal 3d prizes. In Lycopods Mr. Hole was again ist with clean well-grown specimens, the best being Selaginella Poulterii, inasquifolia, Martensii. formqsa, apoda, ar " csesia. Mr. Moore sent smaller plants of S. flabellat laevigata, Willdenovii, Wallichii, and Martensii. M Newton had also some nicely-grown small plants, among which we saw the rather scarce S. involvens. In the clas: for 6 foliage plants, Mr. Hole was again rst, and Mr. Moore sent the most elegant of all Palms, Cocos Wedde- liana. Cut flowers were abundant, but most of then clumsily arranged, while the judging of them was ir several cases anything but satisfactory. Roses were grand, far superior to those at the Notting- ham show, and the competition close and spirited. In the nurserymen's class, for 48 blooms, Mr. Frettingham, ol Beeston, obtained the ist place, with the following flowers, most of them superbly grown, though a little bruised from the storms of the last few days : — Abel Grand, Alfred Colomb, Beauty of Waltham. Cent" '" rosea, Charles Lefebvre, Charles Margottin, Charles Verdier, Comte de Nanteuil, Comtesse d'Oxford, Dr. Andry, Duchesse de Caylus, Duchesse de Morny, Due de Wellington, Duke of Edinburgh, Elie Morel, Exposi- tion de Brie, Franfois T.acharme, Henry Ledechaux, Horace Vemet, John Keynes, John Hopper, Jules Calcot, La France, Leopold Hausburg. Lord Macaulay Mademoiselle Annie Wood, Madame Boll, Mademoiselle Bonnaire, Madame Cldmencejoigneaux, Madame Charles Wood, Madame Charles Verdier, Mademoiselle Marie Rady, Madame Rivers, Madame Victor Verdier, Maurice Bemardin, Miss Ingram, Princess Mary of Cambridge. Prince de Portia, S^nateur de Vaisse, Victor Verdier, Souvenir de la Malmaison, America, Climbing Devonien- sis, Gloire de Dijon, Madame Willermoz, and Celine Forestier. Mr. Merryweather, of Southwell, took the 2d place. In the class for 36 Roses, the Rev. S. R. Hole obtained the ist place with fine blooms, among which the following, in fine condition : — Madame Furtado, Madame Boll, Madame Caillat, Charles Lefebvre, Marechal Niel, Sunateur Vaisse. Souvenir dun Ami, John Hopper, Marechal Vaillant, Elie Morel, and President. The Rev. E. A. Pochin took the 2d place with flowers scarcely inferior to the pre- ceding, the best being Leopold Hausburg, Comtesse de Paris, Madame V. Verdier, Niphetos (rarely seen), Gloire de Vitry, Madame C. Joigneaux, Madame Julie Daran, Jean Cherpin, Due de Rohan, Turenne, and Abel Grand. These flowers were remarkable for the richness of the colours. In 18 Roses, the prizes were taken by the Rev. C. C. Ellison, Mrs. G. Gilstrap, T. Parkinson, Esq., and G. Fillingham, Esq., in the order in which their names stand. In 12 Roses, one of our amateur growers put up a superb stand, containing Marie Baumann. Madame la Baronne de Rothschild, Mrs. C. Wood, Centifolia rosea, Charies lefebvre, S&nateur Vaisse, Dr. Andry, Gloire de Dijon, Beauty of Waltham, Jean Lambert. Madame Canrobert. and La France. These were almost faultless. The fruit put up by Mr. Moore, gr. to Lord Brownlow, formed an excellent collection. It contained a nice Queen Pine, superb bunches of Black Hamburgh and Foster's Seedling Grapes, two dishes of Peaches and the same of Nectarines, Golden Perfection and Hybrid Melon, the latter of large size ; Alma and President Straw- berries, some nice Bananas, and Brown Turkey and other Figs. These were all clean, neatly set up, and thoroughly first-class. Mr. Moore also took ist prize for Black Grapes with the Hamburgh, for White Grapes with Foster's Seedling. A nice pot Vine was shown from Kelham, G. Manners-Sutton. Esq., who had prizes for Peaches and several other things. Strawberries, Cherries, and Apples, of last year, were shown by several exhibitors. Ellison, which close and curly, as if •■ '5 lb. These would be each, and other thing still folded by the leaves ; Lettuce httle short of grand in any season, but from'the past they were extra- ordinary. Potatos were a grand show, and seemed to have special charms for the working people, and the same may be said of Onions, some of which must have weighed more than i lb. each. St. Ann's Amateur Florai, and Horticul- tural : July 13.— The people of Nottingham, more especially the working classes, are devotedly fond of a garden ; and, consequently, the show-grounds were visited by immense crowds. The flower and fruit show was held, as usual, in a large tent, at the entrance to which there was a very handsome collection of plants, including a young Fig tree in fruit, some very handsome Fems contributed by Mr. Hampson, and a collection of wild Thyme, Musk, and other plants. The great feature of the show was the collection of Roses, which indicated an improvement, both in quantity and quality, upon any previous exhibition. There was a splendid array of Fuchsias, the chief prizes being taken by Mr. Hampson and Mr. Green. A selection of Coleus, shown by Mr. T. Mallett, attracted attention ; Mr. R. Beard also showed some excellent greenhouse plants ; as did Mr. Bull. Sweet Williams and .\ntirrhinums were in abundance, and the latter were remarkable for delicacy and mingling of colour. Stocks were not so good. owmg the season. Mr. W. Thompson, Street, sent a gigantic Mushroom, measuring 10 inches across. The show of wild flowers was admirable, A class of pot Roses, the extra prize for which was giver by Mr. T. B. Cutts, brought out some beautiful speci' mens. The designs for geometrical gardens brought together several competitors. The season has been somi what against the fruit, but, notwithstanding, there was very creditable show, the Raspberries being a good feature. The Cucumbers were of fine quality, and the Potatos, Cauhflowers, Parsley, and Shallots, particularly worth an inspection. For 12 Roses the highest honours were taken by M G. Johnson with some splendid flowers, while a very good 2d collection was staged by Mr. H. Grundy, who h; amongst others, fine flowers of Madame la Baronne Rothschild, a superb variety, of a delicate flesh colour and our old friends, John Hopper and Centifolia rosea the latter a fine flower in splendid condition. Mr. W Milton was 3d, with a nice stand, containing Due de Rohan, Marie Baumann, very fine ; and a good flower of Charles Lefebvre. Mr. Frettingham, nurserymar Beeston, staged a very fine collection of cut blooms for competition. These included some of the finest varieties, and were much admired. The ist prize for a collection of fruit was taken by Mr. E. Loseby. who had excellent Strawberries, Raspberries, fine Gooseberries. Currants. &c. This was a nice assort- ment, and very neatly arranged. Some splendid Apple; of last year's growth were exhibited by Mr. Whitworth, viz.. Lord Nelson, Carolina Pippin, and Golden Russet, &c. The vegetables were the next to the Roses in im- portance and interest, Potatos being especially good. The Early Rose figured very conspicuous, being easily recognised by its colour. Some exhibitors had bee: unfortunate in the choice of deep-eyed varieties, and these were very properly overlooked by the judges. Society of Biblical Arch.kology : July 4.- Samuel Birch, Esq., LL.D., F.S-.4., &c., in the chai: B. T. Lowne, Esq., M.R.C.S., F.R.M.S,, read a paper on the flora of Palestine. He considered that it prised eight distinct elements, — four the dominant ( ing floras of Southern Europe, Russian Asia, North Africa, and that of Arabia and Nonh-'Westem India. Each of these floras were stated to occupy a distinct region of the country. Interspersed with these are found numerous examples of plants belonging to Palearctic Europe, "constituting its fifth element. The arctic flora of Hermon and Lebanon constitute the sixth. Mr. Lowne thought further that the Cedars of the Lebanon moraines, and tiic Papyrus of the Jordan lakes were the remnants of two ancient and almost extinct floras belonging to two distant geological periods. James Collins, Esq. {Pharmaceutical Museum), read a paper upon the gums, perfumes, and resins mentioned in the Bible, partictilarly pointing out the fact that few of them were indigenous to Palestine, and that many had been WTongly named by the Greek and later Latin botanists. In the course of his observations Mr. Collins detailed the characteristic differences between the true and false Balm of Gilead. Ladanum, Sandal-wood, &c., and the greater or less efficacy of their medicinal properties. In concluding, the author promised to examine the sub- ject of the gums of the Bible, at greater length, on another occasion. Mr. Lowne and Mr. Collins brought for exhibition a large number of mounted specimens, and a complete collection of gums, perfumes, &c., to illustrate their respective papers. Messrs. Veitch & Co., of Chelsea, had also sent some pots of Palestine flowers, which were by a most imfortunate accident returned before the meeting. Florists' Flowers. In the hope of in some measure giving an impulse to the cultivation of The Auricula, and of inducing a more ample display of them at our spring shows, at which these quaint and interesting flowers are beginning again to attract some attention, we reproduce in a con- densed form some excellent instructions for their culti- vation, commtmicated to the '* Florist and Pomologist" by Mr. J. Hepworth, of Huddersfield : — As regards the healthy growth and preservation of the Auricula, 1 believe that a sound, sweet, wholesome soil is the first consideration. The mixture which 1 have prepared and made use of for over thirty years has brought me the most complete success, and, there- fore, I cannot do better than describe it. Half a century ago, Mr. Emmerton, of Bamet, gave us his work on the culture of the Auricula. His plan of management through the different seasons of the year is excellent, if duly followed out ; but the labour and expense attending the procuring of the soils which he recommends I look upon as time lost, and money spent to little purpose. Goose dung, night-soil, sugar-bakers' scum, bullock's blood, &c., having been got together and having gone through all the processes recom- mended, are not a whit better for the purpose than the one plain, simple manure, cow-dung, which is easily obtainable in all parts of the country. I have tried horse-dung, as recommended by some of the Lanca- shire growers ; also night-soil, cow-dung and night- soil mixed, and sheep-dung mixed with yellow loam, and again with black turfy loam. This latter I found to answer better than anything I had then tried ; but after all the experiments, Emmerton's into the bargain, I have never found anything answer so well for secunng a continued healthy growth, and for the preservation of the plants, as the one manure, — cow-dung, got together id mixed up as I shall now recommend. Take two-thirds cow-dung clear from straw or other littery stuff used as bedding for the cows. It will atiswer well enough if taken from the cow-shed at any time of the year, but if it can be got from the fields about the end of May or beginning of June, when the cows are feeding on grasses alone, the manure will be more suitable for the purpose. Previously to getting in the dung, be prepared with a sufficient quantity of the right sort of earth. Black peaty loam from the moors, such as may be got on the moors in Yorkshire and Lancashire, is far preferable to any other kind of loam, being more congenial to the nature and habit of the Auricula and of most other alpine plants. Along with this loam, if got from the localities just indicated, will be obtained a portion of white, gritty sand (not sufficient for the purpose, though a sufficiency may be got about the same places) which will be all the better if a little coarse. First mix a sufficient quantity of this sand with the black peaty loam, and run the mass through a fine sieve ; then take, say, three barrowsful of clear cow-dung, and one barrowful of the mixed mould and sand, and incorporate, beating them up to- gether in a similar way to that in which bricklayers or stonemasons beat their mortar for building purposes. After this, wheel the compost on to some open space in the garden or field, where it may have the benefit of exposure to all weathers — frost, sun, and air. When got into a heap in this way, allow it to lie for about six weeks, and at the end of that time chop it down, and give it a regular turn-over, repeating the chopping and turning every three weeks or so, until it is fit for use, which will be in about 15 or 18 months. Thus, if the ingredients are got together in May or June, as recommended, the compost will, by this frequent chop- ping and turning over, be quite fit for use by the 'fol- lowing November twelve months ; but as that is the wrong season for repotting the plants, it should be fetched in, put into tubs, and covered up till the spring dressing-up time — February, and repotting time — July. A few days previously to making use of the compost, the quantity required should be taken from the tub, and run through a sieve not over fine, say |-inch or |-inch mesh, as the plants thrive best in rather lumpy earth, and certainly do not like their roots and fibres choked up in fine close stuff. After sifting the earth in this way, spread it out in the open air for a day or two before using it, so as to clear it of mouldy matter (a very requisite precaution), at the same time keeping off the rain and wet, as it is best to have it rather dry, both for top-dressing and re-potting. July is the month I most recommend for performing the operation of repotting. Those, therefore, who have the compost in readiness by about the second week in July, cannot do better than commence without delay. First of all, if the compost has been stowed away in a heap for any length of time, it should be spread out thinly for a day or so in the open air, where it can have the sun and air. It is necessary, however, to keep off rain or damp of any kind, for the drier the condition in which it is used the better. Should new pots have to be employed, they should be soaked in water for at least 24 hours before using ; or if old ones, in which the plants have been growing, have to be again worked up, soak them also, and with a brush, cleanse them thoroughly of all dirt and motUdy matter they may have about them. This thorough cleansing is very important. AU those plants which have been in their pots and in the same mould for the whole year will be best taken out, and should have the old earth shaken entirely from the roots, and then with a sharp knife the fibrous roots should be shortened, so that they can be spread out in the pots without being cramped or bent when filling in the new compost. The main carrot root, too, if long, should be cut clean off to within an inch and a half of the top, leaving just a few fibrous roots sufficient to give the plant a start in its fresh earth. Young plants or offsets which were taken off and fresh potted in early spring, might do as well if just changed into larger pots, with part of the old ball of earth about them. As the plants are potted, they should be placed in a shady situation, and the lights should be placed over them for ten or twelve days, at the end of which time they may be taken off. Should the weather at the time be moist or rainy, allow the plants the full benefit of such rain as may fall gently upon them, but carefully guard them against thunderstorms or very heavy showers. On the other hand, if the weather should be dry without appearance of rain, take a watering-can with a very fine rose, and give them just a gentle run over with soft water. Rain-water is the best, and should be used at about the temperatiu"e of the atmo- sphere at the time. At first give the plants only just a slight run over, to revive them, and to moisten the soil on the top of the pots ; but repeat this gentle watering every evening after sunset for a week or so, by which time the mould will have got sufficiently saturated. After that the plants may be placed out in their summer quarters, the best situation being at the back of a north wall, where they can get a little morning and evening sun. In this position the plants will keep all right — allowing them now and then the benefit of a nice shower, but guarding against and keeping off heavy or long-continued soaking rains — till the middle of October, when they will require removing to their winter quarters, where, however, they must still be allowed to be open ■ exposed during all fine dry weather. After No- vember sets in, the plants should be kept tolerably dry, by keeping off the rain entirely, and only just allowing them sufficient to keep them alive. I87I.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 947 THE WEATHER. TEMPERATURE OF TH E AIR AND FALL OF fl V^T- DIFFEREN T STA TIONS, DraiNO THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, JULY Ij, 1S7I. TEMPERATURE OF THE AlR. ^ Names or Stations. 1 .a J 1 ii s s g DefT. Dec Dee-I Deg Der Der In. Wolverhampton ti 49.0 31^6 'nX si'? ^5:^ '■5' 77. = 1^ i1 li 11:° ;f:o ii ija sh°effi"fd'^ :: ?^:^ P. S50 s? f-^^ 60.3 0.36 IS°'" •■ Sn° 50.0 i! 11 Vd p 60.S ^1 3! Ncwcast'le '. '. 6|;° 470 2S.0 >5.o 1^ i!l s i Edinbursh . . 717 48,0 247 ST 0.20 Aberdeen g-^ T, 1° Wi iu oij 21.S Lei.h .. .. 73.. T. 0.74 Dublin .. .. 74.0 4SS 29.4 58.0 o.3> 5 TA TE OF THE WEy THER AT BL ACKHEATH. LONDON. For the Week ending %Vednesday, July 19, .871. M^H DA?. AtgA.M. Reading of Hygrometrical Deduction from Glaisher's Tables, July- iii ^(^^ li 32- Fahr. Ei ° w Ins. Der. Deg. Der Gr. ti-, ir. tx ti s ^;? II' sSnday' Vsl Sf V. r, 1 $£, ^35 90 ^% 73. ■ ^.i ^^ __ 5.6 July. TEMPERATURE OP THE AIR. j Wind. Rain. 1 1 1! % Jl _j 1(1 DeR. Des. ' Deg. Dep. Deg. Miles 3SO 0.02 15. Satur. . . 80.6 ; 61.0 SI + 11 Vw^- iiS S:^ ^1 »3.q I?. Tues. ..' 76.6, 59-6 66.2 + 4.3J N.E. (.70 0.00 „. Wedne,' 80.3 ! 54-0 ^3 65.3 ^3.{ 1^: J230 ooo 1., and again at night Cloudy lly cloudy. Hazy and misty, but fi: advanced. Fine t — 18.— Nearly cloudless till — 19.— Cloudy till night, and . {FOR THE ENSUING WEEK.) PLANT HOUSES. The Victoria rcgia will now be making rapid growth. Be particular at this juncture to keep the water within the lank as clean as possible, by means of a constant flow of pure fresh water. It does not matter much how small is the quantity, [as the antidote to slimy formations consists in the fact that the water does not become absolutely stagnant. Sometimes when these unwholesome substances are permitted to form, they collect freely on the undersides of the leaves, and especially upon the younger ones. In an instance where the tank was of sufficient dimensions, I used to turn the more moderate-sized leaves upside down, and then removed all such particles as were attached. Some care, however, must be taken not to damage the leaves in any way, and the operator must look after his bare arms if the leaves have attained to anything like maturity, if he does not wish them lacerated by the sharp prickles to be found on their undersides. Let the surfaces of the latter be syringed occasionally, and thus assist the blooms to push by every possible means. These remarks apply in general terms to smaller Aquariums, whether these consist of tanks for Nymphaas or the more simple forms employed indoors. The more frequently the water is changed the better. and the oftener the sides of the glass, or slate, &c., are washed, the easier will all be kept clean and wholesome. Now that we have some- thing like warm weather, it will be possible to dispense with fires in ordinary stoves for a short period. If, however, the weather suddenly turns cold again, the fire should be " lit up " daily, between 3 and 4 p. M. , and be damped down finally by 5 o'clock, or after burning for about two hours. Be very par- ticular not to cause too high a night temperature by artificial means, as few things are more injurious. Keep together the Cape Pelargoniums, which gradually come in from flowering, in a properly cindered comer, until a sufficient number are obtained to operate upon, in the matter of cutting back, &c., after the wood has been better ripened by exposure to the air and sun. Give to Oranges and Citrons a good mulching with thoroughly decomposed cow-dung and yellow loam, pressing it down firmly after first removing a fair portion of the old surface soil. Where the above were mulched earlier in the spring, as was then suggested, it will aid them materially to afford all thrifty growing specimens an occasional watering with rather strong liquid manure. By the term strong, 1 do not mean such crude stuff as is generally to be met with in farmyards and the like, but rather such as has been properly prepared in the usual manner. Use the liquid in a day or so after making it, and when it has become moderately clear. FORCING HOUSES. I fear in many instances, where the borders of old Vineries are out-of-doors, and have had to undergo the rigours of the past inclement period with its excessive rains, the roots will not now be in a very happy con- dition, consequently that most disheartening malady, shanking, will in all probability be somewhat prevalent. The only remedy is to follow the most rational course, as by these means we can meet its onslaught hand to hand, and contend with it somewhat successfully. By a rational course, I mean affording an abundance of fresh air both by day and by night. This we shall be better able to do if the fine weather continues. As I take it, shanking is but the effect of a want of health, a languid supply of nutriment, and, owing to a want of greater vigour,- the non-capacity to turn the crude sap to a good account. I look upon the shanking of the fruit-stalk in precisely the same light as I view the ill effects of immatured wood. If the young wood of the current season's formation shows a blotchy state of ripening, is over succulent, and not possessed of that hardened yellow hue which gardeners so much admire, then the Grapes will not come to a proper state of maturity ; and if even no shanking exhibit itself, bad colouring will ensue, the primary causes of the latter defect springing from a like foundation. Those who possess small vineries in which it is necessary to maintain a miscellaneous collection of plants should act freely on this suggestion, and by doing their utmost to insure the young wood upon the Vines being speedily ripened, insure the proper finishing-off of the fruit at the same HARDY FLOWER GARDEN. That good old favourite flower, the Auricula, which has certainly become much more popular amongst us of late, may now be fresh potted with much hope of finishing off a goodly summer's growth. Good rich, fibrous, yellow loam, which has been well exposed to the air, and which is now moderately dry, should be used in admixture with a moderate quantity of thoroughly decayed cow-dung, adding just sufficient sand to resist any too great binding tendency which the soil might possess. Following the possession of a properly prepared compost, clean pots are of the next importance. Do not make shift with pots simply wiped out, but thoroughly scrub and rinse them, so that the original porosity of each be assured as much as possible. In instances where new pots are employed, let them be well soaked in water for six or eight hours, and then moderately dry off any excess of moisture from their surfaces. When taking the old plants out of the pots they have been growing in, remove as much of the old soil as possible, and shorten with a sharp-edged knife all the longer roots, severing a piece off the main root also, if of undue length. In potting them judge nicely so as to have the collar of the plant moderately exposed. Too deep potting is one of the chief errors made through a want of practice. Lay each root out separately upon a bed of soil properly pressed into the pot, and then finish oft by distributing the soil evenly and firmly amongst them. When potted place them into a moderately shaded cold frame for a week or so. Let the surface of the soil become just dry, and should rain follow, take the lights oft and permit it freely to fall on to them. If no rain ensues at the proper time, give them a nice soaking with a fine-rosed watering- pot, and with soft water if procurable. When the surface soil again becomes moderately dry, just pass the fingers over it to freshen up the surface, following with the watering, and so continue to keep them unifoiTnly moist. In about 12 or 14 days they maybe placed out-of-doors in their permanent summer quarters. One point I find I have omitted to notice, /. e., that thorough good drainage must be afforded. Let it be a moderate one in regard to the quantity of crocks used, but most efficient in connection with the free egress of all water which reaches the ball. Younger plants or offsets should also be potted on. These, however. 3 not desirable to remove i this time. HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. Persist in keeping the runners removed from all Strawberry Plants intended for another season's crop, if these are not wanted for forming further stock. Pigs should have some of the grosser shoots thinned out, where these are too redundant and fruitless. Out- door Vines should also be gone over, and tacked to the walls. It is very questionable whether these can carry any crops this season. The Vines need not, how- ever, be neglected on that account. It is a com- mendable practice to pinch off the points of any very free-growing shoots upon red and white Currants at this season ; and in instances where the many young shoots which form have not been previously thinned out, do so now, the better to ripen off the wood intended to bear the next season's fruit crop. KITCHEN GARDEN. Transplant summer Caulijlmaers from seed-beds, to induce further growth, in preparation for planting them out upon ground which may shortly come in, following a crop of Potatos, &c. These wUI then afford a crop, it may be, for drawing and placing in a frame or so when the early frosts arrive. Persist in filling up every vacant space, as it occurs, with the various kinds of Winter Greens, Broccoli, &c. Give fresh plantations of Celery copious waterings, using during bright hot weather clearwateronly,unIessof long continuance, when manure- water wili;become a desideratum. It should, however, only be applied as late in the day as possible, so that its burning tendencies may not be increased by the heat of the sun. Those who require Sorrel for use in the early autumn, should now cut a portion down, that young growth may be formed in readiness. Make a final sowing of Dwarf Kidney Beans on a sheltered sunny aspect. These may afford a supply at a very acceptable season. Transplant Litlle Pixie Cabbages, previously sown, for early wi Colrjjort is an equally valuable large sowing of Turnips ' ence can be placed upon a field s to the large quantities required i during the long months of ivin sought after. Thin out the Carrots sown last, and finish transplanting J.eeks into prepared and well- manured shallow trenches. Cut away all Cabbages not required upon the main bed, and induce sprouts to form ; this will afford a good permanent supply of greens away into the winter months. For the rest keep the hoe gomg freely amongst all crops, not alone for the purpose of destroying weeds, but also as an incentive of more rapid growth. Particularly hoe well amongst Asparagus beds at this time, and before the young growth has become so dense as that weeds are not readily destroyed should damp weather super- vene, and they have been permitted to get too far ahead. W. E. The Rosette ty. Make another depend- pply ; which, owing most establishments should always be Notices to Correspondents. Boilers : E. P. According to all the principles of heating by hot-water pipes, you seem to have them well placed. Still you say that the renim-pipe rarely heats. Is there no stoppage ? Is the boiler properly set, and does the fire bum well? We think the error must be there somewhere. The boiler is quite large enough to heat all the piping. The flow-pipe should, if possible, always rise from the boiler to the extreme end, and the return-pipe to follow in the same line, entering the boiler at the bottom.— W. B. A saddle boiler of the second or third size, or the Cornish boiler, as modified by Mr. Stevens, if properly set, would do all you require. It is not economical to have too small a Books : G. C. B. You do not say whether you want a work on British Botany or what. Lindley's " Vegetable Kingdom," the "Treasury of Botany," Hooker's "Students" Flora (British)," will probably suit you. Clipping Box Edging : Alex. Boyle. Box edgings should be clipped annually in the middle of June, in the first place, to economise labour, of which a considerable amount is required for this work in some places ; and, secondly, because by permitting a p£irt of the spring growth to be made before being cut back, the edgings so treated will "break" more densely, and yet afford time to make a neat growth before winter sets in. If you clip twice there is just the danger that many parts so cut back will remain bare and unsightly during the winter. Hence the suggestion referred to. If your clip It now without delay, but not otherwise. IV. E. Ff.rns ; R. A. If a prize is offered for Ferns, these only being specified, you certainly cannot show Selaginellas, which belong to a totally different natural order. F.R.H.S. signifies a Fellow of the Royal Horticultural Society, and the initials may be used by all who are elected to that position. Apply to the Assistant-Secre- tary, South Kensington, for particulars. Flower Pots: S. P. writes; "Please inform me whether the idea that plants grow best in porous pots is exploded or not?" Certainly not. "Will they flourish in zinc or cast-iron jars or pots ? Or in glazed earthenware?" No. "Would not oil-paint on the pots exercise a deleterious influence on plants?" Yes. Fuchsias: If. H. The specimen plant in question was undoubtedly grown from a cutting less than 12 months old. We suppose its resemblance to a pot of cuttings, 12 or T4 in the pot, is attributable for the style of train- ing adopted. 948 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 22, 187 1. Gar pla. Gardeners" Aprons : A Gardener. Blue serge is the more commonly used material now, but the real thing is blue shalloon, a kind of worsted stuff, named from Chalons, in France, where it was first made. Gardeners of the old school would have repudiated the idea of using anything but the last-named article. Grapes from one-year-old Vines : W. W. The fruit sent were in every way commendable ; bunches of a good serviceable kind, berries large and well coloured, and thoroughly ripe. We submitted them for inspec- tion to several of the foreign delegates to the Exhibi- tion, who also expressed their admiration of the fine quality. Indian Foeests : R, M. Apply to the Secretary, India Office, London. Insects : /. H. A. Your Melon plants are infested with a species of Aphis. Fumigation, properly applied, wilt certainly destroy them. Washing the leaves over alter- nately with lime-water mixed with soft soap-suds and clear water, will also be efficacious. /. O. IV. Lawn Sand. — We have no experience of this, but it is well spoken of by several of our correspondents. It is to be had of Mr. W. D. Barbour, 3, Park Row, Leeds. Mushrooms : J. C. N. If you will send a specimen, we will endeavour to name it for you. It is impossible to do so from your description. Names of Plants : Mansfield. We cannot undertake to name plants without flowers. — IV. K. We cannot name your succulent kind of plant from the scrap sent us.— G. W. Davalliaelegans.-iy.il/. The plant sent is not Specularia hybrida but S. Speculum, the Venus' Looking-glass, which, if gathered wild, must be an escape from some garden. — Rob. Potentilla reptans. — W. D. The common Marjoram. — Mr. Macil- zvain. The grasses you have sent are Agrostis xnilgaris, variety pumila, a denizen of poor dry soil, generally, and some Luzula, probably L. campestris. — F. P. C. Al- cheinilla vulgaris. — A Five Years' Subscriber, i, Diplacus glutinosus ; 2, Metrosideros floribunda ; 3, apparently Neja gracilis ; 4, Cystopteris fragilis ; 5, Polypodium Dryopteris.— 7. H. F. No. 2 is Gonio- phlebium appendiculatum, certainly ; the other next week. — W. D. r, Nephrolepis tuberosa ; 2, Cystomium Fortune! ; 3, Asplenium flaccidum ; 4, Cystomium car>'otoides. Williams' Book on Fern Culture. Nectarines : H. F. J. Your Nectarines are attacked with some peculiar disease, which shall be inquired into, meanwhile we would recommend you to destroy the tree altogether. The sort is at best but a poor one. Pelargonium : Bell dy Thorpe. The tmss of your double-fiowered variety, Miss Evelyn, is one of the finest we have seen, round as a cricket-ball, and quite densely filled out with full double flowers of a vivid car- PiiYSOsiPHON : G. W. Physosiphon Loddigesii, a native of Mexico, is a curious small-growing, small-flowered Orchid, allied to Stelis and Pleurothallis. It should be grown on a block. Removing Trees and Shrubs: Old Subscriber. No; unless by consent. Veronicas : Devonian. Very pretty for home growth, but not so good as some of the Continental varieties. Several of the shrubby Veronicas are almost hardy, even in the climate of London ; we are, therefore, by no means surprised to hear that they often survive in Devonshire. Yellow Bedding Pansy: Oldroyd b" Son. The speci- mens sent are good, both in form and colour, and must, on account of its neat habit, hardy constitution, and free flowering capabilities, be a desirable acquisiti rata.— At p. 907, col. a, five lines from the bottom, for •re-announced," read "renounced." Same page, :ol. c, four lines from bottom, for " Pear," read " Pea." COVENT GARDEN.— July 20. The markets generally during the past week have much more active, and a steady demand has ruled for most of the articles in general consumption. Bush fruit is now at its best. Strawberries still hold out good. Hot- house and West Indian Pines are also very plentiful and good; prices low. The Potato -market is thoroughly glutted, inferior samples being the rule. ' Oranges, per 100 .. Peaches, per doz. . . Pine-apples, per lb. Strawberries, p. lb. E; ENTILATED wAtER TUBECASES PATE ECASES the best now in use, either J^TEEVGloucestcr ° or'w. Ea'ssFe Water Your Gardens. CANVAS TUBING for the above purpose more durable than India-rubber, and bearing very much greater essure, at a third the price. Can be seen at, or particulars with BUTLe'rT'm'CUI.LC)C?h! AND'''c'a,'°J7,°South Row, Coven ardcn .Market, London, W.C. r^ ARDENER (Head).— Has a thorough practical Mod character torn prefentempTo"" r'.-W. G., Post Office, Reading ^^■Jl<•:°"c'?cSmber'J' vl'nTsl°&c° " We'^couirdti good grower of work if required.— J. C, GARDENER (Head, Working).— Age 40, mametl , thoroughly practical in all branches of Horticulture. Can be highly recommended. No single-handed place acceptcd.-A- B., Mr. Wood, Tooting, London, S. _^ Single-handed).- 1 ARDENER AND BAILIFF. —A ^Ladv wishes Jo nt— Ma™™as" above. Wife to take charge of Dairy and Poultry, ry respectable and active. Four years' character; five years !vious.— W. S.,Post Office, Penshurst, Tonbndge. GARDENER, in a good single-handed place. -A young Man, married, one child. Tliree years' character. -JAMES) SAUNDERS, Hanworth Road, Sunburj time in each, references, and THoffis* HAMILTON eneraJly useful.— Apply, witn reicrcnccs, to AND SONS, The Nurseries, Botcherby, MAN, Hayward, Bookseller, Bristol. WANT PLACES.-Letters to be Post Paid. Gardeners. BS. WILLIAMS has much pleasure in st.iting that . he has upon his GARDENERS' REGISTER many Men of HEAn"GAi;nWNI?R'''rTlfDll3ER'"and"°BAILiFF^^ i Paradise Nurseries, Upper Holloway, London, N. W. ^VeU_Strcet, Hackney, E. ARDENER, where two or more are kept.— Age 41, married, one child ; thoroughly understands the profession. Seven and a half years' good character.— W. W., Mr. Stationer, Station Road, Red Hill. G ARDENER and GROOM, m the cotuitry.- Age 26, married. Recommended by a Gentleman, in who ceTie has been for several years.-Mr. LOVELL, 86. St. Pau ROWER, or FOREMAN and GROWER, where r Plants are grown for the London markets. Good character.— iAY. 2, Percy Terrace, King's Road, Mortlake, S.W. ASSISTANT— A Young MAN ; has had six years experience in the Seed Trade; is an active Counter Hand— A. B., Post Office, Penh. M To the Seed Trade. ANAGER or SHOPMAN.— Fifteen years' expe: ence in England and Scotland. The Advertiser seeks agement.— O. K., Post Office, Kilmarnock, N.B. 1LERK, or BOOK-KEEPER, or ASSISTANT / CLERK.-Age 33 ; has a very fair knowledge of the Nursery and d Business; can be highly rccommended.-^ILLIAM WOOD a SON. Nurseries, Maresfield, near Uckficld, Sussex. The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 949 R^ It is believe : is Peruv ^oeIclfer,DrA° Delivered in a c __ ._„_. bearing the Company's Trade Mark. The analysis is guaranteed long as the seals remain unbroken. REES AND CO. (Limited), 32, King William Street, London, E.C. i secured by a leadei REPORT and ANALYSIS by DR. A. VOELCKER. Consulting Chemist to the Royal AgricultoralSociety of England. *' Analytical Laborator>', n. Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, E.C. " London, January 15. 1870. "Sir,— Enclosed you will find the results of a careful analysis of a sample of your Eipnosphated Peruvian Guano. These results speak ■ themselves. I need therefore hardly add anjihing ' understand you e preparation. The Agriculturists, the mi tfis%^aluable Amficiai Manun this Manure will become 1 on vi need, will it be appre Sir, yours respectfully. Signed) 5 CO. (Li Imitcd), 12, King ^ THE LONDON MANURE COMPANY (Established 1840), have now ready for delivery, in fine dry PURE°DI!'""~ CONCENTRATED AMMONIACAL MANURE, forTop-Drcssing. PURSER'S BONE TURNIP MANURE. SUPERPHOSPHATE of LIME. NITROPHOSPHATE. MANGEL. HOP, and POTATO MANURES. Also PERUVIAN GUANO (as imported by Messrs. Thomson. Bonar & Co.), NITRATE of SODA, SULPHATE of AMMONIA, &c 116, Fcnchurch Street, E.C. EDWARD PURSER, Secretary. kinds, Thrip, Mealy Bu] FRETTINGHAM'S LIQUID COMPOUND, for the DESTRUCTION of INSECTS of all kinds, and MILDEW INFESTING PLANTS, has been proved application for destroying Aphis of all k , »., .- American Blight, Green and Brown Fly, Red Spider, Wasps, Ants, &c., hitherto offered to the Public It will be found invaluable for Vines, Peaches, andFruit Trees of all kinds, as in most cases one 11 ising will keep off the ravages of Insects for a whole season, he Liquid Compound will not injure the most tender foliage of i-e or Greenhouse plants ; and, if mixed occasionally vith the water 1 for syringing, will, if applied before the appearance of a certain preventive. Broccoli and other Greens may cleansed from insects and filth of all kinds by sponging. Liquid Compound by means of the " Honicultural •Dear Sir,— We beg to luid Compound, which we have used in :irs and under glass, with perfect success, rparation we have tried. It thoroughly uring the foliage.— We remain, dear Sir. 1 'Mr H.C. Fret Nurseries, Borrowash, June 28, 1871. car testimony to the efficacy of you L_. _ __j ■. _ «. ry, both outnaf ider it the bes " Dear Sir,— We h for destroying insect life. We have which prey upon vegetable life, and all kinds of plants from scale, mealy b effectually and rapidly, ai 10 all growers of plants. cleansing 5pider-in We consider the Compound most valua ' Francis & Abthl'r Dickson & Sons. tley Court. KcdlcMon 1 llaton Hall. , Chatswonh. : Misses Strult, Derwent Bank, Dei Manor. Asl . S. Milford. Gr. to T. VT. Evans, Esq., M.P. to F. VVriKl . r. toT. V7. .. ... . C.M.R.H.S., Consulting Landscape Gardener, Not- Esq., Quarndon, near Derby, right, Esq., The Hayes. Swan eg, Clumber Gardens, Workst I ATHERTON, Long Row, Nottingham MR. JAMES FRASER (of the late Finn of J. & J. Eraser, Lea Bridge RuaJ), undertakes HORTICUL- AUCTION, &c— Maylands Fann,'RoSfordrErse"y E. " WANTED to PURCHASE, in one of the fashic suburbs of London, or in the neighbourhood of a large SINESS, or the LEA! LAND, suitable fores D^'c^'j^'S Offi'cV''Newbuos"BerkT' '° Important to Nurserymen, Florists, and Others. 'PO RE DISPOSED OF, by Private Treaty, the X LEASES, with possession, of the old established aiid well known CHisVviCK NURSERIES, comprising a substantial .4. roomed Dwellmg-house, with Seed Shop and Offices annexed, two Cottages in occupation. 13 Grc ' ■ ■ ' -" I Plants : also aboui ^^^& Messrs. PROTHEROE In one of the finest and largest Towns of Germany. nno BE SOLD, on account of the illness of the .t.J^^PX'SiP'' ^ ^'^'^ extensive HORTICULTURAL ESTAB- LISHMLNT. It consists of a fine comfortable Mansion, good Coach-house, standing in a vcrj- tastefully laid-out ' Orchid Palm-house has been built quite ratus of the most perfect syste finished. The whole would be Proprietor enjoys a just reputati thetjighesi style of the profcssio Office, WC*^"^ Part'cu ars a 11 adapted for an Amateur, ; : (prepaid) F. G., Gardeners' Chronic TO BE SOLD, by Tender, pursuant to the High Court of Chancery, made in a cause Ha>'cs, with the approbation of the Vice-Chancellor Office of Mr. John Bolton, of Kendal, in the County of Solicitor, on TUESDAY, the 2Sth day of July, 1871, at 3 o'CJock in the afternoon precisely (unless previously disposed of by Pnvate Contract! the G0_o6wiLL and SI^GCK in TRADE of the BUSINEsTof MAN ofthe late JAMES MELDRUM ! Executorsjat the Nurseries, at Castle an Order of County of Westmoreland, I SEEDSMAN ( Kendal. The said Nurseries laid out as Gardens and well stocked. Particulars of the Stock, and particulars Forms of Tender may be had gratis of the jresaid. and of Nlr. JOHN \\ JAMES MELDRUM and Skewbarrow Garden, at K^...^™ and Premises situate in the Market Place, L or. op., of Land NicoL fit Son, 88, Queen Street, Cheapsi BIRD ALLEN, Chief Clerk. SALES BY AUCTION. MONDAY, J Imported Orchids. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION at Rooms, 38, King Street, Covent Garden, W.C, on 31, at half.past 12 o'Clock precisely, the foil recently imported ORCHIDS, which are all in good condit Barkeria spectabilis and Skinneri, splendid masses; Oncidium thorhynchum and Wentworthianum, Odontoglossum grands pulchellum, Lycaste Skinneri, and Oncidium Kramcri. Also plants of a fine-looking Aeridcs, and some good pieces of A Warneri and other good kinds. On view the morning of Sale, and Catalogues had. In Bankruptcy. the Tribunal of Commer. MENTAL and other PLANTS. __. 4000 Drac^nas. too Cycas revoluta. Camellias (double), 5000 Laurels, 3* tenax (variegated), 300 Araucaria exce of Agaves, Bonaparteas, Pandanads, Conditions — cash payment. Catalogues may be had on applicatit man, Steenbrugge, or from the Offici es, Belgnim, on MONDAY, August 7, and 3'Clock, under the direction of M. Philippe Bruges, a large quantity oP! ORNA Camellias (single), joot M SbropBlilre Sheep. e TWELFTH GREAT CENTRAL SALE at I HALL, BIRMINGHAM. ESSRS. LYTHALL and CLARKE , on T E-BREl I the noted Flocks of The Most Noble the h The Right Hon. Lord Mrs. Beach, Isaac Downing, Esq. James Dugdale, Esq. Mr. J. H. Tees, Mr. Lythalf,''' Mr. NVKk, H. J. Sheldon, Esq., Thomas Walker, Esq., Railway, and Thame' on the Quainton Road Station on the Aylesbury and Buckingham Line, at all of which Stations Conveyances will be ready to n ' the Morning Trains, returning in lime for the Evening Trains. "\/r R. JOHN TREADWELL has fi.\ed his ANNUAL -"J- SALE of about SI.XTY OXFORDSHIRE SHEARLING RAMS, and a few OLDER SHEEP, for WEDNESDAY, August 2, at half-past 2, prompt (Luncheon at r2 o'clock), when he hopes to be favoured with the Company of his Friends. The Sheep this year have all been bare shorn, are very big, and full of Wool, altnough darker in colour than usual. _N. B.— This Flock has obtained during the past (our years Forty- "* * " ;itteen Second Prizes, including last year First for Bath and West of England Shoi Important SboTtbom Sales. MR. JOHN THORNTON will SELL by AUCTION the following _HERDS of PURE-BRED SHORTHORNS, .'HURSDAY, Augusta, the second day of the BOOTHAM, Stray, York, about FORTY Meath', Ireland. The small silecl'^if ERD, first-class HERD I. G. Grove, Esq., at CASTLE GROVE, Letterkenny, Ireland. TUESDAY, September I2._At BROCKTON HOUSE, Eccleshall. Staffordshire, Mr. T. Bell's entire HERD. THURSDAY, September 14. — Messrs. Dudding's entire HERD, at PANTON HOUSE, Wragby, Lincolnshire, of about too head. TUESDAY, September to.— The late Sir John Rolt's entire HERD. FLOCK of COTSWOLD SHEEP, HORSES, &c., at OZLE- WORTH PARK, Wootton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire. FRI DAY, September 22.— The first.class herd at CHAPEL BRAMP- TON, Northampton, the property of J. N. Beasley, Esq. TUESDAY, September 26.-About FORTY HEAD, belonging to Mr. Ashbumer, at NETHERHOUSES, Ulverstone. The entire HERD, bred by the late Mr. Elias Clarke, at LILLING- STONE DAYRELL, Buckingham, consisting almost entirely of he Seraphina blood, will be SOLD during the Autumn. N THORNTON, 15, Langham Place, Regent Street, W— July t. JOH Biddenliani Annual Sale. MR. STRAFFORD is instructed by Mr. Charles Howard, of Biddenham, near Bedford, - •••- ■■- ANNUAL SALE by AUCTION will take July 28, and will consist of about FIFTY OXF SHEARLING RAMS and a few OLDER SHEEP well-bred SHORTHORN BULLS. ■ ' "■'' Luncheon at i o'Clock ; the Sale immediately afterwards. Biddenham is within a mile of the Midland Station at Bedford, where Conveyances will meet the Trains. t FIFTY OXFORDSHIRE DOWji M^ Famley Hall, near Otley. IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. STRAFFORD has received instructions from e Executors of the late Francis Hawkesworth Fawkes, Esq ice that the SALE of the entire and far-famed FARNLE\' of PURE-BRED SHORTHORNS wUl take place on VY, August I next, being the day preWous to the Yorkshire ral Society's Meeting at York, and will consist of about 36 Head of Bulls, Cows, and Heifers, that have been long and carefully "' ultural S( Duncombe Park, Yorkshire. IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. R. STRAFFORD is honoured with SALE by AUCTION, without reserve, at D lelmsley, on THURSDAY, August 10, next, si SHOR-THORN BULLS, and a choice seleclioi " the Right Hon. the Ear carefully bred from the I M try superior SHORT] OWS and HEIFERS, Catalog ! Kirkle will shortly be i Brailes House, Shlpston-on-Stoar. IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. MR. STRAFFORD begs to announce that he has received instructions from Henr)- L Sheldon, Esq., of Brailes House, Warwickshire, to li.^ the FOURTH BIENNIAL SALE of URE-BRED SHORTHORNS for WEDNESDAY, September 30. hich will consist of about 45 Bulls, Cows, and Heifers, chiefly of Kirklevington and Fawsley blood. The Sire now in service is the ■Sth Duke of Oxford (25,095), bred at Holker from this justly Catalogues, with Pedigrees and other particulars, will be issued in Lie time, and announced in future Advertisements. London : 13, Euston Square, N.W.— July t8. HIGHLAND and AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY of SCOTLAND.— PERTH SHOW 1871 WEDNESDAY, July 26.— Showyard open at 9 A.M.-Members and Exhibitors of Stock admitted during the Tudging at 55. : Non- Members, tor. After 2 P.M. Members and Exhiijitors free ■ Non- Members, 2J. M. Horse Parade at 4 P.M.— Admission to Gallery. Parade at i and 4 County Hall-Application for Tickel loi.), to be made to Mr. Richardson, FRIDAY, July 28.— Showyard open from Ball in°t™ Ladies, 3, George IV. ! I, George Street, Penh. J A.M. till 5 P.M.— Admission ibers and Exhibitors, free. sion to Gallery, is. N. MENZIES, Secretary. BIRMINGHAM HORSE SHOW, 1871.— The SIXTH GREAT EXHIBITION of HORSES, PONIES, CARRIAGES, HARNESS, &c, will be held in Bingley Hall, Birmingham, on TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, and FRIDAY, August m, i6, 17, and 18. n SATURDAY, July 29. PRIZE LISTS and all other particulars, apply to the Secretary, vStre J. B. LY-f HALL, Secretary. MANCHESTER and LIVERPOOL AGRICUL- TURAL SOCIETY.-Prize Lists for the Show at Liverpool in SEPTEMBER NEXT may be had on application to the Secretary. ■ E THOUSAND POUNDS " " PRIZES, includini horned Bull, upwa ^^\5i?sS^chM \ of i;220 for Dogs, ;£;25o 'for Poultry, upwards of 00 for Sheep. ENTRIES CLOSE AUGUST t. THOMAS RIGEY, Secretary. SATURDAY, JULY 22, 1871. MEETINGS FOR THE ENSUING -WEEK. -1"^ (Annual Meeting ol the Highland and Agricultural Tulv28) Society, at Perth. July 261 Annual Meeting of the Royal North Lancashire Agri- — 27 f cultural Society, at Blackburn WE have received some samples of injured Wheat from Lincolnshire, and as a field on our own farm threatens a loss of as much as 10 per cent, of the crop from a similar injury, we direct attention to the matter, in the hope that our friends may furnish us with their experience upon so important a subject. The following was the letter by which the specimens of Wheat from Lincolnshire were accompanied : — " My object in sending you a few roots of diseased Wheat, which I have now growing, is to ascertain whether the injury was done by horse-hoeing, orby an insect or worm at the root. I have a field of 37 acres, and a portion of the crop is broken down, in the rows, anti, although it breaks offattheroot, when pulled, it is now growing up again. The previous crop was Fla.\-, afterwards steam-cultivated, and then well manured. The land it grows upon was reclaimed from the sea upwards of 50 years ago ; it grows good Fla.\, but the Wheat crop afterwards is not nearly so good as when following Clover, Peas, Beans, &c." Our own affected crop, of 1 2 acres, was sown upon a clover-lea, and we distinctly call to mind a crop of 32 acres in 1864 upon clover-lea that was similarly affected, for then, as now, we recollect that at first sight so much Wheat appeared to be scrawled on the ground as to lead the belief that sheep had found their way into the crop and trodden it down. This was the appearance of our 12-acre field July 3, and what made our first thought seem the more reasonable was, that sheep'were hurdled on an adjoining plot of Italian Rye-grass. Moreover, the fallen ears, all in full flower, presented a green appearance, as though the falling, from whatever cause, had taken place suddenly. The truth is, the Wheat had suffered from the recent heavy rains and high gales ; but we ascertained before quitting the field that another cause had rendered much corn too weak to stand against the weather, so that, as before stated, about one-tenth was spread upon the ground in all directions. On taking up some of the scrawled specimens ; found them to break off in the hand, which induced us the more carefully to lift the roots out of the soil, when we soon discovered what will be best explained by the accompanying illustration (fig. 205). This represents the appearances ob- served in our own crop, but we failed to find any ct specimens in the examples received from our correspondent. The partially eaten stems, how- ever, and the whole appearance of the sample, point to insects as the cause of the mischief to his Wheat as to our own. In both cases we observe the effects of an effort of Nature to repair the mischief done by oracious larvse, the early attack of which, it fould appear, was between the two lower nodes of the stem ; and while these creatures were sever- ing the straw, new roots were not unfrequently sent out from the upper 'node, and it was by means of these that the injured straws were kept in position until the ears began to get heavy-, and 950 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. (July 22, 1871. :d, would be impregnated with tiie antiseptic, to be an element for propagating the " 'The supply of beasts is limited.' Such is the heading of your Market Report this morning. It may be asked, — Why this great irregularity of supply and consequent fluctuation in price ? Simply from the fact that our own producers dare not risk their cattle within the cordon which surrounds our Metropolitan Market. On the 12th ult. your reporter writes, ' Meat, ^d. to 6d. per stone lower.' I would ask consumers whether their butchers* bills have undergone any change within these dates, or into whose pocket does the difference go ? Surely it is high time these restrictions upon our food supply should be got rid of? We are importing animals weekly from countries where disease exists, and sending them broadcast over our own. Why, then, should the transit of our own stock be prevented? It is now five years since cattle plague made its appearance. Legislation on the subject has become a dead letter, and the Corporation, who were to complete a waterside market by 1872, have not yet commenced. No wonder, then, that when to these restrictions on home cattle we add the severe drought and loss by disease, consumers staifer from the high price of meat." The Ttwerness Courier announces that last week's Wool Market was a brisk one ; and, in estimating the result, it must be remembered that last year there was an advance in the price of sheep of from 4J. to is. on Cheviot stock, and on blackfaced of from y. to 6j-. each. This year the advance on the prices of last July is as follows : — Cheviot wedders, £^ to ;^6 per clad score ; Cheviot ewes, £^ to £,1 do. ; Cheviot lambs, £7. los. to £,z 15J. do. ; half-bred lambs, 3.r. bd. to 45. 6(/. each ; blackfaced wedders, £(> per clad score ; blackfaced ewes, £-^ to £^ do. ; blackfaced lambs, ^I IOJ-. to £z los. A great deal of wool changed hands, and the rise may be quoted at 5^. to 6s. per stone for good-laid Cheviot wool, and 3^. to 5^. for laid High- land ; in white Highland the rise has been extra- ordinary— from ys. to gs. a stone. then the wind and rain soon sent them to the ground. From many of the straws being thus half cut through (see a, fig. 205), our correspondent was impressed with the notion that the injury was done by the hoe. In our own case the crop had been hoed, but, even if carelessly done, this operation could not have made mischief in the regular manner we have witnessed. The Wheat had fallen before any injury had been detected ; and this will account for our not having seen the insect in the larva state ; but the pupae are of a rich brown colour, and in some cases as many as five of these have been observed together, wrapped close to the stem by the leaf- sheath. We have collected some of these, in order to make out the fly - for we doubt not it is a two- winged fly — by which the injury to our crop has been brought about. It seems, too, to be highly probable that it is some member of the genus Chlorops, but the nature of the creature itself, a, Stem, nearly eaten through by the larva of a fly ; ^, Pupa of fly attached to a portion of the straw, the sheath of the leaf thrown back to expose them : c, An indentation from whence a pupa has been removed ; tf, Roots of Wheat. and other effects of its life and labours upon the Wheat crop in our own and other fields, we hope soon to determine, as we have no doubt further information will arrive upon this interesting matter, and we shall then have the pleasure of reviewing the subject. Wheat fell is. to 2s. per qr. at Mark Lane on Monday, and could obtain a sale on Wednesday only at Monday's lowest rates. In the Metropolitan Cattle Market on Monday trade was dull ; on Thurs- day, however, it was brisk, with an upward tendency in price for everything. Wool is advancing in price. Hops are dear, the accounts from the plantations being still very unfavourable. After a week of unwonted summer sun one is the more willing to give circulation to the impressions of an optimist and enthusiast on the current Food Produce of the Country. The following is Mr. Mechi's last letter on this subject, written on July 16 : — ' ' Another week of heavy raitis caused alarm, but an unprejudiced examination of my own and other crops has convinced me that the rains have done quite as much good as harm, especially on well-drained and highly- farmed lands, on which there is a promise of abundance, provided that we get seasonable weather. The change of colour in the cereals indicates that rapid ripening which frequently follows abundant summer rainfalls. Potatos and all roots and vegetables promise to be large crops, and although I have heard of Potato disease, we have none at present in our immediate neighbourhood. Bariey, Peas, and Beans are all over average. Oats have been greatly improved by the late rain. There are fine crops of W'lieat on well-drained and well-farmed lands, but there are a great many instances of thin plant on ordinary soils, and opinions vary between average and near average. I am sorry to see cases of root-faUing, which always diminishes the crop. Hay-getting has been anxious, tedious, and expensive ; a few fine dry days are sadly wanted. Those who persist in thick sowing with high farming have their Barleys sadly laid. 1 am con- firmed in the opinion I recently expressed in your columns, that, including meat, butter, cheese, milk, and vegetables, there is much more food for the people than there was last year." So far to the Times. We have since received the following note to ourselves : — " I am sorry to fine some of the Wheat root-fallen. So far as I can judge, and also gather opinions, Beans, Peas, and Barley are likely to be over average. Wheat average, or S' what less. Oats much improved. Potatos, roots, green crops, and grass over full average. There ate some cases of Potato disease, but not in my immediate neighbourhood." On Monday, 2654 paid 5^. each .. .. ;C663 10 c ,, Tuesday, 706 paid z^. 6(/. eaclu . .. 883 o o „ Wednesday, 11,514 paid 2j. 6(/. each.. 1439 5 o ,, Thursday, 53,000 paid ij. each.. .. 2650 o o ,, Friday, 33,624 paid IJ. each .. .. 1681 4 o Total, 108,456 ;<;73i6 19 o These figures compare favourably with those of the las few years, being 36,000 more visitors and /"2000 more money than collected at Oxford, and 10,000 m visitors and .^700 more money than obtained Leicester. At Manchester, however, midway of these two last-named shows, the number of visitors wa less than 194,733, while the money collected ,^15,629. Wolverhampton must, nevertheless, be reckoned amongst the largest and most productive of the Society's meetings. Several of ottr leading agricultural machine' makers have addressed a memorial to Lord DuN MORE, who presides over the Lords' Committee on the Road Locomotives Bill, proposing the following conditions as proper for enactment : — (i). That the speed of engines travelling on the high- road shall not exceed 5 miles per hour in the country, and 3 miles per hour in the towns, power being given to the Board of Trade to grant permission for increased speed under special rules and regulations. (2). That in all cases an extra man accompany each train, whose duty it shall be to lead horses and assist carriage traffic in passing. (3). In order to insure as far as possible the public safety, any new or more stringent rules for the conduct of locomotive engines on highways which the committee may think it advisable to issue, in order that the responsibility of the owners of these engines may be clearly set forth and definitely settled, it being understood that, if the laws and regulations in the Act be strictly adhered to, to the satisfaction of the Board of Trade, the liability of the owner of the engine, in case of accident, should cease. (4). That a notice be fixed to every bridge, signed by the county sur\-eyor or other responsible person, stating the load which such bridge will bear, and should any accident or damage occtjr after such notice, no respon- any difference of opinion respecting the safe working load of any bridge, the Board of Trade shall send a purveyor to report on the said bridge, whose decision shall be final. We learn firom the Journal of the Society of Arts that the Paris Academy of Sciences is occupying itself seriously with the question of the Cattle Disease, which has raged so fearfully in France since the war. M. BouLEY, who is specially engaged on the subject, declares the disease to be endemic in all that part of Europe comprised between the Ural and Carpathian mountains ; that it is permanent, and con- stantly perpetuated by contagion. In Paris the mor- tality caused by it has been terrible, not more than i to 2 per cent, of the animals attacked having survived. In reply to those who have asserted that the disease in question arises in western countries from climacteric causes, or want of care, M. BouLEY cites the following striking fact : — The 4000 bullocks and 220,000 sheep enclosed in Paris during the siege were placed in pecu- liarly unfavourable circumstances ; all suffered, but not a single animal was attacked by the epidemic during the whole period of the siege. When the armistice opened the circle around the city, cattle were pur- chased from Prussian sources, and the disease imme- diately made its appearance, the stock was affected, •and the animals died at the rate of 200 per day. M. BouLEY declares the flesh of animals attacked by the disease to be perfectly innocuous. He protests against the practice which prevailed in the department of the Nord, where even animals suspected of being .attacked were killed and buried. He protests in like manner against what has been done in Brittany, where 800 diseased animals a-day had been placed on board old ships, and sunk by cannon-shot in the Atlantic. Experiments are being made under JNI. Bouley's direction in the treatment of the disease with phenic acid, and Dr. DftCLAT is pursuing other experiments with an analogous substance. M. Bouley expresses great hopes of the success of these modes of treatment, the results of which will be reported shortly. M. Dumas, the perpetual secretary of the Academy, com- municated another mode which had been suggested, namely, to surround the animal with an antiputrid atmosphere by means of a considerable dose of napthaline in the litter, to wash it with water containing phenic acid, and to administer daily from 10 to 12 litres of water containing a one-thousandth part of phenic acid — this by way of preventative. In cases of positively diseased animals, a like course is recom- mended, but with an increase in the quantity of the acid to 25 grammes (nearly an ounce) a-day. In case the remedy should fail to save the animal, the flesh, it OUR 'LJV£ STOCK. CATTLE. On Wednesday a draught from Her Majesty's Shorthorn herd was sold by Mr. Strafford, at the Sh.aw Farm, Windsor Park. The herd was founded by the late Prinxe Consort, with the object of breeding animals of real utility for the dairy and the butcher. Several of the pedigrees were traced back to Alix, Cold Cream, and Florimell, bought at the cele- brated Fawsley sale, in 1S56 ; others were descended from the herds of the Marquis of Exeter, Lord Sher- borne, and other breeders. From the animals sold we select the following : — Honesty, a handsome cow, calved in 1864, sold to Mr. Langham for 50 gs. ; Al:.x 2d, a cow calved in 1867, by Rajah, sold to Mr. G. Garne for 49 gs. ; Princess Louise, a cow calved in 1S63, sold to Mr. Banyard, of Poplar Hall, near Cambridge, for 33 gs. ; Princess Mary, a heifer, 29 gs. ; Princess Christian, calved in 1870, sold to Mr. Blandy Jenkins for 50 gs. ; Princess Beatrice, calved 1S71, sold to Mr. Woodward for 42 gs. Of the bulls. Prince Leopold, a roan, calved in 1869, was sold to Mr. Sturgeon for 45 gs. ; Prince Albert Victor, calved in 1S69, was sold to Mr. Banyard for 43 gs. ; Earl Russell, calved in 1S70, sold to Mr. Thornton for 63 gs. ; Marquis OF Lorne, calved Jan. 10, 1871, sold to Mr.THORNTO.V for 46 gs. Other animals fetched rather lower prices. — — Lord Dunmore has concluded an important purchase of two heifer calves. They are firom Duchesses loist and 103a', which, it tvill be remem- bered, were sold to Mr. Cochrane by Captain (now Major) Gunter for 1000 gs. and 1500 gs. respectively, last summer. The calves of these two cows have been purchased from Mr. Cochrane by Lord Dunmore at precisely similar prices, or 2500 gs. for the two, and will be shipped for this country in September. Some important "Hereford " sales were effected on the Wolverhampton show-ground. The 1st and 2d prize yearling bulls were sold, the 1st to Mr. Nowlan, and the 2d to Mr. Taylor, both of Sydney, Austraha ; also Lizzie Jefferys, the property of Mr. Harding, and the 1st prize heifer in the yearling class, was bought by Major Fenning, also of Sydney. The 1st prize year- ling bull was the property of Mr. Hill, of Orleton Court, and is a son of Triumph (2S37) and Gift by Umpire (2764), and the 2d was exhibited by Mr. G. Child, of Westonbury, Pembridge, and is by North Star (2138), and otit of Pigeon by Young Treasurer (1473). We learn that the sale of Mr. J. P. Foster's Shorthorns at Killhow, is fixed for Friday, Sept. 8, when Mr. Strafford will sell about 50 head of carefully bred cattle. 17TH Duke of O-Kford (25,994), the e of most of the young stock, is still in service. . The following important Shorthorn sales are at present advertised by Mr. Thornton. On August 3, 40 head from the herd of the Rev. J. D. Jefferson, of Thicket Priory, will be sold at York. These cattle are principally of the Waterloo, J, Daisy, Emma, and Flourish tribes. The sale of the late Mr. Barnes July 22, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 951 stock at Westland, County Meath, takes place on August 23, when a large number of famous Booth cattle will be disposed of. On August 25 the entire Castle Grove herd, comprising 50 head, will be dis- persed. On Sept. 12 the Brocton House herd, bred by Mr. Thomas Bell, will be disposed of ; Septem- ber 14 will witness the dispersion of the Panton House herd, numbering 100 head, belonging to the Messrs. Dudding ; on Tuesday, September 19, the sale of the late Sir John Rolt's Shorthorns and other stock takes place ; and afterwards sales are advertised as late as September 26, at Chapel Brampton, Northampton, and Netherhouses, Ulverston. We understand that there has been a delay in the publication of Mr. Bell's " History of the Im- proved Shorthorns," owing to the prints not being ready, but it will appear in about 14 days. It pro- mises to be not only a complete history of the Short- horns, but very interesting to all agriculturists. It will contain copious accounts of the scientific education of Mr. Bates, and his intercourse and correspondence with all the leading agriculturists and noblemen of his time. The alloy and cross-breeding are very fully discussed, and the pedigree question much cleared up, and a full account of George Coates and the origin of the "Herd Book," and his private remarks on the animals, extracted from his manuscripts. The work will be very interesting and instructive to the American breeders, and Mr. Bates' appeciation of their character and exertions in Shorthorn matters. At Havering Park Farm, on June 12, Grand Duchess 2ist gave birth to a roan bull calf, got by 3D Duke of Geneva (23,753). The calf is a fine strong one, and has done exceedingly well since his birth. As far as one can judge at present, he promises to do credit to his distinguished lineage ; shows already good loins, quarters, and girth, fine shoulders, and altogether a good back, with plenty of nice soft hair. Mr. M'Intosh's small, though select herd, is also otherwise doing remarkably well. The SHEEP, son for ram sales has again come round. Mr. W. G. Preece informs us of his numerous engage- ments to sell Shropshires, beginning on August 2 with 45 ewes and 150 rams, bred by Mr. Mansell, of Adcott Hall. Messrs. Lythall & Clarke will sell Shropshi rams at the 12th great central sale at Bingley Hall, early as the 27th inst. Messrs. Lyne & Acock again advertise their Cotswold sales, in which the names of Lane and Game are conspicuous. All the breeds are well represented, and it would be a vain task to enumerate the coming sales of Hampshires and South downs, of Lincolns and Leicesters, which occu'py the advertising columns of our agricultural papers, hope, however, as these interesting events occu place the results before our readers. PIGS. A CONTEMPORARY asks why Berkshire pigs should be favoured with a separate class at the Royal Agricultural meeting ? There is, of course, room for two opinions in such a matter, but we submit that the Berkshire is a very characteristic and widely-distri- buted breed of pigs, that it is purely bred, and much thought of in America as well as at home. While it is somewhat difficult to discriminate between many white and black races, there is never any doubt as to the Berkshire. His short head, turned-up nose, and white points, mark him as a pig of unmistakeable personal character ; his quick growth and fitness for both pork and bacon, render him desirable as a profitable animal, and his hardihood and activity fit him in his younger days to range stubbles and ransack fold-yards. Surely, when a breed has definite and recognised points, a large number of promoters (breeders), and commands a ready market at home and abroad, it is much better to allow it a class. How indeed could a judge decide between an Essex and a Berkshire com- peting together? The heads alone would make 'the task a very difficult one ; and although this might be got over in a small county show, it would be insur- mountable in the case of such a meeting as that just held at Wolverhampton. East Norfolk. — As far as I can at present judge, the Wheat in this district will be an average crop. It presents generally a bulky appearance, and has shot a good ear, but it is rather wide set, and not likely to be so well filled as it was last season. Much depends on the weather during the next two or three weeks. Barley is long in the straw ; the early-sown promises to be good in quality, but I do not anticipate anything beyond an average yield. On our best lands I think the crop is rather light. Peas and Beans not much grown here— the latter are blighted. Hay is various ; some very heavy crops, others indifferent — secured without any material damage. Turnips promising ; but in many cases have come m too fast, and could not be singled in due season. Harvest in about five weeks time : vrith forcmg weather, like the present, may be a little eariier. Stocks of old Wheat never more exhausted. W. Oibitt, Badon Abbey, July iS. Kent. — Our Wheat crops will, I think, be under an average, there is so much injured by the recent high winds. Barley I call an average crop, and Oats, on the whole, are very good. The early crops of hay and fodder came do\vn very short, but the later ones are a good growth. Mangel Wurzel came up pretty well, but has been till now gro\ring very slowly. The last few fine warm days appear to have done it much good. Turnips are an extraordinarily good plant, and grow away well ; there is a first-rate look on for winter feed. This makes store and fat stock very dear. M. Sandford, Martins, Bover, July 18. Merse of Berwickshire. — A most favourable season for Turnip sowing was brought to a close (with one or two exceptions) about the middle of June ; and since that time we have had nearly 3 inches of rain, but no growing weather until the close of the month. To our neighbours on the west it has come with a vengeance ; Turnips washed away, corn buried, hail in blocks, and inches of snow lying for hours. We were permitted to hear the thunder at a safe distance. Turnips are certainly taking advantage of the situation, and thinning engages all hands — which we may term a novel and pleasing experience. The fleas were exceedingly active for a few days, but soon made off, never settling to their work, except where fresh salad was provided by repeated sowings. Again, be it noted, the first time of sowing is the best, if but a plant here and there be left uneaten. Mixed grasses for hay are much twisted and laid, and what is cut is in bad case. Pastures were very growthy for some time, and scoured stock remarkably, but the surplus is less than it was. Many of us had our Potato sets lying cut during three weeks of wet in April, and these sets are almost a failure ; while fresh-cut sets look well. Com looks middling, and harvest will be two or three weeks later than last year. Frost and drought have " slain " and "legged" a deal of Oats. Wheat does not look any worse than it did ; but Barley is light and thinly planted. Beans seem to be the crop of the season, but the acres are few. J. T., Jzdy 8. North Lincolnshire.— Our crops of Wheat have very much improved this last week,"and have come out with a good ear. I hope, with fine weather, we may have an average crop ; it very much depends upon the next month. Spring corn looks well, and will be : full average. Roots of all descriptions are a full plant, and look remarkably well. Hay a good crop, and pas, tures most abundant. So that altogether farming pros, pects look favourable : and if it please God to give favourable weather for the next two months the farmers have no occasion to fear. F. A. Scnaerby, Aylesbury July 18. Northumberland.— Com crops have improved much during the past month, but still, with the ception of Barley, will be below average. Wheat below average. Barley full average, Oats most miser- able. I have not seen a full crop of Wheat anywhere this year, and even a decent Oat field is not known. Tumips and Potatos look now like being full crops. Seeds light. Meadows good, but very bad weather for winning. T/ios. P. Dods, Anick Grainge, Hexham, July 15- Shropshire. — The crops in this neighbourhood arc very variable. With very few exceptions. Wheat will be far below an average, the plant being thin on the ground, and the ears generally small. It is, more- over, in many places considerably damaged by mag- got, and some crops we have seen are nearly smothered with Poppies and other weeds. A large breadth was either cross-sown or was ploughed-up early, and resown with April Wheat or Barley, with variable results. Barley presents generally a promising appear- ance, and will prove an average crop if we have fine weather, but in many places it is lodged with the heavy rain. Oats will be also an average, but are little grown in this district. Winter Beans in general are a decided failure, in consequence of the severity of the winter, but spring-sown ones and Peas will turn out well. The hay crop is generally not a heavy one, except in low-lying situations. Seeds are especially thin, the Clover being almost universally killed by the frost, &c. The weather has been wretched for securing this crop, which is, consequently, much damaged. Tumips are generally very promising, not having been damaged by fly, but late-sown ones have suffered from the cold, wet weather we have experi- enced during the last month. Mangels are partially good in some places ; they are injured by grub. Potatos are looking well, and, if the weather is suit- able, will turn out a good crop. W. D. P., West Felton, Jtily 18. Suffolk : Bury St. Edmunds. — Business engage- ents gave me a run from the east into the idland counties at this time. And going by the Midland Railway, and returning by the Great Northern and Great Eastem, and halting at several points, and keeping an eye on the crops all the while, a pretty tme estimate could be formed of their state and condition. In the eastem counties great corn crops of Wheat and Barley still look well. There will be lots of straw, but the ears are of good size, and if the weather, even now, takes up, the yield promises to be heavy. These continuous rains, however, will soon tell injuriously upon the Wheat, and it is looking too pale for robust strength. Many crops must likewise be considerably damaged by the hailstorm that crossed a large portion of Suffolk last Wednesday. The Barley still looks well, and the few Oats that one sees here and there are very strong indeed. Beans are a large crop of straw ; but we hear of scant podding here and there. Those I have examined are fairly heavy. But an excess of str?w on strong land is generally inimical to a good harvest of Beans. Moderate growth and height of straw is the most favourable to fertility. Peas are a wonderful crop generally — quantities of straw, well podded, and free from lice. Peas set more freely in wet weather than Beans, though some of the later want sun to ensure maturity in reason- able time. Green crops are mostly a good plant, but there are exceptions. The cold, frosty nights, and an excess of wet on cold lands seem to have killed the seed in some cases, and Turnips and Swedes grow but slowly ; whereas. Mangel and Sugar-Beet make scarcely any progress at all. It is too wet for them. Water is constantly passing by the roots, either up- wards or downwards, and either way it chills the earth, and consequently checks growth. On clear nights the evaporation is so rapid as to cause instant frosts at the ground-line, and this renders growth impossible. Even when the days are warm, the rains have sodden the ground into such puddly softness, that Beet and Mangels push out fibres there instead of enlarging their roots, the tops make little progress, and upon the whole the prospect of a full crop of Mangel or Beet is not encouraging at present. Late Tumips are a good plant, and are growing faster. Potatos, where they have escaped the frequent frosts, which have continued at intervals up to July, produce well, and the early crops in East Anglia are remarkably good. I saw, however, a great many from Nottingham to Peterborough brown and stunted, looking as if they had been frozen through. Cabbages everywhere are a wonderful crop, they suffered much during the winter, but have grown in an extraordinary manner ever since. Parsnips seem also at home in the wet, Carrots do not look so well. Onions are fine as yet, and promise a heavy crop. The Wheat in the Fens when I passed through about a week ago, was still standing, but the ears were small in proportion to the strength of the straw, and in many places the plant was thin. I also observed a larger proportion than usual of Mustard, and on making inquiry found that a good many of the fields had been so\vn on Wheat that had failed. Clover and Sainfoin were heavy crops, but a good deal had been lost in the Fens through bad weather. I saw one field between Cambridge and Huntingdon nearly wholly under water, with the Clover lying in the swathe, and the young plants springing up through it. Some farmers in the train assured me that a good many crops had found their way into the muck-yard. It certainly has been a most ticklish haysel. Grass everywhere is a prodigious yield. All that is needed is weather to make and cut it. Much hay was carted in this neighbourhood yesterday ; but it began to rain in the night, and has poured all day, and still rains. Everyivhere the grass is getting past its best. A good deal has been cut, and snatched as it were from the rain ; but thousands of anxious farmers are waiting till a change comes. It is to be hoped it will come soon, for notwithstanding the Mechian pro- verb about rain in June — which, however, as I take, does not mean rain all the time — things will soon be sadly out of tune, alike for haysel and harvest, if the rain does not stop now June is over. There is another old saw, which seems more likely to be verified this season: "Wet barking, wet haysel, and a wet harvest." We had a wet barking time, though the bark was never better than this season. It is needless to fill in the haysel, or to fore- bode the harvest ; but should this saying come to pass, I fear it may be added to thus — a cold and a hungry mnter. For famine, or scarcity in England, never yet did come by drought but by water. But let us hope that the weather may soon change, and settle down fine, so that the moderate abundance of food for man, the superabounding store for beast, v/ith which the earth is covered, may be gamered in safety. D. T. Fish, July \\. Worcester. — It really is too soon to say what the Wheat and other crops of this neighbourhood \vill be. A continuance of the wet weather we have had for the last five weeks would be most disastrous, whereas three weeks of sunshine might do wonders. The present position of the Wheat crop of this district is this : — A large portion of the early-sown, on clay land especially, uch killed by frost and part replanted. All this )e a deficient crop. The later sown stood the , is a very bulky crop ; much of it laid and twisted by heavy rains and wind, which have pre- led during the whole blossoming season, and must be prejudicial. I have no faith in the probability of a good crop. If mildew be the consequence of the satu- rated state of the clays, it will be a very bad one. A late harvest is inevitable. Barley is a great crop, but much of it is laid ; the quality of such must be inferior. Beans : An immense crop of straw ; too bulky, and much blighted ; not likely to be an average crop. Hay : Our first fodder crops, Trifolium, entirely spoiled; only fit for litter ; the first part of the hay very much damaged ; the remainder, in process of cutting, we hope 952 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag-ricultural Gazette. rjuly 22, 1871. to be more fortunate with. Roots are likely to be the greatest crop grown for many years ; they want dry weather. C. Handel!, Chadbury, mar Evesham, July 17. THE IMPLEMENT YARD AT WOL VERHA MP TON. We continue our notes of the Implement Yard, The following are some of the entries of cultivating tools to be worked by steam power : — Ashby, Jeffery & Luke, Stamford, exhibit an 8-horse traction engine, which they recommend as suitable for every description of agricultural work, and specially adapted for working Fisken's steam-culture tackle. John Sainty, Barnard Sainty & John Sainty, Wis- bech, exhibit a corn-drill adapted for either steam or horse power. Barrows & Steward, of Cherwell Works, Banbury, Oxon, exhibit a steam-cultivating set on the Woolston principle, consisting of an ordinary iz-horse portable engine, detached windlass, rope-porters of several kinds, tackle, snatchblocks, cultivators with 3 and 7 tines, iron clam, and "dead anchors," which were tried both at Barnhurst and New Buildings Farm, and met with considerable approbation. John Hensman, of Ampthill, Beds, exhibits a 13-row drill, fitted with patent steerage behind, which gives greater facility for steering than the old front steerage, and at the same time saves the labour of the person in front. It has a self-acting balance- box for com and seeds, and is adapted for either horse or steam power. A drill with any number of rows may be constructed which the steam-power employed may require. Priest, Woolnough & Michell, Kingston-on-Thames, exhibit a new patent combined corn-drill for steam- power, fitted with improved turn- tables, chain, and fore-steerage. It is 12 feet wide, and can be converted into two horse-drills each 6 feet Mellard's Trent Foundiy (Limited), Rugeley, Staffordshire, exhibit God- frey's American revolving mould- board two-furrow plough, and single- furrow plough for deep culture. Cambridge & Parham, Bristol, exhibit a Cambridge roller and clod- crusher, 8 feet wide by 30 inches in diameter. Edward Hayes, of Stoney Strat- ford, Bucks, exhibits, under steam culture, eight entries for trial, viz. : — (I), a complete set of steam culti- vating machinery and apparatus, consisting of a 12-horse power port- able engine ; a self-acting windlass, also entered singly ; self-acting anchors, also entered separately ; a 5-tined cultivator, auxilary claw- anchor, snatchblocks and rope- porters ; (2), a 12-horse portable engine ; (3), patent self-acting wind- lass, which prevents stopping at the headland ; (4), a 5-lined cultivator ; (5), an improved snatchblock ; (6), an improved claw-anchor ; (7), an improved rope-porter; (8), a pair of patent self-moving anchors, for roundabout work. The clip-chain movement, taken from the rotating pulley, over which the wire rope passes by means of a worm working in a spur wheel, is very simple, effective, and ingenious, as it enables the anchor to move forward the breadth of the implement, so as to permit of fresh ground being taken on. There is a similar anchor at the opposite headland. On the direction of the rope being reversed, one of the anchors is stopped by a ratchet catch, and remains at rest whilst the other anchor is moving a breadth forward. There are several changes of gear wheels to suit different lengths of land. John Fenwick, engineer, Grantham, Lincolnshire, has three entries for trial, viz. (i), a snatchblock ; (2), an anchor ; and (3), winch barrel with chain, and spring anchor and pulley, all manufactured by Picksley, Sims & Co., Leigh, Lancashire. William Ashton, of Homcastle, Lincolnshire, exhi- bits, his *' chisel-toothed harrow, on wheels," improved by Henry John Seels, for horse or steam culture,— can be lowered into and taken out of the ground at pleasure without stopping. The following is a list of articles claiming novelty entered for trial for the 10 Silver Medals : — John Freer & Co., Rothley, Leicestershire, show a corn-planting machine having six dibbling wheels. James Coultas, Grantham, shows a 14-row com and seed drill, with Fowler & Co. 's patent steerage. G. W. Murray & Co., Banff, show a double-drill plough, which can be hauled by two horses, which promises to economise horse- labour in getting in Turnips and other drilled crops. Matthews, Son & Co., Driffield, enter a new sub- stitute for linseed cake, made chiefly from home produce. Benjamin Perowne, of Great Snoring, Norfolk, has invented an attachment to turaip-cutters, to prevent the last piece of root escaping uncut. William Walker & Son, Tithley, Notts, enter for trial a I2-row corn-drill, with canisters for turning two rows down one conductor if necessary. It has wrought- iron sides, screw gearing, and waterproof box with patent lid prop, and the conductors are proof against wind, dirt, or rain; also a 12-row drill, with newly- invented barrel for rough and uneven surfaces. Henry Pooley & Son, Liverpool and Manchester, enter a new patent automatic grain scale, self-acting, and registering the quantity weighed. Hayward, Tyler & Co., London, enter the uni- versal steam-pump, one of which was selected by the Bath and West of England Society for supplying their showyard w' ' their block (fig. 208). It is provided with high-speed governors, feed-pump, &c., complete on metal plate. Two-raw Turnip and Alangel Seed-drill, exhibited by Mellard's Trent Foundry, Rugeley, Staffordshire, is decidedly the best machine of the kind we have seen. The seed boxes, hoppers, and conductors have a balance motion, which adapts them for hill-side work. The front rollers have not only a projection at each end to keep them on the drill, but a central V-ring, projecting the depth at which the seed should be placed ; along the rut made by this ring the coulter passes, depositing the seed at the proper depth. The two small rollers behind follow up on even ground, thus running better, and are more easily kept clean, whilst they at the same time cover the seed more evenly. "The result of all this is a more uniform braird and healthier plants, which is everything in the growth of root crops. The drill is made entirely of iron, the shafts being of tubular wrought-iron. The loss in using bad machines which require to be lifted every now and then to keep them clean, and which thus make blanks and place the seed at irregular depths, is incredible ; and we venture to say that on a large ; also their patent upright feed- | farm Mellard's machine will pay for itself in a single season. Patent Adjustable Gate-hinges for Park, Field, or other Gates.— ]ames Braggins, of 8 and 9, Fish Street, Banbury, Oxfordshire, has fitted up on his stand an ornamental gate and side gate of very high merit. The posts, framing, and stay-bars are made of English Oak, filled up with horizontal bars and vertical stand- ards of twisted wrought iron ; the top rail or bar is omamented with cast-iron scroll. The parts are well proportioned, and the style of the whole agreeably antique. What gives the gates their real value is the patent adjustable swing hinges, of which fig. 206 is the top hinge and fig. 207 the bottom hinge. It is necessary to understand that the hinge is fixed to a bed- plate, which is bolted to the post by four bolts ; besides the two principal fastenings, one for each side of the hinge, each side of the hinge is double-jointed, the two being connected by a short bar-lever, the farther side bar-joints being above the near side bar-joints. In both cases the bed-plate on the post is the fulcrum upon which the gate turns. In the engraving the lower hinge is shown opening outwards, the upper jointed bar resting against the bed-plate, the near-side lower joint receding from the bed-plate, so as to give the gate swing. The moment the hand is removed from the gate the receded joint comes up to the bed-plate, rests against it, both the short bars being close to the plate, the one above the other. Were the gate drawn inwards the upper and further joint would recede from the bed-plate, the same as the engrav- ing shows the near joint. The mechanism is complete, simple, and effective, for no bullock or force of any kind applied can throw the gate off its swing-centres without breaking the gate itself. It is otherwise with the common swing-gates, for they are continually being thrown off their pins. Should the posts or gate be thrown off its perpendicular, provision is made for adjusting the boilers, by which water can be supplied to the boiler gate by undoing the bed-plate and placing a piece of at any required temperature. | wood or iron behind to bring the centres right. The top Schaffer & Budenberg, of Manchester, enter a new 1 hinge (fig. 206) is also adjustable, by means of the nut hand fire-engine and double-action pump, the valves | and screw. Thus, should the gate drop at the open- of which are so arranged in the cylinders that they can ing, or latch end, by the post giving way or the be easily removed for cleaning. hinge wearing, then by turning the nut the gate can H. R. Marsden & Co. enter an improved stone- be adjusted and always kept right. Practically speak- breaker with vertical engine combined. ing, to keep the gate-hinges right is to increase its John Robertson Mackenzie, Birmmgham, enters durability, so to speak, for it is when gate-hinges go j three patent pneumatic fire-extinguishers and garden- wrong that the gate goes to the dogs. All who have irrigators ; also two fire and garden engines. any experience in keeping a number of gates right are Milbum & Co., London, enter a patent cylindrical familiar both with the expense and bother they give, steam-heated drying-machine, adapted for desiccating j and Mr. Braggins' hinges will do much to obviate this brewers' grains ; also a patent combined portable j botheration and expense. engine and drying-machine for com and roots. Scare's Manure Distributor. — This is another valu- ! It will be seen from the prize list (p. 927) that none \ able addition to our implement list. The principle of of the above entries for medals have been successful ; ' delivery is a rotating barrel with flat-threaded zig-zag ' but the justice of this may be called in question, for j screws kept clean and of uniform working order by ly three out of the 10 medals have been awarded, means of a number of scrapers driven by a cam-wheel I on the axle of the barrel, which corresponds with the zig-zag groove and small portion of the screw that brings up and delivers the manure. A second bar, fiu-- We add a few paragraphs relating to three or four nished with a number of stirrers, works backwards and ems in the catalogue which seem to deserve further [ forwards in the manure-box by a cam movement, break- Jtice : — I ing the manure fine, thereby supplying the delivery- The Reading Iron Works Companv exhibited their barrel uniformly without clogging. The speed of ;ry neat, well-packed, and compact little 2-horse j delivery is regulated by a slide actuated by rack and Dwer horizontal fixed engine, of which we present ' pinion. The machine can be made to sow, either 'S 2-HORSE FIXED ENGINE. opinion, there is ample yard for the whole. July 22, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 953 broadcast or in drills, all kinds of artificial manure without any other mixture, at the rate of from 2 to 10 cwt. and upwards per acre, with a seed-box attached for sowing Turnips and Mangel Wurzel any distance apart. A number of these machines are now in use, and those who use them write favourably of their performance. Patent Folding Balance-Elevator. — Wm. Tasker & Sons, of the Waterloo Iron Works, Andover, Hants, have effected a most valuable improvement in elevators, which effects two important purposes. First, the elevator, when the stack is built, can be folded up, re- moved with ease, and stowed away in an ordinary cart-shed. Second, it can be made almost to any height by adding joint after joint, without increasing its length when folded up. Practically, the highest eleva- tor required for stacking either hay, straw, or com in the sheaf, be folded up ricker, open for work ; and fig. 210, the same folded for travelling and housing. In this position it is balanced over the large wheels, hence it is termed a "balance-elevator." When exposed to the weather, eleva- tors soon get out of truthful ■working order, and are expen- sive to keep in repair, and soon become worn out. The housing of them will save much expense of repairs, and otherwise increase durability and efficiency of work- ing. When pitching straw it can be worked by the engine used in threshing, and when used in pitching hay or corn it can be worked by horse-gear and a small pony, or by a small engine and gear strap. Those in use are giving great satisfac- tion. Mr. C. Read, of South Charford Farm, says his one "will deliver the hay on the rick from four pitchers in the field, and it is very easily worked — with a small pony." The Department for Seeds, Hoots, Models, Manures, &c., is better arranged than usual, articles of a kind being exhibited in close proximity. Mr. Goss, of Plymouth, exhibits stencil-plate letters cut in zinc for marking sacks and the like, branding- irons, &c. ; Davis & Co., London, thermometers, barometers, .ic. Alfred Welsh, of Southall, Middlesex, exhibits two models, the one a railway horse-van, and the other a cattle-van, with means for supplying food and water. Passing over cattle foods, medicines, horse harness, mowing-machines, &c., we come to a series of stands of sewing - machines, which may be termed the "Ladies' Comer," and which form an excellent exhibit. Mr. Jones, of Gloucester, also shows as usual his waterproofing for boots and shoes, which is much needed in the showyard. to make 301. an acre profit from 300 acres than to make los. an acre from 600. Now, as far as I can see, he is liot so sure of making even loj-. an acre nett profit from a holding of 600 acres with a farming capital of /lo an acre as he would be of making 3oj-. with an outlay of ^'20 per acre, after debiting his farm with 5 per cent, on capital employed. The land, as a matter of course, will do nothing for you, if you do nothing for it. The only question that arises is this, Has the maximum amount of capital that can be laid out on land to advantage been laid out ? I should cultivated a considerable of land in .E ELE\ VlUR scarcely think it hT;, if one may look on the amount laid out on the 100 acres of a market garden as com- pared with what is laid out on 100 acres farmed in the highest manner. The quantity of vegetable matter produced on an acre of market garden ground is many- fold that of an acre farmed in farmers' style. I was reading a little book I purchased in the Rue Jacob in Paris, being a brochure on market gardening near Paris, when to my surprise I found that a capital of not less than 26,000 f. was required to work a market garden of a surface not exceeding 5 acres. True it is, there were GARDENING AND FARMING. Mr. Mechi, who for more than a quarter of a century has been pounding away at the agricultural head, and tr)'ing to knock ( SKEK s PLL\ \T recent issue, under the head of " Gardening and Farming," again returned to the attack, and is trying to inculcate : several heavy items for glass, the common sense principle of little and good being | glasses, cloches. Sec, but there preferable to much and bad. He hits the right ! of nearly ^60 nail on the head when he says :— "Takea farm of fiable farming 300 instead of 600 acres, and you will at once double , holdings must be smailer and capital employed greater! """' acreable capital, and from my practical experience ' My expe ' ■ - . . . the shape of hand- : a prominent figure re for manures. I say, to be pro- be gardening. To do it, however, aller and ca] ' ' your acreaoie capital, and trom my practical experience ' My experience in England has not been long, I can assure you that you will thus considerably increase ' sufficiently long to tell me that the only chance of the your percentage of profit." The principle involved in j farmer is a heavy expenditure judiciously laid out. I that sentence ought to be written in letters of gold, profess myself a true follower of Mechi. I have read Did the farmer, as a rule, instead of taking his chance his book, enlarged frnm tlm^ tr, timp nvpr and nvor of a favourable season for getting his livelihood from large acreage, simply act as any manufacturer would, and confine himself to an acrea; capital, he would, as a matter of again ; among the many forcible remarks made by i the ( the tropics, I have always found that where I dug my ground to the depth of 12 or 13 inches for crops like Jute, Hemp, Tobacco, Chilies, Indigo, or other tropical crops, I got my outlay back with a consider- able addition over and above what I got from ordinary ploughing. On my return to England in 1869 I was determined to try the same plan, but I could not get labour for digging, except at a price absurdly high. So I took the best substitute I could find, a plough drawn by four horses, followed by a subsoiler draivn by three [others. I moved the ground from 16 to 20 inches, having " ■ i previously drained it with 2-inch V pipes 4 feet deep, 30 feet apart. ' Previous to this, about 4 inches below the surface, there was a pan as hard as slate. My neighbours looked on me with a sort of contempt mixed with my establishment. Ploughman No. I led the way. He did not understand these new-fangled ways ; he did not like to see the country ruined, &c. ; that Major Monsoon, who had Col- lege Farm, on the other side of the road, nearly ruined hissclf with deep ploughing, and if he had not died would soon have ruined the country ; with a lot of like rubbish. By dint of keeping my bailiff close on the ploughman's heels I got my work done, say 16 to 20 inches deep, and left as much of the ground as I could get finished to mellow through the winter. On a portion of the ground so treated I made up my mind to try what luck I should have with Mangel. I did this be- cause I was told my land would not grow roots. As soon as ever I could get on the land in the spring, I had it broken up, rolled, and ploughed, and in _ ^ due season applied 18 to 20 " large cartloads of muck, made and kept under a covered yard by about 45 homed animals, fed on cake and corn ; 3 cwt. of guano, and 3 of bone super- phates. My farmyard manure I %alued at 8j. (>d. the load. The total cost of ploughing, subsoiling, horse-hoeing, hand-hoeing, earthing up, pulling, drawing, and pitting, I put at £li, 8j an acre, exclusive of rent, rates, &c. My sowing took place about April 29. May passed — not a sign of a single plant. My neighbours, who had throughout ridiculed the notion of my growing roots on such land, seeing nothing coming up, gave me the usual "Did I not tell you so?" and laughed at my disappointment. I attributed the failure to the seed, not to the cultivation. 1 telegraphed on the last Wednesday of May to the seedsman, request- ing the instant despatch of fresh seed by pas- senger train. By a sin- gular stroke of good luck, either the tele- grah miscarried, or the seedsmen were too busy to attend to the order, or they had sent the seed by goods-train, and it had miscarried. Up to the Saturday night no seeds came. On Saturday night, June I, a strong shower came, and on Monday morn- ing the old seed came forth in shoots without a single gap— at the same time came the usual cry of my neighbours, " Who would have thought it ? Why, you are going to have five- acre ? Why youm beats Mr. D. hol- • grows less than five-and-forty tons an part, I had as little faith in their LS to quantity of produce as I had in the previous " Did I not tell you so ?" My faith was pinned to the result in the scales. When pulled in the latter end of October, I had an acre measured across each field ; this acre was weighed to an ounce on one of Fairbank's weighing machines, which will turn with sixpence, and the roots put into pit, and the cubic dimensions taken. From these cubic dimensions the and-forty tons i low, and he nc acre." For a prognostications i proportional to his he trenched his garden. I would ■ the farmer trench his lam which he asks a neighbour why ' result of the whole cull quantities, find it more for his advantage stirring up equal nply ask. Why does .271 have in my ■ the produce and its market value, to show that, as far 954 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 22, 1871. as that crop went, my outlay was profitable, and that but for deep and expensive cultivation, I should, lilse my neighbours, have had no Mangel. I could have sold the whole of it. I did sell a great portion ; as I fell short of straw for fodder, and as my beasts were in first-rate condition, I sold beasts and sheep except lambing ewes. I sold more than 100 tons at the pit at 22,1. per ton as they stood, without topping or trimming. I realised at the rate of /30 16^. an acre, atacost, including 50J. for rent and taxes, of/'i6 l8j-., thus realising a profit [at the rate] of;^i3 iSs. per acre. As a matter of course, 22s. a ton was an exceptional price, it could not be got every year, but even taking the selling value of Mangel at 15 J. per ton, there would have been a nett profit of £4 2s. I must not, however, charge all the amendment to the Mangel crop ; on a portion, viz., 5 acres, I have as fine a crop of Canada Oats as are to be seen. I reckon on getting from 8 to 10 qr. of grain and 50 cwt. of straw. As an illustration of the benefit of deep cultivation, I may state that, notwithstanding the very dry season, I observed my plants grew very vigorously (more so than those of my neighbours). In the latter end of July I took a small garden hand-fork, and took away the earth from around the root of a plant, and traced root and rootlets without beaking to their extremities. The tap-root went straight down, say 16 to 18 inches, to the full depth of the subsoiling ; as it could get no further down, it struck off at right angles, and I traced it about a foot further, until it got so fine I could not trace it further. On another piece of land treated in the same way, I had 7 acres of the finest Cabbages to be seen, part of which I drew for the bullocks, and the remainder I soiled with sheep. On that land I have as fine a crop of Barley and seeds as any one could wish. The value of my Cabbages I cannot estimate, as they all went back into the land through animals' stomachs. I need not weary your readers with further detail as to the doings on the remainder of my farm. Suffice it to say, independently of the cost of drainage, my tenants' capital has been more than /20 an acre, and could I rely on steady labour I could employ advantageously considerably more. Altliough I have only 96 acres, I keep fully employed eight horses, each of which I give from 12 to 14 lb. of grain a-day throughout the year, without which they could not stand the work they have. As I am building largely with concrete I am forced to hire for all my leading in the building line ; the expenditure is great, but I am beginning to see my way ahead. It may be asked by some of your readers, Why write all this ? Others have done the same on a far larger scale than yourself, why should you teach us to suck eggs ? My simple answer would be : The food question is rapidly becoming a serious question in Great Britain ; what it is and has been for a long time in China it shortly will be here. In China every available inch of ground is made the most of In Great Britain this is not the case. Her present production is subsidised by a payment for imported cereals of not less than 20 millions yearly. This is paid for by the produce of the loom, the forge, and the workshop. All our best customers are rapidly be- coming manufacturers for themselves. We cannot always expect to get a large portion of our food through the loom and the forge. The manufacturing class, sooner or later, will be thrown back on the land : as at present cultivated it cannot support them. If it cannot support them some curious questions will arise as to the rights of property. As these rights are simply founded on an idea, a future idea may probably come to the conclusion that property held by the few in large extent might be held more advantageously by the many in smaller allotments. Having property, I trust this will not happen in my day. The small speck, however, can be seen on the horizon. To prevent its rising higher we must grow more food. To do this farming must be gardening, or something next akin to it. To make farming gardening more capital must be put into the land. Holdings must be smaller. Land- owners will have to make the outlay required for drainage and homesteads, and tenant-farmers must be prepared to take smaller holdings, or somehow find a working capital of not less, if not more, than ^20 per acre. Kboda Bitx. JOURNAL OF THE STEAM CULTURE TRIALS AT WOLVERHAMPTON. [We conclude our short journal from p. 884.] Wfdnesday, July 5. — From the heavy storm of rain yesterday, the trials were suspended for a time, but the weather having cleared up to-day, the work continues without interruption. The four fields of old grass selected for operation are divided into 14 plots, and these are appropriated to competitors as follows : — The first field is divided into two large plots for the trial of the extensive assortment of implements entered by the Messrs. Fowler & Co. in class \. Their ditching plough is also tried here. The second field adjoining on the left is divided into four plots, viz., 3, 4, 5, and 6. Plot 3 is occupied by the Messrs. J. & F. Howard, who here compete for the prize, class 3. Plot 4 is in the possession of Barrows & Steward, who enter for classes i, 2, and 3. Plot 5 falls to Fowler & Co., who enter for the prize, class 3. Plot 6, if it belongs to Fowler, has not been broken. The third field, on the left of the second, is divided into four plots, plot 7 falling to the Ravensthorpe Company (Fisken), who enter for class i, class 3, and Lord Vernon's cup. Plot 8 is occupied by Amies, Bar- ford & Co., who enter for class 3 and Lord Vernon's cup. Plot 9 is the Bedford firm's, who enter exclusively for the cup, and plot 10 is the Leeds firm's, who enter for class I and the cup. This field was technically termed throughout the day "the cup field." The fourth field is divided into four plots. Plot II falls to the Messrs. Howard, who enter for class I. Plot 12 is Fowler & Co.'s, who compete for class i and class 2. Plot 1 3 is occupied by the Bedford firm, who enter for class 2. And the last plot, No. 14, falls to the Ravensthorpe Company, who enter for classes i and 2. The four fields are far from being of a uniform quality of soil or, we may add, evenness of surface. Field No. I is very undulating, the inclination in some places measuring I foot in 2 feet in plot I, where Fowler & Co. started yesterday with their 20-horse ■ Me set, ...... The upper portion of this field (plot" 2) slope, and the soil is also more uniform. In this plot. Fowler's i2-horse double set was tried in ploughing, digging, and cultivating, making rather rough work in ploughing, owing to the great speed and softness of the land from the heavy rain of yesterday. The digging and cultivating were excellent in the lower portion of the field, plot I. Some excellent work was also done by the 20-horse double set with a 4-furrow balance-plough, about 12 inches deep, and also with a 3-tined knife, going from 20 to 24 inches deep. During the day, the rope of one of Fowler's 20-horse engines was yoked to Mellard's double-furrow American rotating mouldboard-plough, which made very good work. In field 2 the Messrs. J. & F. Howard got their 3-furrow balance-plough and detached windlass tackle into position, and started, making good work, from 7 to 8 inches deep. Their 3-tined cultivator followed. The Messrs. Barrows & Steward also com- menced in this field, the surface of which is very undulating, with a 3-tined cultivator. This was fol- lowed by a 4-furrow balance-plough, which made more satisfactory work than the cultivator, the shares of which were too narrow for the plasticity of the soil, i.c.^ they " stripped." The Messrs. Fowler also commenced in this field with their roundabout taclde, and a 4-furrow balance- digger. They also got to work in field No. 3, with their S-horse double drum system — first, with a 4-furrow balance-digger; second, witha4-furrowbalance-plough; and third, with a 7-tined cultivator. Amies & Barford also did some fair work with a 3-furrow plough in field No 3. The Bedford firm also got into position. In field No. 4, Fowler & Co. yoked their clip-drum set, makmg good work with a 7-tined balance-culti- vator from 8 to 9 inches deep. 'This was followed by a 4-furrow digger, going 7 to 8 inches deep. The Ravensthorpe Company also did some good work on their plot in this field, first with a 4-furrow balance- plough 8 inches deep, and second with a 5-tined culti- vator, or rather with a 7-tined cultivator, two of the tines being removed to obviate choking. The soil in this field is a very tenacious clay. Thursday, July 6.— In field No. I, the Messrs. Fowler & Co. continued their trials with their 1 2-horse double set, and in the afternoon after the trials were over they made better work in ploughing and digging than they did before. The plough had disc coulters before the common ones, which appeared well adapted for the peculiar softness and plasticity of the surface from the heavy rain of Tuesday, as the furrow-slice was turned over less broken and more evenly laid. No doubt the slower pace at which the implement was moving partly conduced to this result, a rapid pace having a tendency to break the furrow-slice and lay it unevenly. In this field the I^eeds firm did some work with their ditching plough. This implement, we were informed, is intended for the Sugar-cane and Cotton plantations, Louisiana, where it will be of more use in keeping the open ditches or rather irri- gation water carriers and gutters clean than in cutting new ones. The plough is somewhat similar to those made by the late Mr. Smith, of Deanston, the writer, and others, who attempted to Steward, and Fowler & Co., did some ploughing, digging, and cultivating with their respective round- about tackle, finishing what they began the previous day. In field 3, the Ravensthorpe Company got their light rope into position, so as to exemplify one of the peculiar advantages of this system. At the lower end of their plot, and at the further comer of the adjoining field, there was a supply of water, and instead of carting this water to the engine, the engine was taken to the water, and the light manilla rope laid out through the entrance to this field and around their plot. This done, they commenced ploughing, making very good but rather broken work. Amies & Barford finished their work in this field, and the Messrs. Howard made, if not the best, some excellent ploughing on their plot for the cup. After the judges were tlirough, most of the competitors did some excellent work to the Council and a larger number of visitors than were present on any previous day. There was a good deal of complaint amongst practical farmers relative to the quality of the work done, which they considered below the standard of the everyday practice of those who use steam-culture implements. They had come to see something better than what they saw at home, but were disappointed. At Bamhurst, too, better things were promised at New Buildings Farm, whilst something worse has been realised. Of course the comparison of Bamhurst and New Buildings Farm goes for nothing, but the prior argument has material weight, for at the national steam-ploughing match farmers have a right to expect something better than they see and do at home. "There are reasons for everything," it is said, and there are two reasons for the complaints in question which ought not to be passed over unnoticed. First, the exceptional character of the season and land, and the question. How far provision was made for such in the construction of the implements and the racing speed at which they were driven ? Second, the surface of the ground was not only undulating longitudinally but transversely. The former did not materially deteriorate the quality of the work even in the worst place, but to the latter much of the objection of unequal depth, unequal flatness in laying of the furrow-slice was due. Thus the old outcastings of the ridges are in many cases deep whilst the crowns are high, which accounts both lor the inequality of the depth and the flatness of the furrow-slice in places, seeing that the plots were laid out angularly across these. A moment's reflection will suffice to satisfy any intelligent mind practically versed in the matter, that it is impossible to make a 4-furrow plough sole at an equal depth and breadth over such a surface. In short, land thus laid down to grass ought not to have been selected for the trials. But the fact that it has been selected, and the results that follow, ought not to prejudice any observant farmer against steam-culture. On Thursday the five road-steamers which com- peted at Bamhurst on Saturday and Monday last started from Wolverhampton at an early hour for Stafford, each attended by a judge or engineer to report its performance, consumption of coal, water, &c. The distance going and returning is nearly 32 miles, and to to those that went up to near the trial fields at New Buildings Farm it exceeded this, so that the test was rather a severe one. They started separately, each with a load of some kind or other of a known weight, but sufficiently near each other to enable Mr. Bram- well, who rode in a cab, to inspect the whole. There is some discrepancy in the weight of the loads and engines themselves as communicated to us, and as marked upon the engines and waggons with chalk, and until differences are reconciled, we forbear giving either. "Sutherland," the engine of the Messrs. Ransome, Sims & Head, was the first to start, and has quite effaced all misfortunes at Bamhurst ; Aveling & Porter's 6-horse and lo-horse roadsters followed, and Burrell's two engines of 8-horse each came last. The Government road-steamer " Chenab " and carriage, known as " the Indian train," also made by Ransome, Sims & Head, started from Wolverhampton some half-hour later, i. e., about 7.30, the carriage or steam, omnibus being well filled with officials, &c., but running at 1 1 miles per hour it soon passed the others, stopping to allow their inspection. The journey going and returning is highly creditable to all the engines, proving road-traction an accomplished fact. Friday and Saturday, July 7 and S. — The judges return to Bamhurst to test the draught of special im- plements, which was not concluded on Monday last, July 3. The engine of Mr. Hayes, Stoney Stratford, was specially selected and engaged to remain at Bam- hurst ;during the Stafford trials to finish the work. According to the official programme of proceedings, the testing should have been continued on Tuesday the 4th, but the heavy rains of that day were un- favourable ; and besides this, it was as well to see what took place at New Buildings Farm. There were also a number of drills, rollers, clod-cmshers, and ridging-ploughs, that had to be tried. On Friday forenoon, owing to the showers which occasionally fell, the season for drilling and rolling was unfavour- able, but in the afternoon the weather cleared up, and the several operations were proceeded with, and finally brought to a close on Saturday by the trial of the ;ing-ploughs ai Leeds firms. Utilisation of Sewage. — My letter to you of June 20, inserted in your journal of July i, has failed to procure from Mr. Mechi the information it sought. I am, however, obliged to Mr. Hope for the informa- tion which his letter of July S contains, notwithstand- ing that it fails to make clear to a " simple inquirer " what the practical results upon the Romford farm have been. Mr. Hope had previously announced the popu- lation of Romford to be 6000, by his declaration that he paid a rental of .^600 a year at 2s. a head of the population. He does not absolutely contradict the figures given by Mr. Mechi in his communication to the Times of June 26 last, but speaking of the quantity July 22, 1S71.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 955 of sewage he receives, he says that " the average dry weather sewage " is estimated,' in round numbers, at 1 100 tons daily. Mr. Mechi's figures may, therefore, stiU be quite right, as he of course endeavoured to inform the public, not what the estimated dry weather flow of sewage was, but what quantity of sewage was sent on to the fann from Romford ; and what I desired to learn was, what number of acres received this supply ? Although Mr. Hope, WTiting during a very wet season, assures us that the sewage of Romford does not average too tons per head per annum, as I gathered from Mr. Mechi's letter, he argues upon the average dry weather sewage as ''estimated," and which, by the way, gives an annual quantity of 67 tons per head for the popu- lation on which he pays. This quantity can hardly be a fair sample of what is delivered on to the farm. I regret that I fell into the error which Mr. Hope corrects, but I was led to believe that the pumps were worked night and day, by a statement of his having utilised the sewage of Romford * ' night and day continuously ;" and when I alluded to the subject I was not aware that he could so use the sewage without pumping it for distribution. I am not at all disposed to discuss the question of the intrinsic value of town sewage, and it may be 8s. a head, as Mr. Hope states it is ; but it is very essential to obtain facts — what quantity of sewage is used, how much land it is applied to, the condition of it as it is received and as it leaves the farm, and the results in an agricultural point of view. If the sewage of Romford is purified, as Mr. Hope states that it is, upon something between 100 and 115 acres of land, the solution of the question is here satisfactorily arrived at, for the land receives and passes to the crops the manure which the town supplies, and 60 persons annually provide something between 67 and 100 tons of sewage apiece to very little more than an acre of land, and obtain, as Mr. Mechi tells us, excellent crops of aU kinds. Mr. Hope, it is tnie, complains that the farm is too small for the quantity of sewage he receives, but if he can purify between 4000 and 6000 tons an acre, on the average, in producing various crops, nothing but extended experience will sho^v that the same quantity of sewage can be more advantageously distri- buted over a larger area. F. P., July 11. Labourers' Cottage. — It appears to me that Mr. Makins' (p. 85 1 ) criticism of Mr. Denton's cottage plans, published by you on May 15, is rather harsli ; the plans were intended for the country. Mr. Makins' plans are admirably adapted for towns, where land is expensive and a narrow frontage desirable, but I, as a land-agent, should generally prefer Mr. Denton's. On June 24 you published another of Mr. Denton's plans, in which the bed-room accommodation must be pronounced deficient. Accompanying is a copy of a plan of mine that has given satisfaction (fig. 211). Its outer form is similar to Mr. Denton's, but it has better bed-room accommodation, and a good dairy {the smallest bed-i 80 feet). It has only or elevation may be adopted, Terrace, York, July 6. which is one of the strongest sources of our national | they draw blood as their food. Until now they ha strength — that inasmuch as they tend to centralism, 1 been found on animals in Great Britain to an exti which, in a neighbouring country has led, more than jurious to health, much less as causing death, anythmg else, to the evils of Communism, and the ' |°"°i"';^;_ '^?™^''f^' and particularly in many parts of destruction of property — and that for these several reasons the existence of these co-operative supply to be i ntries, however, and particularly South America, these parasites attack animals vast nnrabers, that even oxen succumb to the irritating and exhaustive effects of their attacks. Specimens of the skin of lambs, thickly covered with these epizoa. were sent from Kent by a veterinary surgeon consulted on the case. In his communication he writes that * they had The Sheep Tick. — Many sheep in this neighbour- attacked the sheep and lambs, both on uplands and hood having been attacked by what are called here , marshes, and that one farmer found a large quantity of "grass ticks," soon after being driven to pasture this ' 'hem on some colts which were at pasture near to the year, and in many cases have died from the effects ' ^eep.' There are few parasites more tenacious of hfe than produced by those creatures, I have been led to inquire ' '"^'^' ''"' expenments having shown that they can easily into "the matter ind am told thit fhp<;e " tirks " differ ' ^^ destroyed by carbohc acid, It was recommended that mto tne matter, and am told, that these ticks ditter ; ^ ,^^ ^,^^^^^ j^^ ^^^^ ^^ dipping the sheep and lambs in firom the ordmary sheep ticks, but m what way I ^ ^ji^.^d ^^^^^% „f (he acid. This proved most effec- cannot ascertain ; also that certam lands are more tive in the destruction of the ticks, and thereby prevented subject to them than others. I should feel much a further loss of lambs."] obliged if you could give me any information about these creatures, and if there is any means of exter- Large's Brick-Machine. — This brick-machine, minating them. Many flockowners (some friends of : shown in the International Exhibition, invented by mine included) have been obliged to have all their | Henry Large, and manufactured by H. Clayton, sheep looked over singly, and these ticks picked out I Son & Hewlett, is chiefly for concrete bricks that by hand, and the losses in some instances, especially do not require burning. The moulds are filled in the case of lambs and tegs, have been serious. | with semi-dry material and compressed by the central Subscriber, Chislct Court, near Canterbury. [To plunger, actuated by an eccentric on this we append a letter of explanation by our corre- large spur-wheel. A second plunger spondent, Mr. Wilson, of Edington Mains, which is worked by a rocking lever, and v appeared at p. 906 in our last year's volume, wherein 1 w'ith the compressed brick comes unc he refers to the two different insects to which the ! ward stroke presses it through on to a name tick is applied. "O. F." had commented on a which descends with the stroke so : previous letter by Mr. Wilson (p. 600, 1870), wherein brick being removed by the 1870), wherein brick bein ng- ^ ing-table of the the right, the mould :, its down- Iving table, the Co-operative Societies well as hoped, that the operative Supply Association had come "to an end-that ,.^^,^ ^„ per ton by the cargo, is far too costly to be employed in the manu- facture of these cheap superphosphates. It is a great mistake to ignore the value of what is called msoluble "ved from bones. I proved their value in the open field by This done, the 1 )sition by a weighted ill "—a convulsive attack— to which sheep are liable. Is , lever, ready to receive another brick, and the empty owing to these true ticks (Ixodes Ricinus). mould is taken off and refilled. On the left-hand side ,,.„„, , , , ^, , a bent lever is furnished at the lower end with a O. F. says of niy letter :--; There must be some s^^^u roller, against the side of a newly filled mould, tricts being MesTed \v'ithVeep'''t'ick!" 'Th^'sentence f^}'^'^ '' ^°'l^^ jj ^elow the central plunger, and in makes it evident that when ■ O. F. ' and I wite about ticks ^omg so pushes the compressed brick out from below we respectively apply this name to two entirely different forwards, and also the second compressed brick on to insects. His remarks apply to the fag or kaid (Melopha- the receiving-table under the second plunger. When gus Ovinus), which breeds upon the sheep, and is, I the bent lever is drawn back, a newly filled mould is again placed before it. About 500 bricks are made per hour, or 5000 per day of 10 hours. Moulds are made of any size or shape ordered. This machine may also be used for compres- sing peat or small coals into brick for fuel The utilisation of our peat bogs is just now a question of national interest, and if machines on this principle can be profitably used, it will be a triumph. Some promising specimens of compressed peat are shown at the Atlas Works. W. B. Sewage Irrigation at Rugby. — I have read with interest the article by Mr. Palmer on sewage irrigation at Rugby, in the Gardeners' Chronicle of July i. On one point Mr. Palmer's statements appear contradictory, but a word of explanation from him would pro- bably clear up the apparent inconsistency. Mr. Palmer states, '* Nothing in the shape of storage is possible. The sewage must be distributed at the earliest possible moment, to prevent decom- position and consequent nuisance, as well as to secure its full value to the land." But a little further on, in stating the mode of application, Mr, Palmer recommends that the land should be well irrigated before the crop is sown, that a slight irrigation should be given after the crop is up, another dressing in the spring, and a copious dressing after each cutting of the crop. Now, in order to act upon these suggestions, there must surely be a storage of the sewage. If not, in what manner is it to be dealt with ? Another point in which Mr. Palmer would add to the value of his communication, would be to state what amount of sewage per acre he considers most valuable to the land. Of coiuse the answer to this question must depend on the strength of the sewage. 7. M. Fisken's Steam-plough. — At p. 854 you give an from the Highland Society's Proceedings, Fuel ; E, Dairy ; has an area of er door. Any style of j suppose, to be found in every flock, probably on every G, Gibson, St. Clement's sheep, in Great Britain. My remarks had reference to the true tick (Ixodes Ricinus), which breeds in the ground, is found only in certain districts, and fastens itself on sheep I certainly thought, as J"*^ °*e!! animals during a part only of ' from the name tick being applied indiscriminately to these two distinct parasites, which differ so entirely in their habits, and in the effects which they produce on the animals upon which they are found. On consulting such books as I happen to have by me, including Youatl, Spooner, 'The Book of the Farm,' and "Morton's Cyclopasdia, ' I find more or less of this vague use of the name, tick ; some of the statements made applying to the one parasite, and some to the other. In the North British Agriculturist of the 22d inst., there is an article on the dipping of sheep, all through which the name tick is used, although the context makes it evident that it is the Melophagus or kaid that is meant. The same thing constantly occurs in advertisements by the manufacturers and vendors of sheep-dipping stuffs. My object in now writing to you is to try to clear up this confusion ; and in particular to explain to your correspondent, ' O. F.,' which contains a very interesting account of Fisken's steam-plough, as worked upon OiTerton Hall Farm, near Sunderland, by Mr. M'Laren. There is, however, one extraordinary statement in this account which it is very hard to understand. Messrs. Swinton and Wilson, who were deputed by the Society to inspect the working of this plough, report that the engine was a Clayton & Shuttleworth's 12-horse power traction engine, with two SJ-inch cylinders and 12-inch stroke, and they say it was working at 180 to 200 revolutions per minute, with a pressure on the boiler of 60 lb. to 75 lb. They then say " from these data it ^vill be seen that at 70 lb. pressure the engine was giving off a power equal to about 20 horses." Surely this is a had led o"ther experimenters to wrong conclusions. ■ '?™?'' '?,'."=.'■ ^"^^ exclusive reference to the true tick mistake 1 We are not told that the engine was have, however, no wish that this discussion £°*=\il"=T"t ^J°"' '±:'^ ^^f^ilfj^^ '°"°"'^ working "expansively," and if we suppose it was should wander into other fields, but in concluding it "='="=■ ''^PP''''' '° ^^ '^''^'^P'- ■^''''" ^^ ''""'■ working with full steam, shutting oflT, say, at Uiree- remind our readers that, without impugning the See also the following veterinary report, taken from quarter stroke and 70 lb. steam, the gross theoretical of members of co-operative societies, or the \ p. 509, 1870 : — power would be upwards of 73-horse power, so that we right of private individuals to avail themselves of their ,,„ ., , j ■ 1 i, • i,- >, must suppose 53-horse power to be absorbed in friction, real or supposed advantages, I have contended that, I ^.^ S°-f„°*;'-f°°7'jf^^^^ cooling, wasteflnd bac'k-pressure, to bring down the as tliey destroy trade, interfere with com- : ^S'^;'=|t'1iuS."onP;?re those co^^^^^^^^^^ effective power to 20 horses. Here is the calculation merce, are injurious to the public revenue, and opposed ticks (Ixodes Ricinus). These parasites abound in most ' taking the lowest rate of speed named, 180 revolutions, to local interests and that sympathy which ought to ' countries, and are met with both on wild and domesti- or 360 feet per minute in the piston. The two cylinders exist between one class and another, the existence of. cated animals, firmly attached to the skin, from which have an area of rather more than 100 square takable experiments, and by avoiding the i which "'ho appears to icinnc , former letter had exclu aches, 956 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. fjuly 22, 1871. and 70 lb. steam cut off at J of the stroke will give an average pressure of 67 lb. ; therefore 67 x 100 x 360 =-2,412,000 lb. raised I foot per minute, or "foot- pounds," as they were called. Now, a horse-power is 33,000 foot-pounds, therefore "'^"^ = 73-09. or 73- horse power. According to Tredgold a non-condensing engine wastes four-tenths of its whole original power by friction, cooling, waste, and back-pressure, leaving six-tenths as the effective power, but 73. 09 x o. 6 = 43. S5, or nearly 44-horse power " effective." Modern inquirers do not allow so much as four-tenths for waste and friction, some call it three-tenths, others i, or others, again, as little as two-tenths. If we allow three-tenths, which I believe to be a very fair allow- ance, then seven-tenths are effective, and seven-tenths of 73.09 would be 51.16, or upwards of 51-horse power effective. How, then, do Messrs. Swinton and Wilson make out only 20-horse power? But Clayton & Shuttleworth's traction engines are fur- nished with link-motion for reversing, and by means of this the engine can be made to work expansively to a certain extent. And if we suppose the steam cut off at one-third of the stroke, it would give an average pressure of 42 lb. on the piston, and a gross theoretical power of 42 X 100 x 360 = 1,512,000 foot-pounds, or i;5i?i">°? = 45.82 horse power; and if (as there is con- siderable back-pressure in working expansively with only link-motion gear) we allow four-tenths of this to be wasted, and only six-tenths effective, it would still give 27S-horse power effective. I cannot therefore conceive how Messrs. Swinton and Wilson arrive at their estimate of 20-horse power. But there is another element in their paper which is also curious ; it required 8 lb. pressure on the boiler to keep the engine going at 160 revolutions a minute, and to keep both the engine and the flying rope going required 20 lb. on the boiler, although no other work was done except keeping the machinery moving round. If we suppose the same pressure, 20 lb., would keep the whole moving at 180 revolutions (360 feet) per minute, then the power absorbed by friction, waste. Sec, assuming the engine to be cutting off at three-fourths of the stroke, would be as follows: — 20 lb. steam would give about 191b. average pressure, therefore 19 x 100 x 360 = 684,000 foot-pounds is the power absorbed in keeping the machinery in motion at that speed without doing work. Now, when it was moving the implement, it was said to use up 70 lb. steam, which, as mentioned before, will give an average pressure of 67 lb., and the whole power developed would be 67 x 100 x 360 = 2,412,000 foot-pounds ; and if we deduct from this the power required to overcome friction, 684,000 as above, we get 1,728,000 foot-pounds as the power absorbed in merely moving the implement and the windlass-wheels ; but ' Q^ = 52.36 horse-power, ( ; than 52 actual horse-power, after deducting friction and waste ! It certainly seems to me that there must be some error in the figures that are given in Messrs. Swinton and Wilson's report. G. A. H. Foreign Correspondence. Berlin: July 20.— Licrmirs Pneumatic Sewer- age (see p. 755, June 10).— In my last communication upon this subject, I have been asked in an editorial parenthesis what I mean by irrigation having come to grief. Well, I am not going to be aggravating ; how- ever, I can't help stating that it has. 1 know very well that Mr. Mechi himself has given up irrigating his own fields, and has again begun to cart his dung in a sober manner— everybody nearly in Germany knows as much as that of Tiptree Hall proceedings ; it has gone the round of the fifty agricultural journals in Germany. But I will not dwell upon this. England, I suppose, cannot do without irrigation, as she has not been able to do without sewerage, which without would be blurred and unfinished ; and, mayhap, irrigation will suit England as a very comfortable and cleanly thing — it certainly will not suit Germany, where it is regarded as a squandering, dear, unpractical, and out-of-the-way institution altogether, i.e., sewerage and irrigation as They have tried it in the south of Berlin, on the Tempelhofer-Feld, and have found out that the Ger- man winter, with an average of 15° R., will not permit of the irrigation going on for at least two months at all — in some years this period would even last four months. During all this time the sewage would have to go down the river, do away with the fish, create nasty sediments in the little Spree, which is the name of the Berlin rivulet, and poison the watercourse also of the Elbe. Besides, about 25 per cent, of the whole town manure would be lost in the course of the year ; and, worse still, a certain smell which an impartial nose could not fail to discover in the very winter on the fields, would become insupportable in summer, — a rather hot time in the interior of the Continent. The glorious waves that surround England make the winter warm and the summer cool, the rivers short and broad and full, the air pure and ever-changing, and make the people of that country rich and generous, so as to enable them to afford squandering money and manure in sewers, water-caniage, irrigation, and irrigation dinners, all for the sake of the comfort of their national economists. The Germans are a stingy nation— they cannot help being it, as they are rather out of the way of the money-courses, and the world's great storehouse, the ocean. This stinginess is the more prominent the more you get into the interior, and although money here is dearer than anywhere else, the stinginess of the people drives up the prices of everything in pro- portion, and you live no cheaper in .Saxony than in Hamburgh. This stinginess makes people slow about taking up new ideas practically, and makes them rather sharp about the costs ; so, they have found out the water-carriage system to be the dearest in getting up and on, and the least likely to pay ; which, indeed, cannot be denied to be true. The Germans, and the .Saxons most so, have Chinese ideas upon comfort, their highest comfort being saving money, storing knowledge, and utilising every available thing except rats' tails. They will utilise Englishmen, I can tell you, and they will utilise English institutions, if so be that they are anything like paying for any amount of trouble ; but they will not, and do not care for comfort, if it be too dear a piece of furniture. In this turn of mind they have calculated that every conveyance above ground is cheaper than below ; that a railway and a locomotive will carry any amount of non-diluted town-manure 600 times as far as a sewer and a pumping machine for the same money ; that the undiluted town-manure is more useful and more easily utilised than the best sewage can be by irrigation ; that the farmers will take to the undiluted manure very readily, and that they abhor the sewage ; that they will pay for the former, but not for the latter (if they are not paid for paying), and thus that a contractor for the scavengering business can be found, but not for the sewerage and irrigation (as there is no land-letting system). Thus again the townspeople see their way to the alleviation of local taxes by making their scavenger- ing-man pay for the things he carries off to the country, whilst there is no doubt that sewerage aggravates the local expenses. Now Mr. Liernur steps forward and tells them that he will procure for the townsmen all the comforts of the water-closet and water-carriage system by his pneumatic works, save the time of hundreds of scavengering-men, keep the houses from abomination by his machine, give the farmers what they are in need of for a cheap price, if he be allowed to have the pro- ceeds, or, as I understand, if he is paid for his patent. The thing can be set agoing like a gas or a water company, to the works of which Liemur's have the greatest resemblance possible, although, indeed, they are not in the least as ponderous. Nevertheless, the three systems correspond and are of the same import- ance. The gasworks have done away with darkness, with oilyness, tallow-universality, soot, torches, pitch, and the like mediaeval comforts ; the waterworks have done away with dirt, open wells to fall into, street- pumps to run your head against in a starless night, dearth, oriental water-managing, and the like ; and Liemur's works, which are the inverted gasworks, only a deal more simple, will in their turn do away with those beastly apartments that make German towns at present nearly uninhabitable for Englishmen, and, what is not much less, will do away with those retorts for miasmatic exhalations, those sources of impregna- tion of soil, air, and water, which we delight in calling There is no denying that all infectious diseases have been on the increase ever since sewers have begun to brew underground ; mortality has risen in London for diseases, such as bronchitis, typhus, consump- tion, in a fearful ratio— during the period between 1849-1866, from 4333 to exactly 8666 in the million. Sewers are the cause of the subsoil-water lowering its level, and of the infective germs finding their hothouse enlarged underground. However, this subject has been ventilated all the more, as the thing itself is unven- tilateable ; and, indeed, with the loose Berlin soil, the slowness of the river, and the absence of all fresh sea- breezes, with the impossibility of all irrigation pro- ceedings, on account of both heat and cold, there is hardly a less comfortable thought, and a thing so much to shrink from, than the undermining of the towns, and the living, walking, eating, drinking, and sleep- ing upon sewers, with the Pettenkofer hypothesis dis- turbing our dreams. Thus I find every reason to be rather enthusiastic when speaking of Liemur's invention, which, of course, has its adversaries— not so much among the brick- makers and contractors, who naturally prefer building sewers to anything else, as amongst the people them- selves ; for Germans, on the whole, are the most con- servative people in Europe, and fearful of any invention that has not been in practice somewhere else for a score of years at least. I will drop my enthusiasm for once, just for the sake of convenience, and proceed to Prague where the system has been in use during three Professor Ranke, a delegate of the Munich magis- trates, went to Prague to study the subject, and did it slily too, for he never discovered his mission to anyone there. He had read about the systems being a swindle, and was fearful of being swindled himself. On the night of March 23, 1S70, he arrived, quite in the way of a Carbonari, and took a dose of sound sleep, to be all awake in the morning. Well, we cannot be so circumlocutive though as he is himself about all his precautions, and must simply state what he saw and heard upon the subject in hand. There were great barracks, with 2200 soldiers in, and there was Major Gerstenbraur, who took care of the Professor, led him all about the place, where there had been terrible stinks in former times, for the soldiers were Polonians from Galicia ; but all these stinks had been done away with by Liernur and his ventilating closets at the end of every corridor, which are as cleanly as can be expected under such circumstances. There are syphons under each closet, made to block up the iron tubes that go down the walls into the ground, and have never been frozen up. The health of the garrison has been perceptibly better than in pre- Liemurian times. Then there is another military gentleman. Captain Cometzki, turning up, to show the Professor the more serious business belowground. He tells him first that the Austrian Government is highly contented with the working of the patent, which it seems has now been bought by the Government, and that some other barracks in Prague and Vienna are going to be provided in the same manner. He is per- mitted to have a look at the documents belonging thereunto, which, however, are less interesting to the reader than satifactory to the Liemurian disciple. The chief is a contract for daily removal of the fseces from all the Prague barracks, and for the due provision with all the apparatus for the purpose of their removal by the Liernur Company, in pay for which services the Liernur Company asks and demands no more than the right of disposing and selling the faeces on their The sale of the manure is insured by contracts with certain great Beetroot cultivators near Prague, one of whom has contracted for 1000 tons per annum, paying 'j\d. per I lb. of nitrogen, the manure containing i per cent. , and being regarded as equal to five times the weight of common stable dung. The like contracts have now been made at Berlin, Cologne, Haag, Antwerp, and other towns of the Netherlands. The transport by rail (in petroleum casks, containing 3 cwt. each) is charged at 41. per 10 tons carried 20 English miles. Under these circumstances, not exceedingly fortunate at all events, the rather expensive machines, tubes, syphons, reservoirs, tenders, air pumps, &c., will be — putting aside one-half of the income at 10 per cent, for redemption, and leaving the other half to pay for coals, workmen, horses, inspectors, and officials^ renewable, so to say, in every period of 15 years. However, if the system be once adopted generally, and going on on a larger scale, the replacement will take place in the time of three years at most — such, at least, is stated in the calculations of the Berlin project. Here there will be a great central engine-house, doing the work for whole quarters of the toivn, in the same way as a gas reservoir, with the only difference, that the reservoirs will be localised, and merely connected with the central station by evacuation tubes. The tubes can be of any possible length. The Professor is quite assured that technical difficulties have been and will be most successfully vanquished. He has been shown rats, soldiers' breadbags, boots, caps, and even brooms, that had passed the whole course of the tubes at the barracks, which are indeed highly complicated, by the foundation walls not being allowed to be injured, and which had turned up like cannon balls bumping against the sides of the tender. The velocity inside the tubes must be something quite shot-like, even with but half a vacuum employed. In the beginning they had once, with inexperienced workmen, evacuated down to 25 inches, and had for- gotten to shut the valve of the air-pump, in consequence of which it had been flooded, and had to be purified by five minutes' pumping. This, indeed, seems to be the only accident that ever happened, except a piece of iron rod once obstructing the syphon of one of the closets, and being driven down into the main pipe. This had to be got out by unscrewing, and they found it quite bent. The sides of the tubes were seen to be covered by a thin film of slime, protecting the mate- rial, and diminishing both adhesion and friction. Such accidents are owing to the closets not being constructed anew, and according to the Liernur plan, which has provided against anything obstructive passing the system, by narrowing the prime syphon, and givmg it an extra bend. The air-pump now is self-regula- ting, so that there is no longer any flooding it. The Professor, who saw things going on at 6 o'clock next morning, found the whole process of evacuation, both of the subterranean reservoir and of the tender, finished in five minutes' time, without bustle, smoke, smell, and anything except fire-engine-like expertness. He followed the tender to some back-yard place, saw its contents decanted into barrels, put on waggons, and then pulled out of sight by sundry pairs of oxen, which was quite a lyrical end to the matter. There is a factory, too, at Prague, with 300 workmen, provided with the Liernur machine, and the Professor went there, slyly entered the office, and asked the principal (Mr. Hiise, maschinenfabrik, Carolinenthal) what he thought about it ; whereupon the principal said he had never thought at all upon the matter ever since it was going on, which it has been ever since the month of November, 1869, and that he only knew about the tender coming every moming, and something being done outside the building in a most gentlemanly manner, which the Professor means to say was the best answer to be had. I will put a stop to this letter now, apologising for its extreme length, however, I cannot do so without July 22, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 957 giving expression to some slight feeling of hope, that your readers may look mure leniently upon the Germans for their not yet having adopted the sewerage and irrigation system, the which Old England glories in. 0. Beta, Berlin. ROYAL AGRICULTURAL OF ENGLAND. The close of asuccessful annual meeting, when readers ^re most impressed by a sense of the valuable services rendered by our national society, is perhaps the fairest time in which to lay before them a criticism of the management of its affairs ; and we therefore reproduce now, from the columns of the agricultural papers of May last, the discussion which took place on that sub- ject before the general meeting then held. We had not room for a report of this discussion at the time :— Sir J. H. Maxwell moved the adoption of the report. Mr. Mechi, in seconding the motion, said that thA Society was conferring great benefits on British agricul- ture. Its publications would have alone entitled it to the thanks ot the agricultural community ; while the annual shows, by causing comparisons to be made between various breeds of stock and various kinds of machinery, had done a great deal towards removing that prejudice, self-esteem, and pride which were to be found among .ngriculturists as well as other classes of the community. As regarded the motto of the Society, ' ' Practice with Science," it was impossible to deny that one great diffi- culty of that Society had been that it had had to contend against a want of education among agriculturists, and a sort of abhorrence on the part of many practical farmers of the very name of science. This had compelled the Council to be very cautious in its movements, but they had at length succeeded in their endeavours to bring science to bear fully upon agriculture. Witness the lectures and papers of Professor Voelcker, which were of very great importance and value to the interests of agriculture. .Another evidence of progress was finmished by the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, which was now some- what improved in the estimation of practical farmers. He could not help remarking that the number of members of that Society was so small as to be discreditable to British agriculture. There were in England and Wales about 300,000 farmers, and it appeared that onlyabout 6000, or ij per cent., could afford ^i a year to belong to that Society, or else only that number were desirous of gaining the knowledge which was communicated in the admirable papers pubhshed in the Jotu-nal. He (Mr. Mechi) believed that British agriculture was now entering upon a new phase. He believed that the Education Bill which was passed last session would indirectly so change the position of British farmers as regarded education and science within the next half century, that if some of them could come back again — he almost wished they could on that account — they would find agriculture presenting an aspect altogether different from that which it now wore. Dr. Crisp said Mr. Mechi had remarked that the numbers of members of that Society was not as great as it ought to be. Everybody knew that, and everybody felt that there must be something wrong and rotten at the very foundation of the Society,, seeing that it had under 6000 members. It behoved them to ask what was wrong — why it was that that Society was not more popular ? It was clear to him that before it could become popular there must be a revision of the Charter, and they must be enabled to introduce many matters intimately connected with agriculture, and with the welfare of the people, the exclusion of which had been a clog, and exceedingly detri- mental to the advancement of agricultural science. He had found that during the first decennial period of the Society's career, that is from 1840 to 1851, the number of members was 60, 545, and that during the last ten years the number was only 55,067, showing a diminution of 5476 in the latter as compared wiih the former. At the same time he found that the number of members of Chambers of Agriculture was 18,000. One great reason, he believed, why they had not progressed as a society was, that the Charter had crippled them, so that they had been unable to touch upon matters which were most important in reference to the advancement of agriculture. He must, however, now call attention to the fact, that the Council had positively deviated from the Charter. In some respects they had, in fact, never adhered to it ; they had broken their own laws, and might be called poachers, having gone upon manors which did not belong to them. .At the last meeting he spoke particularly of improve- me nts which might and should be effected in the Journal, remarking that the members ought to know what was going on in other countries, such as Germany and America ; and that if the abstract were given of such matters, it might convey many useful hints to farmers in this kingdom. What did the Charter say with regard to the objects of the Society ? The Charter said that the .Society was — "First, to embody such information con- tained in agricultural publications, and in other scientific works, as has been proved by practical experience to be useful to the cultivators of the soil ; 2d, to correspond with agricultural, horticultural, and other scientific societies, both at home and abroad, and to select from such correspondence all information which, accord- ing to the opinion of the Society, may be hkely to lead to practical benefit in the cultivation of the soil." Now, that had never been done. Having looked very well for gentlemen to visit Belgium or some other country on a sort of hoUday tour ; but he behoved that if the pub- lished results of practical knowledge abroad were put into a small compass and concentrated as it were in the Society's Journal, that would be of infinitely more service than many of the papers which had appeared there. Another object stated in the Charter was " to collect in- formation with regard to the management of woods. plantations and fences, and on every other subject con- nected with rural improvement." Now. how had that been carried out ? There had been a constant avoidance there of the question of the Game Laws, which he had not the slightest hesitation in saying had been very injurious both to tenant-farmers and to agricultural labourers. If that were a proper occasion for doing so. he could adduce evidence which would convince anyone that what he said on that point was correct. How could they property investigate " the management of woods, plantations, and fences," without saying something about hares and rabbits ; or how could cultivation be property carried on where game abounded as it did in many places ? He beheved that the connection between that Society and the ■Veterinary College had been extremely detrimental ti veterinary profession and to veterinary science. Let him explain what he meant. Although they did not cull from other journals, nearly all persons in the scientific world read their Journal. In reports in their journal mention was made of the worm Filaria Bronchialis (he must know something about that worm, for he was the first to speak about it in this country) as very destructive to lambs. There was no such thing as the Filaria Bronchiahs ; that was altogether a misnomer. The worm that injured and destroyed the lamb was the Strongylus Filaria, a difterent genus altogether. You might as well call a badger a bear, or a bear a lion, as call the worm in question Filaria Bronchialis. It might be said that was a matterof no im- portance ; but he presumed that the Council wished the Journal to stand well before the scientific world, and it could not do that while it contained such a monstrous misnomer. Another object of the Society described the Charter was " to promote the comfort and welfare of labourers. " He did not see how the comfort and welfare of labourers could be promoted in many districts while the Game Laws remained in their present form. He might remark that, being anxious to ascertain beforehand whether he would be allowed to introduce the subject of the Game Laws, he apphed to the secretary for informa- tion, and he was told in effect he might do so by c side-wind, advocating a revision of the Charter, and giving his reasons for so doin.g. He would not enter into tht matter then, but he had desired to bring the subject before the meeting, and secure a discussion, in order th; some future time the Council might propose a revisi( the Charter. It was, he repeated, impossible that the comfort and welfare of labourers could be promoted districts where labourers were corrupted through the operations of the Game Laws. He had known httle children sent out to get possession" of the pheasants' eggs, for which a shilling would be obtained ; and what must be the ultimate destination of children who were led to steal, and liable to the demoralisation of prison ? Again, it seemed to him a great hardship farmers that they should be obliged to keep poach( while they were in prison, besides paying the expense of prosecutions. He knew that that subject was not a very pleasant one, and as he was precluded from entering into it on that occasion, he should take another opportunity of doing so in a different way. He had observed that he considered the connection between that Society and the Veterinary College was detrimental to veterinary scieiice. In France a veterinary student could not pass his examina- tion under four years ; in this country a student might pass at the end of one year, and all kinds of animals might then pass through his hands. It appeared to him a great stigma upon that Society that while £mo a year was paid by it to the Veterinary College, on condition that the members should have their horses and pigs examined — a matter about which nothing was said in the Charter— and when j^ioo had been granted towards a memorial to his late Royal Highness the Prince Consort, when an appli- cation was recently made for a grant in aid of the French Farmers' Seed Fund, it was refused by the Council, on the ground that comphance would be against the Charter. He thought it would require a good deal of hair-spUt- ting to defend such a distinction, or to show why, if it were right to grant ,£100 for the memorial, it would have been wrong to grant ^£500 for the Seed Fund ! Feeling great interest in the subject of the Game Laws, and in scientific matters connected with agriculture, he had ventured to make these remarks, in the hope that they would hereafter be discussed at a much fuller meeting. After remarks by Sir Walter Stirling, in corrobora- tion of Dr. Crisp's argument, and a denial by Sir G. Tenkinson of its justice, so far as the game question was concerned, the Chair.man (Lord Vernon) said :— Gentleman, it is always a very healthy thing for the Council to be brought face to face with the constituents whom they represent, and to receive the measure either of censure or of praise which, in the opinion of the agricul- tural public, they deserve. I must say, with regard to the picture drawn by Dr. Crisp of the condition of this Society, that the statistical comparison drawn by him between two periods of ten years does not convey the same impression to my mind as it does to his. I think it would be far more satisfactory if he were to compare one period with another more directly antecedent to the present for the purpose of making comparison, because I cannot tell what causes may have operated in the earlier days of this Society ; though I think I may fairty assume that the existence of Farmers' Clubs and of Chambers of Agricul- ture and other societies has tended to diminish the amount of support accorded to this Society. If you compare the number of subscribers in December, 1869, with the number in December, 1870, you will find that there is a gain of T2 ; while if you compare the number in May, r870, with the number in May, i37r, you will find a gain of 2ro : so that it is quite clear that an increase has recently been going on. I quite admit, however, that in the case of a great society like this — a society which has, I may say, created agriculture in this country, and is still doing so much to improve it in matters of detail— it is a surprising thing that it should not be more largely supported than it is. The discussion to-day has, I believe, gone beyond the strict limits of what is authorised by the Charter, and it appears to me that the proper course for a gentleman who holds such views as Dr. Crisp does is. not to WTite to a newspaper to complain that certain subjects which are unpalatable to the Council are not allowed to be intro- duced, but to ask the Society to entertain the question whether the Charter should not be revised ; and until that question has been decided in one way or other, the subject of the Game Laws should not, I think, be introduced at a meeting hke this. At the same time I must remark that the position of the Chairman on an occasion hke the pre- sent is not a very easy one. I see myself a very great distinction between Game Laws and game, game being an agricultural question, and Game Laws a political one. I did not, therefore, feel it to be within my province to stop the discussion which has taken place, but I am glad that it has not gone beyond the limits which it reached. I must say that I was very much afraid it would go further, and I am obhged to those gentlemen who met my wishes by not entering more fully into the question. Now, it appears to me that there is one very grave reason why this Society could not undertake to deal with those questions which have been taken up by the Chambers of Agriculture, and that is the practical one that the business of the Society occupies for several days in each month the close attention of gentlemen who come from all parts of England ; and I have never been associated with a body of gentlemen who more thoroughly and conscientiously performed their duty. The greatest attention is paid by the Council to the opinions of agriculturists outside ; and if you were to tack on to their duties the considera- tion of such questions as those which occupy the attention of the Chambers of Agriculture, coming as the members of the Council do from all parts of England, I cannot but think that you would put on them an amount of work under the pressure of which they would break down. If the question of an alteration of the Charter is to be raised — and my opinion a few years ago was greatly in favour of altering it — I should certainly not wish to see it altered in such a way as to lead to the including of those ques- tions which are now so ably, satisfactorily, and carefully dealt with by the Chambers of Agriculture. Mr. Roberts, in seconding a vote of thanks to the auditors, alluded to the last paragraph in the report, where the Council say they "cannot but express their regret that more candidates have not come fonvard for the prize offered, and that out of the number entered more than half did not present themselves for examination," said he hoped that regret would not lead to an abandon- ment of the plan of offering prizes, as the comparative failure of the examinations proved how much such a stimulus was needed ; adding that, if the offering of prizes for implements had ceased after the first Oxford meeting, agriculture would have suffered great loss in consequence. It was, he added, an open question whether the best way for a young man to learn farming was to hve with a farmer, and daily observe with him the operations of hus- bandry, or to go to an agricultural college ; but in his opinion the latter course was on the whole the best. He thought something should be done to afford an agricul- tural education to the children of agricultural labourers, and it occurred to him that the most inexpensive and effec- tual mode of accomplishing that object would be for that Society to offer prizes to persons in training for the office of viUage schoolmasters for a knowledge of agriculture and the power of teaching it. Children would always take an interest in lessons on agriculture if they saw a practical application of them near the school. He did not see why the Society should maintain its connection with the Veterinary College, while the Council abstained from forming any connection with an agricultural college. NOTTINGHAM. The Tenure of Land. — At a recent meeting of the Notts Chamber of Agriculture, Mr. Christopher Neville, of Thorney, said that although he professed to be acquainted with subjects as affecting landlord and tenant, he would not rise to speak on the point, except in the expectation that it would elicit some observations from gentlemen besides himself, and especially from tenants, because the parties who were deeply affected were the landlord who let the land, and the tenant who took it. His notion was, that both parties had to be considered. With this little preface he would move a formal resolution, which he had hastily drawn up, to the following effect: — "That a yearly tenancy, with six months' notice to quit on either side, does not ia all cases give sufficient security to the tenant for the of his capital in the due cultivation of his farm." This might be a matter of opinion ; but, as a matter of fact, he certainly did know many cases where the tenant had cultivated his farm very highly, and had invested a good deal of capital, and from some, perhaps accidental, circumstances, had re- ceived notice to quit at six months, and could not possibly get his capital out again. No man in his senses, who knew anything about farming, would disagree with him when he said that it was impos- sible, if a man received notice to quit in October to go out in April, that he could get his capital out of that farm, for he must leave a great amount of artificial manure and other things in it. He thought, therefore, that it was unjust to the tenant and injurious to the country ; and he maintained that it would be a good thing if an arrangement could be made by lease, tenant- right agreement, or anything else, to render such an injustice an impossible occurrence. He, as a landlord, did not approve of the views of the democratic party in London, though he was a great Liberal, for they spoke of landlords as trying to rob the tenants, and that sort of thing. This was all a heap of rubbish. The majority of landlords did nothing of the sort. He knew estates of 50,000 acres, where the landlord was as honest and liberal as possible, and did not want to do anything wrong. If any gentleman would show him one tenant who had been robbed by being turned out 958 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. (July 22, 1 87 1. of his farm unjustly, he would show 50 or 100 who had never been robbed at all. Of course, if a tenant had been robbed of /looo or ;,fi5oo, it was no consolation for him to be told that there were others who had not been robbed at all ; but, as a landlord, he declared he should be glad if some agreement could be hit upon to suit all parties, and to render it possible for the tenant to feel that, in any event, he would be fully compensated. The difficulties at first sight seemed enormous, but when the Government obliged to do it, they did it, for tliey granted a sure of great security to the Irish tenants. He did not approve of the whole of that Irish Bill, but he approved of the principle of it, and as an honest man he could not see why, if the Irish tenantry were to be rendered secure from any casualty, the English tenantry should not have the same advantage. Hi had been all over Ireland three times, and knew : good deal about the country, but the only difference he found between the Irish and English was this, that the Irish tenant farmed a great deal worse than the English, that the Irish tenant shot his landlord, which the English did not, and that the English tenant paid his rent a good deal better. These the only differences he could see, and so far from sanctioning their going on year after year without trying to do anything, he thought that if landlords had honour and honesty about them it was a reason why they should exert themselves more. The bettei their tenants behaved, the better they ought to tiy tc behave to them in return ; and for his own part he wai very willing to bring forward the subject on which he had made a motion. He had hoped it might recei some consideration at Worksop, and he was glad find Mr. Foljambe, who was a larger landowner than himself, express his willingness to enter into any discussion of the sort so as to grant the tenant great- security. He thought he had now satisfied them ( any reasonable person that the object was a goc one, and he would therefore go on to consider what could be done towards giving the tenant the security necessary. T/ie Lease. — The Scotch plan was that of a lease of say, 21 years, but this involved some other condition: He found the .'Scotch papers full of advertisements of farms to let for 21 years upon offer, and it seem( him like a sort of auction. He knew a great many tenant-farmers whom this arrangement would not suit, because they would rather go on under a large landlord year after year, than have their farms advertised in the papers, and have to bid for them by auction, as it were, for 21 years, for they could often go on under a land- lord for a much longer period. There was another objection that was felt against leases. If a tenant held a farm he might leave to get a better under a larger landlord ; and on his (the speaker's) own estate, for instance, if a farm of 200 or 300 acres was vacated, and a tenant who had hitherto held only 50 or 100 acres was able to take it, he always let it to him in preference to a stranger, and so on. Men of enterprise and capital would not, under these circumstances, like to tie themselves for 21 years to a farm of 100 acres or so, because they were hoping to get larger and better farms. Another disadvantage of a lease was that it necessarily involved some agreement as to cropping. An able land-agent would say to a landowner. If you part with your land for 21 years, you ought to have a strict agreement as to cropping, to provide for the due cultivation of the farm. He had heard that this had been admitted by tenants to be just and reasonable, and not outrageous at all ; but still, his tenants being from year to year, he had no occasion to do this. He let them crop as they pleased, with one condition- namely, that they did not injure the estate. If they did not injure him or his family, the more money they got the better for him. In this matter a good agent was of great use, but he should only act as an impartial mediator between landlord and tenant, doing equal justice to both. He told his agent at his rent-day, " I think you are a good .agent, for if anything you rather go against me, and that is a good fault." If a tenant was not injuring his farm, it is a great advan- tage to him to be able to crop as he pleased, and he had never heard how it could be arranged under a 21 years' lease. He granted a lease was absolute security, but there were those disadvantages, and he had set them forth for their consideration. Tenaiit-rlg/it.—A.nol'hfc .security was that of tenant- right, and they had can'ied this so far in Ireland that now, when a man took a farm he had to have two capitals, one to buy the tenant-right, and another to stock his farm. It was consequently no uncommon thing for a man to exhaust all his capital in buying tenant-right, and then to have none to put upon the farm. He considered it was quite right for a tenant to be coitipensatcd ; but several gentlemen had put the matter in this way— Suppose a farmer had two or three sons, and placed them upon farms, and the tenant-riglit on one was £6 and £^ an acre, and on another £■& or £ 10, he had a great difficulty in fixing his sons. There- fore, in the management of his estate, with Mr. Bartho- omew, his .agent's, assistance, he endeavoured to keep the tenant-right as low as he possibly could ; and, in order to do this, he had adopted a principle which he had not the smallest doubt whatever would be the best for both landlord and tenant, and it was this, that he never allowed a tenant to invest a single farthing in the permanent improvement of his farm. Perhaps he ought not to say that he did not allow it ; but he told his tenants, when he came to the property 25 years ago, never to spend a farthing on building or draining, or any really permanent improvement. If they wanted any building or draining done, and Mr. Bartho- lomew said it ought to be done, he did it, and told them they must pay him interest by way of rent. The tenant thus kept his capital to work his farm with instead of burying it in his landlord's estate, and when he quitted his farm he was able to put his money in his pocket. He had proposed to Mr. Gladstone, some six months before that gentleman introduced his Iri.sh Bill, that a court of equity should be esta- blished for the adjustment of these matters, as things seemed to be in such confusion in Ireland. He sug- gested that whenever a landlord gave a tenant notice to quit he should have the power of calling in a court of equity or an arbitrator, or some one to judge whether he really had a claim or not. It was a thing which he, as a landowner, would be quite willing to do himself if the tenantry desired it. A running lease of three and a half or four years had also been suggested, so that when a tenant received notice to quit he should have the opportunity of having a course of cropping before leaving, and should thus be able to get back what he had spent on the land. The objection, how- ever, which would strike everybody, to this arrange- ment was, that if a tenant was farming badly the land- lord would be injured by giving so long a notice ; and then, again, if a tenant had a chance of getting a better farm, he would be three or four years before he could leave, and might thus lose it. Some arrangement might, perhaps, be made for a landlord to give his tenant six months' notice to quit, and then keep his farm on six months, and the tenant to be able to quit in six months, an arbitrator to be called in to give a just claim to either party. A court of equity would obviate the cost of a trial at the assizes, if the matter should ever be pressed so far as that ; but if the land- lord was willing to have an arbitration, and they could not agree as to who should be the man, he would leave the selection to the chairman of the Council of the Chamber of Agriculture in the county. He did not want Acts of Pariiament ; his plan wa; entirely voluntary ; but if some arrangement could be made to grant the tenant gi'eater security, he was co fident that in the long run it would be for the mten of both parties. Mr. Barrow, M.P., said he had followed the ph Mr. Neville had recommended. He did not think there ought to be any hesitation on the subject to tie the hand of either landlord or tenant. He was for freedom of action very much on both sides. He agreed for the most part with almost everything that had fallen from Mr. Neville. Having himself been a landlord for 50 or 60 years, and in a larger way for between 30 or 40, he could only say that his tenants were all from year to year, and he had never given one notice to quit, and he had never received it. He did not, therefore, see that there was any difficulty in land- lord and tenant agreeing on a yearly tenancy. On his estate, if there was any drain.-ige or building to be done, he did it himself; but at the same time, if the tenants wished to drain rather more on more particular land under his agreement he found them tiles, and if they did the work by their agi-eement they were entitled on leaving to be repaid what they had paid for labour, so long as it expired within a certain number of years, within which he supposed they might have got back all that was due to them. If a man did any per- manent improvement, it was to be subject to the same valuation as Mr. Neville had mentioned. He believed it to be perfectly practicable, for he had found it so himself with the small number with which he had to There was one difficulty Mr. Neville had sug- gested regarding agreements, and it was with respect to these permanent improvements whether or not if it binding on the landlord to pay for them it was worth while for the tenant to pay additional rent on account of them. He only wished, however, to second what Mr. Neville had said. R. Butler, of Ratcliffe, thought that tenure of 'as in an unsatisfactory state with a yearly tenancy. A farmer had not the advantages which a tradesman received, because he was not in the same position for investing his capital. He might cultivate his land as well as he could wish, but he did not know what might happen. His landlord, as Mr. Neville pointed out at a previous meeting, might be killed in a Iway accident, and another succeed who would be a d one. He should say leases would be very bene- ficial to the country, stibject to certain restrictions, and vestigations on behalf of the landlord or e that the land was not deteriorated, and subject to dilapidations and to enhanced tenant-right, sup- posing the tenant had improved his land. A tenure which would be for the protection of the landlord and the security of the tenant would be very beneficial to intry. He had great pleasure in seconding the 1 which Mr. Neville had proposed. GiLIiERT, of Barnby, said Mr. Neville objected to legislative enactment, but he thought that that was 'ust what they wanted. Suppose, for instance, that a andlord could not afford to make necessary imorove- that tenant wanted was security for the permanent improvements which he had made; and he himself would have a legislative enactment, to the effect that every tenant on quitting his farm should receive an equivalent for the permanent improvements that he had made. He did not see how they could compel land- lords to grant leases or tenants to take them, and, besides, it might be a very adverse thing either one way or the other. A man knew when his lease would expire, and he would get as much out of the land as he could before he left. He did not see any remedy at all except a uniform system of tenant-right and compulsory payment for permanent improvements. Mr. Hemsley, of Shelton, said he should be sorry if the impression was left on the meeting that they, as a body, were desirous of having leases. His own opinion was, that where they had large landed pro- pnetors they were far better off without leases, where they had a sufficient feeling of confidence between landlord and tenant. There were certain matters binding on leases, and certain things which rather disengaged the two parties. He should be rather sorry, therefore, if Mr. Butler's remark as to leases went from the meeting without a little dissent. He occupied land under a liberal and worthy landowner, and he should insult him and his agent if he asked for a lease, and should be extremely hurt himself if they, on their part, desired one. It was the same on many other noblemen's estates, and he was not, therefore, in favour of leases. He thought the question before them was the small amount of notice to quit, and this he con- sidered might be discussed with a good deal of advantage. With reference to running tenant-rights, as a rule, they were not too high, and in a country like this, where capital could not find employment, surely they ought not to say there was not sufficient capital to farm land. It was rather away from what they might expect for the improvement of land to say that tenant-right might be a little more confined. He himself did not think that advisable at all. It was a point of more consequence now than it was, because farms were becoming very much enlarged ; but at the same time he did not think, as a rule, that landlords found it difficult to meet with tenants with sufficient capital. He thought the arguments that had been used were rather in favour of extending tenant-right than curtailing it. and the tenant 1 Bottas 0f §00Ks. Poultry, their Varieties, Management, Breeding, and Diseases. By Hugh Piper, Author of " Pigeons," iScc. Groombridge & .Son. Pigeons, their Varieties, Management, Breeding, and Diseases. By Hugh Piper. Groombridge & The Homing or Carrier Pigeon (le Pigeon Voyageur) : its History, General Management, and Method of Training. 'By W. B. Tegetmeier, F.Z.S. G. Routledge & Sons. We have not before met with Mr. Piper's name in the literatuure of the poultry-yard, but these little books, which bear it, appear to us to be the production of a practical man and a trustworthy writer. From the first we make an extract on food and feeding :— "Over-feeding is a common mistake with inexperienced poultry-keepers. A fat hen ceases to lay, or nearly, and is subject to many diseases, while an over-fed cock becomes lazy and useless, and may die of apoplexy. Half-fed fowls never pay, whether kept for the table or to produce eggs. A fowl cannot get fat or make an egg a day upon little or poor food. A hen producing eggs will eat nearly twice as much food as at another time. "Barley, reckoned by weight, costs less than Wheat or Oats, and possesses a very fair proportion of flesh-forming substances, but contains a lesser amount of fatty matters than other varieties of corn. Barley-meal contains the same component parts as the whole grain, being ground with the husk ; but only inferior Bariey is made into meal. ' ' The best Wheat is dearer than Barley both by weight and measure, and possesses but about i-i2th part more flesh-forming material ; but it is fortunate that the cheap Wheat is the best for poultry, for Professor Johnston says, ' the small or tail corn which the farmer sep.arates before bringing his grain to market is richer in gluten (flesh-forming food) than the plump, full-grown grain, and is therefore more nutritious." "Oats are dearer than Bariey by weight. The heaviest should be bought, as they contain very little more husk than the lightest, and are cheaper in proportion. Oats and oatmeal contain more flesh-forming material than any other grain, and double the amount of fatty material than Wheat. Fowls frequently refuse the lighter samples of Oats, but if soaked in water for a few hours, so as to swell the kernel, they will not refuse them. e or maize-meal must not be given in too great a proportion, as it is very fattening, from the large quantity 1 it contains ; but mixed with Barley or bariey-meal, \ most economical and useful food. Whether whole meal, the Maize should be scalded, that the swelling may be done before it is eaten. "Buckwheat is about equal to Barley in flesh-forming food, and is used greatly on tlie Continent. Pc.as, Beans, and Tares contain an extraordinary quantity of flesli-forming food, and very little of fat, but too stimulating for general use, and would harden the cular fibres and give too great firmness of flesh. ... . The meal of Wheat and Barley are much the same ake them himself, what 1 as the whole grain, but oatmeal is drier, and separated July 22, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 959 from a large portion of the husk, which makes it too dear, except for fattening fowls and feeding the youngest chickens, for which it is the very best food. " Fine ' middlings,' also termed ' thirds,' and in London coarse country flour, are much like oatmeal, and may be cheaply and advantageously employed, mixed with boiled or steamed small Potatos or roots. " Potatos, from the large quantity of starch they contain, are not good unmixed, as regular food, but mi.wd with bran or meal are most conducive to good condition and laying. A good morning meal of soft food for a few fowls may be provided daily almost for nothing by boiling the Potato peelings till soft, and mashing them up with enough bran, sh'ghtly scalded, to make a tolerably stiff, dry paste. The peelings will supply as many fowls as there are persons at the dinner-table. A little salt should always be added, and in winter a slight sprinkling of pepper is good. " If the soft food is mixed boiling hot at night and put in the oven, or covered with a cloth, it will be warm in the morning, in which state it should always be given in cold weather. It should be put into a trough railed across at the top, to prevent its being trodden upon by the fowls, and should always be mixed rather dry, for fowls do not like sticky food. "Rice is not a cheap food. When boiled it absorbs a great quantity of water and forms a large substance, but, of course, only contains the original quantity of grain, which is of inferior value, especially for growing chickens, as it consists almost entirely of starch, and does not contain quite half the amount of flesh-forming materials as Oats. " Fowls should be fed at regular hours, and will then soon become accustomed to them, and not loiter about the house or kitchen-door all day long, expecting food, which they will do if fed irregularly or too often, and neglect to forage about for themselves, and thus cost more for food. " A little chopped raw meat may be given occasionally, especially to fowls that do not get many insects or worms, but the latter are more natural food when they can be had. Greaves, so much advertised for fowls, are very bad, rapidly throwing them out of condition, causing their feathers to fall off, and spoiling the flavour of the flesh. ' ' Where they have no grass plot, fresh vegetables must be thrown in daily, or it will be impossible to keep them in health. Cabbage and Lettuce leaves. Turnip-tops, Turnips cut into small pieces, and scattered like grain, or cut in two, or any refuse vegetables will do, but the best thing is a large sod of fresh-cut turf. " A constant supply of fresh clean water is indispens- able, and should be kept in a vessel so contrived that the fowls cannot make it dirty. In frosty weather it should be emptied every night, and snow must never be allowed to fall into it, snow-water being most injurious to poultry. From the book on pigeons, by the same author; we take the concluding sentence : — " In conclusion, we can confidently boast that this Httle manual contains more complete directions for the manage- ment of pigeons than have been given in any other work. The larger part of most books upon the subject is devoted to descriptions of the different varieties, which appears to us to be beginning at the wrong end ; for through the want of plain and full directions upon some important point inadvertently omitted, the pigeon-keeper may lose valuable birds. We have consequently had to limit the descriptions of the varieties, both in number and length, although we have treated of all the most important possible ignoble mam that Nature i; born, not more than one can be allowed maturity, and increase its kind, or the world would : be overstocked with pigeons, but this does not incr my respect for their slayers. I believ use you can put a deliberate murderer to is to nang mm, pour encouragcr Us autrcs ; but this belief does not raise the hangman to the dignity of a gentleman in my estima- tion ; nor can I see any more true sport or manly dignity in the performance of a languid swell who backs himself to kill 45 pigeons otit of 50, his -■akt-de-chambre loading his gun, than in that of the vulgar snob who wagers that he will kill and dress a dozen sheep in less time than any other butcher— gambling, not sporting, is the aim of both. "This process of selection having been universally followed by the Belgians, has eventually produced good birds of various types, all having, however, the common characteristics of a large brain, and consequently a capa- cious brain-case or skull, a well-developed chest, with large pectoral muscles to move the wngs, and broad overlapping flight feathers, the ten primary feathers being exceedingly well developed, so as to overlap each other to a much greater degree than in any of the ordinary varieties." Farm Memoranda. Hampshire : fulv which prevailed up to with the absence of rai breeds ; but should this little manual meet with the patronage that we hope it deserves, we may present the public with a larger, complete, and elaborate work upon this interesting subject." Mr. Tegetmeier's book on the carrier pigeon is the work of a naturalist, and will be received as the prO' duction of an unquestionable authority on its subject. It is an extremely interesting work, and any one taking it up will read it to the end. The history of the carrier or homing pigeon, its training, and its \ formances — the interest taken in it, especially Belgium, where every small town has its pigeon clul will be new to a large number of our readers, and they will do well to procure the book. The following passage may be taken as an illustration of the style and material of the performance : — "It is certain that hereditary-trained inteUigence has much more to do with the goodness of homing pigeons than their size or the exact nature of the variety. The process of 'natural selection,' or the 'survival of the fittest ' in the straggle for life, ehminates all the imperfect animals when in a state of nature, and, by a perfectly parallel course of artificial selection, the Belgian colombo- philes have got rid of their inferior birds, and are continu- ally breeding, year after year, from those that have per- formed the longest journeys in the shortest space of time. If a stranger wishes to know the value these experienced fanciers put upon their best birds as breeding stock, let him visit, as I have done, the Belgian lofts in the spring, and hear ;^io or £11 refused for a single pair of birds; and if still pressed to sell, listen to the remonstrance of those genuine colombophiles :— ' Do not ask us to sell our best birds, we do not like it, but wait a couple of months, and we will give you plenty of young ones.' "This process of .selection ol the best stock is continu- lily being carried on. Each pair of old birds will breed eight young ones every season ; of these, let us regard five or six as being reared, and ask what becomes of them. "The very worst are lost in training ; the weakest are struck down by the hawks ; the slowest, those that return, but not in good time, find their way to the dealers ; and, during the summer season, thousands weekly are shot at the pigeon-shooting clubs in this country, where aristo- ■-ratic gunners stand with double-barreUed guns, 25 yards rom the traps, and think they are worthy of the title of ;portsmen if they succeed in butchering their prey in this 5. — The cold, cloudy weather the middle of June, together 1, gave to the crops a very un- promising appearance. The fine showers which have since fallen have greatly improved the face of the country, and offer a more hopeful prospect for the harvest. The harvest, under any circumstances, must now be late, and should the weather continue dark and wet, with the present low temperature, it may be un- usually late ; and it is this prospect which threatens the Wheat crop, as it is well known that late harvests are proverbially unproductive as regards the Wheat crop, and should the weather prove ever so favourable we cannot now expect an average crop of Wheat, the plant being so very deficient and the blooming time too cold and sunless, taking also into consideration the quantity ploughed up and re-sown with Lent com will tell against the average produce of the county. The appearance at present of the Barley crop is favourable, the plant being strong and stiff in the straw, and is showing a good ear. There is no doubt a large breadth has been so^vn and got in early, but should the weather prove favourable it may give an abundant yield. Still, however, this crop delights in a warm climate peculiar to our eastern and southem counties. If the weather continues as at pre- sent, there may be a large crop of straw, producing inferior grain. Oats may be said to be a very promising crop, as they thrive best in the western and northern counties, where the rainfall is greatest, therefore the late rains have proved highly favourable, and the crop is likely to be over the average. Beans, winter-sown, are not a good plant, and are afl'ected by the black aphis in some instances. This crop will be deficient. Spring Beans, on the other hand, as well as Peas, are looking altogether exceed- ingly well, perhaps never better, Peas being especially well podded, and show no blight. Trifolium has been a remarkable good and valuabli produce this year, in fact, the late varieties are a present in full value for feeding, and will continue available for soiling cattle for another fortnight. Thus we shall have had this excellent food in use for a period of ten weeks, showing the advantage of sowing the early and late crops for a succession. Vetches are also an abundant produce, but will not bear comparison with Trifolium for stock feeding. The produce of feeding grass has been under an average, and only about one-fourth got up before the rains set in, conse- quently the remainder has been seriously damaged, and in many instances can only be used for litter, and thus prove a substitute for straw, for which it must be con- sidered valuable, because the fanners now know how to utilise straw for feeding purposes. This being the case, the loss of the hay crop will not be so severely felt, especially as there is promise of an excellent second cut of Clover. All late pastures are loaded with a heavy crop of grass, now awaiting favourable weather to be con- verted into hay. The prospect of Mangel, Swedes, Turnips, &c. , is very fine, and the land being in excel- lent tilth, there is probably a good crop of all the later sorts to be expected. Potatos also are looking well at present, but the early sorts are not yielding a heavy crop. Both fat and store cattle are excessively dear and scarce, and are likely to continue so. As regards the draft upon the stock of the county has been ms. The companies, or gangs, of sheep shearers who traverse the county during the months of May and June, all report a great diminution of num- bers offered for shearing ; in some districts, several thousands less than usual. This is strong evidence of the encroachment made upon the stock of the county. We may therefore expect sheep to be a brisk sale, and dear at the coming fairs, the principal being at Stock- bridge, Overton, and Alresford, during the present month. The fine and abundant rains fallen lately have so altered the appearance of the chalk hills and land farms, that no doubt it will compensate and : the spirit of many occupiers of land who have suffered severely from the effects of several dry and unproductive seasons. Joseph Bliinddl, Soutliatnpton. TiLLYFOUR, DORSELL, AND BRIDGE END, ABER- DEENSHIRE.— These farms are all in the occupation of Mr. W. M'Combie, M.P. for West Aberdeenshire, and together comprise about 1200 acres of arable and pas- ture land, besides between 200 and 300 acres of valu- able hill pasture. Tillyfour measures about 600 acres, of which 120 are in permanent pasture; Dorsell in- cludes 325 acres of arable land, and the hill pasture just mentioned ; and Bridge End consists of 225 acres, which are exclusively arable. Mr. M'Combie also rents 50 acres of probably the best grass land in Aber- deenshire, from Sir W. Forbes, of Craigie Var. It is almost unnecessary to state that on these farms the whole management is arranged mth a view to breed- ing and feeding a large number of cattle, chiefly of the polled black Angus or Aberdeenshire breed. Permanent grass land, as already stated, is by no means abundant in Aberdeenshire ; but, without it, there would be great difficulty in keeping on, in im- proving condition, a large feeding stock from the time that the seeds begin to fail, viz., about the middle of July, until Turnips are ready to commence upon. Even with the advantage of this grass, it has been found desirable to tie up the most forward beasts before the early Turnips are ready, and it is probable that Mr. M 'Combie's success as a feeder is due in no in- considerable degree to the judicious maimer in which this gap has been filled up. Some of the grass land is of remarkable feeding quality, and will catry bullocks of any size, making them fat, so as to fetch prices ranging from £y:i to ;^50 per head, without any adjunct, whether roots, cake, or com. The beasts are always bought in good condition, and the best land, in a favourable year, will feed nearly one beast per acre, so as to bring it into this first-rate marketable condition. The old grass is never cut, being far too valuable for pasturing. Most of it was laid down about 20 years ago, in exactly the same manner as seeds are now sown in the usual course of cropping ; and about 10 years afterwards it was top-dress.ed with a compost of lime and earth. The three farms are situated on the somewhat steep sides of the valley of the Don and its tributaries, at a height of 750 to Soo feet above the sea-level. The climate is therefore too rough for the profitable culti- vation of Wheat, and Barley not unfrequently gives place to the more hardy Bere on the stronger land. The subsoil consists of the well-known Aberdeenshire granite, the decomposition of which results in the formation of a fertile, but somewhat heavy soil. The farms are worked on an alternate five and six- course system, the former being Oats, Turnips, Barley, and seeds for two years ; the six-course is an extension of the same, by keeping the seeds down another year. A small breadth of Tares is sown every year, either in the Oat course, or instead of Turnips ; these are cut three-fourths ripe, and given with Clover to the forward beasts until the early Turnips are ready. A portion of the new grass is pastured in the early part of the season for a few weeks, after which it is relieved so as to be ready for cutting by the end of July, and thus produce the valuable fodder given with the Tares. Crops. I. Oats. — After harvest, the first operation is to plough the Oat stubble, and, when that is finished, the Clover lea is broken up by a strong furrow of from 7 to 10 inches m depth, the whole being finished by Martinmas, if possible. The climate being very back- ward in spring, a large quantity of seed is required ; and, in a bad season, as much as 5 or even 6 bush, per imperial acre may be deemed necessary. As a rale, the seed is sown [broadcast on the furrows ; but in some seasons it is possible to go over the land with harrows, and afterwards to drill the seed. After the seed is in, a plain roller is drawn over the land to prepare it for the scythe or the reaping-machine, thus completing the operations of seed-time. Harvesting Oats generally commences about the beginning of September, and finishes from the middle to the end of the month. Cutting is now sometimes done with the reaping-machine, although that implement is not held in such high estimation for Oats as for Barley. It is said that the Aberdeen labourers are such good hands th the scythe, that the machine possesses but little advantage over them. With a good bottom, they can from 2 to 24 acres per day of 11 hours ; and, as they leave a shorter stubble than the machine, they get more straw, which is an important consideration to the cattle-feeder. Piecework is not much in vogue, but mes the field operations of harvesting have been done by contract, at from Is. to gj. per acre. The most general system is to get hands at the hiring fairs, which are held in anticipation of the harvest throughout the county. These are men engaged at a stipulated sum (from ^'3 to £\, with food and beer), for the whole period of harvest, however long it may last. This period varies in length from five to eight weeks, according to the weather ; and it was once known to last as long as eleven weeks. Women are employed for sheafing and other of the lighter opera- tions, and get from 55J. to 6oj., with food, for the whole harvest. Stacking .and thatching are done by 960 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Aericnltural Gazette. [July 22, 1 87 1 the harvestmen and the ordinary farm servants, who work at their usual rate of payment. 2. Turnips. — Immediately after harvest the oat- stubble is ploughed as deeply as possible, the deeper the better, from 7 to 13 inches, according to the depth of soil. It is then left until after Oat sowing is finished, generally until about the middle of April, when it is grubbed as deeply as possible, sometimes, if the land is not very clean, getting a cross-ploughing before the grubber is used. Ridging is delayed until immedi tely before seed-time, which commences with Swedes about May 12. When this work is commenced, no time is lost in completing it. Farmyard manure, to the weight of from 10 to 20 tons, is put in the drills, and upon it not less than 10 or 12 bushels of bone dust, and probably from 2 to 3 cwt. of guano ; but the quantities of manures used vary with the quality and condition of the land. After the ridges have been split, from 2 to 4 lb. of seed are immediately drilled, the sorts most used being Skirving's Purple-top Swede, Shepherd's Swede, and Aberdeen Yellow Turnips. No white Turnips are grown, as they are not considered to possess sufficient feeding properties, being regarded as fit only for cows and young stock ; but the yellow Aberdeens constitute about one-half of the root-course. The plants are horse-hoed two or three times as may be required, and are finally hand-hoed, and singled by the hoe. The quality of the land determines the distance apart to which they are set out, and which varies from 9 to 13 or 14 inches. About the middle or end of October is the time when it is usual to commence top- ping and tailing, care being taken not to bleed the bulbs, which are " pitted and secured every night to keep them free from frost and rain." In his book, just quoted, Mr. M'Combie states, " I have adopted my friend Mr. Porter of Monymusk's plan (in a late climate, and where Swedish Turnips in some years never come to full maturity) of pitting them upon the land where they grow, from one to two loads together ; and, although not quite ripe, I have never seen a Turnip go wrong when stored in this manner. The land also escapes being poached as the Turnips are carted in frost, and at a time when the other operations of the farm are not pressing, A foot of earth will keep them safe, and they are easily covered by taking a couple of furrows with a pair of horses on each side of the line of pits. " Twenty-seven or 28 tons of yellowTurnips, topped and tailed, are considered a fair average crop, and from 32 to 35 tons a good crop of Swedes. For Tares the land is prepared as for Turnips, and the seed is mixed with Oats. If the land is heavy, white Peas and Beans are also mixed to hold up the crop. Tares are sown at different times, the earliest being in spring with the first portion of the Oat crop. 3. Barley. — The Turnip land is not touched until after all other spring cultivation has been completed, which is about the middle of April, when it is ploughed from 6 to 8 inches deep, and, without further prepara- tion, sown with 4 bush, per acre of Barley on the light land, or Bere on the heavier soils. 4. Seeds. — The preparation for seeds consists of harrowing until a sufficiently fine tilth is obtained, when the roller is passed over the land previous to sowing, and the harrow and roller are again used after the seed is in. The mixture of seeds generally used is I bush, of Pacey's Rye-grass, 5 or 6 lb. of red Clover, and 4 or 5 lb. of white Dutch, if the land requires it ; but some portion of Mr. M'Combie's occupation grows white Clover naturally. Upon the poorer soils an addition is made, consisting of 4 or 5 lb. of Alsike, but this is omitted on the better land, as cattle are not fond of it. Occasionally a few acres of Italian Rye-grass are sown for early cutting ; but red Clover is the "seed" which is considered the great stronghold of the cattle- feeder. The quantity of hay made is only just enough for the horses, and never exceeds 30 acres. So great is Mr. M'Combie's dislike to cutting his seeds, that he frequently prefers to buy hay, especially as he considers pasturing by cattle equal to a year's rest. Stock. I. Herd. — The breeding stock consists of about 80 head of the black-polled Angus breed, including one old bull, two yearling bulls, and 30 cows, the remain- der being i and 2-year-old heifers. The bull calves are generally sold privately, and there is also a sale of breeding stock every second or third year. Cows are put to at any season ; but is preferred that the calves should drop early in spring, when they are allowed to suck their dams until October. The treatment of cows during winter, previous to calving, is based on the principle of keeping them as low as possible. They run over the grass that has been left by the feeding beasts, and are never taken under cover until the end of October, when they go in at night ; but they get no food except that afforded by the fields until after Martiranas, or even the end of November. About this time, or the beginning of December, the most forward of the feeding beasts go off, and the breeding cows take their places in the stalls ; but their food is still kept down, consisting merely of straw, and or day a barrowful of Turnips divided between thre four of them ; and, except in very bad weather, they still go out two or three hours every day. The only difficulty is to keep the breeding stock from becoming too fat. After calving, the feeding regulations are very much relaxed in favour of Turnips, so that the cows may give ' enough milk for their calves, which remain with their mothers for several months. The older calves are weaned about the end of October, no matter how early they drop ; and the late calves remain with their dams throughout the winter. The latter lie behind their mothers at night ; during the day they get the run of the steading, and sometimes are given a turn in the yard ; they also get from i lb. to 2 lb. of oilcake daily, with a little meal, the trough being placed in the stall behind the dam. By this method Mr. M'Combie has made some of his best beasts from late calves ; it enables them always to retain a good coat, and to withstand the cold and ungenial climate in spring. When the older calves are weaned, they are put into a strawyard, and given as much as they can eat of straw and sliced Turnips, with from 14 to 2 lb. of oilcake each per day. After the first winter, and when the young breeding stock are rismg two and three years old, they are kept upon Turnips and straw, without any allowance of cake. The calves are all carefully setoned, a good hold of the dewlap being considered necessary, as well as the renewal of any seton that may slip. These measures have been so efiectual that not more than one case of blackleg has occurred amongst the high-bred stock at Tillyfour. Weaning time, however, is not quite so simple a matter for the cows, as some will not allow themselves to be milked. In these cases, the practice is to let their calves suckle once a day at first, then once in two or three days, and thus, in the course of a fortnight, the cow gradually becomes dry ; but unless these precautions are taken, the cow may lose two or three of her teats, and be ever afterwards useless as a milker. The younger calves are treated in precisely the same manner. The calves are kept regularly growing on until the earliest grass is ready for them, after which time it is considered that there is little or no further risk from quarter-ill or other diseases incidental to young stock. The after treatment of heifer calves is a matter which requires sound judgment ; and if the allurements of shows are avoided, Mr. M'Combie finds it compara- tively easy to produce breeding animals that will pay, and will exhibit very fine quality. The system he has adopted, except in cases of show pets, is to give them good grass during the summer, and during the ensuing winter to keep them on unlimited oat-straw and a fair supply of Turnips. It is essential to keep them in good growing condition without a check, but at the same time to guard against their laying on too much flesh. Open strawyards, in the winter, are thought best both for young breeding cattle and for store beasts to be grassed the next summer ; and a covered yard is therefore regarded as an abomination. The principal of treatment of store or breeding animals is to avoid making the high-bred heifers valuable to the butclier ; and as it is well known that they have a great tendency to lay on fat if well fed, it behoves the farmer to work accordingly, for servants in charge of high-bred stock seem to take a pride in over-feeding them. Heifers are not put to the bull until fully two years old, as the polled Angus females become stunted in growth and otherwise deteriorated if used before they arrive at that age. In-andin breeding is also found to produce a diminution in size and delicacy of constitution, although it undoubtedly produces finer quality, as Mr. M'Combie has shown in his work already quoted. 2. Feeding Beasts. — Between 300 and 400 head of cattle are fed off between October and March, the number varying with the weight of the Turnip crop and the luxuriance of the grass and seeds. About 50 of these beasts are bred and wintered on these farms, and the remainder are bought in Morayshire in March and April, arriving at all times up to the beginning of May. After arrival they are kept on the remnant of the Swede crop, or, in default of that, on hay and cake, in sufficient quantity to prevent their losing condition, until the grass is ready. This is not until from the loth to the 15th of the month, although a certain breadth of first- year's seeds on each farm is top-dressed with from 2 to 3 cwt. per acre of sulphate of ammonia, dissolved bones, or guano, for the purpose of providing an early bite for these beasts. From about May 15 until May 20, the cattle begin to go on ordinary first- year's seeds, where they remain for two or three weeks, when they are removed for a change of bite to a piece of two-year-old seeds, or an old pasture. It is consi- dered an essential part of good grazing to give beasts a clean pasture and fresh grass at frequent intervals, say once a fortnight at farthest. In July seeds begin to fail, and without the assistance of old and late grass it would be almost impossible to carry on the stock in a thriving condition. No cattle are sold off grass, as Mr. M'Combie's experience shows that beasts do not pay unless they get at least two months' Turnip feeding. The interval between the failure of the seeds and the maturing of the early Turnips is therefore a critical period ; and there can be little doubt that Mr. M'Combie's success as a grazier is, to a great extent, due to the manner in which he has kept his cattle supplied with nutritious food at this time of the year. Part of the cattle are sent to the old pastures in the middle or end of July, and by the middle of August ome of the best are put in the strawyards, and receive Clover, Tares, &c. ; thus reducing the numbers on the pastures, and giving more chance to those that remain. by reserving the second bite of the early-fed first-year's seeds until that time. As the seeds contain plenty of red Clover, they form a most valuable food, and enable cattle to be kept on in thriving condition until the Turnips are ready. The forward bullocks are tied up very early ; and, at the time of my first visit to Tillyfour (August 30), no less than 125 beasts were under cover. Sixty of these were 3-year-old bullocks, in strawyards, getting food consisting of Tares (three-fourths ripe), and Clover, mixed with Oats, white Peas, and Beans, and 3 lb. of linseed cake each per diem. In about a week's time they would be entirely on Turnips and cake with straw. They were in good condition when bought from the Morayshire strawyards, where they had got some of the finest Swedes grown in Scotland, and they had been kept during the summer on capital grass in Aberdeenshire, so that they were in high condition when turned in. By giving them as many Turnips as they could eat, it was expected to turn most of them off quite "ripe," without any addition to their allowance of cake, by the first or second week in October. The remaining 65 — the largest and best of Mr. M'Combie's feeding stock — were intended for the Islington Christmas market, Liverpool, and Edin- burgh. At the end of August they were feeding on yellow Turnips, remarkably well matured for so early a period in the season — and such a season ! — with a proportion of partially ripened Tares, but without cake or corn. Cake is never given to ' ' commercial beasts " until within six weeks of the date when they are destined to go to market, when they get from 3 to 4 lb, per day to give them the " last dip " when necessary A great many of the beasts sent to London by Mr. M'Combie never taste cake or com, but only those pushed early to market, and the sluggish feeders amongst the lots that come afterwards. Indeed, some of those sent to the Christmas market are not un- frequently considered too fat by certain butchers. Many of the best of these beasts had been bred by Mr. M'Combie himself, and in April were worth, he con- sidered, from £,■2.% to .1^30 each. The remainder had been bought the previous winter and in the spring, and had cost from £,2% all the way up to £12. per head. All these cattle had been selected as better adapted for the earlier than the later markets ; but we now come to the description of those which take the places of the 125 whose treatment has just been sketched. These were still in the fields ; they had cost from £zo to ^24 each in the spring, and would be all tied up immediately after the first 60 had been disposed of, getting Turnips and straw as the others. They would go off gradually during the months of January, February, and March. The stalls vacated by the Christmas beasts are filled up by half-fed beasts, bought in the neighbourhood, and either finished for the London market the same spring or kept on for the grass, and sold the following autumn or winter. For the latter purpose a bullock that has not been too well kept, especially if from the high grounds, well-bred, and not stunted in growth, will pay for its keep far better than one that has been kept on the higher priced lands in the valleys. 3. Sheep. — From 400 to 800 three-shear blackfaced wedders from Deeside are bought at Braemar or on the hills, about the beginning of September, and put on the grass left by the feeding cattle until Martinmas. They then get Turnips for a couple of months, and go to the Edinburgh and Glasgow markets. Occasion- ally they get a little com or cake, but they seldom require it, as they thrive very fast on the lowland pasture after coming off the hills. An average sheep will weigh about 17 lb. per quarter, but some are much heavier. It does not answer to buy lambs, as they get braxey and die very fast ; but aged sheep stand the change very well. The profit on one lot of 400 sheep paid Mr. M 'Combie's election expenses j but it does not appear whether the profits were very large or the expenses very small. 4. Horses.— h somewhat light but active breed of carthorse is preferred ; and as so large a proportion of the arable land is in seed, it is not found necessary to keep more than ten pairs in addition to four pairs of working oxen. The horses are turned entirely into the fields after Turnip sowing is finished, and until the commencement of leading at harvest time. When taken in, they are given as much hay as they can eat, and are allowed 2 bush, of Oats each per w-eek. Every night they get a mash divided into two portions, one being given before the dry food and the other in the course of an hour or two ; it consists of light Oats or Bere, mixed with cut Swedes, and boiled together. About a bucketful is given to each horse every night, and in the spring a good feed of Swedes is also given in the forenoon. Labour. Married servants are engaged by the year, at W^hit- suntide, for from ;^20 to £i2 per annum with house and allowances ; and unmanned men are engaged for six months at Whitsuntide and Martinmas, getting from ^10 to £\ I lat. for the term, with the usual allowances. The " allowances " are 2 pecks of oat- meal per week, as many Potatos as they can eat, and either milk or z\d. per week in lieu of it. The un- married men get their food cooked for them in the " bothy," as already described. The bailiff, or "giieve," as he is termed, is allowed to keep a cow, July 22, iSJi.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 961 and sometimes a pony. Unmarried women are not employed, as a rule ; but for hoeing Turnips and at harvest time they are in great request, yournal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England Paper on Scot- tish Agriculture, by Mr. H. M. Jenkins. w\:% Mmv, in a good condition ( immediately they ai rick-cloth until they the eaves, others do protecrboth roof and sides from harm. July 22. — Winter Peas are generally harvested by the close of the month in our southern provinces. The crop is commonly cut with a long-handled bagging- hook, and left in loose parcels on the stubble when grown broadcast, and across the stetches when thus grown. Harvest operations in the field are simple in dry weather, all that is necessary being once turning or so, to prevent the haulm roasting and the pods opening. In wet weather, however, it is otherwise, for when soaked with rain, the crop is difficult to dry in the field, and liable to mould in the stackyard. Pea stacks are bad defenders of rain, and, therefore, whether stacked a bad, they should be thatched built, or be covered with the n be thatched. Some thatch to 1 to the bottom, purposely to The sides may be covered with webs of machine-wove straw, made fast with pegs in the same way as the ridge-gables and eaves are secured. Seeds' Harvest. — Rye-grass, when left to ripen its seeds, is generally harvested during this month. In Scotland, where from a fourth to an eighth of the farm is annually sown with Rye-grass and Clover, most farmers grow their own Rye-grass seed ; Clover seed cannot be profitably grown in the North, consequently seed is obtained either from the South of England the Continent of Europe, or America. Like Wheat, Rye-grass is cut before it is dead-ripe, and it is better to cut rather green than otherwise, to avoid losii best seed in the harvesting. The crop is usually bound in sheaves, stooked and stacked as Wheat, Barley, and Oats. It requires to be thoroughly dry before carry ing, as it is very liable to heat in the stack, and thus destroy the vitality of the seed. To avoid heating some farmers allow the grass to lie in the swathe until the hay is fit for the trampcock, or handcock in difficult weather; they then thresh and spread the seed thinly over the granary, turning it frequently until thoroughly dry. Others thresh out what seed they require during the general opera- tion of haymaking, the hay from the temporary threshing floor in the field being built into cocks, the size depending on the weather. But this practice cannot be commended, for the grass must either be too ripe before it is cut, or else there is much inferior seed in the sample. There are besides two objections to threshing in the harvest field and storing the seed in the granary, for broken straw does not keep well in the stack, and the seed is liable to injury in the granary. The best plan is to stook and stack and then thresh, when the seed and hay can both be used fresh. Some lands produce finer seed than others, and therefore it is common for the occupiers of such to grow for market, and for those farmers whose seed degenerates to get their supplies from this source. Again, farmers who allow their land to lie two years in grass, take their seed from the second crop, pur posely to avoid annual seed and degeneracy. Flax intended for the finest muslin and cambric fabrics, requires to be pulled earlier than that for the coarser description of linen, or for rippling seed. There may be a week to fourteen days difference, according to the weather. This year, much of the flax crop in Ire- land is said to have suffered heavily from the cold, dry, east winds, so that it will be no easy matter to deter- mine whether the crop is best suited for coarse or fine linen, especially when not very equally grown. A con- siderable diversity in the primary and secondary pro- cesses of preparing Flax fibre for the market, has recently been introduced ; but the old familiar plan of pulling, steeping, and dew-retting on the grass, con- tinues to be the common practice. When the crop is fit for yielding the finest quality of fibre, it is pulled when it comes into flower, or shortly after, as the peculiarities of the crop may direct. In pulling, the operator stands with his or her right or left side to the standing Flax, going backwards, and with both hands firmly laying hold of small parcels of the standing Flax at a time, so as not to raise earth and injure the fibre ; and when he gets a handful he lays it down, so that the next handful or two can be laid across ; the object of laying the Fla-\ crosswise being to keep it as much as possible off the ground. In this position it is allowed to lie until fit for being tied up in small sheaves for the steep, with a band made of a few stems of the Flax. As the sheaves are tied, they are carted to, and placed upright in the steep, and loaded with wood and stones to keep them under water. A slow fermentation sets in, depending for degree and force upon the temperature of the water and the atmo- sphere ; and when sufficiently far advanced to allow the fibre to separate freely from the stem when broken — which in warm weather will be in about a week's 'time ; and in cold weather from ten to fourteen days — the Flax is ready for the next process, dew-retting, which is done by spreading the steeped Flax evenly over a grass field, previously mown, so as to have an even surface. Spreading Flax is a very dirty but nice operation, and we have always found women better spreaders than men. In spreading the spreader goes backwards, shaking out gently with both hands sheaf after sheaf, thinly, evenly, and equally over the points Like all similar manipulations i must be learned by an apprenticeship, and not book- rule. When sufficiently dew-retted, the fibre sepa- rates freely from the stem by rubbing. The retted Flax is next tied up in large sheaves or bundles and stacked, where it remains until sent to the flax-mill Stacking Flax is a work/c/- se. In the first course the sheaves are placed vertically on their butts, slanting over these the next course is laid horizontally, project- ing about a foot over the vertical course. The body of a large stack rises perpendicularly, but smaller ones ar< of a pear-shaped form from the base course, and this i: the hnish of both large and small, so that a few hand fuls of straw at the top secures the stack from rain When straw is not to be had, a sheaf or two of Flax i: used as thatch, and here we may observe that Flax forms excellent thatch ior houses, and is frequently grown for this express purpose. When the seed is to be used for sowing or crushing, or when the bolls are to \ given to cattle, the Flax is allowed to become mo ripe before it is pulled, but the degree of ripeness just about as diversified as the opinions of growers. For seed and bolls it is common amongst the larger farmers of Ireland to ripple into the body of a cart, one person supplymg two or three ripplers with handfuls of Flax as pulled, another binding up the rippled hand fuls for steeping. The work of steeping, spreading, and dew-retting are as above described. Sheep Shearing in the highlands of Scotland, north of England, and Wales, will this year be attended with greater risk from frosty nights than usual, and on that account the shearing may be later. Some shep- herds put their newly-shorn sheep through the pool, in order to prevent catching cold. W. B. Lambs are in demand, large supply of Calves ; foreign supply consists ( 824 Calves. Best Scots, Here- fords. &c. .. 5 8to6 Best Shorthorns . . 5 6 — 5 2d quality Beasts 3 8—4 Best Downs and ather dearer. There is a s are rather lower. Our Beasts, 4500 Sheep, and Best Long-wools Do. Shorn Ewes & 2d quality ENGLISH WOOL. During the last week Wool has continued in good demand, at hardening rates. Many classes of foreign Wool are as dear or dearer than during the American war, though English grades are still below these values, and must, we consider, still advance considerably between this and Christmas ; so that our advice to farmers would be to hold out for advanced rates. HOPS, Borough Market, July 20. Messrs. Pattenden & Smith report that the from the plantations are still very unfavourable, and although the bine has made considerable progress during the last week, still vermin follows up, and there are reports of fresh fly this morning. The market is very firm, though not active, but for choice samples there are always buyers at full rates. HAY.- Smithf PrimeMeadowHay,.40i Inferior do no Infrrior^do. '.'. '.'. — Straw ..n Per Load o/SS Trusses. ELD, Thursday, July 20. toi6or. Clover, old .. . 120 Prime new do. '. — Inferior do. .. . Market, Thursday, July to.70». Inferior Clover . .30 Pn-|dcutdo.. - Straw :r Cl Sup. Meado " """^ ',20' to. Inferior do. .. ..- 52 Beasts, looo; Sheep and Lambs, 12,775; Calves, There ^ MARK LANE. Monday, July 17. ; very few samples of EngHsh Wheat at this morning's market, but millers were not anxious buyers, and the sales made were at a decline of \s. to 2.3. per qr. upon the prices of this day week. The attendance was good, but the business done in foreign was in retail, at a similar reduction. Bariey and Peas were unchanged in value. Beans \s. per qr. cheaper. The Oat trade was steady ; Russian and inferior qualities 3c/. to dd. per qr. lower. Flour was 6(/. per barrel and u. per sack Price T, Essex, Kei Suffolk. .White 47— 60 — Norfolk '.V.'.\'.\ — — Foreign 150—68 Barley, grind. &!dist.,30J to 34J . . Chev. ; 43—46 — Foreign . . grinding and distilling :2q— 33 Oats, Essex and Suffolk 26 — 28 — Scotch and Lincolnshire . . Potato ] 28—30 Foreign .Poland and Brt 27—29 Feed ... Feed ... 33—36 Pigeon 5i,r. to 59^. ..Windsj Foreign Small , 45 — 47 ; tgyptia , White, Essex, and Kent, .Boilers 38— 4o!Suffolk t marks, delivered, .per sack. ■to ditto 30- Sa perbarrellss- Wednesday, July ig .Grey 36 — 401 Foreign . ' — Foreign . The Com Exchange was thinly attended by millers ; the business doing was very limited, at prices favouring buyers. The supply of English Wheat was short, but of foreign the arrivals were on a liberal scale ; sales were effected slowly, at about the reduced rates current on Monday last. Barley, Beans, and Peas were purchased cautiously, at prices tending downwards. Oats were in good supply. The demand was inactive, and prices were exceedingly weak. The Flour trade ruled dull, at dechn- Carriace. Superior Clover J METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET, July Best Fresh Butter 15^. per dozen lb Second do. do. 13^. ,, Small Pork, us. ^d. to 4J. 8 and 53J. ; packing Mats, d5, Wormwood Street, E,C. HESSIANS and SCRI MS for COVERING. 4-4 Scrim, from 2d. to 5^- pcr yard, advancing Jirf. 54-incb Hessian and Scrim, yi,.-\%d-. A^-> 4^if and ^l^d. J. BLACKBURN and SONS, Sack and" Bag Makers, and Canvas K USSIA MATS, for Covering Garden Frames.— ANDERSON'S TAGANROG MATS are the cheapest and durable. Price List, which gives the size of every class of Mat, EDGIN' and mi DGINGTON'S GARDEN NETTING, the cheapest at id. per square yard, or in quantities of 350,300, or iQoo yards, carriage free. EDGINGTON'S RICK CLOTHS for 66 years have maintair.r I EDGINGTON's'^ MARQUEES for Hire, are the most elegant .v '^"ipclNGTON'S CRICKET and GARDEN TENTS are i ■"sHAW'S and WALLER'S NETTINGS, samples of material li.. on application. Be particular-FREDERICK EDGINGTON ,iMi CO., 52, Old Kent Road, London. S.E. A quantity of good Second-hand Government TENTS from Abyssmia, for Sale, cheap. A Liberal Discount to the Trade. International Exhibition, 1862. Class XIX. Honourable Mention. ET. ARCHER'S " FRIGI DOMO."— Patronised • and used for Frogmoreand KewGardens. It is made entirely of prepared wool, and a perfect non-conductor of heat or cold where it isappie . PROTECTION AGAINST FROST.' WOOL NETTING, 2 yards wide and is, &i. per yard. "FRIGI DOMO" CANVAS." Two yards wide is. orf. per yard. 2S. &i. per yard. Caution to Gardeners.— ■When you ask for SAYNOR AND COOKE'S WARRANTED PRIZE PRUNING and BUDDING KNIVES, sec that you get them. Observe the m.ark SAVN13R, also the Corporate Mark, Obtain Warranted, -without which none arc genuine. S. ti C. regret having to caution Gardeners and others, but are compelled to do so, in consequence of an imitation, of common quahty, having been sold lor the genuine one, and which has caused their make, all of which are warranted both by Sellers and Makers. S. AND C's PRUNING and BUDDING KNIVES are the best ^ plxto"^Vorks, Sheffield' Est.iblishcd upwards of i2S years. mps.-fiERfeMAN AND MORTC adrant, London, W. do., . ElFsHA T. ARCHER, Only Maker of " Frigi Domo," 3, Cmn, Street, City, E.G. : and of all Seedsmen in London or the Country. NOTICE.— Removed from 7, Great Trinity Lane. No. 1, Peel Street, Manchester, 1871. OUR HORTICULTURAL SHADINGS form same time they admit Light and Sun. They are used and str. r e most successful Exhibitors and Scientific 11. Latest Improyements HEATING by HOT WATER. : IMPROVED Solely Manufactured POLLARD, JEPHSON, , ite Bury & Pollard, Succ John R. Peill, h ■Peill). These BOILERS Stephens CO., Hothouse Builders p.vBATus Manufacturers, Road, London, S.E. (Incorporated by Act o Directors. . Chapman, Esq^, F.R.S. I The Rieht Hon. Viscount Com- eorge Thomas dark, Esq. Agricultural Improvement: ard John HutchinSj Esq. by the Curne, Esq. | Sir Willibn Tile, M.P.,'C.B: pal Engineer, Mr. J. BAILEY DENTON ly tnereon repaid to Landowners by their own agents. ;LuTh°'i charged upon the Estate, and paid off by a Rent-charge of about 6 per cent., in 3» years, or at the option of the Landowners in a shorter term. No investigation of title necessary, and no legal expenses incurred. UTILISATION of SEWAGE. Special arrangements will be made with Boards of Health, Sewer Authorities^ and others, for undertaking Works of Sewage Irrigation, thereof may be repaid either by a sum in gross, or by a terminable Application to be made to ARTHUR MILMAN, Esq., the Secretary, at the Oflices of the Company, 22, Whitehall Place, S.VV. Drainage, Reclamation, Fai John Clulton, Esq, Frederick L. Dashwood, Esc pronounced the only "proper shadings" ever offered to the public , , ki (,■ „ * against Birds, Way)s.Blight,&c. AsacoveringforStrawberrics,Tulips, ^y_/\J 1 1 Hyacinths, Seed-Bcds, Greenhouses, &c, they have no rival. The once, beingvery reasonable, brings them within the reach of every one. With ordinary care they will last for many years. Samples post free on application. DANIEL COLLINGE and SON. No. I.— 54 inches wide at 8J^(f. peryard run No. 2-— 54 inches wide at 7^^ per yard run. No. 3.— 54 inches wide at sJ^tt- peryard run. No. 4.— 54 inches wide at 4^. per yard run. No. 5.— 54 inches wide at sJ^i. per yard run In pieces of about 30 yards each, or any longer lengths wnen specially ordered. Nctt cash in 30 days from date of Invoice. Horticultural and Window Glass Warehouses. AMES MILES, 6. High Street, and 12 and 13, Blosson Street, Shoreditch, London, E. CONSERVATORY and ORCHARD-HOUSE GLASS. Genuine White Lead, Oils, Colours, Brushes, ^c. ENGINES, PUMPS, SYRINGES, INDIA-RUBBER Glass for Garden Purposes. AMES PHILLIPS and CO. beg to submit their REDUCED PRICES as follows:— 3!^' I 12 inches in dia ;; ■ I o nlies in England. y. Gentry, and Trade in most of the H GREENHOUSES, HOTHOUSES. CONSERVATORIES, CHURCHES. PUBLIC BUILDINGS, HOT-WATER PI PES at v prices ; Elbows, T P MPROVED CONICAL, CAST-IRON TUBULAR BOILERS, INDIA RUBBER RINGS for Pipe Jomts Sockets require no other packing, Elltpttc BoiUr BRITISH PLATE.PATENT PLATE.ROLLED PLATE.CROWN, r Houses, as above, m-ic of best red deal, and cashes ler, down-pipe, and gearing for opening 1 —heating, staging, brickwork not included 40 ft. by 16 ft. 60 ft. by 20 ft. LIGHTS AND BOXES. 3 ft. by 4 ft. lights, 2 in. thick, unglazed 3s. each „ „ glazed, i6-oz. good sheet glass .. .. w. „ " ',; ''"'^ 'gii4"^,fr Portable box containing Portable box containing Estimates given for Cc 02. good sheet glass .. iii. 4 ft.light, painted four 6ftby8ft 55s. ies or Greenhouses to any Desi Granville R. Ryder, EsqT GranvilleR.H.SomeTset;Esq.,Q.a Henrj- i-arquhar, f.sq. 1 Henry W. West, Esq.. M.?. Lord Garlics, ALP, Charles Watkm Williams Wynn, John Horatio Lloyd, Esq. I Esq., M.P. (Chairman). The Company advances money, unlimited in amount, for all purposes of Agricultural Improvement, including the Erection of Cottages and Farm Buildings, to the Owners of settled and other Estates, and to the Clergy In respect of their Glebe Lands. Tenants may, with the consent of their Landlords, execute the necessary Improvements upon the Farms which they occupy, charging UTILISATION of SEWAGE.-The Company also advances money for the purpose of Works of Sewage Irrigation. The whole outlay and expenses are liquidated by a rent-charge upon For Forms and further information, apply to GR.\NVILLE R. RYDER, Esq., Managing Director, No, 1, Great George Street, Storey's Gate, Westminster. S. W CENTRAL ARGENTINE LAND COMPANY, LIMITED. aiairnian—^owa Hegan, Esq. Agini in the Republic— ^. Hakrv Woods, Esq., C.E., Buenos Ayrea. SK/m«(««/ing from 80 to 400 ACRES each. „f the COMPANY'S LAND, situate on each side of the Central .Vr;,'entine Railway, from the Port of Rosario to the City of Cordova, the entire length being 2j6 miles. Towns and A'illages arc being laid .ut at various polius un the Line, where smaller Plots may be secured To secure the best class of Agricultural Settlers and facilitate the Emigration of Families, the Directors are prepared to treat for the Colonisation of Lands within easy reach of the Stations on the Central Argentine Railway, and adapted for immediate cultivation. !■ urther particulars may be obtained at the Offices of the Company ; London— S5, Palmerston Buildings, Bishopsgate Street, E.C. ; Buenos Ayres— 87, Calle de la Reconquista ; Rosario — Terminus of the Central Argentine Railway ; Where the Sur\cys of the Land (about 1,000.000 Acres), together with the Plans of the Colonies already established, can be inspected. GEORGE WOOLCOTT, Secretary. 85, Palmerston Buildings, Bishopsgate Street, London, E.G. , Fleet Street, Temple Bar. {Founded 1836.) This Society has taken a leading part in freeing Contracts from all needless restrictions. The " Proposal Form" is most simple in its terms. The Policies are " Indisputable," that is, free from fi The Guaranteeing Share Capital of One Million 0Si6o,ooo paid up) i; fully subsciibed by 300 Members of the Legal ProfessioiL Nine-tenths of the Profits belong to the Assured. Settlement Policies in favour of Wife and Children, are granted L terms of the " Married Women's Property Act, 1870." E. A. NEWTON, Actuary and Manager. and Conservatory, a G, Knagcs, M.D., F.L.S 1C1.ACHLAN, l-.L.i). ; Ji. C. KVE.*and H. T. Stainton, F R.S.), con- lining Notices of Captures, Observations ol Habits, and Descriptions f Insects, &c. JOHN VAN VOORST, 1. Paternoster Row, London. E.C. ■ | r IGHT SCIENCE for LEISURE HOURS: a Series U of Familiar Essays on Scientific Subjects, Natural Phenomena, ' c By, R. A. Proctor, B.A., F.R.A.S., Author of " Other Worlds lan Ours," " The Sun," 8:a " The book is principally occu- Light Science for Leisure Hours; ivestigations domain of natural science, such , lucidity, and the as the Gulf-Stream, tidal waves, somewhat diftici tornadoes. earthquakes, and and deductions a several other similar topics. The ing and easy to the non-scientific Papers well deserve the title of miaA."— Globe. London: LONGMANS, GREEN and CO., Paternoster Row, EC. July 22, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 963 COTTAGER'S CALENDAR OF GARDEN OPERATIONS. BY THE LATE SIR JOSEPH PAXTON, M.P. REPRINTED from the GARDENERS' CHRONICLE AND AGRICUL TURAL GAZETTE. %vith ADDITIONS. Price 3d. each, or 5s, for 25 Copies for distribution amongst Cottage Tenantry. receipt of a Post Office Order, payable to WM. RICHARDS, at the King PUBLISHED at the OFFICE of the GARDENERS' CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE, 41, WELLINGTON STREET, COVENT GARDEN, W.C. NOTICE. (By Appointment to the Royal Horticultural Society.) To HORTICULTURAL IMPLEMENT MAKERS, NURSERYMEN, FLORISTS, AND OTHERS. Adams & Francis INSERT ADVERTISEMENTS IN ALL THE LONDON, COUNTRY, COLONIAL, AND FOREIGN NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, AND PERIODICALS, Without Extra Charge to the Advertiser. ADAMS AND FRANCIS, ADVERTISEMENT AGENTS, 59, FLEET STREET, E.C. Every Saturday, of any Bookseller or News Agent, price Threepence, Each h.ilf-ycaiiy Volume complclc in itself, with Title-page and Index, THE ATHENJEUM : JOURNAL OF ENGLISH AND FOREIGN LITERATURE; SCIENCE, AND THE FINE ARTS, MUSIC AND THE DRAMA, Contains: I CRITICISMS on ART, MUSIC and DRAMA. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES of distmBuishcd Men. ._^____. ORIGINAL PAPERS and POEMS. FOREIGNCORRESPONDENCEon Subject?" relating to Litcra- WEEKLY GOSSIP. lute, science and Art. 1 MISCELLANEA, including all that is likely to interest REVIEWS of every important New Book. REPORTS of the Learned Societies. AUTHENTIC ACCOUNTS of Scientific Voyages. THE ATHEN/EUM Subscription for Twelve Months, 13J. / Six Months, 6s. 6d. OFFICE for ADVERTISEMENTS, 20, WELLINGTON STREET, STRAND, LONDON ' Learned, chatty, vsKrx!-L."—Athenaui Every Saturday, 24 pages, price 4d., of all Booksellers, or stamped to go by Post, 5d NOTES AND QUERIES : A MEDIUM OF INTERCOMMUNICATION FOR LITERARY MEN, ARTISTS, ANTIQUARIES, GENEALOGISTS, &c. Containing every Week amusing Articles on some of the following Subjects : — ENGLISH, IRISH, and SCOTTISH HISTORY, Illustrated by original communications and inedited Documents, BIOGRAPHY, including unpublished Correspondence of eminent Men, and unrecorded Facts connected with them. BIBLIOGR.'VPHY, more especially of English Authors, with Notices of rare and unl,V;,-f?- "'"'='' ""^y ^"^ P^''' ^y f°" 0'fi'=« Order, payable at the Strand Post Office, 10f'4L.L.iAIvl oKHltj SMIIH. NOTES AND QUERIES may be procured by order of every BookseUer and Newsman ; or at the OFFICE, 43, WELLINGTON STREET, STRAND, LONDON, W.C. Manufactured asition and Granitic Paint Company. Price Lists. Testimonials, and Patterns of Col THOMAS CHILD, Manager, 39A, King William Street fo-n-iiJ! Decay. Manufactured Solely and Only Manager, 3gA, Ki.ig William Street, E.c! THOMAS CHILD, OSLER'S CRYSTAL GLASS CHANDELIERS. Table Guss of all kinds, CHANDELIERS IN BRONZE AND ORMULU, Moderator Lamps, and Lanips tor India. London-Show Rooms, 45, OXFORD STREET, W. Birmingham— Manufactory and Show Rooms, Broad Street. GARDEN SYRINGES GARDEN ENGINES GARDEN WATER BA GARDEN ROLLERS 351. o4 to 70s. GARDEN CHAIRS 61. M. to 30s. GARDEN SEATS ifa. Ori. to qoj. GARDEN TOOLS and WATERING POTS. PATENT LAWN MOWERS . . . . 251. od. to I20r. cut6inches .. ..£1 s I To cut 10 inches .. ..j£30 cut 8 inches .. .. 210 To cut iz inches .. ..40 Suitable for a Lady. cut 14 inches . . . . i£s o 1 To cut 16 inches . . . . /i6 0 Suitable for a Gentleman. BURTON, FURNISHING ■ryiLLIAM \yales. sends a CATAtOl large Show Rooms, post free.— 3q, 4, Newman Street ; 4, 5, and 6. Pe: London. The cost of delivering g( United Kingdom by railway is fford It" igdom by railway is trifling, undertake delivery at a small "n'd lI'NeimiSl^'Sd, LLIAM^S. luRTON Pure Aerated Waters. LLIS'S RUTHIN VifATERS, Soda, Potass, Seltzer, Lemonade. Lithia, and for GOUT. Lithia and Potass. , and Wholesale of R. ELLIS , London Agents BEST . . SON, Rutf SONS, flcnrie Xy ILLIAM YOUNGER and CO. DINNER ALE.— Sparkling and Refreshing. INDIA PALE ALE.—Unsurpassed as a Tonic. ALE.— Nourishing and Invigorating. Cask and Bottle. TZ'INAHAN'S . Lli. WHISKY.— CREAM of IRISH WHISKIES, cw oes^me^^n lality unrivalled, perl Cognac Brandy. Not _ - - - , label, and cork. Depflt, 6a, Great Titchfield Street, Oxford Street, Sauce.— Lea & Perrlns WORCESTERSHIR E," ' connoisseurs "the only good Sauce," improves 1 aids digestion. Unrivalled for piquancy and flavour. Ask for LEA and PERRINS' SAUCE. see the names of Lea & Perrins on the D :nneford's fluid magnesia.- The best remedy for Acidity of the Stomach, Heartburn, He; ^_. . ^._j T_j- — .Jqjj . ^^^ jj^g jjggj ^jjj aperient for delia adapted for Ladies. Children, and Infants. Chemists throufrhout the World. ILIOUS and LIVER COMPLAINTS, lodigestion, ~ ;s of Appetite, Drowsiness, Giddiness, iwn* remed^^RAMPTOr/'S^pi'LL o^f i^i., COCKLE'S ANTIBILIOUS PILLS.- These Pills consist of a careful and peculiar admixture of tl best and mildest vegetable aperients, with the of the flowers of the Camomile. They will be efficacious remedy for derangement of the diBesti\ for torpid action of the liver and 1 and feverish ue and healthy s gouty matter and other : which, by circulating in the blood, must injuriously aflect t of the kidneys; thus, by removing the causes productive of discomfort, they restore the energies both of body and n who indulge in the luxuries of the table, these Pills will prove h useful, occasioning no pain in their action, unless they meet i bowels. To Europeans on their zurival in India or China t 1 to diet, will be frequently found to remove at once, by their ! over the secretions, that congestive and unhealthy condition ver which is so often the earliest antecedent of severe febrile stitutional disturbance. It must be understood that these : not recommended as containing any new or dangerously unusual labour and attention bestowed upon tl paration, as upon the acknowledged peculiarity ( they adapted to all ; had throughout t 7s. 9>i., 45. 6(f., and iis., as the Australian Colonies. lOCKLE'S ANTIBILIOUS PILLS, ' THE OLDEST PATENT MEDICINE, In boxes, at 11. iM*., at. gd., 41. U., and iil. 964 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. Uuly: The Alexandra Palace and Muswell Hill Estate Tontine. (TO TERMINATE ON THE 30th JUNE, 1886.) This being a " TRUST," Subscribers incur no Liability. Certificates representing 850,000 Guineas (of which is. of each Guinea is to be appropriated to Insurance of Subscribers), will be issued at the following Rates : — A (or Single Bight) Certificates . . . . each £110 1 D (or 50 Right) Certificates . . . . each £52 ip 0 B (or 10 Right) ,, .. .. ,, 10 10 0 E (or 100 Right) „ „ 105 0 0 C (or 25 Right) ,, .. .. ,, 26 5 0 1 Payable on application. CERTIFICATES PASS TO AND ENTITLE THE BEARER:— 1. To participation in the proceeds of sale of the property if the representative life upon which the Tontine privilege depends shall be living on the 30th June, 1886. 2. To the receipt from a life assurance of the sum of 20J. in respect of each Guinea paid upon any Certificate, if the representative life shall die before the said 30th June, 1886. 3. To admissions to the Palace and Park. [ 4. To participation in Art Union Distributions proposed to be hereafter established. (As explained in detail in the body of tlie Prospectus.) The acceptance of a Certificate involves no liability. The rights and privileges of Certificate holders are governed by the Trust Deed. ■ THE LONDON and COUNTY BANK and BRANCHES. (JOHN HORATIO LLOYD, Esq., Inner Temple. LORD FREDERIC KERR. JOHN ALLDIN MOORE, Esq, GRANVILLE R. RYDER, Esq, SIR WM. WISEMAN JAMES^GOODSON^'Esq, CHARLES MAGNAV, Esq JOHN BORRADAILE, Esq. ROBERT FOWLER, Esq. Bankers j ^^^ ciTY BANK and BRANCHES. Auditors— JOHN BALL, Esq., and JOHN YOUNG, Esq. ■D—i ™= / Messrs. WALKER and LUMSDEN, 9, Old Broad Street, E.C. iJrOKers ^ ^555^ HUGGINS and ROWSELL, I, Threadneedle Street, E.C. Solicitors- Messrs. COPE. ROSE and PEARSON, 26, Great George Street, West- Secretary— THOMAS DIXON, Esq. [minster. Offices— 5 and 6, GREAT WINCHESTER STREET BUILDINGS. PROSPECTUS. Middlesex (comprisinE Leasehold Land), and ^675.000. Of this ama The object of t the property, and the Metropolis, ar Muswell Hill. Hornsey, in the county o unt l,\%o,Qoo may remain on security of th< represented by Mortgage and Debentures e further capital not exceeding ;C'So.ooo, i e improvement or enlargement of the properti ; Tontine. ; purchase and improv( nd elevating instruction, whici f the South Kensington Muscun r pleasures and pastimes of thi giving effect to the large ant Institution of healthful recre; will combine the solid advant and Schools of Art, with the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, enlightened views of the late Prince Consort. In furtherance of this design it is proposed to inaugurate a series of Exhibitions, Art Unions, and distributions, to the support of u'hich. is proposed that the chief portion of the profits of the Park and Palace, after making proper provision for management, improvement, and other charges, should be applied. Under " The Muswell Hill Estate and Railway Act 1866 " the Palace and about 200 acres (which then constituted the Grounds) are to con- tinue a place for public n : the wh. ioS of^abSut border, which will be reserved f building purposes, so that there will be 3 Park surrounding the Palac and within a ring fence, of about 400 acres in extent. But power taken with the consent of the Trustees to sell or lease for buildii purposes any part of this land not subject to the provisions of the A of 18156, should such a course appear desirable m the interest of t Tontineers or subscribers. The Palace is a splendid, EThXionsT'Mu'?, 1 Concerts, as well as for festive and social gatherings c A grand organ, which is reputed to b( perfect in the world, has been erected i under the direction of Sir Michael Costa. Archery, Cricket, and Croquet Lawns, Turfed Rides, . _ _ with Grand Stand, well levelled Carriage Drives, Groves and Gardens will be found in the Park, which is nobly timbered, extensive and magnificent views into several counties tion^ therefore, which can be opened to the public in a \^.j ., of time, will combine the advantages afforded by muscun "the utmost beauty, ^Tthe^Palace^'by M?"\Vii! I Race Cou and Gar ' ^his'ln s contributing alike t There wil of the visitor. ; Palace by railway ■thern and Metropolitan Lines, and of a short line to connect the Park with the Midland and Great Eastern systems. The Committee will have power to aid these enterprises, which are of great importance to the success of this tinctive feature of the general plan, and will comprise every character- istic of the Fine Arts. An Inaugural Exhibition will be held as soon The following Table indic Analysis of the Probabli 25 Priz Prize Tickets is to be applied w lined in the Alexandra Art I that it is possible for the holde E Five Prizes of ^£500 each fo jnder the powers of the Trust-] the rights and privileges ol '. Company = hold r£ifor. tificaie (j'.f .-one shilling for each right), to pay to t guinea paid on such certificate upon the death 01 mc rcprcsciuiiiiv lilc in respect of which the Tontine privileges depend, if such dcat happens before the 30th June, 1886. provided such Certificate shall n< have been previously surrendered, or the bearer of such Certificat for the time being shall not have drawn a prize in an Art Union Distr will be paid out of the Tontine funds. The agreement is subject t 20,000 representative lives being nominated. For the purposes of the Insurance and Tontine, ever>' applicant fc a Certificate must, when requested, nominate some life (which may h his own), between the ages of to and 30 years; such lives should nc be those of prominent individuals, but, if possible, of niembers of th applicant's family, or friends. Applicants may nominate a life ft ; of any selected life having been previously nom to the amount of £500, an applicant may be require other life or lives in substitution for that fir: each right t : Committee, for 1 or with a single horse-carriage. ; holder of an E, or 100 right .Certificate, will be entitled to free ;sion for himself and four other persons at all times, either on ool, horseback, or with any carriage. The Tontine rights and privileges attaching to certain Certificates nay, at the option of the holder, be surrendered for the right of admis- ion on other days, according t Executive Committee. Th right and privilege offered i 1 plan or scale to be published by t render will involve the loss of every i Prospectus to the holders of Certi- ntitied to participate in the proceeds of t ; Tontine, in respect of every right depend! : property, : • Tontine, or the ■epresentative life shaJl b Tontine property. Looking at the rapidly increasing \'alue of Building Land near London the property to be then distrib '--■ ■*-- •--'-' — entitled to pacticipate will be ( : Tontine, in igyean olders of Certificate iCom Estate Management Compan ' The Alexandra IVS, irporated by tl ite Manaj the Tontir All the landed property to be acquired for the purposes of the Tontine will be vested in the Trustees upon trust, to permit the Management Company to manage the same, and with the consent of the Trustees, so far as required bj' the Trust Deed, to grant leases, nd deal therewith for the bencfi^t of the general undertaking, and - ' ■ ■■ ' "f required, for tf " takingt ■ ■ - ■ ■■ ■ -• ■ by the iTonti (theaoth of June, 1886}, the 1 ppoin exceeding £150,000, if required, for the indi ibenturestin addition to the working Cap Trust De> ontine, during such counsel ed all questions (If any) which may as the Attorney-General for the Company may be perused at the Offices of the The following documents have been executei (i). An Agreement, dated 13th July, i87i,b Estate Company Limited and the Alexandra Palace Company Limited of the one part, and the Alexandra Palace and Muswell Hill Estate Management Company Limited of the Upon forp held The holder of an A, or single right Certificate, other privileges, will be entitled to free admission also to the Palace, if open), upon every Sunday dunn, The holder of a B, or 10 right Certificate will, in ad to free admission on two days (not being fCtc days), \ Committee, in each week. The holder of a C, or 25 right Certificate, wi" " " the Park (and (2). ADeefofTrust.daled ■t^^J"£•^a■t=J■■^J^ ^eentheAleatd Prospecluscs %^S ;ertificates may be obtained of 1 Appl )f the deposit and no application > the sunr ofsii,. =^?5ffSi^ THE ALEXANDRA PALACE AND MUSWELL HILL ESTATE TONTINE. FORM of APPLICATION for A or SINGLE RIGHT CERTIFICATE. To be left with the Bankers or authorised Agents. Gentlemen,— Having paid the sii issued to me a Single Right Certificate hereby agree to accept the same upon tl Upon hearing that you are preparet of the age stated in tne Prospectus, 1 01 2IJ. to the Hankers or autnorised Agents, 1 desire to navi 1 the Alexandra Palace and Muswell Hill Estate Tontine ; and . ; terms of the Prospectus and of the Trust Deed of J uly 13, 1871. to issue the Certificate, I agree to nominate a representative lifi pon which I desire the Tontine privilege in respect of sucl THE ALEXANDRA PALACE AND MUSWELL HILL ESTATE TONTINE, Bankers' Receipt. Received from the sum ol 21J. on ace ice and MusvcU Hill Estate Tontine. Note.— This Receipt Executive Committee of nge for the Certificate. THE ALEXANDRA PALACE AND MUSWELL HILL ESTATE TONTINE. I Agents^ [ requi To THE Executive Committee. Gentlemen,— Having paid the sum ai V to ibe Bankers or ai ^ _, lave issued to met Certificates in the Alexandra Palace and Muswell Hill Estate, Pontir [ hereby agree to accept such Certificates or any less number of Rights that may be allotted to m '■ " ctus and of the Trust Deed of J uly 13, 1871. /ou are prepared to issue the Certificate, I agree to nomir d in the Prospectus, which I desire the '1 ontine privil. Name in full of Applicant THE ALEXANDRA PALACE AND MUSWELL HILL ESTATE TONTINE. Banker's Receipt. , ,s;i. account of the Executive Committee of the Received from the sum of £, Alexandra Palace and Muswell Hill Estate Ti £ : Note.— This Receipt must be delivered to i. t Secretary of the Tontit d be addressed to" The Editor;" Advertisements and Business Letters to " The Publisher, Printed by William Richards, at the Olfice of Messrs. Bradbury, Evans, & Co., Lombard Street, Precinct of Whitelnai KigiUROS, at Ui« OfibWi H9, 41* WciUogtoa Slrect. Faiiati q( St. Faul'si Covcat Qardeo. ia the said Cguaty.— Saturday, J uly a THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. No. 30.— 1871.] SATURDAY, JULY 29. Registered at the General ) Price 5d. Post Office as a Newspaper. \ POST FREE, 5jstal Palace Ion XT, Augusts. i-Crown, or By Guinea Season Ticket. SATURDAY NEXT, August = A GREAT NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION will be held in the ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, GLASGOW, on the occasion of the CENTENARY FESTIVAL ol SIR WALTER SCOTT, AUGUST 9, and three -"^^c Grounds being very extensive, every facility will be aflorded to Exhibitors of Horticultural Erections, Appliances, Implements, and >f General Ut" -- r Schedules of Prizes, ,. BULLEN, Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasgo' A'WoroestersUre Agricultural Society. GRAND HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION For List of Pnies and Rules. &c., apply tot a6. Broad Street, Worcester, fion. (Secretary t or to ALBERT BUCK, Secretary, '" r. J. S. Hji Horticull QEVENOAKS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.— J^^TA" Committee beg to announce that their FOURTH ANNUAL SHOW of FLOWERS and FRUIT will be held, by the kind permis- sion of the Right Hon. Baron Buckhurst, in Knole Park, Sevenoaks, Kent, on THURSDAY, August 24. Secreta^, Mr. C. WILLIAMS, 3, Sylvan Place, St. , PETERBOROUGH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY SHOW, in conjunction with the Northamptonshire Agricultural Show, SEPTEMBER 20 and 21.— Special Cup. General, jfilo and £^ ; Special Cup, Gentlemen's Gardeners and Amateurs, jCS' i^- iCr ; Special Vase, Amateurs, £5; and General Schedule. Pelcrborough. J. G. BUCKLE, Secretan'. RAYNBIRD, CALDECOTT, BAWTREE, DOWLING AND COMPANY (Limited), Corn, Seed, Manure, and Oilcake Merchants. Address, 26, Seed Market, Mark Lane, E.C. ; or Basingstoke. . Samples and prices post free on application. Prize Medals, 1851, for Wheat ; 1862, for " Excellent Seed Com and Seeds." New Koses of 1871. rOHN CRANSTON offers a selection of TWELVE ' NEW ROSES of the present year. Fine plants ready in April. JOHN CRANSTON'S superb COLLECTION of ROSES, including all the newest and best varieties, is NOW in BLOOM. Carefully compiled Priced and Descriptive CATALOGUES M ITCHELL'S renowned ROSES are NOW in BLOOM, the larpest stock and the best plants in England, nagnificent Collection are aJl propagated in the open Rround, Pilt Down Nurseries, Uckfield, Sussex^' w New Roses, 1871. ILLIAM KNIGHT offers a selection of TWELVE NEW ROSES, the finest of this season's plants, now ready. n immense stock of extra strong Plants, in pots, for Bedding, f the finest varieties only of previous years. Priced H. ; Berkhamstead, Herts, jSfEW^H. Houtte (Granger). ROSE, LOUIS VAN HOUTTE °y, own" row, strong, as. M ' "' _. „ .. H.s BULB CATALOGUE, No. erj-, containing also PALMS. CALADIU .140 P. including the PERENNIALS, '. . ES AZALEAS, CAMELLIAS, RHODODENDRONS, ,ES, S- '"' ■- LOU .2S. M. In autumn. ' J ready for PERENNIALS, TREES and SHRUBS, 'HOUTTE, Ro. , Ghent. Belgium. ORCHARD HOUSE TREES, Fraiting in Pots.- Peaches. Nectarines, Plums, Pears, Apples, Figs, Apricots Cherries, Mulberries, and Oranges. RICHARD SMITH, Nurseryman and Seed Merchant, Worcester. Strawberries. pHARLES TURNER'S descriptive CATALOGUE 1 good crop of fi New Strawberry, The Amateur. JAMUEL BRADLEY, the raiser of OSCAR, SIR ) J. PAXTON and DR. HOGG STRAWBERRIES, begs respect- ■ ■ ■ - - - ^ booking orders for Plants of bis fine n, near Southwell, Nott Royal Horticultural Society, July lO, 1871, a Descriptive CIRCULARS, with prices, p< SAMUEL BRADLEY, Littledafe, Halat Bare OrcUds. MR. 'WILLIAM BULL has just received from the West Indies a splendid importation of the rare and beautiful EPIDENDRUM BICORNUTUM. The plants are in huge masses, Devonianum, chrysotis, Falconeri, heterocarpum, bridgeanum; Catlleya Wameri, MossiaJ, Trianaj, ci Leopoldi ; Odontoglossum Alexandra: (Bluntii), Pes< grande, Insleayi, Schleippei O. papilio, O. Krameri; 1 Wallichii, Cypripedium hirsutissimum, Cymbidium Mastersii, Phaius albus, Tnchopiha suavis, Barkeria spectabilis, B. Skinneri, Calanthe vestita, C. Veitchii, Ccclogyne cristata, Aerides Warneri. CATALOGUES, with full Descriptions. Remarks on Culture, prices, &c., on application. 18, Victoria Street, Manchester : Nurseries, Fairfield, near OAM.— Loam, unequalled for Fruit and Plant i Culture. See Report of New Vineries, Gunnersbury. For "' lfr!''i<.*rANTON, F.R.H.S., The Nurseries, Epsom. W^ , Royal Nursery, Claphai WANTED, BUDS for BUDDING, of CLOTH of GOLD, MARECHAL NIEL, SOUVENIR DE LA MALMAISON, and other Tea and Noisette Roses, cither for cash, or in exchange. State quantity to offer to L. WOOIStHORPE, Munro Nursery, Siblc Hedingham, Essex. WANTED, SPECIMEN PLANTS of the following, to complete a Collection :— OPUNTIA PHYLLOCACTUS, and MAMMILLARIA generally. -~ " to Mr. J. f. Peacock, ■Wanted, Seeds of Choice Strains. TV/TR. 'WILLIAM BULL will require NEW SEEDS, And Seeds of 01 Slate quantities and prices r ounce. Satisfactory proof must 1 pARIS, I SU'rrONS'_GRASS_ SEEDS for ALL for G Awarded t 167. I SOILS. iRDEN SEEDS, GRASSES, Turnip and Mangel Wurzel Seeds -1871 Crop. JOHN SH.\RPE will on application furnish his LIST, with prices, of the principal SEEDS he is growing this year. Bardney Manor, Lincoln.— July 6. > SON, Woncrsh Nurs EVERY GARDEN REQUISITE KEPT in STOCK at New Catalogue. JOHN H. LEY, Exotic Nursery, Croydon, S.E.. will be happy to forward, post free on application, his NEW CATA- LOGUE (price very low) of PALMS, FtfRNS, STOVE PLANTS. &c Highgate Nurseries, London, N. Summer Fiowenng and other Ornamental Plants. )ETER LA-WSON AND SON will be glad to forward their NEW CATALOGUE, just publishe ' ■ n. It contains all the leading Hothouse and every Flower Garden.— Edinburgh and Londoi nhrsVffi a and Paradise !• ries, Upper Holloway. N. E To the Trade only. KRELAGE and SON, Nuuserymen, SEEDS.MEN, and Florists, Haarlem. Holland, have published leir NEW WHOLESALE CATALOgOe /^EORGE CI ig assured that no other possesses such a robust haracter, with really splendid Dowers. Mixed, Red and White, s, 6d. per pkt. Instructions for raising and growing sent if required. Nurseries ; Streatham Place, Brixton Hill, London, S. W. ; and r 55., 50 pla Crown tfm THOMSON'S SUPERB HERBACEOUS CALCEOLARIA — Seed of Iheabove, as grown by the Sub- scriber for 1 — _ . ,.|j^^ packets at 2S. 64. and i The Trade supplie British Fern Catalogue. > OBER'i;^ SIM will send, post free for si.i postage 1 DESCRIP^If?^ CUmbtng Ferns. LYGODIUM SCANDENS, the most beautiful of i Climbers. Can be supplied by the dozen at 6s. to gs. ; 40s. to 6. per 100, all nice plants. Package gratis for cash. JOHN H. LEY, Exotic Nursery, Croydon, S.E. To the Trade. QTOVE PLANTS, in 50 or more choice and graus or. ^^^^ ^ SPLENIUM GERMANICUM.— Very nice plants L of this scarce Fern, in 60-pots. for 6r. ner dozen. JOHN H. LEY, Lansdowne Road, Croydon, S.E. A'^ UILEGIA GLANDULOSA, th Seed, 6d. and is. per packet. florIst flow4;r5 ■ ■ N' (1870), 3$. : PHLOXES, 2s. 13 new CHRYSANTHE- MUMS (1870I, 2s, 12 new VERBENAS of 1870, 2s. 12 vars. new CHILEAN MIMULUS. 3/_ ^New^ AGARATUMS :-\Vhite_ Tom ""r ^v.' knTght^ Tom Thumb's Bnde, the including the a Ixora amabUls. ROBERT PARKER has great pleasure in oflfering this beautiful and distinct variety ; habit vigorous and compact, with fine foliage ; flowers deep orange-salmon, trusses very large, borne in the greatest profusion— young plants in 4-inch pots yielding two and three large trusses of flowers : very desirable for decorative and exhi- bition purposes. First-class Certificates have been awarded by Royal Horticultural and Royal Botanic Societies. Strong, healthy plants, 2IS., 42s., and 63s. each. Exotic Nurser>', Tooting, Surrey, S.W. ' Messrs. LITTLE j BUSINESS so long ( TYNE.ot this city, r ,0 liberally accorded 10 the Old Firm, They sha he business, as already announced, under the Finn of LITTLE ANI iALLANTYNE, and they will endeavour to merit the confidence o he Public by close personal superintendence in even- department o heir Business. LITTLE and HALLANTYNE. \VM. BAXTER SMITH, 1 Sole July I, 1871. JAMES WATT, /Partners. 966 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 29, 1871 V^HEELERS' COCOA-NUT CABBAGE WHEELERS' COCOA-NUT CABBAGE. Wheelers' Cocoa-lTut Cabbage, per pkt., Is. ,, ,, small packet, 6d. Wheelers' Imperial Cabbage, per oz., 8d. Wheelers' Tom Thumb Lettuce, p. pkt.. Is. ), ,, small packet, 6d. N.B.— Wherever this charming little Lettuce is grown it is a remarkable favourite. It may be obtained iruc from either Gloucester, or Mark Lane, London. We recommend everybody to try it who have not already done so. All the above Post Free. WHEELEES' BROCKWORTH PARK PEAR, lOs. 6d. each. This magnificent Pear is a cross between Williams' Bon Chrdtien, and Louise Bonne of Jersey. 1 1 considerably surpasses both its parents in SIZE, fine quality, beautv, and flavour, ripening about the same time, viz., September and October ; grown against a wall, the fruit is remarkably large and handsome, the Pears weighing about 12 oz. (| of a lb. each). On the dinner-table well-ripened specimens are remark- ably conspicuous for their size and beauty, and their flavour and juiciness are fully equal to their appearance. A First-class Certificate was awarded to this handsome variety last autumn by the Royal Horticultural Society, and Trees were ordered by the principal Nurserymen in the kingdom ; but the deiuand was so great that we were Sold out of all our Saleable Plants immediately they were offered. Coloured Plates, taken from Nature, may be had at (>d. each. We are now Booking Orders to be executed in November next ; all Orders will be executed in exact rotation as received, as far as the Plants ■will go ; but we expect to be Sold out long before the season is over. The price of young PYRAMIDS is loj. td. each. We have a few Plants trained for walls at I'is. The Pyramids will furnish plenty of buds next summer for budding Trees of other varieties established against walls. This fine variety is well worthy of a wall, and of a good aspect. ^^ 1^ Orders are now being Booked. J. C. WHEEJLEE & SON, NURSERYMEN, GLOUCESTER; and 59, MARK LANE, LONDON, E.G. B-^ delicate salmony hue tinged with rose, the males having four oblong segments upwards of an inch long, and the females five petals of smaller size. The Plants come into Flower while quite dwar" continue blooming in the most profuse manner. Price 51. each. Apply at Mr. WILLIAM BULL'S Establishment for New and Plants, King's Road, Chelsea, London, S.W. w M. PAUL't NOW in BLOOM, beaulilul Hybrid i'erpelual FKIIvut BEATRICE, PRINCE LEOPOLD, and a number of other English and Foreign Seedlings. Trains from Bishopsgate Station, Great Eastern Railway, Pancras Station, Midland Railway, to Waltham Station, ii hair an hour. Entrance ftom the platform, Waltham Station. PAUL'S Nurseries, Waltham Cross, London, N. For PRESENT SOWING. LEE'S CHOICE CALCEOLARIA, from James', Dalkeith, and other choice strains, carefully selected and hybrid ised. Unsurpassed for colour, habit and form. In packets LEE'S CHOICE CINERARIA, from our own collection of named flowers. In packets, zj. (td. and v. each. LEE'S CHOICE PRIMULA FIMBRIATA, in separate colours oi mixed. In packets, 25. bd. and 55. each. Do. do., 6 distinct varieties for tof. 6J. JOHN AKD CHARLES LEE, Royal Vineyard Nursery and Seed THE Queen. | H.R.H. the Prince JAMES CARTER AND CO. CALCEOLARIA, finest Hybrid, 2S. collections in CINERARIA, km^doS ,, choicest Mixed ch°olces""^hile'F While Frmged a 6 Fern-leaved Carmine 26 choicest Fern-leaved White 26 CARNATION, extra choice z 6 CENTAUREA CLEMENTEI to CYCLAMEN, Tames' prize varieties 26 HEARTSEASE*, sayeJfroni named vanet^s^ 10 HOLL'^J'hOCK, saved from named varieties 10 MYOSOTIS DISSITIFLORA 10 PELARGONIUM, new Tricolor varieties 26 PICOTEE, extra choice 26 SOLANUM, new Hybrids 26 SWEET WILLIAM, Auricula-eyed 6rf. and I o WALLFLOWER, double German 10 Forwarded immediately on receipt of Post-office Orders. Seeds carriage free. Five per cent, discount for cash. JAMES CARTER AND CO., The Royal Seedsmen, 238, High Holborn, London, W.C. "Nun ANTIRRHIN AURICULA,! Eastgate Street, I magnificent collec- MI(¥NONET'l'fc, Parsons' PETUl^IA, from c PINKS, from choic POLYANTHUS,! _ . _ PYRETHRUM AUREUM, Golden I „ FILICIFOLIA ALBA, STOCK, Brompton, finest Geni waIlflonver, mTe'srolSbi The following, for early Sprin] or in packets, yi. and W. each :- Calandrinia, of sorts CATALOGUES of SEEDS and PLANTS i Cabbage Seed, for present Soirlng. GARDEN, for SOWING at C 1 next Spring and Summer. ONS' IMPERL\L, LONDON MARKET, 4i per c ENFIELD MARKET ,, EARLY DWARF Y'ORK, „ NONPARIEL, „ For the FARM. Perlb.-s.i. SUTTONS' IMPROVED DRUM- HEAD, the largest in cultivation: should be sown in July and August .. 2 6 ROBINSON'S CHAMPION DRUM- HEAD 2 6 COMMON DRUMHEAD, or FLAT DUTCH 20 Also GRASS SEEDS, TURNIP SEEDS, MUSTARD, RAPE, &c., for Autumn Sowing, particulars of which may be had on application. SUTTON AND SONS, Seedsmen to the Queen, Reading. r^. A R T E R ■ S ^ PRIZE MEDAL GRASS SEEDS, for SOWING in JULY and AUGUST. ;o H.M. THE Queen, H.R.H. the Pkince of Wales. C0.MMISS10NERS for the Present ExHiBinoN, the PASTURES, Carefully arranged to suit the various conditions of soils. For LIGHT SOILS 1 For MEDIUM SOILS [■ 271. to 31!. W. per acre. For HEAVY SOILS ) Second quality, 20J. to 265. per acre. CARTER'S RENOVATING MI.\TURE, for OLD PASTURES, Per cwt, 80J. : per lb., t^. This Mixture comprises several quick-growing varieties, and will reduce a Crop of Green Food, for . Feeding-off, before Christmas, if own " at once." Sow 2 bushels per acre. Price on appUcation. FOR PRESENT SOWING. NEW ENGLISH TRIFOLIUM INCARNATUM, NEW AGRICULTURAL MUSTARD, NEW DWARF ESSEX RAPE. Price on application. CARTER'S EARLY NIMBLE TURNIP, Very quick grooving. Price per lb., \od. s Carriage Free; s per cent, discount allowed ft JAMES CARTER and Co., ISMEN to the Queen and the Prince of Wa 237 and 238, High Holborn, London, W.C. Thomas Thornton, HEATHERSIDE NURSERIES, BAGSHOT, SURREY, Invites from the Country Trade a visit to the extensive Nurseries here, the most conv Famborough, on the London and South-Westem Railway, where Conveyances will be receipt of an intimation of their intended arrival. The stock is in very fine condition, and includes large quantities of L.\RCH SCOTCH, SPRUCE, y description, FOREST TREES in_ great AUSTRIAN, LARICIO, and ether PINES ; CONIFERS of , . . quantities, ORNAMENTAL TREES and SHRUBS, RHODODENDRONS in great quantity, ROSES, FRUIT TREES, LAURELS, PORTUG.VL LAURELS, and other EVERGREENS ; a large stock of Green and Varie- gated HOLLIES, VINES, &c. : all at moderate prices, and everything has been well transplanted and is well rooted. A SPECIAL OFFER to the TRADE of MANY THINGS will soon be ready, and can be had on application. The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 967 1 and after Augu; ALEXIS DALLIERE, Nurseryman, Faubourg de Bruxelles, Ghent, Belgium, begs to offer ' ' " ' Plants, >vhich will be ready for sending ' ' - 100 well-assorted AZALEA INDICA, 100 do. CAMEI.'liaS, with buds, beautiful plants, £6. !2o HbTEIA°('sPIK/EA) yAPOlllCAf ntce'tufted plants, £1 I2t '°S beautiful varieties of CALADIUMS, loi. " '''' Also a large stock of DRACAENAS, PALMS, FERNS, MARAN TAS, and many other Ornamental Foliaged Stove and Greenhouse "yHE LONDON MANURE COMPANY -L (Established 1840), have now ready for delivery, in fine dry PURSER'S BONE TURNIP MANURE. SUPERPHOSPHATE of LIME. N ITROPHOSPH ATE. MANGEL, HOP, and POTATO MANURES. Also PERUVIAN GUANO (as imported by Messrs. Thomson, Bonar & Co.), NITRATE of SODA, SULPHATE of AMMONIA, &c 116, Fenchurch Street, E.G. EDWARD PURSER, Secretary. Established 1793. JOHN K. KING, Seed Grower, Coggeshall, Essex, will be happy to supply his unrivalled Hardy Prize Stocks of MANGEL WURZEL, SWEDES, and other TURNIP SEEDS (carefully selected peciaj moderate prices. FARM SEED LISTS i Carriage free on orders Special Offer at Low Prices. ORCHIDS.— Broughtonia sanguinea, 5J. ; Cattleya Dowiana, iw. M- : Dendrobium taurinum, i«. ; Sophronites grandiflora. lor. bd. : Epidendrum dichromum, Jr. ; Vanda gigantea, w. : Oncidium barbatum, 51. ; Dendrobium japonicum, 55. : Dendro- sceptrum, ^s. 6d. ; (Cattleya' Aclandite, roi. 6d.] Oiicidiiim Kraraeria- num, 15s. : Eulophia lurida, 5s. ; Eulophia scripta, 105. M. ; Odonto- glossum platyodon, ly. : Oncidium Roezlianum, zir. ; Oncidium panchr/sum, 3tr. td. ; Oncidium triquetrum, ^s. 6d ; Coelogync Bensoniae, 21s. : Saccolabium Blumei majus, 151. ; Aerides Lindley- anum, 21s. ; Calanthe vestita luteo-cculata, v- : Calanthe vestita rubro-oculata. w. ; Aerides crispum, loi. 6d. ; Brassia verrucosa major, t venusta, roi. 6d. ; Cattleya Mossi£e,5r. ; Cattleya Leopold!, loi. M. ; Lycaste Skinneri, 5s. : Lycast. . „ . Dendrobiu Dendrobium speciosum, sr. ; Dendrobiuir idendrum erubescens, tor. 6d. ; Angrascun 6d. ; LEelia purpurata, lOi. 6d. es, los. 6d.; Lycaste Deppei lebulc Odontoglossu 6d. ; Odoni i.CjT? inda Rcxburghii, 21s. ; Vanda 'rox- ides \\^rneri, '215. ; Cypri'pcdiui Stonei, 15s. ; 7S. M. ; Dendrobium Bensoniie, 42!.; Dendro- . ; Phalienopsis Schilleriana, 841. ; Phaljenopsis 5, 84s. ; Odontogtossum grande, 5s. ; Goodyera Dawsoniana, of r2 Orchids made for £3. Many extremely rare species, almost unique, at egually low prices. Appfyat ifr. WILLIAM ButL'S Establishment for New and Rare Plants, King's Road, Chelsea, London, S.W. SifSs" Wholesale of T. A. POO LEY, Sussex Wharf, Wapping, E. ; and Retail of all Nui TOBACCO TIS for FUMIGATING GREENHOUSES.— Will c Insects, and not injure the Plants, and bums without of blowing. Price 3*. 6d. per lb., carriage tree A redu for large quantities. To be had of Messrs. R. ROBERTS , Blight. Gardeners Troubled with the above, wol-ld do well to Try "TTriLKIE'S BLIGHT COMPOSITION" for their VV DESTRUCTION. It offers a safe and speedy remedj-, and at a moderate price. Taken in quantities, A. W. would be happy to make a considerable reduction. Sold in 1 and 2-gallon jars at 3s. 6d. and 6s. each. It bears being considerably diluted. Post Office orders 'wiLKIE'S CONDENSED COMPOSITION, in bottles at 2s., ;h all the principal Nurserymen 3J. 6d., and 6s. each. The above articles may be had tl 1 Seedsmen, and wholesale of WILKIE, Oak Lodge Gardens. Addison Road, Kensington, " FRETTINGHAM'S LIQUID COMPOUND, for the DESTRUCTION of INSECTS " INFESTING PLANTS, has been proved to be the destroying Aphis of all kinds, Thrip, Mealy call i>iit;hl, Green and Brown Fly, p ' " itherto offered to the Public. It will , Peaches, and Fruit Trees of all kir und invaluable for Ireenhouse Plants ; and, if mixed occasionally with the water used for syringing, will, if applied before the appearance of . . ovc a certain preventive. Broccoli and other Greens may be thoroughly cleansed from insects and filth of all kinds by sponging, or using the Liquid Compound by means of the "Horticultural aluntary Testimonials from a great r ' to the efficacy of youi "Dear Sir,— We beg to bear I Liquid Compound, which we have doors and under glass, \yilh perfect success. We consider it the best preparation we have tried. It thoroughly clears the plant without injuring the foliage.— We remain, dear Sir, yours faithfully, " Mr H. C. Frettingham. " William BAHRok & Son." " Upton Nurseries, Chester, July 11, 1871. •• Dear Sir,— We have very carefully tested your Liquid Compound for destroying insect life. We have tried it upon most of the pests which prey upon vegetable life, and find it very effective in cleansing all kinds of plants from scale, mealy bug, aphides, thrip, red spider— in Compound r effectually and rapidly, and that withou as far as we can obser\e. Wc conside " Francis & Arthur Dickson & Sons. Voluntary Testimonials have also been received from the following > Lord Scarsdale, Kedleston Hall. Mr. H.Gadd, Gr. to Lord Middleton, Wollaton Hall. Mr. Speed, Gr, to the Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth. Wm. Parker, Gr. to the Misses Strutt^ Der^vent Bank, Derby. W. Thompson, Gr. to Sir Seymour Blane, Bart. Thos. Crump, Esq., Quamdon, near Derby. F.tzherbert Wright, Esq., The Hayes, Swanwick. Mr. James Tcgg Gr. to the Duke of Newcastle. Clumber Gardens. ^J^ssrs. G_&W Yates, Market Place. Manchester. Mr. H. Ellis, The Gardens, Alfreton Park. Messrs. Cole & Son, Manchester. Price LiST.-One gallon bottles, 55. 6d. ; half-gallon bottles, 3s. ; pints, 15. each, bottles included. In Casks :-io or 12 gallons, 4^. 6d. per gallon; 20 gallons and upwards, 41. per gallon, casks returnable. Carnage paid on all orders to the amount of 20i. and upwards, ih ^^h °^^^"«" " tn« principal Seedsmen and Nurserymen Manufacturers, PARR and ATHERTON, Long Row, Nottingham. R EES AND CO.'S BIPHOSPHATED PERUVIAN GUANO (Registered Trade Mark, Flying Albatross), is now Y for deliveryin quantity and in fine condition. It is believed to ;ne best Artificial Mjinure yet produced. Its base is Peruvian Government Guano; it contains 21 per cent of Soluble Phosphai 5 to 7 per cent, of Ammonia with Salts of Potash. See rei Voelcker, Dr. Anderson, Professor Way, Mr. Ogston. and Delivered in 2 cwt. bags, each of which is secured by a bearing the Company's Trade Mark. The analysis is gi long as the seals remain unbroken. REES AND CO. (Limited), 32, King William Street, L. REPORT and ANALYSIS by DR. A. VOELCKER Consulting Chemist to the Royal Agricultural Society of England. " Analytical Laboratory, i r, Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, E C "London, January 15, 1870. "Sir,— Enclosed you will find the results of a careful analysis of a sample of your Biphosphated Peruvian Guano. These results speak for themselves. I need therefore hardly add anything in commenda tion of the high ferUlising character of this valuable Artificial Manure The samples examined by me contained only 10 per cent, of moisture, and fully the percentages of soluble and insoluble phosphates which I understand you guarantee to furnish, emd was in a fine state of preparation. The more generally this Manure will become known to Agriculturists, the more, I am convinced, will it be appreciated b> them.— Believe me. Sir, yours respectfully. (Signed) " AUGUSTUS Voelcker " The Secretari-, REES AND CO. (Limited), ^2, King William Street London, E.G." The Cheapest and Best Insecticide. iOOLEY'S TOBACCO POWDER Of all Nurserymen and Seedsmen. COMPOUND. many of the leading since 1859, against r, Mildew, Thnns. Green Fly, and o ' " ' Wholesale by PRICE'S PATENT ^DLE COMPANY Battersea, London, S.W. Caution. FJ. DRECHSLER'S ADDREi^S is now, and has LONDON "n°W^^^''^ months past, No. 63, ARLINGTON STREET, See this' year's PORTABLE WINNOWING - MACHINES, FUMIGATORS, SEMINATORS, &c. ; only made at the above See Notice in Cardmtr^ Chronicle, page 938. For Gardens, (ROBIN'S PATENT). with 4 feet of Suction Hose, Strainer, Jet and Rose, 12s. bd. ; No. 2, iy.U.: No. 3, ;«i".; No. 4, £1 ss. : No. 5, £,\ 105. Extra Hose and Union Joints to PATENT WATER ERINGER. TTAYNES AND SONS' PATENT WATER -LX ERINGER, price 2ij.— This simple Machine will draw water r other Garden Engine. 1, Edgware Road, W. telled " Haynes & Sons, Eoalier's Garden Edging Tiles. ^HE above and many other PATTERNS !at durability. The plainer sort! uited for KITCHEN GAR , DENS, as they harbour nc quentii^being friars, S.E. ; Que« Cingsland Road, i'HITE GLAZED TILES, for Lining Walls ofDairies, Lardi Wall' Copings, Drain Pip tROSHER.'Erickandl r#oi Great Reduction in Prices for 1871, OF GREEN'S PATENT SILENS MESS0R8 During the last few years our Machines ha\e been sub- mitted to numerous practical tests and found to possess all the advantages m working and keeping a Lawn in the greatest possible state of perfection We therefore have no alterations to report, as they are unnecessary. -See addresses z SILVER SAND, fine or coarse grain as desired. Fine 14JJ Coarse l^s. per Ton. In Truck Loads ij. per Ton less. Delivery by Cart within three miles, or to any London Railway or Wharf, 2j. per Ton extra. Samples of Sand free by post. FLINTS and BRICK EURRS for Rockeries or Ferneries. KENT PEAT or LOAM supplied at lowest rates in any quantities. F. AND G. ROSHER.-Addresses see above. N.B. Orders promptly executed by Rail or to \Vharvc3, A libera discount to the Trade. I I I rriL 1 oft i.M.r> Prize that his been gi\tn in ill cases of competition They are vvarranted to be superior to any others We guarantee them to give entire satisfaction otherwise they can be returned free of cost to the purchaser With the increased facilities we possess for the Manufacture of Lawn Mowers, we are enabled to Sell them at a reduced rate on former years, as will be seen from the following Scale of Prices : — To cut 8 inches . . Price /'a lo o\ „ 10 3 o of Can be worked ,, 12 , 4 o o( byoneperson. ,, 14 500/ ( This can be worked ,, 18 700 ByManandBoy. ,, 20 „ .. .. 7 10 o ,, 22 800 ,,24 8 10 o T. GREEN Sy SON have pleasure in announcing that the demand for their Lawn Mcrwers this season far exceeds all previous ones, ajid from this fact they are led to believe that the machines of their manufacture are held higher in \ appUcation. 1^^ Repairs executed with efficiency and despatch, both f Leeds and London Establishments. GREEN'S IMPROVED PATENT ROLLER, FOR LAWNS, DRIVES, BOWLING GREENS, CRICKET FIELDS, and GRAVEL PATHS, Suitable for Hand or Horse-power. PRICES of HAND ROLLERS. Diameter. Lenf,ih jC * '^ I I'nmtttr I eni^th. j£ r, d. PRICES of ROLLERS, fitted with Shafts, Suitable for Pony or Horse-power. Diameter. Length. C s. d. Diameter. Length. £ s. d.' 30 in. 32 in. lo o o 30 in. 60 in. 15 10 o 30 in. 36 in. 10 13 o 30 in. 72 in. 17 10 o 30 in. 42 in. 1115 o 30 in. 84 in. 19 lo o 30 in. 48 in. 13 10 o These ROLLERS possess many advantages over all others ; they are made in two parts, and are free to revolve on the axis, affording greater facility for turning, and the outer edges are rounded off, or turned inwards, thus avoiding the unsightly marks left by other Rollers. They are manufactured of the best materials, and are got up in a manner surpassing any ever yet brought out. The ROLLERS, 24 by 26 inches, 20 by 22 inches, and 16 by 17 inches, are also made in one part, at a reduced price : and for Rollers of that size, will be found to answer many requirements, as the handle can be reversed to either side of the Roller at pleasure. PRICES. 24 inches by 26 inches ^£'400 20 ,, 22 326 16 ,, 17 2 10 o DeUvered Carriage Free to all the principal Railway Stations and Shipping Ports in England, Ireland, and Scotland. THOMAS GREEN AND SON, Smithfield Iron Works, Leeds ; and 54 and 55, Blackfriars Road, London, S.E, 968 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 29, 1871. NEW CRIMSON PRIMROSE, PRIMULA JAPONICA. Mr. William Bull Begs to announce that he is NOW SENDING OUT this NEW HARDY PRIMROSE. It has been recently figured in the " Florist and Pomologist," " Floral Magazine," and " Botanical Magazine," and the opinion of every one who has seen it in blossom may be expressed in the one word, " lovely ! " When exhibited before the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, it was voted a First-class Certificate by acclamation. hardy as a peasant, resplendent as a princess. It is lust ten since Mr. Fortune met with it in Japan, a basketful of blooming iring been brought to his door ; they were, of course, secure of transmission to Europe. At last, however, perseverance has been rewarded, and from seeds imported by Mr. Fortune plants have been raised in the establishment ol Mr. W. iuLL, of Chelsea. Our gardens have thus secured a perfectly new, thoroughly hardy, and cxguisitcly lovely Primrose, one which-is really valuable on account of its intrinsic beauty. Of the hardiness of the Primula iaponica there can be no doubt, since plants which have been standing all the winter, fully exposed, in the trying atmosphere of London, are perfectly healthy, and came into bloom about the middle of May, some two or three weeks 1 had been potted and flowered under glass. rhe "Floral Magazine" -atum was displayed for cannot recollect so great a sensation I plant as by that which we now figure. and everyone wh duced into Europe. Ofitshardir stood the ordeal of the last sevi iMrW. Bull exhibited le said. To Mr Fortune, already so dens, are we indebted for it : and Mr. isetf on being the first to introduce it and a half high, bearing four or five fi flower an inch in diameter, and of a e plant moreover perfectly hardy — can eful plant has The plants now offered are very strong and healthy, in 4-inch pots, and will be sure to bloom beautifully next spring. Early orders are respectfully solicited to insure having the strong plants, for the demand is expected to be very large. Price lOs. 6d. each, or £4 lOs. per dozen. Coloured Plates can be supplied at u. bd. each. Those wishing to add this splendid Primula to their gardens are recommended to procure Plants, for imported Seed should be offered this season, it can scarcely be e^ ' many times during a period of 10 years, but they always failed to vegi country in a special manner. . grow. ESTABLISHMENT for NEW and RARE PLANTS, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, LONDON, S.W. THE CELEBRATED COLLECTION OF ORCHIDS, I'OKMED UY 8. RUCKER, ESQ, OF WANDSWORTH. Messrs. James Veitch & Sons HEY HAVE PURCHASED THE ABOVE MAGNIFICENT COLLECTION OF ORCHIDS In its entirety, Mr. Rucker having decided on relinquishing their culture. ty which has ever been formed ; Mr, 1 in England and on the Continent. This Collection is, without doubt, the richest as regards variety and Rucker having during the last 30 years purchased, regardless of expense, every fine and distinct kind he could meet with. The Plants are in the finest possible health, and the FIRST PORTION will be offered for SALE Mr. STEVENS' AUCTION ROOMS, Covent Garden, on AUGUST 8 and 9, details of which will appear Mr. Stevens' Advertisements. The dates of future Sales will be duly announced hereafter. ROYAL EXOTIC NURSERY, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, S.W. FOR PRESENT SOWING. E. G. Henderson & Son respectfully offer the following, in SEEDS of first-class quality ;— PRIMULA SINENSIS, MAGNUM BONUM.- One of the most beautiful and effective yet raised, showing a great improvement, the result of many years successful culture. With a vigorous habit, it produces large conspicuous trasses of very rich violet-crimson flowers, elegantly fringed, of good substance, and as a variety for the winter decoration of the conservatory and the drawing-room, it will be found one of the most effective for grouping with opposite colours in its own tribe, and valuable for giving effect to miscellaneous plants by its rich petal tints d prolific bloom. ixed, or in separate colours, ar. 61/. each. PRIMULA SINENSIS FIMBRIATA-ALBA ROSEA NEW STRIPED ,, BLUSH WHITE ,, MAGENTA COLOUR FILICIFOLIA, elegant Fern-leaf 1 ,, ,, ,, ,, white flowered ] CALCEOLARIA, finest quality, in great variety, and beautiful colours, CINERARIA, from best named kinds, mi.xed ) ,, the fine blue or crimson flowered sections separately / CYCLAMEN, mixed, from fine named varieties, ar. 6if. elegantly fringed, y. 6d. each. Visitors calling at the Establishment will find, amongst other beautiful new forms and varieties, the following, in their respective groups :— PELARGONIUM, LASS O' GOWRIE (Silver Tricolor) ; PETER GRIEVE, and BEAUTIFUL STAR (as Golden Tricolors); JUBILEE, and INIMITABLE (miniature bronze-zoned); ST. JOHN'S WOOD STAR (larger Bronze, yellow ground) ; VESUVIUS, and ORBICUL,ATA (Scarlet Zonal) ; ANNE PFITZER (plain Scarlet Zonal). Fine illustrations of CAMPANULA TURBINATA, VERBENA BASILISK (scarlet bedder), CINERARIA ASPLENIFOLIA, SENECIO ARGENTEA, and other select silvery-leaved species; a beautiful centre group of the most novel, unique, and beautiful LEUCOPHYTON BROWNI (silver-hued decorative plant) ; the new dwarf LOBELIA ERINUS PUMILA, CELESTIAL BLUE, CINDRELLA, CHARMING, and BRILLIANT. A fine selection of GREENHOUSE SUCCULENT PLANTS, for flower garden decoration ; an extensi group of HARDY DWARF SUCCULENT, and other species, illustrating the groups of SEDUM, SEMPEl VIVUM, ECHEVERIA, SAXIFRAGA, &c. WELLINGTON NURSERY, WELLINGTON ROAD, LONDON, N.W. FOR PRESENT SOWING. ^.SUTTONS^ GRASS SEEDS FOR ALL SOILS. CARRIAGE FREE. (As also SOWN at the EASTERN ANNEXE and FRENCH COURT of the LONDON INTER- NATIONAL EXHIBITION.) SUTTONS' PERMANENT PASTURE MIXTURES, For any description of soil. Best quality, 28s. to 32s. per acre. Cheaper do., 20s. to 26s. per acre. Carriage Free, and 5 per cent, for cash payment. SUTTONS' RENOVATING MIXTURE of fine GRASSES and CLOVERS, For IMPROVING PASTURES, should be sown at once, and will effect a great improvement in the quality and quantity of the succeeding Hay Crops. Sow from 8 to 12 lb. per acre. Price 9d. per lb. ; much cheaper by the cwt. EARLY SHEEP FEED, BY SOWING SUTTONS' IMPROVED ITALIAN RYE-GRASS, The best and most productive in cultivation, as sup- plied to the principal Sewage Farms. Three bushels per acre, if sown alone ; or, with Tri- folium incamatum, 2 bushels per acre. Lowest price per quarter on application. TRIFOLIUM INCARNATUM (ITALIAN CRIMSON CLOVER); The best CLOVER to produce an abundant supply of green food in the spring. Sow 28 lb. per acre alone, or 16 lb. per acre with Italian Rye-grass. Lowest price per cwt. on application. SUTTONS' MIXTURE of RAPID-GROWING GRASSES and CLOVERS. For feeding ne.\t November, and producing a heavy crop for mowing or feeding in May and June. Sow 3 bushels per acre. Lowest price per bushel or quarter on application. All Goods Carriage Free by Rail. 5 per cent, off for cash payment. SUTTON AND SONS, SEEDSMEN TO THE QUEEN, H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES, READING, BERKS. July 29, 1S71.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 969 New and Choice nower Seeds, Post Free. BS. WILLIAMS, Nurseryman and Seed . Merchant, Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper HoUoway, London, N. Per packet.— J. rf. Williams' superb strain of PRIMULA, Red, -IVhile, or Mixed is.6d.,^.6d.,v.6d.,ind 5 o Plants from this seed have always been awarded First Prizes wherever exhibited. NeiU's extra choice CALCEOLARIA, ij. 6d., is. 6d., 3J. M., and ; o Weatherill'sextrachoiceCINERARIA,ij.M.,2s.&i.,3J.M.,and 5 o Wisrins' prize strain of CYCLAMEN is. M., 2S. M., and 3 6 ECHEVERIA METALLICA 26 HOLLYHOCK, from Chater's finest varieties .. ij. and 3 6 HUMEA ELEGANS PURPUREA, new 10 LAPAGERIA ROSEA, new seed 10 MYOSOTIS SYLVATICA, true 06 PANSY, finest show varieties .. _ IJ. and 2 6 PVRETHRUM 'go156'en''fe'aTh'eR '.'. '.'. ..'' .. i o East Lothian STOCKS, per collection of three colours .. .. a 6 SOLANUM HYBRIDUM COMPACTUM, new, awarded a First-class Certificate by the Royal Horticultural Society. March r6. 1870 31. W. and 5 o Williams' Improved Hybrid SOLANUM .. .. n. M. and 2 6 SWEET WiIlI AM, Hunt's Auricula-eyed 06 VIOLA CORNUTAvar. PERFECTION is. M., M. M., and 3 6 VIOLA ODORATA LAUCHEANA, new, superior to the old Russian Violet 26 WALLFLOWER, Saunders' fine dark variety 10 Ferns, Ferns, Ferns. TO THE TRADE and OTHERS. LO M A R I A G I B B A, 9rf. each, 6s. per dozen. GYMNOGRAMMA LAUCHEANA (best Gold Ferns), gd. DICKs6.\iA"ANTARCTICA (beautiful Tree Fern), 2S. each, i8s. PTliRIS°SE'RRULATA, 6d. each, 4s. per dozen' LYGODIUM SCANDENS, al. each, 6s. per dozen. All the above healthy-growing young Plants. PTERIS LONGIFOLIA. strong plants, in 4a-size pots, is. each. ASPLENIUM BULBIFERUM,do.,do.,is. M. each. SELAG IN ELLAS, strong plants, in 60-size pots, 6s. per dozen. NEW FUCHSIAS oflast year, own selection, 3s. 61I. perdozen, good plants All packages free, and for cash only Post orders payable at Huntingdon. KIRK ALLEN, The Nurseries, Brampton, Huntingdon. Noteworthy Horticulturists and Botanists. NOTICE.— A SERIES of PORTRAITS of NOTEWORTHY HORTICULTURISTS and BOTANISTS is being published in the "GARDENERS' CHRONICLE AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE." -The, following have already Dr. Hooker, C.B., F.R.S.; W. Wilson Saunders. F.R.s'.; Rev. M. J. Berkeley. F.L.S.; M. Decaisne; G. F. Wiuson. F.R.S.; Professor Keichenbach, of Hamburgh: Dr. MooRE, of Glasnevin; Rev. S. R. Hole, M.A. ; and E. I. Lowe, F.R.S. Published by W. RICHARDS,4i, Wellington Street, Covent Garden. State of the Crops, 1871. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE for SATURDAY, August s. will contain a FULL and TABULAR STATEMENT of the STATE of the CROPS throughout the UNITED KINGDOM. May be had of all Booksellers. Price s* ; post free. sKi*. Published by W. RICHARDS, 41, Wellington Street, Covent Garden, W.C. Condition of the Fruit Crops, 1871. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE for SATURDAY, Auglist I2, will contain a FULL and TABULAR STATEMENT of the CONDI- TION of the FRUIT CROPS throughout theUNITED KINGDOM. May be had of all Booksellers.Price 5rf. : post free.^^d. Published by W. RICHARDS, 41, Wellington Street, Covent Garden, W.C. SATURDAY, JULY 29, 1871. MEETINGS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. r Roj-al Horticultural (Fruitand Floral Wednesday, Aug. 3-< Committees), at S. Kensington .. 11A.M. (.Ditto (General Meeting) ., .. 3 P.M. IN the course of certain observations, made some few years since, on the Growth of Cuttings, we had abundant opportunity of ascertaining that nutritive materials, and in par- ticular starchy matters, were stored up in the young shoots used as cuttings, and that as these commenced to callus, and subsequently to pro- duce roots, the solid starchy material dis.appeared, just as in the case of germinating seeds. We were also led to the conclusion that the occa- sional failures in getting cuttings to strike pro- perly might, other things being equal, be attribut.ible to a deficient store of nutritive material in the cutting, in consequence of which the desired growth can not take place. Cir- cumstances prevented us at the time from following up the subject, and the only record we made of the fact is contained in some notes of lectures delivered before the Royal Horticultural Society. M. Ernest Faivre, of Lyons, has, however, pursued the subject much more fully than we did ; and, as the results at which he arrived are of much importance horticulturally, we believe vie. shall be doing good service by calling attention to them. M. Faivre's experi- ments were made, from October till April, on cuttings of the Mulberr)*. One object of the ex- perimenter was to ascertain the nature of the material stored in the tissues of the cutting, its mode of formation, and its purport. M. Faivre early saw, as we had done, that the callus and the exuded matters were fonned at the expense of material previously stored in the shoot, and, moreover, proved the fact by causing the cutting to strike, and even produce new leaves, branches, &c., in pure sand, watered with distilled water only. In further proof of this, M. Faivre made a ring-like cut round a branch at about half an inch from its point, a large callus was produced at the expense of the material above the incision, while the bud placed in that situation ceased to grow. Another experiment of M. Faivre's showed that if by any means the deposit of nutritive matter could be exhausted, no callus was formed in the cuttings. This was accomplished by allowing the cuttings to develope as freely as possible long weak blanched shoots, and then making a ring-like cut below them, when no callus was produced. In autumn the cuttings readily callus, while the new shoots are tardy in their forma- tion. In spring, on the other hand, the shoots are active, and grow rapidly while the callus is not developed [to so great an extent ?]. M. Faivre's further experiments go to show that the nutritive material, at whose expense the callus and the young growths are formed, is stored in the bark, and especially in the liber. Now, in the case of the Mulberry, the liber is permeated with latex-vessels, and hence the inference that the latex supplies at least in part the exuded material and that deposited in the callus. In confirmation of this, M. Faivre states that in those cases where the growth of vigorous shoots had used up the stored material, the latex-vessels, when examined under the microscope, were found void of latex. M. Faivre's next experiments were devoted to the object of ascertaining how the nutritive material accumulated in the wood or bark could be made available. In the first place the absorp- tion of water was found to be essential. More- over, it was determined that water could be absorbed by the wood alone, or by the bark alone. These facts were proved by cutting off access of water to the bark, leaving the wood free to absorb it, and vice versa. These experi- ments not only prove the fact of absorption, either by the bark or by the wood, but also show that there must be a lateral, as well as a vertical diffusion of the absorbed hquid. That the wood alone, even though it is known to contain a store of nutritive material, is not sufficient of itself to promote the growth of shoots, is shown by the circumstance that the buds on a cutting from which the bark is entirely removed, will not push, and moreover, that a cutting so decorticated will not callus over. On the other hand, the bark alone is not sufficient to cause the bud to push, the co-operation of bark and wood is necessary to ensure the growth of the shoot. These experiments of M. Faivre then prove, that for the successful striking of cuttings, as for the successful germination of seeds, a proper store of nutritive material must exist before- hand, and, moreover, that the other conditions for insuring growth are the same in the two cases. Other observations go to show that the swell- ings which occur above the obstruction, when an incision is made, or a ligature tied round a branch, do not, as they are generally assumed to do, necessarily prove the descent of the sap, because these swellings are sometimes formed in situations, and under circumstances, which pre- clude the idea of any special descent of elabo- rated fluids having taken place. Again, the fact that the ascending sap, usually considered as not nutritious, is really a source of nutriment, has been shown by the circumstance that cuttings grown in sand, and watered with distilled water only, will grow and produce shoots. In this case, of course, the notion of a special nutritive fluid descending is out of the question. Few matters probably are of more vital im- portance in the management of a garden at the present juncture, than the treatment to which Wall Fruit Trees are subjected. Crippled by summer drought and winter frost, and attacked in this disabled condition by the bitter blighting blasts of such a wintry spring as the past, they need every care and every encouragement to reinstate themselves, if their permanent he.ilth and persistence is made a consideration. Indoor culture, when it can be adopted, is no doubt the plan best suited to cope with the vicissitudes of our climate, but outdoor wall trees there must also be, and the remedial measures to secure their return to a convalescent state must be prompt to be effectual — if indeed we have enough of summer weather in store, to really mitigate the evil which is, in too many places, so painfully apparent. In order to secure the improved health of trees, which have been affected in the manner indicated, two things are essential in an eminent degree ; first, a free growth of new wood must be promoted and secured ; and secondly, the new wood must be thoroughly ripened. These objects being realised, we may be tolerably certain that the trees will recoup themselves for any losses which may have been sustained, if only they have time to d& so. To secure healthy and vigorous growth in the trees, root-action must be encouraged by measures which suggest themselves to the judgment accord- ing to the circumstances and conditions of each case. In light soils, where watering would be beneficial, give the roots a good soaking with tepid water, and follow it up by occasional doses of liquid manure. If the circumstances, either as regards soil or subsoil, are such, that the application of water is not considered judicious, have recourse to mulchings of warm dung, or even of any light, dry material, not in a ferment- ing state. By these or other means, such as loosening the surface to adrnit sun-heat, supple- mented by such pruning as may seem judicious under the circumstances, including the removal of all dead or dying parts, the development of young wood must be secured ; and this, reacting on the roots, will do what is possible towards keeping up a healthy state of progressive growth. As to ripening the new wood thus secured, where a tree has been much punished there is a strong tendency to retain more young wood than can be duly exposed to the influence of light, and this is antagonistic to ripening. Rather let the shoots be thinned beyond the average so that they are fully and completely matured, or, at least, that maturation may not be arrested by overcrowding. Secure and retain as many leaves as may be able to perform their functions in a complete and satisfactory way, but rigorously remove any surplus beyond this. In the same way, blistered or disordered and therefore useless leaves should be removed, so that they may not rob those which are healthy and active. The two points, then, to be aimed at in the treatment of tender wall fruit trees from this time onwards, is to get growth out of them by any means, and to take care that that growth shall be thoroughly matured before the trees are exposed to the rigours of another winter and spring such as the past. We regret to hear that one of our most dis- tinguished amateur collectors of Orchids, and one whose name has for many years been, amongst Orchidologists, familiar as a household word — SiGiSMUND RUCKER, Esq., has determined to relinquish the culture of these marvellous plants. The celebrated and unrivalled collection which has been gathered together at Wandsworth — doubtless the richest as regards rarity and variety which has ever been formed — has, we understand, passed Into the hands of the Messrs. Veitch & Sons, of Chelsea, by whom the plants, which are in the finest possible condition, will shortly be offered for sale at Stevens' rooms. An opportunity will thus be offered to those who have already entered on the culture of these magnificent flowers to improve their collections, while others may be induced by the occasion which thus presents itself to commence forming an Orchid collection, and thus fill up the gap in the ranks of Orchid growers occasioned by Mr. Rucker's withdrawal therefrom. The Oxford Botanic Garden was the subject of a petition presented to \'ice-Chancellor Malins' court on the 2ist inst. The petition was presented under Sir Samuel Romilly's Act (52 George III., cap. 102) by the University of O.xford, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr. Lid- dell, and the Professor of Botany, Mr. ^L A. Law- son, for the purpose of obtaining a variation of a scheme made in pursuance of a Master's report, dated in 1S33, whereby a perpetual committee, consisting of the Vice-Chancellor, the Proctors for the time being, and the Regius Professor of Physic, with "the seven seniors resident upon the physic line," was established for the management of the Physic Garden at Oxford, in accordance with the will of Dr. William Sher- RARD, made in April, 172S. Dr. Sherrard by his will gave £yxx> for the maintenance of a Botany Pro- fessor of the Physic Garden at Oxford, upon condition that the University should settle a perpetual fund for maintaining the garden. A suit was instituted shortly after Dr. Sherrard's death, in which it was settled that the University should pay £1^° a-yearfor keeping up the garden in question, and the Royal College of Physicians were appointed visitors of the gardens. It was now proposed that the committee constitated as above-mentioned should be replaced by three resident members of Convocation, who should be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor and Proctors of the University, subject to the approbation of Convocation, and should hold office for ten years, and he styled "Curators of 970 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Asfricultural Gazette. [July 29, 1 87 1. the Botanic Garden." The Vice- Chancellor approved the proposition, and made an order to carry it into effect. On Tuesday last a special Covent Garden, under the presidency of Mr. H. Meyers, to consider the question of Removing the business of Covent Garden Market to Farring- DON Market. The Chairman and several speakers addressed the meeting, and from their statements it appeared that the refusal of the Duke of Bedford to afford proper accommodation to the staU-keepers in the market, whereby they suffered considerable loss, was the cause of the present movement. The consequence of his Grace's refusal was that in wet weather the stalls were flooded — the water standing 5 or 6 inches on the ground. Hence the fruit became useless, and having been thrown aside, found its way to the barrows and baskets of the costermongers, by whom, in its half- decayed state, it was retailed in the poor districts, creating diaiThcea and other diseases among the humbler classes. One speaker^who was corroborated by others, said that Mr. Gye, the lessee of the Royal Italian Opera premises, had asked the permission of the Duke of Bedford to open the Floral Hall as a fruit and veget- able market, offering at the same time to indemnify his Grace against the expense of alterations, and to pay 25 per cent, on the tolls. His Grace, however, refused the offer. Under theee circumstances the market gardeners and stall-keepers felt themselves compelled to look out for some other place. Application had been made to the Corporation respecting the site of Farringdon Market. The plans of the proposed improvements at the latter place, prepared at the instance of the Markets Committee of the City of London, by their architect, M Horace Jones, were laid on the table, and inspected by the meeting. The Chairman then read a letter he had received from Mr. Bontems, of the Archit Office, Guildhall, stating the Markets Committee ■ not quite prepared to speak definitely as to the question of rent, but when ready to do so they would ask the Association to meet the Committee. Mr. Potter, living at Farringdon Market, was in favour of having the new floral and vegetable market closer to the new meat market than Farringdon Market was. Mr. RuD- KIN, Common Councillor, explained the plans, and assured the tenants of the old (Farringdon) market that the Corporation were not antagonistic to their interests. The interests of the old tenants would be the first to be considered. There was a larger area in Farringdon Market than in the other suggested site, and if the site between the railway and the new meat market were fixed on, the streets in the neighbourhood must be widened to accommodate the additional traffic, and the stall-keepers would have to pay the cost. At present Farringdon Market was almost a dead letter in the hands of the Corporation, as it brought them in only £3SO a year. It was intended to lower the market to a dead level with Farringdon Street, and to do the same with Stonecutter Street, just leaving an incline sufficient to carry off the water. As to rent, he could say in his individual capacity — not pledging the Corporation — that the rent would not exceed that paid in Covent Garden. Within a month he thought the Corporation would be able to provide the needful accommodation. After further discussion, a deputation, consisting of five vegetable growers and five florists, was appointed to wait upon the City Markets Committee as to rent, tolls, &c., and to report to a future meeting. Votes of thanks to the Chairman and Mr. Rudkin closed the proceedings. The ornamental Gardens on the Thames Embankment, of which we gave a plan and descrip- tion (p. 1600, 1870), were fonnally thrown open to the public on Saturday last. The designs were made by Mr. M'Kenzie, and the works were executed by Mr. Meston. We have Siiakspeare's authority for the statement that Roses flowered once in the Temple Garden : we can aver of our own knowledge that they are now to be seen in bloom on the Thames Embankment. The Times states that the Potato Crop in Cornwall has thus far turned out exceedingly satisfac- tory, the yield being larger than for some years and the quality very good. Unfortunately, however, the disease is reported to be spreading rapidly in many localities, owing to the long-continued rain. The Maximum Temperatures recorded at the different stations in England during the week ending July 22 attained to a much greater height than at any other period of the summer. The highest temperature recorded was 82°. 6 at Blackheath, Ports- mouth being second witli 8i''.4, closely followed by three other stations witli So° and upwards. As might be expected, the temperatures decline as we proceed northwards, for while the mean of the extreme temperatures of the eight southern stations was 79°.4, that for the eight northern was 75°. 7, and for the Scotch stations was over 6° less, being 69°.6. Of the Minimum Temperatures, 46° at Edinburgh and 46°. 7 at Salford were the two lowest, the former showing a range of 8° compared with the minimum at Blackheath. Of the groups, the eight northern stations of England were slightly warmer than the eight southern, and these in their turn were rather more than a degree warmer than the Scotch stations, the mean of which was 49°. 3. Mean Temperatures. — As in the other two values, so in this, Blackheath is first with 65°. 5, Portsmouth retaining its second place with 64°. 6, following which we have Norwich with 63°. I ; these three stations mainly contributing to raise the mean of the southern English stations to 62°. 8, or about il" above the mean of the northern English stations, and nearly 5i° above the mean of the Scotch. Rainfall. — At two or three of the stations in the two countries the falls have exceeded I inch, but not to any great extent, without we except Greenock with 1.52 inch. The mean for Scothand was above that of England : the mean fall for the former country being o. 74 inch, and for the latter o. 37 inch. (See Mr. Glaisher's Tables in our present issue.) Of a different strain enthely from the Zonal Pelargoniums noticed at p. S69 are those bred by Dr. Denny, and which we have lately seen in Mr. W. Paul's nurseries at Waltham Cross. They are specially distinguished for the form and size of their flowers amongst the hybrid nosegay race, to which they belong, Wellington is a magnificent crimson- scarlet, with immense trusses, and in every respect fine ; Sir John Moore is a lighter scarlet, and very effective ; lago is an orange-scarlet, of remarkable brilliancy ; while lanthe is one of those beautifully rose-tinted which the suffused blue comes out so • The accompanying illustration (fig. 212) repre- sents one of a gi-eat many forms of flower pots — Fern and Floral Arborets, as the designer calls them — which were exhibited at Wolverhampton by Mr. W. HuDSPITH, of the South Tyne Works, Haltwhistle, Northumberland. Great taste and skill were shown in American Minister in that country. The samples of the plant sent here were distributed by the State De- partment as an efficient remedy, and a physician was quoted as having experimented with it and vouched for its healing powers. But it appears that a board of physicians have been conducting experiments in Washington at the hospitals, and although they have made no final report, yet their judgment, so far as the experiments have gone, is against the plant, which is said to be entirely inefficacious. A decoction of the wood of the Condurango is used, but careful analysis fails to show that it has any unusual properties. The bark contains an insoluble gum, but no recognised medicinal principle. Both the wood and the bark have been subjected to minute examination, and are pronounced worthless. The patients afflicted with cancer who have been placed under treatment with Condurango are said to fail to show any improve- ment in condition. There are hints that the stir which has been created about this alleged remedy was a part of a well-laid plan to get extensive advertising for a new quack medicine, for which a patent has already been obtained, and of which Condurango is an ingredient. " A good hint for fixing Screws in old Holes is contained in the American " Gardeners' Monthly." The ordinary method is to drive into the hole a piece of wood, cut it off flush with the surface, and then put the screw in. It often happens that wood, screw, and all work out after a time; hence the suggestion to make strips ofcork are recommended as very serviceable. the various forms of gnarled and knotted tiee stems, here turned to useful account in providmg stands for flowers and Ferns. The Coiporation of Rochester is, it is stated, about forthw ith to proceed with the laying out of the Rochester Castle Gardens for a public garden, and to perform ceitam v orks at the Castle itself, which will form a great attraction to the place. Plans have been approved, and a good sum has been subscribed towards the cost of the work. • A few days ago Mr. W. BAXTER Smith (of Little and Ballantyne's, Cariisle), and Mr. James Watt (of Roughead and Parks, Haddington)", were entertamed by their friends of the trade at a compli- mentary dinner at the Albert Hotel, Edinburgh, on the occasion of tlieir entering into partnership with the view of taking over the old established and well-known business of Little and Ballantyne, Carlisle. The large company, including representatives from nearly all the leading firms m Scotland, showed the feelings of esteem and respect in which the guests of the even- g are held by the seedsmen and nurserymen through- ,t the country. Mr. David Roughead, Hadding- n, occupied the chair. The present season seems to be an exceptional one for the Fruiting of Conifers. We learn from Mr. Bennett, Enville, that nearly all the trees there are very heavily laden, and that the cones are remark- ably large, even very small plants of Picea nobilis having some exceedingly fine, full cones upon them. The large specimen tree there, which is upwards of 50 feet high, is so heavily laden with them, that he will be compelled to take them off for fear of injury to the tree, which presents just now a grand, majestic appearance, the cones being of immense size. Mr. Bennett also sent us a few cones of great beauty of Picea nobilis, taken some weeks since from a tree only 12 feet high. Reference has been made, says the American correspondent of the Times, to the "Condurango Plant of Ecuador, an alleged remedy for cancer, which the attention of the United States' Govern- :nt was called in an official communication from the New Garden Plants. Ccelogyne sulphurea, Rchb.fil. in Scemantis Bonplandia, 1857,/. 43. Pseudobulbo ovato nitido subtetragono seu tetragono mono- phyllo ; folio cuneato oblongo-ligulato obtuse acuto ; racemo elongato, parvifloro ; sepalis oblongis e.\tus carinatis : petalis lineari-ligulatisreflexis ; labello ima basi subsaccato dein utrinque unidentato, isthmo modico a lacinia antica reniformi biloba separato carina una laterali utrinque a basi ad basin lacini^e anticse ; columna integrimarginata. — C/ielonaittherasul^hurea, Blume ! Bijdr. , 383: Calegytte Crcckczvitsii, Teysm. et B. Tijds., Ned. Ind. iil. 666, et fid. hort. Bogor. A modest Coelogyne, with flowers in the way of those of Ccelogyne undulata, yellowish green, bearing a white lip with yellow streaks, and a yellow two-shanked blotch at the base of the column, with a pale brownish streak on each side of it below the stigmatic hollow. The original discoverers may have been Blume's collec- tors in Java. We obtained also specimens from Von Schierbrand and Zollinger. At length it came to us in a living state from Messrs. Veilch. //. G. Rchb. jil. RODRIGUEZIA LEOCHILINA, II. Sp. Pseudobulbis oblongo ancipitibus ; folio oblongo ligulato obtuso valde carnoso, rhachi obscura, apice flexuosa racemosa : bracteis ovatis obtuse acutis ovaria pedicellata tertia sequantibus ; sepalis ligtilatis obtuse acutis, externis hteralibus linea media extus carinatis : petalis subaqualibus obtusis : labello ima basi angulato, ligulato pandurato retuso emarginato ; lamella angulata par\'a utrinque ante basin, carinis geminis in disco ; columna angulis porrectis obtusis. A neat little Orchid in the way of Rodriguezia maculata, but at once seen to be distinct by the totally different even white lip. The sepals and petals are yellowish, with brown dots. It came from Costa Rica, and flowered in the Royal E.\otic Nursery of Messrs. Veitch & Sons. H. G. Rchb. Jil. PATENT IMPERISHABLE HOT- HOUSES. Pondering over the perishability of hothouses built of wood, and the constant attention required to keep paint and putty perfect even in those constructed of metal, the idea occurred to Mr. Ayres that they might be advantageously built without either sash-bars or putty, and that they might also be made up by a mere multiplication of similar parts, such as might be fitted together with ease and facility by any intelligent workman. Thus originated the Patent Imperishable Hothouses, of which we subjoin one or two illustrations, and the advantages of which, as claimed by the inven- tor, are imperishability, superior warmth and lightness, portability, and reduction of material, and of the cost The framework of these houses is constructed of cast and wrought iron in combination, while the side walls are formed of slabs made of terra-cotta or cement. The framework is both light and strong, and through the combination of the necessary maximum of strength with the minimum of material, the actual shade cast by a span-roofed house 30 feet long by 12 feet wide, is only 76 feet, or 84 yards super. Then the houses are light as day, and may be said to form a continuous sheet of glass, supported by strong light rafters of X-ifO", 6 feet apart, and with purlins to receive the ends of the squares of glass, 30 to 40 inches from each other. In this dull climate it is essential that in conslructingplant- houses the light admitted should be as little intercepted possible, for though for a few months in the height of the growing ; light than we may remaining portion light is frequently painfully deficient and the plants suffer accordingly. Nor is the gain of light the only advantage derived frrom this system of July 29, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Aofricultural Gazette. 971 building. The great fault and failing of iron houses, as ordinarily constructed, is that metal is a rapid con- ductor of heat ; but glass is an insulator of heat, and taking advantage of this property the patent hothouses have been made externally, as far as possible, a continuous sheet of glass, both to protect the more perishable metal, and also to act as an insulator of the internal (warm) and external (cold) atmospheres. Another advantage claimed for these structures is their perfect portability. Where this is desired, as it is with all leaseholders, yearly tenants, or even free- holders who have a life interest only in the property upon which they may find it necessary to build, it is important to be able to put up hothouses which in the legal sense of the word shall be "tenant's fixtures." In this case the iron standards, which are fixed into blocks of stone or concrete, have a recess or chasing, into which the concrete or terra-cotta slabs, which form the walls of the houses, fit with perfect ease, and can be removed at any time, and consequently no brickwork or masonry is required. The shelves or stages for the plants to stand upon are formed of the same material, and thus the cost and annoyance of wooden stages are done away with. As to the reduction of material and cost of maintenance, the houses are formed of an iron- work skeleton, the parts of which are the standard or mounting, the spandril or head-piece, and the rafters of X-iron connecting the two together, and forming a span ; they may be called the principals, and are connected and tied together by light recessed purlins, which receive the ends of the squares of glass, the latter being held in place perfectly tight by metallic clips, which pass through the purlins and fasten with a pin. These, with the front and lower ventilators, complete the house, so that it will be seen that it presents but a small surface upon which it will be necessary for the painter to exercise his vocation. The accompanying sketches (213, 214) show the general cha- racter of one of these houses as adapted for plant culture. It will be seen that, except the ends, the structure has no perpendicular glass, the fronts or sides, which other designers make perpen- dicular, being here on the slope. The reason assigned for this is, because no light — speaking comparatively — passes through perpendicular glass. To obtain the power of the sun's rays the glass must stand at a right angle with them. With perpendicular glass almost every ray is refract- ed, and for positive life-invigora- ting purposes rendered almost useless ; but with sloping sides some direct light may be ob- tained, and that abundant supply of good fruit at all season tent to confine themselves to proved kinds < excellence, and sure bearing properties." A company has been formed for carrying out Mr. Ayres' patent, with works at Newark-on-Trent. [The foUo' LINNEAN SOCIETY. » are extracts from Mr. Bentham's Presidential Address, recently published. Eds.] Since 1862 systematic biology has to a certain degree been cast into the background by the great impulse given to the more speculative branches of the science by the promulgation of the Darwinian theories. The great thunderbolt had indeed been launched, but had not yet produced its full effect. We systematists, bred up in the doctrine of the fixed immutability of species within it one great object and by what variations and limits, were i within their ow posed to resist doctrme ; but i positive lunits, ' had always thought those limits were, pedes, in their never-ending t attempts to overstep those rariably checked and thrown back domain, might at first have been dis- the revolutionary tendency of the new s felt shaken and puzzled. The wide portant season. the dark months of mnter. The house is ventilated through the side panels, which admit the cold air in contact with the heating and evaporating troughs ; through the side lights, which open simultaneously ; and through movable sashes in the louvre box. This house is designed either for the cultivation of stove or green- house plants, the heating power introduced consti- tuting the difference. Various other forms of building, applying the same principles, are designed for different objects, such as Grape growing. Pine growing, orchard-house culture, &c. The latter house has a sunk path, with a central border and trellis, for planted out trees, and side stages for fruit trees in pots. "Orchard-houses," remarks Mr. Ayres, in his descriptive pamphlet, " have become a regular garden institution, and as, from the fickleness of our climate, the demand for them appears likely to increase, it is desirable that we should leave the region of toy, and take our stand upon the ground of solid cultivation. Pot fruit trees are all very well ; indeed, they are admirable, as managed by some cultivators ; but, taken upon the average, they are by no means a remunera- tive, not to say a profitable investment. Hence we say, for a permanent supply adopt open border planting, and you may do so with the conviction that the trees will serve you when the daily trouble of pots has ceased to charm. For this reason we recommend a central trellis, which, being from base to base 23 feet in girth, offers a training surface nearly equal to two 12 foot walls. It may be argued that upon the permanent plan we cannot have so great a variety of fruit, but that is a mistake, for nothing is so easy to bud as a Peach, Apricot, or Plum ; so that, if so desired, every main branch (or even branchlet) may be a different variety of lit. Amateur pomologists may seel fruit ; gardeners, whose reputatii Fig. 214.— section of the above. field opened for the exercise of speculative tendencies was soon overrun by numerous aspirants, a cry of con- tempt was raised against museum zoologists and her- barium botanists, and nothing was allowed to be scientific which was not theoretical or microscopical. But this has been carried, in some instances, too far. If facts without deductions are of little avail, assump- tions without facts are worse than useless. Theorists in their disputes must bring forth the evidences they rely upon, and these evidences can only be derived from and tested by sound systematic biology, which must resume and is resuming its proper position in the ranks of science, controlled and guided in its course by the results of those theories, for which it has supplied the basis.* If the absolute immutability of races is no longer to be relied upon, the gi-eater number of them (whether genera, species, or varieties) are at the present or any other geological period, practically circumscribed within more or less definite limits. The ascertaining those limits in every detail of form, structure, habit, and constitution, and the judicious appreciation of tlie very complicated relations borne to each other by the different races so limited, is as necessary as the supple- menting the scantiness of data from the depths of Teutonic consciousness by the vivid flashes of Italian imagination, or as the magnifying minute as yet un- developed organisms, with a precision beyond what is fully justified by our best instruments. I am, however, far from denying on the one hand * The great importance of morphology' and classificatit how much biological science has of late been raised, since it has been brought to bear through well-developed theories and hypotheses upon the history of our globe, and of the races it has borne ; and on the other, how very much the basis upon which it rests has been im- proved and consolidated by the assiduous use of the microscope and the dissecting knife ; but I would insist upon the necessity of equal ability being applied to the intermediate process of method or nomenclature and classification, which forms the coimecting link between the labours of the anatomist and the theorist, reducing the observations of the one to forms available for the arguments of the other. All three, the minute observer, the systematist, and the theorist, thus assisting each other, equally contribute to the general advancement of science, and for all practical application, the systematist's share of duty is the most important. The quicksands to which I have alluded as besetting thus the foundation of biological science, may be classed as imperfect data and false data, imperfect method and false method. To show what progress is making in removing or consolidating them, it may be useful to consider what these data are, and what are our means of fixing them so as to be readily available for use. It must, in the first place, be remembered that the races whose relations to each other we study, can only be present to our minds in an abstract form. In treating of a genus, a species, or a variety, it is not enough to have one individual before our eyes, we must combine the pro- perties belonging to the whole race we are considering, ab- stracted from those pecidiar to subordmate races or individuals. We cannot form a correct idea of a species from a single indi- vidual, nor of a genus from a single one of its species. We can no more set up a typical species than a typical individual. If we had before us an exact individual representative of the common parent, from which all the individuals of a species or all the species of a genus have de- scended—or, if you prefer it, an exact copy of the model or type after which the whole species or genus had been created, we should have no possible means of recognising it. I once heard a lecture by a German philo- sophical naturalist, of consider- able reputation in his day, in which he thought he proved that the common Clover was the type of Papilionaceas. His facts were correct enough, but his arguments might have been turned in favour of any other individual species that might have been selected. Suppose 'Vfc two individuals of a species, two species of a genus, two genera of a family, in one of ME. which certain organs are more developed, more differentiated, or more consolidated than in the other, if we agree upon the first question of which is the most perfect, a point upon which naturalists seldom do agree, how are we to deter- mine which represents the common parent or model ? —whether the perfect one is an improvement upon, or an improved copy, or the imperfect one a de- generacy from or a bad imitation of the other? No direct evidence goes beyond a very few generations ; reasoning from analogy is impossible without dnect evidence to start from, and the imagining a type without either is the business of the poet, not of the naturalist. It follows that every such abstract idea of a race must be derived from the observation, by ourselves or by others, of as large a number of the constituent individuals as possible. However fixed a race may be, if fixed at all in Nature, that is not the case with our abstract idea of it, no species or genus w;e establish can be considered as absolutely fixed, it will ever have to be completed, corrected, or modified, as more and more individuals come to be correctly observed. Hence it is, that a species described from a single specimen, and even a genus established on a single species, always excites more or less of suspicion unless supported by strong reasoning from analogy or confirmed by repeated observation. Our means of observing and methodising biological facts, of establishing and classifying those abstract ideas we call varieties, species, genera, families, &c., consist in the study (i) of living individual organisms ; (2) of preserved specimens ; (3) of pictorial dehnea- tions ; and (4) of written descriptions. Each of these sources of information has its special advantages, but each is attended by some special deficiencies to be supplied by one or more of the others, 972 The Gardeners' Clironicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 29, 1871. I. The study of living individuals in their natural state is without doubt the most satisfactory, but very few such individals can be simultaneously observed for the purpose of comparison, and no one individual, at any one moment, can supply the whole of the data required relating even to that individual. Some addi- tional facilities in these respects are given by the main- tenance of collections of living animals and plants, particularly usefiil in affording the means of continuous observation during the various phases of the life of one and the same individual, and sometimes through suc- cessive generations, or in facilitating the internal examination of organism immediately after death, when the great physiological changes consequent upon death have only commenced. But there are drawbacks and diihculties to be overcome, as well as a few special sources of error to be guarded against, and in this respect, as well as in the progress recently made in their application to science, there is a marked difference between zoological and botanical livmg' collections, or so-called gardens. The great drawback to living collections, especially zoological, is their necessary incompleteness. At the best it is individuals only, not species, and in a few cases genera that are exposed to observation ; genera, indeed, can always be better represented than species, for a few species bear a much larger proportion to the total number contained in a genus, than a few indi- viduals to the total number which a species contains. Whole classes are entirely wanting in zoological gardens, which are usually limited to vertebrata. Of late years means have been found to include a few aquatic animals of the lower orders, but insects, for instance, those anim.als which exercise the greatest influence on the general economy of Nature, the observa- tion of whose life and transformations is every day acquiring greater importance, are wholly unrepresented in zoological gardens. The shortness of duration of their individual lives, their enormous power of propagation, the different mediums in which they pass the different stages of their existence, will long be obstacles to the formation of living entomological collections on any- thing like a satisfactory scale. The cost also of the formation and maintenance of living collections is very much greater in the case of animals than of plants ; but on the other hand zoologists have the advantage of the attractiveness of their menageries to the general un- scientific but paying public, and, under judicious management, some sacrifices to popular tastes are far outweighed by the additional funds obtained towards rendering their collections useful to science. The false data or errors to be guarded against in the obsei-vation of living zoological collections are chiefly owing to the unnatural conditions in which the animals are placed. Ungenial climate, unaccustomed food, want of exercise, &c. , act upon their temper, habits, ind confinement materially modifies i connected with their propagation. Such errors or false data are, no doubt, as yet very few and unimportant compared to those which have arisen from the reliance on garden plants for botanical observations, but, as zoological gardens multiply and extend, they will have to be more and more kept in view. In my younger days there were already a number of small collections of living animals, but almost all either travelling or local menageries exhibited for money by private individuals, or small collections kept up as a matter of curiosity for the benefit of the public, such as those of the Pfauen-Insel at Potsdam, the park at Portici, or our own Tower menagerie. At Paris alone, at the Jardin des Plantes, in the flourishing days of the Jussieus and Cuviers, was the living zoological collec- tion rendered essentially subservient to the purposes of science. Since then, however, matters have much changed ; the Jardin des Plantes, which so long reigned supreme, has, by remaining stationary, sank into a second rank. She may indeed be as justly as ever proud of her Milne-Edwards, her Brongniart, her Decaisne, and many others, but long out of favour with the Government and the paying public, who trans- ferred their patronage to the high-sounding Jardin d'Acclimatation, now no more, she has been almost abandoned to the resources of pure science, always of the most restricted in a pecuniary point of view. We in the mean time, and after our example several Conti- nental states or cities, have made great advances. The formation of our Zoological Society and Gardens opened a new era in the cultivation of the science. After various vicissitudes, the Society had the good fortune to secure the services of one who combined in the highest degree zoological eminence with adminis- trative ability, and thus our great living zoological col- lection is now raised to the proud relative position which the Jardin des Plantes once held, and which there seems every reason to hope it will long maintain. With an annual income of about ^23,000 the Zoo- logical Society is enabled to maintain a living collec- tion of about a thousand species of Vertebrata, and although some portion of the surplus funds is necessarily applied for the sole gratification of the paying public, yet a fair share is devoted to the real promotion of that science for which all the fellows are supposed to sub- scribe, the accurate observation of the animals main- tained, the dissection of those that die, and the publi- cation of the results. Physiological experiments are either actually made in the garden, or promoted and liberal!)^ assisteil, such, for instance, as those on the transfusion of blood, the effects or non-effects of which were recently laid before the Royal Society by Mr. F. Galton. A very rich zoological library has been formed, and last year's accounts show a sum of about ;fi8oo expended in the Society's scientific publications. Zoological gardens, after the example of the London one, have been established not only in several of our provincial towns, but in various Continental cities, amongst which the more important ones, as I am in- formed, are those of Amsterdam, Antwerp, Ham- burgh, Cologne, Frankfort, Berlin, Rotterdam, and Dresden ; the receipts of the one at Hamburgh, for instance, amounting annually, according to the pub- lished reports, to between ;<^8ooo and /'9000. There are also so-called gardens of acclimatisation ; but these have not much of a scientific character ; their pro- fessed object indeed is not so much the observation of the physiology and constitution of animals as their modification for practical purposes, and practically they are chiefly known as places of recreation, and are not always very successful. The great one in the Bois de Boulogne, now destroyed, out of an expenditure in 1S68 of about /■7200 showed a deficit of about £i(xx> ; a smaller one at the Hague is enabled to pay an annual dividend to its shareholders. Livmg collections of plants have great advantages over those of animals, they can be so much more ex- tensively maintained at a comparatively small cost. In several botanical gardens several thousand species have been readily cultivated at a comparatively small cost, and species can be represented by a considerable number of individuals, a great gain especially where instruction is the immediate object, the lives of many can be watched through several successive generations, and great facilities are afforded for physiological experi- ments and microscopical observations on plants and their organs whilst still retaining more or less of life. On the other hand the false data recorded from obser- vations made in botanical gardens have been lamentably numerous and important. A plant in the course of its life so alters its outer aspect that each one cannot be individualised by the keeper of a large collection, and at one period, that of the seed in the ground, it is wholly withdrawn from his observation. He is therefore obliged to trust to labels, these are often mismatched by accident or by the carelessness of the workmen em- ployed, or again, one seed has been sown and another has come up in its place, or a perennial has perished and made room for a sucker or seedling from an adjoining species. The misnomers arising from these and other causes have become perpetuated and sanc- tioned by directors who, for want of adequate libraries or herbaria, or sometimes for want of experience or ability, have been unable to detect them. Plants have also been so disguised or essentially altered by cultiva- tion that it has become difficult to recognise their identity, and new varieties or hybrids, which, if left to themselves, would have succumbed to some of the in- numerable causes of destruction they are constantly exposed to in a wild state, have been preserved and propagated through the protective care of the culti- vator, and pronounced at once to be new species. If, moreover, a misplaced label indicates that the seed has been received from a country where no plants of a similar type are known to grow, the director readily notes it as a new genus, and, proud of the discovery, gives it a name and appends a so-called diagnosis to his next seed-catalogue, adding one more to the numerous puzzles with which the science is encumbered. So far, indeed, had this nuisance been carried in several Continental gardens in the earlier portion of the present century, that, excepting perhaps Fischer & Meyer's and a few other first-rate indexes, the great majority, per- haps nine-tenths, of the new species published in these catalogues have proved untenable, and, from my own experience, I am now obliged, a priori, to set down as doubtful every species established on a garden plant without confirmation from wild specimens. Fortu- nately the custom is now abating, and directors of botanic gardens are beginning to perceive that they do not add to their reputation by having their names appended to those of bad species. Living collections of plants, or botanical gardens, are of much older date than zoological ones, and since the sixteenth century have been attached to the principal universities which have medical schools, that of Padua, dating from 1525, that of Pisa, from 1544, and of Montpellier, from 1597. The Jardin des Plantes of Paris, which in botany, even more than in zoology, so long reigned supreme, was established in 1610, our own first one at Oxford in 1632. These university gardens having been generally more or less under the control of eminent resident botanists, have contributed very largely to the means of studying the structure and affinities of plants, especially in those Continental cities where a milder or more steady climate has facilitated the maintenance of large collections in the open air or with little protection. Continental gardens have also been long and are still made largely available for the purpose of instruction as well as of scientific experi- ments, of which the recent labours of Naudin and Decaisne are an excellent illustration. For these scientific purposes the arrangement in large and small square compartments is peculiarly suitable, and I con- fess that I have frequently had gi-eater pleasure in witnessing the facilities afforded to zealous students in following up, book in hand, the straight rows of scien- tifically-arranged pkints in there formal university gar- dens, than in watching the gay crowds that flock to the more ornamentally laid out public botanic gardens. I do not think that generally much advance has been made of late years in Continental botanical gardens. Those that I first visited in 1830 appeared to me to be but little improved when I again went over them in 1869. Some have acquired additional space, others have paid more attention to ornament, but most have remained nearly stationary, and a few have even fallen back. In our own country we have made great progress. Kew Gardens had indeed, in former days, rendered assistance to the investigations of Robert Brown and a few other favoured individuals, but they were the Sovereign's private property, and were kept very close, with little encouragement to science at large. But 30 years' unceasing exertions on the part of its dis- tinguished directors, the two Hookers, father and son, have raised them to a point of scientific usefulness far beyond any other establishment of the kind at home or abroad. Of the large sums annually voted for it by Parliament, a portion has indeed to be applied to mere ornament and to the gratification of visitors, but yet, with all the drawbacks of our climate and consequent expenditure in houses, the largest named collection of species ever brought together in one spot, repre- sentatives of all parts of the globe, are there main- tained, freely exhibited to the public, and submitted to ion of scientific botanists. RHODODENDRON EXCRESCENCES. At the meeting of the Scientific Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, held on the 19th inst., the Rev. M. J. Berkeley exhibited fragments of Rhododendron ferrugineum with a large, fleshy, gall- like body on the leaves, and which he considered to be the result of a Fungus mould, a species of Ascomyces, similar to that which produces blister in Peach trees (p. 944). I do not know on what grounds the learned gentleman has formed his opinion, and I willingly bow to the decision of a veteran in science, who studied galls before I was bom; but I would respectfully suggest a further investigation of these excrescences, as in their location, build, and substance they show an exceedingly close resemblance to the galls caused by some saw-flies. The present seems precisely one of those cases in which botanists and entomologists can work hand in hand. If the latter have lately had occasion to relieve the former of the study of the large genus Erineum, by proving its exponents to be excrescences caused by the presence of four-footed mites belonging to the genus Phytoptus, perhaps botanists will render their entomological brethren a similar service, by proving satisfactorily that the gall-like excrescences of Rhododendrons are real Fungi. In the meantime I offer a first instalment of the knowledge extant on the subject, hoping that other observers will follow suit. In 1859, Dr. Laboulbene communicated to the Entomological Society of France an extract from a letter written by M. Leon Dufour, on the subject of the gall of the Rhododendron, observed near the Grande Chartreuse, and of which gall mention has been made in the " Rapport sur le Congres de Grenoble." (Vide Annales de la Soc. Ent. de France, 1858, p. 839.) The extract reads as follows : " Your gall of the Rhododendron, which I have often met with in the Pyrenees, has much intrigued me, and I have never been able to make out its originator. It must be a Diplolepis (Cynipid^e), similar to that which produces the gall en pomme d'apioi the Oak." (Bulletin de la Soc. Ent. de France, 1S59, p. 96.) In 1868 I penned the foUomng note: — "Alpine Rose (Rhododendron ferrugineum) : Fleshy, fruit-like galls on the leaf, of about the size of a Raspberry, smooth ; one gall grown right on the edge of a leaf. For an inspection of these to me novel galls on the far- famed Alpine Rose I am indebted to Mr. Stainton . . . . who, at my request, has furnished the following precise particulars, which will enable any tourist to investigate the subject further, if they are not already described somewhere. Mr. Stainton writes : — ' They were common enough at Andermatt, from 100 to 200 feet above the chapel, which is itself just above Andermatt ; the colour was green, with a slight rosy tinge in places. The date was July 30* (1866). Insect unknown to me." (" Zoologist," s.s. 1S68, p, 1206), In 1869 I wrote a hint respecting the Nematus gall of Rhododendron ferrugineum. On July 30, 1866, Mr. Stainton first met with this gall near Andermatt, in the Ursern Valley, and his courtesy enabled me soon after- wards to examine specimens, and to offer a few parti- culars on the subject in the "Zoologist" (p. 1206, S.S.), but these specimens were too far decayed to give any clue to the insect. On June 23, 1S6S, and the days following, during a journey devoted almost entirely to the search after galls, I had the pleasure of myself gathering plenty of these excres- cences near the road above Hospenthal, in the same valley, at an altitude of about 4500 feet. The galls, looking with their glowingly red cheeks not unlike small-sized White Heart Cherries of irregular shape, were most conspicuous amongst the sober, dark-green foliage of their foster-plants, which at that time only just began to expand their lovely blossoms. An examination of many specimens showed that at first The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 973 they filled ■ith spongy white substance enveloping a solitary egg, and that subsequently, when this hatches, the larva begin to feed on the surround- ing matter, thus giadually forming a chamber around itself. The location of the galls is either each separate upon a leaf or else in the centre of a top of a shoot, in which case the latter, instead of bringing forth its bunch of leaves or blossoms, produces a bundle of more or less crowded galls, i.e., converted leaves or blossoms. Taking into account all I have seen of this gall, I consider it to be the production of a saw-fly, belonging, probably, to the genus Nematus ; but, although there is ample precedent for doing so, I abstain from burdening nomenclature with a new appellation,* which task I leave to the finder of the perfect insect ; adding that it will probably occur in August or September, wheir sweeping the Rhododen- drons would probably lead to the desired result, for the attainment of which I appeal to all entomologists who may happen to be in the subalpine region at that time of the year. {** Zoologist," s.s., p. 1838.) Then followed a memorandum on the Nematus gall on Rhododendron hirsutum. In the September number of the "Zoologist," s.s., p. 1S38, I called attention to the occurrence of the gall of a saw-fly on R. ferrugineum in the Ursern Valley. I have now to record, that this same gall also occurs on Rhododendron hirsutum in the Bernese Alps, whence specimens collected by Herr Bischoff-Ehinger, of Basle, on the Gemmenalphorn, near Interlaken, at an altitude of about 6000 feet, have just reached me, but, I am sorry to say, in a condition which precludes the possibility of rearing the insect. Howevei , this production, being now signalled as occurring in two localities on different species of the so-called Alpine Rose, is likely to be found all over the alpine range, and I hope that entomological tourists will bear in mind that the perfect insect is unknown to us. ("Zoologist," s.s., 1869, p. 1S69.) Now, Mr. Editor, I hope you will not cancel any of the circumstantial evidence repeated above, for the sake of saving space. I claim a full hearing in the matter, and that it is worth while ventilating is shown by the fact that, hardly a month ago, while visiting Professor Heer, at Zurich, he deliberately put to me the question — " Do you know that gall on Rhododen drons? I meet with it everywhere in the Alps, and cannot fathom its origin, &c." What could I do but shrug my shoulders, and relate my repeated attempts to get at the perfect insect ? And now we are told, on the highest authority, that it is a fungoid growth. ffave my eyes deceived me — is it a gall or a Fungus ' "that is the question." If the former, who will first show its maker ; if the latter, then I shall console my- self with the thought of having procured particulars of its geographical range, for let it be known that there is a rumour afloat of its having been seen also on cultivated Rhododendrons in Scotland, and as to its insect origin, in which I still firmly believe, I shall then, but only then, have to excuse myself with the hical saying that crrare humamtm est! be interesting to leam whether this Iso occurs on the Rhododendrons from Sikkim. Albert Amicr, July 24. some notice. In the first place, it is herbaceous, that is, not woody ; then it may be noted that its form is cylindrical, and that it is hollow in the interior. The stem, in fact, is tubular, but the tube is interrupted here and there by partitions which will be found at the points whence the leaves proceed — points, moreover, marked in the case of the grasses by a little thickening called technically a node or knot. It is useful to know that the spot whence a leaf proceeds is always called in botany a node, even though a swelling be not always present in that situation. The space between two nodes is in like manner called the internode. When the leaves are crowded together the intemodes are necessarily very short ; but here in the Wheat the leaves are separated by rather long intemodes. The tubular form of the stem, or straw of Wheat, secures considerable strength, at the same time that economy of material is secured. Strength is also secured by the hard flinty substance which is contained in the skin or rind of all the grasses, and which exists in such quan- tities that the stem may with care be burnt, or destroyed by strong acids, and yet the skeleton of the plant as it were will remain, showing the form of the stem. To do this, however, requires some skill, and the beginner will probably realise the fact almost as well when we tell him that the rigidity of grasses as well as the glossy appearance of the straw is due to this silex, or flinty material. All grasses, with the exception of the BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS.— XU. Those who are inclined to twit botanists with the cui bono argument — and the race is not quite extinct — may be met by the fact that neither they nor anyone else could exist without plants. Plant life is essential to animal life, animal life is the complement to that of plants. Hence some knowledge of plant life may be deemed essential. We do not intend at present to enter upon physiological questions, but it may surely be said that an acquaintance with the plants producing \\\Q stoff of life Qom^s, under the head of useful know- ledge. Nevertheless, we think we do not err when we state that even among those who have a smattering of botanical lore less is known of the grasses than of almost any other group of plants. This arises no doubt from the difficulty of dissecting their flowers, and from the fact that their construction is, at first sight at any rate, so diflTerent from that of other plants. The difiiculty of dissecting the flowers of grasses arises from their general small size, their dense approximation, and from the dryness and rigidity of their flowers, which renders the dismemberment of them a matter requiring some patience and dex- terity. For these reasons we have deferred the con- sideration of their structure till the beginner, presuming that he has followed us so far, may be supposed to have attained something of the requisite dexterity from prac- tice on flowers of easier construction. The Wheat (Triticum), chosen for our illustration, will now be in flower, or if, in the south, a little past its flowering stage, will hardly be too far advanced to prevent its parts being clearly made out ; or at any rate, if Wheat be not available, what we are now about to say is applicable, mutatis mutandis, to other grasses now in full flower. Before passing on to the flower, how- ever, let us glance at the other parts of the plant. The fibrous roots demand but little explanation at our hand, but the stems of the grasses — the straw, being in many respects different from that of other plants, requires them at the time they published their v Fig. 218. J. 215. Ear or spike of Wheat, bearing numerous spiliclets (seen from the side).— Fic. 216. Left-hand figure : Spikelet separated, the two lowermost scales are the glumes. Right- hand figure : The flower divested of the glumes and pales (see text).— Fig. 217. Flower of Wheat invested bv the flowering glume and pale (see text).— Fig. 218. Diagram showing the arrangement of the parts in a spikelet of Wheat (see text). Sugar-cane, and one or two others, have these tubular jointed stems. The leaves, too, of grasses are characteristic. If the leaf of the Wheat plant be carefully stripped off, it will be seen to consist of a sheathing portion wrapping round the stem, and a flat, ribbon-like portion, the blade, quite detached from the stem, and having no one rib larger than the rest — no midrib, in fact, but a great number, all of about the same size, and running parallel from the base to the point of the leaf. The blade of a grass-leaf is always entire, not notched or divided in any way. Just at the junction between the sheath and the blade of the leaf may be seen in all grasses a small but characteristic membranous outgrowth, technically called a ligule, and which is peculiar to grasses. A botanist seeing a fragment of a leaf with this little membranous process emerging from it, would at once pronounce the fragment to have belonged to some grass. Sedges, which in so many cases resemble grasses, and are constantly confounded with them, may be recognised at once by their triangular stems, and their leaves destitute of ligules. Coming now to the flowers of the Wheat, we find them closely packed on either side of the top of the stem, and if they be pulled off from the ear, the inflorescence, that is, the stem, may be seen to have lost its cylindrical form, and to have become flat- tened and bent zig-zag fashion. Here again is a pro- vision for securing economy of space ; the flattening for the flowers, and the zig-zag allows bends allow the flowers above, those below. It may be well to state that the inflor- escence of the Wheat is called a spike, and its flattened portion is called the rachis (fig. 215). It might at first be supposed that what we have just called the flowers, and which we recommended to be stripped off' to show the flattened rachis, were single flowers ; this, however, is not the case : they are groups of flowers, and to each little packet or group the term spikelet is applied (fig. 216). These spikelets are densely packed in the case of Wheat, but in the Oat they are more loosely arranged, and form a panicle. We have then to see what these spikelets are composed of The beginner must not be disheartened if at first he can see nothing but a confused mass of scales ; let him be assured that there is no real confusion, and that a little patience will enable him to see that each spikelet consists, first, of two scales, one to the right hand, the other to the left. By seizing with the fingers the top of the spikelet, these two lower scales, or glumes, as they are called, may be left in situ, and may then be seen to be attached to the main stem or rachis, and to be of the nature of bracts, enclosing three or more small flowers, supposed to be pulled off by the observer. Each of these tiny flowers (the numbers vary in different grasses, and even in different varieties of Wheat) has an exceedingly short stalk or peduncle, so short, indeed, that the beginner may be pardoned if he fail to see it. Proceeding with his dissection of a flower, he will next come to a scale like those already referred to in form and appearance, but clearly not attached to the main stem or rachis, inasmuch as it is pulled off with the flower ; it must, then, belong to the exceedingly short peduncle already referred to as supporting the flower, and is indeed the best evidence we have of the existence of the stalk, as that is too short to be readily seen. That the scale does not belong to the flower is seen by the fact that it completely en- circles the flower below, which it would not do if it formed part of the flower proper. This scale is called the Jio7i'ering glume, and is of the nature of a bract ; it is often provided with a long thread at the top, called an a-on (fig. 217, F). The "beard" of some varieties of Wheat or of Barley or Oats is constituted by the awn springing from the flowering glume. If this be now carefully removed with the needle or point of the pen- knife, yet another scale may be seen on the other side of the flower to the one last mentioned, and a little higher up (fig. 2I7,G ) ; this may be readily recognised, because It lb marked by two ribs, whence it is supposed that it may really be made up of two scales united together. But this is still a moot point, as is also the question whether we are to consider this two-ribbed scale or palea as a bract or a part of the flower proper. The beginner will do well to fix his attention on the form and position of this pale, and to leave the consideration of its structural significance to more experienced botanists. If the pale be now removed, three (in some grasses, as Rice, six or even more) very delicate stamens will be seen (fig. 216, K). As the student should proceed in all things systematic- ally, before he examines these stamens let him care- fully search for two very minute white membranous scales at the base of the stamens(fig. 216, H) ; he will very probably fail to see them at first, but a little patience will enable him to disentangle them. These two scales or Iodides are fringed at the top in the case of the Whea^, and are the only representatives of the sepals or perianth of more perfect flowers (unless, indeed, which is possible, the pale really constitute the outer investment of the flower) ; the filaments of the stamens are entirely separate, both from each other and from other parts of the flower, and each bears a long narrow anther, so delicately poised that it moves with a touch, hence the term versatile as applied to the anthers of grasses. Each anther (fig. 216, K) is divided into two lobes, which are separate at each end, thus forming a notch at both extremities of the anther. Next we come to the pistil (fig. 2i6,j), here composed of a single oblong carpel, downy at the top, and provided with two rather long feathery stigmas. In the interior of the carpel is the seed or grain, which as it ripens becomes con- fluent with the carpel, and ultimately inseparate from it. In the young state the carpel may be distinguished by its white or colourless appearance, while the outer portion of the seed is green. The interior seed con- sists of a mass of floury substance, the albumen (flour), and at one end, from a little cavity of it, may be picked out a little button-like mass, which is the embryo plant, and on whose structure we may perhaps Complicated as the structure of the inflorescence of grasses seems, it is not so much so in reality — thus, to sum up : — There is a main stem (the rachis) which bears at each notch two glumes or bracts, arranged altemately. Within these latter the rachis divides, and on each secondary branch or peduncle so formed are again two bracts, arranged alternately one over the other, i. e., the flowering glume and the pale, then comes the flower proper with its two Iodides. In some grasses three are present, and then we have a whorl of three Iodides, like a calyx of three sepals. The .< 974 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 29, 1871. are regular enough. The pistil is peculiar in having but one carpel, it may be assumed that two are sup- pressed, as very rarely, by accident, tlie other two are developed. The fruit is remarkable for the intimate blending that occurs between it and the contained seed. The diagram fig. 218 represents a plan of the arrange- ment of the parts in a spikelet of Wheat, supposed to be cut across to show it, four perfect and one imperfect flower in the centre ; A represents one of the two glumes common to all the flowers ; B is the flowering glume, of which there is one to each flower ; c, the two-ribbed pale, with one of which each flower is also provided ; D shows the Iodide, of which each flower possesses two, rarely three ; E indicates a stamen, of which there are generally three, and F is the pistil. To make our account of the Wheat complete, we ought to add that the topmost flower (or in some cases flowers) of the spikelets are rudimentary merely. In other grasses, t'. g. , Barley, two of the lower flowers are rudimentary, the central one alone perfect. The man who can make two blades of grass grow where only one did before is a benefactor to his kind, so also is he who can induce the Wheat or the Barley to perfect there usually barren flowers and make them productive, and to a certain extent this has been done. As we started with an allusion to the ctii Iviio cry, let us end by asking how this could be done if the benefactor knew nothing of the structure of the flower of grasses ? gome ODorrespnbente. Newr Pears. — " Pari Passu" (p. 943), in reviewing the list of new Pears, as quoted by me at p. 903, does not appear to me to be quite up to the mark about some of the sorts he mentions. I will begin at the beginning, as Byron has it, and allow Doyenne du Comice to be an A I, generally speaking, and, I may say, always upon a Quince stock. As to Marie Louise d'Uccle, it is so very near, in all its bearings, to Marie Iconise, as to be scarcely different ; yet there is a dilference ; this was pointed out in the Gardeners Chronicle^ p. 1060, 1865, where it is figured and described, and the follow- ing observations made regarding it : — " This very excellent Pear differs from its type in having a peculiar fine aroma — that of Gansel's Bergamot — and also in growing freely when grafted upon the Quince stock, on which it forms a robust and prolific pyramid." All this is perfectly correct with regard to this locality, and the fact that the Marie Louise does not do on the Quince, whilst the INI. L. d'Uccle does, is evidence that there is a constitutional difference, however near they may be in outward appearance. Beurre Bachelier is both large and handsome, with an abundant juice, which is sugary, acidulated and vinous, although without perfume. This, like Easter Beurre, should be gathered before getting quite ripe, as both sorts are inclined to get dry and mealy if not caught at the right time. Beurre Durand is a very different Pear from B. Duran- deau, more properly Durondeau, or Tongi-e, one of the most juicy and melting Pears I know. B. Durand is a highly perfumed and savoury fruit, rarely otherwise here. Beurre Six, ripened here October 27, 1S70. My note against it is : " Most delicious, rich, juicy, and sugary ; one of the very best — A i, xxx." I have had some of the fruit keep to December, and still excellent. Can your correspondent have had the kind true ? Calebasse Delvigne : My note against this sort is : " Ripe Septem- ber 22 ; a beautiful Iruit, tinged with bright vermilion, and of excellent flavour." This, like many others, requires to be gathered before being too ripe, and to be carefully watched, as it rots without giving outward signs. Desire Cornells is one of our largest and earliest sorts, ripe here August 12, 1S70; melting, very juicy, very sugary, and nicely perfumed. Dr. Nelis is generally second-rate. On September 30, 1870, it was juicy and rich ; it is a pretty little Pear. Dr. Trosseau is not always good. On November 14, and December 24, 1S70, it was rich, refreshing, and aromatic ; it is one not always to be trusted, excepting against a wall, on which it becomes a noble fruit. Duchesse Hel&ne d'Orleans : My note of this says : " Ripe October 10, 1870 ; a fine and delicious fruit, beautifully coloured on the sunny side ; very melting, very juicy, acidulated, sugary, and exquisitely savory. " General Todtleben : If this is a worthless fruit, then I must think myself no judge. Note : " Ripe October 16 ; a beautiful, large, and handsome fruit, finely covered with vermilion on the sunny side, and spotted like the Forelle ; variable in shape, from pyriform to turbinate. Some of the fruit remain quite green, whilst others are highly coloured ; these last are the best flavoured, and are A I. Flesh tinged with rose, more so than any Pear 1 know, and is melting, juicy, sugary, and finely aromatic." This must not be confounded with Triomphe de Jodoigne, which is much like it in shape and size. The trees are very different, so are the fruit, in quality ; it is just probable that this has reached " Pari Passu" as The General. I shall have no fruit this season, otherwise I would have sent him a dozen of each. Leopold I.: My note against this is: "Novem- ber 16. — Fine, very meltuig, very juicy, aromatic, and delicate. January 28.— Getting woolly and dry." This was a seedling of Van Mons, but did not fruit until several years after his death, and was considered worthy of bearing the name of a truly worthy man. Madame Elise I know as rather an indifferent Pear. Madame Elisa I know as follows : — Note made November i, 1870; "A delicious fruit ; flesh fine and ng, juice excessively abundant, rich, sugary, and very savoury, very variable in size and outline." Marie Guise: Note, January 24, 1871 : " A handsome and fine fruit, skin golden-yellow, much covered with nettings and reticulations of fine cinnamon-coloured usset, with a tinge of vermil on the sunny side ; flesh ich, aromatic, and highly-flavoured." Napoleon Savinieu, one sort, received from France ; not true : it ripened September 15, and was not above second- Another tree received from Belgium is the sort described by Bivort, and is the true one, for, peeling the fruit, it scents like a Rose or Violet, and has also an odoriferous taste. My fruit are exact in figure and description with Bivort's sort ; it is a beautiful fruit, ripened December 25, 1S70, and kept till January 28, 1871. At both periods it was rich, juicy, sugary, and slightly musky, with a fine delicate flavour. Passe Crassane I grow largely as a first-class fruit. I have unfortunately made no note against it, but am at one with Mr. Rivers about it, and with all who have gown it, excepting " Pari Passu." Peche : Note says : " Ripe September 3, 1870. From Quince, juicy and dehcious, flesh very melting and fine, juice mor' abundant, very sugary and vinous, with an excellent perfume." Dr. Hogg gives a description of the Peach Pear almost the same as I have, and I am surprised to find it belie its general character in Middlesex. Poiteau has no resemblance whatever, except in name, to Noveau Poiteau. The first is a nice, high-flavoured fruit, of a Bergamot shape ; whilst the second is a very large pyriform fruit, ripening here from November to January. My note says: "Ripe October 30; flesh excessively fine, rich, juicy, and deli every way- like verbatim — as they were taken in my fruit-room. Both Thompson and Hogg give this a high character. As above, I have faithfully given the qualities of all the Pears objected to by your correspondent, whose re- marks I could not well pass over, especially as I thought them incorrect. It was evident, on penising his article, that he did not well know all the Pears of which he has taken notice, and, therefore, I wish to put him right in a friendly manner. I decry persona- lities as much as he does. I do not think that I imported any personality into my article, pp. 903-4, but :nerely tried to place facts before your readers. That all the Pears I have enumerated are good, in all places or in all seasons, I never for a moment supposed to be the case. No one knows better than I do the extreme variability of the Pear, whether we take its size, form, colour, taste, season, time, or place into account. No other fruit presents so much variation as it does, and "Pari Passu "may be right with regard to the sorts he has mentioned, as regards his locality, but he will allow me to doubt whether he has got some of them true to name. He makes use of the remark that I may have a soil and climate of extreme optimis- ing power as regards foreign fruit, &c. I do not quite understand his meaning, but may say that our soil is one admirably adapted to the healthy development of fruit trees. He says that I seem to pay small heed to the effect of season. I do not know that 1 have ever given cause for such a supposition. He is right about Doyenn^ du Comice. I hope he has it upon the Quince, if not, let me advise him to get it on that stock. I think, then, he will nearly always have it first-rate. 1 have grown it as Beurre Robert for some years, and always found it up to the mark. Your correspondent says Knight's Monarch has been "twice A l" (in how many years?). I have never known it to be otherwise than A I. I suppose that all good pomologists know, or should know, that when Knight's Monarch was first intended to be sent out a great mistake was committed, and Althorpe Crassane was sent out instead of the true sort. I believe M: Knight would have rather given any reasonable amount of money than that the mistake should have occurred. "Pari Passu" may not have Knigh Monarch true. It is indeed a fruit of which England may be proud. I do not wish to draw a precise line, nor could I if I wished ; the variability of the Pear, clime, soil, and situation, all forbid it. Will "Pari Passu" say what a "normal "climate is? I have during my life been in a great many climates, several of them in the same locality, in the same day, but which of them was the normal state I am not philosopher enough to tell. I have been drenched to the skin and have had my clothes almost frozen to the said skin, in one locality, in little less than one short hour ; but I suppose " Pari Passu" has never lived in the moun- tains. Another of his ambiguous phrases is about a Pear accepting "the Chiltern Hundreds." I cannot see any point to it ; I think some of our law-makers might do so with advantage to themselves and the country, but how a Pear is to do so is a little trof for me. He says he has cultivated 400 sorts of Pears, and I take some credit to myself for having produced : list of 120 sorts, out of which a man, with such at extensive acquaintance with sorts, could only pick oui so few faulty ones from the list. As to 25 sorts being enough for any "nurseryman who wishes to please his customers," I need only say that I think your corre spondent has never been a nurseryman. Again, I an at a loss about "the tale that is all sound and fury.' What does it mean ? Nor do I exactly know what is meant by my being incorrect in my "ethnology" be happy I Beurre d'Aremberg, Uvedale's St. Germain, and Gansel's Bergamotte." " Pari Passu " must mean Early Beurr^ d'Aremberg. Mr. Rivers, I believe, and although we find it in the South to be rather austere, it belongs to the Estranguil- believe in the North it is considered nearly first-class ; it is at least a great bearer. Uve- dale's St. Germain is of English origin ; see Lindley's Guide to the Orchard," p. 414. It has for many years been extensively cultivated in France, and espe- "ally in the Channel Islands, under the name of Ton- eau, and I have bought it several times in the Wey- louth market, under the name Belle de Jersey. Your Drrespondent, I think, alludes to Belle Angevhie, and ipposes that it is the Uvedale's St. Germain. The uits are somewhat alike, but the Tonneau never gets ) so high and brilliant a colour as does the B. Angu- ine. As to Gansel's Bergamot, I refer your corre- spondent to p. 358 of Lindley's Guide. I never heard that it was ever claimed by the French, although they have it under the name of Bonne Rouge, and consider it of hardly second quality, being too astringent. As to Huyshe's Bergamot, 1 refer your correspondent to Prince of Wales. As the Editor remarks, Thompson's is not an English fruit, and I refer "Pari Passu" to M. Decaisne's "Jardin Fruitier," 1863 — 4, for its history. I may say that I do not know a more delicious sort, it is a pity it bears so badly upon a Pear stock. It, however, does pretty well upon a Quince or double grafted ; it is an excellent bearer, and far surpasses Doyennd du Comice in rich- ness. Your correspondent is so palpably at sea about Marie Louise, that in this instance he requires no correction ; Broom Park and Dunmore may be, as " Pari Passu" says, never good with him: the first with me is always good, and the second often so. Your corre- pondent is lucky with Gansel's Late Bergamot ; of all hiess Pears I think it the most worthless. I will send " Pari Passu "all the trees I have got n's Incomparable is so well known through- out the country to be good that I need not debate the question. I now come to the most sweeping clause of "Pari Passu's" criticism, where he says, "No amateur should place any faith in foreign catalogues, nor even in an English one, unless it be that of Mr. Rivers, neariy" (will " Pari Passu" point out the errors?) "all of which is true." Mr. Rivers should be highly obliged to " Pari Passu" for his great and distin- guishing recognition ; I could myself drive a waggon and six horses through any fruit catalogue printed in this country — my own amongst the rest. I would like to know your correspondent by name — I do not like fighting a myth, yet I have faithfully tried to correct him, although he has been unable to convince me that he is au. fait at " Pear" ethnology, &c. y. Scott, Merriotl. It is no doubt very hard to decide as to the native places of fruit, and even the great Van Mons has been charged with sending out, as of his own rais- ing. Pears which he received from other people and from other countries. Therefore I speak with great diffidence when I venture to differ with Mr. Scott, who has evidently paid no little attention to the subject. The other day I wrote in haste, and had no time to search the authorities, but if one impression of mine was wrong, viz., that "Thompson's" is an English Pear, another seems to be right enough, viz., that Beurr6 d'Aremberg is of foreign origin. In that beautiful work, "Pomologia Britannica," fol. 83, Dr. Lindley says: — "This Pear is truly characterised in the Horticultural Transactions as deserving to be placed at the head of all the Pears in cultivation. We certainly do not know any variety which can, upon the whole, be said to equal it, &c." "It was introduced from Flanders about eight or nine years ago, along with a variety called the Glou Morceau." I cite this because I raised the question, not in contradiction to Mr. Scott, for upon looking at his list again I find that I may have mistaken his meaning, and that he does not quote the old B. d'Aremberg as of Engbsh race, but some Pear raised in England, and named "Early B. d'Aremberg." The distinctive adjective should have been written with a capital letter, if this last supposition of mine is correct. As to the origin of Thompson's Pear, I find nothing in any of my books, but have heard that it was raised in England, and named after Dr. Lindley's well known coadjutor ; finding also no French or German synonym, I believed it to be of English birth. Uvedale's St. Germain (which some would identify with our old Warden Pear, although it is but a stewer), and which appears so regularly in Covent Garden, to the astonishment of the natives, under the name of Belle Angevine, seems, on the whole, a foreigner. I owe Mr. Scott an apology for suggesting that he omits from the English list Huyshe's Bergamot ; he has it under its alias. Prince of Wales, but without the name of the raiser. There is already so much confusion in the nomenclature of fruit, that it is most desirable that all pomologists should comply with a suggestion long since made in your columns, and always quote in their cata- logues (when known) the name of the originatoi of any variety worth a name [as Mr, Scott has already done in a supplement to "The Orchardist"]. This would save a great deal of vagueness and uncertainty, and is no more than a patient and skilful originator may fairly claim. As to the orthography of the word " Bergamot," there is a great deal to be said, with July 29, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag-ricultural Gazette. 975 vhich I will not trouble you ; but as it can scarcely be iiaintained that the word is of French extraction (but :ilher Italian or Turkish), it seems a needless relapse nber i ■ith a French tion. In fine, my object in entering into this di •was, not to assert the excellence of any English varieties, or to depreciate those of France and Belgium, or any other country, but simply to raise the question, whether we should admit, without thorough test both of excel- lence and of distinctness, a vast number of new names into a list which seems already too long by a thousand per cent. It has been proved by cultivators that many a newly imported fruit is of high quality for a year or Hvo, and then falls off in our English climate. " Pomaque degenerant, succos obhta priores." This happened to me with Prince Albert, Fortunee, and Fondante dTngendiiel, and several others. Virgil, Pliny, and Columella all complain of the perplexing fingers' ends). Pear catalogues now are just as bad, therefore I beg all your readers to make much allow- ance for Pari Passu. P.S. Mr. Scott omits from English Pears the well-known Autumn, York, or English Bergamot ; and from the Continental list B. Hardy, a grand gain. I have been amused, on looking over the list of 120 sorts given by Mr. Scott, who says he has "proved their claim to the first rank," and so it seems has M. Andrd Leroy in his "Dictionary," for he describes the greater portion of them as first-rate at Angers, which, I have no doubt, is quite correct ; but as to their quality, when cultivated in England, I fear I must tell a different tale, for most of them have borne fruit in my garden. In my experience, Williams' d'Hiver, Eeurre Flon, Napoleon Savinieu, Henri Bivort, and some of the others, described in his list as having a claim to the first rank, are not worth such a position. From all that I have seen and tasted I should find some difficulty in selecting 20 from his list as worthy of cult: England. As to American Pears the 1 about them the better, for 2 or 3 per cent, will be a fair calculation of sorts worthy of culture here. The A meri- can bright climate brings out qualities which our cloudy atmosphere fails to do. As regards new Belgian and French Pears their name is legion, and if I pleased I could at once select from 1 50 to 200 varieties not as yet known in this country. Like new Roses, they amuse an amateur, and if he can fix on such an early Pear as Madame Trey ve or Beurre de I'Assumption out of 50 new Pears, he will be repaid for his trouble. Incorrectness of nomenclature in good English fruit nurseries is almost unknown. Mr. Scott may easily grapple with his imaginary "hydra." He has merely to exercise close observation and couple it with long experience, which, to look at his list, one fears he has not. Williams' Bon Chretien, when gathered in a seasonable time, is quite A i. King Edward is not an English Pear, neither is Uvedale's St. Germain, neither is Tillington nor Beurre d'Aremberg. Boii Chriden. Caterpillars v. Fruit. — For several years I could never get a single ripe GoosebeiTy, because green caterpillars ate every leaf on my bushes, and the fruit dropped off. I tried hot lime, hand picking, shaking the trees at night, and, in fact, every suggestion that ■was made, but all in vain, until a friend happened to mention "Hellebore Powder" as a certain cure. I tried it, and since then have never missed a crop. I use from 3 to 4 lb. weight of it eveiy year, and the moment my green friends make their appearance the trees are dosed with it, by simply throwing it upwards out of the hand. It is usually done in the morning or the evening, while the leaves are damp. The cater- pillars shrivel up, blacken, and drop off, and those which escape at first are poisoned by what adheres to the leaves on which they feed. I have now had six successive crops since I began using the Hellebore, and have never lost a single bush by caterpillars, although I have many hundreds of bushes — I believe, over a thousand. G. A. H. Laxton's Alpha Pea. — My note upon the merits of this new Pea seems to have elicited quite a chorus of dissentients to my expressions of opinion concerning it. I do not complain, as I asked for practical experience, and no doubt got it. I may, however, take exception to the "Broad Bean" comparison, put forward by Mr. Morgan, as being rather too stiff. Another coiTe- spondent says that I am "in error" when I state that Alpha produces but one pod to a stem. As I distinctly stated that I wrote only of my own growth, I trust I may be permitted to give expression to the results of my own growth of Alpha without being esteemed mendacious, and I distinctly state again that with the whole of the produce of the quart of it that I grew, not a single case of double blossom could I detect. If his sample produced twin pods, as he states, I trust I know good manners too well to cast a doubt upon his asser- tion. As evidence, however, that "all is not gold that glitters," I can quote the evidence of a well-known Irish gardener, published recently in the "Gardeners' Record," who states that he was greatly disappointed with Alpha, and that it fell a long way short of the character he received with it. A well-known gardener in Hants also writes privately his opinion that " Alpha IS no good," so it will be seen that I am not alone in my ideas of its merits. I trust that the expressed intention of the Fruit Committee not to grant any more certificates to new Peas until they have been grown for trial at Chiswick will be fully adhered to. A fair, pubUc, and impartial trial of their merits before being sent out may in the future save much disappointment and such discussions as this. It is a step in the right direction, and I should imagine that with the large promise of new Peas that is before us, there will be no lack of sorts for trial. A. D. Bickley's. Mode of Glazing.— I cannot under- stand how the glass is kept tight between the sides of the panes. They seem simply to butt against each other right and left ; but glass is not always cut parallel or truly square ; if so, how is this joint kept light ? Glass, too, is often not flat ; one piece may be slightly bent upwards, the next piece may be flat and straight, and another piece bent downwards. How are all these to fit together, side by side, so as to keep out wet ? In the old plan of glazing with putty, the two sides of the glass are bedded in putty, and these in- equalities do not signify, as they rest in a bed of putty on the up and down bars on each side ; but in fig. 203, p. 943, there are no up and down bars. G. A. H. The Weather at Aberdeen.— A glance at the Table appended will give a general idea of the character of the weather during the first six months of the present year in the Aberdeen district. But two circumstances that tended to intensify the mjurious effects of the month of June do not appear from the Table. The mean maximum (day) temperature was 5° under the average day temperature of June during the last 15 years ; and on the mornings of the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th, a (verified) thermometer on the grass, in a somewhat too sheltered position, registered 28°.6, 27°.4, 28°. 5, and 2S°.6. During these nights much injury was done in low-lying and exposed places ; Potatos were quite blackened, young vegetables were nipped, many bedding-out plants were killed outright, and many more were seriously injured. Mean Temper ATUKE. Rainfall. Mean Differ- Total. Mean Differ- 1871. IS years. ence, .871. .5 years. ence, Deg. Deg. Deg. Inches. Inches, Inches, Januaor February %l 1-533 -1-363 -I-3-I April .. Ji:? May .. 48.9 0.786 -0,985 June .. 5=1 SS.o — »-9 1.907 A. B., ibcrdca The Potato Disease. — We are once more face to face with this calamitous visitation. Its ravages are not confined to Mr. Farley's neighbourhood, and that gentleman will be as sorry to hear as I am to tell that in West Middlesex it is appearing in all directions. As far as I can gather, no serious results have yet acciued to the tubers ; the most visible appearance of it in the haulm here took place last week, since when we have, until now (the 24th inst. ), been free from rain ; still it is spreading rapidly in the haulm. Plots of Potatos that look one day the picture of health are on the next day found to be largely marked with the plague spot, and from thence the entire destruction of the haulm, either rotting from moisture or charring up in the heat, is only a question of time. The weather now is very cold, and a large rainfall looks imminent ; should it be so, then woe betide our darling Potatos. One scarcely knows what to do for the best, especially where a winter's supply has to be maintained. Market gardeners are pushing their crops upon the market with all possible speed, but at a great sacrifice ; they wish to be rid of them as early as possible. Other gardeners are not so situate, and having the knowledge that all the late or keeping kinds are not more than half matured, naturally hesitate before lifting them, even with the disease staring them in the face. That early kinds are best got up as speedily as possible there can be no doubt ; the sacrifice with them will not be great, but if erring at all it will be on the safe side. I wish to warn everyone not to expose their intended seed stock to the influence of the external atmosphere a moment longer than needful this ungenial season. Store them in a dry place as soon as possible — that is the most efficient safeguard that can be adopted. It would be well if this renewed attack of the disease could be the means of once more inducing our scientific men to turn their attention to the operating causes of this visitation, and endeavour to discover wherein lies the fountain-head of the offence. We seem still to be ignorant of its mode of operation in the vegetable growth, whether it originates in the old tuber or original set, or whether it is conveyed from the soil into the sap by means of the rootlets, or whether it comes first into the foliage by atmospheric means, and is thence conveyed through the physical system of the plant. We want to know really what the disease is, and how it operates, and this needlul information cannot be got for us by means of off-hand discussions, or by the publication of mere assertions. We want the power of enlightened science brought to bear upon the question for its elucidation. This is no Fungophobia sentiment, neither is it one to be settled by the enunciation of a few theological platitudes. It relates to the important subject of the food of the people, and is a question of paramount interest. A week of wet weather may destroy 50,000 tons of Potatos throughout the three kingdoms. Should such a sad calamity ensue, the effects that it will exert upon the labouring classes of the community will be most disastrous ; but it may not come to that, let us hope not. Still it would not be too much to ask the natural science teachers and students of the Royal Horticul- tural and Agricultural Societies, and the British Association, to direct just now, whilst the evidences of the disease are abundant, their energies and expe- rience to the study of the disease and all its con- comitants. A hundred recipes for its cure or allevia- tion have been told to us long since, and they will be again, but they all too much resemble a quack's medicine ; for whether applied or whether left alone, the result is much the same. When we fully compre- hend the nature of the disease, we may then be better able to apply a remedy. A. D. Bedding Plant Trials at Chiswick.— I notice that several First-class Certificates have this season been awarded to dwarf bedding Lobelias, amongst which are some white ones. Now, white Lobelias, as bedders, have not hitherto been altogether satisfactory, some of them lacking good habit, others constancy of colour — defects not noticeable in plants got up ex- pressly for the Floral Committee, but which are too often revealed when submitted to the ordeal of a summer's bedding-out. Would it not be a matter of general interest to gardeners if a good trial for one season of all good bedding Lobelias, of whatever colour, and whether new or old, could be afforded at Chiswick? And if the granting of certificates to such plants in future were to be consequent upon a successful passing of that ordeal, would not purchasers of these novelties be the gainers? There is another class of plants to which con- siderable attention has of late been called, a trial of which at Chiswick would certainly be a matter of great interest also. I allude to bedding Tansies, including Violas. Some of these are better adapted for spring work than for summer bedding ; some for summer only, and others will flower all through the season. To hundreds of horticulturists a trial on a large scale of these interesting plants would be produc- tive of much more pleasure than a survey of the eternal scarlets and pinks of the bedding Pelargonium. Possibly in the future it may be arranged, both with regard to bedding plants and to vegetables, that sections of each may get a public trial at Chiswick in each succeeding year. Mr. Barron might thus be able to do as good service to gardeners, by telling us what to grow and what to avoid, as does Professor Voelcker to the farmers in relation to manures, and assist, not a little, too, in adding some much needed popularity to the doings of the Royal Horticultural Society. A. D. 1 The Giant Puff-ball.— The Fuzz or Puff-ball sent herewith was gathered from the foot of a large Oak in one of the coverts here by the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, and fonvarded by his lordship's request. These, as well as Mushrooms, seem to attain an immense size this season ; some of the latter have been gathered much larger than usual. Edwd. Bennett, The Gardens, Enville. [The specimen, which was very fresh, measured 12 inches in diameter. Eds,] State of Peach and Nectarine Trees.— I believe in many cases the failure of these fruit-trees may safely be attributed to the exhaustion of the soil. Perhaps Mr. Radclyffe's trees have not been planted many years, and also that they were planted in good soil and well drained. I am almost certain the last condition is correct, and which has more to do with the health of his trees than all his attention all the year round at the top. I have had to do with Peach and Nectarine trees in different localities, and imder different circumstances over 20 years. I have seen fine trees covering spaces, individually, something like 30 to 40 feet by 14 to 16, carrying yearly immense crops, and continued in perfect health for years, yet under precisely the same treatment as regards the top I have seen them fail and yearly sicken, not from "gross ignorance," but for want of means to supply fresh nutritive soil. Other trees which I have had the care of, when first taken in hand, made scarcely any wood ; their leaves fell in August, and they produced no fruit. These trees, however, have since for many years never missed in producing a fine crop of fruit, tens of thousands (as has been the case this year) being picked oflf. The leaves have also been healthy, and although I cannot copy your corre- spondent's description exactly, yet I am seldom troubled with any of the blights he enumeiates until late in the season, when a little spider will come, so that I very rarely have occasion to use the engine for that purpose. This change was brought about, not by long or short pruning (for I had nothing to prune), but by taking away the soil which had become exhausted, and replacing it with fresh, securing good drainage, which is the best antidote for blighted trees. If the trees are saturated with cold water all through the winter and spring, when the blossom and leaves are unfolding, it is impossible that they can make growth or keep up supplies and nourish the blossom or the young fruit. The system of the whole tree is checked in such a situation, warm days the top to the utmost of its power, whi 976 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 29, 1871. roots are cold, wet, and sour. In such a state the sap comes to a standstill. In seasons like the present is, and has been, when checks are also constantly repeated on the top of the trees as well as at the bottom or roots, the effects of bail root-action are more clearly seen. The exciting influence of a warm day is more than counterbalanced by cold nights ; cold wind neutralises all eflbrts of the top. If the roots were in a comfortable healthy condition, they woidd push on the top against these odds ; instead of that, the whole tree is waiting, as it were, in this enfeebled state for the increase of its adversaries. Blister comes on, the Jeaves curl, the few winged aphides which the warm sun has brouglit forth get into those uneven blistered leaves for shelter, and they soon multiply by the thousand, and before the tree has sufficient energy to grow out of reach it is assailed at eveiy shoot by swarms of these pests. The fruit will set, but get little supply of sap, and many will fall to the ground. Now, under good drainage such a state of things is never seen ; the roots would be ready to supply the top, and the tree would have made shoots and hardy shining leaves before the insect pest could be ready to pounce upon them ; and if not, they would find no hiding- place among the leaves, as in the case of blister. I believe if those two matters were more attended to there would ho less complaints of the Peach and Nec- tarine trees lieing so blighted. In many gardens the Peach border is cropped more than any other spot in the garden. This is, to my mind, a great mistake. Where this is done, it certainly takes two or more years out of the tree instead of one, but I know in some cases this practice is almost unavoidable ; and if your correspondent had to please French cooks, and supply all their needs, he would have less time for his Peach trees, if they did not suffer in other ways as well. I believe Mr. Radclyffe is right in not allowing more wood in his trees than is wanted for the coming year. The more exposure the leaves and frait have all over the trees the better for both. Insects dislike nothing so much as exposure ; I therefore practise and advise early disbudding. This destroys in a great mea- sure the means used, especially by the aphis, spider, &c., in affording shelter for propagation. As some thousands of those whom Mr. RadclylTe has accused will not (like myself) be able to go to see his trees, we can only hope he will give us a clue through your columns to the means he uses to prevent his trees — or, to use his own words — "not suffering them" to become afHicled by winter or spring, or aphis or spider. I think we have a right to say to him, after what he has said to us — Scire facias. Henry Mills, July 7. The Artisans' Gardens around Nottingham.— Your admirable description of these gardens made me anxious to visit them. Consequently I was up with the lark on the last morning of the show (Saturday, July I), and on the road to the Hunger Hills, the head-quarters of the St. Ann's Horticultural Society. Towards 6 o'clock I found several of the gardeners at ■work, and from one and all of them received a hearty welcome. Although it was the morning of their great show in connection with the Royal Horticultural Society, and all of them were engaged in cutting and arranging their show Roses, they were most kind and courteous, showing me the flowers they intended to take to the show with the utmost openness and frank- ness. I can safely say that I never saw such Roses before. Nearly the whole of the plants were dwarfs. To my inquiry, "On their own roots?" "Yes, Jinu," was the answer. I found the practice was to graft or bud very low on the Manetti, bury the point of union an inch or two deep, and thus induce the scion to root on its own account. The Manetti was looked upon as a sort of short cut to the rapid increase of choice varieties ; but the best blooms were almost invariably cut from plants on their own roots. The foliage was even more extraordinary than the flowers, so large, green, and glossy, without spot. Doubtless, a powerful aid to this perfection of leaf and flower is given by the multiplicity of hedges that surround and subdivide these gardens in all direc- tions ; these average from 6 to 7 feet in height, and tower far above the dwarf, or, indeed, any standard Roses seen here ; hence the stiff breezes that play around the outskirts are fined down into zephyr-like gentleness before they reach the Roses. Almost each favourite flower again has its little roof of sloping pasteboard to cover its beauty from the mid-day sun's broad glare, and to pitch all heavy rains clean over it, so that the Roses are neither tarnished by friction, their beauty burnt out by the fierce sun, nor their purity spotted with big drops of rain pattering heavily upon their delicate petals. These growers take marvellous care of their favourites, they have a keen eye for insects, and are adepts in the use of shelter ; their skill is likewise very special and particular, they know the peculiarity of each Rose, and can time its swelling or opening buds to a day or hour almost. Their affection for their flowers is unbounded, and the Roses seem to respond to their gentle and loving touch. Is the weather dry? — they water or dew their Ross, the litter by a peculiar process, new to me, which it would hardly be safe to indulge in unless for show Roses. Clean water is taken into the mouth and blown out upon the Roses in an invisible stream of t le finest dew, so like Nature's own, that it would take an expert in such matters to tell the difference. It is quite thrilling to see how gently and lovingly hard- handed mechanics handle their Roses. They cut them aflectionately, set them up tenderly, and the Roses respond by displaying their full beauty. It is impossible to estimate the effects of this passionate attachment to Roses and other flowers upon character. It softens, refines, elevates, gladdens. On the early morning of Saturday I met a veritable-looking Nottingham "lamb" — the only one I saw. He was a powerful, ill-favoured-looking man ; but I noticed he carried a handful of Roses. When we met I congratulated him on their sweetness and their beauty. His whole face lighted up instantly ; in fact it was transformed as I smelt his Roses, and he told me where much better were to be seen, grown by others. These were only to take home, not for the show. Surely these Roses, dripping with dew and bathed in sweetness, were veritable messengers of light, laden with blessings to that poor (and he looked very poor) man's home. But these town gardeners put more into their gardens than lo\e and skill. They have boundless faith in manure. The gardens average 400 square yards, and one of these gardeners told me that he generally bought from 4 to 5 tons of manure every year ! Four or five tons of manure on 400 yards, that would satisfy Mr. Mechi ! All the crops grow, as it were, in dung ; the roots find dung above, dung below, dung on each side, dung wherever they go. The consequence is that everything, whether it be Pears, Potatos, leaves, flowers or fruits, are as near perfect as may be. In some of the gardens the Gooseberries seemed to be as great a favourite as the Rose. The largest Lancashire sorts are grown as cordons within 4 and 6 inches of the ground, A few tall Peas or other vegetables are allowed to gi'ow over them, for a partial shade. The surface is mulched with strong muck, the fruit thinned, and where two very large ones grow close together, they are tied apart by threads attached to their corolla, or nose, as they call it. It is thus that the prize Gooseberries are developed into such monstrous prodigies of juicy sweetness. Now all this perfection of culture is reached on the Hunger Hills — a piece of poor, comparatively worthless, sandy soil, that a few years ago would not have paid for labour and seed. It would do the farmers as well as the gardeners of Britain good to spend a day amid these gardens. If any one wants to know what the earth will bring forth when man feeds it well, attends it lovingly and skil- fully, let him go to the Hunger Hills around Notting- ham— mark, learn, and inwardly digest the full pur- port of all he sees and hears there. He will be sure of a hearty welcome from the enthusiastic horticul- turists that he will find there swarming like bees. However wise and clever he may have been before, he will return a wiser, and, if he reads his lesson aright, a happier, ay, and a better man. This passion, and it is nothing less, of the artizan for gardening is one of the most hopeful signs of the times, and deserves the earnest attention of social reformers and statesmen, and, indeed, of all who care to see the world grow wiser, happier, better. Men absorbed in such pleasing and engrossing pursuits are like seats ticketed with the \vord " engaged." They have no room and less time for vice, and it turns aside to find other victims. Were all equally well employed, it would find it difficult to entrap any. Eveiy one ought to be able to find a fragment of Eden in his home and his garden, and then fewer would roam after forbidden pleasures. Gardens for the million really mean, in the end, virtue, yes, and I will add, godliness for the million. D. T. Fish. The Produce of a Peach Tree. — Having read in the Gardeners' Chronicle o{ May 19, 1S66, a record of the value of forced Peaches, the produce of one tree from 1S62 to 1S66, both years included, at Roehampton Park, Surrey, I paid a visit to the place on June 25 last, to see how the tree has fared since then, and to my gi-atification I found it looking exceedingly well. Mr. Davis, the gardener, told me that on an average the tree bore since then as well as before, and gave me the following record of the quantity of forced fruit which it produced, and the sums reahsed by the sale of the fruit for the last five years : — Date, Fruit Ripe. Frodu I Realised. a week during the growth. In the same house, which is 38 feet by 16 feet, Mr. Davis planted a young tree of the same variety (Grosse Mignonne) three years ago, and this year it produced 33 dozen of fruit equal to those from the old tree. M. CD. Large Carpet Beds. — A bed, such as that of Mr. Cannell at Woolwich, 34 feet long by 1 1 feet wide, only gives an area of 414 square yards, which is small compared with many beds of a like kind, for within some 3 or 4 miles of this place, I could point to half a- dozen or more very much larger. At East Sutton Place and Newton Court are circular beds of 45 and 48 feet diameter respectively, giving an area of 176 and 200 square yards, or four and five times the size of Mr. Cannell's ; while our largest bed here is an oval of 90 feet by 674, from which, however, a grass margin of 3 feet wide has to be deducted : still, it leaves an area of 450 square yards, or nearly II times the size of the one you mention, and this bed has been planted carpet (or, as we often call it, embroidered) fashion every season for the last 14 years, as well as two curved beds or borders that adjoin it, each upwards of 80 feet long by 1 8 wide. Large beds at country places are not un- common, and I should think the London parks exhibit larger beds than you have described. If my memory serves me right, there is one or more in Victoria Park of more than 42 square yards, and a very neatly planted bed or border in front of an Ivy-clad cottage or building in Kensington Gardens that I remember see- ing last year, seemed also as large as the Woolwich one. Of the number of plants in Mr. Cannell's bed I have no doubt, as it would give something like eight to the square foot, which is not too many for Alter- nanthera, Sempervivum, Golden Feather, and such- like, y. Rohsott, Linton. Foreign Correspondence. Allahah..\d : May \. — The new Phalccnopsis, from Darjeeling, is showing a flower-spike with me ; when it opens I will send it to you. The species I have are P. grandiflora aurea, amabilis, Parishii, now in bloom ; Cornu-Cervi, rosea, Schilleriana, and the new one. What a magnificent sight that plant of Lady Ash- burton's must have been. I think myself fortunate if I can produce 10 or 12 flowers. In 1S69 there were 24 flowers on my large plant of P. Schilleriana. Last year nearly all my Phalasnopsis flowered twice, in April and May, and again in October. I gave a very beautiful spray to Lady Napier a few weeks ago. I only use the Pau Garden plan for bulbs and seedlings, it is not sufficient protection for Orchids in the North-west Presidency ; the hot winds are very penetrating and certain death to Orchids. I have a masonry greenhouse, thatched and tiled, in two places, ;. e., two-fifths of the whole roof is removed, and replaced by frames of white cloth (do-sootlie), all the sides and entrances are closed in with the same, except the west end, where there are kuskus tatties. The cloth is wetted two or three times a-day, and there is a large open tank inside the house. You would be surprised at the state of the thermometer in this house on the hottest day in May ; it seldom rises above 90°, and immediately after watering it falls to At the present moment I have the following in bloom : — Phalaenopsis grandiflora, aurea, amabilis and Parishii ; Aerides Fieldingii, with three fine sprays ; Saccolabium Blumei miniatum ; Dendrobium macro- phyllum secundum, and a pretty canary-coloured one I do not know ; Oncidium ampliatum majus, and another ; and a number of the Wreath Orchids and Phatenopsis are coming on well. I do not know much about the American Orchids. Many of the Cattleyas I have are looking well, but never show a flower. I fancy their beauty lies more in the excellence of their single flowers, whilst the beauty of our East Indian varieties is their splendid masses of bloom. I am surprised to hear that the Renanthera is so seldom seen at home. Have you got that beautiful pendent Renanthera, arachnites, in any of the English gardens ? I would gladly send home any of my plants which would be rarities in England. You will have heard that Dr. King has got the appointment vacant by the death of poor Anderson. He is a young man, and a very clever botanist. I visited him when he was in charge of the Saharumpore Gardens. Samuel yennings. The total for the past 10 years amounts to 4544 dozen of fruit, which realised the sum of ^^530, or ;£'53 per annum. In 1870 the tree produced only 5 dozen of fruit, the failure being ascribed to no other cause than over-forcing in previous years. Many gardeners who saw the tree last year advised Mr. Davis to take it up, as in their opinion its constitution was too far exhausted to do any more good, but he determined to give it another chance, and allowed it a longer period of rest. Mr. Davis says, "I commenced forcing it on the 1st of February of this year, and have given it no more fire-heat since than was necessary for the health of the tree and the security of the crop." The well-doing of the tree this year he entirely attributes to sewage water from the house, with which he watered the border once Societies. Royal Caledonian Horticultural : July 13.— Upon the whole, this was the smallest show we have ever seen under the auspices of the Royal Caledonian in the Music Hall. Pot plants, that contribute so much of the furnishing in all shows, were deficient, and what there was of them were by no means conspicuous. The various nurserymen in and around the city do their share,^ indeed, but for their united contributions it would have merely been a show of Roses and of fruit. Peter Lawson & Son took ist prize for a miscellaneous table, and Thos. Methven & Sons 2d prize with plants of a mixed foliage and flowering character. The former firm had a very well-grown lot of variegated Pelargonium seedlings, not of that huge character we sometimes see, but neat, and distinct and uniform. P. N. Eraser, Esq., Canon- mills, had a collection of upwards of 80 varieties of the July 29, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette 977- sporting Harts's-tongue Fern (Scolopendrium vulgare), some of them \-ery beautiful, and all fresh and healthy and captivating. Mr. John Paterson, gr., Millbank, had the best plants in the ordinary competition classes, taking several prizes. One of the most distinct and note- worthy objects in the show was a set of three Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums, grafted on the top of stems of some of the old scarlets. The stem would be about the size and length of a walking-stick, very like indeed in general appearance to an Ash sapling. The grafts had taken well, and the growths were depending in their irregular gracefulness to great advantage. The Silver Gem, or some variety very much like the one named, was a great beauty, and the set indeed elicited much admiration. They well deserved the special prize voted to them ; the grower was Mr. McMillan. Broad Meadows. Cut flowers of Roses were numerous, by far the best coming from Mr. Hugh Dickson, Belmont, Newtonards. These Irish Roses were in splendid style.— quite as good as is to be seen at metropolitan exhibitions, and showed, from the great disparity of size and condition of bloom, that Modern Athens is either not the climate for perfect- bloom shown in the tent glad that the Rose 1 Aberdeen shows, and v There are many admirers of the : blooms of first excellence, nd around its neighbourhood h efore they can take rank with he sorts were very much the ; r that the omething nplished grow lean the only special one that we would note as grand in every respect was Pauls Duke of Edm- burgh. Mr. Henderson, gr. to John Christie, Esq., Cowden Castle, had a very good lot ; and Mr. Marshall's name might also be mentioned as showing well for Miss Hay, of Kingston Grange. All the nurserymen's ist prizes in all the classes went to Ireland, and the 2d and 3d prize lots were so inferior that it almost seemed inju- dicious to place them at all. Messrs. Dickson & Co. had a First-class Certificate for a very dense habited bedding Pansy, — a really good thing, named Regina. Fruit is always fairly shown in Edinburgh, and there was no exception in this instance. Mr. Temple, Bal- birnie, took the principal prizes with a collection of Black Hamburgh and with Duchess of Buccleuch, in a small state, for the best flavoured White Grape, as well as 1st for best flavoured Black \vith Muscat Hamburgh. His Hamburghs were quite ripe, the bloom and finish very good ; indeed, although the bunches looked a little dampy, their colour and general styled carried them suc- cessfully past II other dishes, some of them thrice the weight, but red instead of black. Mr. John Laing, Pit- cairlie, took 2d place for Hamburghs, and for flavour in the Black class. White Grapes were not ripe, but looked magnificent in form and in size. The two ist prize lets, gained respectively by Mr. John Laing and by Mr. George Greig, were Golden Champion, in quite as good stylr -- we ever saw it at Dalkeith ; so that, in justice to the ra and to the vendors, it must be said that possibly opini were too hastily expressed against its qualities. Certainly it looked well on the exhibition table, and would have done much better shown a fortnight hence. Peaches were in very fine condition from Mr. Mackay, Dunse Castle, and from Mr. Kirkpatrick, gr. to Lord Abercromby ; while Nectarines, of the Elruge variety, from the same grower, and from Mr. \'air, were as fine as we ever saw staged. There were lots of Strawberries of all sorts, prominenl among them being Moffat's Duke of Edinburgh, shown by Mr. Anderson, Oxenford Castle, some of them large enough to fill the famous Scotch gill-stoup ; it looked capital market garden fruit, lightly coloured. Vegetable as usual, were good, Mr. Robert Robertson and M James Turner showing excellent Cucumbers. The d: was fine, the attendance not at all what it might ha been, looking to the numbers interested in horticulture the district. Royal Horticultural of Aberdeen: July 2.0.— The summer show of this Society was held on Links of Aberdeen, in connection with the show of the Royal Northern Agricultural Society. The number of plants, &c., shown was perhaps a fourth or fifth than on former occasions, but the specimens were in quality fully equal to those sent in to previous exhibitions. The falling off in number is to be accounted for in part by the comparative deficiency on this occasion ot large plants, but chiefly, we believe, by the character of the season. In fact, tlie show, though held at the usual time, according to the almanac, was at least a fortnight loo early from a meteorological point of view. But, withstanding this, the exhibition as a whole was a successful one. Generally speaking, the pot plants admirable, especially the Heaths, Ferns. Tricolor Zonal Pelargoniums. The Fuchsias and Caladiums ' also a good show, though scarcely equal to those < bited on previous occasions. Many of the so-cr "new and rare" plants were very interesting and b tiful specimens, especially the variegated ones. Thr< one collection were deservably much adnnred— Yucca quadricolor. Y. filamentosa variegata, and Begonia Pearcei. Among other plants deserving attention, though neither very new nor rare, were a large, well- grown, and richly-flowered Polygala Dalmaisiana, some magnificent specimens of Ferns, in particular Gleichenia dicarpa. Lygodium scandens, and several fine plants of Thamnopteris Nidus. One Fern, named Platycerium superbum (a name, by-the-by. we cannot find in Hooker & Baker's Synopsis, or in John Smith's Ferns) in- terested us very much, and it is certainly different from any Platycerium we have ever seen. There were also some excellent and well-grown varieties of our native Ferns. The pot plants shown by the amateurs were fully equal in quality, and perhaps superior in arrangement to those shown by the professionals. The specimens of Lilium auratum shown on the table were fine, handsome plants, and most of the Ferns were remarkably good. Among the cut flowers, the Roses were the most remarkable feature — indeed, they formed the great attrac- tion of the show. We believe we are not overstepping the mark when we say, that so varied and superb a show of Roses was never before seen in Aberdeen ; and this arose, not from some exhibitors sending in good stands, but from the fact that, almost without exception, ever> ; in excellent condition. at last come to the frc hope it wilt long con ■ -Qu 1 of Flow the district, but somehow or other the Rose has rarely been a prominent feature in the shows. A firm that has sent in for exhibition year after year Roses of a high character, on the present occasion also exhibited three magnificent stands. The other cut flowers shown e remarkably good, considering the character of the ;on. The show and fancy Pansies were never, we eve, surpassed. The cut Pelargoniums also were lirable bldoms ; the Pinks and Verbenas were excel- . and some very fine Phloxes were exhibited. Tlie king classes made a highly creditable display. The Stocks and Antirrhinums they exhibited were very fine ; their Roses. Pinks, and Pansies were, in quality at least, in no respect inferior to those shown by the' pro- fessionals and amateurs. Some very pretty bouquets for the table, the hand, and the button-hole were shown ; but on the whole we could not help thinking that the taste for making up and arranging bouquets deserves more cultivation than it receives in Aberdeen. From the backwardness off the season, it was antici- pated that the show of fruit would be somewhat deficient nsiderable extent it was a failure. The chief exception we must make is the fruit for which Aberdeen has long been famous— the Strawberry, and the display in this case was superb. The vegetables were remarkably good, in spite of the unfavourable season. The collections of vegetables were most excellent, and indicated great labotu- and care in the making up. We were agreeably surprised to see so large and beautiful Potatos after the damage done by the June frosts. The vegetables shown by the amateurs, though not so various, were in size and excellence quite equal to those shown by the professionals ; while those shown by ark— acircum- SnttttS 0f g00hs. Domestic Botany; an Exposition of the Structure and Classification of Plants, and of their Uses for Food, Clothing, Medicine, and Manufacturing Pi, poses. By John Smith, A.L.S., Ex-Curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. London : Lovell Reeve & Co. Pp. 547. The amount of ignorance on the subject of economic botany, or the nature and source of the commonest articles of daily use, which prevails, even amongst those who would be called educated people, is very great. We believe that not more than of every hundred of the middle-class population would be able to answer questions satisfactorily as plants yield — let us say tapioca or sago, and from what part of the plants, and how the substances in question obtained. Nevertheless, we believe that economic botany is becomhig more thought of. The muse at Kew, the food collection at South Kensing together with similar institutions, have done mucl show to the thinking portion of the community the importance of this branch of science ; and we are glad to find that the author of the work before us has in his preface pointed out the desirability of "a general and complete work on this subject." " Domestic Botany," as will be seen from full title, W'hich we have quoted above, is not confined entirely to economic botany, the first part being devoted to an "explanation of the parts, life, organism, and classification of plants," wherein the autlior goes over the same ground traversed by other teachers of botany. In part 2 we have "the families of plants .systema- tically arranged, with a description of their characters, properties, uses," ttc. , commencing with Cryptogams, and proceeding to the higher organisations. Each order is placed with its relative order, or orders, undei its own alliance, according to the system of Dr, Lindley, in the "Vegetable Kingdom." Then follow: a short description of the character of the plants com prising the order, the number of species, and their geo graphical distribution, concluding with an enumeration of those plants which are either useful or are known in gardens or hothouses. Mr. Smith tells us that " the purpose of this to endeavour to teach botany to those not conversant with Greek and Latin ;" and it is evident that another, and perhaps the chief purpose, is to impart a knowledge of and taste for applied botany. \Ve cannot help thinking that, bearing in mind the numerous introductions to botany that are in existence — Professor Oliver's cheap and excellent little book amongst the most recent — and also bearing in mind the absolute want of a good work on Economic Botany, it would have been far better if the whole volume had been devoted to that branch of the science ; and even if this had been done, the subject is so large that it would be far from having been exhausted. Mr. Smith's greatest difficulty must have been in deciding what to say and what to leave unsaid. It is much more trying to an author to have to siiueeze into a small space a large quantity of important matter, than it is to enlarge upon any given subject. The necessary consequence of this enibarras de richcssc, and the restriction of space to bring the book within its present bounds, is a much too short notice of many important plants. The author has, however, been careful in his selection to bring together a great many species, some of which must well point of space, give plai veil : groups ot plants of similar habit, as, for instance, that devoted to the pitchers of Nepenthes, Sarracenia, Cephalotus, and Darlipgtonia, which plate forms the frontispiece. Woodcuts are also inserted to exemplify the various botanical terms. Before concluding our notice, we must say a few words about the index. We think it is a mistake to have given references only to the natural orders and common names of the plants. Thus, we find Legu- nosa:, but we look in vain for the name of any genus in that large order, without the generic name happens to be the common name likewise : so we find Judas Tree, but not Cercis ; Crab's-eyes, but not Abrus ; Cow-itch, but not Mucuna, &c. It is htII, indeed necessary, to have vernacular names in an index to a book of this description, but the addition of the scientific names would make the book more useful for reference, and would accommodate all readers, scientific and unscientific alike. The addition to the index of every genus mentioned in the book would of course have somewhat increased the number of pages, but we think such increase would have been fully compensated, and we hope the addition will be made in a future edition. It is a pity that the work should not have been more carefully revised. The author's experience is so exten- sive, and his knowledge so great, that the reader will the more regret the infirmity which has prevented him from exercising that careful superintendence which he assuredly would have exercised under happier circum- stances. On the whole, we may state that the book contains a great deal of valuable matter, and much information that scarcely any one but Mr. Smith could give us. A thoroughly good manual of Economic Botany, however, remains a desideratum, and we know not where such a manual could be better drawn up than at Kew. From the annual report of the Poyal Society of Arts and Sciences of Mauritius we learn that a fine butterfly (Papilio Demoleus) has recently been seen iiv considerable numbers in Mauritius. This is of interest, as the insect is a native of Madagascar and Natal. Another Madagascar species, Junonia Rhadama, has also made its appearance in the island ; while several other butterflies, e. g., Vanessa Cardui, which were common 30 or 40 years since, are becoming scarcer and scarcer. The introduction of the above mentioned Lepidoptera is a fact worthy to be placed among those collected by M. Albert Miillcr, and alluded to at p. 901. We are also told that several plants introduced into the colony have increased with such rapidity and vigour that in certain parts of the island they have covered the soil and the borders of the forests to the prejudice of the indige- nous plants, which seem to be daily losing ground before them. One such introduction to St. Brandon, a neighbouring island, is the Entada Pursretha, the seeds of which are supposed to have been wafted by currents. The same report contains some information from Sir Henry Barkly, the lale Governor of Mauritius, and whose communication to the Linnean Society on the Flora and Fauna o( Round Island, last year, excited so much attention. From this communication it appears that the number of reptiles found in that island is much less in point of species than was at first supposed ; nevertheless the island has a genus of snake of which no other species is known, and whose nearest congener, according to Dr. Giinther, is only found in Loyalty Islands, in the South Seas, while the common lizard of the island is peculiar to its own shores and to distant Madagascar, and is not in existence either in Mauritius or Bourbon, close by. A third edition of the Rev. J. Fountaine's pamphlet on a Xcio Method of Grcr,uing Fruit (Swaff- ham, Farr) is before us. As will be remembered, the method is one advocating the combination, where cir- cumstances do not permit of their being kept distinct, of a vinery, orchard -house, and conservatory, and in hich Grapes, stone fruit, and flow- together in perfection in the sam. accomplished by growing the fruit trees, 6.;c., in pots, sunk in holes in the surface of a truck which runs on wheels over railway metals. In this manner the plants can be taken out for an airing, and returned when ne- cessary. In summer time the Peaches and Nectarines are forced under cover during the day, and run out in the evening, the radiation at night being thought to enhance the flavour of the fruit. How radiation does this it were difficult to say, but no doubt the rest, or rather the change of work in the plant, consequent on its exposure to the cool night air, is highly beneficial when judiciously managed. Even human beings would be better for having their bed-room windows open summer and winter under proper regulations. Dr. George Bennett has lately issued a paper on the Introduction, Cultivation, and Eco- nomic Uses of tlie Orange, and others of the CIron Tribe, in A'.'o South Urates. The author has^^got together a great deal of information plants ; and some relat '■fi^ ting to the disease of the Orange this country. We may take an 978 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 29, 1871. opportunity of alluding to this subject at greater length hereafter. Mr. G. W. Yapp, a gentleman well qualified for the task he has undertaken, has just published a Popular Guide to the London International Exhibition of 1871 (Johnson & Sons), which we recommend intending visitors to peruse before paying a visit to the Kensington labyrinth. Dr. Ferd. v. Mueller has recently published a very useful report on the principal Timber Trees readily eligible for industrial culture in the Colony of Victoria, with indications of their native countries, and some of their technologic uses. The list comprises nearly 160 coniferous trees, and an almost equal number of miscellaneous trees. Amongst New Publications we have re- ceived the following : — The Horticulturist, by J. C. Loudon, edited and revised by William Robinson (F. Warne & Co.).— luWs Post Office Guideto London (Kelly & Co.).— Explanatory Alensnration, by tlie Rev. Alfred Hiley (Longmans).— Handbook of the British Fnngi, Fart II., by M. C. Cooke, M.A. (Macmillan). Florists' Flowers. I HAVE just returned from a tour in the West of England, and being a great admirer of the Gladiolus, as well as an amateur cultivator of this beautiful flower, I availed myself of the pleasure of visiting the nurseries of the renowned growers, Messrs. Kehvay & Son, of Langport, Somerset. I will not attempt a description of the nurseries, which are well kept, and contain most of the new, as well as old, kinds of florists' flowers, nursery stock, &c. ; but I wish to note the c.vtent and mode of culture of the Gladioli adopted by the Messrs. Kehvay, who have deservedly gained some notoriety in this particular branch of cul- ture, carrying off as they do many first prizes at the London and other exhibitions. The soil I found to be a mixture of sandy clay and gravel, about 2 feet deep. The situation is open and exposed to the west and north-west winds. Upwards of 300,000 bulbs, comprising 2000 named sorts, are planted, exclusive of seedlings, the latter being also very largely grown. The planting is commenced in February, and continued at intervals of a fortnight until May I. Those grown for exhibition are planted in rows from 18 inches to 24 inches apart, with a broader space at every second or third row, to allow for a narrow path ; the ground being previously trenched 2 feet deep When the plants have attained about a foot in height, the soil has a good mulch of half- rotten manure ; and as soon as the spikes show for bloom, a liberal supply of manure water made from a concentrated manure which they have prepared for the purpose, is applied. Unfortunately I was too early to see many blooms, but from the extiaonlinary sub- stance of hundreds of the plants we may anticipate a great treat at the forthcoming exhibitions at South Kensington and the Crystal Palace. I ascertained tliat the Messrs. Kehvay intend staging 100 spikes at the International E.\hibition, South^Kensington ; these will be renewed and displayed during the latter part of August and the early part of September. I observed that the bulbs not arrived at maturity are planted from 3 to 9 inches apart, in beds about 5 feet wide. The spawn or bulblets are all grown in the open air, in pots, during the first year. I saw many thousands of these, each variety carefully kept apart and numbered. I need hardly say that tliis visit proved very pleasur- able to me ; and I hope I may profit by what I saw. Upon my return home, I felt very dissatisfied with my own culture of the plant ; and I was further led to reflect that floriculture is deeply indebted to the Messrs. Kehvay for the wonderful advance which they have helped to bring about in the growth of the Gladiolus. We have only to compare the old varieties with the new to see this. The elder Mr. Kehvay has devoted very many years to the culture of the plant, and the raising of seedlings is a study with him. I am quite convinced that if his valuable life and that of his son be spared, they must produce many more marked im- provements in this lovely flower, wjiich every one can and should grow. Monsieur Souchet is held in high estimation, and properly so, as a grower, and more especially as a raiser of seedlings of the Gladiolus ; and so also should be the Messrs. Kehvay. One only regrets that the lamentable war between France and Germany at once prevented the great international exhibition of Gladioli, which was to have taken jilace at South Kensington last autumn. We lost a golden oppor- tunity of comparini; notes and of placing our two dis- tinguished Englishmen in rivalry and cinnrast with our Continental neighl.ours. As regards seedlings, the Messrs. Kelway will recognise nothing but that which is of the highest standard. F. W., Croydon. Endosmosis, or FEEniNG THE Bee Lakv.e. — have to apologise for having taken up so much space 0 describe a simple fact in natural history — that the lee larvffi grow by absorption of the honey and water, ir bee pap, which any bee-master may prove during the summer months by a little close inspect! remembering that 12 hours in the night is a life-t for bee metamorphosis.* If the eggs be seen laid by the queen bee in the cells, a simple mode of inspection of the interior of these cells will be, by attaching "talc," in slips, along one side of a series of hexagons, cutting out the intervening cells or sight-obstructing sides. These adjusted combs and cells should be fixed at proper positions in a common observatoiy hive, or two "bar frames" and combs, maybe treated in the same way, in a glass case, which may be made for these experimental purposes. For an absorbing coloured material, sugar or honey and water with madder makes the most harmless ingredient. The best brush for moving larvce or eggs will be found in the pinion feather of a woodcock, fixed in the end of a porcupine's quill. Distilled water had better be used in removing eggs or the larvie for the microscope. The brush takes up the moisture too freely, whilst the feather is a soft-edged scoop not holding the water. With regard to the pollen feeding, or its being used as a forcing hotbed in queen or worker brood raising, it is not my intention to enter on this subject, of which I therefore take leave. I am quite ready to accept the term proposed by two of my medical friends, viz., "osmosis," nourished by absorption, and not feeding until the last stage of growth ; and wish also to record my objections to the accepted notion of the eggs being fecundated, "that the semimal fihaments are found at the top of the egg, and seen on it ; " whilst, if these filaments are deposited with the eggs, the base with its fluid is llie point of entrance of the spermatozoids. But the proof is wanting that the eggs may not have already been fecundated in the mouths of the ovaries; and then "parthenogenesis," so far as the honey-bee is concerned, would be difficult to prove with all the voluntary muscles in the bees's abdomen, or any pressure of the sides of the cells that might be brought to be.ar on the oviparous queen bee. Dr. Siebold has most accu- rately described the spermatozoa, as found attached within the egg to the superior pole of the egg, when the egg has been ruptured at the lower pole to dis- charge the yelk ; but we are apt to jump to conclu- sions as to time in these most minute investigations, when we read even the statements of careful and earnest physiologists ; and thus when we see the spermatozoa at one time described as active, and at another as motionless filaments, we have forgotten the succession of time at which these eggs were laid, and have for- gotten to examine whether the absorption of the fluid, seminal or otherwise, at the base 1ms taken place, and that the whole of the examined eggs are exactly in the same periods of development. On the incontrovertible facts of the ages of bees, how much has been written, and yet we know that queen bees have been raised in 10 days, and in other cases in 16 ; nor are these statements false, but simply indications of differences of time, which in such small creatures we will not recognise, but pin our faith upon some one, or some few observations of our own, or others, and find fault with writers who differ from our conclusions. Let not this spirit of doubt, then, actuate us, but let us emulate the writers of former better days, d take the motto, as in the "Entomologist's Maga- le " : — "J'cngage done tons a eviter dans leurs rits toute personnalit^, toute allusion depassant les aites de la discussion la plus sincere et la plus cour- ise." W. A. Munn. Garden Memoranda. Grape-growing 'at Kingston Hall, Keg- worth, THE Seat of Lord Belper. — We have all heard a good deal about the Grapes at this famous place, and the unusual means adopted to ensure their jerfect cultivation. The first word I have to say about hem is, that these means have been eminently successful. Take them for all and all, one does not often see such Grapes as were to be seen here during the last week of June. They do great credit alike to the present gardener, Mr. Cruickshanks, and his predecessor, Mr. Westland. The vineries are unique in many respects. Their construction is peculiar. The roof is called ridge-and-furrow, but this conveys no true idea of its character. The ridges are so narrow, that, if I remember rightly, almost each Vine has one 'tself ; and the furrows are so narrow as to throw :e or no shade. Then the width is unusu.il— over 30 feet ; and the path along the middle of the houses gives a splendid view of a far-reaching amphitheatre, bout 100 feet in length, of Grapes, in three divisions, uch as one seldom sees. They were capital in bunch, berry, and finish. Not a few sensation bunches, alternated with blanks or small ones, as one often sees, but a wonderful crop all through, of first-rate, serviceable fruit. A more regular hang it would be almost impos- sible to find anywhere, nor, upon the whole, a heavier. It is obvious at a glance that whatever special means may have been used outside the liouses, the in- ternal management must have been skilful and pains- taking to secure such favourable results. It needs scientific management, as well as the assurance that 'ids p. 90, Letter 8, of Ruber's " Natural History oney-Bee," which was translated by .Sir J. G. Dalyell, urgh, 1841. comes by many years good practice, to order and finish crops like these. Such were the mental verdicts formed within the houses before venturing to explore the deep foundation of success in the heated caverns under the vineries and their borders. I am not sure that heated vaults are favourable to clear mental vision. I should say that they were not. In a stifling atmosphere one's mental eye is apt to flicker like the candle that throws a shimmering light upon stone-covered passages — huge pipes, and far- reaching hot-air drains, losing themselves in 'a deep, lively discussion of Cannell's theory of converting the return into the flow, and how it was to be done by cutting this pipe, and connecting that, &c., all deep down under the earth, and I fear disturbing causes not a few may be found to invalidate the value of the following opinion. Virtually, it may be expressed in the words of your special correspondent, viz., that these borders can hardly be said to be heated at all. The floor of the vinery, where there are no roots, is heated a little — the borders beyond a great deal less. The boiler, like most others, is placed at the back of the vineries ; but instead of the pipes entering the houses at once, they are carried along in a hot chamber — underneath the vineries at back and front. From these the flow and return pipes proceed through chambers connecting the two, and hot-air vaults or passages communicate with the back and front below the ground-floor of the vineries. Arrived at the front hot-air passage the pipes proceed into the vineries, and do their work of imparting surface-heat by flowing and returning in the usual manner inside the house. But after what has appeared in the Gardeners' Chronicle, if I mistake not, about the roots of these Vines having been injured, or supposed to have been so, by an excess of heat, I was surprised to find that there were no pipes at all under the borders. But are the borders therefore unheated ? Well, perhaps it will be better not to dogmatise on the matter. The borders are chambered, that is, pierced with open drains pro- ceeding from the hot spaces already described. These chambers or drains become less and less as they pro- ceed, as they near the extremity of the border, where they terminate. There seems nothing to lead or drive the heated air in this direction, and it is improbable that much of it proceeds thus in opposition to the natural tendency of heated air to ascend to the highest level, all of which in this case is without roots. I should not like to assert that no heat proceeds from and through these stone-covered chambers into the Vine borders, but I think it may safely be asserted that very little can do so; while as to excess, it appears quite impossible, under the present arrangements. One thing, as already observed, is very certain — the Vines do exceedingly well ; but whether the success is due to the chambering, and the perfect drainage result- ing therefrom, to the heating of the soil, or the skilful management, it is impossible to say certainly. I am inclined to credit the last two with a large share of the success ; for other fruits are exceedingly well done here as well as Grapes. It would be difhcult to find a better show of Peaches and Nectarines under glass than those found here, and the borders for these are neither chambered nor warmed. Is all the so-called heating of borders for Vines then a mistake ? I think not ; just the contrary. What- ever these borders may have cost, such Grapes as these year by year will soon amply repay the expense ; and if the heat contributes to the success, which it may, it was well to heat them. Whether this is the most economical mode of heating is quite another question, which may safely be answered in the nega- tive. That there is heat enough in these chambers to heat a border laid over the hottest portion is also cer- tain. But the borders are not there, but over the coldest part of the chambers. Perhaps the cheapest way of heating a Vine border would be to lay pipes at regular intervals, in the rough rubble forming the drainage ; the heat would then pass upwards into the border. Better still would it be to have a tank of hot water under the border ; or, if hot air was employed, as in this case, the heat ought to come in at the lowest point, and be wholly confined to the area of the border. Doubtless there are great advantages in a heated root medium, for early forcing especially. It hastens the ripening process by a month or six weeks — a won- derful advantage wdien racing, as the early fruit-grower mostly is, against time. Heat at the roots also helps the finishing process mightily, and enables the culti- vator to lay on heavier colour, and to lay in better flavouring ; such, at least, is my opinion, -after having some experience, and wider observation of Grapes grown with and without bottom-heat. This is one of those practical questions that need further testing, and it would be well for the Royal Horticultural Society to offer special prizes for ripe Grapes next March or April — for the best Grapes, grown either with or without bottom-heat. My own impression is that the bottom-heat Vines would have it. Such prizes repeated from year to year would be the means of settling the question. And when the full advantages of bottom- heat for early forced Grapes is generally recognised, doubtless better and cheaper modes of heating Vine borders will speedily be found than any that are yet adopted. Important light has been thrown on this July 29, The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 979 1 vexed question by the fact that most of the best pot Vines have been gi-own with bottom-heat, or at least in a root-temperature equal, very often considerably in excess of, that of the top. F. THE WEATHER. TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR AND FALL OP RA/N . Temperature of the ; Ur. 1 ^.ZYo.7. i J Sil 111 S S i lii&t™ ^."St" ;: ISoT" :: Dublin .. .. s 75-3 li 69.0 s 76.1 DcB. li 1^ iio |7 46.0 49,0 50.2 46.S Deg. Hi i li 29.5 26.7 20.9 li 29.6 If B 1 If 1 ii Des- i 134 1 i lo' B B t 591 In. 069 1.04 HygTometrical Deductior from Glaisher;s Tables, o .£■ Weight c Kw.^ Vaplurii S'^E a Cubic Temperature c ETHE 1 1 IX-r. Der. Der Dcg. 72-5 ^7.? S4-I V/ lll^ Tn.v f,zl]^^Ml'!S At night the sky beca ne covered. eencrally till — 26.-Cloudy.__ Wind ing the day. Occ asional showers JAMES GLAISHEE. (FOR THE ENSUING WEEK.) PLANT NOUSES. Plants of the beautiful y! iirranc/ii/is should, now that the outer elements are more favourable, receive a moderate quantity of fresh air daily. We know very ■well that these gems will succeed more or less satisfac- torily in an undeviating, close, airless atmosphere. Often, as the cultivator knows from experience, plants are lost owing to a want of greater vigour, which, again, may in all probability be due to the want of this very necessary natural aid. When we take into con- sideration the fact that some of these gems inhabit the hedgerows of Ceylon — the Cornwall, so to speak, of ihe Indian peninsula — a promontory influenced by the sea temperatures, and that others come from the island of Java, situated at a like distance from the equator on the opposite side, we cannot fail to surmise that these are cogent reasons why more air should be afforded them than it is our custom to give under artificial treat- ment. Indeed I have reason to believe that my honoured tutor, the late Mr. May, of Durdham Down, •was much more liberal in this matter of giving air than is generally considered to be good for them. At the above named nursery Mr. May grew them during the summer months in a conveniently-formed frame within tlie Orchid-house. I used to give air to this frame be- times in the morning, and sprinkled the plants and internal surfaces very early in the afternoon, at the same time shutting them down for the night. It is not necessary for me to add how well they prospered, even though they were but youthful introductions at that time. I advise, therefore, that they should receive a little air daily for a time, even such as are constantly gro\vn under hand-glasses. It is very refreshing to the plants at this date to daily wash or swill the glass in clear water, replacing it without attempting to wipe it dry, which is not necessary. To maintain as much vigour as possible in the plants all flower-spikes should be pinched back after they have attained to a little firm- ness and are not so succulent as to decay, and in doing so bring danger or disaster to the hearts of the shoots from whence they proceed. Of course all moss or green moss-like formations should be kept from them by periodical cleanings, &c. The Carolina "flycatcher," Dion-- " = -■ Windjor, Be ks ngage a Gardener, ther personally or by letter, with y. and good conduct to the Gardener he thoroughly understands the .„ i. Forcing Houses, Pits, &c.,_and is generally well qualified d pl.icc.^A young Agent, Chancery Lane, P~ardeS:er~ / 1 AKUL.NLK iU;.iJi.K), ..-c -;4. A ic.p.'^iable Man pa^rtfcularsrW. '^S.^Mn S^mes, G!^ocerrsrpson,'^^ne3r ^Slo^ug^h, Sliddlcsex. . J.. 10, Park Grove, Pattcrsea Park. S.\ CLERK and SALESMAN.— A young Man, who has been six years in the Nursery business. Willing to fill up his y. Good references.— R. C. F., Eastgatc Nursery, Pctcrh To Nurserymen. GENERAL MANAGER, or MANAGER and PROPAGATOR.— Thoroughly understands the Propagation and Management of Stove and Greenhouse Plants, Heaths, &a, Fruit. and Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, and the usual stock of a first-class nursery. First-class references.— S. D., 39, Elgin Terrace, Maida Vale, London, W. vaie, Lonaon, w. IMPROVER.— A respectable young Man. age 21. is very desirous of learning the Gardening. No objection to paying G .ROOM and GARDENER.— Age 24 ; six years' gc ,_ .__ __^ g^ Newsells Park Gardens, Royston, Hens, July 29, The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. MR. JAMES ERASER of the late Firm I. & T. Fraser, Lea Kridse RuaJ), undertakes HORTICU TlfRAL VALUATIONS of every description, SALES AUCTION, S[c._Maylands Farm, Romford, Esses, E. Land Wanted, near London. WANTED, a FEW ACRES of rich, product! GARDEN GROUND, ,vithin a circle of aomiles of Lond( 10 BE LET, GARDENS. PINERIES, VINERIES, ai>d PEACH HOUSES, well stocked, and^fittcd^^up^mth^ the E.' LEIGH WRIGHtI Esq., Wigan. TO BE SOLD, the BUSINESS of a SEEDSMAN and FLORIST, with lobbing Eusiiiess, in a first-rate position. tton Road, London, ELM COTTAGE, Taunton.— The to this complete Residence is full of choice ?erns, collected by the late Mr. John Young, preserve the collection would be preferred. A Coach-house, and Stable attached. , Messrs. Hui SEED BUSINESS, in 1 r. Satisfactorj; reason :ility will be given tor 1 FLORIST'S BUSINESS for SALE, in the improving Town of Uppingham, A SEED, VEGETABLE and FRUIT TRADE (capable of great extension), is connected therewith. The Premises are new, comprising two Greenhouses, Propagating Houses, so large Lights for Frames, and ever>' requisite. About 1600 square yards of Ground, with a substantiaf brick wall on three sides, and ■ Road, Uppingham. Important to Nurserymen, Florists, and Others. TO BE DISPOSED OF, by Private Treaty, the LEASES, with possession, of the old established and well CHISWICK NURSERIES, comprising a substantial t4- Dwclling-house, with Seed Shop and Offices annexed, two f the choice Stove and Cottages in ( MORRIS, ; K^Thlwhole ticulars apply . Leyt< In one of the finest and largest Towns of Germany. TO BE SOLD, on account of the illness of the Proprietor, a verj- extensive HORTICULTURAL ESTAB- LISHMENT. It consists of a fine comfonablc Mansion, good Stables and Coach-house, standing in a very tastefully laid-out St perfect system, laid m all H hole would be well adapted for >n, and the Eusi , (prepaid) F. G., SALES BY AUCTION. Periodical Sale of Poultry, Pigeons, and Fancy Birds. MR. J- C. STEVEN'S will SELL by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 38, King Street, Covent Garden. W.C. on TUESUAY. August i, at half-past 12 o'clock precisely, 120 pens of choice POULTRY. PIGEONS, CANARIES, and FOREIGN Famley HaU, near Otley. IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. MR. STRAFFORD has received instructions from the Executors of the late Francis Hawkesworth Fawkes, Esq., to announce that the SALE of the entire and far-famed FARNLEY HERD of PURE-BRED SHORTHORNS will take place on TUESDAY, August i next, being the day previous to t ' - lety's Meeting at York, and will consis 136 Heat jlly bred j/ujivuiiiuo Park, YorUshire. IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. MR. STRAFFORD is honoured with :' announce for SALE by AUCTION, without reserve, a combe Park, Helrasley, on THURSDAY, August 10 nexl very superior SHORtHORN BULLS, and a choice selet COWS and HEIFERS, the property of the Right Hon. the Feversham. which have been long and carefully bred from tl been used, principally of tlie Kirklevington blood. Catalogues, with Pedigrees, may be had on application McLaughlin, Duncombe Park Office. Helmsley; or STRAFFORD, t3. Fusion Sq M' Bnckland, near Farlngdon. important SALE of SOUTHDOVVNS STRAFFORD has received 3unce that the ANNUAL SALE by AUCTION BRED SOUTHDOWN SHEEP, belonging to Sir Willia morton, Bart., will take place at Bucklan(- FRIDAY, August 25 next, when 80 full-mouth will be ofTcrcd. as well as 30 Rams, season : amongst them will be fou Catalogues, with particulars, n GEO, T. WILLIAjfS, at Bucklanu, near r STRAFFORD, 13, Euston Square, London. N. wes and 30 Theavc; h will be let for ih, plendid Prize Rams at th< lad on application to Mr Bulbrldge Farm, Wilts, Ten minutes' walk from the Great Western and South- AVestern Railway Stations at Wilton. ANNUAL SALE and LETTING of RAM LAMBS and RAMS of the IMPROVED HAMPSHIRE DOWN BREED. MESSRS. EWER and WINSTANLEY will SELL and LET by AUCTION, on the Premises, Bulbrldge Farm, Wilts, on WEDNESDAY. August 2, at i o'clock (Refreshments at t2), about ijo RAM LAMBS and RAMS, of the Improved Hampshire Down Breed, the property of Mr. lames Rawlence. Mr. Rawlence has been awarded during the present year Five Prizes for his Sheep exhibited at the Bath and West of England Society's Show at Guitdfc gc, and Fil The Exprt Prije 'for°lhear^'g''Rams. Firs 1 Second for Shearling Ewes ; ; Trains on the South- Western Rail Model Farm, Upper 'Wincliendon, Bucks, Seven miles each from Aylesbury, on the London and North-W Railway, and Thame on the Great Western, and four mile: the Quainton Road Station on the Aylesburv' and Buckii Line, at all of which Stations Conveyances will be ready t< the Morning Trains, returning in time for the Evening Trail MR. JOHN TREADWELL has fi.xed his ANNUAL SALE of about SIXTY OXFORDSHIRE SHEARLIN RAMS, and a few OLDER SHEEP, for WEDNESDAY. August at half-past 2, prompt (Luncheori ! obtained during the past foi 1 Second Prizes, including last igham, and London ; and this : Royal Agricultural Society's 'Bath and West of England Show hey may be seen previously UMFORD, Auctioneer, Chilton Park, Thame, Oxc Important Sale of Pure-bred Sliortlioms at York. . ^„ .^ .^^„ ■„ ^,,LL I THURS- Y^ Jid othei abou\VoRTYv*erysu'pe'Vior''sHORTHC)'RNS, from the Herd b'eloni to the Rev. J. D. /elTcrson, of Thicket Priory. A (24,175) are the sires of the majority, the lat'ter being included in the sale. The stock, which consists principally of young animals, including several Yearling Bulls, is very promising. Catalogues, with Pedigrees, may be had of Mr. BEARLAND, at Thicket Triory, York; or of Mr. JOHN THORNTON, 15, Langham Place, London, W. Cboice Orcblds and Ferns. M R.J. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, at jfTH HE LANDS IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, his Great Rooms, 38, King Street, Covent Garden, W.C, on i (Incorporated by Special Acts of Purliament.) i..„.ir^^Tr-.>^.,r .y^ygj ^^ gj half-past r2 o'clock precisely, several Drainage, Reclamation, Farm Buildings, Labourers' Cottages, &c- lished ORCHIDS, including line plants of choice Directors WEDNESDAY, OdontoglL-„ "Vandas, Aerides, Masdei Chysis, Blctias, Uvlias, Angraicums, Sobralias, ALLAMANDAS, "l.ATi J£^'> ^Z&S. 5NS, ALOES, ANTHURIl CIBOTIUMS, MUSAS, &c. HlgMy Important Sale Of the CELEBRATED COLLECTION of ORCHIDS FORMED by S. RUCKER, Esq., at WANDSWORTH. MR. J. C. STEVENS has received instructions from Messrs. Veitch & Sons, who have purchased the entire COLLECTION, to offer for SALE by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 38 King Street, Covent Garden, W.C, on TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY, the 8th and gth of August, at hall past .2 o'clock of the above magnificent lot of - .;.-E, unmatchable V PHAL/ENOPSIS, sp]endid specimens. ;"o'f''airt'he J^i.fe,m,ns. ENSIS "lAiAA ELEGANS, the b All the Plants are in fin. S, SCHILLERIANA, and GRANDI- r.LICHIANA, and LAGENARIA, in i.d bcauiilul varieties of CATTLEYAS EXONI- U, SCHILLERIANA ety, &c. tion, and many ; IMPORTANT SALE ■ _ HOUSE PLANTS. MESSRS, THOMAS AND GEORGE HARROLD Thnmi, ' i , I ,,,,,, rth House, Hinckley, to SELL by COM 1 > i I , ' I . , 1 '..id'oREENHOUSEVLANTs"', and I quanm, ,; M I Ills, ii. I SUCCESSION PINES, &c. , Reclamation, UTILISATION of SEWAGE.-The Company also ad> ciney for the purpose of Works of Sewage Irriealion. The whole outlay and expenses are liquidated by a rent-charge upon Iple and interest, over 25 years. information, apply to GRANVILl „ „ Uircclor, No, i, Great George '. I Granville R. Ryder, Esq. GranvilleR.H.Somersct.Ej Henry W. West, Esq., M. Charles Watkin Williams Esq., M.P. (Chairman), oney, unlimited in amount, for all p t, including the Erection of Cotta r Glebe Lands. RYUER, Esq-. Managi M ANCHESTER a TURAL SOCIETY.- TEMBER NEXT may LIVERPOOL AGRICUL- PKIZES. including i;ioo for the best Hunter, iSo for the best Short i Bull, upwards of £220 for Dogs, £250 for Poultrj-, upwards o 3r Pigs, and f^oo for Sheep. ENTRIES CLOSE AUGUST i Condition of tie Fruit Crops, 1871. HE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE for SATURDAY, August 12, contain a FULL and TABULAR STATEMENT of the CONDl- IN of the FRUIT CROPS throughout the UNITED KINGDO.M. May be had of all Booksellers. Price sd. ; post free, si-id. iblished by W. RICHARDS. 41. Wellington Street, Covent State of the Crops, 1871. IHE GARDENERS' CHRO.NICLE SATURDAY, JULY 29, 1871. MEETINGS : I Annual Meeti \ Ireland, at HINTS on Snatch Crops and double green crops can hardly come amiss when beef is \od. apound ; and if the subject has no longer the attraction of novelty, it possesses a still more substantial interest from the pecuniary advan- tages that are reaped by increasing the green crops of the farm. We fear the present season will be late and unfavourable for sowing snatch crops on stubbles, and we do not propose to repeat what has been often urged in reference to growing Trifolitim, Turnips, Tares, Rye, &c., on stubbles, previous to next season's Turnips ; but as wc are likely to be disappointed in these crops, except on the earliest and most favourable soils, we propose to call attention to the cultivation of the Cabbage, to be grown on next year's fallow as a snatch crop, followed by a succession crop of Cabbage, or transplanted Mangel, or Turnips. There are two ways of managing— ist, sowing now, i.e., in the first week in August, and trans- planting in the field in November ; 2d, sheltering the plants in seed-beds during the winter, and transplanting them early in spring. The first is the garden plan for early Cabbages, to heart in May and June ; and where there is no danger from game it is to be preferred. The second is the safer plan where there are rabbits or hares, but the crop will not be ready for folding before June and July, and cannot then be followed by anything more useful than Turnips. In both cases the Cabbages are a manuring and cleaning crop. They must themselves be well manured ; and they introduce fatting tegs, cake, &c., on the land and prepare it for the second jrccn crop. will be folded or removed. W( rPHI Agricultural Land Improvements. DRAINAGE, SEWAGE IRRIGATION, FARM BUILDINGS, LABOURERS' COTTAGES, &c. GENERAL LAND DRAINAGE and IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. {Incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1849.) Directors. T. Chapman, Esq., F.R.S. 1 The Right Hon. Viscount Corn- George Thomas Clark, Esq. bermere. John C. Cobbold, Esq. Edward John Hutchlns, Esq. Kenry William Curr?e, Esq. | Sir William Tite, M.P., C,B. Principal Engineer, Mr. J. BAILEY DENTON. Agricultural Improvements of every kind are executed by the -_ .u- _,,.i... .1 —paid to Landowners who prefer The outlay, with all olfic Estate, and paid off by a Rer ly agreement with their Landlords, expenses, may be charged upon the UTILISATIO. Special arrangements will be made with Boards of Health, Sewer Authorities, and others, for undertaking Works of Sewage Irrigation, together with all Works incidental thereto. The outlay in respect thereof may be repaid either by a sum in Kjoss, or by a terminable yearly payment, discharging in a fixed period the principal amount know of no other method by which 50 or 60 tons of green food may be grown in a year by ordi- nary farming, and the land improved at the same time. With regard to the details of cultivation, if the Cabbages are for early folding, an early sort should be sown, unless you sow a large hardy kind, or the Thousand-headed Cabbage, in spring, and transplant them after Tares, early Peas, Potatos, iSic, in which case they will be ready for the ewes and lambs, and may be fol- lowed by a root-crop, if it is desired to give the land the benefit of a double green crop. Re- turning, however, from this digression ; for the early sort the land should be in good heart and tillage, and dunged and ploughed in Noveinber, and the plants set at 30 inches by 2 feet. At this distance the number of plants required will be 8712 per acre ; the quantity of seed will be i lb. if it be good, and it should be sown thinly in the seed-bed. As soon as the weather permits, in spring, the plants should be hoed to encourage their growth. The same general rules will apply to the grow- ing of Cabbages at the other seasons, except that the larger varieties may be planted a yard by 30 inches apart, and only 5S00 plants will be required for an acre of land. With respect to tillage we hesitate to give rules for the preparation of the land. The Cabbage, if planted in spring, requires the same tillage as would be required for Mangel, and if planted in summer and autumn it requires similar tillage as for Turnips. The reader will determine the points of cultivation according to the character of his soil. There is, however, one 982 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 29, 1871. rule we may mention : dung should not be ploughed under with a furrow exceeding 5 inches or perhaps 6 inches, in depth. The nearer it is to the surface, the sooner the plants will come away and commence vigorous growth ; and the deeper the dung is covered, the longer they will be in starting, and possibly they may break down altogether. Plants feed chiefly at the surface, where atmo- spheric influences are greatest, and — not to discuss the matter on scientific grounds — even garden-farmers, whose annual purchase of dung is perhaps 1000 tons per 100 acres, take care not to cover it too deeply ; and in the case of Onions, which must be started quickly, they apply the whole of an enormous dressing at the surface, in a rotten state, and do not cover it at all. A dressing of guano at the time of hoeing will, of course, be useful. Having folded the Cabbages, the stalks should, if necessary, be raked into the furrows, or removed by boys as the land is ploughed. It will depend on circumstances whether the land will require twice ploughing or not. Garden farmers, from whose book we are borrowing a leaf, very seldom plough twice for any crop. The heavy dressings make their land friable. Manure ill large quantities changes even stiff land into a kinder soil, which is worked much more easily, and it also has the effect of bringing the crops to maturity eight days earlier. If the Cabbages were folded and the land pro- perly cultivated not later than July I, there is no second crop so desirable as Mangel, provided they are transplanted about the above date, or, in favourable weather, and on land in high con dition, up to July 10. The Mangel seed should have been sown in beds at the usual time in April or early in May. There is no root crop, not even Kohl Rabi, which transplants better than Mangel. During this showery seasor saw scores of acres of transplanted Mangel, which received only a few days' check by removal. Mangel should be hoed so soon as they have taken good hold of the ground. The cost of transplanting the small plants referred to in this article is generally i.v. per 1000, or about 6^. an acre, for several of the crops named. In many instances the advantages of transplanting prove greater than the costs, considering that time is gained for tillage and double crops are obtained, accommodation provided for the houses, and wi; not be allowed much longer to pollute the neighbouring river. It must be cleansed, and a great surface of soil, whose surface and whose substance is occupied by living plants, is the only practicable agency" for this purpose. Being thus shut up to irrigation, let us load on this water all the filthy but fertilising matter it can carry, and thus increase the produce and the profit of our cleansing machinery — let us, in fact, universally adopt the water-closet and discard the privy. We have come to the conviction in this country that the provision of cesspools for clean- ness sake in the midst of wells for water supply is both disgusting and unwholesome — that a water supply of adequate amount from without the town necessitates some remedy for sewage pollution — and that sewage irrigation is the only remedy that is at once successful and pro- ductive. We can leave our German critics for their ridicule of English wastefulness and sneers at English cleanliness to the statistics of scaveng- ing and health ; and for their " facts," which ' everybody " on this subject knows, we can leave them in the hands of Mr. Mechi. If any one could convince the town popu lations of England that they have committed a great blunder in adopting water-closets, Sewers and Sewage Irrig.\tion, it would be our clever correspondent, Herr Beta, of Berlin (see p. 956). He knows that the whole system is doomed— all Germany knows that Mr. Mechi has given up the liquid plan of applying manure — everybody knows that LlERNUR'S -vacuum carts for emptying cesspools is a perfect success, whether as a sanitary or an economical institu- tion, or for the mere cleanliness and comfort of the arrangement. "The glorious waves that surround England make her winters warm and her summers cool [and so they favour the irri- gation remedy for the sewage nuisance] : they make her rivers broad and full, her air pure and everchanging, and her people rich and gene- rous, so that they can afford to squander money and manure in sewers, water-carriage, irrigation — even irrigation dinners — all for the sake of the comfort of their national economists." So says our German critic, who then proceeds to comment, with equally genuine approval, on German stinginess, and on the German idea of comfort, which consists, according to him, in saying money, storing knowledge, utilising every- thing, even Englishmen and English institutions, if so be they are worth the trouble. They do not mean, however, it would appear, to turn our ideas of sewerage and sewage to account, e.xcept by way of beacon for their warning. We, on the other hand, holding that two things are inevitable, viz., first, on the score of the English idea of comfort, the universal adop- tion of the water-closet ; and second, the coming enactment which shall forbid river pollution by it— are, we fear, committed past all power of Ger- man persuasion to our fatal blunder. Acting on a wholesome prejudice in favour of the ancient maxim, " Wash and be clean," we have supplied our towns with an enormous daily quantity of pure water, which washes them and their people, and thus makes sewers necessary. The sewage thus produced and delivered into the nearest watercourse is inevitably foul, whatever he the — The few samples of English Wheat at Mark Lane on Monday were sold at the prices of that day week. Anticipations of a wet harvest affected sales Wednesday, when previous rates were easily realised. —A short supply of beasts and sheep on Monday at the Metropolitan Cattle Market sent prices up — choice mbs and calves participating ; a larger supply on Thursday lowered prices, and a clearance was not effected., Accounts from the Hop plantations are not yet satisfactory. English wool continues to rise, and the tendency is still upward. The Seed Market has been affected this week by the supply of new seeds. The Highland and Agricultural So- ciety's Show at Perth, this week, is considered or all hands to be most successful, as is evidenced in com- paring the entries with those of last year. Then there were 61 Shorthorns, while on the present occasion there have been 92 ; then there were 46 Polled Angus, whereas in the week just closed there were 76. All the cattle classes, except the Ayrshires, partici- pate in this increase, but it is somewhat strange to notice the ranks of this favourite dairy breed thinned from 154 down to 90 entries. Horses remain almost in statu (jno with reference to numbers ; sheep have slightly diminished, from 322 entries to 300 ; swine have increased in numbers from 39 to 43, and poultry have increased from 34 to 225 entries ! Altogether, the show of 1871 compares favourably with those of recent years. In giving a brief sketch of the Perth show we cannot but notice the salient points of difference between it and the great English meeting. First with regard to cattle ; Shorthorns are well represented, while at the same time not a Devon, Sussex, or Hereford appears on the ground. This we look upon as a somewhat significant fact, bearing upon the adaptability of our many admirable breeds for diverse situations. Scotland, however, boasts her own most characteristic races of cattle, and it is no small novelty to an Englishman to walk through long ranges of sheds containing the beautifully symmetrical black polled cattle of Galloway and Aber- deen. Uniformity is always a " point " in considering a number of specimens of a race constituting a herd or flock. Nowhere, perhaps, can such perfect uniformity be met with as in the sheds of the Highland and Agri- cultural Society, where the cattle just noticed 'are exhibited in such perfection. Neither must we omit to mention the Ayrshires, which formed such an important section of the late show. These cattle are bred for milk, and have assumed the milking type or form. The colour is, however, exceedingly diversified, some of the bulls being really more properly black and white than red and white. A breed can be made, so to speak, " to order ;" and the varied colour, especially the black shade in the Ayrshire cattle, indicates that small value is attached to this particular attribute. There was a noble show of Clydesdale horses, and a considerable number of thoroughbreds, carriage-horses, hacks, and ponies. It was, however, a pity to notice the large number of unfilled places in these as in other classes ; the words '*not forward" being far too commonly paraded over vacant stalls or pens. Another remark- able feature of the Highland and Agricultural Show is the large class of black-faced sheep, \\'hich, however, have more white about their features than we liave been accustomed to in years gone by. We miss the liardy Cotswold, which might be reasonably expected to fare as well upon a north country district as the more delicate Leicester. It is indeed an important question liow far the Border Leicester might not be improved by more frequent crosses with the hardy Cotswold sheep of the south-western counties. The Border Leicester has completely monopolised the field this year with respect to Leicesters proper, and there is not a single ntry under the latter head. We were glad to see a lass of Shropshire sheep, which may be lopked upofj as a novelty in the Scotch show. There were 29 entries under this head, while last year, and, we sup. pose also in previous years, there were none. This class, although containing a few excellent sheep, also comprised some very poor specimens ; and, after the magnificent show of these sheep in their own district at Wolverhampton, a few middling sheep of the same breed, with a good one or two interspersed, does not invite special comment. That Shropshires were represented at all is, however, a matter of no small importance, and we trust the entries in this section may every year become more numerous. Even Southdowns appeared, though in numbers under the dozen ; and there were a few entries as extra sheep stock, among which were some singular four-homed Barbary sheep, bred and exhibited by Mr. C. H. Drummond Moray, of Abercairney, Crieff. The pig show compared favourably with that of last year, and white breeds were well represented. Black pigs do not seem to make much way in North Britain, and the Berkshires were not very characteristic of their breed. The array of large implements was small, and the array of articles not in the remotest way connected with agriculture far too great. Pictures, photographs, jewellery, glass, and ornaments of various kinds, were exhibited in far too considerable profusion. There were also the usual useful appliances for assisting farm operations, upon which we have not more space to dwell, except to mention the want of shedding— a large proportion of the implements being exposed to the rain. The arrangements of the show grounds were excellent, although we might suggest a few improvements, such as me sort of indication as to where one class ended and other began. The "reserve number," too, which is constaiit use in the English Society's grounds, is here wanting, and high commendations do not seem to be given in addition to commendations. - The Great Annual Exhibition of the Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland, which II take place during the coming week in Dublin, II be one of the largest and most important held der the auspices of the Society since its formation in the year 1841. This is the third time that the Irish capital has received the Society, and unusual success is anticipated, owing to its being honoured this year with a visit from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, President of the Society; H.R.H. Prince Arthur, the Princess Louise, the Marquis of Lorne, the Duke of Cambridge, and His Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland will also be present. The last Society's show (1867) held in Dublin proved to be a most successful exhibition. The entries in stock amounted to 628, and in imple- ments 105. The entries for the coming show will be about double these numbers. In horses alone there will be 600 animals brought forward, only 258 having been shown in 1867. The prizes to be offered include, among others, the Purdon Challenge Cup, value 60 gs., for the best Shorthorn bull ; the Purdon Challenge Cup, value 60 gs., for the best Shorthorn cow; the Cork Challenge Cup, value 40 sovs., for the best shear- ling ram ; the Croker Challenge Cup, value 100 gs., for the best thorough-bred sire ; the Kerr Challenge Cup, for the best jumper. There are also money prizes to the amount of 2^6oo, besides a large number of gold and silver medals, honorary certificates, and other com- mendations. The judges, accompanied by the stewards, will commence the adjudication on Tuesday morning, and in the afiernoon the Royal party will visit the show. On Wednesday the Royal party will again make an inspection of the exhibition, and in the even- ing the banquet of the Society will be held in the Winter Palace Exhibition, at which His Royal High- ness the Prince of Wales will preside. Amongst the English agricultural implement exhibitors coming over on the occasion are Messrs. Garrett & Co., Howard & Co., Richmond & Norton, Ashby & Jeffrey, Young & Co., Burgess & Key, Fowler & Co., Ransome & Sims, Samuelson & Co., Hornsby & Co., Brigham & Bickerton, &c. We have received from Whitfield Farm, Glou- cestershire, the following note, with accompanying specimens, entirely bearing out last week's remarks on the Wheat Crop : — " By to-day's post I send you a few specimens of injured lieat, which will bear out the opinion expressed in your leader this week. Wheat which looked well a fortnight ago has become very much scrawled. We at first thought ,'e been caused by the rough wind and heavy rain, but upon a close examination the real cause is in. The root in some instances appears to be decayed, and is in consequence easily blown aside, while others the straw is much damaged by the ravages of i\\y sent down with the wind and rain. The scrawled lie ol tlie crop reminds us of the year 1867, when the :ld was far below an average." Hear Mr. Disraeli on the influence and inde- :e of the English tenant-farmer. He spoke thus day evening in the House of Commons— dis- puting the allegation "that the county constituencies subjected to a certain degree of intimidation, and old story of the tenant-farmer unduly influenced by his landlord : " — ' The tenant-farmers of this country are an influential ly. I owe my seat in a great degree to them. I believe m to be on the whole the most independent body of July 29, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag^ricultural Gazette. 983 men in the country. No doubt there are exception which a proprietor may unduly them, though to me those inst: believe they will soon be 1 after all, what is the influen English counties? There counties, and only 100.000 t then, to contend that these unknown, and I obsolete as the dodo. But, of the tenant-farmer in the re 800.000 electors in the ant-farmers. How absurd, urns of county members i unduly influenced by landlords. The Agricultural Society of New- South Wales, one of whose most active managers is Mr. Howard Reid, well known in agricultural circles here, proposes to make its judgment of merit and award of prizes in the cattle classes of its annual exhibition more a question of authentic and exact calculation than it has hitherto been. The judgment of cattle by separate valuation o( points is not unknown in this country. The Channel Islands cattle are thus invariably judged in their own district. Each particular in the estimate has a possible value assigned to it, and in the proportion in which it reaches the ideal of perfection, a number is awarded within the maximum. The total effect of the several points is ascertained bya process of simple addition ; and thus an animal of double merit in the matter of colour, hair, head, and chine, may beat one which in these points is deficient, although it is itself not worthy of a single figure under the head of general symmetry and style. We extract this possible result of the adoption of such a Table as is given below, although, perhaps, it is hardly probable that a bull or cow, possessing merit under other heads, should be altogether deficient in the matter of style and symmetry. It seems, however, plain that a system of valuation which excludes, asincapableof arithmetical computation, the supreme influence of health, vigour, and constitu- tion, in determining the status of an animal, cannot be safely adopted. The foUomng is the proposed award paper to which we have referred : — chiefly on the practical objections to the change.— Adderlev, in supporting the Bill, pointed that our colonies had made the change without trouble, and argued that our home trade was m • • ' ■ ' ' -'-•---, of c red Baron Hubback 2D, the 1st prize yearling bull, and his roan yearling heifer Alice of Oxford, to Mr. Gib- son ; and his red yearlingheifer, Baroti Oxford's Duchess, [ the 3d prize winner, to Mr. Miller, for America. embarrassed by the infinite local varieties of our present Respectu weights and measures than it could be by any transition , ^^ ^^^ authorise item. As to our foreign commerce, he ^^^^^^ „f , showed how constantly and invariably ^ye lost m all exchanges and other transactions, and pointed out that in most cases the approximation was so close make but a small change necessary. He advised Mr. j Mr. Finlay Dun, in a very mteresting^ paper Smith to accept a permissive bill if the Government j recently delivered before the Midland Farmers Club, would agree to it.— Mr. Chichester Fortescue | thus speaks of the important class of facts gathered • ' ' ■ ■ - j-i--'~- — J j:..;.-: — .- 4..^ together under the term "-'■-'"^"'^" r,r rrillmahnrV ■ — ing the Farnley Hall Shorthorn sale, ed to state that, notwithstanding the A. Fawkes, it has been deter- ■ tiined that the sale of the herd shall take place, as originally fixed, on Tuesday next. ferred at length to previous debates and divisions to show that no direct decision had ever yet been given by the House, and, arguing against a compulsory system, he urged that it was impossible to make such a change unless the opinion of the people went with it.— Mr. Henley also opposed the Bill, which he treated as a product of the first French Revolution, and thought it time enough to make the change when there seemed a prospect of the system being universal.— Mr. C. S. Read and Mr. Pell expressed the strong desire of the agriculturists for an uniform system of weights and measures, and the Bill was also supported by Mr. Baines, Colonel Sykes, and Mr. Illingworth. On a division, it was thrown out by the narrow majority of 82 to 77. . An East Essex farmer writes thus of the Approaching Harvest in the columns of the Times :— • ' I fear we must reconcile ourselves as best we may to the anticipation of a deficient yield of Wheat this year. Probably few of the gentlemen who write sanguine agri- cultural reports based on cursory observation of the crops as they drive or go by rail past them are aware of the extent to which the Wheat especially is blighted. Not only is there an unusually large number of completely bhghted ears, which are plain enough to any one who 1871. SECTION n.-tCATTLE.) Class IProfcsed] Amard Paper, shmving the Relative Value 0/ Points. Maximum atlainaile. or calling back" the breeding of stock, the progeny not only resemble their own immediate parents, they call back ( Thisc ■ ■ ■ bygone generations the law of is difficult to say during how many generations old peculiarities will continue to crop up. Shorthorn authorities demand four distinct crosses of accredited blood as the minimum amount, without which no animal can be admitted into the Herd Book, or regarded as of sufficiently pure Shorthorn descent. Such an animal would possess one-sixteenth of the unrecognised blood. But four generations do not certainly suffice to wipe out any stain, shortcoming, or defect. Such faults will slumber sometimes unsuspected during these earlier generations, and then from accidental influences, as from an infusion of some dissimilar blood, may again re-appear. In this way we believe, from their old Dutch descent, crops up every now and then the objectionable dark nose, which from time to time appears in some Shorthorn families. So. doubtless, arises the staring white stockings which still disfigure some Shorthorns, and which Mr. Strafford says often come down during six or eight gene- rations from Ketton 2D, who possessed these con- spicuous markings. Southdown and many other sorts of improved sheep have for many generations been bred without horns ; but every now and then the old tendency comes out. and lambs are dropped which grow more or less perfectly developed horns. Colour Handle Ches Hips Symmetry and Style. Market Gardening, whether with the aid of sewage or without that help, is suffering from that which we once heard Lord Robert Montagu laugh to scorn as an impossible source of injury — a plethora of produce. Everything is abundant, and prices are bad. The comparison between sewaged fields and others under the highest ordinary cultivation, in a year like this, preceded by a drought, is rather disappointing to the sewage farmer. The manure put on the land last year by his neighbour, and not taken out a^ain on account of loss of crop from drought, is joined by a fresh quantity this year ; and the rain being the match which sets the lot on fire, up there come tremendous crops. That which has done them good has, so to speak, done him harm. There was never any want of water in his case. He could not even cease sewaging on account of rain, because he wanted to apply the manure which is thus carried. The additional water was, however, so much more a setting together of the cropped land, and a consequent injury, especially to the Potato crop ; and when his neighbour dug five and six tons per acre, he has dug a smaller quantity, much later. He will learn from this experience that he can- not altogether abandon ordinary dung, if he w^ants the best price for an early produce. There is, no doubt, a good deal yet to learn of many kinds in sewage farm- ing, and one problem is how to get an even crop. Myatt's Kidneys, in a case known to us, have yielded well — 4 tons an acre — over good and bad places ; but they produced 7 tons per acre at the top of the beds, and but one and two at bottom. Among other reasons one is plain — the bottom gets most wetted, and (being the line of approach to beds) it also gets most trampled on or poached with carting. It ploughed up hardest, and most clung together, but it was impossible to stop to work it and to weather it, for the routine of cropping would have been lost. This necessity has, however, resulted in a very uneven crop. On Wednesday evening the House of Commons spent some hours in technical discussion of the Metric System. The compulsory adoption of it is proposed in a Bill entitled the Weights and Measures (Metric System) Bill, the second reading of which was moved by Mr. J. B. .SMiTii. In its support he traced the history of the system from the time of its adoption by the first French Republic, and read numerous quota- tions from the reports of committees and commissions and 'the dicta of scientific men in favour of the superior convenience and precision of the system. — Mr. Beres- FORD Hope moved the rejection of the Bill, and in his turn quoted scientific authorities copiously to show the superior convenience of our present mode of measurement. The Metric System he ridiculed as an absurd product of French vanity, which had not even the merit of scientific accuracy. — Mr. Stevenson, who seconded the amendment, dwelt walks into a field of Wheat, but partially blighted ears are in most fields that I have seen— especially where the crop is forward— the rule, and not the exception. Indeed, it is quite uncommon to find an ear which has the top set healthy, while what in healthy seasons would be the middle kernel, or one of the two middle kernels of each set (according to its position in the tar), is almost riably nothing but chaff. Now indeed usual, this year there Wheat for som ning ion enough, small false kernel in a set. but I looked in a field of white morning before I could find an nore than three kernels in the thickest part of the ear. where there should always be four, and where there frequently are five in prolific seasons. Besides this, many of the side kernels are either apparently rotten or contain maggots. ' ' Bariey and Oats are also affected by the blight, though less extensively. In Barley it shows partly in the number ot withered ears, but especially in the false kernels that may be seen on close examination on a considerable pro- portion of the ears. In Oats the strips of white ■ flight ' in place of grain are plain enough to see, even from the roadside." The ensuing month brings round the sixth anniversary of the Birmingham Horse Show. Con- siderable alterations have been made in the schedule of prizes. The principal one is the omission of all agricultural horses except stallions, the funds devoted to this section being applied to increasing the prizes for hunters, for which there are four classes besides those for 2 and 3-year-old colts. The hack and har- ness horses classes have been remodelled, so as to secure more equality in the heights of the horses com- peting, and those for ponies are altered so that in no case do the saddle and harness points come into com- petition together. The interesting classes for tandems, both horses and ponies, and also those for pairs in harness, are continued. The prize list is on a most liberal scale, no less than £(1^0 being ofliered. The days of exhibition are August 15, 16, 17, and 18, and the last day of entry is Saturday, the 29th inst. OUR LIVE STOCK. CATTLE. The following are among the important sales which have recently been transacted among Short- horns :— Mr. Beattie has sold his Sotisie by Brigade Major, and bred by the Messrs. Angus, of Broomley, to Sir Tatton Sykes. Mr. John Outhwaite, of Bainesse, has sold his lady Brous/i', the 1st prize yeariing heifer at Wolverhampton, to Mr. Gibson. Mr. Cochrane, of Compton, Canada, purchased the Rev. R. B. Ken- nard's 2-year-old heifer, Oxford Duchess ; Lord Sudeley's 2d prize yeariing bull, Cherub ; Mr. Chas. Bamett's roan heifer, Belinda Oxford ; and Messrs. Thomas Game & Son's AW/« Booth by RoYAL Benedict (27,348). Colonel Towmeley has sold his ■ ' The slowness of the process of altering strongly-rooted characters is well illustrated by Fleischmann's experiments with Merino rams, put to coarse German sheep, which he says have 5500 fibres of wool on a square inch ; grades of the third or fourth Merino-cross produced about 8000 ; the twentieth cross 27,000 ; the perfect pure Merino blood 40.000 to 48.000. Hence from this experiment, it appears that even 20 successive crosses with the Merino ram did not suffice to produce wool as fine as that of the pure breed. Recognising this law of reversion, it is erident that the more inherent of family characters, rather than 1 the accidental or individual, are more particularly trans- mitted from the parents to their offspring. To ensure I definite results in breeding, the pedigree and antecedents j of the parents must be known. In this way alone is the transmission of desirable character constantly secured. This truth is fully recognised in the breeding of horses for ' the turf, and of the best of our Shorthorns ; but amongst the less intelligent of our agriculturists, even male animals are chosen generally on account of their mo- derate price, sometimes perhaps on account of their good looks, but rarely on account of their good- ness of descent. Purchasers if satisfied with the general appearance and quality of their staUion. bull, or ram, and perhaps with the look of the sire and dam, seldom make inquines regarding pedigree. This is certainly wTong. for no animal, however good and shapely himself, can be expected to transmit his good qualities to his descendants unless such qualities have by transmission through several generations become by repeated repetition indelibly fixed and stamped. So far back as in the old days of Rome, Virgil enjoins the agriculturist 'to note the tribe, the lineage, and the sire whom to reserve for husband of the herd.' In highly-bred or good-pedigreed animals, care- fully selected throughout a long line of illustrious ances- tors, there must ever be a great uniformity of type, and the qualities thus inherited for many generations are still handed down with an ever-accumulating power and cer- tainty. Amongst the Arabs, the most careful horse- breeders in the worid. this truth is fully recognised. Spot- less pedigree .alike of male and female being regarded as so essential, that when a sufficiently aristocratic sire can- not be procured, the best mares are not bred from at all. Where such a system of continued careful selection is made, the stock, like that of the best Arab horses, attains a remarkable uniformity of character, and impresses with much greater certainty its characteristics on any com- moner sorts with which it is mated. In illustration may be mentioned the well-bred and celebrated Eclipse, who, although he contended with some of the best horses of his day, never met with his equal. His power and certainty in transmitting his steriing qualities to his progeny are amply attested by the fact, that he was the sire of 134 winners, which brought their owners ^f 160,000, exclusive of cups. Again, amongst Shorthorns, what grandeur, style, and quality have been handed down from generation to generationamongst the well-selected scions of Favourite, The Duke of Northumberland, Grand Di'ke Duke of Gloucester, and Earl of Dublin. Well is it stiU remembered how once a year half the flock- masters in EngUind crowded round the ring at Babraham to see the distribution of Mr. Jonas Webb's Sonthdowns. The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 29, 1S71 which were so well and carefully bred that they left their mark wherever they went. . " In the production of beel, mutton, or bacon, it might be supposed that a long line of illustrious ancestors might very well be dispensed with, and that any tolerably shaped sire would answer sufficiently well. But this is very emphatically contradicted by the fact that the best beasts in our fairs, at our stock sales, and pre-eminently at our great Christmas shows, are what may be termed pedigree animals, if not on both sides, at least on that of the sire. Surely the grazier, the breeder, and the feeder want no stronger evidence of the practical economy of using only well-descended, carefully-selected males. At the meetings of the Royal, and at other great shows of breeding stock, open of course to all comers, blood asserts its pre-eminence, and alone possesses the symmetry, style, and quality requisite to take honours at such gatherings. At Bingley Hall, Islington, and elsewhere, there is ample evidence of the value of the anim.als ob- tained by crossing Highland or Scotch polled cows with good Shorthorn bulls. Some of these superior half-breeds have themselves been reser\'ed as sires ; but usually with signal failure. They do not produce anything so good as themselves ; their progeny vary greatly, and frequently call back to some of their plainest and commonest ances- tors. In the successful breeding of sheep, the importance of using well-bred rams of established and fixed characters, is also now generally admitted by all intelligent Hock- masters. From these premises the important practical corollary is fairly deducible— that in the selection, espe- cially of male animals, whether it be horses, cattle, sheep, or swine, descent or pedigree should be regarded of orimarv importance. No careful breeder should, we think, ^ ■ - ■ ■ - - - ' "=■- distinct An important North Riding Agricultural Association held its ninth meeting on Tuesday, at Appleton, near Malton, under the presidency of the Rev. C. P. Peach. There were over 300 entries in the horse classes, one-third of which were hunters, and the judging lasted from 10 A.M. to 7 r.M., the weather getting up fine in the afternoon. The notable feature in the hunting classes was the competition for the special prizes, in which some of the best horses in Yorkshire competed. The president's cup of 10 gs. was earned off by Mr. T. Cattle's " Sir Roger," five years, by " Cootes," dam by " Moss Trooper." Mr. Thelluson's silver cup for 4-year-old hunter was awarded totheScarboroughwinner, Mr. E. Nesfield's" Mischief," by " Fugleman ; " Mr. Milner's " Captain Peel " being 2d. Mr. Cattley's cup, for 3-year-old hunter, was won by Mr. J. Cattle's "Hugo," by "Strathern." In the cattle classes, Mr. Stamper, of Highfield, took the principal award, and likewise the special cup given by Mr. Bower, of Welham Hall, for the best animal in the cattle classes, with Grindewalde. they were in bio many heavy stori took SHEEP, Mk. Robert Garne's sale of Cots\ place at Aldsworth on Friday last, when 54 sheep were offered (three of which were let for the season, one al 81 gs.), and realised an average of ^{^ig Is. each. The Cotswold ram sales commenced last week. at the hospitable residence of Mr. William Lane, at Broadfield. Fifty splendid sheep were readily sold an average of ;^iS 2s. 6d. each. Last year's average ■« ^^14 lis. Sd., for 54 sheep. It may be interesting mention that this celebrated flock made an average of ^20 2s. 6rf., for 65 sheep, in 1856; ^^^22 +r. 2a'., ' 65 sheep, in 1857; ;^I5 i8j. Io', 7"h' 20. Berkshire. — I consider our Wheal crop much improved, and may turn out rather above an average if not attacked with blight ; our Barley I never remember better when the land was well done. Oats are not a heavy crop, about an average. Peas very good, a large breadth planted. The upland hay crop never worse, except Sainfoin, and most of that spoiled with the continued wet ; I never remember to have seen so much hay spoilt. The root crop promises beyond any one's expectation, a better plant or more promising never saw (all roots). Our Potatos were exceedingly good and promising up to last Thursday and Friday, July 12 and 13 ; every day since they have shown the disease more and more. Our harvest cannot, I think, commence (reaping) before the third week in August. Tlws. O-.M-n, Clafloil, Iliingerford, July 20. The grain crops in this neighbourhood have improved in a magical manner since the rain that fell about the middle of June. During the early spring the Wheat crops were very thin indeed, having lost plant more than I ever remember them doing during the winter. Though they have recovered wonderfully, yet on the whole I consider the Wheats thin. Whilst had a good deal of wind and itorms, and as a general rule Wheat does ell in rough weather. Taking, therefore, the thinness of the plant, and the chance of the ears falling well, owing to the rough weather during ming, I shall not be surprised to find that Wheat be a bare average crop. Barley promises well, so do Oats. Peas are well podded, and no fly. Beans look well, but I hear of blight in some pieces. Hay, which early in June promised to be a poor crop, now turns out a fairly abundant one. A good deal, how- ever, has been spoilt by floods in the meadows of the Ouse and Ousel. Mangel a full crop, and Kohl Rabi too. Swedes are backward, but I anticipate a good crop, as there has been no "flea" this year. Potatos are looking first-rate, but I fear disease owing to the superabundance of rain during the last four weeks. The pastures, as a matter of course, have plenty of feed in them. W. G. £>., Stony Stratford, July 20. Bucks. — The crops in this neighbourhood are a^ follows :— Wheat very various. Some heavy, thrown down by the wet and wind before or while it was in bloom, therefore is injured ; some a good full crop, well up, and looks promising, yet late. Some thin ones have made up very much, and are not yet on bloom, therefore must be very late ; some are a fail average crop, while some of the weak ones are a good bit root-fallen, therefore cannot be good, and some are very bad. The plough has turned some in, and Barley, &c., has been drilled amongst some, therefore we can- not expect an average crop, and harvest must be late. Barley is generally good, and must be over an average. Oats are not so good as Barley, but will be an average. Beans are a very heavy crop, the black fly is heavily upon them, but they must be over an average. Peas do not look anything like so well as they did a month back, yet they will be an average. Roots are generally a good plant, yet late warm weather now will make over an average of them. Hay is under an average, the worst got I ever remember ; a lot of my own and others has been swam away by the flood. Clover was a very poor crop, as well as badly harvested. The grass fields have not turned up an average cro Smitli, IVoolston, Bletchley Station, July 1 Dorset.— There is some difficulty in giving an opinion on the crops of this season. Must our verdict be satisfactory, or otherwise ? We leave the decision of this question to the public generally, and proceed to the statement of the case which comes within our own notice. The hay, now mostly secured, is in bulk full two-thirds more than was the case last year. Much of it will, I fear, cut out injured w ilh the rains. As to Flax, a neighbour tells he expects an average of 10 bush, of seed, and from 2 to 3 pecks of Flax per acre, from 36 acres, this season. Some, he admits, struck with the rust or blight, is much laid, but he trusts is nevertheless not seriously injured. In this locality we have annual Flax sales, and the price has varied from £^ to ;^l6 per acre. The Wheat is un- even in straw and in thickness, yet some pieces look promising and regular, while other pieces are patchy and thin. The ears appear proportionately large, and with a good set the crop may not be very much below the average. We form our expectation somewhat from the older blossoms, which came out most promptly. Still very few berries are visible, and we fear the Wheat may have suflisred in proportion. Certainly the weather has been anything but favourable during Wheat-blossoming. The Barley presents most promising large and long ears. These are so thick that they lean under the pressure of rain- drops, to recover when the sun shines. Oats are good, but Potatos are much diseased in the stalks, which emit an unpleasant odour. The root crops I can describe as most cheering. Mangels very good ; Swedes equally so, and the common Turnips most promising. Jo/in Pope, Symondslmry. Essex.— We are still able to report the Wheat crop making satisfactory progress. All agree that there is straw sufficient for to give an abundant yield, but some think the ear is not sufficiently bold to warrant over an average crop. My impression is, with two weeks of fine weather, we will commence to harvest the finest crop of Wheat which has been cut in this locality for many years. The Barley, although not so important a crop, is also good, and is just beginning to change colour. The same may be said respecting Rye and winter Oats, and we expect to cut them about the 24th inst. Beans have made plenty of straw, but, just they were going out of flower, the black-fly attacked them, but does not appear to make the progress which I have seen, and may not produce serious results. Mangel, which is the root crop here, is in every respect good, and where the grower, in the face of so much wet and dull weather, was able to keep the weeds under, no doubt need be entertained about the produce. On this farm, where we have 100 acres to struggle with, it required both capital and energy to accomplish the task. T. Mitchell, East Hall, Ramham, July 18. In a ride last week of some 50 miles on the south-eastern coast of this county (l^!.ix), 1 saw very promising indications of a full ciup of Wheat, Barley, and Oats. In some ears of Wheat I found upwards of 80 kernels. A little damage occasioned by heavy rains must be deducted, leaving, I think, a full average, and perhaps something more. Bad farming is con- cealed by the wealth of vegetable life, but there is everywhere too much of it. I can report quite as favourably of the district in which I write this ( Witham). The crop of Beans is somewhat questionable ; some fields look blighted, and the pods not well filled. There is, as far as I have noticed, a full crop and growth of Peas of common sorts, and the same remarks apply to the early garden varieties, but the later sorts called wrinkled are much blighted, and the yield expected a fortnight ago must be short from 20 to 40 per cent. This is a district where these varieties are largely cultivated for the seed trade. Mangels are filling our fields with a vigorous growth, but within a few days the black aphis has made its appearance amongst them ; a report about them, as well as the varieties of the Turnip, would be premature. I will add a few words about the prospects of the seed- growers, who occupy a large breadth of land in this part of our county for this purpose. The severity of last winter entirely destroyed many fields of Mangels planted for this purpose, and but few pieces escaped some damage. It must be a short crop ; it is late, and I notice that the black aphis is beginning its ravages. Swedes are well podded off, and look like a good crop. Common Turnip seed is a great failure. Carrot seed defective in plant, and unkindly. We have not been visited here by destructive storms, such as are recorded in many parts of the kingdom. Our rainfall for the last four months is as follows :— April, 2.94; May, 1.14; June, 2.26 ; July, up to the 20th, 1.78. Henry Dixon, Donvard's Hall, Julv 20. Kent.— From what I have seen, I should say the Wheat crop is excellent on stiff lands ; thin on other soils, yet much improved for the late rains. Barley very good on all soils that are at all well managed. Oats a bad crop generally, except the winter Oats, which are good. Peas very good indeed ; free from dolphin. Beans, which promised so well, are now generally attacked with the black dolphin, and this must injure the crop. Hops stand a chance to be a total blight, except in some favoured districts. The hay crop was bad for the early mowing, but for the marsh districts we are now getting a good crop. Clover and Sainfoin an a\erage crop. G. Witt, Tunstall, near Sktmslvnrne, July iS. Leicestershire : Charmcood Forest. — The crops generally in what is popularly known as the " Forest," are looking extremely well, much better, in fact, than St places. The season seems to have suited this :t better than lands which are naturally much fertile. The Wheat and Oats are looking well, of the Barleys exceedingly well, and others fair, le Peas and Potatos are a splendid crop. The Turnips look very promising, but the Mangels are not doing so well ; they have scarcely recovered the cold of June. Cabbages are extensively grown for sheep and cattle, and are very thriving. There would have been a heavy crop of hay, but a good deal has been injured by the wet. On one farm in the Forest, where the plan of piling the hay in very large cocks, holding about two cart-loads each, has been followed, about 50 acres have been saved in capital condition, but the hay in this district is generally much spoiled. The plan of having large cocks is not advisable in fine weather, but when followed judiciously in a wet and showery season, it is very useful. There have been two very heavy storms of rain, and one of hail, doing much damage — the rain by washing up the roads and the soil in the fields, and the hail by injuring the crops. I hear that the Royal Farmers' Insurance Company have acted with great liberality, and paid numerous compensations. //. W., July iS. Lincolnshire.— I am glad to say that our present prospects are veiy good. Wheat and Oats, our prin- cipal crops in this locality, though later than the past few years will, I believe, be ready to cut by August 14, with sunny weather some days sooner, which will be about the average time of commencing the past 30 years ; and upon refeiTing to my record of yield I can find many years of good returns when we did not begin harvest before August 1 2 ; and if we get plenty of sunshine during the next month, I think we may have a full average crop of Wheat, and over average of Oats. The Oats never in my recollection presented so good an appearance. Other grain is grown in such small quantities as hardly to be worth notice. The Peas I have seen were very promising ; Beans also. Rabi, as well as all other varieties of the Cabbage tribe, are very largely planted this season, and promising well. Man. gels are not generally good, and unless on dry soils and well-manured, cannot be a good crop, a larger pro- portion than usual are running to seed. Carrots are looking well, and a very large breadth sown. Potatos are also looking well, excepting the flukes ; some disease is showing, but we may have quite suflicient of a crop for human food though a third should fail. Thos. Aitken, Decoy Farm, Spalding, July 20. Norfolk.— The last week of genial warmth and sunshine has had a wonderful, almost magical, effect upon the corn crops of this county. A few of the heaviest fields in some districts are badly laid, but generally the Wheats stand up well, are a good plant, with what appears to be a well developed ear. It is yet too eariy to tell how the ear is filled, but although the weather was wet, it was not cold or frosty when the Wheat was in bloom. Barleys promise well, save on the undrained clays and cold sands, and there the back- July 29, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 9S5 ward spring and ungenial summer have left their mark. The hay is not so much damaged as was at one time expected, and the Turnips grow with such rapidity that it is very difficult to set them out in proper time. Mangels are a poor, patchy plant, and have AMERICAN BUTTER. WorUng the Biittei In working the butter con to be worked I reception of the end of the lever. There is also an I opening at this end for the escape of the butter-milk into a pail below. The lever is made either with four ■ eight sides, and the end fits loosely in the slot, so : Read. Fig. 219. — liUTTER-WORKEK. well till within the last few days. Clare Sir ell sideiable skdl and experience are lequired that the It is rather too early to form a correct opinion as to the real prospect of the growing grain crop, but from present appearance I am inclined to think that on good Wheat lands there will not be much cause for complaint, either as to quantity or quality ; but still we must not look for heavy weights this year^much over iS stones per 4 imperial bushels will, I think, be the exception rather than the rule. On poor badly-farmed land the crop will not be so good, but plenty of straw. Barley will probably be a full average crop in bulk, quality cannot determine at present. Oats promise well, also Peas and Beans ; some of the latter are 6 feet high, with 40 and 50 pods on a stem, but in a few instances aphis has attacked them, and for about 6 inches on the top of the stems quite a black hue is apparent, and the leave; are dwinged up. Potatos rise 1 gi-ain of the butter shall not be injured. The butter well as to size, quantity, and quality. Hay a good crop ; 1 must have a peculiar firmness and fineness of texture, some littleofupland injured by therains. Rootsaredoing and a wax-like appearance when fractured, which an well, and promise an abundant crop ; there is also a ' improper handling, in expelling the butter-milk and good prospect of a second crop of Clover, but probably not so good of a large yield of seed. Beef and mutton, although lower in price, sell well ; wool is making high prices ; and altogether, with the present pro- pitious weather, the farmer's prospects look brighter than for some time past. I send you, sir, the above, and shall have much pleasure in giving you any further information at some future time, which, to be of service to the agriculturist, will be required, as with present appearances harvest cannot be general here before the third week in August, if then. W. H. Taylor, Bank House, Wymondham. Rutland. — As far as my observation goes I con- sider the Wheats a full average plant, but have noticed the last few days red rust to some considerable extent, which must materially reduce the yield. Spring cropping looks very promising, especially Oats, but I consider it much too early to give an opinion as to the probable yield of any corn, as they are now just in the stage when blight would most aHect them. A continuation of sunny weather is most desirable. Conyers Peach, Stoke Dry, Upphi^ham. Warwickshire.— When I left Rugby all crops were looking well. Grass abundant. Hay crop very promising ; rain has hindered the working, but the crop is above average. Wheat and Barley promised weli, on my own farm never better, but the heavy rains, however, laid them flat. Mangel is first-rate, and Swedes coming away well. Peas good, Beans fine, and Potatos also. Sly dairy cows fed in the houses are not milking so well as usual, _ probably from the wet season and rapid growth of the grass, fas. A. A. ■ Campbell. Worcestershire. — The character of the season is a complete contrast to that of last year. Much rain has fallen during the last three months, with cold nights and but little sunshine. AH the cereal crops are long in straw. Wheat in this neighbourhood is in great part thin, being injured by winter frost and wireworm, and much is very weedy ; the ear is too early in stage yet to report on ; it appears late in proportion to spring corn, and the yield is likely to be under average. Barley is a heavy crop and long in ear, much lodged in some places ; Clover seeds, where sown amongst it, are getting high, and may injure the harvest. Oats appear fair, but are not much grown here ; the straw is valuable when cut moderately green. Winter Beans very defective ; spring Beans once bid fair to be very good, but are much injured by the blight, called blacks. Peas very good, with plenty of haulm for fodder. Roots of all kinds a fine plant, but foul with weeds, in consequence of too much wet hindering the hoeing. Hay a full crop, spoiled by rain. Grass and Tares plenti- ful, and good ; the summer supply and prospect of keep for stock, particularly if straw should be well harvested, is favourable. Potatos : A prospect of heavy crop, but disease has made its appearance during the last few days. A month's fine open warm weather is now much required to bring all crops to maturity ; and the final yield, as the grand result of the harvest, will much depend on it. Stiles Rich, Cedars, Fearnall Heath, Worcester, July 25. IS quite simple, as Fig. 220.— eureka eutter-worker. working, will destroy. Care is taken, therefore, not to overwork it, nor subject it to a grinding manipula- tion like tempering mortar, as this spoils the grain and renders the butter of a greasy or salve-like texture. Fig. 222. — return butter-pails. The butter is worked with butter-workers. The one 1 most common use consists of an inclined slab stand- ig upon legs, and with bevelled sides about 3 inches igh. The slab is 4 feet long by 2 feet wide at the The j upper end, and tapering down 4 inches at the lower end, where there is a cross-piece, with a slot for the wUl be seen by the figure below (fig. 219), but does good execution, and is much liked at the butter factories. There are other butter-workers in use, and one of the more recent inven- tions is represented by the annexed cut (fig. 220). A common butter-bowl is placed and held securely on a light, small stool, firmly against a solid rest (r), that pro- tects it from breaking or springing. It may be revolved either way, at will, also easily tipped by a lever to drain off the fluids, and as readily removed from the stool as from a table, and bowls of different sizes may be used on the same stool. The ladle (h) is attached to a pendant lever (F G) that enables a person to press directly through hard butter in all parts of the bowl with- out drawing or sliding it ; also to cut, turn, and work it in every manner desired. It is light, strong, and simple, everything about it is practical, with nothing to get out of place or order, and it is as handily moved, washed, and dried as any butter-bowl and ladle, such as are shown in fig. 221. The lever (e) is fastened to the slot (j) while the butter is being worked, and is raised up to discharge the butter-milk from the bowd as occasion requires. There is a circular iron fastened to the bottom of the bowl, which slides in an iron groove attached to the lever K, and which allows the bowl to be moved round, and, when desired, to be removed entirely from the other parts of the worker. After the butter has been washed in the trays, a batch, weighing 22 lb., is laid upon an inclined slab, or butter-worker, first described, and then spread out with the ladle. Pure Ashton or Onondaga salt, made fine by rolling, is now sprinkled over the mass and the lever applied, first beginning at one side, until the whole is gone over. Only a few manipulations of this kind are required to work in the salt, and complete this part of the process. As it is important that the butter-milk should be completely removed, this is facilitated during the working process by applying a slightly dampened napkin to the surface, or by the use of a damp sponge covered with a napkin for the purpose. Packing. — The butter is packed in firkins, in half- firkins, and in Orange County pails. The pails are " return pails," that is, they are not sold with the butter, but are to be returned to the factory after the purchaser has taken out the butter. They hold about 60 lb. of butter, are of white Oak, nicely made, and strongly hooped with heavy band-iron. They have movable covers, that fit closely, and are fastened with wooden bolts or metallic clasps. The firkins are also made of white Oak, heavily hooped, and the sides neatly turned. The greatest attention is paid to have the packages perfectly tight, so as not to permit the least leakage. White Oak is regarded as the best material for packages, and the butter factories use no other. The firkins hold about 100 lb. each. The half-firkin is simply the firkin sawed in two, and provided with an Oak head, which is nailed on the top of the package after it is filled. Fig. 222 shows the form of these packages. The firkin is prepared for use by soaking in cold water, after that in scalding water, and then again in cold water. It is then either filled with brine, and soaked 24 hours, or the inside is thoroughly rubbed with dry salt, and left to stand a short time, when it is considered ready for use. In packing the butter it is pressed together as solidly as may be, and when the firkin is filled it is immediately headed up, and a strong brine poured through a hole in the top head, to fill all the intervening spaces. The orifice is then closed, and the firkin is set in a cool cellar until it is ready to be sent to market. When the half-firkin is filled, a dry cloth, cut so as to entirely cover the butter, is spread over it, and covered with a thin layer of salt. The cover is then fastened on, and the package is set away in a dry cool place until it is taken to market. The butter factories usually have orders for butter as fast as it is made, so that the consignments are from week to week. In Orange County the manner of marketing butter differs from that practised in other localities. Consignments are not generally made direct to the city dealers, but they are intrusted to " Cap* The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 29, 1871. tains," as they are called, or persons who make it a business to collect freights of this kind, and take them in charge to New York, making the sales and return- ing the proceeds to the manufacturer. The "Cap- tains " go with their freight twice a week, are men of standing and responsibility, who are well acquainted with the trade, and know how and when to obtain the best prices. They receive a commission for their labours, and find it to their interest to make good sales, otherwise they lose the confidence of those entrusting freight to their charge, and are liable, therefore, to be displaced. The captains often receive proposals for large lots of butter, which proposals are submitted to the factories, when they are accepted or rejected, as seems best to the parties interested. They supply private families and hotels, and by having a line of customers who are willing to pay a high price for an extreme fancy article, very large returns are not unfrequently made to the factories. THE WOLVERHAMPTON MEETING. The Royal races at Wolverhampton are now over ; you have given reports throughout ; I have sat quietly at home to watch them. The fir.^t thing you gave was the "correct card" (the prize libt) for the steam culti- vator trials. I need not give it, for your readers can refer to it at p. S48. The 1st prize of ;^ioo goes to Fowler's 12-horse power double engine set. This set is strictly applicable to the contract plan, therefore that plan is looked upon as "the best application " by the Royal Agricultural Society. I do not agree with that judgment ; I am quite certain that England cannot be farmed upon that plan, even in the face of the late Lord Palmerston's words at p. 1240, 1864, "all farmers may not be buyers, but surely they may hire, as they do threshing." My lord understood law-making better than he did farming, or he would never have used those words, for they go against procuring the big loaf for the people, and he pretended to go for it, as a free-trader. A great free- trader told me years ago that I was the greatest free- trader that he had ever met with, for I practised wliile others talked. Lord Leicester, at p. 1022, 1S64, goes almost as much against tackle buying as Lord Palmerston did, for he says that it would not do to buy a set on 1000 acres of light land ; 400 acres of heavy land might do, but nothing less. So much for the opinion of the big-wigs, for I do well on 166 acres, therefore I back my opinion against the big-wigs, and here is my especial reason why the contract plan cannot do it. Nearly all the work done by steam-power must be done in September and October, and Mr. Isaac Robinson's evidence is dead against its ever being done in those months upon the contract plan. I now offer to back my opinion by offering to farm 100 acres of heavy clay land for seven years, with the well-known tackle with which I have worked my farm for 16 years, against any farmer who will hire a set of the 1st prize winning tackle and implements, and farm 100 acres of such land for seven years, for ,^^2000 against his p^iooo — the cost of the working and results to decide ; and I will make a like challenge against any man who will buy a set of the cup-winning tackle to work against me. Reports show that my opinions are receiving support. Itiswell known that Istartedoffwithturn-roundatland's- end implements, for at Chelmsford I showed my well- known turn-round implements ; Fowler came out with a balance-plough, and the year after the Chester show, in 1858, with the balance-cultivator. When Howards became manufacturers of the implements known by their own name, they came out with cultivators that did not need turning at land's-end. At that period, and for some years afterwards, the Woolston system of turning the implements at land's-end was attempted to be written and talked down from all quarters. As a sample, I will give you the sayings of one man upon the point at p. 515, 1S64. Mr. R. Ransome, in his paper read before the Suffolk Farmers' Club, said thus: "About this date {185S) Messrs. Howard, of Bedford, entered the field as manufacturers of Mr. Smith's apparatus, with which they continued asso- ciated until 1S61 ; since then they have been manufac- turing an apparatus upon the roundabout principle, with which Mr. Smith originally commenced, but further improved and developed hi some of its mecha- nical details, especially in avoiding the necessity of turning the implement at the end of each furrow." Now we see what the attempt of Mr. R. Ransome and others at that period was worth, in trying to write and talk down the turning-round at land's-end implements, for at Leicester, in 1868, "John Fowler & Co." came out with a number of turning at land's-end imple- ments ; and now I read thus : "In spite of the disad- vantage the system laboured under in being obliged to use a balance-cultivator, for such it undoubtedly is, the first prize went to the clip-drum," Fowler's, in class 2. In addition to this I read ; " I am not surprised at the awards in class S, for Fowlers' turning-culti- vator appears to me as superior to Howards' as theirs is to the balance-cultivator." Therefore, according to the award of the judges and report, my turning cultivators are vastly superior to implements that do not turn at land's-end, whether balanced or otherwise. Time has thus overcome prejudice upon that point, and I am publicly pronounced the winner. Here is another bit of evidence in support of my opinions. It is well known that I came out, and have always worked, upon the roundabout plan. Many have been the attempts to write and run it down. The Royal Agricultural .Society's last attempt to do so, that I had anything to do with, was at the Worcester show, where they gave to Fowler's clip-drum ^25, that broke to bits before it completed its plot, and never did complete it, against the roundabout {the Woolston) plan, that did its work well. Now, the grand Wolverhampton cup goes to a roundabout, a very similar set to one worked by the late Lord Hatherton, working a set of my implements, in 1858. Therefore, upon this evidence, the Woolston man has been right upon the point throughout ; and as the contract plan (although puffed up by my Lords Palmerston and Leicester) cannot farm England, he must continue so upon all points. England wants the big loaf, and the contract plan cannot give it. Poor " Sutherland ! " My Lord Dunmore will now find that I did not use unjustly hard words against it, and my friend Mr. Isaac Robinson, of Wisbech, who warned me of its coming to Wolverhampton, will cool down a bit now in his expectations. Poor thing, it got in the mud, although some time back we were told to believe that it got over a newly dug Potato field with- out making an impression. The rain at \\oherliampton did no end of good, for through it the land represented autumn work much more than it had done for many years past. The damage done by the engine going over the land could be plainly seen. The cultivator did not like the Twitch ; the plough was just in its glee, for it could well cut and turn its furrow-slice even if there was a little Twitch in it, and made quite showable work. The dirt made a nasty mess of it to all, and the farmers would be able to judge as to how they would like to have their land thus messed about with road The Royal Agricultural Society of England is a very antiquated body — its list of prizes proves it. It must and will have its old plough, so it gives the Royal makers ^'25 for making it, and that after the grand ^500, and subsequent smaller prizes. Then it gives to the makers £2.% for a half-bred thing, called a digger. In it there is the plough principle working upon the cultivator principle. Then it gives two prizes of ^45 to the same makers for cultivators. This is getting after Smith a bit, following his teaching. It took him years to convince them of the use of that im- plement. Then the Messrs. Howard got ;^io for the old antiquated harrow, and to make it appear that they are in earnest upon the steam question, the Council give drills £20, and they give a few prizes to some toys to please the children ; but the grand cup goes to the plough, digger, and cultivator, aU of which must be arranged in the same frame — thus buckling old things together, i. e., two ploughs and a cultivator, to keep the whole mthin ;f70O. The makers know how to please them, and they get paid for doing so. Those are the implements that I challenge ;f 2000 to ;^iooo, twice over. The combined things may have a good engine to work them, but they have no chance .against Woolston implements worked by Mr. Smith's little engine upon Woolston practice, neither have the old plough and harrow, &c. , worked by bigger engines upon the contract plan, for the Woolston man can thrash them in practice any day. His crops now stand forth as witnesses on his side. William Smith, Wool- ston, Bldchley Station, Bucks, July 18. THE TENANT'S RIGHT TO UNEX- HA USTED IMPRO VEMENTS. nVe take the following from Mr. Bence Jones' published " Letter to an Assistant Barrister on Une.\hausted Tillages and Manure under the Land Act."*] The Land Act plainly does not put unexhausted tillages and manures under what may be called the penal jurisdiction of the Court. They are classed with permanent buildings and reclamation of waste, in all of which money (or value) has been laid out by an out- going tenant, and remains in the land, and of which his successor in occupation will get the benefit. In fact, it is just as much part of the case that the benefit shall be in the land for the successor, as that the out- going tenant shall have put it there. The out-going tenant may have been the best farmer in the world, but if the manures he put in the land are exhausted, he is not to be paid for them. Besides, tenants ejected for non-payment of rent, and those who give up volun- tarily, are equally entitled to payment for unexhausted tillages and manures under the Act. It is clear, that when a tenant leaves voluntarily there can be no reason for a penalty on the landlord. In truth, in this part of the Act, I believe, it is certain than an honest commercial dealing, equally fair to both parties, waS meant. The interest of the public in unexhausted tillages and manures is, that a tenant in the last years, before from any cause he leaves a farm, should have no motive to exhaust it, which is seldom any real gain to him. An out-going tenant exhausting his land for some years before he leaves it, and the in-coming tenant restoring it again by some years' expenditure, is no gain to either, and the public loses by less produce at more cost. This compensation, moreover, is one in which, except Hodges. Foster & Co., Grafton Street, Dublin. when the owner means himself to occupy the farm, it will soon be found that landlords are not directly interested either way. The benefit from unex- hausted tillages and manures is to the succeeding occupier. Should he chance to be a bad farmer (not purposely bad, but only not good), he will exhaust in the first few years whatever was left in the land by his predecessor. It is certain that in a very few years this will come to be understood, and the payment for unexhausted tillages and manures will always be made by the in-coming tenant. It is always so in England ; the landlord takes no part in the question, which is settled between the out-going and in-coming tenants. For the reason I have given, it is fair and right he should pay it ; and even those landlords like me, who object to all payments by an in-coming tenant in the nature of fines, purchase of interest, &c., because they absorb the tenant's capital just when he most wants it to stock and manure his land, and so hinder his success in the farm, will be obliged, in self-protection, to throw upon him the payment for unexhausted tillages From every point of view, therefore, it is very important this question should be placed on thoroughly sound principles, and more important for the tenant class than for the landlords. It cannot be thought the Act meant to give the tenant a right to all unexhausted manures in any way existing in the farm, as if bare exhaustion was recog- nised as the normal state in which tenants are justified in leaving their farms. Plainly, the meaning must be unexhausted manures which the tenant has himself added to those that, from any cause, natural or artificial, existed in the farm when he hired it. This is the meaning in which the words are always understood in England and Scotland. This makes it needful to go into the question — What is the origin of the manures used ? Manures may be made from the consumption of plants, straw, hay, or roots, grown on the farm, with the help of previous manure made in the same way ; or it may be manure from outside the farm, usually bought, as town dung, sea manure, lime, bones, guano, or superphosphate, or plants grown more or less by the help of such bought manures, or manure made from bought food. Now the result of all the teaching, both of prac- tice and science, is, that when a farm is even well farmed without the use of additional bought manures or food, /. c, with only manures made from the hay, straw, roots, and grass grown on it, the corn, and stock, and dairy produce sold off cause a slow but steady exhaustion of the land ; on good land, of course, much slower than on inferior land, because there is more to draw upon. It is often so slow as only to be perceived after a lapse of many years. The blame is often put on other causes ; farmers, even good farmers, constantly deceive themselves on the matter ; men of little education have no firm grasp of general principles, and often fancy they have found out some way of gaining in their particular case by what else- where would be a loss, and chance favourable seasons, or accidental quality of some fields above others, or in- sufficient observations of all the effects of their own doings, or short-sighted penny-wisdom, make them very sure they are right, and that principle is ^vrong. Yet the result is absolutely certain, that when more is sold off the farm than is brought on it, there is an exhaustion in proportion. In truth, when the point is once clearly stated, common sense will show, even to those who know nothing of farming, that it must be so, else — something would be made out of nothing. A man might eat his cake and have it afterward. In practice, among farmers of education, the fact is beyond question, and proofs that the result is such as I have stated can be given to any extent. It is the whole foundation of the modern system of good farming, and the immense trade in manures that is growing up in Ireland no less than elsewhere. To go through the proofs that can be given on this point would take too much space ; even the fertile virgin soils of America have been thus gradually ex- hausted. The food of all plants comes from the ingredients of the soil, with a small addition from the rain and air. By exposure to the weather, and the action of the roots of plants, especially of grass, the elements of the food of plants in the soil are made available for other plants. Part of these are sold as corn, meat, or butter — part returned to the soil as manure. But this manure belongs to the land ; it owes nothing to the tenant. In eveiy well-drawn lease in the three kingdoms, it is covenanted that all hay, straw, and roots shall be consumed on the land, and the manure made from them returned to it. If these are sold off the land for a few years, or if the cattle grazed on it are folded on other land, rapid exhaustion soon is evident. A tenant may take these elements of fertility from one field and put them on another, ing, from making c soil available, will always show better than bad, though it may even more exhaust the soil ; but unless the tenant has brought additional manures on the farm, or food for stock, as oil-cake, &c. (which is the same thing in another form), he cannot leave unexhausted manure on it in the sense of the Act. The practice of compensation for unexhausted ma- July 29, 1S71.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 987 nures in England and Scotland rests wholly on these principles. The tenant is only compensated for so much of the extra manure, or food for stock, he brings on the farm within a certain number of years before, as he leaves behind. It does not follow, because manure was once brought on a farm that it is there still ; it may have been exhausted since by cropping, and it is simply impossible to prove whether a course of cropping many years before was or was not exhausting, or what was the quantity or quality of the manure used. It is certain that much manure that has been used becomes unavailable for future plants— whether it is consumed in mere growth with- out appearing in the ripened produce — whether it is washed away by the percolation of rain, or whether it forms new but insoluble chemical compounds with other substances that it meets in the soil. But it is not there for use. Custom, based on experience, has taught in how many years manures are practically exlrausted — lime, seven years ; bones, four years ; guano and superphosphate, two years ; oilcake, three years ; and the tenant is paid accordingly in propor- tion to the number of years since the manure was used, provided he has not cropped exhaustively since, and so taken the manure out again. In truth, the whole idea of the justice of recom- pensing a tenant for unexhausted manures rests on the view, that his money or labour has added a value in this respect to the farm which it did not before possess. It does not include the removing the elements of fertility already in the land, from one field to another, in the ordinary course of growing hay, straw, or roots, of which the profit is got in feeding the usual stock of the farm. When bought manure grows extra food, or extra food is bought, and so more stock is fed and more manure made, the tenant's claim is very just to what is unexhausted. The only question is, in what way such compensation shall be given, and how the facts can be best proved so as to avoid frauds, to which the question is peculiarly open. NO MORE GUANO. This means dearer bread, scarcer meat, more paupers, heavier rates, higher rents, smaller profits ; bad times for farmers, short time for labourers, and more hungry and half-fed throughout the kingdom. It may mean more and worse than all this — semi- starvation to many, pinching poverty to more, more suffering and privation to all ; embarrassing problems in politics, social strife, danger to order, and serious peril to our institutions. For, humiliating as tlie admission is, it is nevertheless largely true, that the security, happiness, stability of states rest largely on the state of their larders. Fill them with an abundance of good things, and nations wax fat and prosper, while ill-filled stomachs are the natural allies of treason, confiscation, sedition. No monster so unreasonable as gaunt famine, gnawing hunger, and these seem barking at our heels in the no very distant future. Every day swells the ranks of the bread eaters by the thousand, while the area of production, we are told, has reached its limits, and one of the most powerful promoters of fertility is exhausted. Truly the prospect seems most gloomy. It would be intolerable but for some gleams of light athwart the gathering darkness. We are not wholly dependent for life on home supplies of food. Corn comes to us from every land. Science has well nigh succeeded in bringing us fresh beef from the antipodes. We have been called a nation of shop- keepers — the cotton-spinners for the human family. We should be more truly described as a nation of bread and beefeaters. Our shambles and bakers' shops cover the earth, and our deliveries in transit block up the sea. Every breeze wafts us golden grain or preserved meats. The prairie and pampas alike are but wide fields on our outlying offhand farms. But it must never be forgotten that as the food from distant lands rolls in, the gold drained out. We are fed, it is true, but we are 11 wise impoverished. Foreign food blesses us but once — home supplies many times. And it would be easy to show that food is to a large extent cheap or dear — and that means to the mass of consumers plenty or scarce — in proportion to the amount and quality grown at home. The more bread, beef, sugar grown in England, the cheaper these commodities ; the less, the dearer — free trade and its invulnerable theory of ex- changes notwithstanding. Accepting your estimate, we have reached the maxi- mum of home production ; with all the land occupied, and one of our most powerful stimulants exhausted, we can hardly expect to get more out of the land. Hal- lam's dictum seems also irrefragable. ' ' There are but two possible modes by which the produce of the earth can be increased ; one by rendering fresh land serviceable, the other by improving the fer- tility of that already cultivated." Vou assume that the first mode has been worked out. No more com- mons to enclose, no fresh land to be possessed. Of course the statement is meant to be wide and general. There are still many exceptions to it, a good numbers of acres throughout the kingdom that might be profitably reclaimed. How frequently we pass over barren tracks, only separated from splendid fields of corn or roots by a fence. Surely if the one could not be made as fruitful as the other, then our geological boundaries are more sharp and capricious than we are It to believe. They are likewise wonderfully ly obliterated, for I have never seen an unsuccessful ;mpt made to make the one land as good as the other. But it is not of such means of getting more land that I am writing at present, for these wastes cannot be had for nothing ; on the contrary, they rise wonderfully in value as soon as wanted ; but my light and hope for the future is — more land without more rent. Surely in these days of struggling competition for land, when a raid is made by eager farmers on every vacant holding, that cry will be listened to. No new land laws arg needed to make that land yours. How then are you to get it ? Get your smashers and ploughs deeper, and it is yours. Amid all the barbarous im- pediments to improved cultivation stereotyped in ancient lease. I have never read among them, ' ' Thou shalt not go down and find new gold fields,"— that is, fresh land beneath each furrow. There it is in every arable field throughout the three kingdoms, waiting patiently through the long ages to be possessed by the well-fed roots of the future. No fresh land to be possessed, only every inch gained in depth adds 120 additional tons of productive force per acre to your fields. Let us pause a moment, and try to realise the meaning of this statement. A 4-inch tilth represents a productive earth force of 480 tons, a 5-inch of 600 tons, a lo-inch of 1200 tons. I do not assert absolutely that a 12-inch tilth would yield three times more than a 4-inch, but I do affirm that the capacity of the deep tilth would be three times that of the shallow, and were they both alike rich and good in texture, the possi- bility is that the 12-inch would yield even more, especially of root crops, than the legitimate ratio of It may be well also to remind your readers that these views are not founded upon mere arithmetical data, nor natural philosophy formula — thus, two and two are four, the energy of mass is apportioned to its size— but that they have been abundantly proved in practice by many years of actual experience. It is amusing to read occasionally, in the discussions at farmers' clubs, of namby-pamby farming as mere garden- ing, as if the practice of horticulturists was in a laggard, benighted, to-be-Qommisserated state. So, evidently, does not think that busy, great, aijd intelligent farmer, Mr. Mechi. In his most suggestive letter on Liebig's theory vindicated, he points out how gardeners have long been familiar with the art of feeding the lower roots, and implores farmers to go and do likewise. And where are those lower roots to be found ? On the farm, from 4 to 6 inches from the surface ; in the garden, from 2 to 4 feet. Rather namby-pamby cul- tivation that, is it not ? The wisdom and advantages of this radical treatment of the earth, this cultivation ot the lower farm, is proved by the irresistible logic of such facts as these, — the increased produce and supe- riority of garden crops, and the higher rent of garden land. Similar good results are reaped from deeply- cultivated farm lands. It will probably be another century at least before a maximum depth of tilth will be generally reached. Until that time come— if come it ever will— there is plenty of fresh land to be utilised. It is wholly a mistake to mea.sure the productive force of the earth by square feet or yards. This mode of computation has led to intense competition for possession of surface only. The joint streams of capital, skill, and labour have spread wide -not run deep. The consequence has been a tremendous loss of productive force, and a wretched average return of about £i, per acre. By doubling the depth you get as much again land for the same rent ; and surely it is almost as obvious as that two and two make four, that with as much again food, the things fed thereby — that is, the produce — ought aisc to be doubled. Some will doubtless cry, "I have tried it frequently ; you cannot do any more than c the surface. My crops cover the ground." Ves, but with what sort of covering ? Might not these ears bf longer, each kernel larger, heavier? — each Beet, Turnip, and Mangel reach double the size? I dt not affirm too much when I say, you know they might. And for the development of quality and weight the unused earth at the bottom of the furrows is as good, nay, it may be better — at least it may be made so — than that on the surface. But this brings me to my last point. How are you to get more out of your enlarged holdings? All your manure was too little to enrich your shallow tilths ; how is enough to be provided to satisfy the deeper ones, especially as your old friend, guano, is worn out ? These are vital questions, and I will endeavour to answer them briefly and fairly. The earth itself is a productive force of no mean value. This is too apt to be overlooked by the farmer ; he treats the ground too much as he would a horse — so much com in, so much work out ; so much manure in, so many coombs or tons But the earth can also produce somewhat without manure, and this natural force can be wonderfully augmented by aeration and admixture. This co- mingling of earths in the soil is somewhat analogous to the cross-breeding of animals. The product of the admixture of soils is a wonderful increase of growing force. Even the addition of a comparatively worth- less earth to a good soil, gives, as it were, a fresh lease or a new infusion of growing power to the entire mass. That great and good teacher, Mr. Mechi, adverts to this in the letter already referred to, and I think a useful aid to deep culture might be rendered by republishing, in a cheap form, Mr. Smith's, of Lois Weedon, and Mr. Lawes' experiments on what might be called the normal productive force of the earth without manure. Again, deep tilths utilise to much more advantage all the manure applied to them. On .shallow tilths it is no exaggeration to affirm that one-third of the manure is utterly wasted ; it is either lifted up into the air or washed out into the water ; it is not half covered, and its strength is rinsed out into the nearest ditch or blown out by the first breeze ; but deep tilths hold manure tenaciously as a blacksmith's vice — the top covering is thick enough to be gas-proof, the bottom is deep and retentive of manurial juices as a sponge. There is, there can be, no loss. But then, with a dearth of guano and more land, will not the farmer be in a worse dilemma than before ? It certainly seems so at first sight, but we fall back on the common proverb, that when one door shuts another opens. We believe this will be verified in this instance to the letter, and that, moreover, the second door will prove by far the best for the farmer. While the guano store lasted it seemed useless to direct attention to other sources of enrichment, but close that door and our home guano will stand a chance of being fairly tried. Here, again, 1 am glad to find the views I have endeavoured to promulgate for years are in perfect accord with your own and Mr. Mechi's. Both reach the same point from opposite sides : the guano deposits are exhausted, therefore recoup your fields from the refuse of your consuming centres, is your cry ; deepen your tilths 30 inches, and flood and enrich them with town sewage, re-echoes Mr. Mechi. I reiterate these cries. Possibly they maybe heard now there seems no other means of getting more off the land than by recouping its pro- ductive force by the waste of our lives and the dirt of our labour. We are coming to this at last, by a pro- cess of exhaustion. All other means have been tried to enrich the earth. Battlefields have been rifled of their bare bones, islands in the distant oceans scoured for birds' dung ; seeds, oils, and entire crops converted into feeding cake, and giving food for the hungry earth ; and still the latter remains hungry, and cries out with a louder voice and from a deeper throat year by year, "Give, give." We take more out of it, and must give it more, or break its back by exhaustion. The weakened earth revenges itself on us for our niggardly feeding by light yields ; for in the matter of culture and manure it is emphatically true, as we sow so we shall reap. All the while we have been starving the hungry earth of its proper food we have been wasting it most lavishly in all directions, and filth, the proper food of the earth, has literally been sent a-begging. We begged the wind and the air to take it, and they reproved our folly by returning it in fiery fevers or the serpent trail of linger- ing disease. We poured it into the waters and they became black in the face with rage, and the pure water of life was transformed into the slimy draught of death to thousands. We offered it to the fire-god, and he licked it up in anger, and reproved our wasteful folly by scattering its elements broadcast throughout the ah" we breathe. While all this folly, waste, and -wickedness— for it was all three— went on, the mute, long-suffering, ill- used earth looked on, and greatly wondered at the so-called wisdom of its masters. At last the C17 arose, To the land with all excrements and waste, the filth of towns, and the dirt of the country. And the earth heard it and rejoiced, and thought that its time — the time when it should be filled with marrow and fatness — had at last come. Vain hope — fond delusion. Igno- rance, prejudice, habit, old saws and modern instances, even Mammon with his money-bags, blocked up the way — stood an impregnable barricade between the hungry earth and its natural supplies of food ; and the year '71 finds us wasting manure at the rate probably of ^50,000,000 sterling per annum, to tlie impoverish- ment of the earth, and the wasting of the very essence alike of vegetable and animal life ; for it can never be too often repeated that the food of plants misapplied, wasted, unused, isdisease, suffering, death toman ; andall this while the wisdom of Parliament is expended upon the ways and means of raising three millions more revenue, and the struggling taxpayers are crying out that id. more Income-tax will break their backs. No wonder there is all this impatience of taxation, all this anxiety to play pitch and toss with local and imperial burdens, while we are undermining the energy of the earth itself, the foundation of all our riches, by our wasteful extravagance of our home-made manures. The Chan- cellor of the Exchequer has just tried to raise a small tax from our matches and tapers, I wish he would try to lay a large one on the waste of good manure. Such a tax, fairly levied and sternly collected, would set all future Chancellors' minds at rest about ways and means for this generation, while it would enrich posterity so much that they would pay all demanded of them with- out grumbling. Certain it is that only by doubling or trebling the depth of our tilths, and by enriching them by all our waste, can the circle of production be com- pleted, and the strength of the earth, represented by our harvests, restored. The nation that wastes not manure shall not want bread but there need be no hesitation in affirming that the opposite is equally true. D. T.fish. The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. Uuly 29, 1S71. '§mt €mtBpnkm. A General Invitation to Tiptree.— As it is desirable that both landowners and farmers should be enabled to judge whether poor land will make a grate- ful and profitable return for draining, deep and clean cultivation, and good manure, those who desire to see my farm are at liberty to do so at any time between this and harvest, which, we expect, will commence on August 13 or 14. I paid ^23 an acre for this land nearly all freehold, in 1841, and it has been heavily cropped ever since. As an instance of what such land may be made to produce, I will quote Willow Field, which produced, in 1S67, a heavy crop of Clover; ii 1868, 8 qr. of white Wheat per acre, sold for ;,;^23 per acre, without the straw ; 7 qr. per acre of Rivett Wheat in 1869 ; 39 tons of Mangel per acre in 1870; and now a crop of red Wheat, which promises an excellent crop. Next year it will be cropped with Beans, and in 1S73 with Wheat again; in 1874 (winter) with Tares, sown in October, 1873 ; followed by Kohl Rabi or Cabbage, transplanted in July, 1874 ; and in 1875, Oats sown down with red Clover. This finishes the rotation after red Clover. I thus get in nine years— one red Clover crop, four Wheat do., one Bean do., one Oat do., one Mangel do., one winter , one Cabbage or Kohl Rabi do. I consider n another iiperphoS' the My object in giving this ii been, a sincere desire tc agricultural improvements. Kehedon, Essex, July 24. favourable for this ghbourhood. ■itation is, as it always has stimulate and encourage 7. 7. Mechi, Tiptree Hall, Utilisation of Romford Sewage.— The original estimate of the population of Romford, namely, 6000, was, I believe, erroneous. The real figure I believe to be about Sooo ; however, this we shall soon know with certainty. It will be seen, therefore, that 1 100 tons daily would be a fraction over 50 tons yearly per head of the population, and not 67. This, then— or some such quantity — represents the sewage proper, and for all manurial calculations the adventitious addition of rainfall may be eliminated. A man becomes intoxicated in proportion to the amount of brandy that he has put into his grog, not in proportion to the amount of water. But it is in vain to attempt to go so deeply as "F. P." desires into a complicated question like sewage short paragraph, irrigation in the He must not suppose that he can difficulty that has not been already faced, if not solved ; and it is not possible for him to obtain answers to all the searching questions that he has asked, and that I see he has the understanding hereafter to ask, through the medium of your columns. If he really desires to sift the whole question in all its bearings, let him begin by reading my friend Professor Corfield's " Digest of Facts relating to the Sewage Question" (London, Mac- millan), and if he wants further information about my farm he will, as I said before, find it in the last report of the British Association, including analysis of thi soil, sewage, and effluent water, which will be furthe: supplemented by the forthcoming report of the com mittee. And, finally, after my return from the meeting of the Association, I shall be happy to meet him at the farm, and give him any additional information in my power. Meanwhile, I will ask him to accept as a fact my statement, that my farm is too small, even when supplemented by 20 or 30 acres of my neighbour's land, to extract the full value of the sewage. I state this as the result of my experience, and no further experience can affect this fact in any way. W. Hoh' Parsloes, July 23. ' 1 i > The Future of the Mangel Wurzel Crop is full of interest. I have watched its growth for years, nay, almost from its first introduction British root crop. It is yearly increasing Peruvian guano is said to be applied per acre ; I ton per acre is used of Peruvian guano, s phate, and blood manure in equal proporti others in similar, but not such heavy dressings plemented if required, according to the judgment of the grower, by salt sown between the rows. The fold- yard manurings, in addition, are in several cases verj heavy. The great question, however, is— does it pay, and can such management be kept up ? I fear not altogether, nor would I recommend cultivators of inferior soils to aim at such great results, although they may do much by ample artificial manurings, useful loamy soils vast weights of these invaluable crops may be advantageously grown, and they might either be consumed upon the farms where grown, or they might open a new trade by growing them for exporta- tion and sale to other districts, or the large towns. The fact is established, these crops can be produced. The best mode of their disposal is in the future. Landlords must permit their export. Tenants must lay out their money in buying aids to produce them. Railway companies must lower their rates of carriage for this heavy produce. In this way loamy soils of fair quality may all be made more useful and profitable than now. O. F. mix salt with the guano I sow, about weight for weight. Salted land should be drained. Liebig has explained to us how salt acts on the soil, more : solvent than as, per se, a Iree, July 21. 7- 7. Mahi, Tip- many favour, and much larger breadths are sown. It is fast becoming the most valuable of our root crops. The varieties cultivated have become established, i.e., the Long Reds and Yellows and the Globe Reds and Yellows, the first for deep and loamy soils, the latter for thin and light soils. The qualities have been so greatly improved, that a bad or indifferent variety can scarcely be found, and the produce now grown in many districts is almost beyond -belief. I have for many years been connected with a local agricultural society, which has for many years given a distinctive prize for the best 3 acres of Mangel Wurzel. It is astonishing to what extent our competitors will go in competing for this little distinction, and what is more remarkable is, that the crops invariably amply repay the outlay ; so that I have come to the conclusion that for the Mangel crop no reasonable amount of manage- ment and manurings can be thrown away— all will be compensated. The winner of our last year's " medal " produced 62 tons upon an acre, worth £i,(, los., the expenditure in management and manures amounting to near ^20 per acre, so that notwithstanding the outlay he was well repaid. We have many competitors this year, eight (I thmk) having declared. These eight crops will, to all appearance, be very heavy ones, estimated to yield not less than 50 tons per acre. The manurings chiefly consists of Peruvian guano, superphosphate, blood manure, salt and fold-yard manure. The extent or quantity used is enormous, but which the growers _._ _., do not readily inform us. In one instance i ton of I although f believe 30~"miies " from Ihe of 50 thri Sewage Irrigation. — Referring to "J. M.'s" remarks, I am decidedly of opinion that nothing in the shape of storage is permissible [the word ".possible" in his note is a misprint], and sewage should be dis- tributed on the land as soon as possible. I have good reason to know this, from the fact that under the system of irrigation formerly carried out here the sewage was stored in tanks, and proved a great nuisance ; decomposition set in to a great extent, deteriorating considerably the liquid portion of the sewage. I certainly recommend that land should be well irrigated before being sown, but I entirely fail to see how this necessitates storage, as "J. M." seems to think. Surely if there is a sufficient quantity of land for the proper application of the sewage, there can be no difiiculty in doing as I recommend, not only without storage, but actually preventing anything in the shape of storage becoming necessary. With respect to the quantity of sewage per acre, it is impossible, in my opinion, to lay down a precise rule. The quality and nature of the soil, the season, the crop growing or intended to be grown, and other nces of a like nature, combine to render this for the exercise of judgment and experience, rather than of a rule of thumb. I hope at some future to give the result of my experience as to the quantity of land required, but I feel that this is a matter necessitating the experience of varying seasons before definitive conclusions can be arrived at. T. G. Palmer, Tmvii Sun'cyor, Rugby. Wireworm, Crosskill's Clod-crusher, Roller, and Salt.— This implement will occasionally pay for hole cost in a single year. Mine has a block of cast-iron (5 cwt.) on the back frame, which balances the shafts, takes the weight off the horse, and add; much to the weight and efficiency of the roller. This spring I found the Wheat thrown out by frost, so, after the first horse-hoeing \vith Garrett's horse-hoe, I gave the Wheat a good Crosskilling on the heavy lands, thus giving the roots a firm foundation. When horse- hoeing a second time we were careful not to go too deep or too close to the rows. Our Wheats are 9 inches from row to row. On the light land subject to wireworm the Crosskill, aided by salt, secures our crops, that would be otherwise injured or ruined. We had an especial instance of this in the spring, on a Wheat crop which followed white Turnips, fed on the land. We sowed 6 bushels of salt before ploughing ; but notwithstanding this, the wireworm attacked it in spring, so we Crosskilled twice in opposite directions, and then sowed 8 bush, more salt per acre. This was a settler for the wireworm, which had already done much mischief The land was consoli- dated, the plants branched, and now we have a fine piece of Wheat that looks like 5 qr. per acre— very healthy, although a poor sandy and silty land. Our Barley, too, was Crosskilled and salted, and is a capital crop after Wheat on the same sort of land. 1 surprised to find how little farmers generally of this ready cure for wireworm. In former this neighbourhood, most severe losses were caused by wireworm. But see how useful Crosskill is tillage ; the great blocks of earth torn up by deep steam cultivation or subsoiling are at once crushed into powder or small square pieces, and a clean fallow can be made in a very short period of dry weather. For old Crosskill makes an unfailing impression on the most obstinate clods, and grinds the earth away from the roots of weeds. Of course it is a dry weather tool on stiff clays. After Crosskilling, a moderate rain to soften and pulverise the diminished clods. This has been in use for 28 years, and it has done much work on many other farms. I am a great believer in salt ; I have used some 150 tons on this farm. I see that along our salt-water coast, and for )me distance inland, the crops are healthy and fine. /e know that in stormy weather salt from the sea- ater travels a long way. I have been told that the indows of our Royal Agricultural College at Ciren- he (Mr. Howard) was -'— have been coated with salt after a severe gai ' ' ' " Labourers' Cottages.— There is no doubt of the excellence of the plan for double cottages which you publish, and which Mr. Bailey Denton says that he has built in several parts of England, but I do not perceive from the plans as published in what particulars they are an improvement upon Messrs. Richardson & Ross's plan. I should be much obliged to Mr. Denton (and I think that others who are interested in the subject would be equally so) if he would point out the parti- cular improvements upon the original plan ; because, as this is perhaps the very best form of cottage for general use, it is of importance that it should be made as perfect as possible, and that every possible improve- ment should be carefully considered. In one respect I think that the elevations given in my book on cot- tages are better than the one given by Mr. Bailey Denton, in which he follows the original plan. There are objections to the double gable, because the level gutter between them is liable to get choked with snow or rubbish, and then to leak into the house. I think that some of the plans for roofing with a single roof are very decidedly better than the double gable. Whilst on the subject of cottages, I may mention that the plan No. 9 in my book has lately been built on the Duchy of Lancaster Estate near Olney in Bedfordshire. Its cost is about a third less than that of such a pair as Mr. Denton's. Of course, it is not quite equal to this in point of accommodation, but I believe it to be by far the best plan of a rather cheap cottage which has yet been published ; and I have no doubt that, in proportion to the cost, it gives more accommodation than any other plan. C. W.» Strickland, Hildtnley, Malton, 7uly 21. Small Farms.— Among the various schemes of land reform now put forward, the most intelligible and practicable is that which is based upon the supposed perior advantages of small farms over large ones. Now, for carrying out this scheme, it is not necessary it should first secure general approval. If good large scale, it would be good on a small. If so, issuming its proposers to be in earnest, I would amend them to bring it to a practical proof. Instead of calling for Acts of Parliament, as the carter called on Hercules, let them set their own shoulders to the wheel, buy a farm, and divide it. For ;,f2o,ooo 500 acres of good land might be bought, and divided into 50 holdings of 10 acres each ; an addition of ^'lo to the price of each holding will cover law expense.s. And if there really be this great want felt by the Eng- lish people for small farms, surely 50 persons may be found to purchase outright, or at least by instalments. The scheme would thus scarcely cost its promoters anything, and no theoretical argument which they can would be so convincing as the actual spectacle ng and happy yeoman, forming, as the poet "their country's pride." G. S. Sumtbs. BEDFORDSHIRE. show on Thursday (last w< tk), held e capital horses — At the on the day when we go to press, 'there w classes of horses, especially of agricultura rather short classes of Shorthorns, and among the sheep a good class of Oxford Downs, Messrs. C. Howard, Treadwell, Harris, and Underwood, taking the prizes. At the dinner, held afterwards, in a tent on the ground — The President (Mr. James Howard) said that in the course of his short life he had been called upon to occupy many public positions, but never had felt more complimented by election to office than when chtsm president of this, one of the oldest agricultural societies in the kingdom. For many years he had taken a very lively interest in its prosperity, having heartily sympa- thised with its objects. It was founded for the pur- pose of raising the standard of farming throughout the county, for the encouragement of the agricultural labourer, and rewarding the meritorious. It was inau- gurated at a time when there was very little public ipirit or enterprise in agricultural affairs. Much gnorance prevailed, and throughout the greater p.irt of the county agriculture was carried on after a most primitive fashion, and the live stock was of the most retched quality. How much of the great advance \yhich had since taken place was owing to the opera- tion of this Society he would not take upon himself to say, but that it had improved it considerably ro reflect- ng mind could doubt. He w as glad to know that the society had better support now than at any former period, and when the benefits it was calculated to confer on the agriculture of the county were more fully ould be supported in a corresponding ratio. Bedfordshire, from being one of the most backward agriculture, had now become one of the most forward. (Mr. Read, ALP. : Hear, hear.) The berfor South Norfolk said "hear, hear;" when county of Norfolk, which •e gale, I had a worid-wide reputation for agriculture, he came always I to the conclusion that we in Bedfordshire were, if not July 29, 1S71.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. superior to Norfolk, at least quite abreast of it. Still, we must not suppose that we have reached perfection. Far from it. Much of the soil of this country, by being deeper and better tilled, was susceptible of being made to raise a larger produce, and by the introduction of a larger amount of capital more meat could be pro- duced. While there was such a scarcity of meat, and while we depended upon foreigners for one-third of our grain supplies, we could not look altogether with complacency on our agriculture. He believed there was not a practical farmer in that tent who would not agree with him that if all England were farmed like much of this county we should be a long way towards being independent of foreign supplies. There was one important obstacle, in his opinion, to the further pro- gress of agriculture. He believed that until the tenantry of this country enjoyed a greater security of tenure the resources of the soil would never be fully developed. Fortunately, on the great estates of this county the relations between landlord and tenant were of a most amicable nature, but throughout the great extent of England a different state of things existed. He main- tained that six months' notice to quit was altogether incompatible with high farming, and capital would never be attracted to the soil in the way it would be if the tenantry had a vested interest in the improvements they made. Dr. I^iebig had long asserted, and Mr. Lawes had proved by experiment, that to exhaust the natural fertility of the soil was absolutely impossible. No amount of bad farming could permanently reduce it, but all that could be taken out of it was " condition," a word the meaning of which was known to every man who knew anything of an animal, and this was a fact which every landlord in the kingdom would do well to ponder, and they ought not to hesitate for a moment in consenting to liberal agreements with the tenantry. Mr. Harvey had alluded to the revolution- ary doctrines which had recently been propagated on the land question. He {Mr. Howard) had no fear that the rights of property would be rudely interfered with if landlords did not stand in the way of progress. They knew that the tenants could not run away with their broad acres ; and now it was demonstrated that the worst of tenants could not permanently reduce the fertility of the soil, landowners would do well to consent to liberal covenants with their tenants. Mr. Magniac, M.P., said there were two sides to many questions, and young as he was in the House of Commons he thought he had heard it stated in pretty strong language, that the interests of landlords and of tenants were not always identical. He did not mean say that they were always in antagonism, but wherever there were two interests there were always two views. There was, for instance, the question of leases, the reference to which had been so well received, and I " was also the question of the Game-laws. Mr. Harvey had referred to local taxation, but he had heard men who were competent to reason that question out'saj that it depended on the rent, and that it was as broad as it was long. Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., said, in answer to Mr. Magniac, that the question of local taxation was not a question between landlord and tenant. Both these were perfectly united, knowing that local taxation . present levied was wrong, but the question was whether land and houses should pay the whole of the local : tion, and why all the other property of the country should go scot free. In foreign countries almost all industries, but especially agriculture, looked to the State for pro- tection and encouragement ; in England there was a good saying that if we wanted to do a thing well we must do it ourselves, and his advice to the farmers was, never to go to the Govemi for anything they could have otherwise. it was impossible for them as individuals to protect themselves, they therefore united in great agricultural societies, and foremost amongst these was the Royal Agricultural Society of England. Some time since, ir the House of Commons, it was proposed that a depart ment of the Board of Trade should take in hand the prevention of the adulteration of manures and feeding stuffs, but he ventured on that occasion to say that if the matter were left to the agricultural societies they could do better than any Government department, and he was glad that the Royal society had come forward and exposed the frauds to which the farmers had been subjected. BRECON-. The Management and Treatment of Grass Land. Some time ago Professor Wrightson read a capital paper on this subject before this Society. We \v give the substance of it. Professor Wrightson said the subject would be considered under three or four sections, and the follow ing headings appeared to him as allowing of an ex haustive treatment — 1st, laying land down to grass; 2d, the improvement of already existing grass land, although it may not be in good condition ; 3d, some hints on the general management of grass lands. (I.) The Laying of Landdmvn to Craw.— There was an immense difference between enjoying the possession or occupancy of old grass land and taking steps tc exchange old going tillage land into a similar condition. The reason was obvious. It required time to give tc old sward its characteristic verdure, vigour, and thick ness of cover. The new laid was at once known to practised eye by its sparse vegetation, want of icity under foot, and upstart appearance. The first question he had to answer was : " Why is this difficulty met with ? How is it that land cannot be made to grow abundant grass crops as certainly t grows com and Clover ? " He would ask them to call to mind the appearance of an old piece of grass land which had been just ploughed up. They might picture it situated in a clay arable land district, and when they made the comparison they would be at once struck with the marked difference between the newly broken up land and that which had for years been under the plough. If they looked at the land which had previously been pasture and which had been recently broken up, a peculiar black colour, an absence of stones, a friability and lightness of texture, and a large admixture of organic matter would be at once observed in contradistinction to the brick-like furrow, yellow or red hue, and stony character of the arable furrow. This black, friable, stoneless character of newly broken-up grass land was the result of the long-continued action of two or three simple forces. In the first place, there was the decay of successive generations of grass roots, which left organic matter in the soil, and tended to render it friable. Then, in the second place, there were the untiring labours of the common earthworm, which, but for Mr. Darwin, would, perhaps, have remained unknown. The earth- worm obtained its nourishment by passing earth through its body. After it had absorbed certain nutritive properties from the earth, it expelled what it had taken in the form of earth-casts. The consequence was a continual top-dressing of the land. Sometimes their grass land might take well for the first year or two, and then they, perhaps, languished, and it was years before they had that character of land which was known as old permanent pasture land. This threw some light upon the difficulty of laying down arable land to pasture. Arable land, after it had been worked by the plough for many years, was apt to become very tenacious ; and if grass seeds were sown upon it, they could imagine what would be the result at first. Then there was another difficulty connected with newly-laid grass land, and that was with regard to sowing the proper seeds. It was found that various grasses were suited to various localities ; and, there- fore, if they went to a London seedsman and got a mixture of grass seeds, and sowed those seeds into the land about to be turned into pasture, they would pro- bably find that there were many grasses which were not suited to the locality in which they had been sown. They might then get an improper mixture of grass seed, and if they did the wrong varieties of grass would have to die out. But they might not only get an im- proper mixture, they might get seed of bad quality. He could not approve of that plan which had been sometimes recommended, viz., sowing the hay seeds of the neighbourhood. If they examined the Tables of the growth of grasses, in which the period of the ripening of various grasses in pastures was worked out, they would see that there was an immense difference in the time of ripening. Some grasses ripened as early as the beginning of May, while some were as late as August. How could they then expect to get hay seeds all cut at the same time in equal perfection. Some of them would be over-ripe, and some not ripened. In the next place, with reference to the laying of land doivn to grass, he thought that they would agree with him that it was necessary that the land should be clean and in good condition. With reference to fer- tilising power, it must be clean. If it were laid down when it was full of Couch, they would find that these pernicious weeds would overpower the grasses. Then, as to the time of year at which it was best to sow the seeds. The beginning of the year was the usual time, say April ; but of late years, Messrs. Lawson had recommended that grass seeds should be sown in autumn. He was unable to give an opinion, but emi- nent seedsmen had held that August was a better time than the spring. Then there was a very important question which arose, viz., whether they should sow their grass seeds with a crop or without a crop. He had come to the conclusion that the plan of sow- ing grass seeds with a crop was the one which would be most wisely and generally followed. He thought this was the best plan on the score of economy. If they sowed land without a crop, they would have to go to great expense, and if it were done by a tenant he should be assisted by the landlord. But whether the landlord or the tenant undertook the work, he thought it was important that there should be a crop. The crop, he thought, would act as a shelter to the seed, and any exhaustion from the crop might be replaced by a dressing of manure. He thought that, theoretically, laying down without a crop was the best, but the laying down with a crop was the most likely to reimburse the sower. Now, with reference to the best methods of sowing glass seeds. He should assume, then, that they were sown in the month of April, and either upon Wheat or Barley. One point which they ought to remember was, the delicate nature of the seeds with which they had to do. Mr. Stirling, in experiments he made, had taken great pains to ascertain the depth at which these seeds would germinate. The experiments were made upon a fine mould, which was kept moist. It was found that the large majority of grass seeds ger- minated at a depth of one-quarter to half an inch ; only half the seeds germinated when the depth was half an inch to an inch and one and a half inch ; and if they examined the Tables giving the results of these experiments they would find that few, if any, of the seeds germinated when they were buried at a greater depth. When, therefore, they were sowing grass seeds it was necessary that they should see that the surface of the land was smooth and in good condition. He would suggest that the use of the Cambridge roller would be the best previous treatment in pre- paration for the sowing. Then they should sow with the broadcast barrow, and bush or chain harrow. If this course were taken the surface of the soil was rendered fine, and the grass seeds were not buried at too great a depth. He should take it that a good In the next place they had to think of the after treat- ment of the young grass seeds when the crop had been removed from the land. This subject was one which demanded a great deal of attention. He thought it would be advisable, especially in the case of land intended for permanent pasture, that they should not stock the young seeds after the corn crop had been removed. They knew it had been much disputed whether Clover or Rye-grass should be stocked in the autumn ; but without entering upon this question, he thought with regard to pastures that they would be wise to keep stock off them for the first winter. It would be advisable to keep sheep out of the pastures for the first three or four years, and he would suggest that the grass should be mown rather than fed for the first season. He recommended that cattle should be kept off the young pastures, because it was important that the land should not be trodden down by the pas- sage of animals upon it, and it was important that the glass should not be eaten, especially by sheep. The homed cattle were more advisable for the laid down land than sheep, because the latter would bite closer, and therefore, were more liable to destroy the young grass. After the third or fourth year they might be more careless as to the kind of stock which they placed in the field. One of the best supports to this theory was found in an article which was contributed by Mr. H. T. Thompson to the Agricultural Society some years ago. In laying down some land to pasture Mr. Thompson had been of opinion that sheep with the " golden" foot were the best animals to bring a young pasture into condition. The sheep were allowed to feed over the land with a liberal allowance of oilcake. This was carried on for two years, and then it was found that the land had deteriorated in quality, and Mr. Thompson came to the conclusion that sheep should be kept out, and that the land should be mown for the first and second years and manured to compensate for the loss. The reason of this was to allow for the development of leaf, stem, and roots, and I to prevent the consolidation of the ground by the trampling of stock. (2. ) The Improvement of Landwhick was already in a state of Permanent Pasture. — Upon the point whether grass land should be broken up the landlord and tenant might have different opinions. The tenant having only a transient interest in the land might like to break up even his first-rate grass land, because he might think it would benefit him, but the landlord, looking further ahead, might be sorry to see such land broken up. But with reference to inferior grass land a good deal had been said about the propriety of breaking it up. As regarded clay land of inferior pasture, they knew that Tables could be constmcted to show that it would yield much greater produce if it were arable. But increased produce was not the only thing they had to consider. He had no hesitation in saying that if the greater portion of clay land pastures of a poor kind had the capital expended upon them which would be expended in breaking them up, and applied in the form of manure they would be brought into a more e improvement of land which was already in pasture a good deal had been written, and, considering the importance of the subject, a great deal more might be written. At the same time, in examining the essays upon this subject, he could not but be stmck with the fact that there was very little to be said about it. Mr. Cadle contributed a very able essay to the Journal of the Royal Agricul- tural Society upon the treatment of grass land. The simple expedients set forth in this essay were draining and liberal management. This was his opinion, and he hoped they would bear him out. It appeared to him that the apparent failure [of drainage] in grass land was simply due to the dying out of injurious grass. Drainage must, however, be supplemented by liberal treatment. The lecturer recommended a dressing of farmyard manure if it could be obtained. If this could not be obtained, guano or superphosphate would be a good substitute. He then referred to the result of the treatment of Mr. Ruck (Braydon Manor Farm). He had visited Mr. Ruck's farm, and could say that this treat- ment of the pasture lands had rendered them very much more valuable. The land on this farm was mole-drained, and not tile-drained. The land lay upon Oxford clay, and the mole-drain was used by means of Fowler's i2-horse engine, the whole process costing £1 per acre. That was cheap. Mr. Ruck then manured with Peruvian guano and superphosphate 990 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, (July 29, 1 87 1. and lime. These dressings were applied in the years '62, '63, '64, and '65, to which was added a very valuable compost by deepening the ditches, »S:c. The consequence of this was a very great improvement in the grass land. It was rather difficult for him to point out the exact improvements, but he might mention that in 1864 the land was considered to be worth 30j-. per acre, whereas the land was bought in 1862, 300 acres for ;^4000, or about £14 fee simple per acre. It appeared upon comparing the experience of many men with regard to the improvement of grass land that the idea that draining was prejudicial to grass land must be dismissed from their minds. Draining might be followed by a certain diminution in the grass, but if supplemented by manure they would find that it would be an improvement. (3.) T/it: General Mattagmwit and Manuring of Grass Land.— One: of the first points in connection with this part of his subject was the collection of the droppings of cattle. Sheep distributed their manure very equally over the land, but cattle frequently dropped their dung in one place, and thus the dung was wasted. More than this, it had a prejudicial effect ; for the next year in those spots were the manure had been dropped there would be hassocks of coarse grass which nothing could touch. He thought, therefore, that they ought to collect the manure of cattle, make it into a compost, and then proceed to distribute it equally over the land. The next point was one of some importance, viz., the even eating of grass land. They should not allow the grass in any part of a field to run to seed. There was nothing which exhausted the land so much as to allow grass to run to seed or to get too ripe. The grass should be eaten evenly, and if the cattle would not eat it evenly it should be cut. Then there was another point which was of some importance, viz., that once a-year, at midsummer, the grass ought to be eaten down bare. They ought not to stock land too early in the spring; if they did, they would find that the prospects of the whole season were injured. Stock ought to be changed from a worse to a better pasture ; and in buying stock, it was necessary that they should consider the pasture which they came from. As to manuring, farmyard manure, when it could be obtained in sufficient quantity, would be, per- haps, the best for improving permanent pasture, but there would probably be difficulty in getting a suffi- cient quantity. The lecturer then referred to the experiments which Mr. Lawes had made at Roth- amsted. There certain plots of land had been portioned out for the growth of grasses under different treatments. These experiments had been carried on for a long series of years, and proved that under certain treatment thegermenacious or true grasses preponderated greatly, that under different treatment the legummous (which included Clover) grasses were produced in greater quantity, thus demonstrating that some manures had the power of developing certain species of grass. After expressing an opinion in favour of the use of farmyard manure if it could be obtained in sufficient quantity, he referred to the use of bone manure as a means of improving grass land, observing that a few years ago a good deal of excitement was caused by the wonderful effect of bone manures upon the grass land in Cheshire and in other parts of England. They had a great effect, but they would not find that the appli- cation of bone manures, or superphosphates, was inva- riably attended with great improvement. The lecturer concluded his address by observing, that he hoped to hear the opinions of the practical agriculturists present upon the subject he had been speaking of. Discussion. which followed the reading of make the following brief From the d the above paper, extracts : — tof 1 farm at Aberdare about nine years ago. Everything had been allowed to go to ruin. He tried superphosphate, and soon the land appeared all white. He was asked what he had been doing. Had he been sowing lime? "No," he replied; and he showed to his querist the beautiful white Dutch which had come up. Mr. Overton said he could vouch for the astonishing benefit which had been conferred on the land referred to by Mr, Jones by the use of superphosphate. The land was situated in a most bleak position, but good crops of hay had been raised on it. Mr. Overton then referred to a case in which he had used superphosphat( fully, but said, perhaps his failure was the n application. He thought they should be the time when they applied manure. If applied about the month of April they would be likely to get the showers which would serve to dilute and convey the beneficial qualities of the manure into the land. He must say that he felt a good deal of interest in the subject, because he agreed with the able observations of the gentlemen who had moved the vote of thanks, th.at the time had come when they must direct their attention to ther.aising of beef and mutton. The price of com was so low that it was impossible for the farmer 10 grow it to advantage. In that neighbourhood they had a wonderfully good market for their meat, and the present prices were highly remune- rative. They had a large mining district surrounding them, and it was important that agriculturists should turn their attention more to the growth of beef and mutton than to cereal crops. lotras 0f i00hs. Vera Foster's Drawing Copy Books. Marcus & Co., 67 and 68, Chandos Street, Covent Garden. We are possil^ly indebted to the article on the contrast between the ideal and the real in the common portraits of prize animals, on p. 8S3, for the specimen which has been sent us by the publishers of one of their series of copy-books, in which natural objects, trees, animals, architecture, man, are presented as the copies by means of which facility in the use of pen and pencil are to be acquired. The figures of cattle given as copies in the example before us, numbered 08 of Mr. Foster's series, seem to us exaggerated in an artistic sense rather than natural. The West Highlander is fairly drawn ; the Ayrshire and Shorthorn, of the same size, and giving the outlines of gaunt old cows, are unsatisfactory. Neither the Devon nor Hereford, though they are better, are exactly what one wants ; and the Kerry exhibits the fault of being presented as of the same size as the others. Certainly the specimens do not exhibit the fault to which our article called attention, as characteristic of the drawings of prize animals — they do not exhibit pampered monsters, of sleek and rounded symmetry. Farm Memoranda. A South American Poultry F.-vrm.— I propose to describe a poultry farm, where fowls are kept by the thousand, whose proprietor counts his gains therefrom proportionately. It is situated in the southern extremity of Chili, South America, where the rainy season, of six months' duration, is as detrimental to the well-being of all fowl kind as the rigours of our own winters, and where great care and skill is very essential to satisfac- tory results. Senor Don San Fuentes commenced his operations in poultry with a stock of 200 hens and eight cocks, to which he has added thereto, by natural increase from year to year, until now he has somewhere in the vicinity of 6000. Their range is unlimited, as his farm covers 3000 cuadras, equal to 7500 acres. To every 50 hens and two cocks is given a house of their own, of which there are 600 or 700 on the place. These are placed 200 feet apart, each way, thus isolating one lot from the other. These houses are very cheap affairs, and are made by erecting two forked posts, 8 feet long and distant from each other 15 feet. On these rests the ridge-pole. On both sides of the centre post, 10 feet distant, a trench is dug, a foot in depth. Then small poles are placed for rafters, one end in the trench and the other tied to the ridge-pole, 2 feet apart, then another set of poles tied crossways, also 2 feet equidistant, and the frame- work is complete. This is covered over with thatch, which is found in plentiful abundance, and to be had for the cutting. The only framework about the house are the doors at the ends, both of which are 4 by 6, and contain each a window, pivoted in the centre of the sash, to be opened or shut as the requirements of ventilation demand. Each house has its complement of 20 boxes for laying placed under the eaves, and partly concealed by bundles of straw. Near the family residence is a large building, devoted to the storing of grain and eggs ; nursery for sick hens, a long room for hatching, and another for slaughtering purposes. In the sick room is arranged a series of boxes, each one large enough for the comfort and convenience of its solitary occupant, who is there placed, and treated for its malady with as much care as if its value was dollars instead of cents, and with such skill, that the ratio of deaths has been I in 280. The sitting department is also provided with boxes, some 300 in number. Here all are brought from their respective coops as soon as their incubating propensity shows itself, and placed upon their quota of eggs. Food, water, and a large supply of sand and ashes, areprovided, and the sitting hen not allowed to leave the room until she takes her young brood with her. The clutches are then "doubled up," that is, two broods to one hen, and the chickenless one sent back to her coop to resume her egg-laying. As soon as the young chicks are discarded by their mother they are taken to their future home, fifty in each lot, and the old ones back to their respective localities. The fowls are fed three times per day, and their diet so arranged as to always present a variety, although Oats is their staple article of food, and always before them in unlimited quantity. To-day it will be Indian meal, made into a stiff dough, and given hot ; to-morrow. Barley ; next day, boiled Potatos mashed and mixed with pork scraps and bran, corn broken in a coarse mill, and so on in rotation ; adding from time to time horse-flesh, or some other cheap and inex- pensive animal food. Burned bones, pounded shells, and lime are supplied in profusion. These, with what they gather on their foraging expeditions, produce a wonderful supply of eggs. During the rainy season they are not allowed to leave the coop, except the day be exceedingly pleasant, and then only for a short time. They appear to bear their confinement remarkably well, and with hardly any decrease in the quantity of eggs. While The attendants requisite to the care of these 6000 fowls are one man and four boys. The houses are thoroughly cleaned once a week, and the interiors whitewashed every three months. Every morning each lot of fowls undergoes a careful inspection, and any one found moping or otherwise indisposed is immediately taken to the hospital, and cared for ; and seldom is it but what the indisposition is cured, and she takes her place back again as well as ever. At evening the boys go the rounds to gather up the proceeds of the day's labours, which will average 200 dozen per day, the year through. "Killing time" takes place twice during the year — in the spring, and again at the commencement of the rainy season. All the early chickens are thus disposed of at a good price, and the 2-year-old Jowls decapitated to give room for the younger broods, as they are supposed to be past profitable service after the second The profits from one year's business amounted to 1 1,000 dollars. The sales were 72,000 dozen of eggs, and nearly 20,000 chickens and 2-year-olds. Mr. his stock each year, until every 200 feet of his extensive farm has its house of 50 tenants. G. F. Pearce, of Freetown, Mass,, in the ''^ Peoples Pradical Poultry Book," recently published by D. D. T. Moore, New Yorh. We sincerely regret to announce the death of Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, Bart, one of the original members of the Royal Agricultural .Society of England, whose bright eye and hearty manner we recollect so well at the first meeting of the Society at Oxford, where he was aspeaker at the banquet in one of the College squares. Sir Thomas Acland had considerably passed his Soth year, having been born on March 29, ■1787. He was the eldest son of the late Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, the gth haronet, by Henrietta Anne, only daughter of Sir Richard Hoare, of Stonehead, Wilts, and sister of Sir Richard Colt Hoare, the cele- brated Wiltshire antiquary. Her husband dying in 1 794, her son, the subject of these remarks, succeeded to the title and family estates when still quite a child ; and the mother married as her second husband the Hon. Matthew Fortescue, Captain R.N., brother of Hugh, Earl Fortescue, and died in 1841. At an early age young Acland was sent to Harrow, where he was three years junior to Lord Palmerston and Lord Ripon, and about a year senior to the late Sir Robert Peel, to whom through life he was personally attached. From Harrow he proceeded to Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his Bachelor's degree in 1808, and pro- ceeded M.A. in 1814. In 1812 he had entered Par- liament in the Toi-y interest as one of the members for Devon, and being again returned at the general elections of 1820, 1826, and 1830, he managed to divide the representation of that important county with his Liberal antagonist, but personal friend and connection. Lord Ebrington (afterwards Earl Fortescue), whose career in the House of Commons ran very much parallel to his own. He retired for a time from Parliament in 1831. He was re-chosen after the dissolution of July, 1837, as member for North Devon, Lord Ebrington being his colleague, as he had been before the county was divided by the first Reform Bill ; and he continued to enjoy his seat without interruption down to the year 1857, when he retired from public life. After that date he lived quietly at his country seat of Killerton, near Exeter, occupying himself with agricultural improvements and the duties of a resident magistrate and gentleman. Sir Thomas was created an honorary D.C.L. of O.xford, in 1831, and was for many years a deputy-lieutenant for Devonshire. He also enjoyed the patronage of several livings. By his late wife, Lydia Elizabeth, daughter of the late Mr. Henry Hoare, of Mitcham- grove, Surrey, he had a large family — two daughters and seven sons ; and he is succeeded in his title and estates by his eldest son, Mr. Thomas Dyke Acland, M. P. for North Devon, and formerly for West Somer- setshire, who now becomes nth baronet. He was born in 1809, and was formerly Fellow of All Souls' College, Oxford, having taken his degree at Christ Church as a "Double First" class. He has been twice married ; firstly, in 1841, to Mary, daughter of the late Sir Charles Mordaunt, of Walton, county Warwick, who died in 185 1 ; and secondly, in 1856, to Mary, daughter of Mr. John Erskine. The family of Acland, according to Sir Bernard Burke, is of great antiquity in Devonshire, tracing its pedigree through 23 generations of unbroken descent, from Hugh de Aden or de Accalen, who held lands at Accalen, in the parish of Landkey, Devon, as early as the middle of the I2th century. John Acland, his descendant, maintained the Royal cause in Devon with great zeal and ability, and, according to Lord Clarendon, his force was at one time the only one left to the unfor- tunate Charles throughout the county of Devon. He was created a baronet in 1644-45 J '^^'j the original patent having been lost in the Civil Wars, he obtained in 1677 a re-grant of his title, with a special clause July 29, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 991 granting him precedence from the former date. From him the baronet just deceased was sixth in direct descent. Miscellaneous. Nutrition of the Ruminants.— I must now say a few words respecting the manner in which this highly distinctive ruminating function is accompHslied. Ar ox grazes with its head swinging, as it were, easily, and crops the grass with each motion ; the sheep grazing in the same way. The head of an ox is sup ported in this swinging action by a large ligament attached to the vertebral processes, and also to the occiput, enabling the animal to move its head without the slightest strain or effort. Not having any incisor teeth in the upper jaw, nor any canines, their place is supplied by a very firm, callous pad. Vou would think it inconvenient, perhaps, to have to crop the grass without any upper teeth ; but their place being thus supplied by a hard pad, and the incisor teeth being at the same time arranged in a continuous and even series, whilst the canines are also pushed forward in such a way as to increase the breadth of that cutting surface, the act of grazing is thus carried on with the utmost ease and the least possible expenditure of muscular energy. The grass, therefore, is not bitten off, as it would be by other animals, rodents for instance, but it is simply pressed against the pad, and, the weight of the head being carried forward, the grass is merely nipped off, so to speak. This food, being thus received into the mouth in the raw condition, is rapidly carried down, in the form of pellets or boluses, until it arrives at the lower part of the cesophagus. When it has arrived there, it next passes into the great paunch or macerating tub, where it remains for a con- siderable time. It is acted upon by the secretions from the interior lining of this large cavity, and after it has become pretty well distended, the animal drinks, part of the water passing into the second stomachal cavity. The remainder enters this great macerating tub, and by-and-by, when the animal is resting, and generally lying down, successive portions of this raw material are transferred to the reticulum or water bag ; and there, being rendered much more moist, these portions are, by what we call a reversed peristaltic action, carried upwards along the gullet until they again arrive at the mouth. Here they undergo the process of remastica- tion. This is technically termed, as you know, chewing the cud. Nov/, animals do not all chew the cud exactly after the same fashion ; ordinary ruminants moving the jaw from right to left, or from left to right, and that goes on continuously for a time, perhaps for the whole day. Whichever way the motion is originally transmitted, it remains for a considerable time in that direction. But some of the animals, instead of chew- ing the cud in this continuous way, alternate the action of the jaws, making a single movement first in one direction and then in another. This method ( the camel tribe. When the bolus has been cated, and is nicely soft, it goes down again ; but this time, instead of going into the stomach, there is ar excito-motary agent, so to speak (acting like an intelli gent person), placed at the common opening of the stomachs, to direct it where it should go, and instead of passing into the first or second stomach, it takes a turn in the other direction, and is transferred to the third stomach. How does it perform this feat ? There is a most beautiful mechanism expressly constructed for that purpose ; yet not arbitrarily formed, but differentiated or evolved by a process of development. There is, in short, a little canal, which is half closed and half open ; and this so-called demi-canal, instructed, as it were, by certain reflex sensations, acts in such a manner as to ensure the passage of the bolus into the third stomach. In other words, it closes the lips of the orifices leading into the first and second stomachs. That is, I repeat, a most beautiful illustration of adaptation to a useful purpose. When the bolus has gained access to the third cavity, it is further acted upon by certain juices there secreted, and eventually passes into the fourth stomach, where, by the secretion of the ordinary gastric juice (and by the aid of other remarkable arrange- ments, into which we cannot now enter) it is finally reduced to such a condition as to be allowed to pass into the alimentary canal. Here the food is assimi- lated, being taken up by the lacteals, whence it passes to nourish the animal ; and eventually, it may be added, to nourish ourselves. However, in this legiti- mate desire on our part to nourish ourselves at the expense of the ox we have formidable competitors, in the shape of those little animals called entozoa, which are also on the look-out to get hold of the nourishment that we think we alone ought to have. In concluding this portion of my subject, let me remark that there are many other structural features of great importance ; but I do not propose to trouble you at further length with such details as belong rather to zoology or comparative anatomy than to the special object proposed in the dehvery of these lectures. I may, perhaps, on a future occasion, have to point out one or two peculiarities in connection with the camels ; but, in the meantime, I will only ask you to bear in mind the enormous length of the alimentary canal in the ruminants. It is twelve times the length of the animal itself in the camel and in the deer tribe ; it is 22 times the length of the ox, and 28 times the length of the sheep. It is over 130 feet long in the giraffe. Having dissected three of these animals, I their remarkable CiMohfs first la Baiiiu- Rumitia, tions of ParasiliS L speak with some confidence as t atomical peculiarities. Dr. Spcna e before the Society of Arts on th especially iji relation to the Opera ^\t itch's M0rK. July 2%— Odd Jobs bring up. To these reference was made at the commencement of hay harvest (Jui 17), we now bring up some working details. Winter Beans, in our southern provinces, are gen rally harvested this month. In Scotland and the north of England the crop is, for the most part, spring-sown and, therefore, later, harvest seldom taking placf before September and October. The crop is some times pulled, but more commonly cut low witl the scythe or bagging-hook, and either left ir small parcels, or in the swathe, until fit for being bound up into sheaves. Beans stand wet weather better before cut than after, and therefore, in prospect of a rain, the crop should be allowed to stand until the weather breaks up, as it will be sooner in the stack yard the one way than the other. Some allow latt crops to stand till fit for stacking, so that when cut 01 pulled, it is carried immediately and thatched ; others tie up and stack the newly cut crop. But for July harvesting, under a southern sun, neither of those plans answer unless in exceptional seasons, for if allowed to stand on its foot in roasting weather, the haulm, which makes excellent fodder, will be wasted, and if tied up into sheaves green, the outsides will be burnt to snuff before the inside is fit for the stack. The more common plan is, therefore, to leave the sheaves open and spread out, turn to prevent scorching, and then bind up when ready for carrying. At the same time, in moist weather, something may be learned from the northern practice. Ashes for mixing with artificial manures should be in store before com harvest. If the work has not already been finished, no time should be lost in getting the requisite supply into store. Now that artificial manures are used for growing stubble Turnips, and for almost all crops onwards to next harvest, it follows that a suitable supply of ashes should be in store before harvest commences. When old pastures have been pared and burned, ashes may be obtained from this source, otherwise the roadsides, cleanings of rivers and ditches, and the accumulation of vegetable mould headlands must suit the supply to the demand. Artificial Warping, where there is a command of Iter, and, of course, warping materials, may be more profitably done at this season than at any other in many Thus meadow hay and Rye-grass stubble, poor pastures. Bean, Pea, and Vetch stubble, poor sandy and gravelly land, or fenny land about to be laid down to permanent pasture, or about to be broken up from pasture to arable husbandry, may have any desired depth of clay or other warping material spread evenly over them by means of water. In most if not all these examples the water required to convey the warp will sink into the soil, thus leaving the warp on the surface, which mixed with the bottom, by means of the plough, will form a new soil. Practically apply the warp no faster than the soil drinks in the water to the drainage, whether the drainage is natural or artifi cial. Applied to burnt up, peaty, or poor sandy pastures, the warp, as soon as dry, may be chain-harrowed in, •and renovating grasses sown to suit the change of soil, artificial manure being applied as the case may require. Warp applied to the stubbles of corn, pulse, and forage crops will produce equally favourable results. And ' all these examples it must be observed that the wal which conveys the warp supplies at this season food directly to plants which it does time, and that this peculiar diflference turns the balance in favour of warping at this Sewage Farms yield, during July, from 10 to 12 tons of ItaUan Rye-grass per acre, i.e., a 31 acre field yields 12 tons daily for live stock. Mangels, Cabbages, &c., ally fast — results which cannot fail, sooner or convincing farmers of their practical value ; than this, for the present month is a favour- able one for laying down land, the moment hay and crops are removed, for irrigation, either with town sewage or doctored river water. Sundries. — Collect materials for the drainage of Land immediately after harvest ; also for new roads, ren- dered necessary by the straightening of fences and the enlargement of fields for steam culture. Carting can be done much better now than in the wmter time. Examine the homesteads and labourers' cottages, and that roofs, walls, doors, windows, stable fittings, cattle-stalls, boxes, tillage and barn implements, &c., they should be. July is a favourable time for cleaning out the mill-dam and watercourses when the threshing-machine is driven by water. Live Stock, including all kinds, require special atten- on this month, health being more or less affected by changes of temperature, bad smells, improper food and drink, and so on. The patience of the dairymaid is ly tasked at times, and the cause of the bad cream, butter, and cheese— due to the exposure of the milch cows to scorching suns, gad-flies, roast meat, and dirty and dairy utensils. And when the cows are brought home durmg mid-day, badly ventilated cow-houses are just as injurious to tlie milk as badly ventilated milk- rooms. Heat from the roof intercepts through currents, and down draughts, produced by the unequal heat of the sun on the opposite sides of the building, are easily obviated ; and spreading dry earth over the litter and droppings will neutralise bad smells— on the principle of Moule's earth closet. Give newly weaned calves and lambs the best pastures, and see that they have plenty of shade from the sun and pure water to drink. Scab, Lice and Ticks in sheep indicate a filthy state of the wool and skin; washing, therefore, so as to clean the wool and skin, is a rule as applicable to the flock as to the shepherd and his family. Put the sheep through Gwynne's washmg cage, as they do in Australia, both before and after clipping ; i.e., frequent ablutions are necessary to keep sheep clean at this season. The Fly is due to the same attractive cause — an unhealthy state of the skin, and may be obviated far more successfully by washing than by all the poisonous now in use. W. B. Notices to Correspondents. Pigs with Woems : A 21 Years Rcider. It is unusual for pigs to suffer much inconvenience from intestinal worms. The parasites which infest the bronchial tubes are very injurious, and it is not unlikely that your pigs have them. Send some specimens of the worms in a little whiskey to Prof G. T. Brown, 3, Princes Street, Westminster, and meanwhile give the animals five to ten grains of powdered Areca-nut every other day, in the TUKNIP Seed : T. F. We regret very much the delay of a week in answering your letter. We should not think it safe for the purity of the seed that Swedish Turnips, Kohl Rabi, and Rape be grown and seeded [arhels* The J METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET, Monday, July 24. supply of Beasts is shorter than last week, and we have a brisk demand, consequently prices have advanced on all descriptions. The number of Sheep is nearly the same as last week, but very small for the time of year ; they are all readily disposed of at higher rates. Choice Lambs and Calves are rather dearer. Our foreign Scots, Here- Best Long-wools I Do. Shorn t Ewes & 5 fz:T^ Best Shorthorns.. ; ad quality , Beasts 4 o — 5 o [ Do. Sho — .. j , j - Best Downs and Lambs .. ..6 8-710 Half-breds .. ..— .. Calves .. .. 4 0—6 o Do. Shorn .. 6 6— 6 10 | Pigs .. ..3 4—5 o Beasts, 3130; Sheep and Lambs, 21,525 ; Calves, 466; Pigs, 190. Thursday, July 27. We have a considerable increase in the supply of English Beasts, the number of foreign is rather less than reek. Trade on the average is not so good, and a ince is scarcely effected. The number of Sheep is larger than last Thursday, the excess being entirely in foreign ; trade throughout was not so active as on Monday, and lower prices were submitted to towards the close of the market. Lambs and Calves are selling about the same as on Monday. Our foreign supply con- sists of 370 Beasts, 6500 Sheep, 666 Calves, and 20 Pigs. Best Long-v Do. Shorn Ewes & 2d qi Do Shorn 2d quality Beasts 3 8—4 Best Downs and Half-breds .. .. — . Do. Shorn .. 6 6—6 Beasts, 1410 ; Sheep and Lambs, METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET, July 27. Best Fresh Butter i6j. per dozen lb. ENGLISH WOOL. English Wool still continues hs upward course. The advance is not very rapid, but each week some small improvement is established, and apparently this is likely to be the case for some time, as everything points to a permanently higher range of prices than we have known for the last five or si.\ years. HA v.— Per Load 0^36 Trusses. Smithfield, Thursday, July 27. PrimeMeadowHay, : Inferior c New Hay Inferior do. Straw .. Sup. Meadow Hay 1 Inferior do 1 Newdo Inferior do Clover, old . . Inferior do. . . Prime new do. Inferior do. . . ET, Thursday, July 27. : Inferior Clover ..140 often very unfairly laid to her milking-pail t Superior Ch 992 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. MARK LANE. Monday, July 24. There were very few samples of English Wheat at this morning's market, and they were disposed of at the prices of this day week. The attendance was good, and there was a moderate demand for foreign Wheat at about last week's rates, excepting for Russian, which was fully IJ-. per qr. cheaper. Barley, Beans, and Peas were unchanged in value. For Oats there was a fair inquiry, at a decline of dd, per qr. upon the prices of last Monday. Flour was unaltered. Wh iL Quarter. \s. . Sufrolk..Whtte 47— 60 — No^foIlT Barley, grind.&dist,3(wto34j..Chev. I43— 46 — Foreign . . grinding and distilling 2q— 33 Oats, Essex and Suflfblk ,26-28 — Scotch and Lincolnshire. .Potato;28— 30 — Irish Potato 1 27 — 29 — Foreign Poland and Brew 1 23—26 liHANS, Mazagan yjs. to 47^. . .Tick 49— 50 — Pigeon 5 IS. to sgj'... Winds; — — Foreign Small '45— 47 Peas, White, Essex, and Kent. , Boilers 38— 40 — Maple, 40J. to 44r Grey 36—40 rks, delivered. .per sack 42— ditto 36- per barrel 25— '33—36 Feed ... Feed ... Feed ... Longpod . [ — Egyptian. 33-34 Suffolk ..40—42 Foreign .. 1 36— 40 Foreign ..133—36 Country ..'36— 42 Wednesday, July The English Wheat on sale, but from abroad a large q was sent fonvard ; trade was not active, but prices were maintained. Barley, the supplies of which were moderate, experienred a quiet sale, at recent values. Malt was dull, but not quotably lower. The supplies of Oats were liberal, the demand was rather more active, and prices were supported. Beans and Peas were in slow request, at previous currencies. Flour was quiet, except American barrels, which being in demand for the Continent, were slightly firmer. AsmvALS Dr Grain, &c., into London by Wate R Cakwage. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Flour. English & Scotch.. Irish .. 43.'9o Qrs. 97JO Qrs. 42,^60 Sacks, lisrls. .3,3.0 1 „. 1 ... Liverpool, July 25. — There was a more numerous attendance than usual, a good many millers appearing from the interior counties, and a healthy demand was experienced for Wheat, the decline noted on Friday being nearly recovered, and prices standing about the same as on Tuesday last. Flour did not move freely, but main- tained the rates of this day week. Beans, with an increased quantity offering, declined 2s. per qr. for Egyptian. Peas unchanged. Oats and Oatmeal barely sustained late rates. For American Indian Corn there was a good sale, at an improvement of -^d. per qr. on the week. Wheat. Barley. Oats. June ,7 .. .. July 'J ;: :: 59i 7^ 59 ■■ 11 34 "0 34 7 =7 10 27 J Average .. 59 2 35 10 27 3 SEED MARKET. The last few days has been less favourable for the maturing and harvesting of seeds, which has had a hardening effect upon prices. We have had a consider- able quantity of new TrifoUum incamatum on offer, which has lowered prices 4_r. to 5J. per cwt. ; also a few samples of fine new Rape, which sells readily at about 20J. per qr. less than the old realised. Red and white Clover, hardly any in offer, jind with Trefoil held for a further advance of 21. to y. per cwt. Canary, 21. per qr. dearer. Hemp unchanged. In other articles no alteration. HOPS. Borough Market, July 26. Messrs. Pattenden & Smith report a firm and steady trade for Hops of all descriptions. Choice samples are scarce, and command higher prices. The plantation accounts are of a very unsatisfactory character ; vermin follow up the young shoots, which are very weakly from the exhausted state of the plant. COALS.- 26. West Hartley, i8i. ; Walls End Thrislington, i6r. gd. ; Walls End Hetton, i8j. 6rf. ; Walls End Hetton Lyons, i6j. 30!. ; Walls End Heugh Hall, zjs. ^d. ; Walls End Original Hartlepool, iBs. 6d. ; Walls End South Kelloe, 17s. 31/.— Ships jit miu-jiet, 17; sold, 13; unsold, 4; at •ea, fS- J. For Reaping MacMnes, N D F. iro"w°A R D, or their Auenhs^jn^anji^part^of the Kinj PATENT STEAM PLOUGH rOR may be SEEN : u Englana. y to JOHN FOWLER . jam Plough Works, Leed: WORK , 71, Comhill, [TIC PAINT. id Granitic Paint Compaiw. ists, Testimonials, and Pa ILD.Man.nuer, 3()A, KingWil Manufactured Solely and Only by the Silicate Zopissa on and Granitic Paint Company. For Particulars and Testimonials apply to THOMAS CHILD, Street, E.C. Composil For P Manager, 39A, K Latest Improvemetits HEATING by HOT WATER. "HE IMPROVED CONICAL BOILERS. for HEATING PINERIES, CONSER- VATORIES, GREENHOUSES, MANSIONS, HALLS, WARE- POLLARD, JEPHSON, lie Bury & Pollard, Success R. Peill, late Stephei G^ ^wS KSKS^^^ffi W?????3W PRrcES nu LINEAL Vakd, 24 Inches High. No. 17. No. It. 2 Inch Doss or Poultry . . . . 3Ud. .^ilnchSmlll Rabbit? Hares, J ■ Kinch'smaliest Rabbits' i! lP,d. A-Ad. „ lied. street. Siid. 7d. London, E.C. of prepared wool, and a perfect non-conductor of heat or cold where 11 IS app ic . PROTECTION AGAINST FROST. WOOL NETTING, 2 yards wide and ij. M. per yard. "FRIGI DOMO" CANVAS." Two yards wide is. od. per yard. Three yards wide 2j. 8rf. per yard. Four yards wide 31. 6rf. per yard. SCRIM CANVAS, 72 inches wide, 70 yards long. s!^i. toSJ^d, p. ys HESSIAN CANvks, do., do., 54 aid 72 inchjs wide, 6?^. : lAMFORD'S MODEL" GARDJIISJ ENGINE, FOR STRENGTH ^5 DURABILITY UNEQUALLED. PRICE LISTS & TESTIMONIALS SENT POST FREE BAMFORD 8vS0NS,UTTOXETER, VASES AND FOUNTAINS FOR THE GARDEN AND CONSERVATORY. ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE, con- taining Prices and full information concerning FOUNTAINS and VASES, and with 30 large Pages of beautifully Lithographed Designs, Post Free for 12 stamps, which will be allowed if an Order is given. ANDREW HANDYSIDE and CO., Britannia "Works, Berby ; LONDON OFFICE :-32, WALBROOK. St. Pancras Iron-work Company. I CONSERVATORIES, GREENHOUSES, &C. ARCHITECTS' DESIGNS CAREFULLY CARRIED OUT. APPLY FOR ESTIMATES TO OLD SAINT PANCRAS ROAD, LONDON, N.W, The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 993 GRAY'S Oval Tubular Boiler. INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, Class IX., No. 21 19. Mr. gray begs to call the attention of the NobiUty, Gentry, Nurserymen, Gardeners, &c., to his NEW OVAL TUBULAR BOILER. Acknowledged by practical judges to be a great improvement on every form of Tubular Boiler yet introduced It has proved itself superior to all other Boilers for quickness of action and economy of Fuel, doing its work with one-third less the amount required by any other. Extract from Report in Gardeners' Chronicle of International Exhibition^ May 24, 1862, page ^76. •' The upright form of Boiler is usually made on a circular plan, I rather than a square, it seems feasible that the Boilers on the but the oval form given to Mr. Gray's variety of it is said to be plan should bring the tubes more completely within range ol preferable in consequence of its bringing the tubes in closer contact burning fuel ; and this being so, the change, though a slight with the fire. The usual form of a furnace being a parallelogram | is no doubt an improvement." They are made of all sizes, which., with prices, may be had on application. JAMES GRAY, HORTICULTURAL WORKS, DANVERS STREET, PAULTON'S SQUARE, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, S.W. Stevens' "TRENTHAM" IMPROVED CORNISH BOILER. The Advertisers have great pleasure in calling the atti the above e.xcellent Boilers. Being of the most simple economical, and powerful ; and, in the opinion of many c the most approved form of Tubulars. They are now in u TRENTHAM GARDENS, of Gardeners, and all interested in Horticulture, tc t in wrought iron, they are very durable npetent judges, are superior to all other Boilers, even tc :, amongst other places, at — I INGESTRE HALL GARDENS, SOLE MAKERS— THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE ENGINEERING COMPANY, LIMITED, FENTON, STOKE-ON-TRENT. LONDON AGENTS— JAMES GRAY, Horticultural Works, DANVERS STREET, CHELSEA, S.W. From either of whom full Particulars, with Sizes and Prices, and Testimonials, can be obtained. BY ROYAL LETTERS PATENT. T3 U n □ LT THE MOST PERFECT HORTICULTUR.\L STRUCTURE IS THE IMPERISHABLE HOTHOUSE, Perfectly portable, formed of Glass, Iron and Concrete. No Masonry, no Brickwork, no Putty, and little Paint. Manufactured under the Patent of Mr, W. P. AYRES by the IMPEEISHABLE HOTHOUSE COMPANY, NEWARK-UPON-TRENT, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. The Company are now in a position to execute orders to any extent, for Plant and Forcing Houses of all descriptions. Railway Stations, Market Halls, Workshops, and Glass Roofs of all kinds. A BOOK of DESIGNS, with e.xplanatory particulars, will be forwarded in exchange for six stamps, and Special Designs and Estimates will be suppUed when required. HEATING by HOT WATER upon the most approved principles. Noblemen or Gentlemen waited upon in any part of the country. MANAG-EE-WM. P. AYEES, FOREST ROAD WEST, NOTTINGHAM. Q IR I. PAXTON'S HOTHOUSES for the MILLION. kJ Reduced Pnce Lists Iree. A Pamphlet, with Views of these and other Glass Roofs, for three stamps.-HEREMAN and MORTON, 14, Tichborne Street, Regent Quadrant, London, \V. Hot-Water Pipes and Boilers. J JONES AND SONS deliver HOT-WATER . PIPES and CONNECTIONS, with BOILERS of every make, free to any Station in England, for Cash with order ; or they ^f%A^ ^^ ' ^ ^^ ^ 1 GREENHOUSES from the FINSBURY STEAM JOINERY WORKS, izt, Bunh.U Row, Lond. -— -- " Lists sent on application, LASCFLLES, icesfor Houses, a : Rla2edwuhiO ■ WORKS, 121, BunhiU Row, London, E.C., s abo\ e, made of best red de; iTi o o £132 ' o o ^1238 10 o GARDEN LIGHTS AND BOXES. Its, 2 in. thick, unglazed 31. each „ glazed, 16-0Z. good sheet glass . . . . oi. „ ,, 2 in. thick, unglazed 5»- i» „ glazed, i6 oz. good sheet glass ,. 11*. „ ntaining one 6 ft. bv i ft. light, aainted four ortatjic Dox containing two ( Estimates given for Consen Portaljie box c ■ - , 3' fil ' \ ■j: ^^ n THE IMPROVED SELF-ACTING HYDRAULIC RAM. This useful Self acting Apparatus, which works day and night without needing ; any height or distance, without cost for labour or motive power, where a few feet fall led for supplying Public or Private Establishments, Farm Buildings, Railway Stations, No. No 63 No 467 GARDEN ENGINES, of all sizes, in Oak or Galvanized Iron Tubs. designed for the IMPROVED DOUBLE ACTION PUMPS on BARROW for Watering No. 49(1. GALVANIZED SWING WATER CARRIERS, for Garden use. No. 50 and S4«• M- to 2W. GARDEN WATER BARROWS GARDEN ROLLERS r,„ c GARDEN CHAIRS £' ( Society, and to most of the Nobihty, Clergy, and United Kingdom. Each Box contains 100 feet. The prices only apply t< squares 20 by r2, 20 by 13, 20 by 14, s Fourth quality .. .. 155. od .'; iSs! 6d. '.'. '.'. The above prices include the boxes, which are HORTICULTURAL GLASS. These prices only apply to the sizes st ted. M ■6 b]^ 14 1 1 4ths. 12 by 9 13 by 9 [ 14 by 9 \ '■ f j3byjo .4byr„ ,sby.o|.3 6 3Tds. 2nds. 16 0 i3 6 SMALL SHEET SQUARES ' 4 6J2 by 4I4 7 by 5 '3 Bi^ by SjI - - __Ageni 9 by 7 10 by 8 HARTLEY'S IMPROVED PATENT : full pric. ROUGH PLATE. LINSEED OIL, Genuine WHITE LEAD, CARSON'S PAINTS. PAINTS of t-arious colours ground ready for use. SHEET and ROUGH PLATE GLASS, SLATES of all sizesi ,„,„.,„„ «....-„ -. . 10LLED PLATE, ORNAMENTAL. SH PLATE, P.A.TENT PLATE, Lists of Prices and Estitr tishopsgate Street Without, E. Petersburg, for Covering and Pat description of Mats at equally low p J. BLACKBURN and SONS, I 4 and s. Wormwood Street, E.C. . per 100 ; and every other Mat and Sack Warehouse, HESSIANS and SCRIMS for COVERING 4-4 Scrim, from 2d. to 5d. per yard, advancing ^d 54-inch Hessian ajid Scrim, 3d, Md., id., ,^d. and s'Ad. 7= I. .. .. 4«A.SJ^'f|M.,6Ki,andupwardi J. BLACKBURN AND SONS, Sack and Bag Makers, and Canva Manufacturers, 4 and ^, Wormwood Street. London. E.C. Vermin: Hay Rick dispensed id depth of Feeding Troug aver to prevent over-gorging, fection, being all of Iron. Pr impervious ngs per Cow, 554. of COTTAM AND CO., Iron WorKs, 2, Winsley Oxford Street, London, "' Protection from Fire. .TKEPUBLICARE CAUTIONED AGAINST /CENTRAL ARGENTINE LAND COMPANY, ' ' Limited. Chairman — John Hegan, Esq. Agmt in the Republic—^. Harry Woods, Esq., C.E., Buenos A>Tes. Sitpen'ntenJettt—WiLLifjsi Perkins, Esq., Rosario de Santa F^. The Directors offer, on ad\'antageous terms to Settlers, either as Tenants or Purchasers, PLOTS, var>-ing from 80 10400 ACRES each, COMPANY'S LAND, situate on each side of the Centiai Argentine Railway, from the Port of Rosario to the City of Cord< : length being s rious points Tow NEW TWINE NETTING, 2 yards wide, i,/. yard i K mesh, 2 yards wide, M. per yard. HEXAGON N TING, 76 mesh to square inch, 4'Ad. per square yard. Reoa TANNED NETTING, I'yid. per yarS, 2 yards wide. RaSi NETS, FISHING NE-f'S, BIRll n'eTS. See List, post free W. CULLINGFORD, Forest Gate, LondinVE. N ETTING for FRUIT TREES, SEED BEDS RIPE STR.\WBERRIES, &c.— TANNED NETTING foi ' ■ ,e from Frost, Blight, Birds, &c., 2 yards wide. s. per \ard : ^i-inch mesh, 4 TI FFAN V. Can be had in any qi EATON and DELLER, 0 8, 7, Crookid Lane, London Bridge, EC, j^,;ED'NEf-f?NG, suited for an'y of wide. rs. per >ard : ^4-inch , inignt, niras, ate, yards wide, 6d. per y: *"^ lited for any _ s wide, 6rf^r yard ; 4 yard; TP DGINGTONS GARDEN NETTING, the cheapest -Lj and most durable, at irf. per square yard, or in quantities of aSOf 500. or 1000 >-ards, carriage free. £]5giNGT05.-S rick Cloths for 66 years have maintained their celebrity as the best. EDGINGTON'S MARQUEES for Hire, are the most elegant and feDcfNGTON'S CRICKET and GARDEN TENTS are the prettiest. o„^?p^p}L=,if„'^.*!;L^i^:?„'l^FVF',?.=liS?*^'--^ Apia, Internat le particular— FREDERICK EDGINGTON . — - Road, London, S.E. of good Second-hand " ' ' Trade. r Sale, cheap. A Libi vemment TENTS from lat'ional Exfiibition. 1862. Class XIX. Honourable ''j O No. 1, Peel Street, Manoliester, 1871 UR HORTICULTURAL SHADINGS form thorough Protection from Winds iJiVccl jrdered. Hail, whil 1 hey are used and strongly ihibitors and Scientific Honi- 1 the Continent : in fact, are " ever offered to the public ering for Strawberries, 'Tulips, :.,.they have no rival. I'he i they will last for many years. Samples post free "■ .^ DANIEL COLLINGE and SON. nches wide at 8"4i. per j-ard ru ncheswide at 7A per yard run "'h«"i5' ^tSU' ncheswide at 4i f^^ifXl^. cash in 30 days from any longer lengths when - -■-- of Invoice. Emigration of Fai Villages a laller Plots ma Settlers and BASKETS, FLOWER STANDS, WIRE WORK, JARDEN SYRINGES .. .. .. 4s 1 ' GARDEN E.VGINES 261 I GARDEN WATER Bi« GARDEN ROLLERS GARDEN CHAIRS tis oa to 10! GARDEN SEATS i6s od' 10 ios GARDEN TOOLS and WATERING POTS. PATENT LAWN MOWERS^ . . . . 235. . SuitablVforVLady." locut 14 inches .. ..jCs ojTc Suitable for a Ge WILLIAM S. BURTON, FURNISHING IRONMONGER, by apnointment. toH.R.H. the Prince of iwards of 850 Illustra- es and plans of the 20 and I, Newman Yard, most distant parts of the IRONMONGER, by appoii ■ a CATALOGUE containing u] rivalled Stock, with lists of prii ; Show Rooms, post free.— 30, Oxford Str< s, post free.-39, C ; 4,5, and 6, Perry's t o! delivering goods ;N AHAN'S This celebrated and most delicioi CREAM of IRISH WHISKIES, 'KINAHAN'S . LL ."o New Wholesale DepOt.i Ty ILLIAM YOUNGER and CO. DINNER ALE.-Sparkling and Refreshing. INDIA PALE ALE.— Unsurpassed as a Tonic rp H Sauce.— Lea & Perrins ' W O R C E S T E R S HIRE,' Unrivalled for piquancy and flavour. iPERRINS- SAUCE, the names of Lea & Perrins on th' BLACK WELL, out the World. and sold by : DINNEF The best r FORD'S FLUID MAGNESIA.— remedy for Acidity of the Stomach, Heartburn, Head- t, and Indigestion ; and the best mild aperient for delicate ins, especially adapted for Ladies, Children, and Infants. - ___ _ _FORD AND CO., 172, New Bond Street, London ; and of all Chemists throughout the World. GOUT a pain of Go HEuJlAT^C PILLS. They require no restraint o: Sold by all McliclneVendc obtained through any Chemist RHEUMATISM. —The celebrated Medicine,* BLAIR'S^GOUT ' " Debility, Stomach Co) r. each. Sold by all Chemists. I'Ad., Further particulars may be obtained at the Offices of the Company ; London— 83, Palmerston Buildings, Bishopsgate Street, E.C, ; Buenos Ayres— 87, Calie de la Reconquista ; Rosario— Terminus of the Central Argentine Railway ; viththcpians"o7t^eC 8s, Palmerston Buih GEORGE WOOLCOTT, Secrelari'. Notice. {By Appointtnent to the Royal Horticultural Societv.) . IMPLEMENT MAKERS, NURSERY- MEN, FLORISTS, and OTHERS. Newspapers, Magazines, and Periodicals, ADAMS AND FRANCIS. Advertisement Ag Brandon), purpose at "Journal Vinery, Orchard House " Office, 171, Fleet Street ; or to the Author. New and Enlarged Edition. This day is published, price Five Shillings, A PRACTICAL TREATISE on the CULTIVATION of the GRAPE VINE, by '* yard, Galashiels, lately Gardener 1 K.G. , at Dalkeith Park. The Sei WILLIAM BLACKWOOD Ai his Grace the Duite of 1 nth Edition, enlarged. t SONS, Edinburgh and London. In One Volume, crown 8vo, price 71. M. cloth. LIGHT SCIENCE for LEISURE HOURS: a Series of Familiar Essays on Scientific Subjects, Natural Phenomena, &c By. R. A. Proctor, B.A., F.R.A.S., Author of " Other Worlds than Ours," " The Sun," &c The book is principally occu- ' Light Science for Leisure Hours ; \ with short essays on inte- they are popular in the proper domain of natural science, such , lucidity, and the manner in which as the Gulf-Stream, tidal waves, somewhat difficult investigations tornadoes, earthquakes, and and deductions are made interest- I other similar topics. The ing and easy to the non-scientific J well deserve the title of mxnA."— Glebe. on: LONGMANS, GREEN, and CO., Paternoster Row, E.C. 'S ANTIBILIOUS PILLS.— consist of a careful and peculiar admixture of the of the Camomile. They will be found a most ly for derangement of the digestive organs, aad They efficacious remedy for for torpid action of the speedily ^emo^■e the irritation and feveriah spasms, correct the morbid condition of the liver and organs subser- vient to digestion, promote a due and healthy secretion of bile, and relieve the constitution of all gouty matter and other impurities, which, by circulating in the blood, must injuriously affcc* the action of the kidneys ; thus, by removing the causes productive of so much discomfort, they restore the energies both of body and mind. To those who indulge in the luxuries of the table, these Pills will prove highly useful, occasioning no pain in their action, unless they meet with an unusual quantity of acrid bile, jmd acid matter in the stomach and bowels. To Europeans on their arrival in India or China they are preservative against the fatal disorders peculiar to and unhealthy condition of the liver which is so often the earliest antecedent of severe febrile and constitutional disturbance. It must be understood that these re not recommended as containing any new or dangerously ingredients ; on the contrary, they are characterised by a remark- 0 possess depends as much upon the selection c nusual labour and attention bestowed upon 1 paration,asupon the acknowledged peculiarity . forms of indigestion it will not, perhaps, lat they have been resorted to under all systems of diet, changes ite, or atmospheric alternations, with an extraordinary degree ;ess, for upwards of 70 years. This celebrated Family Aperient ; had throughout the United Kingdom, in boxes, at u. iJs'^-i I/. X%d., 2». 9**-, 4*. I 996 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [July 29, 1871. THE BOILER PROBLEM SOLVED, April 14, 1871. MANLEY HALL, Manchester. Gentlemen, — In reply to your letter, I have pleasure in stating that the works executed by your Firm, extending over the last nine years, have proved in all respects satisfactory. During the late severe winter the Boilers have acted efficiently and to my entire satisfaction. I am, Gentlemen, yours faithfully, SAM MENDEL. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S GARDENS, Regent's Park, London, N.W. :imony in favour of Weeks's April 12, 1871. Gentlemen, — I have much pleasure in adding my ; Patent Duplex Boiler. It does its work well and satisfactorily, being both economical in fuel and labour, and, in my opinion, cannot be surpassed in heating power, the late severe season having fully tested its capabilities. I may add that the amount of 4-inch pipine heated by this one boiler is about 4600 feet. WM. PASFIELD, Clerk of Works. 4/>n7 4, 1871. GOODWOOD, Chichester, Sussex. Gentlemen, — My opinion of your Upright Tubular Boiler remains unaltered, as I have never seen anything to equal it during my experience in gardening. Our new works have given the greatest satisfaction. I remain, Gentlemen, faithfully yours, GEO. CAMERON, Gardener to His Grace the Duke of Richmond. ^/W/ 6,1871. CASTLE GARDENS, Cardiff. Gentlemen,— I have much pleasure in stating that the Upright Tubular Boiler and Heating Apparatus supplied by you here has in every respect perfectly answered my expectations. Respectfully yours, EDWARD N. COX, Gardener to the Marquis of Bute. ^/oy 9,1871. KITCHEN GARDENS, burghley. The Upright Tubular Boilers set here two years back continue to meet my entire approval. One Boiler is doing the work which usually took ten. I have worked these Boilers sixteen years in many parts of England, always finding them there when wanted. I may add, if honours and medals were given to Hot- Water Apparatus manufacturers, John Weeks's breast would be covered with distinction. R. GILBERT, TT_-j /-'--J ._ .L„ n»__. jsjQtale the Marquis Exeter, of Burghley. Head Gardener to the Mo THE GARDENS, Wilton House. years since your Upright Tubular Boiler \ April 12, 1 87 1. Gentlemen,— It is now , . . _ here, and it gives me great pleasure to be able to say that during that time it has cost a farthing in alterations or repairs. We have 5000 feet of piping attached to it, which heats 15 early forcing-houses and plant stoves. I find no difficulty in burning any kind of fuel in it, having used nothing but small cinders for some weeks past, with an occasional lump of coke when the weatlier is severe. During my experience I have proved neariy every kind of boiler, and can with confidence assert that yours is the most powerful and economical, and requires less attention, than any I have tried. I am, Gentlemen, yours respectfully, THOMAS CHALLTS, Gardener to the Earl of Pembroke. April 10, i%l\. THE GARDENS, Severn Stoke. Gentlemen,— In reply to your note, 1 am glad to say that the whole apparatus is in perfect working order, and gives every satisfaction. I have, during the last 10 years, worked a variety of boilers, but for power and economy I have not found one to equal your Upright Tubular ; and to surpass it, I am convinced, is an utter impossibility. Therefore, I have much pleasure in adding my testimony to its very superior merit. I am, truly yours, H. ROWBREE, Gardener to the Right Hon. the Earl of Coventry. April \a„ \%1l. THE GRANGE, Alresford, Hants. Gentlemen,— I find your Upright Duplex Tubular Boiler more economical in the consumption of fuel than the old Saddle, and does not require so much labour in stoking. During this last severe winter we were able to bank our fires up at half-past ten, and find the temperatiu-e all right in the morning. I remain, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, ROBERT BAKER, Gardener to Lord .\shburton. April %,iSii. RUXLEY LODGE. Gentlemen,— The Upright Tubular Boiler which you fixed here, gives ei satisfaction. From my own experience in working your boilers, I have no hesita in saying that I believe them to be the best boilers in use. I am, Gentlemen, yours, &c., J. HOWIE, Gardener to the Right Hon. Lady Foley. April u, l?,^u ASHTON COURT, Bristol. Gentlemen, — I am happy to state that the Horticultural Buildings erected by you here, during the past nine years, continue to give Sir Greville Smyth and myself every satisfaction. As for the Heating Apparatus, nothing could be more satisfactory, the two boilers at the Court Gardens, fixed in 1862, not having cost one shilling for repairs, and, so far as one can judge, are as sound as when originally fixed. I may further observe that during 40 years' experience as head gardener almost every descrip- tion of boiler has fallen under my supervision, and without the least hesitatioti I impartially state that none have equalled Week's Upright Tubular. I prefer them with a safety expansion pipe, filled with rainwater, kept clean, and in constant operation, 'to these rules, I believe they will last for 20 years. am, Gentlemen, yours obediently, WILLIAM DODDS, Gardener to Sir Greville Smyth, Bart. April 6, i%1i. LEYBOURNE GRANGE, West Malling. Gentlemen,— It gives me much pleasure to inform you of the great satisfaction I have received from your New Tubular Duplex Boiler that you sent me last season. Of all boilers at present in use for heating horticultural stmctures there is nothing to equal the above for heating power. A boiler of such great power as the Duplex I should think offers great advantages to the successful heating of large public buildings of every description, where a certain amount of heat is often wanted within a very limited space of time. Your Duplex is the kev to success.— I remain. Gentlemen, yours truly, WILLIAM BOWMAN, Gardener to Sir Joseph Hawley, Bart. Afiril &,iSti. the GARDENS, Drayton Manor. Dear Sirs,— 'Vour Upright Tubular Boiler has successfully and economically worked our Forcing department (2540 feet of piping) for upwards of seventeen years, without a single mishap of any kind, and when examined with the view of testing its soundness, about four years ago, it was found thoroughly sound, and to all appearance equal to the like term of years again. During the late severe winter I found no difficulty in maintaining the desired temperatures, and that by banking up the fires at 10.30, as in ordinary seasons. OWEN THOM.VS, Gardener to the Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel, Bart., G.C.B., M.P. THE GARDENS, Beddington house. Gentlemen,— You are at liberty to make use of my name in any way you think proper respecting your Upright Tubular Boiler, as it has given the greatest satisfaction here. I remain. Gentlemen, your obedient servant, THOMAS PENFOLD, Gardener to the Rev. A. H. Bridges. ^/)n7i5, 1871. STANSTED PARK, Emsworth, Hants. Gentlemen, —I have much pleasure, no^v that we may consider the winter past, to let you know that your Upright Tubular Boilers have done their work to my entire satisfaction : and if it were necessary for me to make a change, it would only be to substitute the Duplex Compensating for the old Upright Tubular, for I believe the Patent Duplex Compensating Arrangements have made the Upright Tubular Boiler as near to perfection as it is possible to be. I remain, Gentlemen, yours respectfully, GEORGE THOMPSON, Gardener to Mrs. Dixon, Stansted Park, Emsworth, Hants. Hooley Hall. ■ork for the last great superiority over any Aprin,l?,^u THE GARDENS, Sirs,— Having had your New Duplex Patent Boiler six months, I have much pleasure in bearing testimony tc other boiler that I am acquainted with. I have found it to be most powerful, quick its action, very moderate in fuel, and so constructed that it requires very little attention. I am. Sirs, yours truly, JOHN JACQUES, Gardener to J. C. P. Cunliffe. Esq. April 18, iSyt. WIDMORE LODGE, Bromley, Kent. Gentlemen. — It is rather out of my line) of things to recommend anything, but in reference to your inquiry about the Upright Tubular form of Boiler, I may say I am quite satisfied with it. Giving .all other inventors and manufacturers of hot-water boilers due praise for tr}'ing to meet the growing wants of horticulturists, yet, to Mr. Weeks alone, we, ^& gardeners, have to date the first steps in alleviating the mid- night ordeal of young gardeners. 'The Upright Tubular Boiler has stood the test for years, and even now. as far as my experience goes, there is no other form of boiler equally powerful and so easily stoked. I remain. Gentlemen, yours respectfully, PETER M'PH.'IIL, Gardener to C. Telford, Esq. April 11,, \%^l. THE MOUNT, Bishopstoke, Hants. Gentlemen, — I have much pleasure in reporting upon the working of your new Duplex Upright Tubular Boiler, and feel that I cannot do better than give a correct statement of its operations. Previous to the removal of the old boilers, our average consumption of fuel was, during winter, about 10 tons per month, and with the new boiler it averages from 5^ to 5^ tons, thus saving a little more than 4 tons per month. The quantity of piping heated is about 2300 feet. T may also add that we have a much stronger command of heat in every house and pit than we ever had with the two old boilers, which were of a large size. The whole apparatus now acts most satisfactorily, and further, I, having had upwards of 40 years' experience with almost every descrip- tion of boiler, pronounce most impartially for the new Upright Tubular. I am. Gentlemen, your obedient sei-vant, THOS. LOWE. April \o, \%^l. THE GARDENS, Haneury Hall. Dear Sirs,— I am much pleased to to be able to say that the Duplex Boilers you fixed here some time ago do their work well, and need as little care and attention .as it is possible for boilers, doing the work they are doing, to need. We have never worked, but for trial, more than one, and that has needed nothing more than to be cleaned once a year. We have power enough to work double, or even treble, the houses we have here at present. I am. Sirs, yours truly, WILLIAM BISHOP. .^/«7 14, 1871. NORMANHURST COURT, Battle. Messrs. Weeks & Co., Gentlemen,— We have one of your No. 5 Upright Tubular Boilers here, heating about 3400 feet 4-in. piping, with little trouble and great satisfaction. I am. Gentlemen, your humble ser\ant, GEO. SMITH, Atrii\\,\%n\. iWERNE HOUSE, blandford. Gentlemen, — After tw^elve months' trial of your Patent Duplex Boilers, I feel perfectly satisfied with them in every w-ay, and beheve them capable of doing any amount of work you may require of them ; they are very simple, and easy to manage, and a great improvement on your other boilers where only one boiler is required. ' I remain, yours most obediently, E. JAMES, Gardener to Thos. Bowyer Bower, Esq. ^/«'/i4, 1871. HALL PLACE, Leigh, Kent. Dear Sirs,— I give you the liberty of using my name in any way you please thai will add weight to your testimonials. Nothing can answer better than your Duplex Upright Tubular Boilers, and I am very pleased with their operations ; they act admir- ably. I could expatiate at some length upon the merits of your old pattern boilers, having worked them for a number of years, but have no doubt that the Duplex arrange- ment is a valuable improvement. I am, dear Sirs, yours truly, JAMES KETTLE, Gardener to Samuel Moriey, Esq., M.P. For full particulars of Boilers, additional Testiinonials, and Illustrated Book of Designs (12th Edition), apply to J. WEEKS AND CO., HORTICULTURAL BUILDERS AND HOT-WATER APPARATUS MANUFACTURERS, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, LONDON, S.W. Editorial Communicatiors sliould be addressed to " The Editor ;" Advertisements and Business Letters to " The Publisher," at the Office, 4T, 1 Printed by William Richards, at the Oflice of Messrs. Bradburv, Evans, & Co., Lombard Street, Precinct of Whilelriars, City ot London, 0 Office, No. 41, Wellington Street, Pariah of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, in the said County.— Saiurdav, J uly »), 1871. t Garden, London, W.C. and Published by the said 'Wll.l.tAH THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. No. 31.— 1871.] SATURDAY, AUGUST 5. Registered at the General I Price 5d. Post Office as a Newspaper. ) POST Free, sld. CONTENTS. LEADING ARTICLES, 6-c. Education ques Royal Agricu Wheat, improvi Yorkshire Agricultural So- KEIV GARDEN PLANTS- Cj-pripcdium md Kectarine ; appearance e Caterpillars and Dinner-table decoration HOME CORRESPONDENCE- Drained and undrained 102; Galls on Rhododendrons . . 100; Grape growing at Kingston PM^lSitons Alpha Potato disease, the.. Ventilating plant VOTICES OP BOOKS- FLORISTS' FLOWERS- FARM Delarran Lodge, Galloway 1024 OEITUARY- Henry Trethewy 1025 CALENDAROFOPERA TIONS Farm work of the week .. 1025 Notice to Subscribers. THE SUBSCRIPTION to the GARDENERS' CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE is jCi 3s. lorf. for 12 months, including postage to any part of the United Kingdom. May be had of all Booksellers. IPublished by VV. RICHARDS, 41, VVeUington Street, Covent Garden. Condition of tbe Fruit Crops, 1871. IHE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE for SATURDAY, Aug "May be had of all I and Vellington Street, Covent A GROUND at MALVERN, AUGUST 22, 2,. and 2j, when PRIZES to the amount of ONE HUNDRED and TWENTY POUNDS will For List of Prizes and Rules, &c., apply to Mr. I. S. HAY'WOOD, 26, Broad Street, Worcester, Hon. Secretary to Ht or to ALBERT BUCK, Secretary, Worcestei Peaches, Nectarint ting in Pots.- Pears, Apples, Figs, Apricot and Seed Merchant, Worcester Pots. Descriptive Pri RICHARD SMITH, Nurs i Seecl Merchant, Worcester. MITCHELL'S renowned ROSES are NOW in BLOOM, the largest stock and the best plants in England. This magnificent Collection are all propagated in the open ground, possessing a hardy constitution suitable for all climates. Pilt Down Nurseries, Uckheld, Sussex. if Gardeners' Chronic w New Roses, 1871. ILLIAM KNIGHT offers a selection of TWELVE NEW ROSES, the finest of this season's plants, now ready, n immense stock of extra strong Plants, in pots, for Bedding, CATALOGUE I H. Berl NEW H. P. ROSE, LOUIS VAN HOUTTE Houtle (Granger). Bushy, own root, strong, 2J. 6d. In autumn. N.B.-L. V H.'s BULB CATALOGuTl, No. 139 O, is ready for delivery, containing also PALMS. CALADIUMS, S.-C. No 140 P. inclu.. .. ,, white-flowered, /"• "• quality, in great variety^ and beautiful calAolar cineraria fineb Lion separately, }..u. (plain S icolor): Peter Grieve, ibilee, and Inimitable {large Bronze, yellow Zonal); Anne ktzer and other select "l-oLlia SUCc6LENTra°?o°he'r Ipecies, illustr"ating the grot SEMPERVIVUM, ECHEVERIA, SAXIFRAGA, & group of HARDY DWARF Established 1793. JOHN K. KING, Seed Grower, Coggeshall, Essexj will be happy to supply his unrivalled Hardy Prize Stocks of MANGEL WURZEL, SWEDES, and other 1 URNIP SEEDS (carefully selected from large roots), at moderate prices. Large purchasers supplied at FARM SEED LISTS post free- Catbage Seed, for present Sowlnifr For the GARDEN, for SOWING at ONCE,- UTTONS' IMPERIAL, thi. ENFIELD MARKET* EARLY DWARF YOR; NONPARIEL, ROBINSON'S CHAMPION DRUM- HEAD COMMON DRUMHEAD, or FLAT ; Free ; 5 p JAMES CARTER AND Co., Seedsmen to the (Jl-een and the'PRINCE of W 237 and 238, High Holborn, London, W.C. J. C. WHEELER & SON NURSERYMEN, GLOUCESTER; and 59, MARK LANE, LONDON, E,C, For Present Sowing. Q U T T O N E GRASS SEEDS FOR ALL SOILS. Carriage Free. ro H M. THE Queen and H.R.H. THE Prince < Wales. iwn at the Eastern Annexe and French Court of the London International Exhibition.) SUTTONS' PERMANENT , PASTURE MIXTURES, for any BUTTONS' RENOVATING MIXTURE of FINE GRASSES ! CLOVERS, for Improving Pasture- -'•- ■" >-- •• ■ will effect a great im - succeeding Hay Cro| improvement in the quaUty and quantity of tl EARLY SHEEP FEED, by sowing ITALIAN RYE-GRASS,^Jhe.^'— Three bushels per acre, if sown alone 2 bushels per acre. Lowest pnce per quart. IMPROVED jrod ipal Sewage Farms. TRIFOLIUM INCARNATUM (ITALIAN CRIMSON CLtJVER), the best Clover to produce an abundant supply ot green rood in Sow'28'lb'.Ter acre alone, or t6 lb. per acre with Italian Rye-grass. BUTTONS' MIXTURE of RArlD-GRUWIl CLOVERS, for feeding ne>it November, ano crop for mowing or fieding u. May and Ji us'bei^ per a Lowest price per bushel or quarter on appucai Five per cent, off fer cash payment. SUTTON AND SONS, SEEDS.MEN to the Queen, and H.R.H. the PRINCE 0 READING, BERKS. August 5, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 999 ALEXIS DALLIERE, Nurseryman, Faubourg de Bruxelles, Ghent, Beleiura, begs to offer the undermentioDed Plants, which will be ready for sending out in and after August :— 100 well-assorted AZALEA INDICA, with buds, nice specimens, 100 do. CAMELLIAS, with buds, beautiful plants, £6. 1 HOTEIA (SPIR^A) yAPONICA, '■i5 of CALADIUMS. los. DRAC/ENAS, PALMS, FERNS, MARAN- Ornamental Foliaeed Stove and Greenhouse sizes of which will be sent on application to REES AND CO.'S BIPHOSPHATED PERUVIAN GUANO (Registeted Trade Mark, Flying Albatross), is now readv for delivery in q^uantity and in fine condition. ^ It is believed to Delivered in 2 cwt. oags, eacn 01 wmcn is secureo oy a leaaen seai, bearing the Company's Trade Mark, The anzilysis is guaranteed so [ificial Manure yet produced. if Ainmonia with Salts of PotasI I Street, London, E.C. REES AND CO. Limited), MANUFACTURERS of the BIPHOSPHATED PERUVIAN GUANO, and other CHEMICAL MANURES, beg leave to inform their Customers, and others, that they have REMOVED Irora 32, King William Street to their new and commodious Offices, 58, OLD BROAD STREET. E.C. rpi PURE DISSOLVED BONES. CONCEN fRATED AMMONIACAL MANURE, forTop-Dressing. PURSER'S BONE TURNIP MANURE. SUPERPHOSPHATE of LIME. NITROPHOSPHATE. MANGEL, HOP, and POTATO MANURES. Also PERUVIAN GUANO (as imported by Messrs. Thomson, Bonar & Co.), NITRATE of SODA. SULPHATE of AMMONIA, &c. 116. Fenchurch Street. E.C. EDWARD PURSER, Secretary. w Cleanly and inodorous. 305. testimonials on application. Principal Agent :— W, P. BARBOUR, 3. Park Row, Leeds. Tlie Cheapest and Best Insecticide. OOLEVS TOBACCO POWDER. Of all NurseO'roen and Seedsmen. " "D H Y T O S M E G M A," -IT or PLANT CLEANSER, destroys Scale, Mealy Bug, Red Spider, &&, without injury to Plants : 6d. and ij. per bottle. The NEW SHOWILRER, for applying the above, 6d., is. and ^'Whofes'ali of T. A. POOLEY, Susses Wharf, Wapping, E.; and Retail of ail Nurserymen, Seedsmen, and Florists. cheaper. ' «i>" ^^ -"'^ G\RDEN VASES, FOUNTAINS, &C., in Ani durable and of superior finish, and in great variety of design- F, AND G. KOSHER, Manufacturers, Upper Ground Street, Black- friars, S.E. ; queen's Road West. Chelsea. S. VV. ; Kingsland Road. E. Agents for LOOKER'S PATENT "ACME FRAflES" PLANT COVERS and PROPAGATING BOXES; also for FOXLEY'S PATENT BEADED GARDEN WALL BRICKS. Illustrated Price Lists free by post. The Trade supplied. RNAMENTAL PAVING TILES for Conservatories, Halls, Corridors, Balconies, &c., from 31. per square yard more elaborate designs, with o WHITE GLAZED TILES, for Lining Walls of Dairies, Lard. Kitchen Ranges, Baths, &c. Grooved and other Stable Paving of gi durability. Wall Copings, Drain Pipes and Tiles of all kinds, Rool Tiles in great vanety. Slates, Cements. &c. F. AND G. ROSHER, Brick and Tile Merchants.— See addresses abc SILVER SAND, fine Fine 14s., Coarse 17s. per Ton Delivery by Cart within three mil ■Wharf, ar. per Ton extra. Sampl. FLINTS and BRICK BUP ■"- PEAT or LOAM supplied at _ _ F. AND G. ROSHER grain In Truck Loads to any London Raiiwi f Sand free by po! RRS for Rockeries or Ferneries. KENT any quanti •s promptly executed by Rail or 10 Wharves. A Uberal discount to tic Trade Great Reduction in Prices for 1871, OF GREEN'S PATENT SILENS MESSORS NOISELESS LAWN MOWING, ROLLING AND COLLECTING MACHINES. During the last few years our Machines have been sub- mitted to numerous practical tests, and found to possess all the advantages in working and keeping a Lawn in the greatest possible state of perfection. We therefore have no alterations to report, as they are unnecessary. his been gi\en in ill ciscs of competition They are warranted to be superior to any others. We guarantee them to give entire satisfaction otherwise they can be returned, free of cost to the purchaser With the increased facilities we possess for the Manufacture of Lavm Mowers, we are enabled to Sell them at a reduced rate on former years, as will be seen from the following Scale of Prices :— 8 inches . . Price £: Can be worked by one person. (• This can be worked ,, i5 „ .. ..60 o|byjn^e^person on an ,, i3 700 By Man and Boy. .. 20 7 10 o '.'. 24 '.'. ■■ ■■ 8 10 o ," T. GREEN if SON have pleasure in announchig that the demand for their Lawn Mowers this season far exceeds all previous ones, and from this fact they are led to believe that the machines of their manufacture are held higher in the estimation of the public than ever. Prices of HORSE, PONY, and DONKEY MACHINES on appUcation. 1^^ Repairs executed with efficiency and despatch, both at Leeds and London Establishments. GREEN'S IMPROVED PATENT ROLLER, FOR LAWNS, DRIVES, BOWLING GREENS, CRICKET FIELDS, and GRAVEL PATHS, Suitable for Hand or Horse-power. 0I161 PRICES of ROLLERS, fitted -witli Shafts, Suitable for Pony or Horse-power. Diameter. Length. jC s. d. \ Diameter. Length. ,£ s. c These ROLLERS possess many advantages over all others ; they are made in two parts, and are free tc revolve on the axis, affording greater facility for turning, and the outer edges are rounded off, or turned inwards, thus avoiding the unsightly marks left by other Rollers. They are manufactured of the best materials, and are got up in a manner surpassing any ever yet brought out. The ROLLERS, 24 by 26 inches, 20 by 22 inches, and 16 by r7 inches, are also made in one part, at a reduced price : and for Rollers of that size, will be found answer many requirements, as the handle can be reversed to either side of the Roller at pleasure. PRICES. 24 inches by 26 inches ^^400 16 Scotland. THOMAS GREEN and SON, Smithfield Iron Works, Leeds ; and 54 and 55, Blackfriars Road, London, S.E. prices and full information ( ceming FOUNTaKs' and VASES, and with 30 latjje pages beautifullv Lithographed Designs, post free for 12 stamps, which A. HANDYSIDEandCO., Britannia Works, Derby. London Office— 32, Walbrook. Insects on Plants. thoroughly moisten i of this Apparatus, liquids may be diffused over Plants in noisten them, without rufflrng or disturbing the most deli- ., or foliage. Besides these advantages, great saving of the liquid is effected. A ' ' — ";d by the Vaporiser is equal to a pint applied by isinfectant Distributor, for Sick Rooms, it is Jnyaiuable. means of a sponge, ;ssof be obtained di or of their Age spray preventing a single part thus the whole of the Disinfecting Liquid used eration at once, without fear of damaging the •ec't"from P,\RRand ATHERTON, Notting- its throughout the country. I be forwarded to any address in England on By Appolntinent to H.R.H. The Prmce of Wales. ">ARTON'S PATENT STABLE and HARNESS ROOM FITTINGS, BRACKETS, Slc. Patronised by H.I I. the \"i.;Lr,,y . T l.^M.:, \\^'z Kin^'of the Belgians, the Kingdom, and adopted by the first Architects and Builders of England and the Continent. Illustrated Catalogues sent on receipt For ALTERATION of STABLES a competent person can be sent , . London, E. iVATORY and ORCHARD-HOUSE GLASS. White Lead, Oils, Colours, Brushes, b-c. GARDEN ENGINES, PUMPS, SYRINGES, INDIA-RUBBER Glass for Garden Forposes. AMES PHILLIPS AND CO. beg to submit their REDUCED PRICES a London Agents RTLEY'S IMPROVED PATENT ROUGH PLATE. LINSEED OIL, Genuine WHITE LEAD, CARSON'S PAINTS. PAINTS of various colours ground ready for use. SHEET and ROUGH PL.'iTE GLASS, SL.ATES of all sizes, BRITISH PLATE,PATENT PLATE,ROLLED PLATE.CROWN, SHEET, HORTliuLTURAL, ORNAMENTAL, COLOURED, and every description of GLASS, of the best Manufacture.at the lowest terms. Lists of Prices and Estimates fonvarded on application to JAS. PHILLIPS AND CO., 180, Bishopsgate Street Wilhsul. E-C. The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 5, 1871. ORMSON'S CONSERVATORY. INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1862. i mMmK&jj^,^, ^''£^^^gS!'^"S ^^f^^f^^^w- ' 1 w^ 71 1 ) 1 ilL ^_ J'^-S-li OPINIONS OF THE PRESS (Extracts):- " As a First-class Designer and Manufacturer, Mr. Orinson stands unrivalled."— .5<;//'j Weekly Messenger. " No object in the Horticultural Department attracts the eye sooner than the splendid Conservatory erected by Henry On T/te Illustrated London News. " This construction, howevf commendation on account of its of King's Road, Chelsea."— but is worthy of the highest only stands first among the Conservatories at Kensington, and indeed of any we have ever fitness ior the purpose for which it was made."— TVic Illustrated News of the World. The beauty of this structure is as good a lesson of the value of iron as any that could be furnished in the whole Exhibition."— G,!?-rf««n' Weekly M, H. ORMSON having a most complete Set of Steam-Power Machinery, is in a position to execute Orders with the greatest despatch, and at considerably reduced prices. FIRST-CLASS IRON AND WOOD CONSERVATORIES, Of the most chaste and elegant design ; VINERIES, PINERIES, PEACH HOUSES, FORCING HOUSES, GLASS CASES FOR WALL TREES, PITS, &c. Designed and built, combining all the latest Improvements, so as to answer their intended purposes without risk of disappointment. PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, AND ESTIMATES ON APPLICATION. ORMSON'S PATENT WROUCHT-IRON CONVOLUTED BOILERS. H. ORMSON also supplies a select variety of other forms of WROUGHT-IRON BOILERS, for heating large or sinall quantities of pipe. PRICES, a-c, SENT BY POST. HENRY ORMSON, HORTICULTURAL ARCHITECT, BUILDER, AND HOT-WATER APPARATUS MANUFACTURER, STANLEY BRIDGE, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, LONDON, S.W. August 5, iSyi.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Aefricultural Gazette. Indestructible Terra-Cotta Plant Markers. "AW AND CO.'S PATENT.- Prices, Printed Patterns of Ornamental Tile Pavements for Conscr\'atories, Entrance Halls, &c. MAW and CO., Bcnthall Works, Broseley. M^ CULTIVATOR PATENT STEAM PLOUGH Agricultural County in England. For particulars apply to JOHN FOWLER , London, E.C. ; and Steam Plough Works, Leed: SEEN at WORK For Horse Rakes, Under Royal Patronage. PHILLIPS' ROYAL POTTERY, WESTON-SUPER-MARE. Established 1836. JOHN MATTHEWS, late Phillips, Manufacturer tf of STATUARY, FOUNTAINS, FLORAL ARBORETTES, VASES, EDGING TILES, &c Plain and Ornamental GARDE^t POTS. POTS, with movable bottoms, made to order. See Specimens in the EXHIBITION, No. 4321, and STAND at the Royal Horticultural Gardens. JOHN MATTHEWS, Royal Potter>-, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. iRUSSIAN WOOD GARDEN STICKS and TALLIES, commended bv the Royal Horticultural Society. Cos' :os's Quay, L il of the print ipal Seedsmen. Prices 1 SLATE, for Gardening and Agricultural Purposes. &c. GARDEN BO.XES,not liable to rot, can be made of any size. [Prices from 351. DUST BINS, clean, take un little space, and do not deHy '""' CORN BINS, CONSERVATORY SHELVES. CISTERNS, CATTLE and PIG TROUGHS, CUCUMBER and MELON FRAMES, &c. ALFRED BRABY, Bangor Wliarf, Belvedere Road, Lambeth, S.E. The Alexandra Palace and Muswell Hill Estate Tontine. (TO TERMINATE ON THE 30th JUNE, 1886.) This being a " Trust," Subscribers incur no Liability. Certificates representing 850,000 Guineas (of which xs. of each Guinea is to be appropriated to Insurance of Subscribers), will be issued at the following Rates : — A (or Single Bight) Certificates .. .. each £1 10 1 D (or 50 Right) Certificates .. .. each £52 10 0 B (or 10 Bight) „ .. .. ,, 10 10 0 E (or 100 Bight) „ .. .. „ 105 0 0 C (or 25 Bight) „ ....,, 26 5 0 I Payable on appUcation. CERTIFICATES PASS TO AND ENTITLE THE BEARER:— 1. To participation in the proceeds of sale of the property if the representative life upon which the Tontine privilege depends shall be living on the 30th June, 1886. 2. To the receipt from a life assurance of the sum of 205. in respect of each Guinea paid upon any Certificate, if the representative life shall die before the said 30th June, 1886, 3. To admissions to the Palace and Park, according to the number of Rights. | 4. To participation in Art Union Distributions proposed to be hereafter established. The acceptance of a Certificate involves no liability. The rights and privileges of Certificate holders are governed by the Trust Deed. The whole nett Income of the undertaking, after defraying interest charges and management expenses, will be devoted to the improvement of the Property, and also (when power is obtained) to Art Union Distributions. (JOHN CLUTTON, Esq., Whitehall Place. -Do^v^™ /THE LONDON and COUNTY BANK and BRANCHES. i' JOHN HACKBLOCK. Esq.. Bolton Gardens. isanJiers j .j-jjj. ^j-j-y BANK and BRANCHES. Auditors— JOHN BALL, Esq., and JOHN YOUNG, Esq. ■R^r%tov« / '^I'^ssrs. WALKER AND LUMSDEN, 9, Old Broad Street, E.G. JirOKeiS j Messrs. HOGGINS AND ROWSELL, i, Threadneedle Street, E.G. Solicitors— Messrs. COPE, ROSE, a.\d PE.\RS0N, 26. Great George Street, West- Secretary-THOMAS DIXON, Esq. [minster. Trustees nOHN HACKBLOCK.'Esq., Bolton Gardens. I JOHN HORATIO LLOYD, Esq., Inner Temple /LORD FREDERIC KERR. Executive P"^ ^^'- WISEM.A.N, Bart. ^^^}^7L \ JOHN PARSON, Esq. Committee l-iiv.pc: r:r,nT->Qr,M u JOHN ALLDIN MOORE, Esq. GRANVILLE R. RYDER, Esq. CHARLES M.^GNAY, Esq. ROBERT FOWLER, Esq. Offices— 5 and 6, GREAT WINCHESTER STREET BUILDINGS. CONTRACT for PURCHASE of PROPERTY, advantageous Contract I " ..... free from inSini ranee, of the A exandra Palace Park and Lands at Muswell Hill, Homsey, in the county of i'^i^.o^ii OBJECT of TONTINE. -The INSTITUTION. Th^E^o'Sis^n thus to provide for all classes of the inhabitants of 1 especially of it: "t ?h ° SoS't'h fcenii S'n V u'sei m t. with the lighter pleasures and pastimes of the of the late Prince Consort. SZlMenedtfeVs ART UNIONS. ABRIDGED PROSPECTUS. SINGLE CERTIFICATES MAY OBTAIN PRIZES of £500 EACH for 21J. le value represented by the Prize Tickets is to be applied wholly In furtherance of this desiRn is proposed that the chief portion of the profit- after making proper provision for managen other charges, should tie applied. It is intended to apply to Parliament for power to dc whole of the surplus income to Art Union -■ • ■ ■orX"i SSero7ch?nce^n'e ;CSoo to L-2. ivery Certificate in respect I that the fund for distrlbu- 1 the prizes will range from :ive Five Pr! Alexandra , isibic for the holder o s of £^S'^ each for 1 [NSURANCE of CERTIFICATE HOLDERS. l>lished Insurance Company has agreed, in consideratioi nt to them of a premium of one shilling for evcrj' A (or sir [jficate. and so on in proportion for any plural rights i ..one shilling for each right), to pay to the holder j^i for e id on such certificate upon the death of the representai lect of which the Tontine privileges depend, if such dt Eforc the 30th June, 1886, provided such Certificate shall previously surrendered, or the bearer -"^ "^ *" — '-'^' ■especi of the right representing such gui Union Dis : will absolutely c( distributed ; ; or Certificate holders CONTRIBUTIONS INCURHo LIABILITY.and must BENEFIT. Thus every subscriber of 21s. and upwards to the Tontine, or the lolder for the time being of his Certificate (the same not having been jreviously surrendered) will, in addition to the privileges of entry to he Park and Palace as enumerated in the full Prospectus obtain the repayment, in case of the death of the representative life or lives, of zoi. of every 21s. paid by such subscriber, or will have previously For full particulars see detailed Prospectuses, which, with the Forms of Application for Certificates, can be obtained of the Bankers and their Branches, the Solicitors and Brokers, and at the Offices of the Tontine, as above. least £2 in the Art Union Distribution in respect of >n, and will.when the Tontine ceases, have, in respect s of which the representative life shall be then in to a share in the proceeds of the Tontine property. dly increasing value of Building Land near London lo doubt that at the expiration of the Tontine, in I5years, 0 be then distributed amongst the holders of Certificates rticipate will be of enormous value. TED in TRUSTEES. All the landed propert)' 1 Tontine will be vested in Management Company to m; of the Tontine (the 30th of Ji The Purchase Contract, the Trust Deed, the Insurar and the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company may be perused at the Offices of the Solicitors. PROSPECTUSES. Prospectuses (with an outline sketch of the Palace) and Forms Application for Certificates may be obtained of the Secretary at t : Solicitors. Agencies for the receipt of Applications will shortly be advertised. APPLICATIONS for CERTIFICATES. JanKers at the time of the payment of the deposit ; Lted, shall v\\\ be noticed unless the siim of au., inrespect of each single ri^^ht, ; specified for plural rights applied for as above sts ; is made the subscription will be returned in full, John Warner & Sons, Hydraulic Engineers, Bell and Brass Founders to Her Majesty, Manufacturers of Hydraulic Macliinery of every description, Wind Engines, Water Wheels, Water Rams, Deep Well Pumps and Frames for Horse or Hand Power, Garden Engines, Swing Barrows, &o., &c. Branch Pipes for Rubber Hose, with Jet and Spreader, or with Haswell's Patent Director, from 3s. 6d. Syringes from 5s., or, fitted with HasweU's Director, 12s. 6d. Lists sent on application. 8, CRESCENT, CRIPPLEGATE, ^^ LONDON EC WARNERS AaUAJECT Jseful for every variety of p flowers or^Treef in Oif de No- S47A. wash.nKUa GARDEN ENGINE, laying bust ! Gallons . . . . ^f 3 o o Price complete . . 316 o Small size for the ..510, hand, asanordi- . . 5 13 o I nary Syringe . . GARDEN or FIRE ENGINE wateS 'barrow. ^2 a 0,38 2 140I50 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 5, 1871. Thomas Thornton, HEATHERSIDE NURSERIES, BAGSHOT, SURREY, .Vade a visit to the extensive Nurseries here, the and South-Western Railway, where Conveyam intended arrival. Invites from the Count, Famborough, on tlie Lond receipt of an intimation of th The stock is in very I quantities ORNAMENTAL TREES and SHRUBS, RHODODENDRONS in great quantity, ROSES, FRUIT TREES, LAURELS, PORTUGAL LAURELS, and other EVERGREENS; a large stock of Green and Varie- gated HOLLIES, VINES, &c. : all at moderate prices, and everj thing has been well transplanted and is well rooted. condition, and includes large quantities of LARCH, SCOTCH, SPRUCE, PINES; CONIFERS of every description, FOREST TREES in_ great A SPECIAL OFFER to the TRADE of MANY THINGS will soon be ready, and can be had on application. ^^ NEW CRIMSON PRIMROSE, W FBIMUIjA jafonica. Mr. William Bull Begs to announce that he is NOW SENDING OUT this NEW HARDY PRIMROSE. It has been recently figured in the "Florist and Pomologist," " Floral Magazine," and "Botanical Magazine," and the opinion of every one who has seen it in blossom may be expressed in the one word, " lovely ! " When exhibited before the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, it was voted a First-class Certificate by acclamation. The " Florist " says of it,—" Hail I Queen of the Priinroses I for s its introducer designates the lovely flower we now figure, which : hardy as a peasant, resplendent as a princess. It is lust len yeai reacheTEngland rewarded, and from seeds imported by Mr. Fortune plants have beer " ■ ■ ■ ■' ■ lent ot Mr. W. Bull, of Chelsea. Our garden: ,ew, thoroughly hardy, and exguisitel] ally valuable on account of its inlrinsu have thus secu lovely Primros. ihmcnt ing atmosphere IS' F London, an perfectly healthy, ant lowered under glass.' layed for the first time to the I .t which we now figure, when Mr. W. Bull exhibit! present year. Its history is now well known, at nuch cannot be said. To Mr. Fortune, already ; lid magenta colour, a The plants now offered are very strong and healthy, in 4-inch pots, and wiU be sure to bloom beautifully next spring. Early orders are respectfully solicited to insure having the strong plants, for the demand is expected to be very large. Price lOs. 6d. each, or £4. lOs. per dozen. Coloured Plates can be suppUed at is. bd. each. Those wishing to add this splendid Primula to their gardens are recommended to pro_cure "' imported Seed should be offered this season, it can scarcely be expected to grow, many times during a period of 10 years, but they always failed to vegetate, except in country in a special manner. ESTABLISHMENT for NEW and RARE PLANTS, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, LONDON, S.W. CARTER'S NEW ONION SEED FOR AUTUMN SOWING, GROWN from PRIZE BULBS, as EXHIBITED, EXPRESSLY for J. CAIWER AND CO. i NEW NEAPOLITAN MARZAGOLE ONION.— The earliest Onion in cultivation. If sown in the autumn, Onion will come into use in the month of March. Price Is. and 2s. 6d. per packet. NEW GIANT ROCCA ONION of NAPLES.— Special Certificate Royal Horticultural Society, December 1869. Weight of bulb exhibited, 3 lb. 9 oz. Per packet, Is. NEW GIANT WHITE TRIPOLI.— Four of the heaviest bulbs together weighed 9 lb. 3 O! NEW EARLY WHITE NAPLES.— Special Certificate Royal Horticultural Society, J specimens. Weight 3 lb. 7 oz. Per packet. Is. NEW RED ITALIAN TRIPOLI.— Special Certificate Royal Horticultural Society, Dec, bulb, 2 lb. II oz. Per packet. Is. packet, Is. 1870, for thri 1869. Weight of Mr. James WoodhoI'SE, Sidley, says ;. jn."— ?»<(y 25i 1871. EVIDENCE OF aUALITY. [ pulled up your Giant Tripoli Onions yesterday, and to-day ' ■ *" • ' \ believe they would have grown still led up your C 5 to ■§« inch, JAMES CARTER and CO., SEEDSMEN TO THE QUEEN AND THE PRINCE OF WALES, 237 and 23S, HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON, W.C. w M. PAUL'S RO inspection respectfully it ful ffvbrid Perpetual fRl NOW in BLOOM, iovited. Amongst Novelties arc the NCESS CHRiSTIAN, PRINCESS bcr of other English BEAIRICE, PRINZE ^LEOPOLD, and Foreign Seedlings. Trains from Bishopsgate Sution, Great Eastern Railway, and St. Pancras Station, Midland Railway, to Waltham Station, in about half an hour. Entrance ftom the platform, VValtbam Station. PAUL'S Nurseries, Waltham Cross, London, N. New Begonia. BEGONIA CARMINATA, an elegant tuberous-rooted Hybrid of the " boliviensis" group. The leaves, which are narrowly ovate acuminated and biserrate, are stained with a coppery brown tint between the veins, while the Flowers are large, of a pretty delicate salmony hue tinged with rose, the males having four oblong; segments upwards of an inch long, — - Flower while o 1 plants, n 1 and Rare w Plcasu PRIZES for Open Compel For Stove or Greenhouse 1 payment of an Entrance Fee s'talk. Intending Exhibilo before Saturday, August a : J. HARTLEY. Sec J^OYAL SHOW HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, SOUTH KENSINGTON, W. VARIEGATED PELARGONIUMS. &c., AUGUST 2. AWARDS of the JUDGES. Class r.- GOLDEN VARIEGATED ZONAL (TRICOLOR) PELARGONIUMS. Group of any number not exceedmg six Seedling Plants. (Open.) ist, Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing, Stanstead Park Nursery Forest Hill, i;5 5S- zd, Mr. C. Turner, Royal Nursery, Slough, £3 3s. Class z.— The best PLANT selected from the above Class, rst, Messrs. Downie, Laird, and Laing, for Pelargonium Adonis, In Classes i and 2 the Prizes arc offered by W. R. Morris, Esq., F.R.H.S. CLASS 3.— Collection of VARIEGATED PELARGONIUMS. (Open. 2d,' Messrs. r"g.' Henderson & Son, The Wellington Nursery, St. 3d, Mr° T.Ves'tridgc^The Greenway Nursery, Uxbridge, ^i. Extra, Messrs. F. & A. Smith, The Nurseries, West Dulwich, loi. —One GOLDEN VARIEGATED ZONAL (TRICOLOR) PELARGONIUM. (Open.) St, Mr. C. Turner, for Pelargonium Miss Morris, 15J. d, Messrs. Jas. Carter, Dunnctt & Beale, Nurserymi and 238, High Holbom, for Pelargonium Prince of 1 d, Messrs. Bell & Thorpe, The Paddock Nu Avon, for Pelargonium Macbeth, 5*. Class <.— One SILVER VARIEGATED ZONAL (TRICOLOR) PELARGONIUM. (Open.) St, Mr. C. Turner, for Pelargonium Mrs. Rousby, igj. d, Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son, for Pelargonium Candidate, iw. Class 6.— One GOLD and BRONZE ZONAL (BICOLOR) PELARGONIUM. (Open.) St. Messrs. Downie, Laird, & Laing, for Pelargonium Marfechal Class . &c., 237 Stratford-on- Laing, for y, New McMahon, iv- d, Mr. J. Keeie, lieck gonium Conquero Class /.-One GOLDEN-LEAVED (SELF) PELARGONIUM. St, Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son, for Pelargonium Golden Circle d, Mr. C. Turner, for Pelargonium Golden Gift, loj. Class 8— One SILVER-EDGED PELARGONIUM. (Open.) "' T. Pestridge, for Pelargonium Blushing Bnde, r— 1. Mr. G. Macintosh, Nurseryman, Ac, Hammersmith, for Pelar- gonium latcripes grandiflorum, lOJ. Class lo.—One NOSEGAY PELARGONIUM, in bloom. (Open. ) - ■ "Pelargonium Charles Dickens, ijj. , Messrs. Bell & Thorpe, 1 Florist, &C., Woolwich, One ZONAL PELARGONIUM, in bloom. (Open.) " " ' '■ r Pelargonium Triumph, Jules Elyse, lo*. St. Mr. J. Mann. Nurserj'man. Brenti d, Mr. C. Turner, for Pelargoni Double-flowered ZONAL PELARGONIUM, in bloom^ (Open). Dunnett, and Bcalc, for P [ Laing, for Pelargonium \ r Lcmoine, Class 13.— Six CLEMATIS, hardy, ist, Messrs. G. Jackman & Son, Woking Nur5er>-, Surrey, £3. Class 14. -Early PLUMS, single dish. (Open.) ist, Mr. J. Douglas. Gr. to F. Whitboum, Esq., Loxford Hall, Ilford, 2d, Mr. B. Porter, Gr. to Mrs. Benhara, Sion Lodge, Isleworth, lai. Class 15.— Collection oi GOOSEBERRIES, la fruit of each variety. (Open). 2d ' Mr J. Sharp, 6r. to W Martin, Esq., Shcrmanbury, £\. 3d, Mr. J. Beach, Gr. to C. J. Herries, Esq., St, Julian's, Scvenoaks, X GOOSEBERRIES, Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing, Bronze Pelargoniums Mr. H. Hooper, Vine Nursery, Carnations, Picotees, Cloves, Pansies, and 1 Messrs. Bell & Thorpe, for Boxes of cut blooms of I Mr. H. Cannell, for Stand of Zonal Pelargonium bio Mr. E. Shenton, Botanic Nursery, Biggleswade, Pink Flower of Eden August 5, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1003 N Noteworthy Horticulturists and Botanists. OTICE.— A SERIES of PORTRAITS of NOTEWORTHY HORTICULTURISTS and BOTANISTS inc published in the "GARDENERS' CHRONICLE ANr JRAL GAZETTE." The followi Dr. Hooker, C.I ' The following application to the Pi Wilson Saunders, F.R.S.: .RICHARDS,4i, Wellington Street, Covent Garden. Condition of the Fruit Crops, 1871. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE for SATURDAY, August is, will contain a FULL and TABULAR STATEMENT of the CON- DITION of the FRUIT CROPS throughout the United Kingdom. May be had of all Booksellers. Price sd. ; post free, slid. Published by W. RICHARDS, 41, Wellington Street, Covcnt Garden, W.C. Si|e6arkners*C|r0mcIe SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1871. THO WE have before us some elaborate statistics relating to the results of the EXAMINATIONS of Young GARDENERS,',held by the Royal Horti- cultural Society and the Society of Arts respec- tively, from December, i865, to July, 1870. These statistics were compiled by one whose name appears most frequently on the honours list, and are, we have every reason to believe, substantially correct. During the period named 54 youths were e.xamined by the Royal Horticultural Society. Of these, two gained the associateship, the highest honour open to them, after a special examination ; II gained double first-class honours, i.e., first- class certificates in both floriculture and fruit culture. At the Society of Arts, out of 37 candi- dates, eight obtained double first honours, while eight were awarded first-class certificates in floriculture only, and two in fruit culture. Seven of the young men above alluded to managed to carry off double first honours from both Societies ; 18 second-class, and 12 third- class certificates, viz., Floriculture, 1 1 first, 7 second, 6 third ; Fruit culture, 4 first, 1 1 second, 4 third. Chiswick has been represented at the Royal Horticultural Society's examinations during the period in question 38 times by 19 pupils. These 19 pupils have gained in all ig first-class, 35 second-class, and 15 third-class certificates, thus distributed : — Floriculture : 14 first, 18 second, 4 third-class ; fruit culture: 5 first, 17 second, 11 third-class ; showing, as will be seen, either that the young men are much less efficiently trained in fruit than in flower culture, or that the exami- nation (in fruit culture is more a tax on the memorj', in supplying fruit lists and diagnoses of fruit, than it is a test of cultural knowledge. The 19 first-class certificates gained by Chiswick, were won by eight of her pupils. Kew has been represented at the same exami- nations by an equal number, viz., 19. Of these 19, nine managed to carry off between them the 15 first-class certificates which fell to the lot of Kew men. At the Society of Arts, Kew men have gained 8 first, 14 second, and i third- class certificate ; or in floriculture 5 first, 7 second ; and in fruit culture 3 first, 7 second, and I third. At the Society of Arts examinations it appears that Chiswick has only sent out five pupils, but those five were good men, as witnesses the fact that they carried off between them 4 first and i second-class certificate in floricul- ture, and 3 first and i second in fruit cul- ture. These Chiswick lads, all honour to them, managed to appropriate money prizes to the amount of ^37, while six of the Kew men were lucky enough between them to win money prizes to the extent of ^130— the small amount, as compared with Kew, being accounted for by the smaller number of candidates for these prizes, and the more frequently repeated trials made by the Kew men. Besides the public establishments of Kew and Chiswick, 35 young men, from various private establishments throughout the country, have offered themselves for examination by one or both societies during the time under review. Of these 35 six had been at Kew, and two at Chiswick for a time. At the Horticultural Society's examinations 16 of these outsiders presented themselves ; of whom one gained the associateship, while to the rest were allotted 14 first-class certificates, 11 second- class, and 5 third-class ; or, in floriculture, 1 1 first, 3 second, 2 third-class certificates ; and in fruit culture, 3 first, 8 second, 3 third. At the Society of Arts 24 outsiders gained 10 first-class certificates, 24 second, and 20 third; or in Floriculture 6, 12, 12, and in Fruit culture 4, 12, 8, respectively — showing either the same rela- tive deficiency in a knowledge of fruits and vege- tables, and their culture, that is observable in the young men sent up from public establish- ments, or a style of questioning not calculated to elicit what the candidates really do know. The latter have, as might have been expected, rather a preponderance of good men as repre- sented by the numbers of honours-men as contrasted with those sent out from private esta- blishments, where too often the instruction given is of the "happy go lucky" order. Still the " outsiders," or eight of them, have succeeded in gaining money prizes to the extent of ^So. Some few of the young men in the list have also distinguished themselves in various other exami- nations, including those of the Science and Art Department, in such subjects as Botany, Vegetable Physiology (though it is remarkable how few young gardeners have studied these subjects, and how deplorably ignorant the mass of them are of the very important scientific rudiments of their craft). Arithmetic, Zoology, Animal Physiology, Political Economy, Chemistry, Electricity, Book-keeping, Mensuration, Geography. This is a rather imposing list of subjects, it is true, but it is equally true that the proficients have been very few, and that, as happens in most examina- tions, the man most advanced in any one subject is also pretty sure to be well up in many others. We should greatly like to trace the career of these certificated gardeners and to ascertain whether, other things being equal, they have suc- ceeded in obtaining for themselves better terms than fall to the lot of most youngsters, who become gardeners. Our own impression, from what we know of the position of several of those who have taken honours, is, that they have commanded better positions than the undecorated youths. Six of the certificated young men at least are in India, all Kew men, holding good positions. Several others are known to us in this country holding considerably better positions than the majority of those who have not thus given a pledge of their industry and ability. Considering the amount of forethought and intelligence required even by a second or third- rate gardener, we are grieved and surprised to see the comparatively low estimate in which the fraternity is held by the general public. We believe this arises from many causes, and fore- most from the want of a proper healthy pro- fessional organisation among gardeners — an organisation which would bind the gardeners together in the same way that the several colleges and universities serve as a bond uniting their members— an organisation which shouldgradually establish an unwritten code regulating the duties of gardeners to their employers, to one another, and to themselves, in the manner most advanta- geous to all — an organisation which should lead gardeners to depend on themselves more and on the nurserymen less. We do not know how such an organisation could be more efficiently, though perhaps slowly and gradually, built up than by the creation of a healthy esprit de corps from the beginning, such a one as is naturally the result of the friendly competition in the class rooms and examination halls. We hope that in future the number of candidates for examination will be greatly increased, for it must be admitted that the number that have hitherto presented them- selves is but small compared with the number of young gardeners dispersed throughout the king- dom. The number at the Society of Arts this year shows a considerable falling off, though one at least of the candidates has managed to gain the first prize in fruit and flower culture from the Society of Arts and the Royal Horticultural Society, and to secure an honorarium of ^20. This should be an encouragement to others. While adverting to the Educ.vtion Ques- tion it seems apropos to introduce in this place some extracts from a recent discussion on the subject in the House of Commons, wherein we are told that : — Sir J. LuBEOCK moved, " That, in the opinion of tliis House, it is desirable to modify the new code of regulations issued by the Committee of the Privy Council, in such a manner as to give more encouragement to the teaching of history, geography, elementary social eco- nomy, and the other so-called extra subjects, in the elementary schools of the country." He observed that so far from these subjects interferingwith reading, writing, and arithmetic, they would greatly promote them, and he quoted the evidence in support of his opinion. Elemen- tary social economy was one of the subjects which it was of great importance to teach in our public schools, and the evidence of Professor Huxley was very strong upon that point, it being slated by him that a knowledge of social economy would tend in a material degree to put an end to strikes. The British .Association and the Associa- tion for the Promotion of Social Science were also agreed upon the point that elementary education should be ex- tended to a much greater degree than was proposed under the new code. The schoolmasters would naturally look to the new code as the guide they had to follow. At first sight the arrangement of the new code appeared to be perfectly fair. Fifteen shillings a head was the sura to be granted by the code, of which 6^. a head was to be for attendance ; but he contended that the division of the money might be susceptible of great improvement. The encouragement for extra subjects under the code was really delusive. There was no encouragement offered to induce agricultural labourers to continue their children at school for a much longer period than they did. He com- plained of the inaccuracy of the information contained in the books used in the elementary schools, which, he said, were full of ambiguities and errors. For instance, he found it stated under the head of geography, that Ireland was in America. Under the head of botany the children were informed that sap was not black, as was generally supposed, but in the opinion of many eminent authori- ties of a dark blue colour. Again, under the head of vegetable physiology, it was stated that the seed of a Sweet Pea was not much larger than a pin's head, yet it contained, compactly folded up, a large branchy flowering plant. In animal physiology they were taught that fishes had no voice, except seals and whales. Insects, they were told, had their uses, and a fly keeps the warm air pure and wholesome by its constant zig-zag flight. But it was not only in matters of natural science that these books were susceptible of improvement, for some of the moral teaching they conveyed might be questioned ; as, for example, the tale of the boy who, when he hesitated to rob an orchard, was induced to join in the depredation by the argument that his refusal to do so would not influence the result ; and he is made to sum up the train of moral reasoning thus :— He asked whether that was unobjectionable moral teaching ? In another place was the storyj of how a boy in humble hfe rose to be a master manufacturer by first saving, through dint of industry and self-denial, ^700, and risking it over and over again, till at length he found himself in possession of ^90,000. Were the work- ing classes to be taught that the way to get rich was by risking their savings over and over again ? — Mr. W. E. Forster inquired what series the hon. baronet referred to. — Sir J. Lubbock said the series issued by the British and Foreign School Society, and that issued by the National Society, which had been adopted in the educa- tion code within the last few months. He should be glad if he could induce the Government to issue, themselves, a short series of manuals adapted for every school. In Scotland and in America the plan which he advocated was already carried out ; and during the late war every German soldier carried with him a map of the roads of the country in which he was engaged. The statistics connected with the science schools showed a growing appreciation of the instruction afforded in them. In the year r86o there were nine schools of that kind and 500 students ; last year there were 810 schools and 30,000 students. Year by year there had been a gradual increase of schools and students, and also a considerable improve- ment in the system of instruction. Out of 60 Queen's medals allowed after the examinations in physical geography, no less than 10 were carried away by young people under 14 years of age. He wanted to introduce variety into education. In the American schools it w.is an axiom that the lessons ought to be short, many, and varied. He did not want to have the school hours lengthened. The fault of the existing system was that it loaded the memory instead of educating the mind. There was in fact too much instruction and too httle education. They wearied children in elementary schools mth the me- chanical act of writing and long lists of dates, names, places, and kings, which conveyed no definite idea, and had no apparent relation to the duties and occupations in life of the children. It was more important that children should like their lessons than that they should learn them, on account of the habit of learning which liking them would tend to form. What he wanted to see taught was something about the properties of air and water, the causes of day and night, of summer and winter, and the ordinary phenomena by which they were siuTounded : believing as he did that such instruction would create a desire for more information, open out sources of the purest occupation and enjoyment for leisure hours, and, in accordance with a well-known proverb, make the man the better workman and the workman the better man.— Mr. MUNDELLA be- lieved that if some of the elements of political economy were taught, the relations between capital and labour would be much more satisfactory, and he concurred in the opinion of the late Mr. CoBDEN that if agricultural labourers knew something about the colonies they would not be content to rot on Zs. a week. The English working man, when a thing was brought fairly before him, was a just man, but it was almost impossible for him to judge the value of money or his own interests. .\ great outcry had been raised in this country about the dowry of a princess. ,^6000 a-year and ^30,000 paid down seemed an enormous sum to an English workman who was in receipt of his 30J. a week, but that was only because he had no capacity for making comparisons, had no idea of the vast resources of the country, and had no conception of its vast expenditure. If the great masses of the working classes were to be made loyal to the institutions under which they lived, they must give them more intelligence. They ought not to be content with English education until it was as good as that of any other country in the world. Their ideas of the education which ought to be given to the working classes were alto- gether too low to make them useful to themselves, or appreciative of the advantages which this country and the colonies offered to them ; and he did trust that something would be done to give them a knowledge of the subjects I004 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [Augurt S, 1871. to which his hon. friend had directed the a House. —Dr. L. Playfair supported the motion, and contended tliat mere elementary education was not suffi- cient to carry a working man tlirough life. On the con- trary, it was apt to melt away in two or three years of active occupation. The higher subjects provided for by the Revised Code e.xisted more in name than in reality ; because the maximum sum could be gained for the elementary subjects, and there was no necessity for trying the higher subjects. It was true that the talented poor were always in a very small minority ; but it was of the greatest importance to the State to add to its intellectual funds. The working classes of England have far less chance of educating themselves in the higher branches of learning than the working men of any other country, though no other country spent so large a proportion of the Imperial funds on education as England did. The reason of this was that while other countries made it the duty of localities to teach the A. B. C. of education, and employed Imperial funds for the purpose of inspection and the development of education into tliat which would be useful to the State, we had, until the recent Act, adopted the opposite course, anil fotu--fifths of the treasure poured out upon education w.as wasted, because, as it appeared from the reports of the inspectors, four-fifths of tlie scholars forgot soon after leavirg the schools the elementary learning they had acquired. Up to eight years of age the children of the poor and of the middle classes received the same educa- tion, but that which was only the beginning with the latter was with the former tlie end of their education. State educa- tion must be made much more productive than it was at present, and in that view he supported the resolution. iT complained of tht : part of children. It :a stick in the ground Mr. A. Her teaching on was like putl to grow ; th If they could but teach children why tops spin, and why chimneys smoked, they would have done something useful. What was wanted was, to make the occupations of the people a means of their education. In all trades there was constant waste. If they took cabinet-making they would find a continual waste of material and time, because men did not know how to carry on their work. A want of scientific knowledge showed itself in all departments of trade. L of interest i but the letter was returned from the Dead Letter Office marked "not known at Chester." Should this meet the eye of Mr. Ferguson, I should feel much obliged by the communication of additional specimens, directed to Sibbertoft Vicarage, Market Harborough. Mr. Muller's description of the Cherry-like galls does not tally with the specimens which I received. I inquired of an Indian botanist, who has seen thousands of Rhododendrons, whether he had seen such galls, but he did not recollect to have done so. Should I be so fortunate as to get a better supply of specimens, I will make a more accurate examination, but even should I find larvce it is not impossible that Ascomyces may coexist with them. Since the .ibove was written, Mr. Broome has sent from Terlhshire a thinner but similar substance on Vaccinium Vitis Idrea, covered with a similar bloom. There is no reason to think that this is an insect product." It is stated that a jet of quartz sand blown through a pipe by steam, at 300 lb. pressure to the square inch, will make a hole in a solid block of corundum an inch and a half deep and of the same diameter, in less than 25 minutes. Corundum is little, if at all, inferior in hardness to the diamond ; in the comparison, even blued steel is soft, and granite absolutely pulpy. This remarkable Mechanical Discovery is due to Mr. B. C. Tilghman, an engineer of Philadelphia, who turns upon corundum a pipe which discharges sifted sand, mixed with a furious squirting of steam, and the fine shower of particles herault (Vienne), by M. Moll; the Haute-Marne, by M. Flam.marion ; and in various other parts of France, by M. Barral. The following account of the medical proper- ties of Symphytum officinale is taken from Houttuyn's " Pflanzensystem : "—"The root is em- ployed as a soothing, sanative, and astringent remedy in spitting of blood, dysentery, and ulcers in the lungs and urethra. It is also employed externally in emol- lient and discutient poultices. The blossoms also are used in the preparation of a ptisan for colds and coughs." In some parts of the country the blossoms are collected and dried like Cowslips for making corafrey-wine, which is supposed to have great healing powers. M. 7. B. toothed along the marj rounded oTten truncated unequally incised, the ti ards the broadly The suggestii amongst the exhibitors at Notting- ham, to the effect that some mark of esteem ami respect should be presented by them to Mr. George Eylls, the superintendent of the flower sho^vs of the Royal Horticul- tural Society, was taken up at a meeiing (.>f some of the principal exhibitors, Mr. C. TURNER in the chair, held at South Kensington on Weilnesday last, when a committee, with power to add to their number, w.ts formed to carry out the above o'ljei 1. Mr. John Fraser was requested to act as treasurer, and Mr. Moore as secretary ; and it was determined that subscriptions to the te^uii onial should be limited to one guinta. In England the Maximum Temperatures of the air during the week ending July 29 ranged from 76°. 6 at Blackheath to 67° at Newcastle-on-Tyne and Liver- pool respectively, with a mean for the several towns of 70°. 8. The Minimum Tempera- tures ranged from 5i°.9 at Blackheath to 47° at Wolverhampton, Eccles, and Hull, and the mean for the several stations was 48°. 5. Rain fell more or less heavily throughout the week over the whole country ; the principal falls recorded were 1.47 inch at Leicester, 1. 43 inch at Manchester, 1. 42 inch at Eccles, and i.2oinch at Hull, and the mean for the several stations was i inch. In Scotland the Ma.ximum Temperatures ranged from 73° at Perth to 64°. 2 at Aberdeen, and the mini- mum temperatures from 48°. 8 at Leith to 43° at Perth. At all the Scottish stations rain fell during the week, the greatest fall taking place at Perth, viz., 1.49 inch, and the mean for the several stations 1.26 inch. The Mean Temperature for England for the week was 57°.2, and for Scotland S4°.4. The highest mean temperature recorded in England was 60°. 4 at Blackheath, and the lowest 55°. 5 at Eccles. In Scotland the highest was 56°. 2 at Perth, and the lowest 53°.4 at Glasgow. (See Mr. Glaisher's Tables in our present issue. ) As regards the G\Li i ikE Bodies on Khododendron ferrugineum, the Rev. M. J. Eerkele\ writes as follows —"The specimens sent were not on the leaves, but on the terminal bud. I could not find any tnce of hiva, but the whole of the external surface ^^^s ^n^p,cl wuh 1 white bloom, which resemll I 1 ' ' ! >e that in the young condition rf 1 I mdei the microscope wasidentic-il ih.et specimens were sent, and as I ^'isfactory condition, I wrote immL 1 I c a ul , which accompanied the communicatiun (Mi K i, Ffrcuson, Chester), Fig. 223. — asplenium schizodon. thus flung cuts a hole equal to the diameler of the jet. The same effect is produced in anything else submitted to the process. So great a force of steam is not neces- sary for finer work, such as grinding or engraving glass. For this purpose, a blast of air may be employed by means of a rotary fan. The tube is fed with sifted sand, which the air-blast takes up and whirls against the glass. It will thus completely demolish a surface moving past at the rate of five inches in the minute, and the spent sand and sand-dust can be perpetually returned and re- employetj. Moreover, by covering parts of the glass with any semi-elastic material, such as paper, lace, caoutchouc, or oil-jiaint, designs of any sort may be engraved. The panicles which eat off the hard glass or stone beat in vain upon the interposed medium ; and so curious is this resistance that even a green Fern leaf may be used, and the sand-shower will consume all but the parts thus covered, leaving a delicate pattern of the frond. The film of bichromatised gelatine used for photographic negatives may also be thus utilised for producing an engraving on glass or steel ; and by a very simple arrangement the jet can be rendered mov- able, and handled with an absolutely artistic freedom. At a recent meeting of the French Academy of Sciences, M. Elie de Beaumont, the perpetual secretary, communicated certain observations relative to the effects of Hoar Frost about the middle of May last. The highest intensity and destructiveness w.as remarked on the night of the l8th of that month, at Gisors, by M. Adolphe Brongniart ; at Meudon, by M. Duchartre ; in the woods around Versailles, by M. Bouquet de la Grye ; the environs of Chatel- New Garden Plants. Asplenium schizodon, Moore, n. sp. ;, glabrous, broadly oblong : pinnx terminal one) alternate, 3 inches long obtuse, unequally cuneate, often n, especially nd dilated ap' th usually bifid ; sori numerous', nar- rarly from the costa to the margin, slightly curved following the direction of ihe once- forked veins, crowded, and hence occasionally diplazioid or scolopendrioid : caudex decumbent, clothed with dark-coloured acuminate scales ; stipes semiterete, channeled in front. — Hob. New Caledonia. This curious and ornamental Fern (fig. 223) has been known to us for the last three or four years in the collection of the Messrs. Veitch & Sons, of Chelsea, whence our most perfect specimens were ob- tained, from plants collected by the late Mr. J. G. Veitch, in New Caledonia. Recently it has been shown at South Kensington by the Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son, of St. John's Wood, and received a First class Certificate, the plant in this latter case having been re- ceived by way of New Zealand, but apparently fromsomegarden source. The fronds are evergreen, of a deep dull green colour, somewhat coriaceous m texture, and growing in a crowded manner from a de- cumbent scaly caudex. They have a stoutish stipes of about 3 inches long, lounded, and of a blackish- purple behind, channeled in front, and supporting a lamina of about 6 inches long, which is divided in the specimens before us into about three pairs of alternate pinns, the terminal one being similar to the others both in size and form, except that the auricle is wanting ; the pinnae are, including the tapered stalk-like base, about 3 inches long, broad, often dilated, rounded or iiTegularly-truncate at the apex, and with one or more deep clefts there, dividing them unequally, while the margin is sharply toothed, and the teeth, especially those at the apex, conspicuously bifid. The posterior base of the pinnre is cut away obliquely, while side is sometimes an auricle, which is most strongly developed in the lower piimse. As an evergreen Fern it is well worth a place in the green- house, where its singularly toothed fronds will always give to it a considerable degree of interest. T. M. plead ^ .nted, ■ more H itum- H \ howH meets^l nches^l it isfl APPLE TWIG PARASITES. It is a fault, to which too many of us must plead guilty, to accept two or three generalisations for granted, assent to them mechanically, pass on, and take no more heed of the subject. For example, we take an autum-, nal or .spring tour round the garden, just to see how things are going on, and an old Cabbage stalk meets] our gaze, blackened with sooty patches, 2 or 3 inches in length. We look at it casually, it is only a Fungus of some kind or other : that is our fact, hastily amved at, and with it we are content. Off' we start on our tour, the Fungus on the Cabbage stalk does not torment us for years perhaps, and perhaps never. It was a Fungus, and a black Fungus ; Fungi are plants of a low organisation, still they are plants. Curious, very ! Away we start upon a more familiar theme, content with what we suppose we know about the sooty Fungus on the old Cabbage stalk, and content to know no more. It was not, perhaps, the result of examination of the structure that this general notion has been gained. After all it m.ay only have been a " happy guess. " So an old Apple twig, covered with vegetation of a peculiariy characteristic kind, with a very charac- teristic odour, excites no particular interest. The parasitic growths are so very common, that we know them as Lichens, and have known them as such for many years. Why should we know more? why August 5, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1005 examine them more intimately to ascertain if they are indeed Lichens ? Once on a time, when we were boys, it was told to us that they were Lichens, and we have gone on, and lived in the faith ever since. This sort of superficial knowledge may, perchance, be quite enough for our everyday life. It is quite possible that more knowledge on that subject will neither add to our purse a single florin, nor aid us in growing Apples, or selhng them. It might be very poetical, and very true, for Wordsworth to write — ' ' The world is too much with us — Getting and spending we lay waste our powers ; " but, after all, is not the main object of human life the getting and spending? The unadorned and naked philosophy of most human hearts nowadays is of the lago type, "Put money in thy purse." However much we may deny it with our lips, we confess it in our hearts, and prove it by our deeds, that those occupations please best which pay best ; and the test applied even to scientific knowledge is but too often its market value. Back again to Lichens, taking for granted that so much knowledge, no matter how obtained, is possessed by all who peruse these lines. A fragment of an Apple twig covered with Lichens. The object is a common one, for there seems to be an affinity between old Apple trees and Lichens. On the occasion when we made a garden stroll for the subject matter of this chapter, the twig collected carried upon it two distinct forms— two well marked species. One of these of a bright golden yellow or orange, the other of a sombre ashy grey ; one spreading closely over the surface of its host, the other somewhat erect and bushy. The close affinity which exists between Lichens and Fungi is not so evident in either of these species as in some others. For the benefit of those who are somewhat acquainted with the subject, we might suggest the comparison of some Parmelias and Lecideas amongst Lichens, with such Fungi as Peziza rosje and Peziza fusca, or many graphideous Lichens, with Fungi belonging to the Hysteriacei. In fact, there are points at which the two approximate so closely that it is exceedingly diffi- cult, scarcely possible, to determine satisfactorily whether the organism should be classed with Lichens or Fungi. The proposition by Dr. Lauder Lindsay to establish a sort of intermediate order for the recep- tion of what he terms Fungo-lichens is evidence of this close approximation. Let us endeavour to gain some knowledge of the structure of Lichens from the orange specimen on our twig. It is common on old posts, palings, and barn- doors, and is the same that is so often found on old brick walls. Sometimes only yellowish green, but more beautiful, and more easily recognised when of the golden hue. The " common yellow wall Lichen" (fig. 224, E) is known to many by that name, who would not dare venture to call it Parmelia parietina, or whatever generic name the "latest authority" may think fit to adopt. It spreads over the surface of the twig, closely adherent to it by its under surface, and may be roughly said to resemble a patch of puckered orange paper, with a more or less regular outline, glued down to the bark. The vegetative portion of this Lichen is the flat patch, which is called the thallus, and, whatever form the vegetative portion assumes it bears this name. It is well to examine separately the vegetative and the reproductive system of these lowly organised plan the latter usually arising from the former, although some cases the former seems to be almost obsolete. The surface of the thallus is irregular, dotted o^ with little cups, and the margin is finely lobed and lacerated. The under surface is whitish. The little cups belong to the reproductive system, and will receive attention hereafter. In order to comprehed the s ture of the Lichen-thallus, a thin section should be cut with a sharp knife or razor, and examined under the microscope in a drop of water. By this means foui superimposed layers may be made out, running into each other, or blended so as to form a compact thallus. The upper or cortical layer may be regarded as a sorl of cuticle. It is made up of compacted cells, sub- layer is a series of peculiar, rounded, greenish-yellow cells, called gonidia (fig. 225, e), which are said to be peculiar to Lichens. In some species this gonidic layer is close to the surface of the thallus. These gonidia frequently break through under certain conditions, and encrust the surface, giving the Lichen a mealy appearance. The " conidia " of Fungi are very different,* in many cases spore-like, and developed in clusters, or singly, a( ' tips of branched flocci, possessing the character of what are popularly called "moulds." As far as we know, the functions ofthe two also seem to be equally distinct. The term "gonidia," as applied to these thalli bodies in Lichens is certainly not a happy one, and would be much more applicable to the "conidia" Fungi. It is questionable whether two words similar in sound should be applied to things so distin associated with plants so nearly allied to each other Lichens and Fungi. In fact, so close is the alliance some cases, that the strongest evidence which could be offered has been that the presence of gonidia ii pothecia (no thallus being developed) established their claim to be regarded as Lichens, and not as Fungi. Gonidia are sometimes so freely dei/eloped in certain Lichens that they completely alter their appearance, so as to make them recognised with difficulty. Whole genera have been abandoned as spurious, because based on * We confess to an error at p. 105, in referring " conii applied to Fungi, to the same etymological source as "goi but we are still disposed to maintain that the two words fiai enfounded, and used interchangeably. Section of apothecium magnified, showing near e the gonidia : c, Portion of the apothecium more highly magnified, showng the paraphyses and the asci with their sporidia ; H, Spermo- gone magnified, showing the threads and '' metamorphoses caused by the excessive development of gonidia. Lichen-gonidia possess a certain amount of repro- ductive power, and are in a limited sense reproductive buds. Whilst the cells of the cortical layer are com- pact, those of the gonidic layer are lax, each cell seeming to be quite independent of its neighbour, ready to make its way to the surface whenever an opportunity presents itself The third layer is sometimes called the medullary layer. It is a spongy stratum of elongated filaments, branching and crossing each other in all directions, and in some Lichens this is the lowest stratum, from whence proceed the root-like fibrils which are seen on the under surface of such species as the one commonly called "ground liverwort." Lastly, there is in our " yellow wall Lichen " a fourth layer, or thin stratum of cells similar to those of the cortical layer, and this constitutes the under surface, which is applied to the matrix on which the Lichen flourishes, be it Apple twig, bam door, stone column, or brick wall. A very pertinent question is nearly certain to arise at this point, when we have completed our examination of the vegetative system of this Lichen, Whence does this parasite derive sustenance ? Does it grow at the expense of the tree on which it flourishes ? If so, to what extent are Lichens detrimental to the trees on which they grow? These are questions which Dr. Lauder Lindsay has already answered, as far as his experience and opinion goes. Of course it is very much a matter of opinion after all, as there is but little positive evidence. Lichenologists have generally been in the habit of describing Lichens as deriving their nourishment wholly from the air, and not from the trees on which they grow. Cultivators of trees and shrubs seem to be almost unanimously of opinion that Lichen growth is injurious to the trees on which they are parasitic. Dr. Lindsay is disposed to think that the latter are nearer the truth than the former, and " that Lichens must be regarded as, in some measure, at least, parasitic, drawing the constituents of their thallus from the objects on which they grow." There is, however, so great a paucity of evidence, and that so unsatisfactory, that it cannot be regarded as settled whether Lichen growth is detrimental to trees, and to what extent. Returning to our wall Lichen, we examine the surface of the thallus, and find it studded with little cups or discs of a rather darker colour, and near the margin of the thallus minute points or dots. These are the parts concerned in the process of reproduction. First and foremost the prominent discs, attached to the thallus by a short stem : these are the apo- thecia (fig. 224, c, fig. 225, F). If we make xtion through one of these, and the thallus supporting it, we shall observe how intimate are relations between them. The apothecium grows from the thallus, expanding into a flattened disc with a slightly elevated margin. In order to obtain a clean section for the microscope, it is recommended that a fragment of the thallus with its apothecia be inserted in a slit made in a soft piece of cork, and then sUced with a sharp penknife or razor, through both cork and Lichen. A good section may generally be made in this way, after a few failures, and the section may be permanently mounted for future examination. The great difficulty is to cut it thin enough. If cut smartly, and with a sharp instrument, it is generally uniform in thickness. Having obtained such a section, let us endeavour to comprehend its structure under a quarter-inch objective. The margin and under-surface of the disc partakes of the cellular character of the thallus, and gonidia are also present. The rest of the disc, except the extreme margin, is called the hymenium, and contains the fruit. At right angles from the surface a mass of parallel threads are closely packed together, and mingled with them transparent, club-shaped sacs, each enclosing eight sporidia (fig. 225,0). These organs are called by the same names as in Fungi, and the structure really reminds one very much of that of the cups of a Peziza. The parallel threads are paraphyses, slender, jointed threads, more or less expanded, and club-shaped above, con- taining a few granules. Some say that they are baiTen asci, or spore-cases ; others contend that they are not. Their functions, certainly, are not very clear, but there they are, and, undoubtedly, to serve some purpose. The membranous sacs, which inclose the sporidia, are the thecffi or asci, each enclosing eight eUiptic sporidia, and each of these has a lenticular yellowish spot at either extremity, and are colourless in the centre. The sporidia in other species differ considerably from these in form, colour, size, subdivision, &c., and are in themselves excellent microscopical objects. It may be stated, in passing, that diluted tincture of iodine is very useful in examining many Lichen structures with the microscope, since by imparting a blue or brownish colour, almost invisible membranes are rendered distinct. Beside the discs and their sporidia, contained in asci, there are other bodies concerned in the reproductive process, which are indicated by the small dot-like points, already alluded to, near the margin of the thallus. These are somewhat of sunken cells, with an orifice in the thallus, called the ostiolum. The mouth or ostiolum leads into a cavity surrounded by jointed threads, which bear at their tips minute slender, colourless bodies in great profusion, called spermatia (fig. 224, D, fig. 225, H). It is supposed that these spermatia possess fecundative power, and represent the male element, as the apothecia enclose the female element, in the reproductive process. The details of the mode of action, and conditions of fecundation in Lichens, as in Fungi, are still unknown. Beside the spermogones, as the cells are termed which contain the spermatia, there are other organs found in some Lichens, called pycnides, but their functions are also very obscure. ioo6 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag-ricultural Gazette. [August 5, 1871. In this yellow wall Lichen we have a foliaceous species, with open, disc-like apothecia, and asci con- taining eight elliptic sporidia; these latter are supposed to be fertilised in some manner by the spermatia which are generated in the spermogonia scattered near the margin of the thallus. Side by side with it on our Apple twig we find growing another Lichen, differing very much from it in habit, whilst agreeing in many other particulars. It is much less common in such a place than in some others, but here it is. This is a fruticulose species, having the bushy habit of a miniature shrub. The thallus is very much divided, springing from a button-like base. The genus to which it belongs is called Ramalina, probably because most of the species are found on dead twigs ; and whether this is really to be regarded as a good species, under the name of Ramalina calicaris (fig. 224, A), or only a variety of another species, is of very little consequence to us. The thallus is cut into narrow, long, forked divisions, which are sometimes smooth, and at others ribbed or channelled. The apothecia are seated near the tips of these divisions or branches. These two Lichens, which we find flourishing on the same twig, may be accepted as examples of foliaceous and fruticulose species, so called from their habit, which in one instance is flat and leaf-like, and in the other erect and shrub-like. There is nothing very special to be noticed in the structure of this second species. There are spermogones, which are seated on the vein- like ribs of the branches (or lacinije), and these con- tain straight, delicate spermatia. The sporidia are different from those of the yellow wall Lichen, but the manner in which they are produced in the apothecia is the same. In the present case it will be observed that the sporidia are elongate-oval, divided across the centre into two cells, so that they are described as bilocular, or two-celled, and very slightly coloured. Other Lichens are found in similar situations, but the two already described are sufficient to give a general idea of structure. It is not uncommon to find parasites on the thallus of some Lichens, consisting of apothecia only. Some of these are more decidedly Lichens than others. A few seem to be undoubted Fungi, whilst there are others of a character so doubtful that some cryptogamists consider them Lichens, and others Fungi. Here, as in Fungi, there is still much that is obscure, and close observers, with plenty of leisure, would find a wide field for research, and opportunities for discovery. Let no one suppose that everything is known which can be known even of the reproductive process in the lower Cryptogamia. It is true that much has been discovered of late years, but the subject is not by any means exhausted. No one has worked more closely and satisfactorily in our own country than Dr. Lindsay, of Perth, and the novice who is desirous of commencing the study of these interesting forms will find his *' Popular History of British Lichens " an easy and safe guide. Finally, there is one advantage which Lichens possess over many other low forms of plant life, that they may be easily preserved for years without altera- tion of form or colour, and a well-stored collection seems as fresh and natural in ten years as in ten hours. Fortunately also, little insects do not show such a pre- dilection for them as for Fungi, Will any of our readers collect and examine the common wall Lichen for themselves, and with that commence the study of these lowly organisms ? All we can promise is, that if they do so " with a will " they will never repent. M. C. C. THE CYPRIPEDIUM SCALE INSECT. allies, constituting together the family Coccidre, none have surprised us more by their complete departure from the general form of the insect type than the scale insect represented in the accompanying woodcut, (fig. 226) "which is parasitic upon Cypripedium niveum, and which has been kindly communicated to us by A. D. Berington, Esq. , of Pant y Goitre, Abergavenny, by whom a number of the plants were imported in the summer of 1S70 from the west coast of Siam. Several of these plants flowered well, and in the month of January last about two-thirds of the whole were beginning to push up their flower,stems, one plant having as many as six or eight buds. Several, however, of the plants were then found to be infested with pretty little insects lying flat upon the surface of the leaves, and which had rather the appearance of minute, radiated, semi-transparent snowflakes than real insects. The general appearance which was borne by a portion of one of these leaves is represented in the centre figure of our woodcut ; whilst the figure on the right hand represents one of the scales highly magnified. The scale consists of a very minute, central, oval, white mass, from which all round extends a most delicate, semi-transparent, wa.xy, flattened membrane, which is extremely brittle, and very diflicult to move without breaking, and which is produced into eight conical points, which are thickened like the central mass, and beautifully white; occa- sionally these points are furnished on each side with a very minute branch, and there also runs, from the central mass to each of these points, a slender, thickened, white rib. These white lines are also to be seen on the borders of many of the more regularly formed species of scale insects, and seem to mdicate the chief articulations of the body : thus the anterior point appears to represent the extension of the scale over the head of the insect, the three pairs of lateral points, the three pairs of legs, and the posterior point the abdomen of the insect. The substance of the scale seems to be identical in its nature with the waxy secretion of so many Homopter- ous insects, and which varies from the hard waxy secretion of the lac insect and the white material of the Coccus Pe-la employed by the Chinese to make wax candles, to the white cotton-like covering of tlie Ameri- can blight on the Apple, or the long thread-like fila- ments emitted from the bodies of the little jumping Psylla Buxi and other allied species ; and which in the insect before us takes the shape of a flattened con- tinuous scale, entirely covering the body of the real insect. Some of the more minute and younger scales were not so regular in their form, having nine or even ten points instead of eight. On removing some of the largest of these scales, and turning them upside down, the under surface was found to be formed of a very delicate semi-transparent film, quite flatly applied to the surface of the leaf, of an oval form, occupying the greater part of the under portion of the scale, and extending nearly to the bases of its eight prolongations. On very carefully removing this oval covering, there was discovered, lodged in the cavity, formed between it and the upper covering, a regulariy formed pupa of a male Coccus lying inactive in the cell, having the head small, furnished with two black eyes and two jointed antenna;, slender and extending beyond the base of the wing-covering ; the head was followed by the semi-oval prothorax, having its pair of legs lying on its underside enveloped in their sheaths, whilst on the underside of this prothorax, near the basal part, or place of insertion of the forelegs, were two small black points, which may possibly be connected with the mouth of the pupa, and which may possibly be analogous to the curious mandibles of the pupa of certain Neuropterous insects which are found in a different state of development, both in the larva and perfect insect— (i'. ^., as in Hemerobius and Myrmeleon) The mesothorax of the pupa of the scale insect before us is furnished with short rudimental wing covers at its sides, and the two pairs of hind legs extend in their sheaths backwards beyond the extremity of the oval abdomen of the insect, which is terminated by a small conical point, at each side of which is a minute bracti- culated conical appendage. From beneath one of the scales 1 had the pleasure to extract a fully-developed male scale insect, represented in the left hand figure of the accompanying woodcut (fig. 226). It is extremely minute, the natural size being indicated by the small crossed lines near the head of the figure. The head is distinct and transverse, with moderately long lo-jomted antennx, of which the basal joint is short and thick, and the second joint very minute, the others being long, slender, and setose, gradually shortening beyond the fourth joint, which is the longest ; the mesothorax has the deep transverse impression common to the males of these insects, and the scutellum is very large and semicircular, the legs long and very thin, terminated by an exarticulate tarsus, having a single apical hook or unguis. The abdomen is terminated by a single elongated style, having a small bi (possibly tri) articulated lobe on each side of its base. The wings are large and milk-while, with one strong vein towards the anterior margin and two others on the disc. This result of the examination of these bodies has led me to the conclusion that the star-like scales are those of the males only, and that the female scale is of an elongated oval form, one of which may be observed in the central figure of our woodcut, lying close to the right side of the midrib of the leaf. This is a scale of the more ordinary form ; it is clearly that of a female insect, having distinct legs, antennje, and eyes ; and on detaching one of these oval scales from the leaf several young larva; recently hatched were found nestled beneath the body of their parent ; these are minute active creatures, with six legs, and g-jointed antennae, of which the three basal joints are consider- ably the largest, and the tarsi are terminated by three long bristles. This species of Coccus belongs to that section of the family of which the common Coccus (Lecanium) hesperidum, or scale of the Myrtle, tS:c. , is the type ; it will probably form a distinct genus in the system of Messrs. Targioni, Tarzetti, and Signoret. however, here simply indicate it under the Coccus stellifer. /. 0. IV. PEACH AND NECTARINE TREES OUT-OF-DOORS. I WAS much amused on reading in the Sherborne Journal " that the Rev. W. F. Radclyffe had brought down upon his head a hornet's nest ! " This was accompanied by " D., Deal's," article. I regret having given so much pain to so many worthy men. The gardeners of England are, I believe, the best in the world, and certainly the qualified gardeners are gene- rally an underpaid class. I am always gratified and surprised by their numerous and wonderful productions ; still, to eveiy qualified gardener there are hundreds of worthy men who have not had a gardener's education, and hence have not studied the *' theory of vegetation and the phenomena of plant life." Against this class I have not a word to say. They do the best they can under the circumstances, and if their knowledge of arboriculture is not great, neither is their remuneration great. Till my articles appear in print (my eyesight not being very good) I cannot see what I have said. I ought to have said "the sad condition of Peach and Nectarine trees out-of-doors is, in many instances, the result of gross ignorance and neglect." It is difficult for a tailor to make a suit of clothes to fit all his customers, and it is almost as diflicult to write an article on the treatment of Peach and Nectarine trees out-of-doors to suit everybody. The difference of soils, aspects, seasons, and other circumstances cause this difficulty. What may be right treatment in one soil or one season may be wrong in another. As, however, Mr. Henry Mills wishes me to say how the trees are generally treated here, I will do so ; though I would at all times rather read another's article than write one myself From the time that the late Dr. Lindley wrote to me a complimentary letter, expressing a wish that I should write for the Gardeners' C/ironiele, up to the present, I am not aware of ever having intentionally written an ill-natured article. There are three things that must be especially attended to, namely, the roots, the foliage, or first lung, and the skin, which is the second lung. Of course, if the soil is swampy it must be drained. Even Willows do best in drained ground, though they like moisture. All my gardens, three in number, and lawn were tile- drained by me to the depth of 3 feet 6 inches. Before I did this, the Rose leaves turned yellow by September. Having built about 170 yards of 5, 6, and 7 feet brick wall against the cutting north wind and the violent trees. I bought from the Blandford Nurseries some young and 21 old trees, some of which were from 10 to 16 years of age ; some young trees from Mr. Rivers, and some maidens from Mr. Gray, of Brox ; and so my walls were filled up. They are all healthy and vigorous trees ; the aged trees are as healthy and vigorous as the young ; and though some of them were naked at the base and centre, they are now nicely filled up. I pointed them out to Mr. Leach and Mr. Beck, respectively the very able gardeners of my friends Lord Portman and Mr. Sturt, a few days ago. They expressed themselves much pleased with the health, vigour, and cleanliness of all the trees, and also with the fruil, which is a good crop for such a dis- courteous spring. At the conclusion of this article I will give a list of the sorts used here, and I should say that not one of them is tender or difficult to manage, if properly attended to. It is fair to say that the trees are my "hobby," and that even a qualified gardener, with so much glass and such a number of things to supply in the course of the year, could not pay as much attention to them as I do. In a large garden there is usually a wide border, cropped with something or another ; hence the walk is far from the trees. Here I only allow my trees an 18-inch border, and then comes the path. Hence, in walking up and down, I can see the status of the trees, and can easily manage them. The walls being low, there is no need of a ladder ! Under the walls I keep low stools, so that I can perch under the trees and look up, and see what mischief is going on. I carry a knife and scissors and measuring reel in one pocket, and a hammer, nails, and bast in the other, and thus 1 am enabled from time to time to shorten a twig or nail one in. I say from time to time, because it is not good to disturb the economy of the tree by shortening all the twigs at once. It is one of the causes of gum. I usually stop the shoots about the first week in June, a little shorter in July or August, and finally in September I stop them once more, in- cluding the terminals. I then remove all that is not wanted. Circumstances, however, may vary all this. Gardening is a matter of judgment and great experi- ence. Instead of training in one long shoot, from 12 to 18 inches in length, I prefer three shorter shoots, from 4 to 6 inches in length, with an independent Peach or Nectarine on each twig, instead of three fruits on one shoot, from 12 to 18 inches in length. This, how- ever, cannot always be done. Where there is a vacancy a longer shoot must be trained in for a future breeder. I like Mr. Brehaut's alternate system, and strongly recommend his valuable work to pruners, whether they prune long, short, or alternately. I disbud less than August 5, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [O07 most people, and cut to an inch, or 2 inches in length, what others usually pull out altogether, taking care not to overcrowd the wall. Hence I have more chances of fruit, and a better chance of ripening the wood. What we want is a fruit at the base of the twig and two successional shoots, the one to be spurred and the other to be pinched at greater length. Thus the foliage being at shorter distances and near home, is the more available for the depuration of the sap in the main wood ; and the base and centre of the trees, instead of being bare, are well filled up. In gardens, where long pruning, and by consequence much dis- budding, are practised the trees in the course of time get " naked as lances !" unless it is done by a scientific pruner. Good foliage is a matter of the greatest con- sequence ; because, as it is true in a spiritual sense that " the leaves of the ' tree of life ' are for the heal- ing of the nations," so in a secular sense the leaves of every tree are for the healing of the tree. Moreover, without good foliage, fruit can have no flavour. The sun, last summer, struck Alexandra Noblesse and the Princess of Wales in the crux of a wall, and their fine crops were perfectly tasteless. The ripening of mode- rate wood of course is the grand ward in the key of success, as regards cropping. In order to get my wood ripe, and the skins hardened before severity sets in, I cut off in September, or as soon as the crop is taken, half of every leaf, which allows the sun and air to have access to the twig. By the first or second week in October every leaf is off; and from that time till severity sets in the skin hardens, and the twig, instead of being soft and of a pale sickly green, becomes blood red or mahogany colour. This cutting off of leaves I can afford, because I disbud but little in the spring, and the trees are full foliaged. I do not advise this practice on trees that are sickly, or that have had bad foliage, or a short allowance of it. There is one other matter of great importance in two such torrid summers as the two last, namely, supplying the trees with mulching, copious waterings, 1 ' stant syringing to cool the walls and refresh the parched skins. I believe the sufferings of last winter did arise from severity, pure and simple, but from ill health previously contracted from other causes. I did my coping sheets at all till the buds and foliage showed signs of development. The winter had no effect what- ever on the trees. An animal well summered is well wintered, and if people want their trees to stand such a hyperborean winter as the last, and crop, they mus feed them properly, according to the requiremen of each tree, stop their shoots, so as to shut back th early sap upon the cambium for the formation of frui buds, keep their foliage clean, cool their walls ii torrid summers, mulch freshly moved trees, supply abundance of water to the roots, and put on a sufficient covering early, to defend the blossoms and the starting foliage. The foliage, when it first spears out, is very tender, and will assuredly blister more or less, unless you keep it dry. It is the dew that gives the frost power to bite and disorganise the cuticle of the leaf, which, as it grows, assumes the form of a gutta-percha ball ! When the leaves are fully expanded and h dened they rarely blister. "D., Deal," says I keep many trees, and small : that is true. Some of my trees are very small, and are placed at the base between two larger trees, and others are riders — more properly, I believe, spelt ryders — a parliamentary legal term denoting an additional clause to a bill; thus, otherwise useless spaces below and above are filled up. I pursue the following plan when trees grow too robust to bear : I take them up, cut their roots hard, plant them on the hard, unbroken ground, and cover the roots with a molehill ; they then form fibrous roots, and make fruit-bearing wood. In the autumn they are carefully taken up, without breaking a single root, and put in the place of some other recalcitrant tree, which undergoes the same pro- cess. I have now two Bellegardes laden with fruit that were so served. I practise this on a wall facing the east. I conclude by recommending the following Peach and Nectarine trees in the order of fruiting. They are all hardy and robust trees, and their fruits are excellent : — Peaches. — Early York, Dr. Hogg, Early Alfred, Early Ascot, Grosse Mignonne, Noblesse, Royal George, Violette Hative, Bellegarde, Barrington, Nectarine Peach, Prince of Wales, Princess of Wales, Lord Palmerston. A\rlan,u-s. — Elruge, Violette Hative, Rivers' White, the Old White, Rivers' Orange, Rivers' Victoria. The two last Nectarines are the finest of all, and very valuable. I took a dish of Orange and Pine-apple Nectarines to Lord Rivers last year, and the ladies had them for luncheon, and pronounced them the most delicious fruit they had ever eaten. The largest Pine- ap])le measured S.^ inches, and was red as a harvest- moon. I have a capital crop of this fine Nectarme now on the trees. I have written the above just as ii occurred to my mind . I hope I have expressed my self "courteously." W. F. Raddyffe. [Not only fair spoken, but well-spoken. The truth is, that there are gardeners and gardeners, and the whole community often has to suffer the reproaches which properly belong but to a section. It is a pity that publi opinion cannot be brought to bear on the inefficien the careless, or the dishonourable, without wounding the susceptibilities of those who fall under neithe: these categories. Eds.] The Linnean Society's Journal.— In a recent mber of the Gardmen' Chronide (which I have only just seen), there is (p. 777) a notice of the last part (number) of the Journal of the Linnean Society, and the writer remarks that some of the papers were read as long ago as 1869, which, he adds, is not fair the authors or to the Fellows. Allow me to retort that the above remarks are not fair. Of the nine papers contained in the part just published, two only were read as long ago as 1869. With regard to one of these, the title of which, I may remark, is mis-spelt in your columns, there were special circumstances which I need not detail which would account for the delay. The other of the two is a very short communi- cation— little more than a note; and I am sure that neither the author nor the Fellows would make a grievance of its having been postponed in favour of papers of greater importance. Fred. Ciirrev, Sec. L. S. [As our correspondent takes exception to our statement, we add the following particulars relating to the number in question, issued on May 23, 1871, and containing about one hundred Svo pages, with one plate. The nine papers there published were read to the Society on the following dates — i, April 15, 1S69 ; 2, June 3, 1869; 3 and 4, March 3, 1870; 5, April 7, 1S70; 6, May 5, 1870; 7, June 2, 1870; 8, June 16, 1S70; 9, June 16, 1S70. From which it appears that in the majority of cases more than a year elapsed between the reading and the publication, and the shortest period was about 11 months. If we look further back to the zoological numbers, we find even longer intervals. We are aware that there are special circumstances which have prevented some of these papers from being issued earlier, but the general body of the Fellows, still less the outside public, know nothing of these impediments ; and assuming them to be unavoidable, some explana- tion might well be given. The President's paper on Cassia, for instance, is looked for with impatience, but how many of the Fellows are aware of the cause of its delay? Eds.] Dinner Table Decorations. — Some objections having been taken to the decorations which, with the assistance of several amateur friends, were arranged the day of the Rose show at the Crystal Palace year, I should be obliged if you could afford me space for a reply to them. The principal features ■ introduction of young Palm trees, the sinking of their pots through the table, and the use of tall trumpet- shaped vases with climbing Ferns, drooping from the top, and trailing around the stem down on to the cloth. The intention was to show how such tall objects car be employed without interfering with the view, or with conversation, across the table. With respect use of Palm trees, il has been objected that theii liness puts them beyond the reach of any one millionnaire. I daresay that there may have been Palms to the value of ^100 on that table, which was large enough to accommodate 30 persons. But, when it is remembered that the cost of the best ners in London and other large places varies from 3 to 4 guineas per head, and that there are two ( London nurserymen prepared to furnish such a collection for the occasion for £$ or £6, the objector 1 the score of their costliness will be obliged to knowledge that they only affect the price of such a dinner to the extent of y. or 4.r. per head, a trifling amount in the estimation of thousands of wealthy dinner-givers in and near the metropolis. The Palms required for such a table must be moved in one of the covered waggons used by nurserymen in taking speci- mens to the flower shows, and when packed for travel- ling only occupy one-third of the waggon. In every case of my using them, the waggon has been filled up with Dracaenas, Rhopalas, Dacrydiums, Ferns, or any other greenhouse foliage plants that the nursery could spare, without any extra charge. These, of course, are very useful for ornamenting side-tables, or for filling the angles of the room with pyra- mids of plants, and contrast well in their varied foliage with that of the Palms on the table. I have paid as much as 10 guineas for a van-load of Palms only, but the effect produced by them was not com- mensurate with the expense. To those who reside at too great a distance from a nursery to be able to hire Palms, and who may have been frightened at the cost of purchasing them, it may be some satisfaction to learn that young plants of many species are now to be bought on much more easy terms than formerly. The next objection to which I desire to allude is the assumed necessity for cutting holes in the tablecloth and in the mahogany, to allow of sinking the flower-pots through the table, and conse- quently the impossibility of doing such a thing, except in large places, where the expense of providing tables and tablecloths expressly to meet this requirement would not be a consideration. I have repeatedly heard it remarked (in a tone of voice that indicated very great belief in the sanity of the proposer of such an idea), that no one would be likely to cut a hole ii his dining-table, merely for the sake of putting a flower pot out of sight. To such objectors I would make th following reply ; When your family party at dinne is likely to be increased by the advent of a few friends you are obliged to put in one or two extra leaves t your table. For such occasions be prepared with one . leaves, which anyjoiner will make for you, of well-seasoned deal, at a cost of a few shillings each. In of each of these deal leaves describe a circle large enough to admit through it the biggest flower- pot you are ever likely to use, and with a keyhole-saw this circle on the bevel, so that the circular piece cut out may be dropped into the hole, if neces- sary, without falling through. So far, therefore, from this plan being only available by the privileged few, the humble possessor of a dining-table 6 feet by 4 may entertain his little party of six and have sunk in the of his table the choicest specimens of his efforts in floriculture. Again, to the objector who sees no way of managing to lay his cloth ^vithout cutting a hole in it, I would say, use two tablecloths, folding each one into half its usual length, and put one each end of the table, bringing the folded edges close together, and ironing them down quite flat. For fear of this line across the table being disturbed by the shifting of plates or dishes, it is desirable to pre- vent the edges of the two cloths from coming apart by putting in two or three pins, or tacking it here and there with white thread before ironing it ; and as a still further precaution, it is advisable to lay sheets of white blotting-paper, or two small white cloths on each side of the plant under the join of the two tablecloths. Having thus replied to, and, as I hope, explained away, the assumed difficulties of this kind of dinner- table decoration, I will now only add, with reference to the tall trumpet-shaped glasses, that their height should be in proportion to the width of the table upon which they are used. For the centre line of a table 4 feet wide, such glasses may be iS inches high. A semi- circular wire arch, connecting two of these glasses, and covered with some climbing plant, is a very pretty decoration for the centre of a small oblong table. PV. T. Galls on Rhododendrons. — With reference to the question relating to the existence of galls on the leaves of the Rhododendron, if it be of any interest, I may state that having been led to closely examine the various varieties of Rhododendron nilagiricum (through having taken a fancy to collect and scatter the seed of the white and pink kinds at one time), I can almost afiirm that no galls are produced on this species in its natural habitat. James MacPhersoii. Recognition of the Services of Mr. Geo. Eyles.— I prefer putting it in this way. Testimonials have become somewhat hackneyed, and besides, they mostly succeed work, and, alas ! too often close it. But in this case I trust the expression of our apprecia- tion of our friend's labours may be also accepted as a pledge of their continuance for many years to come. He is still in the prime of life, his full strength mellowed by experience, and his wise plans of serving and illustrating horticulture ripened by many years of practice in two of the best and largest schools of the country. Very few but thoughtful exhibitors really know how much horticulture owes to Mr. Eyles. For many years he has been the strong link that has bound some of the largest societies and their exhibitors together, in such a way as to keep up an unbroken succession of iplendid exhibitions, of such a character as to draw he public, and to strengthen and deepen the general nterest in horticulture. He has even done greater and higher work than this. At the Crystal Palace espe- ■ lly he displayed a tact and an energy in the furnish- ; and management of the Palace and grounds, which il ever make him rank high among eminent and scientific horticulturists. It would be beside my pur- pose to advert to other labour at Chiswick and Kensington, or to cite examples of his tact as a land- scape gardener, in which profession he has made an honourable position. We are called simply to express our appreciation and esteem of the courteous and able manner in which he has always discharged his somewhat onerous duties as manager of flower- shows. Every one who knows Mr. Eyles must be anxious to do that. His quiet, most efficient mode of management is beyond all praise. I confess when first brought into closer contact with Mr. Eyles at the Royal Show at Bury, I did not quite understand him. His unmoved manner puzzled me. Was it con- summate generalship, or was it happy-go-lucky-ism? — to coin a long but most expressive word, Let his brilliant victories of perfect management answer for him. I quite envy Mr. Eyles his self command, his immobility amid scenes of trial, worry, and intense excitement. Exhibitors— no, I won't paint a picture. But ever and anon George Eyles is found unmoved amid it all, pouring oil on the troubled waters of rising strife, smoothing down difliculties, unravelling the tangled skein of confusion, and bringing order, beauty, finish, out of chios. Scarcely heard, but seen everywhere, he moves about like a fabled magician of the olden times, before him a medley of confiision, behind a garden of Eden. He has an ear for the com- plaints and the requests of all, a word of advice, instruction, or encouragement, and a kindly greet- ing for friends however hardly pressed. It does honour to the head and heart of those who conceived the happy thought of expressing esteem for Mr. George Eyles. I hasten to join in the good work, and I hope all will have a hand in it, that our gifts may be in some measure worthy of our esteem ; and as we lay them at The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ae^-ri cultural Gazette. [August 5, 1871. his feet our hearts would exclaim, " Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the exhibitors"— shall I not write the gardeners?— " of Britain dehght to honour." D. T. Fish. [See p. 1004]. Bickley's Mode of Glazing.— In answer to "G. A. H.," allow me to say that I have to pay nothing extra for having glass cut perfectly true and square, and that the curvature of English glass is so slight that it leaves no opening in a 20-inch length ; the same remark also applies to 21-oz. foreign 4ths, or 16-0Z. 3ds. I may add that the glass may be lapped 4 inch or so, a strip of glass or felt i inch shorter than the width of squares used being laid hori- zontally on the zinc bar, under the lower edge of each raised square. For an orchard-house I should recom- mend good 16-OZ. English sheet glass, cut true, and simply butted together at the sides ; this ought to be obtained in quantity at about 2i/. per foot for cash. The whole of the glass, 378 feet, was removed from the orchard-house which I exhibited at Nottingham, 32 minutes, by a man and boy, and re-inserted firmly in I hour and 10 minutes without any breakage, injury to the house. The advantages of this will readily be seen by those who possess orchard-houses, especially if they have to water and syringe the occupants during summer months such as we experienced the three years preceding 187 1. Thomas A. Bickley, 70, Smallbnok Street^ Birmingham. Heilkraut. — No doubt Comfrey (Symphytum ofi cinale) is termed Heilkraut on account of its med cinal properties. In Sussex it is cultivated in many cottage gardens, and utilised in making a cooling o' ment, very much esteemed by some, and, perhaps, not to be despised by any. It is also sometimes as a substitute for borage in making a cooling beverage called cold-tankard. H. Your correspondent (p. 9S0) inquires why Comfrey(Symphytum officinale) is called healing herb ' Germany ? The root of this plant boiled with coai sugar, in equal proportions, and strained through gauze, forms a gelatine, which is very healing, and much used for affections of the bronchial tubes and lungs. It is said to possess the useful property of restoring the necessary mucus for re-coating abrasions arising from internal inflammations, C B. S.j Jersey^ July 29. Lilium giganleum. — I believe it is not generally known that this Lilium is perfectly liardy. In gardens at Ravensworth Castle, Durham, can (July 20) be seen a magnificent plant in bloom, about 6 feet high, and Mr. Moult, the gardener, assured that it had been there for the last two or three years without receiving the slightest protection. Tliis is certainly a grand and noble acquisition to our hardy border plants. William Biirlon, Victoria and Para- dise Nurseries, Hollmoav. Caterpillars v. Fruit — I can fully endorse the remarks of " G. A. H." respecting the use of Hellebore powder for the destruction of caterpillars on fruit bushes, but I should advise those that have never used it to wear a handkerchief over the nose and mouth, because the powder is apt to cause violent sneezing. I have found the middle of the day to be the best time for using it, especially if a hot sunshiny day, for the caterpillar does not appear so active then. It has often struck me as curious, that while lime and soot, mixed in equal quantities, will destroy caterpillars on the Brassica family, it has no effect on the caterpillar that attacks the Currant and Gooseberry bushes. IV. S. Grape-growing at Kingston Hall.— I have read with much interest and satisfaction the reports by your able correspondents on the condition of these Vines, and having seen them about the time specified, I can fully verify the high eulogium passed on their merits. At the same time I wish to correct a mis-statement that both writers have made in asserting that there were no pipes at all in the chambers under the borders ; and to do this more clearly it will be necessary in the first place for me to revert to the original method adopted by Mr. Sylvester in the heating of these vineries, i.e., that of placing the whole of the pipes in arches under- neath. This method was a favourite one with Mr. Sylvester, and though most absurd it was carried out in all the houses then at Kingston, the vaulted passages underneath the interior of the vineries being con- structed to receive the pipes, with arches between to form the beds in the interior. This was purely and simply the purpose of these vaults, and not to supply heat to the borders at all. Twelve ranges of Sylvester's winged pipes were placed along these passages, the heat from which passed to the surface by means of pigeon-holes on each side of the three paths, these apertures being so arranged as to promote the circulation of the heated air. These particulars will in a great measure enable "F." to at once comprehend the peculiar constmction and complication of the arches underneath the interior. The present system of heating was executed under my directions, and I have no doubt your correspondents will be surprised to hear that each border is separately supplied with two 4-inch pipes in chambers underneath them, wliich are external to the houses, there being no connection whatever with the border chamber and that underneath but by means of a small door, and the Vines are planted immediately over the chamber supplying heat to the border. I may here mention that the whole of the Vines were lifted and the soil removed during the time that I was at Kingston, so that I am in a position to give a pretty accurate state- ment as to the formation of the borders, &c. I quite agree with " F.," and have previously stated, that the most rational method of heating is through the rubble, the bottom being made impervious to the roots. Allow me to say, in conclusion, that I write in no carping spirit, but purely to justify what I have previously stated, as well as to show the actual state of heating, Japan Radish. — I bought in the spring som^ highly vaunted new sort of Radish seed from Japan, about 16 in a shilling packet, said to grow to a very large size, and of oval shape, of fine flavour, and very crisp. They soon came up, with large leaves, and when I thought them ready to draw, pulled up two with a long slender root as thick as a small crowquill, and as tough as a piece of stick. They soon sent up a flower stem, and have yielded, with a second parcel (18 for is.), a fine crop of seed. I bought a second lot, being told they required room to enlarge, but the second lot proved as worthless as the first, and I will thank any one who will tell me if they have grown any of this new Japan Radish worth eating, as I think them of no value. I shall make a sowing late in autumn, as many of these things are grown at high elevations where the temperature is very low in Japan. Thomas Ingle. [Does our correspondent mean the Madras or Rat-tailed Radish, the pods of both of which are edible? Eds.] Ventilating Plant Structures.— The notes on the above subject in your number of the 24th ult., p. S06, seem to have attracted the attention of your correspondent, "A. \V." who is desirous I should give some further details, so as to bring the pi; within the comprehension of a country carpente Without diagi'ams, a plan of the structure intended be ventilated, or any kind of data upon which I may found particulars, the proposal seems suggestiv difficulty. I will, in the absence of detail, assume that " A. W.'s" plant-house has a row of front lights, of the same dimensions between the sill and the top plate ; these should be all attached together by iro; plates fixed on the sides, and connected from one t( the other by a circular iron bar, forming the letter H which circular bar, connecting the two plates, is sus spended on and in the upright bars, which form th framework of the front or side of the structure. To secure the perfect and regular working of the lights, these bars are encircled by an iron thimble. The screw which works the whole is fixed upon the front plat- form, immediately opposite the centre of one of the lights, the centre one being preferable, inasmuch equalises the strain upon the light, which, I venture to say, is little, if the fixings are properly made, the whole strain being on the iron work, which connects the whole, and links them very firmly together. At' tached to the screw, and worked by the worm of it, i: a cog-wheel, with a larger wheel and a band, or line, attached to it, which, supposing the top lights to b( fixed in the same manner, move the whole together, sc that they may be opened one or more inches, as cir^ cumstances indicate necessary. The plan is very simple, and easy of application, but special cases will require specific details ; and, however desirous a writer might be to elucidate a case without particulars, I fear he would barely be understood. Charles B. Saunders, Jersey, July 24. The Potato Disease.— In reference to the Potato murrain, recently noticed by Mr. Earley, allow me to ask, has Mr. Earley, or any other of the readers of the Gardeners^ Chronicle, tried the following plan? — When the disease (or murrain) appears in the leaves, take the stalks in your hands, and place one foot on either side of the row, as near the stalks as possible, and pull up the stalk bodily, leaving the tubers in the ground, carefully filling up the holes made by the stalks with soil. If treated in this manner, the disease in a great measure will be pre- vented from doing any more harm to the tubers. By so doing the tubers will not be quite so large as they would be if the stalks were allowed to remain, but I presume it is far better to have a medium-sized Potato free from disease than to have a large one that is diseased. It has been tried in a garden here for the two last seasons, with a good result. J. S. The Pot Culture of Vines.— For many years past I have occupied myself with the culture of Vines n pots, and have had great success in all its phases —with pots plunged, or placed on hot-water pipes, ir on borders in a common forcing-house. My atten- ion has been called to a passage in the "Gardener," by Mr. Wm. Thomson. He says, that when Vines are grown "too thickly in an upright position in the centre of houses devoted entirely to themselves," such circumstances "sound and fruitful growths, though strong, cannot be produced, and we would advise growers to avoid such conditions." Now, according to my experience, this is and has long been the method of growing Vines for sale in most of our large establishments ; I have, however, seen 2000 Hamburgh Vines grown on dry heat and trained close under the glass. The Vines are not quite so stout as those grown as above, but their canes and roots are hard and ripe, and the buds from 3 to 3i inches asunder. These I saw with Mr. Rivers, who prides himself in having grown on a 4-inch hot-water pipe, in a 12-inch pot, a Vine upwards of 30 feet in length, and well ripened. When the pots are plunged in tan the Vines emit roots in it, which increase the bulk and the foliage, but not soundness. Vitis. Gigantic Puff-balls. — The following dimensions of a gigantic Puff-ball found by the under-butler here on the 25th ult., may be worth recording : — Breadth, 3 feet 3 inches ; height, 2 feet 9 inches ; weight, 7 lb. I have just seen it, and both weighed and measured it, in the presence of the butler. I may add that I never saw one at all approaching the size of this specimen. Charles Hubbard, Gr. to Lady Berners, Keythorpe, Leicestershire. I have gathered some very large Puff-balls here this season. The largest in diameter measured 17 inches, and was the best flavoured I ever ate. They grow in abundance on some very rotten manure, under some Elm trees in the park, which no doubt has been here some years. James Martin, The Gardens^ Osterley Park, Soulhall, W. Laxton's Alpha Pea.— Noticing the letter in your columns regarding this Pea, we beg to say that it has proved in our trial-ground to be second to none for earliness, at the same time having a decided advantage in flavour over Ringleader, Daniel O'Rourke, and others of the same class. Kentish Invicta, also, we find quite as early, of excellent flavour, and very distinct. Of the two dwarfs. Little Gem and Multum in Parvo^ we find the latter is a larger cropper, of better flavour, and similarly early, therefore superior to Little Gem. James Dickson &• Sons, Nmiton Nurseries, Chester. Exchanging Seedling Ferns. — As I was looking over my old files of the Gardeners^ Chronicle, I found, just now, in July 25, 1868 (p. 790), the proposal of Mr. C. W. Strickland, Hildenley, to exchange his seedling Ferns for those of other growers. Like him, I have multitudes which are constantly going to the dunghill, possibly some that he might be glad of. Besides, the matter may be worth re-agitating, for the reminding of other growers. P. H. Gosse, F.R.S.^ Sandhurst, Torquay. The Thinning of Grapes by the Syringe.— If the communication under this heading, signed " A Practical Hand," July 15, is intended as an answer to my query, "At what stage of blooming should Grapes be syringed to check setting ?" then "Practical Hand " has mistaken its drift altogether, as his answer refers to the idea of thinning Grapes after they have set. A. Boyle. Caterpillars and the Fruit Crops.— In the last number of the "Canadian Entomologist" Mr. W. Saunders, of London, Ontario, gives an illustrated life- history of an allied species of Gooseberry saw-fly (Nematus ventricosus), a most destructive pest in North America. Mr. W. Saunders says : — " The fly deposits its white eggs in long regular rows on the under sides of the leaves, chiefly on the larger veins, where they speedily hatch, and the hundreds of vora- cious worms resulting are soon scattered all over the bushes. Already (May 15), the eggs are very numerous, and here and there may be found a colony of larva;. These latter, while young, feed in company, from 20 to 40 on a leaf, which is soon riddled with the small holes they at first make, but in a few days they increase in size, and, parting company, spread in all directions. By keeping a close watch, and picking off the eaten leaves early in the season, the evil will be much lessened, but where the worms are numerous there is nothing so good as powdered Hellebore, which may be readily and economically applied by mixing an ounce (previously rubbed up with a little water to prevent its being lumpy) in a pail of water, and showering it over the bushes with a watering-pot. Many people are timid about using Hellebore, while the fruit is on, for fear of its finding lodgment there in quantities sufficient to produce unpleasant consequences when the fruit is eaten, but if applied in the way just mentioned, there need be no apprehensions on this point." Mr. Saunders, in the same interesting paper quoted above, also gives illustrated life-histories of the Plum Curculio and the Codlin moth (Carpo- capsa Pomonella). Speaking of the latter insect, so destructive to Apples, Mr. Saunders informs us that " excellent traps may be made for them out of common bottles— wide-mouthed ones preferred— by partly filling them with a mixture of vinegar and water, well sweetened with sugar, and having a little rum or other strong-smelling spirit added to it. These may be fastened among the branches of the trees with cord or pieces of wire. The insects, being attracted by the smell of the compound, are lured into the bottle and drowned, and thus the mischief they were about to perpetrate is nipped in the bud. Later in the season the wormy fruit should be carefully gathered, and either dipped in boiling water to destroy the grubs, or fed to hogs." Our entomological friends across the Atlantic are doing well in giving us illustrated life- histories of all garden and farm pests, through the August 5, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ap-ricultural Gazette. 1009 Entomologist, medium of the *'Canadi: $s. sterling, by E. B. Reed, Esq., //enry Reeks^ East Woodhav, July 29. Societies. Royal Horticultural: August 12. — W. W. Saunders, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair. The usual pre- liminary business being concluded, the Rev. M. J. Berkeley announced the awards of the Floral Committee, and in doing so took occasion to remark, when alluding to a golden form of Juniperus chinensis shown by Mr. Maurice Young, of the Milford Nursery, Godalming, that such plants when grown in the shade usually reverted to the green state, and that they kept their golden colour only when fully exposed to the sun. Adverting next to a fine plant of Renanthera coccinea, shown by Mr. Parker, Tooting, Mr, Berkeley observed that the flowers were not so deep in colour as he had seen them before, but still the plant was interesting on account of its being but rarely seen. At the last meeting a small Iridaceous plant of considerable interest was shown by the present chairman, and was considered to be a species of Triticea, but on searching for further particulars in the Herbarium at Kew, in conjunction with Mr. Baker, they had discovered that it very much resembled Watsonia plantaginea, and they had come to the conclusion that it was a species— and a most interesting one— of that genus. On the present occasion, continued Mr. Berkeley, the chairman had brought before them several very remarkable plants, including a plant of an unnamed Dieffenbachia, which exhibited an exceedingly curious case of fusion, two leaves being joined together back to back, the result of the coalition of two petioles. Such an instance he had only seen once before, in a species of Ficus. Ne.xt to come under notice, and from the same exhibitor, was a pretty little species of Cyrtanthus, from the Cape of Good Hope, which he (Mr. Berkeley) thought was a form between C. angustifolius and C. coUinus, the foliage partaking somewhat of the character of both, but which in the case of the first-named was green, and in the latter glaucous. The specimen of Calochortus flavus, said Mr. Berkeley, was perhaps the least showy of a handsome tribe of Liliaceous plants, and which he had never seen in such beauty in this country as he did in the early days of Chiswick, when a batch of tubers sent over by Douglab were planted in a peat bed under a north wall, in which position they thrived so well that they could not have appeared more beautiful in their own country. The speaker then directed attention to Lilium Leichtlinii, one of the best of the Lilies, and to a magnificent form of the old Tiger Lily— as to the name of which there was great doubt whether it was L. splendens or L. Fortunei, though Mr. Berkeley said he thought it very distinct from the type, since it grew to a great height, and on the plant shown there was a certain amount of woolliness on the stems, which he had not remarked on the older kind. Mr. Berkeley concluded by mentioning a remarkable circumstance in connection with some speci- mens of Messrs. Cripps & Sons' new Catalpa syringasfolia aurea that was not generally known, namely, that in the Catalpa the petioles had a solid pith, unlike all other petioles, as would be seen on comparing them with those of a near relative, the Paulownia imperialis, which has a soft pith. The latter plant flowers early, and the former late, which he considered was a sufficient reason why the Catalpa should be the more frequently grown. The Chairman, alluding to a singularly striking new Coleus, shown by R. Tryon, Esq., Loddington Hall, Leicester, remarked that in this instance the variegation had taken an entirely new direction, as instead of being, heretofore, distributed longitudinally, it was banded transverse ; and this would no doubt open out other forms of variegation in a similar direction. For the Cyrtanthus, the speaker said he was indebted to a gentleman at the Cape, who had paid much attention to the flora of the district, and who had informed him that plants at the Cape assumed such differences, under different conditions, that though he thought this was distinct, he would be sorry to say so definitely. Ploral Committee.— J. Fraser, Esq.. in the chair. This meeting was the means of bringing out one of the most decided novelties of the season, a new hybrid Coleus, named Tryoni, in which the variegation, which has usually been distributed longitudinally, is in this instance trans- verse, one-half of the leaf {that near the leaf-stalk) being of a rich glowing crimson, and the other of a bright golden yellow. It was exhibited by Mr. Guildford, £ R. Tryon, Esq., Loddington Hall, Leicester, and received the highest award that could be given to it— a First-class Certificate. Mr. Laxton, Stamford, also contributed most desirable acquisition to the group of double-flowered Pelargoniums in Jewel, a variety raised from MadameRose Charmeaux, in which the foliage partakes strongly of the Tom Thumb character, the trusses of flowers being of medium size, each pip more resembling the bud of the Fairy Rose than the flowers of a Pelargonium. It is without exception the prettiest thing for button-hole bouquets that we have seen. A First-class Certificate was awarded. Mr. Maurice Young, of the Milford Nursery, near Godalming, sent several examples of Juniperus chinensis aurea, which received u similar award. With the exception of its bright golden variegation it is in character the exact prototype of the old Chinese Juniper, from which it is a sport, of some 16 years old, dunng which time it has never once reverted to the green form, so that it also may be con- sidered as an acquisition to the list of beautiful variegated trees for the ornamentation of lawns and shrubberies. First-class Certificates were also voted to Messrs. Kel- way & Son, Langport, for three new varieties of Gladioli, named Hogarth, blush, crimson flamed ; Oberon, blush, heavily flamed with crimson, and much resem- bling Julie ; and Pictum, a large flower, resembling Adolphe Brongniart, with the exception that this has a deep maroon centre ; to Messrs. Wood & Ingram, Huntingdon, for F 2d class for Picoti : to Messrs. multifiora elegans, flowerer ; of 33 named cotee Delicata, white, and one of the e Mrs. Ingram, white, with crimson E. G. Henderson & Son for Begonia red, and said to be a perpetual Eraser, The Nurseries, Lea Bridge, for Dracaena, named Fraseri, with very distinct, robust foliage of a deep bronze colour edged with crim- ; toMr. N. Norman. Plumstead, for Picotees Miss Ingle- and Ada Ingleton, and one of the 2d class for Charles Williams, Esq. ; to Mr. Green, gr. to W. W. Saunders, small orange-flowered species of Cyrtanthus from the Cape of Good Hope ; and to Mr. J. Laurence, gr. to Bishop Famham Castle, for the beautiful Ansectochilus Ordianus. FromMr. Frisby, gr. toH. ChapUn, Esq., M.P., Blankney Hall, Lincoln, came a group of new Tricolor Pelargoniums, and from Mr. Parker, Tooting, a fine spe- of Renanthera coccinea. Messrs. Veitch & Sons stand of lo varieties of Phloxes, and Messrs. & Son, Tunbridge Wells, sent two new Clematis, William Cripps, deep violet-purple, and Lady Marie Meade, very large and of a bright lilac colour. Messrs. Bell & Thorpe, Stratford-on-Avon, and Messrs. Rollisson & Son. each contributed well-grown examples of Lobelias ; and Mr. W. Paul and Mr. J. Mann were exhibitors of new Zonal Pelargoniums. Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son sent a group of Lobelias, Fancy and Tricolor Pelargoniums, and Platy- ceriums ; and Mr. Struckett, gr. to C. Hart, Esq., New- field, Blackheath, sent a variety of Oncidium cartha- ginense. Messrs. Carter & Co. had a Second-class Certifi- cate for Tricolor Pelargonium Prospero, and Mr. G. F. Wilson had a Special for a nice group of Liliums. Mr. Cannell, Woolwich, sent a stand of a dozen new Verbenas. As on the last occasion, a small tent near the Council- room was also filled, this time principally with the various forms of Pelargoniums. The great feature of this display was the competition for prizes offered for seedling Tricolors by W. R. Morris, Esq., of Deptford. The first class was for a group of seedling plants of Golden Variegated Zonal (Tricolor) Pelargoniums, not to exceed six in number. The competitors were Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing, Mr. Turner, Messrs. F. & A. Smith, and Mr. J. Mann, the ist prize going to the first-named, and the 2d to Mr. Turner. In the ist prize lot the plants were raised this year, and bore the names of Brightness, Blithe Hill, Flora MacNab, Decision, Stanstead Eclipse, and Adonis. The latter plant also took the ist prize for the best in class i, so that Mr. Laing is to be congratulated on his success, this being the first year in which he has attempted to raise this class of plants. The other plants were older, and did not quite meet the teims of the schedule. The best collection of varie- gated varieties was staged by Mr. Turner, and consisted :s, Messrs. E. G. Henderson being ities : Messrs. Bell & Thorpe and Messrs. F. & A. Smith also competed with large plants, mostly deficient in colour, the latter receiving an extra prize. Mr. T. Pestridge, The Nursery, Ux- bridge, sent a dozen varieties neatly, shown in baskets, and came in 3d. The best single Gold and Bronze Zonal (Bicolor) was Marechal MacMahon, in which the belt was very dark and broad, from Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing ; Mr. Keiler, New Beckenham, being 2d with Conqueror. The best golden-leaved self was Golden Circle, shown by Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son, anc the 2d best Golden Gift, staged by Mr. Turner. The last named exhibitor had the best CJolden Variegated (Tri color). Miss Morris, Messrs. Carter & Co. being 2d witl Prince of Wales, and Messrs. Bell & Thorpe 3d with Macbeth. Mr. Turner's Mrs. Rousby was also the best in the class for a Silver Variegated Zonal. Mr. T. Pest- ridge exhibited Blushing Bride, and Mr. Turner, Miss Kingsbury, in the class for silver-edged varie- ties, and the prizes were awarded in the order named. For the best double-flowered variety Messrs. Bell & Thorpe were well ist with the beautiful Miss Evelyn, bright pink; Messrs. Carter & Co. 2d, with C. GHjm, scarlet ; and Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing 3d, with Victor Lemoine. The first-named exhibitors also took the ist prize for the best single Nosegay variety, with large well- grown plants of Charles Dickens, salmon-red, with a singu- lar tint of greyish-blue on the petals ; Mr. Cannell being 2d with the profuse flowering Master Christine, pink. Mr. Mann's Triumph, scarlet, was the best Zonal, and Mr. Turner's Madame Jules Elyse stood next ; the latter, exhibiting Pelargonium Willsii, which in the class for Ivy- leaved varieties was ist. Amongst miscellaneous subjects were, from Messrs. F. & A. Smith, a very large and fine collection of pyramidal Balsams, of various colours, many being spotted and striped. From Mr. Turner, fine stands of Carnations and Picotees ; from Mr. W. Norman, Crescent Road, Plumstead, a stand of 12 new Picotees ; from Belle & Thorpe, cut blooms of Zonal double flowered and Nosegay Pelargoniums, and examples of a new Petunia, Single Beauty, deep purple with a faint lilac edge, habit very wiry, and likely to make a good bedder ; from Mr. Hooper, Bath, large stands of Pansies, Carna- tions, Picotees, and Cloves ; from E. Shenton, Botanic Nursery, Biggleswade, a large white Pink, named Flower of Eden, delicately scented ; from Mr. B. Porter, gr. to Mr. Benham, Sion Lodge, Isieworth, 6 nice spikes of Gladiolus Brenchleyensis ; fr- .,1 Mr. Cannell, two dozen trusses of Zonal and Nosegay Pelargoniums : from Mr. J. Mann, Brentwood, a similar group ; from Messrs. Jack- man & Son, Woking, a large collection of seedling Clematis, and 6 handsome specimen plants of Clematis in tubs, for which they received a ist prize ; from Mr. Turner, a nice group of Lilium auratum ; and from Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing. a selected group of Gold and Bronze Zonal Pelargoniums, seedlings of 1871, remarkably fine in fohage and bright in colour. Fruit Committee.— G. F. Wilson, Esq.. F.R.S., in the chair. As the season advances, so does the number of subjects sent for adjudication by this body increase. On this occasion there was a varied and interesting display, the principal feature of which was the exhibition of wonderful Gooseherrips, three prizes being offered for the best collections, 12 of a kind. Mr. Turner in for ist honours with a very fine lot. consisting of imed varieties, and including all of the best show .. Mr. |. Sharp, gr. to W. Martin, Esq., Sherman- bury, was 2d ; and Mr. Beach, gr. to C. J. Herries, Esq., Julian's, Sevenoaks, sd—the last named exhibitors being also ist and 2d in the order named for the sue heaviest fruit, the former with Rubesin, very large, smooth, green, and the latter with Overall. From Mr. Knight, The Floral Nursery, Hailsham, came a dish of a new Peach, named Knight's Markley Admirable, raised by G. Darby, Esq., Markley, Sussex ; it is a freestone of the Teton de Venus type, of good size, slightly oval in shape, ■ ' a prominent nipple on the apex. It was gro\vn in a cold house, and the fi-uit possessed a particularly rich flavour, much superior to that of other early Peaches. A First-class Certificate was awarded. Mr. Turner sent 3 nice bunches of the Golden Champion Grape, showing too plainly the spot to which this otherwise fine variety is unfortunately subject. Mr. Laurence, gr., Farn- ham Castle, sent a dish of fruit of the Black Apricot of Siberia, Prunus dasycarpa ; and from Mr. Tillery, of Welbeck, came a specimen of the East- vvell Seedhng Melon, a nice-looking Melon, but past its best. Ingram's Scarlet Gem Melon, unripe, was shown by Mr. J. Meaks, gr. to R. Fowler, Esq., Petersham. It is a large, handsome, and beautifully netted scarlet-fleshed variety. Messrs. J. & C. Lee exhibited specimens of their Hammersmith Early Kidney Potato, grown on light and heavy land. From Mr. Gilbert, gr. to the Marquis of Exeter, Burghley, came a selected Pea from Laxton's Alpha ; and Mr. Evershed, Munsted Gardens, Godalming, also sent two very promising varieties, but the committee adhered to their former resolution not to make any awards until they have been tried at Chiswick. It was reported that a trial of Peas and Potatos would be made there next year. From Mr. Rivers came a collection of ten varieties of Filberts and Nuts, grafted on Corylus arborescens, by which it would appear that this stock in- duced fertihty, but though the Utile halt standard specimen bore a capital crop, it must be remembered that this is an exceptionally good year for Nuts, so that further experi- ence must be gained before the above results can be affirmed. Mr. D. Piccorilli, Wigmore Street, sent very handsome specimens of Giant Early While Tripoli, and Giant Rocca Onions. From Messrs. Bell & Thorpe came a dozen varieties of Potatos, and Mr. Portir had specimens of Rintoul's Early White Don. Prizes were offered for the best single dishes of early Plums. Mr. J. Douglas being ist with Early Green Gage, finely ripened ; and Mr. Porter was 2d with Morocco. M. Gustave Couvreaux, of Nogent, Haute-Mame, France, sent specimens of his Secateur, which differs from the usual form, in having larger handles, made by riveting strips of wood alongside the ordinary iron form. DiTCHLiNG Gooseberry Show.— I cannot refrain from sending you a notice of the Ditchling Gooseberry and Currant show, as it is the oldest established society con- nected with horticultural pursuits in this part of the king- dom, and, I presume, one of the oldest in England, According to the bills, the one just past was the forty- ninth annual show, but the secretary of this society informed me that it was really the fiftieth. It was originally started by a few amateur Gooseberry grower^, who met together and pitted their single berries and dozens of berries against each other. This show has gradually increased, and now includes flowers and vege- tables, but the main feature is still the Gooseberry, This is no doubt in great measure due to the liberality of I believ growers to meet in competition. And then some of the best prizes drawn from the annual subscriptions are given for the same class of fruit. Of course we should scarcely be able to compete w^iih our Lancashire brethren, as we do not grow for single berries, but for dozens. The prin- cipal prizes are offered for white, green, yellow, and red Goosebemes, a dozen of each ; and 15 ounces, I am informed, is the heaviest dozen ever exhibited in one colour by the same person. The weights this year were r\.oO up to the average— on the 26th ult., the day of the show, the largest berries having split in consequence of excessive moisture. The heavi est dozens shown this year were fellows, viz., 11 oz. 18 dwts. 5 grs., but the red varieties usually weigh the heaviest. The average weight of the different colours this year in the amateur class was about 11 oz. 5 dwts. ; in class B, for amateurs, a little over 10 oz. ; and in the cot- tagers' class, about 9 oz. 8 dwts. The Currants this year were not up to the usual standard, though a dozen bunches of black exceeded 3 oz. //. British Association.— The 41st annual meeting of the Association was inaugurated on Wednesday evening last at the Music Hall, Edinburgh, by the President, Sir W. Thomson, of Atlantic Cable noto- riety. Sir W. Thomson is well known not only as an experienced practitioner, but as a bold theorist. The hypothesis he proposed as to the origin of life on the globe, is a fit pendant to his idea, formerly propounded, that the heat of the sun is due to the constant friction caused by the impact of meteors falling on to it. Our readers, who peruse the following passages, which foi-med the conclusion of the learned President's address, will doubtless agree with us thatatpresent we know won- derfiiUy little about the matter at issue. "The essence of science," said the President, towards the close of his speech, "consists in inferring antecedent conditions, and anticipating further evolutions, from phenomena which have actually come under observation." What, then, he went on to inquire, does science teach us in regard to the origin of life on the earth ? Following up Professor Huxley's address last year, Sir William Thomson declared that he was prepared " to adopt it as an article of scientific faith, tnie through all space lOIO The Gardeners' Chronicle and Aofricultural Gazette. [August 5, 1871 and through all time, that life proceeds from life and from nothing but life." " Did grass and trees and flowers spring into existence by a fiat of Creative Power, or did vegetation, growing from seed sown, spread and multiply over the whole earth? When a volcanic island springs up from the sea, and after a few years is found clothed with vege- tation, we do not hesitate to assume that seed has been wafted to it through the air, or floated to it on rafts. Is it not possible, is it not probable that the beginning of vegetable life on the earth is to be similarly explained ? Every year thousands, probably millions, of fragments of solid matter fall upon the earth —whence come these fragments ? What is the previoits history of any one of them ? Should the time when this earth comes into collision with another body, com- parable in dimensions to itself, be when it is still clothed as at present with vegetation, many great and small fragments carrying seed and living plants and animals would undoubtedly be scattered through space. Hence and because we all confidently believe that there are at present, and have been from time immemorial, many worlds of life besides our own, we must regard it as probable in the highest degree that there are countless seed-bearing meteoric stones moving about through space. If at the present instant no life existed upon this earth, one such stone falling upon it might, by what we bhndly caU natural causes, lead to its becoming covered with vegetation. I am fully conscious of the many scientific objections which may be urged against this hypo- thesis, but I believe them to be all answerable. The hypothesis that life originated on this earth through Moss-grown fragments from the ruins of another world may seem wild and visionary ; all I maintain is that it is not unscientific. From the earth stocked with such vegetation as it could receive meteorically, to the earth teeming with all the endless variety of plants and animals which now inhabit it, the step is prodigious : yet, according to the doctrine of continuity, most ably laid before the Association by a predecessor in this chair (Mr. Grove), all creatures now living on earth have proceeded by orderly evolution from some such origin. Sir John Herschel, in expressing a favourable judgment on the hypothesis of zoological evolution, with, however, some reservation in respect to the origin of man, objected to the doctrine of natural selection, that icwas toohketheLaputan method of making books, and that it did not sufficiently take into account a continually guiding and controlling intelligence. This seems to me a roost valuable and in- structive criticism. I feel profoundly convinced that the argument of design has been greatly too much lost sight of in recent zoological speculations. Reaction against the frivolities of teleology, such as are to be found not rarely in the notes of the learned commentators on Paley's "Natural Theology," has, I believe, had a tem- porary effect in turning attention from the solid and irre- fragable argument so well put forward in that excellent old book. But overpoweringly strong proofs of intelli- gent and benevolent design lie all round us, and if ever perplexities, whether metaphysical or scientific, turn us away from them for a time, they come back upon us with irresistible force, showing to us through Nature the in- fluence of a free will, and teaching us that all living beings depend on one ever-acting Creator and Ruler." Artistic Cookery ; a Practical Syslon, suited for the Use of the Nobility and Gentiy, and for Public Enter- tainments. With 80 engraved plates. By Urbain Dubois, Chef de Cuisine of their Majesties the King and Queen of Prussia. 4to., pp. 244. Long- mans. 1870. Cosmopolitan Cookery; Popular Studies. With 310 drawings. By Urbain Dubois, Auihor of the "Artistic Cookery." Royal 8vo, pp. 625. Long- mans. 1870. Although it is generally admitted that cooking, as a science, is better understood and practised abroad than it is in England, it is not so generally known that the literature of the subject has for many years been in a more advanced condition in France than with us. Mrs. Rundle used to be the great authority ; after that, Mrs. Beeton's was, and perhaps still is, the most highly esteemed " Cookery Book " in the majority of English families. In those larger houses, where foreign styles of cooking began to be practised some 50 years ago, French men-cooks have been generally employed, until within the latter half of this period, when English men-cooks have divided the best appointments with their French brothers in this art. To these English artists it was a boon, when in 1846 Soyer, the French head-cook at the Reform Club, published in good English his work, called the " Gastronomic Regene- rator," which contained " 2000 practical recipes, suited to the income of all classes." The only other book in English to which we need refer, as treating of the higher branches of cookery, was that brought out by Francatelli, in 1868, called "The Modern Cook," in which will be found recipes for various dishes served by the best French, Italian, and German, as well as English cooks. The two works which call forth the present remarks are, however, of a much more elaborate character, so much so that it is difficult to convey an idea of their contents. That called "Artistic Cookery," although describing the mode of cooking a large number of most expensive dishes, is more especially devoted to the ornamentation and decoration of these dishes, of which there are no less than 391 excellent illustrations. Kitchen-maids would probably set greater store by the "pictures" than the letterpress, and would vote it a "wonderful good book about dishing-up." The author's own opinion of it is differently expressed, for we find at the top of every page, where they can be introduced, the words "Album of Classic Cookery." When we state that three-fourths of these illustrations are devoted to cold dishes, it will at once be seen that the work will be more useful to those who indulge in grand breakfasts and state suppers than to givers of good dinners. Indeed, with all respect for so distin- guished a cook as M. Dubois unquestionably is, we venture to think that his enthusiasm in the application of high art and fine art to the decoration of a hot joint before he would allow his employer to partake of it, is just so much energy misapplied. There are few hot dishes which are not liable to become less enjoyable for every minute of delay which occurs between the com- pletion of their cooking and the time of their mastica- tion, and consequently the elaborate decoration of any hotdish, after its cooking is finished, is, incur judgment, a grievous r • ■ ~ • - 1 their ' and listake. Tumingfromthehot to thecolddishes, t fail to admire the great taste which appears ■namenlation ; for whether it be fish, n pastry, fruit, or ices, everything is prettily ically arranged. The engravings give one the notion that Truffles and Cockscombs are in too great a preponderance in the ornamental part of his work ; but possibly if they could have been coloured, the red of the Carrot and the lobster-spawn, and the green of the Pistachio-nut, would have relieved the monotony of the black and white in the illustrations referred to. There is a large collection of bills of fare given, some of which are interesting from their extent, others for their choiceness, some for the selec- tion of wines served with the respective dishes, others for their quaintness. For example, when the Sultan entertained Prince Jerome Napoleon on July 6, 1868, he gave him amongst other things, ' ' Beureck, Quephte, Kiaq-Lnkmassy, Visnali, and Ekmek." And here we must mention the weak point in this otherwise excellent work — it has no index, no table of contents, no glossary ; and hence we are unable to find out, without leading through the whole of the book, what these curiosities are, or whether they are described at all. Turning now to the other work, it is difiicult to believe at first that it can be by the same author. " Artistic Cookery" is written in good English. Here is an extract from " Cosmopolitan Cookery :" — " Butcher's meat, in its various extent, is, so to say, the nerve and soul of the kitchen. There is no fat dinner, no festival, where it does not make a conspicuous figure. By the distinguished taste or by the richness of its sub- stance the varieties of butcher's meat are alike indis- pensable on the table, as in the kitchen. * * * The darker sorts of butcher's meat, served at a dinner, if roasted, gain exceedingly by being carved on the table, and then handed round to the guests ; all roast meat, carved previously, by this proceeding loses most of its nutritive juice. Never forget this, amphitryons. " This is a portion of one of the introductions to the five parts into which this book is divided ; they are Soup, Fish, Butcher's Meat, Poultry, and Entremets. It seems probable that M. Dubois has ventured upon doing a little English for himself in these introduc- tions. The recipes, however, are no doubt trans- lated from the French by the same person who was employed upon the previous work, and there are in this book 1288, most of them different from those in "Artistic Cookery." From the preface we glean that " Cosmopolitan Cookery" first appeared in French in 1868, followed by a second edition in 1869, and that the author is prevented by want of funds from pro- ceeding at present with the publication of his third work in English, to be called " School of High Culi- nary Art," in four 8vo volumes. The present book will be found more generally useful than " Artistic Cookery," inasmuch as it possesses an index, occupying 24 pages. One might suppose this enough for any purpose, and yet it failed us the first time of using it. Wishing to know what "a^fj" could be, the index proved useless ; in one part of the book we stumbled across the information that they are a kind of Mush- room, known in Russia by the name of "gribouis;" but we are still in doubt whether it is an Agaricus or a Boletus that is referred to. Nothing doubting that these two works will, ere long, find their way into the cook's room of most of the large country mansions in England, and assuming the existence of that kindly feeling and friendly co- operation between the head gardener and the head cook, which are so necessary between principal officers in such establishments, we recommend the cook to ask the gardener to take a cup of tea with him, and look over his new "picture-books," from an inspection of which they cannot fail, both of them, to obtain hints which they can conjointly use in their employer's interest, and to his increased satisfaction. Florists' Flowers. "How is it," said a fine old florist to me the other day, "that these beautiful Sweet Williams are not more grown ?" We were looking at a bed of them in my own garden, saved from some seed sent me by the Rev. E. N. Pochin, of Sileby Vicarage, Loughborough, during the early part of last year. (Incidentally, it may be stated that Mr. Pochin grows Sweet Williams as finely, comparatively, as he does the beautiful Roses with which he wrests so many 1st prizes from many an aspiring exhibitor.) These Sweet Williams, in the size and regularity of their markings, more nearly resembled Phloxes than anything else I have yet seen. There were rich shining crimson self flowers, and there were others almost wholly white, save and except that a faint ring of pink or rose surrounded a white eye. Between these there were flowers variously and hand- somely marked, some with white, some with coloured centres ; some with smooth, others with fringed edges, but not one undeserving of the most tender care. Planted in rather poor stiff soil, and allowed to carry the whole of their lateral shoots, the flowers were very fine ; what they would have been had they been placed in light rich soil and duly thinned, cannot be imagined. In these days, when provincial shows as a general rule provide classes for cut blooms of Sweet Williams, and when, as a general rule, also, they are but in- differently shown, if exhibited at all, one cannot help repeating the question of my old floricultural friend. It can't be that strains of good seeds are difficult of acquirement, it must be from indifference on the part of the growers, and a lack of that competition with the flower, which invariably incites to exertions to obtain the finest strain of seed possible. In the strain under notice, the smooth edges and coloured centres of Hunt's strain are mingled with the fringed margins and pale centres of Dean's Auricula- eyed. These characteristics undoubtedly appeared in the two strains when originally selected, but Nature is an indulgent mother, and the sportive character of the flowers soon presented a commingling of each character. What matters so long as the flowers are large, circular, stout in texture, and finely marked ? A good, light, rich soil is the one for the Sweet William. Some seed can be cast down in any spare plot in the month of March, and in October there will be an abundance of strong plants with which to form a blooming bed. The Sweet William winters best on a somewhat dry position, where the plants can be shel- tered from cutting winds ; excessive wet at the roots is ,ar more injurious than hard frosts ; and cutting north winds playing on the plants growing in a moist, heavy soil, will work great destruction among them. How well the Sweet William serves to decorate shrubbery borders during the summer months, needs scarcely to be stated here. In connection with the Double Rocket, Antirrhinums, Pentstemons, Salvia patens. Foxgloves, and other things, there is secured a succession of bloom affording bright and varied tints. It may be that the cultivator desires to propagate certain finely marked varieties in his collection. To do wood of the succeeding season, should be pulled ( just as the plants are coming into bloom. If taken off close to the main shoots by the ground, they will often be found to have made a few short fibres, by which the work of propagation will be greatly accelerated. These, put in some fine light soil in a shady place, will soon take roots, when they can be planted out in a well prepared bed, as in the case of the seedlings. To obtain fine trusses of bloom for exhibition pur- poses, a bed formed of two parts of good fibry loam and one of well-rotted manure, with the addition of some leaf-mould, should be made, and the plants placed about a foot apart. Only one head of bloom should be allowed to rise, and all the lateral blooming stems should be removed as they appear. A support should be given to each stem, as they are brittle, and will readily snap when swayed to and fro by the wind ; and in order that there should be a nice even face to the show trusses, there must be some careful thinning of ihe pips. Tills done, there will be seen a stand of Sweet Williams that will almost, if not quite, rival the choicest varieties of the perennial Phloxes. R. D. Garden Memoranda. Orchard-house Trees and other Matters AT THE Nurseries of Mr. Pearson, Chilwell. — A charming, though necessarily brief, report of these nurseries was given by " R. D." in your number for June 24, and you specify most of the seedling Pelar- goniums that I had made a note of, in the Gardener^ Chronicle of July 8. I can heartily endorse all that you and your special correspondent say about this splendid strain of Zonals. They exceed anything I had before seen. The season was unfavourable for judging of their full beauty out-of-doors, but that northern house, 200 feet long, filled with seedling Zonals, was a glowing mass of rich beauty worth going ICO miles to enjoy. Should they prove good bedders — which doubtless many of them will — our gardens will be enriched with many new shades of colour, and lighted up with fine masses of beauty. But should they not prove first-class bedders, most of them will be serviceable for house work, and useful for bouquets ; and these two last far exceed the first in importance. Individual excellence and fine shades of colour are lost to a great extent in a massed flower garden. But bring these qualities close to the eye in a pot plant, in conserva- tory or room, or in a bouquet, and it is chiefly those qualities that please. Many of the single pips of these seedling Zonals are distinguished by their great size and substance, and they are of the softest, purest, and most brilliant colours— just the thing for the floral decorator and bouquet maker to conjure with ; and they will be conjured mth, to the delight of many fair eyes, and the gladdening of thousands of youthful hearts of both August 5, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ao-ricultural Gazette. ion sexes in the future. For some of these trusses are almost large enough for a lady's bouquet, if fringed with Ferns, while one just set on a tiny leaf would suffice for a perfect bouquet for a gentleman. I con- gratulate the arlisles on the saving of time that will be effected by the use of these fine sorts. Many of them seem of the La Grande type. nthu- and readers infer hobby-horse, and v orchard-house trees. I have never been very siastic about such trees in pots ; and by strange perversity many writ that the term orchard-house tree means a fruit tree grown in a pot. It does nothing of the kind. In fact the term orchard takes us to the very antipodes of pots, outside the garden, to a sort of half-way house, between the garden and open park, and orchard trees were originally trees as near to their natural state as might be. But Mr. Rivers has given a new meaning to the phrase, and now it is applied to all sizes and forms of trees, and all modes of training except to such as are trained on trellises. The pyramid and the bush are the most common forms, however, of orchard-house trees ; at least, so I always thought until I went to Chilwell. Of course, there are obvious objections to both forms. Suitable for and easily assumed by Apples, Pears, Cher- ries, Plums, or Apricots, Peaches and Nectarines, do not assume the pyramid and bush form so readily ; and, when moulded into shape, they often try hard to get out of it. But there are much stronger objections to the bush and pyramid form. Placed thickly together in pots, or planted closely, the greater portion of the tree — the base — the best fruit-bearing part, is much shaded, and necessarily a long way from the glass. This tells powerfully against quality. It is a well-known axiom among Peach growers that the nearer the glass the finer flavoured and higher coloured the fruit — hence the strong attachment of practical men to Peach-houses rather than orchard-houses. In the former the trees are trained and trellised at a dis- tance of from 9 to 18 inches off the glass ; in the latter much of the fruit is placed from 3 to 6 feet off the same. But Mr. Pearson meets and masters this objection. By adopting the standard form and working his trees at different heights, the whole of the fruit bearing wood is brought up as near the glass as the cultivator chooses, and this whether the trees are planted out or gro^vn in pots. The Peaches and Nectarines in the great orchard- house at Chilwell are like graduated rows of standard Roses, marshalled according to stature. This mode of training also seems well adapted to the habits of the tree. The natural disposition of a Peach or Nectarine, and indeed of most stone fruit trees on a single stem, is to throw their growth towards the top. This form meets this tendency, and turns it to account by converting that strength into fruit. There can never be any diffi- culty in keeping the top of a standard Peach well fur- nished with wood, though there is often very great difficulty in keeping the base of a pyramidal tree as well furnished or as strong as its apex. With plenty of young wood any that exhausted may be removed, and standard trees could be kept in a bearing state for years, without any great increase of size, and without exhausting. No trees could look in better health than Mr. Pearson's. MosI of them were well laden with fruit, and the leaves wer( healthy, large, and vigorous, without spot. Then, artistically, such trees are very effective. I never have cared for fruit trees on the dinner table ; but if evei admissible, a well furnished standard is assuredly the prettiest, and most tasteful form. And Cherries, glowing with vermilion. Apricots burdened with gold. Peaches and Nectarines of choicest colours and qualities, cheeked Apples, might form highly effective oh halls, or on staircases, or even in large drawing rooms. Thus horticulturally and artistically I consider the growth of standard orchard-house trees a happy thought, and though we are not wholly mdebted for it to Mr. Pearson — for I have seen such trees at Saw- bridgeworth years ago — yet I have never seen anything like the number of trees grown in this style, nor the perfection of form and fruiting, that I saw at Chilwell. Grape and Grape Vine growing here have already been adverted to ; the latter were especially strong and good. Mr. Pearson seems rather sceptical about all the new Grapes but the Madresfield Court ; he is also a considerable experimenter in this line, having a house for proving his seedlings. I wa; pleased to meet with his Ferdinand de Lesseps it good style, evidently a useful though most pecu- liarly flavoured early White Grape. Other sorts here are very promising, but I forbear specifying them until further proved. The man who thought- lessly writes up a new Grape without sure and certain and repeated proof of its general and special excellencies, and the soundness of its constitution, ought to be lynched. Of this I feel certain — we shall hear again of some of these. Mr. Pearson pointed out one striking case of reversed seed — one of the choicest Grapes had run clean back into something wild and worthless. I noticed also that some varieties, as far as one could judge from leaf and wood and unripe Iruit, seem to come quite true from seed. I met with several fine old herbaceous or alpine plants, among them were the following: — Crucianella stylosa, Veronica taurica, Salvia alpestris, Gypsophila prostrata, Arenaria laricifolia. Rose Campion, Sisyrin- 1 bermudianum, Anthericum flexifolium, Lilias- Liliago, &c. may be added that this is a mere fragmentary :. It would well repay any of your readers to go and judge for themselves. Mr. Pearson is one of the most genial and hospitable of men, and has many things to show and to tell his visitors that space forbids me to write of. F. THE WEATHER. TEMPERATURE OP THE AIR AND FALL OF RAIN . DIFFERENT STA TIONS, During the Week ending Saturday, July ag, 1871. irminfiha Notiinghan Temperature t ^1 li '.q. sliur?'! 29-Q4 Hygrometrical Deduction - ^laisher's T ' ' 5tb edition from Glaisherls Tables, 1^1 m III I III 1 1 ain IcU heavily. Fii rrents. Generally showers fell, ery fine throughoui JAMES GLAISHER. Miscellaneous. Cricket.— A match was played on Saturday last between the employes of Messrs. James Carter, Dttnnett & Beale, and those of Messrs. Waite, Burnell, Huggins & Co., on the ground of *• Carter's Cricket Club," at Dulwich, which resulted in an easy victory for "Carter's." Sale of Timber. — A few of the Oak trees in Burghley Park, having shown symptoms of decay, were recently cut down, and were sold by auc- tion. The size of the trees and the value of the timber may be inferred from the prices that were realised. One tree brought ;i 72 ; a second, ;if6l ; a third, ;^54; and the whole, 30 in number, realised l<3°°- (in;rbeit ^i^tratbns. (FOR THE ENSUING WEEK.) PLANT HOUSES. Seedling plants of Cyclamen perskum, which were | syn°png °'^,^',°''^^; potted off a month or two since, should be kept con- stantly grooving in an intermediate temperature. It is quite probable that at this time the young roots will be approaching the sides of the pots rather freely ; so that if the latter are small in size (such as are recom- mended) another shift may be of much benefit to them at this time. If on the other hand they were potted off into large pots, such as the largest sized 6o's, this will not altogether be advisable. In the case of these latter it will be best to apply a little weak liquid manure at alternate waterings. In potting-on Cyclamens at this season, there are certain circumstances which require consideration. For instance, as the long cold nights of autumn and early winter are approaching, it will be advisable to give small shifts only, and these again must be afforded after a careful consideration of the means at command to grow them on quickly and well. Few plants have shown a greater amount of progress in a cultural point of view, in the hands of the modem gardener, than have the Cyclamens ; but it will be found that wherever the greatest amount of success has been attained there ivill also be found the best means for obtaining it. Perhaps it may be superfluous to mention that these " sweet and showy" plants cannot be grown to a tithe of the beauty they are capable of displaying amongst a mixed incon- gruous medley of plants, as they invariably are when large returns are expected from poor means. I should, however, state the fact that the Cyclamen delights in being grown near to the glass, and also that it prospers thoroughly only by the aid of a little bottom-heat. Those cheap low span-roofed houses, which are so much employed by the caterers of the plants for our great metropolitan markets, are just the things required to do this plant justice, as well as 10 out of every 15 of all other decorative subjects. Yet aU our large ducal and other establishments seem to be totally without such models of convenience. I cannot help thinking that by far too much attention, on the part of those designing gardens, is given to the oma- tal element, say in filling out a certain piece of ground, or in the external appearance of any given structure, than to the internal working arrangements. The former, no doubt, is very desirable in the case of conservatories and show-houses of a permanent character, but structures of a more suitable nature, for growing stuff to furnish them, shou' provided in fitting positic labour under the burden of inconveniences, and have not proper means, should keep their seedling Cycla- mens in the same small pots until the early spring, and may then have some hopes of making a good advance. Pay careful attention to young seedling Herbaeeoits Cal' csolarias, which should now be attaining to a readily discernible size. Immediately the plants become large enough to handle well, prick them out into light, rich soil, subsequently taking care to place them in a cool, shady situation. Water them with care, so that none may be allowed to become too dry or too wet. Old plants of Cinerarias which have been turned out on to a cool shady border should now be taken up and divided, and the young shoots or cuttings potted off singly. Place them then into a cool frame, the bottom of which is composed of cinder ashes, under a north wall ; keep them weU watered and with but a moderate quantity of air for the first week or two, unless, indeed, the weather prove cool and moist, when more may be freely allowed. Conservatories which from any cause, such as the absence of the family, &c. , may not require to be kept constantly gay, and in which large specimen plants are grown in open borders, should now have copious syringings within. This will afford very material aid to all such inmates. Those who may have turned out- of-doors any choice plants will haxe to calculate a little, if the moist, dripping weather present while I am writing continues, as to whether harm is not likely to accrue to them through being constantly too wet at the root. FORCING HOUSES. Take advantage now of the duration of sunlight, to ensure a sturdy growth to all plants in forcing- houses, bearing in mind that these advantages are exceedingly transitory, and that no time should be lost in fully availing ourselves of a favourable opportunity. Give air freely, according to the state of the outer weather, but close up early in the afternoon. Feed the roots of fruiting Pines freely with proper manure-water, and so encourage by every means the fullest possible development of each. In Early Vineries, the wood must now be induced to ripen off. It mil be well, therefore, to remove every symptom of fresh growth, and, by gradually inuring the Vines to night air, to induce a perfect state of rest. To further the.se views, some means must be devised to throw off all moisture from superficial rains from out- side Vine borders. Apply a moderate amount of artificial warmth to vineries in which the fruit is ripen- ing, during all inclement weather. Keep Muscats ripening at any stage in a good high temperature, increasing it as they proceed with the final swelling and the ripening process. With Muscats it is only by a high temperature that good flavour is possible, hence it must be used with freedom. Be careful to keep down red spider upon Peach and Nectarine trees which have done fruiting ; to accomplish which give a good " "" Use other means to get the thoroughly ripened, that the lights may be removed bodily at the earliest possible time. MeIon.i I012 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. which are ripening their fruits must neither be watered nor shaded, and all the air possible must be aflorded, in conjunction with the maintenance of a good tem- perature within. HARDY FLOWER GARDEN. Hollyhocks will now be commencing to bloom, so that, where fine blooms are required for any special purpose, the points of the shoots should be cut back, and the plants be supplied with manure-water. Thin out the shoots somewhat upon Dahlias, selecting those which exhibit a greater proportion of bloom-buds to remain. Fasten them firmly to the stakes, so that they may escape all danger from injury by wind-storms. Earwigs must be also entrapped by the customary means of elevating small flower-pots containing Moss upon the stakes, or by thrusting old Broad Bean stalks amongst the foliage, which latter method is, perhaps, the least unsightly. Prick out seedling Queen and Brompton Stocks into sheltered seed-beds, and by these means endeavour to insure stiff, sturdy stuff, the better to stand through the future winter. Prune off all young side shoots or suckers from Neapolitan or other choice Violets, particularly such as are being grown on for lifting in the autumn to bloom in pots. Remove the old decaying or seedy remains from off border plants, and cut-in any kind of Hardy Shrubs which are unduly exceeding their limits. HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. Too much importance cannot be attached to the fact, that the sooner all Strawberry plants intended for forcing fill their pots with roots the better. KITCHEN GARDEN. I referred some weeks back to the desirability of sowing seeds of Rosette and Little Pixie Coleworts. Let the plants now be planted out thickly, or not more than from lo inches to a foot apart, and they will be found to form nice compact heads, from the early winter frosts away into the more youthful weeks of the incoming year, often proving very useful at a time when this kind of vegetable is frequently not over- abundant. Proceed with the earlhing-up of the earliest rows of Celery, taking care to remove all old leaves and the young side shoots, which generally form freely at their base. Make yet another sowing of Peas by way of a chance crop. Let the variety be an early kind. I have found the not over-early Ne Plus Ultra do well during very cold nights, comparatively speak- ing, and with but moderately sunny days. Remove all old Peas, Broad Beam, &c., immediately they cease to afford a supply, and plant out varieties of winter vegetables in their room without delay. In light soils, Broccoli and all similar crops will do better following these (giving the ground a good surface hoeing only) than they will in many cases in the same kind of soil's when it has been freshly dug and manured. The same cannot be said, however, of very stifi", heavy soils. W. E. Notices to Correspondents. Aristolochias. One of the Editors of this journal being engaged in drawing up an account of the species of .Aristolochia, would feel indebted to any correspon- dents who will kindly furnish him with fresh flowers of any species they may have in cultivation. The flowers may be sent by post to the office of the Gardeners' Chronicle. Books : W. B. Williams' " Orchid Grower's Manual," 4th ed. , will probably suit you well. Capek Spurge;: Mrs. c' and others. This is the Euphorbia Lathyris. and is of so poisonous a nature that we strongly recommend our correspondents not to try its edible qualities. We presume the name Caper has been given from a superficial resemblance of the seed-vessel to the buds of the true Caper, Cappa: spinosa. Fairy-ring Fungi : A. The only way to get rid of these is to dig out the soil impregnated with the spaw We should be very unwilling to do so in most cases, i tliey produce abundant crops of Marasmius Oreades, one of the very best of our esculent Fungi. They have been peculiarly abundant this year, but, strange to say, they have yielded little or no catsup, even from a bushel and a half of the Fungi. M. J. D. Insects : H. G. The Vine-leaf sent is swarming with hundreds of the just hatched young of the Vine coccus (C. vitis). Look carefully over the stems, and pick off to British Queen, but it is impossible to definitely name any Pea without seeing it growing, or being able to compare it with others. — E. N. Yours is a variety of the Sugar Pea, which, as you say, is a delicious vege- table. It is no novelty. Pelargonium : T. W. Not equal to several already in cultivation, of which Jean Sisley and Wellington may be cited as examples. Removing Plants : Old Subscriber. Strictly speaking, no, unless by special agreement, or unless you are in the trade. 1 ML. M NICATIONS Re -D. T. F.-R. -T. D.-J. H -J.«S. p. G.— F. W. :J- J. N.- Barhets. COVENT GARDEN.^Aug. 4. The markets have been generally well attended during the past week, and supplies have been fairly kept up, prices remaining nearly stationary. Another large cargo of West India Pines has passed under the hammer this week, realising rather more money. The Potato trade is very heavy, and likely to be so for the next month, the disease having shown itself in Lincolnshire as well as in the west of England. Apples, per \ sieve . . to 3 o Oranges, per 100 .. 8 0 toi2 0 3rapes, per lb. ..16-60 Peaches, per doz. .. 8 0—200 Lemons, per 100 .. 8 0 — la 0 Pine-apples, per lb. 2 6 — s 0 Nectarines, per doz. 4 0 — 10 0 Strawberries, p. lb. 0 6 — 16 Vegetables. s.d. s.d. s.d. s.d Asparagus,p. bundle 40—60 Horse Radish,p. bun. 3 0 to 5 0 Beet, per doz. ..20 — 30 Lettuces, per score.. 09—16 — FrenchCos.each 09—.. Parsley, p. bunch.. 04 -06 Celery, red, p. bun. 16-20 Radishes, round, per Cucumbers, each ..09—10 Rhubarb, p. bundle 03—06 Gooseberries, per Spinach, perbushel 26—30 Turnips, p. bunch.. 04-09 Potatos (good samples! , New Round, ts. to loi. ; Kidneys. 8s. to lar. per cwt. 'HE ACME GARDEN FRAME and GROUND he most perfect and effective, as well as the cheapest Frame and EXHIBITORS of CUT FLOWERS, GRAPES, CUCUMBERS,SALADS,&c., will find CHAPMAN'S PATENT VENTILATED WATER TUBE CASES the best now in use, either KUSSIA MATS, for Covering Garden Frames.— ANDERSON'S TAGANROG MATS arc the cheapest and most durable. Price List, which gives the size of every class of Mat, forwarded post free on application. ]AS. T. ANDERSON, 7, Commercial Street. Shoreditch, London. One Penny per Square Yard. lANNED GARDEN NETTING, for Garden purposes, such as Protecting Fruit from Birds, Blossom from r Frosts, &c. W"' ■ - - HOOPER NEW TWINE NETTING, 2 yards wide, 4^. per yard ; )i mesh, 2 yards wide, %d. per yard. PIE.XAGON NET- TING. 76 mesh to square inch, 4;^/ per square yard. Repaired TANNED NETTING, t%d- per yard, 2 yards wide. RABBIT NETS, FISHING NETS. BIRD NETS. See List, post free. W. CULLINGFORD, Forest Gale, London, E. Caution to Gardeners.- When you ask for QAYNOR AND COOKE'S WARRANTED PRIZE O PRUNING and BUDDING KNIVES, see that you get them. Observe the mark SAYNOR, also the Corporate Mark, Obtain genuine onu, and which has cause them of Knives which were not i make, all of which are warranted both by Sellers and Makers. C.'s PRUNING and BUDDING KNIVES are the be ^01 Ithe -like ly ollen bodies of the females with their white covering, and burn them. Leaves also the state of that sent should be picked off and 1 /. O. W. Names of Plants ; H. IV. C. Pelargonium fulgidum, the parent of P. ardens and many other varieties. — G., Bath. This is not Abies Hookeriana. but Abies grandis, Auct. A.M.— J. Lad. The Wig Plant, Rhus Cotinus.— 7o/;« L. .i^morpha fruticosa.— i5. W/'. Lastrea tenericaulis, alias Polypodium trichodes. — VV. R., Lanoport. Blechnum occidentale and Aloe prolifera.— Rnsticiis. Hypericum Androsffimum.—.^. G. Ononis ar\ensis, Rest Harrow.- New Peas: W. /Carle. So numerous are the new varieties of Peas, and so slight the differences between them, that we feel some hesitation in pronouncing an opinion ; nevertheless we can give an excellent character of the sample of Evershed's West .Surrey Marrow, the pods of which are well filled and the Fc.'is of excellent flavour. Evershed's Dwarf Munsled Marrow is also a fine sort, but in our opinion not equal to the other. Pea ; C. M. Your Pea bears a very strong resemblance THE CELEBRATED GRANITIC PAINT. Manufactured Solely and Only by the Silicate Zopissa Composition and Granitic Paint Company. " " ■ ' * ■ ■ Patterns of Colours, apply to g William Street, London, E.C. THE SILICATE ZOPISSA COMPOSITION. To CURE DAMP ir. WALLS, and Preserve Stone, &c. . fron Decay. Manufactured Solely and Only by the Silicate ZopisSc greenhouse, &c., may be easily, cheaply, and ouickly made with them by an amateur. Four hundred feet can be firmly glazed or unglazed in one hour. Drawings. &c.. for i stamp, of the Inventor and Patentee, THOMAS A. BICKLkv, 70, Smallbrook Street, Birmingham. SPAN-ROOF GREENHOUSE for SALE, rs feet by 8 feet, strong framework, best glass, and finished within a year. Cost /25, and is offered for £\^. Apply, by letter only, to R. S.. Gardeners' Chronicle Office, W.C. ; SEWAGE CART and IRON FENCING for SALE, equal to new.— The Cart is iron, with a Pump and Hose, by which Cesspools are emptied. The Fencing, .^40 yards; ' ■ ^'^' ^The GARDENER^ ■The cfrimge,''suUo'n, Su w ANTED, Practical WORKING FOREMAN Vines arc grown extensively both in Borders Thinning Grapes, and Stopping the Shoots of V of Plants, as well as being a thorough good Camellias, Azaleas, Heaths, and particularly ch Plant Stock for Sale to the Trade. To live on t MEREDl'fHVThe^Vines'arl, GaSon^neaM.iverpooI. ■ry-ANTED, V V Pine-apple London. W. A liberal salai thorougtily understands ihi Apply first to Mr. JONES a WANTED, a steady, active young single Man, as FOREMAN, in a small Market Garden. He must be able to ;akc the Management of Early Vineries, and have some Knowledge jfthe Management of Pines.~H. H., Post Office, Twickenham. To Gardeners and Otliers. WANTED, by the ROMFORD BURIAL BOARD. a respectable MAN, married, without children.— The Man and the Board. The Woman' will have to wash the surplices and keep the chapels clean, and to do any additional work which may be required. Salary i8j. per week, with the occupation of the Lodge. — Applications, in the handwriting of the candidates, sta.ting qualifica- WANTED, as FARM SERVANT, an active. intelligent Man, to Superintend, and Assist in Working, a gentleman's Small Farm, mostly grass land. He must have had lonsidcrable experience in a similar situation, and be willing to make limself generally useful, and able to Keep Accounts. A married Man, A. HENDERSOl^-.Sio irsery, Thornton Heath, Surre) -Apply I NURSERY CLERK.— James Dickson & Sons REQUIRE, for their Nurseries, a thoroughly rcspecteble and competent CLERK, accustomed to Correspond, and who has filled a similar situation in a large general Nursery. State age, and all particulars as to experience, salary expected, &c. — '' Newton " Nurseries, Chester. w Co'vnna.n, jcc. ANTED, for a Gentleinan's place, a MAN i WIFE.— The Man to Milk, attend to the Cows and I his Wife to be able to assist in the Laundry ; both 1 ghly qualified for the work, and have the hig dations.-Mr. THOMAS LAUDER, Appleby Hall, WANT PLACES.-Letters to be Post Paid. HENDERSON orth of England Nu WILLIAM bTOCKWELL, age 32, tnametl, with four children, REQUIRES a good situation as HEAD GARDENER.-For particulars, apply to JABEZ J. CHATER, '■■ "' Cambridge. GARDENER (Head).— Age 36, married, no family ; thoroughly practical in all branches of the profession, capable of making Improvements or Relaying-out. Excellent references from present employer.— A- B., Post Ofnce, Ramsbury, Wilts. G,\RDENER (Head).— Age 30; understands every Street. Dorking, Surrey. G^ any Lady or Gentleman 1 qualified Gardener. -Age 46, trustworthy Man, ofmanyyeare experience; good . Pollard, Caterham .m \'aney. GARDENER (Head).— Age 30, married, no family ; thoroughly understands the profession in all branches; good GARDENER (Head).— Married, no family ; under- stands Early and Late Forcing, and Flower and Kitchen Gardening. Wife small Dairy if required. Leaving through change of Establishment. Excellent characler.-F. TESTER, Hurimgham GARDENER (HeadJ.— Age 28: has had J4 years" practical experience in first-clas; " ' t-l -- understands the Cultivation of \'ines, 1 \\n'^. Can be highly i iRDENER (Head), to any Lady or Gentleman requiring the services of a thorough practical Gardener.— Has eat experience in the Cultivation of Stove and Greenhouse Plants, Kitchen and Flower Gardening, also Dinner-tab S^^J^onh sfree't, EfgwaTe Road, London. W : Decorations, &c.- To Noblemen and Gentlemen. ("< ARDENER (Head). — First-class character and T abilities Eight years' experience in good establishments in England, the last four as General Foreman iti present situation, where especially Grapes. 'ARDENER (Head).— The Advertiser, a young r Man, single, possessed of a good education, wishes for an engage- it in the above capacity. He has had a thorough cxpenence, in : Decorations and other Indoor Floi Age 30, 1 -T. MASLIN,28, Ne- 'ARDENER (Head, Working).— Age 38, married. r one child ; thoroughly experienced and energetic. Good Tences.— R. S., Post Ofhce, Crawley Down, Crawley, Sussex. VJT Thoroughly understands Early and Late Forcing of Vines. Peaches, Melons, Cucumbers, Stove and Greenhouse Plants, and Flower and Kitchen Gardening. Unexceptionable character from last situation.— J. S., 19, Hill Street. Leamington Spa. I ARDENER (Under) in a Nobleman's or GenUe- r man's Family.— A steady, intelligent young Man, who has had r^^R^igg! LmcoVnrhire. To Nurserymen and Otbera, PROPAGATOR (Hard and Soft-wooded).— Age 28 ; has had good experience in Grafting Roses, Rhododc"'' fitc. Good references.- W. H., 22, Cyril Street, Northampton. AILIFF (Working). — Respectable, middle-aged, married, no family ; Wife can take charge of Poultrj- or Dairj-. I Post Office, Crowmarsh, August 5, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1013 MR. TAMES FRASER (of the late Firm of J. Si I. Fraser. Lea Bridge Ruad), undertakes HORTICUL- TURAL Valuations of every description. SALES by AUCTION. &C.-Mavlands Farm, Romford, Esse«, E. Prize BerksUre Figs. MR. GRIGGS, the Winner at the Esse.x Agricultural Show at Romford Qune 15 and 16, 1871) of Four First Prizes, Four Second Prizes, and Four Commendations, has some of the PRIZE PIGS, and some first-rate BOARS and SOWS, for SALE. Oaklands, Romford. 10 BE LET, GARDENS, PINERIES, VINERIES, and PEACH HOUSES, well stocked, and fitted up with the , extendmg over one Cheshire acre of land, of overed witT. Glass. SIGH WRIGHT, Esq., Wigan. r°d''e'n'. &Sc' To Seedsmen and Nurserymen. GENTLEMAN has a FREEHOLD ARABLE FIELD of THREE ACRES, adjoinine his property, which he not require, and is prepared to LET it for the above purposes, to Build a Cottage Residence on the ground— granting a suffici- k'ALLAN'CE, GALLANCE, FARMS, together with the Manor House, J ''. Farm Buildings, ; rc Land. WARREN HOUSE House, Cottages, To the Seed Trade, QEED BUSINESS, in one of the best districts in the. KJ South of Scotland, for SALE, with or without a small Nursery Tt has been long established, has a good connection, and may be greatly extended. Goodwill and in-going easy. Satisfactory reasons will be given (or relinquishing the business. The Premises are new and commodious, and the situation is good. To an energetic Person with a small Capital, this is altogether an excellent opening. For particulars apply to SEEDSMAN, Mr. Thomson's, 19, Yardley Street, Exmouth Street, Clerkenwell. To Gardeners and Others. 'PO BE SOLD, or LEASED for a term of Years, on X advantageous terms, the OSBORNE PARK NURSERIES, dose to Potter's Bar Station, Great Northern Railway, where Coals are delivered direct from the North, and easy of access to Covei Garden Market. The Nursery occupies about 2 acres of ground, c the high road, and contains a Dwelling House, Foreman's Coltag Stable, Sheds, and 15 Glass Houses, fitted up with Hot-water Boile , London, E.G. Important to Nurserymen, Florists, and Others. TO RE DISPOSED OF, by Private Treaty, the LEASES, with possession, of the old established and well known CHISWICK NURSERIES, comprising a substantial 14- roomed Dwelling-house, with Seed Shop and Offices annexed, two heated with hot-water piping, with the whole of the choice Stove and general Nursery Slock. Held under two cropped wit PROTHEROE SALES BY AUCTION. In Bankruptcy. rpo BE SOLD, by PUBLIC AUCTION, at the -i- Establishment of M. Emilc Vmcke-Haybrecsc, Nurser\man, of Scheepsdalc-lcz-Brugcs. Belgium, on MONDAY, August 7, and fol- lowing days, at 10 o'Clock, under the direction of M. Philippe dc Groot, Nurseo'man, Stcenbrugge, and of the Clerk of the Registrar of the Tribunal of Commerce, Bruges, a large quantity of ORNA- MENTAL and other PLANTS, consisting of about 32,000 Palms, 4000 Dracaenas. 100 Cycas rcvoluta, 22,000 Camellias (single), 5000 Camellias (double), 5000 Laurels, 3000 Laurustinus, 12 Phormium tenax (variegated), 300 Araucaria excelsa in varieties; a fine collection " * Bonapartcas, Pandanads, Yuccas, hardy Conifers, &c , Stecnbrugge, application to M. DE C J of Co Bosworth House, Hinckley. SALE of VALUABLE STOVE and GREENHOUSE PLANTS. MESSRS. THOMAS and GEORGE HARROLD are instructed by the Executor of the late T. Goadby, Esq.. to SELL by AUCTION, without resi:rve, on TUESDAY, August -'--'■ - o'clock precisely, the "" SDAY, August 8. e COLLECTION rising Begonias, Eucharis, Francisceas, ixoras, romsciiias, Kivmas ; FOLIAGE PLANTS—Alocasias, Anthurium, Caladiums, Crotons, Dracatnas, Marantas. Pandanus, •>.-..._-. . . . . . . .EjjoTIC FERNS, STOVE PLANT lNG™nd^S^i grammas, and a few ORCHIDS; FRUITI PINES, together with a small quantity of FIG TREES and m pots; CAMELLIAS, and a large quantity of GREEN' and BEDDING PLANTS in pots. by S. RUCKER, Esq., at WANDSWC MR. J. C. STEVENS has received instructions from Messrs. Veitch & Sons, who have purchased the entire COLLECTION, to offer for SALE by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 38. King Street, Covent Garden, W.C, on TUESDAY WEDNESDAY August 8 and 9, at half-past 12 o'Clock precisely ach day, the first portion of the above magnificent lot of Plants, Odontoglossum trium CattleyaRuckcri „ Devoniensis OncidiL Dcndrobium thyrsiflorum Masdevallias, splendid plants of Odontoglossum Alcxandrac, mag- nificent varieties Cymbid[um cbumcum, splendid , probably the largest coerulca. in fine healil lopsis amabilis, Schi and grandiflora,verj'si Dcndrobium Wardi „ nobile pendulum Vaiida insignis (true) [ Plcione humile, Wa Lalia anceps Dawsoni Lagenana, in fine Oncidium Rogersii La:lia elcgans, the I „ Marshall! I &c. All the Plants are in fine condition, and many ai bloommg. On view the mornings of Sale, and Catalogues fORCHlDstjusta Plants, including many c"^ " ; of Sale, and Catalogues had. M^ Important Sbortbom Sales. the following HERDS of PURE-BRED SHORTHORNS, several of which are of a very first-class character :— WEDNESDAY, August 23.— The celebrated and 6rst-class HERD bred by the late fhos. Barnes, Esq.. at VVESTLAND, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland. The small select HERD, the property of R. W. Reynell, Esq., will be SOLD at the same time and place FRIDAY, August ac.— The entire and first-class HERD bred by I. G. Grove, Esq., at CASTLE GROVE, Letterkenny, Ireland. TUESDAY, September i2.-At BROCKTON HOUSE, Eccleshall, stanordsnire, Mr, 1 nor THURSDAY, September ; HERD. HERD, WORTH PARK, Wotlon-under-Edge, Gloucestershire FRI DAY, September 22._The first-class herd at CHAPEL BRAMl TON, Northampton, the property of J. N. Eeasley, Esq. TUESDAY, September 26.-About FORTY HEAD, belonging I W. Ashbumer, Esq , at NETHERHOUSES, Ulverstone. JOHN THORNTON, 15, Langham Place, Regent Street, W— July M Holker Hall, Lancashire. IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. R. STRAFFORD has the honour to announce for AUCTION^ without rcsene, on WEDNESDAY, a very choice Selection from the renowned Holker Amongst thera will be found some Oxfords, Wild Eyes, Blanche, Cleopatra, Asia, and other famed Kirklevington tribes. The young stock are chiefly by Grand Duke loth (21,848), and Grand Duke 17th (24,064). Baron Oxford 4th {2%,^So), of the " ' ' " " " purchasers of first-class Shorthorns Catalogues, with Pedigrees, may be had on applici STRAFFORD, 13, Euston Square, London, N.W ; DREWRY, Holker House, Grangc-in Cartmel, Lancashi r had or ;, London, M Keaumont Grange, Lancaster. IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. STRAFFORD has received instructions t( _..jounce for SALE by AUCTION, without reserve, at Beau Grange, near Lancaster, on TH U RSD AY', September 7 next (t h jllowing the Sale at Holker Hall), a choice selection of BULLS S, and HEIFERS, from Mr. W. W, Slye's Herd, principally c nd Fawsle: Mr.''sL^E,°Bea'u'm 13, Euston Square, Londoi :, Lancaster; l.W. f Mr. STRAFFORD, KUmow, near Wlgton, Ciunberlaad. IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. MR. STRAFFORD begs to . intimate that he instructed to announce for SALE by AUCTION, witho reserve, on FRIDAY, Septembers next, at Killhow, about FIF1 HEAD of very superior SHORTHORNS, belonging to J. P. Fost( Esq., that have been selected and bred with the greatest care frc some of the most fashionable and pure strains of blood, to which ha been used Bulls of the first class. 17th Duke of Oxford (25,99 from the fanied Holker Herd, is now in service, and the you Catalogues, with Pedigrees, will shortly be issued, and may be h on application to Mr. TURNER, Killhow, ncarWigton, Cumberlan or oi^ Mr. STRAFFORD, 13, Euston Square, London, N.W. WIRRAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.-The ANNUAL SHOW of HORSES, HORNED STOCK, SHEEP. PIGS, POULTRY, DOGS, IMPLEMENTS, &c, will be held at Birkenhead, on AUGUST 30. ENTRIES CLOSE AUG. S. Further particulars. Schedules, fie, on appl W.M. HENDERSON, Jun., j, Market Cross, Condition of the Fruit Crops, 1871. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE for SATURDAY, August 12, will contain a FULL and TABULAR STATEMENT of the cfONDI- TION of the FRUIT CROPS throughout the UNITED KINGDOM. May be had of all Booksellers. Price si. ; post free, sKd. Published by W. RICHARDS, 4r, Wellington Street, Covent Garden, W.C. SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1871. AN inferior crop of Wheat, a very good crop of Barley, an average crop of Oats, and crops of Beans and Peas which never promised better, but which, in the case of the former already, and in that of the latter will most pro- bably before harvest, have disappointed e.vpecta- tion ; — This is the report (upon the whole) of our correspondents, whose returns we publish in the following pages. Comparing them by the mere classification and addition of their returns, we have the following result : — Over-average Under average \Vhcat. Barley. Oats. ■1 1 i: 228 233 Beatts. i 96 s 225 >56 Comparing the above with the returns for 1870, which was not a good year, though it turned out better than was expected, we come to the conclusion that this year's produce is upon the whole inferior. The following were the figures for last year : — Crop Retirns-Harvest, 1870. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Beans. =5 Peas. Over average . . UndT/lverage ■.'. 67 40 55 57 6 93 6? 16 Total .. "3 ■ 20 .0. 1 8, Owing to the var)'ing number of our corre- spondents in 1870 and 1871, respectively, these figures cannot be compared at a glance. We therefore reduce them to their percentage values in another Table : — Crop Retl'rns— Harvests 1870 and 1871. Over average Under average Over average Under average Wheat. Barley. It will be seen from these figures that the Wheat crop of the current year is decidedly inferior to that of 1870, and whereas that turned out better than was expected, this, in all proba- bility, will not turn out so well as its present appearance leads us to e.\pect. A wet summer — ■ cold wet summer as we may call that of 1871 — is certain to disappoint expectations of seed pro- duce ; and that will be our lot this year. Cattle food of all kinds promises to be abundant. Mangels, indeed, do not prosper in such weather as we have had, but Turnips of aU kinds were never better, and grass is plentiful, though hay has been badly made. The wet season is producing its usual effect in an early development of the Potato disease. It would be matter of surprise if, in this cold and wet season, there were not indications of disease in some of our cereals. At present, as far as we have observed, the Wheat is free from mildew, though there are indications on the stem which threaten an attack should mild and wet weather succeed to the present clima- tic conditions. We have, however, received from two sources ears of Barley attacked by a disease, which, according to the accompany- ing reports, seems, unless limited to a small area, likely to be very disastrous. In the first case the inside of the grain is mottled and tinged with pink, a colour which extends to the glumes, on which it is far more permanent than in the seed. This tint is not uncommon in diseased cereals ; it is often very conspicuous in Indian Corn, and is, we believe, a purely chemical change, consequent on disease from various causes. In the other case, which was forwarded to us from Northamptonshire, where the pecuhar condition is said to prevail largely in certain districts, the stem is often streaked with dark lines, not caused by Fungi, as might at first be suspected, but where the component cells are gorged with brown inspissated matter — as is so frequently the case in many instances of vegetable pathology — the knots are all more or less diseased, and in consequence the supply of nutriment has been cut off, and the grain in various stages of development has perished. These knots, as far as we have seen, are not attacked by Septoria nodosum, which is sometimes destructive to Wheat. At least, if such is the case, the Fungus is not sufficiently developed to show any traces under the micro- scope. The glumes are brown, also the grain itself, especially where it was in an early stage of growth discoloured, and covered with a thin coating of mould, the threads in part being brown and belonging to some species of Macro- sporium, while in part they are white, anasto- mosing very freely, and apparently referable to some species of Fusisporium, for we have seen scarcely any fructification. The grains appear in every case to have been impregnated, and there are abundant remains of pollen grains on the still adhering stigmas. It is quite clear, however, that these Fungi have had nothing to do with the death of the plant, but are mere after- growth, as is also the case with what appears on the leaves under a peculiar form of the common Cladosporium herbarum, which appears in every part of the world where it is possible for a Fungus to grow. The stems, it should be observed, are quite free from any form of rust, and we can only attribute the malady to the peculiar state of the weather. We ought not to omit that the lar\'a of Cecidomya is found within many of the glumes, but though these might impede the development of the grain, they would not cause the death of the plant. In every grain which we examined, except one, the young embryo was dead, even where it was considerably advanced, and the albumen was mottled as in the case first mentioned. IOI4 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 5, 1871. We have received from Mr. Odams a libera! supply of specimens of diseased Wheat ears from theneighbourhood of Plymouth, entirely deformed by the attack of a very curious Fungus, referred by DESMAZlfeRES to his genus Dilophosporium,* the cylindrical spores being furnished at either extremity with a little crest consisting of a few colourless short threads. In this case the destruction is complete, as the whole part of the ear affected is changed into a fungoid mass. It has occurred before in this country, but is very rare, and it is devoutly to be wished that it may continue to be so. The Peronospora to which the Potato murrain is due is unusually prevalent and early, and other species of the genus are committing ravages, especially one amongst Onions. M. J. B. Some very important questions have lately arisen, respecting the influence of artificial food upon the health of stock. In our report of the last meeting of the Council of the Royal Agri- cultural Society, reference was made to the losses which have recently occurred among animals which were fed upon a " patent cake," supplied by a well-known maker, whose name we refrain from publishing for two reasons — first, because it is of no consequence to the question which is before us ; and, secondly, because under the comprehensive clauses of the law of libel, journalists may be subjected to much undeserved annoyance, and entirely unproductive expendi- ture of time and money, in order to prove that no intentional injury was inflicted upon an in- dividual whose personality was in all probability quite unknown to them. The cake which has, or which is alleged to have, caused the death of many animals — cattle, sheep, and pigs — and which certainly did destroy the animal that was fed upon it at the Royal Veterinary College, has not up to the present time been proved to contain any deleterious ingredient, and we are aware of its having been used by stockowners for some time, without any ill-effects upon the health of their animals. There is, therefore, positive practical evidence^ and, inasmuch as nothing of a poisonous nature has yet been detected, there is also negative chemical evidence — in favour of the food. Against it there is now only the fact that animals fed on it have died with unmistakable symptoms of blood poisoning. Certain cattle belonging to the Marquis of Exeter died after having eaten the cake for some time : but pigs, which partook of it, died in a few hours. A heifer which was fed on the cake almost exclusively, the ration commencing at 2 lb. daily, and gradually increasing to 8 lb., died suddenly after eating the food for three or four weeks, apparently without suffering any inconvenience until the day before her death. Similar instances of death occurring among stock in different parts of the country are con- sidered to be due to the use of the same kind of cake ; no doubt, therefore, can exist of the abso- lute necessity for a complete inquiry — botanical, chemical, and experimental — for the purpose of deciding whether the constituents of the com- pound or any of them are essentially injurious, or become indirectly deleterious to the organism during the process of digestion. The Royal Agricultural Society has undertaken the investigation, and with the means at its command it ought to be carried out exhaustively, not only in reference to the one variety of food which is presumed to have done the mischief, but other kinds which are presumed to be harmless. It is at present an open question how far concentrated food — such. as linseed-cake of the best quality, for example — may be given without injury to the animal organism. That there is a point beyond which nutriment, in a condensed form, cannot be forced into the system without danger, experience has clearly proved, and it would be well worth while to ascertain what are the principles which should guide the stock feeder in his proceedings. The subject of inquiry is not so simple in its nature as it may at first appear to be. The old maxim which defines an ox or sheep as a table on which fat and flesh may be deposited ad libitum, is no longer orthodox. Under the high-farming system of the day, animals are looked upon as manure-making machines rather than as a means of supplying meat. The question often is, not how much cake can the animal body appropriate to the formation of fat and flesh. but what quantity can be passed through the alimentary canal for the improvement of the land. The problem is— given a piece of land that is capable of feeding one sheep to the acre, what is required to make it carry 10? The answer is universally— oilcake will do it ; and both science and practice have sanctioned the assertion, and stamped it as true. Meanwhile animals get fat, and as the pastures on which they are kept become more and more luxuriant, the whole system seems to be a great success ; but by way of compensation the losses by sudden death among fattening aniinals are getting more serious year after year — splenic apoplexy, black leg, and all the forms of " blood poisoning " occur more frequently than formerly, and every now and then a piece of pasture that was once healthy land is found to be so destructive to animals fed upon it, that nothing short of the plough will suffice to restore the ground to its natural condition. All these statements are mere truisms, and it will probably occur to each one of our readers that he knows already what we have endeavoured to prove ; however this may be, there is no dis- position to accept the conclusions which follow ; any important change in the received methods of feeding stock are usually deprecated, neverthe- less, if it be ascertained what proportion of con- centrated food the organism can assimilate, it will be possible to devise some method of enriching the land without poisoning the animals which are pastured on it. There is no question of the absolute necessity for the employment of concentrated food, but the wasteful abuse of these compounds is not therefore admitted ; the vague impression which is generally current, that the excess of aliment goes to enrich the manure, is not entirely true : an unknown quantity remains behind to undergo some changes which are not included in the process of nutrition, and the final result of which is poisoning of the blood. The whole question resolves itself in one of quantity or quality. It is admitted that certain kinds of cake contain ingredients which are deleterious— other kinds are only highly nutritive — both are capable of producing equally fatal effects ; it should be the province of science to indicate to the practical agriculturist what to take and what to avoid, and even to point out the limits beyond which the best kind of con- centrated food becomes dangerous. A SHORT supply of English Wheat at Mark Lane on Monday sold at a I.r. advance on the previous Monday's rates, but on Wednesday some difiiculty was experienced in maintaining the rise. At the Metro- politan Cattle Market on Monday only choicest beasts The Show of the Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland, under the Presidency of H. R.H. the Pri.nce of Wales, opened under very favourable auspices on Tuesday last. The ground selected for the exhibition is at Ball's Bridge, about two miles from the centre of the city. The arrangements of the shedding for the different classes are on the whole good, and, considering the many difficulties which the executive committee have had to labour under, the exhibition may be considered a success. The attendance on the first day was very numerous. The show- of Shorthorns was not very extensive, and, although there were some animals of great merit, the average of the animals shown was rather below par. In the class for aged bulls, Mr. Chaloner's roan Sovereign, hitherto unbeaten in Ire- land, 1 > placed 2d to an English-bred bull belonging t Mr. Cooke, of Ballyneal House, New Ross, County Wexford. The highly commended card is attached to a half-brother of SOVEREIGN, who is shown by Mr. E. J. Smith, Planmore, Croom, County Cork. This bull was placed 2d to Sovereign at the last spring show of the Royal Dublin Society. There was an exceedingly good class of 2-year-old bulls shown, and the judges had considerable difiiculty in adjudicating in this class. Mr. Moutray, of Augh- nacloy, took 1st prize with a massive bull ; Mr. Meadows, of Wexford, coming 2d with a beautiful, even, lengthy, active animal ; Mr. Gumbleton, of Cork, 3d, with a half-brother of the 1st prize animal of this class. The yearlings were more numerous, but the quality of most of the animals was not very good. Mr. Maxwell, of Belfast, takes 1st prize ; Mr. Chaloner, of Kells, 2d ; Mr. Bland, of Abbeyleix, being commended. The class of bull calves was not well filled, Mr. Downing, of Fermoy, County Cork, takes 1st and 2d prizes. There were a few very good female Shorthorns shown amongst the young animals. Mr. Moutray, of Aughnacloy, takes 1st place. Earl Fitzwilliam, County Wicklow, 2d. Mr. Moutray is successful again in 3-year-olds and 2-year- olds. The show of Herefords, Devons, Polled Angus, and Ayrshires is exceedingly poor, some of the classes being without an entry. There is a good display of beautiful Kerrys ; a native breed which is well worthy of cultivation. A very large show of sheep and some animals of rare merit are exhibited. The class of Leicesters is well- filled, a good many English-bred rams being shown. A class for Border Leicesters brings together a splen- did collection. Mr. Turner, of Uppingham, takes 1st prize in aged Leicester rams, and 2d with a good shearling. Mr. Seymour Mowbray, of Mountrath, takes 1st prize in shearling Leicester rams. Mr, Thomas Robertson, of Alhy, is placed 1st in Border Leicesters. The class for the Roscommon breed was well filled with some very splendid sheep. This is a variety which seems deserving of care and cultivation. A type seems to have been set in the breed, and though coarse-looking to those accustomed to the finer Leicester, they seem to be a variety well suited to a damp, cold climate. The Lincolns were a poor show ; the chief entries were made by Mr. Caleb Going, of Tipperary. The class " Shropshire and other Downs" struck us as well calculated to bring an incongruous assembly together. The time for better classification seems to have come, as there is character in most of the dark faces to entitle them to class for each variety. In rams, Mr. Chas. Wm. Hamilton is successful, and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, who sends some very excellent Southdowns, takes a 1st prize with a magnificent pen of 5 shearling ewes. There is a very fair show of pigs. Lord Clermont being eminently successful in Berkshires. The Horse Show, which is notably the feature of the autumn exhibition, contains 600 entries, some of the animals being very good. It is expected that a large sale of horses will be made during the show. The jumping will be an attractive affair, and very good arrange- ments have been made for this. The classes of horses for hunting, hack, and harness purposes, are very much in excess of agricultural horses. A good expo- sitionof agricultural implements is made, and visitors to the show seem to pay marked attention to this department. A full report, with prize list, shall appear in our next. The annual show of the Yorkshire Agri- cultural Society commenced on Wednesday, on a portion of Bootham Stray, near the city of York. Admirable arrangements have been made within an extensive enclosure for the accommodation and display of implements and machinery, and for the exhibition of live stock. A junction siding has also been made from the York and Scarborough Railway, at which trains set down passengers close to the entrance. The central situation of York, where the meeting of this Society is held every five years, renders the show at that place unusually interesting ; being equally convenient for the three Ridings the com- petition is also generally large and always good. On the present occasion an unusually liberal prize list has resulted in a most numerous entry. Thus of cattle we have 124, sheep 113, pigs 107, horses 409, and wool 7, amongst which A 1 525 is divided in prizes and plate. From the cursory view which we have been enabled to take, we have no hesitation in characterising the present as one of the best of a long series of York- shire shows which we have attended. As, however, the open judging of stock in the ring — a feature adopted by the Royal from the practice of the York- shire— was not completed when our parcel was de- spatched, we are compelled to delay, till next week, the publication of the full list of awards, and till that time we must also defer our report of the show in detail. We report, however, the following awards at once : — In the first class of Shorthorn bulls, Grindel- WALD, the property of Mr. Thomas Stamper, of Oswaldkirk, took the 1st prize, the Marquis of Exeter's Telejiachus the 2d, and Prince Leopold, belong- ing to Mr. Knowles, of Wetherby, the 3d. In the next class of bulls, above two and not exceeding three years old, Mr. William Linton's LORD IRWIN, the Royal Agricultural Society's prize winner, came in 1st, Mr. John Outhwaite's Royal Windsor 2d, and Lady Pigot's Bythis the 3d. The bulls not exceeding two years old were placed as follows : — 1st, Sir G. Womb- well's Newbrough 3D ; Grandee, the property of Lieutenant-Colonel Reeve, Grantham, the 2d ; and Rory of the Hills, exhibited by Mr. G. Mann, of Doncaster, the 3d. For bull calves, British Flag, belonging to Messrs. Dudding, of Wragby, won the 1st prize ; Mr. Linton's Leeman the 2d ; and Major Stapylton's Sundown the 3d. Wimlsot's Butterfly, the property of Mr. James How, of Broughton, Hunt- ingdon, carried off the prize for cows of any age, the next two places being taken by Mr. Outhwaite's Vivandicre and Mr. Emmerson's Janey. The prizes for 3-year-old heifers were taken by Mr. Foljambe's Concc-rl, Mr. Tennant's Daisy, and Mr. Howe's Vesper Qurnt respectively ; the 1st, 2d, and 3d prizes for 2-year-oId heifers being awarded in the following order— viz., Fhra, belonging to Mr. J. R. Singleton, of Great Givendale ; Fleur-de-lis, the property of Mr. Foljambe, M. P. ; and Mr. Howe's Verona. Mr. J. Borton, of Barton House, Malton, won five prizes in the shearling and aged Leicester ram classes, the sixth being taken by Mr. E. Riley, of Kipling Cotes, Beverley. For Lincoln sheep the prize-takers were Mr. T. Cartwright, of Dunstan Pillar, Lincoln ; Mr. R. Wright, of Norton, Lincoln j Messrs. Dudding, Wragby ; Mr. J. Pears, Mere, Lincoln ; and Mr. C. Clarke, of .\shby-de-la-Launde, Sleaford. For Shrop- August S, 1 87 1.] ihe Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1015 shire Down sheep Lord Wenlock won the ist prize and cup, and Lord Wenlock and Lord Chesham took all the other prizes in all the classes for ; for pigs ■s. R. E. indicate, "T^h" principal alford, anc Shropshire Downs. ■were Mr. P. Eden, of Salford,' and Me Duckering & Son, of Northorpe, Kirti Speaking generally, so far as a first day < the meeting promises to be a brilliant c the rings, Wolverhampton, all sending their "chiefs." In the racing world, no one knows the horse of the year till after the Leger ; and, similarly, until the Yorkshire show is over, it would be premature to say where the best horse, hack or hunter, or the best Shorthorn, is to be found. The only thing doubtful connected with the show has been the weather. After a month of showers, confidence has not certainly been felt on this point. In spite, however, of all fears the weather, so far, has been brilliantly fine, and the attendance great and fashionable. The receipts for the first day are £31$ — 2529 persons having paid an admission fee of 2j. 6(/. each on the first day. The fact that the Royal Irish Agricultural Society's show is being held at the same time is perhaps not of much importance as far as the show itself is concerned, still there are exhibitors who would have shown at both places, and there are many agriculturists who would have liked to have seen both exhibitions. If such are inclined to scold, we beg to observe that no blame should fall upon the Yorkshire Society. From its first meeting to the present one, it has always held its show on the same day — the first Wednesday in August ; yet our friends over the Channel have managed to blunder upon it A recent visit to Fenn's Moss, near Whitchurch, Salop, deserves record here for the illustration which was witnessed there of the possibility of the profitable Reclamation of a Genuine Peat-bog. Mr. Fardon, who has till lately been on the staff of Messrs. Bailey Denton, Son & North, has taken 100 acres here of Sir J. Hanmer, Bart., and is hope- fully engaged in investing money in its cultivation. Draining it by open ditches, gradually dug, and there- after by drainpipes — levelling it as it gradually dried and became firm, and carrying sand and gravel on it by light tramways from the edge of the bog — burning a I good deal of the surface, liming, digging it over, and sowing hay seeds on it — he has obtained a rough thin I pasture, consisting chiefly of Hop-grass, and therefore I very poor and worthless. This, however, is ploughed ■ under, andhegetsacropof Rye; or it receives a dressing of town manure from Chester, brought thither by canal, j and this being ploughed under he gets a good crop of I Potatos. Some 30 acres which have been reclaimed are thus in grass, and Rye, and Potatos. The grass is poor ; the Rye would be good were it not for the 1' way in which it has been eaten down and cut to pieces by the hares ; the Potatos are capital. It is by this crop, with the aid of the Chester canal barges full of town manure, that Mr. Fardon will recover his large outlay. In ordinary seasons there seems no reason to doubt that he can obtain heavy crops of Potatos in this way, after three or four years of preliminary prepara- tion of the original bog. Fenn's Moss is a specimen of as true a peat-bog as Chat Moss or any Irish bog that can be named, and Mr. Fardon's experience ought to excite the interest, not only of the proprietors of land, but of the authorities of towns in such neigh- bourhoods. We look forward, for example, to the time when the immense fertilising power of Manches- ter, now wasted in the pollution of the Irwell, will be brought to bear upon the bog land between it and Liverpool, and when Mr. Fardon's judgment and experience, acquired on Fenn's Moss, will be sought for and engaged in the draining, level- ling, and preparation needed, before the sewage is poured on it. The land now yielding Potatos in as friable and soil-like a mould as one could wish, was, only three years ago, a tough peat, just such as is being cut for fuel close by. It is impossible to doubt that such a soil, watered with the Manchester sewage, would yield the very best of market garden produce. We have seen such peat-earth, watered with the drain- age of the convict gaol at Woking, produce the largest and most vigorously grown d ' ' strongly recommend the Ma into the possibility of utilising their town sewage on C4iat Moss, and thus convert that which is a source of nuisance and offence into a source of wholesome food and profit. The Council of the SocifeTE des Agricul- TEURS de France, at their first meeting since the commencement of the Franco-German war, on the 22d ult., expressed their recognition of the assistance which has been rendered by the agriculturists of the United Kingdom to their unfortunate brethren in Fiance by unanimously electing Lord Vernon, chair- man of the French Peasant- Farmers' Seed Fund, an honorary member of that Society. This is the highest mark of distinction which the Society can confer. Some experiments have lately been conducted in India in the Improvement of Wheat by Selec- tion. In one experiment the ears that were selected measured from 3^ to 4J inches long, but it has not transpired what variety was chosen. The seeds were purposely sown in quite a medium soil, with little manture, the object being to obtain a variety which, should owe its increased length to Nature only, and not to high culture. They were sown with a spade, and, unfortunately, in consequence, sown too deeply, by which a great deal of the plant was lost, but of those plants which came up, none of the ears were shorter than those of the parent, but some measured4| inches in length, being half an inch longer than the selected ears. Similar experiments were conducted with several varieties of Wheat, the result in each case being satisfactory ; one of the most promising varieties, however, seems to be that known as Polish Wheat, which in some districts is so highly prized that great demands prevail for it. A kind of Pedigree Wheat, cultivated in Lahore, is said to be so fine that a European cultivator, writing on the subject, says, " Nothing in England could beat the Wheat here this year, length and weight of ear combined with long straw. I am going to test a great number of fields this year, by weighing the contents of the imperial bushel, and, if I mistake not, we shall find it fully up to a European standard." A more service- able test in the interest of the cultivator would be the determination of the produce per acre. THE PRESENT APPEARANCE OF THE CROPS. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS, JULY 25.] COUNTY. WHEAT. BARLEY. OATS. BEANS. PEAS. ^^0%. HAY. Stl^.ll NAME AND ADDRESS. SCOTLAND. Long^straw, under average Excellentappear ance Under average Little grown in my district Abou^t^aver.ige Thin, and" rathe late Under average; thin on the ThinfTnjImde Und^'e^avfrage. and late Under average : diseased by fly Under average Very much under UndeTSlTrage Thin in places Full average On the whole not Th'int'undcr average Good crop Barely an Present appear- wees are against a good crop Under average; much unsound Much under Fuirivfrage bulk, but^ rSSr Unde"averageJ Full average Very good Average Nearly an aver- age Average Full crop Average Average Average Early-sown, light ; late, giod Average Average Average Fair average Full average Full .average Average Full average; Our best crop ; if we gel sun- shine the quality will be good "" lald"^' ■ Very full average Very bulky crop ■Abov-laverage Short and unde Very unequal Under .average Under average An average Under average Average Under average Under average Under average Average Average Fair average Under average Average A little under average Decidedly defi- cient;^mt.ch tulip Poor crop: too been over seeded One-quarter under average Under average Light and thin on ground Under average Rank Very good Average Great bulk, late Good Average Promising Good Above average Promising Very good crops Fair average A good crop: few sown m this Over average Above average Fine : straw till, and well podded Good Above average j SwedSgood Potato good : sown. Promise well Uuder average Very light Very light End of August Last week of August First week of Six weeks henc First week in September End of August August 12 to 20 August 20 First week in September Last week of August September i EndK^st Ten days later than ,870. About last week End of August Second or third week of Septem- ber About Septeni- Cannotbegeneral before the lait week of Sep- tember End of August About the end of From August 15 August 21 BANFF ABERDEEN.. wall ' William Joss, Blairshinnoch John Barclay, Braes of Enzie Wm M'Combie, M P , Tilly- MORAY .... ward, but great 1 average ""'"btlly""' 1 Generally look- Very light VeVfce lNe.rW»n,ver- A. Cruickshank, Sittyton Geo Brown Wcstertown, FORFAR Very promising Vigorous Good, unless on clays Turnips promis- ing; Potatos Pota?os'"mder average Promising well Turnip,^good Lo^okwell Promising, but late Late, but promis- Potatos healthy ; Potafo'Jvery good ; Turn.ps ^Potatos good : "fffngwerr" Potatos good : "Tn&y'"= Very promising Above average Very promising Average Under average Unequal Light Good crop Under average Fully average Average Good Rather light, and somewhat stained Various; injured Light crop Very light crop Two-thirds of an A light crop : much damaged under average Average Average Above average Fochabers J. Hamilton, Forres JohnGrigor, Nurseries, Forres Wm Smith West Drums PERTH David Edie, EUiolhead, Bridge of Earn John Morton, Lambieletham, St. Andrew^ John Pitcairn, Kinnaird, New- R. Russell, Pilmuir Andrews W. Drammond & Son LANARK .... MID LOTHIAN HADDINGTON George Glendinning, Halton M^ns. Ratho James Steedman, Boghall, Roslin , D.ilkcith Robert Binnie, Selon Mains 3eorge Hope, Fcnton Barns. Drera 'atrick ShirrefT, Haddington ioi6 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 5, 1871. THE PRESENT APPEARANCE OF THE CROPS— (Co/t/iniud). COUNTY. WHEAT. BARLEY. OATS. BEANS. PEAS. i^o'A HAY. DATE OF HARVEST. NAME AND ADDRESS. SCOTLAND. EDINBURGH........ o'f MW Lmhian'"'" SELKIRK Thin and under Little or none gro%vn in this neighbourhood Above average, but little grown Good Where thick enough planted, =ulky^but^atoge rndlfklTy to bi A full crop Full average Bulky^and^much Bulky ; a good eal lodged, with risk of quality being inferior Average, but short in straw Much improved of late, but Abouran'a^e^' e Very light Thin ; under an average Short Good crop ; few Good; few grown Bulky Bulky Potatos good ; Tumipsuncer- tain '^ve"'wh«e'' Potatos good Poutos late, but Turnips late Very promising ng well : Potatos Greatly under average Rather below an average Scarcely an Good Average bulk, but damaged in making September 1 First week of September First week of September September i About the end of August James Hislop, Mid Calder Ettrick James Lyle, Innerleithin Thomas Hood, Jun., Hay- mount, Kelso Geo. Ballingall. Clariljw, St. Boswell ROXBURGH AYR ThinTunder Average Below average Thick ; full Above Average Good Average Looking well ^ate, ana patchy *L^hf August =5 August 20 September i Will. Scott. Spylaw, Ke'so William Orr, Beith Average Fu!rivfrlge Good Light BERWICKSHIRE .... Good, and not so late as Oats Potato OaU much grubbed : on newly reclaimed strong. Under average Good on deep, thin on light land Few grown, but good Nev^ato'ter nips ; Potatos not so good Clover hay a difficult harvest Middle of September John S. Bertram, Cranshaws, by Dunse Part thin and S.irwefav^ now dry weather Above average Good Above average Good Unusually good Tumjpsj^^rious; Average weight not well saved August =5 End of Aug., or beginning Sept. J. Wilson, Edington Main, A.^H^'McClean, Auchneal, ENGLAND. NORTHUMBER- LAND Autumn-sown very irregular: spnng^good many inferior ' heads Various ; on good deep soils, winter-sown, a Good Good on light soil Good Very few sown Very good Average Three weeks later than 1870. — Good Various ; about an average Bulky in straw Too much straw Very good Mostly light September and October John Angus, Whiteficld. Morpeth Over average Under average Very good indeed Few grown Looking splendid Short crop gene rally ; bad weather for it About Sept. I ^c;fitr^:r' ""'"■ -" good crop Average Over avetage Much under average Few grow. Average Above average Seeds under average; mea- dows over ave- Last week of Thomas P. Dods. Anick Gramge, Hexham CUMBERLAND Winter Wheat below average : spring Wheat fully an average Under average Good A full crop Average Good .\n average crop Under average Under average A very large crop Over average Average The best pros- pect for many Late, and under Vel^gMd Cloventght ; meadow a good crop Under average, and much spoil Above average End of August First week in Pi?ret7n September First week in September First week in September Jacob Wilson, Woodhorn Manor, Morpeth Thomas Gibbons, Bumfoot, Richard hI rS. Newbiggen. JonXan Robmson, Warcop. Penrith John Scott, Dick FeU Hill, Milnthorpe WESTMORELAND .. Average Average Average Over average Under average Very deficient ; thin crop Light Good crop Middling Turnips good, Potatos good, Mangel good Average ^iTs'p'^irt^ None grown Average Under average Very good Good Full average Good : the best crop growing Avetage Good Under average Below average Bad Much below Mo^rSfand short of straw A light crop Good Good Good Above average Too much straw, C«)od Light ; under Underavcrage Average Good ^idfSifT Clover A good crop September I August 24 About Septem- First week in The1?ll"Iveek in August First week in September August 26 End of August Last week in August First week of September George Browne, Troutbeck, Robert Bhn? Dijcon. Darling- R."Bell. Layton Fields, Cald- welL Darlington Geo. Crolton. Icimblesworth John Oulhwaite, Bainesse, Catterick John Percy Clark, North Teinby. Brough Robert Frank, Stearsby YORKSHIRE Thin Average Wheat good, and yiewfng crop Below the aver- Good Good Average A large quantity flowers drop off Good Very promising Turnips good ; Potatos faulty Average Potatos partially Mangels, very good Nearly Pierage Thin plant : im- rES'aS!^ good land, hardly so on poor land In bulk about an irbtoom! y\M Average The most pro- mising cereal Promises to be a full average crop One-third de- ficient Generally de- Average Much affected with grub, and 'u\ter'°a„'= Full average Plenty of straw and spring varie Average Average Good Good Average Average Fair ; a while Very promising Likely to exceed an average crop Heavy crop : Very heavy, bu difficult to Average Peter Stevenson, Rainton, John Coleman, Escrick H. J. Turner, Richmond W. J. Moscrop, Olliver, Richmond Light Light average Average Good Light Good Good Late Brady Nicholson, Garforth, Leeds Seed land good ; fallow plot a failure Good Much improved the last three '"crop'inTurk^' Good Failure Good Good Very good Average crop ; badly got Last of August Good Generally an average crop Very good ^s^rnfa"^:' None, or very few grown ''fe-JgrUr of's't^'wrabov^ an average. Splendid Look remarkably well. Splendid, but poor hay weathe Above average. In a month About .August 2 1 Willi,am Irvine, Halifax Edmond Riley, Kipling Cotes Farm, Beverley LANCASHIRE ""ofTrrw-r- equal : some crops much loVd. Under average Large quantity lodged much. of straw ; unde average Under average Much straw ; badly filled Much straw ; not average Swedes and plrrsirwlig disease Poutos average Mangels over average, Tur- "'"Goot" Nonecan^be go Very full crop ; t,acrdft.liy°'.4 days by weather sime little has been secured Average End of August Robert Fisher, Leconfield, Beverley ''H?u=se.lrrey ^'^''''^' John Croudson. Urswick, Under average Good Under average Good, but very little saved Heavy; much Go?d"J?^p; badly got A good cut, but much injured Very late Geo. Drury, Holker CHESHIRE Scarcely average Generally thin on the ground Suffered much in Feb. from frost, cannot be over two-thirds crop Heavy in straw Little grown Promising to be a Irregular; below average Fine Same as Barley Heavy in straw Large crop, but blighted Were looking ui^^-'iSiTck fly Good average None Very promising Good Very promising The end of Late Robert Willacy, Penwortham W. B° Burnham, The ColUge, Spital, Birkenhead G. Jackson, Tattenhall Hall, Chester August 5, 1871.] The Ga rdeners Chronic] e and J \gncultu ral Gaze tte. 1017 THE PRESENT APPEARANCE OF THE CROPS-(Co>iii>iued). COUNTY. WHEAT. BARLEY. OATS. BEANS. PEAS. c^°o°p1 HAY. DATE OF HARVEST. NAME AND ADDRESS. ENGLAND. CHESHIRE but under Good Good 'il^fJllV ^atTor End of August ^elS^XKn^rrd"--^ DERBYSHIRE* * Grass in Edale anc other fertile dales of th Peak district almost un precedented : very littl cut-daily showers Good year for hill pasturage Ktches of com good.- H. Evershed. Castleton. AveSfa Thin on ground and not a good Very little grown Average Looks well Average Not good ; too much wet Very good; ove average Not sufficient grown to justify Very good Not sufficient grown to justify Very good Looking well lratds^?a"iJ; fermg from Great crop ; no Very I'^lSfcuryet"" Abundant crop unsaved t Unceruin Very late End of August John Parkin, Idridgehay John Coleman, Park Nook, Quamdon Benj. Swaffield, Hartington NOTTS An average crop but unless warm dry weather Average Under average Average crop ; laid, and liable FulfcSg-uch An average An average crop in want of warn dry weather Very few grown A great crop, an vety^ong fn^th sm^oSrr-'flyjlst begun to attack Early good : late sown much perished Good ^m^JS'spo?t^ About the middl of August Geo. H. Sanday, Holme Pierrepont LINCOLNSHIRE ... Average Good Average Average Bad Over average corned Great crop ; attacked with fl> Over average Too much stravi Good Good Very good Good Over average ; Very'good Abundant, and partly got About middle 0 End o"f^u'gust August., C. Doncaster, Pidding's Hill Isaac Sharpley, Boswell House, near Louth W. Fancourt, Aslackby None grown An average Very heavy crop Good Full straw, littl Good A good crop Middling Mangel not average: Rabi and Cabbages good; Potatos dmeased Good prospect Good crop; ill Oats, August 10 Wheat,Augustt8 Uncertain Thomas Aitken, Decoy Farm, H. Dudding, Panton House Average Good Good average ; Fair Good average ; Good Very good Very good Good prospect Very good Good°crop Much fairly got A month from this time About August i< ^■Sfcebf "^' ^'■' ^'--' G. Bland, Coleby Hall 'XeS'ge'"' OvTr'aver^ge BSh'eTligTt Robust: corned badly SXgr,; Good Average Over average August 20 W^,^F. Marshall. Branston Good average Heavy crops of broken down Heavy crops of broken down Good crops, wel ^"^'ptlriir Mange'l Very heavy, bu much injured August 12 and >8 John Clarke, Long Sutton WORCESTERSHIRE The thfnncst crop I have ever known Winter VlTieat thin of pi ant: spring Wheat Average Average ''tlJt&' Average Average "EEr"' Middle of August John Rawlings, Stoke Farm, Tenbury SHROPSHIRE Tco early to judge. Very good Very good Few grown, wha there are Kood Very good Good Very promising Much^dafnaged An average crop End of August William Brewster, Balderton very good ablut^onMh^d Very good Good Fair crop Good Good ^Tafs^J'^ John Clay. Kinsale Thin^taim- proving Good Good Blighted Good Promising Heavy crop ; Two or three weeks later than W. D. Green, Market Drayton Under average, very thick in Under average, spring sown Undefa^erage Thin, under an average Thin, with good vated lan^dT hardly an aver- Average -"fS^X- Very bad, de- stroyed by frost A very full crop Very promising Good crop; badly harvested ' Wufbelate Richard Shirley, Bawcott Munslow, Church Stretton STAFFORDSHIRE .. "■""eaT^air"' Good Winter thin, well podded; spring too much straw ^IS'tSn''" Over an average crop Plenty of them : full of smother- Full crop Very good Bulky, good dea spoilt About middle of August G. A, May, Elford Park, Tam- worth Under average Good on dry land, suffering on cold land Fair crop ; au average Average Over an average on dry land, short on wet land Good on best cultivated land Average Over an average crop whfrelandTs well farmed Very promising Good, except Mangels and Potatos Prospect good ; want fine weather Fair crop, much Very good crops bfdlygot"^ Good, but very late August 20 August and September Thomas Byrd, MUton Manor. MatAew^alker, Stockley Thi„riight sods; an average Good ; above an average Good Long in the straw, pods thin Good ; require Good ; require Good, but gathered in bad August 20 to 23 John Coxon, Freeford, Lich- LEICESTERSHIRE! Doubtful at pre- sent, as dry weather >s much Partly good Some good crops Good Good Promising, with "wSht7 Above an aver- age crop End of August R. H. Chapman, Upton, Nun- A heavy crop, but much lafd Average on Barley^lands Fair : rather Heavy, but blighted Good Swedes good. Mangels thin A good crop The end of August George Turner, jun., Alexton RUTLAND ing from wet Great length of .traw ; danger of Und™avLge Generally a light crop^^buHooks Good average - crop Great length of s.,aw,.^partiany Average Good Good Great length of Very much in- jured by the smother-fly °sSw'lfadlv°' podded ' Partially blighted Good, spring Large crop of "^"th^wet"' Fullofbloora, too much straw Very good lario^sTta^tr owing to the wet Very promising Good Growing fast ; prom&ng Good : much damaged None good yet Goodcrop,^much :^L^"fi:i:fe Not for six weeks. Perfectly green yet August Second week in August E. W. HEREFORDSHIRE.. Good PhUip Turner, The Leen. Pembridge Thin, much im- proved ; under .eVriFke an average crop Average crop About average •"Tnfe^r' "airpe^Xd":'' Above average Never better MangeIs,Swedes, &c,, ver,. good ; Potatos,quantity, eariies much Very promising Extremely promising Above average Good crop; nearly all secured Crop partial Middle of August , Blakemere Thos, Farmer, Frome Bishop, Bromyard Not nearly Much'wlw an Under average Average Above an average Above average Winter's bad, Sla%\"a|: Average Winter's failure, spring good Average Much below average Very good Best crop ever known Over average Fair crop, but damaged Below average : much damaged Good: b.idly secured Middle of August Middle of August Latter part of August Dearman Edwards, Brinsop T. Duckham, Bay.ham Court, Ross Henry Pride, The Cwm, near Monmouth WORCESTERSHIRE' Average Heavy crop Good Blighted Good Very promising A large crop nuch injured by August ,5 to 20 Henry Hudson, Wick, near Pershore Vlth dry weather nay be an aver- Under average Probably Above average Very few groivn Average Vluch below an average crop bld'"spr!^g'' Beans about Average Above average Likely to be very Average About half tt-hll^Fn'^he fields Fair crop, but injured by ram Probably about August 20 \bout third week- in August :. Randell, Chadbury, Evesham tiles Rich, FeamallHcath Improved, and C i^th good vould be average »ood: but very much laid Few grown; Go^d^Tf^^ree from the collier Good Very good Grass good ; very much damaged In about thi«e J oseph Matthews, Great Malvern lOlg The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. THE PRESENT APPEARANCE OF THE CROVS-{Con/i,iu<:d). COUNTY. WHEAT. BARLEY. OATS. BEANS. PEAS. ROOT CROPS. HAY. DATE OF HARVEST. NAME AND ADDRESS. ENGLAND. WARWICK Below average hrough the dis- Above average Average Above average Above average; early small Peas Ttelarge^Vels^ Very promising Full crop, but much damaged in making -lSg.2" Charies M. Caldecott, Hol- brook Grange, Rugby season has made the straw grow Nota'„°"a^verage are rotting Good average Few grown Blighted : win- ter's the best Injured by the Good Good crop, but About a month Joseph Smith. Henley-in- wet weather much damaged Arden L « f Very large bulk Great bulk: not Manywinter Very heavy crop. Mangel pro- Large crops, in- Three weeks John Baldwin, Luddington, traw but Tbad of straw; sun- many grown in ones destroyed but injured by mising ; Swedes jured to some Stratford-on-Avon colour, filling shine much this locality by frost ; spring a good plant badly ; spring wanted to ripen very large crop : Wheat looks very black, and much some blight Best cro"s much Best crops Heavy crops. Very badly Not good Turnips good. Plenty, but Middle of J."H. Burberry, The Chase, njured ; weaker crops improved Average crop, much damaged twisted and nrvfclp injured blighted but want sun damaged August Kenilworth Very good Nearly destroyed Seriously injured Very good Very much About August 16 John Ford. Portland Lawn, by blight by blight spoiled by con- Leamington tinued rains NORTHAMPTON- An average crop A good crop A great quantity Great crop : large Promise well Uplands Will be a fort- Thos. Robinson, Castle Ashby SHIRE of straw; some crops very much blighted breadth sown generally good night later than was expected Under average Over average Average Average Average Very good Bulky ; injured Middle of August J. Boriase Tibbits, Barton Seagrave, Kettering HUNTS Very good: but late An average Good Winter very Very good Very good An average ; indifferently August John Wallis, Park Farm, Kimbolton secured CAMBRIDGESHIRE. Very thin plant; 4 coombs less ban last year per Good ; quite an average Good Good Good Very good Very bad ; spoilt August ,5 S. Wallis, Grantchester ro be an average Good Good Heavy crop of Good, unless Good Fair crop ; a Middle of August Alfred S. Ruston, Aylesby crop it requires straw ; not free hurt by fly good deal spoilt House, Chatteris to ripen to the from fly Promises an aver- age on good Fair average crop Promises well Slightly attacked n some fields by Good crop Roots good in general ; growing sli^h:f;i^nj°u?ed August 18 to 21 W. H. Taylor Bank House Wymondham Wheat land well fly ; straw, 5 to by rain farmed pods' on stem Much blighted 1 Average Full average : Average quality ; Good Promising Various; injured August 21 W. Cubitt, Baclon Abbey much straw : will be injured by by weather going down from the^storms weather 1 Good Good Good Very good Average crop August .4 Jno. Moore Hudson, Castle Acre Thos. Brown, Manor House, Under average Fair average Under average Fine prospect of Fair crop Good prospect of Clover light ; August a crop;!; few hce .appeared Above average a crop grass good. Southery, Downham Market A good crop ; Heavy crop Good average crop Very good Well planted and very promising Average crop ; damaged Good average August Hugh Aylmer, West Dereham Generally good Variable, but generally^good Light : under Good Very good Good In three weeks Henry Woods, Merton SUFFOLK Good Much improved rflate; about an Good Very thick, and Our^^fcrop; Good Promise well Good Much injured ; AufUS ll Geo. Edwards, Framlingham Herman Biddell, Playford, average much straw ; much above heavy crop near Ipswich average a good crop About average : Above average; Not much grown; Not much grown; Promising, and Heavy crop of Middle of August W. R., Hengrave, Bury Dis- much straw average yield averagej^much growing fast meadow hay ; injured by wet Fine^prospect up Above average Long^traw, and Good crop Best ever seen An abundance ; August 21 Samuel G. Steam, Brandeston, good pods Tall ; fair badly gathered Wickham Market '°Avefa|r' Heavy : partially Very few grown : Heavy crop. Potatos very Heavy; a great In a fortnight D. T. Fish, Hardwicke, Bury laid ^good fine ; Turnips fine plant deal still to cut St. Edmund's \bove an average Very good Average Average Very good Plant well, and Great quantity ; badly secured August 12 Frederick Nunn, Rougham grows fast Very good Plenty of straw. Plenty of straw. Plenty of straw, Good ; straw Good ; straw A fine crop ; got August IS G. D. Badham, The Lawn, but can say no- abundant abundant tolerably Bulmer, Sudbury hinVabo'ut^'y'ield thing about yield thing about yield Nearly an aver- Full average Bare average Good average Good "-ra^n^ged"^ Good ; some August 14 H. Edwards, Woodbridge ESSEX Average Over average Average Over average Very abundant Good August 15 J.J. Mechi,Tiptree Hall damaged Average, and, I Full average Full aver.age Great crop Very promising A fulUrop ; From August 10 Henry Dixon, Dorward's Hall, think, over from blight Wltham An average crop Above an average Good A large crop Very good Promising A large crop ; GoTiu?in- jured by wet Average, some Aboutlhe middle A. Barfield, Dunmow Over average Good Under average Injured by fly Very good Very good Augtisl 7 P. Mitchell, Rainham • Full average of straw. In general a full Very good Very good Never so much A large yield, Good, e:y Average : half Enjfishhay Mtich s^St Second week in Middle of Angus Samuel Druce, Eynsham George Wallis, Old ShefTord, Ge^? GaTe, Churchill Heath Great crop ; above an average Good Average Very good Great crop of straw: some blight A little blighted Various Very good Full plants Good plant, and looks well Average crop ; Seed hay light; crop damaged; August 14 August 12 Matt. Sa%4dge, Sarsden Lodge Farm, Chipping Norton , Kirtlington Thin plant ; ears look good but Full average crop, if not aT)ove Good average Ver)- large crop Too mu'cTstraw and infested with aphis ; under average Good average Good ; perhaps Very good Good plants ; "wMAer"" AbflSlverage Under average ; badly harvested About August 20 August 14 John Bryan, South Leigh, R. J."°Newton. Campsfield Farm, Woodstock MONMOUTHSHIRE TWnfkfng straw ; nearly an average Good crop; average Average Winter sown, bl'ilhtedTunder Heavy crop ; over average All good Heavy; much soiled by water August. J. Lynch Fletcher. Chepstow GLOUCESTER Under average Good average Good average VarioulT^going blighted Average Good Seed very light grass good badiriotteT Middle of Angus Giles Edmonds, Eastleach, Turville Robert Game, Aldsworth Average straw ; not kind in the head Average Thin : scarcely • Never had a better prospect A good average crop Good Very promising In three weeks Good Little under cul- tivation ; good Good Nearly spoilt by Exc&ly Average Exceptionally good Good Promising well Average; but no well secured Crop heavy bu Middle of Angus Must be very late T. Morris, Maisemore Court John Shiles, Newmham Average Altogether about Over an average Good Improved ; will be average Good Spring Beans are Avem e Good crop Good ^•t-9'7 Swedes good Promising ; full plant Very good Very promising Good.butinjured Fair crop ; harvested badly End of August August 17, with Francis Burnett, Kingscote, Wotton-under-Edge Russell Swanwick, Royal Agri- cultural College Farm Scarcely an aver- One-thifd under From very good to verj- thin Over an average Average Good average Over an average Over average Average Half average Average Good Average ; much damaged Good crop much'damTgid Abo^^rnLver. -&* Very much n- juSd .by the End of August About August 12 Beginning of August Edw. Handy, Sierford, near Cheltenham H. Scott Hayward, Frocester John Cibban, Whitfield, Fal- field. Average Above an average Above an average mn^^ Above an average Very promising Middleof Angus .Badmmton WILTS Thin, and not an average crop Good Not very good £SiJe Indifferent; not well kidded Very promising Probably August 14 Thos. Pope, Horningshara, Much improved, ""^nthTroS- Under average; blighted Below average ^pf£?:ver average Average Over average Full of straw, and probably over AboTe^SlSage Average ^^^VlaTb^gh^- Bad Under average Over average Over average "^?;p^Te.f Good^^plant; Uncommonly good Nevermore Light.Tnd badly got Bad Third week in August Middle of Angus W. Chandler, Aldboume, Hungerford J.Rawlence, Bulbridge, Wilton Cyrus Combes, Tisbury One-third defi- cient in plant, in Very good Very good A great crop, doubtful as to podd,ng,^^w.nter Very good Meadow good, but not put together well August 14 Geo. Brown, Avebury, Calne TsBrtSS pieces, but wen Various : scrcely an average A very good crop ; .some few pieces down Over an average A very good whole, well jagged °taf ° A large crop of haulm, but the kids small Good Good, where hoed out, but damaged this wet by wet Clover much spoilt ; meadow good, but damaged Average, half spoilt making End of August Middle of Augus J. A Williams, Baydon Thos. Arkell, Pen Hill, Swin- Twenty per cent, under average Aboveaverage bad'^^goJfyaUOTt Good average Average Good average August IS Edmund Ruck, Castle Hill, Cricklade ! BERKS H^vier than last ^^'' laid"""" Generally good Variable: some very full of weeds Good crop: much bligh'led A l.irge quantity, and a good crop All good, except Sainfoin and '"'but°mu^ch'': "upfand gL2'° cept Sainfoin Early in August Jas. Hulbert, Streatley , Much improved, particularly the late sown :pro- Very good ; over an average About an average Not many pLanted ; average crop Large breadth planted ; over an average promising August 12 to 18 Thos. Owen, Clapton, Hun- gerford ""IShSu'nTr^' average Average Over average Average Good May be average Good ; a little blight Average Very good Average Good average Good Good Very good Very deficient Full average About August 7 August 14 to SepTemberS August 7 Augusta Middle of Augus William Dewe, Southridge, Streatley, Reading E. W. Moore, Coleshill :,;■ Rather below Bulky crop, but Ne:^l;^a^i1ver. Average Good Above an average Rather above ^SoT Above an average Heavy crop Very good indeed Above average Very good Promise well Good badly harvested Average. b"t much soiled Much damaged Martin Hope Sutton, Reading W. Bulstrode, Cookham Dean, Clo'd Mostly thin, age^TufHight Above an average Good Very good Good Average Good Good Good Very promising Good Two-thirds of No Clover ; meadow average, butspoUt^ August 10 Middle of August James Williams, Shippon, F. Sh'er^bom, Bedfont, Houns- 1 MIDDLESEX Mu'c"h?mproved, butunderaverage With fine weather will be over An average Too much haulm; an average Very fine; over average All good Moderate crop ; injured August .4 Thos. Hewett, Cranford Park Farm Good average ; heavy straw average Average Over average; heavy straw Average much grown Good Good where late Second week in August James Brebncr, Norfolk Farm, Staines SURREY much already ' avftSrLt vetlmfedTSuchl root-fallen Average Average Average Promises to be over an average Average, but in great quantity spoJt Abundance of Tha^elTng' Second week in August William Willis, West Moulsey A full average crop Nearly an aver- age^ injured by but"i^pidly improving A ver,. good »op; much above the average very promising About August 14 Charles Gay Roberts, Hasle- mere, Guildford The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. THE PRESENT APPEARANCE OF THE CKOVS— {Continued). COUNTY. WHEAT. BARLEY. OATS, BEANS, PEAS, ROOT CROPS. HAY, DATE OF HARVEST. NAME AND ADDRESS. ENCI AND. SURREY rnuchbdged, Heavy crop and -Tolitt"' 6qr, Patchy and very irregular; poor crop YeSy^-Lufr average Remark.ibly good 4qr. Promise to be very fine Mangel good a heavy crop, and secured Edward Hilder, Woking , Sittingbourne Kent Late crops good A good crop Sainfoin injured ; grass good ^ugusi 7 Considerably [An average crop Too earlyTo^rm; A great breadth ; Autumn-sown Excellent very good ; that sown in February Good Very bad An average Scarcely any grown May he half an average crop Not so promising as ten days ago Have been look- Great crop Never better Very good Very good Promising Third week in August August 14 to 2. Mark Sandford, Martins, near Dover Robert Matson, Wingham William Manser, St. Peter's, Margate SUSSEX ^go'o7wfathrr' Good ; much laid with rain Average Good; sadly blighted Good Good , want fine weather One-thirdspoilt, In from lo to n """n^liifd"'' ''>'^ James Eames, Linch Midhurst About an average Not quite aver- age : much laid Below average Average;^a little ^S= Goid Vei^'glod Man2l?°ate ; Swedes and Tur- Above^nlverage ^SV^nt"^ About August 12 August 14 Chichester l^ot"w''efrmied"' Not much grown, and not promising Plenty of haulm; about average nips promising Clover bad; meadow good Late James Singer Turner, Ching- ston Farm, Seaford ^ HAMPSHIRE Mich laidTan average crop A good bulk : much laid : yield doubtful Rather under aver.ige Good Very good Good Average Plenty of haulm. Much blighted Very good ; over an average Over average Very promising Very good Swedes and Tur- nips good A fair crop; spoilt A fair crop; much Clovers short crop; much injured A good crop, damaged Much damaged Under average , damaged Good dlmTfed Lightcrop;much damaged Good; some spoilt Rye-grass and Clovers, thin August 6 Augusts August 10 J. E. Heasman, Angmering William Rigden, Hove. Brighton "s?utLT^r^^'-°°"- WILTS Below an average Thin plant : under average Under average Good, where there is suflicent plant Below an average Thin on ground ; fair he.id, but blighted a little Under average Improved, but thin ; will be under an average Under average, but too early Under average Average Considerably above an average Bulky crop; quality doubtful Over average Good A good average crop Looks level and well Over average Very good ; an average Above an average Good Over average Good An average crop Not a heavy crop, but much improved Average Very good; an average Sprinted, but Winter thin, but well kidded ; springbulky.but Above an average Half crop; de- stroyed by black aphis Very few in this locality Above average Good Over average Good Above an average Good Average Have heard com- plaints Very good Very promising Good As good as ever •SoTd" Excellent Very promising August 7 Middle of August August 7 E^ of August Second week in A-g^a Middle of August August 10 Hugh S. Raynbird, Basing- stoke Joseph Blundell, Southampton Richard Stratton, Burderop, James Buckman, Bradford J. T. Homer, Hemsworth W. J. Voss, West Bucknowie, Corfe Castle Henry Fookes, Whitechurch, DORSET Over average Over average Aver.ige Over average ; very promising Over average Blighted Partially blighted Over average Blighted: may be average Early Peas, good Over average Very good Very good Promising Average crop Good : not well Sainfoin and mea dow. average Average August IS In a fortnight August 7 R. Damen, Dorchester John Pope. Symondsbury John Ford, Rushton, Bland- ford T. H, Saunders, Watercombe Farm, Dorchester Very variable: not two-thirds of Good average, but full of rust Full average Much blighted Average Never better SOMERSET Under Average; half a crop Average Average Good plant Average: not End of August John B. Collyns, Dulvertod Average Over average Average Winter, failure ; spring,^nearly Good Good &iod^Tadly made .About August 10 Walter Farthing, Stowey Court, Bridgwater DEVON Full average crop, if not over rust appears in UndeTai'erage Scarcely average crop; depends on the weather Improved; over deficient in quality Average Fair average The few grown are good Average Spring-sown below an average A defid^fcrop, and small breadth Full average Few grown, those good Generally bids fair for a good crop; Mangels good Very good Full crop damaged Good, but badly Meadow mid- *'"6iilly''"* b^gl^i Small crop and ^lif^p In about 10 days Second week in MiddtTl'ugust Richard Comer, Tonveston, Wellington R. W. Pollard, Blagden P. Cowan, Barnstaple Samuel Cornish. Stancombe. R. H. Watson, Dorsely. Lamoureux & Co., Plymouth Under average Below an average Under average Thin most places Over average Average Under average Pretty good Average Above average Under average Good Good Good Ver^^promising Good Very good August 15 About middle of August August .4 August and CORNWALL Thin Average, but damaged bv rust About average Below average Average ; greatly recovered Under average; verythin^ Average Full average Average Over average Average About average Looking well Very good Very promising ''Ta'd^yTvTd^ Various Not quite aver- age: badly saved Light, and badly got September Beginning of August In a fortnight August 10 Magor, Davey & Co., Brewery, T. D. Simmons, Killiganoon W, M, Ware, Newham House, John Wills, Southpetherwyn, WALES. CARMARTHEN. GLAMORGAN Not average Very much below the average Good Very good Average Not good Looking well Average crop Depends on the weather John Bumell, Penyfair, Llan- Thomas Thom.as, St, Hilar)', IRELAND. LONDONDERRY .... QUEEN'S COUNTY,. ANTRIM Average crop Scarcely any VeryTud?sown here; what is ■sown is good Scarcely any A fair°crop ; a good deal laid Short ; not average Promise a good A great quantity and very good Very good Look well Promising Fair crop TuXTate, good ; Potatos '^"ful^isease"' Bad Much damaged Se^nd-c^op good,w«>ther About Sept. 25 End of August En^dTlJIus. Charles Pollock, Farmhill, ChirlLVrLnks, Wcstfield, MEATH KILKENNY Good Winter Wheat very good, ^-jjftlr^'^ Good, Lt too soon^tojudge Average ; much injured by con- tinued rain Promising, but blight is feared Average Rather light ^g:t Heavy Jb^^e 8°oo^d Fair Good Very good : not ""'cood'" MTgeirfiL Uneven,but Late, but good Fair crop Abundant Light, badly Very bad LTght September .0 Middle of August August 20 August =0 John Anderson, Land Steward, W. A, Barnes; WrsUand. Moynalty git^c^^S^'^eS' CORK Good Good; little gro^vn Good Good damaged with Under'avera?e Good Potatos showing Under average Constant rain Under average Average; badly August 20 End;of August August 20 John 0. Sullivan. P.P. and V,G. , Kenmare, Kerry F, A. Twinarae, BaUy Philip, Kanturk J. Byrne, Wallslown Castle. August 5, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agfricultural Gazette. 1021 OUR LIVE STOCK. On Tuesday Mr. Strafford sold the whole of the well-known herd of Shorthorns at Famley Hall Farm, near Otley, the property of the trustees of the late Mr. Favvkes. There was a large attendance of breeders from the home counties and from America and Australia. The bulls averaged ^55 each, and the cows and heifers £a,(> each ; the total amount being ^i6So, giving a general average of £\?, per held. The highest price given was 150 gs., for Ninth Lord, a yearling bull by Lord Darlington. The Highland and Agricultural Show presents many points of interest to those who are occupied with live stock. It brings before us several breeds, of both cattle and sheep, which the English farmer but rarely sees in perfection. In the cattle classes, Ayrshire cattle occupy an important position. These cattle are rather small in size, vary in colour from white with a little red, to red with a little white, and again from a fawn colour broken with white, to almost black and white. The typical Ayrshire cow is formed for milk. Her long, firm head, and rather upturned horns, are succeeded by a thin neck, no great depth of hosom, shoulder tops and crops narrow, well sprung ribs, and great breadth over the hooks. Again, looking at the broadside of the animal, the depth should gradually increase backwards towards the flanks, giving what is termed a wedge-form. This is much insisted on by all the Ayrshire admirers, and it signifies the gradual thickening of the cow from the set-on of the head when the neck is light, to the base of the neck, the breast, the girth, and the still greater depth at the flank. This gradual deep- ening contrasts with the heavy fore-end and cylindrical form of the Shorthorn, and indicates milking rather than feeding properties. We took the measurements of the 1st prize Ayrshire bull and cow, and also of the 1st prize Angus bull and cow, to which we shall again refer. The Ayrshire measurements were as follows : — Measurements of a prize Ayrshire bull, the property of Mr. James Wilson, Boghall, Houston ; brown and white ; 4 years. Bred by Robert Wilson, Forehouse, Kilbarchan. Girth 7 ft. 4 in. Length from shoulder (last cer\'ical vertebra) Total length from poll to rumps Height at shoulder Width across hooks From shoulder-point to hook . .P From ground to dewlap The Ayrshire cow measured as follov rleasurement of prize .Ayrshire cow, the pro] Stewart, Burnside Cottage, Strattiaven : 5 Bred by Mr. David Osborne, Harelaw, Neili Girth Length fro.-n shoulder (last cervical verte Total length from poll to rumps Width across hooks Length from hook to rumps . . Si principally in character of head, which is thickly covered with white hairs, giving a dead white appearance, while the true Leicester head has a blue "tinge" on the face. Where the skin is visible at the nose near the eyes, it is black, and a pink tinge indicates deli- cacy. There is no wool on the forehead, but the fleece comes up well to the cheeks and back of the head. The fleece ought to be thickly set on the skin, and the curl should be bold and open. The body is long, of great thickness through the heart and ribs, and tapering towards the rumps. The back is well covered with flesh, and the scfagg, or neck, is well developed. Such are a few points which may be noted upon ex- amining good specimens of animals of the above breeds. 3 7 Angus polled cattle are characterised by their black colour, occasionally broken near the udder with a little white. They are hornless, are characterised by great length, by a great width across the shoulder-tops, con- tinued by well sprung ribs and good loins, without prominent hook-bones. The hair is short and glossy, and the skin thick and soft. We append a few import- ant measurements of the best examples of the breed we could meet with. Measurements of prize Angus bull, JtJRVMAN, the property of Sir George Macpherson Grant, of Ballindalloch ; 3 j 4 months, 14 days. Bred by exhibitor. Length from shoulder to rumps . . . . 5 i Total length 70 Height at shoulder 4 nV Width across hooks i loj Width across shoulders i o Width across crops i 4 From hook to shoulders 4 i Girth of leg below knee .. .. .. o 8| Measurements of a commended Angus bull, the property of Mr. Alexander, Mains of Kelly ; 2 years 5 months. Bred by exhibitor. Girth 7 ft. 4 in. Length from shoulder to rumps . . . . s o Width over hooks 17 Width over shoulders .. o loj Girth of leg below knee o 8 Girth Length from ^ Total length f Width: Length from hooks to r Shoulder-point to hook Girth of leg below knee Passing from cattle to breed first claim higher situation of hill predominates. The head the colours being distinct should slope back ; the property of, and t years 6 months. . .. 7ft. I in. the Blackfaced heath breed adapted for the farms— wherever heather mst be black and white, md unmixed ; the horns me line as the forehead ; THE HIGHLA ND AND A GRICUL TURA L SOCIETY AT PERTH. The opening day of the Highland and Agricultural Society's show was discouraging enough. The weather, however, cleared up towards evening, and the follow- ing day (Thursday) was all that could be desired. The Scottish show is essentially a business proceeding. But few ladies visit the ground, and the streets are un- adorned with flags, arches, or any of the accompani- ments of bells ringing, and holiday appearance, which characterise our English show-times. The proximity of the Highlands, and the picturesque appearance of those who affect the national costume, be they English or Scotch, the tones of the bagpipes, and the spectacle of Highland sports, in immediate contact with the show ; the characteristic Blackfaced sheep, which are said, like their masters, to thrive where pampered Saxon breeds would starve— these, and the Ayrshire cows, and black polled cattle, all help to compensate for the missing features above alluded to, and to give a picturesque freshness to the scene. The show itself at once strikes the casual observer as greatly inferior in size to the gigantic English meeting, but closer in- spection reveals a greater variety, and equal excellence in most of the live stock classes. Imple- ments are of course present in considerable variety, but we miss the revelation of steam in its application to agriculture yearly brought before us nearer home. Twenty acres of ground are occupied by the Highland Show, and in this very considerable space there is, we confess, much more of interest than we have had oppor- tunity to examine. We shall now attempt to convey an idea of the " stock " show. the back of the neck is free from wool, but is covered with goat-like hair ; the wool should come up well at the cheeks ; the fleece must be long, curly, fine, and free from grey hair or kemps ; grey, however, is apt to appear in old sheep. CATTLE. Shorthorns. — There was a good show of Shorthorns, and it must be gratifying to the promoters of this breed that it appears to be rapidly extending in Scotland as well as in England. Taking the catalogue as our guide, we find in the first place a class of old bulls of great merit. It is the custom of the Highland and Agricultural Society to award a gold medal to animals which have taken 1st prizes in their previous shows, and this excellent arrangement enabled us to once more obtain a view of that grand bull. Heir of English- man (24,122), bred by Mr. Barclay, and now owned by Mr. W. S. Marr— a bull of great substance, on short legs, and worthy of notice. Edgar, the well-known " Royal" prize-taker, ought to have been present, but was for some reason prevented from putting in an appearance. — The aged bull class comprised 15 entries, many of which were very excellent. The 1st prize was awarded to Mr. Robert Arklay's Annan Water, bred by Mr. Johnstone, of Halleaths, Lochmaben, a bull with grand quarters, a good girth, and fine shoulders. The 2d place was awarded to Mr. James Fletcher's Michigan 2d, also a good bull, with good quarters and loins, and a fair ' ' touch. " The 3d prize was taken by Mr. James Cochrane's Baronet (25,564), an animal which, although good in most points, is certainly weak about the shoulder tops and crops, and has not the "touch" of his successful rivals however, a useful beast, and, on the whole, deserves his place.— The 2-year-old bulls formed a class of 19, many of which were very excellent. The 1st place was awarded to a bull possessing plenty of fine hair, and of fair quality. When we mention that his crops were a trifle weak we record the only fault noticeable to us. He is the property of Mr. Balfour, of Balbirnie, was bred by Sir William Stirling Maxwell, and is named Keir Butterfly 7th. The 2d place was accorded to Sir David Baird's Baron Laurie 3D, bred by Mr. Barclay, of Keavil, a red bull, of considerable merit, although a little plain about the head, and not heavy enough fleshed at the buttocks. So far so good ; but we cannot concur with the judges in the case of the 3d award. This was given to Mr. Walter Scott's Baron Stapleton, bred by Mr. Thomas Law- ' Stapleton Grange, Darlington. We should be sorry to say a word against any good animal, and are ready to acknowledge the Baron to be such. Never- theless he has faults which, in our estimation, should have weighed with the judges. Take, for instance, " . Bell's Duke of Norfolk, a red and white btill, noticed by many as possessing good shoulders, crops, and buttocks, and compare him, unnoiiced as he is, with Baron Stapleton. Such a comparison will reveal that the last-named bull is deficient in all the above points, and is also not so good a "toucher." With these facts it is difficult to see the reason of the Border Leicesters differ from English Leicesters I award, and this difficulty was expressed by many Very competent persons. Lastly, we may mention a very neat red bull. Red Rover, the property of Mr. Robert Moubray, of Cambus, which received a high commendation. The yearling bulls comprise 12 entries, of which Sir W. S. Maxwell's Red Duke was declared to be the best. This decision was, so far as we could learn, unchallenged, and with the exception of too much loose fat about the rumps, he is a very straight, good bull, and not made up for show in any extreme manner. Mr. James Beattie's Baron Torr, the 2d prize animal in this class, is white in colour, has horns not very nicely put on, and is a little low in the chine. Here, again, was dissent somewhat loudly expressed^ many preferring other unplaced animals in the class. The 3d prize was awarded to Mr. Bruce, of Newton of Struthers, for a gay, nice looking bull, Baron Cecil. Mr. John Lamb, of Burrell Green, Penrith, again exhibited Ignoramus, the 3d prize bull at Wolver- hampton, a grand "toucher," and altogether a gay and truly good animal, which, however, could only get a commendation. Mr. Cruikshanks, of Sittyton, exhi- bited a very good red bull, unfortunately lame ; and there were other excellent young bulls in this class qualified to take honours at high-class shows. The cow class was better than at Wolverhampton, and we were especially struck with the exceedingly level cow exhibited by Sir W. S. Maxwell. From her loins forward she is perfect, and in other respects it is ditficult to find fault ; still, her quality, as revealed by touch, is scarcely in her favour, but taking her alto- gether we have seldom seen her equal. The Duke of Buccleuch took the 2d place with his Young Cherry, a very good cow, and Mr. Robert Arklay was 3d, with Flecky Wear by Represent-A-TIVE (20,666). Mr. James Beattie showed two remarkably good cows, which, although unplaced, had many admirers. The " Royal" 1st prize cow. Warrior's Plume, was also present, enjoying her honours with the fresh decoration of a gold medal awarded to her as the 1st prize cow last year at Dumfries. Plain at the rump, as the old cow unquestionably is, breeding and character are strongly evidenced in her beautiful head. In the class for heifers calved after January, 1869, Mr. Robert Bruce, of Newton of Struthers, was placed 1st with Raspberry, and Lord Kinnaird took off both 2d and 3d prizes. There was a large entry of yearling heifers, in which the Duke of Buccleuch carried off both 1st and 2d prizes, and Lord Kinnaird secured the 3d place. Polled Angus or Aberdeen. — Still following the order of the catalogue, we next find the characteristic black polled cattle of Aberdeen forming a magnificent show. To see such a grand collection of these noble animals is a novel and interesting sight to an Englishman. So, at least, we found it, and spent a considerable time among them. Three veteran prize-takers, now retired on their well-won gold medals, formed the commence- ment of a very good class of aged bulls, among which Sir George Macpherson Grant's Jurym.\n ranked 1st. He is perfectly black, has a remarkably good soft skin, and is exceedingly level. Mr. William Dingwall Fordyce showed the 2d prize bull, M'Combie, which may be spoken of as scarcely equal to the last animal in hair and quality, but as very perfect in form. He was 1st at the Aberdeen show in 1868. The 3d prize was awarded to Mr. Robert Walker's Derby, a grand beast, with a considerable amount of white on his belly. There was a good entry of bulls, calved since 1869. The prizes were awarded as follows : — Mr. George of Westertown, 1st ; Sir Thomas Gladstone, of Fasque, 2d ; and Mr. Robert Clark, of Taybank, 3d. There was also a very good bull exhibited by Mr. Alexander Bowie, Mains of Kelly, which was com- mended, and whose dimensions we found to be as follows :— Girth, 7 feet 4 inches ; length, 5 feet ; length from shoulder point to centre of hook, 4 feet ; width over shoulder blades just about 1 1 inches ; over hook, i foot 7 inches, and girth of bone below knee, 8 inches. We cannot speak more at length upon the awards in this and other of the Aberdeen classes, but refer our readers to the prize list. We may, however, mention that the general impression was, that it was a grand show, especially of heifers. The breed is considered to be more hardy than Shorthorns, and has the following characteristic points: — Colour perfectly black, no horns, not even a ' ' scar ; " skin soft, and covered with fine short hair ; carcase very long, and especially well rounded over the shoulders and crops, very level from rump to hook, and from hook along the top of the ribs to the shoulder ; shoulder fine, neck heavy, and head massive, and characteristic. In walking through the Aberbeen classes we observed many animals coming up to the standard. Passing over the Galloways we arrive at the import- ant classes of Ayrshire cattle. In general, with reference to these cattle, we note that the colour is exceedingly various, passing from almost white to red and white, brown and white to almost black and white, and again to red and dark brown. Sometimes the colour might be that of a Shorthorn, and at other times it was similar to an Alderney or Guernsey. The cows are small in size compared with our large breeds, and are formed for milking. The head is free from flesh and long ; the horns, of late years especially, point upwards and outwards ; the neck is light ; the shoulders close at the top, giving a shoulder-top and crop ; the carcase gradually 1022 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August S, 1871. increases liackwards till we find wide loins, prominent "hooks," and wide rumps. Looking at tlie broad side, the light neck, shallow breast, narrow girlh, and gradually increasing deptli, as the eye passes back- wards, gives a wedge-like form to the animal which contrasts with the full fore-quarters of the Shorthorn race. Sir Michael K. Shaw Stewart, of Greenock, showed a typical bull, the winner of the 1st prize at Edinburgh, in 1869. We may also mention Mr. Tames Wilson's excellent 1st prize bull, whose girth is 7 feet 4 inches, and length 5 feet 5 inches from before shoulder to rump. Sir Michael Stewart also showed a remarkably good bull, which obtained a 2d place, and Mr. John Fleming was awarded a 3d prize. In the yearling bull class Mr. Carmichael's Lord Lorne, an almost white bull, was much admired, and secured the 1st place, and other very good specimens were to be seen among the young bulls. There was a remark- ably good show of cows and heifers, a large majority of which were of the true milking type. We took accurate measurements of the 1st prize cow RosU; exhibited by Mr. John Stewart, and since sold, we understand, for .^100. Her girth is 6 feet, length 5 feet, and total length, from poll to rump, 6 feet 5 inches. Another feature of the show was the Highland cattle formed to withstand the boisterous and severe winters of the Highlands. There was a fair show of these, but our time was unfortunately too much occupied to do them justice. Information as to the prizes will be found in the published list. Lastly, there was a section for fat animals, in which some 30 very good cattle were exhibited. SHEEP. Black-fared.— Thera was a very excellent sho Blackfaced sheep. In this breed, the face should be black and white, the colours, in the best es being clearly defined, and not at all mixed. This is what the Highlander calls good "paintings. Roman nose is in favour, and horns sloping back same line as the general slope of the forehead. There is no wool between the ears, or on the back of the head and neck close to the head, but thick, goat-like hair. The wool should come up to the cheeks, and the fleece must be fine, curly, and free from hair. As ewes become old, they are liable to grow grey, or blue, hairs along the back. The 1st prize in the tup class was awarded to a sheep bred and exhibited by Mr. James Greenshields. The black and white face markings were distinct and characteristic, and the fleece was of particularly good quality. This sheep was got by a ram of Mr. Archibald's, of Overshields. The 2d prize was awarded to Mr. Archibald for the 1st prize sheep last year at Dumfries, an excellent animal, and sold on the giound at Perth for ^^40 to Fleming of Keel. The 3d prize was taken by Mr. Greenshields, and Mr. Aitken, of Listonsliiels, was commended for a good sheep, not quite distinct enough in the colours of his face, but with good fleece and horns. Another of Mr. Archibald's (No. 55S) also struck us as a stylish sheep, with good quarters and head, but with rather straight wool. In the class for Dinmont or sheailing tups Mr. Archibald took the 1st place with a good-headed sheep, having a capital carcase and fleece, a son of the 1st prize sheep at Edinburgh in 1869. Mr. Aitken also showed a good tup with a very black face, slightly broken with white, and Mr. Archibald the 3d prize with a very good animal. This class may be spoken of as good, but we noticed in so straight, goat-like wool, and faces in which the black and white were badly defined and mixed. Passing on to the ewes above I-shear, with Iamb: we found the 1st prize awarded to Mr. Tweedie, of Castle Crawford, for some very good ewes, in which the wool was a little too fine, and the "paintings " no quite perfect. Mr. Archibald was placed 2d for ewe: and 1st for lambs ; Mr. John Malcolm, of Poltalloch, was 2d, and Mr. Pagan, of Innergeldie, was com mended. There was a good class of sheading ewes, ii which Mr. Archibald took 1st and 3d prizes for two good pens, in which the 1st prize seemed to have been secured by better character of head, but both excellent pens. The 2d prize sheep in this class bred and exhibited by Mr. A. C. Pagan ; and, although good sheep, they were a little-inclined to a hairy styl of wool, and lacked character. Cheviots.— Thext was a grand show of Cheviots and, although Dinmonts had been seen better, gimmers were first-rate. The names of Archibald, of Glengelt, Elliot, of Hindhope, and Brydon, again appear ir force, and divide many of the prizes. Among the best sheep shown in these classes we may specially notice Mr. Thomas Welsh's most excellent sheading tup as an anim.al of good style and quality. The 2d prize sheep, the property of Sir G. Graham Montgomery, was also a fine sheep, although a little slack in the back ; and the 3d prize sheep, exhibited by Mr. James Johnstone, of Capplegill, was also handsome and well- wooled, thus attesting the general excellence of his class. The commended sheep, belonging to the same breeder as the last, were also very good, although smaller than those already noticed, and the whole class was considered a most excellent one. The class for ewes and lambs, although not well filled, yet contained some remarkably good pens, in which Messrs. Brydon, Archibald, and Elliot, divided the honours. Mr. Elliot's sheep, although only placed 3d, were very excellent, and almost equal to the ist. Young ewes were also remarkably well represerited, the class being both large and good. Border Leices- ters are a great feature at the Highland and Agricul- tural Show. This sub-breed is a favourite in Scotland, and is considered to excel its south country progenitor in size and hardihood. The head is white and well covered with hair, and the nose and skin sur- roundingand under the eye, black. Where a pink colour appears at these points it is considered to indicate delicacy. The " blue " colour of the English Leicester is not considered characteristic in the Border Leicester, but it is said to be appearing too much in some flocks. There were complaints with regard to the shearing in some of the classes, and we have no hesitation in saying that the so-called "shearhngs" had in some cases been very gently dealt mth at shearing time, whenever that might have been. The Leicester show was undoubtedly good, and the sheading rams may be mentioned as especially excellent. Taking the classer in their catalogue order, we find, first, the old tup, forming a large and good show, in which Mr. George Hope, of Fenton Bams, took the Ist prize, with very grand, long, well-covered sheep, with a thick good neck, and great width of carcase. The fleece, too, was quite fashionable, and may be described as consisting of a bold, rather large, and open curl. Mr. Thomas Ferguson, of Kinnochtry, Coupar Angus, also showed a good typical sheep, which won the 2d plac and Mr. Adam Smith's 3d prize may be spoken of a good sheep with a characteristic head. Dinmont or shearling tups were a very first-ri class, numbering 56 in all, and headed by Mr. James Clark, of Oldhamstocks', very good and weU-woolled sheep, an excellent .animal, with but little wool — •'- cod. Lord Southesk was placed 2d, with r wooUed and otherwise good sheep ; and Mr. Simson, of Blainslie, made a good 3d. Old ewes were represented by 10 entries, in which Mr. George Laing took the 1st place, with five very well formed ewes, and, with one exception, well wooUed. The 2d prize was awarded to Mr. Hope, of Fenton Barns, for five large and good carcased sheep, of which carried fairiy good fleeces. The 3d prize sheep, the property of Mr. Tliomas Ferguson, of Kinnochtry, were, with one exception, very good In the class for sheading ewes or gimmers, Mr. John Lees, of Warrington, Haddington, took the Ist place ith some well wooUed sheep, and Mr. Jenner Clark, of Oldhamstocks, was placed 3d with some sheep carrying splendid fleeces. Besides the important breeds already noticed, there :re a few specimens of Cotswolds and Southdowns. Shropshire sheep also appeared in considerable force, from the flocks of the Earl of Strathmore, Mr. Hood, of Linross ; Mr. John Gibson, of Woolmet ; Mr. Crawford, of Pitlowrie ; and Mr. Arnot, of Glamis Mains. well ist Prize Bulls at former Shows.— John Fisher, Knells, Carlisle. 13. Best Bull calved before January i, i86g.— 1st, James Graham, Carlisle ; 2d, James Cunningham, Tarbreoch ; 3d, Peter Morton, Longtown. 14. Best Bull calved after January i, 1869.— ist, James Cun- ningham, Dalbeattie ; 2d, T. Blggar, Dalbeattie. 13. Best Bull calved after January i, 1870.-151, Mrs. James Graham Newcastleton ; 2d, Joseph Kerr, Dumfries, ist Prize Cows at former Shows.— James Cunningham, Tar- 16. Best Cow of any age.— ist, James Cunningham, Dalbeattie ; 2d, Thomas Biggar, Dalbeattie ; 3d, James Cunningham, Dal- 17. Best Heifer calved after January i, 1869.— ist, Thomas Biggar, Dalbeattie ; 2d, James Cunninghnm. 18. Best Heifer calved after January i, 1870.- ist, Duke of Buccleuch ; 2d, James Cunningham ; 3d, ditto. Ayrshire. 1st Prize Bulls at former Shows, exhibited for Medium Gold Medal.— Sir Michael R. Shaw Stewart. 10. Best Bull calved before January i, 1869,— ist, James Wilson, Houston ; 2d, Sir Michael R. Shaw Stewart, Bart. ; 3d, John Fleming. ^ . 20. Best Bull calved after January i, 1869.-151, Robert Kelso, Greenock ; 2d, the Hon. G. R. Vernon ; 3d, John Flemmg, 21. Best Bull calved after January i, 1870.-151, William Car- michael. Carnwath . 2d, John Fleming, Stiathaven ; 3d, Duncan Campbell WiUison, Douglas. ist Prize Cows at former Shows.— John Fleming, Sttatha' 22. Best Cow, in milk, of any : '^ Stewarton : 2d, John M. Marl ' " Crieff. ^ ^ Best Cow, in calf, of any age.— ist, John Stewart, Strath- ' liaven; 3d, Gabriel Dunlop, ^ „, __ , Gabriel Dunlop, , Cardross ; 3d, John M'Callum, d, John Fleming, Stratli: , George Pender : Best Heifer calved after January i, 1869.-151, G. Pender, " Gabriel Dunlop, Stewarton ; 3d, G. Pander. The on 24 were very highly commcr 25. Best Heifer calved after January Fleming, Meadowbank Cottage, Strathaven 3d, John Fleming. ist Prize Bulls at former Shows.— The Earl of Scafield. 26. Best Bull calved before January 1, 1868.— ist, John Stewart, Portree ; 2d, Duke of Athole ; 3d, John Grant, Carr of Polt.-llloch : 2d, the I Prize Cows at formi John Malcolm, of Poltalloch. . , " '■ ^ -- -1st, the Duke of Athole ; 2d, Donald M'Laren, Callander; 3d, John Malcolm, of Poltalloch. Best Heifer, calved after January i, 1868.— ist, John Duke of .\thole ; 3d, John Stewart, Callander. Best Heifer calved after January i, 1869.-151, John Malcolm ; 2d, John Stewart : 3d, John Malcolm. HORSES. PIGS. Swine were faidy represented, especially the white breed. It is scarcely, however, in Scotland, that we look for black pigs, and we were not surprised to notice a poor show of Berkshire, some of which did 1 much resemble the best types of the breed. HORSES. There was a remarkably good show of Clydesdale horses, especially of mares and fillies ; thorough-bred; and hacks were by no means so well represented. There also appeared to be a considerable number of empty stalls in the horse classes, in which the words ' ' not forward " were conspicuous. The following is the list of the awards in the various classes of stock :— Class I.— CATTLE. Shorthorn. ist Prize Bull at former Shows (exhibited Aberdeen, 186S).- William S. Marr, Heir of Englishman. 1. Best Bull calved before January i, 1869.-151, Robert Arklay, Dundee : 2d, James Fletcher, Rosehaugh ; 3d, James Cochrane, 2. Best Bull calved after January I, 1869.— ist, John Balfour, Balbimie ; 2d, Sir David Baird, of Newbyth, Bart. 1 3d, Walter ^^3°' Best"Bui'l calved after January i, 1870.-151, Sir W. Stirling Maxwell, Bart. : 2d, James Beattie, Annan. ist Prize Cows at former Shows (Medium Gold Medal) : Dum fries, 1870.— James Beattie. Annan. 4 Best cow of any age.— ist. Sir William Stirling Maxwell Bart. ; 2d, the Duke of Buccleuch ; 3d, Robert Arklay. Dundee 5. Best Heifer calved after January i, 1869.— isl, Robert Bruce, Forres : 2d, Lord Kinnaird ; 3d, ditto. 6. Best Heifer calved after January i, 1870.-151, the Duke of Buccleuch : 2d, ditto ; 3d, Lord Kmnaird. Polled Angus or Aberdeen. ist Prize Bulls at former Shows (Medium Gold Medal) Aberdeen 1868.— ist, Alexander Morison, Turriff; 2d, Ja'mei Skinner Drumin, Ballindalloch. 7 Best Bull calved before January i, 1869.-151, Sir George Macpherson Grant, Bart. ; 2d, W. D. Fordyce, M. P. ; 3d, Robert Walker, Aberdeen. 8. Best Bull calved after January i, 1869.— 1st, George Brown, Fochabers; 2d, Sir Thomas Gladstone, Bart.; 3d, Robert Clark, Errol. 9 Best Bull calved after January i, 1870.— isl. WiUiam M'Combie, of Easier Skene; 2d, W. J. Taylor; 3d, James Leslie, Blairgowrie. ist Prize Cows at former Shows. — George Brown, Fochabers. 10 Best Cow of any age. — isl, Sir George Macpherson Grant ; 2d, ■ Malcolm; '. Class For . Pur ist Prize Stallions at former Shows.— Merdo Belhune, Beauly ; Peter Crawford, Strathblane. 1. Best Stallion foaled before January, 1868. -isl, Peter M'Robbie, Aberdeen: 2d, William Wylie, Whitburn; 3d, William Moffat, Kirkintilloch. _ . 2. Best Entire Colt foaled after January i Brewster, Barnbeth; M'Robbie, Sunnyside. 3. Best Entire Colt foaled after January i, 1869.— isl Stirling Maxwell ; 2d, ArchA Johnston, MaryhiU ; Abram Kerr, Durrisdeer ; 3d, P. Best Em Newhouse Mill ; 2d, Jas. Love, Greenock ; Fleming, of Knockdown, Maybole. 1st Prize Mares at former Shows.— Sir WiUiam ! Maxwell of Keir, Bart. 5. Best Mare (with Foal at foot) foaled before January 1 —ist Wm. Moffat, Kirkintilloch * "' '" ""' '" " 3d, M. Bethune, Beauly 6. Best Mare •indlay. utrich Castle A. Buchanan, Garscadden Mains. 7. Best FiUy foaled after January i, li of Knockdon; 2d, Lawrence Drew, Pollock, Meams. 8 Best Filly foaled after January i, : 2d, L. Drew, Merryton ; 3d, R. Walkei Best Filly fo.aled after January 1 3d, Ja 2d, Sir Wm. Stirling, Bart. '; Foal) foaled before January i, 1868.— ist. of Knockdoi BarL 2d, ditto ; 3d, Sir William Stirling Best Draught Gelding, foaled after January i, 1S68.— 1st, 11. Best Draught Gelding, foaled after January 1, 1869.— isl, George Morgan, CrieiT ; 2d, George Todd, of East Brackley ; 3d, Thomas Landale, Rhynd. Class IIL-SHEEP. 1. Best Tup, above i-shear.— isl, James Greenshields, Lesma- hagow ; 2d, John Archibald, Slow ; 3d, James Greenshields. 2. Best DinmontorShearlingTup.— ist, John Archibald, Stow; 2d, Thomas Aitken, Balemo ; 3d, John Archibald. 3 Best Ewes, above I-shear, with Lambs. —isl, David Tweedie, Abbington; 2d, John Archibald, Overshields ; 3d, John Malcolm, °A Best 5 Shearling Ewes or Gimmers.— ist, John Archibald ; 2d, Allan C. Pagan, Innergeldie ; 3d, John Archibald. Cheviot. 5 Best Tup. above i-shear.— ist, Thomas Elhot, Hindhope, Jedburgh ; 2d, Herbert Brj'don, Selkirk ; 3d, John A. Johnstone, Archbank, Moffat. 6 Best Dinmont or Shearling Tup. — isl, Thomas \\ elsh, Moffat ; 2d, Sir G. Graham Montgomery, Bart., M.P. ; 3d, James Johnstone, Moffat. Border Leicester. 7 Best 5 Ewes above i-shear.— isl, James Brydon, Moffat; 2d James Archibald, L,auder ; 3d, Thomas Elliot, Hindhope. 8. Best 5 Shearling Ewes or Gimmers.— ist, James Archibald, Lauder ; 2d, James Brj'don, Kinnelhead ; 3d, John M'Gregor, Dumfries. ,,.,,. 9. Best Tup above i-shear.— ist, George Hope, Fenton Bams, Drem ; 2d, Thom.is Ferguson, Kinnochtry, Coupar Angus : 3d, Adam Smith. Stevenson Mains, Haddingto: Best Heifer calved after January i Macpherson Grant ; 2d, Alexander Bow George Brown, Fochabers. Kelly; 3<1 Cockbi Dim Best 5 Ewes above i-shear. — ist, Ge n ; 2d, George Hope, Fenton Bams ; August 5, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1023 12. Best 5 Shearling Ewes or Haddin-ton; 2d, Charles Lyall, Clark, Oldhamstocks. Norman, Aspatria [Lw 7, vr^ml Leicester. Wilkin, Dumfries oln) ; 3d, W. Nor- , Thomas Wilkins, (Lincoln) : 2 man (Lincol: 14. Best 5 Ewes of an: Dumfries (Lincoln) Norman (Lincoln). 15. Best Tup of any age.— ist, Robert Scot Skirving, Camp- toun, Drem ; 2d, ditto ; 3d, John Gordon, Aberdeen. 16. Best s Ewes of any age, or Gimmers.— ist, Robert Scot Skirving ; 2d, ditto. 17. Best Tup of any age.— 1st, the Earl of Strathmore ; 2d, Andrew Crawford, Perth ; 3d, the Earl of Strathmore. 18. Best 5 Ewes of any age. or Gimmers.- 1st, 2d, and 3d, the Earl of Strathmore. Short-woolled other than Sou- 19. Best Tup of any age.— ist and 2d, John P. M'Pherson Forres (Oxford Down), shearling tups. Class IV.— SWINE. I. Best Boar, large breed.— ist, R. E. Duck ing & Son. Northorpe : 2d Mangles, Ripon. 3. Best Boar, small breed.— ist, R. E. Ducker- ing & Son, Northorpe ; 2d, Charles A. Murray, Stanley ; 3d, George Mangles. 3. Best Boar, Berkshire breed. — ist, R. E. Duckering & Son, Northorpe ; 2d, Robert Lyall, Brechin ; 3d, Sir David Baird, Bart. ^4. Best Sow, large breed.— ist, R. E. Ducker- ing & Son ; 2d, ditto : 3d, George Mangles. 5. Best Sow, small breed. — 1st, R E. Ducker- ing & Son : 2d, Alex. Stewart, Bridge of Earn ; 3d, John L. Gow, Raith. 6. Best Sow, Berkshire breed.— 1st, Sir David Baird, Bart. ; 2d, Alexander Stewart ; 3d, Lord Kinnaird, K.T. 7. Best Pen of 3 Pigs, not above 8 months old, large breed.— ist, R. E. Duckering & Son : 2d, George Mangles ; 3d, ditto. 8. Best Pen of 3 Pigs, not above 8 months old, small breed.— 1st, R. E. Duckering & Son; 2d, John L. Gow, Raith ; 3d. Robert Philip, Bridge of Allan. Jome €mtspnkmt 3d, George fcldy : manual labour in the conveyance of town sewage. j 7. y. Mechi, August I. Are we again to have Cesspools ? — Your i Record of Improvements and Cultivation of German correspondent is mistaken. I continue my Estates in Ireland. — Some months ago you were irrigation. On the sewaged Italian Rye-grass good enough to inquire for me, what forms were used (14 acres) I have kept 200 sheep and lambs from | on carefully managed estates m England for recording April, seven horses for seven weeks, and yet a nice the cultivation und improvements made yearly on each little haystack. I only regret that I have not a town farm and each field. One of your correspondents sewer to supply my suction-pipe, for I cannot get , referred me to the Duke of Cleveland's estate, and, manure enough in .the ordinary way without investing a , through the kindness of the agent, an excellent form large additional capital in live stock, which I cannot was sent me. Another correspondent referred me to afford, having to limit my general tenant or farm Mr. Jemmett, Murrill Hill Farm, Bmfield, Berks, the capital to £\b per acre. It ought to be ^^25 per acre, author of a very useful farmers' pocket-book. Mr. and then I should make a larger percentage of profit. Jemmett has furnished me with what he calls an estate My live-stock capital is usually £(> per acre. Could I record, on the same principle as that used on the Duke afford it I would make it £\z or more per acre, and of Cleveland's estate, but of more convenient size for then I should consume all my straw (treading none use, and I think even better arranged. It is the size of under-foot), and keep all my cattle and pigs on sparred a large pocket-book. Each farm occupies four pages, floors. I have not near manure enough, for the two first pages, open together, are for cultiva- it is quite clear that, in the case of root crops tion, with enough columns for sbt years ; and a first column, in which the number of each field on the map, or a description of the field, is entered. The other two pages are, one for improvements of any sort done on the farm, the other for bought manures brought on the farm, and for hay, straw, roots, &c., sold off. Everything is thus quite distinct and clear. Once a year, when the farm is visited by the landlord or his representative — as it is certam, since the Land Act, must be done with great care if the estate is not to be sub- jected to every sort of exaggerated and even fraudulent claim for improvements and unexhausted tillages and manures, in the event of the tenant failing, or even voluntarily leavmg his farm — entries of the facts will be made on the spot, and should be communicated to the tenant. If the entries are made by a man of cha- racter and credit, they will, after a few years, practically become better evidence of the facts than any mere recollection, or pretended recollection, can be. With- out such a record, the landowner will be really at the m.ercy of whatever charges a tenant, with the help of a lively imagina- tion and heated feelings, will swear to or get sworn to. Any one, who has seen some of the enormously exaggerated claims made already in land cases that have come before the courts, will know the importance of having clear proof of the facts. The subject is of the greatest importance in reference to the future "management of estates in Ireland;" only the strictest and most business-like care will enable very heavy charges to be avoided, for which no value, or a very inadequate value is left. It is this great importance of Mr. Jemmett's Estate Record to so many, that makes me anxious to inform others of it. An Irish Landowner. LABOURERS' COTTAGES. We offer the accompanying illustra- tions of a block of three cottages (figs. 227, 22S, 229), as an example of an arrangement affording extended accom- modation, at once convenient and econo- mical, — remembering that while the farmer seeks to have as many labourers as possible near his homestead, the land- lord is desirous of providing them with homes at as cheap a rate as possible. This latter object is best attained by combming several dwellings under one roof, since by such means much external walling, and a very appreciable amount of roofing are saved. In the example before us the main object has been to place all the front doorways facing the street, and at the same time to secure porches for each at little cost with a pleasing appearance. This is well effected by the arched open- ings shown in the elevation, which give a distinctive character to the buildings. They are also manifestly convenient when the cottages are placed as lodges at the entrance road to the homestead. Another point to be observed is, that whereas the two outside cottages have three bed-rooms each, the centre dwelling has only two bed-rooms, thus affording accommodation for a small family, while the end cottages serve for larger ones. a. Living rooms : b, Sculleries ; c. Pantries ; D, Fuel stores ; e, Porches ; The cubical space provided within the r, Stairs and landings ; g, Parents' bedrooms : H and j, Children's bedrooms, cottages is as follows : — The two outside cottages contain, in the living-rooms 1 100 feet each, in the sculleries 704 feet, in the pantries 256 I especially (as I have proved by comparative trials), the end of May, feet, in the fuel stores 256 each, in the porches 128 feet, I we could double our acreable produce by means be eaten off with sheep, in the stairs and landings 341 feet, in the parents' bed- I of extra manure and deeper cultivation, without | and the land immediately ploughed up again for Tur- 1 rooms 720 feet, in the second bed-rooms 701 feet, and , increasing the fixed charges of rent, tithes, rates, nips. One-half of the division intended for roots in the third bed-rooms 492 feet cube each. I taxes, &c. Besides, when we have provided, by might easily be so treated, but not the whole ; but the The centre or two-bed-roomed cottage contains, in j very deep cultivation and a greatly increased quantity ^ use of such a snatch crop is to give food for the stock the living-room 1012 feet, in the scullery 596 feet, 1 of manure, a surplus supply of food for our Mangel ! in May and June, when usually food is very scarce. I in the pantry 224 feet, in the fuel store 208 feet, ' crop, the com crops following mil be ample, and generally grow a few patches of Mustard sown in in the porch 112 feet, in the stairs and landing 30S very different from what we find them at present. | April and May, which come in during May and June ; feet, in the first bed-room 967, and in the second bed- ! Our German friend will fail to bring back English- and, after they are eaten off, the land is ploughed room 7S0 feet cube. These figures together make a men to the old cesspool system, and if he will but [ up again, and sown with yellow or white Turnips, total of 13,603 feet cube for the entire block. inspect the sewage farms at Hornchurch and Bark- ' accordir Tlie cottages, without the outbuildings, have on an ing, he will no longer doubt the propriety of dis- average cost the sum of ;^I25 each, or ;J375 the block, solving ordure in water and thus cheaply conveying it They are from the designs of Mr. Bailey Denton, Jun., to the soil. My nasal midnight remembrances of the of tlie firm of Messrs. Bailey Denton, Son & North, (good ?) old cesspool times cause me to wonder at your by whom they have been erected in different parts of correspondent's letter. Besides, manure is useless with- England, among which we may cite the Livermere j out water. The manurial power of Britain is about Park Estate in Suffolk, and the Henlow Grange : that of two sheep per acre, and this is mixed with a Fig. 229. — GROUND plan. Cabbage as a Snatch Crop. — At p. 981 you advise Cabbage as a snatch crop, but it seems to me you overlook one very important point, that Cabbage will not stand a hard winter. If you plant out Cabbages in November, the chances are that you lose three out of four ; and if you only put them in in spring, they will not be ready until the end of JiTly, and then what sort of Turnip crop will you get afterwards ? The best snatch crop, it seems to me, is Rye, or Rye and winter Vetches mixed. If the stubbles which are intended for roots are ploughed up immediately, and sown with Rye and mnter Vetches, they will have a capital crop of green food on them by May i, or > climate, and that can either I the cattle. .the 5 G. A. H. Undrained.— The effects of non- , very striking. The unequal Suffolk, Estate in Bedfordshire. " j rainfall of 26 inches", _ _ __ . We may add here that the whole series, we believe, ' per annum. Mr. Hope not only uses all the towr of Mr. Denton's farm cottage designs are to be seen at sewage, but uses it again and again during dry weathei Henlow, where an estate formerly in very dilapidated in the shape of filtered water. While by steam-power I riflemen. This is also a season for weeds, the absence plight has been most admirably equipped under the we can raise 1000 tons of sewage 300 feet high for I3r. of the hand and horse hoe inflicts this year public-spirited du-ection of the Rev. H. Addington. | to 141., it will never pay to use hoi-se-power and I pecuniary punishment. There will be some t( Drained am drainage is, this ripening of the cereals is perceptible from the flying train. The furrows green, the ridges yellow, when the crops ripen evenly and the heads of corn are on a level and of equal size, there is at once evidence of proper drainage, natural or artificial, and also of a proper quantity of seed, for where seed is too thickly sown the plants remind one of a mixture of grenadiers and I024 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [Au 5, 1871. comstacks as well as haystacks.! Strange that one sees so few of Garrett's farmers' 38j-. rick ventilators : I feel independent of hot stacks with this— a farmer's inven- tion. In a wet season like this, the difference in the time of ripening between drained and undrained land is considerable and important. Some 29 years ago, when I first began to drain this land, a field of Oats on the drained land was in stack before the undrained was harvested, although the undrained was much the earlier sown. 7. J. Mechi, July 27. Soctclies. ROVAL AGRICULTURAL OF ENGLAND. Monthly Council : Wednesday, August 2. — Present: SirWatkin W. Wynn, Bart., M.P., President, in the chair ; Viscount Bridport, Lord Kesteven, Lord Vernon, the Hon. H. G. Liddell, M.P. ; Mr. Bar- nett, Mr. Cantrell, Colonel Challoner, Mr. Edmonds, Mr. Brandreth Gibbs, Mr. Holland, Mr. Hornsby, Mr. Hoskyns, M.P. ; Colonel Kingscote, M.P. ; Mr. Leeds, Mr. Milward, Mr. Ransome, Mr. Shuttleworth, Mr. Stone, Mr. Torr, Mr. Jabez Turner, Mr. Wake- field, Mr. Welby, M.P. ; Mr. Wells, M.P. ; Mr. Whitehead, Colonel Wilson, Professor Simonds, and Dr. Voelcker. The following new members were elected : — Anderson. William. Lesney House, Erith, Kent. Barton, Tom, The Crescent, Carlisle. Beach, John, Standeford Cottage, Wolverhampton. Blundell, .'\rthur, Chediston Hall, Halesworth. Booth, Thomas, Tamborne Park, Lichfield. Bowen, James, Troedyraur, Newcastle Emlyn. De Pass, Daniel, 9, Delamere Street, Westbourne Square, W. Easton, James, Hothe Court, Blean, Canterbury. Fanvell, Frederick G. , Wolverhampton. Faulconbridge, W. F., Bestwood Park, Bulwell, Notting- Gough, Ralph D., Willenhall, Staffordshire. Gouldburn. John, Broomhall, Nantvvich. Gurteen, Daniel, Haverhill, Suffolk. Ingram, George. Chetwynd Park, Newport, Salop. Knight, Richard, Bobbing Court, Sitlingbourne. Lea, Henr>', 316, Bristol Road, Birmingham. Lewisham, Viscount, Patshull, Wolverhampton. Low, George, Burghtown, Athy, Kildare. Morgan, Richard, Newtown, Montgomeryshire. Parson, Edgcombe, Coates, Cirencester. Phipps, Pukering, Coliingtree Grange, Northamplc Folding, \. Bede, Burnley. Lancashire. Price, William, New House, Caerleon. Reynolds. Osborne, Owen's College, Manchester. Richardson, ]ohn. The Oaks, Dalston, Carlisle. Roberts, Oscar Wilson, Fisherwick Park, Lichfield, Sedgwick, .-Alfred O., Watford, Herts. Thomas, J. Howell, Starling Park, Carmarthen. Ward, William, Penybort Hall, Oswestry. Whitworth, James R., Weston Underwood, Newport Pagnell. Finance. — Viscount Bridport presented the report, from which it appeared that the Secretary's receipts during the past month had been examined by the com- mittee, and by Messrs. Quilter, Ball & Co., the Society's accountants, and were found correct. The balance in the hands of the bankers on July 31 was ^9441 l8i. id., the sum of £1000 remaining on de- posit. Cheques to the amount of ..£'9977 y. <)d. were ordered to he drawn. The committee recommend that the Secretary be authorised to transfer the ^2000 on deposit to the current account. The committee have to report that, chiefly owing to the great expense attending the trials of steam cultivating machinery and traction engines at Wolverhampton, the expenditure will exceed the receipts, although the attendance was as numerous as was expected, especially when the un- favourable state of the weather on some days is considered. This report having been adopted, a conversation arose in reference to the question of the expense incurred by the Society in connection with the country meetings. Colonel Wilson and Mr. Torr expressed their opinion that some reduction in the expenditure could be made, while Mr. Ransome maintained that the money spent was carefully and judiciously disbursed, and that re- trenchment could only be elTected at the cost of efficiency — a result which he hoped the Council would not sanction. Finally, Lord Vernon gave notice that at the November meeting of the Council he draw attention to the financial results of the shows held at Oxford and Wolverhampton, and move th appointment of a committee to consider the expend ture at the annual shows, and the possibility of securing equal results at less cost. Implements. — Colonel Challoner (chairman) ported that the implement prize sheet for the Cardiff meeting had been revised by the committee, the pro- posed prize for self-moving engines having been struck out, and that tlie committee recommended the amended prize-sheet for adoption by the Council.— This report was adopted after some additional amendments had been made to the proposed prize-sheet. Gener.\l, Wolverii.\mpton. — Lord Kesteven reported that the accounts due in connection with this meeting had been duly certified and recommended for payment, with certain exceptions. It was also reported that an error had been made by the judges in Class 92 (Shropshire rams above one year old), the numbers given in by them not agreeing with those to which they had affixed the cards ; but as the error was merely clerical, they recommended that the cheque for the prize-money be drawn in favour of Mr. T. Mansell, who was awarded the 1st prize in that class. — This report was adopted. General, Cardiff. — Lord Kesteven reported the commendation of the committee that the Cardiff eeting shall commence on Monday, July 15, and continue until the following Friday inclusive, and that the trials commence on Monday, July 8. The com- mittee also recommended that Mr. Corbett, the agent of the Marquis of Bute, be invited to act as steward of forage at the Cardiff meeting, and, in the event of his being unable to act, to recommend some other compe- it person. — This report was adopted. Veterinary.— Mr. B. T. Brandreth Gibbs pre- sented the following report : — An ad interim report ft-om Professor Simonds was laid before the committee the experiments lie has made at the Royal Veterinary College in reference to feeding cattle on a patent cake. So far as the experiments had proceeded, up to July 31, no symptoms of injurious action had appeared. The same result had been obtained on feeding pigs up to the same date. Professor Simonds will forward a further report on the completion of the investigation. It was also reported that the Secretary had laid before the committee the correspondence between himself and the Veterinary Department of the Privy Council, together with n. precis of the various acts and orders in Council relating to the importation of foreign animals. As this had been drawn up for the special use of the Society, the committee recommended that it and the cor- respondence relating thereto be published in the forth- comingnumber of the Journal. — This report was adopted. SiiowYARD Contracts. — Mr. Torr reported that the Committee had examined and certified certain accounts relating to showyard works, which they recommended should be paid, with the exception of one, which they recommended should be deferred for inquiry until November. — This report was adopted. The death was reported of Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, Bart., a trustee of the Society. Mr. Holland having moved the renewal of the education grant for 1S72, it was seconded by Lord Vernon, and carried unanimously, after a few words from Mr. Wells, M.P., who stated that unless the number of candidates increased he could not continue to support the grant year after year. On this point Mr. Holland observed that the number of candidates could be increased if the standard of examin; were lowered ; but the committee were of opinion that it would be better to raise the level the candidates, if possible, than to lower the standard of the examinations. The Secretary was authorised to sign and seal the agreement with the authorities at Cardiff. A letter was read from Mr. B. T. Brandreth Gibbs in acknowledgment of his election as a Vice-President. 1 application for the loan of the Society's plough- dynamometer was granted on the usual conditions. It was announced that a silver cup, value £\, wil be off'ered by Sir W. W. Wynn, President, for the best managed farm in South Wales and Monmouth- shire which shall conform to the following condi- tions :— I. That it is not less than 100 acres in extent ; 2. That not less than one-fourth of the land (not sheep- walk) is under tillage ; 3. That it is held {a) by a tenant-farmer paying a bona fide rent for not less than three-fourths of the land in his occupation, or (b) by a landowner occupying his own farm, the total extent of whose property in agricultural land (exclusive of sheep- walk) does not exceed 200 acres, and whose sole busi- ness is farming. The Council then adjourned over the autumn recess until Wednesday, November 1, the usual holiday having been first granted to the Secretary and clerks. the Guildford meeting, reported to the Council that they acquitted Messrs. Duckering & Son of any inten- tional irregularity, and saw no reason to reverse or disturb the awards of the judges. A memorial from the Right Hon. the Earl of Ports- outh and seven other breeders of pigs in favour of gs of the small black breed being kept distinct from white ones in the Society's prize list, was referred to the Stock Prize Sheet Committee. A letter from Mr. A. Benjafield of The Poplars, Stalbridge, recommending the offer of prizes for cheese, was ordered to be referred to the Dorchester local committee. preparatory"step to the meeting of the several tees the Council resolved that the amount offered m prizes for stock at Dorchester be limited to £,iyxi, as against .,£'1400 last year ; poultry, Z200, as against ;£■ 180 ; and horticulture, ^^130. The musical arrangements were left to the discretion of Mr. Jonathan Gray. Eleven new members were elected. The Book of the Farm : including the Labours of the Fanner, Farm Ste-jjard, Ploughman, Shepherd, Hedger, Farm Labourer, Field-worker, and Cattle- man. By Henry Stephens, F;R.S.E., &c., &c. Third Edition. W. Blackwood & Sons. [First Notice.] This is the first of a series of somewhat exhaustive works on agriculture, which were published 20 years ago or more, to re-appear in the new and remodelled state in which their common subject now stands after a quarter of a century's growth. Mr. Stephens' work more than any of its compeers justified the special title which he had adopted. It gave a detailed account of the labours of every one employed upon the farm, from the farmer himself to the humblest of his workmen. These characteristic labours remain very much what they were, and there is necessarily much in 1 871 which offers the same material for the work of descrip- tion and discussion as it presented 20 or 30 years ago. The " Book, " therefore, though rewritten altogether and recast, is a new edition, not an altogether new book. There are, however, some subjects which have been re-modelled and recent — the farming of arable land since Mr. Stephens began to write. Steam cultivation and artificial manuring, and horse-drawn harvesting machines has made the work of the ploughman and field-worker very different from what it was. The use of liquid manure from town drainage is likely to be another source of agricultural growth and progress, which will produce a great change over considerable districts in the next quarter of a century. Some of these subjects are fully discussed in the new volume by the author of the "Book of the Farm;" but we think that the reader will greatly be disap- pointed that his attention is not more fully directed to them. In this, however, perhaps he is unreasonable. It is not Mr. Stephens' plan to " discuss " so much as simply to describe. He relates with carefulness and precision all that is included within the labour of the farm, and the agricultural student will find in his pages the whole detail of farm work, with not more of explanation and justification than just suffices for his intelligent guidance. On one or two points we think that this plan has been prosecuted with greater severity than was advisable. One would like to hear more of the advan- BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND ASSOCIATION. At the Council meeting, July 25, a letter was read from his Grace the Duke of Mariborough, accepting the office of President, but regretting his unavoidable absence on the present occasion. The finance committee brought up their statement of accounts, from which it appeared that although the Guildford Show was not so successful in a financial point of view as several of its immediate predecessors, yet after the payment of all expenses a balance of ;^27 loj-. remained in favour of the Society. The committees, stewards, and officers for the ensuing year were appointed. Captain J. Tanner Davy, editor of the " Devon Herd Book," succeeds Mr. J. S. Tui-ner as one of the Stewards of Stock; Mr. R. Neville, of Butleigh Court, is appointed a Steward of Arrange- ments and of Yard Implements, as also a member of the Implement Regulations Committee. Mr. T. Duck- ham, of Baysham Court, is added to the list of Field Implement Stewards ; Mr. Troyte, of Huntsham Court (grandson of the late lamented Sir T. D. Acland, Bart.), is added to the Arts and Implements Regula tions Committees ; the Right Hon. the Earl of Cork and Mr. Meade King to the Railway Arrangements Committee ; and Mr. Moore-Stevens to the Judges Election Committee. Captain Best, R.N., succeeds to the office of Steward of Arts, vacated by Mr. J. C. Ramsden, who, however, retains office as a member of the Finance Committee. The stewards of stock having had their attention drawn to certain alleged irregularities committed at of .ilture and of the possi bilities of tages fertility due to sewage irrigation, and of the practice of the most liberal farmers in respect of manuring, than these pages give ; nevertheless they are full of most useful and trustworthy matter, and of the style in which they are illustrated we give specimens on the oppo- site page, the publisher having kindly lent us two of his blocks illustrative (fig. 230) of the former and (fig. 231) the present mode of reaping corn. Farm Memoranda. Delarran Lodge, near Galloway. — The agricultural prospects of this district .are at the present moment encouraging, and should the weather be favourable during the ensuing month, a good harvest may be fairly anticipated. In consequence, however, of the severe spring, both cereal and green crops are not so forward as usual, and the fields will not be cleared of the grain crops until ten days or a fortnight later than last year. The yield of Oats will probably be fully up to the average, and although early-sown Turnips suffered severely from the ravages of the fly, yet those which were put in later have entirely escaped, and are now looking vigorous, and only require some warm weather in order to yield a good return to the farmer. As compared with last year the Rye-grass hay is very deficient, both as regards weight per acre and quality. Last autumn large quantities of hay were exported to England, and high as was the price during last year in London and the southern counties of Engk-ind, it was probably to a considerable degree kept down by the importations from Scotland. But unless the hay crop is much better in other districts of this country than it is here, there will be no hay to export during the August 5, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. approaching winter at yuly 31. 1025 Kent i,East).—'bily opinion of the crops in this dis- trict is easily given, for I believe on the whole things were never better, and should the present fine weather continue there is a prospect of an abundant crop. Wheat is very good, and at present stands well ; it will not be fit to cut before the middle of August. Barley is as good as can be on all well farmed land, and most of it will be fit to cut before the Wheat. Oats are not generally as good as Wheat and Barley. Beans are promising, and Peas of all sorts exceedingly good. Potatos look well at present, but I hear of some disease among the early sorts. The hay crop is heavy, and is now being secured under favour- able circumstances ; but our Samfoin was generally injured . by the rain. Mangel, Swedes, -2 — ■ and Turnips, plant well and look promising. All feed is plentiful ; cattle and sheep are doing well. IV. M. will be more food for : taking into accoun have in this neighbourhood done much than harm on well-farmed arable lands, probably commence here about August weeks later than last year — perhaps earlii have hot and dry weather. J. J. Mechi. silver salvers and a tea and coffee service, also of solid Ik. butter, cheese, and vegetable! The heavy-raS whTh wlf cttXtd ^/"perronV'^f^nLl' •-"'' more good amounted to ^^400. At the ceremony of the presenta- Harvest will tion m September, 1865, the chairman, Mf P p IS, or three , Smith, bore testimony to the fact that " of all the •, should we eminent agricuLurists m Cornwall, and there were many of them, he (Mr. Trethewy) had by universal consent been considered to be the greatest living bene- factor to the interests of agriculture m his native county ; and his reputation was not confined to the j county of Cornwall, for it extended to every portion of record the death of one of the oldest , the kingdom in which agriculture was cultivated as a We have and most respected gentl( connected with the agri- ; sci_j;nce." I F rst r dge n band V n d c g \ Man reap ng d Lead ng reaper the right le^ / Lead ng reaper on ' ready for b nd ng Fu-st I North Bedfordshire : July 28. — When any attempt is made to form an opinion as to the probable produce of the corn crops (Wheat more especially), two things quite distinct must be taken into pearance of the crops and the character of the season, ; and the latter is, at this dis- tance from harvest, a far safer criterion than the former. There must be a dry and hot season for a good yield of Wheat. This is an infallible rule. In this neighbourhood, last year, comparatively light crops of Wheat produced in some cases from 5 to 6 qr. per acre. The previous year heavy crops produced in some in- stances not more than from 3 to 4 qr. The spring and summer of 1869 were very wet until about midsummer, brilliant weather then setin ; and thought his saved the quality of the Wheat, the yield was bad. This year the spring and summer have been wet and cold to the pre- sent time, with the one redeeming feature of a dry May, and about 10 days of June. It will be a matter of some interest to note what effect the dry May has upon the Wheat crop this year, as with this exception the season would lead us to expect a very poor produce in proportion to bulk and appearance. A small portion of the Wheat is thin upon the ground, otherwise the crop is good, but somewhat I therewith in the ye'ar'iS; broken down by the continuance of wet and windy weather. Barley promises well, and will pro- bably be the best crop of the season, being less affected by wet and cold weather than Wheat. Beans and Peas are a bulky and rather rough crop, but will be good with the exception of the spring Beans, which are much blighted. Green crops of all kinds, as well as grass and hay, are very abundant. The Mangels do not promise to be very large. Much now depends upon the wea- ther ; the barometer is still low, and the continued sunshine we are so much in need of seems as far off as ever. Henry A. Bottle, Patenlmll. V n a Mak ng a band b Band Reaper clear ng the furro v * -ft leg g Reaper go ng to lay sheaf itook k Bandster and stooker carry cultural interest of the county of Cornwall. Mr. Henry Trethewy, of Grampound, has long been one of the pioneers of agriculture in this county— almost foremost in introducing approved implements, the best breeds of cattle and sheep, or in effecting improvements in the land. His superior skill and judgment in all matters connected with the land and with agriculture were universally acknowledged ; and perhaps more than any other man of his time was he called in to arbitrate upon such questions. Mr. Trethewy has been more especially known in the county as the steward of the Trewithen property, having first become connected This property is a very Mr.Trethewymay be looked upon as almost the father or originator of the Royal Corn- wall Agricultural Society, and he has always been one of its most active supporters ; and up to a very recent date he was to be seen at the annual exhibitions riding about the grounds as the steward of the show field, and conducting that office with the greatest tact and discretion. His death took place at his residence at Grampound on Tuesday of last week, at the advanced age of 85 years. Two of Mr. Trethewy's sons have attained high posi- tions as managers of landed property, owing largely, no doubt, to the experience their father had been able to impart to them. The eldest son, Mr. Henry Trethewy, has had for many years past the manage- ment of some of the most important properties in the country, belonging to the Countess Cowper, the Earl Cowper, and other gentlemen ; while the youngest son, Mr. Alfred Trethe^vy, is now man- aging a large and important property in North Wales. Abridged from the " West Briton." August 5.— Clear away arrears of work before corn harvest commences. Hedges.— T\m%\\ the summer cutting. The ground under the hedge should be kept clean by hoeing with the small hedge spade, pulling out every weed with the hand. The prize farm at Sherlowe, Shropshire, this Tiptree Hall, near Kelve- DON, Essex.— Wheat very good on drained and well farmed lands, but thin of plant on undrained and weedy farms. Barley, generally a very ex- cellent crop ; a good deal laid where too thickly sown on high farmed land. Young Clover a full and vigor- «, a, Stanc ous plant, quite a contrast with last taken i year's. Oats, very much improved =• ^'°°'' lately, and corny, but not much straw Beans, a more than average crop, andpromismg abundantly. Peas, much above average— very heavy crop. Winter Tares very good. Trifolium, a good crop. Ked Clover, patchy; some good pieces where there was a full plant, promises a good second growth. Pasture much better than was expected a month ago • a fan crop, very good in places. Much Trifolium,' Clover, and grass hay has been damaged by frequent heavy rains. The getting has been costly, anxious, and tedious. Half mine (45 acres) was well gotten, and the rest not much injured but we had frequently to uncock and re-cock it. ±-otatos and all garden vegetables a very full crop, of good quality. No disease in this immediate neigh- hourhood at present but I have heard some complaints KoW \w "'i^^distant. Field Cabbage, Mangel, Kohl Rabi, and Turnips very promisin|. On the Fig. 231.— erigham & bickerton's she.af-delivery extensive one, consisting of much fertile land, as well as a great deal of waste land, mining property, and clay works, extending over the central and western districts of the county, more especially in Probus, Helston, the l^izard, Penzance, St. Erth, and Roseland districts, with extensive properties in the parish of St. Stephen' mcluding clay works and the harbour of Pentewan. . Mr. H. T. Hawkms, the present owner of the property, and his father, the late Mr. John Heywood Hawkms, con- tmued to repose the same confidence in Mr. Trethewy as had been shown by the late Sir C. Hawkins. As a proof of the esteem in which Mr. Trethewy was held, we may mention that a few years ago his friends presented him, in the Council Chamber at Truro, with a handsome portrait of himself, which had been executed by Mr. J. P. Knight, R.A., accom- panied with a service of plate, consisting of six massive year, aoubtless owes its success m some measure to the remarkable neatness and cleaimcss of its hedges, obtained in this way. __^ This is the time for clearing out and paring all watercourses, field ponds, and ditches. Jiepatring and Making New Roads should be done before the com har- vest commences. Carting stones and bricks for building purposes, and draining-tiles for draining after harvest, may supply work to the teams, and thus lessen the pressure upon them after harvest. At this season such carting does comparatively no harm to farm roads and the land ; whereas in the winter time it cuts up both, the teams at the same time hauling barely half the loads they now do. Cottages and Farm Buildings should be put in repair. Tillage implements require painting, reap, ing-machines and harvest carts to be put in order, thatch provided, and the stackyard got ready for the stacks. The steam-engine, thresh- mg, dressing and weighing machines, require overhaulmg, so as to have them in proper working order. Live Stock soiled at the home- stead, or in hovels and yards m the field, require to be carefully attended to, so that all may have pure air, clean water, proper tem- perature, and an equal share of suitable foods. When doors and windows are left open, or openings purposely made to effect ventilation, the excessive heat of the sun gives rise to chilling currents, very injurious to live stock — more especially the teams when they return from work in a state of profuse perspiration. All through currents and down draughts should be obviated. IVeaned Lambs should be put upon the best pasture — the ewes upon the worst, and let the distance between them be as far as possible. Ewes that are good nurses, and in full milk, may require milking for a short time, but bad milkers run dry without experi- encing harm. Scab, Lice and Ticks in Shiep obviously indicate a REAPER at work. I026 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 5, 1871. filthy state of the skin and wool which ought not to exist, consequently cleanliness is the proper rule for getting rid of such parasites. The Fly, as the temperature increases, becomes more and more annoying to sheep. They should be examined every day, especially those that are kept in inclosures in a woodland country. When fly-struck, a mercury stone nibbed into the place will destroy maggots before much harm is done. Corn Haniest is generally in progress in early August in our southern counties, though this year later than usual. Chalk, Marl, and Lime Composts, when required for immediate application after harvest, should now be got in readiness. In the olden time, when naked fallow- ing was common, they were frequently applied to the land prior to the seed-furrow. They may also be carted on to hay and Pea stubbles, and also burnt-up pastures. When the clay from pits contains no lime — chalk, shell, or gravelly marl, or lime from the kiln may be mi.xed with it in a compost heap, and after- wards be applied to the land should clay and lime both be required. Wint,:r Peas and Beans harvesting, prosecute as the weather and state of the crops permit. Carry as soon as ready, and never allow the stacking to fall behind. Thatch immediately. Winter Rye comes in early for the reaping-machine and stackyard. The crop grows more freely on poor sandy and porous soils than any of the other cereals, and the farmers of the Continent study their interest in this respect better than we do ; although it grows longer in the straw than Wheat, it is more wiry, and stands better up to the weather and the reaping- machine. The sheaves also stand well in the stook, and the straw makes the best of thatch and litter. Notices to Correspondents. Ditch Water : Young Hand. Your liquid manure will probably disappoint you. You can get a good liquid manure cart of Mr. Isaac, implement maker, Cheltenham. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET, Monday. July 31. The supply of English Beasts is very short, but of foreign unusually large. Trade is hardly so good for all kinds, yet there is not much reduction in price of choicest English ; it is difficult to effect a clearance of foreign. There are a few more Sheep than last week ; there is, however, a fair demand, and prices are not much lower. Choice Lambs are as dear as lately, but middling ones are lower. Calves are lower. Our foreign supply consists of 2700 Beasts, 12,350 Sheep, 490 Calves, and 40 Pigs ; from Scotland there are 13 Beasts; from Ireland, 120; from Norfolk and Suffolk, 180; and 800 from the Mid- land and Home Counties. r fords, &c. . . I Best Shorthorns . . 5 2d Quality Beasts 3 Best Downs and Half-breds Do. Shorn .. 6 Beasts, 3905 ; Sheep s Best Long-wools Do. Shorn Ewes & 2d quality . 4-5 s ..6 8-7 10 .. ..38-58 ..3 4—4 8 ; Calves, 507 ; Pigs, 215. Aug. Although the number of Beasts is much smaller than on Thursday last, the demand has so much decreased that the prices of that day cannot at all be realised. The average quality of the supply is very middling, and only a few reach our top quotation. The number of Sheep is about the same as last week ; trade is very much worse, and a clearance cannot be effected. Trade is not brisk for Lambs, but prices are not much altered. Calves are lower. Our foreign supply consists of 370 Beasts, 6700 Sheep, 656 Calves, and 15 Pigs. fords, &c. Best Shorthorns . . sd quality Beasts Best Long-wools Do. Shorn Ewes & =d quality Beasts, 847 ; Sheep and Lambs, METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET, Aug. 3. . . i&r. per dozen lb. : Large Pork, y- M. to Best Fresh Euttei Second do. do. Small Pork, ^s. id. ENGLISH WOOL. The upward tendency still continues, and, according I all appearance, is likely to do so. Prices are now 4 ^n> stition within 200 miles of Norwich, J feet long b> 6 feet wide >C2 15 I 16 feet long by 6 feet wide. . jCs t a feet long bj 6 feet wide ;C3 i? I 24 feet long b> 6 feet wide. . ,£7 « If prepared with wood cdls, to budd on brick wall, and lights tc lide, prices, carriage paid as above :— ,\ feet long by 6 feet wide ..£2o\ 24* f«t long by 6 feet wide ..£71 7i feet long by 6 feet wide. . ;£s o I 31I feet long by 6 feet wide. . ^9 c Illustrated Catalogue? .ag^plic RUSSIA MATS.— A large stock of Archangel and Petersburg, for Covering and Packing. Second sized Arch- angel, loos. ; Petersburg, 60s. and 80s. ! superior close Mat, 451., 50J., and 55s. : packing Mats, 20s., 30J., and 351. per 100; and every other description of Mats at equally low prices, at , J. BLACKBURN and SONS, Russia Mat and Sack Warehouse, i and 5, Wormwood Street, E.G. HESSIANS and SCRI MS for COVERING. 4-4 Scrim, from 2d. to 5^. per yard, advancing Hd. 54-inch Hessian and Scrim, 3d Md ,d Md.^M s\id. I SONS, Sack and Bag Makers, and Canvas .tLSk^: EDGINGTON'S GARDEN NETTING, the cheapest and most durable, at id. per square yard, or in quantities ot iSo, 500, or 1000 yards, carriage free. EDGINGTON'S RICK CLOTHS for 66 years have maintained their celebrity as the best. EDGINGTON'S MARQUEES for Hire, are the most elegant and "FdGi'nGTON'S CRICKET and GARDEN TENTS are the ET. ARCHER'S " FRIGI DOMO."— Patronised • and used for Frogmoreand Kew Gardens. It is made entirely of prepared wool, and a perfect non-conductor of heat or cold where iC is applied. PROTECTION AGAINST FROST. WOOL NETTING, 2 yards wide and is. 6d. per yard. ' " FRIGI DOMO" CANVAS." [ Two yards wide is. odl per yard. Three yards wide 2J. 8'" 1P» 1 ■- -^" -'-^-i^ m m ■>^ ^^^ #-itr ^ "^'.. -■^ ^tinp t ■ H LAbLLLLEb, Pnces for Houses, as es of London, pa locks, th I IXSBLRY STE\M vKb fi bunhill Row London, L t^ e,madeofbest red deal andsashes2inches od sheet glass, delivered and hxed within 1 four coats in best oil colour, including id gearing for opening the ventilators at one time,— neaiing, staging, brickwork not included . — 20 ft. by 12 ft. 40 ft. by 16 ft. 60 ft. by 20 ft. 100 ft. by 24 ft. £40 00 jC79 o o £'$' o o ;£238 10 o GARDEN LIGHTS AND B0.\ES. 3 ft. by 4 ft. lights, 2 in. thick, unglazed 35. each „ „ glazed, i6-oz. good sheet glass . . . . 6s. „ 6 ft „ „ 2 in, thick, unglaied 5*. „ ,, „ glazed, 16 oz. good sheet glass . . lis. „ Portable box containing one 6 ft. by 4 ft. light, painted four rreenhouses to any Design. HOT-WATER APPARATU erected Complete, or the Materials suppli r_i_..,^„.' , GREENHOUSES, Improved Corneal. HOTHOUSES, CONSERVATORIES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, &c. HOT- WATER PIPES at whole lie prices ; Elbows, T Piece! Improved and extra strong CAST-IRON TUBULAR BOILERS, with or without Water Bars, from 52s. 6d. each. CAST and WROUGHT-IRON PORTABLE BOILERS, on Stand, and other VALVB Wharf in London. LYNCH WHITE, Iron Wharf, Upper B Portable and Fixed Hot-water Apparatus HEATING CONSERVATORIES, HOTHOUSES, CHURCHES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PRIVATE RESIDENCES, rriRUSS' PATENT UNIVERSAL FLEXIBLE and -•- LEAKLESS PIPE JOINT and PATENT CRACKLESS EXPANSION-JOINTED TUBULAR BOILERS, of a VARIETY of FORMS, PORTABLE or for BRICKWORK SETTING. They are the MOST POWERFUL, whilst ONLY CONSUMING HALF the FUEL of OTHER BOILERS. PORTABLE BOILERS, to HEAT ANY LENGTH of PIPING; and ANY PERSON can TAKE these BOILERS, as also the PIPES, APART, and SPEEDILY PUT THEM TOGETHER AGAIN. APPA: RATUS annually Designed and Erected by Kingdom. and for the Royal Horticultural Society at South Kensington ind Chiswick, with unrivalled satisfaction, is a guarantee for skill of erior materials, and good workmanship ; while the great btained by his Improved System cannot be over-estimated, f perfectly tight joints with neatness of appearance ; efTects r removals without idvantage ither systems ; facilit design supplied. , Plans, and Estimates forwarded on applicati r. S. TRUSS, C.E.. Sole Manufacturer, iral Engineer, Iron Merchant, Hot-v d every description of Horticultura ' 1 by Steam power Machinery, ; ■ :dom Mar , Mansions, Warehouses, &,c 1HE PATENT TERMINAL SADDLE BOILER. . It is easily set, and very powerful. Illustrated Circulars post free, J. IRELAND, Edward Street, Broughton I " ' ' Latest Improvements HEATING by HOT WATER. THE IMPROVED CONICAL BOILERS, for HEATING PINERIES, CONSER- VAT0RIE3, GREENHOUSES, MANSIONS, HALLS, WARE- HOUSES, &c., Solely Manufactured by POLLARD, JEPHSON, AND CO. ury & Pollard, Successors to in R. Peill, late Stephenson & These BOILERS are adapted for ing in Brickwork, or as shown in tch they require NO Brickwork. New Park Street Agricultural Land Improvements. DRAINAGE, SEWAGE IRRIGATION, FARM BUILDINGS, LABOURERS' COTTAGES, &c. THE GENERAL LAND DRAINAGE and IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. (Incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1849.) Directors. T. Chapman, Esq., F.R.S. 1 The Right Hon. Viscount Com- George Thomas Clark, Esq. bermere. John C. Cobbold. Esq. Edward John Hutchins, Esq. ^— ■ "'""— '•--- Esq. I Sir Williim Tite, M.P.,'c.B. lineer, Mr. J. BAILEY DENTON. -^ — ery kind are executed by the Agricultui Company, or the outlay then Tenant Farmers may also. The outlay, % Estate, and paid who prefer the Landowners in I of title necessary, UTILISATION s, may be charged upon th( about 6 per cent., in 31 years 1 no legal expenses incurred. Boards of Health, Sewei yearly payment, discharging in a fixed period the principal Application to be made to ARTHUR MILMAN, Esq. S'!\V." ; R. Ryder, Esq. ;_R. H.Somerset, Esq., I ^Hik. THE LANDS IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. (Incorporated by Special Acts of Purliament.) Drainage, Reclamation, Farm Buildings, Labourers' Cottages, &c Directors. John Glutton, Esq. I Granvi Frederick L. Dashwood, Esq. Granvi Henr>- Farquhar, Esq. Henry w. Lord Garlics, M.F. Charles M John Horatio Lloyd, Esq. I Esq., M, The Comp.iny advances money, unlimited in amount, for all purposes of Agricultural Improvement, including the Erection of Cottages and Farm Buildings, to the Owners of settled and other Estates, and to the CIcrgj' in respect of their Glebe Lands. Tenants may, with the consent of their LEmdlords, execute the necessary Improvements upon the Farms which they occupy, charging UTILISATION i by a rent-charge upon The whole outlay and expenses are liquic No investigation of title is required. For Forms and further information, a RYUER,^ Esq., Managing Director, No, pENTRAL ARGENTINE LAND COMPANY, Y Woods, Esq., C.E,, Buenos Ayre LRKINS, Esq., Rosario de Santa F&. itageous terms to Settlers, either : , varying from 80 to 400 ACRES e Argentine Railway, from the Port of Rosario to the City of Cordoi _. the entire length being 2^6 miles. Towns and Villages are being laid out at various points on the Line, where smaller Plots may be secured foi^Building purposes, ure the best class of Agricultural Settlers and facilitate the ion of Families, the Directors are prepared to treat for the Lands within easy reach of the Stations on the Central adapted for immediate cultivation. in Buildings, Bishopsgate Street, E.C. ; Buenos Ayres— 87, Calle de la Reconquista; Rosario — Terminus of the Central Argentine Railway ; ■ " of the Land (about 1,000^000 Acres), together .rgentine Railway, . The History of Shortlioni Cattle. Shorthorns, &c., price Half-a-Guinea, HE HISTORY of SHORTHORN CATTLE." commenced by the late Thos. Bates, Esq., of Kirklevington, ngton Herd, with a Memoir, by Thos. Bell THE GARDENER. Edited by David Thomson, Author of " Handy-Book of the Flower Garden." &c. The AUGl/sT NUMBER contain"?-' The Soil Supply of Gardens Fruiting Vines in Pots Price Sixpe WILLIAM Heating, Ventilating, and Cab Young Gardi'ners Horticultural Exhibitions Reports of the Weather Calendar Notices to Correspondents So'NsrEd'inbu?g?i°Md London. New and Enlarged Edition. This day is published, price Five Shillings, APR.\CTICAL TREATISE on the CULTIVATION of the GRAPE VINE, by William THOMSO.-i, of Tweed Vine- yard, Galashiels, lately Gardener to his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch. K.G. , at Dalkeith Park. The Seventh Edition, enlarged. WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, Edinburgh and London. THE NEW METHOD of GROWING FRUIT and - FLOWERS {by the Rev. John Fountaine, Southacre, andon), being a practical combination of Vinery, Orchard House d Conservatory, as now worked in a New Housel erected for the rpose at Chiswick. Third Edition, Illustrated. ,Free for seven mps to the w ANTED, an EDITOR for a PROVINCIAL EEKLY NEWSPAPER, devoted to Agricultural and apics. None but Gentlemen of practical experience need CERES, 117, Chancery Lane, London, W.a OSLER'S CRYSTAL GLASS CHANDELIERS, Table Glass of all kinds, CHANDELIERS IN BRONZE AND ORMULU, Moderator Lamps, and Lamps for India. London— Show Rooms, 45, O.XFORD STREET, W. Birmingham— Manufactory and Show Rooms, Broad Street. w LLIAM YOUNGER and DINNER ALE.— Sparkling and Refreshing. INDIA PALE ALE,— Unsurpassed as a Tonic. EDINBURGH ALE— Nourishing and Invigorating. K WHISKY.- lus old tnellow spirit is the very pure, and more wholesome than the' finest Cognac Brandy. ' Note the words. " KINAHAN'S . LL . " on seal, label, and cork. New Wholesale Dep0t,6A, Great Titchfield Street, Oxford Street, W. Pure Aerated Waters. ELLIS'S RUTHIN WATERS, Soda, Potass, Seltzer, Lemonade. Lithia, and for GOUT, Lithia and Potass.i Corks Branded " R. ELLIS AND SON, Ruthin." and every label lears their Trade Mark Sold everywhere, and Wholesale of R. ELLIS AND SON, Ruthin, Jorth Wales. London Agents: W. BEST AND SONS, Henrietta Sauce.— Lea & Penins HE "WORCESTERSHIRE,' pronounced bv connoisseurs "the only good Sauce," improve- ippetite and aids digestion. Unrivalled for piquancy and flavour. Ask for IeA AND PERRINS- sAlJCE. ■ se the names of Lea & Perkins on thi D' NNEFORD'S FLUID MAGNESIA.- .nstitutions, especially adapted for Ladies, Children, and Infants. M dinnef(5ri5andco..i72.n " •" - ■ ■ - ■■ Chemists throughout the World ?2, New Bond Street, London ; and of all BILIOUS and LIVER COMPLAINTS, Indigestion. Sick Headache, Loss of Appetite, Drowsiness, Giddiness, Spasms, and all Disorders of the Stomach and Bowels are quickly removed by that well-known remedy, FRAMPTON'S PILL of They unite the rccommendatio better adapted. Sold by all Med obtained through a : an aperient is required nothing can i%d. and 2s. gd. per box, tOCKLE'S ANTIBILIOUS ■' THE SAFEST FAMILY , In boxes, at u. ij^rf., 25. gi., PILLS. for del They iigestive organs, and lich produce indiges- r complaints. They for torpid action of speedily remove the irritation and feverish state of the stomach, aJlay :orrcct the morbid condition of the liver and organs subser- digestion, promote a due and healthy secretion of bile, and le constitution of all gouty matter and other ''mpuritics, r circulating in the blood, must injuriously affect the action ing the causes productive of so much gies both of body and mind. To those he table, these Pills will prove highly of the kidneys ; discomfort, th the stomach and 3 often the earliest antecedent of severe febrile sturbance. It must be understood that these lended as containing any new or dangerously t they may be found s depends as much upon the selection of labour and attention bestowed upon th as upon the acknowledged peculiarity o " ' s a panacea, nor are jid efficacious aperi< : will not, perhaps, b. ey have been resorted to under all sysl T atmospheric alternations, with an t throughoi well as in India, Chin raordinary degree lily Aperient boxes, at 15. i^d.. New Zealand, and ormeriy of Kirklevington), of Brockton, Eccleshall, Staffordshire, As only a limited number of Copies have been published, Gentleme 'ishing for Copies of the Work are invited to send thei^r names a early as possible to Mr. BELL, as above; or to Mr. R. REDPATH cifrtk Of England Partner Offieci KcwcasUc-oa-Tync— Aug. 3» 1871. IQCKLE'S ANTIBILIOUS PILLS. ' THE OLDEST PATENT MEDICINE, In boxes, at h. i% Mr. J. S. HAYWOOD, READING HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.— The AUTUMN SHOW will be held on THURSDAY, August 24 (by permission of the Mayor), in the Abbey Ruins, Reading. A Band will attend, as usual. The Show will be open to the holders of Subscribers' Tickets at i o'clock, and to the Public at 3 o'clock, on ""iS^RIES must be made to the Hon. Secrttarj- on or before THURSDAY, August 17. Tickets and Schedules may be obtained of CHARLES COLLINS, Hon. Sec, 34, Chain Street, Reading. B1 ■ Stove or Greenhouse Plai I Flower or Ornamental For the best i8 Hollyhocks, a blooms of each— ist, £i los. ; ad, 15J. For the best 13 Verbenas, 5 trusses in a bunch— 1st, £1 ; ad, 10s. The JudRCs may withliofd any prize if the productions exhibited _ ^_.L . 1, i_^ sjio^vn singly, or with si give notice to the Secretary on or I " Society will, if requested, convey : Secretary on or before Saturday, August 2 ^HARTLEY^S^re Cinerarias, from one of the very finest Strains of TRICOLORS in ENGLAND. rOHN STANDISH and CO. are now able to offer fine strong healthy plants of the above, to flower early in the 'inter, at is. each, os. per dozen, Z3 per 100 ; also seed of the same at IHOMSON'S SUPERI CALCEOLARIA.— Seed of the a bcr (or many years at Dalkeith Park HERBACEOUS Post Office orders payable The Trade supplied on liberal Hunt's Superb Sweet 'Wmiam. TAMES HOLDER can supply SEED of the above, in - ' • ■ • V. per packet ; also PLANTS, 'few^nV^t: W. ive. m quantity; also a limited quantity of very CHOICE .ILA SEED, by the « or. or ^02. Prices on application. Jersey Gardens, New Catalogue. OHN H. LEY, Exotic Nursery, Croydon, S.E. ' ard, post free on application, his NEW ( ow) of PALMS, FERNS, STOVE PLAN' LOGUE New Roses, 1871. WILLIAM KNIGHT offers a selection of TWELVE NEW ROSES, the finest of this season's plants, now ready. Also an immense stock of extra strong Plants, in pots, for Bedding. &c, of the finest varieties only of previous years. Priced CATALOGUE free. Floral Nurseries, Hailsham, Sussex. H. d Friends are respectfully ini The Nurseries, Great B< ' ' London (Euston Station). , Her I to pay an e i, 28 miles ( N^ EW H. P. ROSE, LOUIS VAN HOUTTE (Lacharme), not to be confounded with H. P. Rose, Louis Van Houtte IGranger). Bushy, own root, strong, xs. 6d. In autumn. N.B.-L. v: H.'s BULB CATALOGUE, No. 139 O, is ready for deliven, containing also PALMS, CALADIUMS, 8rc. No. 140 P, inclucTing the PERENNIALS, TREES and SHRUBS ROSES AZALEAS, CAMELLIAS, RHODODENDRONS, FRUI'l' TREES, &c., is in preparation. LOUIS VAN HOUTTE, Royal Nurser)-, Ghent, Belgium. New Roses of 1871. JOHN CRANSTON offers a selection of TWELVE f.f NEW ROSES of the present year. Fine plants ready. Descriptive LIST on application. CHOICE ROSES.— The finest stock of Tea, Noisette, China, and other Roses to select from, all strong and healthy, in Pots. Descriptive Priced LIST on application to RICHARD SMI'TH, Nurseryman and Seetf Merchant, Worcester. RCHARD HOUSE TREES, Fruit Plums, Pears, Apples, Figs, Apricots Strawberries. CHARLES TURNER'S descriptive CATALOGUE of the above is now ready, which contains several new kinds, as C. Turner's Plants are now ready. Early planting is recommended to insure a good crop of fruit the first season. The Royal Nurseries, Slough. Strawberries. WILLIAM GLOEDE (having succeeded to the well-known Business of his Father— resigned to himl, begs to English and Continental varieties, true to name, and in good' con- dition. The splendid variety JAMES VEITCH, and other fine Novelties, in large quantities. Prices on application. Price LISTS free by post on application. All communications to be addressed, WlltlAM GLOEDE, Nurseryman, Rue de I'HOtcl 1 Beauvais, Oise. for GARDEN SEEDS, GRASSES, and GRASS SEEDS, was Appointment to H.M. Turnip and Mangel Wurzel Seeds-1871 Crop. JOHN SHARPE will on application furnish his LIST, with prices, of the principal SEEDS he is growing this year. Bardney Manor, Lincoln.— J uly6^ w Seeds for 1871. M. CUTBUSH AND SON'S Descriptive Priced CATALOGUE contains every requisite for the Garden. Post app ica '°"^.^^^^j^ Nurseries, London, N. The Royal Norfolk Nurseries, Norwlob. EWING AND CO. respectfully invite inspection of their extensive NURSERY STOCK. Fifty acres of FRUIT TREES, ROSES, CONIFERS, ORNAMENTAL TREES, Sic. N.B. The ROSES, including the new varieties of 1870, are NOW in FULL BLOOM, and would well repay a visit. B. ow off'ers for the f , Upper Holloway, N. Choice Seeds, for Present Sowing. BS. WILLIAMS begs to announce that he has just . harvested NEW SEED of the following :_Williams' superb strain of PRIMULA, red, white, and mixed; NeiU's choice strain of CALADIUM; Weatherill's choice strain of CINERARIA; and Wiggins' prize strain of CYCLAMEN. All the above at is. U., "■ ¥■■ 3S.. M.. .a5,d 5s. per packet 1 and Paradise Nu , Upper Hollo • AYNBIRD, CALDECOTT, BAWTREE, li DOWLING AND COMPANY (Limited), Corn, Seed, Manure, and Oilcake Merchants. Address, 26, Seed Market, Mark Lane, E.C. ; or Basingstoke, amples and prices post free on applic"'"- r.^.„ »._j..- ^a Wheat: i86a, for "Excellent Seed Corr ion. Prize 1 Is, 18SI, Brltlsli Fern Catalogue. "D OBERT SIM will send, post free for si.v postage XV stamps, Part I. (British Ferns and their varieties, 36 pages, includingpVicesof Hardy ExoticFerns), of his Priced DESCRIP'tIVE CATALOGUE of BRITISH and EXOTIC FERNS, No. 7. Foot's Cray Nursery, Sidcup Hill, Kent. 1 nice plants JOHN H. LEY, Exotic Nursery, Croydon, To the Trade. ITOVE PLANTS, in 50 or more choice Itis for cash. Names on a JOHN H. LEY, per dozen ; 501. to 75s. per 100. Package pplication lor CATALOGUE. Exotic Nursery, Croydon, S.E. ASPLENIUM GERMANICUM.— Very nice plants of this scarce Fern, in 60-pots, for 6r. per dozen. JOHN H. LEY, Lansdowne Road, Croydon, S.E. ^QU, LEGIA GLANDULOSA, the true variety. Seed, M. and is. per packet. - ERS. A LIST on applic ' ■(OME CHOICE ALPINE and other HERBACEOUS > PLANTS, for EXCHANGE, or SALE, carriage paid. G^ BISHOP AUCKLAND FLOWER SHOW.- FRIDAY, September i, 1871. SCHEDULES of PRIZE REVISED. ENTRIES can be made AT ONCE. Application ft Trucks to be made to the Secretary, \tr 1 r HAl!nv Bishnn Auckland Mr J. C. HAKD\ , w^ „.._„ „... DAY, September 7, 1871, when SPECIAL PRIZES, open to al England, will be offered. ENTRIES to CLOSE on SEPTEMBER a LIST of PRIZES and ENTRY FORMS may be obtained on sendini stamp to D. P. OWEN, Hon. Sec. CULTURAL le Northamptonshire —Special Cup, General, -^ oi-'v.ie.ii! atiuvY, in conii Agricultural Show, SEPTEMBEl £10 and Is; Special Cup, Gentlemen's Garde £S' i£^' £'• Special Vase, Amateurs, £$ : and General Schedi Peterborough J. G. BUCKLE, Seci CARTER'S New Seed Warehouse, 237 & 238, High Holbom, London. ^JGS.— 100 of t .'Ki^°G!"tfi'gh°Stn Izora amabllls. ROBERT PARKER has great pleasure in offering this beautiful and distinct variety ; habit vigorous and compact, with fine foliage ; flowers deep orange-salmon, trusses very large, borne in the greatest profusion- young plants in 4-inch pots yielding two and three large trusses of flowers : very desirable for decorative and exhi- bition purposes. First-class Certificates have been awarded by Royal Horticultural and Royal Botanic Societies. Strong, healthy plants, aif 1 42X., and 63s. each. , and growth, it is r New Strawberry, The Amateur. lAMUEL BRADLEY, the raiser of OSCAR, SIF > J. PAXTON and DR. HOGG STRAWBERRIES, begs respect Z Seedling, THE AMATEUR, 1 ""S'iXl W^ FRANCIS R. KINGHORN, , Richmond, Surrey. W^ AGAVE ALOE I OAbltKlA CEREUS OPUNTIA ECHINOCACTUS PHYLLOCACTUS, and ECHINOPSIS ' MAMMILLARIA generally. CROUCHER. Gr. to Mr. J. T. Peacock, ^pply by letl f this neglected, ) Flant3, by letter character, with really splendid flowers. Mixed, Red and White, a*. 6d. per pkl. Instructions for raising and growing sent if required. Nurseries: Streatham Place, Brixton Hill, London, S.W. ; and Mottingham, Kent. S.E. J.hS.^ To tlie Wholesale Seed Trade. COTT, The Seed Stores, Yeovil, has just ■ • [J4oz. of his ex. ex. choice CALCEOLARIA be addressed Stores, Yeovil, and to no one else ; Fruit Trees and Nursery Stock SCOTT, The Seed 1 communications relating tJ addressed to the Nursenes, The"sT RAW BERRY CATALOGUE, eight pages, is now ready. JAM the Falconeri, heterocarpun Leopold!: Odontc , Mossia:, Tri -ansparcna. Cam- rina, amethystina, Oncidium Lanceanum, anda coerulea^ Pleione lium Mastersii, Phaius , Barkeria spectablhs, B. Skinneri, Calanthe ilogyTie cristata. Aerides Warnerj. [h full Descriptions, Remarks on Culture, prices, i8, Victoria Street, Manchester: Nurseries, Fairfield, near S-ande,Insleayi, Schleipperianum . papilio, O. Kramen ; Lselia Wallichii, Cj-pripedium hirsutissi: BUSINESS so long carried on by Messrs, LITTLE AND BALLAN- TYNE, ot this city, respectfully request a continuance of the support so liberally accorded to the Old Firm. They shall continue to conduct BALLANTYNe/" " ^"°""*^* . un er I e irm o : Public by close personal ; LITTLE AND BaLlaNTYNE A. BAXTER SMITH,! Sole MES WATT, /Partners I030 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 12, 1871. ORCHIDS.— Visitors to IVTanchester during the season would do well to VISIT our NURSERIES al FAIRFIELD.and examine for ihemselvf^s our nian nf r.RnwiMr. ( • - STOVES ; also plan of GROWING ORCHIDS i CATALOGtfES on application. JAMES BROOKE AND CO., Nurseries, Fairfield, near ManchesI NEW ONION SEED Horticultural Socie bited, 3 lb. 0 oz. Per packet, is. NEW GIANT WHITE TRIPOLI.— Four of „„,'.''«'.''r.';.'i?^=.'l5.l''-.3 PI: JS' f '=^,,Val' - Efr'REb'ifALTANTRIPOLI.-Special Certificate Roya cultural Society, December 21, 1869. Weight of bulb, 2 II For Present Sowing. ^ gi^ _ U T T O N .S',W»ff»9 ONION SEED. > 43a&,il{ For SoMinK during August. ^^(^W'!^ NEW GIANT ROCCA, the largest variety, is. 6d. per oz. LARGE WHITE ITALIAN TRIPOLI, early or late. ITALIAN NEAPOLITAN MARZA- GOLI, extra line, is. and 2S. ftd. per packet. Further particulars of choice GARDEN and FLOWER SEEDS for AUTUMN SOW- ING CALCEOLARIA (International Prize). _ The plants splendid strain received First Prizes at the Royal CALCEOLA°RIA, Ss't HybddfL'? W°? smaller packet's' ,, finest Spotted, as. 6d. ; smaller packets collections in the kingdom. CINERARIA, choicest Mixed; saved from a splendid collect of named varieties, and cannot be surpassed . . PRIMULA, choicest Fringed varieties. — The varieties Primula we offer can be grown with the utmost conliden finest strains in cultivation. PRIMULA, choicest Mixed Fringed, us. 6d. ; smaller packet „ dark Carmine new Scarlet Rose Fringed.. chokelt Fcr'n-'ieav'e"J^ Carmine '.'. '.'. '.'. Forwarded immediately on receipt of Post-olbce Orders. Seeds JAMES CARTER AND CO., The Royal Seedsmen, 237 and 238, High Holborn, London, W.C. FRETTINGHAM'S LIQUID COMPOUND, for the DESTRUCTION of INSECTS of all kinds, and MILDEW INFESTING PLANTS, has been proved to be the most effectual application for destroying Aphis of all kinds, Thrip, Mealy Bug, American Blight, Green and Brown Fly, Red Spider, Wasps, Ants, Vines, Peaches, and Fruit Trees of all kinds, as in most cases one dressing will keep off the ravages of Insects for a whole season. The Liquid Compound will not injure the most tender foliage of ordinarily used for syringing, will, if applied before the appearance of insects, prove a certain preventive. Broccoli and other Greens may be thoroughly cleansed from insects and filth of all kinds by sponging, or using the Liquid Compound by means of the "Horticultural Vaporiser." We select two voluntary Testimonials from a great number wc have recently received ;— " Dear Sik,-Wc beg to bea?'tesl?mony"io"tlie 'elfi'c"a\y of your Liquid Compound, which we have used in our Nursery, both out-of- preparation we have tried. It thoroughly clears the plant without injuring the foliage.— We remain, dear Sir, yours faithfully, '* Mr H. C. Frcttingham. *' William Barron- & Sot*." " Upton Nurseries, Chester, July 11, 1871. " Dear Sir.— We have verj- carefully tested your Liquicl Compound for destroying insect life. We have tried it upon most of the pests which prey upon vegetable life, and find it very effective in cleansing all kinds of plants from scale, mealy bug, aphides, thrip, red spider— in fact all kinds of insect life seem to succumb to its power most effectually and rapidly, and that without injuring the tenderest foliage, as far as we can obser\-e. We consider the Compound most valuable '• Francis & Arthir Dickson & Sons." Voluntary Testimonials have also been received from the following :— R. G. Backstone, Esq., The Ash Hall. Mr. G. Wesiland, Gr. to Eari Dudley, Willey Court. Mr. Wm. Jackson, Gr. to Lord Scarsdale, Kedleston Hall. Mr. H.Gadd, Gr. to Lord Middlcton, Wollaton Hall. Mr. Speed, Gr. to the Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth. Mr. Wm. Parker, Gr. to the Misses Strult, Dcrwent Bank, Derby. Mr. F. Harrison, Gr. to F. Wright, Esq., Osmaston Manor, Ashhourn. W. P. Ayres, C.il.R.H.S.', Consulting Landscape Gardener, Not- tingham. Mr. VT. Thompson, Gr to Sir Seymour Blane, Bart. Thos. Crump, Esq., Quarndon, near Derby Fitzherbert Wright, Esq.. The Hayes, Swanwick Mr. James I'-M. •„, ,,, O.c iHikcof Newcastle, Clumber Gardens. Messrs. C .t u- v,.-iM,-i.... riacc, Manchester. Me'ssr's ' '' ' ',""" "''' ,PR"-' I !!l'^. S^_; ('d-\ half-gallon bottles, 31.; May be ohi.'niiL.I of ihe principal Seedsmen and Nurserymen Manufacturers, PARR AND ATHERTON, Long Row, Nottingham. EstebUshed 1793. i, 1 JOHN K. KING, Seed ■n ^'^l°'^''"'- Coggeshall, willbehappy to supply Hardy Prize Stocks c UKZEL, SWEDES, to su""^! h"^ Prfzc Stock^of" !L, SWEDES, and other URNIP SEEDS (carefully selected 3m large roots), at moderate prices. I.-'irge purchasers supplied at >ecial moderate prices. EDFORDSHIRE SILVER SAND and PEAT AcknowM ?d'''b ''''ih"'' 1'^"^'°'-°' '9' Clarendon Square, N.W. Nur.serymen to be the best Sand obtainable for growing Plants, &c in the United Kingdom. Strongly recommended by all who havo -Maiden Lane, and Kingsland Goods Depflt, N. L. Railway. By the truck-load to all parts ; al the Wharf, 14s. per ton. Terms nett cash. J. ARNOLD, ag. Clarendon Square. N.W. B. S. ^VILLIAMS TO ANNOUN'CE THAT HIS DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE of HYACINTHS, TULIPS, CROCUS, NARCISSUS, &c., for 1871, Is now ready, Post Free on application. VICTORIA AND PARADISE NURSERIES, UPPER HOLLOWAY, LONDON, N. Thomas Thornton, HEATHERSIDE NURSERIES, BAGSHOT, SURREY, Invites from the Countiy Trade a visit to the extensive Nurseries here, the most convenient Station to which is Famborough, on the London and South-Western Railway, where Conveyances will be sent to meet Visitors on receipt of an intimation of their intended arrival. The stock is in very fine condition, and includes large quantities of LARCH, SCOTCH, SPRUCE, A SPECIAL OFFER to the TRADE of MANY THINGS will soon be ready, and can be had on application. THE CELEBRATED COLLECTION OF ORCHIDS, FORMED BY 8. RUCKER, ESQ, OF WANDSWORTH. Messrs. James Veitch & Sons P,EG TO ANNOUNCE THAT THEY HAVE PURCHASED THE ABOVE MAGNIFICENT COLLECTION OF ORCHIDS In its entirety, Mr. Rucker having tiecided on relinquishing their Culture. [his Collection is, without doubt, the richest as regards variety and rarity which has ever been formed ; Mr. Rucker having during the last thirty years purchased, regardless of e.ipense, both in England and on the ConUnent, every fine and distinct kind he could meet with. The Plants are in the finest possible health, and the SECOND PORTION will be offered for SALE at Mr. STEVENS' AUCTION ROOMS, Covent Garden, on AUGUST 22d and 23d, details of which will appear in Mr. Stevens' Advertisements. The dates of future Sales will be duly announced hereafter. ROYAL EXOTIC NURSERY, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, S.W, August 12, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1031 V/HEELERS' COCOA-NUT CABBAGE HFFLERS' COCO V NUT CABBAGE. ASTheelers' Cocoa-Nut Cabbage, per pkt., Is. ,, ,, sraall packet, 6d. Wheelers' Imperial Cabbage, per oz., 8d. Wheelers' Tom Thumb Lettuce, p. pkt., Is. ,, ,, small packet, 6d. N.B. — Wherever this charmint^ little Lettuce is thrown it is a remarkable favourite. It may be obtained true from either Gloucester, or Mark Lane, London. We recommend everybody to try it who have not already done so. All the above Post Free. WHEELERS' BROCKWORTH PARK PEAR, lOs. 6d. each. This magnificent Pear is a cross between Williams' Bon ChrcStien, and Lonise Bonne of Jersey. It considerably surpasses both its parents in SIZE, fine QUALITY, BEAUTY, and FLAVOUR, ripening about the same time, viz., September and October ; grown against a wall, the fruit is remarkably large and handsome, the Pears weighing about 12 oz. (| of a lb. each). On the dinner-table well-ripened specimens are remark- ably conspicuous for their size and beauty, and their flavour and juiciness are fully equal to their appearance. A First-class Certificate was awarded to this handsome variety last autumn by the Royal Horticultural Society, and Trees were ordered by the principal Nurserymen in the kingdom ; but the demand was so great that we were Sold out of all our Saleable Plants immediately they were offered. Coloured Plates, taken from Nature, may be had at dil. each. We are now Booking Orders to be executed in November next; all Orders will be executed in exact rotation as received, as far as the Plants will go ; but we expect to be Sold out long before the season is over. The price of young PYRAMIDS is los. 6d. each. We have a few Plants trained for walls at 15J-. The Pyramids will furnish plenty of buds next summer for budding Trees of other varieties established against walls.- This fine variety is well worthy of a wall, and of a good aspect. 1^ Orders are now being Booked. "NT EW DOUBLE GERANIUMS, &C.-12 fin jiiums of 1870, i2i. ; 12 fine new Zonal Geraniums of 1870, 6^. ; i superb vars. Gold and Golden Bicolor Geraniums, 65. 12 vars. ne\ FUCHSIAS (1870), V. ; 12 best select Fuchsias, 2j. 12 selec COLEUS, 2S. 12 selict PHLOXES, 3s. 12 new CHRYSANTHI HUMS (1S70), 2s. 12 new VERBENAS of 1870, 2J. 12 vars. ne> CHILEAN MIMULUS, 3S. New AGARATUMS :-White Tor Thumb, dd. ; White Imperial Dwarf, 6d. ; Tom Thumb's Bnde, th best white, ir. 6d. ; Sultan, the darkest blue, is. 6d. ; the above fou new Ager^tums, 31. ; 12 ^-ars. Ageratums, including the above, 55. E. \V. KNIGHT, Florist, Battle, Sussex. WM. PAUL'S ROSES are NOW in BLOOM, inspection respectfully invited. Amongst Novelties are the beautiful Hybrid Perpetual PRINCESS CHRISTIAN, PRINCESS BEATRICE, PRINCE LEOPOLD, and a number of other English Trains Yrom Bishopsgate Station, Great Eastern Railwaj-, and St Pancras Station, Midland Railway, to Walth.'^m Station, in about half an hour. Entrance ftom the platform, Waltham Station. PAUL'S Nurseries, Waltham Cross, London, N. DOUBLE SCARLET GERANIUM VICTOR LEMOINE, the finest double grown for Bedding or Winter Flowering, js. , Ss. , and 121. per dozen. SURPLUS STOCK of SPRING FLOWERING and HERBACEOUS PLANTS. Per doz.— s. A ANEMONE HONORINE lOBERT, tine white 30 ARTEMISIA STELLERIANA, white edging plant, hardy ..30 AUBRIETI A PURPUREA VARIEG.ATA, good plants ..30 GRANDIFLORA .. ..30 CHEIRANTHUS ALPINA 30 DAISIES, in four varieties per too 10 o DIANTHUS HIGH CLERE, finest of all 30 GEUM COCCINEA GRANDIFLORA 30 HESPERIS MATRONALIS ALBA FLORA PLENA, Double Rocket 30 Ditto, RUBRA PLENA, ditto 30 LATHYRUS GRANDIFLORUS 30 MYOSOTIS DISSITIFLORA, true per too to o PHLOX FRONDOSA 30 VIOLA CLOTH of GOLD, finest yellow grown 40 „ IMPERIAL BLUE 60 „ CLIVEDEN, in four colours pcrioo 16 o ,. THE CZAR, fine, sweet per 100 12 o ■The above are all good, strong planted. Price to Trade, per 100, on E. AND J. PERKINS, Nurserymen, Leamington. Notewortliy Horticulturists and Botanists. NOTICE.— A SERIES of PORTRAITS of NOTEWORTHY HORTICULTURISTS and BOTANISTS is being published in the "GARDENERS' CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE." "rhe following have already ifr'^'^HooKER, 'c^"F^i..S.; W.°"\vrLSON 'sAmjDERs'i' E R^! "rcv. M. T. Berkeley, F.L.S. ; M. Decaisne: G. F. Wilson, F.R.S. : Professor REICHENBACH, of Hamburfrh; Dr. MooRE, of Glasnevin; Rev. S. R. Hole, M.A. : and E. I. Lowe, F.R.S. Published by W.RICHARDS,4i, Wellington Street, Covent Garden. 3i|e§arkters'C|r0mcIe SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 1871. ENSUING WEI ilturaUFruitandFIc i), at S- Kensington ilMeetii • MEETING FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. 1 Royal HorticulturaUFruitand Floral 1 Meeting) C. WHEEJLEE & SON, NURSERYMEN, GLOUCESTER ; and 59. MARK LANE, LONDON, E.C. WE are indebted once more'to the courtesy of our correspondents for the means of pre- senting a general review of the Fruit Crop for the present season. Our reports embrace so wide an area, and are contributed by so many observers, that the general average may be assumed to be fairly correct, although it must not be overlooked that local circumstances and local conditions very materially affect the result in certain cases. Were it possible to state accu- rately the exposure, nature of the soil, and general climatal conditions of each separate garden, our records would be even more valuable. One thing is clearly elicited by a study of our report, and that is, that the gardener is not responsible for climate, and that he is, as a rule, quite exonerated from the too sweeping charges brought against him in the matter of out-door fruit culture. In some cases gardeners, — real gardeners we mean — announce their inten- tion to give up the culture of Peaches and Nectarines on walls, so manifold are the chances against them. In other cases we are told that in spite of constant attention, Peaches and Nectarines on east walls have scarcely a healthy leaf, while on the south or west walls not a leaf is curled. The May frosts (12° below freezing point on May 17 is mentioned in more than one place), indeed blighted our hopes, and with their sequela constituted the main reason for the general deficiency. The drought of last season, in the opinion of some of our correspondents, also had a deteriorating influence, as well as the abundant crops of last year. For our own part we are not disposed to attribute any great effect to the former cause. Summarising the general results given in our Tables, we may state that fruit crops are not only scanty, but are from three to four weeks later [than ordinary, but that, with the exception of Scotland, the returns are, on the whole, more favourable than we could have expected after the very trying season we have experienced. In the returns from Scotland the crops are most often described as moderate, though in several in- stances total failures are reported. Correspond- ents state that trees looked healthy and pro- In the northern counties of England the crops are reported under the average, with the excep- tion of Nuts and Apricots, which are abundant. All crops are two or three weeks later than usual. The remaining returns, which read much alike, may be summarised as follows : — Apricots seem to have been most abundant everywhere. The fruit is reported for the most part as having been small and late. Apples are a very partial crop, being reported as plentiful in some places, and thin in others (generally orchards), while in some places they are a total failure. Fruit small, and trees suffer- ing from curl, aphis, &c. Pears are also a variable crop, being generally very fair on walls, but thin on standards. Under the average. Plums appear to be a thin crop, the best being against walls ; the trees are very much blighted. Strawberries, where not cut off by late frosts, were an abundant crop, but much damaged by excessive wet, and deficient in flavour. The best reports of this crop come from Kent. Dessert Cherries were scarce, but Morellos are most abundant nearly everywhere. Peaches and Nectarines are, for the most part, described as plentiful. The trees seem to have been much injured in spring, through the cold weather, but they are now recovering. In some gardens the trees on east walls are much blistered, whilst those on west walls are clean and healthy. Small fruits have been generally abundant, but red and black Currants appear to have suffered fearfully from blight, many bushes being reported as killed outright. Filberts and Cob nuts have produced an extraordinary crop. Walnuts are scarce. Incidentally we learn that the growth of shrubs, &c., has been rapid during the summer, as might have been expected in cases where they did not start into growth till after the rigours of May. Less satisfactory is it to hear of the out- break of the Potato disease, which, we fear, threatens speedily to become general. We have received the following communication relating to a proposed Trial of Hotwater Boilers, from Messrs. Weeks & Co. : — " It is not a little amusing for old practitioners to note the exploded theories recently advanced, ideas which have been experimentalised upon years ago and abandoned. But we have no desire to provoke a paper war ; such com- bats rarely terminate satisfactorily. ' Less talk and more work* is far more likely to develope sound practical information than a host of mere opinions committed to paper, and for this reason we urge that the once talked of public trial of hotwater boilers be forthwith put in opera- tion. The subject is ripe for test, and should be taken in hand. For our own part we shall be pleased to join in the contest with our tubular boiler, also to render any assistance that lies in our power to work out the com- petition, and m the absence of any more convenient and suitable site being found available, we willingly offer the free use of our spacious foundry premises at Chelsea for the occasion. ' ' But perhaps there are those who, knowing the varied experiments made at our late show establishment (now Mr. Bull's), by comparing the working capabilities of many descriptions of boilers, may submit that we, being in possession of certain ascertained results, should first make them public ; but those experiments were costly and carried out at our own expense, and therefore we feel justified in not publishing them. Another and not less important reason is, that any results we might publish would naturally be received with some doubt lest pre- judices in favour of our own invention should have crept in ; therefore we say it will be better for all to start afresh. * ' Respecting the uniform capacity of boilers, we pre- sume that the size of each would be determined by its water contents, upon the same principle as that applied to any ordinary vessel, quite irrespective of its shape or form. Allowing such to be the case, we suggest the following ; — "I. Eacli competitor shall be allowed to construct a vessel of any shape or form he pleases, limited in size to a given content, or, in other words, a stated quantity of water shall be allowed to each competitor for distribution in, around, or about the fire as best he pleases, in a vessel or heating agent of any form — the same to be designated a boiler. "2. Each boiler to be worked for a given period, say, for example, 12 days and 12 nights — being an average of four days and four nights consecutively to each of the three subjoined systems. " System ^.— Each boiler to be fixed in a stokehole of its required depth, or the apparatus to be elevated to such an equivalent, so as to establish the system most commonly adopted in heating by hot water. " System 5.— Each boiler to be placed above its work, that is to say, to have no stokehole, merely an ashpit, so that the flow-pipe shall at starting descend to the appa ratus, say for a distance of 3 feet 6 inch es to 4 feet, th position of the apparatus to remain unchanged. ' ' System C— The apparatus to be so adjusted, and the boiler attached, as to convert the pipe usually the return into the flow-pipe, and the flow into the return- I032 The Gardenefs' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 12, 1871. pipe, or, in a word, to reverse the system standing first, and marked A, in order to prove whether any, and what, advancement has been made during the 20 years this system has been more or less in operation. ' ' Further and more detailed regulations will of course govern the trial, such as a sealed specification by each competitor, describing mode of connection, the classifi- cation of boiler, description of fuel, test of temperature of water, test of rapidity of circulation, arrangement for defraying expenses, Sec, all of which require consideration and determination by practical men. "Should, however, these suggestions share the fate of others which have preceded them, we beg simply to add that, for power, vie are prepared to challenge any boiler not made in imitation of our tubular, to produce equal results with the same amount of fuel and labour ; and for durability, we are prepared to guarantee, by insurance, every Duple.v Upright Tubular Boiler made and fixed by us, for 15 years. A public test, based upon the foregoing conditions, would, we venture to state, be productive of much practical good, and go far towards setting at rest this long-discussed boiler controversy." ■ • London botanists will be interested in the Flora of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, which the Hon. J. L. Warren publishes in this month's "Journal of Botany." About 190 species are included in the list, which extends over several pages, and gives full details of localities. One or two of the plants— such as Trifolium glomeratum— -are far from common, and likely enough to attract London bota- nists. We hope that none of them may be extirpated by collectors. Dr. Asa Gray publishes, in the " American Naturalist," a figure and description of a new species of Erythronium, which he names E. propuUans. The most singular peculiarity of the plant is found in the way in which the bulb propagates. An offshoot springs from the ascending slender stem, or subterranean sheathed portion of the scape (which is commonly 5 or 6 inches long), remote from the parent bulb, usually about midway between it and the bases, or apparent insertion of the pairs of leaves ; this lateral offshoot grows downward, sometimes lengthening as in E. americanum, sometimes remaining short, and its apex dilates into the new bulb. The flower is bright pink, and much smaller than that of any other known species, being barely half an inch long. It was discovered at Faribault, Minnesota. ■ The Maximum Temperatures of the Air during the week ending August 5 ranged from 80^.5 at Blackheath to 64° at Greenock, with a mean for all English stations of 75°. 5, and for all Scottish of 68°. 9. In Scotland only two stations recorded values above 70°, while all the English stations were in excess of 70°, with the exception of Newcastle. TheMlNIMUMTEMPE- ratures were, as a rule, higher in Scotland than in England, the mean for the former being 47° and for the latter 46°. 3. They ranged from 5 2°. 2 at Liverpool to 44° at Perth and Edinburgh. The highest mean temperature was 60°. 3 at Blackheath, and the lowest 55°.4 at Edinburgh and Glasgow. The mean for England was 58°.!, and for Scotland 56°.6. Rain •er England, there being only one station i-Tyne) where none fell, but in Scotland the amounts recorded were larger. The greatest fall in England was 0.41 inch at Birmingham, and in Scot- land 1.55 inch at Greenock. The mean fall for England was 0.16 inch, and for Scotland 0.6S inch. A few days since we saw in the nursery of Mr. Noble, at Sunningdale, a well-marked illustration of the Influence of Scion upon Stock in Inducing Variegation, different from any that we remember to have seen recorded. The subject was the Golden- variegated Weeping Mountain Ash, worked on the common Mountain Ash (Pyrus Aucuparia). The trees had been grafted two years, and were worked standard high, the heads being rather spare than full. In four separate cases the stock had thrown out variegated shoots — one from the very base close to the ground, and the others about half-way up, about 3 or 4 feet from the base. The variegation, which was whiter than that of the graft, perhaps owing to the shade, the trees standing in a nursery quarter, seemed to be first developed along the midrib of the leaflets, some leaves being only affected in this way, while others had the colour also developed along the. course of the main veins. These are cases quite analogous to those cf Mr. Laing's Abutilons and the Breadalbane Ash, which have occurred within the knowledge of living witnesses, and sufficiently so to that of the Chelsea Jasmine of an earlier date, in which, however, it was only a shield of bark which united with the stock. We shall be glad if Mr. Noble would report further or the behaviour of these Mountain Ash trees, at a later date, before the leaves fall, The generally received opinion among those best qualified to judge is that Nitrogen cannot be or is not absorbed by plants directly from the a sphere, in spite of the very large proportion of that gas in atmospheric air. There seems, indeed, to b almost unanimous consensus of opinion that free nitrogen is not absorbed by plants from the air. this suggests the inquiry whether there is any really free nitrogen in the air ? Leaving this on one side, we may call attention to the fact that the "generally received opinion" above alluded to, as happens gene- rally in such cases, has some few opponents. Among them was Priestley, whom Saussure contra- dicted, and more lately the French chemist ViLLE " :d at the opinion that plants do obtain their nitrogen from the atmosphere, a conclusion abso- lutely opposed by Boussingault, as well as by our own experimenters, Lawes and Gilbert. Lately Mr. Peach, well known as an ardent horticul- turist, has advanced the same opinion, and has even gone further by depreciating the value of ammoniacal manures, or rather by attributing any value they may possess to other substances than the nitrogen. Mr. Peach calls attention to the circumstance that starch, sugar, gum, and other substances abundantly developed fell lightly < (Newcastle-t the plant contain no nitrogen. vhich e, but then it is equally true that not a single living active cell in the plant is destitute of nitrogen. It is conceivable that the proteinaceous matters in the case of a very fat man might exist in a relatively very small proportion as compared with the hydrocarbons. But that circumstance would surely not lessen the value of the protein com. pounds. Mr. Peach's theory that plants are capable of absorbing atmospheric nitrogen has, however, lately received support from Mr. Geo. Davis, an analytical chemist, who, with the co-operation of Mr. Newlyn, of the Royal Nurseries, Slough, has instituted some experiments relating to this subject. The details of these experiments are contained in a recent number of the English Mechanic, from which we extract the subjoined particulars. We demur, however, to the conclusion that plants were capable of existing without nitrogen, because in both sets of experiments the plants of necessity contained that ingredient to start with. " The plants experimented upon were dwarf Beans, sown in ordinary soil, and when fit for transplanting they were washed, and placed into well-washed and dried silver sand. Two were placed in a large pot, covered with the largest bell-glass I could obtain, glass tubes arranged so that they could be watered without removing the bell, and an aspirator arranged so that a current of air could be sent through the apparatus, and above this all the air which was passed into the bell was passed through dilute sulphuric acid. "Two other Beans were placed in well washed and dried silver sand, and remained uncovered in the house, beside the two under the bell-glass. " It will thus be seen that both sets of Beans were exposed to the same temperature, one set being exposed to an ammoniacal atmosphere, whilst the other set under the bell-glass was kept as free from ammonia as possible. "The Beans being unable to obtain any nutriment from the sand alone, they were fed with organic and inorganic food, those under the bell-glass being fed by the pre-arranged glass tubes, to prevent access of ammo- nia contaminated air. "The only difference in the feeding of the two sets of Beans was in the administration of ammoniacal food to those which were freely exposed to the air. "The foods were made thus :— (A) Mineral food— cal- cium sulphate, 20 grains ; magnesium sulphate, 10 grains; calcium chloride, 2 grains ; distilled water. 8 ounces. (b) mineral food- potassium carbonate, 50 grains ; sodium phosphate, 20 grains ; potassium chloride and sulphate, of each, 20 grains ; water, 10 ounces, (c) Ammoniacal food— ammonium carbonate, 40 grains ; liquor ammonia; fortis, I drachm ; water, 10 ounces, (d) Organic food. This was prepared by boiling sugar, 4 ounces (large pure crystals), with 16 ounces of water, and i ounce of sul- phuric acid, for many hours, replacing the water as it boiled away, allowing to cool, neutralising the greater part of the free acid with chalk, and finishing with sodium carbonate (washing soda). " The plants under the bell-glass were fed with A, E, and D, at the rate of i drachm of each per day ; they were diluted with water before being applied, and a current of air previously passed through dilute sulphuric acid drawn through the apparatus. ' ' Soon after the apparatus was in good working order, one of the plants died ; the other continued healthy, and bore fruit. "Those exposed to the air were fed with A, B, c, D, and fared much worse than those from which ammonia was withheld. One died shortly after the experiment began, whilst the other was attacked with green-fly ; it had no blossom, and consequently bore no fruit. From the above experiments it would seem that plants were capable of existing without nitrogen, if it cannot be absorbed direct from the atmosphere ; but although the air supplied to the bell was passed through dilute sulphuric acid, it may have been robbed of its ammonia, but I feel certain that much albumenoid nitrogen must have passed in and been assimilated ; still I cannot think that all the nitrogen came from that source. Some I think must have been absorbed from the atmosphere which immediately entered into the economy of the plant '" In the number of the "Journal of Botany" for the present month, the Rev. J. E. Leefe has an article on Hybridity in Willows. It is well-known that many intermediate forms exist in this intricate genus, and that many of them have been assumed to be of hybrid origin. Mr. Leefe, however, draws attention to the circumstance that Willows do not readily spring from seed, and as his observations are invested with special importance, we reproduce a portion of his "Wishing to ascertain the opinions of competent persons, I have consulted some of my friends, who have bestowed much attention upon this tribe. The Rev. L. Darwall, who has long cultivated WiUows, observes, ' Amongst seedlings I have never found any but S. caprea and S. aquatica (including, perhaps, S. cinerea, and S. oleifolia), though I have both sexes of many other species.' With this the opinion of my friend, Mr. JAMES WARD they have tried, without success, to raise Willows from seed in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden. To come now to my own experience : excepting S. caprea, I do not ever remember to have met with a Willow where it looked like a seedling, and this was in the shrubbery at Audley End, Essex, where the plant might have been inserted as a cut- ting by some one of the gardeners. I have myself culti- vated the Willows somewhat extensively since the year 1838. First in the nursery garden at Audley End for about five years ; then in the rectory gardens at Bishop- wearmouth, in the county of Durham, for say about four years, and for a year more in a garden in the neighbour- hood of the town of Sunderland ; lastly, for fully 21 years at Cresswell. For the last 2r years the plants, some of them now trees, have been growing under my own eyes, great care being taken to keep them properly labelled, which is no easy matter. In all that time I have never seen a single seedling, though my collection comprises fullv 100 forms. It is, I admit, barely possible that seed- ay have sprung up, and been destroyed in keeping ccount for their not garden and groimds, amongst" shrubs and trees where seedling Sycamores are frequent, and plants of the Leycesteria formosa have several times sprung up. A few years ago I collected and sowed some seed in pots in my greenhouse, and kept them carefully watered and looked after, but the seed did not vegetate. Last year (1870) I made a more systematic attempt, both to produce hybrids and raise Willows from seed. On the irth of last August I sowed in three boxes filled with good compost, seeds of the following kinds : — S. Forsteriana, from Borrer ; S. Andersoniana, Borrer ; S. Doniana, Borrer ; S. Smithiana, E. Bot., S. Smithiana growing in the middle of a large bush of a monandrous Willow, allied to S. Lambertiana, Sm. I also carefully tied a bunch of the male catkins of S. daphnoides, ViU., to a branch of a female of S. pomeranica, W., dusting the stigmas at the same time with the pollen. In a similar manner I endeavoured to fertilise the female of S. stipularis, Sm., with the pollen of the male of S. rugosa, Borrer ; also the female of S. Pontederana, Sch. , with the catkins of a beautiful Willow gathered near Rothbury in Northumberland, which I take to be the male of that species. The third box was filled with seed of different forms of S. repens, L., including, probably, S. ambigua, Ehrh., sent to me by a friend from Homcastle in Lincoln- shire. On all those branches, the catkins of which I en- deavoured to fertilise artificially seed was produced in abundance. The boxes were carefully watered all through the summer, and in winter were placed in a cold frame, 1 have examined them constantly up to the present time, and at first thought that some of the seeds springing up in them would prove to be Willows, but in this hope 1 have been disappointed, and now fear that the experiment has again been a failure. Last year the seed of the Willows was more copiously produced than usual, and became rather an annoyance in the beds and walks, but I have not seen a seedling anywhere. Although, then, I dare not say that Willows are never produced from seed, I think it is clear that this happens less frequently than is commonly supposed. My garden is about a mile and a half from the sea, and rather exposed to the north and north-west ; but the soil is good (old grass land), and most of the Willows grow freely in it. I have lost far more kinds from crowding than from climate. " Having thus failed myself, I would invite the remarks and co-operation of others who, in more favour- able and southern situations, may l I have been i : Willows from seed.' There is a French proverb to the effect that " As many days as the white Lily flowers before St. John's Day, so many days before the 1st of August will harvest commence." The "Revue Horticole " states that about Paris the LiLIUM candidum com- menced to blossom on June 16, and that therefore harvest ought to have begun about July 22. About London, the white Lily was in bloom about June 26. Mr. T. Fowell Bu.xton, of Stanstead Abbott, Ware, has recently stated in the Field that the Alth.«a hirsuta, one of our rarer British plants, hitherto only known to grow in this country at Cob- ham, in Kent, has been found in a disused brickfield at Ware, veiy far from any house or cottage, and where it cannot possibly be an escaped garden flower. The Edinburgh Meeting of the Britlsh Association seems on the whole to have passed off well in spite of the absence of local enthusiasm, or of any very striking paper communicated to the sections. The most remarkable feature of the Presidential address was the learned President's hypothesis of the origin of existing vegetation from the Moss-grown fragments of another world, as already mentioned in our former issue (see p. 1009). Professor Allan Thomson's address was much more to the purpose, at least from a naturalist's point of view, and from this address we shall in our next issue make certain extracts, and further allude to some of the papers read in section D, one of which, that of Professor Dyer, is given in another column, We have just received specimens of a small Fungus which is causing considerable annoyance amongst Ferns. It occurs both on the upper and under side of the fronds, and at first looks like thin spots of white paint which has dried rapidly, so as to leave little pits on the surface. When examined with a common lens, the appearance is very puzzling, as it looks so very much like one of those thin, pale calcareous Algas (Melobesioe) which are so common upon some of our sea-weeds. A closer examination shows, however, that it belongs to the same group of Fungi as the yellow, at first gelatinous, then dusty pest belonging to the genus /Ethalium, which is the August 12, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. are issued. Fort his purpose, however, the funds : the disposal of the trustees are quite inadequate. JAMES McNAB. Great botanists and great gardeners would seem to have some special faculty of transmitting to their pos- terity the qualities which render themselves distin- guished. Two Linnes, three De Jussieus, three De Candolles, two Hookers, two Agardhs, two Morrens, exemplify this among the botanists, while amongst the gardeners the cases are even more frequent, and among them may be cited the subject of our present notice. In 1810, as we learn, the father of the present James McNab was appointed, at the instance of Sir Joseph Banks, to fill the office of curator of the Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, and not only so, but in the same year he made provision for his successor in the person of his son, to whom he subsequently imparted the rudiments of horticultural and botanical lore. For five years previous to 1S34, the younger McNab acted 1033 abomination of all Pine-growers ; another species of the same group, belonging to the genus Reticularia, sometimes destroying in a single night a whole frame of Melons or Cucumbers. We have never before seen so small a species causing real annoyance. One curious matter is that we have never before met with the species, which undoubtedly is closely allied to Physarum album, but is distinguished by its much more luxuriant growth, and the abundance of the flocci. It may be possible to get rid of it, when in its gelatinous stage, by dusting with quick-lime. It is, however, a question whether this may not prove injurious to the tender fronds. M. J. B. The following circular has been issued by the Trustees of the Lindley Library, which was pur- chased, it may be remembered, with funds forming part of the surplus from the International Horticul- tural Exhibition of 1 866, and to which considerable additions have been made from the munificence of donors, including, amongst others. Her Majesty the Queen : — "The Lindley Library, which by agreement is de- posited in the rooms of the Royal Horticultural Society at South Kensington, is open for the use of the public, under the follow- ing regulations :— i. The library is open for con- sultation on all week days from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. ; except on the meeting and exhibition days of the Royal Horticultural So- ciety. — 2. The trustees reserve the right of closing the library for purposes of re-arrangement, cleans- ing, &c., when such may be required.— 3. The fel- lows and officers of the Royal Horticultural Society shall have access to the library at all times, when it is open, on application to the assistant-secretary. Royal Horticultural So- ciety. — 4. Gardeners and others, not Fellows or officers of the Society, must make application to one or other of the trustees, or to the assistant-secretary use the library, and shall sign their names and ad- dresses in a book provided for that purpose. — 5. Per- sons requiring the loan of books to be taken from the hbrary must make written application to the trustees addressed to the librarian for the time being, at the offices of the Royal Horti- cultural Society, South Kensington, who are pre- pared to accord this privi- lege on the following con- ditions, viz. -.— {a.) That the borrower be personally known to one or more of the trustees or officers of the Society, or at least shall produce satisfactory references, [b.) That the borrower sign a receipt for the volumes, before remov- ing them from the pre- mises, in a book provided for that purpose ; under- take to restore the books in good condition, and generally to comply with the regulations laiddownby the trustees, (f.) That not more than three volumes be lent to one person at the same time.— 6. The trustees will exercise their discretion as to what books shall be lent out, but as a rule unbound periodicals, expensively illustrated works, and works of common reference, such as are likely to be in frequent use withm the library itself, must not be removed from the premises.— 7. All books borrowed shall be returned to the library within one calendar month from the date of issue, but an extension of time may be granted on appUcation to the trustees.— 8. The assistant-secretary or acting librarian is empowered to demand of the borrowers such books as are detained beyond the prescribed time, and to take such steps as may be necessary to secure the prompt return of the same.— 9. The loss of any book, or any injury sustained, shall be made good by the person who has lost or injured the same.— ro. The trustees reserve the right of repealing or altering these regulations from time to time as may be required.— By order of the trus- tees, James Richards, Acting Librarian." We may add, that the books are now arranged, according to their respective sizes, as far as possible, in alphabetical order, and that a complete catalogue has been prepared. It is greatly to be desired that the many imperfect sets of periodicals, &c., should be inade complete up to the present time, and that they should be henceforth regularly incorporated as they plate. On the death, in 1849, of Mr. William McNab, who had held the office of curator to the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, for no shorter period than 39 years, it was felt that do more appropriate successor to the father could be found than the son. At that time the garden consisted of 14 acres, but subsequent additions have been made, including the garden of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, which thus once under Mr. McNab's management. either as clerk or assistant-secretary to the Caledonian Horticultural Society, and in the year just mentioned he started for a lengthened botanical trip through Canada and the United States. In this journey Mr. McNab was accompanied by his friend the late Mr. Robert Brown, nurseryman of Perth. The travellers collected together a large herbarium, as well as numerous living plants, seeds, sections of wood, &c. The records of the more interesting plants obtained in this journey, are to be found in a series of papers published in the "Edinburgh Philosophical Journal " for 1835, and in the earlier numbers of the Trans- actions of the Edinburgh Botanical Society. Shortly after his return from America, in 1835, Mr. McNab was appointed curator of the Caledonian Horticultural Society's Garden at Inverleith, which garden was almost entirely remodelled under his super- intendence, while a large horticultural hall and exten- sive winter garden, as well as other plant-houses were erected, with funds collected for the purpose, mainly through the personal efforts of the curator. In what light these services were viewed by the members of the Society is shown by the fact that on his retirement Mr. McNab was made an honorary member of the Society, and presented with a handsome piece of Palm-house and Museum of Economic and Structural Botany, admirably adapted for the purposes of that eminently successful teacher. Professor Balfour, have also been erected. The taste and judgment which have been exercised in these alterations, can be readily perceived at a glance, and we are sure that the numerous visitors who have probably wended their way to the garden during the present session of the British Association, will bear us out that, all things considered, no more tasteful or better arranged public garden is to be found in the king- dom, and no more complete establishment for the teaching of botany than that over which Professor Balfnur so worthily presides. But Mr. McNab's claims on the esteem of his cem- peers do not rest solely on what he has done, but also on the help and in- ducements he has given others by his pen. We have already re- ferred to his papers de- scriptive of his American researches, but more nu- merous and more widely known are his communi- cations in various journals on subjects connected with landscape garden- ing, the transplantation, culture and management of ornamental trees, the decoration and utilisation of waste places, rail- way embankments, town squares, 'and the like. Mr. McNab is a great advo- cate for the "stem-prun- ing" of certain Conifers such as the Deodar ; and when the pruner is as judicious and intelligent as Mr. McNab, we have nothing to say against the practice, which, however, is one that assuredly should not be left to injudicious or careless hands, and one, indeed, that is only to be advised under certain circum- stances. We have said enough to show that the Edinburgh Botanic Gar- den is fortunate in its curator, while the horti- cultural fraternity may well be proud of such a representative. Great taste and skill have been shown by Mr. McNab in blending the old garden of the Ca- ledonian Horticultural Society with the Royal Botanic Garden, as well as in working in, with a view both to effect and useful scientific groupmg, the fine collection of Conifers of which these gardens were possessed. Reverting to the law of inheritance, with an allusion to which we commenced this notice, let us in con- clusion advert to the circumstance that the son of Mr. McNab, Dr. W. R. McNab, occupies at present the post of Professor of Botany at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, and is looked to with well- grounded hope to advance the progress of physiological botany in this country. A NEW SYNOPSIS OF ALL THE KNOWN LILIES.— VL Subgenus 2. LiLiUM Proper. —Bulbs squamose ; stigma a thick head to the style, with three blunt lobes — [Continued). Group 3 : IsoLIRION (Erect-flowered Lilies).— Pe- rianth broadly bell-shaped, quite erect, its divisions oblong-lanceolate, broadest about the middle, spreading in the upper half, or third, when fully expanded. Stamens diverging on all sides from the axis of the AVr to tilt Species. Leaves usually in regular whorls. "J Perianth z— 3 inches deep, the di- f ^^ i'HlL\DELPHlct:M. I034 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agrr<:ultural Gazette. [August 12, 1871. les deep, the di- 1 regular whorls. Stem glabrous. Claw St5-Ie much shorter than ves linear glabrous, li — ^Ijg |>^■LCHELLl^\I -?lines broad. ' I "7- CONCOLOR. while, not more than halfi 3 ,_,^NciroLlUM. Linn. Sp. Plant., p. 435; Bot. Mag. t. 519 ; Redoute, Lil. t. 10+ ; Lodd. Bot. Cab. t. 976 ; Bot. Reg. t. 594 ; Kunth, Enum. iv., p. 263 ; Spae, Mon. p. 25 ; L. atjdi- jiiim, Nuttall, Gen. i., p. 221 ; L. timbellatum, Pursh, ■ Flor. Amer. i. 229: Schultes, Syst. Veg. vii., p. 411. — Bulb ovoid, an incii thick (according to Drummond eaten by the Indians) the very fleshy scales half an inch long. StAi I — 3 feet high, rigid, comparatively slender, quite glabrous, the lowest third naked. Leaves typically in 4—5 regtilar whorls of six to eight each, 2 to 4 inches apart, spreading, narrowly oblanceolate, 2 to 4 inches long, three-eighths to half an inch broad about the middle, narrowed gradually to a narrow base and an acute point, thinner in te.vture than the average of the genus, indistinctly 3 — 5 nerved beneath, quite glabrous, not bul- biferous in the axils, the whorls often more or less, some- times completely, broken up. Flowers 1 — 6 in wild specimens, when more than one invariably umbellate, corymbose, bracteated with a whorl of ordinary " ' * ascending, arcuate, or straight, i — 3 leaves. Peduncl inches long, naked or with a single bracteole. Perianth 2 — 3 inches deep, under 2 inches across at the mouth when expanded, the divisions falcate only at the very tip, bright orange-red, usually spotted with purple in the lower half, not papillose, 6—10 lines broad halfway down, narrowed suddenly 9 — 12 lines above the base into a narrow claw with involute borders, which is glabrous down its face. Fila- ments i-i— 2 inches long ; anthers 5—6 lines long ; pollen red : ovary about an inch long ; style 15 — 18 lines. '_ Common in open copses through Canada and the "Northern United States, stretching westward to the liocky Mountains, and southward along the AUe- ghanies to North Carolina ; and of course quite hardy in English gardens. It was sent by Bartram, in 1754, to Philip Miller, who figured it at t. 165 of his "Illustrations." The Z. umbellatiim of Pursh, and andiitniit of Nuttall, are simply luxuriant conditions of the plant, such as is figured in the " Botanical Regis- ter." It stretches north-westward to the Red River and Saskatchewan territory, and occurs sparingly on the west side of the Rocky Mountains ; but all the western specimens I have seen, though even when single-fiowered retaining the whorl of bracts, have all the leaves indiscriminately scattered along the stem, as in lidbifcriim, and the leaves also are narrower (linear not oblanceolate) and firmer in texture than in the whorled typical Canadian and New England form. Geographically, philadelf'hiatni quite represents hul- biferum in the New World, and when tlie whorls of the leaves are thus broken up they come very near to one another, though distinct enough in the extreme states. But philaddplucuui has always a more distinct claw than any variety of hilbiferitm, and wants the cottony pubescence that occurs upon the stem and outside of fhe perianth of ill the foims of the latter 13 /. w / / \ M u Amer Acad \ol \i p 415 Mjqu I fat 111 1,6— stem 1—2 feet high m the four sj single wliorl it lea\es (thehttei of two whorls congested into oiie) or a few scattered prmcipally between this and the flowers, oblanceolate, similar to those of L. Marlagoii in shape and texture, 4—6 inches long. 9— 15 lines broad two-thirds of the way up, acute, narrowed gradually to a narrow base, faintlv 3— S nerved beneath, quite glabrous. Flowers 1—3, iri the latter case umbellate, the slender peduncles 4— i J inch long, naked, or bracteolate. Periauth 14—16 lines deep, much more open than in the last, but the divisions falcate only near the tip, oblanceolate, not narrowed into a dis- tinct claw, 1—1 inch broad at the middle, reddish-yellow, with a few purple spots, not papillose on the face or pubescent down the groove. Filaments 9 — 10 lines long. .\nthers 3—4 lines. Ovary clavate 3—4 lines deep. Style 4—5 lines. An exceedingly distinct species, discovered near Hakodadi in Japan, in the United States' North Pacific Exploring Expedition, under Captains Ringgold and Rogers, in 1S53.6, and since gathered by Oldham in Herschel Island, one of the members of the Korean group. It has never been figured, and is not yet intro- duced into cultivation. The general habit and foliage is most like that of L. Martagon, but in the shape of the flower and its divisions, it resembles Z. coneolor and puleheltum. 14. L. t. 259 ; Lodd. Bot. Cab. t. 807 ; S Gard., series 2, t. 185 ; Kunth, Enum. iv., p. 263 ; Spa Mon. p. 25 ; L. spectabile, Salisb. Stirp. Rar. t. 5, m Link : Z. caroliniamtm, Catesby, Carol, ii. t. 58 ; Lan Encyc. iii., p. 535.— Bulb roundish, "larger than glabrous Lea Lither confined t stem of from 7- unibtr piobably abnormal the produc Walnut." Stem 1-2 feet high, slender, erect, straight, quite glabrotis, naked at the flowering time in the lower third. Leaves never whorled, 20 — 30. ascending, mode- rately firm in texture, sessile, without bulblets in the axils, not distinctly nerved beneath, the lower ones lanceolate, 2—3 inches long, J — 1 inch broad, narrowed gradually to an acute point, the upper ones growing gradually smaller and narrower, and ceasing i — 2 inches below the flower. Flower always solitary in the specimens I have seen. Perianth 3—4 inches deep, the divisions varying in breadth in different specimens from 4 — 12 lines, their margin much undulated, n.arrowed upwards into a long point, and suddenly downwards a full inch from the base into a very narrow claw with reflexed edges, bright orange-red copiously spotted with purple, the face not papillose, the claw glabrous down the face. Filaments 2\ — 3 inches long; anthers 3—4 lines; pollen reddish; ovary 9—12 hnes long ; style 1^—2 inches. Confined to the United States, but much more southern in its range than philadelphicum and cana- densej reaching down into Florida and northward to Kentucky, and, according to Kunth, to Pennsylvania. It is well marked from its nearest allies, philadelphicitm and bulbifcriim, by the very peculiar shape which the long very slender claw and lengthened out point give to its perianth-segments. It was introduced into Europe in 17S7, but is quite rare in collections and not per- fectly hardy. It must not be confused with Z. specta- bile of Link, which is a subspecies of bulbiferum. 15. L. btilbifcriivi, Linn. Sp. Plant, p. 433. Of this there are at least four forms which appear sufficiently diverse and constant in their characters claim the rank of subspecies ; and there are, besides these, such a number of varieties of lesser moment that it is extremely difficult to give a satisfactory account of the plants that range liere. I kno\v far too little of these subordinate varieties, of which there are perhaps not less than twenty in circulation in our gardens and trade catalogues at the present time with quasi-specific Latin names, to be able to explain how they differ from one another, and should like to hear evidence on this subject from any of your readers who has watched them carefully in their various stages of growth whilst living. I will therefore confine my remarks now to the four subspecies which are known clearly as wild plants, and mention the names only of what I presume to be mere subordinate varieties without tangible characters appreciable from a botanical point of view. Subspecies i, bnlbi/crum proper = L. bulbiferum, Jacq. Fl. Austr. t. 226, Bot. Mag., t. 36; Kunth, Enum. iv., pp. 264 and 674 ; Fisch. et Meyer, Index Seminum, 1839, p. 54 ; Spae, Mon. p. 16. — Bulb ovoid, the outer sc;iles an inch deep. Stem i — 3 feet high, rigid, erect, conspicuously sulcate, clothed, especially in the upper part, with irregularly scattered cottony pubescence. Leaves irregularly scattered, 50 — 60 to a stem at the flowering time, linear, erecto-patent, the lower ones 2— 3 inches long, \ — \ inch broad at the middle in the wild plant, the texture firm and thick, the upper surface bright green, the lower paler, prominently 5 — 7 nerved, nearly or quite glabrous, all sessile, the upper ones bearing clus- tered or solitary stalked or sessile chestnut - brown bulblets in their axils. Flowers usually i — 4 in the wild plant, but up to 12—18 in cultivation, properly racemose, but the raceme sometimes congested into an umbel, the arcuate ascending very cottony peduncles i — 2 inches long, naked, or the lower ones br.acteolate at the middl'?. Perianth 2 — 2i inches deep, permanently erect, a more decided red than in croceum, slightly cottony on the outside, the outer divisions 8 — 9 lines, and the inner about an inch broad at the middle in the wild plant, narrowed into a comparatively broad claw in the lower quarter, more or less spotted with black on the face, and papillose in its lower half, the basal groove with decidedly hairy borders. Filaments 18 — 21 lines long ; anthers 3 — 4 lines ; pollen red ; ovary 7 — 8 lines long ; style 14 — 15 lines, so that the stigma falls very little short of the top of the segments in the expanded flower. Capsule turbinate, 15—18 lines deep, bluntly angled, deeply umbilicate at the apex ; seed deltoid, with a very narrow wing. A native of various provinces of Austria, which was widely spread in cultivation in the days of Lobel, Parkinson, Clusius, and Dodonreus, before the Japanese or even the American species were introduced. It is enumerated in Gerarde's list of the plants cultivated by him in 1596. Whether this subspecies has a wider geographical range than this, I cannot say positively at present. All the specimens called bulbifentm from France, Italy, or Switzerland, which I have seen, belong to croeeitm. Z. bulbiferum is also reported from Spain, but most likely that is croceum also, and there is a Scandinavian form, which I have not seen. Z. latifolium. Link, Enum. i. 321, and Z. bulbiferum fi umbellatum, Bot. Mag. t. lOiS, appear to be this subspecies after a period of cultivation in rich soil, and the latter is the form alluded to above with congested pseudo-umbellate inflorescence. Subspecies 2, croceum^L. croceum, Chaix, in Vill. Delph. i. 322 ; Kimth, Enum. iv., p. 265 and 675 ; Fisch. et Mey. Index Sem. vi. 56 ; Spae, Mon. p. 17 ; Gren. Fl. Franc, iii. j32 ; L. bulbtferum, D.C., Fl. Franc, iii. 202 ; and of various other authors of floras of Western Europe. — Diflers from the last subspecies by, i, its upper leaves being always without bulblets in their a.xils ; 2, the perianth being more orange in colour, never a full scarlet or crimson, the divisions more decidedly and more spathu- lately narrowed three-quarters of the w.ay down, and the claw more distinct ; 3, the capsule said to be more acutely angled, and, 4, the seeds said to have a broader wing. Stem, leaves, general shape of the perianth, ovary, style, and stamens just a% \n bjilbi/erum proper. Flowers often solitary in wild specimens, but up to 12 — 18 in cultivation. A native of France, Switzerland, and the North of Italy certainly, and jjerhaps also of Spain, as just noted ; and like the last, of very old date under cultivation. I take this to be the parent of Z. puiesceiu, of Bemh. in Horn. Hort. Hafn. ii. 962, Kunth, Enum. iv. 264. At any rate a plant grown under this name at Kew was nothing more than long-cultivated croceum, but I dare say the name may be applied to forms of the last also. Subspecies 3, davuricum ^ Z. dovuricum, Gawl. Bot. Mag. sub t. izio : Kunth, Enum. iv. 264 ; Spae, Mon. p. 18 ; L. peutisylvanieum, Gawl. Bot. Mag. t, 872; /,. spectabiU, Link, Enum. i. 321 ; Reich. Icon. E.xot. i., p. 21, t. 30; Fisch. et Meyer, Ind. Sem. vi. 58 ; Kunth, Enum. iv. 676 ; L. Buichiavum, Lodd. Bot. Cab. t. 1628.— Stem more slender than in bulbiferum proper, hardly if at all cottony. Leaves more distant, longer, narrosver, 5—6 inches long by 3—4 lines broad in the middle, without bulblets in their axils. Flowers mostly solitary in wild specimens, running up to 8 — 9 under cultivation, the divisions a little longer than those of bulbiferum proper, but not broader, narrowed at the base in the same way and similar in colour ; and the capsule also bluntly lobed. Ranges through Siberia, from the Altai to Kams- chatka and Amuriand, where the bulb is eaten by the natives. It was originally figured in the "Botanical Magazine," under the name oi pennsylvanicum, under the supposition that it came from America ; but the mistake was corrected in the volume for 1809, and the plant re-named davuricum, after the region of Siberia, in which it is most abundant. This name, davuricum, has priority over spectabile, which only dates from 1821. Subspecies 4, Thunbcrgianum = L. Thunbergianum, Schult. Syst. Veg. vii. 415 ; Lindl. Bot. Reg. 1839, t. 38; Maund. Botanist, t. is8 ; Kunth, Enum. iv. p. 265 ; Spae, Mon. p. 20 ; L. bulbiferum, Thunb. Linn. Trans, ii. 333 ; L. aurontiacum. Paxt. Mag. v., p. 12, with a plate.— Stem I —2 headed. Leaves broader than in the other forms; lanceolate, sometimes an inch wide, without bulblets in their axils. Perianth divisions spreading nearly from the base when fully expanded, 3 — 3.^ inches long, the outer 12— 15 lines, the inner 15— 18 fines broad, the expanded flower 5—6 inches across, pale scarlet-red and scarcely if at all spotted. A native of Japan, introduced to this country abont 30 years ago. The above description applies to the extreme Japanese form, as figured by the three authors quoted, but the wild Japanese bulbifentm Lily, as represented in our herbaria, is considerably nearer the European type, and has neither the leaves appreciably broader nor the flower larger or more spreading, and can consequently scarcely be distinguished from bul- biferum proper, except by the absence of bulblets in the axils of the leaves. Of other named forms known in cultivation, Z. hamatochroum, Lemaire, III. Ilort. t. 503, differs from Lindley's plant only the in colour ot its flower, which is a very deep claret -red ; Z. venustum, Kunth, Enum. iv. 265, figured in Van Houtte's " Flore des Serres," t. 657 ; andZ. sanguiiieum, Lindl. Bot. Reg. xxxii. t. 50, are forms with narrower leaves and a more campanulate flower, substantially the same as the \vild Japanese bulbiferum just mentioned. Z. fulgeus, Morren, Spae, Mon. p. 29, as figured by Lemaire in "Illustration Horticole," t. 422, comes midway between these last and Lindley's plant. Of other names in gardens, formosum, stamiiwsum (mon- strosity with petaloid filaments), maculatum, vitellinum, citrinum, atromactilatum, atrosauguineum, and many others, range here. 16. L. pulchellum, Hort. Berol. 1834; Fisch. et Meyer, Index Sem. Hort. Petrop. 1839, p. 56 ; Kunth, Enum: iv., p. 266 and 676 ; Spae, Mon. p. 22 ; Regel, Gartenfl. i860, p. 81, t. 284, fig. 2 ; 111. Hort. 1862, p. 131, cum icone.— Bulb ovoid, about the size of a Hazel-nut, the scales few, fleshy, ovate, snow-white. Stems slender, 6—12 inches high, shghtly sulcate, quite glabrous. Leaves 20—30 at the flowering-time, scattered irregularly, without bulblets, erecto-patent, linear, firm in textiure, glabrous on both sides, distinctly 3-nerved beneath, the edge obscurely toothed, the largest ij— 2 inches long, l\—2 lines broad at the middle. Flowers always solitary in wild specimens, seen up to half a dozen under cultivation. Perianth erect, 12-14 fines deep, bright scarlet, with a few faint spots of black, the divisions opening widely when fully expanded, about half an inch broad at the middle, not distinctly spathulate at the base, slightly arachnoid on the outside, usually slightly papillose on the face in the lower half, the borders of the grove smooth. Filaments not more than 5 — 6 lines long ; anthers 3 — 4 hnes ; pollen saffron-coloured. Ovary 3—4 lines long ; style considerably shorter. Capsule obovoid, oblong, an inch long; seeds brownish, with a narrow border. Confined to the eastern half of Siberia (Davuria and Amuriand), whence it was introduced into cultivation in 1834 by Raddi, and more recently by Maximowicz. A beautiful and very distinct little species, much the smallest of the group, except laticifoluim, resembling in size and general habit teiniifolium and cnllosum amongst the Eulirioits, but in the position and shape of the flower, and in the shortness of its filaments and style, approaching no otlier species but coucolor. It is not the same, as conjectured by Kunth and Spae, as Buschiaimm, which is a variety of bulbiferum. 17. L. coneolor, Salisb. Parad. t. 47 ; Bot. Mag. t. 1165 ; Ait. Hort. Kew, edit. 2, vol. ii., p. 241; Kunth, Enum. iv., p. 259 and 673 ; Fisch. et Meyer, Index Semin. 1839, p. 55 ; Z. sitiicum, Lindl. in Paxt. Flow. Garden, vol. ii.. Misc. p. 115, t. 193; Lemaire, 111. Hort. t. 100; Van Houtte, Flore des Serres, t. 1206.— Bulb ovoid, about an inch deep. Stem i— 3 feet high, erect, subterete, obscurely pubescent. Leaves 20 to 30 at the flowering August 12, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag;ricultural Gazette. 1035 time, scattered irregularly, without any bulblets in their axils, spreading, lanceolate, the lower ones 3 — 4 inches long, half an inch broad at the middle, narrowed to both ends, obscurely toothed at the edge, faintly downy below. Flowers up to 5 — 6 under cultivation, corymbose, mostly solitary in wild specimens, the erecto-patent peduncles ih — 2 inches long. Perianth i\ — 2 inches deep, a bright uniform scarlet, or at most only very indistinctly spotted j on the face, spreading widely when expanded, the outer , 5—6 lines, the inner 6 — 8 lines broad, at the middle, ' scarcely spathulate at the base, not at all papillose on the face, the groove slightly pubescent. Filaments 12 — 15 lines long, anthers 3 — 4 lines : pollen red ; ovary 8 — 9 lines long ; style about half the ovary ; capsule obovoid-oblong, about an inch long ; seeds very narrowly winged. I Var. I, coridion = Liliiim coridion, Siebold et DeVriese Tuinbow Flora, vol. ii., p. 341, with a figure ; Miquel Ann. Mus. Lug. Bat., vol. iii., p. 156. — Flower only seen solitary, 18—21 lines deep, bright yellow, scattered over principally on the lower half of the face with distinct reddish-brown spots, the inner divisions 5 — 6 lines, the outer 4—5 lines broad. only seen solitary, 12—14 hues deep, bright red-yellow, faintly spotted on the face, the divisions 4—5 lines broad at the middle ; filaments 9 — 10 lines long. The typical form was introduced from China in 1806 by the Hon. C. Greville, and was figured and described at the time by Salisbury. L. sinicum, which was placed in circulation from Fortune's specimens in 1 850, does not seem to be distinct from concolor as a variety. L. coridion and partheneion are Japanese Lilies of Siebold's, which I know only from the somewhat incomplete figures in the Tuinbow Flora, but judging from these they quite agree with the type except in coloration and size of the flower. None of the collec- tors seem to have gathered them wild in Japan, They are both included M. Leichtlin's list, and I shall be very glad to learn what is his view respecting them. The species is so distinct that it runs no risk of being confused with any other. "Scentless," as Salisbury said, "but very ornamental," and it is one that I should be very glad to see much more widely spread than it is at Miquel, Ann. Mus. Lug. Bat., vol. iil.', p. 156.— Flower present. Will not some one try it for a bedding effect. Var. , partheneion = Lzlium partheneion, Siebold < De Vriese, Tuinbow Flora, vol. A-ith : by way of a change for the perpetual iteration of Tulips ? 18. L. lanci/olium, Thunb. Linn. Trans, ii. 333 ; Kunth, Enum. iv., p. 266; L. bulbifcrum, Thunb. Fl. Jap., p. 134, not of Linnseus. — Stem more than a foot high, stout, erect, pubescent. Leaves scattered irregu- larly, moderately close, ascending, the lower ones linear, 3—4 inches long, half an inch broad three-quarters of the way do\vn, narrowed gradually to a long point, the upper ones much shorter (under an inch long), lan- ceolate, with bulblets in the axils. Flowers two in the single specimen known, erect, the very short peduncles bracteated at the base by two much shortened ovate leaves. Perianth white, half an inch deep, narrowly campanulate. A native of Japan, known only from the single dried specimen preserved in Thunberg's herbarium at Upsala, a drawing of which Professor Areschoug has been kind enough to send me. The general habit of the plant is completely that of L. tigrinwn, but the flower seems very different from that of any other species. Till re-discovered, it must rank amongst the " species dubiffi," but, so far as I can judge from the drawing, this is its position. Of course it is a great mistake to confuse it with L. ^peciomm. J. G. Baker. REPORT ON THE CONDITION OF THE FRUIT CROPS. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS, AUGUST, 1871 ] COUNTY. APRICOTS. APPLES. PEARS. PLUMS. STRAW- BERRIES. CHERRIES. PEACHES AND NEC- TARINES. FIGS. SMALL 1 j,,,.,.^ FRUITS. I ^U^S. NAME ADDRESS. SCOTLAND. 1 ABERDEEN- Poor Poor Poor Poor except Abundant Poor, except Raspberries George Donaldson, SHIRE Victoria Morello*^ abundant ; others poor Keith Hall AYRSHIRE .... Very few A few oil late A few on walls; Very few on An average 0 Almost a total Very few out- Very fine Raspberry R. G. Rae, The Gar- dens, Eglinton first-rate fruits failure of-doors ; indoors budsmjuredby; frost, but now. standards 'total from second excellent crop Castle, Irvine oth^'none failure bloom indoors showing well:' others variable; BANFFSHIRE.. ^S^t^' Average crop Good crop Poor crop Abundant Average Very good Few Indfine' George Milne, Cullen House Gardens BERWICK- FSc Medium crop Medium crop „ Early sons me A failure: None out-of- None grown Abundant, and| Very scarce Peter Loney, March- SHIRE bu't veVlaTe dium ; late sorts good bloom desu-oy- edhy..tin doors : medium indoors out-of-doors of fine quality mont House, Dunse DUMFRIES- A few Next to none Moderate Fair crop, Very scarce D. Thomson, Drum- lanrig Gardens SHIRE HADDINGTON Averase Small crop Large crop Moderate Large crop Moderate in spring Abundant AIe.x. Shearer. Yester Gardens KIRKCUD- Failure Failure A fair crop on Very few Very good crop Failure Vcrj-few Abundant, e-x Very few J^T-glif^'°- BRIGHTSHIRE walls cept Black Currants LANARKSHIRE re>yinthe Almost a total Veo'few; less Short crop: in ^^^ffoTr' Middling Good in some Less than we James Anderson, failure than for years many places districts, fair in Meadow Bank others PERTHSHIRE Heavy crop Very thin crop Thin generally Good, but Very mode- Moderate crop Good under Good Thin Henry Rintoul, Dup- here generally goodon^our moderaTTiere much destroy- rate crop glass plm Castle Gardens ROXBURGH- First-rate on A complete Good in many Second-rate ed w^.hnuns Ver). few of Fair crops Very few H. Knight, Floors SHIRE both south and failure crop Morellos: scarcely any of Very^few STIRLING- Scarcely one- fourth the Total failure. NoneonsUnd- None on stand- Not so good an About an Not more than M. Fitzgerald, Dun- more Gardens SHIRE said to be ^nSs^- ards : very few average as m eighth of the a good half 0 usual crop on general on walls former years the usual crop outside walls throughout the outside walls WIGTONSHIRE Thin crop Abou^hllfa crop Moderate crop ^:5:J7e^ Average crop Half a crop Thin crop where grown Average Abundant A. Fowler, Caille Kennedy NORTHERN COUNTIES. NORTHUM- Good crop ; Almost a com- Where protect- On walls an Very great crop on all but Morellos None outdoors Not grown Gooseberries Not many Robert Bowie, Chil- BERLAND.... plete failure ed when in crop, thanlis to outside: plen- and Rasp- lingham Cistle "heakh7 bloom, a good but much in-' a plentiful supply of water tiful in houses Gardens fested with fulT^CiSiSIi't's thm and "malt insects not so good : much injured V^e'^y^aird- Below the On most of the Will not \YulTr Both early and Dessert kinds \Vhere protect- None grown out-of-doors Scarce in the Anthony Hedley, iss; average more than fix on a late kinds almost a ed a fair aver- ant, and Black Wallington Gardens and^l'he"^st standards an abundant : failure : Morel- '■^^^'afth;-" FiTber^t^ are very few tree in this average crop : fruit large los below the very large grown spur-pruned locality trees much"^ CUMBERLAND. Under average Under average Under ^average blighted Under average An average Under average Under average Very few Underaverage But few grown J. Williamson, The generally places grown very good here Castle Gardens, YORKSHIRE .. An abundant A light crop in In general A light crop in In general a Much below an A good crop in Good : late in Good in many Most abundant Michael Saul, Stour- most places rather below an general ver,. light crop ripening, but places, but not ton, near Knares- ""where"^" average everjivhere butnotgeneril promise to be general w borough Very abund- ant ; trees o^nTauirrne A fair crop Good on walls, An average crop on two- An average Very good crops, and trees a'^nd rS"?"-" Filberts plenti- ful ; Walnuts Wm. Denning, Grim- ston Park, Tad- ■"li^"" in orchards orchards year-old plants healthy berries abund- ant ; others below the scarcely any caster Abundant ; In some Very few Plenty, but Early kinds, Fair crop ; Average crop AbundS : Filberts and Jos, E. Nicholson, required much orchards none, poor crop ; trees making Cobs a poor Mount St. John, thinning others very few 1 Morellos, fair Black Currants crop : Walnuts so fine 1 very few Thirsk Under aver- Under aver- ■ In some A vari.ible Under the Under the An average Plentiful, and Average crop R.C Kingston, Bran- age; suffered 1 age ; trees ' localities an when in bloom unhealthy, average : trees but half wifs" average, and average in some crop : trees tingham Thorpe, heTuhyr^d destroyed bad in flavour localities : healthy Walnuts Brough from frost through exces- healthier than sive rain and Apples lowtempc- 1 free fr<)m aphis through con- tinued rain -biS^^- Plentiful, but Poor ; blossom Poor : injured Middling crop injured by east by east winds^ MuThbllow ' Very few, es- 1 Below the Hea^T crop Good crop None outdoors Middling crops . Simpson, Wortley LANCASHIRE.. Below the Plentiful Below the Very scarce Gooseberries Edward Green, Bank average the average pecially of the average average and Currants Hall, Warrington Medium Very poor ! Very poor Good Morellos good, others very ^'ou'isfde'" None outside All^'cropLgood Good '■ux^^:s^- Very good Few Few 1 Good Few C^ood Excellent ..AUgood 1 James Freeman, Knowsley, Prescot 1036 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 12, 1871. CONDITION OF THE FRUIT CR0PS-(C<7«//««<-^). COUNTY. APRICOTS. APPLES. PEARS. PLUMS. STRAW- BERRIES. CHERRIES. PEACHES AND NEC- TARINES. FIGS. SMALL FRUITS. NUTS. NAME ADDRESS. NORTHERN COUNTIES. CHESHIRE .... Veryhtavy On the whole,! Not plentiful. Large quanti- A good crop. Below the All kinds of The best crop I have seen fir William Whitaker. crops; thT recs look very scarcely an generally ; a ties1>n\.alls; but the con- ■ generally average on small fruiu Crewe Hall, Crewe average good crop on Damsons fine ; tinned wet walls; very very plentiful many years healthy trees healthy spoilt^great orllrlL.. Good crop Small crop Small crop Small crop k^ery short crop Good crop : Morellos only Very scarce Average crop Good average crop W. Muir, Oulton Park SHROPSHIRE.. Average crop, Good, in many IVt-^zi \bundanthere; Good None in this Abundant, but Pretty good Daniel Judd, Hawk- but late places tial : Plums neighbourhood stone generally par. No Damsons; very^po^rin blighted Good crop, Not good : The same as Good crop. Good crop. jood crop, but Good crops Good crops Walnuts fair; Charies Galloway, generally have had a check in swelling Thm in gar- Apples ^"aUssmir generall? generally ate and small Filberts good crop Halston Hall Abundant, but On the walls Good, gcne- Indifferent : t is rare to sec Abundant, but Good, but fear Good, but Abundant John Pearson, Kinlet, ate and small dens : in the good ; the ■ally: Damsons rotted before a good crop late, though they will drop dirty Bewdley orchards poor tandards poor hey were ripe against flued walls MIDLAND COUNTIES. STAFFORD- Abundant \verage crop ; Abundant on Wall trees A very light Very abundant A full crop None grown Abundant Very abun- Edward Bennett, Er- SHIRE some orchards walls and heavily laden, on wall trees. out-of-doors. dant; Walnuts ville Hall Gardens heavily laden. espaliers. tandards very pla«sno"e partial on others bare partial on standards thin standards doors Very abundant Light crops Good Abundant Heavy crops Plentiful Inside only : cold houses fine crops Generally good Z. Stevens, Trentham Gardens Very good Much below Not an Fair crop. Good crop, but Morellos good, Fair crop, but Very plentiful ZllV^lt: Edwin Simpson. average average; fruit some places did not ripen not so sweet small at present Wrottesley, near NOTTINGHAM. Extra crop In old orchards small A fair crop on very good A fair crop ; well Light crop : British Queen Thinrdean Thin in many A light crop Scarce in some Walnuts scarce Plentiful John°Mi"e^Wo?ksop SHIRE very thin ; on some stan- west aspect places: with here; in some places : with Manor Gardens fai°r""|rh,Win''g dards; others badly blighted; and Margue- me a good crop places better me about half eXXan A very fair rite the best a crop Heavy crop : Average crop; ^t''"oVeharf Very good on Morellos very Not an average Of Goose- Nearly as James Hamilton, old trees nearly late varieties crop ; trees are young plants. crop; trees Tn many Filberts and Cobs as Berry HUl, Mans- killed by frost very good ost 'through a small grtb Very scarce dirty from fly old ones barren good Very few splendid health Average : bushes have field Average crop Very poor crop Poor crop ; A failure: A small crop A small crop. "»^ Wm. Cruickshanks, Damsons Keens' Seed- trees making but will not Kingston, Derby average ing the worst but little AgSd'crop; ripen ^flThe^'ifL-:^ A large crop scarce LEICESTER. A veryjarge Good here; but OfmostsorUa About halfa A very poor Poor crop : Very thin ; Walnuts very Montgomery Hender- son. Cole Orton SHIRE much' thinning fair crop, some crop crop, some except of trees a good not halfa crop of Currants : scarce; Fil- district very large sorts a com- Morellos,which deal blighted others variable berts a heavy Hall plete failure are plentiful crop Abundant ; Very thin crop Variable Moderate Fair crops of Moderate crop Blighted and In favourable Gooseberries Fair promise William Ingram. Bel- rruit large, but m both orchard crops ; trees much blighted some kinds. of May Duke: greatly injured thin, much voir Castle Gardens. will be late others blank abundant show by severe sho'w'Sg°well injured by Grantham garden of Morellos winter; crop thin Raspberries' very abundant Plentiful Plentiful Very scarce Scarce: medi- Scarce Very scarce A few Not many Walnuts few: W. Burns, Whatton um on walls others scarce House, Lougbboro' NORTHAMP. A first-class On small Fair on west Half crop Full crop Very thin Full crop Half crop Full crop, but Full crop R. GUbert, Burghley TONSHIRE crop bushes full : standards thin walls: stan- dards thin tj!;^u1h"wl RUTLAND- A splendid Moderate crop Very scarce Thin crop : A grand crop ; Morellofine; On young trees Moderate Abundant : J. Smith, Exton Park SHIRE crop: later trees verymuch President and dessert kinds a fine crop, and Gardens. Oakham than last year blighted Lucas the best indifferent much blighted OXFORDSHIRE Very great crop Very few ; Under aver- Fair crop ; Good, and fruit Ear^s^orts Good ; the Plenty of fruit Abundant ; Great crop W. Lee. Blenheim and fine, some much damaged ^eS' very fine under average: trees outdoors which I fear Red Currants Gardens, Wood- by blight early "■'wairsV an abundant now clean ; in will be of no badly blighted stock standards crop of houses very Gooseberries second growth much blighted Morellos good and fine very fine .s:t7^r^. Very thin crop 'fuII aveTagf Very heavy Abundant Good average A very heavy crop, but late Blackcurrants Trees literally Isaac Watson, Nune- indeed and fruit ' excellent, covered with ham Park Gardens healthy inferior others very thin : Goose- berries average nuts; Wal- nuts plentiful WARWICK- Very good Thui generally Thin generally Thin generally Very fine, but Very good, but Very good Promising wel Very fine" Enormous, ex- Wm. Miller. Combe SHIRE thm where clean Abbey Gardens EASTERN COUNTIES. LINCOLN- Very heavy Not half a Average crop. Good crop on Good crop of Heavy crop on Very heavy Average CurranU and Filberts and George B. TiUyard. SHIRE crop, and in crop and fruit clean walls ; stand- fine fruit walls "^ crop : the trees Raspberries, Cobs, average Brocklesby Park fine health ards late average : Walnuts, light Gooseberries, crop Nearly a Nearly a On walls, fair; An extra crop Under average A very poor A poor crop Gooseberries, Walnuts, a Dawd Lumsden. where pro- failure failure half a crop; failure: Fil- Bloxholm HaU. tected ^"^failure^ ^ Currants, a fair berts, a good Sleaford NORFOLK A fair average An average Under the An average Plentiful and Abundant Above the Plentiful, ex- A fahcrop William Carmichael, crop average crop large cept^Go^e- Currants Sandringhara A good crop Very few ; About one- Good on wall- Good crop : fruit fine, but Very bad crop Morello good Only half a Quite a failure Most abun- William Smythe, The set, but almos almost a third of a crop; trees: very few crop ; the frui in many place abundant ; dant, except Gardens. Elmham all dropped off faUure fruit smaU and on standards deficient in and fine very late and Gooseberries Walnuts, but Hall while stoning late fbvour small and Rasp- Ab'iS'dSt" very late EiSEX Abundant Very scarce Not halfa Moderate ; Fair cro b Good crop Good crop Moderate crop WUIUm Earley, Va- crop, and very sadly infested lentines backward with insects A very good A very short Quarter of a A fair crop : A very fair Morellosavery A fair crop: Rather thin on Currants nearly Mostabundan °End''c3'enrSaf^ crop crop ; trees crop, and small trees very crop good crop trees much walls all destroyed very much much blighted hurt in spring with blight. fron Walden blighted many bushes being dead Very good crop About half a Very good : Very bad Very good Very fine : Morellos the best Scarce, and About half a Very good Plenty of all About half a P.Stoddart.Wivenhoe crop best on walls crop sorts crop Park, Colchester SUFFOLK Abundant ; Partial ; some Crop rather A light crop ; Plentiful and About half a Plentiful A middling Walnuts thin: Thomas Blair, Shrub- fruit larger trees without thin : fruit a Golden Drop fine black fly very crop : Currants! Filberts land Park. Need- than usual fruit good size and Jefl-erson plentiful troubliome sXredfrom and spring much bUghted abundant ham Market Very heavy Mostly a One.third crop Good crop Very parual, Partial; a fine Mostly a Heavy crop Partial; white On Filberts D. T Fish, Hard- crop ; trees faUure; much many failures generally ; except on crop here failure ; trees Currants much and nuts an wicke House healthy injured by hai ""by black^fly those that escaped the eff'ects of frost terribly cut to pieces by the frost blighted extraordmary crop Thin ; trees Very thin; Thin on walls Very thin ; fly Heavy crop on Medium crop Thin crop ; Showed a very Jas. Sheppard, Wool- suffered from leaves curled. fair crop on pyramids young plantations trees look well trees suffered half have fallen Currants badly veretone Park the low tem- and^damaged from the late infested with perature in green fly June August 12, iSyr.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1037 CONDITION OF THE FRUIT CROVS—iConlinucd). DORSETSHIRE APRICOTS. APPLES. Very abundar Very good partial crop *^rt Not half a blighted Very thin njuredbygrub . light < Very partial ; Northern Greenings plentiful Partial, young blighted Under the blighted Scarcely any Much blighted Some orchards destroyed by aphis Under ave- rage ; abun- Very abundant Haifa crop Ver>' moder; Thin blossom de- stroyed by rees very clean black fly and healthy | \bundant and Good here, bu ,'ery fine ; trees thin generally Under average Not half a crop Scarce ; trees much affected with green fly trees/e^rfully Much blighted Good Fair on walls, standards A very light Very good on standards poor PEACHES CHERRIES. AND NEC- TARINES. a.nd Morellos only Under average; trees a good deal blighted Very light ; Much blighted Very few on standards; fair Crop on walls Much blighted places A light crop ; fruit set well, taken by fly chard-house, fair crop Table and cider 1 fruit very shorti ;low average and very I Very bad : blighted 1, and they, do not look Fair crop : difl5cuU to keep fly off Plentiful, but much spoiled through wet Crop heavy Very good, and Under average high ground ; much injured byspring Strawberries abundant, and very good Large crop ; Sly"s)r^?!^ Morellos rather Moderate ; Plentiful ^Xi Very poor Very good A thin crop, in of Mordlc Under the ave Morello Very good crop indeed, on both pyramids and Very fair, especially c Morellos Early kinds ai \f white and Morellos 3ther"'Sc veryg Below average Moderate crop;' No Wain inferior in I Filberts ; quality, and |Cobs trees much blighted lbs plentif Good, healthy Good Fine crop injured by but small and late Good Good average protected Very few ; from spring Good where Good fo: Outdoor crops bad ; ir chard-h( fully blighted /■ery plentiful : Currants much sc Gooseberries thin : Raspber All fell off before half Moderate Very few yellow, and dropping off Good trees killed erts plentiful Filberts and * Walnuts pie Thos. BaUey, Shardi- Under average A good average ^7a&V' standards Very plentiful I Animmt Very abundant Good Filberts pier ^ 1, but a \\i op of Wain Light crop of Walnuts ; A. F. Barron, Royal Horticultural So- ciety, Chiswick RobL Henderson, Fulham Palace • H. Rose, Royal Gar- Abundant ; Currants much blighted Currants and Gooseberries blighted ; Large crop and fine ; trees Red Currants Denbies, Dorking William Kemp, Al- bury Park Gardens, Guildford James Woodward, Garbrand Hall Gar- Thomas Woodford, Eaitwell Park, Ashford J. C, Bidling 'iT- uflfered mud from blight Veryabun- Plentiful William Wildsmilh, Heckfield Garden^, Winchfield ■ Walnuts below W. F. Radclyfie, Okeford Fitzpairic Henry Munro, Cleve- I038 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. CONDITION OF THE FRUIT CROPS— (Co«//««^fl'). Thos. C. Breliaut, Richmond House, Guernsey August 12, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1039 REMARKS ON THE FRUIT CROPS OF 1871. [In addition to the foregoing tabular reports, the following state- ments are extracted from our correspondents' returns.] We never had a better crop of Apricots. We pro- tected them simply with herring-net, two and three ply, and kept them out from the trees about a foot or 9 inches by means of forked sticks. Our south and west walls of Pears were protected in the same manner, and many of the trees are laden, and, in fact, all the blossom that opened kindly set well by this means. I am confident had we protected our Cherries with the same covering we should have had crops of fruit, for the trees were covered with blossom. Our great loss, the Apple crop, is serious. We have not one Apple for every bushel we had last year. The cold, dry, easterly winds in May were the most harsh 1 ever felt ; and scarce a day had we during the whole flowering period that could be called, in common phraseology, a nice day. Old Apples generally in this district are not an average crop, except in sheltered situations. Our garden walls being hieh, and the trees young, we have a fine crop. The hardier sorts of Pears are a fair crop, but such tender varieties as Marie Louise are a complete failure. We never use any protection here except the wall coping, which projects 3 inches, and we have generally an abundant crop of Peaches, The great point seems to be to keep the trees free from insects, for which two parts of sulphur and one of snuff dusted over the trees in a dry state will be found an effectual remedy, W. Carmichael^ Sandringham. Pyramidal Peach and Nectarine trees, planted in an unhealed orchard-house, bear a very light crop this season, and during the early part of which the trees were very much blighted ; while in a house of similar dimensions, where the trees are trained cordon the gardens in different parts of the park, that seldom or never failed before, are fruitless ; they are that old, valuable, jelly-making variety, Keswick Codlin, and their loss is de- plored in the still-room in consequence, H. Knight, Floors Castle Gardens, Kelso. With the exception of Apples, the fruit crops here are good this year, which I attri- bute in some measure to the soil and situation, I believe this is the driast locality in Yorkshire, and the subsoil is of a sandy, porous nature. The fruit trees in general only make moderate growths, which in ordinary seasons get well ripened. Peaches and Necta- rines are a heavy crop ; they set very thick, and I have had to thin them several times. In general. Peaches are not an abundant crop in this neigh- bourhood. Trees that bore heavy crops last year have in many places light crops this ; and trees that had light crops last year, have average ones this. Apricots are in general a good crop ; fully an average one. All trees that were not overladen last year have abun- dant crops this season ; indeed, they are much better than could reasonably be expected after the heavy crops of last year. Pears are here a good crop, both on the wall trees and on the standards. A few of the trees have light crops, but the greater number have very good crops. The fruit is clean and healthy, and pro- mises to be fine. Plums, as was to be expected after the extraordinarily heavy crop of last year, are in general light here — Victoria, Kirk's, Jeffer- son, Mitchelson, and some others which were not over- laden last year, have good crops. Cherries are not a heavy crop. Strawberries have in general been a light crop " ' -'-' - in this part of the country. In -■w,b,dev. the neighbourhood of Ivnares- borough, where large quantities are grown for Harrogate, Leeds, and other markets, the crop has been the lightest they have had for some years. In general the old plants have had very little fruit ; what fruit there was has been borne by the two- year-old plants. The drought of last year told on the old plants, and the rains came too late for the plants to perfect their growth and form crowns here. Sir Harry, Sir Joseph Paxton, President, British Queen, Carolina Superb, Empress Eugenie, and some others, have been abundant and fine ; but Keens' Seedling was a complete failure. Had it only been the old plants I should not be surprised, as they did not make any growth last year until it was too late to form perfect crowns ; but a large breadth of two-year-old plants, which stood the drought and looked well last summer, were quite as great a failure as the old plants, I cannot account for it, as the runners came from a most prolific stock. The two-year-old Eltons have good crops, but the older plants have very little fruit —I grow a good deal of this for late use, I like Eleanor, but it does not bear freely on our dry soil. On the heavy clay soils around Knaresborough, it bears enormously, and being a fine, showy fruit and late, is very valuable. Fruit of all kind is very late in ripening Fig, 233,— utricularia Montana, fashion, at a distance of 18 inches from the glass, and which has the advantage of hot-water pipes, by which frost was merely excluded, fruit is in great abundance, and promises to be fine. Bush and pyramidal-trained Gooseberry trees in the open quarters have not a tithe of a crop : while similar sorts trained to a north wall are bearing a most abundant crop, and the fruit is clean and very fine, P. G., Culford. am much surprised at from the great quantity of rain we have had in this neighbourhood, George B. Till- yard, Brocklesby Park. — — We have had 2.79 inches of rain in June and 3.73 inches in July, The Potato disease is spreading fast in this district, other vegetable crops are all look- ing well ; Peas are most abundant. We had 9° of frost on tlie 7th and u° on April S. Peaches, Nectarines, and Pears were then in full bloom, the two former have set a fair crop, but we have scarcely any Pears on most of the sorts, We have most on the Beurr6 Ranee, but the trees of that sort look more unhealthy than any of the others. Charles Ross, Welford Park, Newbury. This season has been the worst I ever knew for blight of all kinds, especially green and black fly. At one time I quite despaired of saving the Peach and Nectarine crop owing to this pest, but by continued applications of tobacco-water, and copious washings with clear water, I have now a good prospect of being paid for my labour with good crops of fruit, I am I sorry to report that the Potato murrain is spreading in I this district, which is the more to be regretted as the \ crops are more than usually fine. Other vegetables I have been, and are very fine. W. Wildsmith, Gr. to I.ord Eversley, Heck field Place, Hants. j We have had scarcely two days following each other without rain these last two mtnths, consequently the prospects have greatly changed since May, when appearances led us to expect a dry summer, and which in some instances led to a preparation for it, Cornwall and rain, however, are so pro- verbially connected that you will not be surprised. Most of the county is naturally so well drained that a "six- hours' " shower would be acceptable twice a week all through the summer. The early Potatos were good, but a terrible change has come over the late ones : in some cases the haulm has literally vanished, and report says the tubers are very badly affected everywhere. Garden vege- tables are in good supply. Peas without mildew, and Carrots without worm. The " bedding out " stuff is not so good as in some seasons. The soil was cold all through May ; June began with cold rains, and since then the soil has been so saturated that no warmth seemed to get at the roots of the plants; they have, there- fore, made but little growth. Gardeners and farmers alike are now hoping for a few weeks of fine weather in August. Henry Mills. Cider fruits generally are much below the average, and the leaves much curled and blighted. Plum trees suf- fered severely from attacks of aphides, which have been very prevalent. Bush fruit has generally suffered a similar fate, many of the Currant bushes being quite destitute of foliage. Outdoor Peach and Nectarine trees have suf- fered from cold and wet, whilst those growm under glass are healthy, with abundance of fruit, thus again pointing to the necessity in our variable climate of covering Peach walls with glass. The Potato dis- ease is unusually prevalent in this neighbourhood, early and late varieties alike suffering from its virulence. Parasitic Fungi — i.e., moulds, brands, and cluster cups — are unusually abundant this season, vegeta- tion suffering from their attacks, especially Roses, &c., fi-om Coleosporium, Lecythea, and Aregma mucronatum ; whilst Peas and the like are suffering from mould, &c. ; and, lastly, the destructive and most dreaded Peronospora infestans on the Potato. Henry Munro, Clevelands, Lyme Regis, Dorset. UTRICULARIA MONTANA. It is about a year ago since I first became acquainted with living specimens of this curious, and at the same time highly beautiful Lentibulariaceous plant (fig. 233). When first received it was in a dried state, having been but recently imported from New Grenada; but from what locality or altitude, unfortu- nately, I cannot ascertain. It came to us from Stevens' Rooms with the following description : — " Utricularia, very fine new species, never before imported into this country alive, resembles a terres- trial Orchid. From a bundle of transparent tubers the flower-stems rise to a foot in height, and bear three to I five flowers of an inch in diameter. Flowers and bracts of a pure white p pale primrose]. Having been sent I in their native mould they are in excellent condition." Professor Oliver, of the Royal Herbarium, Kew, I who has specially studied this curious family, has ' kindly referred this plant to Utricularia montana, or 1040 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [Augiist 12, 1 87 1. speci siderable elevation above the sea level. When I first obtained the tubers we placed them in a shallow propagating pan "in their native mould," using a little sand and peat for filling in amongst the transparent tubers, which latter were somewhat shrivelled. After a good watering they were placed in a moderately warm and airy Cattleya-house, and in less than six weeks the delicate green foliage com- menced to push through, and the roots also began to ramify in all directions through the light compost. Knowing that Utricularias were aquatic plants, we obtained a larger-sized pan, and filled it with water, into which was placed the base of the pan before alluded to. This kept the roots in a state of constant moisture, and the plants grew vigorously. They were removed to the Indian-house— or a mean temperature of about 65" — for the winter, where they still continued growing, and have just now finished blooming, having borne about a dozen spikes of their lovely flowers. It is a very pretty little plant, and worthy of careful treatment on tlie part of those who possess it. Ten lots of this were sold at one of Stevens' sales in June, 1870, so that we may probably hear of its blooming elsewhere during the present year. I have to thank C. Stead, Esq., The Knoll, Baildon, Leeds, for a flower of this charming novelty, the plant here alluded to having recently flowered in his rich collection of exotics — for the first time, we believe, in this country. F. IV. B. [The plant occurs in the West Indies and in Peru and New Grenada. It has flowered recently at Kew. Eds.] Jome Correspnbfnce. Hellebore Powder.— Kindly allow me to confirm the letter of *'G. A. H. " in the Gardeners' Chroniele of the 29lh ult. I have used Hellebore powder for some years to destroy the Gooseberry caterpillar, and I have always found it an effectual remedy. I prefer the white Hellebore powder, and to have it fresh ground if possible. The method I have generally adopted is this : As soon as the caterpillars appear, and have commenced their havoc, I get an old flour dredger or a tin pepper-box, and fill with the powder. If the leaves of the bushes are not damp enough in the evening or morning, then I sprinkle the bushes affected with the syringe, in order that the powder may adhere. With the dusting box in one hand and the shoot of the bush afiiscted in the other, you can get at the upper and under sides of the leaves effectually. I think the use of the pepper-box preferable to throwing it out of the hand ; there is then no waste of the Hellebore. The powder should be kept perfectly dry ; if the least damp, it gets clammy. .Sometimes there are two or three broods of the caterpillars during the season, and the eye of the diligent gardener must be constantly on the alert to detect these destructive marauders. If the berries are ready for tarts, or are required for bottling, &c., they should be washed or wiped clean of any powder adhering to them, as it imparts a disagreeable taste to the skin of the berry. Of course, also, Hellebore is a strong poison, so that on this account the berries should be thoroughly cleansed before using. Thomas Campbell, Chorltoit Road, Manchester. New Pears.— At the risk of being tedious, may I ask a "wee" corner to enable me to say to "Pari Passu" that he is right in supposing that I meant Early Beurre d'Aremberg. It is a pity that this name should have been adopted ; the fruit has no resemblance to any of the B. d'Arembergs, but it has to B. d'Har- denpont d'Automne. A great deal of confusion exists about the B. d'Aremberg, ;. e., Glou Morceau, or, more correctly, B. d'Hardenpont d'Hiver. The Abbd Hardenpont, of Mons, was the raiser, and it was named, very justly, after him. The reason it was called B. d'Aremberg was just this : that Noisette, of Paris, having visited the Due d'Aremberg's gardens, procured grafts of the sort without a name, and on arriving at Paris named it B. d'Aremberg. Glou Morceau is Walloon for a delicious mouthful, or something like it, and as the Pear merits the appella- tion we have adopted it in England ; so here we have Beurre d'Hardenpont d'Hiver in Belgium, B. d'Arem- berg in France, and Glou Morceau in England— three names for the same Pear. There is nevertheless another Beurre d'Aremberg of the Belgians, with many synonyms. This is the true B. d'A., and is perhaps best known as Orpheline d'Enghien ; the fruit of the two sorts resemble each other a good deal, the trees not at all. There is again our other friend, a claimant of the house of Aremberg, but he has no right to the title, only he comes into the Hardenpont family as a first cousin of B. d'H. d'Automne ; in fact, the two maybe, or are, nearly the same, though there seems a dif- ference in the trees. Pomaqiie degenerant: Prince Albert Pear never, since it came into' this country, was any- thing else. If Democritus had been a modern nurseryman he would have found his head crammed enough if he had tried to keep our new railroad pace. The old gentleman lived in times when he could at least keep up at a steady pace with his compeers. As to the Autumn Bergamot, I attach the following : — " Bergamot, Autumn (English Bergamot, York Berga- mot, Bergamot Commune, Bergamot Recour, Bergamot Lisse, Bergamot de la Hiliere. Bergamot Rouwa, Crosse Ambrette, Bergtimot Melon. Vermilion Supreme) : 2 size. T qua]., October to December. Roundish, slightly flattened ; skin yellowish green, spotted and striped with red, with patches of dark fawn colour ; eye small, open, often wanting, and slightly sunk ; stalk, short, thin, and slightly bent, set in a wide round hollow; flesh white, melting, and juicy ; juice abundant, acidulated, sweet, and perfumed. This fine old Pear is said to have come originally from Asia, and has obtained its name from a town called Bergamo or Pergame. It is supposed to have been brought into this country by the Romans, and has been cultivated in England about 300 years." By which "Pari Passu" will see that it is not even European or American, and may get a hint as to the origin of the word Bergamot. I must now crave a little space to reply to " Bon Chretien," p. 175. I have read of Mahomet's Bridge, a single hair, to get to Paradise on. The Christian road is equally narrow would modestly recommend Chretien" to leave out the "Bon" and put " Mauvais," — but as he likes ; he may be leal at heart and a good fellow, and as such I will accept him — of course I have no notion of his status, and cannot know, excepting from his own mouth, that all he advances is good ballast to get along the hair with. I lay myself open by name and invitation to be coixected, and am glad when any of your correspondents try to put me right. Error is not a desirable friend, and we ought to be thankful to all who try to improve us ; even when they do not hit the mark, there is generally something to be gained, even then an error may be discovered and rectified. Such, for instance, as correcting a typogra- phical one, as in the spelling of Napoleon Savinieu, which should be Savinien, the surname of Nicolas Savinien, cure of Liemu. The Pear, not the cure, I have fully described at p. 974. I am afraid that I may not be judge enough of what a good Pear is. " Bon Chretien's " taste may be more refined and more exacting than mine ; hence we differ in these matters. I do not exactly like his sweeping denun- ciation of American Pears. I know many that can vie with any yet produced in Britain. I need not give a list, as no doubt many of your readers are acquainted with them. As to the correctness of fruit tree nursery collections in England, "B. C." and I are not at one in that matter. " B. C." says he is amused on looking over my list of 120 sorts, and at the end of his letter he further adds that he fears that I have not got a long ex- perience. Well, after 50 years of close application, I do feel I require a great deal more than I am ever likely to get ; and although it may be presumptuous in me to attempt to correct " B. C," I am nevertheless constrained to say that I think he is wrong about King Edward's, or Jackman's Melting. I have never heard that it was claimed by any other country. Downing disowns it as an American, and Leroy won't take it in as a Continental sort ; so I suppose his big majesty must remain with us. As to Uvedale's I have stated all I know about it at p. 974. For Tillington and its history I refer your learned correspondent to vol. iv. of the Horticultural Society's Transactions, p. 521. In conclusion, I may say that any useful information I can give will be always cheerfully at the command of any of your correspondents. Nevertheless, I do think gentlemen critics should make themselves a little better acquainted with the history of fruits before coming down so heavily upon a poor fellow, y. Scott, Merriott. Cypripediums.— I am a great lover of these plants, and am always glad to obtain any information I can respecting them ; but I am also of opinion that those who volunteer to give information concerning them should understand the subject upon which they speak or write. What can we think of a writer upon Orchids in one of the magazines for this month, who, when describing C. niveum, tells us that it "bears a very close analogy, in the appearance o[ i\\t pseudobnlbs,^' to C. concolor. Do Cypripediums have pseudobulbs? If so, where am I to look for them? — perhaps some Orchidologist will kindly answer. Juvenis. Table Decorations. — It requires some courage or brass to break a lance with your correspondent " W. T." on table decorations, but as I praised, in no stinted terms, his arrangement at the Palace last year as applicable to a large public dinner, but at the same time questioned its applicability for private use, I will now venture to re-assert my views, and at the same time to give my notions on the subject. We are a people of extremes ; we see it in fashions. When crinolines reached us from Paris, our fair country- women soon eclipsed, in the amplitude of their folds, the Parisian ladies ; when trains came in, English ladies had theirs far longer and wider than the French. French gentlemen had their hair closely cut — our swells look as if they had just come out of Millbank or Holloway, so completely cropped are they. And so in this matter of table decoration. The Russian dinner was a vast improvement — no dishes on the table, and a few flowers amidst the dessert, and now forsooth we must set people down in a flower garden or a shrubbery, until at last it seems as if the invitation should run : — " Mr. and Mrs. request the pleasure of 's company, to see their table decorated ; dinner provided at seven o'clock." I think this is altogether wrong. At a public dinner, provided for a large number of people, you do not care much about seeing your vis-h- vis, and therefore your having a Gooseberry bush between him and you does not much matter. In a private dinner party, I consider, the first thing is the comlort and enjoyment of your guests ; the second, that of your own household. There is always enough to do, and more than enough, on such occasions ; and if this is to be supplemented by a decoration that will require some two or three hours* work from three or four people, it will be the feather to break the camel's back ; and it is for this reason, and because it takes up so much of the gardener's time, that in our best circles now the thing has been shorn of its monstrous overgrowth. By all means let us have flowers, nay, plants, if desired, but let nothing be higher than a foot and a half, which I believe is now- considered about the correct thing ; and let the other decorations of the table be such that it may not seem as if the host and hostess had invited their guests to see their floral resources and not to have their company. Has the style which " W. T." recommends, and which, as I have said, answers admirably for a large and very wide table, been adopted at the West End. Can he tell us where we can see it ? In saying this, I am not, I hope, guilty of snobbishness, but I do maintain, that in all matters of taste and refinement, we shall find that the true standard is to be found amongst our aris- tocracy. Compare, for example, the style of dress at Kensington, or the Regent's Park shows, with that at the Crystal Palace ; in the one you have the result of refinement, the other that of unlimited command of cash without it. I have said nothing about the expense, because, as I am aware, people think but little of this when they give a grand dinner now and then ; but when, as I believe is the correct thing, frequent reunions of ten or twelve take place, it becomes an intolerable bore to have these extensive and expensive decorations. Will Mr. Standish tell us something of his knowledge and experience ? I believe he has as much to do in this way as most people, and perhaps he would enlighten us as to what is most in vogue amongst his clients. I am sorry to differ from my excellent friend " W. T.," for his taste is of that order that if one does differ you may question whether you are right, still I believe I am, and shall be glad to see others take up this matter. D., Veal. Grape Growing at Kingston Hall.— In reply to Mr. Westland's remarks on the heating of the Vine borders here (see p. looS), I beg leave to state that your two correspondents have given the true version of it as it now stands. How Mr. Westland can labour under such an hallucination, I am at a loss to con- ceive. The pipes are in exactly the same posi- tion as he left them, and they are not under the border, but under the front path, or nearly a yard inside the houses, where neither roots nor border are to be found. Moreover, I am quite sure Mr. Westland could never have heated the pipes to any extent, as the so-called bottom-heat pipes were wrong, both practically and theoretically. They had one good property, and it was that no one could use them to excess. If Mr. Westland had spoken out on the subject when going through the vineries on his sily have pointed out the weak i arrangen points m his arrangement of hot-water pipes, which I am thankful to say are the weakest now in our vineries. Further, I very much question if the present system of heating is as good as the one before the alteration took place. One thing is quite certain, that Mr. Westland's predecessor, the late much respected Mr. Mackie, managed to produce better crops of Grapes (and for years) with the old plan than either Mr. Westland or myself have yet got by the new. Wm. Crukkshank, The Gardens, Kingston, Derby, Aug 9. The Potato Disease. — I thank "J. S." for his timely suggestion. I have not tried the palliative remedy suggested by him, but I have had resort to the less radical measure of cutting away the haulm at the ground line, when the malady was unfortunately but too plainly apparent. I have information, however, that this plan has already been tested in this neighbourhood in previous seasons with but questionable success. I also hear that a large breadth of Potatos has been so treated this season, the soil being subsequently ploughed up over the rows, the results of which I hope to be able to report hereafter. It is quite certain that, not- withstanding every kind of preventive considered pos- sible mayhave been tried, we should not lightlytreat any that may yet be made, as the injury which this dire pest causes to our country's wealth cannot be easily estimated, especially in a season of such hope in regard to the Potato as the present. IVilliam Earley. Flavour in Fruit. — I agree with your reviewer o the Rev. J. Fountaine's pamplet (p. 977) in doubting that it is "the radiation at night that enhances the flavour of the fruit " in the system of cultivation spoken of, and believe with him that it is " the exposure to the cool night air " that is beneficial. The alternations of heat and moist cold appear to be as powerful in hasten- ing and perfecting the ripening process of fruit, as they are in promoting decay in vegetable substances. It is well known that when the latter — wood, for instance — is made alternately dry and moist, it decays much more rapidly than when kept continuously in either state ; and it is quite in accordance with this, that outdoor fruit of all kinds ripens more rapidly after a day's rain than if the weather continued always dry and warm, a fact August 12, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ao-ri cultural Gazette. 1041 ■which I have repeatedly observed. Grapes that are grown by me with the same ventilation night and day surpass in flavour all those managed on the orthodox but unnatural system of syringing, "and shutting up with an hour's 'sunshine on the glass ; " and I have heard of the same being the case with another person. A. Boyle, Whitland, Carmarthenshire. Notes on Gladioli,— I was much interested by the report of your correspondent " F. W." on Mr. ■Kelway's flowers. We all know how magnificent they are when exhibited as he alone seems to know how to do them ; but I want to correct one error. It was not the war that prevented any Gladioli being sent over from France last year ; long before it broke out it was known none would be sent, for this reason : M. Souchet is really the only grower in France, and he is in too weak a state of health to leave home, even for one night, and no one else could compete. One is delighted to hear that Mr. Kelway will not send out any but first-rate seedlings, for as yet that term can hardly be applied to any of his flowers that I have seen. Glaietil. China Winter Radish. — Last autumn I sent a Radish to your office, which was described as the China Winter Radish. I think it is the best Winter Radish grown, for it will keep good all the winter. It is in size and shape like an Early Horn Carrot, of fine flavour, and very crisp. In colour it varies from a beauiiful pink to a dark red. I sow the seed in August and September. W. H. Port, Kingsbridge, Devon. Drosera. — One often hears complaints of the diffi- culty of making that pretty little native plant, Drosera rotundifolia, grow. At Mr. Morse's nursery at Epsom they succeed perfectly. They place a small quantity of peat at the bottom of the pan, and then arrange their plants in Sphagnum, placed above the peat. The pan is then stood in a saucer of water. Nothing can be simpler, and few objects possess more interest. John E. Daniel, The Terrace, Epsom. Potatos. — My "taters" are but Httle affected by disease. It is very bad in the parish. I planted January 7, with no manure at planting. I manured high for preceding crops. The frosts did not hurt my Potatos in the ground, but frosted a bushel and a half in the houses, though they were thickly covered with straw. Unless air is thoroughly excluded, Potatos will be frosted in severe winters. IV. F. Radclyffe. Varieties of Pelargoniums. — I have heard a wish expressed that the scarlet Pelargoniums were not so numerous as they are. Would it not be possible for growers to fix upon a certain number, and in the main stick to this ? Say, three dozen of the Zonals of every shade of colour, half-a-dozen of the Bronzes, and half-a- dozen of the Tricolors, both gold and silver, making it a determined object to obtain and retain the best ; and, as those become beaten, to take in the better kinds till they are beaten too. No sort need be cast away entirely ; one plant may be kept for a year or two. Let me give an illustration of what I mean. Lord Palmerston is of the same colour as the Duchess of Sutherland, and the Duchess is decidedly the better of the two. Now, the Duchess might be grown largely, and one plant of his lordship. Again, Dr. Lindley beats all his predecessors, and it is only reasonable to suppose the doctor will be beaten in his turn. Well, good as he is, let the best flower win. It is only fair it should do so. I have only tried to point to a prin- ciple. No doubt we shall have a flood of seedlings now ; and, as far as my own feelings go, I should be sorry to see a seed lost that offered a chance of im- provement. But what I think necessary is, that the best, and the best only, should be picked out of the thousands that will be raised. It will soon be no easy matter to stand, even in a respectable position, among the raisers of seedling Pelargoniums. Chance may give the palm to a veiy unexpected competitor. R. F. [This is in reality the main object of the Chiswick trials, which we hope will be carried out in future with spirit. But it must always be borne in mind that particular sorts are better in some places than in others, so that it is not practicable to arrive at a positive decision on their merits. Eds.] Acer Pseudo-Platanus rubro-purpureum. — Allow me to introduce to your notice a new variety of Sycamore, Acer Pseudo-Platanus var. rubro-purpureum, found growing in a hedgerow of one of my nurseries. It differs from the original purple variety by the boldness and vigour of its growth, and also in the rich red-purple tint of the foliage. Budded on the common Acer Pseudo-Platanus, it throws shoots 6 to 7 feet long in a season, and from the rich colour of its leaves is a truly beautiful tree, fit to rank with the best of its compeers for varying the tints in ornamental plantations. C. B. Saunders, yersey. [The sample sent had the underside of the leaf reddish-purple, decidedly brighter in tint than the ordinary Purple Sycamore, and hence if it shows the ordinary character of the leaf, we shall gain here a handsome ornamental tree. Eds.] Water Weeds. — The inclosed are two specimens of water weeds [Myriophyllum and Chara], which abound to an enormous extent in the lake here, forming a mass almost entirely throughout the lake. Will some of your correspondents, who have experience of water weeds, give me information as to the best means of keeping them down, or destroying them ? At present they are being mown ofl^, the water being previously lowered to enable the men to wade through and mow with the scythe, but it is laborious work, the lake being extensive, and the weed very thick. W. E. Bluegown Cucumber and Veitch's Giant Cauliflower. — Seeing in the Gardeners' Chronicle vtry flattering accounts of the Bluegown Cucumber, I purchased a packet of seed from one of the most respectable houses in the country, thinking that if it was not much better than many puffed-up kinds, it could not be much worse. Well. I planted in March two plants of Bluegown along with Telegraph. What has been the result ? From the plants of Tele- graph I have cut plenty of good Cucumbers, con- sidering the season ; but from Bluegown, after four months' care and attention, I have managed to cut two fruits, and such Cucumbers I never saw grown in a frame before. In fact, some of the ridge varieties are far in advance of Bluegown. It is the coarsest, most ill-formed, and bad-flavoured Cucumber I ever met with. Several gardeners in this neighbourhood purchased a packet of it from different firms, and they one and all condemn it. There is another new vegetable I wish to say a few words about, viz., "Veitch's Giant Cauliflower." I got a packet of this at the same time as the above, and put in a pinch of seed in March into a frame with a little bottom-heat. I planted out about five dozen plants, of which one-half, or nearly so, have proved worthless ; perhaps it may be owing to having been sown in heat ; but the other half produced such Cauliflowers as I never saw before. I cut one to- day 2 feet 3 inches in circumference, as firm as a rock, and as white as anything could possibly be in the way of a vegetable. It is a splendid thing for an exhibition table, and the flavour is pronounced by connoisseurs to be everything desirable, y. C. A'., Mount St. John. [Both have been shown good. Eds.] Lily of the Valley. — Having noticed that some Lilies of the Valley were exhibited at Kensington a short time back, and that hints were thrown out that it might be a late variety, permit me to observe that it is nothing new to have those beautiful flowers late in the season. It can be done any time by exposing the roots and letting them get well dried before planting. I saw an instance this spring of a clump that was potted in the autumn of 1869, which refused to vegetate in 1S70, and was placed aside, but this year it came finely in flower last June, the leaves being nearly round, and of a much deeper green than is usual. I am of opinion that the plants which flowered late this season, if let alone, will come at their usual time another year. Ebor. [We have other evidence tend- ing in this direction. Eds.] Roses. — It may be of advantage to persons not conversant with Roses to know the names of the best Roses that have come out since 1S59. I shall mention those only that have good attributes. Some beautiful Roses I must omit, for the want of good attributes. H. P. Roses: Senateur Vaisse, Madame Boll, Madame C. Crapelet, Victor Verdier, Due de Cazes, Prince Camille de Rohan, Charles Lefebvre, Francis Lacharme, Madame Charles Wood, Madame Charles Verdier, Madame Boutin, Madame Julie Daran, Madame Clemence Joigneaux, Maurice Bernardin, Mdlle. Marie Rady, Marechal Vaillant, John Hopper, Baron Adolphe de Rothschild, Princess Mary of Cambridge, Lord Clyde, John Keynes, Gloire de Ducher, Lord Macaulay, Leopold Premier, Madame Emile Boyau, Lady Suffield, Madame Victor Verdier, Dr. Andry, Pierre Notting, Marguerite de St. Amand, Duchesse de Caylus, Achille Gounod, Fisher Holmes, Abel Grand, Madame FiUion, Alfred Colomb, Antoine Ducher, Prince de Portia, Black Prince, Felix Genero, Elie Morel, Souvenir de Dr. Jamin, Monsieur Noman, Madame la Baronne de Rothschild, Duke of Edinburgh, Madame Jacquier, Eliza Boelle, Madame Chirard, Perfection de Lyons, Comtesse d'Oxford, Edward Morren, Marquise de Castellane, and Baron Chaurand. The last is a distinct and beautiful Rose ; the six Roses preceding it are first-rate. I do not yet know the full attributes of the last eight Roses, as I have only seem them bloom once. Bourbon Perpetuals : Baron Gonella, Marguerite Bonnet, and Baronne de Maynard. Tea Noisette : Reve d'Or. Tea Roses : Adrienne Christophle, Marechal Niel, Madame Margottin, and Madame Trifle. You cannot burn your fingers by selecting from the above Roses on the Manetti stock. It is of no use buying bad growers. Many are marked " vig.," which are not so. " Mod." in a nurseryman's garden means "dwf." in yours, which is a synonym for "death." Marechal Niel does well here on its own roots, on the Briar and on the Manetti ; my three best plants are on Manetti. IV. F. Radclyffe. New Annuals : Godetia Whitneyi and Phlox Heynholdii. — The first-named of these newly-intro- duced annual flowers having been figured, and very highly spoken of in more than one horticultural periodical during the past spring, I was consequently induced to use it rather freely, and I confess was beginning to entertain doubts as to its realising the good opinion X had been led to form of its merits, as it did not begin to flower until the first week of July. But I am now glad to be able to say that it has fully realised all my expectations. It is without doubt one of the most showy and attractive annuals that has ever been introduced, but to do it full justice it ought to be grown en masse in a bed of considerable dimensions, or to form a line in a ribbon border of considerable length. It is then in appearance really magnificent, resembling, at a distance, a line of the finest dwarf Rhododendrons in full flower, or of some fine variety of Hibiscus. It grows from a foot to 15 inches high, and is exceedingly floriferous, each bloom being quite 3 inches in diameter, colour rosy-pink, with a crimson spot in the centre of each of the four petals ; this spot, however, is more clearly defined in some plants than in others, and on this account care ought to be taken in selecting seeds from the best coloured plants. Should this plant prove to be continuous in blooming, as it has at present the appearance of being, it will certainly prove very useful, even as a bedding plant. I sowed the seeds about the middle of March in pans in a gentle heat, pricked out into pans or boxes when large enough, and finally planted out about the middle of May. Phlox Heyn- holdii is also an annual of recent introduction, which I think only requires to be better known to insure its being more extensively used. It belongs to the Drummondii section, but is more dwarf in growth, seldom exceeding 6 or 8 inches in height, and pro- ducing an abundance of rich flame scarlet-coloured flowers. It has also the property (not always possessed by the finest annuals) of producing itself quite true — that is, without any variation either in the colour of the flower or in the habit of the plant, and continues to flower until late in the season. P. Grieir, Culford, August I. Foreign Correspondence. The Isl.\nd of San Domingo. — The following notes on the botanical features, economic vegetable products, and agricultural capacities of this island, are gathered from a report drawn up by Dr. Paiiy, the botanist attached to the San Domingo Commission. Apart from the general facts of the geographical position of San Domingo within the tropics, its insular character and exposure to the regular trade winds of the North Atlantic Ocean, necessarily involving a warm and moist climate, productive soil, and favour- able commercial facilities, the principal distinguishing feature of this island is presented in the large extent of its elevated mountain ranges. This plainly marked physical feature, which everywhere meets the eye, serves not only to give a pleasing variety to the land- scape, but also to supply the conditions of a much wider range of agricultural production than would be possible otherwise. The highest mountain ranges, attaining elevations of from 5000 to 8000 feet above the sea, are clothed to their summits with a dense growth of native forests, and their crests and slopes are seen frequently enveloped by clouds or fog, indicating a moist, cool atmosphere. Hence, botanically and agriculturally, the country is naturally divided into distinct districts, viz. : — 1. An irregular coast line, frequently presenting abrupt rock-bound shores, or extending in the form of gradually elevated plains to the interior mountain ridges. 2. Wide, open valleys and interior basin plains, bounded on either hand by elevated mountains. 3. The mountain slopes and ridges, rising to eleva- tions of from 3000 to 5000 feet above the sea. I. The coast line, or maritime belt, includes some of the least productive and most forbidding portions of the island. It embraces, along the northern and southern coasts, arid, sandy, and rocky tracts, which, being shut out from the influence of moist winds, present desert features in the growth of Cactuses, dwarfed thorny trees, with scant foliage, and an intricate maze of shrubbery next to impassable for man or beast. The moist, sandy lagoons, forming at the mouth of rivers, are occupied by dense Mangrove thickets, and in more favourable locations stretches of smooth, sandy beaches are agreeably set off' with groves of Cocoa-nut, or other graceful Palms. Again, at other points, as in Samana Bay, the wooded slopes drop down abruptly to the water's edge. In the vicinity of San Domingo city the broad ocean swell dashes against perpendicular, rocky walls, which are fantastically washed out and fissured by the waves, at only a few points presenting narrow patches of sandy beach. It is on these less productive, and even desert tracts, that some of the most valuable native vegetable products are to be found, including especially the durable Lignum-vita:, the commercial logwood, and Fustic. In similar districts we meet with valuable leaf-fibre plants, including the Paboulla, Maguey, Bromelia, &c., all of which are in common use in the manufacture of cordage, and the dressed fibre derived from these different plants will eventually form a very important article of export. The more extended plains stretching inland to the es exhibit certain varieties of 1 the chemical composition of the underlying rock, or superficial deposits, being either sandy, gravelly, or argillaceous, and thus adapted to the different varieties of tropical food plants. Here also the vast number of tropical fruit trees can be cultivated to an unlimited extent ; and with more attention given to improved varieties, the fruit product 1 042 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 12, 1 87 1. may be made to form a remunerative branch of com- mercial industry. In other districts, appropriately termed "savannas," stock raising is carried on to advantage, and several shrubs adapted for browsing still further extend the stock-supporting capacities of a large scope of country. 2. The large alluvial valleys and basin plains of the interior are especially adapted to the growth of Sugar- cane, which here grows with a luxuriance unknown in less favoured localities. The scope of country adapted to this staple can be much extended by a proper system of irrigation, by which the higher fertile grounds adjoin- ing the river bottoms may be supplied with that degree of moisture necessary to perfect this class of cultivated plants. Cotton and Tobacco will also here find at different points a congenial soil for the production of their peculiar staples. These extensive valleys, as yet unexhausted by cultivation, will naturally concentrate the great bulk of the agricultural population, where large estates and populous cities, made accessible by railways to the commercial seaports, will in due course of civilised development present a marked contrast to their present sparsely-peopled wastes. 3. The mountain slopes, now in great measure clothed with luxuriant native forests, will constitute the first and most direct source of wealth to an enter- prising and industrious population. Owing to the difficulties of transportation over the rude country roads, only passable for pack animals, much of the valuable timber growth, including Mahogany, and great variety of cabinet woods and ship timber, is st growing in its native forests, while that adjoining the coast has been shipped to supply the coi demands. When once made accessible by suitable waggon roads or railways, all this source 0 will be laid open to enterprise ; and in the process of clearing, the most suitable ground will be ma ' able for the growth of coffee and other analogous agricultural products. One peculiarity of tropical forests consists in the number of different species in the same locality ; thus, no large bodies of a single species of tree are met with, as in northern woods, but a great profusion of different forms promiscuously scattered. These include, in th( West Indies, over 200 different species. This fact, however, is less conspicuous at the higher elevations, where Pine groves and analogous northern forms make their appearance. At an elevation of from 5000 to 6000 feet above the sea, we meet with the atmospheric conditions favourable to the growth of Cinchona, yielding the medicinal quinine. The result of numerous experiments having now fully established the conditions necessary to the successful culture of the Cinchona, the colonial Government of Jamaica, in the West Indies, has recently established a Cinchona plantation in the Blue Mountain range in that island. Having had an opportunity to visit this location during the explora- tions in connection with the San Domingo Commission, and to ascertain the views of the intelligent botanist in charge (Mr. R. Thompson), the conclusion is safely reached that a larger scope of country in the moun- tainous districts of San Domingo is adapted to this important class of cultivated plants than any other insular locations in the Western Hemisphere. In this same connection may be noticed the great advantage which these elevated districts offer, not only for sanitary retreats, where those enervated by long exposure to tropical heats can find relief in a cool atmosphere, only a short distance from their ordinary lowland residences, but also in the capacity for raising the ordinary northern fruits and vegetables, so much prized by those who have been always accustomed to their use. The facility with which all tropical plants and trees can be transferred from one region to another within the tropics is evidenced by the great number of East India species now naturalised throughout the West Indies, including by far the majority of ordinary tropical fruits and vegetables, as well as common weeds. Thus, from other remote sources may reason- ably be expected hereafter large additions to the agricultural wealth of San Domingo, on whose inviting soil may be introduced the Eastern dyes, spices, vegetable oils, gums, and drugs of commerce. The following may be summed up as comprising the prominent features which characterise San Domingo as a desirable agricultural region. 1. An insular position, exposed to the equalising influences of the surrounding sea, insuring abundant moisture for the fullest growth of all tropicals, and affording the largest commercial facilities for export to adjoining northern countries. 2. A natural division of closely-adjoining districts, including arid tracts on the coast, adapted to the growth of valuable fibres, woods, dyes, &c. ; a region of plains and large interior valleys, varying in soil and exposure from comparatively barren to exuberantly fertile, adapted to a variety of agricultural products. 3. A large extent of mountain slopes densely wooded, including some of the most valuable timber products, which, when cleared of their native forests, afiord the most desirable locations for the cultivation of Coffee and other tropical staples ; a still more elevated dis- trict, suited to the cultivation of Cinchona, as well as the usual varieties of northern fruits and vegetables, and affording sanitary retreats to those living in the adjoining low lands, exposed to continuous tropical heats. And 4. An extensive field for the introduction of new varieties of plants and useful tropical products of other lands, on soils unexhausted by culture, and capabli supporting a vast population. Societies. Crystal Palace: August s.— The supplementary Rose Show held here on Saturday last proved very suc- cessful in every respect. Tfie Roses, it is true, were not quite so numerous, but they were immeasurably superior to those shown on the last occasion, both in size and brilliancy of colour, and great was the surprise in store for those who thought the date was too late to attain much success. The latter class of reasoners seem to have forgotten the fact, that where a few classes only are made, and the prizes offered are liberal, plenty of Roses there surely will be. even though the season be a bad one. This may also be said to apply with equal force to most other subjects for which there is a call at our flower shows, and there is no one who better understands this part of the business than the Crj'stal Palace Company's General Manager, Mr. Wilkinson, whose schedules are always models of liberality There was another prom Roses in the show of Saturday last that it would be well to reproduce at future exhibitions, and this was the plan adopted on this occasion for relieving the flatness and monotony of the tables, of massing alternately large and small groups of fine foliage and flowering plants at regular intervals down the centre of the stages, and between the latter where they are divided into sections. This was admirably done, and the effect was most pleasing to eyes that heretofore have rested on nothing but bright colours and the everlasting green baize. We must not forget to mention that to this unique arrangement an additional charm was lent by Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing, who contributed at each end of the central transept such splendid groups of Phlo.xes in pots as have never before been seen in this country. They were truly the admiration of everybody, and attracted as great a crowd of worshippers as ever the Rose did at Sydenham, and that is saying a great deal, for nowhere else does th queen of flowers draw half the crowds that she does here. The first of the nurserymen's classes for Roses was for 60 distinct varieties, one truss of each, and for the four prizes offered there were six competitors, whose produc- tions came to the mark in capital style. Here again we have to record the fact that Messrs. Paul & Son (who seem to be well nigh in\nncible in the champion classes) were again placed ist with as good a lot of blooms they have shown anywhere this season. Next to these came Mr. Cant, of Colchester, and then the veteran Mr. Keynes, of Salisbury ; the other competitors being Mr. Cranston, Hereford ; Mr. J. Harrison, Darlington ; and Mr. J. Durbin, Englishcoombe, Bath. It is not our in- tention on this occasion to say which varieties were the best shown in each collection, suffice it to say that after mentioning the names of the principal winners, we will give a list of those Roses which proved themselves stout and true, by appearing most often in good form. In the second class, then, for 48 varieties, three trusses of each, Messrs. Paul & Son were again ist, Mr. Keynes coming in a good 2d. The amateurs came out even stronger than their pro- fessional brethren, and their flowers in every way did them great credit. The best 48 single trusses were exhibited by Mr. T. Draycott, gr. to T. T. Paxett, Esq., Leicester- shire : the next best coming from Mr. C. J. Perry, West lame exhibitors also competed in class he same order of merit being observed, from Mr. J. Moore, gr. to T. Lloyd Bromwich. The The 1 t24C Warwick ; and Mr. May, Stileter, near Braintree, had" the best 12. In the nurserymen's class for 12 Tea- scented, or Noisette Roses, single trusses, the ist prize was carried off bv Mr. Cant, and in the corresponding class for amateurs by Mr. Stoddart, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester. Of yellow Roses about two dozen boxes were shown, the best coming from Messrs. Paul & Son and Mr. Keynes. Looking over the various stands of excellent blooms we selected the following, specimens of which were shown well in most of the collections : — Charles Lefebvre, wonderfully rich in colour all through ; Lselia, very large .and bright ; Madame Victor Verdier, a pretty rose, and nicely shown ; Marie Baumann, always good ; Dr. Andry, Emilie Hausburg. very fine ; MarSchal 'Vaillant, fine in shape, and exquisite in colour ; Due de Rohan, S^nateur Vaisse, Alfred Colomb, grand in shape, and a beautiful colour ; Baronne Hausmann, Baroness Rothschild, La France, better in every respect than we had seen it before this season ; and Madame Jacquin. Strange to say, there were not half a dozen first-rate blooms of Marechal Niel at either this or the last show. Amongst miscellaneous productions were the splendid Phloxes above named (and of which we hope shortly to have more to say), and a large collection of Golden and Bronze Pelargoniums from Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing ; a nice group of Scarlet and other Pelargoniums from Mr. J. Mann ; collections of Roses from Messrs. Paul & Son, and Mr. Cranston ; a dozen nicely grown Fuchsias from Mr. Bristow, gr. to R. P. Harding, Esq., Dulwich ; half a dozen fine Grosse Mignonne Peaches from Mr. W. Donovan, gr. to R. Hibberd, Esq., Upper Norwood ; a dozen very nice cut spikes of Gladioli, from the Rev. H. H. Dombrain ; a capital collection of Picotees and Carnations from Mr. Hooper, Bath ; and a stand of new Verbenas from Mr. C. J. Perry, to one of which, named Emma Weaver, large, pink, crimson eye, a First-class Certificate was awarded. The same distinction was also awarded to Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing, for Bronze Zonal Pelargonium, Marechal MacMahon ; and to Mr. Maurice 'Voung. Milford, for Juniperus chinensis amongst the fair sex, who, for the most part, indulge in unsparing criticism, and more so on Saturday last than on any previous occasion. We take it for granted that the object of the promoters of such displays— of course, putting monetary considerations on one side— is to en- courage taste in that particular feature which they bring before the public, but if the examples which commanded the first prizes on this occasion are to be cited as good ones for that purpose, we can onlv assert that in our opinion the results will fall far short of the mark. For instance, who would ever dream of loading their tables with such an emharras d\ rUhessc as was exhibited on that which was awarded the ist prize amongst professional decorators ? It should be an indispensable condition that whatever form of decora- tion be adopted, ample space should be provided for the usual dinner service. In this instance the useful space was limited to about 6 inches around the edge of the table, and beyond that a wine glass could hardly be inserted without disturbing the floral arrangements. What with pot plants and wet sand to insert the cut flowers in, the table may fairly be said to have groaned beneath its weight of superfluous ornament. In our judgment, of aU the groups exhibited on this occasion, the most effective and serviceable for ordinary use and ordinary means, though not the most novel, was that shown by Miss A. Hassard, St. Ronan's Church Road, Nor^vood, in the amateurs' class, and to which an equal 2d prize was awarded. It consisted simply of three gracefullv filled epergnes, placed at equal distances down the cent're of the table, with a small, neatly-grown Maidenhair Fern on either side of the centre one. This arrangement was simple and graceful, could be reproduced in a comparatively short space of time, and that without exhausting the resources of small gardens to supply the cut flowers. The ist prize was given to an arrangement in which there was some novelty, as well as some bad faults. The novelty consisted in the exclusive employment of cut flowers of hardy perennials, which Mr. Ware, of Tottenham, kindly supplied for the experiment, in place of the stereotyped exotics. These made a very agreeable change, though the selection of the flowers was by no means so good as it might have been. Down the centre of this table (8 feet long) were three plants, with their pots placed on a level with the top, an arrange- ment against which we have not a word to say. on the contrary, when the plants are of a suitable nature, and correspond in size with the surroundings, there is nothing more graceful, and where employed on a large scale the effect, without doubt, is very striking. The plants in this particular case were not wellsuited for the purpose, and this, coupled with the comparatively poor selection of flowers, and the by no means elegant nature of the whole, should, we think, have prevented this example from being held up as a guide. British Association. Edinburgh : Section D. — Prof Dyer, B.A., B.Sc, read a paper ■' On the So-called 'Mimicry' in Plants." He said :— In all large natural families of plants thereis a more or less distinctly observable general habit or facie$, recognisable by the practised botanist, but not always as easily to be expressed in words. The existence of such a general habit in Leguminous and Composite plants is familiar to every one. What have been hitherto spoken of as mimetic plants are simply cases where a plant belonging to one family puts on the habit characteristic of another. This is entirely different from mimicry among animals, inasmuch as the resembling plants are hardly ever found with those they resemble, but more usually in widely different regions. Mutisia speciosa, from Western South America, a Compo- site, has a scandent Leguminous habit, closely agree- ing with that of Lathyrus maritimus of the European shores. In the same way three different genera of Ferns have species (found in distant parts of the worid) indistinguishable in a barten state. The term Mimicry seems objectionable in these cases, and I propose Pseudomorphism as a substitute. As to the cause of the phenomenon, I can onlv suggest that the influence of similar external circumstances moulds plants into the similar form most advantageous to them. An illustration is afforded by the closely resembling bud scales which are found in widely separated natural orders of deciduous trees as modifications of stipules. I do not, however, think that the moulding influence need always be the same. I believe that different external conditions may produce the same result ; in this respect they may be called analogous. Several identical plants are found on the sea-shore, and Duntains. The reason is, I believe that they are equally able to tolerate the effect of soda salts and also of climate ; the tolerance of either unfavourable condition gives them the advantage over less elastically constituted plants, and the two are therefore analogous in their effects. lotias 0f S00KS. Handbook of British Fungi Macmilla Co. M. C. 1871. At these shows the competition for prizes for table decorations is now made a prominent feature, and that it le is evidenced by the fact that an terest is created therein, especially M.A. 982, tab. 7, fig. 40S. Mr. Cooke's work on microscopic Fungi, as well as his plain and easy account of British Fungi, have been generally appreciated, that the present valuable treatise would commend itself to general notice without any review. We have already called attention to the portion which was published in the early part of the present year, but it would seem scarcely to be justice if we passed over without some especial indication, now that it is so happily completed, the results of a long series of very ardent labours. Mr. Berkeley's outlines comprised merely a list of those Fungi which required close microscopic investigation, and the student had to wade through the volumes of the " Annals of Natural History," the Linnean Transactions, &c., for an acquaintance with the specific characters of a great August 12, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1043 portion, many species belonging to our flora not being comprised in any Continental manual ; but Mr. Cooke has gone carefully through the whole range of British mycology so far as its members were ascertained uf '- the time of consigning his manuscript to the printer, labour which can be best appreciated by those who have been the most diligent students of a very difficult branch of botany. The volume comprises characters of 369 genera, added to numerc subgenera, while the species, of which specific phra: are given, are above 2800. Mr. Cooke's studies, should be observed, have by no means been confined British authorities, but all the best Continental woi have been thoroughly analysed wherever information could be found bearing on the subject, while each species has been most scrupulously studied with the help, where possible, of authentic specimens. Large as the number of species is, which are enumerated, doubtless much remains to be done in a very wide field. Mr. Broome still continues his labour, and Mr. W. G. Smith takes every opportunity of illustrating the nobler species ; and should the work reach a second edition, which is very much to be desired, we shall be able to boast of a more complete mycology than almost any Continental country, except Sweden, which is unusually rich in species. Should the demand, however, not be suffi- cient to justify the undertaking of a second edition, Mr. Cooke proposes, from time to time, to give a supple- mental volume, so as to keep the British student com- pletely an couraiit. We conclude this short notice by cordially recommending the Manual to all our botanical friends, whether fungologists or not, as it is highly desir- able that works like the present should meet with such success as may ensure further THE WEATHER. TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR AND FALL OF RAIN . DIFFERENT STA T/ONS, During the Week ending Saturday, .August 5, 1871. SheffiSfd ^"^ Sallord .. Bradford Hull '.'. Newcastle Greenock Perth .'! Temperature i AND At 9 A.M. Reading of «ffis?^r --'• Barometer i SI II H Weight ol 3. Thurs. . IB I Wednes ill si Dee. 63-1 Deg. 58:2 6s.S Deg. i 1 RAIN. AuKUSt. 1 X ! 11 J iJli .. ■Si ii II 1 3. Thurs. . 4. Fnday ■ 6^ SuiJday! 7. Monday 5. Tues. .. q. Wednes ^ 78.2 Dec E If 16.7 § 68.1 6S.» +°l.t 'vari.He Miles, -Comparatively cloudless throughout. Very fine. -Rain fell about 5 A.M., and again heavily between 3 4 P.M. Overcast till 10 A.M. Variable afterwards. —Cloudy between noon and 7 P.M. Nearly cloudle: -Very foggy in the early morning. Small amounts o( clouds prevalent during the day. Cloudless at night. -Light clouds. A brilliantly fine day. Meteors at night. -Generally cloudless. Extremely fine throughout. JAMES GLAISHER. Miscellaneous. WOOD-PIGEONS.— Gamekeepers and naturalists a agreed that the wood-pigeon is, after all, the worst the farmer's foes. It his hitherto enjoyed a sort indirect protection, inasmuch as its natural enemies- the kite and hawk— have been well-nigh exterminated, and the gun-tax efifectually discourages the efforts to destroy it which were once made by the ordinary rustic. As the season is now commencing when the bird begins to. be injurious, it may be as well to some inducements for its pursuit. Of course, every one knows that the wood-pigeon is good eat" indeed, a " quist with a red herring in it " is regarded by west country folk as the greatest of table delicacies. But every one does not know what Mr. Walters ha; learned in China, namely, that its flesh composes the mind of him who partakes of it, and enables him tc do with little sleep. Moreover, "its foot and leg bones have the very delightful quality of exciting affection between husband and wife. If on the fifth day of the fifth moon the husband takes one of these bones and the wife takes one, each putting the bone in a basin of water, one from the left and the otht from the right side, the two bones will come togetht and float together, thus indicating a long and happy union to the parties trying the experiment." Land and Water. (FOR THE ENSUING WEEK.) PLANT HOUSES. Those indispensable winter-flowering plants. Chry- santhemums, should not by any means be stopped o pinched back after this date ; in fact, as I suggested some weeks since, late stopping is not at all commend- able, if fine blooms are a desideratum. Manure water, properly prepared, should be given freely now to such plants as have pretty well filled their pots with roots. It should always be borne in mind in connection with this plant that to permit any to suffer from the want of water will assuredly be the' cause of their losing many of their leaves, which, in an ornamental point of view so much enhance the beauty of the plants when they are in flower. No small amount of attentior should be given to them in regard to earwigs and othei pests, which if not destroyed eat away the young grow ing hearts of the shoots, and so destroy the embryo blooms. Primulas, Cinerarias, and Herbaceous Cal- ceolarias should now, as thrifty young stuff, be kept well in hand. The earliest batch of the former will soon be showing the first signs of forming flower-spikes, and may therefore be treated to a more liberal sunshine. Cinerarias must be potted on successionally as fre- quently as the young roots feel the sides of such pots as they may already be in. No time must be lost in regard to them, as the moment they become in the least Dot-bound their further progress is endangered, by the fact that flower-spikes may be thrown up, the necessary conditions having been assured. Where, how- ever, a few are required in bloom very early, this will be the best means to insure such a result at no very distant date. Be particular, as I have before suggested, not to leave any kind of greenhouse plants out-of-doors too long, in case "we have either too much rain or a continuous moist, cold period. Where the more delicate kinds of Erica or Neiu Holland plants are kept in cold frames, as an additional protection, let the lights be taken off bodily as frequently as possible. Under any circumstances give air freely by night, as at all other times, even if the only means to do so be the usual tilting of the lights sideways. Bouvardias, and especially the very beautiful winter-blooming variety, B. longifolia, should now be turned out-of-doors in all instances where the plants were not planted out into open borders earlier, which is a good and con- venient method. Some greenhouse plants, such as Acacias, Clianthus, Brugmansias, and, indeed, Fuchsias, where these are growing in the open borders, must now be periodically syringed to ward off red spider, which invariably attack them at this season of the year or during the next month or two. Be careful not to pinch back such plants as Pimeleas after this date, as " 3 so is to endanger the display of bloom next season. Those who keep the scarlet-berried Solanums pots, and who have not planted them out, as was suggested in these columns at the proper time, should occasionally water them with liquid manure, as well to ncrease the growth of the plants as the size of such berries as are already " set," and swelling in some stage other. As the season is on the wane, and the growth of )st plants completed, it will now be advisable, should very hot, scorching weather ensue, to permit the sun's rays to act rather freely on most hard-wooded subjects, and especially such as the beautiful Luculias, Pteroma 'IS, Baronias, Lachenaultias (why is not L. biloba, its charming blue flowers, more generally grown?), Darwinias, &c., which bloom so freely and so much better when the young wood is properly ripened. Sow another batch of Schizanthus, they make such very showy stuff for general decoration in spnng. FORCING HOUSES. Permit no further delay in the matter of getting for- ward successional Pines into their fruiting pots where this is not already done. Those next in order of for- wardness and intended for fruiting next year, should also now be finally potted for the season. Choose for them in the main 24-sized pots, and put them into the best possible material at command that is of an open, porous nature. Attend well to the tan-beds at the same time, and prepare them by forking the old tan well up and by adding more new material where it is necessary, to plunge the pots. Except in the case of very late Vineries, these departments will not require much more than the regular attention of air-giving, &c. Particularly see that plenty of fresh air is allowed. Not only will this conduce to the good of the existing crops, but tend very greatly, by aiding the wood to ripen better, to benefit that of the ensuing year. During cold nights a little fire should be started in connection with all houses, the crop in which is not fairly finished off; and where either mildew or red spider are dis- cernible, or are anticipated, it would be as well to fresh paint the pipes with a little sulphur. Where the lights have been taken off Peach or Nectarine houses, it will do the trees much good, should any hot, dry weather ensue, to give them a thorough good washing with a garden-engine. This will tend to cleanse and to freshen them in a manner that even superficial showers cannot equal. Finally, for this season I would suggest that all repairs, glazing, painting, &c., be at once entered on in regard to such structures as are at liberty for that purpose. These things must be attended to, upon the principle of "making hay whilst the sun shines," if we intend doing all the good possible in relation thereto. HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. As the weather has been so dull, gloomy, and sun- less, it will be advisable now to remove the denser leaves which shade too greatly any fruit upon Peach, Nectarijie, or Apricot trees. This will aid them in their ripening process, and tend to increase their flavour. I fear in a very general way the young wood of the current season's formation upon Peach and Nectarine trees will not be over well developed. It is more than ever necessary, therefore, to thin out the young shoots well, that those only are chosen to remain which are the least gross in their growth, and which may be afforded every chance to ripen without being in any- wise overshadowed through the too dense crowding of branches. Nail each young shoot against the wall in such a manner as to ensure these necessary conditions. It is a plan well worthy to follow, especially after such a summer as we have so far experienced, to cut in two diagonally across the middle all large gross leaves. This, as some of our physiologists inform us, tends to change the bud at the base of very strong leaves from being a gross wood-bud into a bloom-bud, or, to say the least, into wood and bloom buds in companionship. Remove without any further delay the old fruiting canes from Raspberry plantations, and so increase the means of circulating more light and air, to insure the young canes being more favourably ripened. HARDY FLOWER GARDEN. The past cool, moist period has in nowise tended to keep that most useful and showy of all modem intro- ductions—the Golden Feverfew (Pyrethrutn) — imm. attempts at blooming. It is desirable, therefore, to pinch back all the points which exhibit this tendency at the earliest moment when discernible. Make sow- ings now of Myosotis (the M. dissitiflora, so highly prized by Mr. Fish, should not be omitted from any garden), Silenes, Sapunarias, Nemophilas, and all such- bke plants intended for early spring decorative pur- poses. Still continue to peg-out, weed, " prick over," and keep tidy all flower-beds, and so afford as much display as the system will admit of. KITCHEN GARDEN. The winter crop of Spinach should be sown between the loth and 15th of the current month. As, however, this is a crop the importance of which cannot well be over-estimated, I advise that two or more sowings be made, say, the first upon the loth and a second one about the 15th of the month. It is always best to sow the crop in drills across any chosen quarter, as the plants can be thinned out more evenly, and the soil can be stirred amongst them with far less inconvenience than when sown broadcast. Make now a sowing of Parsley upon a sunny aspect ; and with a view of keep- ing on the right side of the chef de cuisine, when mid- winter arrives, let a good piece of the same be now transplanted on to a south border in such a manner that one or more cold frames can be placed over it when weather becomes at all sharp. Cut off plants which just commencing to bloom of S'i\et Basil, and dry it quickly for future winteruse. Make yetanothersowingof Cabbage plants. Sow also Lettuces in quantity for the winter's supply. The old Brcon Cos cannot be surpassed for this purpose, when the stock is select and true. Sow also Onion seeds to stand through the winter, for early spring transplanting. I should not omit to add a :minder, that Red^Dulch Cabbage .should also be sown )r future pickling purposes'. It is needless to add lore in the matter of routine ; the subject of hoeing, lanure, watering, &c. , having been suggestively touched pon in the later Calendars. IV , E. Notices to Correspondents. Books: Rusticus. Hooker's "Student's Manual" (Mac- miilan & Co.)— C. J. The nearest to your description is Hooker and Baker's " Synopsis Filicum."— J. W. No recent supplement has been published to Loudon's I044 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 12, 1871 " EncycIop£edia of Plants." The latest catalogue of garden plants is the second edition of Paxton's " Botanical Dictionary." Cone Prolonged into Branch. G.. Bath, This is common in the Larch, but we never saw it before in Abies Tsuga. Diseased Pears : D. D. Your Pear and Cherry leaves are attacked by the larv:E of a species of saw-fly. The mode you have adopted of dusting with quick-lime is the surest way of getting rid of a very unpleasant plague. M. J. B. Fruit z'. Bluebottle Flies : C.J., who suffered last year from a plagxie of bluebottle flies, which committed great havoc amongst his Peaches and Nectarines, and ■ ' could not be lured away by the usual devices of sugared water or treacle, would be glad to hear of a more efficient remedy. Can any one help him ? Perhaps the hand-glass trap, baited with over-ripe fruits, might be effective. We can speak favourably of the French fly- trap figured at p. 461, 1870. Fungi : W. P., Shrewsbury. Hydnum zonatum is cor- rectly named, but the plant referred by you to Clavaria aurea is a common form of C. stricta ; afid the Lactarius cannot be L. plumbeus, for it differs m many respects, and is not acrid. Its mild taste and watery, insipid milk, prove it to be a mere dark variety of L. serifluus. W. G. S. Fungus on Rose : P. H. It is impossible to say whether the Aregma may or may not come on your Roses next year. These parasitic Fungi depend so much on peculiar climatic conditions, that your Roses may be quite safe next year. The species is, however, very common, so ihat you cannot guard against it. Were you to destroy all the infected leaves, it may visit you from the next garden. M. J. B. Grapes : T. T. T. Your Grapes have apparently been scorched. This results from the temperature of the house being rapidly changed from damp cold to excessive heat, a not uncommon case during the past spring. Names of Fruit : H. Mobbs. Grapes : To have named them with certainty you should have sent leaves of each, how they ' -re grown cannot be determined — it resembles Black Prince ; No. 2, White Tokay ; No. 3, Royal Muscadine.-^. T. Both are good. Rivers' Early Orange bears a high character. Names of Fungi : J. J. N. The specimen does not belong to the genus Cantharellus, but is an unusually developed specimen of Agaricus amethystinus, which is a variety of A. laccatus. M. J. B. Names of Plants: T. D. i. Allium vineale, the Crow Garlic ; 2, Senecio Jacobsea, common Ragwort ; 3, Pimpinella magna. Greater Burnet-Saxifrage.—y. H. a variety c ;r of diffe Mallow I of Gladiolus blandus. fiferently-coloured forms are known ; 3, Allmm carmatum.— ^M^//V«.r. The Tall St. John's Wort, Hypericum elatum ; not admitted as a true native of England, but well naturalised in many localities, usually having escaped out of gardens. Blechnum cognatum. — Constant Subset iber. 3, Lastrea elongata. . Abutilon the Cape ; 2, no doubt of which a great numb< Lastrea Filixn apparently ; but the tips of large fronds ; factory specimens. — C. J. i, Adianlum hispidulum ; 2, Adiantum assimile, probably, but very poor ; 3, Cyr- tomium caryotideum ; 4. Doodia media ; narrower than usual ; 5, young of Platyloma cordatum. — R. G. We cannot undertake to name plants from their leaves only. — S. T. We cannot name such shrivelled scraps. — Marchant. Senecio Jacobcta. Truffles: A. B., B.uly Gib/m. There is nothing un- unusual in the size of your Truffles, as they have been known to weigh between 3 and 4 lb. each, and to measure a foot round. Truffles have several times been exhibited at South Kensington, but if you could tell us anything new about their mode of growth, habitat, or how found, we would print it. You might also send a dish to the next meeting of the Fruit Committee, as you have Vine Disease ; James Bahnscn. Your Vine leaves are not attacked by the Phylloxera. The spots are merely the common hypertrophy of the cellular tissue of the lower surface of the leaves, which is quite harmless. They have, however, been much injured by thrips, of which several specimens were inclosed in the envelope. M. J. B. Erratum.— Rev. W. F. Radclyffe desires us to state that he omitted to mention, at p. 1007, Rivers' Pine- apple Nectarine as being, with Rivers' Victoria, the best of all Nectarines, in his experience. Communications Received. —A. B. — T. Lane & Son, Bailarat- Presthury.— W. Taylor.-G. H.-W. H. A.— Don Juan.-H. M.— E. F. W -D. T. F.-W. B.— J. F.— A. F.- A. McN.— W. E. and J. R, {too late).-— M. C. C. (too late for DIED.— At the Nurseries, Hemel Hempstead, on August 5. Mr. Wm. Brownlees, aged 85, highly respected and deeply regretted. larkets. CO VENT GARDEN.— Aug. 11. The supply of bush fruit has not been so large this week, and Currants and Gooseberries are nearly over. Hothouse Grapes and Pines still continue steady at former prices. Peaches and Nectarines are a trifle cheaper. The general tone of the market is very steady. The Potato trade is very heavy, and prices are lower by 2.f. to 3J. per cwt. Apples, per J sieve Grapes, per lb. Lemons, per 100 .. Nectarines, per doz. to 3 o ' Oranges, per 100 ..80 toi2 1 ) — 6 o ' Peaches, per doz. ..80 —20 1 ) — 12 o Pine-apples, per lb. 26 — 51 > — 10 o Strawberries, p. lb. o 6 — i ( Beet, per doz. Cabbages, p. doz. Carrots, p. bunch Cauliflowers, p. do Cucumbers, each ..09 — i o French Beans, p. lb. o 6 — o 8 Gooseberries, per Herbs, per bunch ..02 — 04 Potatos (good samples., Nt 5J. to -js. Horse Radish.p.bun. 3 o t Mushrooms, p. pott. 20- M Indestructible Terra-Cotta Plant Markers. AW AND Cq.'S PATENT.- Prices, Printed &c. MAW AND CO., Benihall Works, Broseley. ' GARDEN STEPS and P. DUST BINS, clean, take CORN BINS, CONS LFRED BRABY, lan, non-absorbent. Caution to Gardeners.— When you ask for SAYNOR AND COOKE'S WARRANTED PRIZE PRUNING and BUDDING KNIVES, see that you get them. Observe the mark SAYNOR, also the Corporate Mark, OBTAI.M Warranted, without which none are genuine. S. & C. regret having to caution Gardeners and others, but arc compelled to do so, in consequence of an imitation, of common quality, having been sold lor the genuine one, and which has caused many complamts to be made to them of Knives which were not of their make, all of which are warranted both by Sellers and Makers. S. AND C.'s PRUNING and BUDDING KNIVES are the best Paxton Works, Sheffield. Established upwards of 125 years^ Archangel Mats. BLACKBURN and SONS beg to inform W friends that the First Shipment of NEW MATS has , d, and they are of very good quality. Price List on applicatic Russia Mat Importers, 4 and 5, Wormwood Street, E.C ANDERSON'S TAGANROG MAT forwarded post f JAS. T. •"" ', Commercia , Shoreditch. London. EDGINGTONS GARDEN NETTING, the cheapest and most durable, at \d. per square yard, or in quantities of '^El5'GiNGToS" lifcK CLOTHS for 66 years have maintained their celebrity as the best. EDGINGTON'S MARQUEES for Hire, are the most elegant and "IdGi'nGTON'S CRICKET and GARDEN TENTS are the . SHAW'S and WALLER'S NETTINGSj sample) CO.?5J,'c)ld°Kent Road, -FREDERICK EDGINGTON ; Xl.X. Honoura e: a perfect non-condui PROTECTION AGAINST the SCORCHING RAYS of the SUN. WOOL NETTING, s yards wide and is. 6,i. per yard. "FRIGI DOMO" CANVAS." Two yards wide 11. orf. per yard. Three yards wide 2*. &f. per yard. SCRIM'^ANVA'sf 72 inches wide', 70 ya'rds long, 5>i'. NOTICE.-Removed from 7. Great Trinity Lane. No. 1, Feel Street, Manchester, 1871. OUR HORTICULTURAL SHADINGS form a thorough Protection from Winds, Frost, and Hail, whilst at the same time they admit Light and Sun. They are used and strongly recommended by the most successful Exhibitors and Scientific Horti- culturists in the kingdom, as well as on the Continent ; in fact, arc Kyacfnth's, s'eed-BeJs, Greenhouses, &a, they have no rivA 1 h^ on'applicilio?. ""° ' '^y *' '' CANIEL WlLINGE aSd''sOn'°° No. 2.— 54 inches wide A\^d. per yard run- No. 3---S4 inches wide at sMA^per^ard^run. No! 5-54 inches wide !! '.'. '.'. .. at sJ^i! per yard run In pieces of about 30 yards each, or any longer lengths when specially ordered Nett cash in 30 days from dale of Invoice. FOWLER'S PATENT STEAM PLOUGH and CULTIVATOR may be SEEN at WORK in every Agricultural County in England. Tor particulars apply to JOHN FOWLER and CO., 71, Comhill, London, E.C. ; and steam Plough Works, Leeds. THE CELEBRATED GRANITIC PAINT. Manufactured Solely and Only by the Silicate Zopissa nitic Paint Company. .aPPlZ to Ion, E.C. Company. For Price Lists, Testimonials, and Patterns of Colours, THOMAS CHILD, Manager, 39A, King William Street, Lot _ . ... _.. , _.. _rve Stone, &c., from Decay. Manufactured Solely and Only by the Silicate Zopissa Composition and Granitic Paint Company. For Particulars and Testimonials apply to THOMAS CHILD, PARTNERSHIP.— The Advertis Nursery, Florist, or Market Gardener's Bus thorough prac- -R. S.rPosr&'ffice' w^^ pledge of Forcing Camellias, A! , . Plant Stock for Sale to the Trade. To live on the premises.— Address wages required and references, to J. in own handwriting, stating wages require! MEREDITH, The Vineyard, Garston, near I WANTED, an energetic YOUNG MAN, to Grow Roses and other Plants for Market and Exhibilion.-Statc wages required, previous employment. Sic, to THO.MAS S. WARE, To Under Gardeners. WANTED, an APPRENTICE.-Board, Lodging, &c., found. A good chance for a respectable voung Man.— Apply, by letter, to W. P., Post Office, Richmond Hill, S.W. WANTEI One havi preferred. Applic ed'-THO^MAs''KE ,TevT"A D^&.???ur?e=r?.: \^ ANTED, a SHOPMAN, W Must be experienced, and quic in a London House. - k at Counter work. Situation rience and wage? required, to ■T^ANTED, VV to tend P experience, wages Pigman. a steady, experienced Ma ze Stock and exhibits-Apply n, accustomed '{ia';irke"t"^ ■ WANT PLACES.-Letters to be Post Paid. EXPERIENCED GARDENERS (or as GARDENER and BAILIFF), of various qualifications, recommended to Gentlemen.— Further particulars given on application to Messrs. E. G. HENDERSON AND SON, Wellington Nursery, St. John's Wood, N.W. GARDENER (Head).— Age 30, married ; 14 years in first-class places ; can be highly recommended.-J. M., Mr. Wm. King's, High Street Nurseries. Lincoln G ARDENER (Head).- Age 30, married ; thoroughly practical: has lived in first-class establishments. Terms /^ nnum, with house— Y. Z., 32, New Street, St- John's Wood, N.W. G^ G ARDENER (Head).— Age 47, married ; thoroughly understands both the Early and Late Forcing of Vines, Peaches, ns, and Cucumbers, the Culture of Stove and Greenhouse Plants, ihe Management of Flower and Kitchen Gardens. Unexcep- /^ARDENER (Head), to any Lady or Gentleman Good references to character and ability.^A. B., Post Office, G^ RDENER (Head), any Lady or Gentleman Greenhouse Plants, well understands Forcing all kinds of Fruits, Flowers, and Vegetables Kitchen and Flower Gardening, also Din •■ " Can be highly recommended. Nine 54, North Street, Edgware Road, London, r-table Decorations, &c.- G ARDENER (Head).— Has a thorough practical knowledge of tne profession, including the Culture of Pines Grapes, Peaches, and Orchids, Stove and Greenhouse Plants; has Eridgc Castle, and other hrst-class Establishments. Can produce skill.— I. W.,Ashburnham Park Nurserji. King's Road, cfelsea, S.W. GARDENER.— Practically acquainted with all the branches of Gardening, and the Growing of all kinds of Hot- house and Greenhouse Plants, Melons, Cucumbers, and Orchids. Good character.— W. C, Post Office, Chudleigh. Devon. GARDENER. — .'\ge 35, single; scientific and practical, has a good knowledge of the Culture and Propagation of Stove and Greenhouse Plants of every description ; also of Botany and the Seed Trade. Can speak and Correspond in English, French, and German. A situation Abroad or as Collector preferred. — G. E., Kew /^;i. ARDENER (Under). -Age 18 ; three years' e.\peri- VT ence in Forcing Houses. Good character.— A. V., 31, Lower William Street, St. John's Wood, N.W. I ARDENER (UNDER).—Age 22; four years experience < in a Nobleman's Garden. Can be highly recommended,-G. H., iburnham Park Nursery, King's Road, Chelsea, S.W. ARDENER (Under) in a Nobleman's or Gentle- man's Family.— .A steady, intelligent young Man, who has had GARDENER (Under), wishes to improve.— Age 24, respectable ; has been in a Garden two years. Good character from last employer.— Full particulars to W'. S., Mr. Starnes, Grocer, GARDENER (Second, or Improver), in the Houses, or partly so, preferred.— Age 20 ; first-class Mr. Child's, Blenheim Nursery, Rye Lane, " ' , Peckham,S.E- FOREM.^N. — Has had the best ot practice lor upwards of to years in all departments of Gardening ; lived last at one of the largest and best kept Noblemen's seats in tne kingdom. First-class testimonials for the above period — I. B., 22, Peploe street, Bishop's Fields, Chester. ^ FOREMAN (or Second), in a Gentleman's Establish- ment.—Age 22, single ; understands Forcing, Stove and Green- house, and Flower and Kitchen Gardening. Good character.— W. M., Post Office, Blue Fits, near Manchester. PROPAGATOR, or PROPAGATOR and FORE- MAN.—Long practice in Soft and Hard-wooded Propagating, Grafting, and Plant Growing.- Apply, for terms, &c., to L C, 24, Brewer Street. Piralico. London, S W PROPAGATOR and PLANT GROWER, either in a Nursery or in a Gentleman's Garden.— A young Man ; has a very good practical knowledge of all the best Plants now cultivated. kinds. — HORTUS, IMPROVER.— Wants a better knowledge of Garden- ing. No objection to small place or Premium.— A., 8, Brown 'MPROVER, in a Gentleman's Garden.— Age - Protestant. Can be recommended. Please state terms. - 'aringslown, Lurgan, County Down, Ireland. MPROVER, where he will have an opportunity of 'ng himself— Age so; six years' character from present -State wages to C. D., 23, Brighton Terrace, Brixton TMPR To Nurserymen. IMPROVER.— .Age 17, active and intelligent ; has had three years' practice in the Houses— C. G., The Gardens. Cholderton 'House, Salisbury- WANTED, by TWO YOUNG MEN, a SITUATION in a NURSERY or Gentleman's GARDEN— Five years' good character. Age iQ.— H. R. B., 6, High Street, Portland Town, -A. H., J. Carter and Co., : 238, High Holborn London, W.C. _^^_^ nbARM BAILIFF, at Michaelmas next. — Ag X, married : thoroughly understands the Management of Heavy, and Mixed Soils, also Breeding. Rearing, and Fcec kinds of Stock, Land and Timber Measuring, Bu-lding, Prainir and is a good Accountant. Twenty years' practical experience most approved system of Norfolk Farmmg. Wife can Ma Dairy and Poultry if required Excellent character.— A. B. ( Caledonian Road, Islington, London, N. i87i.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1045 For Sowing on tlie Stubbles. NEW SEEDS at MODERATE PRICES. UTTONS' IMPROVED ITALIAN RYE-GRASS, TRIFOLIUM INCARNATUM, [USTARD, I RAPE, I BROMUS SCHRCEDERII, SUTTONS' SHORT-TOP SIX-WEEKS TURNIP, HARDY GREEN ROUND TURNIP. r bushel, cwt., and quarter (including Free Delivery Railway Station), may be had on application. Lowest pric SUTTON I Estal imSfK PRIZK MEDAL GRASS SEEDS, ^S*^ lor PRESENT SOWING, upplied to H.M. THE guEEK, H.R.H. the PHttJC: For PERMANENT PASTURES, Carefully arranged to suit the various conditions of soils. For LIGHT SOILS 1 For MEDIUM SOILS J- 271. to 31 J. M. per acre. For HEAVY SOILS J CARTER'S RENOVATING MIXTURE for RENEWING an IMPROVING OLD GRASS LANDS (to be sown after the Ha crop is rcmovedl. Per cwt., 80s. ; lb., 9^. ; per acre, 4s. to Ss. 6d. TRIFOLIUM INCARNATUM.. 1 5. . MUSTARD ..1 Lowest price K . '"^^^1 AM Seeds Carriage Free : 5 per c allowed for cash. NITROPHOSPHATE. REES AND CO.'S BIPHOSPHATED PERUVIAN GUANO (Registeicd Trade Mark, Flying Albatross), is now Government Guano; it contains 21 per cent, of Soluble Phospht 5 to 7 per cent, of Ammonia with Salts of Potash. See reports of Voelclier, Dr. Anderson, Professor Way. Mr. Ugston. and Mr. Sib Delivered in 2 cwt bags, each of which is secured by a leaden s^.>,, bearing the Company's Trade Mark. The analysis is guaranteed so MR. JAMES FRASER (of the late Firm ol J. & I. Eraser, Lea Bridge RuaJ), undertakes HORTICUL TURAL VALUATIONS of every description, SALES by AUCTION, &c,-Mavlands Farm, Romford, Essex, E. WANTED, to PURCHASE, a FREEHOLD ESTATE, to comprise from 400 to 700 Acres of Land and a Mansion of the first class, with suitable Offices, Stabling, &c., within 4omilcsof the Metropolis. Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hants, Berks, or Bucks, preferred. Particulars may be sent to Messrs. VIGERS, Frederick's Place, Old Jewry, London, E.C. E.G., Dagenbam and Barking. fpo BE LET, at Michaelmas ne.xt (\\ J- immediately on the present Crops being cleared), all that valual MARKET GARDEN FARM, containing about 303 Acres exceedingly fine Early Garden Ground, Arable and Pasture Lar known as VALLANCE, GALLANCE, and WARREN HOUSE FARMS, together with the Manor House, Bailiff's " Farm Buildings, situate within 2 miles of the Id about 9 miles Irom London. 1-orter Messrs. CLUTTON, 9, Whitehall Pla. Important to Nurserymen, Florists, and Otbers. rpo BE DISPOSED OF, by Private Treaty, the X LEASES, with possession, of the old established and well >ttages in NURSEfilES, c. with Seed Shop an Greenhouses ant cropped with first.class 1 The whole to be sold a MORRIS, Auctic ?&:^^ Leytt PROTHEROE To Gardeners and Otbers. ""PO BE SOLD, or LEASED for a term of Years, J- advantageous terms, the OSBORNE PARK NURSER; close to Potter's Ear Station, Great Northern Railway, where Coals are delivered direct from the North, and easy of access to C Garden Market, The Nursery occupies about 2 acres of ground, on the high road, and contains a Dwelling House, Foreman's Cottage, Stable, Sheds, and 15 Glass Houses, htted up with Hot-water Boilers Mrs. Huxtable, 2, Carthusian Street, London, E.C. SALES BY AUCTION. Important Sale of Com Crops. BLOUNT'S ANUSWLET DEWS FARMS.SAWBRIDGEWORTH HERTS. W O R D E R has been favoured vvitl: ns from John Prcut, Esq.. the Proprietor, to SELL on the premises, on -TUESDAY, August CNCcllcnt GROWING CROPS of CORN 340 Acres, with the whole of the Straw, comprising 153 Acl Wheat, 98 Acres of Barley, 54 Acres of Winter Beans, and 36 Acres of Beans and Oats. The abundant second cut of Clover and Sainfoin 5 Stacks of capital SAINFOIN and CLOVER out 220 loads, and about 250 qr. of OLD RED G.i by AU( ifXv, COI,L„.„..,S -UOUl 2^1 wheJat. The Crops may be viewed where Luncneon will be : Sale. I be provid ■ be had of SALE THIS DAY, AT HALF-PAST TWELVE O'CLOCK. Bulbs from Holland. R. J. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, M HYACINTHS. TULIPS. CROCUS'ES, NA'RcJiSSUS, and SNOWDROPS, from several well-known Bulb Farms in Holland. Lotted to suit the Trade. Imported Orcblds. MR. J. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 38, King Street, Covent Garden. W.C, on TUESDAY, August 15, at half-past 12 o'Clock orecisely, nearly 200 imported plants of PHAL.ENOPSIS GRANDIFLORA, many of them superb plants, with leaves 3 to 4 inches broad, and a foot to 18 inches long : also of CATTLEYA DOWIANA. VANDA LOWII (in good conditionj, and the extremely rare and handsome ANSELLIA PLANTII ; some of the finest masses ever imported of EPIDEN- DRUM BICORNUTUM, and other imported ORCHIDS. On view the morning of Sale, and Catalogues had. Highly Important Sale \TED COLLECTION of ORCHIDS formed by S. RUCKER. Esq., at WANDSWORTH. MR. J. C. STEVENS has received instructions from Messrs. Veitch & Sons, who have purchased the entire COLLECTION, to offer for SALE by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 38 King Street, Covent Garden. W.C, on TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY. August 22 and 23, at haJf-past 12 o'CIock precisely each day, the second portion of the above magnificent lot of Plants, Cymbidium eburneum, true, best Odontoglossum Alexandrae, fine Odontoglossum pulchellum mujus Colax jugosa, very rare Lycaste Skinner! alba, true Masdcvallias, of sorts Sophronites grandiflora, fine Pleione lagcnaria, and maculata, >Erides Lobbii, fine plant variety, from Borneo Dendrobium Wardi „ nodatum, finest plant Phalaenopsis um guttatum Holfordi lomings of Sale, and Catalogues had. M-!;^ Sale of the late Mr. Barnes' Herd. IVESTLAND. COUNTY MEATH, IRELAND. R. JOHN THORNTON will SELL by AUCTION, serve, on WEDNESDAY', August 23, at i o'clock, t Westland, near Kells. Ireland, the old-established and verj' elebratcd HERD of SHORTHORNS bred by the late Thos. Barnes. Isq., whose well-known judgment has brought the Stock to very great criection It was founded nearly 30 yfears ago with two Cows of the ■ere added Bright Eyes, descended, through Mr. Lawson's Herd, rom Mr. Mason's stock; and Sweetbrier, of Mr. R. Booth's famous sabella tribe. Bulls were, from the first, hired from Mr. John and Ir. R. Booth's Herds at Killerby and Warlaby. The Herd.conse- uenlly. is not only very deeply in-bred to the best of Booth blood, but Westland, near KeUs, County Meath, Ireland. MR. JOHN THORNTON will SELL by UNRESERVED AUCTION, on WEDNESDAY. August 23 (immediately after the Sale ot the late Mr Barnes' Herd), the small, select HERD of PURE-BRED SHORTPIORNS, bred by and the property of R. W. Reynell, Esq., of Killynon, Killucan. County West- mcalh. it numbers about Thirty Head, bred from two tribes— the Fairy Queen, descended from Stock bought by Mr. Holmes of Mr. Brown, at Chilton, in 1829 (whence the Oxford tribe came), and the Pauline family, purchased by the late Mr. Barnes from Mr. Whitaker, of Burley. The Bulls used have been of the best blood at Westland, Duke of Leinster (17,724), Royal Prince (27,384), and Lord Spencer (26.738) being the latest sires. Catalogues, with Pedigrees, may be had of Mr. REYNELL, Killynon, Killucan; or of JOHN THORNTON, 15, Langham Place. London, W. M Castle Grove, Letterkenny, Ireland. i. JOHN THORNTON will SELL by UNRESERVED AUCTION, on FRIDAY. August 25. at Castle Grove. Letterkenny, Ireland, the ENTIREand VALUABLE HERD of FIRST-CLASS SHORTHORNS, the property of J. G. Grove. Esq. It numbers about 50 head of Bulls. Cows, and Heifers, many of which are of the celebrated Fame by Raspberry tribe, bred by the late Mr. Richard Booth. The others comprise several old Shorthorn families, which have been crossed with Mr. Booth's bulls for a great number of years, no less than 11 first-class animals from Mr^J'ro\ 1 service at Castle Grove. , with Pedigrees, may be 1 Place, London, ' Buckland, near Faringdon. IMPORTANT SALE of SOUTHDOWNS. MR. STRAFFORD has receive announce that the ANNUAL SAL PURE-BRED SOUTHDOWN SHEEP, belonging to Sir William Throckmorton, Bart., will take place at Buckland, near Faringdc on FRIDAY, August 25 next, when 80 lull " " " ^hich \ lams at the Royal Show at Wolverhampton. Catalogues, with particulars, may be had > ;E0. T. WILLIA^fS. at Buckland, near Fe Brailes House, Shipston-on-Stour. IMPORTANT SALEofSHORTHORNS. MR. STRAFFORD begs to announce that he has received instructious from Henry J. Sheldon, Esq.. of Braile: House. Warwickshire, to fix the FOURTH BIENNIAL SALE o PURE-BRED SHORTHORNS for THURSDAY. September 21 which will consist of about 45 Bulls, Cows, and Heilers, chiefly o Kirklevlngton and Fawsley blood. The Sire now in service is th. i8th Duke of Oxford (25,995), bred at Holker from this justly renowned tribe of Shorthorns. Catalogues, with Pedigrees and other particulars, will shortly .^». ....PORTANT SALEofSHORTHORNS. MR. STRAFFORD begs to announce for SALE by AUCTION, without reserve, on THURSDAY, September 2? next, the extensive and valuable HERD of PURE SHORtHORNS, bred by and the propertv of Mr. Ladds, of Ellington, which numbers about 100 Head of Bulls, Cows, and Heifers; prominent amongsl them will be found several fine specimens from Red Duchess and Princess, bred by Mr Chrisp ; lacinlha, by Mr. Bcaslcy ; Farewell and Marquis of Exeter, Mr.* Robinson, and 'ark, Revesby Abbey, and latterly, .red by the Duke of Devonshi 'enrhyn's, and 2d Earl of Barring ame famed line of blood : the two Catalogues, with Pedigrees, wil iariiculars given in future advertis London : 13, Euston Square, Au| 1 Farnley Hall, Cobhai I Barrington ist (14.223,, ey (25.421), from Lord rHE LANDS IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. (Incorporated bv Special Acts of PARLrAMENT.) DRAINAGE. RECLAMATION, FARM BUILDINGS, LABOURERS' COTTAGES, TRAMWAYS, RAILWAYS, &c. I Granville R. Ryder, Esq. GranvillcR.H.Somerset>sq.,Q.C. Henry W. West, Esq.. M.P. Charles Watkin Williams Wynn. 1 Esq., M.P. (Chairman). of Agriculi Farm Buildings, to tl the Clergy in respeci Tenants may, wit' .e Lands. the necessary Improvements i UTILISATION of SEWAGE.— The Company also advances money for the purpose of W^orks of Sewage Irrigation. The whole outlay and expenses are liquidated by a rent-charge upon the land, redeeming principle and interest, over 25 years. No investigation of title is required. For Forms and further information, apply to GRANVILLE R. RYDER, Esq.. Managing Director, No, i. Great George Street, LABOURERS' COTTAGES, &c. IHE GENERAL LAND DRAINAGE and IMPROVEMENT_COMPANY. (Incorporated by j' Chapman, Esq.. F.R.S. orge Thomas Clark, Esq. Edward John Hutchins, Esq. I Landowners who prefer nt with their Landlords, nay be charged upon the itigation of title necessary, and UTILISATION of SI arrangements will be made wi s, and others, for undertaking \ ,ith all Works incidental ther L sum in gross, /1ENTRAL ARGENTINE LAND COMPANY, \J Limited. ChairtnaH— John Hegan, Esq. A^eitt in the Ref>uhlic~Y., Harry Woods, Esq., C.E., Buenos Ayres. Siiperintcndint—\\l\-\.\.KU PERKINS, Esq., Rosario de Santa Fi. The Directors offer, on advajitageous terms to Settlers, either as Tenants or Purchasers, PLOTS, varying from 80 tojoo ACRES each, of the COMPANY'S LAND, situate on each side of the Central Argentine Railway, from the Port of Rosario to the City of Cordova, the entire length being 246 miles. Towns and Villages are being laid out at various points on the Line, where smaller Plots may be secured and facilitate the ons on the Central ire l?ieTeircl ; Railway, and adapted for immediate reach of tfe^S way, and adapted lor immediate cultivation, cufarsmay be obtained at the Offices of the Compai London-^5, Patmerslo'n Buildings, Bishopsgate Str Buenos Ayres~87, Callc de la Rcconquista; Rosario — Terminus of the Central Argentine Railway ; Where the Sur\'eys of the Land (about 1,000.000 Acres), with the Plans of tne Colonies already established, can be ins _ GEORGE WOOLCOTT, Se< "shopsgate Stre E.G.; E.G. to Competi COLL x&mS^i _ _ _ having a First-class Ccrtil idge Middle Class Examinations. For particulars, apply to the PRINCIPAL. RESIDENCE COMMENCES on TUESDAY, August B', DAY, THURSDAY and FRIDAY, August 15. 16, 17, and 18, when PRIZES to the amount of SIX HUlfDRED and FIFTY-FIVE POUNDS will be awarded. Three Hundred Horses aie entered. Admission ; On Tuesday, ss. ; Wednesday, 25. M. ; Thursday and Friday, WIRRAL AGRICULTUR,\L SOCIETY.-The ANNUAL SHOW of HORSES, HORNED STOCK, SHF.EP. PIGS, POULTRY, DOGS, IMPLEMENTS, &c., will be held at Birkenhead, on AUGUST 30. ENTRIES CLOSE AUG. 8. Further particulars. Schedules, &c., on application to the Secretary, WM. HENDERSON, Jun., 2, Market Cross, Birkenhead. SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 1871. HOW is the farmer of 300 acres of land to participate in the advantages of steam culti- vation ? The large number of farms of such a size, and less, renders this one of the most momentous questions of the day. No one now denies the complete success of the application of steam to the cultivation of extensive farms, but when we consider the case of small occupations, the amount of capital required to purchase the most effective and economic apparatus is quite dis- proportioned to the farmer's means. The direct system of working cuUivating implements by means of engines on both headlands, is un- doubtedly the cheapest method per acre, when there is sufficient work to be done. This is, however, precisely the difficulty which meets the occupier of 300 acres, or less. He is, therefore, driven to relinquish the advan- tages of steam cultivation, or to one of the following alternatives — he may hire, or he must purchase. Mr. BULSTRODE, near Maidenhead, has recently discussed this difficult question in a letter to a contemporary, in which the subject is handled with clearness and strong 1046 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 12, 1871. sense. " If," says Mr. Bulstrode, the small farmer " is willing to risk the chances of hiring, he will probably see at once that the powerful double-engine tackle will satisfy his requirements, but if he realises and appreciates the danger, the difficulty and the costliness of this course, and the great importance of having a set of machinery constantly at his command, he will also see that this grand apparatus is totally unsuited to his ■burse." We cannot consider the question of Hii ing versus Purchasing to be so summarily settled ; and, in fact, the only real annoyance in the former method consists in having to wait the conveniences of the contractor. Thus there is constant risk of losing the great advantage of having the land worked at the right season, a risk which is magnified by the simultaneous requirements of every farm in the neighbourhood. This is the great difficulty to be met by those who are interested in steam cultivating companies, although it is one which may in a great measure be overcome by a sufficient " rolling stock," and by the encouragement of an accommodating spirit among those who employ the apparatus. " First come first served," is a fair maxim, but, on the other hand, a company would be wise to remember that a customer, who has suffered from delay at one period of the year, should be promptly attended to on a future occasion. The farmer of some 300 acres of land, who has resolved to purchase rather than to hire, will have to consider what is the most suitable appa- ratus for his purpose. He will probably conclude that the double-engine system, involving an out- lay of something like £\yxi, is beyond his reach, and he will turn his attention to some one of the single-engine systems now before the public. The engine being in such cases always a most considerable part of the purchase, he will soon find that one of the principal questions is, whether he should invest in a complete set of tackle, including an engine specially fitted up with self-propelling gear, " and carrying with it many cumbersome appendages " necessary for the direct system of steam-cultivation ; or, whether he should adopt the roundabout system with a common lo-horse power farm engine. "This," says Mr. Bulstrode, "brings the question witliin very narrow limits : the decision lies between the roundabout system with separate windlass and (say) a lo-horse power engine, and the direct system with 8, 10, and i2-horse power engine, double drum, and disc anchor. "I fully allow the advantages of the direct system, in its economy of power and labour, and therefore of time and money, under favourable circumstances ; but we must not forget that it has also many disadvantages. engine must of necessity be self-propelling, and also carry with it many cumbersome appendages, even when em- ployed at other ordinary work, such as threshing, &c. ; nor is its disadvantage in first cost likely to be forgotten by the 300-acre tenant-farmer. Contrast this with the roundabout system, in which the common farm-engine is available at all times for threshing, chaff-cutting, root-cutting, grinding, &c., without any extra weight or complex appendages, in which the water has only to be carted to some conveniently-selected spot, or may sometimes be pumped from an adjoining ditch or tank to which the rope can be laid to suit any irregularities of surface or boundary, and in which the first cost is at all events no small point in its favour. " There is in this, as in most matters of dispute, much to be said on both sides ; but the two systems are quite distinct. We cannot choose any golden mean, but must either choose one or other, or reject both ; and therefore can come but to this conclusion, that the results of the great trials of 1871 have fully confirmed the opinion that although for very large fanns the double-engine direct system is unrivalled, it is also true that for the ordinary English farmer, holding some 300 acres, the roundabout system is the simplest, the most economical and the best." We have pleasure in giving, prominence to Mr. BuLSTRODE's Very practical remarks, and although we consider the time has not arrived for dogmatic teaching as to the best method of applying steam to the cultivation of land, we arc sure that the above opinions are applicable to a very considerable number of cases. The Mark Lane markets were closed on Monday. On Wednesday there was a small show of English Wheat, transactions in all descriptions were restricted, and prices easier in some instances. Trade at the Metropolitan Cattle Market on Monday was not so good as in the previous week, but prices were not much reduced ; on Thursday there was an active demand, at fully Monday's quotations. The autumn session of the Royal Agri- cultural College will commence on Monday. We are glad to hear of the continued prosperity of this institution, the importance of which can scarcely be over-rated, if its governors continue to act up t( sound principle of Science with Practice. It v small proof of the energy and liberality of the College Council that they have advertised in the Times^ and other leading newspapers, six scholarships, each of the annual value of £i,0, open to competition to all students having a first-class certificate in the Oxford or Cambridge middle-class examinations. .Such prizes, offered by an institution but recently emerged from pecuniary and other difficulties attendant on its estab- lishment, plainly indicate the intention of the autho- there, to give back to the public those advantages which public support have conferred upon them. Let he Public support the Agricultural College, and we plainly see that the College will not forget its duties as tre of educational light, and a nursing mother of industry and worth. — We have received from " F. P." a further com- munication on the subject of the Romford Sewage, in hich exception is taken to the " brandy-and-water " mile employed by Mr. Hope at p. 988 : — " It must be obvious that there is no similarity of position between the consumer of brandy and the con- r of sewage, for whilst one has the power of mixing ■ to any degree or of taking the spirit in its raw state, ther is quite unable to ' eliminate ' from the sewage the water which he inay consider to be superfluous, excepting through the lands and the crops. The man .vho takes sufficient brandy, with either very little water, 3r with no water at all, will become intoxicated ; but he ,vho greatly dilutes the same quantity of spirit will suffer no inconvenience because of the prolongation of the time n which he consumes the liquor." " F. P." questions also whether the price of brandy ivould be what it is if it were diluted by 30 or 40 tirnes ts own bulk of water, so that a man need drink 40 gall, of liquid to secure the benefit due to i gall, of pirit. But the discussion has, it appears to us, been ilready excessively prolonged. The foUowingimportant letter upon the Water Supply of London, signed "Lechlade," and therefore probably from a resident in the locality of which he ts, appeared in the Times of the 4th inst. : — Water supply to our towns is a subject which, before long, will force itself upon the attention of the people of England ; and the question which it involves will be best solved by dividing the country into water districts, and distributing to each the share' which fairly belongs toil, without trenching upon the property of its neighbours. Scotland draws her supply from the lochs. The 600 square miles of hills facing the Atlantic are ample for the s of our manufacturing districts. The valley of the Thames can be shown to possess an abundance of water meet the demands of its occupants. What concerns is the supply for London ; and it is extraordinary that inhabitants should submit to a monopoly which limits amount and raises the price of an article which ought to be brought almost free of charge to their doors. If the subject is viewed in detail, all difficulties ■■■ vanish ; the question lies in a nutshell. I confine remarks to the upper portion of the Thames alcove Oxford, because from the character of its soil, the heaviest clay we know of it appears as if intended by Nature as a reservoir for the supply of its lower and more lous districts. The watershed of the Thames above Oxford is 875 square miles, the recipient of 12 streams; rainfall may be taken at 28 inches, allowing for losses, tural and artificial, leaving available 9 inches. Its area the west is 74 square miles, to the north is 678, to the south is 123 ; the watershed of 290 square miles, at 9 inches infall, will supply 30 gallons per head to 3,250,000 ins. The other 300 square miles are more than suf- ficient for that purpose ; the remaining 260 square miles nearly so. The flow of water through Lechlade Bridge is from 200,000,000 to 300,000,000 gallons in 24 hours, more than twice the amount required for the consumption of London ; to this must be added what is drawn by steam pumps from fuller's earth, an amount perfectly incal- culable; one alone at Thames Head yields 3,000,000 gallons every 24 hours. In the driest summer known LS impossible to pump the well dry or to reduce water in it to a less depth than 9 feet. If only three of these streams— the Colne, the Amnoy, ' he Chum— were directed to a reservoir of 400 acres, 9 feet deep, it would supply 1,000,000 persons, at 30 gallons per head, for one month. .Additional storage is a mere matter of expense. The overflow ot the Thames can always be utilised to meet the increasing demands of the population. Probably a number of small reservoirs would be best adapted to the public convenience. The question of cost has been solved by a very spirited agriculturist in the neighbourhood of Farringdon, who, for the improve- ment of his estate, constructed a reservoir containing 8,000,000 gallons at a charge of ^8000— that is, ^1000 for the stor.age of 1,000,000 gallons -no heax'y outlay to insure a constant supply, which could be flushed down the river by opening the locks of a reservoir, to be refilled by the influx of the next flood. There is no expense of pumping required, no machinery ; the mere force of gravitation will send the water down stream ; but, unfortunately, it is stopped in its flow to London by the monopoly of the water companies ; a constant supply, which ought to be delivered at an almost nominal charge to our urban districts, is taxed for the benefit of share- holders. Neither ought we to lose sight of the fact that stor.age of water in agricultural districts is preferable to that in the vicinity of large towns, with all the unwhole- some exhalations which taint their atmosphere. " It is curious to observe the change which has occurred in our rivers with the improvements in agriculture. LInder the effect of steam ploughing water will sink through the heavy clay lands into 4-feet drains in seven minutes ; formeriy it was retained as in a sponge, gradually forced its way into a ditch, or yielded to the slower process of evaporation. It now rushes to the river, and is lost in floods which ought to be economised for the benefit of London. But however advantageous the process may \x to agriculture, it is disastrous to the river. The floods carry with them large quantities of mud, to be arrested by the weeds which flourish in the absence of navigation ; in time those weeds die and sink, causing a silting of its bed, which checks and diverts the course of the stream. That is of small interest to all but riparian proprietors, but in a sanitary point of view it is all-important to the population ■ ■ Nature's best purifier is the shingle at the bottom of a river, witness clear mountain streams ; the accumulation of mud prevents the contact of water with the gravel, the bed constantly rises, the hard subsoil upon which its waters ought to flow becomes a coating of deleterious matter affecting its quality as a pure and wholesome beverage. No water is better than the Thames when filtered of its impurities, none better adapted to domestic uses when it regains its natural colour ; but the neglect of the stream destroys its quantity and detracts from its quality. "The remedy is so obvious, and so cheap, that it is marvellous the inhabitants of London should remain con- tented with nothing more than an occasional murmur. It can only be accounted for by the fact that public opinion is slow to act against powerful and long-standing abuses. "The case resolves into this — the formation of reser- voirs in the upper districts of the Thames Valley, at a cost of ;£'tooo for every 1,000,000 gallons— that is the fixed charge ; water bailiffs to regulate the supply, and a few steamers to prevent the accumulation of mud. Probably, after the original outlay for storage, ^^2000 per annum would cover every e.'ipense, and insure to the inhabitants of London an incalculable supply of pure water at an infinitesimal price. The managers of the Lodge Farm, Barking, love to have their work scrutinised. In another por- tion of the Agricultural Gazette will be found a report by an eye-witness of the present state of this farm, a report which must assist the public in coming to a con- clusion as to the varied uses to which sewage may be applied. A number of gentlemen, principally from Essex, have been round the sewaged farm, have looked over the hedge, and seen the benefit to a neighbour who has taken advantage of the fertilising flood ; and arrived at the conclusion that where there was no sewage — where, from unskilled manipulation, it had missed, there was a corresponding failure in corn or grass. Having established the great fact that sew. age is beneficially applied to our ordinary crops, the managers of the Barking farm are endeavouring to unravel questions of detail — as to whether, for instance, narrow or broad beds are the best ; that is, whether beds 16 yards or 50 yards across are the best. The result of the above examination was so favourable to wide beds, that even Mr. Mechi was convinced— much modified his opinions — and the company pronounced in favour of a considerable distance between "carriers," and beds 50 yards wide. Nostatementof thecommercial prosperity of the farm is made, but this is, from a national point of view at least, of secondary importance. If whilst improving our rivers, and rendering our popula- tion healthy, getting rid of disease, in fact, we can also increase our food supply, the work should go on. And if there is not sufficient profit in sewage farming to encourage individual risk of capital in it, the work should be done at the public expense. The WiGTON Farmers' Club submit the papers which are read before them to a rough-and- ready criticism, which, whatever may be its effect on those who may be labouring for future meetings, has at any rate the effect of giving some amusement to readers. At the last meeting which we have seen reported, Mr. Grainger read a paper, advocating, among other things, practical as well as theoretical education. He thought that young men should be taught to do, as well as to know when a thing was done. It was an easy thing to take a farm and put it into good condition, if a man had plenty ot money in in his pocket, but this was quite a different thing from making it pay. He thought every farmer ought to learn to plough, sow, and reap well, but some mental calculation was required also, in order that a system of farming might not be followed which did not pay. After referring to the probability of the establishment of an agricultural college for the North of England, he turned from the question of education to that of taxation. He thought it as much the duty of farmers to look after their pockets and interests in that line as many others spoken of Thereupon ensued a discussion; — Mr. Wright thought the paper was very difficult to understand. — Mr. Hether- INGTON agreed with what was said about having to serve an apprenticeship to farming. — Mr. Wright said it was not necessary to be able to plough or work ; they could get men to do that. What a farmer wanted was a good head-piece. — Mr. McMe- CHAN would suggest to the Chairman and the meeting whether farmers were not the "best abused" set of men going. Almost every lecturer and speaker had a fling at them, and they were spoken of as if they were half a century behind any other trade or profession, whereas he believed the opposite was the case. — Mr. Ross said, when a lecturer treated upon so many subjects, it was difficult to carry them all in one's head, so as to reply to them. Farmers had cer- tainly to direct their attention to all kinds of tilings, vegetables, animals. They had to acquire experi- ence, so that if they looked at a plant or field which was not doing well they would know what .was wanted; a man of letters would not know this. He thought the August 12, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1047 paper was very good, but it embraced too many subjects. —The Chairman much approved of that part of the paper which spoke of an agricultural college. If such a thing were established he should send a son, and he thought they ought to take some action on that ques- tion.— Mr. Wright, after some further discussion, said he should propose that the Club offer £s for the best plan of destroying the wireworm. — Mr. Ross said he could tell him for 5^/. It could be kept down by frequent ploughing.— Mr. Norman doubted this. Farmers called almost everything which destroyed the roots of plants wireworms, whereas there were about 60 different kinds of worms of this destructive sort, many of which might be killed by the soil being fre- quently disturbed and turned over. He thought the best plan was to roll the land very hard with a Cam- bridge roller.— The next meeting will take place on October 17. The following particulars are taken from the columns of the Sydney Herald, as an illustration of the loss incurred in that colony by Pleuro-pneumonia. The extent of loss due to the disease may be seen by comparing the numbers of cattle in the following years : —1862, 2,620,383 ; 1863, 2,032,522 ; 1864, 1,294,119. So that in two years when this fatal disease was pre- valent the deaths, and sales to escape death, brought down the stock to less than one-half. In the following year the numbers rallied to 1,961,805, but ha- fallen again, and now stand at 1,795,874 : being little more than three-fifths of the stock of nine years ago. It is worth while placing on record a rec decision in a court of equity as to the right to Street Soil and Waste in Towns, when it is not reserved, seeing that the subject has some bearing on a scavenging question in which suburban agriculture is interested. The case is thus reported in the Times:— " Beckett, Bart., v. Borough of Leeds. "The question in this case was whether the lords of the manor of Leeds are entitled to the soil of the streets within the township or the owners of the adjacent houses. The case was heard some days ago. Sir Richard Baggallay, Q.C, and Mr. North appeared for the plaintiffs : Mr. Bagshawe and Mr. Graham Hastings for the defendant. The MASTER of the Rolls said that, as a general rule, the owner of a house in a street was entitled to the soil usgue ad medium filum vice until the contrary were shown. There was no evidence of any reservation to the lords of the manor in the various grants of sites for houses, and in the absence of any evidence to the contrary he should hold that the soil of the streets was vested in the owners of the adjacent In the neighbourhood of Maritzburgh, South Africa, we learn that the farmers have suffered and are still suffering great losses by the increased virulence of the Lung Sickness among the cattle, and to add to the severity of the infliction, another fatal disease, known to the Dutch as melt-richte, has made its appear- ance, and in several instances caused great loss. This last disease proves rapidly fatal ; the beast appears dull, and refuses to eat ; if watched closely his urine will be found bloody, and death generally ensues within 12 hours after the first symptoms have made their appearance. An examination of the carcase will show that the fat of the heart and kidneys has disap- peared, and that death has been caused by violent inflammation of the intestines. In cases where beast recovers, large patches of the hide fall off, a the poor brute presents a deplorable appearance. The Dutch attribute the disease to extreme heat. It may be well to place on record the sensible opinion of a member of the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. At the Perth show, last week, replying to a toast in honour of that Society, Mr. Jacob Wilson is reported to have said, regarding the Wolverhampton Meeting : — "Although they had 16,000 or 20,000 in their show at one time, they lost money by it : but he did not think that national associations, like the Royal Agricultural or the Highland Society of Scotland, should mind a little loss ; they should rather consider the progress and improve- ment of the agriculture of their respective countries. He had no patience with economy in these annual showyard arrangements, and he asked, when you have from ^20,000 to j^40,ooo invested in funds, what are you doing for the agriculture of your generation by investing that money ? They were living in a time when agricultural progress was advancing with more rapid strides than had been known in times past, and he thought they could not spend their money better than by encouraging the improvements in mechanics as applied to agriculture at the present day. He instanced the case of steam cultivation, and strongly urged that its merits should be thoroughly tested regardless of expense, and instanced the example of the Royal Agricultural Society, which did not spare money in this matter. He was himself in favour of Fowler's machine, but he was not prejudiced ; if he could see a better to-morrow, he would buy it. As regards steam cultivation he was glad to find that they had men of intelligence determined to keep up with the progress of the day, and that a society had been started for steam cultivating the whole of Scotland. Hints had been thrown out that this society was for the purpose of pushing forward a certain engine, but this he hoped was not the case. He had been a steam cultivator for many years, and there was a steam cultivating company which only the other year had got from 20,000 to 30,000 acres to cultivate. Their prices were moderate ; they could earn . ordinary arymg vill be important, it ' to the tenant-f The following recommendation of English Ploughs for more general use in India, reaches us from the Punjaub. The writer says : — "To show the effects of deep ploughing, I would mention that last September I sowed a piece of land with Carrot (country) using only half the amount of seed the zemindars do. The land had only been ploughed once with St ATKARTT'S plough, and side by side with the land I farmed was another field of Carrots, sowi day as mine, but ploughed eight times with native plough. My Carrots were ready for a full month before the zemindar's ; his v across at the head by 6 inches long, m 8 to 10 inches, and many were 12 and ev across and a foot long. A European who rents lands in these parts has literally no reason to use manure if he will employ an English plough, as at 10 inches deep he turns up maiden soil : you have only to change your land every year." The extract given in another page from Dr. Spencer Cobbold's Lecture will be read with curiosity, disgust, or horror, according to the feelings of different people. The whole lecturf found in the Journal of the Society of Arts for July 21. It is impossible to doubt that the risk exists to which Dr. CoBBOLD directs attention. It is, however, we think, remarkable that amid all the instances of parasitism in connection with sewage irrigation which he has quoted from the Punjaub and other distant points, no mention should have been made of the fact that sewage irrigation has existed in this country for many generations of men without the consequence which he anticipates. The Rivers Pollution Com- mission, when inquiring into the relation of the sewage meadows near Edinburgh to the health of that city, elicited from Dr. Littlejohn, the medical officer of health at Edinburgh, that there was no such thing as a prevalence of tapeworm there, nor any other disease traceable to the neighbourhood of the Craigentinny meadows ; that there was an active medical school, which would certainly have detected and carefully traced any such diseases, had they existed ; that the Craigentinny meadows had been an institution for 150 years, and that during all that time Edinburgh had been fed on beef fattened after being fed on sewaged grass. This is called a "new danger" by the Food Jourital. On the contrary, whatever may be the amount of the danger, it is at least 150 years old, and nothing has yet come of it. OUR LIVE STOCK. CATTLE. Last week we published the general result of the Farnley Hall sale, which was, on the whole, successful. We append a complete list of the prices and purchasers : — Jessy, both by DuKE OF Waterloo (21,616), and daughters of Julia, were both bought by Sir W. C. Trevelyan for 33 and 34 gs. respectively. Ducliess of Waterloo, by Earl of Jersey (23,838), and of the Bates " Waterloo " tribe, was bought by Mr. T. Wilson for 160 gs. ; and Viscomtesse Jersey, by DuKE OF Waterloo, above mentioned, and another member of the "J" tribe, was purchased at 77 gs. by Mr. W. Angerstein. In the bull sale. Earl of THE 'Valley was sold, for 35 gs., to Mr. Danby ; and Count Jersey, by Duke of Waterloo (21,616), was secured by Mr. Craig, for Austra- lia, at 57 gs. The general result of the sale was as follows : — 36 head at .. ;£32 The subject of internal parasites must always be important to flockmasters and graziers so long as liver fluke, " gidd," " measles," and other well-known forms of disease resulting from these mysterious creatures, exist. It was with some misgivings, there- fore, that the friends of sewage irrigation heard that Dr. Cobbold, the great authority in this country on entozoa, should have expressed a fear lest the appli- cation of human excreta on land should be followed by the dissemination of germs of disease in the form of ** eggs" of tapeworms and other low forms of life. It is with some relief that we find at least one well- substantiated reassuring case communicated to the Romford sewage meeting, by Mr. Hope. Mr. Hope fed an ox for 22 months on sewage produce — grass, Mangel Wurzel, Cabbage-leaves, and very often the rakings of grass, and the ox was slaughtered, quite recently "in the presence of Dr. Cobbold and other scientific men, and after it had been minutely dissected and examined, the united talent of these gentlemen entirely failed to detect any trace of disease whatever, and Mr. Hope was glad to say Dr. Cobbold was entirely converted to sewage irrigation." We cannot forbear congratulating the promoters of sewage irri- gation upon the easy method they have discovered of " converting" scientific men. HORSES. The entries for the Birmingham horse show closed the following satisfactory ■mvs aiLd Heiferi Blue Belle .. a Belle .. Isabella Lady Valetttuie ., Lady Fairy.. Lady Beatrice Revival La Brillattie Lady Beaujolais . . Flitch of Bacon . . Her Lassie .. Tlwnutale's Balm . . Vervain Betty Bacon First Ducliess Lady Isabella Second Ducliess First Lady .. Second Lady Third Lady Fourth Lady Fifth Lady.. Lady of Lome Lady Belle .. Third Duchess Sixth Lady Se-oenth Lady Bulls. Lord Darlington Seventh Lord Ninth Lord Tenth Lord Eleventh Lord .. Purchaser. Hunters ' 99 Hacks, Roadsters, and Cobs . . . . I 65 Harness Horses 21 Ponies 63 Tandems and pairs . . . . . . . . 15 Agricultural Stallions 6 Other Agricultural Horses, &c 13 283 June; 1870 Feb., 1870 Feb-, 1870 April, 1870 an., 187. an., 1871 Mar., 1871 51 Mr. Metcalf. 5olMr. W. Thomson. 65 1 Mr. W. Thomson. 41; Major Greenwood. 34 Mr. Stanton(Canada). 60 Capt. R. E. Oliver. Mr. Wilcock. Mr. R. England. Captain Oliver. Mr. G. Wenrvvorth. Mr.Stanton(Canada). Mr. G. Wentworth. Mr. G. Wentworth. Mr.Stanton(Canada). Mr. Clarke. Mr. Stanton. Mr. G, Hatfield. Mr. Wentworth. Mr. Wentworth. Mr. T. Barber. Mr. Hargreaves. Mr. Wentworth. Wentworth. Mr. Ellis. Mr. Bates (butcherl. ..INot offered. 23!Mr. Wentworth. 50! Mr. Bames(Australia) 41 Major Greenwood. 55 Mr. Ripley. 26 Mr. J. Shuth. Summary :^ 28 cows and heifers at £^6 4 7 bulls at .. .. 54 18 £i7 5 = .£1678 : ■ percentage t r money ; — On Thursday, the 3d inst. , Mr. Thornton dis- posed of a selection of pure-bred Shorthorns, bred and owned by the Rev. J. D. Jefferson, of Thicket Priory, near York. The cattle were in low condition, and the sale was successful. Business proceedings commenced with the offer of yuiiei, a very good S-year-old cow, by 7TH Duke of York, and of the "J " tribe, which was sold to Mr. Angerstein for 65 gs. Jessica and It will be seen from the above that the number of horses is fully up to the mark, notwithstanding the striking out of two or three classes of agricultural horses, there being a considerable increase in the classes for hunters. POULTRY. How to Move a Silting Hen. — I have moved over 20 of my sitting hens this season ; four of them I brought three-fourths of a mile in baskets, at the same time, and not one of them but what took kindly to the nest prepared for them. First of all, I never attempt to make a change except in the night, when all is quiet — generally between 8 and 9 o'clock. After preparing the nest and placing the eggs in it, I go for my hen, being careful to leave all gates and doors open after me, that my passage to the nest may be uninterrupted. On reaching my hen, I place my right hand under her breast and my left on her back, to steady her, and raise her gently from where she is sitting ; and as I generally have a coat on at that time, I place her head under it, that she may see nothing to startle her, for I find that once she becomes aroused and begins the struggle, the game is all up for that time. On reaching the nest, I place her on the eggs, withdraw my hands from back and breast, and spread her legs so that they come on the outside of the eggs. When they feel the eggs under them, they almost always settle themselves with a satisfied cluck, and I have no further trouble with them. Should they show a little uneasi- ness, I would place something either in front of or over the nest, and let it be so all the next day, when they will have settled quietly to their work, and at night the things can be removed. Should the hen in being moved become restless and frightened, and on being placed on the nest show evidences that she had con- cluded to sit standing up, I would return her imme- diately to her old sitting place, and wait until the next night before repeating the experiment. I find that a hen becomes aroused, it is no use to try and make her sit by fastening her on the nest. You will only break her from sitting entirely, but will be very apt to lose some of the eggs by her tramping around ; and it may prove a costly experiment. I find that patience and gentleness are great requisites while among my feathered friends, and especially -with sitting hens. American Paper. 1048 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 12, 1871. JiAM SALES. Messrs. Lythall & Clarke held an important Shropshire sheep sale on Thursday, the 27th ult., when 122 rams and above 400 ewes were offered. The ram sale commenced with Mr. Lythall's (Radford Hall) shearlings, which realised an average of £8 lis. each, while prices varied from 54 to II gs., one sheep letting for 8 gs. These sheep were principally by " Standard Bearer," winner of the 1st prize at Oxford, and by "Southport," bred by Mr. H. Smith. Mr. Yates' 16 sheep averaged ^^114^., and prices ranged from 54 to 13 gs. Mr. Nock, of Sutton Maddock, sold 14 sheep as follows : — A 2-shear prize sheep by "Mr. Crane's ram" was bought by Mr. Gaven for ;^22 is. ; a 2-shear, by Mr. Pryce Bowen's 3d prize Manchester sheep, was sold for;£'22 \s., to Earl Ducie; a 2-shear for 15 gs., to Mr. Stokes; a 2-shear for 18 gs., to Mr. Gaven ; a shearling by " Patentee " by "Conservative," for 11 gs., to Mr. R. Milward ; a shearling by Mr. Byrd's '* Lord Paramount," 16 gs., Mr. Milward ; and the remainder for from 6 to 10 gs. Lord Willoughby de Broke's rams made from 6 to II gs., a head; Mrs. Beach, The Hattons, sold a shearling for ^21 to Mr. J. Evans ; a shearling for ^(^43 July 20, Mr. \V. Lane's, Broadfield, 54 sheep at "/iS 2,r. kd. ; July 21, Mr. R. Game's, Aldsworth, 54 sheep at /19 is. id. ; July 25, Mr. Jas. Walker's, Northleach, 38 sheep at ^17 13J. 2d. On the 28th ult. Mr. Villar sold Mr. E. Handy's rams at Sierford, when 50 sheep made an average of ;^I2, which contrasts favourably with the average of 2'lo 8.r. Sd. of last season. At Middle Aston sale, held at Hopcrafts Holt, on Tuesday, the 1st inst., 58 shearlings and 9 old sheep brought an average of j^io lis. J and the highest price, 33 gs., was given by Mr. Lane, of Broadfield. At Coates, Cirencester, on Friday, the 4th inst., Mr. Howell's 41 rams were sold by Messrs. Moore c& Hill for an average of jfg 12s. yd. Last year's average was ;^io i is. for 27 sheep. Hampshire Sheep.— M Down Farm, near Little Durnford, Salisbury, Mr. Charles Waters' rams were disposed of at satisfactory prices. Ram lambs brought i6i gs., 134, 12I, 12, 10, 9, 8, and down to 3 gs. each. Mr. John Waters officiated as auctioneer, and the sale took place on the 1st inst. The Bulbridge ram lambs, bred by Mr. Rawlence, were sold or let by Messrs. Ewer & Winstanley on Wednesday, 2d inst. 16 ram lambs let at an average of ;£'22 per head, and 81 lambs were sold at an average ling rams brought from ii to 17 gs., while others were sold at 5 to 10 gs. each. Twenty-two ram lambs averaged ^8 os. %%d., and ranged as high as £lT, 2s. (>d. Fifty ewe lambs were disposed of at from 4IJ. to 53X. 6d. per head. Longiuools. — Mr. T. Allen's sale of long-wooUed rams was held on Friday, at Markshall, near Norwich. Thtf ram lambs offered made from ^'3 to ;^3 12s. each, the shearlings from £,<, to ^^14 5^., and the 2-shear sheep from £,^ 5J. to £^ each. The averages were — ram Iambs, ^3 5.r. ^d. each ; shearlings, £,•] 1 5.;. 9i :^'„re=J ever used, and I w. Old Saddle has been lave had your Improved Cornish Boiler upward good many kinds of Boilers, but not one tha and labour to do so great an amount of work a Boiler becomes known it will be very gcnerall " Atherstone Grapery, lest and most powerful that 'h efticicncy. - Boiler is the s SOLE MAKERS— THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE ENGINEERING CO., LIMITED, FENTON, STOKE-ON-TRENT. LONDON AGENT— JAMES GRAY, Horticultural Works, DANVERS STREET, CHELSEA, S.W. From either of whom full Particulars, with Sizes and Prices, and Testimonials, can be obtained. August 12, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Aofriciiltural Gazette. 1057 GRAY'S Oval Tubular Boiler. INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, Class IX., No. 21 19. Mr. gray begs to call the attention of the Nobihty, Gentry, Nurserymen, Gardeners, &c., to his NEW OVAL TUBULAR BOILER. Acknowledged by practical judges to be a great improvement on every form of Tubular Boiler yet introduced. It has proved itself superior to all other Boilers for quickness of action and economy of Fuel, doing its work with one-third less the amount required by any other. Extract from Report in Gardeners' Chronicle of International Exhibition, May 24, 1862, page 476. "The upright form of Boiler is usually made on a circular plan, I rather than a square, it r..^.-;Ki- ,u^* »(,- Hn;iB.-o nn th,. preferable in consequence of its bringing the tubes in closer contact burning fuel ; and this with the fire The usual form of a furnace being a parallelogram I is no doubt an improvenii jre completely within range of ., the change, though a slight o ^g- They are made of all sizes, which, with prices, may te had on application. JAMES GRAY, HORTICULTURAL WORKS, DANVERS STREET, PAULTON'S SQUARE, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, S.W. VASES AND FOUNTAINS FOR THE GARDEN AND CONSERVATORY. ILLUSTR.ATED CATALOGUE, containing Prices and full in- formation concerning FOUNTAINS and VASES, and with 30 large pages of beautifully Lithographed Designs, Post Free for 12 stamps, which will be allowed if an order is given. ANDREW HANDYSIDE and CO., Britannia Works, Derby ; LONDON OFFICE ;— 32, WALBROOK. THE STEAM-ENGINE TRIALS ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'of ENGLAND, OXFORD, 1870. The FIRST PRIZES at this SHOW were again AWARDED to CLAYTON and SHUTTLEWORTH, viz. :- First Prize for Horizontal Fixed Engine of lO H.P. ; First Prize for Steam Engine, with Boiler combined. At the previous Trials of Steam Engines, at Bury, 1867, CLAYTON AND SHUTTLEWORTH took ALL the FIRST PRIZES fo ENGINES; also a PRIZE of £15 for THRESHING MACHINES, and the Society's SILVER MEDAL. CLAYTON AND SHUTTLEWORTH have received FIRST PRIZES at all Trials of the Royal Agricultural Society of England a which they have competed since 1849. N.B.— All the principal Makers of Portable Engines, &c.. Compete for this Society's Prizes, bein the only Trials in Great Britain conducted by competent and impartial Engineers, and where the capability and value of each Engine i (horoughly tested by practical experiments. C. and S. therefore do not Compete at any other Shows. PORTABLE ENGINES, from 4 to 25-Horse Power. THRESHING MACHINES, Single, Double and Treble Blast, -with Patent Rolled Steel Beater Plates, and all other recent improvements. GRINDING MILLS, SAW BENCHES, STRAW ELEVATORS, &c. 1^ CATALOGUES ON APPLICATION, OR FREE BY POST. CLAYTON AND SHUTTLEWORTH, STAMP END WORKS, LINCOLN ; 78, LOMBARD STREET, LONDON, E.G. ; and TARLETON STREET, LIVERPOOL. JAM ES PHILLIPS United Kingdom. Each Box contains loo SQUARES : i for ORCHARD HOUSES, '? ^\S- 3}y"^!^}*^ ^^^ ^oy?L\ Horticultural the Mobility, Clcrgj-, and Gentlemen of the ;et. The prices only apply to the sizes stated. Th^rd qSalky^. '.'. '.'. IS ^! '.'. The above prices include the boxes, which ; HORTICULTUR, These prices only apply I II by 5 Ff =nJs. Bi IS by 12 ' 15 by ii i6 by it > ili:i|;il"-:i'Ui 15 6 .70 16 0 18 6 SMALL SHEET SQUARES (in loo feet to by 8 tM by S'A Dr HARTLEY'S IMPROVED LINSEED OIL, Genuine WHITE LEAD, CARSON'S PAINTS. rough plate, linse: PAINTS of various colours ground ready for ii! SHEET and ROUGH PLATE GLASS, SLATES of all --..ATE, PATENT PLATE — HEET, HORTICULTUR, ion of GL. , Lists of Prices and JAS. PHILLIPS and CO., 180, Bishopsgate Street Witl COLOURfeD' forwarded on H PLATE, PATENT PLATE, ROLLED PLATE, .i, HORTICULTURAL, ORNAMENTAL description of GLASS, of the best Manu- Hortlcultural and 'Wlndov Glass Wareboases. TAMES MILES, 6, High Street, and 12 and 13, Blosson Street, Shoreditch, London, E. CONSERVATORY and ORCHARD-HOUSE GLASS. Genuine White Lead, Oils, Colours, Brushes, &'c. GARDEN ENGINES, PUMPS, SYRINGES, INDIA-RUBBER Rosher's Garden Edging TUeg. :t N °GAR- THE above and many other PATTERNS are made i materials of great durability. The plainer sorts are especiall Jbb incur no further lab'our t gj^ MI P itf''bei"n iSjS." friars, S.E.; Queen's Road West, Chelsea, S.W. ; Kingsland Road, E. Agents for LOOKER'S PATENT "ACME FRAftES." PLANT COVERS and PROPAGATING BOXES ; also for I^OXLEY'S PATENT BEADED GARDEN WALL BRICKS. Illustrated Price Lists free by post The Trade supplied. wards. Pattern Sheets of plain or more elaborate designs, Lai of- WHITE GLAZED TILES, for Lining Walls of Dames, Larders, Tiles in great variety, Slates, Cement: all Copings, Drain Pipes and Til variety. Slates, Cements, ." 3 G. ROSHER, Brick and Tile Me: SILVER SAND, fine or coarse grain as desired. Fine 145^ Coarse 17J. per Ton. In Truck Loads 11. per Ton less. Delivery by Cart within three miles, or to any London Railway or Wharf, 2*. per Ton extra. Samples of Sand free by post. FLINTS and BRICK BURRS for Rockeries or Ferneries. KENT PEAT or LOAM supplied at lowest rates in any quantities. F. and G. ROSHER.— Addresses see above. N.B. Orders promptly executed by Rail or to Wharves. A liberal discount to the Trade. John Warner & Sons, Hydraulic Engineers, Bell and Brass Founders to Her Majesty, Manufacturers of Hydraulic MacMnery of every description, "Wind Engines, "Water Wheels, "Water Bams, Deep "Well Pumps and Frames for Horse or Hand Power, Garden Engines, Swing Barrows, &c., &c. Branch Pipes for Rubber Hose, with Jet and Spreader, or with Haswell's Patent Director, from 3s. 6d. Syringes from 5s., or, fitted with Haswell's Director, 12s. 6d. Lists sent on application. 8, CRESCENT, CRIPPLEGATE, LO\DO\ EC. WARNERS' AaUAJECT ; Useful for every variety of p Flowers J!^^ Trees in"^ Garden No KsjA Conservatories, &c ; also f i GARDEN ENGINE. Z^n^h^^rH." °"' """"^ i2GaUons.. ..£3 o o Price complete ^i S o 16 316 o Small size for the 24 5 I ol hand, asanordi- 30 5 '3 o I nary Syringe . , o 15 o No. S70!j.— SWING ■WATER BARBO-W. Galls. Galls. 20 £2 20133 £3 '80 30 2 14 o I SO 5 14 o I058 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, [August 12, 1871. Hot-Water Plpea and BoUers. . ^ ^ ^ ■ JONES AND SONS deliver HOT-WATER • PIPKS and CONNECTIONS, with IIOILERS of every ike, free to any Station in England, for Cash with order ; or they a 1 beral D ount fo Ca h at th W I rf m London. r • [-^ Latest ImprovementB irATING by HOT WATER. HE IMPROVEI CONICAL BOILERS. ft AUNG PINERIES, CONSEI nLLARD JEPHSON, I I > & Pollard, Sueces! I I K Peill, late Stephc. Great Reduction in Prices for 1871, OP GRKEN'S PATENT SILENS MESSORS SIR J. PAXTONS HOTHOUSES for the MILLION. Reduced Price Lists free. A Paraplilet. with Views of these and other Glass Roofs, for thr,. ,: :,; ,-11 hi. I.MAN and MORTON, During the last few years our Machines have been sub- practical tests, and found to possess all the advantages in working and keeping a Lawn in the greatest possible state of perfection. We therefore have no alterations to report, as they are unnecessary. APPARATUS Heating Tuiuiar Boiler. HEATING ATORIES, HOTHOUSES, CHURCHES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PRIVATE RESir TRUSS' PATENT UNIVERSAL FLEXIBLE and LEAKLESS PIPE JOINT and PATENT CRACKLESS EXPANSION-JOINTED TUBULAR BOILERS, of a VARIETY of FORMS, n IKTAIII.E c,r for IIRICKWORK SETTING. — are II..- M"-l I ' i'.'. ,■.'.■,' 'N'LV CONSUMING HALF the FlI 1 ' ■>! Ill ! I ilM I rciRTABLE BOILERS, tc HEAl . ' ' ■: and ANY PERSON can TAKF. , ''■ PIPES, APART, and SPElCIiIl ', ri I I II I .1 1 . ",i I 111 l; AGAIN. T. S, I iM ss I.ccs 1.1 ^inic tlml llir immense number of APPA RATUS annually Designed and Erected by him in all parts of the Kingdom, and f.jr the Royal Horticultural Society at South Kcnsingtor Tl ibovL Michmcb hu<- cimcd olt <-VIr> Prize that IS b en tjnrn in all cases of competition Thev arc w irranted to be supenor to any others We satisfaction otherwise they returned, free of cost to the purchaser. With the increased facilities we possess for the Manufacture of LawTi Mowers, we arc enabled to Sell them at a reduced rate on former years, as will be seen from the following Scale of Prices :— 8 inches . . Price £ , 3 o o f Can be worked by one person, j- This can be worked i8 700 By Man and Boy. 23 ',', '.'. !! 8 o o ',', 24 8 10 o T CJiEEN Sf SON have pleasure in announcing that the demand/or their Lawn Afouiers this season far exceeds all previous ones, and from this fact they are led to belicrje that the machines of their manufacture are held higher in the estimation of the public than ever. Prices ol HORSE, PONY, and DONKEY MACHINES on application. J^T* Repairs executed with eficiency and despatch, both at Leeds and Loudon Establishments. GREEN'S IMPROVED PATENT ROLLER, FOR LAWNS. DRIVES, BOWLING GREENS, CRICKET FIELDS, and GRAVEL PATHS, Suitable for Hand or Horse-power. advantage obtained by his Improved S; consisting of perfectly tight joints with Price Lists, Plans, and Estimates forwarded on application to T. S. TRUSS, C.E., Sole Manufacturer, Engineer, Iron Merchant, Hot-water and PRICES of HAND ROLLERS. Diameter. Length C ^ d \\ \ inKt^r Length £ s. c JO in. 32 m 7 10 o 20 m 22 in. 3 10 !4in. 26m. 4 10 ol lb in. 17 in. 2 15 1 PRICES of ROLLERS, fitted witli Shafts, Suitable for Pony or Horse-power. Diameter. I-enKlh. L '• t 30 in. 48 in. 13 ic These ROLLERS possess many advantages over all others ; they are made in two parts, and are free to revolve on the axis, affording greater facility for turning, and the outer edges are rounded off, or turned inwards, thus avoiding the unsightly marks left by other Rollers. They are manufactured of the best materials, and are gol up in a manner surpassing any ever yet brought out. The ROLLERS, 24 by 26 inches, 20 by 22 inches, and 16 by 17 inches, are also made in one part, at a reduced price ; and for Rollers of that size, will be found answer many requirements, as the handle can be reversed to either side of the Roller at pleasure. PRICES. 24 inches by 26 inches /4 rpHE P.\TENT GLASSI IMPERISHABLE HOTHOUSE COMPANY, Newark-upon-Trent, Notts. M.VNACEH-Mr r .WRF.S.C M R.H.S., S,.e,. 7°n-'?!;e^ Price. Ili^h. Wide. Long. Feet. 1 0 I 11 ;; ;| ;; 3^ " S °i ." I* ;; Ito li". "ii" t" \'Z g ° ° 30 .. 30 0 0 7,000 48 1, 10,000 tl3' EXHIBITORS of CUT FLOWERS, GRAPES, CUCUMBERS,SALADS.&c.,willfindCHAPMAN'S PATENT VENTILATED WATER TUBE CASES the best now in use, either for Exhibition or Transmission purposes. May be obtained through any of the Agents ; the PATENTEE, Gloucester i or \V. EASSIE AND CO., who have arranged for their sole manufacture. Price Lists and Testimonials on application.— Gloucester. G^ I Dogs or Poultry . ?gi ! 1^: Cottam's Iron Hurdles, Fencing, and Gates. ^OTTAM'S HURDLES are made in the best plication'to''cOTT'AM AND CO.', Iron Delivered Carriage Free to all the principal Railway Stations and Shipping Perts in England, Ireland, and Scotland. THOMAS GREEN and SON, Smithlield Iron Works, Leeds ; and 54 and 55, Blackfriars Road, London, S.E. Their advantages Vermin; Hay Rick dispensed with as unnecessary: mcreased width and depth of Feeding Troughs, Water Cistern, and Patent Drop Cover to prevent over-gorging. Cleanly, durable, and impervious to infection, being all of Iron. Price of Fittings per Cow, 55J. Prospectuses free of COTTAM AND CO., Iron WorKS, 2, Winsley Street (opposite the Pantheon), Oxford Street, London, '" above are exhibited, together with several important in Stable Fittings just secured by Patent. August 12, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1059 LONDON AND COUNTY BANKING COMPANY. ESTABLISHED 1836. Subscribed Capital, ^^2, 500. 000, in 50,000 Shares of £50 each. Paid-up Capital, £1,000,000. Reserve Fund, £500,000. Lord Alfred Heney. William Champion Jones, Esq. Philip Patton BIyth, Esq. i Edwd. Harbord Lushington, Es( Thomas Slock Cowie, Esq. James Morley, Esq. Frederick Francis, Esq. William Nicol, Esq. Frederick Harrison, Esq. I Frederick Youle, Esq. General Manager— WilViam McKewan, Esq. Chief /nspeclor~W. J. Norfolk, Esq. InsPtcton o/Bmnches^H. J. Lemon, Esq., and C. Sherring, Esq. Chief Accounta»t~J amcs Gray, Esq. Secretary— F. Clappison, Esq. Head 0frtee—2X, Lombard Street. At the Half-yearly General Meeting of the Proprietors, rhursday, August 3, 1871, at the City Terminus Hotel, Cannoi station, the following Report for the year ending Juneao, li read by the Sec retar>-,— William Champion Jones, Esq., in thet The Directors, in presenting to the Proprietors the Balancc- [he Bank for the half-year ending June 30 last, have the s lion to report that, after paying interest to customers, and all c making provision i< ' ;£90,I. .rward fro This ^4,349 01. 8d., of/9-tM49 ^VAd. They have declared the usual dividend of 6 per cent,, witi £4.449 17*. 4'^- to b John William Burmesler, Esq., from t r esteemed colleague, advanced age, and the election of Frederick Youle, Esc The dividend and bonus (together £1 its. per share), tax, will be payable at the Head Office, or at any of tl To profit and loss balance brought To gross profit for the half-year, and doubtfurdebts, viz By cash in hand at Head Office and branches, and with Bank of England By cash placed at call and at notice, covered by securities 4,349 251,931 1,400,764 13 9 I4S.I02 7 6 Byo By discounted bills and advances By liabilities ok customers for drafts accepted by the Bank, as per contra 2,640.138 By freehold premises in Lombard Street and Nich Byi^' By salaries ana an omcr branches, including 1l5n'3 To rebate on bills not due, carried to new To dividend of 6 per cent, for half-year . , To bonus of3 per cent. By gross profit for the half-year, b vision for bad and doubtful debts undersigned, have exam C'%i.7oe, 7 9 60,000 30,000 6 i 3 ° i;256,28o 6 .0 i;4,349 =SI,93' 6 8 ned the foregoing bala JARDINE, 1 NORMAN, J-A H. SWAINE.i The foregoing report having been read by the Secretary', the follow ing resolutions were proposed, and unanimously adopted :— I, That the Report be received and adopted, and printed for the ust W. CHAMPION JONE affairs of the Compan; 3. that the cordial thanks ol this meeting be presented to Williar Champion Jones, Esq., for his able and courteous conduct in th Chair. (Signed) P. P. BLYTH, Deputy Chairman. Extracted from the minutes. (Signed) F. CLAPPISON, Secretary. ny ol the Company's ] 4th instant. By o at, Lombard Street, Au . McK^WAN, General : A LEXANDRA PALACE. — Notice to the Public. Intending Subscribers can obtain Free Passes admitting to the Palace and Grounds on application to the Secretary, stating name A LEXANDRA PALACE. — Arrangements will be made for an eariy opening of the Palace and Grounds to the A LEXANDRA PALACE.— The advantages to Sub- scribers of One Guinea and upwards, are fully detailed in the Prospectus, and Subscribers incur no liability, and must benefit. A LEXANDRA PALACE.— The inhabitant "^ Metropolis, and of the North of London, should ob Prospectus, which states the many advantages to Subscribi LEXANDRA PALACE.-Arl A LEXANDRA PALACE and MUSWELL HILL -'-^ ESTATE TONTINE. Offices— 5 and 6, Great Winchester Street Buildings, London, I rriHE ALEXANDRA PALACE and MUSWELL -*■ HILL ESTATE TONTINE. To terminate on June 30, 1S86. r Joiin Clulton, Esq., Wiiitehall Place. Tnslrlsi John Hacliblock, Esq., Bolton Gardens. Ijohn Horatio Lloyd, Esq., Inner Temple. The main features of this scheme may be said to be as follows :- The holder of a Tontine Certificate for One Guinea or upwards will i dying before i836t .ill very largely exceed the amount paic Or, say these privileges may at any tir 3 the Palace and Grounds. (An E Cert I subscribed, in t LIABILITY, and n Admissions to view the Palace can be obtained at the Offices c Company, 5 and 6, Great Winchester Street Buildings, E,C. THOS. DIXON, Secreta New and Enlarged Edition. This day is published, price Five Shillings, A PRACTICAL TREATISE on the CULTIVATION of the GRAPE VINE, by Willi.\m Thomson, of Tweed Vine- yard, Galashiels, lately Gardener to his Grace the Dulce of Buccleuch, k.G. , at Dalkeith Park. The Seventh Edition, enlarged. WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, Edinburgh and London. "Journal of Horticulture" Office, 1 Demy 8vo, 80 pp., with numerous Illustrations, price ss. 6d., Part I. of A HISTORY of BRITISH BIRDS. By the late William Yabrell, V.P.L.S.. F.Z.S. Fourth Edition. Edited by ALFRED Newton, M.A., F.R.S., Professor of Zoology and Com- parative Anatomy in the University of Cambridge, F.L.S., V.P.Z.S., &C. Prospectus on application. JOHN VAN VOORST, i. Paternoster Row, London, E.G. AUTHORS, comprising POPULAR WORKS, Rep) NOTICE.— The NEW VOLUME is- -lyrY SUMMER in a GARDEN. By Chakles Fancy boards, n. 6d. ; cloth, roductori' Letter fields z tribution to the wealth and happiness of our kind." — Inlroduetofy Letter. " Gentle reader 1 Do you love gardening ? Do you relish humour ? agriculture discoursed of more deftly or quaintly."— iV<7/« and Qiteries. The Two previous Volumes are— MY STUDY WINDOWS. By James Russell boards, is. dd. ; cloth limp, 2S. OLD TOWN FOLKS. By the Author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." New and [Cheaper Edition. Double Volume, enamelled flexible boards, 21. bd. ; cloth limp, 3s. "This story must make its way, as it is easy to predict it will, by VOLUMES ALREADY PUBLISHED. Each Volume complete in itself, price is. 6d ; enamelled flexible cover, . Kathrina. By J. G. Holland . Hans Brinker i. London: SAMPSON LOW, SON tuildings, 188, Fleet Street, E.C. 8. Society and Solitude. By Ralpl 9. Hedged iI^I^^bJ Elizabetl MARSTON, Cro«ii 1 Street, Strand, London, W.C. THE HISTORY of SHORTHORN CATTLE." commenced by the late Thos. Bates, Esq., of Kirklcvington, Yorkshire. The work has special reference to the Origin and Breed- ing of the Kirklcvington Herd, with a Memoir, by Thos. Bell (formerly of Kirklcvington), of Brockton, Eccleshall, StafTordshire. As only a limited number of Copies have been published^ Gentlemen wishing for Copies of the Work are invited to send their names as early as possible to Mr. BELL, as apove: or to Mr. R. REDPATH, Nortk of England fanner Oflice. Newcastle-on-Tyne.— Aug. 3, 1871. O^ CHANDELIERS IN BRONZE AND ORMULU, Protection from Fire. .THE PUBLIC ARE CAUTIONED AGAINST w X^ L 1 A M YOUNGER AND CO. DINNER ALE.— SparUing and Refreshing. INDIA PALE ALE.— Unsurpassed as a Tonic. K This celebrated and most delicious old mellow sj CREAM of IRISH WHISKIES, in quality unri; pure, and more wholesome than the finest Cognac Br words. "KINAHAN'S . L L . " on seal, label, and c New Wholesale Deplit,6A, Great Titchfield Street, O: aids digestion. Unnvaiied for piquancy and flav .sk for LEA AND PERRINS' SAUCE. Beware of imitations, and see the names of Lea & Pebrins 0 AKcnts-CROSSE AND BLACKWELL, London ; and sold I Dealers in Sauces throughout the World. DINNEFORD'S FLUID MAGNESIA The best remedy for Acidity of the Stomach, Heartburn. L ache. Gout, and Indigestion ; and the best mild aperient for del constitutions, especially adapted for Ladies, Children, and Infant DINNEF^RD and CO.. 172. New Bond Street, London ; and Chemists throughout the Worid. _^_^__^^_ GOUT and RHEUMATISM.— The excruciating pain of Gout or Rheumatism is quickly relieved and cured in 3 few days by that celebrated Medicine, BLAIR'S GOUT and RHEUMATIC PILLS. They require no restraint of diet or confinement during their use, and are certain to prevent the disease attacking any vital part. Sold by all Medicine Vendors, at is. i%d. and zs. gd. per box, or obtained through any Chemist. ^ ^^ COCKLE'S ANTIBILIOUS PILLIf THE SAFEST FAMILY APERIENT. St and mildest vegetable aperients, with the flowers of the Camomile. They will icacious remedy for derangement of the digi useful, occasioning no pain m their act unusual quantity of acrid bile, and aci bowels. To Europeans on their arriva recommended as a preser\'ative against t tropical climates. of the liver which is so often t Pills are not recommended 1 systems of diet,changi , China, : io6o The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, [August 12, 1871. THE BOILER PROBLEM SOLVED. April 14, 1871. MANLEY HALL, Manchester. Gentlemen, — In reply to your letter, I have pleasure in stating that the works executed by your Firm, extending over the last nine years, have proved in all respects satisfactory. During the late severe winter the Boilers have acted efficiently and to my entire satisfaction. I am. Gentlemen, yours faithfully, SAM MENDEL. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S GARDENS, April 12, 187 1. Regent's Park, London, N.W. Gentlemen, — I have much pleasure in adding my testimony in favour of Weeks's Patent Duplex Boiler. It does its work well and satisfactorily, being both economical in fuel and labour, and, in my opinion, cannot be surpassed in heating power, the late severe season having fully tested its capabilities. I may add that the amount of 4-inch piping heated by this one boiler is about 4600 feet. WM. PASFIELD, Clerk of Works. ^/r/7 4,1871. GOODWOOD, Chichester, Sussex. Gentlemen, — My opinion of your Upright Tubular Boiler remains unaltered, as I have never seen anything to equal it during my experience in gardening. Our new works have given the greatest satisfaction. I remain, Gentlemen, faithfully yours. Gardener /(/n? 6,1871. CASTLE GARDENS, c.vrdiff. Gentlemen, — I have much pleasure in stating that the Upright Tubular Boiler and Heating Apparatus supplied by you here has in every respect perfectly answered my expectations. Respectfully yours, EDWARD N. CO.X, Gardener to the Marquis of Bute. May c), x%n- KITCHEN GARDENS, burghley. The Upright Tubular Boilers set here two years back continue to meet my entire approval. One Boiler is doing the work which usually took ten. I have worked these Boilers sixtecii years in many parts of England, always finding them there when wanted. I may add, if honours and medals were given to Hot-Water Apparatus manufacturers, John Weeks's breast would be covered with distinction. R. GILBERT, Head Gardener to the Most Noble the Marquis E.xeter, of Burghley. April 12, 1S71. Gentlemen,— It is nov here, and it gives me great pl< cost a farthing in alterations THE GARDENS, Wilton House. V ten years since your Upright Tubular Boiler was fix isure to be able to say that during that time it has i repairs. We have 5000 feet of piping attached vhich heats 15 early forcing-houses and plant stoves. I find no difficulty in burning any kind of fuel in it, having used nothing but small cinders for some weeks past, with an occasional lump of coke when the weather is severe. During my experience I have proved nearly every kind of boiler, and can with confidence assert that yours is the most powerful and economical, and requires less attention, than any I have tried. I am, Gentlemen, yours respectfully, THOMAS CHALLIS, Gardener to the Earl of Pembroke. April 10, 1S71. THE GARDENS, Severn Stoke. Gentlemen. — In reply to your note, I am glad to say that the whole apparatus is in perfect working order, and gives every satisfaction. I have, during the last 10 years, worked a variety of boilers, but for power and economy I have not found one to equal your Upright Tubular; and to surpass it, I am convinced, is an utter impossibility. Therefore, I have much pleasure in adding my testimony to its very superior merit. I am, truly yours, H. ROWBREE, Gardener to the Right Hon. the Earl of Coventry. /f/r// 14, 1871. THE GRANGE, Alresford, Hants. Gentlemen, — I find your Upright Duplex Tubular Boiler more economical in the consumption of fuel than the old Saddle, and does not require so much labour in stoking. During this last severe winter we were able to bank our fires up at half-past ten, and find the temperature all right in the morning. I remain, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, ROBERT BAKER, Gardener to Lord Ashburton. ^/nv 8,1871. RUXLEY LODGE. Gentlemen,— The Upright Tubular Boiler which you fixed here, gives enti satisfaction. From my own experience in working your boilers, I have no hesitatic in saying that I believe them to be the best boilers in use. I am, Gentlemen, yours, &c., J. HOWIE, Gardener to the Right Hon. Lady Foley. April II, iS ASHTON COURT, Gentlemen, — I am happy to state that the Horticultural Buildings erected by you here, during the past nine years, continue to give Sir Greville Smyth and myself every satisfaction. As for the Heating Apparatus, nothing could be more satisfactory, the two boilers at the Court Gardens, fixed in 1862, not having cost one shilling for repairs, and, so far as one can judge, are as sound as when originally fi.xed. I may further observe that during 40 years' experience as head gardener almost every descrip- tion of boiler has fallen under my supervision, and without the least hesitation I impartially state that none have equalled Week's Upright Tubular. I prefer them with a safety expansion pipe, filled with rainwater, kept clean, and in constant operation. By attention to these rules, I believe they will last for 20 years. I am, Gentlemen, yours obediently, WILLIAM DODDS, Gardener to Sir Greville Smyth, Bart. Apriib, i&n. LEYBOURNE GRANGE, WestMalling. Gentlemen, — It gives me much pleasure to inform you of the great satisfaction I have received from your New Tubular Duplex Boiler that you sent me last season. Of all boilers at present in use for heating horticultural structures there is nothing to equal the above for heating power. A boiler of such great power as the Duplex I should think offers great advantages to the successful heating of large public buildings of every description, where a certain amount of heat is often wanted within a very limited space of time. Your Duplex is the key to success. — I remain. Gentlemen, yours truly, WILLIAM BOWMAN, Gardener to Sir Joseph Hawley, Bart. Afril8,iSji. THE GARDENS, Drayton manor. Dear Sirs,— Your Upright Tubular Boiler has successfully and economically worked our Forcing department (2540 feet of piping) for upwards of seventeen years, without a single mishap of any kind, and when examined with the view of testing its soundness, about four years ago, it was found thoroughly sound, and to all appearance equal to the like term of years again. During the late severe winter I found no difficulty in maintaining the desired temperatures, and that by banking up the fires at 10.30, as in ordinary seasons. OWEN THOMAS, Gardener to the Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel, Bart., G.C.B., M.P. THE GARDENS, Beddington House. Gentlemen, — You are at liberty to make use of my name in any way you think proper respecting your Upright Tubular Boiler, as it h,as given the greatest satisfaction • ~ • your obedient servant, THOMAS PENFOLD, Gardener to the Rev. A. H. Bridges. Gentlen ^/?v/ 15, 1871. STANSTED PARK, Emsworth, Hants. Gentlemen, —I have much pleasure, now that we may consider the winter past, to let you know that your Upright Tubular Boilers have done their work to my entire satisfaction ; and if it were necessary for me to make a change, it would only be to substitute the Duplex Compensating for the old Upright Tubular, for I believe the Patent Duplex Compensating Arrangements have made the Upright Tubular Boiler as near to perfection as it is possible to be. I remain. Gentlemen, yours respectfully, GEORGE THOMPSON, Gardener to Mrs. Dixon, Stansted Park, Emsworth, Hants. Hooley Hall. work for the last great superiority < ^/;v'/ 8,1871. THE GARDENS, Sirs, — Having had your New Duplex Patent Boiler six months, I have much pleasure in bearing testimony t( _ other boiler that I am acquainted with. I have found it to be most powerful, quick its action, very moderate in fuel, and so constructed that it requires very little I am, Sirs, yours truly, JOHN JACQUES, Gardener to J. C. P. Cunliffe, ^//•//i8, 1S71. WIDMORE LODGE, Bromley, Kent. Gentlemen, — It is rather out of my line of things to recommend anything, but in reference to your inquiry about the Upright Tubular form of Boiler, I may say I am quite satisfied with it. Giving all other inventors and manufacturers of hot-water boilers due praise for trying to meet the growing wants of horticulturists, yet. to Mr. Weeks alone, we, as garje/iers. have to date the first steps in alleviating the mid- night ordeal of young gardeners. The Upright Tubular Boiler has stood the test for years, and even now, as far^ as my experience goes, there is no other form of boiler equally powerful and so easily stoked. I remain. Gentlemen, yours respectfully, PETER M'PH.'VIL, Gardener to C. Telford, Esq. April 2^,\%Ti. THE MOUNT, Bishopstoke, Hants. Gentlemen,— I have much pleasure in reporting upon the working of your new Duplex Upright Tubular Boiler, and feel that I cannot do better than give a correct statement of its operations. Previous to the removal of the old boilers, our average consumption of fuel was, during winter, about 10 tons per month, and with the new boiler it averages from si to 5^ tons, thus saving a little more than 4 tons per month. The quantity of piping heated is about 2300 feet. I may also add that we have a much stronger command of heat in every house and pit than we ever had with the two old boilers, which were of a large size. The whole apparatus now acts most satisfactorily, and further, I, having had upwards of 40 years' experience with almost every descrip- tion of boiler, pronounce most impartially for the new Upright Tubular. I am. Gentlemen, your obedient servant, THOS. LOWE. .;/)•;/ 10, 1871. THE GARDENS, h.a.nbury hall. Dear Sirs, — I am much pleased to to be able to say that the Duplex Boilers you fixed here some time ago do their work well, and need as little care and attention as it is possible for boilers, doing the work they are doing, to need. We have never worked, but tor trial, more than one, and that has needed nothing more than to be cleaned once a year. We have power enough to work double, or even treble, the houses we have here at present. I am, Sirs, yours truly, WILLIAM BISHOP. April n, lS^l. NORMANHURST COURT, battle. Messrs. Weeks & Co. : Gentlemen,— We have one of your No. 5 Upright Tubular Boilers here, heating about 3400 feet 4-in. piping, with little trouble and great satisfaction. I am, Gentlemen, your humble sen-ant, GEO. SMITH. Afrii \i, \i^l. IWERNE HOUSE, blandford. Gentlemen,— After twelve months' trial of your Patent Duplex Boilers, I feel perfectly satisfied with them in every way, and believe them capable of doing any amount of work you may require of them ; they are very simple, and easy to manage, and a great improvement on your other boilers where only one boiler is required. I remain, yours most obediently, E. JAMES, Gardener to Thos. Bowyer Bower, Esq. .4/n'/ 14, 1871. HALL PLACE, Leigh, Kent. Dear Sirs,— I give you the liberty of using my name in any way you please that will add weight to your testimonials. Nothing can answer better than your Duplex Upright Tubular Boilers, and I am very pleased with their operations ; they act admir- ably. I could expatiate at some length upon the merits of your old pattern boilers, having worked them for a number of years, but have no doubt that the Duplex arrange- ment is a valuable improvement. I am, dear Sirs, yours truly, JAMES KETTLE, Gardener to Samuel Morley, Esq., M.P. For full particulars of Boilers, additional Testimonials, and Illustrated Book of Designs (12th Edition), apply to J. WEEKS AND CO., HORTICULTURAL BUILDERS AND HOT-WATER .APPARATUS MANUFACTURERS, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, LONDON, S, .W. Richards, at the Office, 1 , Evans, & Co., 1 and Business Letters to " The Publis ttheOmce, 41, Wei t Garden. London, , Paul's, Covcnt Garden, ia the said County.— Saturday, August 12, 1871. THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. No. -1871.] SATURDAY, AUGUST 19. tlie General ) Price 5d. , Newspaper. ( POST FREE, sjrf. LEADING ARTICLES, &-c.- AKricukurai labourer, tlic . i. Northumberland Postal tariff, the new 1065 Potato disease, the 1064 Rhododendron ferrugt- ORIGINAL ARTICLES- Amateur gardener, the . . . ^.'thiu'ti ;^ Skim cheese manufacture (with cuts) I Steam road rolling i HOME CORRESPONDENCE- Coullioure, Pyrenees Ori FLORISTS- FLOWERS— CALENDAROFOPERA TIONS Farm work of the week . Garden operations Weather Tables Notice to Subscribers. THE SUBSCRIPTION to the GARDENERS' CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE is £1 y. lod. for iz months, including postage to any part of the United Kinedom. May be had of all Booksellers. Fublished by W. RICHARDS, 41, Wellington Street, Covenl Garden. , Westwell Vicarage, Ashford )rdI^en'L ,may'^^ Secretary, Rev. H. H. R EADING HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.— Th. AUTUMN SHOW will be held on THURSDAY, August 2 ermission of the Mayor), in the Abbey Ruins, Reading. A B.ind attend, as usual. The Show -will be open to theTiolders of cribers' Tickets at i o'clock, and open to theTrpI ENTRIES must be made to the Hon. Secretary on or before THURSDAY, August 17. Tickets and Schedules may be obtained of CHARLES COLLINS, Hon. Sec., 34, Chain Street, Reading. BRACEBRIDGE and BOULTHAM HORTICUL- TURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW, AUGUST 30. Open SpEctAL Prizes. For6 Stove, or Stove and Greenhouse Plants ;— ist, £5 y. ; 2d, ^£3 31 ; For 6 Won'ias in 8-inch pots :— ist, £t ; 2d, tor. For 4 distinct kinds of Iruit, grown and exhibited by a Gentleman. A Valuable Ornamental Prize. No Entrance Fees. Seven days' notice to B. J. WILSON, Hon. Sec, Eracebridge, ISHOP AUCKLAND FRIDAY, September t, li REVISED. ENTRIES can be made AT ONCE. Appli '^Bi;hop'°Auck";and.'° "" "'"°"^' M^- J- <=. HARDY, WELCHPOOL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.— The ANNUAL E.XHIBITION will lake place on THURS- DAY, September 7, i87r, when SPECIAL PRIZES, open to all England, will-be offered ENTRIES to CLOSE on SEPTEMBER 2. LIST of PRIZES and ENTRY FORMS may be obtained on sending stamp to D. P. OWEN, Hon. Sec. A GRAND FLOR.\L FETE at YORK will be held WEDNESD/fv.SeplJmber™"" ' " ' ' or s ire uscum, on Palfvtts.~The E.\BL of Zetland, Hon. Pavan Dawnay, the Lord Mayor, .L Lowther, Esq., M.P., &c and Vegetables, tural History and . , ,.--- ,-- Kums of St. Mary's Abbey, St. Leonard's Hos- pital, Multangular Tower, "-■'■• ■ ■ - Excursion Trains will run. For Pri ■ Natural Hi yto'Mr.J. H. To the Wholesale Seed Trade. SCOTT, The Seed Stores, Yeovil, h-as just har^-ested about 1% oz. of his ex. ex. choice CALCEOLARIA Fru^t'Tn THE SUBSCRIBERS havii _ possession ol the Old-established SEED and NURSERY |U|,'^^^^ so long carried on by Messrs. LITTLE AND BALLAN- I \NE, ol this city, respectfully request a continuance of the support so liberally accorded to the Old Firm. They shall continue to conduct S^ f';';i';'''t ''^ "''""ly """""""d, under the Firm of LITTLE AND BALLANtVnE, and they will endeavour to merit the confidence of their Business. ''"lITTLe'^an'd'baTlA^JtYNE ° ,, „ WM. BAXTER SMITH,) Sole Tuly I, 1871. JAMES WATT, / Partners, /CHOICE SEEDS for PRESENT SOWING, Mr. WILLIAM BULL'S EstaCli'shment for New and Rare Plants King's Road, Chelsea, London, S.W. S. WILLIAMS' SPRING CATALOGUE of NEW and RARE PLANTS is now ready, in which will be a selection from all the best Plants of recent introduction ; 1 addition, descriptions of some very fine Plants, which B. S. W. Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper Holloway, N. Hyacintlis, Tulips, Crocuses, &c. ■ryM. CUTBUSH AND SONS' CATALOGUE of HYACINTHS, TULIPS, CROCUSES,: 5, is now ready, and can ■ ■ ■ Highgate Nu White Dogstooth Violets. WHOPWOOD AND SON can supiply strong root; • of above, in quantity: also a limitedquantityof very CHOICE NEW PRIMULA SfeED, ty the Ji oz. or "^ oz. Prices on application Jersey Gardens, Cheltenham. Hunt's Superb Sweet WiUlam. JAMES HOLDER can supply SEED of the above, in 24 choice varieties, at 2s. 6d. and 5'. per packet ; also PLANTS, 24 sorts, distinct, for v., 50 plants for 8s., or 100 for 151., baskel included. Crown Nursery, Reading. Gloxinias, of sorts. R. D.-WIS having secured a quantity of choice BULBS of extra quality, grown by a successful Amateur, °B° r' DA™fs, The°Seed' Wareho'u??i,' Yeov'iL Somerset."' SO new varieties of VERBENAS, 1871, at . . 12 new CHILIAN MIMULUS,i87r, at .. J4 new CHINESE CHRYSANTHEM UMS, 1871, al 7 new JAPANESE CHRYSANTHEMUMS, 1871, i 8 new'i-ROPyEOLUMS, t87t,at 10 newPENTSTEMONS, i87t,at g new ANTIRRHINUMS, 1S71, at A^ UILEGIA GLANDULOSA, R British iern Catalogue. OBERT SIM will send, post free for six postage stamps. Part I. (British Ferns and their varieties, 36 pages, including prices of Hardy Exotic Ferns), of his Priced DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE of BRITISH and EXOTIC FERNS, No. 7. Foot's Cray Nursery, Sidcup Hill, Kent. Fems.-To the Trade. ADIANTUM SCUTUM, A. LUNULATUM, A. TINCTUM, CHEILANTHES ELEGANS, PTERIS TRICOLOR, ASPLENIUM BIFIDUM. JOHN NELSON has a large quantity of the above to offer, in the finest possible condition, 91. per doz., £^ 3s. per QRCH RCHIDS.— Visitors to Manchester during the seas VISIT our NURSERIES at FAIRFIELD,! examine for themselves our plan of GROWING ORCHIDS in PI] STOVES ; also the New House we have put up, embodying this p nthe appcaranceof thehouse. Descriptiv Victoria Street, Manchester , near Manchester. Cinerarias, from one of the very finest Strains of TRICOLORS in ENGLAND. rOHN STANDISH and CO. are now able to offer Strawberries. /CHARLES TURNER'S descriptive CATALOGUE well as the finest established varieties. C. Turner's Plants are now ready. Early planting is recommended to insure a good crop of fruit the first season. The Royal Nurseries, Slough. New Strai awarded a FIRSTCLASS COMMITTEE of the ROYAL wberry, Royalty. \SS CERTIFICATE by k'AL HORTICULTURAL ; STRAWBERRY to the Public, in the fullest confidence ! exceeding richness of flavour cannot be surpassed, while in ution, habit, and growth, it is most hardy, vigorous, and free, now received will shortly be executed. Price 21J. per zoo : 45. :en. Spring Grove N ursery, Isleworth, W. New Strawberry, The Amateur. SAMUEL BRADLEY, the raiser of OSCAR, SIR J. PAXTON and DR. HOGG STRAWBERRIES, begs respect- rully to intimate that he is now booking orders for Plants of his fine It was awarded a First-class Certificate of Merit on June 29, 1870, at a Meeting of the Nottingham Horticultural Society, and also a First-class Certificate at a Meeting of the Fruit Committee of the Ro>-al Horticultural Society, July tg, i87r, at South Kensington. Descriptive CIRCULARS, with prices, post free to all applicants. SAMUEL BRADLEY, Littledale, Halam, near Southwell, Notts. WANTED, SPECIMEN PLANTS of the following, to complete a Collection r— AGAVE I EUPHORBIA ALOE GASTERIA CEREUS OPUNTIA ECHINOCACTUS PHYLLOCACTUS, and ECHINOPSIS I MAMMILLARIA generally. Apply by letter to J. CROUCHER, Gr. to Mr. J. T. Peacock, Sudbury House, Hammersmith, W. beautiful tribe, may obtain information of their culture, &c., and an order to view the collection of 6000 Plants, by letter to J. Croucher, EVERY GARDEN REQUISITE KEPT in STOCK at CARTER'S New Seed Warehouse, 237 & 238, High Holbom, London. New Catalogue. JOHN H. LEY, E.xotic Nursery, Croydon, S.E., will ^>^^'',°, J^PPy '° fo^ard. post free on application, his NEW CATA- , STOVE PLANTS. S C.Jbi To the Trade.— Cyclamen perslcum Seed. T) CLARKE, Market Gardener, distinct and vigorous plants, same as exhibited at South Kensington, November and December last, and awarded Special Certificate at each The Royal Norfolk Nurseries, Norwich. TT' WING AND CO. respectfully invite inspection of -Li their extensive NURSERY STOCK. Fifty acres of FRUIT TREES, ROSES, CONIFERS, ORNAMENTAL TREES, 8tc . "i-.?-, ,'''!;', I^OSES, including the new varieties of 1870, are NOW in FL LL BLOOM, and would well repay a visiL HLANE AND SON'S magnificent COLLECTION, upwards of 100,000, is NOW in FULL BLOO.M. atrons and Friends are respectfulij lenos are respecttujiy invited to pay an t Great Berkhamslead, Herts, 28 miles New Roses of 1871, JOHN CRANSTON offers a selection of TWELVE tr NEW ROSES of the present year. Fine plants ready. Descriptive LIST on application. New Roses, 1871. WriLLIAM KNIGHT offers a selection of TWELVE V V NEW ROSES, the finest of this season's plants, now ready. Also an immense stock of extra strong Plants, in pots, for Bedding, only of previous years. Priced I HOICE ROSES.— The finest stock of Tea, Noisette, ' China, and other Roses to select from, all strong and healthy, in Descriptive Priced LIST on applicatioS to 3 SMITH, Nurseryman and SeeiT .Merchant, Worcester. w M. THOMSON'S Descriptive CATALOGUE of VINES and PINES is now ready, and may be had on appli- Tweed Vineyard, by Galashiels. G' nends, feeling assured that no other possesses such a robust ler, with resilly splendid flowers. Mixed, Red and White, Choice Seeds, for Present Sowing. ■D S. WILLIAMS begB to announce that he has just -U. harvested NEW SEED of the following :-Williams' superb strain of PRIMULA, red, white, and mixed; Neill's choice strain of CALCEOLARIA: Weatherill's choice strain of CINERARIA: and Wiggins' prize strain of CYCLAMEN. All the above at i.. W., 2S. M., 3r. 6d., and 5s. per packet, post free. Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper Holloway, London, N. Izora amabUls. ■p OBERT PARKER has great pleasure in offering in the greatest profusion— young plants in 4-inch pots yielding two and three large trusses of (lowers : very desirable for decorative and exhi- bition purposes. First-class Certificates have been awarded by Royal Horticultural and Royal Botanic Societies. Strong, healthy plants, Exotic Nursery, Tooting, Surrey, S.W. R^ Corn, Seed, Manure, and Oilcake Merchants. Iress, 26, Seed Market, Mark Lane, E.C. ; or Basingstoke, les and prices post free on application. Prize Medals, 1831, =at ; i86a, for " Excellent Seed Corn and Seeds." GARDEN SEEDS, GRASSES, and GRASS SEEDS, wai Awarded to , Seedsmen, by Special Appointment, U New Late Red TrifoUum. NEW LATE WHITE TRIFOLIUM. SUTTON AND SONS can supply NEW SEED of the above excellent succession varieties, which come In a fortnight or three weeks later than the ordinary variety. Lowest price per cwt. Tixmip and Mangel Wurzel Seeds-1871 Crop. OHN SHARPE will on application furnish his LIST. Bardney Manor, Lincoln.— J m Cabbage, and : lb food foi "C^ f year to sow this fine class of itting out plants on stubbles for sheep and S. Robinson bees to inform his Customers jood stock of strong, late autumn-sown and -^ „ = Plants ; also a small quantity of SEED, from the same stock, to offer retail, at 31. per lb. A good dressing of Soot and Salt would answer well on stubbles intended for late Cattle Cabbage plant- ing. Sample, and price of plants, on application to S. ROBINSON, Shaw House, Melbourne. Derbyshire. Culture. See Report of New Vineries, Gunnersbury. For price, &c., apply to ^^. R. TANTON, F.R.H.S., The Nurseries, Epsom. io62 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 19, 1871. For Present Sowing. , SUTTONS' GRASS SEEDS FOR ALL SOILS, AND H.E.II. THE Prince c e and French Court of the z3r. paynr Carriage free, and s per cent off for ca f FINE GRASSES a ility and quantity of t ITALIAN RYE-GRASS, Three b ' RENOVATING MIXTURE CLOVERS, for Improving Pastures, sh will effect a great improvement in the q succeeding Hay Crops. Sow from 8 t( per lb. ; much cheaper by the cwt. EARLY SHEEP FEED,_ by sowing BUTTONS' IMPROVED I the principal Sewage Farms, i per acre, if sown alone ; or, with Trifolium incarnatum, 2 bushels per acre. Lowest price per quarter on application. TRIFOLIUM INCARNATUM (ITALIAN CRIMSON CLOVERl, the best Clover to produce an abundant supply of green food in the spring. Sow 28 lb. per acre alone, or 16 lb. per acre with Italian Rye-grass. Lowest price per cwt. on application. BUTTONS' MIXTURE of RAPID-GROWING GRASSES and CLOVERS, for feeding next November, and producing a heavy crop for mowing and feeding in May and June. Sow -.j bushels goods carriage free by rail. Five per cent off for cash payment. SUTTON AND SONS, Seedsman to the Queen and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Reading, Berks. For Present : SEED. For SowinK during Ai NEW GIANT ROCCO, the largest variety, is. 6d. per oz. LARGE WHITE ITALIAN TRIPOLI, early or late, IS 6d per oz. LARGE RED ITALIAN TRIPOLI, early or late, IS M per oz. NEAPOLITAN MARZA- GOLI, extra fine, 15. and Further particulars of choice GARDEN and FLOWER SEEDS for AUTUMN SOW- ING may be had on applica- i^s^ T HE ACME GARDEN FRAME and GROUND VINERY, le most perfect and effective, as well as the cheapest Frame and ry vet brought out See the Gardentrs' Chronicle, Dec. 17, 1870. iS'JAMIN LOOKER,Inventor,Patentee,andSole Manufacturer, j5ton-on-Thames. FECIAL DILLISTONE'S EARLY PROLIFIC . SANGSTER'S No. i EARLY EMPEROR BECK'S GEM or TOM THUMB MCLEAN'S LITTLE GEM DICKSON'S HARRISON'S GLORY FAIRBEARD'S i PARADISE MARROW .. PRIZETAKER MCLEAN'S PRINCESS ROYAL.. BEDMAN'S IMPERIAL .. BLUE SCIMITAR WOODFORD GREEN MARROW ■I % CHAMPION of ENGLAND HAIRS' DWARF MAMMOTH YORKSHIRE HERO COMPETITOR. EUGF.NIE 10 o >r NAPOLEON Q 6 PERFECTION 90 „ i ADVANCER 96 „ PRINCE of WALES .. lo o „ ;; WONDERFUL .. .. to o „ PRINCESS of WALES ..9(1 „ ALFRED LEGERTON, Seed Merchant, s.Aldgate, London, E., bees to offer the above to the Seed Trade. All are of Crop 1871, Deliveries can be made of all before Christmas, all of which shall bt well hand-picked samples, and all are true to name. Early order: Stra'wberries. JAMES CARTER and CO. having 1 potted several hundred thousands of the fines STRAWBERRIES, which are now well established,; CATALOGUE,! f which -will be posted a Runners, out of pots, our selection, 25 c General Havelock ' Princess Ali Runners, out of pels, per 100, 3s. 6rf. Dr. Hogg 1 Premier Due de ftlalakofF | Presider Vicomtesse Ilcri JAMES CARTEIi I Rifleman I Sir Harry iners, in pots, per 100, 125. 6l[3y be obtained direct from PARR and ATHERTON, Notting- ham ; or of their Agents throughout the country. The Apparatus will be forwarded lo any address in England on cceiptof4s. in stamps. Ec .,...^..^.,_..„ VENTILATED wAtER TU^E CASES i\ for Exhibition or Transmission purposes. May be o any of the Agents ; the PATENTEE, ~" AND CO.j who have arranged for their so and Testimonials on application.— Gloucester. w. ea'ssFe Price IJsts August 19, The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1063 F. AND A. SMITH E sending out new 1 CALCEOI.AKI \, CINEllAKIA, I CYCLAMEN,. I DELPHINIUM, I .n, , 1 ;,. > HOLLYHOCK, finest mixed PANSY, fine show varieties „ Belgian or fancy. . PRIMULA, finest Red and W PETUNIA, from hybridised s< POLYANTHUS, Irom sclccte STOCK, Intermediate, Purple, East Lothian, Purple SWEET WILLIAM, extra A AVHEELERS' COCOA-NUT CABBAGE o , West Dulw JAMES CARTER an; rerpacket.-s.ii. CALCEOLARIA (International Prize). — ~ splendid strain received First Prizes a Royal Horticultural, and other places CALCEOLARIA, finest Hybrid, 2s. M. ; smaller packets ,, finest Spotted, 2r. bd. ; smaller packets Saved with the greatest care, and from one of the largest collections in the kingdom. CINERARIA, choicest Mixed ,• saved from a splendid collection PRiVuTa, ™hoice"t' ^Fringed" va?iet"ic?!'-''The"variMies of IncsfstraTns'hf cuTt'ivatio'ii!^''* '' ""^' PRIMULA, choicest Mixed Fringed, =s. M. „ dark Carmine „ new Scarlet " chScest'"lhit;'FrinEid '.'. " ch^ce" Fe'm-ieaved WhiS;'"° _ , Forwariled immediately on receipt of Post-office Orders. Seeds JAMES CARTER AND CO., The Royal Seedsmen, 237 and 238, High Holbom, London, W.C. Suttona' Superb Hybridised Florist Hower Seeds. BUTTONS' SUPERB CALCEOLARIA. MESSRS. SUTTON and SONS have received NEW SEED ol their superb varieties of FLORISTS' FLOWERS, HYBRIDISED, and saved from the Finest Strains in Cultivation. BUTTONS' Superb CALCEOLARIA, per packet, 21. 6d., post free. SUTTONS' Superb CINERARIA, per packet, 2i. &i., postTvee. BUTTONS' Superb PRIMULA, pef packet, 2^. M., plist free. Ordinary Varieties, per packet, if. fid., post free. Fnm Mr. Geo. Bond, Gr. to ihe Earl of Powis, Walcoi Gardnis. May 23, 1871.— " The flowers of the Calceolaria and Cineraria seed I Frcti, Mr. Chas. Warcboit, Gr. to A. R. Hudson, Esq., Ptrshori. April 19, 1871.— " My Cinerarias Irom your last year's seed are very good, nearly two feet across." SUTTON AND SONS, Seedsmen, by Special Appointment, to the Queen and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Reading. DOUBLE SCARLET GERANIUM VICTOR LEMOINE, the finest double grown for Bedding or Winter Flowcnng. 4J., 8s., and i2j. per dozen. SURPLUS STOCK of SPRING FLOWERING and HERBACEOUS PLANTS. Per doz.— s. '*"^'°«"" ■■ ■■ S I, CLIVEDEN, in four colours ner r^ .fi o ,, -THE CZAR, fine, sweet.. .. V. '.'. Jer ■" J° o BppUrati'o°n ° "° ^°°''' '"°"^ P'^'eil- Price to Trade, per 100, on E. AND J. PERKINS, Nurserymen, Leamington. WHEELERS' COCOA-NUT CABBAGE. Wheelers' Cocoa-Nut Cabbage, per pkt., Is. ,, ,, small packet, 6ii. Wheelers' Imperial Cabbage, per oz., 8d. Wheelers' Tom Thumb Lettuce, p. pkt., Is. ,, „ small packet, 6d. N.B.— Wherever this charming little Lettuce is grown it is a remarkable favourite. It may be obtained /rue from either Gloucester, or Mark Lane, London. We recommend everybody to try it who have not already A/l the above Post Free. WHEELERS' BROCKWORTH PARK PEAR, lOs. 6d. each. This magnificent Pear is a cross between Williams' Bon Chrtftien, and Louise Bonne of Jersey. It considerably surpasses both its parents in SIZE, fine quality, beauty, and flavour, ripening about the same time, viz., September and October ; grown against a wall, the fruit is remarkably large and handsome, the Pears weighing about 12 oz. (| of a lb. each). On the dinner-table well-ripened specimens are remark- ably conspicuous for their size and beauty, and their flavour and juiciness are fully equal to their appearance. A First-class Certificate was awarded to this handsome variety last autumn by the Royal Horticultural Society, and Trees were ordered by the principal Nurserymen in the kingdom ; but the demand was so great that we were Sold out of all our Saleable Plants immediately they were offered. Coloured Plates, taken from Nature, may be had at bd. each. We are now Booking Orders to be executed in November next; all Orders will be executed in exact rotation as received, as far as the Plants will go ; but we expect to be Sold out long before the season is over. The price of young PYRAMIDS is 10s. 6d. each. We have a few Plants trained for walls at 15^. The Pyramids will furnish plenty of buds next summer for budding Trees of other varieties established against walls. This fine variety is well worthy of a wall, and of a good aspect. 1^ Orders are no-w being Booked. J. C. WHEELEE & SON, NURSERYMEN, GLOUCESTER; and 59, MARK LANE, LONDON, E.C. RCHIDS.— Having recently received several large impormtions^ we can offer Odontoglossum Alexandra: (Bluntii) at ^ leas; Dendrobium Devonianum, 5s. to 211. each; ;. to 65s. ; D. Wardianum, 63s. to 105J. ; D. chrysotis, cLarthiiE, 421. to 63s. ; D, Cambridgeanum.SJ. to 2«.; trietics, for 10 guineas; Dendi k l'„63i.; D."m i .\2y I Cattleya Wamei victoria Street, Manchester ; M\ for New and Rare Plants, King's Road, C WM. PAUL'S ROSES are NOW in BLOOM, ingpection respectfully invited. Amongst Novelties are the beauUful riybrid Peroetual PRINCESS CHRISTIAN, PRINCESS BEATRICE, PRINCE LEOPOLD, and a number of other English and Foreign Seedlings. Trains from Bishopsgate Station, Great Eastern Railway, and St. Pancras Station, Midland Railway, to Waltham Station, in about half an hour. Entrance ftom the platform, Waltham Station. PAUL'S Nurseries, Waltham Cross, London, N. R GYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, SOUTH KENSINGTON, W. SHOW of GLADIOLI, HOLLYHOCKS. &c., AUGUST 16. AWARDS of the JUDGES. Class 1.— 24 GLADIOLI, cut spikes, distinct. (Open.) {Prizes offered by His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch.) , Messrs. Kelway & Son, The Nurseries, Langport, Somerset. £c Mr. J. Douglas, Gr. to F.Whitbourne, Esq.,loxford Hall, Ilford, Mr. G. Wheeler, Warminster Nurseries, Wilts, /2. tra, Kev. H. H. Dombrain, Westwcll Vicarage, Ashford, Kent Class 2.-12 GLADIOLI, cut spikes, distinct. (Amateurs.) eich, Gr. to J. Marshall, Esq., Belmont Park, , Somerset, ,£2. it, Mr. J. Douglai (Amateurs.) 3d, Rev. H. H. Dombrain, £1 Class 3.-6 GLADIOLI, ist, Mr. J. Douglas. £r. 2d, Rev. H. H. Dombrain, 151. 3d, Mr. F. Warren, Wellesley Road, Croydon, :oi. Equal, J. W. Welch, los. ■ ^ > Class 4.-6 HOLLYHOCKS, cut spikes, distinct. (Open.) ist, Mr. W. Chater, The Nurseries, Saffron Walden, Essct, {,1- Class 5.-24 HOLLYHOCKS, cut blooms, distinct. (Nurserymen, ist, Mr. W. Chater, 15s. 2d, Messrs. Paul & Son, Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, Herts, lor. (Amateurs.) Porter, Gr. to Mrs. Benham, Sion Lodge, Isleworth, i LASS 7.— 12 PHLOXES, cut, distinct. (Open.) , Downie, Laird & Laing, Stanstead Park Nursery, Forest ngledish. (Open.) ^illoughby de Broke, d, Mr. J. Smith, Gr, Earl of Gainsborough, Exton Park, Oakham, Rutland, PRIZES OFFERED by MESSRS. TAMES CARTER AND CO. Class 9.— COLLECTION of VEGETABLES, to include Carter's Champion Runners, and three dishes of Peas (including Carter's Imperial Wonder, and Carter's Wonder of the World). MISCELLANEOUS-EXTRA PRIZES. Messrs. J. & C. Lee, Royal Vineyard Nursery, Hammersmith, W., for Branches of Trees and Shrubs. Messrs. Kelway & Son. for Collection of Gladioli. Noteworthy Horticulturists and Botanists. NOTICE.— A SERIES of PORTRAITS of NOTEWORTHY HORTICULTURISTS and BOTANISTS is being published in the "GARDENERS' CHRONICLE AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE." The following have already appeared, and copies may be had on application to the Publisher, viz. :— Dr. HOOKER, C.B., P.R.S.-, W. Wilson Saunders, F.R.S.; Rev. M. J. Berkeley, F.L.S. ; M. Decaisne; G. F. Wilson, F.R.S.; Professor Reichenbach, of Hamburgh: Dr. Moore, of Glasnevin; Rev. S. R. Hole, M.A. ; E. J. Lowe, F.R.S. ; and J^ames McNab, of Edinburgh. Published by W. RICHARDS,4i, Wellington Street, Covent Garden SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 1871. MEETING FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. THURSDAY, August 24 {I'f^iJ?"^,;^"'"^ of Ireland (Autumn NO persons know better than gardeners how complex and puzzhng are the EFFECTS of Frost on Vegetation. Gardeners see and e.\;- perience to their cost the most varied effects arising from apparently similar causes. It is in reference to this point that we have pointed out from time to time that the data afforded us by the meteoro- logist are not sufficient for the purposes of the practical cultivator. A thermometer freely ex- posed to nocturnal radiation is one thing, a living plant of complex organisation, and placed under similar circumstances, is another. The so-called aws influencing the one are not indeed inopera- tive in the case of the other, but they are so much modified by other circumstances which the meteorologist, p2ir et simple, can hardly be expected to unravel, that they have only a limited application to the facts of vegetable life. To thoroughly comprehend the injuries inflicted by low temperatures on plants, we require first of all to know what is the nature of the injury, and then how those injurious effects are modified in certain cases and from what causes. It used formerly to be supposed that the mischief was 1064 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 19, 1871. done by the freezing of the juices of the plant and the tearing asunder of the tissues consequent on the expansion of the watery contents of the tissues as they froze. Recent more exact obser- vations ofPRiLLiEUX and Mer have, however, shown that there is very rarely any rupture of tissue ; that ice is comparatively seldom formed in the cells, but rather between them ; and that, when any rupture does occur, it takes place in these intercellular spaces, while the cells them- selves are intact. Moreover, in most cases the young tissues are destroyed from the operation of the cold, without the formation of any ice at all in the tissues of the plant. To what, then, are we to attribute the injuries we meet with ? The answer which M. Mer gives to this question is— drought ; that is to say, loss of water and consequent drying of the tissues. The cold contracts the cells, the contraction, which is manifest even to the naked eye, squeezes the liquid contents through the cell-walls into the intercellular passages, there perchance (though rarely) to freeze. Now, then, for the modifying circumstances. In the first line we must put nocturnal radiation. If this go on freely, as it will do if protection be not afforded artificially or naturally, we know to our cost what the conse- quences will be upon tender stuff: the plant loses its heat, loses its water, shrivels, dies. The duration of the cold must also be taken intc consideration. If it last but a short time, comparatively little effect will be produced, and on the resumption of more favourable con- ditions the plant may recover itself. Another important circumstance, modifying injuriously the action of low temperatures on plants, is the presence of a thin layer of water or dew on the surface of the leaves. When this happens cold acts much more injuriously than when the leaves are dry on the surface. Thus may be explained the greater injuries received by plants in valleys and wet places as contrasted with those on the hill-sides. This also may serve, in part, to explain the greater severity of the action of the frost near the ground than at some few feet above it, in cases where the branches are not protected in some way or another. The air near the soil in valleys is laden with moist vapour which con- denses in the form of dew on the plants, and loses much of its heat in the process. Plants in such a situation, then, are covered during the night with drops of water ; they are environed by a cold stagnant atmosphere, and they are at the same time exposed for a longer period to nightly cooling by radiation than their fellows on the hill tops. Still another and most potent factor in the injuries experienced by plants in consequence of low temperatures, is the exposure to the sun. We have had this spring but too many examples of the effect of a hot sun following on a cold night. Actual frost is not necessary to produce these results. It has been found by experiment that plants placed in a cool atmo- sphere some degrees above freezing, and then exposed to bright sunlight, perished as if frost- bitten. Clearly, ice in the tissues could not here have been the cause of the injury. Equally obvious is it that such exposure to heat must favour that rapid desiccation on which the ill effects of low temperatures are shown to depend. In connection with this point we may allude to a circumstance mentioned by M. Mer, and to which, no doubt, many of our readers could furnish a parallel. In May, 1869, after a hot day, a nursery quarter, stocked with Oaks and Chestnuts, was injured in the course of the night by frost, except on the north-east and south-east aspects. As the nursery was sheltered on all sides by a wood, the exemption of the two portions in question could only be accounted for by the circumstance that the portions in question were not exposed to the sun till after the middle of the morning, so that the water squeezed out by the cold had time to be reabsorbed before the sun's power was felt, and in conse- quence no desiccation took place. Other causes, which co-operate with, and modify the effects of cold on plants, are the nature of the soil in which they grow, and the consequent variations in humidity, rapidity of heating, slowness of cool- ing, and the like. These are some of the circumstances which render the data as furnished us by the meteoro- logist less directly ser\'iceable than might at first be supposed would be the case. A Cure for the Potato Disea.se seems hope- less. Our correspondent "A. D.'' wishes to Mi relegate the matter once more to scientific H; authorities. There can be no objection to this, fit but we fear the results will be one more discom- fiture to science. Such maladies seem to elude the grasp of the nicest investigations. The nature of the disease is patent enough, but its cause is still shrouded in mystery or hidden in a maze of speculation. For years science has puzzled over it and practice has striven to explain and vanquish it, and the result is that we seem as helpless and ignorant as ever. No one can certainly say whence it comes, nor whither it goes. Does it fall down a crushing blight from Heaven, or is the Potato shocked, wounded, or bruised by the discharge of an electric battery from the lower regions of the earth. It seems to us as if the tops were hit first, but no sooner does the well- known mark appear on leaf and stem than the seed of the disease seems sown in the tubers as well ; and, singularly enough, the result on each is more like a bruise than aught else, as if some force had violently hit or crushed a portion of it, and left the virus of the bruise to spread death and decomposition through the whole of the plant and its produce. Doubtless if the British Association, the Royal Society, or the Royal Horticultural and Agricul- tural Societies, or any of the scientific com- mittees and men of science throughout the world, were to set to work to discover the cause and cure of the Potato disease, it would be an object well worthy of their best energies, and if success rewarded their efforts it would be the means of immensely raising the character and the estimate formed of the value of science to the everyday affairs of life. And while it might be worth the while of any and all such institutions to re-investigate the matter, we are of opinion that such cultivators as " A. D.,"' Mr. Fenn, and others would render higher service to Potato culture by directing their energies to the organisation and multiplication of good-keeping early varieties. What are needed are hardy sorts, that will endure the cold of spring, tuber and grow rapidly, and keep well after they are lifted and stored. It is seldom that the Potato disease appears till July and it surely might be possible to select and raise races of Potatos that could be harvested before the end of that month, and that would keep good for seven or eight months afterwards. Thus might the main Potato crops be lifted out of danger before the disease appeared. Pro bably by the adoption of this course the disease might die out, and we might again recur to later sorts if necessary. But if early varieties could be kept almost as well as later sorts, there would be no advantage, but the reverse, in growing the latter. It would be an immense gain to the country could thePotatogrounds be cleared in Julyorearly in August, since the whole of it could be stocked with winter greens. Turnips, Cabbages, Leeks, spring Onions, Broccoli, Lettuces, Endive, Spin- ach, &c. Two perfect crops would be grown instead of one, or at least a sort of one and a half, which is about all that the most expert croppers can get off the late Potato grounds. But, of course, the greatest gain would be the salvation of the Potato crop. None but the poor know what the partial and entire loss of this crop is — what pinching hunger, what suffering and want to women and children, it brings into tens of thousands of households. To such, an early crop would bring double food— the Potato safe, and sauce grown in plenty on the same grounds to eat with it. Let all early varieties be instantly harvested, and kept in narrow pits in the earth. Lest the disease should be in the air, pit them ; that is, cover with earth, basketful by basketful, as they are taken up. Experience seems to prove that, if not diseased when har- ested, they do not contract it afterwards ; but upon this point, as also concerning the best keeping early varieties, we invite the opinions of our correspondents. The matter is one of the greatest moment, the object being to remove a important article of food out of the way of this most virulent disease, by having it safely stored before it arrives. Such a mode of preven- tion would be better than cure ; and, besides, the cure really seems hopeless, while this appears quite possible. Under the name of jEchmea Mari/E Regina, has appeared at our flower shows during the present imer one of tlie most beautiful Bromeliaceous plants r introduced to our gardens. It was first exhibited the Regent's Park early in July, by its introducer, . Wendland, Inspector of the Royal Gardens, never, and received a First-class Certificate, and vas again exhibited a few days later at the Royal Horticultural Society's show at South Kensington, where it also received a First-class Certificate, and, in addition, a silver Medal for its superior excellence and extreme beauty. We are informed that the flowering specimen may still be seen in full beauty at the estab- lishment of Mr. B. S. Williams, at HoUoway, who has arranged with Mr. Wendland to receive the entire stock. This handsome plant is of somewhat robust habit. The leaves are l8 inches in length, arranged so as to form a beautiful vase-like plant. The flower-spike rises from the centre, and attains a height of about 2 feet ; half the length is clothed with large boat-shaped bracts, some 4 inches long, of an intensely rich rose-pink ; the flowers, which are tipped with blue and change to salmon-colour with age, are arranged compactly upon the upper portion of the spike, and materially add to the beauty of this extremely grand plant. The bracts are very persistent, retaining their rich colour in full perfection for several months. This superb plant, when known, cannot bat become a universal favourite, and no doubt Mr. Williams will soon be able to distribute this treasure to the lovers of rich and rare plants, in whose gardens it is sure to find a welcome. We are informed that a meeting of the FLORAL and Fruit Committees of the Royal Horticultural Society will be held on Tuesday next at Chiswick, for the purpose of judging the florists' flowers grown in that establishment for trial, and to inspect the recent alterations in the garden. The Council has, we also learn, invited the exhibitors at the Society's shows to visit the garden on the same day. It is often a matter of surprise, and we may say disgust, to see the wretched Accommodation pro- vided for the Gardener and other retainers in some of the establishments of this country. We see a com- fortable, often splendid, mansion for the proprietor, while his servants are lodged in places not so good as the stables, while the "young men " are often lodged in bothies, worse by far than some pigstyes. There has been a manifest improvement in this matter of late years, and it may be some consolation to those who are still miserably housed to know that in certain Govern- ment establishments matters are no better. The last paragraph of the annual report of the Calcutta Botanic Garden s.ays : " The Curator of the garden is still con- demned to live in the house, which has been officially reported unfit for human habitation." A fresh supply of the Apple-like Bodies on Rhododendron ferrugineum has been received from Mr. Ferguson, and also from Sir W. C. Tre- velyan, who, like ourselves, can find no trace of insect larvae. It is quite certain that they are not galls, but whether aphides have anything to do with these productions we have no evidence to show. From both quarters we have them now both on the leaves and terminal buds, and in every case we find the surface covered with a white bloom, which either consists of short asci containing sporidia, or delicate short threads, with oblong conidia. We have, therefore, no hesita- tion in adhering to our first opinion, that they belong to the same category as the Peach blister. We have had no opportunity of examining perfectly fresh speci- mens ; such delicate moulds do not bear carriage well, besides being liable to alteration from being con- fined for one or two days in a closed box. Every one of Mr. Ferguson's specimens was examined, and the result was as indicated above. Af. J. B. From the annual report of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences of Mauritius for 1870, we learn that the fishermen of that island occasionally suffer severelyfrom the wounds inflicted bya fish locally known as the Laffe, the Synanchia verrucosa of naturalists. It appears that at the base of the dorsal fin is a reservoir of whitish liquid, which is expelled with force when the fish is irritated by contact or pressure, and which, entering the wound caused by the fin, gives rise to excruciating pain, which is relieved by the applica- tion of the pounded (leaves ?) of a Composite plant, Microrhynchus sarmentosus. Acting on the principle that we derive conso- lation in our own troubles from the misfortunes of other people, we may call attention to the remarkable letter of M. Naudin in another column, and in which he refers to the extreme Fluctuations in Tempera- ture at CoUioure, in the Eastern Pyrenees. We may infer from this that our own climate is not so much worse than that of other people, and that, as we have often pointed out, the thermometer per se is not a fair index of the effect of low temperature on plants. We may incidentally mention that M. Naudin has estab- lished an experimental garden at CoUioure, and those who^have it in their power to send seeds for experi- ment as to acclimatation, or economic uses, cannot do better than send some to this accomplished botanist and conscientious observer. At the request of Mr. Barr the following of Onion were Tried at Sibeertoft, which is 600 feet above the level of the sea, as winter sown, transplanted, and spring sown. The soil is the stiff clay of the upper lias :— Late White Italian Tripoli Onion.— U wintered badly, but enough plants were left both to transplant and stand. The transplanted individuals produced some very large Onions, of which specimens were taken to South August 19, 1871.] TTie Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1065 Kensington on Wednesday last ; those which were not removed stood well, producing some good bulbs, but not so fine as the transplanted ones. 2. Early While Italian /■/-/>)//.— Wintered badly, but afterwards stood well. The transplanted individuals bulbed well, were decidedly much earlier, but did not pro- duce such large bulbs as No. i. 3. Red Italian Tripoli. — Wintered badly, but after- wards stood well, and when transplanted produced good fair-sized bulbs. .). Giant Globe il/j<7.— Wintered well, and produced good bulbs, whether standing or transplanted. 5. Sed Sallon.—WinXerei admirably, and stood well, producing, whether transplanted or otherwise, good bulbs. 6. Madeira Santa Anna.— W'miereiweW, and produced good bulbs, whether transplanted or otherwise. 7. Giant Rouo. — Wintered well, and produced good sound bulbs, but did not succeed when transplanted. Though the bulbs were in general good, they would doubtless have been much larger had not the plants been attacked at a critical moment by Peronospora destructor, a mould belonging to the same genus with the Potato mould. The result of spring sowing has not been satisfactory, the weather having been unpro- pitious. Nos. I and 2 did not stand the early frosts well, but the latter is decidedly earlier in every case than No, i, a circumstance about which some doubt was expressed last year at South Kensington M. y. B. Referring, in the House of Commons on Thursday, the loth inst., to the New Postal Tariff, Mr. Mo.NSEi.L explained, in reply to Mr. Gkaves, that the delay in bringing the new postal tariff into effect was owing to the magnitude of the alterations re- ^ ,; quired. The large additional work thrown on the Post Office by the proposed changes had rendered neces- sary an alteration within the Post Office itself, which was being made by the Office of Works with great diligence, but it could not be com- pleted till the second week of Sep- tember. No less than a thousand officers of the Post Office would have their duties altered by the introduction of the new system, and the apertures of the various letter-boxes in the Post Offices would have to be enlarged. October 5 had been fixed for the com- mencement of the new system, but it was not without misgivings that so early a date had been named. Of course we shall wait with becoming patience, and the more readily as the Postmaster-General has shown himself by no means averse to make certain necessary changes. The restrictions as to the sample post have frequently been productive of some injustice, and much inconvenience and annoyance to ourselves in the conduct of this journal. The Maximum Tempera- tures of the Air in England during the week ending August 12, ranged from SS°.7 at Leicester, to So° at Newcastle-on-Tyne, with a me.an for all stations of 84°.9. The Mini.mum Temperatures in the same country ranged from 54° at Newcastle-on- Tyne to 47° at Hull, with a mean for all of 5 1°.3. The highest mean tem- perature was 68°.3 at Blackheath, and the lowest 64°.3 at Hull. The mean for the whole countiy was 66°.4. At one station only in England rain fell during the week, viz., Birmingham, and the amount recorded there was but o.oi inch, thus being in striking contrast to the previous wet period. In Scot- land the maximum temperatures ranged from 80° at Leith and Perth to 71 ".5 at Greenock, with a mean for all of 76°. 6. The minimum tempe- ratures ranged from 57° at Greenock to 49° at Edin- burgh, the mean for all stations being 52°. 3. The highest mean temperature in Scotland was 65°.6 at Perth, and the lowest 62°. 2 at Greenock. Rain fell at Aberdeen and Greenock only, the amount recorded at those places being 0.10 inch and 0.12 inch respect- ively. (See Mr. Glaisher's Tables, p. 1075.) A fact worthy of notice, relating to the Fer- tilisation of Flowers, is recorded in the current number of the "Botanical Magazine." A very pretty new Abutilon, raised by Mr. Darwin, from Brazilian seeds, is figured in the periodical in question, under the name of Abutilon Darwinii ; and it is stated that, during the early part of the flowering season, it is absolutely sterile with its own pollen, but fertile with the pollen of any other individual of the same species, while later in the season it is capable of self-fertili- The history of a species of Vicia, published by Mr. Watson in the " Natural History of the Azores," under the name of Vicia Dennisiana, is both interesting and remarkable. " Chance only appears to have saved it from becoming an extinct species almost immediately after it became known at all." It was found by Mr. T. C. Hunt on the mountains at the ' east end of the island of San Miguel, growing on damp, earthy precipices ; but in one spot only, from which it has since disappeared through a landslip. Mr. Hunt unsuccessfully sought for the plant elsewhere in the same neighbourhood, and no other collector has found it in any of the isles. Mr. Watson preserves the plant in his garden, where it flowers occasionally ; but severity of weather and late frosts have once or twice proved nearly fatal to the small stock in hand. As far as we know, therefore, the species, but for human in- uld have become extinct. With reference to the Culture of Cotton in India, the Acting Superintendent of the Botanic Garden, Calcutta, thus writes in his annual report for 1870-71 :- " It is plain that the results are discouraging, and verv different from the expectations formed, and the hope's held out last year. It must be understood that no diffi- culties were met with in growing fine plants of Cotton. The point where the experiments failed was in the securing the crop. Just as the plants were coming into fine bearing, a rain would come, split all the ripening bolls, and throw the plants anew into vigorous vegetative growth. By the time these were again covered with young bolls, another fall of rain would occur. This is the more disheartening, because during last season the hot weather was more free from showers than is usually the case at Calcutta. The inference would appear to be that the climate of Calcutta is too moist for these perennial Cottons, and that the only chance of securing a crop is with the more rapidly-maturing annual Indian varieties. Fig. 243.— begonia richardsiana. Perhaps a climate and elevation somewhere about Chota Nagpore remain to be discovered, intermediate between the dry tableland of Berar and the moist delta, which may prove a locality where these high-class exotic Cot- tons can be cultivated at an economic profit. The expe- rience of this year, moreover, has been very unfavour- able to the beautiful hybrid seedling Cottons of Major Trevor Clark. These hybrids do not appear to main- tain their characters under cultivation. I suggested formerly that this might be due to their being cross- fertilised in our mixed beds ; but Mr. ScOTT is of opinion, from his observation of these hybrids, that with no degree of care in their culture can they be preserved as distinct varieties." Ina pamphlet writtenby Mr. W. H. Treen, and forwarded us from Melbourne, we find it asserted that the Majetin Apple is not subject to the attacks of the American Blight, on which account it is recommended as a stock for grafting. It is not pre- tended that the stock confers on the scion any power of resisting the attack of this pest, but simply that the "roots of Apple trees grafted on the Majetin stock will always be entirely free from blight ; in fact, all below the graft will be clean." The fact was first noticed in George Lindley's "Guide to the Orchard," but so far as we know, Messrs. Lang & Co., nurserymen, of Melbourne and Ballarat, were the first to turn the fact to good account. These gentlemen appear to have been experimenting on the subject for years, and in the pamphlet before us they give followi of Apples nearly blight-pn Cardinal, Constantinople, Cornish Gilliflower, Devon- shire Quarrenden, Duchess of Oldenburg, Grand Duke Constantine, Gravenstein, Hawley, Irish Peach, London Pippin, Maiden's Blush, Northern Spy, Triomphe de Luxemburg. Other lists are given of Apples only slightly affected, and of others severely infested by the aphis. The result of all these trials is that the Winter Majetin, and perhaps the Northern Spy, are reported on as blight-proof. Assuming the facts as recorded in Mr. Treen 's pamphlet to be correct, we should be glad to have the experience of our own cultivators upon a point of so much moment. Mr. Treen, it further appears, anxious to ascertain to what causes this exemption of the Majetin Apple was due, submitted a specimen and one of the Crab to the Government analyst at Melbourne for analysis. The result of the analysis, as given by Mr. Johnson, " show that the Majetin Apple tree, which is free from blight, is a much larger consumer of lime, and it is most probably to the presence of this substance that such immunity from blight is due. The Crab, on the contrary, seems to have absorbed a much greater quantity of clayey matters, which have not been able to protect from the attack of these insects." The ash of the Majetin, according to the analysis given, contains over 50 per cent, of lime, while the Crab exhibits not quite 23 per cent. These results strike us with some astonishment. Of course we do not in the least degree impute bad faith to any one, but before we can place implicit credence in them we should like to see the experitnents very carefully repeated with Apples of various kinds grown on different soils. If from chemical analyses, such as those just alluded to, and carried out on a scale large enough to preclude or compensate accidental errors, similar results are obtained, the boon to fruit growers will be enormous— greater even, we will ven- ture to say, than the discovery of a blight- proof Apple. We earnestly commend the subject to the notice of fruit cultivators, and of those chemists interested in horticultural pursuits. A remark in the Report of the Botanic Garden, Calcutta, for 1870—71, which is now before us, adds confirmation to the oft expressed opinion, that, in order to be really profitable, a plant, no matter what its valuable properties, must be culti- vated. Fibre must be procured by the ton to be remunerative. A wild Nettle may appear to be abundant in the Sikkim jungles, yet it is found practically a serious matter to get in 60 lb. of dry fibre. Any wild plant can only be economically valuable if it can be grown at small cost as a dense crop. Excellence in fibre, moreover, we are told, is not the most necessary condition that a fibrous plant has to satisfy in order to recom- mend it as likely to be economically valuable. The principal merit of Jute as a valuable fibre is that it can be easily prepared. The Nettle fibres generally will not endure lengthened maceration in water to get rid of the cellular tissue. Some 14 species of the Nettle family have been selected for experiment, all of which are com- mon in lower Sikkim. Of these Villebrunnea appendiculata, a small tree, which may be grown as Osiers are here, seems at present the most promising, from the excellence of its fibre and the facility of its preparation. Among these fibre-pro- ducing Nettles is mentioned Laportea crenulata, the exudations from which are so virulent that it would hardly be possible to induce any labourers to work with it. Lindley, in his "Vegetable Kingdom," cites the virulent effects of this plant as recorded by Leschenault de la Tour, and in the report before us we are told that the head gardener at Rungbee protected himself from being directly stung while stripping the fibre, but was seized nevertheless with a violent swelling of the limbs and extremities, which lasted 24 hours with great severity. New Garden Plants. Begonia Richardsiana, sp. n. Tuberous, glabrous : stem dwarf, erect, fleshy, with slender branches ; Ie,ives obliquely ovate acuminate, bipartite, 5-lobed. the lobes unequal, dentate, one of them elongated, ttie lateral lobes shorter, teeth few, triangular, the acute sinus projected upwards, discoloured, and setose : stipules carinate oblong- acute setoso-mucronate : cymes axillarj' few flowered, bracts broadly ovate caducous ; male flowers with two rolundate-reni- form white sepals ; petals none ; female fl. 5-lobed, the lobes obovate, unequal, the inner ones smaller, capsule 3-winged, the wings equal, terminating in an obtuse angle above. Hab. Natal. An elegant little greenhouse plant (fig. 243), with the tuberous fleshy stems and general habit of B. Dregei, but differing altogether in its deeply-cleft leaves, in which respect it would appear to approach closely the B. suffruticosa of Meissner, but from which, according to the description, it diflers in several points— notably in the absence of petals. Moreover, the singular puckering of the acute sinus formed by the few coarse io66 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 19, 1871. bristle teeth of the leaves, and the trans developed from these points, are not a very careful description of the vegetati in De CandoUe's " Prodromus " (xv. 3S5). The plant is dwarf and densely branched. The stem is fleshy, not at all zigzag as described in suffhiticosa, stout below, slender above, of a deep wine-red colour, as are its numerous slender ramifications. The leaves have red petioles, upwards of an inch in length, and a limb 2 inches long, and nearly I.i inch broad, divided in the line of the petiole into two portions, of which one is again separated into two lobes, the inner of which is much elongated, and the other is cut into three unequal shorter lobes ; each lobe has a distinct costa, prominent below, and a less distinct vein parallel with the margin. The per- sistent stipules are whitish, oblong, keeled towards the ooint. terminating in a short bristle. The flowers grow !S from the leaf axils near the ends of the id are white, the males with two broad or form sepals, and no petals, the females lequal obovate divisions, and a three- , — both forms being developed from the of broad, ovate, concave, almost cordiform bracts. The elegantly cut leaves of this pretty novelty, and its close dwarf habit will render it an acquisition among the smaller decorative plants for the greenhouse. It is a native of Natal, whence it was received by James Kichards, Esq., of the Royal Horticultural Society, after whom it is named. We believe the stock is in the hands of the Messrs. Veitch & Sons. T. M. in smal branchl roundis with fi winged o' BRITISH ASSOCIATION. The meeting of the British Association for 1871, in the capital of Scotland, is an event long to be remem- bered by those who had the good fortune to be present thereat. This cannot be accounted for by reason of any demonstrative welcome, in which previous meet- ings have been eclipsed, because it is many years since so little of the outward and visible signs of display have been exhibited. Bell-ringing and " bunting " are not Scottish institutions, and those whose memories reverted to Exeter and Norwich, as gay with flags, and merry with the clangour of bells, found a wonderful contrast in the conspicuous absence of all such acces- sories in Edinburgh. Neither can it have been from the surpassing interest of the subjects discussed in the sections, since "old members" who have pre- sented themselves annually for many years past, declared the sections to have been "slow." Nor was any particular excitement derived from the President's address, which by infusion of its enthu- siasm might have carried its influence through a whole week. Admirable as it might have been in some respects, it failed to produce any excitement, and the only feature remembered by many was the novel expedient of tracing tlie introduction of vegetation to this earth of ours through the medium of " moss-gi-own fragments from the ruins of another world." Yet the British Association meeting in " Auld Reekie" has been a memorable event. After so long and dreary a prelude of rain and cloud, fine weather came just when it was wanted for the success of the meeting, and, perhaps more than anything else, contributed to the good humour of everybody, and consequently to the satisfaction of visitors. The fine old city itself, and its manifold associations, contributed their share also to the common result, and despite all drawbacks, and the absence of some artificial stimulus, the general results have left their mark behind. The biologist, leaving the presidential address as dealing chiefly with subjects beyond his sphere, found much compensation in the address of the President of the Biological section. Professor Allan Thomson, after rehearsing the histoi? of the section, its titles and divisions in the past and in the present, passed on to a consideration of the condition of biological research, and the influence which the British Association had exerted beneficially thereon. Out of;£'34,50O con- tributed by the Association to the promotion of scientific research, about £i.ioo had been devoted to biological purposes. It may be remarked in passing that the absorption of so large an annual giant for one purpose as that hitherto required for the 'Kew observatory, is likely to be obviated in future, and there is a hope that no cause of complaint will hereafter be given to those who have thought, and not altogether without reason, that one branch of science had the hon's share. Adverting to the wide range of biological science, and the enormous extent of knowledge and research in its various departments, he indicated the danger of con- fined views on the part of those whose attention is too exclusively directed to the details of one department, or a subdivision of it. " It is incumbent," he said, "on all those who are desirous of promoting the advance of biological knowledge, to combat the confined views which arc apt to be engen- dered by the too great restriction of study to one depart- ment. However much subdivision of labour may now be necessary in the origin, investigation, and elaboration of new facts in our science (and the necessity for such sub- division will necessarily increase as knowledge extends), there must be secured at first, by a wider study of the general principles and some of the details of collateral branches of knowledge, that power of justly comparing and correlating facts which will mature the judgment and exclude partial views. To refer only to one bright example, I may say that it can scarcely be doubted that it is the unequalled variety and extent of knowledge, combined with the faculty of bringing the most varied facts together in new combination, which has enabled Dr. Darwin (whatever may be thought otherwise of his system) to give the greatest impulse which has been felt in our own times to the progress of biological views and thought ; and it is most satisfactory to observe the effect which this influence is already producing on the scientific mind of this country in opposing the tendency perceptible in recent times to the too restricted study of special departments of natural history. I need scarcely remind you that for the proper investigation and judgment of problems in physiology, a full knowledge of anatomy in general, and much of comparative anatomy, of histo- logy and embryology, of organic chemistry and of physics, is indispensable as a preliminary to all successful physio- logical observation and experiment. The anatomist, again, who would profess to describe rationally and correctly the structure of the human body, must have acquired a knowledge of the principles of morphology derived from the study of comparative anatomy and deve- lopment, and he must have mastered the intricacies of histological research. The comparative anatomist must be an accomplished embryologist in the whole range of the animal kingdom, or in any single division of it which he professes to cultivate. The zoologist and the botanist must equally found their descriptions and systematic dis- tinctions on morphological, histological, and embryolo- gical data. And thus the whole of these departments of biological science are so interwoven and united that the scientific investigation of no one can now be regarded as altogether separate from that of the others. It has been the work of the last 40 years to bring that intimate connection of the biological scieiices more and more fully After more specially alluding to histology and em- bryology, and the immense progress made in the former since the improvement of the microscope, the Professor passed on to the evolution of species, with the following "On the subjects of zoological and botanical classi- fication and anthropology, it would be out of place for me now to make any observations at length. I will only remark, in regard to the first, that the period now under review has witnessed a very great modification in the aspect which the afiinities of the bodies belonging to these two great kingdoms of Nature bear to each other, and the principles on which in each groups of bodies are asso- ciated together in classification ; for, in the first place, the older view has been abandoned that the complication of structure rises in a continually increasing and con- tinuous gradation from one kingdom to the other, or extends in one line from one group to another in either of the kingdoms separately. Ii volution into a gradually increasing complexity of structure and function no doubt exists in both, so that types of formation must be acknow- ledged to pervade, .accompanied by typical resemblance of the plan of formation of a most interesting nature ; but it has become more and more apparent in the progress of morphological research that the different groups form rather circles, which touch one another at certain points of greatest resemblance, rather than one continuous line, or even a number of lines, which partially pass each other. Certain simpler bodies of the two kingdoms of Nature thus exhibit the increasing resemblance to each other, until at last the differences between them wholly disappear, and we reach a point of contact at which the properties become almost indistinguishable, as in the remarkable Protista of Haeckel and others. I fully agree, however, with the view stated by Professor Wyville Thomson in his intro- ductory lecture, that it is not necessary on this account to recognise vrith Haeckel a third intermediate kingdom ' kingdo for of lines . that the rela the chorda saUs of some Ascidians (or supposed notochord) tend to revive the discussion at one time prevalent, but long in abeyance, as to the possibility of tracing a homology between the vertebrate and invertebrate animals ; and should this correspondence be confirmed and extended, it may be expected to modify greatly our present views of zoological affinities and classification, and be an additional proof of the importance of minute and embryological research in such determinations. The recognition of homological resemblance of animals, to which in this country the researches of Owen and Huxley have con- tributed so largely, form one of the most interesting sub- jects of contemplation in the study of comparative anatomy and zoology in our time ; but I must refrain from touching on so seductive and difficult a subject. " The teaching of natural science in schools, and spiritualism, formed the remaining topics of the address, which was received with loud demonstrations of satisfaction. The botanical papers in the Department of Zoology and Botany were, as a whole, unimportant. Pro- fessor Dyer, an abstract of whose paper on the so-called mimicry of plants has been previously given, called attention to plants belonging to different natural orders, and found in widely separated countries, in which the habit and foliage were strikingly alike. He attributed the cause to the action of similar chemical agents ; but the chief object of the paper professed to be a protest against using the term " mimicry " in such cases, and the application of that of " pseudomorphs " to such divergences from the normal form in the order or family to which they belong. Dr. Murie afterwards made a communication on the development of Fungi within the thorax of living birds. He referred to the circumstance of lowly- organised vegetable structures being not unfrequently found growing in animals and man, both externally and the ubes internally. For the most part these afli;cted the skin, giving rise to several cutaneous diseases. They also flourished in the alimentary canal ; and, among others, one peculiar form (Sarcina) had Ijcen described by the late Professor Goodsir from the human stomach. In nearly though not all instances where vegetable orga- nisms flourished within the living body, it was in organs where a certain amount of air had free access. It was more difficult, though, to account for the cases where vegetable parasites arose in, so to speak, closed cavities. The instances which he (Dr. Murie) brought forward as coming under his own observation were three in number — viz., a Fungus-like growth in the abdomino-pleural membrane of a kittiwake gull, a great white-crested cockatoo, and a rough-legged buzzard. After a general description of the specimens in question, the author referred to them as in some ways bearing upon those doctrines whereby living organisms were supposed to originate out of the tissues themselves. The organisms, as figured on the diagrams exhibited, consisted of a pale greenish patch, made up of d«Ucate threads intermixed with elliptical spore-like bodies, somewhat like a sporotrichum. How the spores, if such they were, were attached was not shown. Dr. Perceval Wright thought that the organism was a Pro- tococcus, and Mr. M. C. Cooke, being appealed to by the President, declared the drawing itself insufficient to determine whether the substance was algoid or fun- goid, although evidently it was some low form of vegetable life. Dr. Bastian, believing it to be of very secondary importance what the organisms were, pro- ceeded amongst Bacteria, and other infinitely minute bodies, to develope spontaneous generation. Dr. Calvert read two papers on an allied subject, " On the Action of Heat on Germ Life," and " On Protoplasmic Life." A number of experiments were described which had been made by the author for purpose of determining the effect of heat on Ii organisms. He took a solution of white of egg, also of gelatine, and of sugar and hay full of mi scopic life. These solutions were put into little t and submitted to temperatures of 100°, 200°, 300°, 400°, and 500° Fahr. It was found that at 100° the living organisms were not at all affected ; at 200° they were not affected ; at 300° they were still alive— three or four vibrios in each field ; and it was only at 400° that life disappeared. The same solutions were then put on some single slips of glass, dried, some in the air and some at a temperature of 212°, and introduced into tubes. As before, it was only at 400° that life disap- peared. By another experiment it appeared that in a fluid where life had been destroyed by heating to 400°, no life was subsequently developed, whereas in one which had been heated to some of the lower tempera- tures, such development took place. If, said Dr. Cal- vert, there was such a thing as spontaneous generation, he could not understand why there should not have been life reproduced in his tubes which had been heated to 400°, whilst a little life was reproduced in one heated to 300°, and more in one heated to 200°. It appeared to him that medical men would do well to consider the temperature at which life was destroyed. Admitting that the contagious disease was due to the introduction into the system of a germ of some kind, either vegetable or animal, so far as his experiments went, a temperature of 400° was necessary to destroy such germs on clothing to which they might have become attached. Mr. John Sadler read a paper on the species of Grimmia (including Schistidium) as represented in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. Mr. A. G. More exhibited living plants of Spiran- thes gemmipara, from Ireland, where he stated it to be rather plentiful on the one station where it is found. Professor Babington remarked on the interest of this plant, and the probability that only three botanists, himself, Mr. More, and another, had seen this plant in a living and growing condition. Dr. Balfour promised to take charge of the plants with a view to their culti- vation, if possible, in the Botanic Gardens. Mr. More made some observations upon Eriophoram alpinum, which was said to be an Irish and Scotch plant ; he had traced the Irish record to be a false one, and the Scotch one was so doubtful that he did not hesitate to express the opinion that it was not a British plant at all. Professor Balfour narrated the circum- stances connected with the collection of the single Scotch specimen in his herbarium, when he was a young man, of its being confounded mth other plants for some years, and ultimately rescued from oblivion. It seemed to be the opinion of botanists present that it is hardly safe to consider it a British plant at all, without further con- firmation. A few other botanical papers were read in the sec- tion, but none of them of special interest— J. Birkbeck Nevins " On the Changes which occur in Plants during the Ripening of Seeds ;" Professor W. T. Dyer, "On the Minute Anatomy of the Stem of the Screw Pine ; " Neil Stewart, "Observations on the Intimate S fracture of Spiral Ducts in Plants and their Relationship to the Flower;" Prof. Balfour, " On the Cultivation of Ipeca- cuanha in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden for transmission to India. " They had two varieties of the plant in the Bota- nical Garden, one of which had been cultivated there for 40 years, and the other had just been procured from South America. It was hoped from the union of these two varieties to get a perfect seed, as hitherto they had August 19, The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1067 not been able to get the perfect seed of the plant, and its propagation was accordingly but slow. Mr. McNab had discovered that by cutting the root numerous new shoots could be obtained, and the plant so propagated much more easily and plentifully. A brief discussion followed, in which Professor Christison, Dr. Cleghom, and others joined, during which it was suggested that as so many difficiUties beset the cultivation and introduction of this plant, that it might have been much better first to have carefully experimented with native Indian plants, such as Tylophora asthmatica and some others, both in India and in this country, as it was by no means certain that a good substitute for Ipecacuanha could not be found in a native plant, without the trouble and risk of naturalising a foreign one. Dr. Robert Brown also read two short papers, one on " The Flora of Greenland," and the other on *' The Geographical Distribution of the Flora of North- west America," Professor Dickson made *'some Suggestions on Fruit Classification," and Neil Stewart communicated a paper entitled "An Inquiry into the Function of Colour in Plants ; or into its Relationship to the Manner of their Illumi- nation during different Stages of their Develop- Hence it will be seen that the papers on botani- cal subjects were few, and scarcely of the value or interest that might have been expected during one week's meetings of the British Association. After the last paper was read, members congratu- lated each other and dis- persed, some to their homes, some to the mountains and lakes, and after the great gathering on Thursday all was over. Edinburgh, so meagi'e of "bunting" as the As- sociation commenced, was gay enough as it dispersed. Wednesday, in honour of Scott, mani- fested where the heart of Scotland lies hidden. Nearly all Edinburgh was abroad, and the old city was in holiday attire. The modem Athens paid its homage to the mighty dead. The members of the British Association may now anticipate for twelve months the meet- ing at Brighton on August 14, 1872, under the pre- sidency of Dr. Carpenter, F.R.S., &c. done nothing but pay the money. We question whether the pleasure of the cultivation is not greater than that produced by the crowning success of the flowering season, and this will account for the appa- rently reckless way in which we decimate our beds in August so as to have under our care a nursery of young [ stock for next year. We know it is possible for a gardener to defer propa- gating till September, or even till the frost comes and robs the garden of its beauty, but then he must have at his command a supply of artificial heat, with appro- priate glass houses, by which cuttings may be effectually rooted even during the winter. We write for those whose means or whose wishes do not rise so high as this, but who aim solely at keeping during the cold months what will make their garden gay in the warm ones. The gardeners we contemplate would not entrust the work to a nurseryman, even if they could afford the necessary pecuniary outlay, so they begin now to provide for the future. Very much is gained in filling a bed with exotic plants, if they have attained ' at once into the small pot which it is to occupy till the spring comes round. If looked after, and supplied moderately with water, these cuttings will do well, and when once rooted they are safe, and need very little care, except to keep them from damp and frost during Many hard-wooded plants, as Roses, require a gentle hotbed for the quick production of roots, or, at the least, a frame or a hand-glass over them. Nothing is more easily propagated than the bedding Calceolarias, for they quickly produce roots, and will survive the hardest frosts if struck under a hand-light and afforded the protection of a mat in sharp weather. As the Calceolaria grows very rapidly when once rooted, we delay the striking operation as long as possible, indeed until the plants out-of-doors are no longer oniamental. We then strip off the side shoots, trim them up, and dibble in shallow boxes, which are placed under a north wall, bedded up to the edge in the soil of the garden. All that is needed aftenvards is the protection mentioned above. THE AMATEUR GARDENER. Propagation oj Bedding Platits. — It seems prema- ture to begin to talk of next season's supply of plants for open air cul- ture, almost before the present stock has attained its expected display of flowers, but the expe- rienced amateur knows that it is not so, and that if a strong supply of cuttings is to be had for 1872, they must be taken off .and rooted during the present month. Materfamdias, more used to the children's nursery than to that of the garden, is veiy suspicious of our movements at this time of the year, and expresses dis- content at our "poking about" among the bedded exotics, and extracting here and there sundry shoots not always destitute of bloom, which we convey to the pottmg shed. But in this respect the gardener must be resolute of purpose, and rather risk disturbing a little the perfect symmetry of the parterres, than aUow the autumn to come upon him without any preparation being made for another year. We are writing now of those gardeners whose pleasure consists in a large degi-ee in all horticultural manipulations being performed by themselves. We have no sympathy with the large class of well-to-do people who adorn their residences as ladies do their persons, with things ready-made to their hands, and whose wishes are all realised by the effect produced by the outlay of a few pounds at a neighbouring nursery. The feeling of a man whose garden is filled with plants all "struck" by his own hand, or under his eye, is entirely different from that of the wealthy possessor of a bnUiant display, for the production of which he has We do le plan cuttings of plants except on the principle of re- ciprocity. When we have given 5^. for a new va- riety, it is not pleasant to be asked for a " bit " of it, unless we can make the same demand on him who begs the favour. This equitable principle being understood, the eyes of the amateur should be kept open as he visits his friends' gar- dens, and the process of barter may be liberally carried on. But a lover of flowers should be generous in expenditure, according skill in raising new varieties of plants. We have no fellow-feeling with those who think that flowers are the last things on which money should be bestowed, and attempt to keep up a stock for amusement or display by boring all then: friends and acquaintances for shps or cuttings. Tliis system is as bad as that of never buymg an um- brella, but relying on others to defend us from the rain. If. B. CROTON HOOKERI. Fig. 244.— CROTON (codi.bum) hookeri (hort.) a good shrubby growth, and are well knotted with terminals ready to break into flower. We all know how long the bedding Geraniums, for instance, and Verbenas, bought by the dozen at a nursery, are before they do much in the flowering way and fill up the vacant spaces in the bed ; and this inconvenience is avoided by the amateur striking his cuttings early, and subjecting each of them, when potted, to a process of training for producing an early effect when put out in the spring. When it is known that most soft-wooded plants, as Geraniums or Pelargoniums, wUl strike readily if dibbled in the open ground in August, it will be seen that very little trouble is necessary to secure a stock for the future. Last month we visited a relative near the Ciystal Palace, who has a largo garden, and who kindly furnished us with a collection of cuttings of Zonal Pelargoniums, some of them of the newest kinds. These we planted the next day in an open border, after mixing the soil with a liberal supply of sand. We gave the whole a good watering, and left them to the weather till a month had passed, when, being rooted, they were all safely potted off and housed for future use. Anothed method, equally successful, but which requires more watching, is to put each cutting We are indebted to Messrs. Veitch & Sons for the accompanying illustration (fig. 244) of this beautiful ornamental plant ; as also for the following description, which we take from their catalogue: — "Another of the beautiful South Sea Island Crotons, brought home by the late Mr. J. G. Veitch. It forms a hand- some compact - growing shrub, with broadly ovate lanceolateleaves,abruptly tapering or rounded at the b.ase. The upper surface of the foliage is of a beautiful dark shining green, broken at the base with a broad blotch of golden- yellow, and with irregular projections of the same colour running from the midrib towards the margin, the midrib being golden-yellow, as are also the young stems .and leaf-stalks. " It appears to be the sub. var. flavum, described at p. 943 of our volume for 1 868. BAMBOOS. There is no more gi-aceful object in the vegetable kingdom than a fine clump of Bamboos — a good large clump, consisting of from 50 to 100 stems, giowing as closely as possible together, and their extremities arch- ing over and pendent, like the drooping foliage of a Weeping Willow, only more openly and far more symmetrically, recalling to mind a plume of lax feathers upon .an exceedingly gigantic scale. Perhaps the very finest of all this gi'oup of arbores- cent grasses is the Bambusa gigantea of the Indo- Chinese countries, which there attains the height of 100 feet, in low, swampy localities, each of the lower joints ranging from 20 inches to 24 inches in length, and as much as 36 inches in circumference. Under io68 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August ig, 1871 very favourable conditions this superb Bamboo has been known to grow as much as 18 inches in 24 hours; but, rapid as such growth undoubtedly is, it does not equal that of some of the species found in Lower Bengal, as will be noticed in the sequel. At Rangoon the Bambusa gigantea does not attain to more than 70 feet to So feet in height, and somewhat over 2 feet Iri circumference at the base. Introduced into Lower Bengal it further degenerates, so as not to exceed 65 feet or thereabout in height, though the stems still retain sufficient bulk to distinguish them readily from the various species of Bamboo which are there indigenous. As asual, the joints increase in length as the plant grows. Thus Bengal-raised specimens of B. gigantea, averaging 65 feet in height, have a length of joint at the base of about 10 inches, the second joint of u inches, the third of 13 inches, the fourth of 14 inches, and the fifth of 15 inches, and so on till an upper joint, in about one-third of the height, will measure about 20 inches long, and still higher about 24 inches ; increas- ing yet more towards the lop. Tlie circumference of a joint at the base of the stem will be about 20 inches, the next joint 19 inches, the third and fourth 18 inches, and the fifth 17 inches. The " tulda bans " of the natives (B. tulda) is one of the highest-growing Bamboos indigenous to Lower Bengal, and it far exceeds the great Burmese species in rapidity of growth. This Bamboo rises to its full height of about 70 feet in a month or thereabouts, its stems being about a foot in circumference at base. The "balcoo bans" (B. balcooa) equals the "tulda" in height when growing in favourable localities, though not in rapidity of growth. This latter species also abounds in Burma, where it attains a finer development than in Lower Bengal. Under ordinary circumstances, n the latter country, the " balcoo bans" averages from 50 feet to 60 feet in height, with a girth of from 12 inches at the base to 10 inches at the fifth and sixth joint, and with a length of joint at the base of 6 inches to 9 inches, and, of course, more in the upper part. This Bamboo is much prized for its extreme toughness and solidity, and it is consequently preferred to most other kinds for building purposes. The small Chinese Bamboo, B. sinensis, thrives in Lower Bengal, and is there occasionally used for hedges, being kept well clipped. It thus makes a very good hedge, and in the climate of the south of England this species is almost hardy. Left to itself, it grows much as the other species do, and its comparatively diminutive size suits it to adorn gardens and pleasure grounds wherever it grows freely. No one who has resided even for a brief period in any tropical country can have failed to observe the very numerous purposes to which these most usefid plants are habitually applied. To enumerate all or nearly all of them would occupy more space than is here available. I will, therefore, mainly content myself with citing a brief extract from a paper " On the Uses of the Bamboo," which was read before the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, and contributed by Dr. Alexander Hunter, of Madras : — ' ■ The leaves when young and tender are eaten by v.iritus animals. The grain is given, in the form of a deci ction, as a remedy for fever in cattle [though I should d ml It with any effect]. The young shoots of the female or hollow plant are used for making arrows, while those of tic male or solid plant are largely exported to Europe for the making of the tips of fishing rods. The pointed lateral shoots are used when young as pins. The stems are employed for props, palings, roofing, flooring, doors, and blinds. Some houses are built entirely of Bamboo. Paper and cloth are manufactured from it. The tender shoots are used lor pickles, and they form one of the ingredients of the celebrated Chinese preserve, called "chow-chow." Baskets and boxes of various kinds are made of Bamboo. The lacquered boxes and cups of Burma are peculiarly beautiful. Among the other uses of the plant were noticed the following : Poles for palan- and fire escapes, fishing rods, boat poles, spear shafts, garden chairs, plant stands, distilling tubes, hookahs, and bows and arrows. The joints are employed for water pails and bottles ; also for holding letters, for musical instruments, and for blow-pipes." The joints are sometimes used, instead of earthen vessels, for cooking purposes. -The natives of the interior of Arakan thus eook their rice in two-jointed Bamboos, for want of earthen handies. The rice is put inside with a small quantity of water, and then placed over a slow fire. By the time the wood-fuel is con- sumed the Bamboo is heated, and the rice is boiled. By the same kind of process, a sort of sweetmeat is made of sweet rice in Rangoon, and is commonly there sold in the bazaar. About twenty years ago the "balcoo bans" was turned to a novel use by the Burmese. It was just after the last war, when the inhabitants of Dalla and other villages near Rangoon were troubled with night attacks from marauders and desperadoes of all kinds. In the absence of any of the usual weapons of defence, the poor people converted the stumps of this Bamboo to account. By taking three joints, then cutting one to make a mouth, thoroughly scooping out the centre joint, and boring a touch-hole in the third, and then loading it with powder and shot, they managed to keep off the intruders. These imitation guns would often stand out five or six shots when well wrapped up with strong Jute fibre or any other strong description of rope. In the absence of this protective covering, the Bamboo cannon would commonly burst at the second discharge. Wherever Bainboos abound, as in Lower Bengal, where available timber is expensive, they are very extensively used for building purposes, and always for scaffolding and for ladders. In the interior of the Tenasserim provinces the Kdrens are famous for build- ing a dwelling house in two hours that will last for three years, after undergoing some repairs in the third year. This I have personally witnessed. I was accompanying a friend, who was the Assistant Com- missioner of Upper Martaban, for a four days' walk through the forest, in the course of which we had to cross the winding Yun-za-lin river several times upon Bamboo rafts. Houses of the kind to be described had been erected at suitable intervals, at which we succes- sively slept and took our mid-day meal ; but one afternoon, just as we had arrived at the bank of the river, a violent storm was evidently coming on, and there was no proper shelter from it to which we could resort. But our train of Karen coolies who were carrying our packages immediately set to work, dividing themselves into three parties, one of which proceeded to fell Bamboos, another to lop off their side shoots and bring the trimmed stems to the place selected, while the third party undertook the building of the habitation. A framework, with skeleton penthouse roof, was soon put together, some 14 feet long by about 10 feet broad, the fastenings being effected (if I remem- ber rightly) with the tough, pliable stems of some creeping plant. Then a number of trimmed Bamboos were thrice half split longitudinally, and so opened out, and these served for the walls and flooring, the hard and smooth outer surface being of course placed upwards to form the floor, and outwards to form the walls. The flooring was elevated about five feet from the ground. The rapidity with which the work proceeded was marvellous to behold ; and when as many Bamboos were cut and trimmed as were required, the first and second parties set to work, obtaining a quantity of pinnate fronds, like those of a Cocoa-nut or Betel-nut Palm, or of the Nipa fruticans, and the midribs of these were half split, and then one side turned over the other— a series of them forming an admirable and water-tight thatch. Before the thatching was half-finished, however, the thunderstorm came on, and we were glad to take shelter from the streaming rain beneath what part of the thatch had been put together. But the Kdrens still worked on, and the thatch was completed, and also a door and a ladder were constructed by which to ascend and enter, the whole being completed within two hours from the time when all the materials of which the house was com- posed were alive and flourishing in the jungle. Then the Karens set to work to construct a roomy shed for their whole party, and also a Bamboo raft, by which we were to cross the stream on the following morning. By the time that these were finished the rain began to hold up, and away went our native ser- vitors to collect a variety of plants, including different Fungi, of which they made a supper, thus obtaining food where an European in like circumstances would starve ; but they did not overmuch like my prying into their culinary operations, suspecting, possibly, that I wished to take a toll of them. A beautiful evening ensued, and far from being fatigued by their labours, our Kdren friends kept up their favourite game until darkness compelled them to desist from it. This game was a sort of battledore and shuttlecock, only that the sole of the foot served for the former, and the very large seed of the Entada Pursa^tha, a Leguminous plant with a slender creeping stem, and bearing a small pinkish-white blossom that is followed by an enormous pod, often 4 feet in length, with seeds of a magni- tude to correspond ; and these are the seeds which are tossed by the soles of the Kilrens from one to another. Bamboos make capital trellis-work for creepers in gardens ; so long at least as they last, for in the rainy season, more especially in Lower Bengal, they become thoroughly rotten the third year, and are not good for much after the second rainy season. This is the great objection to them as building material — they decay so soon in a hot moist climate. Another objection to them is, that for building purposes, for ladders, for hackeries (native carts), &c., they admit of no improve- ment in construction, as in the case with the wood of exogenous trees, and thus the inventive faculty is not called into play, and people must needs go on as did their ancestors before them for countless generations, so far at least as the utilisation of the Bamboo is con- cerned— stare super antiquas vias. Yet to those who are daily accustomed to witness the multifarious uses to which the Bamboo is habitually applied, it really seems difiicult to imagine how people can ever get on without it s'and the same might be said of the Cocoa-nut Palm in Ceylon. I have seen those same Kdrens of whom I have been writing, when preparing to cross a steep chain of hills where water is not readily to be obtained, cut and trim a few small Bamboos, bore through the septa of their joints with a red-hot iron, and then fill them with water to carry on their journey. It is very rarely that the ordinary Bamboos flower and seed in the climate of Lower Bengal, and only in exceptionally hot and dry seasons, as was that of 1858, the year of the suppre.ssion of the great mutiny in India. The seed was then produced in large quantities, so as to lie two or three inches deep on the ground under the plants in many instances ; and after flowering and seeding the common Bamboos invariably die. One species, however, the B. baccifera, produces seed annually, though only upon a few small and short stems, which do not perish after seeding. The death of so many ancient Bamboos in and about Calcutta in the hot season of 1858, after seeding, considerably altered the familiar aspect of certain localities. By the poorest class of natives the seeds of the Bamboo were then ground and variously prepared as food. Z., in The Field. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF A FLOWERING PLANT. Plant," in the Royal College of Science, Stephen's Green. J The plant is a community, the different parts of which labour for the common interest in varying but ahv.ays subservient ways. The leaves, as we have seen, produce elaborated food ; they build it up from matters in part absorbed by themselves — in fact, supplied by the roots, and derived from the outside mineral world. The sun's light and heat give them the force they need to pull these in pieces, and re-com- bine them into more complex combinations, containing less oxygen than the materials, and prone, therefore, to combine with more when burnt. Plant structures are our great stores of force, whether as food or as fuel ; the force did its work at the time of growth in detaching the oxygen ; it is therefore again set free when oxygen re-combines with their component elements. The human race must inevit- ably be ultimately restrained in its extension by the diminution of existing supplies of fuel, the con- sumption of timber and coal certainly going on at a quicker rate than any kind of renewal. Animals could not exist without plants— the materials they operate upon could support no animal's life ; as Professor Huxley has remarked, a solution of smelling salts sup- plies almost all a plant needs for food, but an animal might swallow hogsheads of it and still starve. The products elaborated by the green parts of plants are nutritious to animals — /*. e., their protoplasm can assimilate them ; but it must never be lost sight of that the protoplasm of the parts of plants not coloured green are equally incapable of preparing food for them- selves from the mineral world. Parasitic plants, like Dodder or Broomrape, with no organs coloured by chlorophyll, prepare no food, but draw it all from their unwilling hosts; Mistleto with green foliage is less exacting, and draws part only of its nourishment. The growing roots, the ends of shoots with leaves still unex- panded, and the flowers with all their parts, behave towards the green portions of a plant, in respect to the food they consume, as if they were parasites. Still, what they borrow is not wholly without acknowledg- ment ; the roots collect what the leaves, when ex- panded, will work upon, and the flowers produce seeds which perpetuate the race. Nevertheless, the plant community could go on, and does, indeed, in many cases go on, almost indefinitely, without producing seeds ; so that flowers are really consumers of the plant resources of which all the other organs are more or less productive. It follows, therefore, that inflores- cence is always an exhaustive process ; indeed, in many cases, so much so that the plant's whole life is one great preparation for the production of flowers, which crown its existence with a true euthan- asia. The development of the mass of flowers is in such cases rapid, and the consumption of the plant's store of food correspondingly so. In the Sago Palm the soft, pithy centre of the trunk is filled with starch (sago when purified). Till the outside of the trunk hardens it is protected by long and stout spines from the wild hogs which would otherwise destroy it. "When the flower and fruit are allowed to perfect themselves, which is in two years from the first appear- ance of inflorescence, the pith of the centre is found dried up, the leaves have fallen, and the plant perishes." The so-called American Aloe (which is properly an Agave, and not an Aloe at all), has a similar fate, which may, however, be very much deferred if it is grown slowly at a low temperature. The stores of the plant consumed in flowering frequently take the form of insoluble starch ; to turn this into sugar, which is soluble and available, an excess of carbon is got rid of, in combination with oxygen which is absorbed. It is, in fact, burnt off, though very slowly, and the effect is to raise the temperature of the inflorescence very sensibly, especially where, as in Arums, the flowers are crowded together. The individual peculiarities of flowers are pro- bably all the result of modifications of their particular organisation, so as best to do their work with regard to external conditions ; the different ways in which they lend themselves to the visits of insects especially illus- trates this. Probably the colours of flowers have their true use in guiding insects to the bribe of sugary nectar which plants offer them. It is well known that a flower is only the equivalent, although modified, of a leaf shoot ; leaf-buds and flower-buds indeed, under some circumstances, are interchangeable. Leaf shoots, when first expanded, are often brightly coloured, becoming green when commencing their proper work ; flowers, it may be said, therefore, preserve the tem- porary coloration of the young leaves, because they never do true leaf-work. It may happen that the August 19, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag-ricultural Gazette. 1069 flowers are attractive to the eye, not from colour of the floral envelopes proper, but from that of adjacent or floral leaves. This is pre-eminently the case with many of the Euphorbia family ; in the Poin- settia, for example, the true flowers are quite incon- spicuous, while in some species of Dalechampia they be- come green instead of pink when the fruit is formed, as if for the purpose of concealing it. The perfect flower consists of four circles of organs, the two outer being protective, the two inner producing pollen and ovules respectively. The fertilisation of the ovules by the pollen is essential for their development into seeds ; directly this takes place the flower withers ; but, if prevented, the freshness may be prolonged very con- siderably. All the organs of the flower are merely leaves specialised in their development for particular work ; this is proved by instances in which all the organs have one or other changed places ; and cases ■where they are entirely converted into leaves are not rare. Usually flowers are circularly symmetrical, but there are many deviations from this ; these sometimes become symmetrical by the irregular portions being either suppressed or else regularly developed all round. ON THE PLANTING AND KEEPING OF CEMETERIES. The Corporation of Salford has a cemetery extend- ing over many acres of land, situated at the end of Stafford Street, on the Eccles New Road, about three miles from the Manchester Exchange ; and it is but justice to say that this has been laid out and planted with trees and shrubs at considerable expense. The same Corporation has also a park for the people, called Peel Park, and this is kept partly as a flower garden, and partly as a green park for recreation. The keep- ing of this park is entrusted to a good practical gar- dener, and the planting of the flower-beds and the excellent condition of the walks are highly creditable to him ; and he sees that the lawns or principal grass plots are kept neatly mowed and swept. Now, this is just what I and many others want to see done at the cemetery, viz., that it be as neatly kept as the garden part of Peel Park ; and this is by no means an unreasonable standard of excellence, for if Peel Park were part of the private grounds of one of our merchant princes, its lawn grass would be more frequently mowed and swept than it can be now with the limited number of hands employed. As a place of burial this cemetery is as yet only in its infancy, and that is just the reason why its arrangements should now, at the outset, as it were, be made to harmonise with the spirit of the age. The closing of churchyards has thrown the business of sepulture into cemeteries everywhere, and thus the subject has become invested with an interest which it never had before, for in the early part of my life such establishments were almost unknown. It is fortunate that this cemetery belongs to a public body, and that graves are bought and sold in the same business-like manner that a Manchester manufacturer would dispose of a bale of goods. There are, therefore, no vested rights to be respected, and no private interests to sufier, by ventilating the subject. That this cemetery and its keepmg concerns me will be gathered from the sequel of this letter, but the careless way in which this and several other places of sepulture which I could name are kept, concerns many others as well as myself, and, therefore, with your kind permissic will state a few plain facts, in the hope of bringing about a better state of things. This, I hope, will have more force than speaking at random, which might easily be mistaken for ill-will. About two years ago I had to buy a grave in this cemetery, and, after laying a loved and dear one in her last resting-place there, I had intended to set up a headstone to mark the spot where loving hands had laid the mother of the family. Our oldest son, how- ever, forestalled me in this, and got a headstone erected at once, and a neat stone border all round the grave, with his mother's name, age, &c., duly engraved on the headstone. It only remained, therefore, for me to have the grave planted, and this I undertook to do with my own hands. In Buchanan's " Land of Lome," we read that the mariners inhabiting that stormy coast prepare their gravestones during their lifetime, and the reader will readily perceive that I am going to tell him, how I have planted what may be my own grave. My memory supplied me with a long list of low-growing plants, suitable for such a purpose ; a halfpenny card would have ordered them from the nurseries where I knew they were to be found, and a post-oflice order would have settled the small bill for all the plants wanted to cover a space of less than two square yards, so that there could be no excuse for me to have the grave improperly planted. Now had I used turf, it would have required cutting frequently, which cemetery keepers would never have done, so 1 decided that the double-flowered fragrant herb Chamo- mile, with its elegant feathery foliage of the liveliesl green, should be the carpet or canopy over the grave. As the red berries of the Cotoneasters have such a lively look in winter, I planted near the headstone s Cotoneaster Simmonsii about 2 feet high, which has bloomed and is now blooming freely, so that w may look for it to bear berries in due time, but its flowers are inconspicuous, and therefore some other plant with flowers fair and sweet had to be added, so I planted one Rose on its own roots, and one with a stem about i4 foot high, and they have both bloomed freely. After all, there comes a time when Roses fade and their foliage falls to the ground — for Roses are far from being perpetual, although paraded as such in the catalogues — so there still had to be planted two real evergreen shrubs, to maintain a little liveliness in the dead of winter, and for this purpose I planted two Savins — one green and the other variegated ; these would eventually cover the grave with their embrace, for they spread horizontally, like winged plants, brooding over what is beneath. Rich mould with plenty of manure was got ready for planting, and the soil, or rather subsoil, was removed from the surface of the grave. The Chamomile com- pletely covers the area allotted to it, and is not sur- passed in beauty by any plant that I could have em- ployed, although it has not flowered, and I should not like to let it flower, because its leaf has such a fine eff'ect. Here, then, I have given the actual facts of the plants and the planting, as a guide to others similarly situated, for there is no end to the blunders made in this way — trees planted over a grave of a few square feet that in a few years would occupy a space 8 or 9 feet in diameter ; annuals that, in the barren sand, yield only a harvest of disappointment ; bedding plants in flower, plunged in the pots, in the same poor medium that starved the tender annuals. Such plants as the latter can only be for a very short time. What I com- plain of, however, is, not the blunders of well-meaning people planting unsuitable plants at untimely seasons, but the miserable way in which this Salford cemetery is kept ; for long after midsummer I had to cut the long grass and weeds that grew between the graves, and I found that the keepers had then only just begun to mow the grass for the first time in another part of the cemetery. Once a month during the growing season all the grass in the cemetery should be mowed and swept. The heavy charges made for graves, we know well, will do this handsomely, but the keeping should not be measured by this standard, as if profit alone were the object the Corpbration has in view. Public opinion should be enlisted in favour of a proper and decent keeping, and respect for the dead should have its due weight with those who are in authority. We read in ancient history of the field with the trees, and the cave of Macpelah before Mamre, that Abraham bought for a burial-place of Ephron the Hittite ; and from the account given, the field of Ephron was indeed a cemetery of a very high character. Later on, we read of the funeral cortege that accompanied the embalmed body of Jacob out of Egypt, when his princely son Joseph carried his father's bones to the same family vault, with a train of chariots and horse- men and a great company, such as had never been gathered together on such an occasion before, for we read that at one of their resting-places beyond the Jordan they actually spent seven days in vehement lamentation ; leaving us an example of veneration for the dead such as, perhaps, never has been equalled. Then we read in Homer's immortal verse of "the honours Ilion to her hero paid " when '• peaceful slept the mighty Hector's shade. " The shrmes of illustrious characters everywhere attest the same veneration for departed worth, and the authors of fiction have often seized on these materials and worked them up with good effect. Thus Sir Walter Scott hitches Old Mortality into the tale as one who looked after the graves of the martyrs to the Solemn League and Covenant. In our day, one author would depri of the dignity of our origin, and another would deprive us of the dignity of our end. Du Chaillu, describing his first gorilla, has given us a faithful picture of the hairy brute standing on his hind legs, just like what a toad would be if reared up to look out for danger. Where would be our restraint on the score of morality if we were descended from such apes as these ? It must be a degrading superstition that would rob a man of the image of God, and give him in exchange to claim kindred with a four-footed beast. There was a Latin inscription, beginning Hie Simla, «S:c., on a stone in the grounds at Sion House, where a favourite monkey had been buried. To this there was a counterpart, for be it known that Hugh Percy, Duke of Northumberland, was a successful breeder of monkeys. Whilst I lived at Sion one of them died, and T. Mott begged the body to have it stuffed, but when he had skinned the brute, and cut off the head and the feet, the appearance of the trunk was so like that of some child murdered and mangled, that he got the stoker to make away with it ; he in his haste flung it over the garden wall into the Brent, but when the tide was out, the carcass was seen in the mud, a great uproar was made, and barbarous cruelty was laid to the charge of some person or persons un- known, though poor "Jocko" had had a comfortable life, and died a natural death. The tide at length bore thebetterhalf of him offtosea, and it is doubtful whethe his friend with the Latin, &c., equalled him as regard the numbers that came to his funeral, and mourned the monkey mistaking him for mankind. It appears from the " Life of Lord Brougham," written by himself, that when a young man he had lost the Christian faith (if had any), and entertained, like many others, doubts about there being any future mce. In order to settle ■ up an agreement with ( existence. In order to settle this important point, he written in blood (according to popular superstition), that whichever of them should die first should appear to the other. Not a word about common sense in the matter, which tells every one that a dead body is utterly incapable of fulfilling any engagement entered into during life ; but when 60 years had gone by. Brougham's youthful companion had grown an old man, and resided in India, yet on the day of his death (Dec. 19) he appeared to Lord Brougham, and sat on a chair. By a piece of special pleading. Brougham, after relating these facts, tries to account for the vision, which hap- pened on the very day of his friend's death, by think- ing that he (Brougham) had been dreaming during the time he was in a warm bath. The whole affair had an impious character about it, and the terrible termination of the last act nearly shook the life out of the "learned lord." The truth of the narrative is not likely to be called in question ; moreover, we have it from the first hand that his friend "implemented the premises," and Brougham, with all his failings, was never reckoned guilty of deliberate falsehood ; but he is gone to his account, and what he has left upon record cannot now be arraigned, save only at the "last assize." It is easy enough to make light of what is called a ghost story, but St. Paul rests everything upon Christ being risen from the dead, and it is upon this cardinal point that honour and respect are claimed for the places of sepulture of our departed friends. The escutcheon is always charged with the word Resitrgatn. In shun- ning the belief in ghosts. Lord Brougham, in early life, like many others, had gone sadly too far on the other side, so that the sublime vision of St. John in the Apocalypse, where the saint relates, "I saw the dead small and great stand before God," would to such an one have been only a gigantic ghost story. There is no way of dissociating the death of friends, and their funeral obsequies and places of interment, with the immortality of their souls, or, in other words, with the rising again to a life where poverty here will be no bar to greatness. Why should we be robbed of this hope ? The poet Cowper lost his mother at an early age, and with his highly refined feelings he dwells upon the irre- parable loss ; but mark the childlike simplicity with which he speaks of the world to come, and of his un- bounded trust in God, when he said — " There is a golden harp for me : " as if he had said — Child of Song that he was — "Surely God, who has bestowed on me the gift of song, will for His glory perfect me in power to sing His praise." In conclusion, let me state that the poorest persons may plant flowei-s upon the graves of their friends, and thus manifest their respect for the link that united them with a former generation. We see, however, in the public cemeteries, w hat was never seen in the parish churchyard, viz., three small churches, where the burial services are conducted. Thus even in death we are stUl divided, and cannot show a bold front to the scoffer. So that when we have mourned the dead we may even drop a tear for the living. Alex. Forsyth, Salford. REMARKS ON THE FRUIT CROPS OF 1S71. {Continued from p. 1039.) The present season, so far, has been of unusual severity, and its effects upon the fruit crops most capricious ; for while a few on high and fully exposed positions are rejoicing in the abundance of their crops, by far the greatest portion are all but a failure, as regards Apples, Pears, Plums, and Currants that bloomed profusely and suffered irremediable damage from insect pests, the leaves being shrivelled up, and in many instances entirely gone, the low ground temperature and persistent cold, cutting winds, with nightly frosts, entirely mastering growth. I am afraid that the late growth the trees are now making wiU not become sufficiently mature to bring a crop next year, unless the autumn proves unusually fine. The Potato disease is making rapid progress ; one- third of the early kinds are now gone. Carrots have suffered greatly on all kinds of soil from the wireworm. Vegetables of all kinds ars quality. G. IVestlaiid, Witley Peaches and Nectarines are a good crop where the trees were plentifully supplied with water last summer, and the bisects vigilantly destroyed last autumn and this spring. The black aphis was very prevalent last autumn ; and where it was left un- molested, under the impression that the season was too far advanced for it to do harm, the trees shed their leaves prematurely, and at the time of opening in the spring the bloom was small and weak, and ill calcu- lated to withstand the cold weather. Apples have suffered much more on dwarf trees than they have on large orchard ones, the latter being much more under the influence of wind and rain, — conditions that are not so favourable to the development of insect life. Here is another instance in support of the views I have always maintained, that fruit trees that make com- paratively little wood through a judicious system of root-pruning, produce bloom stronger and better able to resist spring frosts than those not so treated. In February, 1S70, we had occasion to move a number of large Gooseberry trees ; these made little wood last summer, and have this year borne heavy crops ; others not so treated, but under exactly similar conditions as loyo The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. to exposure, had their bloom completely destroyed by the frost. T. Baines, SouthgaU House, N. The fruit crops in general are very fair con- sidering the past severe winter, the cold and inclement spring, and the extremely wet summer. The small fruits have been fairly harvested for preserving, &c., although much later than usual, and fruit over-ripe was rendered useless by the rain ; some varieties of Cherries were rotted before they could mature. Vegetables are doing well, but a little over-vigorous. Onions especially. Peas have overgrown their usual height by 2 feet, but have fruited well. Beans have done well ; French Beans have been very late, and some sorts set their fruit badly ; Globe Artichokes lost all their early fruit- ing crowns by the severe frost, in fact we thought we had lost them, but they have thrown up shoots wonder- fully, and are now fruiting well ; early Cauliflowers were very tardy, but now spring planted plants have done well ; out of 1300 Broccoli plants of ten different sorts, only 15 escaped the general havoc of the frost — nearly all of them were layered in autumn ; Tomatos will be very late. Bedding plants are inclined to be vigorous ; Coleus, Amaranthus, and such-like have had a miserable existence. Subtropical plants have made a slow and sturdy growth ; Ficus elastica has stretched out a foot ; Dracajnas have stood better than last year ; Cannas, Ricinus, Solanums, &c., have grown well. The sunless weather has had a material effect on the colour of indoor fruits, which have done well this season. The rainfall for the first seven months of 1 871 was as follows :— January, 2.14 inches, rained on 13 days; February, 2.80, rained on 16 days ; March, 2.06, rained on 14 days; April, 2.44, rained on 17 days; May, 2.29, rained on 10 days; June, 3.21, rained on 14 days; July, 4.77, rained on 27 days; total rainfall up to the present, 19.71 inches, raining on III days, giving an average rain every alternate day. On June 23 it rained 1.45 inch, being more than the quantity which fell on June and July last year. This year has been as extremely wet as last year was extremely dry. P. Middleton, Wymistay Gardens, RImabon. Notwithstanding a very cold spring we had every prospect of a very heavy crop of Apples and Pears up to May 10. That night there w.as 9° of frost, which destroyed all blossoms then open. Even now the trees present an unhealthy appearance, the leaves being spotted and curled up. The wind continued from the north and north-east for many weeks, which had a scorching effect upon fruit trees not protected by a wall. Many varieties of the Thorn still retain their blackened foliage. Previous to the above frost the Plums were set and partly covered with leaves. The aspect being south-west, they were screened from the north wind. Peaches will be three weeks later than us indeed everything is late, as we have had no summer weather. IV. Hutchison, Castle Malguyn, Pembroh South Wales. sorry that the latter does not give us the locality as well as the elevation at which Captain Auchterlonie's Tables of temperatures and rainfall were taken. When I last wrote I said that Mr. Isaac F. Holton's " Twenty Months in the Andes" had just come to hand. I take this opportunity of again thanking M. Jean van Volxem for the information he has thus placed in my hands. In the appendix I find the Table of tempe- ratures he mentions, which I will send you, and you must use your discretion about publishing it. I also find another Table, which I should like you to give your readers, as a companion to Dr. Lindley's. I con- sider it an exceedingly valuable one. He calls it a Table showing altitudes, climates, and productions. Mr. Holton does not seem from this book to have been at all aware of the value of Orchids, and he only men- tions them incidentally, but he seems to have inves- gated the effects of the climate upon vegetation very thoroughly, and I find great difficulty in selecting extracts to send you ; so for the present I will say that he confirms in all respects the extracts I have given from Me.ssrs. Purdie, Bates, and Orton, in the clearest way, and goes on to what may perhaps be more interesting, as supplementing the account M. Jean van Volxem gave, in your impression of April i, at p. 419, of the situation where he found Odonto- glossums growing. The altitude he gives for the falls of Tequendama, and the town of Fusagasuga, are so nearly the same as Mr. Holton's, that it becomes unimportant ; but as Mr. Holton is so very particular in his description of these places, which are the result of repeated visits, I hope M. van Volxem will con sider that my sending them to you is not in thi slightest degree because I doabt what he has told us on the contrary, I find Mr. Holton to bear out exactly what M. van Volxem wrote : and \ take it that it giving me the name of Mr. Holton's book his inten tion was, that I should refer to this, which he though was a trusty source of information. The description of the falls of Tequendama is rather long, but full of gome (iDomspnbente. Orchid Cultivation. — In your edition of July 15, p. 906, I see Mr. Anderson's reply to mine at p. 874. With the spirit in which it was written I can have no sympathy, and I feel satisfied Mr. Anderson and his friends will regret that it was written ; as it has been, I must reply. Mr. Anderson says, " Your readers may ask me how I know ' G. H.'s' establishment, and what object I have, even supposing I knew it, of exposing his hand." I believe the rules of newspaper con- troversy are, that, if a writer chooses only to put his initials without address, it is considered to be a name of incognito, and no one has the right to penetrate the mystery. The advantages of such a custom are many, and not the least of these is, that it prevents writers whose argument has given out, from falling back upon personalities to serve in lieu. Now it may be said that this makes an unequal contest. In the present case it does not, for Mr. Ander- son was perfectly aware two years since who " G. H." was ; he then visited "the establishment," as he says, and my name was given him by.Mr. Brooke, but as he could not use that information, he tries now to make out that he has found it out himself. If he has lost sight of the real question, either to convey or to gain information upon the cultivation of Orchids, he had better retire from the controversy. With regard to the catalogue he named, your readers must judge for them- selves if he has quoted fairly : and, as to the matter, I neither contributed to it, nor do I consider that I am able to draw U]) such a catalogue. I have not even used it, but, as I hear from Mr. Brooke that he has been encouraged by those who have — I believe yourselves among the rest — 1 have advised him to seek assistance in making it more complete and valuable to gardeners. Mr. Anderson may res satisfied that such assistance will be acknowledged and if there are any subjects found within the range of my capabilities, that he will find "G. H." at the end of such contributions. I think I have now said enough upon this personal matter, and I will proceed to J take part in the discussion upon Odontoglossum 1 valion, to which I am already greatly indebted for information. I have read with great interest Mj Gosse's letter, and the extract from Dr. Lindley pamphlet, and Mr. James McPherson's letter, 1 ai " The point where these observations are best made, a sort of table-rock just at the brink of the wat Another rock overhangs it, covered with Thibaudi Ferns, and Orchid plants, making almost a grotto for the observer. The mist of Tequendama has started philosophical speculations in my mind. The people say that it often spreads in a dense fog over the surroundmg country. This fog begins in the morning, at from Is there more fog here than at Bogota? .\ day fog would diminish the mean temperature of a place ; a night fog would raise it. The temperature here, then, ought be'lower than elsewhere at the same level. I found it by the water of a mine, about 54°, but I would like to see it confirmed. Now, although Bogota is 850 feet higher, its temperature is given 40 higher. This indicates a confir- mation of my suspicions. In passing four times in sight of the Fall Mountains, I have always seen the mist either hovering among them, or pouring from them to overspread a few square miles of the adjoining country. Now, we must remember, that this country ha; 10 fogs like ours, but bears clouds and mountain mists in ropical profusion. This small body of water contrive! .0 manufacture a hundred-fold more mist than Niagara, It a lower altitude. The mist is begun mechanically ; of this there can be no doubt. Is it not propagated meteorologically? Has not one particle of mist the power of generating another in a favourable atmosphere ? Here grave question — the quantity of mist generated directly by the falls seems very small ; that proceeding from them varies at different hours of the day, and often off five or ten miles. Tequendama is one of the richest localities of plants I have ever seen. The woods damp, while most land at this altitude is dry ; on four of the five days I have spent here, I have literally loaded myself with rich specimens. [In the Table he puts the peratureat 59°, Bogota56'.] From Cibati5 I rose a fine view of the plain, of which we must now take a long farewell. Nothing but the cold makes it a glad one to me. As I left the hacienda I saw the leaves of arious plants nipped with frost, a rare occurrence indeed, ut one that may happen any month in the year, not only nder the mists of Tequendama, but all over the plain." The plain of Bogota, Fusagasuga, is about 3000 feet lower than Tequendama, and a little higher than La Mesa, which is one of the highest spots in which Oranges grow. 1 no thermometer with me, but I have a strong suspicion that the temperature is put too high by Cildao, 72°.5; Mosquera gives it as even 3° higher. I think it must be near 70'. Never wasthere a more beautiful climate than that of Fusagasuga. Twice have I celebrated New Year's day here by bathing in a stream of delightful tempera- ture, and thinking of snow at home. It is just at the upper limits, or rather above the convenient culture of Cane. Plantain, and Oranges ; and for these I would submit to a slight increase of heat." Thus it was at about 500 feet higher than at this spot where Mr. Holton thinks the mean temperature should be put at 70°, or from 2i° to 5° lower than the two native authorities he quotes, that M. Jean van Volxem found O. Alexandra growing. As your correspondent "Ex-Cantab" says (at p. 907) that I have not answered his question at p. 380, I will again give a quotation from mine at p. 450, which must have escaped his notice, and it will enable your readers to see how far I was out in my ideas of cultivation. But first, one of the native authorities, Mosquera, puts the mean temperature at 75° ; now turn to Dr. Lindley's list, where such a mean is said to give 80° for a maximum and 55° for a minimum ; what can this mean, but that the minimum is very rare? On a previous occasion I gave a quotation from Dr. Hooker, to show that moisture enables plants to attain to much higher elevations than they otherwise could ; and I now should be able to add many quota- tions from Mr. Holton's book, showing how little variation in temperature there is experienced through- out the whole country. I should advise your corre- spondent, "X.," to give night ventilation, and ia summer to syringe frequently not only the house but the plants, and to keep the temperature down in hot weather. I begin to think that it is more important to keep the temperature low in summer than in winter. However, this is what I wrote at p. 450 : — " I do not advise Odontoglossa having a temperature of 80' in the day all through the winter, and do not know that I have advised it. I gave a mean for the year with a daily range of 10" ; my house will go up to 90' with the hot weather, and no doubt go as low as 50 in the cold weather ; but as I cannot prevent their growing — that is, not only making up bulbs, but also commencing fresh growths. — I cannot think that I should be wise to reduce the heat below 60*' in the day as a rule, and running it up to 70", if there was any chance of giving air." At the risk of making my letter too long, I cannot resist giving another quotation from Professor Dyer at p. 771 of your journal : — "There is an inherent disposition common to all plants to hibernate during the winter ; hibernation is forced upon them by deficiency in one of the conditions necessary to their growth— namely, warmth ; and the absence of another condition — moisture — in hot, tropical countries, produces the same enforced rest in vegetation, only at the hottest instead of the coldest season. Where the winter is sufficiently mild, vegetation is not arrested ; the trees retain their leaves all the year, and many of them keep growing continuously. All plants, however, even in warm countries, cannot do this. The great effort of flower-producing needs a special season of preparation and rest." I think that Professor Dyer is right, and that he has placed before us the true test of successful Odontoglos- sum cultivation, which system prepares them the best for this effort of flower production. I congratulate Mr. CuUey on the size of his flowers. G. H. [We may find an opportunity shortly to publish the Table and plan kindly furnished us by our correspondent. Eds.] To Trap Bluebottle Flies.— In answer to your correspondent, "C. J.," as to some method of stopping the attacks of bluebottle flies on fruit, I can say that for many years I have known a hand-glass trap answer the purpose excellently. The plan used, which is very likely the same to which you allude, is to set one of the largest-sized hand-glasses, which are square below and conical above, on four bricks, so as to raise it from the ground ; another hand-glass is placed on this— usually one of the same shape, but, if at hand, of a smaller size, and the junction between the glasses is carefully secured with Moss, so as to prevent the escape of any insects ; of course the small hole in the top of the lower glass is left open, that in the upper one closed. A little decayed fruit thrown under the glasses attracts the insects, which, flying upwards, are caught in countless numbers, and much more successfully than by another method in common use, which I have seen tried. E. A. O. ,, I conjecture that your correspondent " C. J., like myself, is plagued with cats, who kill the birds. There is no other means for keeping the multiplication of insects within proper bounds beside the creatures for whose food the Creator has destined them. I recommend him to stick up a notice such as I once saw in a large house : " No cats allowed." 7- •5'- Fairy Rings.— Two facts as to these:—!. The dark-coloured grass that forms the ring seems owmg to the fertilising nature of the Fungus. This year in one field here, the aftermath not having been touched for a month, the ring-grass outgrew the surrounding pasture more than double in height and luxuriance. 2. In another field fed oflT by cows, the ring-grass was eaten by them closely down, showing that they relished it. Both fields had many rings. IVolvcsley. Orchard-houses.— To those who, like myself, cannot conveniently go in person to see the famed houses of Mr. Pearson, nothing could be more agree- able than a description of them by so competent an observer as your correspondent " F." (p. loio). I venture, however, to make a few observations on a sentence which occurs in "F.'s" letter: — "It is a well-known axiom among Peach growers, that the nearer the glass the finer-flavoured the fruit ; " and in accordance with this axiom, "F." prefers Peaches from trellises, 9 to 18 inches from the glass, to those grown in pots at a distance of 3 or 6 feet. Now that sunlight is the prime agent in giving flavour to Peaches is indisputable ; though, whether this effect is due chiefly to the luminous, or to the heat-giving, or to the chemical portion of the rays, I will not attempt io decide. I have also noticed, as mentioned by "F., that Peaches grown on the lower portions of bush trees, and therefore more shaded, are inferior in quality. But in gardening, as in most other things, we have often only a choice of evils, and in the trellissed houses which I have seen (though I admit my experience is limited) the plants have suffered severely from red spider, notwithstanding the peculiar advantages which the trellis gives for syringing the underside of the leaves. A few days ago I purchased in Covent Garden the best specimen I could find of a Peach from an ordinary August t9, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette 107 1 Peach-house. It had just arrived, was quite ripe, and for the variety (Noblesse) was well coloured. But upon comparing it with my orchard-house fruit I found it poor indeed. Possibly the tree may have been over- watered, but it is equally hkely that the foliage was injured by red spider. I find in the orchard-house that shoots which stretch themselves near the glass are thus affected, notwithstanding a daily syringing, damping the floors frequently, and abundant ventilation. The experience of orchard-house cultivators seems to be leading them away from the time-honoured axiom we are now considering, for in my frequent visits to Saw- tridgeworth I have seen the original small and low house gradually giving way before the larger and loftier form, and have tasted from these newer houses quite as good fruit as could be produced in the old. in my own houses, which are of the original build, I often suffer from too much sun, and am obliged to whiten the glass to prevent the Peaches ripening pre- maturely, and either becoming mealy or falling off while still acid. As to Strawberries, which all authors tell us must be grown close to the glass, all I can say is, that I am satisfied with fruit grown at a reasonable distance. G. S. Tricolor-leaved Turnip. — I enclose a leaf of a Turnip (Red Tankard), which, besides the white and green variegation, is prettily bordered with pink. I do not know whether the latter circumstance is peculiar, White and green leaves are not uncommon. The pink tinge evidently arises from the colour of the root. I have ventured to send this specimen, as variegated plants are interesting, and the cause of such variega- tions still more so. W, R. [We have not previously noticed to so great an extent the pink variegatio which occurs in this specimen. Eds.] On Growing Pinks, &c. — If every nurseryman i the kingdom were asked how he would increase h stock of Pinks and Dianthi, nine out of ten would, I believe, say by pipings. Carnations and Picotees are more safely grown from layers, but many of these are propagated very successfully by pipings. Indeed I remember once seeing a frame full of pipings of Pico- tees put in by a lady, and a better take could not be, for every piping grew. The frame was on the cold ground, the soil inside was rather sandy ; a more thriv- ing lot of plants than these became I would not wish to have. If I had a number of pipings of Pinks, say a hand-glassful, I would put up a bed 2 feet square and 2 feet high of rather short horsedung, pressed somewhat closely together. Upon this I would put 6 inches of sifted sandy soil at once, fix my hand-glass to mark the space for the pipings, put them in not over long, give them a good watering with the rose, fix the glass firmly on, shade when needful, and I should have every hope of perfect success. The warmth from the dung would give the needful impulse to the cutting, causing it to strike without risk of burning, and as soon as the true signs of growth appeared I would give a little air. Pipings for speed, layers for certainty. R. T. The Effects of Dew. — In reading so orthodox an article as that at p. 1006 upon the treatment of Peach trees by the Rev. Mr. Radclyffe, I cannot help feel- ing grieved at meeting with an heretical doctrine which has accidentally crept into it. Mr. Radclyffe cautions his readers against the evil effects of dew, as the means by which the frost is enabled to bite ; the fact being, that the dew, or hoar-frost, disarms the frost of half its power. Dew, or hoar-frost, is deposited upon trees in consequence of their loss of heat by radiation, when their leaves, or branches, become colder than the surrounding air ; but when the vapour dissolved in the air is so deposited, a large amount of latent heat is given out upon the change from vapour into water, and again upon the change from the liquid to the solid State. In frosty weather by all means let the trees be kept dry ; in other words, warmer than the surrounding air, when no dew will be deposited. But, in a calorific point of view, I should say that the deposit of dew, or even of hoar-frost, would certainly mitigate the severity of the cold. An Amateur, [Seep. 1063. Eds.] Jackman's Clematises.— Jackmanii and Rubella have large rounded flowers, broad in the petals, and very handsome, as well as quite distinct. They form excellent companions. Prince of Wales and Rubro- violacea have narrower petals, smaller flowers, and are too much alike, as well as not sufficiently distinct from Rubella and Jackmanii, the latter especially. These four I have now grown for three years past, with the same result. One cannot praise Jackmani too highly ; it is the grandest hardy climber we have. I know of nothing that can equal it. On the front of my residence at Ealing, which has an aspect due south, there is a plant of it that must have fully 500 expanded flowers at the present moment, of a fine bluish-purple tint. For six weeks past it has been loaded with flowers. It is cut down to the ground every winter, plenty of manure forked in about the roots, and during the summer it has an abundance of water, and an occasional supply of liquid manure. It must be grown generously. It is so much admired, that I confidently anticipate quite a local eruption of this rich blue-purple on our villa residences a few years hence, as every one who sees it declares that he must possess it. It is one of the best hardy plants of the past ten years. Richard Dean [Rubella is equally deserving of praise, and for distinctness magnifica is not to be despised. The great ' merit of this strain of hybrids is their wonderful fertilitj of flowers. The plants are literally and continuousl) masses of blossom ; and such blossoms too I Eds.] Treating on the Potato Disease. — A few morn- ings ago I received some letters by the early post, ont of ihem was from a locality in which there were "40 acres of Potatos, 29 of which are stricken with tht? disease. They are being taken up and clamped. Those which are rotten are left in the field, but some will doubtless escape observation, and if stored along with the sound ones, will they impart the murrain to the whole lump?" I gave, as an inevitable consequence, the "little leaven" of Scripture for analogy, and ai the same time I advised the bays of barns, cattle feed- ing or other sheds now most at liberty, to become the dry, twilighted receptacles for affected crops. I recommended that the tubers, as they are taken from the ground, should be spread out thinly in the above mentioned places, and turned and inspected once a week ; and those that show the least sign of decay should be boiled at once, with about a handful of salt per bushel, for the pigs, and the water weU strained away from them when cooked. But should there be more of them than the pigs could consume, then I advise that the surplus be rammed well down into hog- tubs for use as wanted ; and so, if humanity becomes directly baulked of the food, it will at any rate reach us some time or other through the instrumentality of bacon or pork. Still, precautionary, in case the largest and most matured tubers should be required for human consumption, they may be assorted at the digging and housed in a dark, dry place, and the diseased ones singled from them as they occur, as stated above; but of course they must be constantly kept in the dark, for if allowed to become "greened" they would be unwholesome for domestic purposes. In a month or so, in both cases, the bulk of the tubers may be considered safe, through the practice of inspection, and unless "clamping" be absolutely necessary I would prefer to store them in lofts, or in a cool dry twilighted place, to be under observation and free from frost. I would not allow them to be heaped together too thickly, so as to encourage long "spurts" to be rubbed offand weaken them. Thusmanaged, capital seed may be expected from them next spring. My correspon- dent had 1 1 acres of his 40, which were late planted, free from disease; and these, through the favourable change of atmosphere which has occurred, I trust may be saved to him intact. My second, from "A. D.," a " chiel " afflicted with Potato on the brain, comes from the site of the first propoundmgs of Elizabeth Lazenby's sauce. He writes how " this plaguey disease is bother- ing of hun altogether," and requests to learn of me "Ilowit comes? Whatbringsit? Does it begin in the leaf, in the old tuber, or in the root? Is it the result of atmospheric action? Is it the result of elec tricity? and, if so, what affinity has the Potato t( electricity? I want to know the actual cause of the disease, how it operates, and why it operates, and why the Potato should be its special victim?" Cool, cer- tainly, to one who wishes to lead a quiet, practical, horticultural life. My convictions, from years of "strike- home " observation, have led me to conclude, that the Potato disease must be caused by electricity, i nection with what is commonly called "white viz., those insinuating showers which accompany effete lightning and thunder, with hot sultry ' ing sunbeams, and moist muggy nights. The leaves always become first affected in the above state of atmospheric muddle, and the hauli browned in patches, and more frequently totally destroyed by three or four days' continuance of such weather. But when we get an honest, open-faced sky, with sun and drying intervening winds, it shrivels up the affected leaves to powder, and frequently then the stems will remain green minus the leaves, on account of the Fungus, or mould, not having been allowed suf- ficient time to insinuate itself along a damp bed of enduring moisture to become generate into living forms. Zoospores, the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, at p. 944, tells us are unable to move without wet, and, happily enough, our best living authority in mycology has, according to my thinking, thus scienti- fically "scotched this snake," exactly in accordance with my long practical pre-conceived notion of it ; and I dare say it is well known how, under my dead and gone incog., I have been with him in combating these zoospores, by growing my Potatos high and dry in ridges, and by plying the soil with lime rubbish and ick-lime at the time of planting — by allowing suf- ient room between the rows for the sun and air to penetrate, and otherwise to keep the surface of the in as dry and friable a state as possible. The appearance and present state of my crops will back Berkeley up in what he says at p. 944, I have frequently had to do combat in print in defence of the ridge-and-trench system, though I do not presume to say that I can prevent the disease by adopting it ; still, now as I write, why should Providence favour me more than my neighbours, if there was nothing in it? They are complaining sadly of "the rot." Not one 'ngle affected tuber have I dug up to this present time, nd, with the exception of one delicate, soft, hairy- fohaged new seedling, the leaves of above 60 varieties of my own I have growing here on the ridge are comparatively green and promising ; and yet this garden, both for soil and surroundings, is most favour Able for the "taking" of the disease. Yes, depend jpon it, dryness is the only panacea for the murrain, and the ridge-and-trench sytem the antidote, as I tried o explain it in Nos. 6 and 13 ; and I trust in a few .veeks' time it will enable me to appear at >outh Kensington as usual, to illustrate its ex- cellent results. So, lance at rest, allow me to '"urther parley with our querist. Most usually the tuliage of Potatos becomes stricken with the spot at a certain matured stage, viz., at about the time of the "setting" of the skin, and then it must be that the energies of the leaves are being taxed to their utmost pobsibly to a degree to exhaust them, and so make them more suscept ible to a ttack when batteries of electric fluid, with moisture, acting upon so delicate texture as the leaf of a Potato, and the generation of fungoid mould in its most destructive form, combine (all the more easily at that particular stage), to the annihilation of leaf, stem, and tuber. As a case in point, I have now got between looo and 2000 seedling Potatos of my last year's crops, growing under glass In an orchard-house, most fortunately, where a drop of atmospheric rain has not been able to fall upon them ; and they are, every individual plant without an exception, free from the fell spot, whilst some of the very same batch of seedlings which I pricked out in the open air for want of room under the glass, are stricken. This serves to show, as another conclusive proof, if one is wanted, that the mould-laden rain is at the bottom of the mischief; for the mere atmosphere would, in its action, be the same inside as outside of the house, as I keep every available opening unclosed — and they are many — in order not to " draw up " the young hopefuls. Besides, they are artificially watered as required. In fact I have never found either rain or wet affect Potatos in the haulm unless tempest is prevalent : witness 1S60. The uniform cold rains, unaccompanied by an electric atmosphere as " white rains," did not affect the crops. Never were better Potatos grown, or freer from dis- ease, than in that cold, wet, untoward season. When a diseased dried up "old tuber" is planted as seed it will tell its own tale by unhealthy growth altogether, and probably succumb, whether the disease becomes prevalent or no ; but the "spot" never has its origin either in root or tuber, so lar as I have ever been able to discover. So for my part I give the result above as the actual features of "How it comes? What brings it?" and what sort of " atmospheric action" prevails for the production of the Potato disease. The Potato is not a "special victim" to electricity. A man, an animal, a tree, "what know I," have affinity to electricity in peculiar states of their existence. A duo of human bipeds shall be walking or standing together, and how often do we read that one will act , lightning conductor, and be stricken dead, whilst other is left ? And to common observation do not :e attacks occur when Nature is "most put to it," from nervousness, over-exhaustion, or being in contact with such? The "stoning" of the fruit, and at the full swelling-tide of the vegetables— are not these their most trying times and seasons of attack from various causes ? We must ask these things of science, and some day perhaps we shall get our answer. Let " us other " keep our pens and wits sharpened, and our shoulders well up to the wheel, in connection with it ; for most assuredly, in our day, practice cannot get on with- out science, or z'ice versd. Robt. Fenn^ Rectory, Wood- stock, Aitgust 2. [Yes, but you deal too much in mere assumptions in the matter of electricity. Eds.] Campanula Barrelieri. — I wish to commend this species as a plant for window culture. It well deserves a double First-class Certificate of Merit. Outside of my window there stand two lo-inch pots, each con- taining a plant of this lovely Campanula. It hangs down over the sides of the pot to a depth of 4 or 5 inches, and the plants are now, literally speaking, of a delicate greyish -mauve, the flowers nearly i^ inch in diameter. It is perfectly hardy. If this species were bedded out, and used as a dwarf edging plant, it would create quite a sensation. R. D. Grape Growing at Kingston Hall. — To say that the true version has been given, and that the border chambers are open to the arches underneath, is a mistake, as no alteration whatever has been made in respect to the chamber underneath the border, except the doing away with the ventilators in the interior wall of the house, against which the front pipes are now- placed ; hence the reason of the arch being turned slightly underneath to admit of ventilators to the chamber, which extends something like 15 feet under the border, sloping with the declination, and which has mnection whatever with the archesofthe interior, for had this been the case, and the chamber been open to "ve the full force of heat from the pipes as originally , it is very evident what would have been the t on the Vine roots. I do not accept either ire or praise as to its merits or demerits, — to the origmators alone are these due. Mr. Cruicshank draws upon his imagination as to the superiority of the original hod of having the whole of the pipes underneath, a method that no practical person would for a moment phold, and I may, moreover, add, that I found the present heating arrangements to answer admirably, and never had a single complaint from any one in charge. I think it would have been more graceful Mr. Cruickshank to have pointed out any defect 1072 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. fAugust 19, 1871. 1 such lurhich might be attributable to me, than tc that I should speak out on a subject I had not enter- tained or heard mooted before. I simply write for the vindication of truth, and I have not a doubt that in this respect my assertions will be verified by those who may take the trouble to examine for themselves, and explore the vaults underneath, as well as the interior chamber under the Vine border, which is in every respect as I have represented it to be. Geo. Westland. I do not for a moment contest the point with Mr. Westland. My examination was not thorough enough to pronounce on the matter positively, as will be seen on turning to my notes. I wish now it had been more so ; but my time was limited, and I was not aware but that alterations had been made. I followed local information, and also, I admit, your special corre- spondent, in the statement that the borders were not heated with pipes underneath them. If the fact is as Mr. Westland states, then, possibly, the high condition of these fine bunches of Grapes owes more to bottom- heat than would appear from my brief notice. With this modification, my account is still trustworthy. Of course, my sole object was to record facts, and I have to thank Mr. Westland for correcting a gentlemanly spirit. F. Gold and Bronze Pelargonium Beauty of Preston. — Of several Gold and Bronze (bicolor) Pelargoniums I am growing this season, the one most to be commended is Beauty of Preston. It is one sent out a short time ago by Mr. Thomas Sampson, Preston Road Nurseries, Yeovil, and to the best of my know- ledge the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticul- tural Society awarded it a Certificate when seen growing at Chiswick. Compact in growth, yet free, short-jointed, and making a low spreading growth, it is well adapted for bedding ; the leaves are quite golden in colour, M-ith a regular orange-chocolate zone. Compared with this, the leaves of several others are quite green, while they are more rank in growth. K. D. Utricularia montana (see p. 1039, fig. 233. ) — I saw this curious plant when abroad some years ago, and had the pleasure of receivinglivingspecimensfrom the Botanic Garden, Trinidad, in 1858. It is very plentiful on the mountains in Trinidad, growing on the trunks of trees, living and dead, among Moss, Lycopods, and trailing Ferns, in very shady situations, where the atmosphere is charged with moisture to such an extent that the clothes of the traveller become saturated in a very short time, and a peculiar chill is felt. The plant is seen to the best advantage on the moss-covered trunks of trees. It increases as rapidly as the Strawberry, and in the same manner, so that it will soon be plen- tiful. Ebor, Blackpool. Bluegown Cucumber. — Your correspondent "J. C. N." (p. 1041) is at sea about the merits of this Cucumber. I planted two plants of small three-light dung frame some time in the early part of May, and up to this time I have cut more than 40 yards of Cucumber of fine quality. If your corre- spondent would look in at the Newton House Gardens, near Bedale, which I presume is not far distant from Mount St. John, he would see a plant growing there which was a cutting about a month since, showing some splendid fruit. If your correspondent is not well up in growing good Cucumbers in a short might get a few hints there, as they are grown largely for sale. Cucumis. "J. C. N." could not have had the true Blue- gown Cucumber. I planted in April two plant! raised from a packet of seed sent by Mr. Turner ; the produce has been most satisfactory — plenty of Cucum. bers, averaging from 1 8 to 24 inches in length, of good appearance, and excellent flavour. They are growing on a hotbed, with the Telegraph in the same frame, ■which also is one of the best Cucumbers grown. IV. Fowle, Dognu-rsfiel.i Gardens, juar Winchjidd, Hants. [We have other letters testifying to the excellent merits of this Cucumber. Eds.] Trial of Hot-water Boilers.— I think the Messrs. Weeks & Co. are deserving of hearty thanks for their suggestions upon this matter. Whether the place and mode of trial are the best that could be suggested, may safely be left to the collective wisdom of the boiler- makers and your readers. I may, however, add that I think the established boiler-makers have had but scant justice in recent controversies, and I am very glad to see one of the first and largest amongst them give a challenge to all comers to a trial of power, efficiency, and durability. My rule— and I have found it a very safe one — is never to part with an old servant ^or boiler — in favour of a new, as long as the old one will do its work well. No one can doubt that tubular boilers have done good work, and many contend that they are the most economical of all forms, but these are the very points that ought to be settled by a fair test. 1 still think that this is a matter that the Royal Horti- cultural Society ought to take in hand. It is kind of the Messrs. Weeks to offer the use of their place and their assistance, but other makers might object to go there. The competition should lie on neutral ground, and be superintended by a body free from interest in any particular boiler. The time allowed might easily be contracted. A twelve day and night trial would prove a very formidable matter ; I see little difficulty in bringing it within much narrower compass. Were the boilers placed side by side, as near as might be, and some general principles of testing and trial agreed upon by the exhibitors, and thoroughly understood by the jury, the results might soon be collected and assessed at their proper value. Neither do I consider any system but that designated A by the Messrs. Weeks & Co. worth the labour of trial. Those who believe in sending the water down below the level of the boiler, as suggested in system B, and those inclined to drive the whole of the water by caloric alone, and thus dispense with the aid of gravity, ' ' fact fight against it, as in system c, would be free to test their theories against system A ; but for each boiler-maker to test the three plans seems to me like a waste of time and a reflection upon our know- ledge. A man may assert that trees would grow best planted head downwards, but that is no reason that we should seriously try the experiment. By all means let those try it that believe in it, and so let each maker put up one boiler alike in capacity and work provided for it, and let that one which does most work in the shortest time, with the least expenditure and without endangering its durability, win the highest honours. I do hope that our boiler-makers, old and new, will enter heartily into this trial of merit, so that we may have some better authority than every man's estimate of his own boiler to guide us in the difficult matter of selecting the best. I met with a most intelligent gardener the other day, who assured me that a boiler that has recently been much lauded for its economy and efficiency is the most extravagant form that was ever made. It burnt so much fuel last winter, that it is in serious contemplation to replace it with a tubular before another comes. All such incidents show the need of a thorough trial, and it is to the interest of the makers as well as the users of boilers that the best one should win, for one form is just about as easily made and as profitable to the makers as another, and we are only concerned with the efficiency and economy of boilers. D. T. Fish, Aug. 12. I was not a little delighted to read in the last Gardeners' Chronicle of a proposed trial of boilers. I should certainly be most glad to take up my position in the competition. As the heating apparatus is the very heart and life of every horticultural estab- lishment, perhaps nothing is more important to its welfare than a good boiler ; and therefore I think the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society ought to take this trial in hand, so that it may be thoroughly and effectually carried out in mid-winter, in one of the arcades adjoining the conservatory. The place is admirably adapted for the purpose, and it would cause little or no loss or inconvenience, nor run to much expense, as there is an abundance of piping, and it can easily be fixed in whatever way may be deemed advisable. Moreover, as Messrs. Weeks have a boilei already in its place, I should imagine they would will ingly agree to have the trial carried out there. I canno see that their first condition as regards water space round the fire has anything to do with the real point requ' ' elucidation, that of heating a greenhouse say 100 feet long and 20 feet wide, some distance away from it. The question is, what apparatus can throw the most heat into it, in a given time, and in a uniform state, say for 48 hours or longer, with the least expense of fuel, labour, and attention, and which boiler is most likely to continue to do this for the greatest number of years without incurring doubt as to safety and expense. In the event of the Council not feeling disposed to offer to carry out the above trial, I should be glad to have my patent boiler tested, side by side, anywhere, with any other, a committee of six thoroughly practical men deciding upon the rules to be laid down — the winner to be pro- claimed the best boiler, without fee or favour. H. Cannell, F.R.II.S., Woolwich. Cypripedium niveum. — In reference to your para- graph on p. 1040, perhaps you can also inform "Juvenis" and myself who the celebrated *' Mr. Downing " is (mentioned in the same monthly maga- zine as a "raiser of species and hybrids of Cypripe- dium "). This cannot be a misprint for the name of my respected friend Mr. Downie. Query : Should it be the "Downey Cove" or "Artful Dodger"? Gentlemen, can you also tell me where I can purchase seeds of that new Heartsease, said to have been lately exhibited at Regent's Park. I believe it is called the Chim-pansy. 6'. O. Green, Ireland. [Can you inform us which you pride yourself most on, your slang or your puns? Eds.] A Heavy Thunderstorm, — We had a thunder- storm here yesterday, which will be long remembered. For several days previous the thermometer had ranged high — 82° to 85°, wind variable, and on Sunday last we had thunder, but only some 0.12 inch of rain. Yesterday the thunder was first heard about 4 P.M., to the east, and at some distance, but was not long in being close upon us, and after some heavy peals the rain came down heavily. Shortly after 5 the storm abated, going off in a northerly direction, but soon returned; and all round, from 5.30 to 8 o'clock, we had a continuous storm, some of the peals of thunder being exceedingly loud, with much lightning and torrents of rain ; indeed, in the four hours the storm lasted our rain guage gave 4. 24 inches —the largest quantity ever known to have fallen in this neighbourhood in such a short time. Of course much damage is done, the roads and walks in many places being washed out to their foundations, as where, from local causes, a rush of water took place, the drains were found quite insufficient ; part of the low flower garden was under water for some time ; the pond overflowed its banks, and the kept grounds in the valley below were flooded at the lower end, and some wire fencing laid flat with the ground, and further down the park a house was flooded to the depth of 3 feet on the ground floor, the furniture floating about. Still lower down, at Melbury Village, in two instances, aged women were rescued with diffi- culty, and taken to other houses for the night — the flood passing in and out at their cottage wuidows. Several narrow escapes are reported, and we shall doubtless hear of many losses sustained, and by those who can ill afford to bear them. At present I have only heard of two Oak trees having been injured by the lightning. T. C. Elliott, Melbury House Gardens, Dorchester, August 15. Dinner-Table Decorations. — According to my experience of dinner-table decorations, what **D., Deal," says is correct. What we have had to do in this way for the aristocracy never exceeds 18 inches, more often under a foot ; but the newest thmg now is to decorate on the table-cloth, without any stands at all. My opinion has always been, that the stands and deco- rations exhibited at all the flower shows were an absurdity, and got up by people who had never seen a dinner on the tables of the "upper ten thousand." y. Standish, Royal Nurseries, Ascot. Gooseberry Caterpillars. — To do away with the danger of being poisoned with the dust of Hellebore powder on the Gooseberry trees, when the time arrives for digging between the trees carefully remove the soil from beneath them into the trench. I have always this done with a hoe. By this means the grubs that are afterwards hatched into flies that lay the eggs on the leaves, are destroyed at the bottom of the trench. We were eaten up with caterpillars some years since ; but, by following out the above direc- tions, the trees are now entirely free. W. F. Roses from the North. — Being present at the Supplementary Rose Show at the Crystal Palace on Saturday last, I was struck with the remarkable beauty of the Roses ; and, considering the extraordinary sea- son, I think it was a great success, both in respect of quality and quantity. What I thought the most in- teresting feature was the display by Mr. J. Harrison, of Darlington. Grown so far North, and forwarded a distance of about 240 miles to compete with our southern growers, the flowers stood forth in a manner, not massed for a coup d'etat, but scattered over trays with a plentiful background of Moss ; which, though it took off the brilliancy of colour, yet threw out boldly the massive healthy foliage and buds with which almost every bloom was surrounded. I marvelled to learn such fine natural trusses obtained neither prize nor com- mendation. I have always understood that foliage and buds were a great acquisition, and always taken into consideration by the judges. I presume that taste in the arrangement, so as to show a mass of bloom, is of more consequence than merit. I shall be glad to learn, through the medium of your valuable paper, whether any other visitors noticed the excellence of these northern trusses, and also to learn whether it is neces- sary to arrange them in the boxes, as shown by our southern growers ? If so, I for one would advise our northern friends to adopt the same plan. J. H. A. Use of Nitrogen in Vegetation. — I would not again have ventured to trespass on your space with respect to the nitrogen question had you not mentioned my name in connection with it in your leading article on the 1 2th inst., when recording an interesting expe- riment conducted by Mr. George Davis and Mr. New- lyn. When questioning the accuracy of Liebig's broad assertion, that plants are incapable of assimilating nitrogen direct from the atmosphere, I did so because I had nowhere read the record of any very satisfactory or convincing experiment to prove they could not, and I was in hopes, by publicly calling attention to the matter, as I ventured to do at the Ratcliffe Observa- tory, Oxford, I might induce experimental chemists to turn their attention that way. I am still of opinion that even if free nitrogen cannot be obtained by the plants direct from the atmosphere in which they live, that still the value of ammonia, and other nitrogenous compounds as manures, does not consist merely or principally in supplying the plant with the requisite nitrogen. The percentage of nitrogen in all growing plants is so small, and the percentage in the air so great, that it seems contrary to the general economy of Nature and the usual order of Providence to surround plants with what is of vital importance to their existence, and yet deny them the power of ob- taining what they require from it. It would be like putting an aquatic plant in water, yet denying it the power of obtaining hydrogen from it. The most important nitrogenous manure is ammonia, and we do not yet know what part ammonia may fulfil as a physical and chemical agent in the sap, enabling the plant to elabo- rate from the sap (the life blood of the plant) those various solid constituents that lielp to build up and form the plant ; and undoubtedly ammonia is a great solvent of the various forms of carbonaceous matter to be found in all soils, especially those of a peaty .August 19, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1073 nature, several of which are of themselves insoluble in water. Because plants are enabled to absorb carbon from the carbonic acid of the air, it has been assumed that they can obtain all the carbon they require from this source ; but as the weight of the carbon in most plants is nearly 50 per cent., and in the air there is only about two parts in 10,000 of carbonic acid, this is assuming too much. May not ammonia, therefore, play the same part in the economy of plant life, as the gastric juice, pancreatic fluid, and other similar che- mical compounds do in the human system, which enable us to assimilate and digest the food which we take? Moreover, both in plant life and animal life all nitrogenous compounds are more easily decomposed and digested, or assimilated, than those which do not contain N, and it is only while the power of vital force is in operation that the nitrogenous compounds of the human body are capable of existing without decompo- sition. Chemical analysis (both quantitative and quali- tative) is only up to a certain point reliable : for instance, gum, starch, and sugar, are each by quantitative analysis the same, the formula for all these being C". H™. 0=°, and yet any child would distinguish one from another. In seeds, as of Wheat, for instance, a particular chemi- cal substance called diastase is capable of converting starch into sugar. This is what takes place in sprouting Barley for malting purposes ; diastase is capable of changing the insoluble starch into soluble sugar. May not nitrogenous compounds pi; important part of this sort in the sap of changing insoluble to soluble, and assisting endosmosis and exosmosis from cell to cell in vegetable substances? I know all this is matte jecture, but there are more elements of truth in it than there is in the Darwinian theory, that man is merely development by natural selection from an ascidiai wlien in the whole course of historical and geological records there is no proof of any one species having changed into another, and though there have been many different types in the same species, as is the case in dogs and horses, pigeons, &c., yet in every case these different types have been fixed by human agency, not by natural selection only. This, how digression. I cannot resist quoting an extract from Professor Johnston's " Agricultural Chemistry "If pure oil, which contains no nitrogen at all, will yet produce an enriching manure by mere mixture with the soil, or will increase greatly the effect of bones obviously seek for some other principle upon account for the effect of manures besides, ( ' the proportion of nitrogen they contain, impure or refuse whale oil, when used for composts, may contain some nitrogen, but when pure oil is used, such can scarcely be the case to any great extent. ■ ' While, then, we put so much faith in theory as believe that substances which contain much nitrogen very likely to prove valuable manures, we must not allow ourselves to be so carried away by the simplicity of the principle as to believe either that the relative effects ' manures upon our crops may be always estimated by the proportion of nitrogen they contain, or that a substance may not increase largely the produce of our fields in which no nitrogen is present at all. Indeed the effects of saline substances alone are sufficient to satisfy us how t to Nature this latter opinion would be. " C. P. Peach. [Our correspondent seems to have looked the experiment of Boussingault. Eds.] 38°.2 Cent. -100°.; = 102°. 92 F. These readings F. ; and on the 19th, 39°.4 Cent. swaymg 1 were taken from a mercurial ther- the shade in a current of air, and and fro in the wind, but the fixed ther- a north aspect and protected legistered on July 19, 43° Cent. = io9''.4 F. This day was most trying for human beings as for plants. The leaves of the Vines were rusted as if scorched by a furnace. Many of the stocks were killed, and at least a third of the Grapes destroyed by desiccation. The Figs altered their appearance, and their leaves were strewn on the ground as in November. The Ohve crop, which up to that time was very promising, is much injured by this sudden Sahara-like temperature. Herbaceous plants left unwatered were roasted like a slice of bread on a gridiron. In spite of these meteorological excesses, I have some interesting plants doing well. Among them the Solanum quitoense, which has edible fruits, and of which I received seeds from Mr. Daniel Han- bury ; also a very curious grass from Guatemala, perhaps an undescribed species, but in any case one very remarkable for the vigour of its growth. If I succeed in making it flower and perfect seed here, it will probably prove a forage plant of first-rate importance. I received it from M. Durieu, of Bor- deaux, who supposes it allied to Maize and to the Job's Tears, Coix — intermediate between the two. I have been less successful with the Voandzeia subterranea of Madagascar, which flowers with me in the open ground, but perishes immediately after, except in the case of one plant, which I have succeeded in keeping alive by watering it three or four times a day, from which I infer that it is a semi-aquatic plant. If any correspond- ent of the Gardener^ Chronicle can give me any information as to the conditions under which the Voandzeia grows in its native country, I shall be much indebted to him. Charles Naudi7i. Foreign Correspondence. CoULLioURE, Pyrenees Orientales.— The year 1S71 will be noted in meteorological records for its irregularities and its excesses, and even as far south as this we have not been free from those returns to winter temperature which have done you in the north so much harm in the spring and early summer. The month of May was quite a summer month with us ; its mean temperature was i6°.68 Cent. = 62°. 02 Fahr. On June 3, however, we experienced a strong gale from the north, which lasted for three days, and was both very cold and very dry. In the night of June 3 — 4, the thermometer went down as low as 6°.4 = 43''.52 Fahr., an unparalleled thing at such a time in this locality. If it had been simply cold as a result of radiation, no harm would have been done to the plants subjected to its influence, but being cold by convection and the accompanying wind violent and of long duration, the mischief done in gardens was great. I had a fine collection of Cucur- bitaccK, the seeds of which were sent to me from the Imperial Horticultural Society of St. Petersburg, with a request that I should examine them carefully and report on them. Up to June 3 these plants were in good condition, and I flattered myself I should obtain some valuable results ; but the great and sudden lower- ing of temperature, in consequence of the north wind, killed them nearly all, and that suddenly. I call attention to this because many horticulturists and meteorologists seem to overlook the fact that the cold of convection is more injurious to vegetation than the same degree of cold produced by radiation in a still atmosphere. Six weeks later we were witnesses of facts not less remarkable and unusual, but of exactly an opposite nature — an excessive degree of heat— excessive even here. Like the cold in the early part of June it occtirred suddenly. On July 15 the thermometer indicated 35°. 7 Cent. = 96°. 26 F. ; on the 16th, 34°.4 = 93°- 92 F. ; on the 17th, 37° = 98°. 60 F. ; on the i8th. Societies. Royal Horticultural: August 16.— W. Marshall, Esq. , in the chair. At the general meeting, which was ol very short duration, the chairman of the Fnht Committee, when announcing the awards made by that body, stated that it had that day, and for the first time, had one of its First-class Certificates returned, under the following cumstances. At a meeting, held on August 17 last year, this award was made to Mr. Pearson, of the Chilwell N series, near Nottingham, for a seedling While Grape of great promise, named Chilwell White. Later on in the year Mr. Pearson suspected, from the appearance of or two berries, that the Grape would not keep, nevertheless he propagated the variety to a considerable e year, however, the fault has developed to such a degree that he cannot conscientiously send it out, and has therefore decided to destroy the whole of the stock on his hands, and to return the award made to him. It appears that the variety in question has a large receptacle, which is generally assumed to indicate good keeping qualities ; but in this instance its tendency to separate is so great, that Mr. Pearson (to his honoiu: be it saidj, instead of causing much disappointment, has determined to destroy the The Rev. M. J. Berkeley then proceeded to comment upon some of the objects of interest brought before the Floral Committee, first stating, with reference to a flower of Anthurium omatum, from the gardens of Mr. W. W. Saunders, that it had a most delicious scent, and that nothing could be more beautiful than the contrast between its nch green foliage, white spathe, and delicate pink spadix. He had also received from the same gentle- man a Gesneraceous plant, which he believed to be Drymonia bicolor, and of which there is a figure in the " Botanical Register " (vol. xxiv., plate 4). Mr. Saunders exhibited it under the name of D. cristata ; but of this species there is a figiue in " Paxton's Flower Garden," and the description states that the plant is downy, whereas in this case it is glabrous. Alluding then to to show its vail observed that il nical Magazine extra pnze i figured and far back as 1823 (vol. xlix., tab. 2283), under the name of Trifolium coeruleum [now Meli- lotus coerulea], and it was known in Switzerland many years before — Caspar Bauhin, in his " Pinax," mentioning the use of this plant made by the Swiss for flavouring chapziger cheese. The whole plant, but more especially the flower head, possesses a powerful scent of Fenugreek, an odour grateful to many, but to others extremely disagreeable. Previous to the date mentioned it was grown m most gardens in Europe for the sake of its scent, and was frequently laid in ward- robes to drive away moths. In Mr. Berkeley's opinion it would prove beneficial to fattening beasts, but not to cows, on account of the peculiar flavour which it might impart to the milk. Reference was then made to a trial of Onions, which will be found more fully described at p. 1064, the speaker remarkmg that a small Fungus, near to Peronospora destructor, nearly destroyed his crop, through killing the foliage. Floral Committee. — Dr. Denny in the chair. From Mr. Croucher, gr. to J. T. Peacock, Esq., Sud- bury House, Hammersmith, came 6 very interesting new Agaves, to two of which, named Simsii and imbricata. First-class Certificates were awarded. Mr. Green, gr. to W. W. Saunders, Esq., sent a cut specimen of Anthu- rium omatum, a new species from Santa Martha, having bright green cordate leaves, a white spathe and delicate pink spadix ; a decided acquisition, which also com- manded the highest honours that could be conferred. Mr. Green also exhibited a very fine new Dracaena, near to D. fr.agrans, received from South Africa, and fiower- ng examples of Eucomis clavata, and Griffinia ntermedia. Mr. B. S. Williams sent two nicely flowered ipecimens of Erica Turnbullii, the merit of which consists n its free growing habit, as compared with others of the high-coloured sorts ; and from Mr. Mackintosh, Ham- e cut flowers of an inferior pink Epi- phyllum. Mr. Wilson, gr. to W. Marshall, Esq., Enfield, flowering plant of LaeUa elegans var. Marshallii, remarkable for the distinct form of its richly-coloured hp plant which ought to have been certificated ; the Rev. Lord Hawke, Willingham, Gainsborough, had a stand of fine new seedhng and other Hollyhocks ; and from Wills came a nicely grown specimen of the Ivy- leaved Pelargonium, Duke of Edinburgh. The show of Gladioli, the principal featureof the meeting, as an unusually good one, the spikes being generally very fine, and exceedingly bright in colour. The first class was an open one for 24 cut spikes, the prizes being offered by the President, His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch. Messrs. Kelway & Son, Langport, were ist with a splendid stand, consisting of the best of the older kinds, and several splendid new seedlings, the following of which were after- wards selected for First-class Certificates :— Araximenes, vermilion-scarlet, crimson-feathered, petals very broad and stiff ; Yellow King, the gem of the exhibition, pale yellow, flamed with crimson, petals very broad and flat, forming a large, broad and compact spike ; Astrea, bright scarlet, feathered with crimson, the spike fine but narrow ; Lady Bridport, a shaded pink, feathered with crimson, and very fine petals ; Lord Brid- port, rosy pink, deep crimson -feathered, a fine spike : Archelaus, white, feathered and flamed with crimson ; and Phidias, claret-crimson shaded with white, a very attractive flower. Mr. Doug- las, gr. to F. Whitbourne, Esq., was a very close 2d, with good spikes of Meyerbeer, Princess Mary of Cambridge, Empress Eugenie, Princess of Wales, and several promising seedlings. Mr. G. Wheeler, War- minster, was 3d, and the Rev. H. H. Dombrain had an e. In the amateurs' class for 12 Mr. Douglas ry easily with a stand of flowers equal to any in the show. This also included some remarkably fine seedlings, raised by Mr. Douglas, as Francis Whit- bourne, white, beautifully flamed with rich crimson, form- ing a close, neat spike ; Mrs. Francis Whitbourne, flowers larger and of a more pure white than the former, feathered purpUsh crimson, petals broad, and a fine spike ; and William Eariey, faint yellow, flamed with a reddish pink ; and one of M. Souchefs new sorts, named Talisman, clear deep rose, with broad stiff petals, and a fine spike. These also were awarded First-class Certificates. Mr. J. W. Welch, gr. to J. Marshall, Esq., Belmont Park, Taunton, was 2d, with nice spikes of Lord Granville, Sir William "■ ' " • " - ■ the exhibitor came in 2d in the class for 6, Mr. Douglas again being ist with Orphee, Madame Desportes, and four fine and Vernet, Plutarch, Norma, Madame Desportes, Meyerbeer, Eugene Scribe, Pioneer, Le Mauve, Alhambra, Celeste, and HeracUtus, were especially fine. An extra prize was awarded. Messrs. Carter & Co. also exhi- bited a large coUection of seedUngs and named varieties. For the best 6 Hollyhocks, cut spikes, the ist prize was taken by Mr. W. Chater, Saffron Walden, who had excellent specimens of Bullion, Queen of the Yellows, Marion, Fair Ellen, Majestic, Fasci- nation, &c. Mr. Chater was also ist for 24 cut blooms, Messrs. Paul & Son being 2d ; and Mr. G. Wheeler 3d. In the first named collection, Fred. Chater, Splendidus, Prince Albert. Leviathan, Joy. Eclipse, In\-incible, and Enchantress were very fine. For 12 cut spikes of Phloxes, distinct, Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing were ist, and Messrs. Paul & Son 2d. Some very nice flowers were shown, but they flagged soon, and did not look nearly so bright and attract;- -e as when put up in pots. Prizes were offered for a singie dish of Apricots, and these were awarded ist to Mr. G. Craddock, gr. to Lord Willoughby de Broke, ComptonVemey, Warwick, and2dtoMr. Smith, gr. to the Earl of Gainsborough, Exton Park, Rutland, both competing with Moor Park. Messrs. J. & C. Lee, Hammersmith, exhibited a very large collection of cut branches of hardy ornamental trees and shrubs, including 146 species and varieties. Amongst the variegated forms the most noticeable were Acer campestre variegatum, Castanea vesca albo-marginata, Comusjsanguinea elegant- issima, Fraxinus aucubxfolia, TiUa argentea, Quercus purpurea. Fagus purpurea major, and Platanus elegantissi- mus. Other kinds, remarkable for the distinctness or boldness of their foliage, were AInus cordata, bearing small cone-like fruit ; Catalpa Ksempferi, Gleditschia Bugoti pendula, new ; Moras hispanica, new ; Pyrus Aucuparia sibirica nana, bearing pretty scarlet frait ; Robinia hispida, Fraxraus Juglandifolia, Robinia pen- dula, Betula laciniata pendula, &c. FruitCommittee.— G.F.Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair. On this occasion Special Certificates were awarded to Mr. Tillery, Welbeck, for a beautiful dish of Barring- ton Peaches, along with which also came examples of a seedling Nectarine, raised at Welbeck, from Violette native, which becomes of a peculiar black colour when ripe, and a nice dish of St. Ambrose .'\pricot ; to Mr. Thomas, gr. to T. Chamberiayne, Esq., Cranbury Park. Winchester, for two fine and well-ripened Queen Pines ; and to Mr. J. Douglas, gr. to F. Whitbourne, Esq., for capital examples of Royal George and Bellegarde Peaches, and Washington Plums. Dislies of Apricots were shown by Mr. W. Gardiner, gr. to W. E. P. Shiriey, Esq.. Lower Eatington, Stratford-on-Avon, and Mr. Rutland, gr. to the Duke of Richmond, Goodwood, which, like most other Apricots this season, were much wanting in flavour. Mr. T. Thornton, Heatherside Nursery, Bag- shot, sent fine specimens of the Heatherside Rival Cucumber, a neat smooth variety, which, if a good one for winter use, the Committee thought would be accept- I074 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 19, 1871. able, and to that end they requested that it should be sent again in January next. Mr. Meaks, gr. to R. Fowler, Esq., Petersham, again sent specimens of Ingram's Scarlet Gem Melon, grown in a cold frame, and very poor in flavour. Mr. W. P. Roberts, gr. to Lady Derby, Holwood, Kent, sent three bunches of Grapes, cut from Vines over 100 years old, which a few years ago were in a viery bad state, but are now recovering well, as the size both of bunch and berry fully testified. Mr. Pearson, Chilwell, exhibited a nicely finished bunch of his new Grape, Ferdinand de Lesseps, highly flavoured ' *-=- Morocco, distinct in character, good setters, producing large berries, and showing no si^ns of cracking ; and a seed- ling variety from Mrs. Pince's Black Muscat, which pro- duces a close very compact bunch, and fine berries. Some- of these were considered very promising, but unfortunately all were unripe, so that a correct opinion of their merits could not be formed. Mr. Earley also sent a small berried seedling Black Grape, not quite up to the mark m flavour. Mr. Maurice Young, Milford, near Godalmmg. sent a Cucumber plant from 4 to 5 feet long, the stem of which was broadly fasciated, which seems to produce fer- tility, as the plant bore 15 fruit, all about the same age. Mr. Gardiner sent branches of Apple trees, to show the heavy crop they are bearing: and Mr. Foote, gr. to Sir A. H. Elton, Bart., Clevedon Court, Somerset, sent some fine Morello Cherries. Royal Botanic : August 10.— The 32d anniversary meeting of this Society was held at the gardens. Regent's Park ; Mr. B. Attwood in the chair. His Serene High- ness the Prince of Teck was re-elected President, and Mr. ■W. M. Coulthurst, Treasurer; Dr. Brewer, M.P., and Mr. W. F. Low, were elected new members of Council. The Secretary, Mr. W. Sowerby, read the annual reports of the Council and auditors, from which it appeared that notwithstanding the very unfavourable weather during the season, the total receipts had exceeded the total of last year. This increase was in consequence of the large sum received on account of subscriptions. The total receipts from all sources, including the special subscription for the new conservatory building, was ^8373 i8j. 6i/., and the expenditure, including liabilities, to ^^8720 los. ^d. This expenditure included above ,,f 2000, the cost of building a new wing to the conservatory, building stores and potting sheds, laying on water, and other permanent works completed during the year. A large number (116) of new Fellows had joined the Society during the year, and the ordinary subscriptions had been /3823 is., a sum which has only been reached six times during the 32 years of the Society's existence. The facts, however, of most interest to the public mentioned in the reports related to the valu- able facilities gratuitously afforded to students for the study of plants in connection with medicine, the arts, and manufactures. 231 free orders of admission have been granted, and 22,541 cut specimens distributed, against 182 and 10,712 respectively in 1870 ; and the officers of the Society are constantly affording to artists, merchants, manufacturers, and others valuable information in answer to queries connected with their various pursuits, and illustrating the same by reference to the living plants furnishing the raw materials. The number of distinct species of plants in the educational garden is now more than 3300, of which above 500 are of medicinal or other .economic value. A covered way, 200 feet long, from the public road to the conservatory, is in course of being built, and is expected to be finished before the end of November next, thus affording access to the conservatory in all weathers, and making it a true winter garden. Thanks were voted to the President, 'Vice-Presidents, and Council, the members of committees and other officers. ■and the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. Glasgow Royal Botanic : August 10 to 13.— This was the first of a contemplated series of flower shows to be held in the Botanic Garden at Glasgow. The directors of the gardens, assisted by the curator, Mr. Bullen, have prepared a special exhibition ground, laid out in agreeable undulations, the principal groundwork being covered with green turf, and intersected by spacious walks for prome- 'nading. This arrangement permitted the grouping of the plants in picturesque style, and very much enhanced the effect. Every one entering the spacious marquee thrown over this exhibition space must have felt thai something of the kind was what every flower show com- mittee should aim at, both for the comfort of the visitors and for the right and proper grouping of the plants. The day was brilliant. The most prominent features of the show were arranged in the marquee above alluded to, and consisted chiefly ol three miscellaneous collections of plants, which occupied the terraced divisions in the centre ; the interior margins being filled with the lesser groups representing the subsi- diary classes, all very pleasingly grouped. The ist prize was awarded to Provost Russel, Falkirk, whose gardener (Mr. Sorley) put up an admirable lot of plants in a most artistic manner. His plants of the noble Seaforthia elegans and Cyathea dealbata, and the elegant-looking Auslrahan Drac.xnas, towered quite up to the canvas, ■and formed excellent contrasting material with the beau- tiful cut-leaved Cupania filicifolia, a grand plant for orna- mental decoration, and the New Zealand Coprosma Baueri- ana variegata. which, along with the equally hardy varie- gated Aralia of Siehold, and even the golden-topped Yews, show their adaptability for general decorative work. Confronting these was one of the rarest of rare Orchids, Laelia elegans Turneri, than which nothing in colour or substance could be finer. This, and the Lady's Slipper Orchid, Cypripedium superbiens, associate well with Ferns, among which there is no better species for hot- house culture than Adiantum farleyense, which was well shown in this collection, as were Yucca quadricolor and Cordyline indivisa. Messrs. J. & R. Thyne, who were placed 2d, had a group which showed good cultivation. Prominent were the tall tree forms of Areca sapida, a noble Palm, Cyathea princeps, and Phmnicophorium sechellarum. There were some excellent Crotons and Dracaenas in this collection, one or two Pitcher Plants, some well-grown Todeas and Filmy Ferns, and one or two half specimens of Heaths, particularly of Erica Austi- niana and Mamockiana, both sorts raised from seed by the indefatigable gardener at Bothwell Castle, Mr. Tum- buU. Mr. Coats, of Ferguslie, gr. to Mr. Dickson, had a lot confined in less space, but which contained some excellent examples of horticultural skill. His Aerides nobile and Saccolabium Blumei majus, were two of the finest flowering plants in the show. The Heaths in this collection were also good, particularly Massoni, which is difficult to cultivate, but was here produced in fine style. The smaller groups of miscellaneous plants were defi- cient in quality. Amongst them, however, were twelve Pelargonuims, m flower, and twelve remarkable for their loliage, which were magnificently grown. The Roses from Messrs. Dickson & Sons, Newtonards, were grand, showing how well the Irish climate is adapted 10 the growth of these beautiful flowers. Dahlias were good, considering the season, the best coming from ire- Fruit was really a very good exhibition. The collections from Mr. Johnston, gr. to the Eari of Strathmore, and from Mr. Methven, gr. to Colonel Campbell, of Blythswood, were excellent. The former had very beauti- ful bunches of Buckland Sweetwater Grape, Muscat ol Alexandria, and Black Prince— all first-rate in quality. He had also Pine-apples, Melons, Peaches. Nectarines, and Figs, and smaller fruits of the ordinary kinds, along with Bananas. &c. Mr. Johnston took the chief positions in the single classes of Grapes. Mr. Miles, gr. to Lord Carnngton, 'Wycombe Abbey, showed magnificent Pine-apples, and the Peaches and Melons were generally good. Mr. M'Connachie, Cameron House, had a very large dish of various Grapes, put up in fine order, which was highly commended. Pansies were good, but not numerous. Vegetables did not form a large exhibition, but were a fair representation of what is fit for table at this season. Among other miscellaneous awards, a Special Certificate was given to Mr. G. White, Ladyburn Nursery, for a dark self seedling Pansy ; while Mr. W. H. Hilton, Liverpool, was commended for his new patent grass-border cutter, for horticultural purposes; and Mr. A. M'Lachlan, Greenock, received a First-class Certificate for his new patent verge cutter. The directors dined with the judges in the afternoon in the gardens. Upon the whole, the first exhibition in connection with the Royal Botanic Society may be pronounced a success — a success due in a great degree to the unwearied energy of Mr. Bullen, the curator. The Horticulturist ; or, the Culture and Manage- ment of the Kitchen, Fruit, and Forcing Garden. By J. C. Loudon. Edited and revised by 'William Robinson. Warne & Co., 8vo, pp. 707. This is an admirable book on practical gardening, and the publishers have done well in reissuing it and in entrusting its editorship to Mr. Robinson. We may congratulate the editor on the success of his task, and on the valuable assistance he has obtained and duly acknowledged from Mr. D. T. Fish, Mr. Barnes, late of Bicton, and other practitioners. If now, after this general commendation, we proceed to point out sundry minor defects or points in which the work has not quite been brought up to the present time, it must be under- stood that we by no means intend to disparage the value of the work as a whole. We open it by chance at p. 461, and find a brief, and, we must say, insufficient account of the new 'Vine disease. There is no clue given as to the date when the disease in question was first observed ; so that, as far as appears from anything in the present volume, the disease might have been new in Loudon's time. There is not a word indicative of the fact that the insect was first described scientifically in our columns by Prof Westwood months before the French commission began iheir investigations. There is nothing to show that "M. J. B." had also, unless we mistake not, dis- covered the identityof the insect on the roots with that on the leaf before MM. Planchon and Lichtenstein began their observations. In fact, nothingis said asto the insects attacking the leaves at all ; and lastly, we fear that the statement that the pest "is said to exist in one or two vineries," by no means conveys an accurate notion of how widely spread the disease really is. In so saying we do not wish to raise an unnecessary alarm ; we merely state that it is much more prevalent than the passage we have quoted would lead the reader to infer, basing our own statement on the number of speci- mens forw.arded to us from various parts of the country luring the last year or 18 months. Speaking generally, however, the editor has kept well abreast with the irogress in practK horn that has been made the book was first written, though here and there t is very doubtful in the mind of the reader whether it s author or editor who is speaking, while in other :ases the state of things is rendered apparent by the inachronism evident. Such slips on the part of he editor are, so far as we have seen, comparatively ew, and do not impair the value of the work. We need only mention the issue of a seventh edition of Thomson on the Fm^ (Blackwoods). Such a fact speaks for itself. Of all classes of books, those devoted to practical gardening seem to he the most successful. Edition after edition is published with a rapidity that only a successful novel can rival, and keeping pace with these unceasing re-issues is the launching of new candidates for popular applause. There is no necessity to commend to the notice of the aspiring young gardener or bailiff a knowledge of mensuration, a subject they will find of use to them nearly every day of their lives ; but we may be doing them a service by calling attention to a brief and unpre- tending but clear treatise on the subject lately published, by Messrs. Longmans, under the title of Explanatory, Mensuration, by the Rev, Alfred Hiley. Florists' Flo'wers. There is much reason to fear that, by the accident of non-use, many good plants are falling away into the cold shade of neglect,— plants that deserve to be much more kindly regarded. One of these is the Phlox Druivimondii. Why this is so is not difficult of demonstration. It is not from any fault of the plants themselves, but simply because fashions change ia matters of gardening as they do in many other things ; and to be in harmony with the prevailing fashion is thought by many to be the ne plus ultra of human existence. Thus when glaring red Pelargoniums came to be the prevailing feature in flower gardening, there was a general outbreak ol a floral scarlet fever, and the Phlox Drummondii had to give way to the new style, quite apart, however, from any relative value of the two, but simply because Pelargoniums were the correct thing. Strange, that to be fashionably correct should very often imply much moral and social confusion and contradiction. But it is so. My next-door neighbour has a bed of Pelargoniums, and I a line of Phlox Drummondii along a narrow, sunny border. He vows he will next season discard the former, and go in for Phlox Drummondii. The neighbours, having floral tastes, pass by his Pelargo- niums with a mere glance, but pause before my line of Phlox Drummondii, and wonder what they are. And well enough they might ; for the sake of their pretty pleasant flowers be it stated, they are not grown so extensively as they deserve to be. I met with a capital bed of several varieties of this charming annual Phlox in an old-fashioned flower garden a few days since, and the various colours mingled together ranged from white with a slightly coloured centre to a rich shaled blood-crimson ; and it struck me it was a happy thought that suggested to the gardener the planting among the Phloxes of some of the yellow Calliopsis Drummondii, which being of a somewhat spreading growth, did not get above the Phloxes, and supplied a colour in which they were most deficient. Since the lilac-purple Phlox Drummondii was intro- duced from Texas, nearly 40 years ago, a number of garden varieties have been raised from it, of all shades of colour, and any one of these, even though the seed may be selected and saved with the greatest care, will be certain to show considerable variation in the seedlings. Some of the varieties are noted for their extreme richness of colour, others for their soft and delicate tints, and all for their profusion of bloom, as well as for the long time they continue in flower. Some years ago nurserymen used to grow a batch of the finest and most distinct varieties of Phlox Drum- mondii, the plants raised from cuttings. The pretty striped form, Radowitzii, can still be found in cata- logues, and it not only makes a charming bedding plant, but is also very useful for pot culture, and if kept during the winter, and allowed to get a little pot- bound, will flower very freely in the spring. A few years ago a fine and distinct striped variety was intro- duced by Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son. Of varieties I have tried this season I can commend Car- dinal, deep bright crimson, with a slight dark centre ; General Grant, shaded purplish crimson, dark centre ; and Rose d' Amour, pale pinkish rose, with shaded crimson centre. Each of these have produced types somewhat distinct in character, some of darker and some of lighter shades, some of the same hue, with differences in the density and quantity of the central shading ; and in the case of the rose-coloured variety several have a distinct white ring round the eye. Even more marked are the differences in the form and sub- stance of the flower.s, some have large, flat, stout, and finely rounded flowers ; others are small, rough, thin, and star-shaped. Some of the forms of Cardinal are of a shining black-crimson hue. Other good varieties are Alba, Empress Eugenie, crimson and white ; Heyit- holdii, s riped ; Marmorata, marbled ; Oculata alba, white and crimson ; and 'Victoria Regina, purple. A packet of mixed seed gives a capital variation for placing in a bed indiscriminately. The seed should 1 nild he and pricked off into other pans or boxes, about 2 inches apart, as the plants are large enough, and then hardened off in a cold frame, or any sheltered place in the open air, where some covering can be placed over them during cold nights, till the weather is sufiiciently warm to admit of planting out in beds or borders. A good rich, light soil, of some depth, is the one that suits this Phlox best ; the leading shoot should be pinched back to induce lateral growth ; and the strongest shoots so made should be treated in the same way. A dense bushy growth results, and then is secured a mass of shoots, the main of which put forth laterals also. This keeps the bed dwarf, and at the same time well filled ; and a bed thus formed, as well as one formed of 'Ver- August 19, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1075 benas, in which the different colours are blended togther similarly, will be among the pleasantest in the flower garden, especially if edged with some suitable foliaged plant. Ji. D. THE WEATHER. TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR AND PALL OP RAIN . DIFFERENT STA TIONS, During the Week ending Saturday, August 12, 1871. Temperature of the Air- Nollinchar Shcffiefd Liverpool Sallord .. Bradfonl Leeds .. EdinburEh STATE OF THE WEATHER AT BLACKHBATH, . Hy^ometrical Deductior from Glaisher's Tables, Q° Uee. Deg. Deg. 79.8 I S4-S I 25 3 ! OS'S ' Miscellaneous. Air: "The British Grenadiers." And some go in for Shams, Some roar like hungry Lions, And others bleat like Lambs ; But there's a Beast that at this Feast Demands a special glass. So let us bray, that long we may Admire the British Ass ! With a tow, row, row, &c., &c. On England's fragrant Clover This Beast delights to browse. But To Scotland's broomy knowes ; For there he finds above all kinds The Plant that doth surpass. : read in ancient story » a great Assyrian swell ■< glory If you would know how it happened s That a King should feed on grass. In Section D, Department B, He had joined the Briiish Ass 1 On Grecian senses charming Fell the music of the spheres, But voices more alarming Salute our longer ears. A swell profound doth now propound How life did come to pass. From world to world the seeds were h Whence sprung the British Ass ! In our wandering through Creation We meet these burning stones. That bring for propagation The germs of flesh and bones. And is It not a thrilUng thought That a huge misguided mass Will come some day to sweep away Our dear old British Ass ! The child who knows his father Has aye been reckoned wise. But some of us would rather Be saved that sweet surprise, If it be true that when we view A comely lad or lass. We find the trace of the monkey' In the gaze of the British Ass ! face What a Spider Did.— A gentleman once boasted to a friend that he could introduce to him an engineer of more wonderful skill than Robert Stephenson. In fulfilment of the boast, he brought out a glass tumbler containing a little scarlet coloured spider, whose beauty, with its bright yellow nest on a sprig of Laurustinus, had induced a young lady to pluck the sprig from the bush where it was growing. When brought into the house, it was placed on the mantel- piece, and secured by placing a glass over it. In a very short time this wonderful little engineer contrived to accomplish the herculean task or raising the sprig of Laurustinus, a weight seveia! hundred times greatei than himself, to the upper part of the glass, and attach ing it there so firmly that it remained suspended for many years where it was hung by the spider. What THE ENSUING WEEK.) PLANT HOUSES. imable aid to the plant grower. igatherer of the fruits of our hardier soil and climate, is the gloriously fine weather which is experienced whilst I wnte, so bounteously fitted to our wants by the gracious Giver of all good. We rarely estimate at its proper value the really beneficial influences of a clear run of unbroken sunshine, and are apt to accept with a somewhat popular enthusiasm some of its most striking features, only as being worthy of consideration or remark. If our Camellias swell their bloom buds freely upon the season's young growth, we are not slow to attribute it to a fine autumnal period. Now, were it possible to under-estimate these facts, I would fain say, that fine bright sunny weather at this period is of even greater importance to the grower of soft-wooded plants, and such other kinds, of whatever dimension, as make their growth later in the season than the above. Whether we take late growing Ericas, Pimelias, &c., or simply the commoner and even more succulent Chrysanthemum, this view is fully borne out. I have recently suggested in these pages that Chrysanthemums should not be pinched back any later than is absolutely necessary to gua- rantee fair bushy specimen plants, and that it is not a judicious procedure to stop them at all after July, if the production of fine blooms is the object in view. If these and all other similar habited plants make their growth too late, sufficient time is not allowed for that free development which a given quantity of light affords. Under these circumstances I may also suggest that every specimen plant should be partially turned round, so that all sides may reap a like benefit from those beneficial influences. Besides benefiting the plants this also proves beneficial to the roots, more particularly if they are placed out-of- doors in fully exposed positions. Here during very hot days the roots upon the sunny sides of fully exposed pots certainly cannot be as happy as they should be. Doubtless roots are formed, destroyed, and lormed again at ruinous expenditure of strength on the part of the plant, but if these are turned round occasionally time and opportunity will be afforded them to collect food and re-establish themselves without suffering much harm. The cheerful looking Begonia tuellonit B. digsitielliana, B. Saundersii, &c., will now in many instances be showing flower freely, and if itisnotdesirable to have them in bloom at their best a month hence (even though the two latter are perpetual flowerers first blossoms are always the best), it will be advisable to pinch off all flowers, stop the shoots when necessary, and induce further growth for a period. Oftentimes their having become pot-bound is the cause of their shomng for flower, therefore another potting may be deemed advisable. Those Cafe Pelargoniums which were cut back a few weeks ago, if they have commenced growing again, should be turned out of the old pots ; have the old soil carefully removed from their roots, and be repotted in as small pots as the roots can intended for ■ and "setting.' be forced into without unnatural crowding. The little soil necessary should be composed of the best fibrous yellow loam possible, with a goodly quantity of silver sand and decayed leafmould. Be careful not to over-water them until the roots have fairly made a fresh start, but it would be advisable to lijjhtly damp the young shoots over occasionally. Another sowing of Mignonette should now be made in pots, for winter flowering. Use good loam, and press it firmly into the pots upon a good, though not too abundant amount of crocking, upon which the seed should be sown. Continue to pinch back Veronicas, Salvias, and such subjects as Coronillas, Genistas, &c., which grow irre- gularly on misplaced shoots, or are not bushy enough. In stoves proper, the Climbing Plants will now need more than usual attention to keep them orderly, and free from ripening and decayed leaves. The purple- fruited Passiflora edulis, carrying a crop, will be much benefited by a good root-watering of whole- some liquid manure. So also will Oranges, Citrons, or Limes, which are now starting with a good crop of young fruit, be materially benefited by periodical appli- cations of a like stimulant. Syringing over-head cannot be too frequently resorted to in the evenings of sunny days, in connection with all such plants. FORCING HOUSES. Maintain a good mean temperature in all Pineries while the fine sunny weather lasts, and so make up by every means possible for the dull weather of the past portion ot the year. To this end 80° may be assumed as a mean under any circumstances, with a rise of about 10° more by external influences of tempe- rature only. Be very careful not to over-water at the root those Pines which have lately been shifted on ; as a rule, little water is needed for the first week or two following the potting. It is far more desirable to main- tain them in a state of progressive growth by super- ficial applications with the syringe, and by maintaining a densely humid atmosphere. Give air with all pos- sible freedom between the hours of 8 in the morning and half-past 3 or 4 r. M., according to the aspect of the structure. When the house is closed for the day give copious waterings to the side walls, walks, and all internal cool surfaces, syringing the Pines freely over- lipaH nt the same time during favourable weather. Be moisten unnecessarily those Pine: nter fruiting which are now in flower Give manure-water freely to all such blooming, and so afford the plants in- dividually all the aid possible at the time when they are best able to turn it to good account, as it is needless to ply them with stimulants when the fruit are finally swelling off. Also remove robber gills and suckers early from Pines at such a stage, for one and the same reason. Give air with great freedom to late Grapes, which now in a majority of instances will be beginning to change colour, by which means a better-developed skin will be formed, and the berries will be the better able to withstand the penetrating and injurioiis influences of the long and damp winter months. Fig trees from which late crops are looked for should now have a copious root watering, and if in greatly confined or poor borders, manure-water will prove beneficial. HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. Young trees of any kind of wall fruits planted during the past winter will, if this weather continues, and they are planted at a proper elevation, require root water- ings. It should be needless to add how very beneficial occasional syringings will be to them during such weather as this. It is not necessary, however, be it understood, to induce them to continue a too exuberant growth by this aid. If the growth already made is maintained in perfect health, free from flagging, so that the young wood becomes well developed, to stand through the winter and to prepare for another season's advance, the only end that should be aimed at will be attained. To encourage a too robust growth to the last is in every way opposed to the preparation of well ripened wood. The young shoots upon Pears and Apples of the current season's formation should now be cut back to within about three leaves of their base, except where extension is requisite, when the stronger and best-placed growths should be chosen for that pur- pose. These should only be " headed back " a few inches. Persist in stopping any gross breast-wood that may show symptoms of pushing upon any trees not bearing crops, as there is a tendency following such a season for trees under these favourable conditions for growth to do so somewhat freely, and that often at the expense of those points or shoots which may more legitimately claim support. Continue to tack those shoots of outdoor Vines to the walls where an extended area has to be occupied, pinching or cutting back all laterals requiring removal. HARDY FLOWER GARDEN. Cutting making must now be earnestly entered on in connection with " bedding plants," selecting those most prized first, and so on to the necessary extent. Calceolarias should remain another month yet before any attempt is made to increase the stock of them ; as to strike them too early has a very mjurious tendency hereafter. Pkododendrons,G\ie.-at and American .^za/foj, and the lovely Kalmias, which bear seed-vessels tend- ing to decrease the vigour of the plants, should have the latter picked off. Th ' " he parterre and beds generally, must be frequently picked who desire to blend neatness and display : :r by all 1076 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, [August 19, 1871. monious whole, in keeping with the requirements of elevated taste. KITCHEN GARDEN. Should the dry hot weather continue it will be necessary to water all seed-beds, comprising such things as Lettuce, Spinach, Endive, Carrots, Onions, &c , sown to afford successional winter and early spring supply. If we wait for rain it is but just to expect that a gap will occur in our supply at a critical time, and when no afterthought can be avail- able for our aid. Immediately a good shower cornes proceed with transplanting permanently those seedling plants of vegetables of similar kinds to the above which are sufficiently large so to do. Especially will this be necessary in regard to the kinds of saladmg referred to, as those now transplanted are likely to come in useful to lift for placing in frames or pits at the approach of winter. Water Vegetable Marrozi's and ridge Cucumbers copiously during hot dry weather. Celery will also need very frequent attention m this respect, as it is now— when the lengthened colder nights arrive, and with them the heavy condensed dews, bathing vegetation all around with their refreshing moisture— that Celery begins to grow apace. At such a period all the aid we can afford is accepted, and applied with a zest to increase the vigour of the plants. Scorzonera seems to have a great tendency to run to seed th'- season, therefore the flower-spikes should be cut out : once just above the originally formed strong leaves of each plant. IV. E. Notices to Correspondents. as a stove plant in Paxton and Don, which is suffi- cient to justify you in showing it as such ; Chamserops excelsa is similarly catalogued. The others are cer- tainly greenhouse plants. Vines: A. B. Whillavd. The affection under which your Vines are suffering is akin to shanking ; caused partly through overcropping and alternate changes of dryness and excessive wet in the border. Received : C. P. P.— H. W. W.-E. C. C. D. -D. S. G.-W. B. L, (will, thanks).-;. G. B.-J. H.— J. W. — G N.— H. M.— J. R. H.— D.— R. B. (anticipated).— T. (,. B. J. F _J. p.— G. H.— I. D.— H. D. P.— I. H. (thanks). COVENT GARDEN.— Aug. 18. We have again to report a falling off in the supply oi home-grown fruit, but the importations have been heavy, and are now meeting with a very steady demand. Straw- berries are over. The Potato trade is quieter, and prices have slightly improved. The principal flowers in the market now are. Liliums, Pelargoniums, Asters, Calceo- larias, Balsams, Mignonette, Dahlias, &c. p ARDENER (Head).— Age 37, "^^^^^^ 'reference.— C. M., Flora Cottage, Lion Road,.Bexley, Ken GARDENER (Head).— Age 30, married; 14 years in first.clas5 places ; can be highly recommended.— J. M., Mr. Wm. King's, Hifih Street Nurseries, Lincoln. ARDENER (Hf.ad).— Age 30, married, no family; thoroughly understands the profession in all its branches. — W. C.. 20, iMay Street, Nonhend, Fulham, S.W. ^ /•:j.ARDENER (Head yjT thoroughly' understands To Noblemen and Gentlemen. GARDENER " experience Ei references.-W. W., i', Le^^is Terrace, Chapel P 28, Scotch, married, one t (Head).— Age 39, married; 23 years Eight years and a half in last place. Highest I Lewis Terrace, Chapel Road, Stamford Hill, N. ARDENER (Head).— Age : ■ "" ' ''y practical Mai., _ „ mployer.— C. M., Floral Nursery, 1 Froi- pla Camellias : Youn^ Journeyman. It is ri to place Camellias out in the full sun after they have set their buds. Vlien they are sufficiently advanced to be stood out-of-doors, a situation shaded at least from the mid-day sun should be selected for them. Azaleas require less shade. but w plentifully supplied amongst Cripps' hybrids. Its merit >n profuseness or otherwise of apparently of a colour n Mr. Jackman's and M would entirely depend Foreign Seeds : D. asks if anything can be put amongst seeds sent from foreign countries to prevent them being riddled by insects, as thev often are. Camphor might be tned The harbour for insects afforded by close pack ng si ould be a\ oided and the seeds hung up in canvas bigs n a well ventilated cabin Galls ON Elm Cor The large ^alls on ^ our Elm are Beet, per doz. Cabbages, p. doz. Carrots, p. bunch Cauliflowers, p. do Celery, red, p. bur Uranges, p Pine-apple; Parsley, p. bunch . Cucumbers, each . . o 9 — t French Beans, p. lb. o 6 — o Herbs, per bunch ..02—0 Horse Radisli.p. bun. 3 o to s Potatos (good samples). New Round, ds. y. to ^s. per cwt. Radishes. round,;per Shallots, per' llj. !! o 8- Spinach, perbushel 26- Turnips, p. bunch., o 4- Kidneys, W^ H ra lanuginosa Hart g "■ ■ if Co Catalpa syringae- Clohe alias Go ph. Poly- ahas ri le alas Gosple. las Clohe Echium ralgare. itum the tall St. John's ]n lo a (otl tr \ se S Fortune!) ; _j 1 k k own as Hemerocallis cojrulea. —Ei \erb cum Thapsus ODONTon ossi MS P O triumphans Marshallianum is a \ erj fine nd d stii ct \ ariety grow n by Mr Marshall of Enfield. The flower sent was indeterminable. We do not know Oncidium macranthum Lambertyanum. Can any of our Orchid friends say in what respects it differs from O. macranthum ' '- Parsons' Mignonette ; p.\ correspondent furnish him ' Peaches ; C. P. The sampl tion, but they were amply respondent's statement. Pelargoniums : Amateur. Your tricolor sport, equal to Mrs. Pollock, but much more vigorous in growth, certainly worth saving and testing, if your descriptior W^ AcFes inclusive. Exlent vaton-, and two Plant }Iands kept. Wage 3<«- duty,' for which 5s. weekl under the qualifications GARDENER (Head), to any Lady or Gentleman requiring the services °f ^^^jJ^^yJ^y^lJ'iJy/^^'^L^Vor Stock^ ^^"°"^refJ/JncS ° W *^^aracterTnd ability.— A°." b!, *Posl Office", dge, near Southampton. ARDENER (Head).— Age 33, married, one child; Thoroughly understands Vines, Pines. elons, Stove and Greenhouse Plants, and 1 Gardening. Leaving in consequence of the death Blaguere.—T.BOLCOMB.The Lawn, Whitchurch* any Lady or Gentleman )rough practical Gardener— Has 1 Early and Late Forcir 54, North Street, Edgware G" "ARDENER (H und R^c louse Plants. Kitchen and Flower Gardenine. inded. Nine years' character.— W. G.; Road, London, \iyi . Tad^ Working) Sod^cl^araS'r! S-'rII 28, Charlotte Street, Old ARDENER (Head, Working), age 32, single.— GARDENER (Head, Working Mr Cariton, Aardener to the Hon. Howard, Ashtead man in five of the principal 3ck if required. Character ngle-handed place accepted. GAKi^hNKH. (Head, c Married; well understands Grower.— W. H. P.. 6. Pleasant Cot'tages, Paragon Road, Hackney, K. good Single-handed). — ncs, Pines, Melons, Cucumbers, good Strawberry and I' GARDENER (Head. married, no incumbrance ; ..«» ..-^ " ence in good establishments, and thoroughly l. _ _ sion in all its branches,, also Hof«;at^er \Vork, Glaring years' good character.- clo'n. Mi'ddfe's 0) to any ant as Ga "Lady or Gentleman requiring a Bood a -dener. Good kno«ledee of the protessic -A. B., Post Office, Cobham, Surrey. , with comfortable iiouse adjoin WANTED, a Practical WORKING FOREMAN (Single), where Vines are grown extensively both in Borders and in Pols VSale ; must have a thorough knowledge of Forcmg, Thinning Grapes, and Stopping the Shoots of Vines : also must under- stand, and have had considerable experience of, the Value and Sale of Plants as well as being a thorough good Propagator of Roses, Camellias, Aialeas, Heaths, and particularly choice Stove and general Plant Stock for Sale to the Trade. To live on the premises -Address in own handwriting, stating wages required and references, to J. MEREDITH, The^'ineyara, Garston, near Liverpool. (FiRST-CLASS).— Age It, having had good pract ^'lower's" Fruits, and Esculents, with the General Mi Garden Establishment of any extent. The Advertise steady, energetic, and not afraid of work. Gooi THE GARDENER, Prospect House, Fairfield, Liven r\ ARDENER.- Seedsman, Ashby'Ro. -™Sfr.' three are kept, ^NER —A steady, active young Man. Gooa T Maiden Road, Havei ;rsis,' aterested Prolification in Roses : Corr. Not uncommon. In your case small flowers are produced at and from the part where the seed vessels usually spring. Roses for Railway Stations : Alex. Boyle. Your suggestion is excellent, for why should our railway station houses, so often tasteful and picturesque in architecture, be the only homes which might have gardens, but, with some charming exceptions, have them not. In the stroi with the protecting pales, most of ou flourish ; but you probably require a combination of rapid growth and economy, and I would therefore recommend the Ayrshire or Sempervirens Roses, such as Ruga, Dundee Rambler, Rampant, Adelaide d'OrMans, and Felicit(5 perpetuelle. Gloire de Dijon should not be omitted, and if you would witch the passenger world with a surprise of beauty, let me suggest an intermixture of Clematis J.ackmani, the contrast of its large purple flowers with the yellow Roses being most effective. S. R. H. Salad HKRns, &c. : W. C. Randolph. The following list will perhaps suit you :— Celery, Lettuce, Endive, Dandelion (tlic: improved variety), Celeriac, Beet Root, Succory, Onions, Corn Salad, various Cresses, Mustard. Rape, Rampiim, and Radishes ; amongst the kinds to be used most freely. Then there are the more piquant kinds: llorage, Burnet, Tarragon, Chervil, Horse Radish, Mint, Purslane, Scurvy-grass — and, il vou will. Wood Sorrel, garden Rockets, and Nas- paEatiiB and of good charade HUDDART, Garrington Hall P WORKMAN and -serv work. Must be steady, cording to ability.-JAMES liddle-aged MAN to take charge of ; turtium flowers. You method of furnishing portion of the without knovvi; shape of glass for I ' "" alad trictlv soben — State age, and salar] lERE, Hanley Nursery, Irlam Lani Bootle, fED, a PROPAGATOR, for one of ipal Nurseries in America. He must thoroughly i )rking extensively of Roses, and hardy Ornamental To a suitable Man the situation may be permanen larv would be given.— Address applications, in thi , n:, Goni«.' in quantity and in 6ne condiuon. It is believed to be the best Artificial Manure yet produced. Its base .s Peinivian Government Guano : it contains at per cent, of Soluble Phosphates, S to 7 per cent of Ammonia with Salts of Potash. See reports of Dr. Voelckcr, Dr. Anderson, Professor Way, Mr. Ugston, and Mr S.bson. Delivered in 3 cwt. bags, each ol which is secured by a leaden seal, bearing the Company's Trade Mark. The analysis is guaranteed so ""Iee's and CO."(L'i"m'il"ed" jSlOM Broad Street, London, E.C. PURE DISSOLVED BONES. CONCENTRATED AMMONIACAL MANURE, forTop-Dressing. PURSER'S BONE TURNIP MANURE. SUPERPHOSPHATE of LIME. NITROPHOSPHATE. MANGEL, HOP, and POTATO MANURES. Also N GUANO (as imported by Messrs. Thomson, Bonar NITRATE of SODA, SULPHATE of AMMONIA, &C. ■ " t,E.C. EDWARD PURSER, Secretary. K' S TAGANROG cial Street, Shoredit Arcliaiigel Mats. BL.'^CKBURN AND SONS beg to inform their friends that the First Shipment of NEW MATS has just 1, and they are of verj' good quality. Price List on application. Russia .Mat Importers, 4 and 5, Wormwood Street, E.C, One Penny per Square Tard. TANNED GARDEN NETTING, for Garden purposes, such as Protecting Fruit from Birds, Blossom from light Frosts, &c Widths, t,J,l,and4yards. The Trade also supplied. ET. A . andu is appK rfcct non-conductor of heat or cold where SUN. PROTECTION AGAINST the SCORCHING RAYS WOOL NETTING, 2 yards wide and ij.&i. peryaro. "FRIGI DOMO" CANVAS." Two yards wide ij. tti. per yard. Three yards wide 21. 6<<. per yard. Four yards wide 35. W. per yard. SCRIM CANVAS, 72 inches wide, TOyardslong, s'^A togi^i. p. j HESSIAN CANVAS, do., do., 54 and 72 inches wide, 6Jfii. 'Ei.flH*A'f. ARCHER, Only Maker of " Frigi Domo," 3, Cat Street, City. EC. : and of all Seedsmen in London or the Country. NOTICE.-Removed from 7. Great Trinity Lane. TALIAN ALP or LIGURIAN QUEEN BEES.- t the lojiowing 1 49, Regent Stre To Florists, Gardeners, &c. GENUINE JOBBING and FURNISHING BUSINESS, established 24 years, situate at St. John's Wood. London, for DISPOSAL. Capital required, about £900. Excellent Connection, and most eligible Premises. Satisfactory reasons for leaving. For particulars, apply to Mr. TOM i:S, .\ccountant, 14, Queen Street, Cheapside, E.C. Important to^NuTserymenTFiorlsts7ana Otliers~ TO BE DISPOSED OF, by Private Treaty, the LEASES, with possession, of the old established and well CHISWICK nuk; Greenhouse Plants ; also abou cropped with first.class geni Leases at low rentals. The \ MORRIS, Auctioneers a 2% acres of rich and productive Lai 1 Nursery Stock. Held under V IviPuJrJ PROTHEROE To Gardeners and Others. IQ BE SOLD, or LEASED for a term of Years, s, the OSBORNE PARK NURSERJES, Northern Railway, where Coals North, and easy of a Garden Market Tne Nursery occudk _ _. „ , _. the high road, and contains a Dwelling House, Foreman's Cottage, Stable, Sheds, and 15 Glass Houses, fitted up with Hot n-n- — and Pipes complete. An-- — - '*'- - — --• — ', Carthusian Slrt SALES BY AUCTION. SALE THIS DAY, AT HALF-PAST TWF.I.VE O'CLOCK. Bulbs from Holland. MR. J. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 38, King Street, Covent Garden, W.C.. on SATURDAY, August 10, at half-past 12 o'clock precisely, 500 Lots ofFirst-classMYACINTHS, TULIPS, CROCUSES, NARCISSUS, i SNOWDROPS, from several well-known Bulb Farms in Holland. Lotted to suit the Trade. i Catalogues h Highly Important Sale Of the CELEBRATED COLLECTION of ORCHIDS formed by S. RUCKER, Esq, at WANDSWORTH. MR. J. C. STEVENS has received instructions from Messrs. Vcitch & Sons, who have purchased the entire COLLECTION, to offer for SALE by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 38. King Street, Covent Garden, W.C, on TUESDAY and each day, the second portion of the above magnificent lot of Plants, Phalnznopsts amabilis, and Schil. Odontoglossum Alexandra;, fine Dendrochilum filiforme varieties Saccolabium guttatum, Odontoglossum pulchellum mujus leaf variety, extra fine Colax jugosa, very rare Saccolabium guttatum H Lycaste Skinncri alba, true Vanda Dennisoniana Masdcvallias, of sorts Dendrobium Devonianun Sophronitcs grandiflora, fine „ Falconcri Fleione lagenaria, and maculata, Cattleya exoniensis -*.rides Lobbii, fine plant „ Warneri „ Fieldingii, magnificent „ labiata Dendrobium Wardi Lselia anceps Dawsoni nodatum, finest plant Epidendnim myrianthum. Epidendn condition, and many are in 5 of Sale, and Catalogues had. Very Important Sales of Plrst-class Herds Of PURE-BRED SHORTHORN CATTLE. MR. JOHN THORNTON will SELL by UNRE- SERVED AUCTION, on WEDNESDAY, August 23, at WESTLAND, CO. MEATH, IRELAND, the very FIRST-CLASS HERD of SHORTHORNS, bred by the late Thomas Barnes, Esq, whose adherence to the Warlaby and Killerby Herd for the last thirty years has given him the title of ihe " Booth of Ireland." Immediately after the Sale, the small SELECT HERD belonging to R. W. Reynell, Esq, of Killynon, Killucan, Ireland, will be SOLD at WESTLAND, from which blood it has been bred during a period ° o"Wl&'AY,"A°ugust"2S,Tvill be SOLD, at CASTLE GROVE, LETTERKENNY. TRELAND, the ENTIRE HERD of FIRST- CLASS SHORTHORNS, bred by J. G. Grove (Wood), Esq., chiefly from Mr. R. Booth's Fame tribe, and crossed with Warlaby blood : no less than Eleven First-class Bulls having been in use at c;astle Grove during Mr. Grove's long and eminently successful career as a breeder. Catalogues, with Pedigrees, may be had of JOHN THORNTON, 15, Langham Place, London, W. M^„ Sale of the late Mr. Barnes' Herd. IVESTLAND. COUNTY MEATH, IRELAND. R. JOHN THORNTON will SELL by AUCTION, ■e, on WEDNESD.4Y, August 23, at t o'clock. Kells, Ireland, the old-established and very , descended, through John quently, is not only vei ;Sr , Regei nded I ibe. bought from Ml and Sweetbrier, oi^ M Warlaby. The Herd, found of very great mei I had JHN THO ■Westland, near Kells, County Meath, Ireland. MR. JOHN THORNTON will SELL by UNRESERVED AUCTION, on WEDNESDAY, August 23 {immediately after the Sale ol the late Mr Barnes' Herd), the small, select HERD of PURE-BRED SHORTHORNS, bred by and the property of R. W. Reynell, Esq., of Killynon, Killucan, County West- Fairy Queen, descended from Stock bought by Mr. Holmes of Mr. Brown, at Chilton, in 1829 (whence the Oxford tribe came), and the Pauline family, purchased by the late Mr. Barnes from Mr. Whitaker, of Burley. 1110 Bulls used have been of the best blood at Westland, Duke of Leinster (17.724), Royal Prince (27,384), and Lord Spencer (26,738) being the latest sires. M' Castle Grove, Lettcrkenny, Ireland, the ENT] HERD of FIRST-CLASS SHORTHORNS, tne property ol j Grove. Esq. It numbers about 50 head of Bulls, Cows, and He: many of wliich are of the celebrated Fame by Raspberry tribe, by the late Mr. Richard Booth. The others comprise severs Shorthorn families, which have been crossed with Mr. Booth's bull Warlaby having been in service at Castle Grove. Mr. Grove's k)ng experience and repute as a breeder of Short! (since the death of Mr. Barnes, oerhao-: now the oldest breed Ireland), and the splendid a are the best proofs of the hii Catalogues, with Pedigre ^Jol?N THORNTON, 15, Langham Milcote, near Stratford-on-Avon. HIGHLY IMPORTANT SALE of the MILCOTE DOWN SHEEP. WHUTCHINGS has been honoured with instruc- • tions from the Executors of the late J. C. Adkins, Esq., to SELL by AUCTION, at Milcote, near Stratford-on-Avon, on WEDNESDAY, September 11. at 2 o'clock prompt (Luncheon at 12), ■ ■ ' ■ ; celebrated FLOCK of MILCOTE DOWNS, com- \> breeding Ewes and Theaves, 360 1 : grand symmetrical Shearling Rams, ds a few words as . foundation, the la the whole of prising 418 super and Wether Lai extraordinary Ram Lambs. The great celebrity of th formation. With Oxfordshi Adkins, for many years, blenaca occasional strains 01 tne best Uots- wold; and Hampshire Down blood, and with much judgment and careful selection succeeded in producing a distinct type of Down sheep. With great size, grand symmetry, good colour, and hardy weight of lean meat and of wool, and for their early development and maturity. The rams will he brought forward in a natural and unforced high character is seldom offered to Unreserved Public Competition. Catalogues will be circulated in due course, and may be had of the -From Paddir M EoUcer Hall, Lancashire. JRTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. R. STRAFFORD has the honour to announce for SALE by AUCTION, without reserve, on WEDNESDAY, September 6 next, a very choice Selection from the renowned Holker Herd, belonging to His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, which will consist of about FORTY HEAD of BULLS, COWS, and HEIFERS. Amongst them will be found some Oxfords, Wild Eyes, Blanche, Cleopatra, Asia, and other famed Kirklevington tribes. The young stock are chiefly by Grand Duke loth (21,848), and Grand Duke i7tR {24,064). Baron Oxford 4th (2q,s8o), of the same line of blood, is now purchasers of tirst. DREWRY, Ho M Beaumont Grange, Lancaster. IMPORTANT SALE of SHOl R. STRAFFORD has receivi announce for SALE by AUCTION, without rt 1 THURSDAY,Septei day following the Sale at Holker Hall), a choice selection of BULLS, COWS, and HEIFERS, from Mr. W. W. Slye's Herd, principally of descendants of the Czarina, Duchess", Garland, Lady Spencer, Moss BatS Wood Tn'orand oITke'of'Kcm ld'J'lId7'rregunttr'Ba't™"an°d Barrington Duke ; the wh STRAFFORD. M' KUUiow, near Wlgtcn, Cumberland. IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. . STRAFFORD begs to intimate that instructed to announce for SALE by AUCTION, « Ht^ADof'vei;;s uperi'or T^t^'^r'Kl .3, ^u STRAFFORD, application to Mr. ;i/n-or particulars apply toJOHN FOWLER AND CO., 71, Comhill, London, E.C. ; and Steam Plough Works, Leeds. For Horse Rakee, J. SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 1871. IN several of the northern departments of France cattle disease prevails, according to the latest reports, and also in Lower Austria, Gallicia, and Transylvania. Poland has not suffered any fresh outbreak since the middle of June, when it was officially reported to be free from the disease. We learn from a report in the Chamber of Agriculture Journal that the attempts to cure cattle plague are still continued in France, under the sanction of the Academy of Sciences. The system which is being carried into effect includes the administration of phenic acid (carbolic acid) and some additional process, which the inventor, M. Declat, has not yet made public. Whatever the merits of the curative system may be, our experience in this country justifies the statement that the general results must be disastrous. So long as diseased animals are kept alive for the purposes of experiment, the risk of communica- tion of the infection is imminent, and no precau- tions will avail to prevent the spread of the disease. It is difficult to secure the complete isolation of sick animals on a single farm ; but when the attempt is made on an extended scale in several districts, or counties, failure may be confidently predicted. Veterinary authorities in Germany are quite as enthusiastic in their love of research as those of France ; but having been taught by experience, they no longer incur useless risk in futile en- deavours to cure a malady, which, whether curable or not, is so fearfully infectious, that its progress can only be stayed by the rapid destruc- tion of ever>' animal, or substance in which the germs of disease reside. With the present regulation relating to the importation of French animals and materials which have been in contact with them, we do not run much risk of the direct conveyance of the disease to our shores, but of indirect com- munication of infection there must always be danger when the plague is only a few hours dis- tant from us. Pleuro- pneumonia exists in many parts of this country and also in Holland, but not to the extent which might be apprehended from the vague reports which have been current ; indeed, it appears from the official returns that pleuro-pneumonia has considerably decreased in the Netherlands during the last four years. That we are, nevertheless, exposed to the danger of importing cattle affected with pleuro- pneumonia from Holland is a fact, which has been demonstrated recently by the landing of diseased cattle in London, but no instance of an outbreak of lung disease, arising from the move- ment of Dutch cattle inland, has yet come under our notice ; while the instances are numerous of communication of disease by means of home- bred stock which have been purchased at fairs and markets, and driven to healthy localities. If the evidence, which has been obtained by in- quiry and observation during the last six months, is worth anything, it tends to show that there is less risk incurred in purchasing Dutch cattle at the landing-place, than in buying home-bred stock at many of the large markets. All that has been stated respecting the miserable condition of the Dutch cattle which are landed, at the outports particularly, is true ; but the conclusion which is often drawn, of their being dangerous on that account, is entirely fallacious. No amount of hardship and privation will produce the lung disease, or any of the con- tagious maladies to which stock are liable ; and even in reference to susceptibility to infection, there is nothing in the history of pleuro-pneu- monia to suggest the idea, that poor and badly treated animals are more liable to take the disease than pedigree stock in the acme of fine condition. Foot-and-mouth disease has extended consider- ably in a southerly direction, and has reached Portugal, a country which is usually free from this disease. Cargoes of cattle from Portugal, affected with the malady, have been recently loyS The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 19, 1871, landed in this country. The disease has also in- creased in this country, and, from the inquiry which we have made in different parts, it would appear that the local authorities are disinclined in many places to take any active steps in reference to this disease ; the expenses attending a regular system of inspection are considerable, and the benefits gained not by any means commensurate with the cost. There seems indeed to be a very general impression that the malady spreads, independently of direct contact with virus, and certainly there are circumstances which support this view. Numerous outbreaks have occurred in situations where infection, in the usual sense of the word, could not have had any influence. Scab among sheep is unfortunately very rife ; and, as the disease is curable with little trouble, its continuance must be ascribed to carelessness ; it never exists on a farm where the ordinary pre- cautions are adopted. An Order of Council dated August 5 provides a means of meeting the difficulty by giving power to local authorities to make regulations for the treatment of sheep affected with scab. It remains to be seen how far the power will be exercised ; but in answer to the complaints which will probably be made as to interference with the liberty of the subject, it may be suggested that a farmer who insists upon keeping scabby sheep on his farm inflicts injury upon the flocks of his neighbours, who have a right to adopt strong measures in their own defence. The following are the terms of the Order referred to : — "I. This Order shall take effect from and immediately after August 9, 1871; and words in this Order have the same meaning as in the .Act of i86g. "2. A local authority may. from time to time, with the view of preventing the spread of sheep-scab, make regula- tions for the following purposes, or any of them :— For prohibiting any person from having in his possession or under his charge a sheep affected with sheep-scab, with- out treating that sheep, or causing it to be treated, with some dressing or dipping or other remedy for sheep-scab ; for prohibiting or regulating the movement out of any field, stable, cow-shed, or other premises in which sheep- scab has been found to e.xist, of any sheep that has been in contact with, or in the same field, stable, cow-shed, or other premises with any sheep affected with sheep-scab ; for cleansing or disinfecting sheds and places used by sheep affected with sheep-scab ; and may, from time to time, revoke any such regulation. "3. Provided that the Pnvy Council, if satisfied on inquiry, with respect to any regulation made under this Order, that the same is of too restrictive a character, or otherwise objectionable, may direct the revocation thereof, and thereupon, as from the time specified in that behalf by the Privy Council, the same shall cease to In the less productive parts of the country, where WOODS, Shaws, Coverts, and COPPICES occupy a large area, a considerable revenue is yielded when the management of this kind of property is understood ; as, for example, in those south-eastern counties, famous for the growth of hop-poles, hurdles, and hoops. Unfortunately, except in particular localities, and on a com- paratively few estates— the neglect of woodland property — so valuable in the aggregate — is lamentable. With the exception of a few dis- tricts where the growth of underwood has been stimulated, and where land of excellent quality has been appropriated to them, it is not often that one sees a wood that was well-planted in the first instance, or that is kept properly thinned. It generally happens that the smaller coppices are let with the farms, and the larger woods are reserved. In either case, the planting of under- woods is a costly and permanent improvement which, under ordinary circumstances, a tenant cannot be expected to undertake ; and when rabbits and hares, as well as winged game, are reserved, the improvements that might be effected are rendered impracticable both to owners and occupiers ; for, unless ground game is destroyed, it is useless to plant any kind of ■wood or underwood, except perhaps Scotch or Spruce Fir, which they do not readily devour. Presuming then that the teeth are to be drawn, or the mouths sealed, of the rodents whose mission it is to gnaw the bark and young shoots of trees when better food cannot be found in winter, we proceed to recommend the growing of underwood and to describe the soils and spots most suitable for the different kinds of wood ; afterwards we propose to say something about the preparation of the land, and the costs and value of the crop. In the ancient Weald, or wood, of Sussex, there is a district still called " the Forest," where every kind of underwood, from Chestnut to Birch, is grown on different soils and sites ; and there is, perhaps, no locality which offers a better field for practical observation on various points connected with our subject than this extensive tract, which the Romans found and named a wood, and which from natural adaptability still remains so richly wooded, that when overlooked from surrounding hills the woods of Sussex appear to the eye to be almost unbroken. The hill district and the deep clay flat which surrounds it like a belt, form two divisions, in the latter of which the Oaks grow, in a bottomless clay, free as Willows, and Ash is the prevailing under- wood ; in the former the clay is mixed with sand in very fine particles, and the softer particles of soil are brought down the steeps of the hills by winter rains, so that a deposit of alluvial loam collects in the hollows. When these are wet, they are planted with Willow and Alder ; when they are sound, as they usually are. Ash is planted. On the best land above Chestnut and Hazel are planted, and Birch, which is one of the least valuable of underwoods, though superior to Oak and Beech, occupies the poorest soils. Birch affects even the sharpest sands, and is the natural growth of poor soils. We have seen it springing up on the former site of a wood where no seed was sown except by the hand of Nature, and rapidly take possession of the ground without culture, as soon as the timber was removed. And when a soft silky earth, filled with the roots of Fern and other plants, had been removed from the surface of a sand- hill, for gardening purposes. Birch had imme- diately occupied the denuded surface, growing in almost pure sand. Hornbeam, which is to the poor clays what rch is to the sands, and which covers a good deal of ground in some neighbourhoods, is a sure sign of neglected arboriculture, inasmuch as better wood may be grown on the same sites by properly cultivating the ground instead of leaving Nature to herself, unassisted by Art. The Hazel requires a soil in which there is sand mixed with something better, forming what is called a tender or hazel-loam. On good soils and in sheltered spots, where the climate is mild, its growth is exceedingly rapid. The Hazel-nut is a native of Britain, but it ripens best in the southern counties, and grows fastest in the w^arm hollows and valleys south of the Surrey downs— a pleasant district, where folds of hazel-hurdles are set, and most of the farms are fragrant with sheep and early Turnips by September i. We have known an acre of Hazel-nut produce 504 dozen hurdles, at seven years' growth. The price paid by farmers to the itinerant hurdle- makers for making these useful wattles is 2s. bd. per dozen when the rods are not so large as to require cleaving. On such soils Hazel should not be allowed to stand more than seven years before cutting it. The Chestnut makes the most valuable under- wood for hop-poles, on suitable soils, but it will not succeed either on poor soils or where the climate is severe. At exposed elevations it is liable to injury by cold winds in spring, and in low damp spots its young shoots suffer from early frosts. On any light land, of fair quality, it may succeed ; and we have known it outstrip several other varieties of wood on a poor sand- stone rubble, where the Birch was the native wood. It will be understood, however, that Chestnut is not the wood for weak soils, and it is worthy of notice that on the site alluded to, the native Birch, planted on trenched land, amongst Hazel, Chestnut, and other sorts, over- topped them all. On good sound land, consist- ing of mixed soil, drained by a chalk subsoil. Chestnut for hop-poles at 1 1 years' growth has been sold at more than ^60 an acre, the buyers cutting it at their own cost. The value of the land to rent was about 35^. per acre. The Ash, though by no means the only under- wood growing in the clay district we referred to, is the most valuable and almost the only sort which is selected for clays when the land is pre- pared for the express purpose of planting. It grows, however, on a great variety of soils, and, mixed with Hazel, forms the rows, or wide hedges, planted for shelter, which frequently divide the fields in exposed situations on the chalk downs, where the rock is covered by drift. Oak makes indifferent underwood, and Beech the worst of any. There are no other sorts of wood that merit particular notice. We now come to the preparation of the land and costs. As a partial improvement, the vacant places in woods should be filled up with plants, raised in nursery beds, of varieties suited to the soil, and planted where the stubs that were thin or declining have been put to their proper use behind the winter's fire. Strong plants should be set in comfortable beds, made by digging holes 18 inches square and a spit deep. The cost of labour is i.t. 6d. per 100 holes in soils of common texture. The Marquis Camden'S beautiful woods at Frant, in the Forest-district which we referred to, have been treated in this manner with great success ; and on the soft rubble and mixed sand and clay which compose the soil and subsoil, the Chestnut grows appa- rently as rapidly as it would if the land had been trenched. In general, trenching is recommended for Chestnut plantations at a cost of ;^8 per acre ; and though not practised in the case of the famous Ash-groves in the Weald, some persons go so far as to recommend trenching even on the clays, apparently under the impression that the more you do for the plantation the better it must be in the end. Our own method of prepa- ration, which we recommend to proprietors or tenant-farmers, is to clear the land in the ordi- nary way with the plough, and to use the subsoil- plough if there is a pan underneath. We recom- mend planting all kinds of woods at distances of 3 feet— 4S40 plants per acre — planting the kinds that are observed to be best suited to the soil, and keeping the varieties separate, so as to have only one kind in the piece. Autumn-planting is best, and early in November is the proper time. In the case of wet land the surface drainage, which alone is necessary or practicable, by means of watercourses, " grips," and ditches, should be completed before planting commences. The plants should be three year's old. The market price of well-rooted plants is from 20J-. to 40/. per 1000, according to the sort and the locality, Chestnut being the most costly. They can all be more economically raised at home ; foreign Chestnuts being set on seed-beds from which the surface-soil has been removed for the purpose of covering the fruit. Weeds must be kept down until underwoods are old enough to smother them. Ash of nine or ten years' growth makes a good pole for various purposes. The Chestnut plantations in Sussex and Surrey which are grown for hoops for the London market, are cut down three years after they are planted, after which eight years' growth is the proper age for hoop-making, both for the Chestnut and other sorts. The price of well-established " planted underwoods," without timber, at the above age, is usually from £2$ to ^30 per acre. These large figures and quick returns may, perhaps, induce some of our readers to plant, or to improve those unprofitable timbered woods where the good timber has been already removed, that which remains is not thriving, and the underwood, perhaps, is only worth £s or £6 per acre at 14 or 15 years old ! We saw recently 500 acres of woods and copses on one estate, where the planted underwood was worth ^20 an acre as it stood, and the timbered underwood, at the same age, on similar soil, was only worth 20s. an acre ; and the growth of the timber had made up only a small portion of the difference. The prices paid for cutting underwood are — 6.f. per load of hoops, \s. bJ. per dozen hurdles, y. per 100 for cutting out " spray" faggots and stacking them, 4J-. for house faggots, 2s. M. per too hop-poles. The possibilities for the Agricultural Labourer, and the actual facts of his condi- tion, are two very different things. And whose fault is that ? The whole subject has lately been exceedingly well discussed in the columns of the Chelmsford Chronicle, from which we extract the substance of several letters in another page. One of these, written by Mr. Offin, who occupies probably more land as a tenant-farmer than any other Englishman, will be read with much inter- est. We believe that, in the long run, that condition which arises out of a given set of cir- cumstances, where there is no artificial interfer- ence with the natural tendencies, is the best of which that set of circumstances is susceptible. Let exceptional energy, industry, and wealth bear its natural fruit without hindrance — let farms increase in size by the failure of some and the success of others— let the labourer do the best he can for himself without any tie actual or implied to farm or parents — let every motive which freedom can offer be active everywhere for the increase of profit, whether to landowner August 19, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag-ricultural Gazette. 1079 working man, or tenant — let the profitable results of industry, whoever may be the recipients, be cordially welcomed as the natural premium by which industry is promoted, and we believe that the best results will come out of which the circumstances admit. But what are " the cir- cumstances," or rather what is the leadmg circumstance, on which the whole depends ? Unquestionably the whole condition depends infinitely more on character than on any other thing— the character including intelligence as well as morals, including industry and honesty, sobriety and resolution, as well as dexterity and skill. Education, therefore, is what is wanted— that sort of education especially which both inspirits and equips a man for the right discharge of whatever duties belong to the station in which he is born. We add nothing further at present to the letters on this subject in another page ; they give, we believe, nearly all that can be said, whether in commendation or in blame, of the several classes interested— in whom we at present wit- ness the weakh and poverty, the recklessness and industry, the selfishness and self-denial, the merit and demerit on which partial critics successively comment. A SMALL supply of English Wheat at Mark Lane on Monday (including a few samples of new) met with a fair inquiry at previous prices ; red declined is. to 2s. on the prices of that day fortnight. Trade was quiet on Wednesday, at previous rates. The hot weather caused a slow trade at the Metropolitan Cattle Market on Monday, but prime qualities were not much affected in price. Choice Lambs were scarce and dear. On Thursday trade was again dull, at declining prices. ~" " I the Wool Market The Northumberland Agricultural So- ciety's Meeting at Alnwick last week was most successful. The progress of this society has been exceedingly satisfactory, as is indicated by the large increase in exhibits. There were 84 entries in the Shorthorn classes, and among the bulls Mr. W. Lin- ton's Lord Irwin took the first place in a commen- dable and commended class. The show of cows was excellent, the 1st prize being awarded to Sir John Swinburne for an animal which was also successful in obtaining Sir Walter C. Trevelyan's silver cup, valued at ;J20. Calves of both sexes also formed a good feature of the exhibition. The display of sheep was one of the best ever witnessed in the district, the prize-takers being the Rev. R, W. Bosanquet, Rock ; M: G. Hope, Fenton Barns ; Mr. Thomas Forster, jun Ellingham; Mr. Thomas Elliot, Hindhope; Mr. Robert Shortreed, Attonbum; Mr. John Robson, Bymessjand Mr. T. H. Hutchinson, Manor House, Catterick. We are glad to learn that the shearing question was " the subject of considerable remark," and that the " opinions of the secretary and committee of the Northumberland Society are such that steps will probably be taken before long to prevent, if possible, the practice of clip- ping animals into shape." For the rest, there was a good show of horses, comprising 383 entries, well on to 100 more than had ever been entered before. Imple- ments also formed an interesting and useful feature of what appears to have been a most excellent meeting, The annual Midland Counties Show of Horses was opened on Tuesday at Bingley Hall, Bir- mingham. The weather was very fine, the show an excellent one, and the attendance large. T)ie entries this year, as previously stated, were 283 against 282 last year. There was a great increase in the hunter classes. Thoroughbred stallions for getting hunters occupied the premier position. The class was a small one, there being only seven entries, and the 1st prize went to Messrs. C. and J. Moffatt, of Kirklinton Park, Carlisle, the owners of Laughing Stock. The winner of the 2d prize, Gem of the Peak, is the pro- perty of Mr. W. H. Logan, of Tamworth. Mr. W. E. Everett, Finstall House, Bromsgrove, took 3d prize for Paul Jones, the winner of the Chester Cup and the St. Leger. In the class of hunters exceeding 154 hands high, and equal to 15 stones, the 1st prize fell to Mr. J. Harvey, and D. Bayly, of Ollerton, Notts, for a chestnut horse ; Mr. T. Perceval, Wansford, took 2d prize ; and the 3d fell to Mr. Van Wart, of Edg- baston. In the class of hunters exceeding 155 hands high, without condition as to weight, and five years old and upwards, there were no fewer than 23 entries. Mr. S. J. Wellitt, of Tathwell Hall, South Lincoln- shire, took the 1st prize ; the 2d went to Mr. A. New- man, of Winchcombe, Cheltenham ; and Mr. T. Percival, of Wansford, was awarded the 3d prize. For hunters not exceeding 155 hands high, there were only two prizes offered. Mrs. C. F. Dilke, Coleshill, took the 1st prize with a horse which has been a competitor and taken prizes in previous years at this show, and the 2d fell to Mr. E. S. R. Wolferstan, Stafford Hall, Tamworth, for a grey gelding. In the class for 4-year-old hunters. Major Barlow, of Hasketon, Suffolk, took the 1st prize with a horse which was 2d in the same class at Wolverhampton ; the Major also took the 2d prize with the 1st prize horse at Islington last June; the 3d prize went to Mr. C. Cooke, off Taddington, Winchcomb. The prize-winners in the class of 3-year-old colts and fillies for hunting purposes were Major F. Bariow, Mr. E. PhiUimore, Prestbury Park Farm, Cheltenham ; and Major Bariow. In the class of 2-year-old colts for hunting purposes, the 1st prize fell to a gelding belonging to Mr. J. Goodlilf, Conington Lane, Stilton ; the 2d to a gelding, the pro- perty of Mr. J. M. T. Musgrave, Beveriey ; and the 3d to Mr. J. Watson, Hartlebury, Worcestershire. In the class of agricultural stallions, the prizes were awarded to the horses belonging to Mr. H. Tomlinson, Blithford, Rugeley ; Mr. John Manning, Orlingbury, Welling- borough ; and Mr. T. Middleton, Lyddington, Upping- ham. The entries in the various classes of roadsters, hacks, and ponies were numerous. For weight-carry- ing hacks, not exceeding 14J hands, the 1st prize was taken by Mr. H. Frisby, 13, James Street, Buckingham Gate, London ; and the 2d by Mr. G. W. Shillingford, Eynsham, near Oxford. Mr. Frisby also took 1st for the best harness horse not exceeding 15 hands, the 1st in the class for horses exceeding 14, but not above 15, hands, and the prize for the best pair of horses in harness. Mr. H. J. Wilde, Bridgnorth, took the 1st prize for horses in saddle not exceeding 14 hands high ; Mr. H. Gameson, of Birmingham, the 1st prize in the class of ponies in harness not exceeding 13 hands ; Mr. F. A. Grew, Birmingham, the 1st in ponies not exceeding 12 hands ; Mr. J. Goodlifi; Stilton, the 1st in ponies not exceeding 12 hands high, to carry children ; Mrs. C. F. Dilke, of Maxstoke Castle, the 1st in pairs of ponies in harness ; and the 1st in ponies in tandem under 14 hands, went to Mr. C. Myring, Walsall. Omi LIVE STOCK. CATTLE. The following prices were reaUsed at the sale of Lord Faversham's Shorthorns, on Thursday, the loth inst., at Duncombe Park. Name of Animal. Co-ws and Heifers, Sympathy . . PeaH RoyalCelia.. Pepperrnint .. Magdala .. Princess ofRyedale Poiygetieva . . Victoria id . Lily of Rye dale .. Cornucopia . . Rose of Ryedale arf Manchester (36,798) Capri Hospitality Coloni.st '.. . I Sept., 187c .Jan., .87. .Feb., ,87. .Feb., 1871 35 Mr. Hodgson, High- [r. R. H. Bower. 4^1 Hon. E. Lkscelles. 311 Mr. Coverdale. 33 Hon. E. Lascelles. 3'.^ Mr- T. Stamper. 27 Mr. W. Scoby. 56 Mr. Hodgson. 30 Mr. Cattley. i8|Mr. Newton. 51! Mr. Cattley. 28 Mr. Newton. 20 Mr. RadclLffe. Rev. Mr. Danby, Mr. Burt, Grantham. 33 Mr. J. Newton. 55 Sir H. Johnstone. 21 Mr. W. Mowbray. Next week will witness three important Short- horn sales in Ireland, conducted by Mr. John Thorn- ton. On Wednesday the 23d inst., the late Mr. Barnes' herd, comprising 43 head, and Mr. Reynell's herd, comprising 24 head of cattle, will be disposed of On Friday, 25th inst., the Castle Grove herd, so well known in connection with Mr. J. G. Grove, and con- sisting of 45 head, will be sold. Slightly reviewing these catalogues in the above order, we find a reserva- tion on the part of Mr. W. Barnes of one bull and seven cows, to be the nucleus of a future herd. The catalogue openswith i1/t-(/or« by Dr. M'H.vle (15,887), a direct descendant of Medora by Ambo, the first of the five tribes into which the entire catalogue may be divided. The names of NiMROD (13,388), Selim (6454), Rex (6385), .and SlR T. Fairfax (5196), lead- mg back to the celebrated Ambo family, and later of Duke of York (23,804) and King Richard (26,523) attests the care with which this family has been bred. This excellent strain was introduced by the purchase of Mr. R. Booth's Sweetbrier, of his favour- ite "Isabella" tribe, and consists at present of 13 females and three bulls. Gift yh (lot No. 2) is the first of four descendants of Gift by Hamlet (8126) and also of the renowned Frederick (7023). Sfiranza by British Flag (19,351), Brilliant (lot 4) by Raven- spur (20,628), and Bright Eyes (lot 5) by Ravenspur (20,628), three daughters of The Nunhy'DK. McHale, are descendants through Mr. Lawrence's herd, from Mason stock, and are the origin of a large section of the Westland herd, comprising in all nine individuals. Grand Duchess by Mr. S. E. Bolden's Grand Duke 3D (16,182), dam S^lph by Hopewell (10,332), and f the famous Mantalini by Marcus (2262) tribe, was re ancestress of no fewer than ten animals, comprising Grand Duchess T,d by RoYAL Sovereign (22,802) and Bracelet by RoYAL DuKE (25,014). Lastly, there are five descendants of Red Rose by Roseberry (501 1), of the first bulls used in the herd, and purchased from Mr. R. Booth. Mr. Reynell's herd, which has been carefully reared at Killynon, Co. Westmeath, during the last 25 years, consists almost entirely of two tribes. It was first started with the cow tairy Queen, purchased on the recommendation of the late Mr. Holmes, who had bought the cow by Mr. Mason's Matchem at the time of the Chilton sale from Mr. Broivn, the breeder of the Matchem cow, which was sold to Mr. Bates and became the ancestress of the celebrated Oxford tribe. The " Pauline" family, bought of the late Mr. Barnes, was purchased by him from Mr. Whitaker, of Burley, Yorkshire, whose herd was noted for its great dairy properties. The bulls since used have been bred by Mr. Barnes, at Westland, and are chiefly of the cele- brated "Mantalini" family. Several of the animals are by those noted sires Duke of Leinster (17,724) and Royal Prince (27,384), both hired to go to England, and used by eminent breeders. The young calves are chiefly by Lord Spencer (26,738), who will be sold with the Westland herd. The Castle Grove herd consists of eight families, all of which are of Booth origin. The sires have been selected from Killerby and Warlaby, and have been used in the following order :— Prince Arthur (■3.497). King Alfred (16,334), King Arthur (13. 1 10), War Eagle (15,483), Sir Roger (16,991), Elfin King (17,796), Sir James (16,980), British Crown (21,322), The Sutler (23,061), Great Hope (24,082), and England's Glory (23,889). The catalogue opens with Coquette by Cornet (11,298), and from Norma byDRUID (10,140), a direct descendant of Mr. Booth's celebrated cow Fame by Raspberry (4875). This excellent strain of blood is represented by 1 1 females and three bulls. Mr. John Colling's Rachel by FREDERICK (1060) was the foundress of what is known as the "Ruth" tribe, represented at Castle Grove by eight individuals, and Mr. Mason's Lady Sarah by Satellite, dam Portia by Cato, is the common ancestress of four heifers. The remainder are good cattle, having in several cases five or six crosses of first-class Booth bulls. At the Winterfold sale on the 20th ult, Mr. Strafford disposed of 50 head of Shorthorns, the pro- perty of Messrs. John Harward and Isaac Downing, for the very good average of ^^54 I5r. cjd. Thirty- nine cows made £(i\ I5r. 91/. each, and 11 bulls made ^■29 I9J-. 5th by Duke of Wetherby (17,753), was secured by Mr. Thornton for the Eari of Bective, for the very high price of 300 gs. ; Countess Blanchehy 3D DUKE OF Claro, was sold to Captain Webb at 71 gs- ; -^"^V IVorcester %th to Colonel Kingscote at 80 gs. ; and Kirklevington 2^h by 5TH DuKE OF Wharfdale (26,033), 'o M"'- ^''- Ashbumer at 100 gs. In the bull sale, the only prize worthy of special note, after the extraordinary figures above given, was 70 gs. for the Earl of Chatham by 3D Duke of Claro (23,729), given by the Rev. C. W. Holbeach. Mr. F. Leney's Grand Duchess of Geneva, a daughter of ^th Duchess of Genez'a, purchased at Windsor for 700 gs., produced on the 6th inst. a very good white cow calf, got by Grand Duke of Kent (26,289). SHEEP. The Right Hon. Lord Chesham has sold the whole of his draft Shropshire ewes to Richard Milward, Esq., Thurg.-irton Priory, Notts, and his lordship has selected a ram Iamb from the flock of Mr. Thos. Nock, of Sutton Maddock, at 35 gs., being one of the pen of five which obtained 2d prize at the Royal Agricultural Society, at Wolverhampton. JiAM SALES. At Adcott Hall, on Wednesday the 9th inst., a large number of breeders assembled to witness the sale of Messrs. Masfen's rams. The first rain was a 2-shear, Major, winner of the "Royal 1st prize, 1871, by Conservative, bred by Mrs. Wad- low, which was also the sire of many of the best lots. He was purchased for Mrs. Beach, at 50 gs. ; the 2d, also a 2-shear, and winner of the 2d prize at Oxford, being let to Mr. C. Byrd, at 40 gs. Mr. Kemp Bourne gave 32 gs. for [-shear, which had been let io8o The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 19, 1871. in previous years to Mr. Coxon and Mr. Firmstone, at 40 and 45 gs. Then followed the shearlings headed by the Wolverhampton 2d prize ram, True Type, by Marquis, which was hired by Messrs. Masfen and Keeling at 71 gs. ; Mr. C. Byrd taking the next at 40 gs. , at which figure a shearling was hired for the Earl of Bradford ; and Mr. May secured a good shear- ling for the season at 31 gs. Other shearlings made 37 (to Mr. Bostock), 25, and 20 down to 5i gs., the average for the 43 being close on ;^20. The ewes did not make as much as was anticipated ; four pens going to Lord Chesham at 67^. M. to g2s. 6 l6j., th highest price being ii^ gs. — Mr. Joseph Roberts, of Curbridge, sold 40 Oxfordshire Down shearlings, for an average of £i(> 9^., and this, we understand, is the highest average for this class of sheep that was ever obtained. The highest-priced sheep was sold to Mr. Treadwell, of Winchendon, for 42 gs. The next highest was sold to Mr. Wallis, of Shifford, for 41 gs. Mr. Longlands purchased one at 33 gs., and two were sold to Mr. Baldwin (Stratford-on-Avon) and Mr. J. Bryan (Southleigh) for 28 gs. each.— Mr. G. Wallis' shearlings realised an average oi £i'i lis. 6ii. ; the highest figure was 21 gs., the buyer being Mr. Hobbs, of Maiseyhampton, and one was sold to the Duke of Marlborough for 134 gs.— Mr. C. Gillett's 16 Cotswold rams fetched an average of £^ 12s. 3^. The highest figure reached was 13 gs., the purchaser being Mr. C. Duflfield, of Marcham. Mr. G. Drake, of Bignell, purchased one at 11 gs., and Mr. Brooks, Lyford, one at 10 gs.— Mr. W. H. Hunt's 12 Oxfordshire Down shearling rams were disposed of at an average of £12 14/. 6d. The best sheep in the flock was sold to hard Eagle, Northmoor, for 18 gs., and one to Mr. Prickett, of the same place, for 134 gs. — Mr. C. Gillett, of Cote House, sold some Oxfordshire Down shearling rams at an average of ..^'lo. The highest figure was 15^ gs., the buyer being Mr. Badcock, of Abingdon. Some of Mr. Gillett's sheep have won prizes at the Royal and other shows. — Mr. J. Parker, of Iffley, sold his Oxfordshire Down ram lambs at an average of £6 $s. prove the accuracy of Mr. Smith's data. Mr. Smith : I have suggested scratineers ; but I link that is losing sight of the real point of the article commented on. If you admit that it was not from i^er-renting that the changes took place, then I have nothing to say as to how many changes there are. Mr. Scot Skirving : We admit nothing. Mr. Smith : I will go back 29 years if you like, and A'iU say that the changes that have taken place in East Lothian have not been caused by over-letting ; and to prove that I say that the men who succeeded the previous tenants in these changes have thriven, and are thriving as a body at the present day. Hence the whole force of Mr. Jenkins' article was not only a mis- take, but a misrepresentation. I say that the changes that have taken place have not been from the causes stated in Mr. Jenkins' article. They have arisen from purely natural causes, and not from any wholesale clearance on the part of proprietors. Mr. Scot Skirving : I am content to deal with the matter of fact. As to going into causes, that is a different thing, and one into which I do not care about entering at all. Mr. Durie : But I maintain that every one of these removals has been caused by high rents. Why else should they have removed ? Do you think they went out of their farms for nothing ? I am telling Mr. Smith a fact, when I say that every tenant who has been removed has been removed because he could not pay the rent that the landlord wanted. Mr. DougljiS : But that does not prove over- renting. These parties were removed after they had had an opportunity of retaking their farms, and did not do so, while others did and throve in them. You can- not say if a man left his farm rather than pay a parti- cular rent, and another man stepped into his shoes, and profited thereby that the first tenant was removed in consequence of over-renting ? Mr. Smith : That was all I meant. Mr. Durie : Well, I maintain that they are not either thriving or prospering. In my farm three tenants have been rouped out of it because they could not pay their rent, and I am nearly being the fourth. Farm Memoranda. Farm of the Board of Education, Glas- ne\tn. — An agriculturist, visiting the Irish metropolis, could not employ a portion of his time more agreeably or profitably than by visiting the farm of the Board of Education, situate at Glasnevin. At the present time this institution is in most creditable condition, and evidences the judgment, care, and industry of the ma- nager. There are something like 200 acres, divided into three portions, each of which is farmed on systems supposed to suit the great bulk of Irish farms. There is the small farm of five acres, which, as it is now managed, is ample proof that such petite culture need not be a bugbear to political economists of a certain class. Here we have a farm, which carries a stock of three cows, a pig or two, and provides about i J acre of Potatos, with a like quantity of Oats each year, and with little extraneous aid from manure or purchased food, we find a progressive improvement in the quality of the soil. It may be asked how this improvement can be possible when the bulk of the farm produce in milk and corn is sold off. Careful cultivation, and sedulous attention to the manure-heap, are the agents which have certainly improved very materially the value of this small farm. It is cultivated altogether by spade husbandry, and is intended to show what may be done by a farmer with the assistance of his family. The im- plements used are spade, fork, hoe, sickle, and hand- cart, or wheelbarrow. The cows, three in number, are of the cottager's class. They are chiefly house-fed, and with a small paddock for exercise, they enjoy per- fect health. For results, it is honestly shown that a farmer may support with comfort a family on a farm, such as the " Glasnevin small farm ; " and Mr. Bald- who devised and elaborated the system, deserves much credit for what has been done. He has done s duty. It now remains for others to do theirs by tending throughout the country what would un- doubtedly enable many to live comfortably who are the present time engaged in a severe struggle for A farm of 25 acres is managed to exemplify what 3uld be an improvement in the system of cultivating such farms in Ireland. Here the stock and appliances such as are within the reach of what are called in Ireland medium-sized farmers. A four-course rotation th a piece of land in permanent grass, is the system of cultivation ; a stock of 10 cows, two or three heifers, horse, and some pigs, are fed ; the milk is either sold in the city or converted to butter, the corn of the Wheat crop is sold, as is a portion of the Oats, small quantity of artificial manures is bought, and occasionally a little artificial food. A systematic and exact set of accounts shows a good profit from this fami. About 1 50 acres are farmed on a more liberal scale. Here we find all the aids which a large farmer would call in : a team of good strong horses and modem implements are kept, skilled workmen are engaged, a stock of well-bred dairy cows, sheep of good breeding, and pigs of the white and black breeds are kept, in fact stock breeding, summer grazing, house feeding, and tillage farming are all shown here. Not the least interesting is the portion of the farm set apart for the trial of experiments ; this must always have an interest for farmers. As a rule, agriculturists are not experi- mentalists, and those who expend time and intelligence in conducting experiments are true benefactors. English agriculture would not occupy the position it now does were it not that there were enthusiasts and self-sacrificing men who laboured hard in experimental farming. At the present time a most interesting exneriment in the effects of various manures is being carried out, and it is to be hoped Mr. Baldwin will make the results generally known. That the Albert Model Farm is calculated to work much good is certain. There are a large number of young men sent from it every year, either to farm on their own account, or to conduct the farming operations of large occupiers of land. These young men cannot have attended the lectures on scientific and practical agriculture which arc delivered each session without carrying with them much that is valuable. The example of neatness, regularity, and order which are for everyday observance must do a great deal, when carried throughout the country, towards remedying the The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 19, 1871. ) long observable, such institutions have to contend against is the idea— pretty general — that immediate good results ought to follow their operations. Agriculture is a slow-paced animal, and it has a wonderfully powerful enemy in those head- shaking, hands-in-the-pocket gentlemen, who are Sir Oracle when anything "new" is proposed, and who are content to jog along in tiie old style so long as they are saved the trouble of looking far into the future. T, C, Miscellaneous. Lime. — \Ve have before us a curious old work on "Agriculture," that first saw the light in the days of Cromwell, in which lime is highly commended. It seems to have been among the first attempts at book- writing on agriculture in England. The writer, a Capt. Bird, aims to be practical, and though some- what confused and complicated in style, yet, as show- ing the " wisdom of our ancestors," an extract may not be deemed out of place. "Liming, he writes, " is of so great use that whole countries, and many counties that were naturally as barren as any in this nation, and had formerly (within less than half an age) supplied with corn out of the Fielding corn country, and now is and long hath been ready to supply them, and doth and hath brought their land into such a posture for bearing all sorts of com, that upon land not worth above is. or 2s. an acre, they will raise {well husbanded with lime) as good Wheat, Barley, and white and grey Peas, as England yields ; yea, ihey will take a parcel of land from off a lingy heath, or common, not worth the having ; nay, will not have it to husband it, and will raise some gallant corn, that naturally is so barren, worth £s or £6 an acre. • * ♦ If men would, after good liming, take three, four, or five crops, and then lay down to graze, it would not be the least pre- judice ; a little manure now would produce more fruit than as much more upon the old sward. Many men have had ten crops of gallant corn after one substantial liming, some more upon very reasonable land of about 6s. S(f. an acre. Some men have had and received so much profit upon their lands upon once liming, as hath paid the purchase of their lands. I myself have had great advance thereby, yet I lived 20 miles from lime, and fetched it so far by waggon to lay it upon my lands." American Paper. The Trichina Spiralis.— A case of Trichiniasis is reported from Workington, and is thus commented on by Dr. Cobbold in a recent lecture before the Society^of Arts of Workington : — • " Dr. Dickinson has at the present time under his care a family suffering from the so-called flesh-worm disease, resulting from the consumption of ham prepared from pigs reared by the family themselves. A portion of ham sent to me swarmed with recently encapsuled trichinae. Dr. Dickinson being thus the first person who has diag- nosed trichiniasis in the living subject in England, I hope he may be induced to give us further particulars." The editor of the " British Medical Journal," in commenting upon this letter, added a practical point, which I wish especially to bring to your notice. He says: — "The subject of parasitic diseases of domestic animals is one of widespread and increasing interest. It is being treated in the Cantor lectures, now in course of delivery at the Society of Arts. It is immediately related to the irriga- tion of fields with sewage." The editor, of course, made that statement on independent 'grounds, and on his own responsibility. If he had said the subject bears an indirect relation to such questions, he would have said no more than is absolutely true, for, as I shall take occasion before the close of the lectures to explain, there is every reason to suppose that certain forms of parasitic disease may be propagated by means of sewage. In this connection some of you may be disposed to ask the ques- tion :— " Are there any sources of comfort to be gathered from the facts ! " Or you may say, supposing that future our British swine are not as free from trichinae they have hitherto been, can we possibly avoid the cc tingency of playing the part of host to those creature Certainly, I reply ; it is simply a question of cooking your food. If these farmers have not cooked their food at all, or scarcely at all, that will at once account for their being laid up. I should tell you that the lady and the daughter are recovering, that they are convalescent, but that the man-ser\'ant is very ill indeed.' If the man-servan only I oz, of this flesh with living trichinae in it, he have, I reckon, at this present moment at least 42,00c of those guests in his muscles. You will say at c Will he recover ? Yes ; if he ate no more than that I am afraid that he has eaten much more than that he has eaten 2 oz. thoroughly underdone, depend upon it he has 80,000,000, and if he has eaten 3 oz. he will have over 100,000,000 of trichinae in his muscles. Could he survive if he had eaten over 3 oz., and thus have 100,000,000 and upwards of these inhabi- tants? I think he could. I have evidence on this point from a case the nature of which I hardly like to open to your view, because, perhaps, it would make you more uncomfortable than vou wish to be. Fo: myself, there is little or no discomfort on the subject since, in the course of the last 20 years, I have escaped almost entirely from any annoyance, although millions of these creatures and their eggs have passed through my hands. However, it is something to know what you are handling, and what you are looking at, because there are many parasites which are dangerous. There are some residing in meat which you and I eat every day without any bad consequence. Though of a totally different zoological character, they are as harmless cheese-mites. I'e there will be no fatal the three individuals alluded to ; but the chief practical point before us arises out of the fact that we have here, for the first time in England, the commencement of an pidemic of trichiniasis. By thus calling attention to the subject, it will be easy to take those precautions by which future epidemics of the kind may be readily mu\i% ^0rh. August 19. — There is nothing more difficult than the harvesting of corn when the atmosphere is highly surcharged with vapour, for, instead of drying, the standing corn and stocks absorb moisture, and thus become more wet. In such weather corn and straw both lose colour, quality, and value. Small sheaves should be made with only eight or ten to the stook if the straw is long, and only six to the stook if the straw is short ; some put on two hood-sheaves, and a well liooded stook will carry off rain for a long time, but when the stook is badly set, and the hoods improperly put on, they often do more harm than good, and on that account hooded stooks have become the exception — the object now aimed at in setting a stook to fend rain being to bind tlie straw straight in the sheaf, to plant each pair of sheaves opposite each other, and bring the stook to a fine ridge, as in thatcliing a stack, so as to carry off the rain to either side. Drying Corn artificially in Harvest, so as to fit it for stacking or threshing, is one of the many improvements of the day. Like all others in farming, the practice now in use is doubtless subject to further improvement, for, as has justly been observed, '* there is no end to improving a thing ; " but to look on at corn and straw being spoilt in the stook is now unpardonable, provided the expense of drying is less tlian the loss sustained. On this subject, our past reports of Mr. Gibbs' drying machinery may be consulted. Stacking Corn is a work requiring the highest degree of skill and art to perform it properly, the stacker being generally considered the best man in harvest. An apprenticeship is necessary to learn the art. A well-built stack is not a question of mere form and outward appearance, although too apt to be viewed in this light. Thus a good stacker will " build out the rain," a bad one will " build in the rain ;" the former will "prevent a stack heating," while the latter will "set a stack on fire," and so on. These are extreme but familiar expressions in most places, embracing a broad difference between the value of the labour of two workmen who too frequently look for the same amount of wages. Every farmer knows what a relief it is to have a man in the stackyard in whom he can place implicit confidence. Stacks, whether round or oblong, should always be built on stack-stands, and the stack- stands should be arranged so as to provide for the proper ventilation of the stacks, for an improperly ventilated stackyard will heat whilst a well ventilated one will keep cool, other things being equal. If a stack is confined and close on one side and free on the other, it will set down unequally, however perpendicularly and uniform in density it may be built, but if equally ventilated all round, and built uniform in density, it will settle down fairly and cool, assuming the sheaves to be equally fit for slacking in both cases. Thatching should be done immediately the stack is up. To delay until it is seen how the stack will settle down, is at best a poor apology for bad stacking. And the same remark applies to cutting the outsides of the stack— cut the outsides as you build, and let the thatcher follow close up, the stacker taking care to have tlie roof of the stack properly consolidated and raked down hard in the building. Rye-grass and Chrjcr Seals, when intended to follow either Wheat, Barley, or Oats as a grass or hay crop, may be sown on the stubble as soon as the labours of the harvest will permit. When the corn crop is harvested in August, seeding after harvest will be found preferable to seeding in spring, both for the corn crop and the seeds. Where the land is clean, as it always should be, and free from weeds, sow on the stubble, and bush or chain harrow in about the same quantity of seed as directed in spring. Where the seeds were sown in spring, and have brairded, but the plants are partially killed by the drought of summer or otherwise, blanks and thin places should be seeded with the hand, and the seed left to be washed in or covered by the first shower of rain, as the harrow cannot be used, and rolling is objectionable at this season. Live Stock find little in the stubble now as compared with the olden time. Autumn tillage amongst the stooks, and the seeding of the land with Turnips, Rape, &c., preclude the admission of either sheep, black cattle, or pigs into com stubbles. The old bands of gleaners are likewise excluded. But the improvements thus taking place have all for their object more food for stock, not less ; and as suitable provision for live stock in August is a cardinal point in stock management, the practical solution of the question is often no easy task. Lamb Weaning in Scotland (Cheviot and black faced) usually takes place from the beginning to the iddle of the month. Blackfaced and Cheviot ewes that have fattened cross-lambs will also be ready for drafting for the shambles. Notices to Correspondents. Agricultural Prints : T. C. We know of no special place where prints of Shorthorn cattle maybe obtained, but have frequently observed them and purchased them in second-hand book and picture stalls in London. They are very generally diffused, and can be bought for little money. eight weeks old. I have some still with the same complaint ; loss of appetite, drooping wings and tails, sore swollen eyes, go quite blind, look very red all over, smell very offensive, then die. A hint would greatly oblige. [Wholesome food and frequent change of place ought to do much to remove what you com- plam of. Keeping chickens cooped on the same ground is a fertile source of loss. J Dressing Grass Land : Redcliffc asks— What quantity of gas-lime per acre would be sufficient to dress grass land with? and what quantity of soil would be required to mix with a ton of gas-lime for the same purpose? [Mr. W. Scott, of Howford, gives his experience in the latest edition of "Stephens' Book of the Farm." He makes a compost of two-thirds earth and one-thirdlirae, letting the heap lie at least six months, turning it once or twice in that time, and giving from 10 to 12 tons Utilising Pea Haulm ; Rusticus. Good Pea haulm will be eaten with relish by live stock, especially sheep, without any preparation. The suggestion to chaif and treat with steam or water may possibly be an improve- ment. We hope that the conclusive answering of the above inquiry will be imdertaken by some one of our practical readers. Siuiuts. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. Monday. Aug. 14. There are a few more foreign Beasts, but not quite so many English, making the total number about the same as last week. The hot weather causes a slower trade, but choicest qualities are not much lower. The number of Sheep is rather smaller ; the average quality has, how- ever, improved. Trade is not so brisk as of late, and Thursday's quotations are barely maintained. Choice Lambs are still scarce and dear. Calf trade is unaltered. Our foreign supply consists of 2550 Beasts, 12.780 Sheep, 255 Calves, and 5 Pigs ; from Scotland there are 5 Beasts ; from Ireland, 200 ; from Norfolk and Suffolk, 40 ; and Best Scots, Here- fords, &c. £to6 Best Long-wools Do. Shorn 8 EwM & 2d quality 8 — 4 8 ' Do. Shorn 8—5 8 4—4 8 Pigs, 70' quality Beasts Hair-bJ-ei^ ^". .. — .. I Calves Do. Shorn . . 6 4-6 8 1 Pigs Beasts, 3920 ; Sheep and Lambs, 23, yK Thursday, Aug. 17. We have a much larger supply of Beasts than on Thurs- day last, and the demand is very limited, consequently prices generally are lower, and a clearance cannot be effected. The number of Sheep is also larger, and trade very dull ; prices on the average are lower, and several lots remain unsold. Choice Lambs continue to be very scarce and dear ; in some instances our top quotation has been exceeded. Calves are dearer. Our foreign supply consists of 440 Beasts, 6340 Sheep, 450 Calves, and S Pigs- Best Scots, Here- fords, &c. Best Shorthorns . . 2d quality Beasts Best Long- wools Do. Shorn Ewes & 2d quality T-i % 1,360; Calves, 624 ; Pigs. METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET, Aiig. 17. Best Fresh Butter 14J. per dozen lb. Second do. do. .. .. .. 12J. ,, Small Pork, i,s. %d. to 41. io«'. : Large Pork, 3^. 8^. to ENGLISH WOOL. The excitement continues unabated, and prices ar daily rising. Many parties who a few weeks hesitated 1 buy at Q.d. or more below the present level are no anxious buyers at the advance. HA \\—Per Load of^^ Tru Smithfielp, Thursday, Aug. PrimeMeadowHay.i40J.toi45J'. j Clover, old Inferior do 90 108 Inferior do. New Hay .. ..95 "o Prime new d Cumberland Market, Thursday, Aug. Sup. Meadow Hay 147^.101555. \ Inferior Clover Inferior do ii Prime 2d cut do. , August 19, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1089 MARK LANE. Monday, Aug. 14. There was a small supply of English Wheat at morning's market, of which a few samples of new shown ; for white there was a fair inquiry, at previous prices; red sold slowly at a decline of i.r. to 2J. per qr. upon the prices of this day fortnight. The attendance was small, and to effect sales a similar reduction on all descriptions of red foreign had to be submitted to. Barley, Beans, and Peas were unchanged in value. Oats were in small demand, at a decline of (>d. per qr. Flour must be quoted 6d. to xs. per barrel and sack lower. Tt Ulling 2g-33 Price per imperial Qu Wheat, Essex, Kent, Suffc — fine selected runs . — Norfolk !'.!!'.'.!! — Foreign Barley, gnnd,&dist.,27Jto; — Foreign . . grinding an Oats, Essex and Suffolk . . , — Scotch and Lincolnshire. . Potato — Irish Potato — Foreign Poland and Brew RvE ]3i~33 RvE-MEAL, Foreign | Beans, Mazagan —s, to — j. . .Tickj49— 50 — Pigeon ....5IJ'. to 59^.. .Winds — — Foreign Small!45— 47 Foreit;n . livered.. per sack Red. Longpod At Mark Lane to-day there has been a moderate supply of English Wheat, and fair receipts from abroad The trade has been quiet, at the rates pre\iously cur There has been a fair supply of Barley on offer. T actions have been restricted, on former terms. Malt has been dull, at late prices. Oats, the show of which has been good, have met a moderate inquiry, at previou: quotations. Beans and Peas have changed hands slowly at about late rates. Flour has been quiet, on former Arrivals OP Grain, &c., into London by Water Carriage. Wh... Barley. 0»ts. Flour. Irish .. Foreign .. ■Q,9co 58.0 Qrs. 36.780 Sacks. { sSio brls. ...00 1 SS. 36,780 Wheat, at steady prices for fine descriptions, while inferior was iiregular. Flour slow, but unchanged. Oats steady for fine, but others were rather easier. Oat- meal slow. Beans yl. to fid. lower for Egyptian. Peas unchanged. Barley, no sound here. Malt dull. Indian Corn in moderate request, at yl. to 6rf. reduction on the week. Wheat. Barley. Oats. July 8.. .. — 15 .. — as .. Aui. J :: .'.■ Average . . if 58 5 34Jiorf 35 >i i1 58 6 35 4 SEED MARKET. The agricultural seed trade continues in a quiet state. In red Clovers there is for the moment nothing passing. Trefoils are in improved request, and realise more money. White Clover seed is firm. New winter Tares have appeared this week at market, but the high prices demanded have prevented business. Of new winter Barley there is an abundant supply offering. New Rye for seed is in good request. Trifolium is easier ; of fine quality seed there is, however, very little now left. Rape .and Mustard are without alteration. We have an inquiry for new blue Peas. Canary seed shows an advance of is. to 2j. per qr. John Shaw & Sons, Seed Merchants, 16, Water Lane, London, E.C. HOPS. Borough Market, Aug. t6. There is almost no demand for Hops in our market, and prices remain unaltered. The weather appears to be favourable to the growth of the Hop plant in most places, but some planters think heavy rain for a couple of days would assist in effecting improvement. From Poperinghe the accounts come better, but in Alost, one-eighth of a full crop is all that is expected. The last advices received from Bavaria and Bohemia are not encouraging. COALS.— Alio. 16. Holywell Main, i8j. ; West Hartley, iSs. 6J. ; East VVylam, i8s. ; Walls End Harton, i6j. 6rf. ; Walls End rhnslington, 17;. ; Walls End Braddyll's Hetton, 17^. 6(i. ; Walls End Russell's Hetton, 171. 3d. ; Walls End South Hetton, zSs. gd. ; Walls End Heugh Hall, ;?/•„ 3''- ■■ Walls End Original Hartlepool, i8s. 6d. ; Walls End South Kelloe, 17^. ^d. ; Walls End Tees, iSs. 6a'.— Ships at market, 35; sold, 33; unsold, 2; at Great Reduction in Prices for 1871, OF GREEN'S PATENT SILENS MESSORS ) alterations to report The ibo\e Mich nes hi\c c^rred ott e\ery Pru ll has been gnen m all cases of competition They are warranted to be supenor to any others W guarantee them to give entire satisfaction otherwise tl can be returned, free of cost to the purchaser. With the increased facilities we possess for the Manufacture of Lawn Mowers, we are enabled to Sell them at a reduced rate on former years, as will be seen from the following Scale of Prices : — To cut 8 inches . . Price £: Can be worked by one person. f . This can be worked o By Man and Boy. 'A , and CONCRETE. MANAGER-W. P. AYRES, C.M.R.H.S., Forest Road West, Noiiingham. Flans, Specifications and Estimates supplied upon the shortest not M- .RUSSIAN WOOD GARDEN STICKS and TALLIES, commended bv the Royal Horticultural Society. The above can be had, of all sizes, wholesale of CHARLES J. BLACKITH AND CO., Weeds Eradicated from Lawns. WATSON'S LAWN SAND both Destroys Dandelions Daisies Plantains, Ribbed Grass. &c, and imigorates the Grass keep ng: it green during hot dr>. weather. CIeanl> and inodorous 301 per c ^ L ; 36-ib. tins, loj. Directions and " "prmc p^"Agcnt°t-w' D BARBOUR, 3, Park Row, Leeds. •• 7 ■ T. GREEN &= SON have fleasure in the demand for their Lawn Mowers this s all previous ones, and from this fact they that the machines of their manufacture a. iig that PA\ ING unsusceptible of vegetation, lit b r BINS clean take up 1 ttle space, and do not decay. CLRN BINS CONSERVATORY SHELVES, CISTERNS, C\TTLF and PIG TROUGHS, CUCUMBER and MELON IRAME^ &c \I \ RED BR Vlfl Bangor %V harf. Belvedere Road, Lambeth, S.E. — -T>.^ T TYLOR AND SONS' ' • FOUNTAIN JETS. \r A .s i: .s , 1 o U N T A I N S , and JET S, T, , ,J.SS- ''"^ GARDEN AND CONSERVATORY. ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE, containing Prices and full information concerning FOUNTAINS and VASES, and with 30 large Pages of beautifully Lithographed Designs, Post Free for 12 stamps, which wiU be allowed if an Order is given. A. HANDYSIDE AND CO., Britannia Works, Derby. London Office— 32, Walbrook. Horticultural and Window Glass Warehouses. JAMES MILES, 6, High Street, and 12 and 13, Blosson Street, Shoredilch, London, E. CONSERVATORY and ORCHARD-HOUSE GLASS. Genuine White Lead, Oils, Colours, Brushes, b-c. GARDEN ENGINES, PUMPS, SYRINGES, INDIA-RUBBER HOSE, TAPS, CONNECTIONS, &c. Prices upon application. at Leeds and London Establish ■d with efficiency and despatch, both GREEN'S IMPROVED PATENT ROLLER, FOR LAWNS, DRIVES, BOWLING GREENS, CRICKET FIELDS, and GRAVEL PATHS, Suitable for Hand or Horse-power. PRICES of HAND ROLLERS. Length. {, t. d. \ Diameter. Length. {, £ ,. d.\ Diamet 4 Jo °o\°6 in! PRICES of ROLLERS, fitted with Shafts, '^'■■'"^le for Pony or Horse-power. 32 in. 36 in. 30 in. 84 i 19 These ROLLERS possess n;aay advantages over all others ; they are made in two parts, and are free to " re on the axis, affording greater facility for turning, and the outer edges are rounded off, or turned inwards, avoiding the unsightly marks left by other Rollers. They are manufactured of the best materials, and are got J in a manner surpassing any ever yet brought out. The ROLLERS, 24 by 26 inches, 20 by 22 inches, and 16 by 17 inches, are also made in one part, at a reduced price ; and for Rollers of that size, will be found to swer many requirements, as the handle can be reversed either side of the Roller at pleasure. PRICES. 24 inches by 26 inches ^^400 Delivered Carriage Free to all the principal Railway Stations and Shipping Ports in England, Ireland, and Scotland. THOMAS GREEN Works, Leeds ; and London, S.E, Glass for Garden Purposes. AMES PfllLLIPS AND CO. beg to submit their REDUCED PRICES as follows :— PROPAGATING I :; Either flat or conical tops. GLASSES, f#^ % OPEN TOPS. dies .. Each.-.. .. '■ •■•■ \ I .^inches Each._r. I.ondon Agents ARTLEVS IMPROVED PATENT PLATE. LINSEED OIL, Genuine WHITE LEAD, CARSON'S PAINTS. PAINTS of \.arious colours ground ready for use. SHEET and ROUGH PLATE GLASS, SLATES of all sizes, BRITISH PLATE.PATENT PLATE.ROLLED PL.4.TE,CR0WN. SHEET, HORTICULTURAL, ORNAMENTAL, COLOURED, No. 1, Peel Street, Mancliester, 1871. OUR HORTICULTURAL SHADINGS form ; thorough Protection from \yinds. Frost, and Hail, whilst at th d^Scientilic HSnf- on the Conf ' ' only "proper shadings" evei against Birds, wasps, Blight,&c. Asacovering Hyacinths, Seed-Beds, Greenhouses, &c, tht With ordinary care they will r offered to the public Strawberries,Tulips, nes,Tulips, No. ..-54 No. 2.-54 No. 3—54 —54 inches wide . eces of about 30 yards each, < DANIEL COLLINGE AND SON. at SMrf. per yard run. at 7ii. per yard rutL at 5%a. per yard run. at 4^. per j-ard run. at 5!iA per yard run. logo The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. pWffftifM Latest Improvements i I \ I I N G by HOT WATER. ii I- IMPROVED M-AL BOILERS, for .-. rlNF.RIIiS, CONSER- Solely Manufactured by POLLARD, JEPHSON, (late Bury & P A R A T U S ied for Heating Tubular BMir. OT-WATER I' erected Complete, or the Materials GREENHOUSES, HOTHOUSES, CONSERVATORIES, CHURCHES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, HOT-WATER PIPES at i«l s^Ie prices ; Elbows, T I'tet Sjphons, and eve IMPROVED CO^fICAL, il=o Elliptic, Boilers, from 24!. e; and e^tra strong CAST-IRON TUBULAR BOILERS, WROUGHT-'i'rON PORTABLE BOILERS, on Stand, ul brickwork, from 6oi. each. , ,-.,,-,rc Patent THROTTLE and other VALVfcb, FURNACE DOORS, BARS, and FURNACE WORK of r -■ ■ ■• — - INDIA-I Sockets require no and are perfectly v Goods, of the vi Wharf in London. LYNCH WHITE, Old Barge Iron Wharf, Uppei Ground Street, London.S.E. (Surrey side Blackfriars Bridgel. Price ' " (Lancashire) Gloucester m \W ■ cicsign in Wot JAMES ^ and WATTS AND CO 200 F N BURY TE GHTS ND BO ;. good sheet glass HOT-wATER Engineer, lOT-WATER PIPES, Jic, Irce f Station on Midland Railways, for cash, as under (nett) :— 3-in. Hotwater Pipe, is. ad. „ 2-in, Hot-water Pipe, is. li „ ^..Connections at proportionate uildings by hot wat MESSENGER'S PATENT ^•ALVES for Water, Gas, or Steam, shut off perfectly, are full nade. Form a cheap and excellent e for Pumps. Thousands at wort Portalile and Fixed Hot-water Apparatus ''*^ HEATING CONSERVATORIES, HOTHOUSES, CHURCHES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PRIVATE RESIDENCES, TRUSS' PATENT UNIVERSAL FLEXIBLE and LEAKLESS PIPE JOINT and PATENT CRACKLESS EXPANSION-JOINTED TUBULAR BOILERS, of a VARIETY of FORMS, PORTABLE or for BRICKWORK SETTING. They the MOST POWERFUL, whilst ONLY CONSUMING HALF the FUEL of OTHER BOILERS. PORTABLE BOILERS, to HEAT ANY LENGTH of PIPING; and ANY PERSON can TAKE these BOILERS, as also the PIPES, APART, and SPEEDILY PUT THEM TOGETHER AGAIN- T. S. Truss begs to state that the immense number of APPA RATUS annually Designed and Erected by him in all parts of the Kingdom, and for the Royal Horticultural Society at South Kensington and Chiswick, with unrivalled satisfaction, is a guarantee for skill of design, superior materials, and good workmanship ; while the great tagc obtained by his Improved System cannot be over-estimated, ig of 25 per cent, on cost of Apparatus erected compared with rice Lists, Plans, and Estin T. S. TRUSS, C.E., Sole Manufacturer, Consulting Horticultural Engineer, Iron Merchant, Hot-w£ Steam Apparatus Manufacturer, Friar Street, Southwark Bridge Road, London, S.E. Hot-Water Pipes and Boilers. TONES AND SONS deliver HOT-WATER PIPES and CONNECTIONS, with BOILERS of every :, free to any Station in England, for Cash with order ; or they a liberal Discount for Cash at their Wharf in London. 6. Bankside, Southwark, London, S.E. Greenhouses and Conservatories. H FREEMAN AND SONS' HoRTici . Works, 106, Mare Street, Hackney, E. Established 23 years. Good substantially madeGREENHOUSES, glazed. ready for fixing, ,2 feet long, 13 feet wide, iljo : 21 feet by ijYeet, /;28; i2« feet by 10 feet, /is; a handsome CONSERVATORY on hand, 35K feet by t8 feet! 2ii°; Nurserymen's LIGHTS, ,£25 per 1000 feet- By Appointment to H.E.H. Tlie Prince of Wales. ~»ARTON'S PATENT STABLE and HARNESS ROOM FITTINGS, BRACKETS, &c. Patronised by H.H. the Viceroy ol the King of Italy, the King of Hoi . . the Kingdom, and adopted by the first Architects England and thi " * . . the principal Nobili by the first ArchitecL •.-■■■ Illustrated Catalogui 'James' ERATION of STABLES a competent person can t sped and give Estimates. JARTON, Iron Works, 370, Oxford Street, W. Boslier's Garden Edging Tiles. , Upper Ground Street, Black- i.: Oueen'sRoad West, Chelsea, S.W.: Kingsland Road, E. for LOOKER'S PATENT "ACME FRAMES," PLANT KOSHER, Manu: , ^. ■ Road West. Chelsea, S.W.; Kingsland I Agents for LOOKER'S PATENT "ACME FRAMES," I „ COVERS and PROPAGATING BO.XES ; also for FOXLEV'S PATENT BEADED GARDEN WALL BRICKS. Illustrated Price Lists free by post. The Trade supplied. ORNAMENTAL PAVING TILES for Conservatories, Halls, Corridors, Balconies, &c., from 31. per sc^uare yard upwards. Pattern Sheets of plain or more elaborate designs, with prices, sent for selectit WHITE GL/— ■" ■ifv]r?e7'"sil PEAT 01 LOAM suppli _. ROSHER.- promptly executed by Rail or t A liberal discount to the Trade. STEVENS' "TRENTHAM" IMPROVED CORNISH BOILER. Th Ad rtisers have great pleasure in calling the attention of Gardeners, and all interested in Horticulture, to b client Boilers. Being of the most simple construction, and in wrought iron, they are very durable, n m and powerful ; and, in the opinion of many competent judges, are superior to all other Boilers, even to m pp ved form of Tubulars. Appended are a few Testimonials i '* Royal Ex. en' pleased to be able ■We are, dear Sir, yours, uTy, ^^ Veitch & Sons." '* Combe Abbey Gardens, near Coventry, ythinp I can say in favour of Mr. Stevens' Boiler " ' 's. The dilemma of choosing fTaUJ?°b' ; by far the simplest and r vcd possible, unless I had h " Ingestre Hall, Stafford." ;th your Improved Cornish Boilcrl t powerful Boiler 1 ever used, and ocular demonstration of the fact. 'annot speak "Joohiel ive ^ovktA a good ind when the Boiler becomes icd, and I would back i s a real Gardeners' Boiler Ti% Improved Cornish Boiler 0 leet of 4-inch piping, a "IS"f Boilers, but not one tha so great an amount of work a " any boiler now in use, fo efhciency. commonly used as thi ''G. Sage." TSn iiit^l \ ntaining one 6 ft by en (or Con; oi. good shi 4 ft light, p I arB SOLE MAKERS— THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE ENGINEERING CO., LIMITED, FENTON, STOKE-ON-TRENT. LONDON AGENT— JAMES GRAY, Horticultural Works, DANVERS STREET, CHELSEA, S.W. From either of whom full Particulars, with Sizes and Prices, and Testimonial», can be obtained. August 19, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1091 ALEXANDRA PALACE and MUSWELL HILL ESTATE TONTINE. Offices, s and 6, Great Winchester Street Buildings, E.C. 5 on application to t; LEXANDRyV palace. — Arrangements will be Railway into t ^LEXANDR.'\ PALACE. —The advantages to pwards.are fully detailed liability, and must benefit. 3ub- A LEXANDRA PALACE. — Art a Guinea. Union- ^500 for A LEXANDRA PALACE. — Mu ical Festiv als, CENTRAL ARGENTINE LAND COMPANY, Limited. Chaimtan—JOHH Hegan, Esq. A^ent in Ike Re^ublic—E. Habby Woods, Esq., C.E., Buenos AjTes. SufieriKiendent— William PERKINS, Esq., Rosario de Santa F6. enants or Purchaser's PLOTS, varying from 80 to joo ACRES each, the COMPANY'S LAND, situate on each side of the Central rgentine Railway, from the Port of Rosario to the City of Cordova, c entire length being 2j6 miles. Towns and Villages are being laid To secure the best cUss of Agricultural Settlers and facilitate the migration of Families, the Directors are prepared to treat for the Colonisation of Lands within easy reach of the Stations on the Central "way, and adapted for immediate cultivation, icufars may be obtained at the Offices of the Company : Palmerston Buildings, Bishopsgate Street, E.C. ; liuenos Ay~res— 87, Calle de la Reconquista ; Rosario— Terminus of the Central Argentine Railway ; Where the Surveys of the Land {about 1,000,000 Acres), together with the Plans of the Colonies already established, can be inspected. GEORGE WOOLCOTT, Secretary. 85, Palmerston Buildings, Bishopsgate Street. London, E.C. A LEXANDRA PALACfc;.— The object of the Tontine -tiL. r the i f the I and especially of its northern and eastern portions and suburbs, and for ihe many thousands of country excursionists, a Grand Institution of healthful recreation and elevating instruction, which will combine the solid advantages of the South Kensington Museum and Schools of Art, with the lighter pleasures and pastimes of the Cr>-slal Palace, at , thus giving effect to the large and enlightened views of the ; Consort. HILL ESTATE TONTINE. To terminate on June 30, 1886. (•John Glutton, Esq., Whitehall Place. !S< John Hackblock, Esq., Bolton Garde Ijohn Horatio Lloyd, Esq., Inner Tei A share in arranged. ; reimbursed 20s. for each guinea subscribed, in the event of the lite nominated dying before 1886; Or a share in the realisation of the estate in 1886, which it is expected will very largely exceed the amount paid in ; Or, say these privileges may at any time be commuted for admissions to the Palace and Grounds. (An E Certificate includes all privileges.) It being a "Trust," Subscribers incur NO LIABILITY, and must For further particulars, see Detailed Prospectus. Admissions to view the Palace can be obtained at the Offices of the Company, 5 and 6, Great Winchester Street Buildings, E.C. THOS. DIXON, Secretar>' Agricultural Land Improvements. DRAINAGE, SEWAGE IRRIGATION, FARM BUILDINGS, LABOURERS' COTTAGES, &c. THE GENERAL LAND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. (Incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1849.) Directors. T. Chapman, Esq., F.R.S. I The Right Hon. Viscount George Thomas Clark, Esq. bermere. _ Tenant ; n agent ■ The outlay, with "an official' expenses. Estate, and paid off by a Rent-charge of al charged upon the siaie, ana paia on oy a Kent-r- -■ '- No investigation of title necessary, and no legal expenses incurred. UTILISATION of SEWAGE. Special arrangements will be made with Boards of Health, Sew Authorities^andothers, for L-^— "--"'-' - " " - - -'-— Voiles r undertakir »age Irrii rHE LANDS IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. {iNCORPORvVTED BY SPECIAL ACTS OF P.\RLIAMENT.) DRAINAGE, RECLAMATION, FARM BUILDINGS, LABOURERS' COTTAGES, TRAMWAYS, RAILWAYS, &c. 1&: Dire John Glutton, Esq. Frederick L. Dastiwood. Esq. Henry Farquhar, Esq. I Henry W. West, Esq. Lord Garlics, M.P. Charles Watkm Williams Wynn, John Horatio Lloyd, Esq. 1 Esq., M.P. (Chairman). The Company advances money, unhmited in amount, for all purposes of Agricultural Improvement, including the Erection of Cottages and Farm Buildings, to the Owners of settled and other Estates, and to the Clergy in respect of their Glebe Lands. Tenants may, with the consent of their Landlords, execute the necessary Improvements upon the Farms which they occupy, charging Storey's Gate, expenses are liquidated by a rent-charge upon ciple and interest, over 25 years, e is required. - ■-'■ 'in, apply to GRANVILLE R. No, I, Great George Street, Notice. {By Appointment to the Royal Horticultural Society. ) To HORTICULTURAL IMPLEMENT MAKERS, NURSERY MEN, FLORISTS, and OTHERS. A DAMS AND FRANCIS INSERT ADVERTISE- -*i. MENTS in all the London. Country, Colonial, and Foreign Newspapers, Magazines, and Penodicals, without extra chakge to the Advertiser. ADAMS AND FRANCIS. Advertisement Agents, 59. Fleet Street, E.C. LEGAL and GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY. 10, Fleet Street, Temple Bar. (Founded 1863)- The Parliamentary Accounts required by the " Life Assurance Companies Act, 1870," may be obtained on application. Policies of this Society are guaranteed by very ample funds ; receive nine-tenths of the total profits as Bonus ; enjoy peculiar " Whole- World" and other distinctive privileges; [and are protected by special conditions against liability to luture question. The Right Hon. the Lord Chancellor. The Right Hon. the Lord Cairns. The Right Hon. Sir W. Bovill, Lord Chief Justice, C P. The Right Hon. Sir Edward Vaughan Williams. Sir Thomas Tilson. Thomas Webb Greene, Esq., Q.C. John Osborne, Esq., Q.C. Robert Bayly Follett, Esq., Taxing Master in Chancery. Settlement Policies in favour of Wife and Children are granted in terms of the " Married Women's Property Act, 1870." E A. NEWTON, Actuary and Manngcr. Works on Botany, by Dr. Llndley. O Illustrations, price 5s. 6^ - f physiologic ight t. be proper to lave been wholly changes are those lis and manures; such being the : most interested- The whole work I Creat I difficulty in findir % where any given subject i; CO., Paternoster Rovr, E.C CHE COTTAGER'S CALENDAR of GARDEN OPERATIONS. By the late Sir Joseph Paxton, M.P. Reprinted from the Gardeners* Chronicle and Agricultural CazetU ■d at the Office of , Wellington Stre. I receipt of a Post Office order, ng Street Office, Covcnt Garden. eners' Chronicle and Agricultural t Garden, London, W.C. New and Enlarged Edition. This day is published, price Five Shillings, APR.-\CTICAL TREATISE on the CULTIVATION of the GRAPE VINE, by William Thomson, of Tweed Vine- yard, Galashiels, lately Gardener to his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, K.G. , at Dalkeith Park. The Seventh Edition, enlarged. LLIAM BLACKWOOD and SONS, Edinburgh and London. THE CELEBRATED GRANITIC PAIN; Manufactured Solely and Only by Composition and Granitic Paint t Company, ds, and Patt THE SILICATE ZOPISSA COMPOSITION. To CURE DAMP in WALLS, and Preserve Stone, &c., from Decay. _ Manulactured Solely and Only by the Silicate Zopissa )SLER-S CRYSTAL GLASS CHANDELIERS, Table Glass of all kinds, CHANDELIERS IN BRONZE AND ORMULU, Moderator Lamps, and Lamps for India, ^ndon— Show Rooms, 45. OXFORD STREET, W. Jirmingham— Manufactory and Show Rooms, Broad Street. TT' INAHAN'S ■ L L . WHISKV.- This celebrated and most delicious old mellow spirit is the very CREAM of IRISH WHISKIES, in quality unrivalled, perfectly pure, and more wholesome than the finest Cognac Brandy. Note the worJs, " KINAHAN'S . L L . " on seal, label, and cork. New Wholesale Dep0t,6A, Great Titchfield Street, Oxford Street, W. TY'ILLIAM YOUNGER and DINNER ALE.-Sparkling and Refreshing. INDIA TALE ALE.— Unsurpassed as a Tonic Pure Aerated Waters. LLIS'S RUTHIN WATERS, Soda, Potass, Seltzer, Lemonade, Lithia, and for GOUT, Lithia and Potass. rks Branded " R. ELLIS AND SON, Ruthin," and every label i their Trade Mark. d everj-where, and Wholesale of R. ELLIS AND SON, Ruthin, h Wales. London Afents ; W. BEST AND SONS, Henrietta t. Cavendish Square. Sauce.— Lea & Perrlns THE "WORCESTERSHIR E," pronounced bv connoisseurs "the only good Sauce," improves the appetite and aids digestion. Unrivalled for piquancy and flavour. AskforlEAANDrERRINS'SAlJcE Beware of imitations, and see the names of Lea St Pehrins on the bottles and labels. Agents— CROSSE AND BLACKWELL, London ; and sold by all Dealers in Sauces throughout the World. D NNEFORD'S FLUID MAGNESIA.- rhe best remedy for Acidity of the Stomach, Heartburn, Heat Jout, and Indigestion ; and the best mild aperient for delicat utions, especially adapted for Ladies. Children, and Infants. Chemists throughout the Worid. i Street, London ; and o BILIOUS and LIVER COMPLAINTS, Indigest Sick Headache, Loss of Appetite, Drowsiness, Giddii Spasms, and all that well-known FRAMPTON'S ?i;'r» lOCKLE'S ANTIBILIOUS PILLS. ' THE SAFEST FAMILY APERIENT, In boxes, at is. I'Ad., ss. g^., 41. 6d., and lu. of the flowers of efficacious remedy for torpid action of the li\ tion and the several varieti speedily remove the irritatio ANTIBILIOUS PILLS.- of a careful and peculiar admixture of tl jetable aperients, with the pure extra Camomile. They will be found a mc derangement of the digestive organs, ; and bowels, which produce indiges- of bilious and liver complaints. They nd feverish state of the stomach, allay ■ndition of the liver and organs subser- nt to digestion, promote a due and healthy secretion of bile, and ieve the constitution of all gouty matter and other impurities, ich, by circulating in the blood, must injuriously affect the action the kidneys ; thus, by removing the causes productive of so much ■ ; energies both of body and mind. To those i of the table, these Pills will prove highly unusual quantity of acrid bile, and acid matter in the stomach and bowels. To Europeans on their arrival in India or China they are recommended as a preser\-ative against the fatal disorders pecuUar to lined with the strictest id unhealthy condition who indulge ii n bestowed upon their subscquen wiedgcd peculiarity of their compo; is a panacea, nor are they adapted s ; but as a mild and efficacious aperient and tonic inns of indigestion it will not, perhaps, be an they have been resorted to under eiII systems :, or atmospheric alternations, 3, for upwards of 70 ~ : Unit Kingdi celebrated Family Aperient i, at w. ij^rf.. China, New Zealand, and lOCKLE'S ANTIBILIOUS PILLS. THE OLDEST PATENT MEDICINE. In boxes, at u. i^<^, »■ dt'-i 4'- ^'-i and lU. 1092 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, W..I SER\ PITS, Carnage paid to ; MELON ine machinery enables us to suppK first class CON VINERIES, OKCH1KD HOUSES, FORCING I cucuMi rr 1 1 ii COTTAM S PATrVT PnRT^BLE UNITED ( \ 1 II II COTTAM'S HURDLES are made in the best manner, of superior WrouKht Iron, by an improved method. Price Lists on application to COt/aM and CO , Iron ■ - eet, Oxford Strc Caution to Gardeners.— When you ask for AYNOR AND COOKES WARRANTED PRIZE PRUNING and BUDDING KNIVES, see that you get them. erve the mark SAVNOR, also the Corporate Mark, Obtain KRANTED, without which none are genuine. & C. regret having to caution Gardeners and others, but are ty, having been sold tor the genuine one, and which has caused complaints to be made to them of Knives which were not of make, all of which are warranted both by Sellers and Makers. AND C.'s PRUNING and BUDDING KNIVES are the best Pa-xlon Works, Shcflield. Established upwards uf 125 years. John Warner & Sons, Hydraulic Engineers, App-i s r> II orks di and n „1 t \ tl out need ng atte ithout test for labour or mot e power where a few feet fall can be obtained and 1 suiteti for supplying Public or Private Establishments, Farm Buildings, Railway Stations, &c. No. 37. DEEP WELL PUMPS for Horse, Hand, Steam, or other Power. No. 49. GARDEN ENGINES, of all sizes, in Oak or Galvanized 1 No. 63. PORTABLE IRRIGATORS with Double or Treble Barrels for Horse or ^o ?4i. THE CASSIOBURY FIRE EXTINGUISHER, as designed for the Steam Power Right Hon. the Earl of Essex. No. 46.'. IMPROVED DOUBLE ACTION PUMPS on BARROW for Watenng j^^_ ^_ WROUGHT-IRON PORTABLE PUMPS of all sizes. No. 49<7. GALVAn'i'zED SWING WATER CARRIERS, for Garden use. No. 4. CAST-IRON GARDEN, YARD, or STABLE PUMPS. No. so and 54.7. FARM and MANSION FIRE ENGINES of every description. j^^^ „^;,^ IMPROVED HOSE REELS for Coiling up Long Lengths of Hose f« No. 38. PORTABLE LIQUID MANURE PUMPS, on Legs, with Flexible Suction. Garden use. S. OWENS AND CO. Manufacture and Erect every description of Hydraulic and General Engineers' Work for Mansions Farms, &c comprising PUMPS, T WATER WHEELS, WARMING APPARATUS, BATHS, DRYING CLOSETS, GAS WORKS, Apparatus for LIQUID MANURE distribution, FIRE MAINS* HYDRANTS, HOSEPIPES, &c., &c. Particulars taken i>i any part of Ihc Counlry. Plans and Estimates furnished. APPLICATION. ILLDSTEATED CATALOGUES CAN BE HAD 01 The Publisher," at the Office, 41, Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London, =t of Whilelriars, City of Loudon, in the Co. of 1 e said County.— Saturday, August tg, 1871, THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. No. 34.— 1871.] SATURDAY, AUGUST 26. 1 Registered at the General I Price 5d. I Post Office as a Newspaper, i POST FREE, si^' CONTENTS. LEADING ARTICLES, &-C — Maine, weeds c Meteorolocy of Potato blisnt ir Siege of Paris, TuFp, what is ? F™ft',"lavour in Harvest and tlic crops Harvesting corn in Shorthorn bull Sovereign (withcul) HI. OUR LIVE STOCK- . Cattle 1112 HOME CORRESPONDENCE- Fcetling stock to make Peach-house, a fruitful.... Pelargoniums, varieties of Potato and Artichoke graft- Keighley Agricultural . MEMOSANDA- CALENDAROFOPERA TIOK Farm work of the week .. Ii; Garden operations In Town gardening iii Weather Tables m Notice to Subsorlbers. HHE SUBSCRIPTION to the GARDENERS' L CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE is WELCHPOOL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.— The ANNUAL EXHIBITION will take place on THURS- DAY, September 7, 1871, when SPECIAL PRIZES, open to all England, will be offered. ENTRIES to CLOSE on SEPTEjMBER 2. LIST of PRIZES and ENTRY FORMS may be obtained on sending EXHIBITION of ROSES and other FLOWERS. - 1 The AUTUMN SHOW of the REIGATE ROSE ASSi CIATION, will be held at the New Public Hall, Reigate, 1 LEEK FLORAL and HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.-The AUTUMN EXHIBITION FRUIT and PLANTS will be held on SEPTEMBER 14 and O^ HOICE ROSES.— The finest stock of Tea, Noisette, China, and other Roses to select ixom, all strong and healthy, in Descriptive Priced LIST on application to TH, Nurseryman and Seed Merchant, RICHARD i , Worcester. Roses. HLANE AND SON'S magnificent COLLECTION, • upwards of 100,000, is NOW in FULL BLOOM. Patrons and Friends are respectfully invited to pay an early visit. The Nurseries, Great Berkhamstead, Herts, 28 miles distant from London (Euston Station). New Koses of 1871. JOHN CRANSTON offere a selection of TWELVE NEW ROSES of the present year. Fine plants ready. Descriptive LIST on application. Nurseries, King's Acre, near Hereford w ILLIAM KNIGHT offers a selection of TWELVE NEW ROSES, the finest of this season's plants, now ready, n immense stock of extra strong Plants, in pots, for Bedding, T^J-T.T- r^^' varieties only of previous years. Priced Russell's Pyramid Prtmula. EORGE CLARKE has this season secured Seed Warehouse : 44, EngUsli St., & Blackfrlars St. NUKSERIES&SEED FARM ; KNO\VEFIELD,ncar CARLISLE THE SUBSCRIBERS having now entered upon possession ol the Old-established SEED and NURSERY BUSiSesS so long carried on by Messrs. LITTLE AND BALLAN- TYNE,ot this city, respectfully request a continuance of the support ' ' ■ ' e Old Firm. They shall continue to conduct ' LITTLE AND r Business. LITTLE and HALLAN WM. ba.xter smith, 1 ■•"" ;f JAMES WATT, DUTCH FLOWER ROOTS.— Descriptive Priced LIST, with Cultural Hints to Amateurs, will be sent free, on application to DRUMMOND BROTHERS, Seedsmen, &c., 52, Cieorge Street, Edinburgh. Dutch Bulbs. ' "DUTLER, Mcculloch and CO.'S usual con- CATaEoGUES, free'and°pos"paidron appliSiom iouth Row, Covent Garden Mr-rVet, London, W.C. Established Dutch Flower Roots. GM. KEMP-WELCH'5 CATALOGUE of the • above is just published, a.id will be sent tree by post on application. The Bulbs a price. Early orders will o Seedsman and Florist, w Hyacinths, Tulips, Crocuses, fflc. M. CUTBUSH AND SONS' CATALOGUE of HYACINTHS, TULIPS, CROCUSES, and other DUTCH S, is now ready, and can be had, post free, on application. Highgate Nurseries, London, N. To the Trade. EARLY ROMAN HYACINTHS, true forcing variety. For price per hundred or thousand, and samples apply to R. P. KER,6, Basnett Street, Liverpool. RICHARD WALKER has to offer, for cash, WHITE DAISIES, PEARL DAISIES, HEN and CHICKEN DAISIES, for planting out, all at 5s. per 100. SeedlingCARNATION, r^ HOICE SEEDS for PRESENT SOWING. Mr. WILLIAM BULL'S EstaClfshment for New and Rare Plants, King's Road, Chelsea, London, S.""' oxinlas, of sorts. BR. DAVIS having secured a quantity of choice • BULBS of extra quality, grown by a successful Amateui begs to offer them at the low price ( B. R. DAVIS, The Seed Wj Hunt's Superb Sweet 'Willljun. JAMES HOLDER can supply SEED of the above, rj- fine Plants, which I "uppe'r'lJStoway, N. many years at Dalkeith Park, i The Trade supplie East Lothian Intermediate Stock. rpHOMAS METHVEN AND SONS have to offer -L first-class strain of the above, in three colours. Purple, Scarle and White, in packets at is., 2j. 6d., and ss. each colour. Also fir Cinerarias, from one of the very finest Strains of TRICOLORS in ENGLAND. JOHN STANDISH and CO. are now able to offer tj fine strong healthy plants of the above, to flower early in the r, at IS. each, 9s. per dozen, ,^3 per 100; also seed of the same at so new varieties of VERBENAS, 1871, at - . 12 new CHILIAN MIMULUS,iS7i, at .. CHINESE CHRYSANTHEMUMS, 1871, : "APANESE CHRYSANTHEMUMS, 1871, 7 new!/ 8 new'rROPAIOLUMS, 10 new PENTSTEMONS, 1671 9 new ANTIRRHINUMS, il 2 new dwarf AGERATUMS, Nursery, Bexlei To the Wholesale Seed Trade. J SCOTT, The Seed Stores, Yeovil, has just • har\-ested about ij^ tu.. of his e.^ ex. choice CALCEOLARIA SEED ; an offer for the while or part is solicited. All letters about Seeds to be addressed to J. SCOTT, The Seed Stores, Yeovil, and to no one else ; and all communications relating to Fruit Trees and Nursery Slock to be addressed to the Nurseries, The S'i'RAWBERR'y CATALOGUE, eight pages, is now ready. w ANTED, CHRISTINE, GEANT DES BAT- TAILLES, and VIOLET HILL NOSEGAY GERANIUMS. "°"KicfaA'RD°"m'fHrN°rseryman, Worcester. ANTED, GREEN GAGE, ORLEANS PLUMS, and KENTISH CHERRY TREES, Standards, s to 6 feet. JNIXJlUilR AND SON, s6, Virginia Street, Aberdeen. ANTED, SPECIMEN PLANTS of the foUowing, to complete a Collection :— IGAVE I EUPHORBIA VLOE GASTERIA OPUNTIA PHYLLOCACTUS, and MAMMILLARIA generally. . J. T. Peacock, ECHINOCACTUS Gr., late of Kew Gardens, ; Strawberries. /CHARLES TURNER'S descriptive CATALOGUE C. Turner's Plants are now ready. Eariy planting i 0 insure a goo cro^o^ rm^^ 'Nu"sijfS,°siough. CHEAP STRAWBERRY PLANTS.-The Adver- tiser, having a large acreage, can supply strong plants of approved ■ ies, viz. :— ICeens' Seedling " " ' . ^ • . - ..- - gg, 5s. M. per 250. II iSth orSers from Trade, stamps must be sent, or Post Office order on New F J. Shield, strawberry Farm, Thornton Hough. pSmL^wTlfbe" price 5s. per lOO, package included. 'That V be tnoroughly distributed from the true ; "\V^KNiGH°f,'Floris*°Battle,'s'uss'ex. -This y kind d of all COMMITTEE of the ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, JUNE 29, 1S70 JTROTMAN has much pleasure in offering the • above STRAWBERRY to the Public, in the fullest conndence that its exceeding richness of flavour cannot be surpassed, while in hardy, vigorous. an-J free. per dozen. ; now received will shortly t Spring Grove Nurs leworth, W. Winter Flowering Orchids. TAMES BROOKE AND CO. beg to call attention t specially for their Cut Flower Trade. The plants are well grown an Cattleya, Odontoglossum, Coilogi-ne, Calanthe, Lycaste, Phalainopsis, Trichopilia, Barkeria, Cyprr— '^ - - " ' - cataLc w, Palms and Palm Seeds. PRESTOE offers splendid Plants of ARECA CATECHU, calamus RO.XBURGHII, CARYOTA s and varieties of fresh PALM SEED, ■ ONCIDIUM LANCEANUK, 2S. M. Basingstoke, August 23. A QUILEGIA GLANDULOSA, the true variety. -TV Seed. 6d. and is. per packet Seeds of choicest FLORIST FLOWERS. A LIST on application. STEPHEN BROWN, Seedsman and Florist, Weston-super-Mare. toh: O beh •■JS!}1 r PALMS, FERN'S, STOVE PLAXTS,&C. British Fern Catalogue. ROBERT SIM will send, post free for si-x postage stamps, Part I. (British Ferns and their varieties, t6 pages, including prices of Hardy Exotic Ferns), of his Priced DESCRIPTIVE CATALUGUEof BRITISH and EXOTIC FERNS, No. 7. Foot's Cray Nursery, Sidcup Hill. Kent. ,\NTHES ELEGANS, PTERIS TRICOLOR, ASPLENIUM BIFIDUM. TOHN NELSON has a large quantity of the above 100. Cash or satisfactory reference from unknown correspondents. EVERY GARDEN REQUISITE KEPT in STOCK at CARTER'S New Seed Warehouse, 237 & 238, High Holborn, London. Choice Seeds, for Present Sowing. BS. WILLIAMS begs to announce that he has just . harvested NEW SEED of the following:— Williams' superb strain of PRIMULA, red. white, and mixed; " ' ' CALCEOLARIA; -Weatherill's cl ' . of CINERARIA; and 1 Paradise Nurseries, Upper Holloway, )ARIS, I BUTTONS' GRASS SEEDS for ALL 1S67. SOILS. The PREMIER PRIX SILVER MEDAL GARDEN SEEDS, GRASSES, and GRASS SEEDS, was ■arded to iUTTON AND SONS, Seedsmen, by Special Appointment, to M. the Queen, and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Reading, Berks. Tinging, will, if applied before the appearance of «r,a,„ prev.„„v.. .rocco a . .^^ Liquid Compounc wo voluntarj* Testii of the doors and under glass, wiin periect success, we ronsider 11 ine preparation we have tried. It thoroughly clears the plant wit injuring the foliage.— We remain, dear Sir, yours faithfully, "Mr H C. Frettinghara. " William Barron & So! fi prey upon vegetable life, and find it very effective in cleansing nds of plants from scale, mealy bug, aphides, thrip, red spider— in :ilt \i\nAt nf insert life seem to succumb to its power most t injuring the tcnderest foliage, ' the Compound most valuablo ' Francis & Arthur Dickson & Sons." effectually and rapidly, and to all growers of plants. Voluntary Testimonials Mr 6 Westland', Gr.toEarl Dudley, Witley Court, Mr Wm Jackson, Gr. to Lord Scarsdale, Kedlestor Mr. H.Gadd, Gr. to Lord Middleton, Wollaton Hall. Mr. Speed, Gr. to the Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth. Mr. Wm. Parker, Gr. to the Misses Strutt, Derwent Bank, Mr. F. Harrison, Gr. to F. Wright. Esq., Osmaston Manor, Parker, Gr. to Tison, Gr. to F. Wright, __,., ., „ Milford, Gr. to T. W. Evans, Esq., M.P., Allestree P. Ayres, C.M.R.H.S., Consulting Landscape Gardener, ^u'T Thomps( Gr. to Sir Sej-mour Blane, Bart. , Ouarndon, near Derby. , Ksq,. The Hayes, Swa ' * -1,', Gr. to'the Duke o^ Newcastle, Clumber Garden: r. H. Ellis, Thu Gardens. Alfreton Park. Price List.- lintilp^ ln.-liirlp(i In Casks :— 10 or 12 gall . , . per galloHj casks returnable; the principal Seedsmen I'ghout the country. - '- PARR AND ATHERTON,Long Row, Nottingham. bottles, 5J. dd. ; half-gallon bottles, gj. ided. In Casks:— ro or i2galf~-- - "■ per gallon; 20 gallons and upwards, ^s. per gallon, casks ret Carnage paid on all orders to the amount of 201. and upwards. G I S H U R S T COMPOUND. the leading 859, against jpider. Mildew, Thrips, Fly, and other Blight, in Fruit Trees. Has outlived c Wholesale by PRICE'S PATENT CANDLE COMPANY Battersea, London, S.W. August 26, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Asfricultural ■ Gazette. 1095 Hot-Water Pipes and BoUers JONES AND SONS deliver HOTWATI PIPES and CONNECTIONS, with KOILERS of ei 'a liberal Discount for Cash at their Wharf in London 6. Banltside, Southwark, London, S E H. Good substantially madeGREENHOUSES,Elazed t2 feet long, 13 feet wide, Ao:2i feet by ijfeet £28 12^.5 feet bj lofeel.il.s: a handsome CONSERVATORY on hand, 35!^ feet bi 18 feet, ;£iio: Nurserymen's LIGHTS, ^125 per 1000 feet Koslier's Garden Edging TUes Id many other PATTERNS are made m Teat durability. The plainer sorts are espec all) suited for KITCHEN GAR „,„,.,. ,„^ DENS, as they harbour no Slugs or Insects, take up little riars.S.E.; CJueen's Road West, Chelsea, S.W.; Kingsland Road, E. Aeents for LOOKER'S PATENT "ACME FRAMES," PLANT :0VERS and PROPAGATING BOXES ; also for FOXLEY'S ■ATENT BEADED GARDEN WALL BRICKS. Illustrated Price Lists free by post The Trade supplied. ^RNAMENTAL PAV[NG TILES for Conservatories, Halls, Corridors, Balconies, &c., from 35. per sL of £15 for THRESHING MACIrtlNES, and the Society's SILVER MEDAL. Portable Encir , _ , . _ _ , and where the capabilit; CL A YT ON "an b " S H U T T lI 'ley have competed since il ' Trials in Great Britain t Compete at any c Engine 1 PORTABLE ENGINES, from 4 to 25-Horse Power. THB.ESHING MACHINES, Single, Double and Treble Blast, with Patent Rolled Steel Beater Plates, and all other recent improvements. GB.INBING MILLS, SAW BENCHES, STRAW ELEVATORS, &c. 1^ CATALOGUES ON APPLICATION, OR FREE BY POST. CLAYTON AND SHUTTLEWORTH, STAMP END WORKS, LINCOLN ; >8, LOMBARD STREET, LONDON, E.C. ; and TARLETON STREET, LIVERPOOL. They are wan"inted to be supenor to any others guarantee them to give entire satisfaction otherwise they cin be returned free of cost to the purchaser With the increased facilities we possess for the Manufacture of Lawn Mowers, we are enabled to Sell them at a reduced riif on former years, as will be seen from the foUowinff Scale of Prices :— To cut 8 inches . . Price ^2 lo o\ „ lo , 3 o of Can be worked ,, 12 ,, .. ..4001 by one person. f This can be worked ,, 10 ,, .. . . 6 O O-j by one person on an ,, 18 ,, .. ..700 By Man and Boy. .. -° 7 10 o ,, 22 ,, .. ..800 .. 24 8 10 o T. GREEN &!= SON h.ivc licjnirc in announcing tliat tlie demand fir lln-ir I.iii'n M>wcrs this season far exceeds all previous ones, and from this fact tlicy are led to believe that the machines of their manufacture are held hisher in the estimation of tiic public than ever. Prices oi HORSE, PONY, and DONKEY MACHINES on apphcation. 1^" Repairs executed with efficiency and despatch, both at Leeds and London Establishments. GREEN'S IMPROVED PATENT ROLLER, FOR LAWNS, DRIVES, BOWLING GREENS, CRICKET FIELDS, and GRAVEL PATHS, Suitable for Hand or Horse-power, PRICES of ROLLERS, fitted with Shafts, Suitable for Pony or Horse-power. " ' .eter. Lenph. £ s. d. These ROLLERS possess many advantages over all others ; they are made in two parts, and are free to revolve on the axis, affording greater facihty for turning, and the outer edges are rounded off, or turned inwards, thus avoiding the unsightly marks left by other Rollers. They are manufactured of the best materials, and are got ) in a manner surpassing any ever yet brought out. The ROLLERS, 24 by 26 inches, 20 by 22 inches, and by 17 inches, are also made in one part, at a reduced ice ; and for Rollers of that size, will be found to iswer many requirements, as the handle can be reversed to either side of the Roller at pleasure. PRICES. !4 inches by 26 inches jf 4 o o 16 Scotland. THOMAS GREEN and SON, Smithfield Works, Leeds ; and 54 ' — . - . Blackfriars Road, 1096 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 26, 1871. w &it M. PAUL'S ROSES are NOW in BLOOM, urffybridVlrfeUia'l *]^R1NCESS CHRISTIAN, PRINCESS KICK, PRINCE LEOPOLD, anda number of other English II hill 1; I. I li. Sialion, Great Eastern Railway, and St 1 : i;,iilway. to Waltham Station, in about I, I i. ; I. IT, ihcplatform. Waltham Station. ! I . s, Waltham Cross, London, N. Flowering. 4J., Ss., and 125. per dozen. SURPLUS STOCK of SPRING HERBACEOUS PLANTS. Per d< ANEMONE HONORINE JOBERT, fine white.. ARTEMISIA STELLERIANA, white edging plant, hardy IIEGATA, good plants PURPUREA VARIEGAT GRANDIFLORA CHEIRANTHUS ALPINA IIESPERIS MATRONALIS ALBA FLORA PLENA Double Rocket 3 Ditto, RUBRA PLENA, ditto 3 LATHYRUS GRANDIFLORUS 3 MYOSOTIS DISSITIFLORA, true per 100 10 PHLOX FRONDOSA 3 VIOLA CLOTH of GOLD, finest yellow grown 4 „ IMPERIAL BLUE i ,, CLIVEDEN, in four colours per 100 16 ,, THE CZAR, fine, sweet per 100 12 The above are all good, strong planted. Price to Trade, per 100, o app ica mn^ ^^^ ^ PERKINS, Nursen'mcn, Leamington. CALCEOLARIA (International Prije). — The jlan the Royal Botanic, sple Rov - . -- CALCEOLARIA, finest Hybrid, 2S. 6d. ; smaller packets ^ Spotted, 2J. 6d. ; smaller packets test care, and from one of the '. Saved wit » the kingdoi CINERARIA, choicest t of named varieties, and cannot be surf PRIMULA, choicest Fringed varieties as they are saved with the greatest cai PRWIULA'c'hoi!:es't"M'iyed°Fringed, 21. ( , Scarl Rose Fringed . choicest Fet^'leavelcai choicest Fem-leaved Wh For^varded immediately on receif t-office Orders, carriage free. JAMES CARTER and CO., The Royal Seedsmen, 237 238, High Holbom, London, W.C. w, orders of ;Ci the carriage will be paid to London ;— ■ i 0 fine new varieties VERBENAS of 1S71 6 n ^r.TJ.SoirJ,°S^tnll\ToViiVil\i^\v.is f. n R ° Z: . . . Ii, :,v^nERBAc"EOUS PLANTS " n ° 2J 0 1;;,: !■■ ;,, ■ ",'\^'^ 11 '' ■ • ii' ■, 1 \ \'.\' . ., ; ■; , ■ •, , 1 niBERS i 0 11 1;. V- KMGHI, ll.Ahi, Battle, Sussex. CUTTONS' AUTUMN CATALOGUE for y~J profusely Illustrated, and containing full Cultural Insli Hyacinths | Ranunculus 1 Gladio Amaryllis R' COLLECTIONS of BULBS For CONSERVATORY and WINDOW PLANTING, price los. M., 211.. 421., 631. and 84s. For CONSERVATORY and OUTDOOR PLANTING, price I5«., 30J., 42J., 631., and 84J. For OUTDOOR PLANTING ONLY, price loi. 6d., 3u., 42s., 631., CARTER'S AUTUMN CATALOGUE of DUTCH BULBS, FRUIT TREES, ROSES, &c., is now ready. lAMES CARTER AND CO., Seedsmen to the Queen and tht Strawberries. TAMES CARTER and CO. having STRAWBErTieI, which "re no°w'^^ " ' ° "' CATALOGUE, 1 good crop next season, beg to inform their ptive LIST will be published in their BULB 1 Press, a Copy of which will be posted as usual, r selection, 25 of a sort . . loj. 6d. per loa Runners, out of pots, our selection, 35 of a Black Prince I Goliath if Wales i Alice Maude ' . 6rf. : Runners, i Runners, 1 I, 5J. : Ru: New Newest slight advance in price according to our stock, as The Amateur, Roi-alty, Brown's Wonder, anci JAMES CARTER AND CO., 237, High Holborn, W.C: and Tstal Palace Nurseries, Forest kill, S.E. ORCHIDS.— Having recently received several large importations, we can offer Odontoglossum Alexandra: (Bluntii) at 21J. each; O. Pescatorei, 215., or 12 plants, consisting of one or both varieties, for 10 guineas; Dendrobium Devonianum, 51. 10 21J. each; D. Falconeri, 2ir. to 631. ; D. Wardianum, 63*. to toss. ; D. chrysotis, 21J. to 63s.; D. McCarthise, 42s. 10631.; D. Cambridgcanum.si. to2n.j 1>. heterocarpum, 5s. to 2is. ; D. transparens, 51. to sis. ; Pieione Wallichiij 3*. 6d. each, 301. per dozen ; Vanda coenilea, loj. M. to 42s.: Cj-pripcdium hirsutissimum, los. W. to 425. ; Calanthc Veitchii, loi. 6d to 42J. : Caltleya Warneri, 21J. : Trichopilia suavis, loj. 6d. to 2W. ( Odontoglossum Insleayi, los. td. to 21*. ; O. luleo.purpurcum, 2«. ; O. gloriosum, 251. ; O. gtande, los. « ; O. citrosmum, los. 6d. JAMES BROOKE AND CO., i6and iS, Victoria Street, Manchester i Thomas Thornton, HEATHERSIDE NURSERIES, BAGSHOT, SURREY, Invites from the Countiy Trade a visit to the extensive Nurseries here, the most convenient Station to which is Famborough, on the London and South-Western Railway, where Conveyances will be sent to meet Visitors on receipt of an intimation of their intended arrival. The stock is in very fine condition, and includes large quantities of LARCH, SCOTCH, SPRUCE, AU.STRIAN, LARICIO, and other PINES ; CONIFER.C of every description, FOREST TREES in great qu.nntities, ORNAMENTAL TREES and SHRUBS, RHODODENDRONS in great quantity, ROSES, FRUIT TREES, LAURELS, PORTUGAL LAURELS, and other EVERGREENS; a large stock of Green and Varie- gated HOLLIES, VINES, &c.; all at moderate prices, and everj-thing has been well transplanted and is well rooted. A SPECIAL OFFER to the TRADE of MANY THINGS will soon be ready, and can be had on application. PAUL'S HYACINTHS, TULIPS, &c. "Mr. Wm. Paul » • • • well maintained the high reputation he enjoys for the successful cultivation of this class of flowers." — Journal of Horticulture, 1871. "A remarkably fine display of Hyacinths." — Gardeners' Chronicle. William Paul BEGS TO ANNOUNCE THAT HIS HYACINTHS, TULIPS, CROCUSES, and other DUTCH FLOWER ROOTS Have arrived in excellent condition, and he respectfully solicits early Orders. PRICED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE Free by Post. PAUL'S NURSERIES and SEED WAREHOUSE, WALTHAM CROSS, LONDON, N. DUTCH FLOWER ROOTS. James Veitch & Sons BEG TO ANNOUNCE THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED THEIR ANNUAL SUPPLY OF HYACINTHS, AND OTHER BULBOUS ROOTS FROM HOLLAND, pleased to say that they are in splendid condition. And ; J. V. & SONS were awarded the following Prizes at the London Exhibitions last springs viz., ist Prize for 18 Hyacinths, distinct sorts. Royal Horticultural Society,^ March 15, 1871, ist Prize for 18 White Hyacinths, " " " " ' ' " " "" " ' ist Prize for 12 pots Tulips, in 6 vaneties, Koyai noni 2d Prize for 6 New Hyacinths, distinct sorts, Royal He ,, c o Extra Prize for Group of Hyacinths and TuUps, Royal Horticultural Society, March 15, 1871. ist Prize for 12 Hyacinths, distinct varieties. Royal Botanic Society, March 22, 1871. ist Prize for 12 pots Tulips, distinct varieties, Royal Botanic Society, March 22, 1871. Extra Prize for Collection of Hyacinths, Royal Botanic Society, March 22, 1871. JAMES VEITCH and SONS had also the pleasure of supplying to the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Works, the Tulips, Hyacinths, and Crocuses, which made such a grand display last Spnng in Hyde Park. CATALOGUES are now ready, and will be forwarded Post Free on application. ROYAL EXOTIC NURSERY, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, S.W. August 26, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1097 QUTTONS' FRESK ' IMPORTED FLOWER ROOTS, Autumn, 1871. BUTTONS' SELECT LIST of FRESH IMPORTED FLOW ER ROOTS. PLANTS, and choice SEEDS, for 1 '"s'uTT°TN™AND's'oN?s"ed?mcn,'V Specn' ' '■ Queen and H.Kll. the Prince of Wales, Reading. Bulbs. 4^§fe^ To SECURE the "bEST HYACINTHS ^^^ and other BULBS, ORDER EARLY. MR. WILLIAM BULLS BULB CATALOGUE is now ready, and can be had on application. Everything Establishment for New and Rare Plants, King's ~ ' " Dutch Flower Koots. jIL^MrM TAMES CARTER AND CO. ^E®]»^ O have the pleasure to announce thaf ftSS^i^they have just received a CONSIGN. MENT of DUTCH ROOTS, in splendid condition. CATALOGUES may be had on application. All Bulbs carriage free. Five per cent, discount allowed for cash. JAMES CARTER AND CO., Seedsmen to the Queen and the rrince of Wales, 837 and 238, High Holborn, London, 'ft'. C. Ne'w Seeds. Xjl AND A. SMITH are now sending out new SEEDS ANTIRRHINUM, very choice '. .. 11. and o 6 AQUILEGIA, single, in 12 colours, separate 26 CALCEOLARIA, of the finest .strain !! '.'. '.'. 2t.'6oms, of various sizes and classes, opening by French indows to a verandah overlooking the terrace beyond ; nd in the basement beneath are such extensive and com- plete cellar and kitchen arrangements, as will insure a first- rate and hot dinner for private parties, and general con- nce and perfection in the refreshment department for large numbers. Other arrangements, such as news, read- g. WTiting. and coffee-rooms, library, museums, picture- illeries, sculpture, plants, and flowers, &c., are all )nsidered, together with many things tending to the itertainment and comfort of the public ; and an organ, le of the most powerful and complete in England, will form the centre of an orchestra for nuisical performances on a grand scale. The building will be thoroughly lighted by gas in an ornamental and briUiant ler, for evening promenades, &c., and will always be maintained at a genial and agreeable temperature. The or is elegantly decorated throughout in coloured the grand avenues for promenade. Externally, the end of the nave and transepts present eight grand fa9ades flanked by supporting turrets, containing the large windows and entrances. These fa9ades are united by the walls of the lower buildings, two storeys in height, and by the clerestory walls and roof of the n.ave and transepts ; and the whole is terminated by bold cornices and ornamental parapets. The general char.acter of the architecture of the exterior is Italian, and consists principally of brickwork in colours, with stone dressings and ornamentations. Above the roofs in the centre of the building rises a bold tambour, pierced with windows, from which springs a great dome, terminated at the top by a simple balustraded parapet, and a standard mast 50 feet high. This dome, and the octagon cupolas at the smaller intersections, are decorated with moulded ribs^and panel- Ung in bold relief. On all sides of the building are formed handsome and spacious terraces, on which, and the orna- mental slopes adjoining them, stand many large and handsome trees, giving relief and effect to the building. The terrace on the north-west side, which will be 1000 feet long and 160 feet wide, supported by Italian arcades, will cover a noble railway station, from which access will be had directly to the building at the ends of the three transepts, and to which station all the railways of London will ultimately be brought. There will also be covered carriage entrances at the ends of the nave, communicat- ing by an easy drive with the public roads. Adjoining the building, and commanded by the southern slope of the hill on which it stands, is the racecourse, with a grand stand replete with all conveniences. There are also cricket and archery, &c. , grounds with their appropriate buildings and accommodations. The extensive park is laid out in agreeable carriage drives, wallas and avenues, interspersed with flower gardens." It would seem, from a paper read before the Institution of Engineers of ScoUand, by Mr. William Clapperton, that there is now a fair chance of a suffi- cient supply of pulp for Paper Making being ob- tained at a remunerative rate from wood. Shavings of deal are repeatedly boiled under high pressure in ■ charged with ; I proportu ; soda. By these means the resin, oil, and turpentine, aje removed, and the wood reduced to a condition suit- able for the use of the paper-maker without any ad- mixture. By this process, paper can, it appears, be more cheaply produced than with Esparto-grass, the price of which has greatly risen of late. OVERCROPPING IN ORCHARD HOUSES. The prevalence of red spider in this remarkable fruit season cannot be entirely attributed to the great climatal disturbances which are its chief feature. Whatever may be the causes otherwise, it is generally agreed that weakness of the trees exposes thein to greater risks from insects and blight, and there is no surer means of producing this weakness than by exces- sive cropping. It is easy however to theorise, but our practice does not always correspond. This is the reason that I remind cultivators of the soundness of the maxim, that they will obtain far better, and also greater crops of fruit in the aveiagc of years, by considerably diminishing what has become to be considered a proper allowance for a tree to bear. For in seasons like the present tliese trees have to undergo severe trials, which we should bear m mind at the thinning season next year. . These remarks apply chiefly to trees in orchard- houses, and of these we know that Peaches and Nec- tarines form the staple. But they are applicable to Peach trees on the open wall also ; and the observations of that sound and practical cultivator, Mr. Radclyffe, have always been read by me with pleasure, for he seems so thoroughly to know the habits of the Peach out-of-doors, and its wants in our climate. I myself of late years have removed a whole wall of Peach trees, partly because they were so troublesome, and partly because we had such an abundance in the orchard- houses, and so much finer fruit. I have again, however, laid in a few on Dubreuil's first system, which I first began with, 16 years ago, and which were the first ever so tried in England ; and if some readers of this journal desire any hints on them, I shall be happy to afiord them, for the trees are doing remarkably well, and are very healthy and strong. They are diagonal cordons, with long shoots tied to the wires— the only long pruning I care for. One of them is the Princess of Wales. I chose it perfect guide for outdoor culture. But in such seasons as this extra care is required to produce really fine fruit. This year many think our crop of Peaches and small in size, and so they are ; but this is due in the first instance to former over-cropping, and he attacks of red spider will reduce stUl further the vitaUty of the later trees, so that thinning durmg next season must be freely done. It is als( , pity standard of fine fruit for the sake of mere number and apparent display. No doubt the temptations to exhibit an enormous are great, and in certain c.ises it is even necessary. The evil can also be remedied by renewing or com- pletely resting the trees. Amateurs, with vigorous young trees, are anxious to prove their skill, and realise some profit, and gardeners have too much expected from August 26, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1099 them by ignorant employers. But, after all, the fact remains, that this is contrary to Natm-e's teaching and to the best experience, and, practised on a large scale, would bring serious loss with it. Study the health of the tree above all, and let it undergo r sudden shock to its constitution from any cause with our power to prevent. Th. C. Bnhmit, Jiichmond House, Guernsey. BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS.— X\\\. It has often been our lot to look through local h baria and collections made by juvenile botanists, and to note the comparative rarity with which such common plants as the Daisy and Dandelion are col lected and preser\'ed. This arises, probably, from the frequency of their occurrence. What can be got at any time is very liable not to be procured at all. Another phenomenon of quite an opposite character, and which has very often struck us, is this, that the would-be botanist has a tendency to try his hand at first starting on Daisies and Dandelions, under the impression, per- haps, that they must be easy, because they are common. It is quite necessary to dissipate this notion, ar " recommend the student to begin his dissections with flowers of simpler character and larger size, such ; those mentioned in the earlier articles of this serie In truth, tlie so-called flower of these plants is really mass of tiny flowers. A Sunflower, a Dahlia, 3 Aster, a Chrysanthemum, all of which are near allies of our humbler Daisies and Dandelions, in lik manner do not bear single flowers, but a large number of minute flowers — florets as they are called — grouped into heads ; hence, the term composite flowers ; hence also the name Composita: applied to the whole group a group the most extensive, in point of numbers, of any in the whole series of flowering plants, and one in general readily recognised by the flowers being in "heads" as above described, and, invariably, by the anthers being joined together or coherent by their edges. The combination of these two circum- stances is quite enough to enable us to detect a Com- posite. The mere fact of the flowers being in heads is in itself not sufficient, inasmuch as many other plants, besides Composites, have their flowers m heads. Dis- regarding for the present other characteristics of the Composites as a whole, let us indicate sOme of the structural peculiarities of the two plants before us. In the Daisy, as in the Dandelion, the true stem is exces- sively short. The consequence of this is that the leaves are closely packed, and spring, as it were, from the very top of the root, and lie flat on, or at no great distance from, the ground. The main distinction between the stem and the root consists in the power that the stem has of bearing leaves in some shape or another. A true root has no such power, and so when, a few lines previously, we described the leaves as springing from the top of the root, we committed a technical error. The so-called top of the root, or crown of the root as a gardener would call it, is really in this case a short subterranean stem, because the iii/enwdes are not developed. In the Houseleek, or in a bulb, the leaves are closely packed from the same cause, — the spaces between them are not developed. So in an ordinary flower, the sepals, petals, and stamens, are all in close approximation, because the internodes are not formed. Thrust forth from the axils of the leaves in the Daisy and Dandelion rise the flower-stalks, straight, undivided, usually leafless branches, bearing at the summit the head of flowers surrounded l)y a ring or rings of small closely-packed green leaves or bracts. This ring of bracts has very much of the appearance of a calyx, but a calyx belongs to a single flower ; this ring of bracts encloses a large number of flowers, hence the necessity for the distinguishing term of vivobure, which is appUed to a ring of bracts encirclmg a number of flowers. In the case of the Dandelion the involucre, as shown at E, fig. 253, consists of two or three rings of bracts, of which the outer are bent downwards, while the inner are erect. Pull ofif all the flowers within the involucre, or cut the flower through the centre from below upwards, and the end of the flower-stalk will be seen expanded into a sugar-loaf-shaped mass in the Daisy (I, fig. 251), into a flat cushion in the Dandelion (fig. 253* ^). This expanded portion is the general reeepiacle, from which all the florets sprmg. It bears the same relation to all the florets of the head that the thalamus does to each individual flower. Children have a very ready way of demonstrating the general receptacle of the Dandelion when they blow off the feathery seed-vessels to see, as they say, what o'clock it is {o, p, fig. 253) Now we come to an important difference between the Daisy and the Dandelion. The florets of the former are of two different shapes and of two different colours — "daisies pied," as Shakspeare, and Milton after him, called them. At the circumference we have a ring of white florets, often "crimson tipped,' before maturity, so that in the adult stage no trace of it, except in connection with the ovary, is visible. The calyx, though similarly adherent to the ovary in all Composites, generally presents more traces of its whereabouts than is the case in the Daisy, as will shortly be pointed out. The corolla is much more conspicuous; the "wee crimson-tipped" strap is the corolla, in fact, but a corolla of peculiar shape. Let us describe the floret as it appears, and then attempt to explain the peculiarity. Starting from below, then, each of the florets (2, fig. 251) springs from a short tubular portion ; suddenly there comes an alteration, the tubular form is exchanged for that of a flattened strap turned to one side, and at the tip of the strap are usually to be seen two or more shallow notches. These notches are all that are left to indicate five petals. In point of fact that now apparently simple strap is a compound of five petals united together, turned to one side, except at the very base, wliere they are in their ring-like order, and form the short tube. This is hard to see certainly, and may be hard to be believed, nevertheless the advanced pupil will have no difficulty in verifying the statement by a comparison with other Composites, in which the five petals are more clearly distinguishable. Even the Dande- lion (fig. 252) may help to make this matter more apparent. The ray florets of the Daisy, then, are made up of five petals, absolutely free only at the extreme tips, imperfectly separate in the middle, where they form a flat strap, perfectly inseparate or connate below, where they form a tube ; at the base of the strap-shaped floret thus constituted, is the ovary, of a single cavity with a single ovule in it, and surmounted by a style, apparently single, but really of two congenitally Bums describes, and in the centre a dense mass of yellow tubes. The white florets are those of the ray, the central yellow ones are the florets of the disc. In the case of the Dandelion (which, beautiful as it is, does not seem to have attracted the attention of the poets), the florets are all of one shape and colour, and hence there is in that plant no distinction into florets of the disc and of the ray respectively. Picking off a ray-floret of a Daisy, tlie beginner will look in vam for a calyx. In truth, the calyx, distmct very early age, becomes fused with the ovary long pappus. — E, InvoluciL- crucc. — F, Ovary.—::, Disc — h, C.ily-\. — l, Lower part of c.^ly.x adherent to th ■ ovary.— J. Ovule.— IC, Raphe, or cord suspending the seed. — L, Base of the seed. — M, Vascular bundle. — w. Point of seed. — o, Peduncle.— p, General receptacle, with four fmits still attached to it. blended, except at the extremity, where the two stig- malic ends reveal the constitution of the style. There aie no stamens in these florets. The florets of the disc (3, 4, fig. 251) are of a different nature. The calyx is the same as in the former case, but the corolla is here of a strictly regular tubular form, made up, as may easily be seen, of five petals, free at the tips, inseparate below. Sht up the tube with a needle or knife point, and the five stamens will be seen inseparate from the corolla below, the filaments also free, but their anthers cohering by their edges into a sheath or tube, surrounding the style, so that with a little care one may easily extract the style without disturbing the sheath formed by the stamens. This cohesion of the anthers is the characteristic mark of Composites. The style is of the same conformation as in the ray- florets. Turning now to the Dandelion (figs. 252, 253), we find all the florets are strap-shaped, and that all have both stamens and styles. Moreover, the calyx is more apparent than in the case of the Daisy, inasmuch as, instead of being wholly blended with the ovary, 'n the Daisy, a portion is free and is easily recog- ble, from its light, feathery-looking appearance (fi.?- -53. ■'). A featheiy calyx of this description is called a.faj>pus, and a very large number of Composites have this pappus calyx, which is only too fanriliar to gardeners in the form of Thistle-do«Ti or Groundsel, It generally increases in size as the seed vessel ripens, IIOO The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, [August 26, 1871. peiliaps in correspondence with the increased weight of the seed, which it serves to transport on the wings of the wind. The other points in the con- struction of the Dandelion have eitlier been already mentioned, or are too similar to those of the Daisy to demand further notice in this place. The two forms of the corolla are readily enough observable in many of our garden flowers— the Sun- flower or Marigold, for instance, with their ray-florets and their florets of the disc ; the Dahlia and Chrysan- themum, in which the florets of the disc have by the gardener's art been brought to resemble the florets of the ray. In Nature we have some Composites with strap- shaped florets only, as the Dandelion, Lettuce, Chicory, &c. ; the plants of this group have usually a milky juice. There are other Composites which in the wild state have tubular florets only, like the Thistles ; while a third group, including the Daisy, the wild Chry- santhemum, the Coreopsis, and a host of garden flowers, have both forms associated in the same head. work. There never was a greater fallacy. The truth wholly on the opposite side of that proposition. We have no work apart from thought outside Bedlam, had, it would be worse than useless in our gardens. The value of every man's work is in propor- ' I to the thought, that is to say, the science, he puts 1 it. And if this is true of other work, it is empha- Uy so in gardening, every process of which is a fresher, higher, better thought. And this law holds good of the work of our hands as of that of the brain ; rather, the brain helps the hand to do even its most imon operations, — and never was there such a help- meet to the strong hand as the scheming mind. The two together constitute the finest scientific machine in the world. Take a man from the plough-tail, and set him in a garden to dig ; observe what a mess he makes of it, how irregular and uneven lies the ground. The man has strength, will— why then does he fail ? He lacks the science of digging, that is, the knowledge how to dig ; give ' ell ; and yet men fear scientific him that t SCIENCE AND PRACTICE. You deserve the thanks of all the craft horticultural for your vigorous leader on this subject, p. 901. I hope it may scn'e as a winnowing-fan to sweep off the huge mass of encumbering chaff that has gathered round it. Those who object to science among gardeners really don't mean what they say, or say what they don't mean ; while those who refuse to concede to the ordinary run of clever horticulturists that they are scientific, are alike ignorant of the business of garden- ing and its practical professors. These misconcep- tions have arisen chiefly from those mistakes about names which are, and always have been, so com- mon. True, we are constantly queried. What's in a name ? and the answer virtually is, nothing ; and if we doubt this rendering, the hackneyed quotation is hurled at us with a defiant air of triumph which bears down all opposition, " A Rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Would it though ? I don't believe a word of it. Only dub it Nettle, Dock, or Hemlock for a century or so, till all the sweetne; beauty, and fragrance that has reached our hearts < the back of Rosa is fovi;oltcn, and see if it would 1 as much prized then ? Why every sliarp thorn darts 1 defiantly from Queen Rosa's perfumed bed to proti against the loss of her charming name, and we hug fondly to our heart of hearts as a sweet portion of the flower. Yes, there is very much, I had almost said everything, in names. The world is governed by names. Hearts and homes are lost and won by them Men rule, deceive each other, nay more, play prank upon themselves, through the cunning witchery of men " Give a dog a bad name and hang him " is as true of men and things as of dogs. The proverb has its better side ; thus, " Give anything a good name, and idolise it." In fact, the saying about the Rose's name and the dog's character are but the obverse sides of the same medal, stamped at the mint of truth. Nothing escapes wholly from the influence of names. Bad names are like swaddling-clothes fettering our mental limbs ; good are intellectual baby-jumpers, raising us higher than we could reach without them. Even knowledge, though heaven-bom, has not escaped from these subtle influences, or, rather, it has been more helped or hindered by names than aught else. Call common knowledge by the high name of science, and some fall down and worship it. The wildest fancies, the crudest speculations, the most baseless fabrics of impracticable dreams, have thus been deified by a name. The greater the folly, or, at least, the more dense the mystery, and at times the more foggy and indistinct the muttering voices, the higher the respect, the deeper the veneration of many. There are those that respect science as the old lady did her clergj'man — in the exact ratio of her inability to understand him ; her veneration grew as his theology deepened, and reached a climax as she declared that nobody, she even doubted whether the Almighty, ■ quite knew all he meant. With such, whatever i; incomprehensible is esteemed as scientific, and prized accordingly. Again, there are others who reckon science the art of classification, or description of natural laws or phenomena. For things, principles, forces, powers, realities, they give you names ; and their science is a sort of nicely-arranged cabinet of the skeletons of names. Those are mostly daintily scientific who take up science and wear its honours as they would any other accomplishment. All such, however, and many others that might be specified, .speak well of science, whatever they may mean by it. But a much larger class iiin a tilt against science, as a mad bull at a red rag. The very name excites them to anger and strife, more especially if the science is found among those in lowly station ; they treat it as an enemy deserving of no quarter — a something to be gored, torn, rent, trampled under foot — a nuisance to be rid of at any price — a thing that no sensible man wants in his garden. tific gardeners. But is this not a better workman, worth money, that is, does more and better work with science than without it ? Undoubtedly, and it is so through all the operations of gardening. The more science, the better we can mow, sow, train, cultivate, plan, economise ; every working machine (and man is ,0 exception to the rule) is valuable in proportion to the cience put into it. Why are the lawn-mowers, grass nd corn reapers, so much stronger, cheaper, and more fficient workers than the scythe ? Because they embody nore and higher science. All machinery but preaches , fresh sermon on the inexhaustible text — " Knowledge 5 power." Yes, and the more knowledge the power, there , and with every his profession, and the more ought he to be respected. Knowledge is the highest power in horticulture, and as such it is worthy of more direct recogrrition and en- ragement than it has mostly received from ourofficial lies. Possibly orders of merit or fellowships sparingly . wisely awarded would work well. At present, when circumstances and tastes are favourable, a man puts his knowledge into prize fruits, plants, flowers, or vegetables, and is rewarded. Others put theirs into landscape flower garden, a well ordered garden, fully, richly supplied home table, a book, an essay, the press ; and the societies entirely ignore all the latter class, which are by far the more numerous and equally talented and deserving. Without taking any- thing from our present prize-takers, might it not be possible to distribute at least some honours and rewards among these outsiders? Doubtless knowledge is its own reward, but, like the bread and butter our London friends set before their country cousins, such rewards will bear doubling a good many times. D. T. Fhh, F.R.H.S. And yet this very ^;_i' horticulture. Shov. n, and I will tell you lli. \ we hear much about I ! ; working gardeners, and t drawn that he who has additional saving of time, a lessening of cost, and greater efirciency in the arts of planning, controlling, beautifying, producing. Strange inconsistency, that those who are glad enough to welcome science almost everywhere else should attempt to drive it forth from the Edens where it is of all places most useful. Ever7where else men have gladly sanctioned the nuptials between science and mechanical force, by wdiich most of the fagging work of the world has been taken off our hands. We are waited upon hand and foot by science. It fetches and carries, hews our wood, draws our water, does most of our heavy work, drives all our machinery. Everywhere it is chained by skill to the hand of labour, and who are these that would burnish up this flaming sword with the grit of prejudice and the worn-out leather of obsolete ignorance, to set it up, to warn science out of our earthly Edens? It cannot be. We have tasted of this tree of life, and hunger to eat more of it. The more we eat, the more beautiful the gardens will become. For science trength and beauty, while the want of it is weakness and worthlessness to gardens. A want of science is the loss of force ; it is working in the dark instead of the light. Ignorance is a blind Sampson — strong, indeed, but only strong to ruin, mar, destroy. It is a game of chance, a medley of haphazard. As proof in point, what could be more apposite than the doings of your correspondent ? Blind as a mole, because without science, he gropes along, trying to hybridise Heartsease with Calceolarias, Pansies with common Brakes, Hemlock and Geranium, Borage and Pelargonium, and then reveals his yet grosser darkness by telling you how he had succeeded ! Here, however, his caution seems to have got the better of him, and, a vision of an editorial request looming in the future, to send up samples of these little wonders appearing to him, he conveniently adds that they soon died. Did not live long, indeed ! Was there ever a stronger proof (and thousands of a similar sort are happening daily) that ignorance is ever weakness — utter uselessness, if not worse ? A very little science would have turned all this energy into useful channels ; for the want of it, all was lost. And yet we have employers deprecating science, and great societies ignoring its existence among practical men, though every step in horticulture is right or wrong as science guides, or does not g^ide it. Talk of dividing science and practice ; the thing is impossible. They are one. The best practice is saturated with science the only science worth the name rests on a practical basis. How, then, are these prejudices to be removed ? Well I agree with you, that it may be wise for one thing to change the name if we can save the knowledge intact by the sacrifice of this little Jonah- viz., science, by all means let the name go. This remedy is the more likely to be eflfective, because the prejudice is mostly against the name ; and we lose nothing, probably gain a good deal, by giving it up. This may be termed a dust age, I fear, for our Lexicons, and I believe that science, according to Walker, may surprise not a few — " Knowledge : certainty grounded on demonstration ; art attained by precepts, and built on principles ; and generally any art or species of knowledge. " Why, these read like the veritable qualifications of a modem gardener, and unless there be those who prefer dark- ness to light, weakness to strength, uselessness to efficiency, surely all else will say, the more of such qualifications among gardeners the better. But let us lay aside the name of science, and follow after know- ledge ; and with the name it is to be hoped the preju- dice against science will cease, and that the more a man krrows, and the better use he makes of his know- ledge, the higher he may reasonably expect to climb in DIGGINGS FROM OLD MINES. A GOOD deal has been made of some recent instances of the Abutilon Thompsoni infecting with its variega- tion the common Abutilon striatum,andlhavelatelyseen . some curious cases of a modification of the character of I black Grapes, alike in flavour, size, and colour, by J being grafted on the White Syrian and White Nice ; notably, that recent introduction, Mrs. Pince, had its bunches and berries both grown out of normal character, and its flavour spoilt by being so treated. Other cases, such as the Purple Laburnum, are familiar to most cultivators. Going back to olden times we find in- stances cited from experiments made by Mr. Fairchild, as to his budding or inoculating of a Passion-flower, whose leaves are spotted with yellow, into one of that sort of Passion-flower whose leaves are plain, and though the buds did not take, yet after it had been budded a fortnight the yellow spots began to show themselves about 3 feet above the inoculation, and in a little time that the yellow spots appeared on a shoot, which out of the ground from another part of the plant. The same thing happened to the variegated variety of the common white Jasmine. Mr. Fairchild likewise grafted the evergreen Oak, or Ilex, on the common Oak. The leaves of the common Oak fell at the usual time, but those of the evergreen held its leaves and continued green as usual ; thus proving that the scion had the power of attracting a sufficiency of sap through the deciduous stock at an unnatural season. The same gentleman exhibited many other expe- riments before the Royal Society, as the New England Cedar, or rather Juniper, grafted on the Virginian, and a branch left several inches below the grafting continued growing as well as the upper part above the grafting. A Cedar of Lebanon was also grafted on the Larch, and continued to grow and retain its leaves all the winter, equally good and healthy, above and below the graft. Another point demonstrated by Mr. Fairchild was, that the scion supported the stock, the branch the root, as much or more as the stock the scion, or the root the branch, and that, in a word, the sap flowed in any direction where it was needed. To establish this fact the following experiments were made just 150 years ago, in March 1721-2 :— This experiment was on a Pear tree, which he inarched upon two Pear stocks, leaving the roots out of the ground, and was in a good flourishing state with a branch in blossom, that received no other nourishment but by the juices that returned down the other two branches, which, though it had been done two years, yet it continued shooting suckers out of the roots, which is esteemed as a proof that the branches are as useful to pport the roots as the roots the branches ; and hence e infer that it is not strange that so many trees mis- carry in planting, when there are no branches left to the head to maintain the circulation to the roots. This sensible inference is not yet universally acted upon, and the severe cutting-in of newly planted trees is still a fruitful source of failure. The Rev. Dr. Hales, who differs entirely from Mr. Fairchild about the circulation of the sap, yet accepts all the facts about the gilding of the inoculated buds of the Passion-flower and the Jasmine, and thus accounts for it ; It is easy to conceive how some of the particles of the gilded bud in the inoculated Jasmine may be absorbed by it, and thereby communicate their gilding miasma (far from a flattering description of our variegation mania) to the sap of the other branches, especially when, some months after the inoculation, the stock of the inoculated Jasmine is cut off' a little above the bud, whereby the stock, which was the counteracting part of the stem, being taken away, the stem attracts more vigorously from the bud. The fact of the grafts infecting the stocks of fruit trees with canker is explained in the same manner. Lastly, the argument is very cleverly carried against those who contend for a compound circulation of the sap in plants analogous to that found in animals by the pertinent query addressed to the stock of the deciduous Oak, why the evergreen scion does not enable it to keep green also throughout the winter? In the Gardeners' Chroniele, a few months August 26, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and AQTicuitural Gazette. since, there was an inquiry to the effect whether the Larch might not be considered, a kind of deci- duous Cedar. It might be worth trying to graft the Deodar upon it, and to see whether by such means it might become evergreen. Several of these old experiments seem worth repeating and carrying further. In this matter we are hardly wiser than our fathers ; doubtless had the beauty and usefulness of these varie- gations been seen or appreciated 150 years ago, instead of being stigmatised as gilded mania, we should have had our fine-foliage era a century earlier. As it is, possibly we owe some of our best so-called sports of lo-day to the experimental graftings, buddings, inocu- lations, and mixing of sap by our forefathers 150 or 200 years ago. Antiqitator. FLAVOUR IN FRUIT. My attention was called to an article at p. 1040 under the above heading, which, with your per- mission, requires a little explanation from me. In a short review you were kind enough to write in a pre- vious number of your paper, on my third edition of *'The New Method of Gro\ying Fruit, Flowers, &c.," you doubted whether it was the radiation at night which enhanced the flavour of the fruit, attributing it rather to the free exposure of the trees to the night air ; in which view your correspondent in the above article concurred. I am glad not only to receive information, but correction also, at the hands of my brother gardeners. In the present case it must, I think, be from not having expressed my views clearly that a misunderstanding of them has arisen. I quite agree with yourselves and your correspondent that it is the amount of cold which the plant attains by free expos- ure to tlie night air which causes the change of circu- lation (if I may so express myself), which is so bene- ficial to the general health of the plant. The position I wished to establish, and which is indeed beyond controversy, is, that no amount of ventilation given at its sides would allow the plant to become so cold by several degrees, as being quite clear overhead, and having no intervening body be- tween it and free space perpendi- cularly. In short, that ventila- tion given by the side lights of a house, beneficial though it is to the plants in its immediate proxi- mity, will not produce the same result as free exposure to the night air (as you rightly add), "judici- ously managed." The old and well-known theory of M. Prevost, of Geneva, in which he was followed by Dr. Wells, in his celebrated treatise on -dew, was taken by me to illustrate the position. He attri- butes this extra cold to a latent power in the plant to radiate its heat into free space perpendicu- larly, but not laterally, till it Fic. becomes actually colder than the atmosphere, and thus a deposit of dew takes place, where such radiation is not interfered with, which deposit does not take place where the free air is only admitted at the sides. It is to this extra amount of dew-producing cold, so pernicious in the spring, and so valuable in the summer, that I attribute the excellence of the flavour of fruit submitted with judgment to its influence. I am aware, and have stated in my pamphlet, that different views are taken of the cause of this extra cold, but I purposely avoided enter- large into the scientific question, the result being : was required for my purpose. Indeed, in all matters connected with the organisation of plants, and the different influences and processes which produce their growth, ripening, and decay, great care and circumspection are required before hazarding an opinion. The results we may give fearlessly, but the causes, whether tested by induction, or even chemical analysis, are so delicately strung together as to tax to the utmost the judgment of our scientific men. John Foiintaine, Sonthacre Rectory^ Brandon. I at the end of the first season. It v.'ould, however, be a I great step to improvement if nurserymen had to curtail their number of varieties to 70, as " R. F." suggests. I I have on trial this year above 100 sorts of the flower- ing section of bedding Pelargoniums (that is to say, not including Tricolors, Bronzes, or variegated sorts). I have 54 varieties of these in separate beds, and yet out of these I shall only discard this year some eight or ten, among tnem Cybister, Glorious, Roi d'ltalie, Vesuvius, Glow, Masterpiece, Kentish Fire, W. Under- ,..u„ . - ^,.,thness : Apples, abundant ; Y^l \ ™°d.. Duchess. Some of these as Glorious and Roi fair crop ; Plums, fair crop ; Strawberries, abundant ; \ Hlf^''' ^ ^''^^^'^ '>=^^^ discarded before, but have Cherries, fair crop ; Raspberries, Gooseberries, and point Comspnbente. Condition of the Fruit Crops in Scotland.— In looking over your report on the condition of the fruit ' crops in Scotland this season, I find no returns from Caithness-shire, Sutherlandshire, Ross-shire, and In- verness-shire, and, as I have travelled through these counties lately, and been in almost every gentleman's place of note in them, I send you the following I Currants, abundant. Sutherland and Pears, average ; Plums, poor ; small fruits, abun- dant ; Cherries, average. Ross : Apples, Pears, and Apricots, average; Plums, moderate; Strawberries most abundant, and other small fruits, average. Inverness: Apples, half a crop ; Apricots, average ; Cherries, good ; Plums average ; Strawberries, average ; small fruits, good. John Dowiiie, South Frederick Street, Edinburgh. Gloxinias and Achimenes Flowering in Autumn. — It may not be generally known among those who possess a little greenhouse, and a frame or two only, that these pretty things may be had in flower by them through August and September. With only ordinary attention given to them, I have seen fine plants — indeed, I have some now — that have been brought on by no other means, and which are cleaner, more healthy, and quite as full of flower as those which are found in hothouses. In the beginning of May place the bulbs into well drained pots — size accord- ing to the size of the bulb — which have previously been a little more than two-thirds filled with equal parts of burned earth, wood-ashes, and good loam — if the last is not available, good garden soil. In covering allow a little room for water, but do not water them heard them so highly praised by others that I have extended their trial, thinking their merits would eventually be brought out. Some persons will be surprised at my discarding Vesuvius, but I have two others much better of the same shade of colour, and the flower trusses are not sufficiently large to make it attractive. One of the great faults of the system of bedding-out, is that too many go in for mere masses of colour, and do not make their gardens interesting by having suSicient variety. If, for instance, a long border is divided out into panels, and the dif- ferent divisions of the panels are mere repetitions one of another — as soon as you have seen one part you have seen the whole ; you may admire the general effect, but the details will be uninteresting. If, however, no two beds of Pelargoniums are alike, the effect of the whole is much softened, and the interest increased by comparing one sort with another. The best beds I have this year are Violet Hill, Grand Duke, Duke of Devonshire, Bayard, Vesta, Waltham Seedling, Maid of Kent, Lady Kirkland. Duchess of Sutherland is, as your correspondent observes, in some respects better than Lord Palmerston ; but again. Lady Kirkland is better than Duchess of Sutherland ; but they all three have faults. Dr. Lindley has long ago been discarded by me ; both Lord Derby, Clipper, and Rival are better ; ngatl dl thai ''ANGLO-AMERICAN" LA WN MOWER. A NUMKER of lawn-mawers of different sizes of this pattern were exliibited at Chlswick on Tuesday last, and gained the approbation of the several committees and of the exhibitors there present. The revolving cutter consists of six knives, placed diagonally, as usual. Tlicre are two driving wheels, and a collecting box in front of the knives, which may be removed at pleasure, in which case tlie grass is scattered. Behind the knives is a small wooden roller. The handle is in a direct line with the axles of the driving-wheels, a circumstance which adds greatly to the easy working of the machine ; which, from what we saw of it in operation, we are disposed to think very highly of. The sketch we give with this (fig. 254) will show the nature of the machine better than words could describe it. We incline to the opinion that it is much superior to the J^rchimedean, but we have had no oppor- tunity of testing its merits on slopes or on uneven ground. immediately, say not for a week, if the damp, and even after that, very sparingly until the leaves begin to appear. If this is not attended to the bulbs will in all probability rot. Calculate to have a hotbed made a fortnight previous, in which Cucumbers may be sown ; place the pots into this frame, they will there soon push on : care must be taken against too much moisture. A little air given at the back every night, just sufficient to let the steam escape, is neces- sary. Before the Cucumbers over-run them, place the pots into another warm frame — one prepared, it may be, for Melons ; before they get in the way there they may be placed in the greenhouse, where they will go on and flower, and well repay the trouble taken. Care must be taken that the bulbs are well dried off in the autumn. Afterwards put each sort into a little bag, with its name if desired, and place them into a warm cupboard, where they can remain quite dry through the winter and early spring. //". M. Marie Sisley. But a new oneof Peara Corsair, is likely to be the best of all this type. Violet Hill is my model of what a bedding Pelar- gonium ought '° be— free bloom- ing, short jointed, short stiff flower-stalk, large truss, dwarf habit ; but it requires high culti- vation, and the beds may be manured thoroughly, as it never grows coarse. I am sorry to say, however, that there is a duplicate Violet Hill in the trade, a very inferior flower with a straggling habit. I have seen it in two nurserymen's collections, and sent to them as the tme sort. The reason why Violet Hill is not more known and grown is, that it is difficult to get a stock of it, and nurserymen do not like it ~_. on that account. I have never thrown a plant away, and give away all I can spare. Some of the plants I am now bedding for the fourth season are sliil not more than 6 inches high, and it will never do any good with all those who starve and maltreat their plants during LAWN-MOWER Varieties of Pelargoniums. — In answer to your correspondent " R. F.," it would not do for nursery- men to erase too hastily old favourites among bedding Pelargoniums. There are no doubt in many lists far too many sorts, but the chief fault lies in recommend- ing new sorts as superior to the old ones without sufficient trial. Some raisers of Pelargoniums think their own seedlings superior to those of others, and they send out a new batch every year, both for the sake of profit, and to keep their names before the public, inde- pendently of their merits. There are others, again, who devote great care and attention to the subject, and who never send a seedling out till they have fully proved it, and are convinced of its superior merit. There are, of course, a great many nurserymen who are not raisers, but who merely propagate those sent out by others ; they are obliged to take these seedlings on the credit of the raiser's reputation, or on the recom- mendation of those who have seen them flowering. It ^ . „ takes, however, at least three seasons to fully try the , pleasure that I leam from the honorary secretary of the merits of new Pelargoniums, although where there are , Melroplitan Society for the Encouragement of Florists' already so many good ones it is easy to discard some Flowers, that at their next exhibition, to be held at the C. P. Peach. Orchid Cultivation.— After a long silence, your conespondent, " G. H.," again comes forward in defence of his favourite theory, and, as usual, supports his views by extracts from a work upon tropical climates. Now, I think it is worthy of notice that " G. H." has brought forward no examples of his own cultivation since January (see p. 76) ; and further, that the spike of Odontoglossum Alexandra then exhibited is the only specimen of the cool Orchids that he has brought forward at any time this year. Now, when we consider the very prominent position occupied by "G. H." in this discussion, it does appear somewhat remarkable that there should be such an utter absence of home-grown examples, your correspondent appearing to rely almost exclusively upon the Travellers' Library. Far be it from me to undervalue the information to be derived from such a source, but I may say that if "G. H." wishes to convince the Orchid-growers of lire present day that cool treatment is a mistake, he must bring forward home-grown examples of his own system — or, as he puts it, arguments require examples to the point to convince. Many examples of cool treatment have been given in these pages at different times by various writers, thus confirming their theory by their practice, and "G. H." will do well to follow their example. We can appreciate good plants, and honour the man that will show us how to grow them better than we do at present, but we do not appreciate all book and no plants. Ex-Cantab. Table Decorations at Flower Shows. — Few can have failed to observe how deficient in taste and judgment have been many of the displays of dinner- table decorations lately seen at the London flower shows. Much of this has been, in my opinion, attri- butable to a want of understanding between the exhi- and the prize givers. It is, the I102 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agncultural Gazette. [August 26, 1871. Crystal Palace on the 30th inst. , the competitors will be given to understand that no decorations will be allowed round the margin of the tables for a distance of 1 5 inches from the edge, and that the tables will all be of one size, S feet by 4 feet. This is a move in the right direction, tending to put all exhibitors to a great extent upon an equality. We shall now see what are the views of the various decorators, both amateur and professional, upon the quantity and variety which looks best upon a table of a definite size. IV. T. At p. 1042 your correspondent rily the professional class, and complains that there was not room left upon the tables for glasses, plates, &c., the tables being crowded to groaning. Had he read the schedule, he would not have fallen into this error. The Talace Company, in their schedule, wisely invited tables of 9 feet, to be furnished florally only. From this arrangement designs were expected which, collectively, would be suitable for a very large party and which would also be available for a very small one. From the design to which the first prize in the profes- sional class was awarded, a table was shown florally decorated for a company of at least 100 persons, and which could be so reduced as to accommodate com- panies down to a couple of persons. Again, he alludes to wet sand ; but here he errs, as no sand was used in the decorations which, professionally, were placed first. Now your correspondent should be more scru- pulous how he reports upon matters which require a carefiil and refined taste. There were, upon this occasion, the bulk of the old exhibitors contesting, including the names of Buster, Chard, &.z. — exhibitors whose taste has been extolled from time to time in your pages, besides very many others who, exhibition after exhibition, have distinguished them- selves ; and, altogether, there never was before such a display as was rendered upon this occa- sion. Mr. Standish, likewise, has gone far beyond reasonable bounds, when replying to the invitation of "D., Deal." There is nothing new— indeed, much very old— in the idea of decorations upon the cloth ; and I can fairly and practically negative the statement of Mr. Standish that this fashion has been predominant this season. I can affirm that very few of the rank and feshion of Belgravia will allow upon their tables any- thing so devoid of grace and beauty as the arrangement propounded by him. What we should all aim at is to inform, not mislead, those who are unable to attend these great trials of skill to judge for themselves ; and I will leave the readers of these pages to judge for themselves whether the remarks of Mr. Standish are likely to bring about less absurd arrangements than were to be seen in any design to which he refers. Ranshy Tanloii, F.R.H.S., The Niirsiries, Epsom. The Potato Disease. — I bend low in the presence of Mr. Fenn, and I am ready to subscribe for a gold medal in bas-relief, emblazoned with his best "taters," to be presented by the marshalled hosts of Potato eaters throughout the three kingdoms, andtobewornbyhimas a badge of honour for evermore. No man is more worthy of such honour. He speaks and writes with an autho- rity on these matters that other scribes cannot pretend to. Still, somehow, as I read his last letter, I had the impression tliat he was taking us in and doing for us, and enjoying the fun of our discomfiture. He fills our eyes with the dust of zoospores, takes our breath away with showers of white rain, hurries us with his Potatos on to high and dry ridges ; and then, when Nature is nervous, overdone, severely put to it, finishes readers and **taters" off together, by making both the special victims of a series of shat- tering shocks from fully-charged electric batteries, that take one and leave another in the most inscrutable manner : all of which probably is meant to teach us that the Potato disease is an inscrutable mystery, or, in other words, is caused by electricity. But Mr. Fenn, as is his wont, gives us practical lore with these trans- cendental theories. He tells us how to scotch this terrible snake, the Potato disease, by growing the Potatos on ridges, high and dry, with plenty of space between. The plan is a good one, only it will not cure the rot. Some years ago 1 had the same recipe from Belvoir. I brought it, and the very sorts, specially Paterson's Victoria, which had proved disease-proof there, home with me to Hardwicke. The ridgi varieties so grown altogether. I agree with Mr. Fenn about the time that the disease attacks the Potato. There is a certain time of the year, and a certain stage in the growth of the Potato, which may be truly defined as the time of disease. But why skin-setting time ? Mr. Fenn answers, " because then Nature is most put to it." And he proceeds to compare this skin-setting to the full swelling time of vegetables, and the stoning time of fruits. I fail to discover any analogy between the processes. On the contrary, the skin may be held to set because growth has ceased, while the stoning of fruit makes large demands on the vital energies of plants, and is followed by a second and rapid enlarge- ment. I cannot see how, upon any comprehensible theory of over-exhaustion, the Potato should become a special victim of disease at that particular period of growth . Finally, I conclude that the electrical hypothesis is a guess at truth, and nothing more. Does not, indeed, the immunity of Mr. Fenn's seedlings under glass dis- prove the agency of electricity ; or is it seriously con- tended that the passage of electric currents through glass would rob them of their disease-originating force ? Or, is the electricity powerless unless associated with the white rain, which forms the tail of effete thunder and lightnmg, whatever the latter may be ? Perhaps those seedlings, yet so green and promising, have not yet reached the skin-setting, that is the disease- hitting, stage. No one who knows Mr. Fenn's intensely practical devotion to his favourite tuber, will begrudge him this outing on the high bracing Alps of speculation. When he returns to the sound level of his most successful practice, I woulc respectfully call his attention to the views pro pounded in your leader of last week. As the raiser of many new and good Potatos, I know no one so fit work out the great problem of providing us with stra that will ripen so early and keep so late that they may be safely harvested before the disease comes. It seems as if this were the only possible mode of saving the noble tuber from plague and pestilence and sudden death — that is, the disease. Mr. Fenn will, I am sure, forgive the freedom of these criticisms. I challenge him to pay them back with interest, full measure, pressed down and running over, and I thank him by anticipation for his hearty response. I took his advice, and sharpened — no, my pen is always sharp — and put my shoulder to the wheel, and this is what has come of it. And as to science, it has done nothing for us yet, in the way of cure, in this matter of the Potato disease — I wish it had ; but I have more faith in Mr. Fenn to help us out of this utter Slough of Despond than all the philosophers, and I trust he will inform us what he thinks of the early harvesting and late keeping remedy in your next. D. T. Fish, F.K.H.S. Scale on Vines and Lemon Trees. — Will some of your correspondents say what is the most effectual way of getting rid of scale on Vines and Lemon trees ? I have had every leaf of my Lemon tree washed above and underneath with strong solution of Gishurst Com- pound, cazelin oil, and carbolic acid, and powdered with sulphur ; yet the leaves are covered again with scale in a couple of days. The above liquids were left on the leaves. The carbolic acid destroyed the scale and leaf too. R. £. The Effects of Frost on Vegetation.— The hypothesis of Messrs. Prillieux and Mer, as set forth rather prominently in your article (p. 1064), may pos- sibly be true ; but it makes too great a demand upon our faith, until the reasons are given for assuming that the modus operandi by which plants are killed by undue exposure to cold is "their loss of water, and the conse- quent drying of their tissues." [Rather the passage of the water out of the cells into the spaces between the cells, the latter becoming desiccated.] So far as we are informed in the article referred to, this idea of the desiccation of the plant seems to be the corner- stone of the hypothesis. But is there any reason to believe that a tender plant exposed to extreme cold, in an atmosphere saturated with moisture, will be desiccated, or that it will not be killed? We are also told that, in May, 1869, after a hot day, certain trees were injured by frost in the night, but that in certain other trees on the same occasion " the water which had been squeezed out by the cold was afterwards re-absorbed, and no injury took place." What proof is there that water was '* squeezed out " or "re-absorbed," or that the water was not a mere deposit of dew, which disappeared before the rays of he sun? If the blood of an animal were once * squeezed out " by cold, it would be a hardy assertion 0 say that it could ever be re-absorbed, and restored to circulation ; and I see no more reason to believe that the extravasated sap, or blood of plants, could ever be absorbed, and restored to its proper and innumerable cells. The action of cold upon life is a very compli- cated and obscure subject, but there seems little reason to believe that it has anything to do with mechanical essure. It may be true that the " so-called laws of ;at have only a limited application to the facts of getable life," but they afford a very complete and reliable explanation of all the phenomena in which heat cold is concerned. A Meteorologist. Melons.— Is it the fact that to grow Vegetable Mar- ws in the vicinity of a Melon bed is destructive to the quality of the latter fruit, through the agency of the bees conveying the pollen of one to the other, or any other cause? For two seasons together my Melons have had little better flavour than Turnips, or at best Marrows, and, as my gardener selected the seed from first-rate sorts and different places, I can only account for the failure in the way above suggested. Am I right ? and, if so, how is the matter to be remedied in future ? At what distance can it be safe to grow both Melons and Marrows? 5. P. [We should hardly pect foreign pollen to alter the character of the fruit. It rather that c' ' been stated that aflected. Eds.] Gladioli. — It is gratifying that your correspondent Glaieul," in your issue of August 12, endorsed much that I said relative to the Gladiolus, but as he has made a remark of an unfair character relative to the Messrs. Kelway, and has also said something not very complunentary about M. Souchet, I am induced to trouble you with a few lines by way of rejoinder. " Glaieul's" opinions are not supported by facts when he speaks disparagingly of the Messrs. Kelwa/s seed- lings, and, in common fairness to these eminent growers, the following statement should be published : — Refering to the report of the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society (the highest recognised autliority) of August, 1868, I find that three First-class Certificates were awarded to the Messrs. Kelway for seedling Gladioli, one of which was considered so superior by the editor of the " Floral Magazine" that he figured the flower in the number for October, 1868, and thus describes it: "Julia, the flower figured in our plate, is a large, well-shaped flower, very much in the style of that fine flower of M. Souchet's, Madame Furtado, and shows that Mr. Kelway is not only a successful grower, but that he has obtained a good strain of seedlings." At the Royal Horticultural Society, in August, 1869, the same English raisers were awarded two First-class Certificates for seedhngs, "One of which," says the Gardeners^ Chroniele ** is the boldest and finest shaped flower of its race." During the present month the Messrs. Kelway have received no less than eight First-class Certificates from the Royal Horticultural Society ; and the general impression at the last exhibition of the Society was, that the other seedlings were not of an ordinary character, and that they would certainly compare favourably with the Continental varieties. Any one knowing the character of our English growers, is aware of the scrupulous care they e.xercise before pronouncing a seedling worthy to be placed in their list. The fine names and alluring descriptions of new sorts, as put forth in some of the Continental catalogues, have led to much disappointment in the growing of such sorts, and I need only appeal to both amateur and professional growers to receive confirmation of the statement. I observed that of the 33 varieties issued on the Conti- nent in 1S69, not more than six were exhibited at the Kensington show of August 16. With regard to ' ' Glaieul's " remark that M. Souchet could not com- pete last year at Kensington because he was in too weak a state of health, I can hardly understand its meaning, except as being of an uncomplimentary character. That M, Souchet's cultivation went on pretty much as usual I have proof in the fact that the catalogues are made up with his seedlings much as usual ; and surely his establishment is not so inefficient but that some one could be found to whom to entrust a few specimens to England. F. IV., Croydon. Your correspondent's remarks on Gladioli (p. 1041) tend to convey the impression that no good seedlings have issued from our establishment. If he will refer to the awards of the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, South Kensington, re- ported in the Gardeners' Chronicle, he will find that 14 First-class Certificates have been awarded on the fol- lowing dates, viz., August 18, 1868; August 17, 1869; August 2 and 16, 1 87 1 ; and in addition upwards of 30 more at other exhibitions, including four at the Crystal Palace. James Kelway, The Nurseries, Langport, A Fruitful Cool Peach-house.— yi;>/-(7/oj of the scanty crops of Peaches and Nectarines out-of-doors this may 1 ' or covered with stunted fruit — the deep scars left by one of the most inclement seasons ever known ; inside, in many cases, one of the richest harvests of choice fruits that has been garnered for years. One such has recently been adverted to in your columns, as seen at Kingston Hall. I saw another and a fuller one to-day at Bury St. Edmund's, in the garden of Chas. Beard, Esq. To this gentleman's love of horticulture we are indebted for his patent mode of glazing, and his glass walls. Like all true philosophers, he was anxious to test his theories by the touchstone of expe- rience before offering them to the public. With this object he erected several houses, of various shapes and sizes, for different purposes in his o^vn garden. Some were devoted to fruit, others to plant-growing. All these early houses were, I believe, made of galvanised iron. In one of these original structures, erected nine or ten years ago, and which has not cost a crown for repairs or paint since, is now to be seen one of the finest crops of stone fruit that it is possible to find anywhere. The house is a lean-to, placed against a wall 10 feet high at back, and has a front elevation of 2 feet, wholly of glass. It is 12 feet wide, and 40 long. Trees are trained on a portion of the back wall, for several of them have not reached the top, and on a trellis within 15 or 1 8 inches of the glass roof. Some of these roof-trees are likewise small, so that a good portion of the upper part of the trellis is not clothed at all. Probably it is not too much to affirm that one- sixth of the entire area of the roof and wall are uncovered. Notwithstanding this curtailment of fruit- bearing space, the quantity of fruit now ripening in this modest-looking house, which could be erected of virtually indestructible materials for something like £(x>, is astounding. On the roof trellises 38^ dozen Peaches, 274 dozen Nectarines, and on one Hamburgh Vine 90 bunches of Grapes ; on the back wall, &c. , 45 dozen Apricots, Plums, &c., several of which have been gathered. Independent of the Grapes, over 100 dozen of stone fruit from a cool Peach- house, that is secured from all the ills of such a wmter and spring as the past by the aid August 26, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1 103 of these roofs alone, speaks volumes for their efficiency. Neitlier are these small or indifferent fruits ; on the contrary, the majority are of fair size and marvellously rich in colourmg. Nectarines ' are glowing with scarlet, almost all round alike, and the Peaches are painted with the most exquisite tints. [We can confirm this. Eds.] Even Galande and Noblesse Peaches are suffused with softest pinky feathering, on a rich creamy ground, which evidences to the very highest lusciousness of flavour. The entire house and .the trees are flooded with light, and the result is seen in the unusual vividness o' colouring, and tasted in the quality of the fruit What surprised me most, however, was to learn that this house had had no heat, none whatever during the late most severe winter and trying spring, and yet how often we hear that these metallic houses are colder than others. I have already pointed out, in your columns, that Beard's patent rafter is probably as warm, or warmer, than a wooden one of equal, or stronger scantling. The conductive power of the metal is cut short in the middle, or rather close to the outside, by the intervention of one thickness of glass and two of stout felt between the f rafter and the upper covering bar ; this arrests conduction, and effectually baulks the egress o( heat from, or the ingress of cold to the house. It is is impossible, therefore, that the metallic rafter can facilitate the loss of heat ; and as the glass used is stout, 26 oz. to the foot, these houses are warm as the majority of wooden ones. Such was my opinion from the beginning, and certainly a fruit crop such as now fills this house, grown without aid from arti- ficial warmth in such a winter and spring as the past, completely confirms it. These metallic houses are not exceptionally cold ; the glass is warm as any other glass of equal thickness, and neither heat nor cold can pass directly through the metallic rafters by conduction. Certainly it is most satisfactoiy to find that this splendid crop was produced without any artificial heat. I ought to add that Mr. Beard, who is a keen gardener as well as a skilful mechanician, and an ardent experimental philosopher, has a tlieory about his success. He is a great advocate for skilful venti- lation ; and because it ought to be skilful he has turned his attention to mechanical contrivances for placing it under immediate and facile control. His principle is to ventilate at the lowest and the highest points — the ground line and the .ipex — but never, unless during fine genial summer weather, to open the two sets of ventilators together. It matters less, he thinks, than is generally supposed which ventilator is opened ; but till the end of May in cool fruit-houses, never open both at the same time. Draughts are ruin to fruit trees in bloom, or the tender leaves of stone fruits in the early spring. During ungenial spring weather don't trouble much about air at all. Should the sun run up the temperature a good many degrees it matters little. If forced by bright weather to admit air, give but little, and beware of the wind rushing in or down upon your trees. There is probably a good deal more in this than might appear at first sight. This much is at least cer- tain, Mr. Beard has achieved a great success, and as a faithful chronicler I could hardly do less than reveal, for the thoughtful consideration of your readers, the chief causes of that success, as they appear to him. I am authorised to say, in conclusion, that the house may be seen by any respectable persons interested in horti- culture. But those who intend to visit this rich little shrine of Pomona must do it quickly, as the fruit is ripening fast, and the altar will speedily be stripped of its richest offerings. D. T. Fish, Respectmg the trial being carried out with the present piping m the arcades of the Royal Horticultural Society, we see several objections to this, and it will be time enough to enter into that matter when the subject IS fairly set on foot by the properly constituted authorities. Finally, we observe that if ever what is worth doing at all is worth doing well, surely this is one of those subjects to which the adage applies. In order to frame a more comprehensive set of laws than those published for the proposed Paris trial of 1869-70, it is to be hoped, after a general committee is properly constituted, and a finance committee and a com mittee of organisation elected, one of their first acts wil be to receive evidence and suggestions from such practical manufacturers as are willing to compete, and so collect the best materials wherewith to form the basis of the rules by which the trial is to be governed, 7. Weeks &- Co., King's Soa J, Chelsea. Fertilisation of Lesche ■as Darwin who first pointed t ■as injurious in the long run ot in the vegetable kingdon laultia formosa ut that self-fertilis; and this important fact by weighty evidi alone, but also ii ppened the other day to exam ain flowers of that somewhat ise plant, Leschenaultia formosa, and was agreeably surprised to find it furnished with everything needed in order to insure the most perfect fertilisation of the stigma by pollen from its own flower, or, to speak more correctly, every provision is made for the pollen to become located in the stigmatic cavity of the style, although the production of perfect seed is not at all common by this plant, — a fact rather surprising to a superficial observer, since the most perfect arrangements are made for the pollen to become not only deposited, as I said before, but retained there very effectually by the peculiar construction of the stigma itself. In order to make myself fully understood a few figures will be necessaiy, and it will be as well to state at the commencement of my descrip- tion that the pollen is shed by the anthers before the expansion of the flower, as is the case with many plants, those belonging to the Leguminosa; more especially. When young, or in the unexpanded bud, the style is Trial of Hot-water Boilers.— While thanking you for kindly inserting our letter, and apologising for troubling you again so soon, we ve hope that cause will not be given us to say more upon this subject, at least until the proposed trial has been put into some definite form. We do not fail fully to appreciate the complimentary observat' ' " D. T. Fish upon our former suggestions, and duly reciprocate his sentiinents, that " the established boiler makers have had but scant justice in recent controversies." However, we have now hope for better things. With respect to his proposal that the period of trial named by us should be curtailed, we would respectfully remark, that in matters purely floricultural we should hesitate before differing from him, but on the subject of heating by hot water, our friend must generously excuse us if we speak with less reserve. Now, without entering upon a host of explanations, which would look like lecturing others, we simply assert, and are prepared to show, that a boiler (especially those of the horizontal form) rarely exhibits its real capabilities during the first day or two of its operations, hence the period named by us should at any rate form the minimum ; and if any alteration be made, it would be better to prolong rather than shorten the time. Again, Mr. Fish repudiates the extension of trial to system E upon the ground that the whole of the water is driven '* by caloric alone," and that we "thus dispense with the aid of gravity." This one sentence clearly indicates how little our theorists understand the matter, because practically the "aid of gravity" is much more depended upon in system u than in A, but to what extent it is one of the objects of the trial to ascertain, as upon this point hmges to a great degree the vital question of a deep, a shallow stokehole, ' ' of this invariable self-fertilisation? If so, how can we account for the Leguminosa;, most of which are naturally fertilised by pollen from tlieir o%vn flowers, for they— like the plant at present under consideration —in many cases shed their pollen before the coroUa expands ? Perhaps some of your numerous and intelli- gent readers can inform us if they have ever gathered perfect seed from Leschenaultia formosa. F. ■ W. B. [A very interesting case. Eds.] Standards, Pyramids, and Bushes, for Orchard- house Culture.— It is now some 12 or 15 years smce I commenced growing fruit trees as standards and half-standards in my orchard-houses ; their head, formed on the tabular system, is described m the " Orchard House," p. 87. For some five or six years I was much charmed with this mode, but I now find that it is most difficult to keep these tabular trees, some of them 15 yeai-s old, in a proper state, even with the most severe pruning, for their heads become too thick, so that much of the fruit is hidden by the foliage from the sun, and is colourless. After all, for large trees there is nothing to compare with the pyramid. Many of my trees are now 9 to 10 feet in height, and the fruit at the bottom of the trees, resting on the pots, is as large as that S feet from the ground, and, what is valuable, it is eight or ten days later. Pyramids require skilful culture, but when well done, they are unrivalle'd. For forcing, bushes are to be recommended, and even for orchard-house culture they do well. My bush trees twenty years old are marvels of health and fertility. T. R., Sauibriage-iiiorth. im a very poor phys'ologist, but things." I suffer bat little here on the apex of Okeford ; but at shorter than the five stamens, the anthers of which slightly cohere by their margins at this stage of their development, as is the case also in Composite plants. At this time the mouth or stigmatic cavity of the style is open, as at i, fig. 255, which represents the style after it has forced its way up the tube formed by the coherent anthers, rupturing them until they only cohere by their apices. When the style has lengthened sufficiently to bring the apex, or stigma, in close continguity with the introse anthers, the latter shed their pollen, and from their peculiar position around the open stigma it is nearly impossible that any can escape, seeing that the anthers form a close basket, so to speak, round the apex of the style, and the whole being closely enveloped by the, as yet, unexpanded flowers. After the pollen is shed from the anthers the flowers expand, and the style elongates still more, but the mouth of the 2-lipped stigma becomes fiVmly closed, as shown at 2, but in every flower I ex- imined (35) I found pollen located in these closed, oox-like stigmas, as at 3, which shows one partly opened by force. The flowers themselves are irregul; and tubular, the upper three lobes of the corolla being slightly reflexed, the two lower, which form the keel, are projected at a right line with the tube, and the style and stigma lie on these after the full expansion of the flowers. The lower portion of the stignia is bearded, as shown in the figure (2, 3), and immediately above the hairy portion it is slightly glutinous. Now, looking at the above-mentioned facts, one is led to inquire how it is that a plant like the present — the flowers of which are invariably fertilised with their own pollen— comes to be comparatively barren. I myself have never seen seed produced, but a well-known plant-grower and horticulturist informs me he has obtained seed from it, but whether naturally or by artificial fertilisation with pollen from other flowers, I position at present to state with that degree of certainty requisite in inquiries of this descrip ifuai question 01 a deep, I'on. The question naturally enough arises. Has the their entire abolition. I plant degenerated and become sterile in consequence Hoar Frosts. — I ; facts are stubborn from hoar-frost, being Rushton my garden was in the valley, close to the river- side, and there hoar-frosts made sad havoc, till I covered my Peach trees with sheets at night. I put them on early (4 P.M.), and took them off at 10 A.M., as quick transition from cold to sudden exposure to the sun's rays is most mischievous. Before I sheeted my trees I grew literally nothing, but after I sheeted ni\- trees, and kept off " Amateur's " friendly dews, I grew nine years on three Peach trees (Royal George) 4560 Peaches. The valley, for eight or ten weeks oft\and on, like Moscow in the Napoleonic winter. I was obliged to cover my Ashleaf Kidneys with a trough, he roof of a house. Tlio.se exposed to the hoar- frosts were cut down and blackened ; those kept dry by the troughs felt no eflfect of the hoar or black frosts. . ; of the sun, following the frosts, do great mis- chief At p. 1064, the Editors express my experience, from the words, "if this go on freely," down to the words, " is the exposure to the sun." I call " Ama- ir's " attention to them. W. F. Radclyjge. Hardy Plants for Table Decoration.— Several of your conespondents during the last three years have been advocating the claims of hardy plants for decora- tive purposes. It will be to them a pleasure to hear that out of four 1st prizes, which were awarded at the last flower show at the Crystal Palace for table decora- tions generally, two of those prizes were taken with hardy flowers and Ferns ; and this on an occasion when the competitors were numerous, and their flowers generally were good. Your reporter is of opinion that the hardy flowers used were "a comparatively poor selection." I made a note of what the selection was, and how they "were grouped. If your reporter will favour us with some other selections, I, for one, shall be much obliged to him. The vase that took the 1st prize for a drawing-room table contained Nympheea alba, Gypsophila muralis, a large species of Briza, and common male Fern. There were three pairs of vases on the dinner-table to which I allude ; one pair had, below, large deep blue Delphinium and Coreopsis lanceolata, whde above them were spikes of Pentste- mon barbatus, and grasses ; a second pair had, below, scarlet Gladiolus and double-flowered Spirasa Filipen- dula, the prominent flowers in the upper part being Campanula rotundifolia ; the third pair consisted of Nymphaaa alba and Statice latifolia below, with grasses above. Gypsophila muralis was used freely throughout give lightness. The foliage was confined to the fronds of the male Fern. The colouring on this table soft and delicate, compared with the brilliancy of the scarlet Pelargoniums and yellow Calceolarias on some neighbouring tables, that many were disposed to pass it by as wanting in effect. Others with more patience, though doubtful at first, became admirers of the arrangement when they had looked on it long enough to forget the more gaudy displays close by. I trust the success achieved on this occasion with hardy plants will assist in bringing them into more general requisition for such purposes. IV. T. [Our reporter's objections apply to the "weedy" look which some of the vases alluded to presented, and which might have been obviated by selecting flowers of stouter habit. Lightness is one thing, but a straggling habit is another. Eds.] Potatos. — I have dug up all my Potatos ripe, and find more damage than I suppos'ed when I last wrote. I have to thank Mr. Rivers for the Royal Ashleafs and Mr. Fenn for the Lapstones, Gryfle Castle Seedlmg, and Pebble Whites— of the Lapstone strain ; deducting the bad ones they are an excellent crop. Of the Napoleons, Early Uprights, and a friend's seedling, three parts out I104 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ae-riciiltural Gazette, [August 26, 1871. of four were bad. Of the Yorkshire Hero and Taylor's Yorkshire Hybrid at least one-half are bad. The Potatos are very fine this year. The crop of all, if un- molested, would have been three quarters of a sack per perch. I am, on the whole, quite satisfied. As we dig we plant Cabbages, or sow Early Stone Turnips, so that my ground will not owe nie much. The Editors' advice, is good. " Get early ripeners, and among them some that will keep till Ashleafs come in." Get these : Rivers' Royal Ashleaf, or Veitch's, or Myatt's Prolific — all good sorts to begin with. Plant Gryffe Castle Seedling, of the class Regents, a white round Potato, of good quality, a good cropper, an early ripener, and with short haulm. Deep-eyed Potatos, and such as have strong haulm, are not early ripeners, and suffer more than short-haulmed varieties in disastrous seasons. Gryffe Castle is not a late keeper, but Royal Ashleaf is, and it will take you to Christmas. Then the Lap- stones— best of all Potatos— Pebble White, Hero, and Taylor's Hybrid — all early ripeners, late keepers, and with short or moderate haulm, will serve you till new Potatos come in. I never have a bad Potato for dinner. Do not manure Potatos at planting time, but manure highly for preceding crops : make your ground as light as you can : plant with a stick, as it causes drainage under the roots. The origin of moral evil and the Potato disease alike confound me — I never could discover a Fungus or insect. I think it must arise from electrical rainf : it never occurs in dry seasons. Probably the stalk is overcharged with more moisture than it and the leaves can elaborate, and the solanic juices poison the Potatos. I merely guess, and cry, " O dark, dark, dark." IV. F. Radclyffe. [The whole course of the Potato disease is perfectly well known, but the nie.ans of cure or of prevention remain at present mysterious. Eds.] I think Mr. Fenn has done much during the past 20 years towards attaining that desideratum men- tioned in your leading article (p. 1064), namely, the "multiplication of good keeping early varieties " of the Potato. Only those who enjoy the friendship of Mr. Fenn know howpatientlyand persistently he has worked in this direction. At my seed grounds at Bedfont there were lifted, a few days ago, several of Mr. Fenn's seedlings, all of which have now been tested for three years at least ; and of these some 12 or 15 were selected and named, subject to a fourth and even fifth year's proof. I dare say something will be heard of these ere long. Mr. Fenn's determination first of all to secure definite results in the way of his seedlings, and then to thoroughly test and fix the desired characteristics, regardless of the time and toil expended on the work, is worthy of the highest commendation. Tiie infiux of coarse American varieties during the past few years, which, quite irre- spective of their quality, have been sold at fancy prices because they were American varieties, may perhaps have diverted the attention of some from a regard to quality to that of mere quantity ; but the disappoint- ment many have already experienced will cause them to welcome anything of approved character that has been carefully tested. When the reaction sets in with a full flow, Mr. Fenn will, I have no doubt, be prepared to offer, in the place of large tubers of coarse texture and indifferent quality, something entirely opposite in character, that it will be both pleasant and profitable to cultivate. Richard £)eaii^ Ealing^ IV. I procured in the spring of last year i lb. of Early Rose Potato, which I cut into 60 sets, and the result was 60 lb. of Potatos. I took i lb. from them this spring, which I cut into 40 sets, and the result this season is 72 lb. of very fine Potatos ; 3 lb. of these •were diseased. I purchased this season i lb. each of Peerless and Climax, and the result is as follows :— Peerless, 57 sets, produced 86 lb., of which 14 lb. were diseased ; Climax, 62 sets, produced 60 lb., 3 lb. being diseased. The tubers of Peerless are very large and heavy, and of the Climax a fair average size. I think the American Potatos have proved less liable to disease than many of our older sorts. I have some Regents, Early Frame, and Paterson's Victoria, which are not worth lifting, while the Early Rose has produced a fine crop from a peck of cut sets. I lifted 10 bush., and found but very few diseased, j^o/i/i Bartattdy Gr.^ Wriltle Park. In the spring of the year I purchased i lb. of Bresee's Peerless Potato, and cut them into 46 sets. I planted them February 16, dug them up August 22, and the produce was 135 lb. ^any of the tubers weighed 2 lb. They were planted in the ordinary kitchen garden soil, without any additional manure. Thomas I'cnJa; The Gardens, Sharpham, South Dnwt. hope before he again gives a description of the heating arrangement at Kingston he will himself explore the chambers under the Vine border, and thus refresh his memory. First we had hot-water pipes under the external border, which I deny, and now we have "an arch turned slightly underneath to admit of ventilators to the chambers." These exist only in Mr. Westland's imagination, as there is neither arch nor ventila,tor to be found here, as represented by him. Should any one have a wish to explore the chambers under the Vine borders (and I hope some one may turn up to verify the case), I must here say that they cannot get under three of our Vine borders, unless they can get through a pigeon-hole 9 inches by 8. Still this difficulty may be s I myself, three years ago, had a man-hole cut in the front wall of the early vinery, so that I could get under the border with thermometers for my own personal observation. Into this any appioved person may get, and it will illustrate the whole range, as they, 1 presume, are all alike. Should they find two 4-inch pipes under the external border, or an arch turned slightly with ventilators to the chambers, a; represented by Mr. Westland, then, and not till then, will I acknowledge that any misstatement has been made by your two correspondents or myself. I this morning measured the chamber under the border. It is exactly 18 feet from the front wall outward. The two so-called bottom-heat pipes are under the front path, just 3 feet 6 inches inside the house. Any heat that may come from them enters the chambers under the borders through a few pigeon-holes, 9 inches by 8 inches. But it was impossible for them to heat to any extent. Never having seen the original syste work I may not judge ; but as Mr. Westland has not denied that beautiful crops were produced by it, my imagination still points to its having something practical about it. Now for my ungrace fulness. As your first correspondent mooted this heating question in your columns on June 24 (: p. 810), and Mr. Westland's visit did not take pU until July 11 and 12, I leave your readers to judge whether he could have spoken on the subject when h I think he might have given me the first opportunity of correcting any misstatement, if one had been made by either of your correspondents, through my informat' instead of rushing into this unprofitable and unedifying controversy. William Cntickshanh, Kingston, Derby. Aiigust 21. [Enough of this. Eds.] Veitch's Autumn Giant Cauliflower.- 1 was surprised to read "J. C. N.'s" remarks, at p. 1041 the above vegetable. I have at this time about 1000 plants of it in different stages, and have only had occasion to pull up about four or five "rogues" amongst them. Probably the fact of "J. C. N.'s" seed being sown too early may have something to do with the running prematurely, though I myself sowed a pinch of seed in February which turned out well. I am of opinion that when this Cauliflower becomes more known, and seed is a little more plentiful, it will be prized as the best winter Cauliflower we have. I had a small plantation last year, and, from what I saw of them, I should have no hesitation in undertaking to furnish a supply of it until the end of February, with proper successional sowings. Some of ours were taken up and put in the vegetable shed, with a little moist leaf-soil amongst the roots, the largest leaves being cut off, and they kept in good condition for six weeks. Previous to being taken up they stood 10* of frost without injury, and the only protection they had was a few leaves broken over them. Our plants were seen in October and November last year by several good gardeners, who all pronounced them to be the finest autumn Cauliflowers they had ever seen. If sown in the middle of April it will come in well the beginning of October anywhere in the south or south-west. Gr., Hackivood Park, Basingstoke. Water Weeds. — In reply to the inquiry of " W. E. " (at p. 1041), in reference to water weeds, I may state that some years ago the lakes in the Botanic Gardens at Manchester were one mass of Anacharis Alsinastrum, Myriophylhim, Chara, Pota- mogeton, &c. They used to be mown down several times during the season, and laborious work it was to get through the matted mass. So rapid was the growth df the Anacharis, that it was com- pletely the master of the lakes. Ultimately swans were introduced, and they soon proved themselves the best extirpators of these obnoxious weeds ; for, in a short space of time they quite cleared the lakes of the Anacharis, &c. If " W. E." has no swans on his lake, I would advise him to try a few couples, and I think he will be pleased to find that swans are useful water scavengers, as well as noble, elegant, and graceful aquatic fowls — an ornament to any sheet of water. To have his lake concreted W0UI4 be an expensive affair, so the swans are the simplest remedy. Thomas Campbell, II, Thttrza Street, Chorllon Road, Manchester. Poisoning by Fungi. — A week or two ago a case was reported of a family being poisoned by unwhole- some Fungi near Falmouth. A woman and two children partook of the Fungi ; and, according to the printed statement of T. Stokes Guppy, M. D., of Fal- mouth, "no symptoms of poisoning occurred till about 14 hours after [an unusually long period], when violent vomiting and purging came on, followed some hours after by delirium in the mother, and convulsions in the children." After lingering for three days, both children, aged respectively 6 and 13, died, but the mother gradually recovered. Dr. Guppy also states that three fowls were killed by some of the Fungi left being thrown out to them, and that a gentleman in the same village, about two weeks previously, threw some suspicious Fungi (probably the same species) to eight chickens, and they all died after partaking of them. Some half-dozen specimens " of the kind eaten by the Rusdens, picked from the same place by one of the family," were kindly forwarded to me from Mr. Guppy (through the Rev. J. E. Jones-Machen) for examination. They proved to be the well-known Champignon (Marasmius Oreades). They differed slightly from the normal type, in being very strongly scented, and having the gills connected with veins. No species of Fungus enjoys a better name than Marasmius Oreades : Mr. Berkeley says it is " the very best of all our Fungi," and that "no species may be used with less fear," yet I have long been disposed to think it occasionally dangerous. I therefore had the six Falmouth specimens cooked at once, and I ate them. I suffered no serious incon- venience at the time ; but an hour or two after the usual symptoms of poisoning by Fungi came on, with burning of the throat, irresistible depression of spirits anddisordered stomach ; but I soon got round. Ihaveno doubt (and this is why I write to you) that Marasmius Oreades worked the mischief. I have several times suffered slightly from it, and once seriously, but at that time I laid the charge against an immediate ally. As the account of the latter incident has been published, and is confirmatory of the sometimes dangerous character of Marasmius Oreades, I cannot do better than repeat it here : — ■' I think I was once poisoned by it (M. urens) in Bed- fordshire. I well remember, on my return home late one evening, gathering a quantity of Champignons for supper ; as it was dark, I imagine I gathered both species (M, Oreades and M. urens). I did not cook them myself, neither did I examine them after they were taken from the basket, but I noticed at supper time that they were unusually hot, and I thought the old woman who cooked them had put loo much pepper in the stew. In about half an hour after partaking of them my head began to ache, my brain to swim, and my throat' and stomach to bum, as if in contact with fire. After being ill for some hours, a terrible fit of purging and vomiting set in, which appeared soon to set me to rights, for after a day or so I believe that I did not make poisonous species with the I have since had a mistake and 1 edible, but that M. Oreades was the culprit. Half cupful of sweet oil is a good thing for urgent cases. IVorthington G. Smith. [As the Champignon is so largely used without ill effects, we can only suppose that the drying to which it is generally subjected dissipates the poisonous properties ; at any rate, the case above cited is most important. We should recommend an emetic to be given immediately, and the doctor to be sent for without delay. Oil would merely palliate and dilute, not remove, the poison. Eds.] The Thinning of Grapes by the Syringe. — It seems strange that any one who has ever grown Grapes should believe this to be practical. Either the healthy flowers of the Grape Vine — and by the word healthy here I mean those that would set if left alone, — can be squirted off forcibly by the syringe or they cannot. If they can, what security have we that a stream of water will thin the Grapes with regularity? If the water removes any, why not too many — all? And who in his senses would risk such a result for the sake of saving a little time in thinning ? Could reck- less folly further go than mcur the expense of building houses, making borders, buying Vines, growing them, and then committing the produce, crop or no crop, to the blind keeping or destroying of a mechanical squirt ? Talk about penny wise and pound foolish, such a course as this is not even penny wise, while it risks the loss of hundreds of pounds. But I contend that the syringe, unless applied with a force that would ruin all, will not remove any embryo Grapes that would have set. There are many berries show that don't set ; they are defective from the first. Nature seemingly never designed them to hold on. It is her way of thinning, and in some varieties, such as the Canon Hall Muscat and others, it is rather too effective. Sweep a stream from a syringe over these, and off they come. Give the Vine a shake or a tap, and they do likewise. And I might just as logically affirm that I can, or do, thin Grapes by tapping, which, as a rule, always precedes the scissors, as that others can or do thin them with the syringe. I hope I have now drifted into an answer that will satisfy your correspondent, Mr. Boyle, and others, and that we have now heard the last for a long time to come of one of the most preposterous ideas that ever was seriously discussed — that of thinning Grapes with the syringe. Those who think good Grapes not worth the most careful and painstaking thinning had better leave off growing them. They certainly are not worthy to look upon nor to eat good Grapes. I have thinned many and eat but comparatively few, but I trust the time may never come when the glorious bunches that adorn our Vines will be turned over to be washed out anyhow by a stream of water, or given up to a mechanical operation. We have too much of the latter already ; Grape thmning demands above all things intelligence and expert manipulation. When these can be put into a dashing spray of water, then may the end of the syringe or the conductors of our squirts be brought upon our bunches of Grapes in flower, or after, for the purpose of thinning them with regularity and skill, not before. A Practical Hand. Jackman's Clematises.— 1 was not particularly struck with C. magnifica, as shown by Messrs. Jack- man Sc Son at South Kensington on August 2. Perhaps the fact that it was grown in a tub was hostile to its i87i.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1 105 proper development of character. My note of it, made at the time, is as follows : — "Colour, washed- out purple, with flame of pale red along each segment; poor, and not sufliciently distinct ;" a criticism both robust and emphatic. I have not grown it, but will give it a trial another season, in the hope I may be con- verted to a better appreciation of its merits. I was much more struck with C. Alexandra, which bore pale blue flowers, pretty in hue, and somewhat distinct in character ; as shown, a capital companion to C. Jackmanii. Mrs. Bateman was very pretty also ; the flowers opened of a pale reddish-claret hue, then changed to pale mauve, which improved in colour as the flowers aged. These two will certainly be added to my collection. The first bloom of C. tunbridgensis has just expanded. The first is small, because the plant is quite young ; but I have marked this variety as both free-growing and free-blooming. I don't set myself up as an authority about Clematises. I am deeply interested in them, and I venture to commend those I have tried with marked success. Richard Dean. Parsons' Mignonette. — Observing "D.'s" in- quiry, in your issue of last week, in reference to Parsons' Mignonette, I send by sample post specimens of that and of the common kind perpetuated by "self- sowing" during many years, by which you will see that about 57° N. lat., on a rather stiff" and cold clay, there is not much gained by growing the new variety. The plants of Parsons' are stronger, doubt- less, a result of more liberal treatment, but seem less sweet-scented than the old variety, perliaps from the same cause. As many hundreds throughout the country, from the noble and wealthy, to whom half- crowns are of little significance, down to the humble cottager, whose time and half-crowns are both limited, will have tried this old favourite under its improved (?) form, it would be interesting to know whether any peculiarity of treatment, or special condition of soil, has been found instmmental in bringing it into the condition in which it has undoubtedly been shown by the raiser during last year. Yellmobv. [There is little appreciable difference in the samples sent. Probably the new variety has not been sufficiently fixed before The Golden Hamburgh Vine.— This season I was surprised at seeing the foliage of this Vine stained with yellow blotches on the green ground ; and on examining the bunches of fruit, nearly formed, numbers of the Grapes fell off when shaken about a month before the usual time of their ripening. Had this Vine been alone I should have expected to have found the cause in the roots ; but it is in a house in which there are 15 varieties, the foliage of all the others remarkably fine, clean, and without a spot on any of them, many measuring 1 5 inches across. My gardener has an impression he has heretofore seen an observation in the GarJeners' Chronicle on this Vine, that it is not to be relied on for two years together. Perhaps some of your readers may have had the like experience, and would_ state whether, in such case, there would be any objection to treat it as a stock to bud another sort on at this season, rather than risk the disturbance of the roots of its neighbours by removing this Vine of some years' growth. Charles Lawrence, The Querns, Cirencester. [This variety is liable to be affected in the way described. Eds. ] Potato and Artichoke Grafting.— I give Mr. A. Dean full credit for "open confession ;" for your readers will remember that, when this subject was first mooted in your columns between two and three years ago, Mr. Dean was amongst the first to try and stifle it ; and so thorough was his scepticism at that time, that he even believed if he were to graft a Potato into a cricket-ball he might just as reasonably expect that the produce (if any) would be "leathery," as to expect any change would be effected between the stock and scion of the Potato ; nay, he even went further, and disallowed the terms stock and scion in the above sense altogether. Not so now, however, as see p. S37, where he not only pays a compliment to (quoting his own words) " that persevering apostle of the Potato- grafting theory, Mr. R. Fenn, of Woodstock," but openly avows himself a convert to the faith. Well done, Mr. Fenn ! If every tnie apostle can succeed in winning but one disciple from scepticism to true belief, there is cause for thankfulness, inas- much as it would ultimately lead to the conversion of the whole community. I also hope, and firmly believe that the day is not now far distant, when I shall be able to convert Mr. Dean and other sceptics into the belief that it is possible to effect a perpetual cross between the Jerusalem Artichoke (so called) and the Potato. I have repeated my former experiments, but will reserve any comment for the present, and allow the produce to speak for itself at one of the Royal Horticultural Society's meetings in September ; and in the meantime I should like to know what has become of the Chiswick experiment, also whether it has been repeated in any other quarter, and with what results ? Thos. Simpson, Broomheld. [We shall require much convincing ere we become converts to our corre- spondent's views. Eds.] Yucca filamentosa. — Few things are more attrac- tive in the shrubbery at this season of the year than the noble looking spikes or heads of flowers of these plants. Spirsas, &c., are over, and the varied tints of the leaves are not yet ripe, nor are there any berries yet of sufiicient colour to be noticeable. This plant, there- fore, comes in just when something is wanted ; they contrast well with the Hydrangeas, which, by-the-by, are flowering very early this year. Planted in clumps they look well almost anywhere ; they are also worthy ' a prominent position in the herbaceous garden, or hat used to be the flower garden. Even now it may be used with effect in the present style of flower garden- ing. It is one of those things that would serve to break the monotonous look of many gardens. Good sized plants, if planted in the centres or angles of beds, or as one of the back rows of a ribbon border, would lend to them a noble appearance when in flower, and the leaves of the plant after flowering would look better than many things, or, as is sometimes the case, nothing at all, in winter. Plants, when once established and liberally treated with, will flower every year. Cutting away the dead flower stems and leaves in the autumn, and thinning out the plant so as to leave the strongest sucker which will flower the next year, and one to grow on to prepare for flowering the year after that, will ensure a yearly display ; the suckers thinned out will readily grow, and add to the supply of plants. Henry Mills. [Single-stemmed plants of the variegated Acer Negundo, introduced amongst ever- greens, have a distant effect, very similar to that of flowering plants of Yucca filamentosa. Eds.] Foreign Correspondence. Madras : Julv 24. — It may, perhaps, be interesting to some of your readers to hear something about the Neilgherry Hills in a botanical aspect. It is not new ground, and few unknown plants remain undiscovered to science, yet numbers of very rare plants, which have never been introduced to England — plants well worthy of especial attention, and a place in the home gardens, where they would stand out for the greater part, if not the whole, of the year, with a little additional protec- tion during the winter months. The thermometer at Ootacamund in June stands at about 65° F. in the middle of the day in the shade, and in the cold season there are sharpish frosts in the mornings. These hills are now reached— that is to say, Coonoor — in 24 hours from Madras, partly by rail and partly by transit. There are steamers almost every week to England from Madras, through the Suez Canal, at reduced freights compared with the old Peninsular and Oriental Company's rates, thanks to competition and M. Lesseps, so that living plants can be sent home much cheaper than formerly, and without any transshipment. I sent a Ward's case a few days since, which cost about ;f I 15J. The ascent of these hills from the east, or Madras side, commences at a place called Kular, 33 miles from the railway. The new ghaut is 16 miles, being just double in distance to the old one. The old one is still in use for horses and palanquins. The new ghaut has an easy ascent, the heaviest gi-adient being about I foot in 19. The scenery is very beautiful, the mountains right and left of the valley rising abruptly 5000 to 6000 feet. At the foot of the ghaut about Kular the jungle is chiefly of Bamboo, and it is very feverish and unsafe to rest in during the night. Here I noticed several Orchids, particularly a large mass of Vanda Roxburghii, in full flower, the flowers varying in shades of colour. This variation in the colour tints of the flowers of plants, in Orchids especially, I have frequently noticed, and the cause I have never been able to find a satisfactory reason for. My first impression was, that these variations in tints depended on the amount of light and shade the flowers happened to be subject to, or that the colouring matter of the bark of the tree upon which the plant was located entered into its circulation, or that the cellular tissue of the plant being of various degrees of thickness in different parts, the chemical distillation, or action setup to produce the colour, was imperfectly performed. Vanda Roxburghii is described in Wight's " Icones," p. 10, vol. iii., and a very meagre description it is. One of its nearest allies, Vanda Bensoni, described in Bot. Mag., tab. 5611, Nov. 1866, has a different habit of growth, and each in its native habitat could never be mistaken for the other. In Vanda Bensoni, as in V. Roxburghii, there is the same want of unifor- mity in the colour of the flowers. Leaving this subtle question to be settled by some of the philosophers o' the city of Hulee, mentioned in " Frazer's Magazine' for June last, I will continue my description. Cymbidium erectum, very like C. aloifolium, Vand: Wightiana, and a small Luisia, were the Orchids which I observed until I had anived at about 2500 feet, where Saccolabium paniculatum came to the front, so to speak. From the description of S. rubrum in Wight, I mistook this plant for it, never having seen either before. For beauty, now that I have seen both in flower, I am dubious to which to accord the palm. The white variety of paniculatum is very delicately marked on the lip with a magenta stripe. It is an exceedingly pretty flower, and the inflorescence very compact. Many of the plants have a single spike ; on the other hand, rubrum — at least what appears to me to be a variety of rubrum (Wameri ?)- paniculate. In paniculatum the seed vessel is more rounded, with strongly emarginated sutures, whilst those of rubrum are angular, somewhat flat-sided. I am inclined to think that the slight difference in those two plants is caused from the different elevations at which they are found ; thus paniculatum, growing at low elevations, is nearly white, increasing in depth of colour at the higher altitude of 6000 feet ; Coonoor and Kartary, pale pink or rose ; at 8000 feet, deep red, or "rubrum." Of course this is mere conjecture on my part, but the more I see of species approximating to each other in the same parallels of latitude, the more strongly am I impressed that climate is a powerful agent, although slow in its operations, in causing variety in species. The change, I suspect, is too gradual to be perceptible to man. The age of some Orchids is very great. I have in Saccolabium giganteum counted as many as 60 cica- trices of the fallen leaves. Many other scars, too much obliterated to be counted accurately, were pre- sent, but taking one year for each cicatrix, which is much below the mark, the plant might be fairly com- puted to be above 100 years of age. It is quite cheerful as you mount up to see the wild Rose creep- while petals — Rosa involucrata ; hedgerows in old England. Coonoor is the first station on the hills, about 6000 feet above the sea. There is no plateau. The houses are built on the sides of the hills, the church on a prominent position in the centre, thus giving the scenery a very picturesque effect, being surrounded with higher mountains. The temperature of Coonoor is about 70° in the shade in the middle of the day. The rainfall is small, being shielded from the south-west monsoon by the higher range intervening between it and Ootacamund ; the highest point in the whole range— Dodapet, above 9000 feet, being one. The vegetation shows the absence of great moisture ; the trees and rocks, instead of being crowded with epiphytical and parasitical plants, were comparatively bare to what they would have been at the same elevation in Burma. The Tree Fern, Alsophila, grows abundantly in the watercourses, and in some the trunk was, I should say, at least 20 feet high, but slender. Rhododendron arboreum is also thickly dispersed throughout these jungles, of great size. It is a glorious plant. The number of Loranths was astonishing. In one morning I counted during my ride no fewer than 10 different specie.'^. Wight gives 11, I think; but this I should say was much under the mark. In the vicinity of Coonoor, a handsome shrub grows in abundance, described by Wight as Solanum verbascifolium. The flower is in- conspicuous, but the cluster of fine red berries, con- trasting with the white leaves of the plant, makes it handsome and showy, well worthy of a place in the garden at home as a decorative bedding-out plant. The same may be said of Solanum Wightii. It is found on rocks, in decayed vegetable soil, its large deep blue flowers rendering it a most noticeable plant. It is as fine a plant as any I met with in those regions. Again, Lysimachia Leschenaultii (a Primula), according to Wight, grows near Coonoor and the higher slopes about Ootacamund. Its flowers are red, the stamens exserted, inflorescence racemose, compact, and large, the protrusion of the stamens giving it a hairy appearance. Sonerila speciosa I do not recollect seeing in Eng- land ; here it grows in moist places on the rocks, where there is trickling water. Its flowers are deep scarlet, with orbicular leaves, reddish above, and deep purple below. For its foliage alone it is a good plant. In some of these moist, mossy spots, on stones, its com. panion is a lovely little gem — an Impatiens. It has a single dark green round leaf, with a scape bearing several rich rose-coloured flowers. It seems to sparkle with the moisture, and would answer for rockeries in conservatories on the edges of artificial pools of water. Mr. Mendel's magnificent ferneries at Manchester im- mediately occurred to me as a suitable home for this beauty. Of Balsams there are a great variety : some of the Impatiens might be termed arboreous, from their thick stems and large size. Aerides Lindleyanum, the finest Orchid on the hills (with the exception of Schrosderi, of which only one plant has as yet ever been found), gi-ows on rocks ; it is a free flowerer, and ranges from 5000 to 8000 feet. Those growing at higher elevations have a longer stem with narrower leaves. It is too well known to require further comments from me. The following are some of the Orchids I came across : — Aerides Wightianum, Vanda n. sp. ?, rather pretty and sweetly scented ; Bolbophyllum neilgherrienses, Ccelogyne nervosa, C. odoratissima, Dendrobium aureum, Eria relicosa, Saccolabium Rheedi, to me a variety of S. Blumei. There are t%vo more plants I must not forget to men- tion, and they are, 1st, a very handsome pink Begonia, Begonia dipetala (?), and a little Didymocarpus, with blue and yellow flowers. Most of the plants mentioned here have been sent home by me. For new species or varieties I should say there was a good field for inquiry amongst Zingibers, Cucumis, Aroids, and Asclepiads, all interesting orders. I was only a short time at Ootacamund, but visited the Botanical Gardens, for which purpose I went I expressly. Mr. Jamieson, from Kew, is in charge. iio6 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 26, 1871. He deserves great credit for the way in which they are kept. It is a lovely spot, formed in the ravine of one of the surrounding hills by a series of ascending pla- teaus. There is a glasshouse at the entrance, as ugly an object as can well be conceived or contrived ; it intercepts the view and breaks up the entrance space ; the sooner it is removed the better, in my opinion. I think botanical garden is a misnomer— horticultural would be more appropriate. The plants are not even named. There is no herbarium and no special collec- tion of valuable indigenous plants for economic pur- poses, distribution, &c., but as a garden for floriculture and beauty, for its limited size, it equals any I have ever seen. H. Benson, Colonel, F.L.S. Florists' Flowers. A DRY spring, with a chilly east wind and sunny days predominating, followed by an early summer, as uncongenial as could be imagined, did seem, and was generally believed to be, hostile to the developmeih of Roses. They were backward, and the early blooms thin, but, notwithstanding, some grand Roses have been shown during the past two months, and especially from the nurseries of Messrs. Paul & Son, at Cheshunt, who have been pre-eminently successful as Rose exhi- bitors during the present year. Perhaps, of all the high-class features belonging to the Nottingham show, there was not one of more general interest^ than the twelve magn seedling of Charles Lefebvre, of the same build of flower, but much deeper in colour, and of a very strong constitution. Another seedling from the same parent had white flowers, and seemed full of promise. A white Charles Lefebvre ' Several seedling Roses they will have another I must turn to the kind of hive the bee s eggs in, to be in its natural condition ; but, not to lengthen this communication unduly, I must defer speaking of this matter till another oppor- flow requires layi ficent blooms of Roses with which Messrs. Paul & Son won the Rev. S. R. Hole's handsome cup. The Nottingham Rose growers, who can grow, and therefore keenly appreciate beautiful and finely deve- loped Roses, hung about this stand, loud in exuberant plraise, with hearts overflowing with admiration. The new Roses of 1869-70 have been tried at Ches- hunt this season, and while some have failed to answer the descriptions given of them, others have proved first-class acquisitions. The following were seen in bloom during the third week in July :— Auguste Neu- mann, bright red, with a shading of violet-crimson, very fine and full, and a good grower. Candide, clear fleshy white, and in bright weather becoming pure white ; a thoroughly good Rose, that needs fine weather to bring out its delicate beauty. Climbing Victor Ver- dier, very fine, and having a vigorous climbing habit, and so will make a splendid pillar Rose ; this originated as a sport at the Cheshunt Nurseries Comtesse d'Oxford, briglit carmine-red, very large, fiill, and of fine fomi ; this is one of the Victor Verdier race, is of vigorous growth, and of an exquisite glow of colour. Edward Morren, glowing rosy-pink a grand full Rose of great substance, and very double, very vigorous constitution. Ferdinand de Lesseps, violet-purple, with dark shading ; a thoroughly first-class Rose, and giving a very acceptable hue of colour. General de Lamartiniere, the centre bright crimson-rose, the circumference of the flower bright red ; very large, full, and of fair form. Lena Turner, bright pale cerise, a very pretty pale Rose, but not so good as Madame Charles Crapelet, which is in the same way. Louis Van Houtte, scarlet-crimson, finely shaded with darker crimson, a grand full Rose of a splendid hue of colour; the flowers also die off well ; growth vigorous. Madame Laurent, brilliant cherry-rose, fine globular form, full, and rich hue of colour ; habit vigorous. Madame Liabaud, one of the very best of the wliite Roses ; this opens blush white, changing to pure white as the flowers become fully developed. Mdlle. Eugenie Verdier, a very beautiful Rose, of a bright rosy flesh hue tinted with salmon and white, large deep petals, full, and of fine substance. Marquise de Cas- tellane, clear vivid rose, flowers very large and finely CTpanded ; vigorous habit. Paul Neron, bright rose, flowers very large and full, and measuring when fully expanded 6^ inches in diameter ; growth vigor- ous : this promises to become a very popular Rose. Reine des Blanches, delicate flesh, almost white ; a seedling from Victor Verdier, of large size and good form, but so very dwarf in growth as to affect its useful- ness. This does not include all the new Hybrid Per- petuals, as some were scarcely in bloom, while others had passed the blooming season. Size, fulness, rich or delicate colouring, and robustness of habit, appeared to characterise a great portion of Ihfe foregoing. Of the newer Hybrid Bourbons, Mdlle. Favart, shining pale rose, with pale dashes distributed over the flower, fine in form, very promising, and of good habit, appeared to be a good addition to this section. Among the Noisettes, Reve d'Or, deep yellow, to all appear- ance a climbing pale-coloured Madame Falcot, as the flower is of the build of this favourite Tea-scented Rose, can be highly commended. The new Teas were not in condition, but it was noticeable how fine the old rose and white Rubens had come this season, the flowers large, finely coloured, and very full. A great number of Seedling Roses, raised from seed soivn in April last, were already blooming, though so young. There were patches of seedlings raised from Duke of Edinburgh, General Jacqueminot, Charles Lefebvre, and other fine varieties. Seedlings from Duke of Edinburgh were conspicuous for their robust growth, and in many instances the wood was thickly spined, which is not a characteristic of the parent. As a matter of course the blooms were small, but suffi- ciently full to enable a rosarian to give some idea of their probable value. There was a very rich crimson Id be indeed an acquisition. e in course of trial, but as son's growth, it would be their merits. A seedling ery much deeper in colour, )wth as to suggest it would make a good climber, was thought much of. There are yet the two new varieties raised by Mr. Thomas Laxton, namely Princess Louise and Prince of Wales, which have just been distributed by Messrs. Paul & Son. The former is blush white, large, full, and of fine form, and vigorous in growth ; the latter is a greatly improved L;elia in point of colour, being of a glowing pale pink hue, fine in shape, and of full substance. Earl of Eldon, a Tea-scented variety, raised from a Cloth of Gold, has a very vigorous habit, and promises well as an efiective pillar Rose. Messrs. Paul & Son have in their possession an exceedingly novel and very fine Tea -scented Rose named Cheshunt Hybrid, some blooms of which were shown at Nottingham. It was raised from seed of Madame de Tartas, which was grown in the house of Tea Roses in the nursery ; and growing by the side of this was a plant of Prince Camille de Rohan. It is thought the former must have been accidentally fertilised with the Hybrid Perpetual, as the flowers are large, deep in build, very full, and of a deep violet' colour ; it is also highly perfumed. R. D. tunity. W. A. Munii. Garden Memoranda. CIjc %im^. In looking over an old book, on "Insect Transfor- mation," published by Charles Knight in 1830, I read, in the first chapter, of the first hive that was roughly invented, by one who was evidently "an out-of-doors observer of Nature ;" and although he had had, at the latter part of his career, his eyes put out to make sport, he had his revenge in a fearful manner upon his friends, as well as his secret enemies, who had assembled one day to rejoice in his humiliation. For he had gi' e.irlier days his would-be friends such a puzzling ques- tion about bees, their honey, and the kind of hive they had occupied, that they actually bribed those near and dear to him to tell them the secret, which was to b( found out before the wedding breakfast he had pre pared ; and thus, poor fellow, he lost his wager on that day. Nevertheless, it is written, he did invent ; skeleton hive. My object in looking, however, int. this book was to try and trace the truth "if all insect came from eggs, as plants do from seeds ; " but the question of wasps, aphides, and raising the larvce by "osmosis," or " feeding," has really taken up so much of your space, that I will beg only for an easier task, and attempt to describe the principles to be observed in constructing the ' ' best beehive, " not only for observ- ing the operations and natural history of the honey bee, but it should be the best beehive, in which the bees may be left to their fate under the greatest amount of neglect that the bee-keeper can desire, both in summer and winter. Recalling the able summing up of the irater in the Quarterly Rerir^c; some 30 years *eing ago, when reviewing " Bee Books and the Beehive," t^"""" with the advice to country gentlemen to read up the fourth "Georgic" of Virgil on that subject, and to keep to the dear old " cottage straw hive, with its various associations of childhood. Watts' hymns, and contentment," I am almost inclined to fall back into the same tone of mind, and pray, like the country mouse, "Give me again my hollow tree" (a straw hive) — more picturesque than any of those modem patent wooden boxes, or coal shoots. It makes one still more long to recall those young and pleasant days, and wish those reviewers still lived to cheer on, whilst correct- ing the errors of enthusiasm, the painter or poet, the politician or the naturalist, as writers ; but to us older men, who are left, even Darwin's epicurean ideas are not new. I give the following quotation from this old book, from p. 9 :— " The ancients, it would appear, had the shrewdness seldom to venture upon illustration of their philosophical romances by particular examples ; this was,reserved for the more reckless theory builders of our own times." We find Robinet, for example, asserting that, as it was Nature's chief object to make man, she began her " apprentissage " by form- ing minerals resembling the single organs of the human body, such as the brain, in the fossil (Mean- drena cerebriformis, Parkinson). Darwin, again, dreaming that animals arose from a single filament, or threadlet of matter, which, by its efforts to procure nourishment, lengthened out parts of its body into arms and other members, made the oyster grow into arms and legs, and then, when it tried to rise from its native rocks, wings were produced, and it became an insect, and thus soon improved into a bird. The different forms of the bills of birds, whether hooked, spooned, or long, were, he says, gradually acquired by the per- petual endeavours of the creatures to supply their wants. The long-legged waterfowl (Grallatores, Vigors) in this way acquired length of legs sufficient to elevate their bodies above the water. "A pro- boscis," he says, "of admirable structure has thus been acquired by the bee, the moth, and the humming- bird, for the purpose of plundering the ' ' Victoria Park.— This is one of the most beautiful our London Parks, yet one that we hear little about. consists of about 200 acres, and is situated in the dst of a thickly-populated district in the East End of London. I was greatly astonished on the occasion of a ent visit, for it surpassed my expectations. It is most tefully laid out, and great credit is due to those who had the arrangement and making of such a public boon as it is. Before it was taken for this purpose, it was evidently a piece of flat ground, but by skilful manage- ment it has been converted into a beautifully undu- lating and well-wooded park ; the banks of trees and shrubs, which appear to support beds of the gayest colours, are very luxuriant. The beautiful specimens of Hollies, Thorns, Chestnuts, &c., and, indeed, the general collection of trees, is not to be equalled in any park near London. The lakes are a prominent feature here. They are studded with pretty wooded islands, the most conspicuous trees being Purple Beech, Weepmg Willows, Weeping Elms, and many others that make a really efiective inter- mixture, and produce a most refreshing effect on the visitor as he rests on the seats around their banks and under the splendid avenue of trees which occupies one side of the park, on such a hot day as I experienced there, and one on which the shade afforded by Nature is so appreciated ; as it was in the fullest sense of the word by the thousands of people that were there. All kinds of recreation and amusements are to be found. Amongst the most important are the bathing lakes, cricket field, and two large pieces of ground set apart as public gymnasiums. There is accommoda- tion for several thousand bathers, who have the privilege of using the water from 4 o'clock in the morning until 8. This is really a boon and refresh- ment to those who make use of so advantageous a gift. Coming to the horticultural department, it must be mentioned that the flower gardening is well done ; the beds are prettily formed, and the flowers in them are well arranged. I noticed two most beautiful raised beds having trees in the centre, and around each of which there were some 1200 bedding plants; they were tastefully arranged with Pelargoniums, Agera- tums. Verbenas, Coleus, Calceolarias, and a variety of other beautiful plants. Besides the two beds already mentioned, there are numerous others, in variety of form ; one especially beautiful, in the shape of the Prince of Wales' feathers, which was surrounded by beds that harmonised with it in colour as well as in form, all backed with the foliage of lovely trees. In almost every part of the park flowers as well as trees form an important feature in its laying out. Tropical gardening is also carried on, and with very good effect, the undulations, banks, and glens being so suitable for the purpose. I noticed a most beautiful piece of work of this description laid out on a rocky bank ; the Echeverias, Dracrenas, Yuccas, and the difl'erent kinds of Sedums, &c. , were in a most thriving condition, and very artistically arranged. The winding walks are a great advantage to this park, as you do not get the whole view at once, but at each turning come on something fresh and lovely in tropical gar- dening. The scenery is more varied and charming in this park than I have seen in any other ; in some parts you could imagine yourself miles in the country, seeing nothing but lovely trees and flowers — it almost re- minds one of the dreams of childhood, or of an imagi- nai-y peep into Fairyland — instead of being surrounded by bricks and mortar, and those not of the brightest hue imaginable. One grand evidence of benevolence must be credited to the Baroness Burdett Coutts, in the shape of a massive and handsome drinking foun- tain, which I believe was erected at a cost of some- thing like jf 13,000. It is chiefly composed of various kinds of marble and granite ; it seems to be appre- ciated by the public. If such magnificent donations were more common, we might be sure of having our streets as well as our parks much freer from the effects of strong drink. Around this fountain is a well arranged garden, and pieces of water between each large bed of flowers, and at each comer is a splendid planted vase, all tending to make the crystal stream more tempting. I was fortunate enough to meet with Mr. Mclntyre, the new superintendent, who appears to be the right man in the right place. A fine park is of little use unless made attractive by the energy and management of its superintendent, who should be thoroughly practical, and well up in his business. I should advise all who are lovers of gardening to lose no time in visiting this place, for it so much pleased my friends and myself that I could not refrain from giving the public a short description of it. Although living within a few miles I had never before seen it, but I tmst my first visit may not be the last. £. S. W. August 26, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and As^ricultural Gazette. 1 107 ©tttuarg. We greatly regret to see the announcement in the " Revue Horticole " of the death of Professor Lecoq, of Clermont, in his 70th year. M. Lecoq was well known as a geologist and naturalist, who was possessed of a very wide range of knowledge. His magnum opus was a work on the geographical distribution of plants, as full of facts and inferences as the treatises of Mr. Darwm. M. Lecoq has left considerable legacies to the Botanic Garden and other institutions of Clermont, and has bequeathed to the town his valuable collec- tions in all branches of Natural History. M. Lecoq was one of the distinguished foreigners who took part in our Botanical Congress in 1 866, and charmed us with the fulness of his knowledge and the fluency of his speech. THE WEATHER. TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR AND FALL OF RAIN AT DIFFERENT ST A TIONS, During the Week ending Saturday, August 19, 1871. Temperature of the Aie. ^ Names oe 1 5 1 0 . 1 1 P 1 1 n<-r. Dff D^r Dep. Dec Der. Dee In in istl,-- 54.0 35 = 230 069 J I r.'. V.6 75.0 16. 1 .8.=i 64.1 I '79 '3 r. 0.51 r^ 45 50.S B 64.0 s^'^Sfr-' :: ^n ■z-i !;?i ^^J icJI^SfsL :: 78.S S3.3 25.2 70.. ■30 m :n r. r^ Ika 0.4^ Newcaslle .. EdinbuFEh .. 750 470 280 sSi 0.60 g'^X^. ;: 0-37 575 s 0-53 79.0 3I-0 .. ! .. Dublin .. .. 7S.7 4S.O 30.7 .. .. 1 .. 57.6 ,.=■ STATE OF THE WEATHER AT BLACKHEATH, LONDON, Fort E Week ending Wednesday, August 23, 1871. m''nt AtQA.M. H f ID d ■ DAV. Reading of Sth editi Tables, Weight of ,:. >, Aucusl. ?ed™"d'fo H r,.s ^o| \T2r 32- Fahr. Bi ...0. Ins l? Deg. Deg. Gr. Ml'SS^y-. ^^ '^f. |i tl m ti i:i 23. Wednes ^^i 65.4 tt.l 59.6 It Kl TEMPERATURE 0 A the A R. WIND. Rain. 1 HI Ills m ■8s Kg i Dec. Dor. Deg. ; Deg. -fit i s Miles ;s- ^;;s^ + 1.6 variable — 0.1 variable ijss; 78.7 !?:S ??j g; Taj iw-^\' fji a" ». TUM. .. 76.9 .,2.8 24.. 63.2 + »-5{ r^|•' }.65 0.00 2,. Wednes 56.. 2.0 0.03 t douds prevalent during the day. O.vercas. .tt Overcast lit! nicht ; then ccncrally cloudless. —The clouds varTed rapidly from time to time. Windy. .-FogCT in morninR. Generally cloudy till night. .-Generally cloudy throuchoul the day. Rain fell heavily ■ JAM ES GLAISHER. £S los. ; Phatenopsis Schilleriana, £6 los. and ^'4 ; Cattleya devoniana, /is (Lord Londesborough) ; Colax jugosns. very rare, £8 loj. ; Aerides quinquevulnemm, plant, in bloom, 20 leaves, £7 ; AgrEecum sesqui- pedale superbum, a fine specimen, .,^15 15J. (Lord Lon- desborough) ; Oncidium Barkeri, £7 ; Cattleya Mossise superba, splendid specimen, £g ; Dendrobium War- dianum, fine plant, rare, .£15 ; Cypripedium lasvigatum, fine plant, two strong growths, ^^8 loi. ; Aerides Veitchii, £22 IS. (J. Day) ; Aerides Fieldingii, from Borneo, a rare .variety, /14 los. (J. Day) ; Cattleya fine plant, £12 izs. (Mr. Bockett) ; Epi- dendrum verrucosum or nemoiale, /ii (J. Day) ; Vanda insignis, tnie, £12 12s. (Mr. Bockett) ; Den- drobium BensoniEe, a very fine variety, in bloom, £5 ; Pleione maculata, £7 ; P. WalUchiana, £s 5s. ; P. humilis, £6 6s. ; Aerides afline, Loddiges' old variety, £8 10s. ; A. virens, Kenrick's variety, fine specimen, £S ly. ; A. Larpenta;, £s ; A. Lobbii, £5 los. ; A. Fieldingii, a very fine specimen, 30 leaves, £1$ (W. Bull); A. rubmm, ^5 ; A. Schrcederi, fine plant, £6 los. ■ Cattleya Reichenheimi, .£17 10s. (J. Day! £iz (W. Bull) ; C. labiata var. Sion House Sch- • C. araethystoglossa, fine /8 10s. ; C. superba, £6 10s. ; Lselia anceps Dawsoni, £6 ; L. anceps Barkeriana, £8 Ss. ; L. elegans. a magni- ficent specimen, £20 (Mr. Hanbury) ; L. elegans Tumeri, £7 ; L. elegans Wolstenholmia:, £s 10s. ; Phalaenopsis Schilleriana, £s ; P. grandiflora, fine plant, £s los. ; P. am.^bilis, fine plant, £7 los. ; P. grandiflora, nice plant, f7 10.!. ; Epidendrum vitellinum and vitellinum majus, 6 loj, and £s ioj., fine specimens, in flower ; Oncidium Rogersii, of which it is said there are only four plants in Europe, a piece of the original plant, £12 ; Cypripedium Harrisianum, £s 10s. ; C. Veitchii, £7 and £s, fine plants ; C. villosum, extra fine specimen, £10 (Jackson c U SS^I^A^^M A TS,_^_for__ Covering Garden Frames.— » ^,T^.^T.r-.^.i..r. .T-. « . *..,^., ...».., ; the cheapest and every class of Mat, . T. ANDERSON,'?, Commercial Street, Shoreditch, London. fsTppE "°''' PROTECTION AGAINST the SCORCHING WOOL NETTING, 2 yards wide and IS, "FRIG! DOMO" CANVAS. Two yards wide ^:^1 w Nursery Business.— Partnership or Otherwise. -ANTED IMMEDIATELY, a thoroughly practical ■ '■ ■cstin(;say;(;200,and loan as MANAGING PARTNER in a thriv The entire busines' Haverslock Hill, Lon. ised on reasonable tern VERITAS, 26, Park Roi Wt^ivl'^°;er?e> thoroughly experienced Rotation of Vegetabie HEAD GARDENER, in Sussex, an ic, married Man, without incumbrance, in Grape Growing, Plant and Flower Culture, Crops, and general keeping of a nice place in scter from last place as to ability, honesty and Two Under Hands kept. A good cottage.— , wages required. &c., may be addressed to ke Street, I'ortland Place, \V. WANTED, a MAN to take Charge of the Propa- gating and Management of Fruit Trees and Hardy Shrubs, - Address, in own handwriting, stating references and wages required, AV. HOOPER, New Wandsworth, London, S.W. N' N competent'CLERK, accustomed to Correspond, Sni who has filled similar situation in a large general Nursery. State age, and a: particulars ^as to experience, salary expected, Stc.— ' Newton URSERY CLERK.— James Dickson & Sons REtjUIRE, for their Nurseries, a thoroughly respectable and • '■' ■ accustomed to Correspond, anif who has filled a ile'ce,othe. ut Flower Trade er^rred-Particulars as s3a"y^"\peaed^^c., to^^DRUMMUND '^BROTHERS.'^V. Street, Edinburgh. w To the Seed Trade. ANTED, ONE or TWO SHOPMEN, within •0, by W. Drummond & Sons, 58, Dawsi [en just out of their Apprenticeship pr , length of service, and giving reference Dublin. Youi I preferred - Seed Trade. rpHE SUBSCRIBERS are in WANT of a thoroughly -L efficient SHOPMAN, well up in Garden and Farm Seeds; one having some knowledge of Nursery Stock and able to take short journeys preferred. To a respectable and suitable Man the situation will be permanent and comfortable.— Apply, stating experience and salar>' expected, to SMITH and SIMONS, Seed Merchants and Nurserymen, Glasgow. n/Nu ASSISTANT SHOPMAN, a address, and possessing a general ki sery Trade.— EDMUND PHILIP young WANT PLACES.-Letters to be Post Paid. To Gardeners and Bailiffs (Head, Foremen, or Under). T.'\MES CARTER AND CO. hayirig_rtiany applicatioiis Any Lady or Gentleman requiring GARDENERS or BAILIFFS may rely upon J. Carter & Co. adopting the most stringent HENDERSON A riven on application t Department in an extensive Eslablishmen — G° N^,°"Edc'rn Terrace, LangsdJII Gtt A R D E N E R (Head).— Age 37, married ; ce.— Well skilled in all branches of the profess! -C. M.. Flora Cottage, Lion Road, Bexley, Kent. GARDENER (Head).— Age 29, single ; 14 experience in the Cultivation of Stove and Greenhouse Flower and Kitchen Gardening, &c. Two years' character.- 2, Uritannia Road, Surbiton, S.W. G ARDENER (Head).— Age 34, married; thoroughly understands the profession in all its various branches. No ;tion to Meadow Land. Good recommendation from last anti ious employers.— R. P., planworth, Hounslow. GARDENER (Head), to any Lady or Gentleman requiring the services of a thorough practical Gardener.— Has tion of Stove and Greenhouse Plants, Kitchen and Flower Gardenin|. Can be highly recommended. Nine years' character.— W. G., r^ ARDENER (Head), where three tjr more Men are s"u llVl i !');' 1 . ...i'",lcn'f"?King™r'l'e°trCoventGarderiJvi'f6!'~ Gardening. No -Iio.xH.H. 7, Post Office, WANTED, a GARDENER and BAILIFF, who understands Meadow Land and Stock, also Wall Trees and Growing Grapes in Greenhouse. Wife for Dairy and Poultn' — Address, staling full particulars, including last situation and length of service, A. U., Post Office, Pinner. ROUND WORKIMEN.— Mr. Ayres is in IMME- DIATE WANT of steady and experienced Men to act as EMEN.-Address with references and terms, W. P. AYRES, s Salesman, need a w ANTED, an OUTDOOR FOREMAN, who thoroughly understands Fruit Trees, Rosf lutdoor Plants— Apply ply by letter only, giving refe: Geirdmers- ChnmieU OfficS. W, C nderstands Budding and Grafting Fruit Trees and Roses. Propagating Florists' Flowers, and is capable of taking charge of general Nursery Stock. Mi -I be n good Salesman, and h.nc first-class DOWNIE. L.MRD. AND LAING. Nurscr.M, For.-^t xder). — A respectable young Man, idg^^emT -R. K., Post Office, GARDENER (Under).— Age : experience in Forcing-houses. Good < Lower William Street, St. John's Wood, Londol tliree years f«f.-A. ^^, 31. GARDENER (Seconh GARDENER (Sr -.■ige 24 ; has bcin Z. Y. X., 5, Norwood Ter FOREMAN (WoRKi.NG).— 1 horoiTghly practical, and acquainted with the Propagation and after Management of Nursery Stock, both in and outdoor. Good knowledge of Plants, I Hill Street, Newry, Irela: Management of '"•-e of "• :aged end of Septemb'er.— "T. S H' )roughly useful Man arerequir ler. -f S., 8, Chambers^ 1 MPROVER. in a Gentleman's Garden or Nursery.- A young Man. Will pay a Premium. Can be high nendeJ.— G. D., Hanworth Rectorj*, Hounslow. French Beans, p. 1 Herbs, per bunch Horse Radish, p .bu Potatos (good s Shallots, per lb. ..08 — ) 4 I Spinach, perbushel 26 — ; o I Turnips, p. bunch.. 04—1 nF'.ftn'S''' W^ ■-\GATOR of Soft-wooded r person,'-F. ANnV.^SM'lTH^The ']M: \\ l.I.LER or FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT. ! V- 11 -icquainted with the English, German and French Seed i I .p<-ak5 and writes these languages fluently. Has already ,ij. ccssfully on the Continent in the Seed Trtidc. Unex- : 1; i> .1 I. r.. Icrences.— P. W. Y.,s8, Fenelow Road, Warwick Road, Seed Trade. rjiRA\-KLLER or SHOPMAN.— Good Icnowlcdge of -L the Trade. Highest testimonials— L. B., General Post Office, Seed Trade. IHOPMAN (Under).- Age 19; has been in the 5 Wholesale and Retail Trade. Good reference. Town or August 26, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag^ricultural Gazette. 109 A/TR. JAMES FRASER of *e late F™ of IVi LS-'l. Frascr, Lea Bridge Ruad) undertakes HORTICUL. TURAL VALUATIONS of every descnpuon, SALES by AUCTION, &c.—Maylands Farm, Romford, Essex, E. 'TALI AN ALP LIGURIAN QUEEN |_BEES^- "" of '''"5s'y'''are'^°irTerfng^^QulEN TO BE LET, a NURSERY, FLORIST, and SEED BUSINESS, remarkably well placed for busmess, m a fashion- able London suburb. Six thousand feet of Olass. A. B.,3S, Sydenham Park, S.E. Nurserymen, Rorists, and Others. ( 1--] n OF, by Private Treaty, th ■■n. of the old established and we dT"b. For further particulars apply to Messrs. P MORRIS, Auctioneers and Valuers, LcytonstonC; ral ranges of Pits : choice Stove and d productive Land, Held under two dr valuation in the Messrs. PROTHEROE AND SALES BY AUCTION. MR. T. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 38, King Street, Covent Garden, W.C, on SATURD.'VV. .'Vurust c6. at haTf-past 12 o'clock precisely, several consicnmcnls of HYACINTHS, TULIPS. CROCUSES, NAR- CISSUS, and other Bulbs, just arrived from Holland. On view the morning of Sale, and Catalogues had. M^ .J; TUESDAY Imported Orchids. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, at ;reat Rooms. 38, King Street, Covent Garden, W.C, on August ag. at half-past 12 o'clock precisely, several of ORCHIDS from the East Indies. South America, and dian Islands, comprising fine plants of choice and rare On view f ling of Sale, and Catalogues had. Choice Orchids. MR. T. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, his Great Rooms, 38, King Street, Covent Garden, W.C, THURSDAY. August 31. at hallpast 12 oClock precisely., so choice established ORCHIDS, the property ota Gentleman giving Also an Importation of valuable ORCHIDS, including- Phatenopsis grand.iflora J pi„^ p,3„„^ established on blocks. „ Luddemaniana I Saccolabium Harrisonianum Cypripedium la;vigatum Aerides. species, fine lookingplan Saccolabium gigantcum I Vanda Cathcartii On view the morning of Sale, and Catalogues had. fTS, in I ■ TUESDAY, Septera ding Orchids. Ga egonias. Ericas, C 'HE LANDS IMPROVEMENT : GARDENER, :tioneers' Office; Shropshire Sheep. THIRD GREAT SALE in the SMITHFIELD, SHREWSBURY. RS. LYTHALL AND CLARKE will SELL UCTION, in the Smithfield, Shrewsbur>-, on TUESDAY OLDER jyjEss o'clock 1 SHEARLING ster, Esq., of Apley Park, Matthews, of Montford, Welshpool. , Salop. M. L. Meire, Esq., Messrs. Morris, Gare, H. J. Sheldon, Es above will include several Royal Agri and amongst the Lots will be lound ma irst Ram Breeders. Catalogues apply to the Auclione 39, New Strt Shropshire Sheep. MESSRS. LYTHALL and CLARKE have received of about TWENTY highly-descended SHEARLINGS, and a few older RAMS, EIGHTY SHEARLINGS and older EWES, to beheld in the Smithfield, Shrewsbury, on TUESDAY NEXT, August 29, at „ oTInrt. SHROPSHIRES was one of the fr°od it'hL The MONTFORD FLOCK . irst ever established, having bee Proprietor upwards ot 200 year 1 looked upon by Ram Breeders a :sh, and heavy class of wool. , New Street, Birmingham. ineofti , high quality, firm ti Shropshire Sheep. ELFORD PARK, TAMWORTH. MR. MAY'S IMPORTANT ANNUAL SALE of PURE-I RE RAMS MESSRS. LYTHALL and CLARKE inform the Breeders and Feeders of Blackfaced Sheep that they will SELL bv AUCTION, at 2 o'clock, on TUESDAY, September 5, at Mr, rfay's. Elford Park (Luncheon at _I_ o'clock), about. FORi;y_First JESDAY, Septembei ark (Luncheon at I o'clock), about FORT 1 ONE HUNDRED large-s led healthy EWES a Alrewas Static Staffordshire Railw Freehold.-The Vineyard Nurseries, Neithrop, BANBURY, OXON. TO BE SOLD, by AUCTION, on SEPTEMBER 25 ne!', Leamington, Warwu II. 18. From Paddington, Oxford, Mor< 'ublic Compel nd may be ha< Bralles House, Shipston-on-Stour. IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. that he has MR. STRAFFORD begs to received instnictious from Henr ..,...,=. ..^.„,^^,„„^, .„ .„ ,.,^ .-^ BIENNIAL SALE t PURE-liRED SHORTHORNS for THURSDAY, September 2; which will consist of about 45 Bulls, Cows, and Heifers, chiedy t Kirklevington and Fawsley blood. The Sire now in service is Ih "-■^ "^ ' e of Oxford (25,995), bred at Holker from this justly renowne ribc of Shorthorns. Mr. SHELDON, Brailes Ellington, near Elmholton, Hunts. VERY IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. MR. STRAFFORD begs to announce for SALE by AUCTION, without reserve, on THURSDAY, September 28 next, the extensive and valuable HERD of PURE SHORTHORNS, bred bv and the property of Mr. Ladds, of Ellington, which numbers about 100 Head of^Bulls, Covs, and Heifers; prominent amongst PrilTcess, bred by MrThd-sp ; Jacintha, by Mr. Beasley ; Farewell and i^^:J: ^?^d^; Catalogues, particulars giv London : 13, md lattSy.'t^amb^idgTBarr'in'gton^s'l ( Devonshire, Wcllesley (25,421). from of Barrington, bred by Mr. Sheldon fr d : the two latter arc now in service, ligrees, will shortly be issued, and 1 hire Sheep — pure in blood- 1 flock, or for crossing witl ioneers, 39. New Street Shropshire Sheep. MESSRS. LYTHALL and CLARKE wiU SELL by AUCTION, at New House, Sutton Maddock, Shifnal, FRIDAY, September 8 next, at i o'clock punctually (Luncheon at ■ SUT-TOS maddock; FLOCK, consisting of SIXTY SU R SHROPSHIRE RAMS, and ONE HUNDRED SHEj G and STOCK EWES, the property of Mr. Henry Smith, le Sutton Maddock Flock has attained a reputation seconc the Shropshires. It has secured the highest honour COMPANY. [LDINGS, LABOURERS' COTTAGES, TRAMWAYS, RAILWAYS, &c. Directors. John Glutton, Esq. 1 Granville R. Ryder, Esq. Frederick L. Dasliwood, Esq. GranvilleR.H.Somerset,Esq.,Q.C. "enry W. West, Esq.. M.P. larfes Watkin Williams Wynn, Esq., M.P. (Chairman). UTILISATION of loney for the purpose oi The whole outlay and For Forms and further .YDER, Esq.. Managing torev's Gate. Westminster SEWAGE.— The Com] apply I S. W Agricultural Land Improvements. DRAINAGE, SEWAGE IRRIGATION, FARM EI LABOURERS' COTTAGES. &c. GENERAL LAND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT COMPANY'. (Incorporated bv Act of Parliament in 1849.) rnni I The Right Hon. Viscount C dwarijihn Hutchins, Esq. [ Sir William Titc, , J. BAILEY DENTON every kind are execui repaid to Landowners wl executed by T. Chapman, t:sq., f.K.b. George Thomas Clark, Esq. John C. Cobbold, Esq. Henry William Currie, Esq. Principal Engineer, M Agricultural Improvements c Company, or the outlay thereoi with all official expenses, may be charged upon th< d off by a Rent-charge of about 6 per cent., in 31 years 1 of the Landowners in a shorter term, lion of title necessary, and no legal expenses incurred. UTILISATION of SEWAGE. Special arrangements wiU be made with Boards of Health, r ' ' ndertaking V lidental thereto, tne outlay by a sum in gross, or by a discharging in a fixed period the pnncil The made to ARTHUR MILMAN, Offices of the Company, 22, Whitehall Plai irocure the ex The outlay •Istate, and p£ !h!reo"nII'"be'^re^Si s of Sewage Imgatia 1 ENTRAL ARGENTINE Limited, J' LAND COMPANY, Cha Hegan, Esq. lODS, Esq., C.E, Perkins, Esq., Rosario c Ast^l in the Htfublic-E. Ha Supmtiltndml—VilLUA.K The Directors offer, on ad' Tenants or Purchasers, PLOTS, varj'ing from 80 to.)00 At,Kti!. eacn, of the COMPANY'S LAND, situate on each side of the Central Argentine Railway, from the Port of Rosano to the City of Core the entire length being 246 miles. Towns and a 80 10400 ACRES each, •' - ■ -ntrai ; laid r Plots lone among tne snrc ie?d Club, and"^" the last three 1 gsinons obta lave acknowledged amply confirmed i by Lord Chcsham's and Mrs. Beach's Rams' ; meet trains at Shifnal and Coalport Static Holly Bank, near Biirton-upon Trent. ■IVTESSRS. LYTHALL and CLARKE will FLOCK of THREE AUCTION, 0 h&ndred^sh"ropshire sheep, the HERD of FIFTY HEAD of SHORTHORST CATTLE, s£ of them being of pure Bates' blood ; HORSES. PIGS. IM MENTS, POULTRY, CHEESE, &c (the property of Willoi Wood, Esq., who has let his Home Farms). Conveyances will meet the Trains at Barton and Walton Static ORDER OF SALE. TUESDAY. September 12, ' ■ --• ■ WEDNESDAY. Septemb( 'oultry. Cheese. &c Luncheon on Tuesday at 11 Luncheon on Wednesday a The Rams are of great s Flock of Sheep. ! purchased a The Young 1 confidently recommend this Sale a = S For Catalogues, apply BINGLEY HALL, BIRMINGHAM. MESSRS. LYTHALL and CLARKE will SELL by AUCTION, on THURSDAY, September 14 ne.tt, at It o'clock punctually, TWO HUNDRED PURE-BRED SHROP- SHIRE RAMS, and SIX HUNDRED EWES, from the noted r. Glov™" °' r. Lythalf""' r. Nock. ■ Right Hon. Lord Sudeley I Mr. Yates, ude Prize Rams and Ewes a : Yorkshire and tioncers' Offices, 39, 1 for Building purposes. To secure tTie Eest class of Agricultural Settlers ai Emigration of Families, the Directors are prepared Colonisation of Lands within easy reach of the Statioi ■*¥Srthe? Si'tSartmay b?obta°Jicd'"t'the Officero AtTes— 87, Calle de -Terminus of the ( de Colonil entral Argentine Railway : Land (about 1,000,000 Acres), togethe already established, can be inspected. GEORGE WOOLCOTT, Secretary, ishopsgate Street, London, E.C. SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 1871. IT is said that our countrymen are less careful of Small Gains than people on the Conti- nent, where, so far as Agriculture is concerned, little farmers are obliged to look closely after little things, or the little freehold would soon be mort- gaged ! Gi-eat gains, especially in farming, are made up of small ones aggregated together like the pebbles in a mass of conglomerate ; and it is by constant attention to details, picking up pebbles, so to speak, that they are accumulated. The endless and varied details of farming, and the interest attaching to its operations and expe- riences have made it the subject of observations and of discussions which began with history, and promise to be endless. Most men thirst after agricultural knowledge, and some feel a longing desire for agricultural experience, and a farmer's affection for his art ceases in many cases to have any mixture of mercenary or selfish motive. How long he lingers with the flock, or where labours and tillages are going on ! How far he wanderssometimesout of pure affection ! What journeys he takes out of mere romance, depart- ing periodically, with cost and pains, to some distant show or sale, like a tame raven that stirs himself in the spring time and hops off, nobody knows where, moved by some curious instinct nobody can define. How earnestly he watches the procedure at distant farms, on spots not so hallowed as his own homestead, but where he hopes to gain a wrinkle ! How eagerly he listens when the professor or adept propounds the words of science, or of approved and most recent practice ! How instantly he strikes in among neighbours at the market table, or wherever ideas are moving, and likely to be bagged ! How he ponders in his mind afterwards by his own fire- side, notions old and new— all he has heard or found out rumbling up and down in his head ! Surely something must come of all this mo The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 26, 1 87 1 endeavour. Progress • — an advance towards something not yet reached — must and does come of it. In agricuhure the advance — in knowledge and profit — was always slow, and we believe it always will be ; so we cannot afford to lose either in knowledge or effects. The lose of the nine books on agriculture that Mago the Carthaginian wrote, was a most melancholy thing, which man- kind have never ceased to deplore. Nothing can be spared, and nothing should be lost or thrown away, not even the Journal, which may contain nothing but a dish of pseudo-chemico-agricultural twaddle. This is an age for restorations, and we propose to lay before our readers a leaf of one of the lost books of Mago, which we are assured related to small economies in agriculture, such as are with in the poorer districts of England, where agricultural lessons of no small importance may sometimes be learned. Our earliest experience was on such a spot, far removed from all examples of modem grand farming, with central homestead, factory-hke. The portable steam-engines and threshing- machines came to disturb us about the year 1864 ; till then we had no machinery except turnip-cutters, chaff-knives, and a grindstone. We had nine barns, and as many pairs of flails at work in the winter. From a bold promontory or "corner "on the downs, with the tableland behind, and the sheepwalk and Furzes around and on the slope, we overlooked our big farm with the eight little homesteads, pictures of comfort for stock ; the rich land in the valley, the broad acres of Turnips, the little copses and the "mount," where we grew our hurdles, the trout streams, the distant tower in the village, and a black heath beyond, fringing our domain with as poor and dreary a sand tract as any in Surrey, with Fir-clad sandhills bounding the view, and form- ing a waste where we have flushed the blackcock, and been astonished by the capercailzie, which the squire introduced but never naturalised. This pleasant spot is by no means ill-farmed. In the autumn, any time after September 1, the farms around smell of early Turnips, the folds are set, and the sheep bells tinkle, making music as though the country rejoiced in the fold ; and no doubt it does, for we have ourselves pitched the finest white Wheat on the waggons— carts we despised ; loaded 16 qr. of Oats per acre, and had a hand in Mangel crops of 40 tons ; for in return for a great deal of sport in the trout streams and copses work was expected from young hands at busy times. It was easy to make both ends meet, and something more, on the flats and in the bottoms, and it was easy to lose your small gains within a stone's-throw on the " brows," where the deep marls and loams thinned off to thin chalk or ironstone sand, bearing naturally little but sorrel (sorrow). The neighbourhood is the home of industry and economy of that humbler kind ■which the wise Mago informs us is sure to be rewarded. It always turned out wrong to run a-muck against the old habits and customs ; they did not yield easily to new-fangled ideas— an inno- vator generally burnt his fingers. So when one collected the Mangel leaves and pickled them, the sands cried out, " Plough them in for manure ;" and the cattle said, " We won't eat your saur kraut!" When another sowed Swedes before June I, the mildew observed, " Too soon ! " and settled upon the leaves about the end of August. When chemists first went about lecturing and recommending "phosphorous for Turnips," our loams answered, "Not here !"'and we learned to gain our practice on the farm and to seek ex- planations only in the laboratory. In those days little confidence could be placed in chemists and scientific teachers, who generally promised more than they could perform, and were very often too much elated by something they had found out. But we could always rely, then as now, on farm- yard manure and the sheepfold. We observed after breaking up our Furzes by grubbing and ploughing, that Rape and Oats were the best crops; Wheat was peculiarly liable to blight until after some years of high farming. We noticed too that the Whortleberry grew over several miles of country on the left of a certain lane, while on the other side of that boundary', on the same formation of sand, scarcely a plant was to be found. Tares, too, which on Romney Marsh are the best possible preparation for Wheat, even when they have been saved for hay, ruined some of our land for several years. though they were eaten on the ground by sheep. Mangels, sowed afterwards, turned yellow, " stuck up," and refused to grow. Scientific men could not explain these things, and they did not affect to do so, but several pretenders to science pretended to explain them ; and in those days — early days for agricultural chemistry — there were more mountebanks and enthusiasts " the agricultural world than there ever will be again perhaps, the word went round, " Another great discovery ! " and the answer came back, " Wonderful ! " Caution and observation enabled us to retain those small gains which some people— gaining too fast and innovating too much — converted into losses. Guano was by far the most valuable of the innovations about that time ; it started the Turnips, and laid the foundation for corn, that filled the nine bams fuller than they had ever been filled before. We had thought of " centralising " the bams, but, instead of that, they were repaired and rebuilt, and they greatly aid the small economist in cartage of straw, manure, and roots. When COBBETT called, on his rural rides, and praised our Cabbages, we had not carried out all our economies ; we had not then laid open our fields, or formed sheepwalks connecting the downs with distant parts of the farm, and the belt of clay (gault) under the hill — a mere strip, seldom wider than a single field — was, here and there, a little wet. In a hght land district drain- ing was not among the economies that were understood ; it would have cost a good deal to dig a main drain to carry the water away, and we did not immediately think of digging a hole in the sand below and letting it soak away. When COBHETT rode by, the selling value of the poorer sands was about /20 an acre. Most of it is now worth four times as much, and some dry knobs, for building on, have sold at ^600 an acre. Railways have brought the whole dis- trict to the gates of the great metropolis, and many little industries and small gains have now been created in connection with luxuries and the general produce required for a wealthy popu- lation. We propose to give a column on our practice in saving our own Turnip and Mangel seeds, which saved us some pounds a year in seedsmen's bills, besides a considerable gain in the weight and quality of our crops. This is one of those small matters of detail which are important. Mr. Hexrv Dru-MMONd, the popu- lar member for West Surrey, and a shining light in the agriculture of the county, used, 30 years ago, to end his agricultural addresses with the pregnant words, " Go and buy guano !" Guano has degenerated. Our lives and fortunes change in a moment, and it is not surprising that advice which was good in our youth should be bad after 30 years. Let us conclude with words of more stability, and say, " Go and save your own seeds !" There is nothing in Mago's lost work that would bring so much gain and satisfaction to modern farmers as the improvement, by selection, of the plants they cultivate. The supply of English Wheat at Mark Lane on Monday was small, and sold readily at the previous Monday's rates ; at Wednesday's market, prices had a downward tendency. On Monday, at the Metro- politan Cattle Market, choicest qualities of beasts brought nearly previous prices, and this remark holds good for Thursday's business. Little alteration in sheep and lambs. For Hops] the demand is steady : the plantations are improving. Many of our readers will hear with deep regi-et of the death of iVIr. Riciiakd SrRAirox, of TUir- derop, so long known .1^ a successful breeder of .Short- horns, and an eminent agricultuiist. AVe understand that Mr. .Strattun died at Wincliestcr on Tuesday, the 15th inst., after a long illness. When the ordinarily silent Agricultural Laisourer speaks, it is only fair that we should listen to him. Says a contemporary : — "A meeting of some significance was lately held at Leintwardine, a village on the borders of Herefordshire and Shropshire. The audience consisted entirely of agri- cultural labourers, the chairman, Mr. SxiiANGF., having himself risen from the rank and file of rural industry. The chairman, in a long address, after describing some of the difhculties of the farm labourer, recommended as the main remedy the division of farms into large, middle, and small sized farms. He said— ' Let us for a moment look at a large farm, say 500 acres. Now. out of that take a farm of 20Q acres, and one of 100 and two of 50 acres each ; there you see would be four families living where only one now lives ; or, suppose we took another of 600 acres. Then out of that take one of 300 acres, one of 100, two of 50, and three of 33, you will then have seven families where now but one lives.' And though admittingth.it the large farmer may employ as many labourers as the aggregate body of smaller farmers, amongst whom it is proposed to divide the large farm, Mr. Strange con- tended that with smaller farms there would be more work for the local tradesmen, and that the landlord, notwith- standing the necessity of keeping up more farmhouses and steadings, ' would not have to build such mansions as are called for on grouped farms.* " Then a discussion followed, and both the chairman and the labourers concurred in demanding better cottages, some of them wishing to rent their cottages directly from the landlord, and not from the farmers for whom they ' ■ But the main burden of the labourer's complaint was lowness of wages. One man ' had a wife and two children to keep on ii^. a week.* Another 'thought it only reasonable and right that they should have 15^. per week.' A third rem.arked, ' that if a man worked two or three hours overtime he ought to be paid for it.' One man had a wife and seven children, with wages of gs. a week. " Then one speaker said — ' They ought to be bound to give us wages enough to bring up our children properly ; ' while a subsequent one said — 'We get our masters to lower the rent and raise the wages.' And ThomasGreen thought they wanted a labourer's club-room. ' Through competition, if one man did not take the work from a farmer another did, and so, through the men not sticking together, they lost ground gradually. If labourers would only stick to each other, and stick out, they might do much, as the farmer could not do without them.' " The labourer then perceives that he ought to be better paid and better housed, and concludes that ** they ought to be bound to give us wages enough." Since, however, it must be evident to every thinking man that " they " never will be coerced into giving a fixed wage regulated by Act of Parliament, some better suggestion must be offered. A kind of trade union is, indeed, still possible, whereby "if labourers would only stick together and stick out, they might do much." Much harm and much misery might accrue, no doubt, but eventually little good could be effected in this way. Colliers and working mechanics have for years past seen many instances of their employers quickly accumu- lating gigantic fortunes, and this spectacle, together with the sense of their own united power, raised the question why they should not be better paid, and thus participate in a general prosperity. Such, however, is not the case in the country. Landlords are poor, tenants barely get more than ordinary interest on their capital, and labourers are badly paid. No county cla-ss suffers from plethora of wealth, and an increase in labourers' wage would be enough to ruin many an endeavouring tenant. But these labourers urge in their dumb way, '* We get our masters to lower the rent and raise the wages." Quite impossible. Competition is too strong a tide to be thus stemmed, and no economist would recommend a compulsory regulation of rent. Two courses appear open to us in this dif- ficult but all-important matter :— First, "co-operation" between labourers and masters, in which mutual help would result in mutual advantage ; in which the labourer would rise in prosperity with his master, and in which the well-being of the master would become the aim of every labourer. Secondly, legislation, not direct, but indirect ; upon which solution we "ttgain have recourse to our excellent contemporary the Econojuist : — " Now. the first requisite to any general advance of agricultural wages is a better system of managing landed property. Abrogation of game preservation, long and rational leases to farmers of competent capital, and the due performance by the owners of such durable improve- :s as properly belong to them, are the main points on h the wages question depends. Ail these are entirely within the control of the landowners and beyond the control of the farmers. Whether the searching scrutiny which the law and practice of landowning in England becoming subject will awaken the landowners to some- thing like a rational senseof their duties and their interests difficult to say ; but if England is to continue the paradise of landlords they must look about them, and that without loss of time. On the other hand, it slrould be pressed on the attention of the labouring classes that the reckless way in which they marry very early in life, without having made any kind of provision for a family, as much to do, not only with the pressure which they indi- duaUy sustain from numerous families, but also with the impetition which exists among them for employment." We have passed over Mr. Strange's suggestion of dividing farms as thoroughly unpractical and impos- sible, however essential it may appear to him and those who think with him. — Although farmers cannot fairly be blamed for the many shortcomings of which our Rural Econojiy is guilty, yet it is evident that their inertness as a body allows many injurious customs to continue, and hinder reform. Mr. Everett spoke correctly before a recent meeting of the Lavenham Farmers' Club, when he There were no men in this country that were less public men than farmers, or that took less interest in public afiiiirs. The gentlemen present this evening knew ery well how dimcult it was on egard to any questiqn, to convene a meeting of farmers in" large numbers. There was a good deal of reason in it. The whole tenour of a farmer's life was to make him a quiet, home-loving bird, whom it was diflicult to drag out of his cage when once returned to it from his day's labour. He thought that in this matter the farmers had been much to blame. It became every man in a land like England to take some part in public affairs. The want of public spirit, however, seemed to be in some degree August 26, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. diminishing ; and the great progress that had been seen to take place in reference to the formation of Chambers of Agriculture was, he took it, a good augur)' for the future." Farmers have paid much attention to the direct im- provement of their land and live stock, but there are certain grave questions regarding their position as citizens, and their relations to their dependents, which as yet have not received united action. It is high time that this indifference should be abandoned ; and we venture to assert that, if the tenantry of the countij, with united and intelligent voice, spoke their convic- tions regarding tenant-right, leases, security of tenure and capital, game. Poor-law administration, and the obstructive character of our present land-laws, they would not express their opinions in vain. Mr. T. Chandler thus writes from Devizes on the State of the Crops in Wiltshire, under date of August 16 : — "The harvest is now general, and the farmers are taking advantage of the present glorious weather to gather in their crops with the greatest expedition. By the assistance of the improved machinery for cutting and har- vestmg they are enabled to cut the com before It stooripe thereby pre^ entmg great vv aste as well as 1 deterioration of quality A fortnight or three weeks of such weather as we are now blest with will leave but httle com unsecured named, which is so celebrated for its Barley, that a marked change for the worse in that grain had taken 1 place within the last few days. After mbbing out a great many samples, I unhesitatingly say I did not meet with a really choice one. This remark is not confined to this district only. In the kindly soil from Everleigh through Upavon, &c., the Barley is little better than tailing. Barley is the most deceptive crop that is grown. It may look as promising as the most sanguine could wish till within a few days of its ripening, and tum out badly after all : which I fear will be the case this year. Fields that a fortnight ago indicated a yield of 6 qr. per acre are now more hke four, with a quality not so good by 4J. or 5^. a quarter. The Peas, a good crop, well harvested. Beans much improved. The Turnips, &c., on the hills require rain, where they have not been fortunate enough to meet with showers." Respecting the Harvest in Hampshire, the Hampshire Advertiser informs us that : — ' ' The work done in this locality during the early part of the week was something enormous. A large portion of the Wheat crop has been cut and got into shock. Steam threshing has also begun here and there in the open field ; the yield is no doubt good, but we have heard from the 1 ps of har\ estmen probably full of the idea that they themsel es ought to get a larger dividend, that there are 16 sacks to the acre We do not beheve that the 3.\ erage yield is nearly doubled but the prospects of the three consecutive days— viz., nth, 12th, and t3th, the tem- perature in the shade stood at or above 9I^ certainly quite the ideal conception of "harvest weather." Date. Max. in Shade. ^„.'"i'-- Max. in Shade. Max. in Sun. Aug.. ;: i " 78.1 77-3 ii \a 8..0 91.7 i3 I5°.7 146. S I45-0 We hear of several instances of Death in the Harvest Field. The intense heat has for some days made it very difficult for labourers to work in the harvest fields in Devon and Cornwall, and on Monday a man named Rogers expired very suddenly while at work near Kingsbridge. Two cases of sunstroke are reported from Cornwall. SOVEREIGN (27,538). Few bulls have been more successful prize-takers than Mr. Chaloner's Sovereign (27,538), whose por- trait we are enabled to place before our readers, through Fig. 256.— sovereign (27,538). The journey Ihat I had reserved for my last inspection has been on Salisbury Plain. Getting a lift as far as the ' Bustard, ' I took a southerly direction through Elstone to Orcheston, Tilshead. and Lavington. The Wheat on the down land as well as the field is bulky ; and, notwith- standing the sheaves are not so heavy as in some years, it may yield a fair crop. It is very much improved in appearance during the last to days, and the samples generally are plump, and a good colour. It would be presumptuous at present to hazard a de- cided opinion as to the yield. This will soon be deter- mined by that unerring standard of tmth in such matters, the threshing-machine. The experience of past years may to a great extent sen'e as a guide as to the probable yield of the present year. In taking a retrospective view of the weather during the past three or four njonths, and com- paring it with corresponding months, in years when the harvests have been very productive, I fear 1871 will not bear a favourable comparison. At the critical period of blossoming and for some little time after, the weather was very cold, boisterous, and unkindly, and although the moisture considerably increased the growth of straw, it was not at'all genial for the grain. It is to bo hoped the beautiful forcing weather of the Last fortnight may to some e,\tent counterbalance the want of heat in June and July. Taking these facts into calculation, I do not think we must expect the yield from the straw to be equal to the aver.ige of years. That there is an average amount of straw throughout the country will be generally admitted, but, as in many instances, where the plant of Wheat was thin, the butts of the sheaves are filled with Poppy and Charlock, their appearance is very deceptive. I was sorry to observe, in passing through the district I have farmer at present are very encouraging. Some of the soldiers from our barracks have been allowed to go out and help to gather in ' the kindly fmits of the earth,' and the good humour \nth which they retum after the days labour shows that they appreciate the liberty to toil. Barley, in many fields, mil be an uneven sample, the recent heavy showers having caused a good deal to be laid. The crop of Oats is a splendid one, and though the disease has shown itself rather strongly amongst the Potatos, a few days' sunshine has arrested it, and we hope no very great amount of mischief has been done." Of the Potato Blight in Ireland, BeWs Weekly Messenger says : — ' ' We regret to learn that the Potato blight has broken out with great virulence in Tipperary. It is said that in some places fully nine-tenths of the tubers have rotted already, and the remainder is despaired of. In fact, says a telegram, there has not been such a heavy visitation since the great famine 25 years ago ; and, were it not for the favourable condition of cereal crops, the consequences might be as disastrous as then to the peasantry. In the neighbourhood of the Potato land the air is most disagree- able from the oppressive odour caused by the blight. " The Recent Heat is the subject of a letter in the Times from Mr. F. NuNES, Heathfield Lodge, Chiselhurst. In this communication the writer says :— " The following very high temperature, which we have experienced here from the commencement of the present month, may perhaps prove of interest. The thermometers are standard instraments. the one in the sun being in vacuo, and placed on the grass. It \vill be seen that on the kindness 'of his "courteous owner. The woodcut (fig. 256) is froma photograph byMr. Newman, who was employed by Mr. ChanciUor, LockviUe Street, Dublin. Rather more than a year ago we described Sovereign as he appeared at the Dublin spring show, as follows : — "A handsome bull of light roan colour, very deep and massive, with rather drooping quarters, and withal an excellent stock-getter. The honours he has won for his well-known owner and breeder have been exceptionally high. On Wednesdav, April 20, he was awarded the Towneley or Irish Farmers Gazelle Plate, valued at ,f 155, and the Irish Railway Challenge Cup, value ^150. The latter prize will be permanently retained at King's Fort, Mr. Chaloner having won it three times consecutively with the same bull, thus removing it from further competi- tion. The Towneley plate is still afloat, owing to Bolivar having won it in 1868, thus breaking the continuity of Sovereign's successes. That this bull's stock are tme to their ancestry has been sufficiently proved at King's Fort, and, as an instance, we may mention that of Sir Leopold, the winner of the prize for calves dropped in 1869, at the same show. Although his thighs are a trifle light at present, age will probably supply the deficiency. In general he may be described as a thick- fleshed bull, of rich colour, with much of his sire's style about him, and wonderfully altered since he appeared in the sale ring at King's Fort 12 months since, and was bought in by Mr. Chaloner at 12 gs. The pedigree of such a bull as Sovereign is an interesting study to the breeder. He is now just four years old : he was by Mr. K. Booth's Royal Sovereign, and from Mr. Torr's Village Rose by Blood Royal (14,169). The following diagram. III2 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 26, iSyt. which takes up his' pedigree immediately after //;riopU\ Miy 3, 1870." suppose would all go the heard such a reason given for docking sheep, we are inclined to think the farmer or farmers have been " taken up " wrongly. A short- docked sheep will handle better at the rump, just here the tail is set on, than a long-tailed sheep. lence, allowing the tail to grow long deprives the carcase of a good handling point. We do not there are facts to warrant the statement that the fat would all go to the tail, but rather that the tail head " would not handle so well. We pass over the second reason as an insufficient one for con- tinuing the practice of docking, and we quite agree with "a friend of dumb animals," that it is inad- missible. The third and fourth reasons are, however, the best that can be given for "docking." Could sheep be kept on natural food, their tails might be left but being for the whole period of their short ex under artificial conditions, subsisting on Turnips In consequence of this the shepherd is compelled to trim the wool from the posterior portion of sheep so afl'ected, and if he had to contend with long-tailed sheep, his task would be rendered much more diflicult. Were we, however, to follow the suggestions of this mistaken friend of dumb animals, and to leave the sheep entirely to Nature, they would speedily be in the most deplorable condition of wet and filth. Unless sheep are kept clean— and we hope that this sheep's friend, should these remarks catch his eye, will now unilerstand what is meant by the wortl— they will in spring and summer, previous to the clipping season, be exceedingly liable to maggots, and, from our own observation, we can state that the tail of a sheep, when allowed to remain intact, cannot be used to brush away flies, but is only capable of movement within exceed- ingly narrow limits. To leave a flock of sheep un- HAM SALES, Sr'C. The sale of Mr. Horley's flock, founded up- wards of 20 years ago, principally upon the far- famed old flock of Mr. Masfen, of Norton Canes, took place on the 8th inst. Although no very high prices were reached, there was a steady demand all through, the 66 rams averaging slightly over ;^io IQS. each. The ram lambs were thin, not having received any artificial food or stimulants, but their blood secured customers for the 60 at from 50.r. to 105J. each. 1'he shearling ewes numbered 100, and were a very level lot. The two best pens made gos. and 105^. respec- tively, the others going at Sox, 75^., down to 70J., the lowest price paid. The general average was about 77^-. 150 older ewes were offered, and for these the competition was very brisk, 120s., 115.1., and looj. per head being paid for the best pens ; the general run was Sos. to S5J., the average running close to the last-named price. The ewe lambs were matchy, and showed a good deal of breed. They ranged from 60s. to Soj-. , averaging nearly Jos. each. On Thursday, the loth inst., Mr. Sanday, jun., 'Old his well known flock of Leicester sheep, through the agency of Mr. J. M. Pott. The flock consisted of 13 rams, 65 ewes, 20 shearling ewes, 36 ram lambs, and 35 ewe lambs. Mr. Pott, after an effective speech, offered the shearling rams for sale, with the fallowing result :— Shearling rams : By A Y, dam by M M, g.d. by C N, g.g.d. by Y N, g.g.g.d. by G, g.g.g.g.d.-by T, g.g.g.g.g.d. by A— Mr. Mead, 35 gs. ; by A Y, dam by H, g.d. bred by Colonel Inge— Mr. Massev, 20 gs. ; by A Y, dam by M M, g d. by X X, g.g.d. bred by Mr. Buckley— Mr. Cran- field, 11 gs. ; by A Y, dam by D X, g.d. bred by Colonel Inge— Mr. Cranfield, 124 gs.; by AY, dam by S T, g.d. by S C (prize ewe at Salisbury), g.g.d. bred by Mr. Buckley— Mr. Birchnall, n gs. Old rams, 3-shear: by Quid, dam by M M, g.d. by X X, g.g.d. by W X, g.g.g.d. by L N (dam of L X)— Mr. Langdale, 364 gs. 2-shear : by L X, dam by S T, g.d. by C S (prize ewe at Salisbury), g.g.d., bred by Mr. Buckley — Mr. Allen, 10 gs. ; by D X, dam M M, g.d. by W X, g.g.d. by No. 3— Mr. Mann, 16 gs. ; by L X, dam by H, dam bred by Colonel Inge— Mr. Harrison, ro gs. ; by L X, dam by August 26, 1S71.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 13 M M, g.d. by X X, g.g.d. by G 2, g.g.g.d by A Y (dam of 90-guinea sheep)— Mr. Marshall, Rempstone, 84 gs. ; by L X, dam by X X, g.d. by G N, g.g.d. by A Y— Mr. Messenger, 10 gs. ; by L X, dam by M M, g.d. by XX, g.d. bred by Mr. Buckley— Mr. Spencer, gj gs. Sue-shear : By M M, dam by C N, g.d. by Y N, g.g.d. by G— Mr. Cressvvell, 32 gs. The remainder of the lots made fair prices. On Aug. 1 1 the annual gathering of Leicester ram breeders and farmers was held at Mr. Stamper's, Highfield House, Nunnington, North York, where Mr. Boulton, the auctioneer, let the sheep. The highest shearling was taken at .^20 5^-. by Mr. Tinsley, of Malton, the average price being nearly ;^8 each. The 2-shear sheep brought a strong competition. The prize sheep at the Ryedale Show the previous day let to Mr. Greenwood, of Swarcliffe Hall, for /'31 los., and the lot averaged about 10 gs. per head. The aged sheep averaged about J^y per head. The general average throughout the day was over 8 gs. per head, only three sheep being turned back. On Wednesday,, the 1 6th inst., Mr. Went- worth, auctioneer, offered for competition 56 rams, the property of Mr. George Walmsley, Rudston House. The letting began vrith No. i of the shearlings, which realised ;£& ; the highest. No. 10, reached £24. Out of 22, four were passed, and the average was ;^io 5j-. 4d. Of 18 2-shear, 16 were let, the lowest at ^^6 5^., and No. 28 for ^26 loj-., the average being ^11 15^-. Of the 3 and 4-shear, 15 were offered and nine disposed of, the lowest at £6 $'■, and the highest. No. 41, at £1^, average £y i Is. Sd. ; the mean average of the whole being £g IJs. 41/., the highest of any ram show iu the district. Mr. German, of Measham Lodge, near Ashby- de-la-Zouch, held his annual sale of Shropshire sheep on Wednesday, the 17th inst., when 44 rams and 165 ewes were disposed of. The last three years the sheep from this flock have been sold at the Ashby-de-la- Zouch Smithfield, but from the fact of the spirited determination of the proprietor to make his flock equal to any in the country, and the confidence the public has shown in purchasing his rams on previous occa- sions, induced him to hold his sale this year at the Measham Field Farm, and we congratulate him on the great success he has achieved. The sale was com- menced in a most spirited manner by Mr. John German, of the firm of Davenport, German & Allen, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, commencing with a grand 2-shear ram, which was let to Mr. Rose, Ash, near Derby, at 21 gs.; No. 2, a 3-shear ram, sold to Geo. Moore, Esq., 17 gs. ; No. 3 was let to Mr. Geo. Astle, at 17 gs. ; No. 4, Mr. W. Princep, 19 gs. ; No. 5, the first shearling, was let to G. Fulton Esq., of Shardlow, 21 gs. ; this sheep was highly commended at the Royal Agricultural Society, Wolverhumpton, and took 1st prize at Leicester Agricultural Show, at Leicester. No. 6, Mr. Oime, 14 gs. ; No. 7, Mr. Singlehurst, Kingstone, 17 gs.; No. S, Geo. Moore, Esq., iS gs. ; No. 9, Mr. Sale, 10 gs. ; No. 10, Mr. Barber, Bestwood Park, 9 gs. ; No. 1 1, Mr. J. AY. Fanx, 12 gs.; No. 12, Mr. Singlehurst, 14 gs.; No. 13, Mr. Booth, 16 gs. ; No. 14, Mr. Gardner, 21 gs. ; No. 15, Mr. Everard, Narborough, 14 gs. ; No. 16, Mr. Sale, 8i gs. ; No. 17, Mr. Fowler, 11 gs. ; No. 18, Mr. G. Sale, 7.i gs. ; No. 19, Mr. Oakey, Packington, 13 gs. No. 20, Mr. Hatchett, Lockington, 14 gs. ; No. 21 Mr. Edge, Stretton, 23 gs. ; No. 22, Mr. Alcock, Eurbage, 18 gs. ; No. 23, Mr. Webster, 8 gs. ; No. 24, Mr. Garner, Willesley, 16 gs. ; No. 25, Mr. Henson, Burton Lodge, 13 gs. ; No. 26, Mr. Geo. Devves, Willesley, 15 gs. ; No. 27, Mr. Sale, sen., 8 gs. ; No. 28, Mr. Stanin, 8 gs. ; No. 29, Mr. Clare, 8 gs. ; No. 30, Mr. H. E. Goodall, 16 gs. ; No. 31, Mr. Smith, Rangemoor, 17 gs. ; No. 32, Mr. Rat- cliff, II gs. ; No. 33, Mr. Thirlby, Packington, 9 gs. ; No. 34, Mr. T. Ratcliff, 10 gs. ; No. 35, Mr. Booth, Tamhom, Stafford, 21 gs. ; No. 36, Mr. Wood, Clifton, 18 gs. ; No. 37, Mr. Eaton, Derby, 10 gs. ; No. 38, Mr. F. Walker, 75 gs. ; No. 39, Mr. John Thompson, 10 gs. ; No. 40, Mr, Lilley, Swepstone, 9 gs. ; No. 41, Mr. Barber, 8 gs. ; No. 42, Mr. W. Bali, 6i gs. ; No. 43, Mr. Booth, Tamhom, 12 gs. ; No. 44, Mr. Princep, 10 gs. ; the average price of the rams being over ;^I5 each. The competition for the ewes was most spirited, prices ranging from 60s. to 102s. 6J. per head, or an average of 75J. ; the pur- chasers were Mr. W. H. Clare, Mr. Savidge, Mr. Fulton, Mr. Barber, Mr. G. F. Brown, Mr. Alcock Mr. Edge, and Mr. Fowler. Mr. Edmund Olding's annual ram sale took place on Wednesday, at his farai, Court House, Lower Woodford. These rams were selected from the im- proved Hampshire Down sheep, descended from the well-known flock which was brought to great perfec- tion by Mr. Olding during the time he resided at Rat- fin Farm, near Amesbury. The highest lots fell as under ;— To Mr. Dibben, lot 3, 28 gs. ; to Mr. Charles Waters, of little Dumford Farm, lot 4, 21 gs., both these lots being lambs let for the season only ; to Mr. Moore (who competed keenly for all the best lots), lot 50, 16 gs. ; lot 16, 14J gs. ; to Mr. Squarey, lot 40, 134 gs. ; Mr. M. H. Marsh (Ramridge House), lot 56, 12 gs. ; and lot 55, loj gs. ; to Mr. Gay, lot 20, 10 gs. ; to Mr. W. Long, lot 10, 9 gs. Messrs. Cossins, of Somerton, Mr. Miles, Wexcombe, and Mr. Gieen, Salterton, each purchased several lambs at very fair prices. The average of 58 lambs sold and let was £y 10s. Set each. On the 17th inst. a sale of Hampshire Down sheep took place at Bradwell, near Wolverton, at the residence of Mr. W. G. Duncan, of Bradwell House. The breed is not much known in this district, although it is a very useful one, as it is much more hardy than many other breeds, and on cold rough land it will do well when other sheep would degenerate. The bidding generally was not brisk, and the prices, in the majority of cases, were not so high as last year. The following is a return of the sale : — Sheep : Three ewes, £4 ^s. per head, Mr. Bull, Newport. Three ewes, £i 8s. per head, Mr. Bull. Three ewes, £2 igs. per head, Mr. Linnell, Great Brickhill. Five theaves, £s 7.1. per head, Mr. Craddock, Bradwell. Five wether lambs, £2 9J-. 6 Pike; two ditto, 19 months old, ;£'i4 5^. each. Pike ; a ban-en heifer, 24 years old, ;£'i6, Atkinson, New Bradwell ; a barren cow, ;^io los., Linnell, Great Brickhill; a ditto, ^11 loj-., J. Townsend; a ditto, jfll los., Mills, Newport; a self-coloured bull, 20 months old, a pure-bred Dauncey, ^£■15 5^., John Fountaine; a ditto, ;£'ii loj-.. Walker. A number of pigs were also sold, making good prices. Mr. George Kent's third annual lamb sale at Needham Hall, Gazeley, was held on Thursday, the 17th inst., Mr. Stanley (Newson, Stanley & Co.) officiating as auctioneer on the occasion. Upwards of 78 rams were offered, the highest priced lamb r; making 124 gs., and shearling ram 15I gs. The fi pen of black-faced ewe lambs made 72.f. per head ; t pen of wethers made 4$s. ; and a few lots of fuU-mou sheep and crones varied from 59^. to 60s. per head. Britford Sheep Fair. — This, one of the largest and most important fairs in the south-western counties, was held on the 12th inst. The supply of sheep was from 5000 to 10,000 below the average, and the attendance of farmers and dealers was not quite so large as usual, owing probably to the progress of har- vest operations. Lambs were in short supply, and sellers commenced by asking extravagant prices, which, as usual under the circumstances, led to a slow trade being done as the day advanced. Wethers were not in much request, and both ewes and wethers gave way is. to 2s. a head as compared with Weyhill and other recent fairs in the district. The chief demand was for lambs, and prices were altogether from loj-. to I5j-. a head higher than last year. Wethers may be quoted at from 48.;. to 58^. ; ewes from 48J. to 525-. ; lambs, 30J-. to 50J. a head. Sir E. Hulse obtained 3 gs. each for ICO ewes. Mr. Fleetwood sold a remarkably fine lot at 75^-., and 100 lambs, fed without corn, at ^y., Mr. Parker being the purchaser. Mr. E. Rawlence bought a splendid lot of ewes from Mr. Newton, of Dogdean, also at 75s. Mr. Morrison sold 100 ewes at 6qs., and obtained 54-r. for a second lot of 160. Mr. Futcher, of Fovant, realised 62.r. Mr. E. F. Mills sold 100 ewes at 65.1., and Mr. Dibben, of Bishopstone, obtained 50^-. each for lambs (the third selection from his flock). Mr. Smith, of Dumford, realised a like figure for his best lot, and 43^. for his culls. He sold his ewes at 6oj-. Col. Heathcote sold two lots of ewes, one at 58^. and the other at 53.^. A lot belonging to Mr. Richard Rooke realised 59^. Mr. Read, of Charford, sold Iambs which took the 1st prize at Salisbuiy, at 3 gs. — an advance of 1 5^. a head on the offer made for them a month ago ! These were sold again at a profit during the fair. Mr. Higgings, of Wishford, showed a fine lot of lambs, which sold at Soj-. a head ; and Mr. Geo. Sidford sold a useful lot at 47^. Mr. Brown obtained 541. for ewes; and the Messrs. Marlow bought one lot from Mr. Futcher at 6y. Mr. Compton, of Fisherton Delamere, made 63.?. a head for 100 ewes (Mr. Downs, of Basingstoke, being the purchaser), and Great Sale of Lambs at St. Bosxoells. — On the 15th inst. an extensive sale of Leicester lambs took place at the Southern Central Auction Mart at St. Boswells, on the North British Railway. The weather was exceedingly hot, and there was no wind to subdue the influence of the scorching rays of the sun. The sale was conducted by Messrs. John Swan & Sons, sheep and cattle sales- men, Edinburgh. The number of lambs put through the ring was fully 7000, and the sale was, on the whole, a satisfactory one. Prices, however, were not so high as those obtained at St. Boswells lamb fair last month, but in present circumstances consigners ex- pressed themselves as being well pleased with the result of the sale. Pastures are considerably barer than they were in consequence of the broiling weather of the last few days, and it is almost impossible just now to keep butcher meat. In addition, the Iambs disposed of were not so good in quality as those sent to St. Boswells, or those submitted to com- petition at the last auction sale held there. Generally, lambs may be quoted is. 6d. to 2s. down from last month. There was a capital attendance of purchasers from nearly all parts of Scotland, and from the border and midland counties of England, many of whom were in waiting for Melrose Lammas Fair on the i6th. All the stock was sold. The following were the lots sold : — Three-parts-bred : Blainslie lot, 30^-. 6d. ; Philiphaugh, 31.?. ; Sncep, 34.f. 6d. ; Fawside, 34-r. 6d. ; Standhill, zys. 6d. ; Cathpair, 38^. 6d. and 33.;. 6d. ; Rawflatt, 27J. 6d. ; Huntingdon, 3IJ. 6d. ; Castle Moffat, 28.f. ; Smail- holm Mains, 36^-. 6d. and 33J. ; St. Boswells, 31 J. ; Feraiehirst, 28s. 6d. ; Corniston, 29J-. ; Dryburgh, 24J. ; Greenhead, 32J. and 2-]s. 6d. ; Minto Kaimes, 37.1. ; Birkenside, 33J. 6d. ; West Morriston, 26s. 6d. ; Cricl- ton Mains, 36^. ; Boon, 33^-. 6d., 33J., 35^. ; ditto ewe, 30J. ; Whitemore, 32J-. ; Cunzierton, 28.r. and 26s. 6d. ; Sharplaw, 2'&s. 6d. ; Earlston, 34j-. Half-bred s : Ruc- castle lot, 2Sj. ; Dolphinton, 3IJ. 6 M- ,1 1:71 .,\ million qr. I - 1, 1 . ! ■ i, Ijcen appropriately termed the Grape ,1 i , 1 >,r the best of the cereal crops. Bulky in :i i\,, i:n_l.;\ liantcd, long and closely set in ear, the Barley crop oi 1871, for bulk, yield, and quality, has seldom been equalled. The chief cause of the success of this — as well as of all spring crops— must be ascribed to the favourable seed-bed they secured. The soil was not only baked by summer droughts, but also pulverised by the bare winter frosts, therefore a more favourable seed- bed was never obtained. The rainfall during the end of last w^eek — by swelling the kernel, which promised to be somewhat shrivelled and steely— has vastly improved the quality of this grain. I estimate the yield to be 25 per As in 1869, so also in this year, the Oat crop is the most erratic and variable. In the South this crop, contrary to ordinary years, far excels that in the North, and crops are bulkiest on soils generally considered unsuitable for the production of Oats. The yield in the South e-xceeds expectations. A field I saw threshed out in Northampton- shire yielded ro qr. per acre, and the weight of grain was 45 lb. per bush. Taking this crop as a w^hole, I consider it to be a good average. The Bean crop is most prolific, thickly planted, strong and lengthy in stem, and closely podded. I consider it nearly equal to the crops of the last three years combined. I estimate this crop to be 20 per cent, over average. The Pea crop, too, is singularly bulky, and promises an unusually large j-ield. From the almost total failure of seeds last year, a large breadth of Peas was sown ; and, taking the exceseive area together with the enormous yield, pro- bably a larger Pea crop was never produced in England. The Potato crop, so far as number of plants, vigour of stem, and number of tubers are concerned, was never more promising. Disease, however, especially in low and sheltered fields, has already caused considetable damage, but with a continuance of dry weather it is hoped some- thing approaching to an average crop of sound tutors may yet be obtained. Root crops, comprising Turnips, Mangels, and Kohl Rabi, never looked better. The Turnip crop especially — which, when good, is the basis of a successful rotation of crops, is the best soil-restoring crop, and lessens the farmer's outlay on artificial foods— is singularly promising. Not a patchy nor a blighted field is to be seen, but every- where this crop is remarkable for lu-xuriance. The hay harvest was protracted, on account of the frequent and heavy rains. Meadow hay, on the whole, was secured in fair condition, and proved an average crop. From the failure of seeds last year, artificial hay was Umited to a small area, and was an mdifferent yield. Pastures were backward in the early part of the season, but rarely have cattle and sheep fattened so rapidly as during the last three months. Those who predicted the destruction of Clovers and the finer grasses from the severe drought of last year were premature in their opinions, for seldom have Clovers been so abundant, the sward so close and luxuriant, or pastures carried so large a number of stock. The abundance of Milfoil or Yarrow is doubtless caused by the drought of the last three years, which fosters the growth of this plant. Young seeds are singularly luxuriant. Green crops^ Tares, Sainfoin, and Lucerne— are abundant, and the August 26, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [15 yield of vegetable produce has not been equalled for several years. Taking the produce of 1871 as a whole, it maybe safely said, notwithstanding the deficient Wheat yield and the general failure of orchard fruit, that seldom has EngUsh produce been so valuable and abimdant. To quote the words of the Hebrew poet, "The pastures are clothed with flocks ; the valleys also are covered over with com ; they shout for joy, they also sing." With respect to demand for labour, the contrast between this year and the last is remarkable. Last year union-houses were full ; there was little or no hay to mow, almost no Turnips hoeing, and unusually light harvest labour. This year there is a scarcity of labourers, and as much as 8s. dd. per acre has been paid for simply tying and shocking com. It is worthy of remark that every description of farm produce is dear. Breadstuffs command fuU prices, the prices of beef and mutton have rarely been exceeded, store stock are 30 per cent, higher than in last year, and wool is realising 15 per cent, over last year's prices. Coupling the high prices with the abundant produce, the year 1871 will doubtless prove a bountiful year to the fanners. James Sanderson, 11, Pall Mall East, S.W., ^"S- 23- Mr. Barclay read a paper at the recent meeting of the British Association in Edinburgh, upon Cart's Dis- integrating Flour Mill. The mill reduces Wheat by percussion, while it is unsupported and falling freely, or being projected, through the air. The Wheat, in passing through the machine, is strack by a series of bars moving at immense speed in opposite directions ; it is so instantaneously reduced into a state for bolting, that no injurious heat is caused, and the flour produced is of a much superior quality to that obtained by ordi- nary grinduig, while the cost of its production is con- siderably less. Messrs. Gibson & Walker, of Bonning- ton Mills, Edinburgh, have now one of these machines in their perfected state in full operation, and they give the produce of two different lots of Wheat passed through it. The first, as follows, is — Old Scotch Wheat, which produced : — Flour, 45 per cent. ; semo- lina, 26 per cent. ; bran flour, 4i per cent. ; exhaust flour, ij per cent. ; seconds, 4 per cent. ; parings, 1% per cent. ; bran, 13 per cent. ; black dust, 2| per cent. ; loss, i.^ per cent. — 100 per cent. The other was a mixture of Baltic and Ghirka Wheats, and produced : — Fine flour, 35 per cent, ; semolina, 36 ; bran flour, 44 ; exhaust flour, i\ ; seconds, 3^ ; parings, 2; bran, 13; black dust, &.C., 3; loss, li — 100. These statements show the varied effects produced by this novel process on different descriptions of Wheat. The quantity of semolina obtained from hard Wheats, it will be observed, is much greater, and that of flour much less, than from soft Wheats. But what is of most import- ance is the ultimate results. The quantity of finest flour obtained varies, of course, according to the quality of the Wheat used. Messrs. Gibson & Walker at present obtain from 55 to 60 per cent. ; but they expect, when they have a sufficient quantity of machinery for dressing the semolina, that their mini- mum production will be increased to 60 per cent. ; the inferior qualities of flour will then, of course, be pro- portionally reduced. By this process Messrs. Gibson & Walker are able to produce a very superior quality of flour from good Scotch Wheat alone ; whilst by stones, they can only use a very small proportion of such Wheat, mixed with superior qualities. With regard to the quantity produced nay be stated that Messrs. Gibson & Walker pass 20 qr. per hour through the ma- chine at present, and they say that they could easily increase this to 25 qr. per hour, or more, if they had sufficient cleaning machinery to keep all their mills going. Estimating the grinding power of a pair of millstones at 6 bush, per hour, 27 pairs of stones would be required, together with at least 3 pairs under stone-dressers' hands, or 30 pairs in all, to grind 20 qr. per hour. Deduct from this estimate the 5 pairs required along with Cart's patent mill, and it would be found that this machine is actually perform- ing the work of 25 pairs of stones with perfect ease. The disintegrating flour-mill, together with the five pairs of millstones in connection with it, and the whole of the dressing and cleaning machinery, are driven at Messrs. Gibson & Walker's with ease by an engine of 100 nominal horse-power, with cylinders of 28-inch high and 36-inch low pressure, 3 feet and 6 feet stroke. In regard to the cost and workmg of the very much smaller prime cost of the disintegrating flour- mill, compared with that of the 25 pairs of mill- stones it supersedes, may be mentioned, as well as the very slight and rarely needed repairs it required — making altogether such a saving in the cost of manufacture as millers will themselves be best able to appreciate. In answer to Mr. Douglas, the President said he had been informed that 5j. per qr. more was obtained from Wheat treated in this manner than from Wheat treated in any other way. Mr. Bramwell mentioned that he, along with several other gentlemen, had visited the mills at Bonnington, and had seen the machine in operation. Experiments were made with it, with the following results :— When grinding 20 qr. of Wheat per hour, the disintegrator consumed 145-horse power ; when grinding 15 qr. per hour, 123-horse power ; when empty, 63-horse power ; and when running with the two discs lashed together, only 19-horse power consumed. In some other remarks, he said that this was absolutely a new principle in grinding material, and was a most ingenious one. In answer to a question, Mr. Watson, engineer at the works, stated that the machine created less dust than the ordinary process. The President pointed out that if they took away the 63-horse power expended in driving the empty machine from ' the 123-horse power necessary to grind 1 5 qr. of gram, they arrived at the power neces- sary to disintegrate 5 qr., viz., 20-horse power, irre- spective of the power expended in driving the empty machine. The thanks of the meeting were accorded to Mr FLAX CULTIVATION IN IRELAND. Agricultural Statistics, Ireland, 1871. Return, showing, in statute acres, the extent under Flax in each county and province in J87C 1871, compiled from information obtained by the Royal Irish constabulary and metropolitan police, who efficiently act as enumerators ; also the number scutching mills in each county and province in 1870, E. Difference -o«& between III Land under Flax. .870 and .871. .S,o. 1871. Increase Decrease "•a Ulster. Acres. Acres Acres. 1 Acres. Antrim .. .. 2,9.8 168 Armagh .. ., 17,36= 5.182 3,625 3.947 31,146 27,078 Londonderry =^',li^ .9.665 16,039 3,626 Tyrone .. .. Total of Ulster .. 30.522 23.9>8 217 1,409 180,412 .47,188 Decrease, MUNSTER. Clare 425 895 Tipperary .. 294 Total of Munsler.. 52 .5 :-.7 39 4,192 2.929 Decrease, .,263 Leinster. Carlow . . 6 9 48 King's I .. .. n 32 5 L^r :: :: Mealh ...58 1.465 '%% .55 I wT' th" 80 'A 3 ..'== Wieklow .. Total of Leinster.. •- ■■ 4,238 3..99 Decrease, ..039 39 CONNAUGHT. Galway .. .. 499 208 291 - 1,094 432 Total of Connaught 571 3. 6.068 3,448 Decrease, 2,620 Total decrease .creage under Flax in Ireland ,910 acres ; 1871, 156,764 ac utching mills in Ireland in 1870, 1518. Ireland in each of the follow- 1863 . . 214,099 tent of Flax t i.595 i,764 The foregoing return exhibits a decrease of 38,146 acres in the total area under Flax in 1S71, compared with 1S70. This decrease is general. In Dublin and Queen's County there is a slight increase of 9 acres and 27 acres respectively. In the province of Ulster alone the decrease is 33,224 acres. Of the entire number — (1518) — of scutching mills in 1870, 1409 were in Ulster; 39 in Leinster j 39 in Munster ; and 31 in Connaught. I do not apprehend that any important difference will be found in the acreage under Flax now given, and that which will appear in the Tables of the general abstracts which are being compiled, and will soon be ready for publication ; they will give the acreage under the various crops, and also the number of live stock, by counties and provinces. William Donnelly, Registrar- General, General Register Office, Charleviont House, Dublin, August 2, 1871, HARVESTING CORN IN WET WE A THER. Much hay has been damaged by rain during the present season, and we cannot yet say how far changes of weather may influence our harvest prospects. It is well, therefore, to bear in mind that the farmer is no longer obliged to sit quietly by while the rain soaks his sheaves and deteriorates his samples of com. Thanks to Mr. W. A. Gibbs, a simple apparatus has been designed, by means of which the produce of an average half acre may be dried in an hour. As a rule, we are favoured with good harvest weather, and, so long as the sun shines, the farmer will probably be content to trust in Providence rather than purchase a ciunbrous and expensive apparatus. Having, however, inspected Mr. Gibbs' hot-blast fan and iron Wheat-house, we believe that any farmer having sufficient knowledge as to the principles upon which Mr. Gibbs works, would be able to erect the necessary "plant " at a small cost, and at once be in a position to meet the exigencies of a wet season. Should such an unhappy change occur in our present fine harvest weather, we cannot help think- ing that Mr. Gibbs will be deluged with letters from all parts of the country, begging for information as to his process of cum-drying. A full account of this pro- cess, and the requisite machinery, appeared some months since in our columns, and it is not our intention here fully to describe either. We wish to remind our readers that there is such a process, and to show that there is nothing complicated about it. An 8-horse power portable engine turns a fan-blast, which blast draws the hot air and products of combustion from the fire-box of the engine, and sends the heated gases through a house or enclosed shed, in which the Wheat or hay is placed. In Mr. Gibbs' own words — "The engine is the ordinary portable engine of 6 or 8-horse power, now in general use for threshing and other farm work ; the smoke-pipe has been taken off at the hinges and a short lead pipe fastened on to the ' exhaust,' to carry off the steam. The back plate of the smoke-box having been removed, the engine has then been drawn up and 'butted up ' against a corresponding opening in the back casing of the hot-blast ; a screen of malting wire, interposed between the two openings, intercepts any large sparks that might otherwise be drawn through the fan. A 5-inch driving band is carried from one wheel of the engine on ;to a small rigger on the flyer-shaft of the fan, whilst another band can be carried from the other wheel over the roof of the iron shed, so as to work an elevator or a threshing-machine simultaneously with the drying pro- cess. The fan absorbs only about one-fourth of the power of an S-horse engine, so that the remaining three-fourths are available for other work. With this arrangement we were able, last season, to render drenched Wheat fit for threshing-out in fifteen minutes. The drying shed which was used in these experiments was only 12 feet square, and held 32 sheaves in each compartment ; but, with a shed of 12 by 24 feet, which is the size best suited to large farms, 64 sheaves could be dried off" in a quarter of an hours =: 256 per hour. These 256 sheaves represent about the average produce of half an acre of land ; and hence, by dividing the harvestmen into two gangs, and working on through the night, between 10 and 12 acres might be cleared in the day and night, at an average cost of zs. per quarter on the Wheat thus dried. As a full descrip- tion of these experiments and close calculations of costs have already been pubhshed, I pass on to the more im- mediate subject-matter of this report, viz., the work done by a still simpler arrangement of this machinery during the past hay season. " This re-arrangement of it was put to the test in order to show its capabihty of being worked by horses in heu of steam-power. "The same hot-blast and drying-house are employed, but an ordinary horse-gear has replaced the steam-engine to give the requisite motive-power ; a sunk furnace sup- plies the heat ; an old cart wheel has been adjusted to form an eccentric, which gives movement to a set of levers. The advantage of_ this up and down movement in the making of hay is very great, because it enables the men to use large hay forks, and to hft up heavy masses of the wet ' chngy ' hay, and shake them out before the hot hair without being exposed to it themselves. For hay drying I have hitherto found it best to remove the false floors, the central partition, and the valve, and expose the hay to the direct action of the air as it issues from the fan mouth ; with this simple arrangement I obtained tne following results, which are taken from my rough note book : — Experiment 1. — On Upland Meado^u Grass, estimated at i\ Load to the Acre, Jtnie, 1869. '* Grass cut by scythe on Friday morning, once shaken t by the hay tedder ; winnowed up by evening ; weather r and occasionally sunny, but the air somewhat moist. ' Shaken out by hand on Saturday by noon time, and t into small grass cocks by evening ; weather as yes- Left in cocks all Sunday, weather fine and drying. On Monday morning from half-past two o'clock to half-past nine very heavy rain fell ; remainder of day dull nd moist ; left the hay untouched. " Tuesday morning. Three hours heavy rain before eight o'clock ; between eight and ten o'clock no rain, shook out two rows of cocks ; by half-past twelve o'clock torrent of thunder rain for three quarters of an hour, hich drenched both the spread and the unspread hay, so that the centres of the cocks were as wet as the outsides ; by half-past three o'clock the sun came out and a wind sprung up ; she ok out the two rows and dried them partially by five o'clock ; then carted up to the drying- house two heavy loads (which weighed when dried rather than 37 cwt. of hay fit for stacking), and dried them ■ee hours ; coke consumed, 320 lb. This work was performed in one half of the drying-house only (before the II i6 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 26, 1 87 1. partition was taken down), and it is recorded chiefly to form a first basis for tlie estimate of cost of tlie process, not as any fair indication of the time tal' cent, over the preceding year. The amount, inclusive of interest of £2 loj. per cent, per annum, standing to the credit of all accounts open at the end of 1869 was no less a sum than ^13,524,209. The average amount of deposit to each depositor was ;£'I2 gs. ii ; Calves, 369 ; Pigs, 75, Thu The number both of foreign and English Beasts is about the same as last Thursday ; trade is not very brisk, yet there is scarcely a quotable difference in price. The supply of both kinds of Sheep is shorter ; although trade is slow, prices are but little altered, if at all. Lambs and Calves are selling lower on the average. Our foreign supply consists of 455 Beasts, 5420 Sheep, 463 Calves, and 15 Pigs. Best Shorthorns . i quality Beasts 3 6 — 4 8 , 1070; Sheep and Lambs, 11,550; Calv METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET, Avg. 24. Best Fresh Butter 15^. per dozen lb. Second do, do. 13J. „ Small Pork, 4J. 6rf. to 4J. rod. ; Large Pork, is. Zd. to AS. 4^. per B lb. ENGLISH WOOL, The business has not been quite so large during the last week, owing to the very high prices now asked by holders, and owing to this many consumers who have lately bought freely are holding off for a time. It seems more than probable, however, that before long another spurt will take place. HA V.~Per Load of ^6 Trusses. Smithfield, Thursday, Aug. 24. PrimeMeadowHay,i20J.toi25j. ; Clover, old .. ..ijoff. Inferior do 70 90 Inferior do 100 New Hay ,. .. 85 100 Prime new do. ..I30 Inferior do. .. ..40 50 Inferior do 50 Inferior d Inferior c The: Straw MARK LANE. Monday, Aug. 21. Lipply of English Wheat i arket very small, and both new and old sold readily at the full prices of this day se'nnight. There was a good attendance, and a better demand for Russian and American Wheat, and in some instances rather more money was obtained for these descriptions. Barley, Beans, and Peas were without change. Oats were a dull sale, at previous rates. Flour was unaltered in Price per imperial Quarter. \s. s. Wheat, Essex, Kent, Suffolk. .White 1 54— 59 — fine selected runs do. J58— 61 — Talavera \6o-6^ — Norfolk — — Foreign 46 — 67 Barley, grind.&dist.,27Jt0 33i. .Chev.l — — Foreign .. grinding and distilling 28— 31 Oats, Essex and Suffolk 23 — 25 — Scotch and Lincolnshire. .Potato 25 — 27 — Foreign Poland and Brew 22 — 26 ^VE ••••.- 31-33 Rye-meal, Foreign | Beans, Mazagan.... — s. to — j. . .Tick 49— 50 — Pigeon ....51J. to 59J.. .Winds — — Foreign Small 40— 44 Peas, White, Essex, and Kent, .Boilers' — — Maple, —s.Xos. Grey — Flour, best r Longpod , Egyptian , 36—41 delivered.. per sack — Wednesday, Aug. 23. was small, for all qualities was inactive, at prices tending towards reduction. Barley sold quietly on former terms. Malt was dull, and drooping in value. Oats, the supply of which was extensive, experienced a slow sale, at drooping prices. Beans and Peas were quiet, at about late Flour was dull, and prices favoured purchasers. Arrivals OF Grain, & ., INTO LON 30N BY WaTE R Carriage. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Flour. Irish .. Foreign.. Qrs- 36,370 Qrs. 69io Qrs. 46,900 Sacks. {eiVis. 36.7to 6920 46.900 Liverpool, Aug. 22. — There was a rather thin attendance at to-day's market. Wheat in a fair con- sumptive demand, at id. per cental advance on rec American since Friday last, but there is no change it value of white. Flour fully as dear. Beans steady, Oats and Oatmeal dull. Indian Corn in good demand, at ^d. per qr. reduction. Mixed American, 30J. AVERAGES. - 19 .. SEED MARKET. Clover seeds of all descriptions are quiet but firm. For Trefoil seed values continue to tend upwards. White Mustard seed sells on former terms. We have a good inquiry for new Rapeseed. Trifolium is in slow request, at the recent decline. Hemp and Canary move off in retail, at unchanged currencies. New winter Tares and Rye are coming to hand, at moderate quotations. ] Italian Rye-grass there is as yet but little doing. John Shaw & Sons, Seed Merchants, 16. Water Lane, London, E.G. HOPS. Borough Market, Aug. 24. Messrs. Pattenden & Smith report a steady demand for consumption for both English and foreign. Choice samples are scarce, and rule firm in price. The plant.a- tions have improved to some e.xtent, but the result cannot exceed about 3 cwt. per acre on the average. American reports are daily more unfavourable. On the Continent the prospects are equal to only about one-fourth of last year's growth. COALS.— Aug. 23. East Wylam, i8j. ; Walls End Harton, i6j. 31/. ; Walls End Thrislington, 171. ; Walls End Helton, i8j. 6d. ; Walls End Hetton Lyons, 161. 3^. ; Walls End South Hetton. i8j. 6d. ; Walls End Kelloe, 16s. gd. ; Walls End East Hartlepool, 17s. gd. ; Walls End Original Hartlepool, i8j. 6d. ; WaUs End South Kelloe, 17/. 3d.; Walls End Tees, iBj. 3,/.— Ships at market, 36; sold, 23 ; unsold, 8 ; at sea, 15. FOWLER'S PATENT STEAM PLOUGH and CULTIVATOR may be SEEN at WORK in every Agricultural County in England. For particulars apply to JOHN FOWLER , London, E.C. ; and Steam Ploi " ugh Works, Leeds. 1??^^ J TYLOR AND SONS" FOUNTAIN JETS. ::^r-'^2» COTTAM'S HURDLES are made in the best manner, of superior WrouRht Iron, by an improved method. Illustrated Price Lists on application to COTTAM AND CO., Iron Works, 2, Winsley Street, Oxford Street, London, W. Their advantages are— Portability, pleasure; no Woodwork o: Partitions i Vermin; Hay Rick dispensed with as and depth of Feeding Troughs, Wat Cover to prevent over-gorging. Cleanly, durable, ai infection, being all of Iron. Price of Fittings per Co- ; of COTTAM G' Prices per Lise L YAKn, 2., Inches High. Mesh. 1 Mostly used for No. ,,. No. ,8. No ,7. No. ,t. J. E. BROWN AND CO. ailii:,f!l 90, Cannon Street, London, E.C. t/ 13, Biosson Sl....... ....^...u.L^.i, ..ui.uu.i, ... CONSERVATORY and ORCHARD-HOUSE GLASS. Genuine White Lead, Oils, Colours, Brushes, fir*r. GARDEN ENGINES, PUMPS, SYRINGES, INDIA-RUBBER HOSE, TAPS, CONNECTIONS, &c TAMES PHILLIPS and CO. 0 beg to submit their prices as follows :- GLASS for ORCHARD HOUSES. Each Box contains loo feet The prices only apply to the sizes stated. SQUARES 20 by .2, 20 by 13, «> by n, M by IS. Fourth quality .. .. ra.od 191. M. I=„=g^?s 1 JOI. Orf. .. .- »7. nJ HORTICULTURAL GLASS. Stock sizes, i6-ra., in 100 feet boxes, boxes Included. These pnces only apply to the sues stated. 4lhs inls. 2nds :^i;.2}/3 6 .se /. 0 :U^;? I4 by I? \iVi •^ Hk?;? ""J"--! IS 0 16 0 18 6 Boxes 2s. each, 9 by 7 M by 7» 10 by 8 loKbySM PAINTS of vari SHF.ET and ROUGH klTISH PLATE, P KOWN, SHEET, I tILOURED, and ever\' ( J AS. PHILLIPS A.SDCC HARTLEY'S IMPROVED PATENT ine WHITE LE.ID, CARSON'S PAINTS. The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [August 26, 1871. SIR J. PAXTON'S HOTHOUSES for the MILLION. Reduced Pnce Lists free. A Pamphlet, with V-—- -f •!--.- --i other Glass Roofs, for three stamps-HEREMAN 14. Tichborne Street, Reeent Quadr.-int, London, W. Tie Patent Imperlsliable Hothouse. RESS PA.TE nd CONCRETE Flans, Specification Portable box coiitai -11 l.I.ES, Proprietor. ed with 16 oz. good shei London, painted four -heating, staging, brickwork not tncluded :— 12 ft. doft. bvi6ft, 60 ft. by 20 ft. 100 ft. by 2; /!:238 .0 . „ glazed. 16-02. good sheet glass .. '.'. &.' .. sin thick, unglajcd .. 5s. glazed, 16 oz. good sheet glass .. lis. lARDEN LIGHTS AND : ^:i.% ONES'S PATENT "DOUBLE L ■' SADDLE I t I JONE^S ANl Portable and Fixed Hot-water Apparatus HEATING CONSERVATORIES, HOTHOUSES, CHURCHES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PRIVATE RESIDENCES, TRUSS' PATENT UNIVERSAL FLEXIBLE and LEAKLESS PIPE JOINT and PATENT CRACKLESS EXPANSION-JOINTED TUBULAR BOILERS, of a VARIETY of FORMS pt.RTABLE or for BRICKWORK SETTING. They are the MOST POWERFUL, whilst ONLY CONSUMING HALF the FUEL of OTHER BOILERS. PORTABLE BOILERS, to HEAT ANY LENGTH of PIPING; and ANY PERSON can TAKE these BOILERS, as also the PIPES, APART, and SPEEDILY PUT THEM TOGETHER AGAIN. T. S. Truss begs to state that the immense number of APPA- RATUS annually Designed and El Kingdom.and for the design, superior materials, and good workm advantage obtained by his Improved System c consisting of perfectly tight joints with neatne fectness of design : for skill of Price Lists, Plans, and Estimates forwarded on application t T. S. truss, C.E., Sole Manufacturer, icultural Engineer, Iron Merchant, Hot-wate Steam Apparatus Manufacturer, Friar Street, Southwark Bridge Road, Lcndon, S.E. VASES AND FOUNTAINS FOR THE GARDEN AND CONSERVATORY. ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE, con- t.iining Prices and full information concerning FOUNTAINS and VASES, and with 30 large Pages of beautifully Lithographed Designs, Post Free for 12 stamps, which will be allowed if an Order is given. ANDREW HANDYSIDE and CO., Britannia Works, Derby ; LONDON OFFICE : — 32, WALEROOK. St. Pancras Iron-work Company. CONSERVATORIES, GREENHOUSES, &C. ARCHITECTS DESIGNS CAREFULLY CARRIED OUT. APPLY FOR ESTIMATES TO OLD SAINT PANCRAS ROAD, LONDON, "TRENTHAM STEVENS' IMPROVED CORNISH BOILER. The Advertisers hnve orent pleasure in calling the attention of Gardeners, and all interested m Horticulture to the above excellent Boilers. Bdng of the most simple construction, and in wrought iron they are very durable, economical, and powerful ; and, in the opinion of many competent judges, are superior to all other Boilers, even to the most approved form of Tubulars. Appended ■ Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, S.W loilers at work here for so nly more powerful than a few Testimonials !— delighted w! shall be pleased for you to refer an lem to many people, and ■ largely used.— We are, deal " Combe Abbey Gardens, near Coventry, that anything I can say in favour of Mr. Stevens' Boiler very far short of its leal merits. The dilemma of choosing , by comparison with the now d ' Ingestre Hall. Slaflord." r Improved Cornish Boilerl iplest and most powerful Boiler I ever used, and lyfuel and labour to an extent that 1 could not have ble, unless I had had ocular demonstration of the fact.^^ ■' Huntroyde Park, Burnley. ,— We have had your Improved Coniish. Boiler upwards tieating more than 2000 fet of 4-mch piping, and I feel ?r?Sd'a°goo'l''ma'ny"km™^5f Boilers, but not one that ' DEAR Sre,-Your Boiler is the simplest and most po^verful that er used, and I would back it to beat any b'-i" ""■" ■" "«•- «>' ,nomy of fuel and labour with thorough eftici. Old Saddle has been when it becomes k Improved Corni? Tubular Boiler. SOLE MAKERS-THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE ENGINEERING CO., LIMITED, aui.1:. mftivc. FENTON, STOKE-ON-TRENT. LONDON AGENT— JAMES GRAY, Horticultural Works, DANVERS STREET, CHELSEA, S.W. From either of whom full Particulars, with Sizes and Prices, and Testimonials, can be obtained. August 26, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ao-ricultural Gazette. 1 123 The Alexandra Palace and Muswell Hill Estate Tontine. (TO TERMINATE ON THE 30th JUNE, 1886.) THE ALEXANDRA PALACE and MTJSWELL HILL ESTATE TONTINE. (To terminate on the 3olh June, 1886.) f JOHN GLUTTON, Esq., Whitehall Place. TRUSTEES— <]OHU HACKBLOCK, Esq., Bolton Gardens. ijOHN HORATIO LLOYD, Esq., Inner Temple. The Palace is a. splendid, capacious, and substantial structure, and the Estate comprises nearly 500 acres of beautiful freehold land within a radius of 6 miles only from Charing Cross. The object of the Tontine is to complete the purchase and improve the property, and thus to provide for ail classes of the inhabitants of the metropolis, and especially of its northern and eastern portions and suburbs, and for the many thousands of country excursionists, a grand institution of healthful recreation and elevating instruction, which will combine the solid advantages of the South Kensington Museum and Schools of Art with the lighter pleasure and pastimes of the Cr>stal Palace at Sydenham, thus giving effect to the large and enlightened views of the late Prince Consort. The main advantages of this undertaking may be said to be as follows :— The holder ol a Tontine Certificate for ONE GUINEA or upwards, will become entitled to- considerable. Tobcrein_ Tontine privilege depends, rvix'ing till June 30. 1886 ;rs' incur NO TLABILITf.^nd^usfb Winchester Street Buildit ALEXANDRA PALACE.-The advantages oflered to the Public were thus summed up by The Times, of July i8th :—'* Under the title of 'Alexandra Palace and Muswell Hill Estate Tontine, ' certificates representing 850,000 guineas are about to be issued, which will entitle the holders, in propof tion as they may possess a single certificate of one guinea or any larger number, to participate in the various objects of the institution, or to take their share of the entire property of the Palace and grounds of 498 acres, should they, 15 years hence, be among the surviving holders. Under an elaborate but ingenious plan framed for the purpose, each subscriber will have several options as to the mode in which he may obtain a return for his investment, and be virtually guaranteed against loss. The Trustees and Board of Directors consist of experienced persons, familiar with the management of London properties and of public establishments, and it may be hoped that the result of their arrangements will be to furnish to the population of the North of the metropolis a place of resort as attractive as that on the other side at LNDRA PALACE— In an address delivered by that distinguished lawyer, (ohn Horatio Lloyd, one of the Trustees of the Alexandra Palace and Muswell Hill Estate Tontine, . Lloyd explained the principle on which it was proposed to raise the necessary capital, and declared tie was perfectly satisfied that no possible loss could be sustained by any one investing ; as, in addi- :o the value of the property, a system of insurance had been devised which was a practical guarantee 1st any possible failure. He declared that he would not have accepted the position of trustee had he een satisfied that the undertaking was one offering many solid advantages to investors, commercially ■e against failure, and commending itself in the highest degree to the favoui ssted in providing for the acknowledged wants of the working classes, and substantial form than by mere words."— Adi>criiser. A^> New and Enlarged Edition. PRACTICAL TREATISE on the CULTIVATION , Galashiels, lately Gardener to his Grace th( ... , at Dalkeith Park. The Seventh Edition, c /ILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, Edin THE NEW METHOD of GROWING FRUIT and FLOWERS (by the Rev. JOHM FouNTAINE, Southacre, Brandon), being a practical combination of Vinery, Orchard House and Conservatory, as now worked in a New House erected for the purpose at Chiswick. Third Edition, Illustrated. Free for seven " Journal of Horticulture " Office, : t ; or to the Author. Notice. {By Appointment to the Royal Horticultural Society.) To HORTICULTURAL IMPLEMENT MAKERS. NURSERY- MEN, FLORISTS, and OTHERS. ADAMS AND FRANCIS INSERT ADVERTISE- MENTS in all the London, Country, Colonial, and Foreign Newspapers, Magazines, and Periodicals, WITHOUT extra charge ADAMS AND FRANCIS, Advertisement Aeents, qo. Fleet Street. E.G. o SLER'S CRYSTAL GLASS CHANDELIERS, DELIERS IN BRONZE An6 ORMULU, THE CELEBRATED GRANITIC PAINT, Manufactured Solely and Only by the Silicate Zopissa Composition and Granitic Paint Company. ...,.?'. .''.'lf?,.L'="t Testimonials, and Patterns of Colours, apply to THO..IAS CHILD, Manager, 3gA, King William Street, Loidon, £.C. THE SILICATE ZOPISSA COMPOSITION, r, J^° '^,V'*'= "AMP in WALLS, and Preserve Stone, &c., from Only by the Silicate Zopis "ForPart'icoT " "" : Paint Company. Testimonials apply to THOMAS CHILD, 0,T„ ,,^ *'<'• l- f«6l Street. MancHester, 1871. UR HORTICULTURAL SHADINGS form a thorough Protection from Winds, Frost, and Hail, whilst at the same time they admit Light and Sun. They are used and strongly recommended by the most successful Exhibitors and Scientific Hortf- cultunsts in the kingdom, as well as on the Continent ; in fact, are pronounced the only "proper shadings" ever offered to the public against Birds, Wasps, Blight, &c. AsacoveringforStrawberries,Tulips. Hyacinths, Seed-Beds, Greenhouses, &c., tKey have no rival I'he pnce, bcingvery reasonable, brings them within the reach of every one. with ordinary care they will last for many years. Samples post free on application. DANIEL COLLINGE and'^SON. w ILLIAM YOUNGE DINNER ALE.— Sparkling and INDLA PALE ALE.— Unsurpassed jriNAHAN'S . LL. WHISKY.— This celebrated and most delicious old mellow spirit is the very CREAM of IRISH WHISKIES, in quality unrivalled, perfectly pure, and more wholesome than the finest Cognac Brandy. Note the words, " KINAHAN'S . L L . " on seal, label, and cork. New Wholesale DepSt, 6a, Great Titchfield Street, Oxford Street, W. Protection from Fire. .inEPUBLICARE CAUTIONED AGAINST DINNEFORD'S FLUID MAGNESIA.- The best remedy for Acidity of the Stomach, Heartburn, Heac ache. Gout, and Indigestion ; and the best mild aperient for delicat constitutions, especially adapted for Ladies. Children, and Infants. DINNEFORD and CO., 172, New Bond Street, London; and of a Chemists throughout the World. G OUT and RHEUMATISM.— The pain of Gout or Rheumatism is quickly relieved days by that celebrated Medicine, BLAIR' 0 yards ea ish in 30 d RHEU^IATIC PILLS. They require nO restraiot of diet or confine id are certam to prevent the disease attackinj Sold by all Medicine Vendors, at li. x^Ad. rp H Sauce.— Lea a Perrms WORCESTERSHIR E," pronounced by connoisseurs "the only good Sauce," improves Beware of imitations, and ■ bottles and labels. Agents— CROSSE and BLACKWELL, London ; DeaJers in Sauces throughout the World. COCKLE'S ANTIBILIOUS PILLS.— These Pills consist of a careful and peculiar admixture of the best and mildest vegetable aperients, with the pure extract of the flowers of the Camomile. They will be found a most efficacious remedy for derangement of the digestive organs, and for torpid action of the liver and bowels, which produce indiges- tion and the several varieties of bilious and liver complaints. They speedily remove the irritation and feverish state of the stomach, allay spasms, correct the morbid condition of the liver and organs subser- vient to digestion, promote a due and healthy secretion of bile, and istitution of : discomfort, they r who indulge in th. Europeans on their ani d as a preservative again issess depends as much upon th iual labour and attention bestc complaints; but as a mil various forms of indigestic use, if combined with the strictest ) remove at once, by their and unhealthy condition cea, nor are they adapted t , perhaps, be an exdggeratic mate, or atmospheric alternations, with an extraordinary iccess, for upwards of 70 years. This celebrated Family t be had throughout the United Kingdom, in boxes, at v. ■25. <^.y 41. 6ii., and iif., as well as in India, China, New Zcala; the Australian Colonies. iJ^A, a*. 9(f., 4*. W-. and I 1 124 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Airriciiltural Gazette. [August 26, 1871. ^^\aJAaxujjj^, +A+Jt.tAAAAAAi;U-:AA>-^AAAJ EUiujraim^^^cjpi£i^j[m|Lifc:^^ HORTICULTURAL BUILDINGS, COMBINING STRENGTH AND DURABILITY. IRON and WOOD CONSERVATORIES of the most CHASTE and ELABORATE DESIGN. Vineries, Pineries, Peach Houses, Forcing Houses, Glass Cases for Wall Trees, Pits, &c. Designed and Built, combining all the latest Improvements, so as to answer their intended purposes without risk of disappointment. Plans, Specifications, and Estimates on application, Ormson's Improved Welded Wrought-Iron Convoluted Boilers Are better than Cast-iron Boilers, because — THEY DO NOT CRACK, THEY REQUIRE NO INSURANCE, THEY WILL BURN ANY KIND OF FUEL, THEY ARE SAFE FROM SUDDEN FAILURE. The internal curved lines of this Boiler giving FOUR INTERNAL CURVED SURFACES to the DIRECT ACTION of the FIRE, which being STOPPED at EVERY PROJEC- TION or CONVOLUTION, must, to those who understand the Science of Heat, be a convincing proof of the perfect combustion and exhaustion of Heat on the surfaces of the BOILER BEFORE ESCAPING INTO the CHIMNEY. In addition to the foregoing ADVANTAGES, the Fire also acts on the ENTIRE EXTERNAL SURFACE, which undoubtedly gives it the IMMENSE ADVANTAGE of being decidedly THE MOST ECONOMICAL BOILER KNOWN AT THE PRESENT TIME. A trial will convince all who use this Boiler of its VAST SUPERIORITY over all others in point of ECONOMY, and being made of the best WELDED WROUGHT IRON, its safety and durability may be thoroughly relied upon. There is no danger of cracking and breaking down, so common to all forms of Cast Iron Boilers. List of Prices on application ; also, " Book of Designs of Horticultural Buildings." H. ORMSON is prepared to make a Boiler on his Patent Convoluted Principle to Heat WITH SAFETY a larger amount of Pipe than any ''One" Boiler in tite World can now be found doing. H. ORMSON also supplies the WELDED WROUGHT-IRON COMBINED SADDLE and FLUE BOILERS. HENRY ORMSON, Horticultural Builder to Her Majesty, AND HOT-WATER APPARATUS MANUFACTURER TO THE COM^^SSIONERS OF HER MAJESTY'S ROYAL PALACES AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND TO THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, STANLEY BRIDGE, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, LONDON, S.W. Editorial Coram unical ions should be adilre:,|!cd to " The Editor ;" Advertisen Printed by Wiluam Richards, at the OiBce of Messrs. BRffDsuRY, Evans, KiCHARDS, at tho Office, No. 41. WcIliDgioa Sttcet, Pariah of St. Paul's, Cov«nt C ' The Publisher," at the Office, 41, Wellir Office, 41, Wellington Street, Covent Garden. London, W.L. , Precinct of Whitetriars, City of LoadoDi in the Co. of Middlesex, and Pubuahcd by tne sam 1 B said CouQcy.— Saturoav August a^« i87i< THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. No. 35.— 1871.] SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2. I Registered at the General I Price 5d. Post Office as a Newspaper. ) POST Free, $',d. tBADING ARTICLES, &-c - | HOME CORRESPONDENCE- Annuals.ncw 1128 Fire blight ii3: Arboretum and fruit garden 1127 Charcoal ""8 Foot-and-mouth disease in Cheshire 1 Ke» nmacranthum,&c nag S- Oncidium exasperalum. . OUR LIVE STOCK— Cattle cut)' 3' HOME COKRESPONDENCE- Thinsowinc WhalisTulp?..; SOCIETIES— Panburj- Horticultural.... GloucesIershireAgricultural Lcinlwardine Labourers' MeZpSf Floral :.■;::: Weather Tables. . Notice to Subsonbera. -IHE SUBSCRIPTION to the GARDENERS' - CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE is 3.. 10.1. for 12 months, includini; postage to any part of the United inpdom. May be had of all Booksellers, blished by W. RICHARDS, 4., Wellington Street, Covent Garden. E' OYAL HORTICULTUR.AL SOCIETY, SOUTH KENSINGTON, W. . „ ^^j FLORAL CO.M- „.. .VE.\T, September 6. at GENERAL MEETING at 3. Band ol" the Royal Horse E^ The AUTUMN FLOWER and FRUIT SHOW ^ Chase Park, Enfield, on THURSDAY. September 7. ' A ^^ilitary'Illl°d will be m attendance. Admission :— From 2 till half past 4, 21. M. ; a Enfield, August 30. ''■" Nv!* "lARSHAL^rHon Sec To tbe Trade.— Cyclamen persicum Seed. T> CLARKE, Market Gardener, X\i» Twickenham, begs to offer the above, saved from ihp m/ic distinct and vigorous plants, same as exhibited al South Ker November and December last, a ' ' ' " " ' ~ meeting. Price on application. d Special Cei w ;ULBS o(''Ss\cau'fful'harfrspeciel at j'm. Md ^.''i^.'peJKb'; :cording to sue. Price to the Trade per dozen, on application. A oloured Figure will be found in the "Florist" for July, 1871. E^ To Gentlemen's Gardeners, Amateurs and ethers -piFTEEN HANDSOME PLANTS for SALE, J- cheap, VIZ., six good Camellias and nine Azaleas. G. CHRISTMAS,?, Old Queen's Row, Grove Lane, Camber.vell,S.F,. Special Offer to the Trade. ERNS, FERNS, FERNS.-A large Collection of Stove and Greenhouse Ferns, from 42J. per 100. LIST of sorts on application to .if o. ions . S, ILLMAN, The Nurseries. Strood, Kent. R^ Brltlsli Fern Catalogue. . , ,"'.". .^^5''' P°^'. '''■^^ fo"" six postage M^ GR/FXUM FUNALE (very DRASSAVOLA CAUDATA. IRSUTUM, POLY- YV INTER FLOWERING ORCHIDS- -We beg to T r call attention to a splendid stock of ORCHIDS, which has been grown specially for our Winter Trade in Bouquets and Cut pcnsable for first-class TJouquels. The plants are we!l "g^wn"Jid the bulbs finely npened, anj consist of best sorts of Dendrobium, Calllcya Odontoglossum, Ccclogj'ne. Calanthe, Lycaste, Phalajnopsis tnchopilia, Barkeria. Cjpripcdium, Phaius, PIcione, Zygopetalum,&c. n;I^^„^^ I''-S;°K'^ AND^O^fe^nd !8,''v?c°to?ia Street. Manchester. Mursenes, Fairfield, near Manchester. Dutcb Bulbs. "OUTLER, MCCULLOCH and CO.'S usual CATALOGUES, ?ree''and'poit'paid7."'^ ' " ^ °' '" "' '° " t Garden Market, I.e. Established Dutch Flower Roots. r^ M. KEMP-WELCHS CATALOGUE of the application. The Bulbs are of' the finest quality and moder; price. Early orders will oblige. The Catalogue is of a convi To the Trade. "pi ARLY ROMAN HYACINTHS, true forcing variety JLJ For price per hundred or thousand, and samples apply to K. P. KER, 6, Basnett Street, Liverpool. D UTCH FLOWER ROOTS.— Descriptii LIST, with Cultural Hints to Amateurs, will be s cation to DRUMMOND BROTHERS, Seedsme Priced LISTS | s Street, Chestel W^ he average quality, for which they have been noted so many ye CATALOGUES of the above, also FRUIT TREES and f NURSERY STOCK, post free on application. ( sorts ; GLADIOLI, a large collection, wit ' UTTONS' GOLLECTIONS of FLOWER ROOTS, ' for Winter and Spring Flowering, in Open Ground ;— 10.. .. ;C,2...| No.. .. I.A,. |%-o.3 .. .or.M. Carnage free. | SUTTONS' COLLECTIONS of FLOWER ROOTS, for Pots and Glasses. No. 4 .. ;C2 M. I No 5 .. ill I,. I No. 6 . los. M. Carriage free. | Q UTTONS' COLLECTIONS of FLOWER ROOTS, , Esq., Htighinshn HM. Royal Berks Seed Establis R New I atalogue of Bulbs, Plants, Fruits, &o. OBERT PARKER begs to announce that hi' NEW CATALOGUE, containing Select Descriptive ant Lists of Dutch and other Bulbs, Plants suitable for BeddinE Hunt's Superb Sweet WlUlam. TAMES HOLDER can supply SEED of the above, ii O 24 choice varieties, at 2r. M. and sr. per packet ; also PLANTS 24 sorts, distinct, for C!., 50 plants for 8s., or 100 for isj., baske included. Crown Nursery, Reading. B. begs to offer them B. R. DAVIS, The Seed \ rs^o^r^e-r^ East Lothian Intermediate Stock. rPHOMAS METHVEN and SONS have to offer a .-ind White, in packets at is. 2j. si, and 5s. each colour. °Als"'hne Seed Warehouse'. ?"pri'nces Street, F-dinburgh. Cinerarias, from one of the very fluest'stralnsof" TRICOLORS in ENGLAND. JOHN STANDISH and CO. are now able to offer EVERY GARDEN REQUISITE KEPT in STOCK at CARTER'S New Seed Warehouse, 237 & 238, High Holborn, London. Araucarla excelsa, or other Greenhouse Decorative PLANTS. ANTED to PURCHASE, FOUR well furnished W^ w ANTED, SPECIMEN PLANTS of the following, * mplete a Collection :— I EUPHORBIA GASTERIA ECHINOCACTUS CEREUS ECHINO ECHINOPSIS , Hammersmi PHYLLOCACTUS, and MAMMILLARIA generally. T. Peacock, New Roses of 1871. JOHN CRANSTON offers a selection of TWELVE NEW ROSES of the present year. I Descriptive LIS"!" on application. New Roses, 1871. WILLIAM KNIGHT offers a selection of TWELVE NEW ROSES, the finest of this season's plants, now ready. Also an immense stock of extra strong Plants, in pots, for Bedding, &c, of the finest varieties only of previous years. Priced CATALOGUE free. > P > ■ (^ HOICE ROSES.— The finest stock of Tea, Noisette, Vy China, and other Roses to select from, all strong and healthy, in /"ORCHARD HOUSE TREES, Fruit yPeach,s,. Nectarines, r - rseri'inan and Seed Merchant, Worcester. ^ .^=^..^... ..v^.«-...^^, ..«..,j. Pears, Apples, Figs, Cherries, Mulbr-' ' -^ RICriARD Si WM. THOMSON'S Descriptive CATALOGUE ol VINES and PINES is now ready, and may be had on appli- cation. Tweed Vineyard, by Galashiels. 'swcl- ■ original stock, price ss. per loo, package included. That variety may now be thoroughly distributed from the true J plants will be sent post free for is. 6d. from the raiser. B. W. KNIGHT, Florist, Battle, Sussex. Strawberries. CHARLES TURNER'S descriptive CATALOGUE of the above is now ready, which contains several new kinds, as well as the finest established varieties. C. Tt;RNER's Plants are now ready. Eariy planting is recommended to insure a good crop of fruit the first season. The Royal Nurseries, Slough. New Strawberry, Royalty. AWARDED a FIRSTCLASS CERTIFICATE by the FRUIT "" '■ '" URALS COM.MITTEE JUNE 29, 1870 JTROTMAN has much pleasure i • above STIRAWBERRY to the Public, in the conslitut'ion! habft, a'ncl'gTOwth,!t'is'm'o"t"hardy,\' Orders now received will shortly be executed. Pric per dozen. Spring Grove Nursery-, Isleworth, V L HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, offering the the best Plants of i Choice Seeds, for Present Sowing. TD S. WILLIAMS begs to announce that he has just iJ. harvested NEW SEED of the following :-Williams' suierb strain of PRI.MULA. red, white, and mixed; Neill's choice straiS of CALCEOLARIA; Wealherilj's choice strain of C I N E R A R I A ; and 2S. bd., 3s. 6d., and 5s, per jiacket, p . Upper Hollow , London, N. New Catalogue. JOHN H. LEY, Exotic Nursery, Croydon, S.E., will be happy to forward, post free on application, his NEW CATA LOGUE (price very low) of PALMS, FERNS, STOVE PLANTS, &c Transit Agency for Plants, Seeds, &c. Q J. BLACKITH AND CO., late Betham & Street, London, Co.x's and Hammond's Quays, Lower Thames j^/TUST BE SOLD, 200 bushels of MUSHROOM T. l-YLER^fa" CoXane°St'rlet, St'lohn^s Woo^!''n*!vv'! '""' Turnip and Mangel 'Wurzel Seeds-1871 Crop. New Italian Rye-grass Seed. T DIXON, Hutton Roof Hall, Barton, Westmore- SEED to offer for a NEW ITALIAN RYE _^ To the Trade. "PAMPAS GRASS.— Good plants, in pots; cheap by X the 100. Also PASSI FLORA to;''— "■ ' ' landsomeLOMARIA Gl G. EDWAI . tOJRULEA, "or GA^EN SEEDS, GRASSES, and GRASS SEEDS, wa SUTTON AND SONS, Seedsmen, by Special Appointment, ti KM. the Queen, and H.R.H. the Prince of W'ales, ReaSing, Berks. S UTTONS' FINE LAWN GRASS SEED, for making New. or Improving Old, Lawns, should be sown at once. Price is. per lb. ; cheaper by the ' u-f fon'^and" son Improving Old, r 1871. Pnce u.. ' SONS, Seedsmen, by Special Appointir and H.R.H. the Prince of vVales, Reading. New Late Bed TrifoUum. NEW LATE WHITE TRIFOLIU.M. SUTTON AND SONS can supply NEW SEED of the above excellent succession varieties, which come in a fortnight Royal Berks Seed Establishment, Reading. Corn, Seed, Manu Address, 26, Seed Marltct, Mark Lane, E.G. ; or Basingstoke. Samples and prices post free on application. Prize Medals, iSsi, ir Wheat ; 1862, for " Excellent Seed Corn and Seeds." 1 1 26 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 2, 1871. Indestructible Terra-Cotta Plant Markera. MAW AND CO.S PATENT.- Prices, Printed Patterns, and Speci Patterns of Ornamental Ti Halls, Src. MAW and CO., Bern r Conservatories, Entrance • RUSSIAN WOOD GARDEN STICKS and TALLIES, commended bv the Roval Horticultural Society. The above can be had, of all siics, wholesale of CHARLES J. BLACKITH AND CO., " • r Thames Street, London, E.C. Seedsmen. Prices on application. El VENTILAT ED WATER TUBE CASES ,.,= uc=i .,„„ ,„ u.t, i,i.,=. for Exhibition or Transmission purposes. May be obtained througj any of the Agents ; the PATENTEE, Gloucester ; or W. EASSIE AND CO.; who have arranged for their sole manufacture. Price List! BICKLEVS PATENT HORIZONTAL SASH- BARS require neither Paint nor Putty; an orchard-house or ETcenhouse, &c., may be! easily, cheaply, and tiuickly made with them by an amateur. Four hundred feet can be firmly glazed or unglazed in one hour. Drawings, &c, for i stamp, of the Inventor and Patentee, THOMAS A. lilCKLEY, 70, Smallbrook Street, Birmingham. Proceedings in Chancery will be taken against any person infringing Weeds Eradicated from Lawns. WATSON'S LAWN SAND botti Destroys Dandelions, Daisies, Plantains, Ribbed Grass, &c., and invigorates the Grass, keeping it green during hot dry weather. Cleanly and inodorous. 301. per cwt. ; 3(>-lb. tins, tor. Directions and testimonials on application. Principal Agent :— W. D. BARBOUR, 3, Park Row, Leeds. iviAi>,ijr.KS, easily Kept clean, nc GARDEN STEPS and PAVING DUST BINS, clean, take u| CORN BINS, CONSE CATTLE and PIG TROUGHS, CUCUMBER and MELOl FRAMES, Sic. ALFRED BRABV, Bangor Wharf, Belvedere Road, Lambeth, S.I For Horse Rakes, r Agents in any part of the Kingdoi w. S. BOULTON AND CO., Norwich, New labour-saving machinery enables us to supply first-class CON- SERVATORIES. VINERIES, ORCHARD HOUSES, FORCING PITS, *ic., at very low prices. Designs and Estinaates furnished. MELON and CUCUMBER LIGHTS ready :s, carriage paid as above : loj feet long by 6 feet wide. .£3o\ 24* feet long by 6 feet wide. . £7 t I7i feet long by 6 feet wide. .£50! 31* feet long by 6 feet wide. . £g < Other sizes at prices in proportion. PLANT PRESERVERS. ■ " dogues free on application. Used by many of the leading Gardeners since 1859, against "■'■■■ ■, Tlirips, Red Spider, Mildew, the gallon of soft water, and inter Dressing for Vines and uit Trees. Has outlived many Retail by Seedsmen, in boxes, If., y., and los. 6d. Wholesale by PRICE'S PATENT CANDLE COMPANY (Limited), Battersea, London. S.W. Destruction of Insects on Plants. this Apparatus, liquids may be diffused over nute division, or fine spray, in sufficient qu. thoroughly moisten them, without ruffling Besides these advantages, great sav tablespoonful applied Dy the va As a Disinfectant Distributor, for Sick Rooms, it is invaluable lus the whole of the Disinfecting Liquid use< ND ATHERTON, Netting »mes mto active operatioi larpcts or furniture. Price - May be obtained direct fri hara ; or of their Agi The Apparatus wi I any address in England on Gf?J Euseell's Pyramid Frlmula. EORGE CLARKE has this season secured character, w'ith r'e"a1ly "pSdid "flower" "M^JId!" R? Nurseries ; Streatham piace, Brixton Hill, Londoi Mottingham, Kent.SE. ya- Seed Warehouse : 44, Engllsli St., & Blackftlars St. NURSERIES & SEED FARM: KNOWEFIELD, near CARLISLE THE SUaSCRIBERS having now entered upon possession ot the Old-established SEED and NURSERY BUSINESS so long carried on by Messrs. LITTLE AND BALLAN- TYNE, ol this city, respectfully request a continuance of the support ■ "•■- — y shall continue to conifuct he Firm of LITTLE and lerit the confidence of every department of LITTLE AND EALLANTYfJE BAXTER SMITH,! Sole '" ■"■ /Partners. >s, as already 3 liberally accorded to the -^ ^ "Xywi ^ 1871- JAMES WATT, RYE GRASS BROMUS SCHRCEDERI TRIFOLIUM INCARNATUM MUSTARD I RAPE Lowest price on application. All Seeds carriage free. The Prize Medal of the Worcestershire Agricultural Society was awarded to JAMES CARTER and CO. foriheir Collection of Farm Seeds, Roots, &c., at Malvern, August 22, 1871. JAMES CARTER and CO., Seedsmen to the Queen and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, 237 and 238. High Holboi " SU T NEW and C N S SUTTONS' IMPROVED ITALIAN RYE-GRASS. Trifoliui " ' "" ...... Trifoliui Ti. 1 Bromu red. Mustai white. Rape. Trifolium, new 1 Samples and lowest prices may t)e had on application. All goods carriage tree. 5 per cent, off for cash payment. SUTTON AND SONS, Seedsmen, by Special Appointment, ti BEDFORDSHIRE SILVER SAND and PEAT, sold only by J. ARNOLD, 29. Clarendon Square, N.W. Acknowledged by the largest and most extensive Growers and Nurscrj-mcn to be the best Sand obtainable for growing Plants, &c., in the United Kingdom. Strongly recommended by all who have Maiden Lane, and Kingsland Goods DepOt, N. L. Railway. By the truck-load to all pans; at the Wharf, 14^. per ton. Terms nett cash. All orders to be addressed, J. ARNOLD, 29, Clarendon Square, N.W y for deliver>' in quantity and in fine condition. It is believed to be the best Artificial Manure yet produced. Its base is Peruvian Government Guano; it contains 21 per cenL of Soluble Phosphates, 5 to 7 per cent, of Ammonia with Satis of Potash. See reports of Dr. Voelckcr, Dr. Anderson, Professor Way, Mr. Ogston. and Mr. Sibson. Delivered in 2 cwL bags, each ol which is secured by a leaden seal, bearing the Company's Trade Mark. The analysis is guaranteed so long as the seals remain unbroken. REES AND CO. (Limited), 58. Old Broad Street, London, E.C. Analytical Laborator>-, 11, Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, E.C " London, January 15, 1870. " Sir,— Enclosed you will find the results of a careful analysis of a sample of your Biphosphated Peruvian Guano. These results speak for themselves. I need, therefore, hardly add anything in commenda- tion of the high fertilising character of this valuable Artificial Manure. The samples examined by me contained only 10 per cent, of moisture, and fully the percentages of soluble and insoluble phosphates which I understand you guarantee to furnish, and was in a fine state of pre- paration. The more generally this Manure will become known to Agriculturists, the more, 1 am convinced, will it be appreciated by them.— Believe me. Sir, yours respectfully, (Signed) "AtJGUSTUS VoELC '" " .JDCO.(Li ■ " - 'M' , King V PURE DISSOLVED BONES. CONCENTRATED PURSER'S BONE TURNIP MANURE SUPERPHOSPHATE of LIME. NITROPHOSPHATE. MANGEL, HOP, and POTATO MANURES. Also UVIAN GUANO (as imported ' " Thomson, Bonar & Co.), NITRATE of SOD'A, SULPHATE of AMMOi^flA _ 116, Fenchurch Street, E.G. EDWARD PURSER, Secretary. J. Scott's Seed Business. PUBLIC NOTICE.— Having just been informed that Mv Late SHorMAN, B. R. Davis, has sent circulars to all, or nearly all, my customers, the impression hasgonc abroad that I was giving up my SEED Business at Yeovil. This is not the case. The same steady attention to the wants of the numerous Friends who have so kindlv suDOorted me during 20 years, will still be maintained, ders for SEEDS to be addressed to me, at the Seed Stores. Yeovil ; and all orders for TREES, SHRUBS, and PLANTS, to be sent to The Nurseries, Merbiott, Somerset. oftAe B. R. Davis is no longer in r W. ;y. Gentry-, Clergy, and Gardeners, to an invaluable mgrcdient lor the Destruction of Wasps, Hornets, Flies, and other Garden Pests, including Rats and Mice. On receipt of 4*. in stamps, the recipe will be supplied, without the least reservation. The ingredient was discovered by W. B. 50 years ago ; it is simple, effica- cious, and readily and cheaply made. The Public are cautioned W. BREWIS, Gardener to R. B.Sheridan, Esq., Frampton Court, Wasps.— Wasp Destroyer. BR. DaWIS, Seedsman, &c., Yeovil (Manager for • the last II years of Mr, Scott's Seed Business), having been the Maker of the above celebrated article, which has gained such a wide-spread and w< deciledly^more effectual, as'' it will '' - 'ntroduced, the result being s for use. A great s Notice. WASPS: WASP DESTROYER.— Respecting the Advertisement which appeared in last week's issue, I be^ to say I am not at all disposed to have a paper battle with the Advertiser respecting the relative merits of his ''Original" preparation, and my "Improved" Wasp Destroyer. I am quite content that the public shall be the judges ; and among many others, I have had the honour of supplying Mr. J. Scott, of the Seed Stores, Yeovil, with a large quantiy within the last few days, who, I venture to say. is an excel- ^""^"b. R. DAVIS.The Seed Warehouse. Yeovil, Somerset. 'FECIAL OFFER J to the SEED TRADE. PEAS. DILLISTONE'S EARLY PROLIFIC .. SANGSTER'S No i EARLY EMPEROR BECK'S GEM or TOM THUMB MCLEAN'S LITTLE GEM DICKSON'S FAVOURITK HARRISON'S GLORY FAIRBEARD'S SURPRISE PARADISE MARROW II PRIZETAKER 8 MCLEAN'S PRINCESS ROYAL.. .. 8 BEDMAN'S IMPERIAL 8 BLUE SCIMITAR 8 WOODFORD GREEN FAIRBEARD'S FORTYFOLD BRITISH QUEEN .. NE PLUS ULTRA .. .. CHAMPION of ENGLAND HAIRS' DWARF MAMMOTH ALLIANCE or EUGENIE.. CLIMAX or NAPOLEON .. VEITCH'S PERFECTION.. MCLEAN'S ADVANCER .. PRINCE of WALES DERFUL „ PRINCESS of WALES ALFRED LEGERTON, Seed MERCHAh bees to offer the above to the Seed Tradi Deliveries can be made of all before Christi uell hand-piclced samples, and all are tru are of Crop 1871. 1 of which shall be imc. Early orders THE Queen. | H.R.H. the Pri JAMES CARTER and CO. (International Prize). — The plants of thi; splendid strain received First Prizes at the Royal Botanic Royal Horticultural, and other places CALCEOLARIA, finest Hybrid, jr. M. ; smaller packets ,, finest Spotted, ai. 6d. ; smaller packets PRIMULA, choicest Mixed Fringed, 2J. M dark Carmine " choicesrwhitc Fringed '.'. „ choicest Fem-leavea Carmine Forwarded immediately on receipt JAMES CARTER ASD 138, High Holbom, London, PostoRice Orders. Seeds Royal Seedsmen, 237 an^ l^EW am selected FUCHSIAS eiies best selected CHRYSANTHEMUMS .. » 6 varieties new CHRYSANTHEMUMS of 1871 .. . . 3 " new varieties PENTSTEMONS 40 varieties PERENNIAL PHLO-\ES 30 elics selected ZONAL GERANIUMS 30 new varieties ZONAL GERANIUMS of 1870 .. ..60 var. GOLD and GOLDEN BIC(.)LOR GERANIU.MS 6 o varieties JAPANESE AUCUBAS varieties Hardy CHILIA-' "■"■' varieties ACHIMENES MiMULUS meties IRIS GERMANICA uieties SEDUMS meties SEMPERVIVUMS . . rarietiesSAXIFRAGAS .. uieties ANTIRRHINUMS varieties PANSIES irieties JAPANESE EUONYMUS i l tties BOUVARDIAS ttiesMESEMBRYANTHEMUMS 40 rieries HELIOTROPIUMS 30 rieties LANTANAS 40 ■ties PELARGONIUMS 6 0 :ties IVY-LEAF GERANIUMS 6 » rieties FUCHSIAS 80 rieties CHRYSANTHEMUMS » 8 n rieUes HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS . . 14 o rieues HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS .. K o :ties DOUBLE and SINGLE PETUNIAS.. ,. 5 o ;Ues TROP.'EOLUMS 3 » :ties HYDRANGEAS 60 ities VIOLA ODORATA 6 a iECHEyERIAS_ _..j.._^._ 30 i GREENHOUSE SUCCULENTS ','. 61. to 12 1 «lect varieties GREENHOUSE PLANTS .. . . 61. to 12 o ne^AGERATUMS, White Tom Thiimb, Whitc'lmpe- rial Dwarf; Tom Thumb's Bride, the whitest; Sultan, the darkest, for i. 1 line varieties GREENHOUSE s AGERATUMS, including the above.. 1 fine varieties tall HERBACEOUS LOBELIAS II September 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1127 „ double, 12 coloui CALCEOLARIA, oYth "finest s CINERARIA, of the finest strai CYCLAMEN, clioice selection DELPHINIUM, from a fine col HOLLYHOCK, finest r elfrian or fancy.. , finest Red and 1 PETUNIA, from liybridised POLYANTHUS, from selec STOCK, Intermedia JAM?' "'^'' WALLFLOWER, dw SWEET WILLIAM, e Thel , West Dul , S.E. be published i Strawberries. JAMES CARTER and CO. having this i potted several hundred thousand of the finest varit STRAWBERRIES,' " " early will produce a good crop next : " ■ - ; Descriptive LIST will! Runners, out of pots, our selection, 25 of a sort. 51. at „ Black Prince j Goliath I Princess Royal Ilritish Queen Keens' Seedling The Lady Carolina Superba Prince Arthur Victoria Comte dc Paris Prince of Wales Wizard of the North General Havelock I Princess Alice Maude 1 Wonderful unners, out of pots, per 100, 31. 6d. ; Runners, in pots, per 100, lOr. 6d. Dr. HoEP I Premier [ Due de Malakoff I President 1 Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury. Runners, out of pots, per 100, y. ; Runners, in pots, per too, 12J. 6d. in price according to our stock, r. Royalty, Brown's Wonder, and veral French varieties of the late Dr. Nicaise's raising, at same ices as advertised by the firms distributing them. JAMES CARTER AND CO., 237, High Holborii, W.C. ; and 7stal Palace Nurseries, Forest Hill, S.E. rHanr New. QUTTONS' SUPERB DUTCH HYACINTHS, for Pots and Glasses,'' CHEAPER COLLECTIONS, containing the best old \'arietie5 Hyacinths in 100 very choice sorts £ MINIATURE HYACINTHS, finest name %• To secure the best Bulbs, early orders ural : '"ft.^.rf.^'t'h'e w M. PAUL'S ROSES are NOW T inspection respectfully invited. Amongst Novellie utiful i^ybrid Perpetual PRINCESS CHRfsTIAN. PI " ICE LEOPOLD, and a number of otb. BEATRIcl. and Foreign Seedlings. Trains from Bishopsgate Station, Great Miai; ■ " fan hour. Entn idland Railway, 1 Railway, and St. 1 Cross, London, : WELLINGTONIA GIGANTEA. Hugh Low & Co. Offer healthy ONE-YEAR SEEDLING PLANTS, estabhshed in single pols, at 30s. per 100 itDoo. Special price for five or ten thousand. CLAPTON NURSERY, LONDON, E. DUTCH FLOWER ROOTS. James Veitch & Sons BEG TO ANNOUNCE THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED THEIR ANNUAL SUPPLY OF HYACINTHS, AND OTHER BULBOUS ROOTS FROM HOLLAND, And are pleased to say that they are in splendid condition. J. v. & SONS were awarded the following Prizes at the London Exhibitions last spring— viz.. First Prize for 18 Hyacinths, distinct sorts. Royal Horticultiiral Society, March 15 1871 First Prize for iS White Hyacinths, distinct sorts. Royal Horticultural Society, March 15, 1871. first Prize for 12 pots Tulips, in 6 varieties, Royal Horticultural Society, March i?, 1871 Second Prize for 6 New Hyacinths, distinct sorts. Royal Horticultural Society, March 1 5 1871 Lxtra Pnze for Group of Hyacinths and Tulips, Royal Horticultural Society, March 15, iBjr' i-irst Pnze for 12 Hyacinths, distinct varieties. Royal Botanic Society, March 22 1871 First Pnze for 12 pots Tulips, distinct varieties. Royal Botanic Society, March 22 1871 Extra Prize for Collection of Hyacinths, Royal Botanic Society, March 22, 1871. JAMES VEITCH and SONS also supphed to the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Works the TULIF HYACINTHS, and CROCUSES, which made such a grand display last Spring in Hyde Park. CATALOGUES are now ready, and will be forwarded Post Free on application. ROYAL EXOTIC NURSERY, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, S.W. PAUL'S HYACINTHS, TULIPS, &c. of th;;di-s^Lw^er "•■->«:,«' ///XLt'ls";' "^ '"^' "P"'^"°" "^ enjoys for the successful cultivation " A remarkably fine display of HyaQiaths."—Gardtntrs Chronicle. William Paul BEGS TO ANNOUNCE THAT HIS HYACINTHS, TULIPS, CROCUSES, and other DUTCH FLOWER ROOTS Have arrived in excellent condition, and he respectfully soUcits early Orders. PRICED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE Free by Post. PAUL'S NURSERIES and SEED WAREHOUSE, WALTHAM CROSS, LONDON, N. CATALOGUE COLLECTIONS of BULBS For CONSERVATORY and WINDOW 1 For CONSERVATORY 301., 423., 63J., and 841. For OUTDOOR PLANTING ONLY, OUTDOOR PLANTING, price 15J., «i., SI!., 42s., 631., CARTER'S AUTUMN CATALOGUE FRUIT TREES, ROSES, &c., is now ready. lAMES CARTER AND CO., Seedsmen Prince of Wales, 237 and 238, High Holbom, I Bulbs. SECURE the ^ST HYACIN' and other BULBS, ORDER EARL'S M^ Establishment for New and Rare I 3UTTONS' SELECT LIST of FRESH IMPORTED BULBOUS by Spec 'ales, Res all other kinds of Flower Roots. Price 1 Noteworthy Horticulturists and Botanists. OTICE.-A SERIES of PORTRAITS NOTEWORTHY HORTICULTUE ISTS IS beme published in the "GARDENERS' CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE." The. following; have already appeared,: Hooker, C.B., F.R.S. I Professor Reichenbac \V Wilson Saunders F R S Hamburgh Rev. M. J. Berkeley. F.L.S. ' | °J„ ""r^^AS!!^ mT'' E. y. Lowe " ' ' M. D G. F. WiusoN, F. Published by WILLIAM RICHARDS, JA.MES McNa Wellir Si|e§arktersU|r0mcIe SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1871. MEETING FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. 1 (Genei I Meeting) WE have been induced to lay before our readers a plan of an Arboretum and Fruit Garden, proposed to be established at Berlin, in order to call attention, not only to what appears to us to be a very carefully considered and well arranged plan for the purpose, but also to deprecate the astonishing apathy with which a subject of such national importance and, as one would think, of such general interest, is received in this country. Was there a single proprietor, or forester, or gardener, who put in a plea for the retention and maintenance of the arboretum at Chiswick, now irrevocably passed out of the hands of the Royal Horticultural Society, and indeed in part destroyed ? Of what avail was the protest of a few botanists when they were 10 way backed up by the practical men, to whom an arboretum should be of greater value than to the man of science? It is of no use lamenting over spilt milk, however ; let us rather rejoice that though the arboretum De lost, the pomological collections at Chiswick, f diminished in e.'ctent, will at least be increased in value, and that there at least we shall have what Professor KoCH wants for Berlin — a collec- tion of the best sorts of fruit trees, and illustra- tions of the best modes of cultivating them. If of late years little interest was manifested in the arboretum at Chiswick, little more is gene- rally felt for that at Kew. We do not beheve that the efforts made by the late director to get together a collection, in spite of great difficulties from the hungry nature of the soil, and the absolute loss from our nurseries of many fine interesting kinds, have been at all appre- ciated as they should be. We do not believe that the value of the large collections of hardy II28 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, [September 2, shrubs at Kew is at all generally recognised, and those who note what is in course of carrying out at the present time in the improvement of the arboretum and the formation of a pinetum, seem to us to look at the matter from the standpoint of the landscape gardener rather than from those of the forester or of the botanist. But in a large national establishment, so far as possible, all interests should bo studied ; and if we now, for the moment, lay stress on the useful rather than the ornamental, it is not that we undervalue the latter, but because the ornamental is pretty sure to be attended to alike in our private and in our public establishments. Moreover, a knowledge of the kinds of trees most suitable for particular purposes, of their habit of growth, the circum- stances favourable or adverse to their cultivation, and so forth, is becoming every day of more and more importance. We have cleared so many of our trees, and drained our fields so thoroughly, that there are at least some grounds for fear lest we may not have injured if not killed the goose which lays the golden eggs, and that our climate will suffer from our over- weening efforts at "improving the land." Be jhat as it may, it is a fact that there are thou- sands of now barren acres, miles of now waste places in the British isles, unsuitable for almost any form of culture but that of trees, and which might profitably be utilised in the cultivation either of timber or of fruit trees. The amount of capital required to start with would be compara- tively trifling ; the expense of maintenance would be small ; the amount of knowledge demanded is not greater than any manager or forester should, nay, in most cases does, possess. What then is the reason of the prevailing apathy ? We can only attribute it to the subject not being sufficiently kept under the notice of the public. Our country gentlemen want the practice and the precepts of another EvELVN to stimulate tliem in their turn to exertion. The complaints which reach us from India, from Australia, from almost all our colonies in fact, of the consequences of the reckless no- management of the forests, should stir up our foresters and gardeners to increased efforts, so that we might turn our own treeless wastes to good account, and be spared the humiliation of having to send our would-be Indian forest-ofiicers to France and Germany to learn what, were there a proper system, could be equally well learnt here. Foremost among our requirements are experi- mental gardens and collections, such as those advocated by Prof. Koch, and where the planter might see what is available for his purposes, and where he might resort with the certainty of obtaining inlormation on the subjects in which he is so much interested. Whatever be the fate of the silk culture in Japan, whether it follow the course experienced in India, China, and the other continental lands to its west, or escapes from the frightful risk to which its reckless cultivators have exposed it, by introducing eggs from infected countries, one thing is plain, that it behoves Australia and every other country which has as yet a clean bill of health in the matter of the silkworm disease, to extend the same caution to Japan which they have hitherto given to countries recognised as the abode of the Pebrine. This caution comes well at this time, because the Acchmatisation Society has been vigorously exerting itself to introduce from Japan not only the eggs but the whole system of treatment practised by the Japanese. No harm has been or can have been done yet ; but in the future let them walk warily. Dr. Bennett and Mr. Charles BRADvhave been conspicuous by their exertions in this direction ; and Sir Harry S.Parkes, K.C.B.,Her Majesty's representative at Yokohama, has, at their solicita- tion, interested the Japanese minister DATf; in the movement, and obtained through him not only everything that could be necessary in the way of samples of silks and supplies of eggs, but also a complete set of all the different instruments and machinery used by the Japanese in their magnatieries, consisting of upwards of 50 different trays and sieves, feathers and brushes, racks and reels, pans and stoves, baskets and tubs, and all the little implements that can be thought of to save labour and facilitate work. The seed sent consisted of 112 cards of the very best qualities, obtained from mountainous districts at a dis- tance from the sea, which it is thought are most favourable to the production of healthy stock. These cards are more numerous than can be conveniently dealt with by the A.ccli- matisation Society at Sydney, and several have therefore been dispatched to Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, and New Zealand, for utilisation there ; and it would appear a point of no mean importance that this contribution has been made before it was possible that the intro- duction of European infected eggs into Japan could have affected the natural quality of the eggs in that country. The above evidence of goodwill on the part of the Government of Japan is more than we were prepared for. It affords one instance of the benefits to be derived from having a British officer to appeal to in a foreign country where the minister understands his duty to his country, and is anxious to perform it. The intelligence that we have regarding the progress of silk culture in India is derived from a report of the proceedings of a meeting of the com- mittee of theAgri-Horticultural Society of Madras, dated August 3, 1870. In this there is published a letter from Dr. G. BiDlE, the Secretary of the Society, to the Acting Secretary of the Board of Revenue, dated May 21, 1870, from which we are sorry to learn that the Silkworm Disease still prevails in India. It appears that the Board had asked Dr. Bidie to furnish them with specimens of the cocoons of silkworms indigenous to the Presi- dency of Madras, in order to see if they could be procured for acclimatisation in New South Wales ; and Dr. BiDIE, in his reply, sends a few cocoons of the only wild kinds which he knew to exist there. He knows of only three. The one belongs to the old genus Saturnia, and seems nearly allied to Attacus Ricini, the castor- oil worm. At Madras it feeds on Zizyphus Jujuba (Bhere tree), Terminalia Catappa (country Almond tree), and sometimes on Nauclea parvi- folia ; so that no difficulty would be experienced in procuring food for it, should the experiment of domesticating it be tried at Madras. The castor- oil worm itself, indeed, in indigenous to Madras ; but it is not cultivated there, although it is reared in some parts of the Hyderabad country. The other indigenous silkworm alluded to by Dr. BiDiE is the Atticus Cynthia, discovered some years ago on the Himalaya, and now cultivated in Bengal, as well as introduced into Europe. Dr. BiDlE mentions that the only domesticated worm known in Madras is a variety of the China insect, Bombyx Mori, but in Mysore other cultivated kinds have been introduced from other parts of the world ; he does not think, however, that it would be safe to get any from that quarter at present for the purpose of supply- ing Australia, as the disease which has been so disastrous to sericulture in France and Italy is prevailing there, and it is readily communi- cated from infected stock either by egg or chrysalis. It is gratifying to observe that the attention of the Government in the Madras Presidency has been directed to this most important subject, and that the liberality with which they desire to assist in the acclimatisation of silkworms in New South Wales is tempered with a wise discretion ; for in the proceedings upon Dr. Bidie's communica- tion we find it noted that " it is evident that the greatest care is necessary in selecting worms for exportation, and so far as the Board are aware the only worms in the Presidency which have been entirely free from epidemic disease are those cultivated to a very limited extent in the Tinnevelly district." It is not, however, known with certainty of what species these are. The Board, however, are not of opinion that the wild worm of their Presidency is of any great value, an opinion in which we entirely concur. A RAMBLE through Kew Gardens is always a source of pleasure, for there is something there to meet everyone's fancy. For our own parts, although fully concurring in the desirability of doing away with a number of small houses, and of massing the plants in "ranges," we yet can but note that many of our old favourites seem lost in their new abodes, and that many plants of interest, which attracted attention when scattered through several small houses, are now liable to be passed over in the crowd in the larger tenements. The large round bed at the end of the long walk, of which we gave an illustration in our last volume, 1S70, p. 1344, is planted in a somewhat similar but less frittered manner than last year. The design is now bolder, and equally or more effective. It consists of a series of elliptical figures radiating from the central vase, triangular spaces fill the inter- vals between the ellipses below, and the whole is margined by a circular belt of Echeveria secunda glauca. The plants in the upper and lower halves of the ellip- tical figures are different, which has an odd effect, more pleasurable at a distance than in close proximity to the bed. The upper half of the ellipse consists of a broad belt of Centaurea ragusina, within this a band of Coleus Verschaffeltii, encircling a central mass of Abutilon Thomsoni. Instead of continuing this arrangement, which is effective enough, the lower half of the ellipse consists of plants of larger growth, and has in the centre, below the Abutilon, a patch of plants of Sempervivum ciliatum, edged with Golden Feather, and this encircled with a line of single plants of Echeveria metallica, bounded on either side by a zone of Alternanthera amabilis, and the design completed by a double line of Echeveria secunda glauca, corresponding totheedgingofCentaurearagusinaabove. The triangular spaces between the points of the ellipses and the outermost border are filled with a centre of plants of Sempervivum velutinum or S. canariense, springing from a carpet of Alternanthera, and edged with the variegated white-leaved Koniga maritima. In some of the other flower-beds it is singular to notice how certain favourite bedding plants maintain their ground in spite of new comers. Not to speak of Mrs. Pollock, Purple King Verbena amply justifies Mr. Smith's choice, as also do Duchess of Sutherland and Lady Constance Grosvenor Pelargoniums. Iresine Herbstii is poor, and Mauve Queen Viola, as seen at Kew, no improvement on the older sort. It is a relief to turn from these vulgarisms to the noble Palms. The Arenga saccharifera, one of the finest of the Kew Palms, is now bearing a splendid drooping plume of young fruits. Of quite another character, but note- worthy in its way, is the plant of Dammara australis in the temperate house, and now bearing a a few young cones — a very distinct-looking plant. In the same house it is interesting to see the different cha- racter which the Vitis (Ampelopsis) tricuspidata (Veitchii of gardens) assumes as it grows older, when it produces large deeply-divided leaves intermediate between those of an ordinary Vine and those of the old Virginian Creeper in form, and quite different from the small neat Ivy-like foliage borne by the young branches. Talking of creepers, those in search of effective plants of this kind should by no means over- look Lonicera sempervirens, which, for beauty of colour and continuous blooming qualities, may well compare with many better known plants. On the rockery is a plant of Opuntia Rafinesquiana in flower, and a patch of Sedum cceruleum, a little gem ; but we urge our readers to go and revel for themselves. We cannot in- dicate a tithe of the noteworthy plants. The East London A.m.\teur Floricul- TURAL Society has hit on a recipe for filling its exchequer. From a local report we learn that "during the evening large numbers of the fairest of the fair inhabitants of privileged Bow," were assembled on the occasion. " To account for this it is necessary to state that the band of the 2d Middlesex Artillery Volunteers were located on the field, and supplied music to which ere long the youthful feet were tripping merrily over the green sward ; their owners elated with the thought that no censorious mamma was at hand to check their vivacity." It is needless for us to remark that floriculture was at a discount, and the only flowers that found favour were the " dancing girls!" The following suggestive passage occurs in Mr. Bentiiam's Presidential Address to the Linnean Society, lately published. We quote it as illustrative of the aim that societies and public institutions should strive to attain. " The formation of our Zoological Society and gardens opened a new era in the cultiva- tion of the science. * * With an annual income of about ;£'23,ooo the Zoological Society is enabled to maintain a living collection of about a thousand species of vertebrata ; and although some portion of the surplus funds is necessarily applied for the sole gratification of the paying public, yet a fair share is devoted to the real promotion of that science for which all the fellows are supposed to subscribe— the accurate observation of the .animals maintained, the dissection of those that die, and the publication of the result. Physiological experiments are either actually made in the garden, or promoted and liberally assisted." A new application of Charcoal has recently come to our knowledge. We are told it is now largely used in the manufacture of a permanent enamel, or varnish for coating the insides of casks. The charcoal, which is made from the wood of Salix alba, is reduced to a very fine powder, and mixed with proper propor- tions of shellac and methylated spirit. When ready for use it is laid on with a brush, and the inside of the cask is fired, so as to remove the spirit and leave only the lining of charcoal and shellac ; it is then coated again and fired a second time, after which it is allowed to stand a short time before being used. This com- position is said to form a perfect enamel, and while it prevents any chance of leakage it preserves the casks in an extraordinary manner. It answers admirably for beer and acids, and is largely adopted by some of our principal brewers. Its preparation and use is protected . by a patent. Amongst the many New Annuals introduced year after year, there are few that hold a permanent place in our gardens. The majority are rejected on account of the short duration of their flowering season, which seriously interferes with the beauty of a garden September 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1 1 29 planted in the style almost universally adopted at t present time. Two recent introductions seem likely prove valuable acquisitions, either for the geometrical garden or indeed borders. I refer to Godetia Whitneyi and Tagetes signata pumila. The former (for figui and description, see ante, p. 103) certainly deserves all the praise bestowed upon it. The splendid rose- coloured flowers, with a crimson blotch on each petal, strongly reminding one of those of an Hibiscus, are produced in the greatest profusion for a long period. The plants in the bed I have in view are dense bushes, about iS inches high, literally covered with flowers. Tagetes signata pumila, and especially the variety flore- pleno, is a very pretty, dwarf, compact yellow-flowered plant, suitable for bedding, and much more to be depended upon than the Calceolarias, of which, by- the-by, I have not seen a good bed this season, all being more or less diseased. H. The Maximum Temperatures of the Air during the week ending August 26, ranged in England from 78°. 7 at Blackheath, to 67° at Newcastle-on- Tyne, with a mean for all stations of 73° ; in Scot land the highest recorded was but 68° at Perth, and the lowest 64° at Greenock, the mean value being 65°.6, or 70°.4 lower than the corresponding value for the southern country. The Minimum Tem PERATURE.S of the AiR were more equable over the whole country, the highest value being 52". 8 at Ports- mouth, and the lowest 40° at Hull, and the means 44°. 9 for England, and 43^.8 for Scotland. The mean temperatures ranged Irom 63° at Portsmouth and Blackheath, to 53°.3 at Aberdeen. The decrease, as shown in Mr. Glaisher's Tables in the present issue, is very striking, the values, with but few exceptions, declining nearly uniformly from south to north. The mean value for England was 59°. i, and for Scotland, 53°.9. Rain is recorded as having fallen at all station! during the week, though much heavier in Scotland than in England, the maximum fall in the latter country being 1.12 inch at Eccles, while at six out of the seven stations in the former the values exceed thi» amount. At Glasgow and Perth 2.49 inches and 2. 16 inches were measured. The mean fall for England was 0.45 inch, and lor Scotland 1.67 inch. The Messrs. Dickson & Co., of Edinburgh, have sent us another batch of Seedling Violas, similar to those referred to at p. 772 of our last volume. They are described to be dense and branching in habit, hardy in constitution, and invaluable as continuous bloomers from spring till autumn j indeed, as we learn, ' ' they have been almost a sheet of flower throughout the season." The Messrs. Dickson state, that they find Viola stricta a very useful species for crossing, as the seedlings from it have a fine, soft, waxy-looking colour, and a good substance. Of those referred to last year, the deep golden yellow, now called Dickson's Golden Gem, is one of the finest ; and those called V. lutea pallida, and V. lutea Grievei, with The Primrose and V. suaveolens major, are extremely showy, and of different shades of pale sulphur-yellow. V. coriacea, creamy white, with violet eye, looks like a useful bedding Pansy. Another smaller-flowered white, V. stricta alba, pure white, with a small orange spot at the eye, if of a suitable habit, must be quite a gem for bedding purposes. Strongly contrasting with these are V. amosna magnifica, a rich mulberry colour, with the lower petals pucy-violet, the eye yellow ; and Vanguard, like a small self-coloured mulberry Pansy — both charm- ing flowers. Violet Fairy Queen is again quite distinct, having yellow lower petals, and deep violet top petals, evenly bordered with yellow, so bright and cheerful- looking that it must be an excellent massing plant. With these came several highly-promising bedding Pansies, of which one, named Celestial, a deep reddish- purple, and New Colour, a sort of reddish plum-colour, both said to be first-rate in habit, struck us as being likely to be extremely useful. One of the handsomest and most symmetrical plants of Thujopsis dolabrata we have fallen in ■with, is growing in the pleasure-grounds at Ashridge Park. The plant is in vigorous health, about 5 feet 6 inches high, and fully as much through at the base, and forms a dense cone of perfect symmetry, very different from the abrupt and unfinished appearance so often presented by the leader and uppermost branches of this really handsome and hardy Conifer. An equally well-furaished plant of the prettily variegated variety, of about half the above size, is growing in another part of the grounds. In reference to the names of Oncidium macranthum hastiferum, and Lambertyanum, Professor Reichenbach writes that both are due to M. Linden, of Brussels and Ghent. "I remember very well how he pointed out one day, to Director FUNCK and to myself, the differences between these varieties from the very bulbs. Every one knows that M. Linden's ability to discriminate species from the bulbs alone is quite unrivalled. The unfortunate name of hastiferum was given, if I remember aright, to the best variety. It gave rise to the suspicion that my 'hastiferum' was the same plant, though that is quite as distinct from hastiferum as a rhinoceros from a hippo- potamus, since it bears an erect blade on its anterior lip, while the hippopotamoid macranthum does not rejoice in such an ornament. Now I believe Oncidium macranthum Lambertyanum was, by 'second choice,' named in honour of Monsieur le Comte de Lambertye, the distinguished grower of Strawberries. Finally, Oncidium macranthum itself appears to have been that much inferior variety, bearing much smaller flowers and scarcely any black violaceous ornaments on the lip. The numerous sketches I have at hand show remarkable differences in the side lacini^ of the lip. This is, however, perhaps a matter of no great import- ance, since I do not at all know whether I did not get several of these first flowers, which ultimately often prove to be mere abortions. M. Linden's last cata- logue specially attributes a higher value to the two varieties than to what he takes as the type. There is, however, scarcely any doubt that the hastiferum is what was originally intended 'for macranthum, which was gathered by Ruiz and Pavon, and which I have from Dr. Lindley's own hands. If I cannot give a very accurate answer, I have, however, done my best to make some remarks." Those who have to supply French Beans in any quantity throughout the winter and spring months are strongly recommended by a correspondent of the " Florist and Pomologist " to waste none, but to adopt the plan of preserving them, while there are plenty to be had. When thus preserved, he finds that an immense anxiety is avoided in winter, from not having to grow them ; indeed for the last three winters he has not had to force any. The mode of preserving them is as follows :— To 12 lb. of Beans allow 6 lb. of salt. In a pan place a layer of Beans, and then a layer of salt, until the vessel is full, the last layer of salt to be rather thicker than the others ; put a plate or anything that will nearly cover the Beans, on the top of the pan, and a weight of about 6 lb. on the top of all. Let them remain thus for two days, when the salt will have turned into brine ; then take out the Beans and put them in jars, pour the brine, which must be equally divided, on them, put a small plate on the top of the Beans to keep them under the brine, and then tie a bladder over the jars. If well covered with the brine, the Beans will keep good for 12 months. The Beans should be gathered' on a dry day. Before using, they should be laid in cold water for an hour, changing the water several times. If properly done it is said to be difficult to tell them from newdy-gathered Beans, either as regards appearance or taste. Messrs. Carter & Co. have sent us samples of various forms of French and African Marigolds, grown at their seed farms in Essex. We can pronounce them to be very good examples of their respective sorts. The Africans are represented by the usual orange-coloured and lemon-coloured varieties. Amongst the varieties of French Marigold, those which we prefer are labelled Dunnett's Double Tall Orange, of a clear deep orange hue ; Double Gold-striped and Double Dwarf Gold-striped, two handsomely marked gold and brown sorts, and the Double Tall Dark, of a rich Spanish brown. In all these the colours are well marked, and the capitules full and symmetrical, with the florets well developed, and spreading out inl handsome rosette. Judging from the appearance of numerous plants in the nursery at Great Berkhamsted, and from the information obtained from Mr. Lane, we are inclined to accord a very high position amongst orna- mental— perhaps even profitable — Conifers to the Van- couver's Island Fir, which Gordon called Picea grandis. Its growth is most rapid and elegant, and the high grounds of Berkhamsted it is perfectly v affected by any frosts. We might with safety design; it as one of the most rapid-growing members of t Coniferous family. curious flowers with spreading angles before the base of the lip. Now I have before me a rich spike coming from J. Day, Esq., and who makes some very interesting remarks as to the organs of vegetation. " It is quite different," says he, "as regards the bulbs and leaves, from anything I have seen. The bulbs are nearly elliptical, not tapering to the apex as most do, shorter and rather blunter at the edges than most other Odonto- glots. In age the bulbs shrivel and wrinkle all over irregularly, and never get sulcated in deep groves as the others." The flowers are scented, but the scent is disgusting. H. G. Sclib. fil. New Garden Plants. Oncidium exasperatum, Lind., RcJib. f. e Oncidio coccifero, Rchb. f. Sepalis tepalisquc extus valde '" '"■ exasperati.s ; sepalis cunealo ovatis apiculatis ; i^lo basi utrinque tcpalis paulo latioribus ; labelli obtiisangulo : callo depresso a basi utrinque unindentato antice, utroque la carinis intiis geminis : columna sub fo' isthmo insiliente One of the smaller flowered species, with chestnut- brown flowers, the lip, however, yellowish with brown streaks. The calli of the lip are beautifully lemon- coloured. It may come from Ecuador, and is one of the Wallisian discoveries, introduced by M. Linden. Its extraordinary feature consists in the asperities on the outside of the flower. H. G. Rchb. ftl. Odontoglossum crocidipterum, «. sp. Afiine Odontoglosso nsevio, Lindl. Labello ante unguem erectum angulato usque bastato, antice valde velutino ; call is erectis geminis emarginatis ante basin ; columnffi aiis plurisctis laceris, angulo in basin foveae stigmaticK insiliente. Much in the way of Odontoglossum n^cvium and odoratum, but apparently different from either in its many-fringed column wings, which take the place of 'igle bristles. Its colour is a pallid yellow, with many chestnut-brown spots. The lip has its anterior part covered by a large brown spot, and on each side of the calli a similar smaller one. The merit of intro- ducing this New Grenadian Orchid pertains to Mr. Stuart Low. I have obtained it twice from this invaluable correspondent, the last spike bearing very GLEANINGS FROM CHISWICK. Few things afford the true lover of horticulture more pleasure than occasional visits to its oldest and most venerated shrines, amongst which dear old Chiswick stands pre-eminent. Approach the old gardens from whatever direction one may, happy reminiscences are recalled to one's mind, and a glow of warmth runs through us as we think of its glorious past and now hopeful future. Where is the gardener, old or young, who has not profited by the lessons in practical horti- culture which after much careful and laborious study have been disseminated far and near for the benefit of all ? It was here, too, that the lamented and greatly esteemed Thompson compiled the mass of facts which afterwards resulted in the " Gardener's Assistant." and which, whether in the cause of pomology or in teaching of the young gardeners who aim at future excellence in their calling, stands out boldly as a sign-post on the road to success. The older members of the profession knew this unassuming but faithful and laborious author, and there are very few of the younger ones who have not a well-thumbed volume of "Thompson" upon their "bothy" shelves. The reader, I am sure, will pardon me for thus giving vent to feelings which possessed me, in common, I doubt not, with others, who lately made a visit to these old grounds. I had intended only to give the pith of a few useful observa- tions which I gathered a few days ago, and will there- fore not digress further. The large vinery (better known to some as the con- servatory), under the present management, points to a present and to a future of very great success. The "huge span " is laden throughout its whole extent with a beauti- ful crop of Grapes, and of young growth and healthy foliage, which affords a prospect unsurpassable in its way in the three kingdoms. Mr. Barron, the undeviatingly courteous superintendent here, as well as at Kensington, may well be proud that his attempt to renovate the old border has thus early proved successful. Having removed a walk which was made much too near to the house, he has enlarged and partly renewed the border, and in so doing has considerably elevated it above its former level. Mr. Barron believes, and, I think, rightly, that by elevating a Vine border well above the surrounding natural ground, far more favourable con- ditions as regards drainage are insured than by the customary method of supplying this by means of rubble at a lower depth. And so far, assuredly, the Vines, huge as they are — some 30 feet long in the rod, are answering in a remarkable manner to the valuable aid given them, as many of the young growing rods of the current season's formation average 20 feet in length, and are uniformly strong in propor- tion. The crops upon the true Frankenthal, which Mr. Barron considers the best of all black Grapes, the Black Hamburgh not even excepted, are very fine, many carrying bunches by the score, averaging from 2 to 34 lb. weight, and colouring well. The canes of Gros Guillaume (Barbarossa) are carrying a great load. Many of the bunches, which are ripening, or, I should say, colouring, rather earlier than usual, average from 16 to 1 8 inclies in length, and are proportionate in width. Raisin de Calabre, the white companion to West's St. Peter, is very heavily laden. It succeeds well in this cool house, and is one which Mr. Barron values for its hanging capabilities. The Mill Hill, or Champion Hamburgh, is readily distinguished here, as in other places, by the peculiar flagging of its leaves. The Black Monukka, with its peculiar stoneless berries, is also fruiting freely. It is in connection with this Grape that Mr. Barron has effected a cross, of which great hopes may be formed, whatever be the issue. This peculiar variety was used as the male parent in crossing the Frankenthal, and, strange as it may appear, the seeds so obtained have produced seedlings having the peculiar shaped leaves of the Monukka, hence there exists great hopes that the berries may possess the stoneless characteristic of the Monukka, which, it is needless to say, would be a great gain. I should add that, amongst the many other kinds which are grown and are doing well in this huge house, Trebbiano is especially noticeable, with its large showy bunches, which hang so well. Mr. Barron, from what I observed, evidently pins much faith upon the capabilities of old Vines ; when, ' have before stated, young rods are grown there- from, as by grafting approved kinds on to old sorts of repute, not only has so much been attained, but promises for the future are favourable in the ;me. Whilst upon the subject of Grapes, I must refer to a smaller house, which contains a very fine crop of Muscats, wherein the Madresfield Court, grafted upon the Troveren Frontignan, is grorni, and II30 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 1871. in a very limited space. Next the door are some very finely beiTied bunches, proving it to be a grand Grape, of " the first water." The bunches look solid, heavy, and compact, and fine for exhibition, whilst the flavour, we know, is past question. Its characteristics are found in its producing its fruit unusually near to the main rod, and in the berries having thick, strong foot- stalks, and the usual indications of long-keeping. Much is due to Mr. Barron for having thus ably con- firmed the fact that in this variety we possess a most valuable late Grape ; indeed, were I going to plant a house to come in late, I should use no other black Grape than this. There are at Chiswick two orchard-houses, pure and simple, having no assistance from artificial heat, as many so-called orchard-houses have. Here the trees are in good health, and on many there is a heavy crop of fruit. I noticed the Plum General Hand as being a fine showy fruit, of good flavour, very large, and of the true Green Gage type. Pond's Seedling is also a fine large showy Plum for pot work. Amongst Peaches, Royal George and Stirling Castle are particularly noticeable, and hold their own against many new- comers ; Crawford's Early is also well represented ; it has yellow flesh, is a freestone, of good flavour, and a good cropper. In a long narrow orchard-house in which Grapes, Peaches, and Nectarines have been grown for comparison, and with great and lasting benefit, as many synonyms have been proven for one and the same fruit, are other Peaches, which it will also be well to refer to now. First, I would say that the trees have done remarkably well in this house, the fruit having been fine and abundant. Here Bellegarde was very fine, as also were the evidently near relatives, Violette Hative and Galande. Rosanna is a good flavoured, yellow-fleshed Peach ; while Shanghai, or Chang-hai, has little save size to recommend it. But of all Peaches, commend me to the Belle Beauce, a good early variety, which is something like Grosse Mignonne ; it is a variety of great merit, earlier than the Early York, and of double the size, and has a flattened, showy fruit. Amongst Nectarines, " you can put down Pitmasti Orange as one of the best for pot work," said Mr. Barron. The Bowden and the Victoria each worthy of being noted down. The Violette Hative, Do\vnton, and Rivers' Pine-apple, appear prominent ; Victoria is like Stanwick, save that i ' three or four weeks earlier. I cannot refrain from mentioning the Fig-house affording part of the useful information I have gleaned. I refer to two or three prominent varieties amongst house full of pot plants, all in rude health and abundant bearing. De la Madelaine is there the earliest amongst the early varieties, ripening even in advance of the good and fruitful White Marseilles. But of all the varieties, the true Bourjassotte Grise is Mr. Barron's favourite. I should not omit to mention the Panachee, or Striped Fig, illustrated so well in a late number of the " Florist and Pomologist." It should be known that the ornamental stripes are exhibited by these beau- tiful fruit onward from their earliest infancy. The tramway system of orchard-houses, introduced by the Rev. J. Fountaine, is also illustrated in the Chiswick Gardens ; and why should it not ? The old " City Road " has given place to the modern inno- vation ; and why not old Chiswick ? I cannot say that the trees look in any great degree the better for the appliance, quaint and play- thing-like as it appears on the surface. Certain it is that the thing is well carried out to the end in view ; and well would it be for all gardeners if like conveniences were extended to the many other depart- ments requiring much labour in attending to them. One of the running trucks (rolling stock) I should observe, had upon it a fine load of the largest possible Black Diamonds, not the black diamonds from Cannock Chase or Wallsend, but the Plums of that name. I must pass by the many other subjects of interest, including the beautiful collection of Phloxes and Pent- stemons in full bloom at the time of my visit, and say finally, that the hardy fruit trees— one of a sort — re- moved into their new quarters, are thriving well, and will yet, in association with the older pyramidal Pears, prove a pleasing feature. The fine pyramidal Pears have many of them been regrafted with more approved sorts than some of them proved to be, and the grafts have taken remarkably well, having made young shoots so vigorously and so plenti- fully that a casual observer would not have noticed that such a harsh process had been undergone by them. The new, or rather reserved ground, now remaining in the hands of the Society, is far more compact and replete with the symptoms of general good culture than was the old garden. The annuals, bedded-out Pelar- goniums, and the fruit trees in pots, call for especial note. I may further say that, though much has been looked forward to through this curtailment of space, which gives to the able superintendent some chance of doing things as he would, and not as means allowed him, as formerly, we already see an earnest of what may be anticipated in the future in the neat, orderly, and skil- ful display aflbrded. Yet we look forward to a still more glorious future, knowing that, however successful heretofore, no man will be found more heartily to join in the emulating acclamation — Advance, than Mr. Barron. William Earley, Valentines, Il/ord. CONVERTIBLE FLOWER OR FRUIT VASE. It must have often occurred to many besides myself, that if they could only procure this or that flower, what a much prettier arrangement they could have made. It must also have often occurred to many that, if the same limited number and variety of flowers had only been arranged in this or that form of vase, instead of the one they happen to be placed in, how much better they would have looked. Some years ago I rarely saw a dinner-table decorated but what some new form or other suggested itself to me as an improve- ment upon what was already in my collection ; and when time permitted th^ reduction of these ideas into the form of working drawings, an order m the zinc-worker or glass-blower was the usual result. In this way.I got together a great variety of vases, dishes, stands, &c, and then found it best to wait until the flowers arrived" before determining what vases should be used. Before my collection became so varied I used to get out a certain set of vases, as suitable for a table of a certain size, and to order flowers that would look well in those vases; and if the flowers ordered arrived, all went well. But the best-intentioned of florists cannot always supply what they confidently promise ; and my experience teaches me, that the least trouble in the end is to get the The dotted lines show that the top piece may be screwed into the foot, without any intervening piece of metal tubing, when the height will be only 184 inches. It will also readily be seen that by the use of one or more of the metal tubes, the height of the vase may be raised inch by inch to any extent between these extremes. In the same way, by an alteration in the distances between the flanged tubes, the dishes may be brought nearer to each other, or placed farther oflT from each other. Again, the dishes may be used with or without the rest of the vaSe, or the vase may be used with only one or with two dishes, or one or more of the dishes may be used on the foot without the top piece. In short, the foot may be used \vithout the top-piece, or with it at eleven different heights, and each dish may be used separately, or at ten diflerent heights upon the foot. Your mathematical readers may amuse themselves by calculating the number of combinations which eight of these vases enable me to effect. When the dishes are arranged as sho%vn in the sketch, loops of wire may be clipped over the edges of the upper dishes, and thus tall grasses may be made to stand erect amongst a lightly-arranged pyramid of flowers. But if a pyramid of fruit be wanted, it might be better to use the two flanged pieces without any tubes between them, in which case the three dishes would rest one just above the other. Supposing that a ring of Peaches were arranged upon the lowest dish, a ring of Nectarines upon the second dish, and a Pine or a few Plums upon the top dish, then any one kind of these fruits may be taken from the group without disturbing the other fruits. I will not occupy your space with a description of any of the other numerous ways in which such a vase can be dressed with fruit, or flowers, or both, but will only add that I cannot too strongly recommend it, particularly to those whose selection of flowers is often very limited. These vases have been made from my drawings by Messrs. James Powell & Sons, of the Whitefriars Glassworks ; and I gladly avail myself of this opportunity of testifying to readiness and willingness in working out new designs, and to their patience and courtesy in trouble- matters of this kind. IV. T. flowers first ; and having sorted them, and put then into separate vessels of water, to look over the collec' tion as a whole, and then to determine the form of vases to be used. I have often thought of sending you sketches from my collection [Pray carry out your inten- tions still further. Eds.], and now forward you one of a vase which I have found more generally useful for either fruit or flowers than any other form I know of. This vase consists of the following 1 1 parts :— a glass foot, half-an-inch thick, into which is fixed a metal tube 2 inches long ; six pieces of metal tube, each furnished with a male screw at one end and a female screw at the other, and all the screws alike ; of these six, two are I inch long, c, and four are 2 inches long, A and B, two of these four having a projecting flange half an inch wide at the end next the male screw ; three glass dishes, of the respective diameters of 5, 9, and 13 inches, and each having in the centre a tubular hole, so that it can pass over any of the metal tubes and rest on a flange : the dishes are about 2 inches deep, and the metal tube is nearly an inch in diameter. The remaining part is a trumpet-shaped piece of glass, having at one end a male screw, like all the others, at the open end an edge turned in more than half an inch. This inversion of the lip is found to be of great use in holding the ends of the lateral shoots ' Fuchsia, which, by thus lying in a natural position, display their blooms without crowding. When all these pieces are put together it forms a se 284 inches high, as shown in the sketch (fig. 259), A GARDEN OF TREES. We have had recently the opportunity of inspecting z plans and notes relating to an arboretum and fruit garden proposed to be established at Berlin. The proposal emanates from Professor Karl Koch, the highest authority on all matters connected with Den- drology, and the author of a standard treatise on that subject, already alluded to by us (p. 225, 253, 1869), and which has but two serious faults, both of which can be remedied. The first is, that we have at present only the first volume — a defect, we are glad to learn, which is likely speedily to be removed ; and the next is that it written wholly in German. While awaiting a full English translation, a Latin synopsis of species, such as might readily be given as a supplement to the whole work, would be of immense ser^'ice to the busy reader, be his nationality what it might. Reverting however to the subject before us, we may say that we were struck with the importance of Prof. Koch's project, and impressed with the manner in which he proposed to carry it out. Although, says Prof Koch, here and there in Germany, and especially in England, greater and smaller collections of trees have been made, some of which still exist, and which were called arbo- returns, at the time when the so-called English style was the fashion, these were but first attempts which, in Germany at least, rfith the exception of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Berlin, were made by private individuals, with the assistance of Willdenow, and fell to the ground at his death. Most of these lacked a scientific basis, and this is par- ticularly the case in the arboretum at Muskau, which owes its origin to the munificence of H. R. H. Prince Frederick of the Netherlands, and which, thanks to the admirable direction of the inspector of parks, Mr. Petzold, far excels, in a horticultural point of view, any collection of the kind now extant. When in 1772 Duroy, a Brunswick physician, published the first Dendrology, he described 310 kinds of trees, which were at that time cultivated in the garden of Veltheim, judge of the Duchy of Brunswick, at Harlke, near Helmstadt. Since then a hundred years have not elapsed, and the number of trees has been nearly tripled, through introductions from foreign countries alone. For instance, in the above-mentioned work 10 kinds of Maple were described, 24 are now culti- vated. Duroy knew 13 wild Plums and Sloes, and only 7 Thorns (Cratjegus) ; we now possess 35. In addition to this it must be remembered that in the course of culture a great many varieties and forms have crept in, which sometimes outnumber the original forms, and that these, being in many cases preferred by amateurs, and fetching a higher price in the trade, have been further propagated. For more than 30 years Professor Koch has made the plants in question his particular study, and in the course of his researches has made many journeys, especially in western Asia, whence we have re- ceived many of our trees. He fixed more espe- cially upon that district as the land of his particular researches, because he rightly imagined he had dis- scovered in it the fatherland of most of our fruit The origin of pomaceous and stoned fruits has September 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1131 ■ ^ 1 ■ h Fig. 260.— plan of the proposed den DRO-POMOLOGICAL GARDEN AT BERLIN Chestnuts, Filbcns 1 r, Cultivated stone-fruit trees : g, Cultivated poiuaceous trees • H Wild pomaceous trees: r. Wild stone-fruit trees: I, Poclars ■ K Ash Oli " •-'■ ' " L. Pines, Larch, Ce'^='" l^"-- ■ " '" ^'--- " • Philadelphus, Conn aprifoils, Tibs ; o. B beam Elm; B, Daphne, Laurel, Elaagnus, Myrica, Cellis, Planera, &.C.; s, Wild Roses: T, Cultivated summer and autumn Roses ; It, Hydrangeas, Pajonies, Hibiscus, &c.: V, Birches and Alders ; w, Berbens, Ribes. Celastiace^, &c. : x, Rhododendrons, Erica, &c. ; I: ^Y "!? ■ ^' *'''''' ^"'^'' ■ ■■ '-""'=^' Magnolias, Calycanthus ; 2, Horse Chestnuts. Maples, &c : 3, Climbing plants and Creepers ; 4, Wild and cultivated Vines : s and 6, Brambles, Ivies, &c. 1 132 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 2, 1871. never been scientifically determined. Only Irng-con- tinued attempts at cultivation, such as can be carried on in some institute set apart for tl)e purpose and secure from the chance of individual change of purpose, will ever lead to a scientific conclusion. The dendro-pomological garden has, besides its scientific, a practical siiie. Young men who are making forestry and agriculture their study would there have the opportunity of improving themselves and acquiring a knowledge of the different kinds of trees and of the modes of planting and culture, especially fruit trees, as well as those adapted for planting along roads and highways &c. A circumstance of great importance has hitherto proved an almost insuperable obstacle to the acquisition of such knowletlge, that is, the great confusion in the nomenclature of trees from which even the best nurseiy gardens and arboretums are not free. A true scientific nomenclature of trees will only be obtained when these have been observed for years in Nature. Trees are the more difficult to determine in that they require a long time to blossom, and are in some cases, like the Willow and Poplar, of different sexes. In addition to this our trees— and this is not only applicable to those foreign kinds with which we have been acquainted for hundreds of years, but also to indigenous ones, — often become in the course of culture so altered that their outward form is quite different from their natural and uncultivated aspect, and conse- quently frequent mistakes arise. Such varieties and forms whose origin is not known have thus been described as independent kinds, and under different names. Not a few foreign trees, whose acquaintance one has made for the first time in the form of a fragment in some herbarium, have been described by different botanists under different names. Were such plants cultivated beside one another, so that they might be contrasted one with the other, such errors would soon be exposed. Gardeners, too, have frequently made use of any sports or chance deviations from the normal form, and propagated them, in order to be able to sell them as something new. A dendrological garden has still another important object. The effort to beautify our grounds, and make tliem more habitable and pleasant by planting, has, especially of late years, made great advances. The environs of Berlin and Potsdam rank first in this respect. Those who can look back 30 years can judge what has been done in that comparatively short time to adorn and beautify the country. In Silesia and Pomerania, and even in the distant provinces of Prussia and Posen, the growing spirit has borne fruit. The intelligent observer will note that the beautifying of the land has kept pace with the cultivation _and civilisa- tion of man himself. Man becomes' the better in proportion to the degree in which he occupies him- self with plants and their culture. This moral influence is not sufficiently recognised. Notwithstanding that so much has already been done in this respect, or that the desire of beautifying one's surroundings has been generally aroused, the interest would be greatly increased were we made more fully cognisant of the rich material at our disposal. But this can only effec- tively be made known by a dendro-pomological garden, su;h as Professor Koch proposes. Of the importance of this there is still much to be said. The possessor of n f^arden can always inform himself with more ease of the nature and habit of a tree or shrub which he grows himself The same principle applies to the more extensive facilities given by a dendro-pomological gar- den. The number of avenue trees now existing is pretty considerable. We have them for all soils, cir- cumstances, and situations. But, owing to the want of the necessary knowledge great mistakes are often made. Still more difficult is the right choice of blossom and fruit-bearing shrubs. No doubt the reason that the latter are by no means sufficiently appreciated, as a means of adorning our residences, especially late in the season, is, that a knowledge of the abundance of material which is available for this purpose is wanting. Not less charming and instructive would be the effect of plants arranged in geographical groups. In this way a new means of developing the mind and taste of the people would be obtained, which would be of use not only to the young, but also to those of riper years. Such a garden will, however, only imperfectly fulfil its purpose, unless the better kinds .of fmit trees, and such as deserve to be generally propagated, are culti- vated in it. In Prof. Koch's opinion every province should have its own particular garden, in which the provincial pomological characteristics might be exempli- fied ; and, in addition to this, there should be a general pomological garden, in which, besides matters of pure practice, strict scientific investigations should be carried on. The sciences arej now-a-days, so blended, that in most researches the co-operation of many learned men, such as may be found gathered together in Berlin or other great to.wns, is required. Every separate science has now become so extensive, that one man can no longer embrace everything in it. Whoever occupies himself with physiology and the life history of plants is in general so entirely engrossed, that he has seldom lime to do anything in systematic botany, and Every year a great number of landed proprietors visit Berlin, especially in the winter time. These gentlemen often seek for instruction in those matters which concern their own lands. Nothing, however. would so entirely minister to' the requirements of such proprietors as a collection of the best fruit trees, and they would at the same time have an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the fruits produced by them. In such a collection not only the best mode of culture should be found from which every one might learn, but both expert and novice alike might gain a knowledge of the advantage of rational practice and scientific theories in pomology. On that account, says Prof Koch, there should be examples of the different methods of cultivating the high stem, the pyramidal, the wall fruit trees, and such modes of training should be exemplified on the same species, in order that the apparent differences in the results of culture might be seen and tested. In the arrangement of the garden a museum must not be lost sight of, in which fruits and other in- teresting subjects of culture should be exhibited for the benefit of the public. The different appearance and various degree of excellence of one and the same fruit, accoriling to the manner of its cultivation, cannot fail to direct attention to more careful culture. The laying out of a dendro-pomological garden, which should pro- vide at one and the same time for the requirements of science, practice, and sesthelics, is undoubtedly a diffi- cult task, which Prof. Koch says (with too great modesty as it seems to us) that he felt himself not capable of superintending in all its branches. On that account he appealed to Mr. Meyer, of Sans Souci, for assistance, especially as far as the last part was concerned. The form of a hippodrome was considered by Mr. Meyer to be the best for a dendrological garden. In spite of the regularity of such a form, the visitor would be hardly conscious of it when inside the garden. On the two sides most exposed to the wind it is proposed to plant high trees, to which the name of wind-breakers has been given. An outside compartment is destined for the large trees, the inner one for the next in size, and the centre one for the smallest and most tender plants. The ground slopes on the inside somewhat downwards, so that the piece of ground in the centre which is to be planted with evergreens lies lowest (n). It might also be well were the ground to be undulating, as some trees prefer such a position. Further, the trees should be so planted that the regularly formed ones, such as Limes, Maples, Nut trees, &c., should occupy the one, and the more irregular ones, as Oaks, Poplars, Beeches, &c., the other side. In order to show the progressive advance in their culture, the wild Roses should be placed first, then the Roses as they were for 20 years before the climbing Roses appeared, and lastly the best kinds of the present day. Such contrasts between early methods of culture and those now prevalent should also be made with the Pa;onies, Hortensias, and Hibiscus, &c. Creeping plants should have a place for themselves in another compartment. Wild Vines and the best kinds for wine should be planted ; and lastly a hedge composed of all the various kinds of plants capable of being used for the purpose, ought to surround the dendrological garden. The garden should not only be open at all times to the man of science, the forester, and the agriculturist, but everyone should have the right to seek instruction in it, and both director and inspector should be pre- pared to impart it. Seeds, grafts, or cuttings, should be presented gratis to proprietors, so far as this may be done without undue expense. Professor Koch then submits detailed plans of the proposed garden, in which all the trees and groups are laid down. In addition to this, he gives a scientific catalogue of all the trees which he recommends for a place in the dendrological garden, and indicates the place they should occupy. In order to be better understood, the trees are divided into scientific classes, which more or less harmonise with the different quarters. As far as we can estimate the extent of ground necessary for this undertaking, 40 acres would be suffi- cient for the whole dendrological garden ; and, should it be necessary to make special provision for the agricul- tural and forestry part, space for culture, experiments, additions, &c.. Prof Koch considers that 60 acres would be ample, and that to maintain it, no great annual charge would be required. We hope to hear soon that Prof. Koch's plan, which has received the sanction of the Prussian authorities, will be carried out in the manner he proposes. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF A FLOWERING PLANT. [The following remarks are taken from Professor Thiselton Dyer's fiftti lecture on "Ttie Natural History of a Flowering Plant," in the theatre of the Royal College of Science, Dublin. The subject treated upon was " The fruit." The essential parts of a flower are the two innermost circles, or whorls. These are, like the outer whorls, equivalent to leaves, but have been very much modified in the course of their development — the stamens, to contain the pollen ; the carpels, which occupy the centre of the flower, for the production of ovules. The real nature of these bodies is shown in their occasional replacement under abnormal conditions by true leaves, and also by their reduction in some double flowers to a petal-like state, the analogy of which to the leaf, colour excepted, is more obvious. The upper part of a stamen corresponds to the blade of a leaf; but the cellular substance between its two surfaces is modified in its growth so as to produce eventually a great abundance of isolated cells or pollen grains. In the majority of plants these are discharged as a fine powder by the disruption of the cavities in which they are formed ; so vast, indeed, is the quantity shed by cone-bearing trees that it has been sometimes attributed to showers of sul- phur. The carpels are formed by the infolding of a leaf, the edges uniting to produce a closed cavity which protects the ovules. These are at first merely small cellular out-growths from the seam where the margins of the carpellary leaf have united, and to which, there- fore, they must be looked upon as belonging. The whorl of carpels are either separate or united into a compound body, which may have a single cavity, or as many compartments as there are carpellary leaves, according as they have entered into combination, open or closed. In order that ovules may grow into seeds, it is necessary that they should be subjected to the influence of the pollen. This is shed from the stamens upon the tops of the carpels which are not quite closed in at that point, and the pollen cell then grows down into the carpel at the expense of sugary matter, which it absorbs, till it comes in contact with the ovules. Leaves will occasionally bear buds upon their margins; ovules, on the other hand, sometimes approach the character of leafy buds. Whether they are really their equivalent is not completely ascertained. Pollen grains, however, it is quite certain, are merely specialised and detached cells. They have even been produced, in rare instances, from the cellular structure of the o%'ule itself. It was an old dictum that " Nature abhors a vacuum." Darwin has given a similar expression to another natural law, in saying that "Nature abhors perpetual self- fertilisation." This — which is, of course, out of the question where the stamens and carpels are borne on different flowers, or even on different plants — is constantly obviated even where seemingly inevitable. One frequent mode is by the pollen being produced either before or after the time that the adjacent recep- tive surface is prepared for it. Access of other pollen is, therefore, necessary, whether wafted by the wind or carried by insects. In Orchids the pollen is coherent and not powdery, and has to be transferred bodily by the latter agency from one flower to another. After the pollen has produced its effect, all the parts of the flower, except the carpels, wither away, but the carpels swell and grow into the fruit. If there has been any adhesion between the carpels and other whorls of the flower, then the adhering portions share in the after growth ; in the Apple, indeed, they form the bulk of the fruit. It may happen that fruit forms, notwithstanding that the ovules are barren, and this is an advantage in many cultivated kinds. The barren- ness seems to be caused by the unnatural conditions of cultivation, the elaborated matter unused by the seeds making the rest of the fruit or some other parts of the plant more succulent. Whatever be the structures that have entered into its formation, the mature fruit con- sists of two distinct things — the contained seeds and the containing seed vessel. This last may vary infi- nitely in texture, from yielding pulp to bony hardness, depending upon the degree to which the constituent cells have been indurated by deposits in their interior. These variations are not casual. When the seeds have an edible covering they are eaten by birds, and dropped undigested ; Mistleto, Mezereon, and wilding Apples are certainly distributed in this way. Where the seed vessel, on the other hand, is very woody, it retains often for a considerable time seeds not at first fit for germination ; this is especially noticeable with many Australian plants. The fruit may be provided with winged projections, as in Ash, Elms, and Maples, or with a tuft of silky hairs, — either of these arrange- ments facilitates its carriage by the wind ; there may be appendages of the same kind to the seed. If the surface of the seed vessel is spinous or rough, as with our native Cleavers or Burdock, the fur of animals will be the means of its dispersal. All plants, all living things, indeed, like change. Particular plants draw from the soil its perhaps minute supply of some sub- stance necessary to them, but not to many other plants, which take the place of those that migrate. What the precise ingredient is may be difficult to ascertain ; in the case of land which has 'oecome clover-sick it is still doubtful. Nevertheless, it is easy to see that enlarge- ment of a plant's area will, from this and other causes, be often a condition of its existence. Plants of aquatic habit are often quite cosmopolitan ; their seeds are, doubtless, widely dispersed by the muddy feet of wading birds, known to be great wanderers. Larger fruits could hardly be distributed, except by water ; experi- mentally, it is found that they often float longer than small ones ; still, as might be expected, their areas of growth are comparatively small. The Cocoa-nut flourishes best on the shore, and its nut gets easy access to the waves that cany them to new islands ; it is found all through the tropics, but this is rather the work of man than of Nature. There is a kind of antagonism between ordinary growth and fruit-bearing. Plants continually propa- gated, not by seed, but by detached buds, like the Potato, rarely produce fruit. The Nuytsia, or Flame- tree of Australia, derives its name from its sheet of blossom, yet never has been known to produce a single seed. Plants whose growth is over-stimulated in warm will not flower, except they receive a violent September 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Acjricultural Gazette. 1 133 i and de6ciency check. A kind of mean between exc in the supply of nutriment is needed. A certain accu- mulation is required before a tree bears, but anything beyond this defeats its own object. The prolonged vitality of seeds has been greatly over-rated. The most authentic cases do not carry it beyond 100 years, and these are exceptions. Wheat, for all practical purposes, loses its vitality in seven years. If popular beliefs were true, there would be no tempta- tion for seedsmen to manipulate their old seed for sale. Jome Cffmsponbence. Hardy Succulent Plants.— Out of a small collec- tion of succulent plants, containing upwards of 250 species, of which about 150 were Cactacere, the fol- lowing sustained the entire severity of the frost of the last winter, although some of them have suffered some- what ; nor have the adults flowered too freely this summer : — Agave americana ; A. americana, fol. var. ; Sempervivum barbatum, Cereus flagelliformis, C. Mar- tianus, C. tubulosus (on its own roots), grafted specimen killed [On what grafted ?] ; C. colubrinus, C. colubrinus var. flavispinus, C. pumilus ; Opuntia Rafinesquiana, O. clavarioides, O. corrugata ; Echinopsis Decaisneana, E. oxygona ; E. multiplex, var. with long spines ; E. multiplex, ordinary form damaged ; E. flammea, one example ; E. formosa ; E. Pentlandi, one small example ; E. Pentlandi rosea carnea, E. Pentlandi Scheerii, E. P. rhodanthe, E. . P. elegans vittata ; Echinocactus Monvilei, one specimen ; E. Ourselianus, two ; E. concinnus, E. mammulosus, E. setispinus, E. gibbosus, E. longihamatus, E. Williamsii, E. ingens, E. cornigerus, and various seedlings from imported seed not yet flowered ; Echinocereus pectiniferus ; E. pectiniferus var. Isevior, E. Scopa, E. cinerascens ; Mamillaria Bocasana, M. Wildiana, M. gracilis, M. gracflis pulchella, M. stellaris, M. pycnacantha, one e.xample ; M. ? sp. ; M. ? sp. seedlings ; Cereus coeru- lescens ; C. serpentinus, one specimen ; Phyllocactus phyllantoides. yo/i/t E. Daniel^ The Terrace, Eps The Potato Disease.— The sound advice which you have lately given in a leading article should be followed by all growers of Potatos, namely, to depend upon some of the best keeping early and second varieties for the main crop, and to plant them as early as the season and soil would permit. For the last 20 years I have promulgated this opinion, and in a letter inserted in the Times a few years after the mil- dew first appeared, I stated from experiments I had made in frames with early Potatos, that the disease never appeared to any extent before the end of July, and that the crop would always be safe if ripened early. When the summer is favourable for the develop- ment of the mildew it only attacks Potatos in a certain stage of their growth in the end of July and all through August, heat and moisture being its foster-parents. In this district a great many cottagers and farmers now plant their Potatos earlier than they used to do, and having selected some of the best keeping early and second early sorts, they have them already lifted and stored for their winter's supply. Had August this year, with increased heat, been as wet as July, I believe that the Potato crop would have shown more loss from disease than in any year since it first appearance. In 1868, 1S69, and 1S70 the sum- mers were too dry for the mildew to show itself to any extent, and many growers of Potatos hoped that it had taken its departure. To show the advantages of early planting and lifting I had this year, at the end of July, a quantity and fine sample of Myatt's Prolific raised for keeping in boxes for seed. They are as yet quite sound, whereas about 1 2 rows were left in the ground for daily use, and on raising them now about one-half are diseased. The American new varieties are quite as much affected here at this date as our old early and second early sorts. The later varieties are likewise beginning to show the fatal blotches on the haulm and foliage, and the peculiar stench from the fields of Potatos at night denotes that the mildew is universal amongst them. It is, however, possible that the cold dry nights now prevailing, and the hot sun in the day may arrest its progress, and should September be dry the loss may not be so serious at lifting time as we n- expect. William Tillery. The electrical and atmospheric conditions which, at p. 1071, Mr. Fenn ascribes this disease have surely existed, and will continue to exist, from the be- ginning to the end of the world. The Potato disease, we may hope, may be classed among those things which "have their exits and their entrances." The onus probandi lies upon the shoulders of those who advo- cate the electrical theory, of showing why this sup- posed destructive agency has not affected the Potato in the slightest degree through the long period of its history and culture previously to the year 1S45 or thereabouts. I cannot, therefore, but agree with the Editorial comment on this point of Mr. Fenn's com- munication. It seems to me far more reasonable to attribute this evil to the fungoid mould which the writer speaks of, and which, like the oidium of the Grape Vine made its first appearance with the disease. The observation which identifies the appearance of the disease with those electrical and atmospheric conditions may be perfectly correct, for these conditions may be exactly those under which the fungoid mould vegetates and thrives. The value of Mr. Fenn's remarks upon the treatment of the Potato, so as to secure abundant light, sunshine, and aeration to the foliage of the plant, can- not, I am convinced, be over-estimated. Mr. Mechi's valuable remarks (p. 1085) on thick sowing and mildew harmonise with this advice. I have acted for years on a set of rules in accordance with the same principle, and have suffered a minimum loss, while I have seen dreadful loss ensue in multitudes of cases from its neglect. Whether or not a fungoid mould is the cause or only a consequence of the Potato disease, the expe- rience of 20 years has fully demonstrated the fact that those conditions under which fungoid growth is the least vigorous are those under which the Potato is most secure from the ravages of disease. The summer rains have prevented my securing these conditions this year so perfectly as usual, and my loss by disease is greater than usual, and especially where the over-luxuriance of growth has produced the most crowded stale of the foliage ; yet the worst loss in my case has not exceeded one in twenty, while my poor neighbours, who in the endeavour to increase their produce by close plant- ing have subjected their plots to the danger arising from drawn, blanched, immature, and top-heavy stalks and foliage, are losing one-half, and even more of their Potatos within a stone's cast of my garden. The wisdom which profits by experi- ence so far as to choose the most open and well drained spot, free from the shade of hedgerow and fruit trees, is all thrown away, if the system of close planting reproduces the evils arising therefrom, viz., insufficient aeration, darkness, and exclusion of the sunshine. Woe to the crop when the top-heavy, immature foliage sinks down like a dense carpet, shutting in damp, and shutting out light, sun, and air. The fertility of the soil, the genial shower, become then evils. I manure abundantly for Potatos, and have never suffered from doing so, because I have given abundant room for growth. Rank-growing kinds, of course, require much more room than the dwarf sorts. From 30 to 36 inches between the drills is not too much for the former, according to the fertility of soil and quantity and quality of manure; in my neighbours' gardens 20 inches for all kinds is the rule, with no ptions. We must aim at producing a short-jointed, stout, hardy, well-matured stem, with foliage to match, in our Potato plots and fields, just as we do in training the Vine, wall fruit trees, &c. A day or two's black frost, which made dreadful havoc in low sheltered gardens in the spring of one year, did no injury to my Potatos, because from the exposure of the ground to the action of the wind, and the abundant room given them, the plants were dry, firm, and hardy. Those who are unwilling to adopt the editorial recom- mendation to plant only the early sorts, should choose among the later those which combine largeness and excellence of produce with dwarfish stems. It may also answer well to plant alternate drills with the earliest and latest kinds, the former ripening off" and leaving ample room for the latter to throw abroad their stems. I have tried this plan partially this year with satisfactory results. I propose next year to plant Suttons' Race- horse and Paterson's Queen in the same manner. I have long since proved the great value of liquid manure Potatos. Its tendency is to increase the weighl produce without great luxuriance of leaf and stem, and to produce tubers of the highest quality. But m: of any kind in which the whole of the liquid porti carefully preserved will be very satisfactory. The healthiness of the plant is, I think, materially aided by the abundance of saline matters contained in this generally wasted but most valuable manure. For 1 5 yea and more, since I have observed this rule, I have never grown a hollow Potato, the very largest tubers being as good for the table as the smaller sizes. J. M. Tayh Seer Green Vicai-age, near Beaconsfield. does not give his reasons for having changed his opinion, that those Fungi which on a previous occasion he had utiouslygathered in the dusk, eaten without examina- , and found deleterious, were a mixture of M. Oreades and the known poisonous M. urens, which most pro- bably was the case. I have hitherto always found the toughness of the stalk a true test of the real Cham- pignon, that of its poisonous relative being brittle. Might not vinegar, which is said, if used in cooking them, to render poisonous Fungi innocuous, be a good antidote ? though certainly an emetic, as you suggest, would generally be the surest way to remove the noxious body. With regard to the apparent poisoning of children, by various seeds or berries usually con- sidered as harmless, they are often swallowed entire, without bruising or mastication, in which state they of course are generally indigestible, and therefore may be the direct cause of the poor children's deaths. W. C. Treuelvan, H-allinglon, August 27. [We be- lieve children are often saved from evil results by the indigestibility of seeds, &c. ; e.g.. Laburnum seeds swallowed whole produce no ill effect, crushed, they act as irritant poisons. Eds.] Scale on Vines and Lemon Trees. — I find " Frettingham's Liquid Compound," now advertised in the Gardeners' Chronicle, will kill scale and other insects better than any preparation I have used for the purpose. Unlike some compounds of the kind, it will not injure the most tender fohage. Alfred Page, Forest Cottage, Bidwell, Notts. The Trial of Boilers.— Permit me to correct a slight mistake, doubtless made unintentionally by Messrs. J. Weeks & Co. At p. 1103, col. n, they quote me as repudiating the extension of the trial to system B, on the ground that the whole water is with t The Neilgherries. — A slight inaccuracy occurs Colonel Benson's interesting letter, which I am sure he will permit me to correct. Dodabetta (not Dodapet) has always been considered to be 8760 feet above the sea, and not " above 9000 feet," as stated. As there was an observatory on the summit for a number of years, I think it most likely that Colonel Benson wrong. With reference to Aerides Schrcederi, I believe Colonel Benson will find another plant, growing on a Jack tree (Artocarpus), near the first basket-maker's hut on the road from KuUar to Meetapolliam ; at anyrate a very distinct-looking, dark-green leaved Aerides (?) was there two or three years ago, which I tried to secure, but could not find a man at the moment who belonged to a tree climbing jadee, or caste, yamcs MacPherson. Poisoning by Fungi.— I should be sony to be disenchanted of the opinion I have held and acted on for many years, that the true Champignon (Marasmius Oreades) is perfectly wliolesome and nutritious. I fre- quently make a meal off it, cooked soon after gathering, never yet with a previous drying of them, and the feast has never been followed by any unpleasant symptoms. Your correspondent evidently has his doubts about the Cornish plant, which, he says, "differed slightly from the normal type;" and as to the " suspicious " Fungi, which had some time pre- viously killed eight chickens, why were they suspected ? Evidently because they did not look the same as, and cer- tainly were not, the true Champignon. Mr. W. G. Smith by caloric alone, and that we thus dispen lid of gravity." Messrs. Weeks then, with politeness which we should all do well to imitate, goes on to remark, that "this one sentence clearly indicates how little our theorists understand this matter, because practically the aid of gravity is much more depended upon in system B, than in A." Be that as it may, you will permit me to add that my remark was applied to system c, or that popularly known as the conversion of the flow-pipe mto the return, as stated at p. 1072, col. b. I quite agree with Messrs. Weeks that ques- tions of time, &c., had better be left very much to the makers. Still to the uninitiated it would appear a grievous fault in any boiler, new or old, if it took from 24 to 48 hours to get it into working order ; and if it thus " jibbed" at first use, I should need a warranty that it would go all right ever afterwards ; for in horticulture wreck and ruin hang upon hours, not days, and rapid, constant, sure results, are indispensable. I trust the Messrs. Weeks and other boiler makers will not think me presumptuous if I suggest that the three systems. A, E, and c— that is, the boiler under its work, the boiler above its work, and the boiler above, below, and on a level with its work, but the lowest pipes heated first, leaving the water at the end of its work to take a header from the highest point of the apparatus into its hot bath, the boiler— might be tried simultaneously, and thus the time of trial be curtailed. It would assuredly prove a most difficult matter to empanel such a jury as would command confidence, and to keep them boiler testing for a fortnight at a stretch, for the trial ought to be continuous, and the supervision must be thorough and complete if the results are to have any value. I adhere to the views quoted in regard to system c, though I am well aware that several correspondents have advocated that system also, on the ground that it more fully developed the aid of gravitation in circulating the water than the usual arrangement, as seen in system A. I have replied to such to the best of my ability in a paper or two, which seem to have stuck fast in the pigeon-holes of Wellington Street. If wrong in this "rationale of heating, &c.," I should be glad to be put right ; and a discussion of principles before the trial could hardly fail to be useful, and might, indeed, assist in bringing that trial to pass. According to our new lights, and we have a good many of them now, we are all astray. In the matter of heating we have been lighting our candles at the wrong end, and I should not be surprised to receive a prospectus at any moment of a patent under- fire boiler, wananted to take in caloric as a sponge water. We practicals will welcome any boiler or con- trivance that will give us more he,-it for less coal with less labour. D. T. Fish, August 26. Cucumber, " The Marquis of Lome." — I am one of those people who like (in the spare evening hours) to look over my neighbour's garden hedge, or, if he is inclined to be friendly, I turn in to see what he is doing, and many a "wrinkle" may tluis be picked up in the garden of the cottager as well as in that of the squire. With this view I turned in to see my practical neii;hbours, J. Hamilton & Son, Botcherby. After the usual hearty shake of the hand (every one seems to be welcome), I was introduced to the Marquis, occu- pying a house 60 feet by 16, a most beautiful sight. I could not help thinking, from his appearance, that he was very like a "Cumberland Lad." Mr. J. Hamil- ton, sen., pronounces the Marquis to be the best flavoured and most prolific variety he ever raised. To this I can bear testimony, one young fruit that was 1 134 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette^ [September 2, i8 still growing rapidly, and about the right stage for table use, measured 263 inches in length and i i in diameter. Three other fruit measured 35, 36, 37 inches respect- ively. I must say the IVIarquis has a beautiful neck, perfectly smooth and straight. Altogether this will make a first-rate exhibition v.ariety. It is a very shy seeder, consequently the flesh is solid and firm. Out of this small space 260 ripe fruit had been cut for seed, independent of quantities weekly cut for market. At the present time there are 120 in various stages of ripening ; 70 of these measure from 30 to 35 inches. This fine Cucumber was raised from the Invincible, Needle-gun being the male parent. I must commend the noble Marquis to gardeners generally, and particu- larly to those whose plants have been diseased, and who would like to procure a healthy stock. J. Taylor, Hose Hill, Botcherby, Carlisle. Mimicry. — As connected with the subject of plant mimicry or pseudomorphism, or whatever may be the most acceptable term for these interesting phases of plant life, it may be worth while to record two instances of variegation which have been recently brought to my notice. In the first a quantity of the common wild Convolvulus had grown up and become thicUy inter- mingled with a Japanese Honeysuckle ; the leaves of the Convolvulus, though, of course, retaining their normal shape, had, in places where they were thickest, assumed the variegation of the Honeysuckle. In the second instance the leaves of an Onion which had grown near a mass of the variegated Phalaris arundin- acea, had partaken of an exactly similar variegation with the grass. These facts, though having no relation- ship with the instances of plant mimicry such as have been mentioned before in these columns — namely, that of two plants of widely dissimilar natural affinities and geographical distribution assuming similar external appearances — are, perhaps, worth noticing, witli tiie view of inviting records of any similar occurrences, the cause and effect of which might be made the subject of close observation. Can it be a system of vegetable photography — the originally variegated leaves covering those of the intruding plant, so that by the effect of a strung light or sunshine a portrait of the variegated leaf is cast upon the plain one? If such is the case, an exactly similar operation takes place as in photography proper, the Honeysuckle being in the position of the negative, the dark blotches upon the leaves of which become light blotches on the leaves of the Convolvulus. In the "Journal of Botany" for August, Mr. J. G. Baker mentions an instance of a singular change in the leaves of a plant of Viola sylva- tica, which had accidentally grown amongst specimens of the cristate form of Lastrrea Filix-mas. Many of tite leaves of the Violet "had become abnormally dilated, and at the same time plaited and crisped, after the fashion of the pinnae of the Fern. It produced flowers and fruit, and has been reproduced from seed." J. [Does our correspondent infer that variegation in the instances he cites was "catching?" Eds.] Parsons' Mignonette.— Seeing an inquiry in the Gardeners' Chronicle of the 19th inst. respecting Parsons' new Mignonette, and also a reply in last week's number, I am induced, although not an un- interested person, to send you some specimens of the plant, and to offer a few remarks on them. In the first place, it is a well-knovm fact that the choicest varieties of flowers and vegetables, however distinct, lose their characteristic features and superior qualities under unskilful treatment. Even the common Mig- nonette varies considerably, according to the nature of the soil it grows in, and a luxuriant specimen of it would compare well with a starved plant of our best strain. There is no secret in our treatment of Mig- nonette, and yet we are tolerably successful, as numerous visitors who have seen our establishment in autumn or winter can testify ; but we certainly exercise all our knowledge and care in the culture of this as well as other plants. The best horse in the world needs generous diet, and the purer the breed the greater the necessity for food of the best quality. I send for your inspection specimens of our " Improved Tree Mignonette," and also of our variety called " eximia," both from our seed-bed in the open ground, as we have no pot plants in bloom at this season. I may add that we have experienced no difficulty in keeping these varieties pure and distinct, and in pots the variety eximia is much finer, and the flowers of a purer white, than when grown in the open ground. Respecting odour, many persons have ex- pressed the opinion that our variety possesses a most exquisite perfume, exceeding the common as much in this as in any other respect. H. Hcmsley, Manager for F. Parsons. [Our own proved to be a very mixed and uneven sample. The selected specimens now sent are fine. Eds.] What is Tulp ?— The enclosed extract, though not answering this question, may be of interest as showing that the herb has long existed in the country near the Cape. The extract is from Joan Nieuhof's "Zee enLant- Reize,"Amsterdam, 1682; and as I only can make out the meaning from its resemblance to German, I copy the paragraph at length. I gather the meaning to be tliat there gtow great and small plants of some sort (I do not make out the word), with knobbed roots, and savoury fieshed herbs; also grow Tulp Tree, Ilouse- eek, and many other herbs (kruiden) in the wild. " Daer groeit grote en kleine zuuring met knobbelige wortelen, en veelerlei geurigh vieesch-kruit : 00k grooien aldaer tulpen, boomhuislook, en meer andere kruiden in 't wilt." I do not trouble you with this foi publication unless, of course, any part of it is useful perhaps I should beg to be excused in offering it a all, as I do not understand Dutch, but in your hand: it may throw some light on the question. The various information before and after make it appear the locality is the near neighbourhood of the Cape of Good Hope, and the extract given is the continuation of a passage mentioning plants growing in " De vlakke velde dalen." I see "Tulpe" is a TuUp in Dutch, as well as German. Can the plant be some bulb, injurious, as the autumnal Crocus here. E. A. O. Yellowf-leaved Horse Radish.— I enclose a leaf of white Horse Radish for your inspection. It grows freely, and I think would make a very ornamental bedding plant. It came up in the centre of a bed of Leeks, 6 feet from the main bed of Horse Radish. George Stark, Gr. to A, y. Binny, Esq., Seunowe Hall Giiist, Mv/oli. [The leaf is perfectly blanched. We never saw one so completely so before, though we have often noticed a partial etiolation of the leaves of Horse Radish. We do not suppose it would be constant enough for bedding purposes ; moreover, it would be too coarse. Eds.] How Plants are Destroyed by Frost.— This is a subject of intense interest to horticulturists, and one that I have several times adverted to in your columns. About two years ago I was taken to task by Sir W. Thomson, of Glasgow, for affirming that dew assisted the cold in the work of destruction, and denying that winds, per se, were a protection to plants against cold. Experiment and experience still seem to justify the soundness of these views. Plants suffer more from frosts in valleys, where the air is moist, than in upland districts, where the air is drier. The depth of the frost-bite into the tissues of plants may almost be measured by the thickness of the dew-coat or amount of condensed vapour, though amateurs and others still seem to think the contrary. Doubtless heat is liberated when aqueous vapour is converted into water, but we have no proof whatever that such heat is imparted to the tree or plant. On the contrary it is certain that the plant is colder than the air, before the vapour can be condensed upon its leaves. And the question of absolute temperature afterwards must mainly turn upon the relative powers of radiation from wet or dry surfaces, and surfaces dewed over less or more thickly with condensed water. Into that I do not intend to enter at present, but rather to point out what seems like a discrepancy in your suggestive leader on the ravages of the frost among plants. You assure us that the injury wrought by cold is caused by drought, a drying up of juices or loss of water, and likewise that the more copious the dew falls in any given place, the greater the damage inflicted. Either of these theories may be true, but it seems hardly feasible that both can be so. They appear to us prac- tical contradictory, and we will most respectfully inquire with which theory you mean to win our confidence, the wet or the dry? The latter, or M. Mer's theory, differs little in its ultimate effects from the one generally received, that of a rupture of cells by the action of cold. It has long been well known to most cultivators, that actual frost has been by no means necessary to bring about destruction. The contraction of frost-bitten tissues has likewise been observed, and the bark often appears too large for succulent shoots that have been injured with cold, and it presents a shrivelled appearance in consequeifce. But M. Mer assures us that the cells are not ruptured, though how the contraction by cold can squeeze the liquid contents of the cells through the cell walls without rupturing them is not very obvious [If you squeeze a sponge you don't rupture it, if you filter a fluid you don't break the filter. Eds.], so that when freezing does take place it mostly happens in the intercellular passages. Well, suppose this is the true theory of plant freezing ; it does not appear to prove that the injury is caused by drouglu, for further on you assure us that all this may happen without injuring the plant in the least. The cell juice squeezed through the side of the cells by contraction may be re-absorbed by the general action of heat, if time is allowed before the sun drains out the displaced juices, and all may again be well. We do not find, however, such to be the case if plants have been much frozen. Neither do they present the slightest symptoms of desiccation ; on the contrary, the tissues are full of sap, but the character of the sap has undergone a change, and the structure seems ruptured, disorganised, and discoloured ; indeed, according to M. Mer's theory, the rupture of structure — I use the term advisedly, as including cells and intercellular spaces, — seems as inevitable as on any other. Supposing the sap to be squeezed forth from the cells into the intercellular passages, would the frost not lay hold of it and freeze it there as readily or more so than in the cells [Yes.], and would not the sap expand on the instant of coagulation, and rupture of cell-sides ensue? [Separation of cells, but not rupture neces- sarily.] Practically it matters little whether an in- finity of small vessels are rent asunder from the pansion of fluid from within, or scored or pierced through by innumerable fragments of ice from without. Either way the tissues would be injured, and not simply emptied of juice by the cold. But, again, the dry theory seems quite incompatible with the wet one. If the frost injures or kills vegetation by emptying it of sap, then whatever checks desiccation ought to mode- rate the power of the frost. The question then seems narrowed to this : Does a coating of dew on leaf, flower, or branch, help to husband or squander the sap within either? If the former, then the wet and dry theories of plant freezing are incompatible ; if the latter, then they may be reconciled. To me it seems almost as clear as that twice two make four that if this injury by frost arise from drought, that moisture in the air or on the plant, or near to it, ought to prove a mitigator of damage. Experience declares they are not, and therefore I question the theory. I quite agree with you about the injury inflicted by the sun, shining suddenly and fiercely on chilled plants ; but this would prove equally injurious on either hypothesis, the wet or the dry. But if both are held as compatible with truth, then may we also begin to doubt the testimony of our eyes, that fierce sunlight often finishes the work of destruction that the frost began. Z>. T. Fish. [Our correspondent seems to be mixing up seve- ral different conditions. We may advert again to the subject by-and-by. Eixs.] Bedding Pelargoniums. — I wish to supplement the remarks of the Kev. C. P. Peach, concerning the merits of the true Violet Hill Nosegay, by stating that last autumn I exhibited a very dwarf compact plant of that variety, not more than 20 inches in diameter, having upwards of 60 expanded and partially ex- panded trusses of flower upon it— literally a mass of bloom. It is one of the most free-flowering and short- jointed of all the Nosegay tribe ; colour of the flower, purplish-rose ; and makes a charming bed. When I left Shirley, I parted with this plant amongst others to Mr. Elcombe, of Romsey, who is a capital judge of bedding Pelargoniums, and who was particularly struck with its beauty. Certainly he has it true, I always grew my show bedding Pelargoniums in pots plunged in ashes in the open air, where they remained from the middle of May until the middle of August, when they were carried into the house, so as to secure the bloom in that state of finish so characteristic of Pelargoniums grown under glass. As our show always took place on the last day of August, a fortnight's housing just sufficed. I should have scomed to use those accessories to training plants that are so rife aroune London. The finger and thumb did all the business, neither tie nor stick of any kind being used ; and, although plenty of larger plants have been shown, yet for size of plants, compared with size of pots they were Fungus at the Roots. — We have here a good- sized Double Thorn bush (pink), which has rather suddenly died. Upon examination of the soil about the roots I found a large quantity of Fungus spawn. Can any of your numerous correspondents inform roe if, in their experience, they have known Tiiorn bushes to be poisoned by such a Fungus growth ? IVilliajn Parker, Derby. Dendrobium chrysanthum. — In the rich collec- tion of Orchids at Femiehurst, several plants of the above named Dendrobium are now clothed with magnificent golden-yellow flowers ; but most worthy of our notice are two exceedingly strong growths, both of which have just cast off their gorgeous array. One of these measures 4 feet in length and bore 70 flowers ; the other was 5 feet 6 inches and bore 80 flowers, forming two splendid strings of bloom. This is a plant which deserves more attention than it generally receives newer introductions having put it a little in the shade. But, although it has been in the country for upwards of 40 years, it is still one of the most lovely and altr.actve Dendrobes we have. D. chrysanthum is a plant io easy culture ; it succeeds best when grown in a hanging 3r basket, filled with peat and Moss, good drainage being provided. It requires a moderate amount of heat and moisture during the growing season, after hich it may be removed to a cooler house, where it ill amply repay the cultivator by producing in profu- on its rich golden flowers. In the Odontoglossum house here are half-a-dozen pans of the lovely Disa grandiflora superba, in excellent condition. "Two oi the pans measure 17 inches in diameter, bearing respectively 1 3 and 1 7 flowers, the remaining four pans, hich are but small ones, bear together 18 flowers, making a total (for the six pans) of 48 flowers. Two of the growths, or rather flower-spikes, reach the height of 3 feet, and the other spikes average 2 feet 5 inches. Several of the blooms which are in a far advanced state appear, through insect agency, to be setting seed-pods freely. The plants are placed as the glass as possible, by which means the colour of the flowers, which is of bright scarlet and crimson veined with pink, are brought to the highest perfection. There are not many, I think, who meet with great success in the cultivation of this lovely Orchid, but in the above mentioned house it appears to be quite at home, and better health could not be attained. Noi must I forget to mention some good specimens of Oncidium macranthum growing in the same house. It will be remembered that "F. W. B.," at p. 618, mentions one of these plants as having a spike 12 feet September 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1 135 vigour : in length, bearing 44 flowers. He also treats on the well doing of the others, and it may be gratifying to know that these plants still retain that health and he day he saw them. The other day I I plants 100 of its rich flowers, forming quite a mass. Since then one spike has past its best, leaving at the present time 78 flowers fully expanded. Of all Oncidiums yet known, I think this the most lovely and interesting. N. G. S. On Storing Fruit. — The scarcity of fruit for storing this year will add to the anxiety of storing it well, so as to prolong the supply as much as possible. A good deal has been written from time to time on this subject, but perhaps it would not be amiss for those who feel inclined, to state the mode which they may have found to answer best. The greatest secret, how- ever, which has often been pointed out in your columns, is that the fruit must be picked at the proper time, not too soon, nor, in the case of some Pears, left too long. These matters cannot well be particularised without ob- servation on the spot ; as a rule, however, this may be known by cutting a fruit in twain, and noticing the pips— if they are bro^vn all over they may be safely gathered. I genenally choose a fruit not altogether exposed, but one which will give an idea of the state of those altogether shaded. If the fruit will easily part from the tree by gently raising it upwards, it is another sign of ripeness, or fitness for gathering. It is not necessary nor wise to gather all the fruit at once from large trees, where one-half are by exposure a week in advance of the rest. The same thing may be said of smaller pyramids, the fruit on the south side are ripe before those on the north, &c. When the fruit is gathered, the best should be placed by themselves, and so in the case of those having **spot, wrinkle, or any such thing." This wdll save much trouble afterwards. If the fruit be not gathered dry, it is necessary that it should be w-ell dried before storing j the fruit room also should be well cleaned and aired. Where those rooms are heated it is easily managed, but where it is otherwise a little forethought is necessary. Now, the question is, what is best to rest tlie fruit upon ? Perfect ventilation may be obtained, with the necessary twilight dulness, but if the air cannot play around the fruit when wanted, of what use are currents of air above them ? I say, therefore, and I have proved it, that nothing besides the bars of the stage is best. Laying down paper or straw is of no use, but is, on the contrary, decidedly hurtful to the fruit. Stages of such a width and divisions of such a height as may be convenient to reach at the farther end, and no higher, are, in my opinion, the most useful. Bars with rounded tops and bottoms, placed half an inch apart, are the best, as the air freely finds its way between the fniit. Only one layer of fruit should be laid on, or else the increased weight will make indenta- tions in the lower fruit. Currents of air continuously passing through the room are not needed. If the air is cold and drying, as we get it from the east sometimes, it is wise to shut it all out. Again, if the air is charged with moisture, as we get it very often from the south — if the room is previously dry — I should shut it all out ; but if the fruit should "sweat," as it does in, and after, frosty weather, I should allow the air to pass freely, even under the above circumstances, until the fruit is dry. It will require the assistance of fire to keep the air in the room in most situations in a proper state. No frost should be allowed to enter. Although the outward appearance of the fruit may not be altered by it, yet the flesh will become spongy and flavourless. Attention to these matters, and a constant picking over, have as much to do mth success as anything. A thermometer in the room is necessary. Whatever changes in the weather may occur outside, this room must— and can with a little attention — be kept in much the same temperature from October to March. Henry Mills. Orchid Ctjltivation. — I have very great pleasure in supplying your correspondent "G. H." with the information he seems to desire. In my letter (p. 775) I spoke generally of the " mountain ranges of Southern India," and I think I said the temperatures were taken at an elevation of 7300 feet — an elevation seldom met with in Southern India, except on the plateau of the Neilgherries. James MacPherson. Dwarf Apple Trees.— I read, p. 1069, "Apples have suffered much more on dwarf trees than on large orchard trees, the latter being much more, &c." I cannot quite understand the logic of Mr. Baines, but I do know some dwarf trees, now six years old, which are full of the finest fruit ever seen ; while on a large number of standards, from 30 to 40 years old, there is not a peck. So much for the difference that site and soil make. The dwarf trees to which I allude are grafted on two or three kinds of what are called English Paradise stocks ; all grow well, and bear well. They had their young shoots shortened in June and again this day (August 21). All the young shoots made since then have been pinched in to three or four leaves. There are eight rows, 18 trees in each row, of the fol- lowing kinds, one row of each ; — Winter Hawthomden, Lord Sufiield, Small's Admirable, so like the Ecklin- ville and Stirling Castle Pippin as scarcely to be distin- guished from them ; Jolly Beggar, Duchess of Oldenburg, Dumelow's Seedling, Cox's Pomona, very beautiful and good, and Warner's King. It is interesting to observe the difference the stock makes on the growth of Apple trees. These trees, if grafted on the Crab stock, would be making shoots from 5 to 6 feet in length, and bearing but few frait. The trees I have described are growing at Sawbridgeworth, and permission to see them will be granted to any one inte- rested. T. Rivers. Potato Grafting. — Whilst acknowledging Mr. Simpson's right to indulge in a little banter at ray expense anent this subject, I shall not permit his harm- less scratchings to irritate me into the penning just now of anytliing controversial upon a subject that is in danger of becoming hackneyed. If Mr. Simpson has really succeeded in changing the character of the Potato, or that of the Artichoke, by grafting, I shall not chal- lenge his assertions, whatever I may think of the probable value of the results of his experiments. Potato grafting, so far as it has gone, has done next to nothing for Potatos yet that can be esteemed peculiarly advantageous (even Mr. Fenn does not deny that), although undoubted changes accrue. Should Mr. Simp- son prove more fortunate in his operations on the Artichoke (and there is plenty of room for improve- ment there) no one will be more pleased to see his results than myself As he has expressed his intention of dis- playing them at one of the September meetings at South Kensington, I trust he will select the 20th inst. for the purpose, as on that date Mr. Fenn fully expects to be there with a collection of his choice seedling Potatos, and which I hope to be enabled to supplement with a number of other varieties. To make Mr. Simpson's acquaintance on that occasion would be a pleasure. Perhaps some of our fellow Potato-growers will kindly take the hint, and assist in the promotion of a large Potato exhibition, without waiting for the stimulus of the small prizes for collections offered by the Society on November i — although why November I should be chosen it would be perhaps difficult to say. I hope in a week or two I may be enabled to give the results of my Potato trials and experiences during the past sum- mer, when I shall enter more largely into some of the points now under dispute. Alex. Dean. Peaches. — There is something uncommonly tempt- ing to the Peach grower in the announcement that Peaches are selling in Covent Garden Market at from ds. to \Zs. per dozen, but the most remarkable thing after that announcement consists in the fact that if he sells to the market he must be content to accept "next to nothing" for them. I am anxious to dispose of 50 dozen or more of fine rich fruit, but am told on every hand by frequenters of the market that Peaches are fetching "next to nothing." How to reconcile this statement with your quotation of latest prices is to me a mystery. I can but conclude that the fruit salesmen must be reaping enormous profits at the joint expense of both grower and consumer. It would really be a matter of interest if some of your London readers would take the trouble to inquire at fruiterers the price per dozen at which Peaches can be ob- tained [ij-. to lis. on Thursday last], as I have a notion (it may be an incorrect one) that the charge is almost prohibitory to all but the moneyed classes. If this is really the case, it would be well for growers if they could devise some other means by which their choice products should be brought within reach of the middle and lower classes more easily than they are at present. The costermonger is by no means a tempting specimen of humanity, or one with whom ladies would not desire to deal, still less would they care to partake of the contents of his barrow. In the matter of choice fruit a perambidating dealer who possessed a vehicle specially adapted for its convey- ance, keeping it clean, cool, and free from dust, would be a great boon to the public, especially if he pur- chased direct from the grower, and was content with moderate profits. It does seem passing strange that there should be hundreds of thousands of persons in London who rarely, if ever, taste a Peach, and that at the same time the grower, who has hundreds to sell, should be told that " they are fetching next to nothing in the market." For some years past I have had nothing to do with the culture of Peaches, my horti- cultural travels having led in a different path ; therefore, when I came here and found some 25 trees of varying sizes, the majority having been planted about nine years, and most of them in a rough state, I had but an indiflerent anticipation of the fruiting results this year. As most of us like to put off an unpleasant job as long as possible, so in this case was the pleasanter duty of Potato planting performed before the trees were touched. When they were, the knife found plenty of employment. Last year the trees were permitted to produce an enormous crop of fruit, the wood being left in exceedingly thick. Much of this was dead, and much very weak and spindly, so I cut out a great heap of it, reducing the trees about one- third ; nailing at once followed, and the trees were left to their own resources. Of course, had I been a "Peach cultivator," the first duty I should hiive performed on noting the state of the trees would have been to strip off the top soil, carefully lift all the roots, trench the border, add some fresh loam, and replace what was needed of the remaining soil. I did nothing of the sort. The border had grown early Potatos the previous year, the ground evidently having been manured for that purpose, and this was succeeded by a plantation of Strawberry runners. These not being in my line, were turned in roughly with a fork at Christmas, the border being lightly reforked after the nailing. I got a good show of bloom, and more set than I anticipated, but I did not give it the slightest protection, being, of course, a non-cultivator in this respect also. Bemg perfectly satisfied with the quantity of fruit set, I was more than satisfied with the admirable growth that the trees developed, and, with one or two exceptions, with the general freedom from blight. About the middle of July I had a fine lot of robust wood to lay in. Just before that a friend called in, and, noticing the appearance of the trees, remarked, " I see you have not yet laid in the summer's growth ;" to which I replied, " No, it seems to luxuriate and enjoy itself so much in the wind, that I have been loth to do so hitherto ;" but I got it laid in soon after, nevertheless. When this was accom- plished the trees filled as much space as in the previous year, but with a much better lot of wood, and I had all laid in that possibly could be, in case I may desire to cut out more of the old wood next ^vinter. Since then the trees have made a renew-ed growth, but this has been left untouched, as the fruit seems to be swelling and colouring to a high pitch of perfection. Perhaps I have altogether 100 dozen — not a bad lot, and most of them, I am told, are the finest fruit the trees have ever borne. Flies and wasps are not abundant, but where a fruit is tapped, I find it good policy to leave it, as the voracious insects will stick to that in preference to tapping another. The border meanwhile has not been idle, as it has borne a capital crop of Marigolds, Tropaolums, Stocks, &c., some of which, during the recent hot weather, were nearly roasted, yet without so much as a syringefull of water the trees never flagged for one instant. The exceptions to the general healthiness are two or three small- flowered Peaches, that early every year take a white blight or mildew. Next year I propose to try upon them Mr. Fenn's recipe, "hot sewage liquor," applied at night — I hope with success. A. D. [The prices of Peaches, retail, in Covent Garden varies, as we know from personal inquiries, from day to day, almost hour to hour, and often from shop to shop. Eds. Fire Blight and Torch Pruning.— The pheno- menon called fire blight may be described as the sudden appearance of withered twigs or boughs in the midst of summer upon trees or hedges (otherwise healthy and in full vigour), and is chiefly observable at the extremities of branches soon after thunder, or heavy sultry weather seeming to portend thunder. Though sometimes attributable to frost in the preceding winter, there is no reason to doubt that the sudden destruction of vitality of a bough at midsummer is oftener an effect of electric fluid, which in its passage (with or without detonation) has affected that portion of the tree or shrub with more intensity than the main body of it. The hint thus given by Nature may be taken up by the skilful arboriculturist in hisforest craft. It may teach him how to apply the flame of a torch to the extremity of an encroaching branch, too lofty to be reached by the pnm- ing-knife, or by any kind of shears or nippers that has been invented. By means of a Bamboo cane, or any long light rod, and a simple torch of rags moistened with oil, he can reach with ease a bough 30 feet above his head, or higher. He can cause its foliage to shrivel up and perish, without taking fire, and without the shghtest danger to other branches, or to adjoining trees. This must of course be done with judgment and discretion, and only in situations where a blighted extremity will not offend the eye, as it would do upon a lawn. Let us suppose an encroaching Wych Elm, threatening to overhang an Oak. The two trees may stand too free and widely apart to justify our felling the Elm, if we can only check the progress of the invading branch. But its end may be 30 or 40 feet from the ground, and its direction horizontal, therefore the more inaccessible. With nothing but fire can we readily reach it. Let us, therefore, use that simple means. Take another case. The weeping spray of a lofty and beautiful Ash is descending over a public road. In another year it will interfere with the passage of hay-carts. The mutilation of one whole side of the tree is urged as absolutely necessary. But nothing more is rtally needed than a skilful application of flame to the lowest portions of the weeping foliage in order to check its descent and keep the headway quite clear. In three or four years the operation will have to be repeated, that is all. If we only cause the foliage to shrivel up when touched by the flame, the necessary check will be secured, whether the twigs vegetate feebly the fol- lowing year or not. And in general it is quite possible to avoid even the causing of any temporary blemish, so small a quantity of foliage being brought under treat- ment that by ordinary eyes it is unnoticed. Other cases in which this simple process is available, to the great convenience of arboriculture, I will defer, rather than occupy your space further now. Ralph Carr Ellison. [A good hint in judicious hands. Eds.] The Cool Treatment of Orchids.— During two years I made the cool treatment of Orchids my whoH study. They are a class of plants most valuable for keeping up a succession of flowers all the year round, and as such at the present day I know of no other class more beautiful either for dming-room decoration or as 1 136 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 2, 187I. cut flowers for bouquets. During the time mentioned I had a very good collection under my charge, consist- ing of about 40 species and varieties of Odontoglossum, 50 of Cattleyas, 20 of Oncidium, 30 of Dendrobium, &c. I found that some kinds of each of the genera mentioned required to be kept from 8* to 10" hotter than others, more especially the tender sorts of Dend biums ; also that such as Lycaste and Ccelogyne require to be shifted into a house 10° hotter when they start into growth until their time of flowering, and then be brought back to their former place. I had Odonto- glossum Alexandra? in flower in December, 1869, with a spike of ten flowers, and it kept in full beauty for ten weeks. This, too, was the second time for this plant to flower within the twelve months. One morning during the time that this plant was in flower, I found that the thermometer stood at 38°, the glass being covered with frost inside, and I was surprised to see that the flowers were not in the least affiscted, in fact they kept in full beauty for a month afterwards. There were about 8 inches from the glass. I had over 90 plants of Odontoglossum Alexandr^e and O. Bluntii, and I never saw any that were healthier. I could not, however, get O. Phalasnopsis to grow in this house to my satisfaction, so I shifted it to another house, which I kept from 10° to 15° hotter, and in two months I could see a great difference in the growth. It both grew and flowered well, and so also did O. Kar- winskii, O. Cervantesii, and O. citrosmum. Out of the 40 kinds of Odontoglossum, these are the only four which I took out of the cool house, in which the remainder did well. The temperature of this cool house I kept as near as I could to 45° during the cold nights of winter, and from 55° to 65° by day. During the hot months of summer, I kept it as cool as possible. Some days when the thermometer out-of-doors regis- tered from 80° to 90°, I kept this house from 65° to 75°. The only danger that I can foresee in the system of cool treatment, is in having too much dampness during the cold and frosty nights of winter, and to guard against this I was always very particular not to have any water thrown about the house, but merely a little to avoid too dry an atmosphere. I did my watering between 12 and i o'clock a.m. during the cold and frosty weather. . There is no greater mistake made in Orchid growing than to either water a plant, or to syringe or damp the house until the regular heat is up, or to allow cold draughts. Morning and after- noon sun is of the greatest advantage up to a certain extent. The blinds must always be at com- mand, to avoid sudden changes. I prefer using the blinds at certain times to giving much air. During the hot months of summer the houses can scarcely be kept too damp, so as to save over-watering the plants. 1 object to lean-to houses for Orchids for two reasons- first, because the plants require as much light as possible, by being kept close to the glass ; and, secondly, because the plants in lean-to houses are subject to too much damp during the cold and frosty nights of winter, and they do not get the proper amount of either light or air, especially in winter ; when the plants in the lean-to houses are losing their beautiful green hue, and changing to a brown unhealthy appearance, those in the si>an-roofed house are improving and getting into a vigorous growth. At Mr. Warner's, Broomfield, there is the best constructed house for cool Orchids I have ever seen. It is about 60 feet long and 16 feet wide, built at an angle of elevation of 35"; the centre stage is 5 feet, side stages 3 feet, and paths 2 feet 6 inches wide, with a tank in the centre that holds about 4000 gallons of water ; it helps to keep the house cool during the hot months of summer, besides fur- nishing a good supply of water for the season, Af. A/., Royal Vineyard A^urstTy, Hafnmcrsviith. The Golden Rust or Fungus. — I send you one or two more specimens of this pest. It swept over the Roses throughout the greater part of East Anglia as with the besom of destruction, and Roses were totally defoUated, and the wood of many was well nigh killed. We cut them back and clear any remaining leaves off, to reduce as far as possible the Liiance of infection on the young wood. But of course there were myriads of spores about, and how it is to end it is impossible to say. Unless some anti-fungoid atmospheric conditions set in, it seems as if this pest must kill the Roses. Many were so weakened by the attack that they have not opened half their flowers. It likewise threw some sorts, such as the Persian yellow, out of season. Many of the buds of this variety were arrested, as it were, in the grip of the Fungus, and only lately un- folded their blooms. I have observed one striking peculiarity, that the rougher the leaves the more virulent the attacks. Smooth-leaved Bourbons, Teas, Noisettes, have escaped, as nearly as may be. It is very singular to notice such varieties as Gloire de Dijon, Celine Forestier, Devoniensis, Marechal Niel, and others interlacing those laden with and crippled by Fungus, while they continue clean. It seems as if a certain roughness was needful to arrest and fix the pest Would that all our Rose leaves were smooth. If such diseases continue to prey upon our Roses the attention of hybridisers will have to be turned to this poin^. Even among Hybrid Perpetuals there is a wide range of finish and of smoothness among leaves, from the gloss and polish of Charles Lefebvre to the harsh scouring-paper like texture of Madame Cam- bacferes. The latter bears one of the very heaviest coatings of this terrible Fungus. I don't think for a moment that this scourge enters the plant by means of the roots. If so, how can these partial or complete exemptions be accounted for ? — unless, indeed, it be contended that the texture of smooth leaves is so close as to shut the Fungus in : that, however, is most improbable. It seems much more likely that the rough surface arrests, invites, or at least furnishes a suitable nidus for it. Its attacks are so sudden, its development so rapid, that it seems impossible to check or eradicate it. Every leaf, and almost every bud, was attacked, penetrated, destroyed. Even the wood seems pierced through, its stamina broken, its power of growth crippled. I wish the Scientific Committee would take this matter in hand, and try and help us to a remedy. I am sure they would thus earn the undying gratitude of Rosa and her myriad votaries. Since writing the above many of our Roses have died, and I hear of great mortality among the large growers. The effect of the disease runs down the wood to the base of the bud, and the plant dies — the wood, in most c; becoming of a pale straw colour. D. T. Fish. Societies. Metropolitan Florists' Society ; August 30 and 31. — The second exhibition of this new society was held at the Crystal Palace on Wednesday and Thursday last. It is confirmed on all hands that the season has iDeen a very adverse one for florists' flowers. Dahlias, owing to the excessively cold spring, are very late, though the plants have generally made a wonderful growth during the last two months ; Gladioli are nearly withered up through drought. Asters are small and generally badly infested with tly, and the hot sun has taken nearly all the colour out of the Roses. These, with Hollyhocks, were the principal flowers represented, and which, from the causes above mentioned, reduced the general merits of the exhibition to a standard far below that attained at the Society's first venture last year. We h.ave hope, however, for the future, and are sure that all will agree that, whether from such as the above, or any other causes, such a really useful institution should not he allowed to degenerate into mediocrity, it will be no fault of the Crystal Palace Company, who generously support the Society in the most handsome manner, as will be seen from the fact, that of the /i6s I2j. 6d. offered in the schedule, £101 is given by the company. Such substantial assist- ance as this is deserving of the highest commendation. In the nurserymen's champion class for 48 Dahlias, which brought about such a capital contest last year, the competition for ist honours was confined to Mr. H. May, The Hope Nursery, Bedale. Yorkshire, and Mr. J. Keynes, of Salisbury, who fought their battle over again, the North tryman this time having considerably the best of His flowers were admirable for size, symmetry, and ■ ■■_ ivell Or, Memorial, Flambeau, James Bennett, Sir G. Smythe, Commander, Juliana, Miss Henshaw, Criterion, Royalty, Leah, &c. ■Mr. Keynes' best flowers were Golden Eagle, Annie Neville, Artemus Ward, Juno, Sir G. Smythe, Mrs. Wyndham, Mary Keynes, Lothair, Memorial, and Para- dise Williams. Memorial is one of the finest shaped flowers in cultivation, and very constant, and so is Juliana, when well done, but, as an old florist of many years standing remarked, " it takes a lot of doing," and do many of the others to get them in perfection. No prize was awarded, the 4th being taken by Mr. Walker, Thame, Oxon. We should have liked to have seen the right which the judges have withhold prizes, where the subjects are not worthy of them, carried out a little more vigorously and impartially than was the case on this occasion. Some of the exhibits the Gladioli classes, in particular, much needed a little discretion of this kind. In the class for 36, Mr. Keynes May 2d, and Mr. J. Walker 3d, all showing excellent collections, in which James Hunter, Annie Creed, Victory, 'Vice President, and Miss Henshaw figured very conspicuously. Messrs. Draycott & Son, Humberstone Nursery, Leicester, had the best stand of 24, Messrs. Kelway & Son, Langport, coming in 2d, Mr. Mr. W. Scale, Sevenoaks, 3d, and Mr. H. Corydon 4th. The flowers most noticeable in the collections from these exhibitors were Criterion, Paul of Paisley, Imperial, Fanny Purchase, 'Vice-President, Edward Spary, Mrs. Boston, King of Sweden, and Lord Derby. In the corresponding class for amateurs, which was well contested, Mr. C. J. Perry, Castle Bromwich, was ist ; Mr. J. Burpilt, gr. to C. Lambert, Esq., Wandsworth Common, 2d: and Mr. Martin, Henfield, Hurstpierpoint. 3d. For 12, Mr. H. Glasscock, Bishop Stortford, was ist ; Mr. G. H. Tewkes, Birmingham, 2d-, and Mr. W. Steer, Eltham. 3d. In the nurserymen's class for 24 Fancy Dahlias, the best came from Mr. Keynes, Mr. H. May coming in 2d, Mr. W. Scale 3d, and Mr. J. Walker 4th ; whilst amongst for 12, the best came from Mr. C. J. Perry, followed by Mr. J. Burpit, Mr. J. Beach, and M " ■ ■ ■ est flowers were John Sealy, Flora Wya Butterfly, Miss Annie, John Salter, Hero of York, M Neilson, Leopardess, .Sparkler, Galatea, Pauline, Fanny Sturt, Frank Tiffin, Polly Perkins, and Prince of Wales. The number of Hollyhocks shown was very small, though the flowers were quite as fine as usual. ^Ir. Oats, to the Rev. Lord Hawke, Gainsborough, took the ; prizes in the open class for 9 spikes, and in the lateur class for 12 cut blooms, in the former with excel- it examples of Alba superba. Midnight, Walden Prim- se. Fair Ellen, Queen of the Yellows, and four very good named seedlings. Mr. W. Chater was 2d with spikes t quite so large as the former, but very neat, those of Cygnet, Willingham Defiance, Cams Chater, being superbly finished. In the open class for 12 cut blooms, Chater was ist, and Mr. G. Wheeler, War- minster, 2d. Amongst the several collections of cut blooms, the following varieties were well shown ;— Prince Albert, Marvellous, Walden King, Purity, Sanspariel, Fanny, Nobilis, Lady Thynne, Eclipse, Alba superba, Leah, Archbishop, Leviathan, Exhibitor, Standard Bearer, Lord Napier, and Goldfinder. The special prizes, for 3 blooms of seedling Hollyhocks, given by the Rev. Lord Hawke, were taken by Messrs. Kelway & Son, Mr. G. W. Wheeler, and Mr. J. Chater, Cambridge, in the order named ; and Mr. W. Chater's prize for the best seedling was won by Mr. Oats. The Gladiolus classes were much more vigorously contested than was the case in those for Hollyhocks. Messrs. Kelway & Son had the best 36, Mr. G. Wheeler being 2d, and the Rev. H. H. Dombrain 3d. In Messrs. Kelway 's group the following were very fine : — Victory, Madame Desportes, Eugene Scribe, Lord Poltimore, Lacepede, Lucius, Meyerbeer, Celebrity, Picciola, Nestor, Norma, Magnificent, Glow, Felix, and Victory, the latter four being awarded First-class Certificates. Mr. ]. Douglas, gr. to F. Whitboume, Esq., Loxford HaU, Ilford. took the ist prizes in the open class for 24, in the amateurs' class for 12, and the Chapman's patent show case, offered by Messrs. Eassie & Co.. Gloucester, for the best 6 spikes of Gladiolus of 1870. His flowers were quite and Sylvia, scariet, lightly Oats, Mr. Glasscock, and feathered purplish-i feathered ' cates. The Mr. Walker, Mr. Gold, the Rev. H. H. Dombrain. Asters were capitally shown for the .season, especially by Mr. G. Wheeler, Messrs. Kelway & Son, Mr. Walker, of Thame, and Mr, Matthews, Hoxton. Roses were rather poor, the best coming from Messrs. Paul & Son, and Mr. C. J. Perry. ' The last named exhibitor was also ist for 24 cut blooms of Verbenas, a beautiful stand ; Mr. G. H. Fewkes, Birmingham, being a good 2d. Amongst miscellaneous productions were a choice group of fine-foliaged plants from Messrs. Downie, Laird & Laing, to which an extra prize was awarded ; a group of new hybrid bedding Violas (see p. 1129). from Messrs. Dickson & Co., Edinburgh; French Marigolds from Mr. Fewkes ; a nice stand of seedling Verbenas from Mr. Ecklord ; a fine collection of Onions from Mr. Samdell, Clapham Common; a new flat kidney seedling Potato from Mr. J. Burpitt ; Roses and Dahlias from Mr. J. G. Woodlet, Caterham ; two large specimen Hydrangeas from Mr. Edwards, Upper Norwood, a collection of Roses from Messrs. Paul & Son, and a stand of new bedding Dahlias from Messrs. Carter & Co. Mr. Chapman, Gloucester, exhi- bited specimens of his new cases, noticed at p. 1098, which, however, did not meet with such a favourable reception as his flower cases. In addition to the certifi- cates above mentioned. First-class Certificates were also voted to Mr. G. Rawlings for Dahlia Maid of Essex, creamy white ground, tipped with purplish-crimson ; and to Mr. Turner for Dahlias Mrs. Saunders, primrose ground, tipped with white, a fine flower, of a colour much wanted ; and John Standish, very bright crimson scarlet, good in petal, and a fine shaped flower. The subject of table decorations is productive of such a diversity of opimon, that it is a real pleasure to record anything like a unanimous verdict. Yet, thanks to the wholesome restriction of having a clear space of 15 inches around the margin of the tables, imposed by the Honorary Secretary, it was patent to all that on this occasion there was, especially on the part of the amateurs, who greatly outrivalled their professional brethren, such a combination of good qualities as has never been brought together at any former exhibition of the kind. In the amateurs' class the ist prize was won by Mr W. L. Buster, and the 2d by Miss A. Hassard, both groups being equally light, graceful, and refined in arrangement, the former being the most decided in character. It consisted of three epergnes, taste- fully filled with Roses, Liliums, Statices, Gypsophilas, &c., the colours of which were nicely subdued with Fern fronds ; and four small glasses, in each of which were two or three fronds of the Maidenhair Fern and a truss of salmon-pink Pelargonium, which had a very delicate appearance. Miss Hassard's group, though a little weak, wa3 much admired. It consisted of three pretty glass stands, filled at the top with the white Gypsophila, mixed with a few flowers of the blue Lobelia, pink Pelargoniums, and Fem fronds, and at the base with the blue flowers of Agapanthus umbellatus, Lilium lancifolium rubrum, and the common white Clematis, &c., backed up with Ferns. Here also were four narrow glasses, each of which con- tained a sprig of hardy Heath, a very chaste material for such a purpose ; Mr. G. Buster, Goring, was 3d, and Miss Blair, Mr. J. Hudson, and the Rev. H. H. Dom- brain were commended. For a vase or basket for draw- ing-room (shown on tables covered with white cloths !), Mr. Scale, Sevenoaks, was ist. Miss Blair 2d, and Miss Hassard 3d, three others being commended. The exhibits in the professional decorator class were below mediocrity, call for no special Sevenoaks Horticultural: August 24. — This flourishing Society held its annual exhibition in the picturesque grounds of Knole Park on the 24th ult. Plants and cut flowers were fairly shown, but in the matter of fruit and vegetables the display of each was very fine indeed. The best coUection of eight dishes of the former was staged by Mr. R. Godbold, gr. to C. Candy, Esq., Chipstead Place, Sevenoaks, and consisted of capital Black Hamburgh and White Muscat Grapes, Bellegarde Peaches, Figs, Nectarines, Apricots, Jefferson's Plums, and Melons. Mr. Neighbour, gr. to — Wythens, Esq. , Bromley, was a good 2d. A very worthy pair of Pine- apples, viz., NIontserrat and Queen, came from Mr. Hop- good, gr. to J. Goldsmid, Esq., M.P., Tonbridge. The best three bunches of Black Hamburgh Grapes, fine in bunch, berry, bloom, and flavour, came from Mr. J. Bttrt, September 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1 137 Mills, gr. to R. Mildmay, Esq., Shoreham Place, Mr. Hopgood being 2d. Some excellent Muscat Grapes were also shown. The best, and they showed a cultural skill of no mean order, came from Mr. R. Grant, gr. toj. Rodger, Esq., Hadlow Castle ; Mr. Godbold being 2d. Mr. J. Burt had a capital collection of four varieties of Grapes, single bunches, consisting of Black Hamburgh, Muscat Hamburgh, Muscat of Alexandria, and Fosters Seedling. Mr. Sears was 2d, with Black Hamburgh. Alicante, Bowood Muscat, and Royal Vineyard. Peaches, Necta- rines, Apricots, and Plums were grandly shown ; in regard to the latter. Kent appears to be favoured beyond other southern counties, as in several places we have recently seen good crops of fine fruit. Such varieties as Washing- ton, Kirke's Victoria, and Goliah, were particularly strik- ing at the Sevenoaks show. Of Morello Cherries finer fruit could scarcely be desired. In all the classes vegetables were in prime condition, and especially was this true of the cottagers* productions ; in fact, the improvement witnessed in this respect since the first exhibition of the Society some four years ago, is such as to show most conclusively in how satisfactory and successful a manner the Society has accomplished the purpose for which it was more particularly estabhshed. A splendid example of Cyperus altemifolius variegatus was shown in fine condition by Mr. Godbold ; large in size, stout in growth, and splendidly coloured. This gained the leading prize as a specimen plant. Achimenes were capitally shown, Mr. F. Thome, gr. to K. D. Hodgson, " ' " , Ashgrove, and Mr. W. Dodson, gr, to C. H. M.P., The Wilderness, being placed equal ist. Very meritorious miscellaneous collections of plants and cut flowers were staged by Messrs. Downie. Laird & Laing, John Cattell, J. Searle, and E. HoUamby, that materially helped the exhibition. The weather was some- what unfavourable ; nevertheless, the show and the added attraction ol the splendid band of the Grenadier Guards, brought together a numerous and influential company. Banbury Horticultural: August sg.—This is un- doubtedly one of the most successful of the smaller exhi- bitions held in the provinces. It is a fortunate Society in many respects, chiefly in these, that the weather is inva- riably all that could be desired, and the show is always held in the charming grounds attached to the residence of William Munton, Esq., treasurer to the Society, at the left of the town. The visitors passed in at the principal entrance to Mr. Manton"s residence, down the sunny slope of radiant green turf, on which is set down one of the prettiest flower gardens one can well wish to look upon, and so on to the show grounds. All parts of the grounds, as perfect in keeping as they are unique in design and arrangement, are always thrown open to the visitors, and are a show in themselves. In the open class for 6 stove and greenhouse plants, Mr. W. Finlay, gr. to Col. North, M.P., Wroxton Abbey, was ist, with a finely coloured Croton pictum, Rondeletia speciosa major, Alocasia metallica, Clerodendron fallax, Allamanda grandiflora. and Dipladenia amabilis. Mr. W. Bryant, nurseryman, Rugby, was 2d, having fine examples of Croton augustifolium, Latania borbonica, and Dicksonia antarctica, and, what is seldom exhibited now-a-days as a specimen plant — Mandevilla suaveolens. Mr. F. Perkins, of Leamington, exhibited in his group a specimen of the new Lasiandra raacrantha, of good size, but it appears to be too woody to be an effective show plant. Mr. Finlay had a good group of 6 Ferns, con- sisting of Adiantum formosum, A. cuneatum, Asplenium fasciculatum, Hypolepis repens.Thamnopteris australasica, and Davallia repens. The best 6 ornamental fohaged plants were also staged by Mr. Finlay ; and some ex- amples of the purple Cockscomb, from the same exhi- bitor, were very finely grown indeed. The admirable manner in which Mr. Finlay cultivates Verbenas in pots, has already been referred to in detail in these columns. The six plants shown on this occasion, trained to a flat surface, were well grown, and literally covered with good trusses of flowers ; they consisted of R. H. Vertegans, a fine plum-purple hue. very effective for show purposes ; Wroxtoni, Princess of Wales, a pretty striped variety ; Rising Sun, Blondin, and Isa Eckford. J. Gillett, Esq., was 2d, with some creditable plants. Cut flowers are invariably numerous at Banbury, and well done. The collection of bunches of cut flowers staged by Messrs. E. & J. Perkins. Leamington, was a most attractive feature, and comprised a yellow Oncid, Lasiantha macrantha. Anemone Honorine Jobert, a pretty striped Phlox Drummondi, Magnolia grandiflora, Clerodendron fallax, Bougainvillea glabra, Stephanotis floribunda. Ixora coccinea, &c. The German Asters shown by Mr. E. Gunthorpe, and the French Asters by M J. Betteridge, were of the first quality ; a half-dozen spikes of large-flowering German Stocks, shown by Mi E. Spencer, were finely developed ; and the show of double and single Zinnias extensive and good. Mr. C. J Perry's Verbenas and Dahlias were missed, the nea proximity of the Crystal Palace show prevented him anc others from exhibiting on this occasion. There was a good show of fruit. The best collectioi came from Wroxton Abbey Gardens ; so did the best three bunches of White Muscat Grapes, fine in b and berry; W. Munton, Esq., was 2d. The three bunches of Buckland's Sweetwater shown by Mr. W. Cole- grave were magnificent examples, and the Black Ham- burghs from the same exhibitor were of the same quality, Mr. Finlay had three very fine bunches of White Syrian, but unripe, and some very good Muscat Hamburghs in the class for other black Grapes. Mr. Colegrave had bunch of Black Hambughs weighing 7^ lb. The Onions were a little below the usual quality, still some fine bulbs were shown. In the sweepstakes class for 12 bulbs, in which 10 prizes were awarded, the best came from Mr. G. Ward, the second best from Mr. S. Taylor. The vegetables shown by cottagers were very good indeed, particularly the Potatos. The staple kinds were Early Emperor and Royal Albert among the rounds ; and among kidneys, a fine Ashleaf type, and the Early American Rose— large and coarse. Early Emperor was shown both as a round and kidney ; in each case the ubers were of fine quality. Sutton's Red-skinned Flour )all was large in size, coarse, and very deep in the eyes, requiring much cutting to waste. On the occasion of the show at Banbury, a room ir Mr. Munton's house is always set apart for the judges, here an excellent luncheon is spread for them. The generous hospitality shown by Mr. Munton on such always highly appreciated by the judges, and in marked contrast to the treatment received at some other exhibitions. hospitality is always his A Catalogue of the Plants of the Punjaub and Sindh, &c. By James E. Tierney Aitchison, M.D., &c. Taylor & Francis. Svo. 1869. Pp. 204. It is not very often in this country that practical men are compelled from force of circumstances to bethink themselves of what plants are best capable of enduring drought and heat. If, however, we had many repeti- of such a season as that of 1870, when the hay crop was almost a total failure, and other things suffered proportionately, we might then have to turn to the botanists to tell us what plants grow in the rainless regions of Peru, of Chili, or of Southern Africa. Then, perhaps, the value of Dr. Aitchison's Catalogue Id come home to the practitioner ; till then, the n question will be more valued by the scientific than by the practical botanist. When we recall the fact that Sindh and the Punjaub are among the hottest, driest districts on the face of the globe, it is with some sur- prise that we find here a list of no less than 145S species of flowering plants, together with a dozen Ferns (including Actiniopteris radiata) and 'a few other flowerless plants, the list of which latter, however, is obviously very incomplete. Dry and hot as is the general face of the countrj', the soil is described as being extremely fertile along the river-valley, or wherever irrigation can be practised. Towards the Himalayas, again, a moister climate prevails, and with it a more copious and luxuriant vegetation. The flora of the dry desert region has much affinity with that of similar districts in Africa, stretching, it might almost be said, from the. Canaries and Cape de Verd Islands, right across the African continent to Nubia and Egypt, on through Arabia, Persia, and Aflghanistan to Sindh and the Punjaub. Various species of Capparis extend from Sindh westward to Senegal, Cocculus Leceba andC. villosus have a similarly wide distribution ; Ochradenus baccatus, a relative of the Mignonette, extends equally far, so does the Tamarisk (T. articulata), and very many other instances of a like character might be cited. Great as is the distance, wide the distribution of these plants, the similarity of climatal conditions preclude surprise at the facts. The catalogue which Dr. Aitchison has prepared with such evident care, will furnish valuable materials for those naturalists and geographers who are concerned with the geographical distribution of plants— a subject, the importance of which, as furnishing evidence on the present climatal condition, and on the past history of our globe is now becoming recognised. It is not to be expected but that a few omissions have been made from such a catalogue as that before us. We note among Mallows, for instance, the very singular Pavonia ceratocarpa (Dalzell), so different from any of its alii in its fruit, is omitted, as also P. arabica and Hibiscus intermedius (Richard). We may note also that No. 158, Hibiscus Gibsoni (Stocks), a very curious and well- marked species, is the same as H. pentaphyllusof Ferd. v. Mueller, a species found not only in Africa and Scindh, but also in Australia. This must not be con- founded with Roxburgh's H. pentaphyllus, which is the Linnean H. Manihot. Among plants of garden interest, we note in Dr. Aitchison's lists the Carambola, which is cultivated in gardens at Jhelum, the Wampi, the Indian Bael, various kinds of Orange, the Jujube, " raised by grafts always ; " the Vine, cultivated and wild ; the Mango, concerning which we are told that '*an excess of moisture in the atmosphere seems to be necessary foi the perfection of the fruit ;" the Almond, Plum, Apri- cot, Peach, which, with the flat China Peach and the Nectarine are cultivated throughout the whole Hima- laya ; various Roses, Pears, Apples, Quince, Loquat, Guava, Pomegranates, numerous Curcurbits, Mimu- sops indica, of which the author says "it gives the best shade of any tree I know in India ; " the Olive, various Jasmines, the Oleander, the Breadfruit which, under cultivation, bears fine large fruit ; Populus euphratica, which, the author remarks, "should do well in England," and would be an interesting plant from the protean forms of its foliage. Only a single Pine, P. longifolia, is marked as native, and only two or three other Conifers as being in cultivation. The four Orchids mentioned are Epi- pactis veratrifolia, Spiranthes australis, Zeuxine sul- cata, and Z. membranacea. As to grasses, we were not prepared to find so many as 16S species enume- rated, including Rice, Sugar-cane, Maize, various Millets, and species of Cenchrus and Pennisetum, useful as fodder grasses. A pretty good idea of the capabilities of the district, when water is at hand, may be gleaned from the fore- going notes ; those who wish further information on the useful plants of the Punjaub will find it desirable tc alt, in addition to Dr. Aitchison's list, that of Dr." J. L. Stewart, published in 1869, under the title of " Punjaub Plants." We must not conclude our notice of this unpre- tending catalogue without expressing our sense of the service to botany which Dr. Aitchison has rendered, a service the more acceptable and the more easily avail- able from the existence of an excellent index. If we must make a complaint it is this, that cultivated plants are not sufficiently distinguished from native ones, either by any difference of numbering or of typography. In a list of this character the differences between native and cultivated plants should be so expressed as to catch the eye at once. Kelly's Post Office Guide to London in 1871. Kelly & Co. Pp. 424- This is intended, as its title denotes, as a visitor's handbook to the metropolis and companion to the Directory. It contains an immense amount of informa- tion of a character more likely to be useful to the stay- at-home traveller for reference on occasion than to the actual visitor. The work is divided into fifteen chap, ters, devoted to the history of London, its amusements, statistics, local Government offices, charities, colleges, art structures, exhibitions, military and naval depots, and commercial features. The information given under these heads is very varied and necessarily somewhat unequal, greater prominence being given to some matters than their importance would seem to warrant, and vice vc-rsti : nevertheless, as a whole, we can recom- mend this volume to the notice of our readers as a good compendium of knowledge relating to our modem Babylon. Those of our readers who can enjoy genuine humour should get hold of a little book lately issued, entitled My Summer hi a Garden, by Charles Dudley Warner. The difficulties and delights of American gardening, the former comprising boys, birds, insects, and weeds, are amusingly depicted. The weeds which most exercised our author's patience are "Pussley" and "Snake-grass;" the former "a fat, ground-.clinging, spreading, greasy thing, and the most propagations plant I know,"— doubtless the Portulaca oleracea, an introduction from Europe ; the latter probably our " Twitch," or " Couch " (Triticum repens), a grass with "a slender, beautiful stalk, and when you cut it down, or pull up a long root of it, you fancy it is got rid of ; but in a day or two it will come up in the same spot in half-a- dozen vigorous blades. Cutting down and pulling up is what it thrives on. Extermination rather helps it. If you follow a slender white root, it will be found to run under the ground until it meets another slender white root ; and you will soon unearth a network of them, with a knot somewhere, sending out dozens of sharp- pointed, healthy shoots, every joint prepared to be an independent life and plant." Florists' Flowers. A MOIST, mild, and, on the whole, favourable spring, has helped to bring out somewhat prominently the usefulness of bedding Tulips as decorative agents in the flower garden. Last year, Messrs. Veitch & Sons planted out at their Exotic Nurseries, Chelsea, several beds of Tulips, without attempting to mass them in colours, and with a view of acquiring some knowledge of their individual characters. This year, some of the leading varieties were massed in beds, and made a charming and effective display, as well as afforded an excellent idea of the adaptability of certain sorts for bedding purposes. The red self-coloured Tulips give some excellent flowers for grouping in masses. Foremost is Brutus, having an orange-crimson base, and slight edge of yel- low. Belle Alliance, brilliant scarlet-crimson, dwarf, and with a stiff, erect habit, early blooming, and a capital bedder ; perhaps unsurpassed as an effective scarlet Tulip. Couronne Pourpre, rich dark crimson, and the darkest among the crimson shades ; a very fine, high-coloured variety, that blooms at the same time as Belle Alliance, to which it affords an excellent contrast, because of its much greater depth of colour ; Scarlet Van Thol, the earliest of all, and very finely coloured ; Vermilion Brillant, very fine, and somewhat larger in size than the preceding ; Couleur Cardinal, a very distinct and effective Tulip, with a short and unusually rigid habit, a little late in blooming, but valuable as affording a succession ; and Paul Moreelse, cerise-crimson, a fine and striking hue of colour. Generally, the foregoing are cheap, or moderately so in price, and therefore to be had at a reasonable cost. The two best yellow self flowers are unquestionably Chrysolora and Golden Prince, the first the earliest, and of a pleasing pale yellow hue ; Golden or Yellow Prince has a stiff, upright habit, the flowers large, well coloured, and highly effective. A third yellow Tulip is found in Yellow Poltebakker, a fine bold, showy flower. Chrysolora, being rather new, is some- what scarce, but the other two can be had at a mode- rate cost. Thomas Moore, buff" yellow, is both distinct and good, and very useful for bedding. In the way of white self flowers, nothing can be better than Princess Helena and White Pottebakker; the former has a dwarf, erect habit, the flowers are pure 1 138 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 2, 1871. white, and of good size and build ; this is deserving of very high commendation for bedding purposes or pot culture. The old White Proserpine, one of the finest built flowers of the section, is too well known to need description. Comte de Mirabeau, white tinged with pink, can be classed with the white flowers, and makes a very useful bed. Among edged flowers Keizer Kroon is unapproach- able for its superb beauty and great size. It is one of the most constant Tulips grown, and it is surprising how it will flourish even in poor soil. A bed of it is a grand picture in a spring garden. Duchesse de Parma is almost or quite as large, and has a narrow edge of yellow. Princessed'Autricheis abrokenform ofDuchesse de Parma, and has the base striped with yellow ; the unbroken is to be preferred to the broken form if the cultivator would have the most effective bed. Le Matelas, having a white ground with stripes and flushes of rose, is both a pretty and distinct flower ; but the colour gets pale and muddy in hot weather. Rose Luisante, a lovely shade of pale pinkish-rose ; the edges of the petals paler, is also a charming and effective bedder, as well as distinct in character. The flowers having violet and purple shades are both novel and fine, and extremely effective as bedding plants. Foremost for size, build, and the peculiar delicacy of its lively hue of silken rosy-carmine, is Proserpine, one of the grandest of the early Tuhps. Of a paler hue is Queen of Violets, of a pale violet colour, not so large as the foregoing, but it makes a charming bed. President Lincoln and this appear to be identical. Van der Neer, rich shaded violet, is large and very fine, and makes a striking bed : like Proserpine, this flower is of superb build. Wouverman is the darkest of all, and may be described as dark purple ; it is not so large as Van der Neer, but valuable for its depth of colour. Moliere is a good and useful pale violet bedding variety, and this, added to the foregoing, gives an admirable lot of violet-coloured flowers. Two of the prettiest and most useful of the white and crimson striped flowers are Royal Standard and Bride of Haarlem ; the latter is the finest, and has more colour ; both are dwarf in growth, and are of good stiff' habit. Roi Pepin is very pretty, but best suited for pot culture ; besides, it is too high in price for bedding purposes. Cramoisie Royale, which is a broken form of Cramoisie Superbe, is very handsome also, and makes a gay and showy bed. Van Vondel is a grand Tulip, it is of a showy crimson-scarlet hue, is flushed with white, and occasionally striped with the same. This flower is of fine build, and very large. Fabiola and Globe de Rigaud, have violet and purple and white stripes, are distinct and novel, and make good showy The foregoing may be accepted as a select list of really suitable bedding Tulips. They are undoubtedly rising in popular estimation, for nothing can compare with them at the particular season when they are in flower. Those who use them for spring decoration cleave to them, and year by year work out charming floral pictures, that, while they brighten with a regal splendour the opening spring months, at the same time delight the eye and gladden the heart. X. D. country. It has been already figured in these pages. Here also may be seen Dendrobium Devonianum with pseudobulbs upwards of 5 feet long ! and thick in proportion. Fancy the splendid wreaths of purple- tipped, delicately perfumed blossoms afforded by growths like these I In one corner of the Indian house are upwards of 70 plants of Phala:;nopsis, doing well, including P. grandiflora — a peculiarly long leaved variety, with upwards of 20 leaves ; this plant is growing on an oak block plunged ina 'pot with moss, and when we last saw it, it was one of the most healthy plants in the country ; P. Parishii, a magni- ficent specimen, on a native block, just as lopped from the tree in its native habitat— doing well ; P. amethystina, a remarkable and little :d and desc fine plants of P. Schilleriana, and I described last December in these colu specimens of P. amabilis. comu-cervi, &c. In this house is one of the finest exampl Luddemanniana, P. seen of Vanda Batemanii, upwards of t feet high, with two fine breaks at its base. This plant Garden Memoranda. The Knoll, Baildon, Leeds, the Residence OF C. Stead, Esij.— The traveller in passing from Leeds to Bradford by the Midland route will notice on his right — immediately before reaching Shipley station — a castle-like structure with a prominent tower and flag-staff, standing on a woody knoll, and by its position as well as its architectural features forming an imposing feature m the surrounding landscape. This is "The Knoll, " and the residence of C. Stead, Esq. , a staunch lover of Orchids and of horticulture generally. To the right of this, and at the farther extremity of the flat table-land, so to speak, which lies at the back, stands Femiehurst, another Orchid establishment that has frequently been noticed in these columns. Looking to the left, the towers, spires and chimneys of one of the most thriving of England's manufacturing villages — Saltaire — are seen for a moment or two as the tram rushes onward. The Knoll is reached by passing through the village of Shipley, and thence up the carriage drive as it winds gradually up the well wooded slope. In the early spring this drive is beautifully bordered by great patches of wild Hyacinths and wood Anemones, which are allowed to grow unmolested, and amply repay the privilege by thousands of sweetly-scented blossoms. During the spring months tlie place is quite gay with wild flowers, and the feathered songsters being protected in the grounds they prepay this kindness by a grand chorus of song. The Knoll is pretty well known as an Orchid establishment of no mean pretensions, and as such we would now more particularly speak of it. Here, collected together under a few hundred feet of crystal roofing, will be found some of the choicest gems known in the Orchid world — Vandas, Aerides, Phal.-cnopsids and Dendrobes, remarkable alike for beauty and vigour. Here, growing in all the luxuriant freshness of Nature, will l)e found the finest jilant in Europe of the beautiful and rare Vanda Cathcartii, this plant having several times flowered in Mr. Stead's collection, and was, besides, the first plant that flowered in this produces splendid flower-spikes, and remains a long time in perfection as the flowers open gradually in succession. Amongst Angraecums are fine specimens of A. sesquipedale, A. eburneum, Lindl. (A. superbum, Du Pet. Th.), the old but extremely rare A. caudatum, a plant we very seldom either see or hear of now in collections ; A. bilobum (A. apiculatum), A. pertusum, A. pellucidum, and the pretty little white-flowered A. falcatum, a native of Japan and probably Australia. One plant in particular of A. sesquipedale is worthy of notice, it having 36 fine leaves witli two breaks, and is one of the finest specimens in cultivation. Aerides Schrrederi, 2 feet high, with 34 leaves and two breaks : this plant produces very fine branched spikes of large richly coloured flowers. Vanda gigantea (V. Lindleyana) is well represented by a fine vigorous plant, having 26 great, fleshy, gracefully recurved leaves. A fine healthy piece of Cypripedium Stonei had 20 leaves and three vigorous breaks : this bears large and deeply coloured flowers, and is a superb variety. Dendrobium crassinode, D. Bensonire, D. Parishii, D. macrophyllum, D. primulinum, D. formosum, D. Fal- coneri, D. triadenium, &c., are well represented by good examples, while D. crumenatum is worthy of special notice, its flowers lasting but a few hours indeed, it is the most fugacious of all Dendrobes. 1 is an old plant, and peculiar on account of its bulbs being spindle-shaped at the base, and attenuate above ; the flowers are delicately perfumed, and of the most crystalline whiteness, with a blotch of the faintest and purest lemon-yellow on the disc of the labellum. In the Cattleya-house are some fresh and healthy specimens of Cypripedium caudatum, C. Lowii, and i wzrj nice plant of the rare and highly curious Urope dium Lindeni. The rare old Epidendrum sceptrum here finds a congenial home along with the cooler Dendrobes and Oncids, together with the round-leaved Vanda teres, and the still more beautiful Vanda cojrulea. The majority of the Cattleyas gro^vn in this house were imported from the Continent some time ago, and, unfortunately, suffered severely during the voyage, but they are now rapidly improving. Here are two or three good plants of Cattleya crispa, and one of its beautiful and distinct variety, C. crispa reflexa macrophylla. One or two plants of Leelia purpurata and L. Brysiana are doing well. A large and re- markably healthy specimen of Trichotosia ferox (Eria vestita?) is growing vigorously, its greenish flowers beiiig highly curious, though far from beautiful from a florist's standpoint. Trichopilia crispa is represented by a splendid pan, which has borne more than 100 expanded flowers at one time — truly a glorious sight ! this being, moreover, a fine variety, quite equal to the T. crispa marginata of " Warner's Select Orchids." In addition, there are plants of T. suavis, T. Galeottiana, T. tortilis, and several imported species, the names of which have not as yet been determined. Amongst the winter-flowering La?lias are plants of L. autumnalis, L. furfuracea (true), L. anceps (several fine varieties), and L. albida. The lovely Flor de Maio, or L. majalis, has flowered here recently, and together with the others is doing well ; while in the Indian house we noticed a splendid blooming pan of the rare Utricularia montana (U. alpina), which was figured and described at p. 1039. Odontoglossums are quite a feature here, and we noticed the pretty little O. erosum (syn. O. stellatum), O. Phalmnopsis, O. Pescatorei, several fine varieties of O. Alexandra;, O. luteo-purpureum, O. candelabrum (O. coronarium), O. Iffive, O. grande, O. Insleayi, and others. A fine plant of O. Schlimii attracted our attention from the peculiar dark markings on its The houses which Mr. Stead has had erected for Orchids are neatly finished, and glazed with the best sheet glass, 14 inches wide, in order to admit a maxi- mum quantity of light. Inside, the houses are fitted with slate benches, whicli are themselves supported by neat and ornamental iron pillars, the whole being neatly finished with stout wood beading. The advan- tage of iron over wood in the internal arrangement of Orchid-houses must be evident to all who consider the enormous moisture that is prevalent, and which speedily permeates and induces decay in wood fittings. Beneath the stage and side benches in the Indian house are shallow lead vats or tanks, and these being filled with water are useful in diffusing an equable moistness through the air of the house. Close to the wood bead- ing that surrounds the central table, and passes along the side benches, are fitted small perforated copper tubes, and these being connected with the water supply the whole house can be damped in a few minutes by simply turning a tap at one end, while the whole of the waste water drips into the shallow tanks below. In order to preclude the possibility of drip from the roof, the glass is cut diagonally, and a groove serves to conduct condensed moisture away. This plan serves the purpose intended very efficiently. In the preceding account the best specimen plants only have been alluded to, and no mention made of the numerous duplicates that exist of most of the species named, excepting the most rare. For example, there are many plants of the commoner Vandas, as V. tricolor and V. suavis, including most of their best varieties ; but these and many others are not alluded to parti- cularly because common to all large collections. Again, no mention is made of a great many rare and beauti- ful species but recently imported. The grounds are planted tastefully with choice Coni- fera: and rare trees and shrubs. Rhododendrons especially doing well. The place is comparatively new, and was formed imder the supervision of the proprietor and his gardener, Mr. G. Gilbert, retains charge. F. W. B. .still THE WEATHER. TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR AND PALL OP RAIN . DIFFEREN T STA TIONS, During the Week ending Saturday, August 26, 1871. 1" -— i i 1 ^ 1 1| si P P I 1 s 1 Porlsmoulh I'f f,T Deg. ?'.' Deg. Deg ^'S In. 73.6 54-9 ■8.7 6lo aog iliXa 7»;4 SI ^l ??1 17.4 r. 037 7s'o n 5i° ;■;■ &i Si"^ i°'^ 700 fA 505 20.4 B )iZ^,. 71.0 47.3 237 33-5 ■35 0.71 lyji 56.6 ter-!. ?"n 46.0 %l fA VA ^ti 056 52.0 .5.0 tM.3 52-3 56.7 ".39 Edinburgh 42.0 ^^.r^ 53 4 i^issr Aberdeen 64-S \S^. &? 48.0 Jjfi 53-7 ?-S 6S.a 42.0 SS> Dublin .. 73.7 40.0 13.7 57.2 0.28 STATE OP THE Wi ACKHEATH, LONDON, ATHER ATBL Foe the Week ending Wednesday, August 30, iS?'. Mol'™ AtJA-M. Day. from Glaisher's Tables, 5th edition. . Si^ M Weight of Aufust. ^::s';:^ ss 1^ '.TS" 3»- Fahr. Ei « w Ins. Dec Deg ?;f Gr. 29.71 51 11 |a 1 \i 637 S^es 1,1? L'j W. t Temperature of the Air Rain. 1871. August. 1 1 If 1 11 1 Der. Deg Deg D^eg.! Deg. Miles j6. Satur... 71.7 50.8 20.9 60, + o.3f WS^: f39. =7. Sunday. 71.0 47.6 23-4 57- -».4i ^^ (.45 0.00 sS. Monday 76.1 46.. 30.0 59- k^-v }m 0.00 ;.9. Tues. .. tl 5>.7 29.3 65.9 1 +6.5 0.00 -Generally „ , the afternoon, also a heavy gale. Aui -Cloudy till about SP-M.; a few light i II night ; rain fell occasionally in light, prevalent -Generally cloudless. -Light clouds and haze prevaleni _ 28.- — 30.- September 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. II 39 ©iJttttavg. We have to announce, with regret, the death of Walter Beck, Esq., on the 24th ult., at Worton Cottage, Isleworth, at the early age of 32. Mr. Beck was son of the late Edward Beck, whose name was so familiar, and so much endeared, to the florists of the past generation; and by whom the "Florist," now continued under the title of "The Florist and Pomolo- gist," was established upwards of 20 years ago. Though Mr. W. Beck did not take an active part in the floricultural world, the gardens at Worton Cottage have kept up their character for high and successful cultivation, especially in the case of Cyclamens and Pelargoniums. Miscellaneous. GATHERED TRE..\SURES. I GATHERED Roses, I gathered gold, I am weary, but I can sing. I gathered all in the times of old, Wlien ev'ry day was Spring. I treasure the Roses, but where is the gold ? I have known sorrow, but I can sing. Out and for shame on my wealth untold, For my riches all took wing. Oh, treasured Roses ! Oh, vanished gold ! I am stout-hea:rted still, and still I sing. For the Roses still I hold, Their perfume brings back Spring. I gathered Roses ! I gathered gold ! I am needy, but I can sing. And your little hands, that my hands enfold. Is the sole remaining thing. Public Opinion. Entada scandens is a plant well known as pro- ducingthe longest pod of any of the Leguminosje, indeed the longest fruit known, some of them measuring even 6 or 8 feet. These woody pods contain hard, shiny, brown, circular seeds, each about 2 inches across and from half to three-quarters of an inch thick. They are largely used by the natives, where the plants grow, for making snuff- boxes,spoons, &c. ; for this purpose the fleshy cotyledons are merely scooped out, leaving the hard woody shell. In the East Indies the seeds are used as weights, and the natives prepare a hair wash from them ; they are also used in medicine as a febrifuge, but they are not used either in the East or West as food. In some parts of the interior of Africa, however, the natives regularly eat them. They first roast them for the pur- pose of removing the hard shell, they then cut the fleshy part up into slices, and cook it for some time in hot water ; after being thus prepared it is washed in cold water, and is ready for eating. When so prepared it is said to have a very sweet taste. IxiA CROCATA.— This charmmg little flower is so useful during the month of May and the early part of iservatory, ■-failing source of cut flowers, that it is very much to be recommended, and only requires to be more generally grown to be duly appreciated. The culture is exceedingly simple ; and, as the plant will flourish best without any kind of forcing, it is advisable that the bulbs should not be potted from the dry state too early in the autumn. A nice succession may be kept up by potting a portion of the stock early in Sep- tember, and the remainder a month or five weeks later. The soil I use is about equal parts of loam, leaf-mould, and peat, with a little sharp silver sand. Four flowering bulbs are enough for a 5-inch pot, and six for a 6-inch pot. The small bulbs which are not Kkely to flower may be distributed amongst and planted with the flowering bulbs, where the plants are to be used for decorative purposes, as they help to produce a dense mass of green foliage ; but when grown for cutting purposes this is not necessary, and in that case the surplus small bulbs may be sown rather thickly in seed-pans, and treated entirely with a view to the production of flowering bulbs another season. In potting, the soil should be used in a moderately moist state, but not wet ; good drainage must be provided, and the pot filled firmly, without pressure. The bulbs are then to be placed on the top, and pressed down about an inch with the finger and thumb, and the soil pressed down gently, so as to leave it level a little below the margin of the pot. The pots should then be placed in a cold pit, or they may be set on coal ashes, and covered with a movable frame and lights ; I prefer the latter until the approach of severe weather, when they are removed to a cool pit, kept moderately dry, and from which frost is entirely excluded. After the bulbs have started water may be applied, but in very moderate quantities through the winter. When, on the approach of spruig, gro\vth becomes active, they will require plenty of water ; and at that time a portion may with advantage be placed close to the glass on the shelf of a greenhouse, which will accelerate their flowering. The remainder may be left in the pit until they throw up their flower-spikes, and may then be removed to the conservatory as occasion requires. Several other species and varieties of Ixia and Sparaxis are amenable to the same treatment, but I know of none more showy than Ixia crocata, nor one which increases more abundantly, coupled apparently mth the great deside- ratum of a hardy constitution. John Cox, in " Florist and Pomologist." #arkn; operations. (FOR THE ENSUING WEEK.) PLANT HOUSES. Let all plants intended to flower late in the autumn and mid-winter, and which require a larger pot, be shifted without further delay. Give moderate shifts only, however, and pot with moderate firmness as compared with what would be necessary earlier m the season. The second, or other successional batch of Cape Pelar- goniums, having been cut back and broken afresh, require potting, which must be done quickly. Remove as much soil as possible from the old balls, and then put them into as small-sized pots as the roots can be got into conveniently, without undue pressure, in an open, free admixture of fibrous yellow loam, leaf-mould, and sand. As the sun's rays, taking the day through, lessen in intensity, every advantage should be taken to duly expose all plants the more freely, by dispensing with shading more and more, if any be used, until it is removed altogether for the season. These remarks apply especially to Orchids, which have many of them now nearly or quite completed their growth. Give them less water as well as less shade, and, by admitting the sun more freely, ripen off the more fully the growth made. With a proper distribution of the plants, that is, the necessary removal of all such as have tender growing leaves into more shaded positions, the thermo- meter may be permitted to run up freely to 85° or 90° by sun-heat alone. By these means these plants can be induced to go to rest kindly. Those who have not yet placed their Camellias out-of-doors should now do so ; also Indian Azaleas. They receive much benefit by a free contact with the buoyant air. The conser- vatory shotdd now be gay with Neriums, Balsams, Cockscombs, Fuchsias, Lilinms, Zonal Pelargoniums, Vallotas, &c., which in admixture with various foliaged plants will be as gay as need be. It will be well now, save during very bright fine weather, to give to all such a more limited supply of water, and to the Lili especially, as these may be said to have perfected the major part of their growth by the time the blooms fully expanded. Regulate the shoots upon Climbing Plants, pinch back the points of the grosser shoots, and so endeavour to equalise the sap more generally betiveen them and the weaker ones. If the weather proves hot and dry, and the air searching and arid, be particular to defend the balls of all valuable plants agamst the fluctuations of extremes of moisture and dryness. FORCING HOUSES. Pine-apples must now have air freely during genial periods. Maintain around them an even temperature, averaging from 83° to 85°, with the customary increase after shutting up, and encourage by every possible means the newly potted plants to form fresh roots abundantly. Make the necessary arrangements to insure the usual supply of new tan by the time it will be wanted finally to make up the bark beds for the winter startmg. Syringe the Vines and surroundings freely, whilst the Grapes are engaged in the swelling process, in very late vmeries. Keep the foliage healthy, and so aim at assuring those conditions by the aid of which alone a good result is attained. Give to Pot Figs, now commencing the final swelling, copious water- ings with wholesome liquid manure, and afford frequent surface sprinklings over all the internal surroimdings within the structure. Attend well to all the Peach and Nectarine houses from which the fhiit has been long gathered, and assist the roots, by means of a watering if necessary, to perfect efficiently both bloom and wood buds for another season. Those Orchard-house Trees which have just yielded their crops of ripened fruits should now be watered with clear soft water only. Already the roots no doubt have in the majority of instances been over-gorged with manure-water, the sedimentary remains of which existing in the pots will serve for all further purposes. HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. Remove the leaves somewhat from the fruit of late kinds of Peaches and Nectarines, and so encourage be- times the ripening process. Gather early kinds of fruit rather by anticipation than otherwise, and by lay- ing them by in a dry, cool, airy situation, determine their safety against insect-pests, which, in some counties, are very abundant. Thin the leaves which surround bunches of outdoor Grapes a little, which may under more than usual favourable circumstances tend to ripen them somewhat by the advent of winter. Protect late rieties of Plums, such as the Blue Imperatrice, &c. HARDY FLOWER GARDEN. Bedding plants will now need to be kept within proper bounds. This, and the removing of decayed blooms, the necessary mowing, sweeping, &c., will tend to afford a more beautiful aspect to the par- than any of us could have looked forward to in the cold earlier summer months. Sow again if neces- sary, either in pots or boxes, or on the open sheltereil border, such annuals as Collinsia, Ervsimum, Nemo- phila, Ten-iijeck Stock, &c. Place early Mignonette in pots in favourable aspects, to encourage a strong, sturdy growth. Old plants of Pinks and the like, from which "layers" have been taken, should, if two seasons old and a sufficient stock exists, be removed to the rubbish heap, or at the best pinned m some- what closely and neatly, so as to enhance the beauty and size of the blooms of another season. KITCHEN GARDEN. Finally thin out the last sowing of Turnips fo winter use, and tzse the hoe freely between rows. Con- tmue progressively to earth-up the earliest and succes- sional Celery, freely supplying with water such as need it. The same remarks apply to Cardoons, Earth- advanced for the purpose ; make also another sowmg of each upon a sheltered sunny aspect, and continue to blanch by the usual processes according to the demand. Make permanent plantings of Cabbage, 'planting them thickly in the rows, so that every other one may be pulled up for early consumption, and so increasing the supply as much as possible. There is never any danger of having an excess of this useful vegetable. That the sun may exert its beneficial influences, remove all young shoots frequently as they form upon Tomatos, and cut away any gross leaves which too greatly shade the fruits, as these are rather late this seasoa W. E. TOWN GARDENING. The Chrysanthemums \vill now begin to show their flower-buds, which should all be removed mth the ception of the terminal one on each shoot, if large ooms are required. Eanuigs will become trouble- ants, and should be trapped either by placing lobster-claws on the sticks [how orna- mental !], or by twisting up a piece of greasy paper and placing it among the shoots, shaking out into hot water every morning all those which are thus trapped. As the Annuals and other plants are cleared off. Pompons should be removed to their places. These as well as the large Chrysanthemums should be kept well supplied with liquid manure, and be frequently syringed over the tops with clear water. Carnations and Pinks that are struck should be planted out into an open border, and be kept well watered ; they will then make strong plants to stand the mnter, and bloom freely next season. Now is the best time to increase the Lily of the Valley, which does well in town, if not disturbed after once planting. The method of propa- gation is to hft the old roots with a fork and divide them into as many separate pieces as may be required, plantmg them with a trowel about 3 inches below the surface. Most of the Herbaceoits Plants will now have done flowering, and where an increase in the stock is required, they should be propagated by dividing the roots, y. D. Notices to Correspondents. Bananas : E. N. writes to know how long the Banana takes to ripen after the fruit has set. Will some corre- spondent who grows them kindly answer the question ? Bedding Verbenas : M. H. R. The following varieties have been tested for bedding purposes, and found to answer well : — Annie, carmine and white stripes ; Crim- son King, crimson with white eye ; Countess of Radnor, pale ruby ; Eclipse, brilliant reddish crimson, with a dark centre ; Exquisite, dehcate pink ; Firefly, vivid scarlet, with lemon eye ; James Birbeck, shaded pink, very effective ; La Grande Boule de Neige, pure white ; Leah, pink, with crimson centre ; Lady of Langley- btny, purple and white stripes, a sport from Purple King ; Mrs. Mole, clear lavender ; Mrs. Pochin, bright pink, with white eye ; Pearl, pure white, a fine bedder ; Richard Dean, bluish-purple, with large white eye ; Princess of Wales, pink and white stripes ; Sensation, bright carmine-rose, with large white eye ; Shirley Hib- berd, shaded plum-purple ; and Triomphe de Massifs, pale blue, with dark centre. Budding Hollies : C. P. Hollies may be budded either in spring or autumn. Now is a good time. If you are a skilful budder, a thin sHce of the wood may go in with the bark, but it is better to remove the wood, taking care not to injure the bud in so doing. Keep the shoots of the stock pinched back in spring, so as to induce the dormant bud to break. It is unfortunate that your Mar^chel Niel buds have broke into shoots, as they are more liable to be injured by the frost in winter than if they had lain dormant. Bud later ne.xt Clematis : y. Nelson. Your Seedhng No. 2 is a very handsome thing, no doubt, but is no improvement on, and does not seem to be distinct from, some of the varieties of Jackman's strain. Diseased Larch : J. Jeffries ^ Son. We have had the same affection in Larch before. The condition was in that case owing to there being a cake of hard im- penetrable conglomerate beneath the roots, in conse- quence of which the growth was slow, resin was dis- charged, and Peziza pulchella grew on the bark. It is scarcely probable that the Peziza is the cause. It is abundant everywhere on fallen Larch twigs. Any- thing which checks growth might produce the same effect as the conglomerate pan, which can scarcely exist in the damp and low ground where the disease is worst. We should rather expect in such a case the disease known under the name of ^rum|>ill^^ M. J. S. Grapes ; Enquirer, Bel/.i^t. liavinL^ syringed your Vines vrith the lime wattr, you will be unable now to remove the white powder settled on the leaves, even hard spring water would have had the same effect. — A Subscriber, Your Grapes are attacked by a minute parasitic Fungus belonging to the genus Glseosporium. and closely allied to G. fructigenum, but with apparently shorter spores, which are however very variable in size. Species are figured in this journal in 1856 and 1859, the one on Apples the other on Peaches and Nectarines. All the six seeds of the three berrie-s 1 140 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 2, 1871. M.J. diseased. In the diseased spot on those which L dark brown, we find abundance of raphides, ?.— ^. R. We are afraid that you have got lew noxious Fungus. The spots are full of mycelium, but in an early stage of growth. We have at present seen only a single spore, oblong with three septa, but with a single leaf only we cannot even determine the genus. Please to send two or three more leaves, and perhaps we may be able to give you a better opinion. M. J. B. Leafy Flowers of Clover : M. N. 6* Co. The change in question is not uncommon, and is more frequent after a wet season than a dry one, leaf growth being favoured by the moisture. It is much more common in white Clover than in any other kind. A great deal has been written on the botany of the subject, a full summary of which is given in Dr. Masters' " Vegetable Teratology," p. 276. Marechal Niel Rose: A. Y. Let the shoot or shoots of your Mar^chal Niel Rose run till they reach the length you require them. This Rose should do very well in a late vinery. We will answer your other questions in our next. Morello Cherry Tree GuMMtNG : Don Juan. You can do but little. Cut away as much of the gummed portions as you can, and encourage the young shoots. Prune them back tolerably hard, and your tree may yet Names of Plants : E. C. C. D. From the scrap sent apparently Verbascum Blattaria.— G/o^c. Flea Bane. Inula dysenterica, formerly used in dysentery. — IV. O.B. Clerodendron Bungei.—F. P. C. Erigeron canadense. — E. P. The white variety of St. Dabeoc's Heath, Dabeocia polifolia, wild in Ireland.— A/tzj. Common Hart's -tongue, Scolopendrium vulgare.— T. McKenzie &=* Sons. Polypodium vulgare semilacerum ; it has been previously found in your country. Peaches without Flavour : J. Wardle. The fruits when received were smashed and quite rotten ; over- cropping, with imperfect ripening of the wood, will pro- duces the result you describe. Peat Earth : W. R. You cannot do better than apply to Mr. Epps, of Lewisham, who supplies peat earth of excellent quality, specially selected for the growth of pot plants. We hear that he has just now been for- tunate enough to meet with a new supply, of the very finest quality. Raphanus caudatus : C. W. S. Cook them like any ordinary vegetable, and serve with white sauce, a la Salsafy. Selections of Plants : R. S. T. Twelve Roses- Hybrid Perpetuals : Alfred Colomb, Baronesc Ruths- child, Comtesse d'Oxford, Duke ofT^.dinburgh. Edward Morren, Louis Van Hontte, Marie Baumann, Sophie Coquarel, and Xnvier Olibo ; Tea-scented Gloi Dijon, Noisette, Marechal Niel, and Trioniphe de Renres, - Six Nosegay Pelargoniums: Amy Hogg, purijlish-rose ; Eclat, rich magenta, suffused with -^ purple : Le Grand, rosv-orange ; Lizzie, soft salmon, suffused with orange ; Pink May Queen, deep pink and Stanstead Rival, bright glowing crimson. Si> Double Pelargoniums : Andrew Henderson, bright scar let ; Emile Lemoine, deep pink ; Gloire de Nancy, deep rosy-pink ; Marie Lemoine, soft carmine ; Victor Le- moine, intense scarlet ; and Wilhelm Pfitzer, brilliant orange-scarlet. Six Zonal Pelargoniums : George Pea- body, brilliant deep crimson ; Jean Sisley, fiery scarlet ; William Underwood, pale bright orange-scarlet ; Emile Licau, deep salmon; Mrs. William Paul, soft rosy-pink; and Bouquet Blanche, pure white. Six good useful Camellias : Alba plena. Dr. Boisduval, Jenny Lind, Lavinia Maggi, Mathotiana, and Valteverado. Vines Diseased : D. We have very carefully examined examples of the leaves and fruit sent, and disease to lead us to a solution of the question. There is no mildew as we expected. The Vines, as you state, have grown well, and got damaged quite suddenly. We must then look for the cause in the atmosphere of the house. Have you over- heated your flues and had an escape of sulphurous gases ? We are inclined to think so. The leaves seem to have been rather flabby, through growing fast in a humid atmosphere and damp border ; then to have been scorched with something— not all at once, but to have been subjected to it for some time. Wasps : Mr. East writes to recommend a preparation to destroy wasps. It partakes of the nature of an adver- tisement, and should be inserted as such. The most efficient wasp trap we know is the French trap figured at p. 461, 1870. With this we catch the wasps daily by Wi Ikriuls. COVENT GARDEN,— Aug. i. We have very little alteration to notice this week, supplies being about equal to the demand, and trade con- tinues very steady. Pines are not quite so plentiful as they have been, and prices have gone up a little. The Spanish and Portuguese Grapes, the first consignment of which arrived during the week, are realismg but very low prices. We have good supplies of Potatos, at slightly advanced prices. Apples, per } ■ Apricots, per d Figs . . Grapes, per lb. Lemons, per loc Melons, each Cabbages, p. d( Cauliflowers, p. Celery, red, p. Herbs, per bunch Nectarines, per doz. : Peaches, per doz. . . Pine-apples, per lb. : Vegetables. Lettuces, per score. . Mushrooms, p. pott. Onions, per bunch . . Peas, per quart . , Radishes, round.per Shallots, per' lb. '.'. Spinach, perbushel Turnips, p. bunch.. The most perfect and effec ; cheapest Frame and One Penny per Square Yard. TANNED GARDEN NETTING, for Garden purposes, such as Protecting Fruit from Birds, Blossom from light Frosts, &c. Widths, 1,2, 3. and 4 yards. The Trade also supplied. HOOPER AND CO., Covent Garden, London, W.C. RUSSIA MATS, for Covering Garden Frames, ANDERSON'S TAGANROG MATS are the cheapest ; of every class of Mat, Orchard House Liglits. VX/'ANTED, a number of the above. Second-hand, MESSRS. E. G. HENDERSON and SON respectfully ACKNOWLEDGE the ANSWERS Advertisement of August iq, for a GARDENER ; the r^ARDENER (Head).— Age 30, married. 1 ctcr will bear ihc strictest investigation.— T. M.,s .Slough, Bucks. jvcmcnts. Good 1 pcriencc in Early and Late Forcing, also the cultiv Greenhouse Plants, Kitchen and Flower Gardenin London, N.W. highly recommended. Edgware GARDENER (Head).— Age 40, married, no incum- Fruits under Glass, Early and 'Late Forcing, Kitchen Gardening, &c. Five years' good character.— HORTUS, 331, Vauxhall Bridge Road, GARDENER (Head).— Is and Vegetable Culture; Lands , Flower Garden Drawing and carrying and lately Manager < be highly H arborne, I 1 last situation, with a Nobleman, A, Lilac Cottage, York Street, GARDENER (Head), or GARDENER and FORESTER.— Has had great experience in the Formation of Plantations, and the Rearing of young Forest Trees; is a first-class Pine and Vine Grower, also good Plantsman ; unsurpassed as a Kitchen Gardener. Would have no objection to look alter Land and Stock. Ten years' excellent character from last employer- J. G., 22. Seething Lkne. City, E.C. GARDENER {Head, Working), age 32. — Mr. Carlton, Gardener to the Hon. Mrs. Howard, Ashtead Park, can with confidence recommend his Foreman as a thoroughly in five of the principal establish- place accepted. Character will G. COATES, Ashtead Park, efficient manner. No sii Epsom, Surrey. GARDENER (Head), where three or four are kepL— also Kitchen and Flower Gardening, &c. Satisfactory reasons for leaving.— X. V. Z,, 171. Maiden Road, Haverstock Hill, N.W. GARDENER (Head), where two or more are kept. Age 24, married, no family; thoroughly competent in Early a Late Forcing, also Kitchen and Flower Gardening.— A. B. TAYLO GARDENER.— Age 45, married ; will be disengaged at Michaelmas, and is desirous of meeting with a re-engage- Gardening, including Forcing of Fruits, Vegetables, and Salads, Specimen and Decorative Plant Growing, Flower, Hardy Fruit, and Kitchen Gardening, making Plans and earning nut Improvements and New Works, Planting and Management of Young Plantations, &c. accord. Wages expected, with house, l^Q to £,^% per annum.— H. H., 4, Prospect Terrace, Britan nia Road, Fulham. S.\V. A young Man, 1 he profession CATALOGUES RECEIVED : Wm. Cutbush & Son's De- scriptive Catalogue of Bulbs, &c.*— Kelway & Son's 2ist Annual Catalogue of Gladioli. — James Veitch & Sons" Catalo^e of Hyacinths and other Bulbous Roots.— Haage & Schmidt (Erfurt), Catalogue of Dutch Hyacinths, Miscellaneous Bulbs, and Tuberous-rooted Plants. &c. — Sutton & Sons' Catalogue of Bulbous Flower Roots. Plants. Seeds, &c.— W. Paul's Bulb Catalogue.— Edniondson Brothers, Autumn Catalogue of Bulbs. &c. — Stephen Brown. Autumn Catalogue of Bulbs. Plants, Seeds, &c.— G. M. Kemp-Welch, a Select Catalogue of Dutch Flower Roots. —Milligan & Kerr, Catalogue of Dutch Flower Roots. &c. Errata : At p. 1105, col. c, second hne from the top, for the word emarginatcd read margined ; at p. 1106, col. c, for 1200 read 12,000. T. F.-G. S.— Subscriber.— H.—W. H. H., Post Office, ; NURSERY FOREMAN, in a country ..^^.j, c e."Od general Man, well up in Fruits, Roses, and owledge of the other Stock generally met with in a good icry. Above all, he must know how to do nis work, and to take icad of the other men employed. — Address, stating full particulars, , Post Office, Ashford, Kent. WANTED, a young MAN, who has some knowledge of Plants, Vines, Pines, ^•e^tilation, Stoking. &c To be active, obliging, and industrious.— Address, stating wages required, to FKEDK. HUGHES, The Gardens, Overbury Court, Tewkesbury. WANTED IMMEDIATELY, a young MAN accus- tomed to the Propagating and Planting of Bedding Plants on a lartjc scale- One well acquainted with hardy Herbaceous Plants pre- ft-rrcd. None need apply unless used to first-class establishments. Salary- 21S, per week. Testimonials for sobriety, industry and honesty indispensable— S. S., Raikes Hall, Blackpool, Lancashire. Spade Work, \\ages 1 Park Nurseri-, Hack WANTED, by a leading New York Ho MAN, thoroughly versed in the Seed Business Office, 290, Fulham Road, S.W. ■Vy'ANTED, a respectable Man 25?. per week.— App/y,^personally if possible, BA?IR ani PACKER S^UGDE^ WANTED, AT ONCE, a smart, active yc as UNDER SHOPMAN.— DOWNIE, LAIRD, , dLAI> w To Nurserymen and Florists. ANTED, to place as PUPIL to the above, a highly respectable Youth, where he would be duly instructed in all es of the profession —Apply, per letter, to Mr. MILES, The IS, High Wycombe, Bucks. .ustomed to tend Priie Stock and Exhibit.— Apniy by xperience, wages expected, &c. , to Mr. PARSONS, WANT PLACES— Letters to be Post Paid. EXPERIENCED GARDENERS (or as GARDENEK and BAILIFF), of various qualifications, recommended t( G ARDENER (Head).— Age 26; practical. Under (I iches. Eight I Road, Leicester^ ORCHID GROWER ;gs to offer his services to an; above. Thoroughly understands thi Nobleman's or Gentle- ars" experience both iTnderGlass'and in the Garden. Principally ider Glass preferred. Good recommendations.— T. H , 10, Fawley, GARDENER (Under), or charge of Houses.— Five years" good character.— F. C. A., General Post Office, Norwich. GARDENER (Under).— Young ; has not had much experience- A small Premium would be given.— H. A., Mr. W. Joye's, Stationer, Reigate. /^ARDENER (Under).— Age 21 ; " " imer Row, Handsworth. near Birmingham. FOREMAN.— Age 35, married; well experienced the Growth of Soft-wo« " ' ~ " ■ - " Covent Garden Market. Go. s Street, Oxlord I Gentleman s ihmclTts. ^qIII ITi OREMAN and GROWER.— Age 36, married ; has ; had thorough practical experience in Plantand Cut Bloom ^rowing for London IMarkcts for t ?,. E., 2, Anthony Terrace, AILIFF, or FOREMAN, on a Gentleman's Estate.- B1,'a^ AILIFF, or BAILIFF and to SUPERINTEND a Gentleman's Garden and Grounds. — Age 35. married : ■ricnced. fully understands Farming in all its branches, both * ' - ' ' -'-.o the Breeding, Grazing, Buying, and on a large farm in Norfolk, i^i year sfactory reasons for leaving. Good id capabilities.— R. S. C, Post Office, BAILIFF (Working).— Understands Farming its branches, also Buying and Selling, Seven and a-half ^oaaf te^Mfd-S^ex ^ FARM BAILIFF, on large Farm or Farms (disengaged in October), -Respectable; understands the Management of both Heavy and Light Land : great experience m Norfolk and Oxfordshire ; thoroughly understands the Farming busmess m all its branches, also Breeding, Rearing, Feeding. Purchasing, and disposmg of all kinds ol Stock, and Keeping Accounts Wife understands Dairy and Poultry. Highest references from previous employers as to ability, trustworthi- ness, &c.— P. P. P-. Post Office, Monmouth. B°^ OOK-KEEPER.- Age 22 ; an energetic Man, with jrserj',— A. Z., Post Office,' Solihull. ^£^. a young Ma :ed Eslablishr urdmtn- Chn To the Seed Trade. SHOPMAN (ASSISTANT), or TRAVELLER.— .'\g Six years' reference from present employer.— T. F., Mr. Winfield, Gloucestershire Seed ' '^Zc, To Seed Mercliants. SSISTANT, in a Seed Warehouse, to as 21 ; four years' experience in j — B. H., fo, Micklegate, York. j!r\. light September 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1141 MR. JAMES FRASER (of the late Firm of I. & I. Fraser, Lea Bridce Ruad), undertakes HORTICUL- TURAL VALUATIONS of every description, SALES by AUCTION, &c.—Maylands Farm, Romford, Essex, E. 3ne Queen, i3j. ; three, 33J. : GEO. NEIGHBOUR ANl 127, High Holborn, London, w ANTED, THREE or FOUR ACRES, good 'z.'^a , Strand, London, WANTED to RENT, from FIVE to TEN ACRES of GOOD LAND, either established as, or suitable for, Market Garden- No objection to a little Glass. Near Li\'erpool Manchester prefer , Scotland Road, Liverpool. To NuTBerymen and Gardeners. T^ O BE SOLD, in consequence of the death of the and FErReRY', fronting to the Hagley Road, Edgba- excellently . , . . ; LEASE and POSSESSION of a NURSERY " ■ "oad, Edgbaston, Birmine There is a good Vill; jrsery Grounds extend over about 12 acres, and more Land d if desired; and the Seed Business is extensive and incn lis is a first-rate opportunity for one, two, or three really d business men, who can command a moderate am a large portion of the purchase money can be paid Important to Nurserymen, Florists, and Others. TO RE DISPOSED OF, by Private Treaty, the LEASES, with possession, of the old established and well known CHISWICK NURSERIES, comprising a substanti roomed Dwelling-house, with Seed Shop and Offices annexed urther particulars apply to ^I. SALES BY AUCTION. SALE THIS DAY and MONDAY NEXT. Dutoli Bults. MR. J. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 38, King Street, Covent Garden, W.C., or SATURDAY and MONDAY, September 2 and 4, at half-past ;„'.?;'%'"'' precisely each day, =5 Cases of first-class HYACINTHS, TULIPS, CROClISES, NARCISSUS, IRIS, ANEMONES, and other Bulbs, just arrived from Holland. On view the mornings of Sale, and Catalogues had. Periodical Sale of Poultry and MR. J. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, his Great Rooms, 38, King Street, Covent Garden, W C , TUESDAY. September 5, at half.past 12 o'clock precisely, 220 pen of choice POULTRY and PIGEONS, from the yards and lofts of th. Rev. A. G. Brooke. J. A. •^■' - .. - known Breeders and Exhil s and lofts of the .Fisher, Esq., Mrs. Evans, and other well- j of Sale, and Catalogues had Ctolce OrcUds. MR. J. C. STEVENS mil SELL by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 38, King Street. Covent Garden, W.C, on THURSDAY, September 7, at haTf-past 12 o'clock precisely, a large importation ol" PHAL.^NOPSIS GRANDIFLORA, a consimSent of choice ANGR/ECUMS, and other rare ORCHIDS from Africa: an importation of various ORCHIDS from the West Indies, and a large number of established plants of CYPRIPEDIUM NIVEUM, and healthy, well established plants of PHAL/ENOPSIS of sorts. On view the morning of Sale, and Catalogues had. M Hollcer Hall, Lancashire. IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. R. STRAFFORD has the honour to announce for WEDNESDAY, enowned Holkcr Amongst them will be found some Oxfords, Wild Eyes. Blanche, Cleopatra, Asia, and other famed Kirklevington tribes. The young stock are chiefly by Grand Duke loth (21,848), and Grand Duke iTtfi (24,064). Baron Oxford 4th (25,'^8o). of the same line of blood, is now in service, and the whole will be found well worthy the attention of purchasers of first-class Shorthorns. Mr. Strafford can, therefore, with confidence strongly recommend gentlemen to avail themselves of the present favourable opportunity, such as may not occur again Catalo i3,,Eui 'of'sUL Beaumont Grange, Leincaster. IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. MR. STRAFFORD has received instr announce for SALE by AUCTION, without rese inont Grange, near Lancaster. on THURSDAY.ScptemI day following the Sale at Holker Hall), a choice selection COWS,.and HEIFERS, from Mr. W. W. Slye's Herd, ,...., Kirklevington and Fawsley descent. Amongst them will I descendants of the Ciarina, Duchess, Garland, Lady Spence STRAFFORD, 13, Euston Square, London, N.W. M' KlUliow, near Wlgton, Cumberland. IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. . STRAFFORD begs to intimate that he FRi; about FIPCY September 8 next, a r SHORTHORNS, Esq., that have been selected and bred with the greatest care frc been used Bulls of the first class. 17th Duke of Oxford (21; 00 from the famed Holker Herd, is now in service, and the you stock are chiefly by him. The animals will be found on inspection possess all the qualifications of high-bred Shorthorns; they ha quaJiVoTfle'sh", amTarel "a fiS°h"Sfthy breeding state ; ^ilj'such'th are well worthy the attention of purchasers of first-class Shorthorns. Catalogues, with Pedigrees, may be had on application Mr. FOSTER, KiUhow, near ^^igton, Cumberland ; or Mr. STRAFFORD, 13, Euston Square, London, N.W. Important to the Trade. EXTENSIVE SALE of WINTER FLOWERING HEATHS, EPACRIS, CYCLAMENS, TREE CARNATIONS, &c. MESSRS. PROTHEROE AND MORRIS a instructed by Mr. John Eraser to SELL by AUCTION Premises. The Nursery, Lea Bridge Road, L THURSDAY, September 2r, at it for 12 o'clock reserve, about 25,000 winter-blooming HEATHS, in vanous sizes, ana including the best varieties, viz. :-Tlyemalis Wilmoreana, gracilis, and gracilis vcmalis, grandinosa melanthera, regerminans, Sindriana, colorans, rubro-calyx, and others. 1000 EPACRIS, of the choicest kinds; 1000 AZALEA INDICA, by name ; about loco CYCLAMENS, CYTISSUS, ACACIyl y furnished w innots; a quantity of SOLAN UM CAPSl'CASTRUM, TREE CARNA'tlONS, LAPAGERIA ROSEA, and miscellaneous Greenhouse Plants, May be viewed ,' day prior to the Sale. Catalogs in ine I'rcmises. ana of the Auctioneers and Valuers. N.B.— Intending purchasers are respectfully invited f which is in the finest p Tooting, S.W. IMPORTANT SALE of EXTRA STOCK of STOVE and GREEN HOUSE PLANTS, rare ORCHIDS, choice FERNS, selcctei PALMS. &c. ESSRS. PROTHEROE and MORRIS will SELL M' o"ciock'pre° Surrey, on TUESDAY, September 26, a by order of Mr. R. Parker, without reserve, a large quantity ot extra stock of STOVE and GREENHOUSE PLANTS, rare ORCHIDS, choice FERNS, selected PALMS, hardy HERBACEOUS PLANTS, &c. Pull particulars next week. T ARGE SALE by AUCTION.— On I'ing days. Large Stock iciiuii of — ^ -'-'- Dover. NOTICE of SALE of the WELLINGTON NURSERY Adjoining PRIVATE RESIDENCE. "lyr ESSRS. WORSFOLD AND HAYWARD have D. Rich"dson,'Esq"°d™ksTd" to'^offe"'/"" SALE by" PUBLIC AUCTION, a; the Royal Oak Hotel, Dover, on TUESDAY, " Sale c ; afternoon (ir nd Charlton] Lotl blft"now''5ri'hand.°"'h?'H'ou?e, wh"ch'is fittid Residence, 111?'', Drawi 1 Borouph years, from October t0f^2IOS. old will be immediately put up in Two Lots as above. The Hoi lay be seen on application to the Auctioneers. Further particulars and conditions of Sale may be obtained of lessrs. WORSFOLD and HAYWARD, Auctioneers, Surveyors, nd Estate Agents, New Bridge, Dover; or of Mr. THOMAS Brockton House, Eccleshall, Staffordshire. MR. JOHN THORNTON will SELL by AUCTION, without reserve, on TUESDAY. September 12. at Brockton ENTIRE HERD of PURE BRED SHORT- - - numbers about Fifty ition with the late Mr. Bates being the best guarantee for their cellence and purity of descent. Among them will be found several the "Peach Blossom "(or Place), " Georgiana," and other fashion- . le tribes. The cows and heifers are in calf to Colonel Gunter's 8th Duke of York, and this celebrated young Bull will be offered at :ts reaigrces, may oe had ot mr. ut.I-1 or of JOHN THORNTON, 15, Lan, 1 Place, Extensive Sale of Pure-bred Shorthorns In LlncolnslilTe MR. JOHN THORNTON will SELL by AUCTION, without reserve, on THURSDAY, September i,. at Panton House, Wragby, Lincolnshire, the celebrated HERD of PURE-BKED SHORTHORNS, numbering about 100 Head, belonging to Messrs. Dudding. The success that has distinguished the Panton animals at the Royal, the Yorkshire, and County Shows, the old-established character used-Mr. f . C. Booth's Manfred (s6,8oi) and British Crown (21,322) being now in service— is the best evidence of the high standing ami excellence of the stonk, which contains a large number of cows and heifers of great substance and quality, as well as several prize winners, including some choice young bulls. '^— ilogues, with Pedigrees, may ingliam Place, London, W. ' JOHN THORNTON, NOTICE.— The SALE of the HERD of SHORTHORNS belonging 10 J. N. Beasley, Esq.. of Chapel Brampton, Northampton, announced to take place on FRIDAY, September 22, is UNAVOIDABLY POSTPONED. London, August 30, 1871. JOHN THORNTON. Mllcote, near Stratford-on-Avon. HIGHLY IMPORTANT SALE of the MILCOTE DOWN SHEEP. HUTCHINGS has been honoured with instruc- " " ' " " J. C. Adkins, Esq , to w. Adkins. for mai ?ht of lean meat and of wool, and ; urity. The rams will he brought f( s of the best Cots dence, call attention ) this bale ; and can assure Flockmasters that an entire Flock of such igh character is seldom offered to Unreserved Public Competition. Catalogues will be circulated in due course, and may be had of the .uctioneer, 28, Bridge Street, Stratfordon-Avon. Trains stop at Milcote Station as under:— From Paddington, ixford, Banbury, Leamington, Warwick, and Birmingham. 8 49 and 1. 18. From Paddington, Oxford, Moretoj, Evesham, and Worcester, Slirop Shire Sheep. ELFORD PARK. TAMWORTH MR. MAY'S IMPORTANT ANNUAL SALE of PURE-BRED SHROPSHIRE RAMS and EWES. MESSRS. LYTHALL and CLARKE inform the Breeders and Feeders of Blackfaced Sheep that they will SELL by AUCTION, at 2 o'Clock, on TUESDAY, September c, at Mr May's, Elford Park (Luncheon at i o'Clock). about FORTY First- ctass RAMS, and ONE HUNDRED large-sized healthy EWES and Elford Park i.; one mile from the Hasclour and Croxall Stations on 39, New Street, Shropshire Sheep. MESSRS. LYTHALL and CLARKE will SELL by AUCTION, at New House, Sutton Maddock, Shifnal, on FRIDAY^ September a next^ aj i o'Clock punctually (Luncheon at 12), reputation second to none among the Shropshires- It has secured the highest honours at the Royal Agricultural Society of England, the Birmingham, Smith- field Club, and numerous other important Shows, where no fewer than 130 prizes in plate, money, cups, and medals, have been awarded to it. 1 he leading Flockmasters have acknowledged its superior merits, and the last three Royal meetings have amply confirmed its value, by the Conveyances will meet trains at Shifnal and Coalport Static libuswillj' ■ "■■' ■ ■ K , ^ nmgham. HoUy Bank, near Burton-upon Trent. MESSRS. LYTHALL and CLARKE will SELL by AUCTION, on TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY, September 12 and 13 next, the ENTIRE FLOCK of THREE HUNDRED SHROPSHIRE SHEEP, including FORTY RAMS; the HERD of FIFTY HEAD of SHORTHORN CATTLE, several HORSES, PIGS. IMPLE- Wood, Esq., who ha Conveyances will i the Midland Railwai shire Railway. i Home Fan SALE. Poultrj', Cheese. &c Luncheon on Tues Luncheon on Wednesday at 10,30 ; Sale The Rams are of great siz " — " plenty of muscle. The Ewes are ren great scale, and verj- prolific. Among to the caref^ully bred ones belonging to the nock, high price from Messrs. Beach, Baker, Byrd, &c, The Dairy Stock are remarkably well bred, n four crosses of pure blood. They are of great size, rich colour, and good m The Young Stock are well worthy the attentit The Auctioneers can confidently recommend tl opportunity to any one desirous of founding : SWopshires or Shorthorn Herd. As Mr. Wood _ the South Stafford- Flock of Sheep. _ o'clock. excellent Wool Cullers, and possess will be found, in addition ny purchased at 3 I high-class Flock ( Shropshire Sheep. The THIRTEENTH GREAT CENTRAL SALE, HALL. BIRMINGHAM. MESSRS. LYTHALL and CLARKE will SELL by AUCTION, on THURSDAY, September 14 next, at rr o'clock punctually, TWO HUNDRED PURE-BRED SHROP- SHIRE RAMS, and SIX HUNDRED EWES, from the noted Flocks of The Right Hon: the Earl of Bradford. The Right Hon. Lord Wenlock. The Right Hon. Lord Sudeley. The Right Hon. Lord WIHoughby de Broke. Mrs. Beach. , Mr. S. C. Pilgrim. W. C. Firmstone, Esq. H. J. Sheldon, Esq. Mr. Lythall. C. Stubbs. Es Mr. Nock. ' Mr. Yates. And Others. The above will include Prize Rams and Ewes at tl other important Shows. P.S.— Further entries should be sent to the Aui September i. ALTRINCHAM AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.— The TENTH ANNUAL SHOW will be held on THURSDAY, September 28, when FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS and SILVER CUPS will be offered in PRIZES for Homed Cattle, Horses, Sheep, FORMS of ENTRY,. SE SEPTEMBER 13. PRIZE LISTS, will ' "--^ n application to the Secretary, R. DAVENPORT. R" SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1871. THERE are two ways of Growing Turnip and Mangel Seeds, a right and a wrong way, or, not to be dogmatical, there is a cheap and a more costly way. Seeds are grown for maket on the cheap plan, which, to say the least, we do not recommend. Good land is required for heavy crops, and the best for the purpose is 1 142 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 2, 1871. deep, rich alluvial soil, with a subsoil that becomes good top soil as soon as it is exposed. There is a tract of this kind of land and of strong loam resting on free chalk between Gravesend and Cliffe, on the banks of the Thames, where 300 acres of Turnip seed are sometimes grown on a single farm. In the market garden districts of Bedfordshire, by Biggleswade, Sandy, and adjoin- ing parishes, cheap seed growing is carried on, and there are small plots of Turnip and other seed, on all the little garden farms. We will mention one other district, the most famous of all. About 25 years ago a farmer tried the experiment of ploughing up some turf in Romney Marsh, which is, as our readers know, a deep deposit of mud, well drained, and forming some of the richest pasturage in England. The experiment was extremely suc- cessful. The soil proved " inexhaustible," yield- ing enormous crops of Turnip and IVlangel seeds, corn, Clover, and Potatos in constant succession, on the single condition that before corn could be grown, several crops of seeds should be taken to tame the soil. Romney Marsh has become one of the most famous cheap seed-growing districts. The crops of Turnip and Swede seed frequently exceed 40 bush., and those of Mangel 30 cwt. per acre. At 2d. per lb., 40 bush, of Turnip and i ton of Mangel would give nearly ^20 an acre in each case. Seeds, therefore, are grown wholesale at a very small cost ; but unfortunately they are grown from imperfect roots ; or rather they are not grown from roots at all, but from shreds of plants about the size of quills or radishes. In order to produce these parent plants, the seed is sown in seed-beds about the end of July ; and in November the wretched little biennials are pricked out in the fields ; except in the case of Mangel plants, which are more tender, though not too tender in the shred form to be wintered in sheltered seed-beds. They are pricked out in spring. In both cases an iron dibble is used, about as broad as a carving knife, and somewhat thicker. This tool is driven into the ground, the shred is lipped into the crevice, and is fastened by closing it with the blade, shifting it so as to squeeze the soil tightly to the plant. The little modicums, which cannot be called roots, are planted in rows about 30 inches apart. On soils that are both friable and strong they branch vigorously, and should be hoed early in spring to encourage them to do so. On hard land of insufficient strength, they are inclined to " run " prematurely, and instead of the ground being covered with a dense mass of haulm, self- supporting, and covered with seed-bearing pods, it is only half covered, and the stalks are then liable to be broken by the wind ; a weakly crop is also more liable to attacks of worm, and by the time the linnets and doves have taken their tithes, the grower's share is so small as to convince him by experience that the seeds cannot be profitably, grown from these little biennial shreds, except on suitable land. The degeneracy consequent on breeding from starved sheds is remarkable, though not more so than might be anticipated as the result of such a complete setting at defiance of the physio- logical laws relating to the reproductive sys- tem in plants. Assuming that the starved shreds are the offspring of full-sized roots, we should not expect the degeneracy to be very great in the first generation, though one would certainly choose seed from robust, well-grown roots, in preference to that from starved shreds. But, unfortunately, it is only certain painstaking seedsmen who are so careful as to supply their growers uniformly with " stock " seed. A very large quantity of seed is growii for the general market that is of shred-parentage in the second or third generations. Let such seed be sown by the side of honest seed, and an extraordinary difference in the weight and quality of the roots will be observed. Clear-skinned, firm, and sweet- fleshed, shapely bulbs, with a single tap- root, and not too much neck and leaf, with very few stragglers running to seed, will contrast with rough bulbs, fanged, stringy, and coarse, and evidently reverting to the primitive form of the sea-side Beet — a stout-stemmed, sprawling plant, with a wiry tap-root fixed in the sand ; or of the cliff Cabbage, or rather of some primeval Rape, from which the Turnip tribe may have de- scended. We leave this branch of seed-growing, and the biennial shred system, to those who may be interested in it. It is unnecessary to go further into the question of "How not to do it.'" Our: readers are fortunate if they cannot appeal to! their own experience, or to that of their neigh- bours, in confirmation of our view on the subject of cheap seed-growing. We will now give the details of a more approved practice, and endea- vour to show how seeds ought to be grown. Our first experience was with a Purple-topped Swede, originally selected by a friend more than 30 years ago. It may encourage young begin- ners, showing how attractive a fixed pursuit may become, if we mention that this gentleman, a large and very successful farmer, used sometimes to vanish from our side during the excitement of the chase, when the scent was warm and the game close at hand, for the purpose of marking a promising Swede that had caught his eye. Latterly there were comparatively few roots that wandered far from the selected l^pe, but we never sow a field of Purple-tops that did not contain some green and otherwise undesirable roots, showing the necessity for constant selection to obtain pure types, and the large quantity of bad breed (blood) that there must have been when the process of elimination commenced. With respect to the shape of roots we preferred them globular, or slightly wide shouldered with- out being flat at the crown, with half the bulb out of the ground and the other half buried, and good quality was indicated in the case of Swedes by firm, clear flesh, slightly tinged with pale yellow. Turnips for early folding may, however, be tankard shaped, standing far out of the ground, and Mangel may be long or oblong, instead of round. In the matter of shape the breeder should select good models and adhere to them. He can achieve any shape he pleases by a few years' selection. The principle to be observed in selecting parent roots, whether of Swede, Mangel, or any other kind, is to choose perfect specimens. They should be neither small nor overgrown, but sound, hard-fleshed, keeping roots, grown with- out too much artificial manure, or any other kind of forcing which may be supposed to injure their powers of keeping, or to impair their vitality. Swedes should be set up to their necks in the best spot that can be found for them, furthest from the refuge of birds. The best way is to dig them in with a spade a yard apart. A large farmer may obviate all risk of losing the seed by birds, &c., and get rid of the whole of the care, except that of selection, by contracting with one of his cottagers, delivering the roots to him and paying a liberal price for the seed. Mangel and Swede seed will cost about yi. per lb. in favour- able years. Mangels selected for seed must be kept through the winter without heating, and planted without blemish, early in March, in the same manner as the Swedes. Both should be set rather deeply, for protection, and they should be moulded up subsequently to support the haulm. Stakes and string may be used for the same purpose. We could give many examples of the advan- tages of growing seeds at home ; but it seems needless. We will only add that it is the only way to secure the best seed, inasmuch as the cost of cartage, &c., and two years' rent, prevents seeds " for market" from being grown from fair- sized roots. There was a better supply of Wheat at Mark Lane on Monday than for some time past, but though the attendance was good, there was a slow sale, at the previous Monday's rates. On Wednesday the tone of the market was steady, the demand healthy, and prices well maintained. At the MelropoUtan Cattle Market on Monday a small supply of English beasts, and a good demand, sent up the average of prices ; prime sheep also advanced, with a ready sale. On Wednes- day only the very choicest lots could attain to Monday's figures, the average for all others being lower. Referring to the PoT.\TO Disease in Ireland, die Irish Farmers' Gazette of Saturday says : — " In consequence of the conflicting reports which have appeared in different journals relative to the extent of disease in the Potato crop of this country, we addressed letters of inquiry to correspondents in various parts of Ireland. We may with safety say that, from the general tone of our reports, there is no reason at present to be apprehensive of what might be termed a failure of the crop. Very few reports speak despondingly, whilst the great majority are most favourable, and if the fine weather continue it will go far to check the disease where it has .already appeared. We attribute the cause of alarm which has been widely circulated to the blighted appearance of the stalks, the state of the tubers not being taken into account, and this opinion is confirmed by most of our correspondents from every part of Ireland." At the late Cheshire Quarter Sessions, Knutsford, Sir Harry Mainwakini;, in his charge to the grand jury, said he was sorry to inform them that the Foot and Mouth Disease had increased in the county during the hot weather with great rapidity. At the July sessions there were only eight animals under treatment in the county. There were now 581 under treatment. Pleuro-pneumonia seemed to be at a standstill, and there were at present only 10 cases under treatment. Captain Smith, the chief constable of the county, submitted to the court a return under the Contagious Diseases Acts, from which it appeared that from August 23, 1869, to August 5, 1S71, there were attacked with foot and mouth disease in Cheshire 31,699 anunals. Of that number 17 were killed for market, 30 for burial, 433 died, 30,637 recovered, and 582 remained under treatment. An OUR LIVE STOCK. CATTLE, breeder of Bates catde writes to us as follows : — ' ' While I yield to no one in my admiration for the genius which Mr. Bates displayed as a breeder, I cannot admit that no good blood existed outside his herd. Of the soundness of his general pnnciples there can be no doubt, and the correctness of his judgment has been fully vindicated by the ever increasmg value of the animals descended from his herd. He was, however, a man of strong prejudices, and doubtless not seldom viewed facts through a highly coloured lens, ft appears to me most injudicious at this time of day to revive the bitterness of bygone controversies, and especially to throw aspersions which admit of no proof on the honour of such men as Mason, Coates, &c. It would do immense harm to the Shorthorn cause if, on the authority of individual asser- tion, doubts were thrown on the authenticity of our first established pedigrees. Of such detraction there is no need— who can tell but that some future writer may attack the pedigrees of Mr. Bates? In my opinion the sooner such useless gossip is forgotten the better. Let us take the animals and their pedigrees as they have been delivered to us, and use them to the best of our judg- The coming week will witness three important Shorthorn sales in the North of England. Space precludes a lengthy notice of each of the herds in question, but m as few words as possible we may state that 33 females and 12 bulls, the property of the Duke of Devonshire, will be sold at Holker on the 6th ; that 19 females and 11 bulls, the property of Mr. W. W. Slye, will be disposed of on the 7th ; and that 52 females and 4 bulls, from the Killhow herd, will be offered on the 8th inst. The Holker catalogue com- prises II Wild Eyes, three Cleopatras, tracing firom Cleopatra by Earl of Dublin, and back to Young Wynyard (2S59), two Asias, 10 Blanches, direct descendants of iS/aKc/;(? by Belvedere ; eight Oxfords, going back to 2D DuKE OF Northumberland and Short Tail ; two representatives of Lally by Earl OF Derby, and the Countess of Barrington strain, besides Elviras and Minstrels, going back to Pheno- mena and Favourite and Hueback, which will give them grace, even in Mr. Bell's eyes. Sires inheriting the Ku-klevington blood of the highest merit have been used, such as the pure Bates bull. Lord Oxford (20,214), Grand Duke ioth (21,848), and Grand Duke 17TH (24,064). The stock are chiefly by these bulls, and Baron Oxford 4TH (25, 580), a son of the celebrated prize-winner, Zadv Oxford 5M. The Beau- mont Grange catalogue opens with Lady Sfencer 2d, by Grand Duke of Lancaster (19,883), of Chilton extraction, and further on we meet with her daughter by Barrington Oxford (25,607). The catalogue also contams some pedigrees of rare merit, including a few animals of Knightley descent crossed with Kirk- levmgton bulls, resulting in that favourite strain Bates upon Knightley ; others are closely allied to Royal wiimers, the dam of Duchess ^th (lot S), and Duchess lOth (lot 16), being own sister to the dam of Colonel Towneley's Baron Hueback, a winner at the Royal at Oxford, and Baron Hub- eack 2D, the 1st prize yearling at Wolverhampton. Among these we notice several descendants of Fair Francis by Sir Thomas Fairfax ; Red Duchesses going back to Hubback ; Duchesses descended from Cleveland Lad and Duke of Norfolk ; Charmers of Milcote extraction ; Lady Trcgunter Bates by the 2D Duke of Tregunter, and of the Lady Barring- ton blood ; Fawsley Duchess, combining Bates and Knightley in perfection ; and among the bulls a Grand Duke of Kent, a real Duchess bull, and Prince of Oxford, of the Gwynne blood. With reference to the I\illhow herd, we cannot do better than quote Mr. Strafford's remarks at the com- mencement of the catalogue, in which he informs us that the cattle are principally from the renowned herds of Lord Penrhyn, Sir Curtis Lampson, Bart., Messrs. Bowly, Howard, Leney, Rich, Slye, and other eminent breeders, and comprise specimens of the much-admired "Blanche," "Carolina," "Charmer," "Cleopatra," " Fillet," " Florenti.a," " Gwyime," " Surmise," "Sweetheart," and "Ursula" families, with other good and favourite sorts. The sires of these are of the highest breeding and character; six of the lots are by 7TH Duke of York (i7,754). one of the most remarkable sires of modem days ; the Duke of Devonshire's IOTH Grand Duke (21,848), 14TH Duke of Oxford (21,605), bred at Holker, and Royal Cambridge (25,009), from Moss September 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 143 Rose by 4TH Grand Duke (19,874), are each the sire of four lots ; whilst others are by 2D Duke of Col- LINGHAM (23,730), 2D DUKE OK CLARO (21,576), 3D Duke of Claro (23,729), 2D Duke oe Thorndale (17,748), Grand Duke 13TH {21,850), Duke of Geneva (19,614), 9TH Grand Duke (19,879). Lord bxFORD 2D (20,215), May Duke (13,320), Touch- stone (20,986), Knightley (22,051), and other valu- able and weU-known bulls. Several of the young stock are by 17TH Duke of Oxford (25,994), bred by his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, and the cows and heifers are chiefly served by this very superior bull. On the 25th ult. the well-known Castle Grove herd of Shorthorns, the property of J. G. Grove, Esq., was sold by Mr. John Thornton. We have previously noted the fact that the herd consisted of eight families — all of Booth origin : this told in the sale, for, though the company attending it was Umited, the results were excellent, as will be seen by referring to the prices realised. The cattle were in good healthy condition, and had been running out night and day. The cows were of great substance, rich colour and fine hair ; and throughout the herd there was great uniformity and evemiess of character. Fourteen animals of the " Fame " tribe averaged ^139 2s. -jd. ; four of the " Lady Sarah" tribe averaged £ 143 6j-. 61/. ; and three of the " Cam- panula" tribe averaged ^196. We have only space to particularise a few of the prices made : Thus, the very fine Norman I.ady by Sir Roger (16,991), went to Mr. J. Downing for 200 gs. , and the great milker and good breeder Cinderella by Sir James (16,980), went to Mr. J. Whyte for 270 gs. The Rev. T. Staniforth secured Hyacinth by British Crown (21,322), for 305 gs., Gertrude by Sir James (16,980), for 70 gs., and Lady of the Manorhy British Crown, for 260 gs. Mr. H. Aylmer secured Ringlet by British Crown (21,322) for 280 gs. ; and Northern Lady, by the same bull, became the property of Mr. R. Jefferson, at 170 gs. Countess and Maid of the Mist, both by The Sutler (23,061), fetched, the former 310 gs., and the latter 255 gs. Cynosure, a grand calf, by Great Hope (24,082), went to Mr. E. J. Smith for 110 gs. Among the bulls we note the acquisition by Messrs. Dangar, Grant & Co., of Commander by The Sutler (23,061), a very fine bull, of great character, for 93 gs. ; Cato, a square, good calf, by Great Hope (24,082), went to the Rev. J. Micklethwait for 86 gs. ; and another of Great Hope's progeny, Counseller (calved June 9), sold to Mr. G. Allen for 42 gs. But for the complete list we refer to the annexed Table : — Name of Animal. Cmvs and Heifer Coquelle Ciioulellc .. Collcenettc .. Rosalie Nmtseftsc Vanity Ruth Lady Martha Patieticc Ruth -Lbth . . Gertrude Cinderella .. Vaudroille .. CItsmisette . . Ruth jSth .. Hyacinth Gay Lass . . Nicety Ruth^id .. Northern La^iy Novelty Purity Nefentlte Lady of the Manor Ruth :i^lh .. Maido/lheMUt .. Noteworthy . . Ruth i^th .. Cantiniern .. Va'^i'lUi' '.'. '.'. Nemesis Lady of the Vallty May.' \■&^^ Not offered. Mr. T. Rose. Mr. W. Barnes. Mr. E, J. Smith. Rev. T. Staniforth. Mr. E. K. Cox. ArchbishopBeresford. Mr. D. Mesham. Mr. R. Jeff'erson. Mr. T. Lindsay. Mr. H. Aylmer. Messrs, T. & J. McElderry. Mr. W. Barnes. Rev. T. Slainforth. Ciitskell. Mr.' ]'. Do Mr, E, J. Smith. Earl of Castlestuart. Mr. R. M. Gumbleton Mr. W. Barnes. Messrs. Dangar, Grant & Co. Mr. S. Watt. Me.ssrs, F. & T. McElderry, Mr. J. R. Boyd. Earl of Caledon. Rev. J. Mickle- \ animals averaged .£99 9 9 The sale of the late Mr. Barnes' Shorthorns took place at Westland, Kells, Ireland, on the 25th ult. The cattle were suffering from foot-and-mouth disease, and many of them were almost too lame to walk. They were consequently in poor condition, and yet such is the esteem in which the blood is held, that The sale commenced with Mcdora, which was sold to Mr. T. Rose, of Wymondham, Norfolk, for 31 gs. The three daughters of The Nuji, Speranza by British Flag, Brilliant, and Bright Eyes by Ravenspur (20,628), were sold for 58, 81, and 80 gs. respectively. Grand Duehess ^d, by Royal Sovereign, and out of Grand Duchess by Mr. Bolden's Grand Duke 30, g.d. Sylph, of the Booth Mantalini tribe, was sold to Mr. E. J. Smith, Islanmore, ca Limerick, for 220 gs. ; Bracelet by Royal Duke (25,014), and also of the Mantalini family, became Mr. J. Downing's at 310 gs. ; Necklace by King Richard (26,523), and of the same Bates upon Booth cross, was sold for 325 gs. to Mr. G, Allan, for 325 gs. ; Brunette by King Richard, and a daughter of Brilliant, lot 4, was sold to Mr. J, White, of Aberdeen, for 105 gs. Then came th( crack of the day, in Mantalini by King Richard. ^,.Az.m Alpine hy British Prince, g.d. Sylph, of the " Mantalini " tribe, by Hopewell. This pure Booth yearling heifer was sold at the extraordinary price of 750 gs. to Mr. W. Bolton, of The Island, Wexford, Richard's Rose, another of King Richard's stock, was bought by Mr. A. Ashworth, Bolton, Lan. cashire ; and the remaining heifers sold, with one excep' tion, at from 50 to 80 gs. In the buU sale White Duke was secured by Mr. George Atkinson, of Sea- ham, for 170 gs., and Favourite by Royal Prince. and a grandson of Grand Duchess by Grand Duke 3D (16,182), became Mr. H. C. P. Cell's property 190 gs. A summary and price list is appended, these .sales it is curious to notice the much high price given for the uncrossed Mantalini heifer than for Necklace with the Bates cross, but it is also worthy of attention that the union of the two families should be so highly valued as in the case of the last-named heifer At this time, when we are being astonished by the statement that 99 out of the 100 entries in Coate's Herd Book should never have been made, and that the only Shorthorns are those with the HuEEACK blood in their veins, it is curious to find 750 gs. given for a heifer without such an " all essential" cross. Name of Animal. Cmvs and Heifers. 1862 Giftsth SJ^eranza. '^\ Brilliant .S65 Bright Eyes .. .. 1865 GrSoutluss 3/.'. fS& Isabella Ravenspur 1866 Eye Bright 1S67 Minerva 1867 BrigluDuclless '.'. '.'. Royal Rose .863 \i6g af/""".'" :: :: Bracelet 1869 Isaletla Royal 1869 ^1^ :: :: :: ;^§ Brunette 1869 Mantalini Mar., 1870 S,.-eetn:ent Jan.. 1870 Ricluzrd's Blossom Richard's Rose . Woodbine Richards Maid . . Maid of IVcstland Sovereign Princ Lord Ross . . April, 1870 April, 1870 April, 1871 April, 1871 April, 1871 Mr. J. F. Bomford, Kells, Hon. J. Massy. Mr. J. F. Bomford. Mr. R. ReynelL Mr. H. Smith. Mr. J. Downing, Aahfteld, Fermoy. Mr. A. S. Montgo- Mr. A.'Metcalfe. Mr. G. AUan, Co. Mr. 1. \Vhite, Aber- Mr, W. Bolton, The Ir, D. Neasham, Darlington, It. E. J. Smith. Ir. J, B, Booth. Ir. A, Ashworth. R. Reyn. Mr. H. Kerwan. R. G. Cosby. Mr. R. Rcynell. ■- J. Doran. jRAAf SALES, &-c. Shropshires. — Mr. R. H. Masfen's sale of Shropshire sheep took place at Pendeford. The stock comprised 60 superb Shropshire rams, and about 100 Shropsliire stock ewes, all in capital condition, and the auctioneer was Mr. W. G. Preece. Sufficient time having been allowed for an inspection of the stock, the visitors were invited to partake of luncheon, which had been pro- vided, as usual, in first-class style, in a large marquee erected on the ground, over which Mr. Horley presided. At the conclusion of the repast, the company adjourned to the ring fence outside, where Mr. Preece briefly noticed the merits and special excellencies of the animals he had been entrusted to dispose of, relying chiefly upon the high reputation which this particular breed of sheep has maintained during a period of more than a quarter of a century. The selling of the rams was then commenced, the bidding for many of the larger animals being very spirited. The following are the names of the principal buyers, and the prices : — No. I, Preserver, a magnificent animal, Mr. Coxon, 29 gs. ; No. 3, Noble, 30 gs., Mr. Sanday, of Holm Pierrepoint ; No. 4, Marcus, 28 gs., Mr. G. Wilkes, of Knowle ; No. 5, Comus, 23 gs.; Mr. Horley ; No. 7, My Lord, 25 gs. , the agent of Sir John Chetwode ; Nos. 9 and 24, the agent for Lord Hatherton, 13 gs. and ii gs. respectively; No, 10, Chieftam, 23 gs., Mr. S. Leather, of Delamere Forest, Cheshire; No. 11, Rupert, 32 gs., Mr. For- rester, of High Ercall, Wellington ; he also purchased a second ram. No. 50, for 9 gs. ; Nos. 13 and 16 were purchased by Mr. Civis for 1 5 gs. and 7 gs. respectively ; No. 14, shearling, and 7 2-shear, at 11 and 10 gs. each, Mr. Briggs, of Halford ; No. 20, The Captain, 16 gs., agent for Mr. Jukes, of Cotwall, Wellington ; the same purchaser also bought a second ram. No. 29, for 7 gs. ; Nos. 26 and 27 at 20 gs. and 16 gs. respec- tively, were purchased by the agent of Mr. John Peel, of Middleton ; No. 28, Nobleman, the Rev. B. Botfield, of Decker Hill, 16 gs. ; No. 31 was bought for the Earl of Macclesfield ; No. 33, Noble Boy, and No. 3, a 2-shear, were purchased for the Earl of Beresford's farm in Ire- land, and three others were bought by the agent of Lord Wenlock, to be sent likewise to improve the breed in the sister country ; No. 49, The Colonel, was let for 20 gs., to Mr. T. Mansell, of Adcott ; No. 6, a 2-shear, was purchased by Mr. H. Rogers, of Wolgarstone, for 13 gs. ; No. 8, The Baron, and 32, The Peer, bought for 20 gs., by the agent of Mr. H. C. Vernon, of Hil- ton ; No. 46, a shearling, and No. 8, 2-shear, knocked down for 20 gs. to Mr. Webster, of Bishton Hall, near Albrighton. Of the other older rams. No. i, Rob Roy, a 2-shear, was let to Mr. John Crane, of Shrewardine, for 30 gs. ; No. 2, The Monarch, was purchased by the agent of Archdeacon Clyde, for 16 gs. ; No. 4, Conqueror, bought by Mr. Booth, of Audley, for 12 gs. ; No. 5, Cantab, let to Mr. Wall, of Shustock, near Coleshill, for 21 gs. ; No. 47, was also let for 8 gs. to Mr. Bradburne, of Pipe Place, near Lichfield, who was likewise the purchaser of the highest priced ewes. The remaining rams were knocked down at prices varying from 13 to 5 gs., at which latter price four were sold, to the following purchasers : — Messrs. Taylor, Robinson, Gresty, Morrey, Croydon, Rotchell, Lowe, F. Keeling, Yates, H. Lovatt, Nock, Harris, G. Keeling, Bennett, Brown, Snaresdon, of Leicestershire ; Nevett, and C. F. Clark. The ewes were next brought forward, and a most superb lot they all were. They were brought into the ring in lots of five. Lot 1 was purchased by Mr. Stubbs, of Preston Hill, for the remarkably good price of £^ each. Lot 2 was, however, superior both in form and build, and after some spirited bidding they were secured by Mr. Bradburne, of Pipe Place, near Lichfield, at the price of/ 6 5J. each. The remaining lots were disposed of as follows : — Lot 3, at 87J. 6(/. each, Mr. Milward, of Thurgarton Priory, Notting- ham ; lot 4, 82J. 6d. each ; lot 11 (E. Bradburne), io5j-. each ; lot 12 (the Rev. B. Botfield), 90J. each ; lots 14 and 16 were purchased by Mr. Griffiths, of Tillington, for 65^-. and 75J-. each respectively; lot 15, Mr. Bennett, for 75^-. each ; and lots 17 and 18, by Mr. Gresty, for 65,?. each. The average price realised by the rams was ,^13 7^. 5o Mr. Fowler (Whit ) Mr. Harris (Donnington), at £s and ysj. (of Herefordshire), for 8cw., yzr. 6*/., and 1 (Cackham).at 67s. 6rf. : Mr. J. Wyatt (Nul 6as. : Mr. Sparkes (Wittering), 31631. ; Mr. and Mr. Disbi TW0.VEAH-( 1 Mr. Fooke! Gibson, 84?. ; Mr. Homer fAtthillhampton), '60s. : Mr. G. Pittis (Wymenng), 755. ; Mr. ' ' ' ; and Mr. Whitcher (Stoughton), 65*. Mr Woodbridge at 621. 6d. ; to Mr. Stone [Lancing), 67J. 6d. ; and Mr. Whitcher (Stoughl R. H. Ellman ILandport). 67J. 6d. and'e-is. 6d. : Mr. Fookes, 72S. : Mr. S. Beard (Rottingdean), 75J.and 6ys. 6d. ; Mr. Green, 72J. Sd. Lots of 12 were bought by Mr. Gorham at 701., a ' Mr. Disbury, 6js. dd. Three-vear-old Ewes.— Lots of five 6-tooth ewes w, bought by Mr. Carew Gibson at 90J. and 77J. Sd. ; Mr. Fowl 85J. : Mr. Fookes, 8c.i. ; Mr. Dearling (Dodsworth), 75^ ; 3 Mr. Padwick (Thomey), 70J. Lots of 10 were bouj>ht by 1 idwick (Thomey), 70J. ■ at 701. ; Mr. T. Harris, 751. ; Mr. G. Drewltt (OVing), ■ : Mr. S •■ '■ istdean sheep, , Boi ■ p. No. 6, son ■ by No. 9, a grandson of T. Ellman's No. 16, Mr. Stone, isi gs. ; 7. by No. 9, Mr. Styers, 174 gs. ; 11, by lot 79 ■ ■ ■ • grandson of Mr T. Ellman's l4o. 2, Mr. Richards, Wimbourne, 15 gs. ; 13. by No. 6, a Westdean sheep, son of •lo. 10 from Goodwood, Mr. Hodson, West Blatchington, ligs. ; 14, by do., Mr. Ashby, Eastdean, near Lewes, 16 gs. ; 5, by do., Mr. Elliot. Houghton, 13 gs. : 17, by do., Mr. Tick- ler, 20 gs. ; 18, by lot 64, son of No. lo from Goodwood, Mr. Hipkin, 15 gs.; 19, by No. 10, from Mr. J. Pinnix, Walderton, Mr. Homer, 28^ gs. ; 20, by do., Mr. Fookes, 20 gs ; 21, by do., Mr. Whicher, Stoughton. isigs.: 24, by No. 10, a Goodwood iheep, Mr. Ashby, 23 gs. ; 25, by do., Mr. Hodson. 14J gs. ; 26, jydo., Mr. R. H. Ellman, 15 gs. ; 27, by a Westdean sheep, Wr. Hodson, 19 gs. ; 28. by do., Mr. Richards, 15 gs.; 20, by )io. 10, a Walderton .sheep. Mr. Richards, i6j gs : 30, by No. 8, I Westdean sheep, son of No. 10 from Goodwood. Mr. Ashby, 30 gs. ; 31, by No. 3, a Westdean sheep, son of No. 10 from Goodwood, Mr. T. Harris, iii gs. ; 33, by No. 10, a Walderton sheep, Mr. Fookes, 18 gs.; 36, by Tot 64, son of No. 10 from - ■ - Mr. Woods. 20 gs. t-OLD Rams. — Lot 37, by 64. son of No. 10 from Mr. Barclay, 44^ gs. ; 38, son of lot 70, a Walderton -. ritenning Beard, 4 gs. ; 39, son of No. 10 from Good- . Carew Gibson, 524 gs. ; 41. do.. Mr. Wheeler, 174 ,0., Mr. Fookes. 20 gs. ; 43, do., Mr. Parlett. Bury, 15 do., Mr. King, Westburton, i8i^ gs. ; 45, do., Mr. J. • gs. ; 46, do., Mr. Tickner, 15^ gs. ; 47. do., Mr. J. Saxby, 14^ gs. ; 48, do., Mr. Ashby, 29 gs. ; 49, by No. Westdean sheep. Mr. S. Beard ■ ■ ^ , „ . .'by ^10?% from Goodwood, Mr. Tickner, 13 gs. ; 53, do., I gs. : 54, do., Mr. Wheeler, 18 gs. ; 55, by No. 3, son of No, from Goodwood, Mr. Woodbridge, 15} gs. ; 56, do., Mr. Woe s. ; 58, do., Mr. Saxby, 14 gs. ; 63, by "' "'' ' p, Mr. Davis, i^i gs. ; 64, by No. 10 fi Clark, from the Duke'of RIcl 24jgs. ; 66, by son of T. Elln Woods, . Walderton Goodwood, Mr. do., Mr. Green, : No. 2, Mr. Barclay, 14 gs. Lincolns. — The celebrated flock of long^vool Lincoln rams, belonging to Mr. C. Clarke, of Scop- , was submitted to public competition on Thurs- day week by the Messrs. Briggs. Notwithstanding the favourable weather, considerably more than a hun- dred of the leading ram-breeders and agriculturists of :ounty attended the sale, and numbers of buyers were also present from Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. The sheep were not in show condition, but their quality and symmetry were undeniable. The pick of the lot was undoubtedly lot 39, a magnificent 2-shear, which, after a spirited competition, fell to the bid of Mr. T. Kirkham, of Biscathorpe (who used him last year), at 150 gs. There were 33 shearlings. Mr. Byron secured No. 7, for ^^38 I7r. ; Mr. Clarke, Ashby, No. 9. a grand sheep, with beautiful coat, and a splendid mover, for £,6^ ; and Mr. Lister, No. 22, for ^■49 ^s. Mr. C. Clarke, Ashby, became the fortunate possessor of No. 43 (a magnificent 2-shear, with nice coat and beautiful flesh), for;£'65 2s.; the following lot was knocked down to Mr. Kemshall at £^2 ; and Mr. Banyard secured lot 58, the last of the 2-shears, at a like figure. The 3-shear and aged sheep were wonderfully good, the best in a prime lot falling to the bid of Mr. J. H. Caswell at ^89 5.f. Mr. Paddison, of Ingleby, bought lot 61 for £b^ 4?. ; Mr. Smith secured lot 59 for £4() 4?., and two others were each knocked down at ^31 lOr. each. Sixty-nine sheep were offered, and one was withdrawn, the 69 realising an aggregate of ;^i639 llr. bd., being an average of ^^^23 15^-. \d. The 33 shearlings averaged £\i) iSi. (>d. ; the 25 2-shears, £2^ 2s. ; and the II 3-shear and aged sheep reached the extraordinary average of ;ii32 13^. <)d. Mr. Green, 75^. and ; Mr. Wood- f Dacre), 67J. 6rf. Full-mouthed Ewes.— Lots of five were sold to Mr. Green at £^ 101. ; Mr. Woods (Crows Hole), 16 : Mr. Woodbridge, ^5 5S. : Mr. Stone, 771. 6rf. ; Mr. Disbury, 70.1. ; Mr. Carew Gibson, £<^ 5J. Lots of 10 were bought by Mr. Fookes at . 6rf. ; Mr. Porter (Foxholt), 721. 6rf. and 7or. ; Ml ■ ■ ' , ; Mr. Deal lew, 671. 6d. an (for Lord Dacre), ^os. ; Mr. Woodbridge, 651. ; Mr. Stone. 671. 6rf. Bird (Sutton), at 77J. 6d. ; and Mr. Dearling; Yearling Rams.— Lot i, a yearling ram, by a son of No. 10, a Goodwood sheep, Mr. T. Cooper, Norton, 32 gs. ; 2, Mr. Dearling, 70J. 6r. ; Mr. Davi! six were bought 1 arling at 6-js. bd. PARASITISM IN RUMINANTS. upon our food-pro- 1 reside in them, from ered before 'the Society of Arts, by T. Spencer Cobbold. M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., may not be unacceptable to In the further pursuance of our plan, I propose this evening to give you an account of the common liver fluke, which takes up its residence in the sheep. At the same time, we shall have an opportunity of inci- dentally referring to other allied forms. I have already stated that the flukes constitute a distinct and natural group of entozoa, termed " tre- matodes," or flat-worms. For the most part they reside in the ruminants, but some of them attack other quadrupeds, and also man himself. The liver-ducts of the ox and sheep constitute their head-quarters, so to speak. If you glance at this list, representing the entire parasitic fauna, in each case you will see that a con- siderable variety of flukes occupy these two hosts. The first entozoon, or Fasciola hepatica, is the form which we have to deal with especially, this species being common to the ovine and bovine quadrupeds. Fortunately, it is an extremely rare parasite in man, only 18 instances being on record of its having been found in the human host, but far otherwise is it with the ox and sheep. Now, what sort of a creature is Without going into the anatomical details of the fluke itself, we must now glance at one of the most intricate points connected with the study of ento- zoology. The eggs of the fluke are large— very large indeed — when compared with those of other forms of parasites. The eggs of the common tapeworm mea- sure no more than the i-7ooth of an inch in diameter, and will, it has been said, pass through an ordinary charcoal filter. The eggs of the fluke, however, are so large that they measure as much as i-iSoth of an inch lengthways. These eggs are scattered over the field by millions, passing from the hosts or bearers in a way which it is quite easy for you to understand without its being particularly described. When thus scattered, they require for their further development a certain amount of moisture. A good shower of rain is, of all agencies, the one thing needful in their favour ; for the rain carries them down into ditches, and streams, and lakes, and into other artificial or natural collections of water, where the further development of their contents will be rapidly accomplished. Consider, I pray you, what takes place when an egg is conditioned in a manner suitable to its further development. The egg is furnished with a lid, so that when moisture is supplied, this part forming the anterior pole of the shell, rises up and a locomotive animalcule immediately emerges from its interior. This little creature is furnished with a dense covering of vibratile cilia, and it swims about with extraordinary rapidity. Let me tell you that I have frequently experimented with the eggs of certain flukes, and it is really a beauti- ful and instructive sight to watch the behaviour of these minute organisms as they disport themselves, darting across the field of the microscope with astonishing activity. But they do not long retain the simple ovoid form assumed within the shell. They change into a conical figure, the larvje of the common fluke bearing a mark, in the shape of a cross, on its back. This pig- ment spot has been called an eye, but whether it sees or not with this organ is quite another matter. The spot consists of a number of minute granules collected together. I have not seen this spot in any of the other forms of trematode larva; which I have examined. What is the subsequent history of our fluke ? For years past ento-zoologists — abroad and at home — have been trying to work out the genetic relations of the common species ; but I fear we have not yet succeeded in fixing all the phases through which it passes. It is a difficult subject to make clear ; nevertheless, by putting together the changes which obtain in other forms of fluke larvae, we are enabled pretty accurately to determine the phases of life-changes which these creatures undergo. At the risk of being a little tedious, I will now endeavour to open out the principal data by which our definitive conclusions have thus far been arrived at. Speaking of flukes generally, the ciliated larva loses its cilia, and at the time of the decay or falling ofT of the cilia another small body is observed inside the original ciliated larva. This secondary body, or juvenile organ- ism, grows rapidly at the expense of the primary larva. The little organism inside— you may call it the germ if you please — increases in size until it assumes a form similar to that of the original. The odd thing is, that it has no sooner arrived at this stage of development than another organism appears in its interior ; so that we have the ciliated animalcule producing a germ in its interior, the germ itself increasing in size, until it becomes what we call a germ-sac. First a germ, and then a germ-sac. Now, the germ-sac developes within itself numerous other larvae. These again, on emerging from the sac, become what is termed a redia, and the still stranger thing is, that these redise develope other larvae inside themselves. This process is essentially a kind of budding, only, instead of being carried on out- side, as in a plant, it is produced internally. We have, therefore, you perceive, two kinds of sacs, simple and organised, or, in other words, sporocysts and rediae. 'in many of the flukes those germ-sacs contain in their interior an enormous number of buds, and the buds again, in their turn, during certain favourable seasons, go on multiplying, practically speaking, ad infinitum. One cyst will thus form a series of new gei-m-sacs, and these also will multiply indefinitely. Notice, however, if you please, that in the case of the redia, which is only a more highly organised form of germ-sac, the larvte developed in its interior have a different form from any of those proceeding from the simple, original, unorganised germ-sacs. They are furnished with tails, and are termed cercariae. I must also tell you that all kinds of sacs, whether simple or compound in character, are collectively tenned nurses. When, therefore, I use the term nurse, I mean some kind of sac which contains larval flukes in its interior. The redia has a structure something like the adult fluke, for there is a sucker and a mouth at its base, leading into the stomach, which is a simple unbranched tube or cavity. In the history of the larval development of flukes, the cercariae play a most conspicuous part, and it is they that are chiefly concerned in bringing about the epidemics of rot. You, doubtless, understand that the ' rot is an endemic disorder, produced entirely by the Fasciola hepatica. When this highly-developed form of nurse, termed the redia, bursts, the cercarise are liberated, and, escaping into the water, they swim about with great rapidity. But my hearers will say, " You have not told us where the larvs dwelt whilst all these changes took place?" My reply is, "They were for the most part ensconced in the bodies of water snails belonging to the well-known genera, Lymneus, Paludina, Planorbis, and their allies." Some of the cercarian forms are vei7 peculiar. The true cercariae have no eyes, but the larvx of certain kinds of flukes have visual organs. Thus, the larvae of certain Polystomata, of Monostomata, and also of Tristomata have eyes. " But," you will say, " what is the meaning of all this ? " I shall endeavour to explain the point immediately, but I have scarcely done with September 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1 145 other matters, which I must make clear before pro- ceeding further. I have said that during certain seasons the larva: are much more prevalent than at others. Atmospheric changes involve the reproduction of a greater nun at one season than at another. In point of fact, only does a favourable season increase the number of these larval forms, but it increases the degree of thei organisation. It is a strange thing, but it is neverthe less perfectly true, that if the heat be excessive, and there be abundance of moisture, the number and character of the larvae will be altered accordmgly. Speaking generally, it may be said, in short, that under these atmospheric and other favourable a peculiar conditions, one germ-sac may become thousand, and this thousand may produce other thousands; and all these collectively will finally involve, if the season is prolonged, the products innumerable forms of cercarire. So extraordinary are some of these larv«, that in the case of the form termed Bucephalus polymorphus, the creature is furnished with two tails. There i: something yet more remarkable about this Bucephalus, The head and body will develope into a fluke like ar ordinary cercarea, whilst the tail, which presents : beaded or jointed appearance, developes in its interioi a large number of larvae. Every joint, in fact, becomes, as it were, a nurse, developing in the interior new germ- sacs ; these latter, again, in their turn, being capable of producing Bucephali. Thus the tail of the animal i; a concatenation of germ-producing sacs, whose develop- mental phenomena are practically without a limit. I dare say you may think I have made the subji ■appear sufficiently complicated, but what I have said is, in truth, not half the story, for not only do the larvre of flukes undergo these various changes, but the nurses themselves will split up into several other nurses, and all these divisions will go through the same t formations, after the manner I have described. Then you will say, "What of the snails?" Well, it is very difficult to generalise on so complicated a subject ; but I think, with the aid of Dr. Pagenstecher, who has written a valuable monograph on this subj^ one can advance a certain number of statements which are true, even though they may not embrace all the data we should like to collect before making definitive propositions. As a rule, one larval fluke will only select one moUuscan host. You know the ultimal destiny of nearly all these larvce of the common fluke is to arrive in the sheep or the ox, as the case may be. They have to pass a part of their time sojourning in the territory of snails. We call the snails the inter- mediary bearers, because they supply a habitat between the free condition, when the larvK swam about, and the ultimate bearer, which is the sheep or ox. It is usually the prerogative of the snail to have its own particular set of larvae, belonging to one species ; but that is not invariable, for some of the snails will harbour a limited number, two, three, four, or five, and, I think, as many as six in one case. However, at least three or four juvenile trematodes may be found in one kind of snail. Having traced their development as far as the cer- carian stage, what is the final outcome ? The cercaria developed inside the snail makes its way out into the water, and swims about in a perfectly independent fashion. And here a slight difficulty presents itself, for some have supposed that they went back again into the snails, others maintaining that they remained in the water until they were swallowed by the sheep or ox drinking. It is quite clear that in many cases the flukes are conveyed to their hosts as actively swimming cercariiE ; but it is also extremely probable that many forms of fluke larvce are passively transferred to their ultimate bearers whilst occupying the bodies of molluscs or other aquatic intermediary bearers. Our great desire has been to find out what particular species of snail plays the part of intermediary host to the larval form which developes into the common fluke. Manifestly, if you or I were in a position to say " that is the culprit," pointing out a particular Lymneus, Paludina, Planorbis, Succinea, or other species of mollusc, we might put a stop to outbreaks of rot by getting a number of children to collect and destroy all the snails of the particular species thus known to act in the capacity of intermediary bearers. But this is the very thing we have not deen able to find out. Statements, it is true, have been put forward by some persons to the effect that they have discovered the snail which harbours this larva ; and they will tell you that it is the little mollusc called Succinea putris. This little mollusc is peculiar in many respects. In the first place, it cannot hide itself altogether within its shell. It is seldom seen in the water. It goes to the very brink of ditches, ponds and rivers, being an inhabitant of marshy grounds, where there is plenty of moisture. Never being away from such localities, it is exactly the kind of snail in which you would naturally expect to find the particular cercarian form we have so long been looking for. As regards epidemics of rot amongst sheep, it is notorious that they occur principally in the spring ; and you may get a notion of the extraordinary amount of disease which is induced by this parasite, when I state that every year hundreds of sheep are destroyed by it. During certain years, indeed, tens and hundreds of thousands of sheep are cut off. Thus, in our own country, the injurious effects of this parasite were most clearly exhibited during the epidemic of 1S30 and 1831, when between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 sheep perished from the rot disorder. In the year 1812, in the neighbourhood of Aries, in France, 300,000 sheep perished ; and, in 1S24, an epidemic occurred in the Isle of Thanet. So severe was this local outbreak, that Mr. Cramp, a sheep farmer on a large scale, lost ;^3000 worth of sheep in less than three months. It has been observed that cattle, sheep more par- ticularly, are only affected when grazing in low pastures. And the reason of this is obvious ; for since the larvEe can only get access to snails residing in such localities, the sheep in like manner can only be infected by devouring the snails and the parasitic larvse frequenting these situations. Consequently, as is well known, when the slightest symptom of the disorder appears, if the sheep are removed from the marshes to high ground, the disorder is at once checked. The sheep soon recover, unless they happen to have swallowed a large number of the larva;. Everybody who has to do with cattle and sheep, is familiar with the appearances presented by animals thus affected. Even butchers' boys can tell a rotten sheep, as they call it. They examine the eye, and find that it has lost its lustre ; whilst there is a peculiar paleness about the membrana nictitans. The con- junctiva loses its ordinaq; bright colour, and the vessels contain a fluid which, instead of being a bright red hue, is pale and watery. There are, also, many other characteristic indications. I have myself repeatedly tested sheep for flukes by simple manipulation. If you run your fingers or thumb down the spine of a rotten sheep, it winces when you come to the region of the loin. Another matter of some interest is, as to how these animals should be treated. Not only should they be removed from moist localities and placed on high and dry ground, but they should also have cereals mixed with their ordinary food. Peas, Beans, and other seeds of that nutrient class, should be given witli grass, taken from uninfected districts ; whilst, speaking generally, the animals should be kept apart from all other influ- ences calculated to promote the disorder. ROASTED TURF. Where any process has been found beneficial to the garden it is quite right that it should be turned over to the farm, and although the greater extent of the farm prevents many gardening processes from being applied, yet there are some of such immense importance that they should be handed over to the agricultural side at the earliest opportunity. In large towns, such as Manchester, the sawdust formerly wasted is now economised by being used in stables to absorb urine, and thus convey in the solid form that richest part of the manure direct to the land, for the sawdust holds it with such a firm grasp that nothing less than the earth itself can get the filth out of it, and sawdust being a vegetable substance, the com- post of sawdust and urine makes an excellent manure ; but I need scarcely remark that the bulk of sawdust available bears no proportion to the need of it in this way in all the cow byres, pigsties, stables and privies where watery manure is made, and it becomes therefore necessary to get an absorbent material in bulk suffi- cient for the occasion. Gardeners and florists have their various compost heaps, and mix the ingredients with great precision — silver-sand, turfy loam, sandy peat, leaf-mould, stable dung well rotted, and the like. Many years ago one of the crack composts for the florists' Carnations was turfy loani roasted, and for small concerns a few sods could easily be roasted over an iron plate laid upon three brick props, having a fire of wood or of cinders underneath. During the process of roasting, wireworms and the like were destroyed, and the turves became more or less impregnated with the wood smoke, and this was more particularly the case when the turves were roasted on a large scale in circular hollow piles, about the size of haycocks, with a fire of faggot-wood inside ; for, by means of this 'slow fire, turves containing rushes, and soured with stagnant water, became friable and sweet, and fit for immediate use in potting plants and the like, that otherwise would have taken months, if not years, to be available for the like purposes. In the extreme West of Scotland, before the Potato disease appeared, it was the custom of the Islesman to strip his hut, for it was hardly worthy of the name of house, annually, and with the sooty thatch and still more sooty turves, called in the North "divets," thatlay between the wood of the roof and the straw thatch, to manure his Potato land, and he usually got an excellent crop, as the land was seldom poor, having a good neighbour in the sea for wrack or seaweed as manure for grass, &c. Now, unless roasted turf is friable, as sand or sawdust, it is not cooked enough, and it must on no account be burnt like clay for bricks or pottery. When a gardener lets his Heaths and Epacrises potted in peat and sand get thoroughly dry, the usual phrase employed is that they will not take water, and we see I'ater run off' the dry peat just as it would run off tlie back of a waterfowl ; it is, therefore, clear that peat turves are not to be roasted when we want an ■ _ dient to absorb water and hold it. The top spit of clay soil or loamy soil, about 4 inches deep, with the grass on it, will roast nicely, and as it roasts it will get full of open chinks, to let out smoke, in all directions, ior as is well known the wet earth will shrink as it dries, and occupy less space than it did before ; and therefore in roasting turves the kilns should be watched as one would watch wood when burning for charcoal, to regulate the openings on the windward side, by closing them with a patch of wet clay, to get the fire to act evenly and all round. Of all the agents employed by man there are none more powerful than fire, and few so variable in action. It was fire that forged for man in the olden time the murderous war weapons that terrified the unarmed into subjection, and prophets announced a blessed time of peace coming, when the deadly steel of the spear should glow on the anvil to form the harmless pruning-hook, whilst the weightier metal of the heavy sword should steel the harmless coulter, and help to till the land, or, as the poet hath so eloquently expressed it — " .-Vnd the broad faulchion in a ploughshare end." Passing over the strong arm of steam, which has caused the venerable flail, as an instrument of torture, to be consigned to oblivion, not only does fire plough the field and thresh and winnow the corn, but it carries away the produce by rail to market, and brings back manure, coal, and building materials. By force of fire in one shape or another, rocks are rent, stormy seas traversed, mines of all sorts made available, and their contents hauled to the sur. face. Almost all the food we eat is prepared by the agency of fire for our use, converting animal and vege- table substances into a state of tenderness, fitted for the use of men. Fire, therefore, in this case cannot be said to be a destroyer, for when human food has been well roasted, it is not to be confounded with being burnt, and it is this grand division that has to be kept in view in roasted turf. Few will understand that the ingredients wanting in the soil must be supplied before any crop can be got, but the rain alone might give the answer for other ingredients as well as for water, and tough rushy sods, that are usually pared and burnt, might be given as an example of food in very great need of dressing, but certainly not of burning to ashes ; but if it could only be cooked or roasted until it was friable, as if for Carnation culture, it would be available as food for plants, or to be used as an absorbent for watery manures as above stated. In cases where no turves can be had, loam, or even clay, can be roasted, but these require first to be well wetted before they are piled up for roasting; slightly puddled, any garden earth will bear piling up like sods or turves, and may be smoke-dried as above stated, and when pounded and riddled, will give solidity to watery manures. Where is there a farm of the old regime where the duck pond, drinking pond, and general open cesspool draining the dunghill is not one of the most conspicu. ous institutions of the household 1 In Denbighshire, last year, a child, under two years of age, toddled into this pit of dirty water and was drowned ; but the filth of the water gave the doctor no chance to resuscitate, for the little fellow was poisoned as well as drowned by the water of this deadly pit. By the proper use of roasted soil manure would not run any more, and, therefore, the pond would only contain water, and the bulk of dry dung available for crops would get doubled. Burning the roots of weeds is certainly a very ready way of disposing of them, but it is the destructive principle ; whereas, they being vege- table, like the sawdust, should not be destroyed, but converted into manure for growing crops : the very Dock roots can be smoke-dried until they are as dead as the Turkey Rhubarb of the druggist's shop, and Couch- grass roots, if only buried I foot deep, will die a natural death and yield vegetable mould, — ^^the best known medium in which to grow plants, for it is said by cultivators of exotics that no plant refuses to grow if planted in vegetable mould. Loam smoke-dried and roasted is, moreover, the most practical disinfectant for the faim, as well as the cheapest ; it is no foreign or costly article, coming by sea from foreign parts, and coming inland by railway ; it is indigenous to every farm and holding, whether great or small, for any soil that will puddle will always stand up to be roasted, but nothing can be done with dry earth. A square hole, by way of ashpit, should be dug in the earth, and an iron grating or a few iron bars laid over it. on which to make the fire, and this ashpit should communicate with the outer air, and when rightly started the fire will burn with such a calm glow that it will be quite a pleasant sight to peep through at it. Long ridges of clay burn- ing, or great stacks of turf pared with the floating spade to be reduced to ashes, have nothing to do with this kind of roasting, for who would pot a plant in the red ashes of burnt clay? or what plant could live in the alkaline ash of burnt turves ? and whether for the garden or for the farm, the principles must ever be kept distinct. Alex. Forsyth, Islington Square, Salford. HARVESTING CORN IN WET WEA THER. As an addendum to our remarks on this important ubject last week, we place before our readers some ery practical suggestions from the Yorkshire Post for saving com in wet weather by a system of protection from the weather in the field or in sheds. We would 1 146 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Aericultural Gazette. [September 2, 1871. direct special attention to the ingenious plan of forming small stacks in the field, of such a form that while a current of air plays over all the heads of the sheaves, they are, at the same time, secured against rain : — " There are many other ingenious modes of preventing injury to corn in an uncertain or wet season, which have been adopted by different experimenters. In the districts of Kent and Sussex, where Hop oasts or kilns are near enough to the Wheat fields to render the carting to and from practicable, wet Wheat in the straw has been dried in these buildings with some success. One trial showed that on a kiln floor, the area of which was 540 feet (less than 8 yards square), the produce of 9^ acres could be dried in six days, the average time required for each charge of sheaves being 24 hours. This would be rather slow work on a farm of any size, and can only be adopted in Hop-growing localities. A gentleman in Sussex some years ago had 30 acres of Wlieat cut and placed under cover, using for that purpose every bam, hovel, cattle or implement shed on his farm, and setting the sheaves upright and closely packed together on the ground, each acre of sheaves occupying thus 400 super- ficial feet. This Wheat was cut whilst the weather was dry, and carried dry to its shelter, and he found that in 10 or 12 days it was ready to be threshed out. After- wards, as an experiment, two waggonloads of Wheat, that had been cut and carried during heavy rain, were also brought in and placed under shelter in the same manner, and these were reported dry enough for threshing in 16 days. If these results have been verified by subse- quent experience, they would seem to indicate a valuable and partially available means of saving at least some portion of a crop. Possibly the chief reason why this method has not been extensively adopted may be found in the fact that the large area of roofed-in space requisite for the purpose is not often to be found on a farm. To accommodate 30 acres, each acre of which needs 400 feet of standing room, a firmer must possess and be able to clear out 12,000 superficial feet of shelter, that is, equal to 30 sheds measuring 27 feet by 15 feet each. The different modes of carefully stooking and hooding Wheat used by English farmers are too well known to need description. They are none of them effectual preventatives of damage from rain. In continuous wet weather the sheaves grow at the bands and the ends of the stooks, and the top sheaves are liable to sprout in a few days of damp weather. With corn reaped by the sickle a good work- man could so arrange the stook as to prevent injury to the four or six middle sheaves for some time. Mown corn is, however, soon wet and soon dry, but the tails of the sheaves sprout in damp seasons. Corn cut by the reaper is soon wet and soon dry, like that mown by scythe, but the sheaves stand better, and have no ears in the tail, and, con- sequently, if kept up in stook, it will bear much rain before it becomes sprouted. The very best men in the field should therefore follow the reaping hands, and ' set up ' the sheaves in stook or 'haddock.' Good workmanship in this department of the reaping work is one of the most efficient auxiliaries we have in preventing damage to gmin from wet ; and when thus stocked they should be carefully watched, and fallen sheaves immediately lifted up. In the west of Ireland, where the climate is wet and fickle, the cottier farmers put their Wlieat as soon as cut, or when the clouds threaten, into pikelets, containing per- haps 50 or 60 sheaves. These are carefully built in a conical shape, and the top protected by being thatched with the last sheaf. They are secure from anything but extraordinary downfalls of rain. In Sweden the farmer avails himself of the abundant supply of wood to form, out of the thinnings of the forest, useful arrangements for partially securing the cereal crops from the inclemency of the climate. One mode is the staking into the ground at intervals poles 6 or 7 feet high, and on the sharpened points of these poles the sheaves are spiked, and slid down one after another like Normandy Pippins on a string. The top sheaf protects the remainder to a certain extent, but it will be evident that wind and rain will have free access to the sides of the sheaves. The merit of the sys- tem in such a country is the very short time in which they will become dry again after a shower. It is said that one man can set up 500 of these poles in a day. In Russia a species of rack with broadened roof is used, on which the grain is hung ; but this is simply applicable to where Wheat is scarce and wood abundant. The only mode of securing grain in rather a damp state, or as soon as it is cut, or before it is ready to stack in the ordinary manner, as a safe step in the prospect of wet weather, which we have found practicable, is the following. For ■many years we have tested its efficacy on a large scale, and secured Wheat in very diflicult seasons without a sprout. In the centre of a field of Wheat place 100 hurdles or stack-bars parallel to each other, at 2 feet apart. The taller and stronger the hurdles arc the better they will act. At the centre of each hurdle a stay may be put across to the opposite hurdle, or, what is better, a forkful of Thorns may be thrust into the passage, so as to be held by the top bars of the hurdles as in a vice. The heads of the parallel hurdles should not be placed opposite to each other, as, by so doing, one portion of the double fence would bear much more lateral pressure than the other. An old clipped hedge split will furnish the very best sort of Thorns for inserting between the bars at the intervals specified. A small bed of straw or Thorns, 4 feet wide on the outside of each of the parallel rows of hurdles, is made ; and upon this soft grain may be stacked, roofed, and secured from rain by two rows of thatch or of unthreshed Wheat. The modus operandi '\s> as follows :— Stack the sheaves in rows with the heads to the hurdles, with a few sheaves to fill up placed longitudinally. After reach- ing a little higher than the top of the hurdles, the walls of sheaves may be carried up about a yard more, the sheaves being so placed that the 2 feet space is gradually closed up ; after which, the two rows of sheaves and the passage are to be roofed with sheaves, drawing in quickly, so that on the ridge a small quantity of short straw or takings may be immediately placed, and the roof made secure against weather by opening out thatch and tying sheaves, at riglit angles, and three parallel to the bars ; five additional courses up to the roof, each being now a double row, will take 120 sheaves ; and the roof will swallow up 100 more ; so that, to complete the erection for the length of 9 feet we shall require (105 -I- 120) X 2 + 100— 550 sheaves, or about the produce of an acre of ground. Twenty hurdles only are thus required for 10 acres of Wheat ; and the length of the safety stook will be 30 yards in such a field. It will have a flue 2 feet wide through the whole length, through which the air will circulate, and as the sheaves are placed one row thick at right angles, the wind will pass through and between them, to the central flue, drying the corn thoroughly. Thus we have a stack with all the external surface necessary for drying, but without any solid inside, which becomes sodden and impenetrable to the air if stacked when damp or soft. It is, in fact, simply a straw wall without any 'filling,' through which the air can pass freely. On several occasions we have tested the method, and we have frequently recommended it. And we do so again, because we have not as yet met with a more suc- cessful mode of practice under such circumstances. The idea was suggested to us by the Roman poet's recom- mendation to stack the damp grain over a Quickthorn MILK COOLERS. "ROM tlie article on American Butter Factories in . vii. of tlie Journal of the Royal Agricullural Society of England, we take the following descuption and illustrations of milk coolers and carrying cans. It We give figures of two devices which are used in the carrying cans hauling milk to the factory. Cold water or ice may be used for the purpose indicated. In fig. 261 (the "National" milk cooler), A repre- sents the cooler, for water (N), and ice (o). b shows tlie cooler arranged for introducing water by means of syphons E, E, fixing on tubes D, D ; and c, the cover. F, on both sections, is the strainer ; G, body of the cooler ; and H, H, the carrying cans with coolers float- ing on the milk (m). In the next illustration (fig. 262), A represents the cover of the carrying can (fig. 263), and E the iron bottom. Fig. 263 shows the carrying can for milk, with its ap- purtenances—A and B in fig. 262, forming part thereof. In the present illustration A shows the can with cooler and strainer set in place ; B, the cooler ; and c, the strainer. The illustrations are so clear as to render further description unnecessary. INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. Aiistralian Meat Presemafion and Importation. — Owing to the vessel with the Australian goods for the International Exhibition having been lost, only two preserving companies exhibit, viz., Towns & Co., ■ "Vhitehead & Co., also of New report we shall notice in the first place, the statistics of meat imported into the United Kingdom during the past five years, which we take from Messrs. John McCall & Co. 's circular, with some remarks quoted from the Melbourne Ar^us, so az to bring up this head to the most recent date ; (2), the various methods of preserving meat ; (3), the Austra- lian companies now represented in London ; (4), the dietetic value of this new branch of industry to the mother country ; and (5), the pecuniary influence of this new trade on the price of fat stock, home and I. Statistics of meat imported into the United Kingdom from 1866 to 1870, from John McCall & Co. 's circular, viz. : — ; declared ^ £Z' 1867.- 186S.— 16,337 .. ,. 45.74° 1869.— 23,306 „ „ 80,385 If will be seen from this Table that the i progressive, and somewhat remarkable, and from the ArgKs. a Melbounie newspaper of the highest colonial autliority, dated April 22, 1871, it appears that from the efiects of the recent war between France and Prussia, the exports of preserved meats had increased (enfold. The Argus says : " Before the war broke out the market (London) was overstocked ; but since then the quantity exported from the colony had increased tenfold." Referring, in its report under the head of " Meat Preserving " relative to the progress made by the Melbourne Meat Preserving Company (London agents, John McCall & Co.), it contmues : "The number of sheep slaughtered by the company during the six months was shown " (at the seventh half-yearly meeting held on the 3d inst— April 3, 1 871) "to be 84,264; and of oxen 31 15. The value of the meats consigned to London was 2^47,595, and of the tallow .1^34,425." It may be added that this company are enlarging their works. "The Victoria Meat Preserving Co.," quoting the same paper, "who commenced operations in October last (1S70), have been able to present a favourable report. C)ver 240,000 tins of meat were preserved up to the close of the half year ending March 24 last (1871), and the advices from London stated that very fair prices had been offered for the meat." " The capabi- lities of the plant were 1000 sheep a week ; the value of the shipments was ^f 11,674." An equally favourable report is given of the half- yearly meeting of the Wamambool Meat Preserving Company. Besides the above and other companies at work the Melbourne Argus refers to the prospectuses of several new companies starting, viz., of "The Meat Preserving Company of Echuca," of " The Metropolitan Meat Pre- serving Company" (an old company with a new name), of "The Sydney Company," and of " The Central Queensland Meat Preserving Company." The first shipment of the Sydney company has been received by the agents, the Messrs. Crosse & Blackwell, of Soho Square. To this we shall return. (2). The preservation of beef, mutton, pork, fowls, fish, &c., is an old affair, based no doubt on the expe- rience of our ancestors, who slaughtered their cattle in autumn, and salted their flesh for consumption during the winter season. Fed for si.x long months on salt meat, a relish for something less salt was natural. Hence numerous patents were obtained. We shall quote the first on record, viz.. No. 278, October 7, A. D. 1691, obtained by Thomas Porter and John White, as follows, viz. : — " A grant unto them of the sole use, exercise, and be- befit of their new invention of keeping and preserving, by liquors, or otherwise, all sorts of flesh, fowls, and fish, and many other things, either in pieces or in whole bodies, at a cheap rate, for many years, in all climates, without changing the nature, quality, taste, smell, or colour September 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1 147 thereof, as good, palatable, and wholesome, and made use of for any intent and purpose vvhen first killed or put into such liquor ; to hold and enjoy the same for 14 years, according to the statute." No specilication of this invention has been enrolled, so that some degree of mystery hangs about it. Sinc( the above date about 650 applications for patents have been made for the preservation of animal and vegetable food. An abridgment from 1691 — 1866, covering 497 patents, has been published by the Commissioners of Patents, and may be had for lod. Those for flesh may be divided into si.x classes, thus : — i. Freezing or preserving with ice ; 2. Salting with various saline sub- stances ; 3. The introduction of gases into the meat ; 4. The injection of gaseous or liquid substances into the blood of living animals, or immediately after they are slaughtered, so as to prevent decomposit' 5. The preservation of cooked or raw meat in metically sealed vessels or canisters, technically termed "cases" or "tins;" and, ' "' The combination of the 2d and 5th. Of the above methods the fifth is the only one that merits notice. True, one or two companies use a very small quantity of common salt, or some other saline substance, but the propriety of using any antiseptic is annually losing popularity, whilst the practice of the exclusion of air, is, on the contrary, daily gaining ground. It must be borne m mind that Australia is not in advance of the mother country in the art of pre- serving meat. The investigations of the Society of Arts — since i8ro (Durant's patent) — point the other way. And the Melbourne Argus, in its report on meat pre- servmg, informs its readers that " some cases of meat from the establishment of Messrs. Forbes & Co., Aberdeen, preserved by Mr. Richard Jones' (a London merchant) vacuum process, and received from London, were, on being opened at Melbourne for inspection, found to be of very superior quality ; and that a Mr. Brown, late of Forbes' establishment, Aberdeen, had gone to assist the Central Queensland Company in carrying out this method of preservation. " Such facts prove that our Australian colonies appear determined to profit by practical information wherever they can find it, and to go a-head in the preserving of meat accordingly. Mr. Jones' last process is under patent, sealed Sept. 25, and dated March 31, 1S69. There is very little novelty in it, but into details of this kind our limits will not permit us to go. His claim, which we quote from his specification. No. 978, a.d. 1869, will give a general idea of his process : — " I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to operate on animal and vegetable matters for the preserva- tion of them for food by the employment of exhausting means in connection with the heating means ; but by such method the exhausting means was employed to act previously to the cooking process, and such, to the best of my belief, was not found to answer. I do not, therefore, claim the same when separately considered ; but what I claim is the method of operating for the preservation of animal and vegetable substances to be used as lood by exhausting the air and contained gases from the cases containing the food to be preserved during the operation of heating for the cooking, also after the desired cooking has been effected, and also the effectmg of such cooking entirely under vacuum, substantially as described." Prior to 1S69, Mr. R. Jones had obtained three patents for preserving animal food in a raw state, viz., No. 1859, A.D. i860; No. 1523, 1S64; and No. 2952, 1865. This raw meat process met with considerabls approbation from the Society of Arts about 1862. Ii belongs to the third class, or method of curing meat by means of gases ; and the less said about the intro- duction of gaseous substances into raw meat the better. The fact that the patentee in his last patent, 1869, returns to the cooking process, leaves the practical conclusion manifest. True "The Victoria Meat Preserving Company" have adopted an intermediate course. They first slightly cure the meat, which is then packed in the tins ; the interstices are then filled up by melted fat, when the tins are hermetically sealed. But this is only an experiment, and, as the Argus reports, "Nothing further was to be done with the preserving of meat in fat until the result of the latest shipments of other companies had been ascertained." The principal shipments of this company consist of cooked food. "In short, at the present time, there are numerous experi- ments on trial with the view of determining their respective merits. They are all based upon what is generally designated "M. Appert's " (a Frenchman) process, patented in England by Augustus De Heine, No. 3310, A.D. 1810, and Peter Durand, No. 3372, iSio ; and as all three patents were anticipated in this country by prior examples, they were never acknow- ledged good. The following will give a general idea of the Australian practice. The first start was evidently based upon the old practice of boiling down the meat for the sake of the fat and bones. The meat was boiled until it separated freely from the bones, no more water being used than was absolutely necessary. The lean, fat, and jelly were then put into the tins in proper proportions, a lid soldered on with a small hole. The tin was then placed in a hot-water bath to drive out the air. This done, the tin was hermetically sealed by closing the small hole with a drop of solder. (2.) Instead of boiling the meat {parboiling, as in some cases), it was stewed before it was put into the tins. Under this plan, when too little water was used without a hot water bath, the meat was liable to scorch or singe and we have had some tins taste accordingly. (3.) Tht next plan was to put the raw meat into tins, and t< stew in the tins placed in a water- bath, and then her metically seal when the surplus water and gases were driven off in the form of steam. (4.) The next may be termed the roast meat processes, i.e., the meat is cooked in its own juice and fat, either before it is put into tins or after. According to the latter plan, the fresh meat has to be unboned ; according to the former, it may be done in a cauldron unt the meat separates from the bone, adding little hot water at times, to supply what is carried c by evaporation, so as to prevent scorching ; but with close lid to the cauldron very little water is require with fat meat. As soon as the meat separates from tl bone, the lean, fat, and jelly are proportioned into the tins, the tins are placed in a water bath, to drive off the air, which done they are hermetically sealed. (5.) When the raw, unboned meat is cooked juice in tins in a bath of pure water, it is done without a pierced lid, in order to prevent evaporat when the meat is done to a certain degree the tops of the tins are pierced, to let off air and gases ; they then hermetically sealed, and again heated, to do the meat thoroughly. If the water bath consists of a solu tion of muriate of lime, or other liquid whose boilint point is different from that of water, the tins are some" times placed in such a bath with holes in the lid. Mr R. Jones, whose patent claim we have quoted, pro- poses not only to place the tins with the meat in ; solution of muriate of lime, but also to exhaust the ail in the tins, so as further to alter the boiling point. Under each of these practices there is considerable diversity, according as they are carried out. 3. " The Australian Meat Preserving Companies represented in London are : — a. " The Melbourne Meat Preserving Company, Limited," Marybymony, Victoria; importers, Messrs. Robert Brooks & Co. ; sole agents, John McCall & Co., 137, Houndsditch, London. (We have referred tc this company already. ) d. "Australian Meat Preserving Company, Limited ;" Charles Grant Tindal, manager, 52 and 53, Crutched Friars, London, E.G. ; manufactory, Ramornie, New South Wales. The committee of the Society of Arts, 1867, speak very highly of the preserved meat of this company. This company - have also introduced Ramornie extract of meat, prepared according to Baron Liebig's specification, which is very highly reported on by Dr. Parkes, Professor of Hygiene in the Army Medical School, and others. The Victoria Meat Preserving Company ;" J. A. Huxtable, agent, 24, Laurence Pountney Lane, London, E.G. We have already referred to this company. Sydney Meat Preserving Company ; " London agents, the Messrs. Crosse & Blackwall, Soho Square. le site of the works," quoting the Argus, "is les from Sydney, on the Paramatta River, and constructed so as to permit of a 1000 sheep being tinned in a day." They exhibit beef and mutton in very against its cooking. What is overdone ? If ould only look seriously ; general satisfaction. We have had and both were excellent. sand/ "The Ballarat and Wamambool Meat Preserving Companies" are represented by Kalten- bach & Schmitz, i, Alderman Walk, London ; and 12, Albert Buildings, Liverpool. g. " Whitehead & Co., Broadwater, Clarence River, New South Wales," London office, 8 and g. Lime Street Square, and Dod Street, Limehouse, exhibit in the International solid essence of beef, extractum carnis, in skins and in squares, or cakes in boxes. It obtained a prize medal at the International Exhibition in Victoria, 1S66, and another at the Universal Exhibition, Paris, 1867, and since then it has met with an mcreasing sale. h. "Central Queensland Meat Preserving Company;" factory, Rockhampton, on the Fitzroy River, Qi land ; London office, 30, Palmerston Buildings, Old Broad Street, E.G. ; secretary, G. H. Allan, Esq. We have only a prospectus of this company, in which we are told that "Queensland, with a population of about 100,000, possessed in March, 1S68, i,oc cattle and 9,000,000 sheep, with unlimited powers of increase." The district is doubtless one of the best grazings in Australia, being well watered all the year round ; and as they are starting with a well-organised directorship and management, under Jones' patent, with all the improvements which experience may suggest, every success may reasonably be expected, prejudi( people would only look seriously at their own joints— fully 25 per cent, bone, from 20 to 30 per cent, sent up in the chimney in cooking, the outside burnt black, red at the bone, and neither one thing nor the other half way — they will find the Australian factory system of cooking in advance and not behind. That English- men get accustomed to their own modes of cooking is true enough, and that habit becomes a second nature is generally granted, and that is about the most that can be said in favour of English cooking and taste. But if meat cooking factories shall prove— as they doubtless will — what cheese factories have done, the sequel need not be told. 5. The Argus, and all the Australian newspapers we have seen, report that, great as the productive resources of the colonies are, better prices are being realised for fat stock ; and as the companies improve in the manu- facture, and as the consumption in the mother country increases, there is every reason to aver that the price of preserved meat will rise nearer to the English level. We do not therefore apprehend that the increase in the importations of Australianpreserved meat willhavemuch effect upon the price of English fat stock. On the contrary, the prosperity in this branch of trade will find a profitable source of employment and investment of capital for our surplus agricultural population, and thus relieve the over competition for farms at home. W. B. 4. " The best proof of the pudding it is said, and the old maxim applie value of Australian beef and mutton, the consumption is a conclusive been said about its^ being "01 rags," and so jin the eating," to the dietetic The increase in ■gument. Much has done," "boiled to the Australian companies can send our hard-working meat-eating people cooked beef and mutton ready for use at "jd. per lb. — more than equal to i\ lb. of butcher's meat with the bone and uncooked, at the present high prices of English meat — the consumption of Australian meat will go on increasing. As to ESTIMATION OF PHOSPHORIC ACID IN SUPERPHOSPHATES. The fact to which Mr. Purser has called atten- tion in a recent number of the "Chemical News" {vol. xxiii., p. 178), is one only too well known to those concerned in the manure trade. There are, un- fortunately, considerable discrepancies in the reports of analysts of superphosphates ; a little ventilation of the subject connot but prove wholesome. In the first place, are analysts agreed as to what they understand by soluble phosphates ; do they under- stand phosphates soluble in hot or cold water ? Exhaustion of the superphosphate with hot water may give, according to circumstances, more or less soluble phosphate than exhaustion with cold water. If the superphosphate contain soluble compounds of alumina, it will yield less soluble phosphate when boiled with water than if the exhaustion is conducted in the cold, and the difference between these two modes of operating may be very considerable. A simple experiment will satisfy any one on this point. If a cold solution of superphosphate be treated with alum, or other soluble compound of aluminium, the solution appears unchanged. On applying heat turbidity commences, and when the boiling-point is nearly reached a copious precipitation of phosphate of aluminium takes place ; on cooling, the precipitate, if considerable, entirely re-dissolves. This re- action is certainly remarkable, and the cause not very apparent : one is tempted to think that the aluminium the case assumed, combined in the cold with sul- phuric acid, and in the hot with phosphoric, and that a change of temperature effects a change in the degree of affinity of aluminium for these two acids. The practical result is, however, very plain : superphos- phates containing aluminium in a soluble form will yield less soluble phosphate to hot water than to cold. Most superphosphates yield solutions in the cold which contain traces of alumina ; when, however, the superhosphate has been made from Navassa phos- phate, or other of the native phosphates rich in alumina, the amount of aluminium salt soluble in the cold may be very considerable ; the quantity depends, however, in great measure, on the manner in which the superphosphate has been manufactured. The presence of aluminium in the solution is, of course, at indicated by the formation of a precipitate on boiling. Before leaving this part of the subject, I may just ;ntion, that the reaction of ferric salts with solution of superphosphate is wholly different from that described above. Soluble ferric salts produce an immediate pre- cipitate in the cold, and are, consequently, never found, save as traces, in a solution of superphosphate. From the above considerations, it seems evident that the removal of the soluble phosphate should always be effected with cold water. The maximum amount of phosphoric acid appears to be dissolved when, after thorough exhaustion with cold water, the residue is lastly boiled. In this case, the hot water probably effects a partial decomposition of the reduced phos- phates. The increased amount of phosphate rendered soluble by the hot water is by no means considerable, and can hardly be fairly reckoned as soluble phos- phate, which, in its character of a manure to field crops, must surely be understood as a phosphate soluble in rain water. The best mode of extracting the soluble phosphate is, I believe, the following :* — 10 grammes of the carefully mixed sample are placed in a mortar. A flask, marked to deliver i litre of water, is filled, and fitted as a wash-bottle. The superphosphate is moistened with some of the water, and rubbed smooth Tliis 1 148 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 2, 1871. with the pestle ; more water is added, the whole well stirred, and the solution and fine particles decanted into a bottle. The residual superphosphate is brought to a finer state of division by means of the pestle, and is again treated with water as before. This rubbing and washing are repeated until the whole of the manure has been transferred to the bottle in a fine state of division. The rest of the water is next added, and the bottle shaken at frequent intervals during three hours. 100 c.c. of the solution correspond to I grm. of the superphosphate. The estimation of the phosphoric acid in the watery solution may, of course, be effected by any of the trust- worthy methods with which chemists are acquainted. The most usual plan is to precipitate the phosphoric acid as tricalcic phosphate by means of ammonia, with or without the addition of chloride of calcium, accord- ing to the proportion of lime present in the solution. The other methods which seem specially applicable, are precipitation by magnesia, and by uranium. * * The usual plan of estimation as tricalcic phosphate, is of quite sufficient accuracy for commercial purposes when properly conducted, but lies open to several distinct sources of error. Thus the "high analyst," by precipitating with a considerable excess of ammonia from a solution containing excess of lime, obtains a phosphate containing notably more calcium than tri- calcic phosphate, and his result is, consequently, above the truth. This error is met by some by re-dissolving the phosphate containing excess of lime, and re- precipitating it ; the error may, however, be avoided in the first instance, by limiting the amount of ammonia employed. If ammonia is only used in just sufficient quantity to distinctly turn turmeric red, tricalcic phos- phate may be successfully precipitated from cold dilute solutions containing much lime in excess. An error of a different kind arises from the difficulty of washing all the sulphates out of the gelatinous phosphate, and from the fact that the washing must not be pressed too far, as loss of phosphate occurs in the later stages of washing. Since success in this mode of analysis depends so much upon the conditions under which it is used, it is much to be desired that those commercial analysts who always estimate soluble phosphate by precipitation with ammonia, would test their results a few times by duplicate analyses executed by the mag- nesia method, and thus ascertain whether the condi- tions they habitually employ are consistent with accuracy. The following results, obtained with two superphos- phates, show the amount of agreement that may be expected from the different methods described : — Estimation as Estimation as Estimation .as tricalcic phosphate of phosphate of phosphate. magnesium. uranium. The determinations of insoluble phosphate in super- phosphate are, I fear, more generally inaccurate than those of soluble phosphate ; they are usually greatly in excess of the truth. The manufacturer can tell very nearly the total amount of phosphate present in his manure. Thus, if he makes superphosphate with equal weights of Cambridg;e coprolite and sulphuric acid, he knows that, allowing for the loss of weight in mixing, the product will contain almost exactly 32 per cent, of phosphate reckoned as tricalcic ; and any nitrogenous matter he may have added to his materials will only diminish the percentage of phos- phate. What, then, is his surprise, on receiving the report of the scientific chemist, to find that the soluble and insoluble phosphate added together, give a total of over 40 per cent. : a result not very uncommon. If commercial analysts would remember that only high- priced superphosphates, made entirely from Sombrerite or bone-ash, can possibly contain 40 per cent, of phos- phate, they would save themselves from many mistakes. The origin of this error is that less care is taken in determining insoluble phosphate than in the estimation of soluble : that the portion of the superphosphate un- dissolved by water is dissolved in acid, and the solution precipitated with a large excess of ammonia, without any attention to the nature of the substances precipitated. It is best to determine the total phosphate present m the superphosphate by one operation, and then, by deducting the soluble phosphate, to find the insoluble. If the superphosphate has not been made from ferru- ginous or aluminous materials, 'the solution of the surperphosphate in hydrochloric acid, and the pre- cipitation of the phosphates by the limited amount of ammonia already referred to, will give sufficiently accurate results. In all other cases, the hydrochloric solution of the superphosphate should be neutralised as far as possible without causing a precipitate, and then treated with excess of oxalate of amni subsequently with citric acid and magnesia already described. In conclusion, it must not be forgotten that the faulty processes in use by commercial analysts are no small extent due to the pressure put on them by t public. When the fee given is reduced to the lowest possible point, the analyst is forced to regard number of his analyses as of more importance than their quality, and to adopt methods, the main objec of which is to enable him to snatch a result in th shortest possible time. R. IVariit^ton, F.C.S., ill th '! Chemical News," Jome Corrcspnbenct. Carts versus Waggons.— It would be very un- reasonable, and contrary to all evidence, to suppose that the public mind can be speedily removed from a ut in which it has travelled for ages. One of those uts may be called " the waggon rut ;" and yet if we est the question by the reliable expedient of compara- ive trial and self-interest, the agricultural mind ought 0 come out of that rut immediately ; but I write this for the next or rising generation. This question was long ago settled in favour of the carts, as recorded in early numbers of the Royal Agricultural Society's Journal (vol. ii., p. 73 ; vol. vi., p. 156 ; vol. vii., p. 375. Every one interested should read Mr. Hannam's admirable paper, illustrated by diagrams, in vol il., p. 73. I wonder how much is the annual loss inflicted British agriculture by the use of waggons, for although the question was settled by comparative trial, very few farmers either knew about it or believed in it, for still waggons continue to be the order of the day, although a farmer seldom drives to market on four wheels. As there are 23,000,000 of acres of arable land in the United Kingdom, in addition to 23,000,000 of permanent pasture, there are probably many more than 500,000 waggons, costing (as an average proportion of road and harvest waggons) ;^3o each, or ^15,000,000, whereas the best made harvest carts would cost less than half that amount, and thus effect a saving of capital of probably ^7, 500,000. Mr. Bowly, of Ciren- r, in his prize essay. Royal Agricultural Society's Journal, vol. vi,, p. 156, found his saving to be ;i^0 out of every £100. But it is not alone in loss and interest of capital, but also in wear and tear of horse- flesh, and loss of time in horse and manual labour. Let me give an instance of this, first observing that although some 25 years ago my men were all in favour of waggons, they would now look upon them .as clumsy encumbrances, prolonging their labour, and thus causing deductions from their harvest earnings. We use long, wide, and low carts, about 12 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 3 feet 6 inches high ; weight about 7 cwt. They are like that illustrated by Mr. Hannam in vol. ii., p. 73, of the Royal Agricultural Society's Journal. The cost varies from ^^13 to ;£'i5— they were formerly cheaper. We use one horse at harvest, and a boy to drive ; they carry about 1 50 large Wheat sheaves. They carry to market 10 to 12 qr. of Wheat with two horses, half that quantity with one horse. They do not press upon the horse either up or down hill ; they are convenient for coal, but cannot be tilted. Two good men will pitch and load from 60 to So qr. of Wheat in a long harvest day, and one man will unpitch them. Three carts and three horses will con- vey this quantity, with one boy to drive ; but an extra cart and one more boy are required when the distance is greater. There is no binding the load. No such satisfactory practice could be done with waggons, and the cost would be in every way much greater, y. J. Mechi, August, 1S71. Legislation on Utilisation of Sewage. — Will you allow me space for a few remarks on the account given in your number for August 19 of the discussion held in Romford on the 2d inst. " on the subject of legislation on the utilisation of sewage." It is not that I in any way doubt, so far as it has gone, the full success of Mr. Hope's experiment. From all the accounts which I have read of it, the irrigation of his farm with the sewage of Romford reflects the greatest credit on that gentleman's spirit, skill, and intelligence. His effort is beyond question the most successful which has been made to overcome the enormous difficulty — created by the water drainage system — of disposing with advantage to the town itself and with safety both to it and to the neighbourhood, the sewage of that town, after it has been augmented in volume sixfold by water and the whole mass has been brought together into one body. Still neither the two years of the Romford experiment, nor the five years of that at Barking, will afford a safe ground for legislation, which should render such a mode of disposal of sewage compulsory on the town population of this country. For in the first place by whom has "this carrying away of the refuse of towns into rivers, and the pollution of those rivers, and the spreading disease amongst their neighbours, while only benefiting themselves and doing the country no service at all," — by whom has all this been done but by the originators and abettors of the water sewerage system ? — who also have been to a great extent the originators or supporters also of those 45 sanitary Acts, 0:1 which during the discussion such severe remarks were made. Twenty years ago sanitary inspectors and civil engineers either did not foresee ordid not care about the pollution of rivers. They promised us "immense advantage in the introduction of waterclosets. " There was to be no fever (nor small pox I suppose) in a toivn properly drained. What,however,doesMr. Bailey Denton say of Hitchin, sewered 20 years ago by Mr. Rawlin- son ? At the close of that period the death rate had been reduced to 23 I The river had long been so polluted that, for some distance below the town, it was not safe for the cattle to drink of it ; and the sewage, bayed back by the floods, had conveyed offensive and deleterious matter into the cellars of houses. And, now, can those gentlemen give us any guarantee against similar evils in the course of 20, 10, or even seven years, arising from the pollution of our fields by sewage irrigation ? I am confident that they can give no such guarantee ; nay, I can perceive strong misgivings on this point in their own minds. For instance, Mr. Bailey Denton, in proposing to relieve the evils arising from the sewage of Hitchin, by pouring that sewage over 60 acres of land, sees only one objection to a certam piece of ground, which is this— that it is within i mile of the town. And a remark, made at the discussion by so high an authority as Mr. Chadwick, in which he stated an advantage in Mr. Hope's system over the Edinburgh meadows ought carefully to be noticed. " Those meadows cost ^^30 an acre, while Mr. Hope's system, which was of course the most efficient — and not by any means so dangerous— cost from ^8 to £iz an acre." Will the town population of England, then, consent to have a nuisance, and that probably of a dangerous cha- racter, established in their immediate neighbourhood ? Will they not inquire first whether there be not some more effective and some safer remedy for this "great national evil " of the pollution of rivers, and some more effective mode of preventing the waste of that iTianure, the value of which is estimated by millions? I abstain from any remark on the just observation of Mr. Watlington, that the profit to be made by sewage irrigation must depend greatly on the position of a town. But, in illustration of it, I would adduce the case of this town of Dorchester, in which I write. We have below us several hundred acres, into which the sewage of 7000 persons, if we shall ever be compelled to withhold it from the little stream, would slowly gravitate : more than enough, according to recent calculations, to receive it all. But these acres are full of springs ; they are underlaid, in fact, by a bed of water. Few of them could be used as arable land. The absorption by the soil, then, of the excrementitious and other corrupting matter would be very small, and the exhalations, especially in hot and sultry seasons, would soon of necessity be offensive and deleterious. Further, the owners and occupiers of the land could not be expected to give anything like its value for that which the Board of Health may find itself compelled to dispose of On the other hand, there are within my parish some 2000 acres of arable land, either on a level with the town or considerably more elevated, which, if it could be conveyed to them, would entirely absorb, with vast profit both to the farmer and to the inhabitants, all the refuse of this town, espe- cially if undiluted with five-sixths its volume of water. This, on the dry earth system, might be done without offence or injury to any one.* Not the slightest nuisance need be created — not an approach to any- thing dangerous. The occupiers of the land would require no compulsion to adopt the use of so valu- able a manure. Extend this idea then from this one town to the whole country. Consider the high downs, the dry and light heaths, the lofty hills which crave this manure of the 15,000,000 of our town population, and say, while this is the case, and the farmers of those districts would gladly purchase such manure if at a fair price it could be conveyed there, is it philosophical, is it scientific, is it just to the country, under the misnomer in such cases of " the utilisation of sewage," to withhold it from such localities, and pour it over a limited space, that frequently has little need of it ? I have observed with some attention the proceedings of associations and commissions ; and as opportunity has presented itself I have followed out my own investigations on this subject ; and I am now prepared, on the proper occasion, and under fair consideration, to convince any unprejudiced body of men that by the adoption of the dry earth system, and by the adoption of the principles laid down in "The Science of Manure as the Food of Plants," t and of that mode of action set forth in " The Advantages of the Dry Earth System," any town, if all the refuse of every kind be given up to the board of management of the system, can from this refuse, rightly but easily used, manufac- ture a manure the market value of which shall be worth ,^^1 a-head of the whole population. Allow me to add one or two words on the important com- munication in your issue of August 26 on the use of "Dry Earth in Pigstyes." The plan adopted by "J. M." is almost exactly the same with that which, in my pamphlet, entitled "The Science of Manure as the Food of Plants," I two years ago proposed for hprses, cows, pigs, and fowls, and which is now about to be carried out, as to pigs and fowls, in 10 cottages, with the sixth of an acre attached to each, just erected by the Industrial Improvement Society, of which the Rev. J. Venn is, I believe, the president, in the city of Hereford. In my paper on "The Advantages of the Dry Earth System," J read at the Social Science Congress at Newcastle, will be found the following "If horses and cows kept in the metropolis should be bedded on dry sifted clay, with a thin covering of chaff, five-sixths of the straw now used for litter, and an equal proportion of carriage, would be saved ; the escape of ammonia being prevented, the animals would be kept in better healtli ; the urine would be withheld from the sewers ; and, being absorbed in the clay, would yield a vast amount of manure for fertilising ilie neighbouring • See Appendix to Twelfth Report of Public Health, t Published by W. Macintosh ; and by Cassell, Fetter & Oalpin, London, \ Mackintosfi, publisher. September 2, 1S71.] 'Ihe Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1 149 To this I would now add a remark, which is some- what enlarged in " Science of Manure," that there is the opportunity here as in the earth closet, through the capability which the earth or clay possesses of repeated action, of condensing the manure so manufac- tured, and so of increasing its power by repeated use of the earth ior the same purpose. Should this plan be adopted in the stables, cow-stalls, and pigstyes o( farmers, five-sixths of the straw, now almost wasted as litter, would afford food to cattle, and admit of the keeping a much larger amount of stock ; and if to the manure, which might thus be manufactured on every farm, some addition should be made through my pro- posed mode of utilisation of the refuse of towns, a ton of manure, equal in value to 19 or 20 tons of that which once in three years is commonly scattered over the land might, with vast increase of produce, be drilled in with every crop. Henry Moule, Fordington Vicarage, August 21. Thinner Sowing. — I continue my comparative trials of thick and thin sowing, and send you this year's results. The field was drilled on November 10, 1870, with my usual quantity, 4 pecks per acre of Club- headed Rough Chaff White Wheat. Four lands in stetches towards the centre of the field were drilled with only 2 pecks per acre on the same day as the other portions of the field. It was on a Clover lea, first mowed for hay, and the second growth folded with sheep, eating cake, &c., as is my usual custom. In the early growth of the crop the thinner-sown was distinctly visible, but as the spring advanced the crops became equally thick, and no difference was perceptible, either during ripening, cutting, or in the stubble after cutting. This was the opinion of all those numerous farmers who inspected it during its growth. Two exact portions were measured off, cut and threshed, weighed and measured. There was an equal number of sheaves from each portion, and an equal weight of grain. The straw and grain were both brighter from the thinner sown, and this I have always found to be the case, with a single exception. The thin-sown sample would com- mand IS. or Z5. more per qr. than the thicker sown. Weight per bush : thick-sown, 60 lb. ; thin-sown, 61 lb. Wheat this season does not weigh so well as in drier seasons. The name of the field is Ash Field ; the comparative lands were opposite the stable door, which will be remembered by those who saw it. The whole field was estimated at from 6 to 7 qr. per — the trial square (16 roods) gives a return of 54 bush, per acre. When the whole field is threshed and dressed the quantity shall be accurately given. I sold some white Wheat yesterday at 57^. per qr. This field's produce is of rather better qu; " and would probably command 58^. or sgj-. The result of my long-continued experiments proves unmis takeably that where the farming is good on well' drained and deeply cultivated soil our usual quantity of seed is a very great and wasteful mistake. I lay do no particular rule, but recommend each farmer satisfy his mind by comparative trials which quantity of seed is most profitable to him under his peculi circumstances of soil, climate, and style of farming. ] comparative trials I found that by putting in i bush, against 2 it increased my return in Wheat 30.r. per acre. The average of Great Britain is stated to be 3 bush, of seed Wheat per acre ; this must far too thick sowing : as a general rule, the higher you farm the less seed is required. Much Wheat this year was raised from the ground by winter's frost, and some was injured by wireworm. Although heavy land, I Crosskilled this field well. This not only re-bedded the roots of the Wheat, but also arrested wireworm. Salt on the lighter land after Crosskilling saved the plant, and gave me an abundant crop. I think it is wrong to go on sowing the same quantity of seed as our forefathers did when broadcasting, without taking into account the altered circumstances, such as the drill, drainage, and higher farming. Every farmer should make comparative trials. Two visitors from Liverpool assured me yesterday that as much as 4 and 5 bush, of Wheat are sown per acre in that neighbourhood, the return being only about 4 qr. per acre. The average of the king- dom is stated to be a return of 10 kernels for one ; mine is an average of 40 for one. I sow 6 pecks of Barley and 8 pecks of Oats per acre. In many foreign countries, where the weeds are allowed to grow with the com, the return is only five or six for one. My Wheats are always once or twice horse-hoed, and hand-hoed in the rows. If the land is loose we Cross- kill once or twice before hoeing. Much corn gets diminished in crop and injured in quality by too thick sowing, which causes an early falling of the crop. J. y. Mechi, Tiptree, September I. Thi GLOUCESTERSHIRE. I meeting was held at PittviUe, Cheltenham, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The weather was fine, and large numbers of visitors, including many ladies, visited the ground. The number of entries in live stock were much below last year's show at Stroud. Then there were 206 entries of cattle, sheep, and pigs, and 104 horses and ponies, while on the present occasion there were in these sections respectively 123 entries of cattle, sheep, and pigs, and 112 horses. There was a more imposing show of imple- ments than appeared last year. In the Shorthorn classes Mr. R. E. Oliver, of Sholebrook, took the 1st place with Lord of the Forest (26,704), a large, nice-looking bull, not too wide over the crops, but with good thighs and flanks. Mr. F. Ley- bourne was placed 2d with a light-fleshed, leggy bull, of fair quality, but with very coarse shoulders. The executors of the late Mr. Stratton showed some good cattle from the Burderop herd, characterised by squareness, [levelness, and other good points, but in too many cases hard to the touch. Bulls from this herd took prizes in the yearling class and bull calf class, also in the yearling heifer and heifer calf classes. The prize for the best bull, cow, and offspring, also went to Burderop ; but we must say we greatly preferred the family group exhibited by Lord Fitzhardinge, consist- ing of Lord Wild Eyes 5th, Rose of Gloucester, and calf, all of which handled like velvet, and were in fact the only animals in the yard which entirely pleased us in this important point. In the class of breeding cows Mr. W. Bradbum was 1st with Miss Chesterfield, a level enough cow, and Miss Strickland's Vote \oth, a cow with a good deal of character, but hard, was placed 2d. The commended cow, also belonging to Miss Strickland, was patchy. In the class for 3-year- old heifers, Mr. W. Bradburn showed a wide, nice heifer, which was placed 2d, and the late Mr. Strat- ton's Flower Girl, a heavy good-looking square cow, which fulfils her early promise in these respects, was placed 1st. The show of Herefords was poor, and a prize was awarded to every animal ex- hibited. Messrs. John Walker, William Taylor, E. J. Morris, Thos. Cadle, and Thomas Hewer were the suc- cessful exhibitors. There was a fair show of long and short wooUed sheep. In the former classes prizes were taken by the executors of the late Mr. Thomas Gillett, Kilkenny Farm, and Mr. Henry Cole, of Ashbrook. In the shortwooUed classes Mr. H. S. Waller, Farming- ton, Colonel Kingscote, Sir William Throckmorton, Mr. F. Gillett, and Mr. W. Playne, of Minchinhamp- ton, divided the prizes; and in the classes for Oxfords, Mr. Hobbs and Mr. George Walter were successful. There was a good show of Berkshire pigs, and the prizes were divided among Mr. H. Humphry, Mr. R. Swanwick, of the College Farm, Cirencester, Lord Fitzhardinge, Messrs. Wheeler & Son, and Mr. Elwes, of Colesbourne. The horse show was fully equal in numbers to that of last year, and some good animals were shown. A very agreeable feature of the show consisted in a loan collection of pictures, porcelain, and other works of art. A flower show also added fresh attraction to the scene. The following is a list of the awards : — CATTLE. R. E. Oliver, Bull above two sd. Mr. F. L. Popham, Bristol. year and under two and 2d, Mr. R. Stratton. S Tlie best Bull Calf, bred by e.\hibitor, and under 12 moi R. Stratton ; 2d, Mr. C. Hobbs, Maisey Hampton. " " '^ ' ' ■ ofispring. " -" " . Stratton. Bull, Cow, and The best Cow, in calf or in milk, havTnff had time, within 12 months of the day of exhibition — Mr. W. Brad- burn, Wolverhampton : 2d, Miss F. Strickland, Tewkesbury. The best breeding Heifer, in calf or in milk, tinder three years old. bred by e.\hibitor. -Mr. R. Stratton ; id, Mr. W. Bradburn, Wolverhampton. The best breeding Heifer, under two years old, bred by exhibitor.— ist and 2d, Mr. R. Stratton. The best Heifer Calf, bred by exhibitor, and under old.— Mr. R. Stratton ; 2d. Mr. T. Morris, Gloucester. The best Sow Pig for breeding purposes.— Mr. A. Stewart, Gloucester; 2d, Messrs. J. Wheeler & Sons. The best Sow and Pigs (not less than six) her own produce, the 'igs under 12 weeks old.— Lord Fitzhlrdinge, Berkeley Castle ; . R. Swanwick. Badmin The best Gelding HORSES, r agricultural purposes, above two ye : 2d, Mr. J. Manning, Orlingbury. 3wn offspring, for agri ■ -uke of B -Mr. S. Da The best Sullion calculated to get Hunters or Hacks.— Mr. H. Brown, Swindon. The best Hunlmg Mare or Gelding of : r6.x Dn : 2d, Mr. C. Harla ■e calculated to breed Hun thoroughbred horse. — Mr. Cowbridge ; 2d, Major G. A. E- Quentin, Cheltenham. The best Pony above 12 and under 14 hands. Major G. A. E. Quentin. The best Pony not exceeding 12 hands. —Mr. ] Mr. G. Houghton, Tewkesbury. IVORCESTERSHJRE. For the best Bull, above two years old.— Mr. Hereford. The best Bull Calf, bred by exhibitor, and unde ■ ■ -- W. Taylor, Ledbury. J. Walker, offspnng.— Mr. E. J. Morri; . under 12 months The best Bull, Cow Winchcomb. The best Cow, in calf or in milk, having had time within 12 months of the day of exhibi! Morris, Winchcomb. The best Breeding Heifer under two years 1 bitor.-Mr. E. J. ^for^is. The best Heifer Calf, bred by exhibitor, old.— Mr. T. Cadle, Westbury-on-Sevem. SHEEP. Harris, Northampton. The best Ram of any age. — 1st and 2d, Executors of T. Gillett Faringdon. The best Shearling Ram.— ist and 2d, Executors of T. Gillett The best 5 Ewe Lambs of the Cotswold breed— Mr. H. Cole Cirencester. The best 5 Ram Lambs of the Cotswold breed.— Mr. Cole. The best 5 Breeding Theaves, not more than 23 months old— ist and -■ ■^-'- ' •-■■■ .- - — ■ -- Thel H. S. Waller, Farmingi The best Shearlin W, Playne, Minchit The best 5 Ewe Lambs'.--Mr. F Gil The best s Ram Lambs.- Sir \ Farringdoi Thel Oxf , Farringdun. any age. — Mr The best Shearling Ram.— Mr. PIGS. The best Boar Pig under a year old.— Mr. R. I irenccster : 2d, Lord Fitzhardinge, Berkeley Castle. The best Boar Pig more than a year old. — Mr. H. Humphrey, Shrivenham ; 2d, Messrs, J. Wheeler & Son, Long Compton. 3 Sow Pigs of the same litter, under 9 months old.— Mr. R. Swanwick, Cirencester ; 2d, Mr. J. H. Elwes .van wick. Coles- This society's annual meeting was held last week at Malvern, in close proximity to the railway station and the Imperial Hotel. Considerable dissatisfaction was expressed, exhibitors having to unload their animals irom the trucks two miles from the yard, instead of on the spot ; but, with this exception, the arrangements were good. Cattle.. — There were some well-known show animals brought together in the Shorthorn classes, among which appeared the Marquis of Exeter's Telemachus, Mr. Outhwaite's Royal Windsor, and Mr. G. Game's Royal Butterfly 20th, who was regarded with much favour on account of his rare quality and good masculine head. These three bulls competed for Lord Sudeley's Toddington Challenge Cup and the Earl of Beauchamp's piece of plate, both of which, together with the 1st prize of his class, were awarded lo Telemachus. In the next class Marmhull Duke was placed ist, and Mr. Slratton's Master Glanville 2d. We abridge the following notes from a contemporary : — Mr. Outhwaite's Vivandiire beat Mr. How's Windsor Butterfly. The latter gentleman's Vesper Queen easily disposed of the other competitors in the heifer class, in which Mr. Bradburne stood 2d, with a purchase at Mr. C. Stubb's sale. The beautiful coat of the Rev. Walter Sneyd's Maid of the Mist secured her the victory in a capital class of yearling heifers, in which Mr. How was 2d. There were just about as many Herefords as there were prizes offered for the breed ; but some of the best men were represented— notably Mr. P. Turner, who won 2d with his aged bull, and two ists with heifers, the 2-year-oId being in high enough condition for a Christmas show, and also the President's prize for the best Hereford. Mr. W. Evans secured the 1st prize for bulls, with Monaughty 3D. Mr. R. Tanner won both prizes for cows, and 2d for yearling heifers, with his three entries. The other honours fell to Messrs. Twinberrow, Rogers, and Morris. The prizes for dairy cattle were all given to highly descended Shorthorns of Earl Beauchamp. Sheep. — The Shropshires were allowed precedence in the classes. In ewes, Mr. Firmstone's pen had been got into much better condition since Wolverhampton, and were placed before Mr. Baker's and Mrs. Beach's pens, which there occupied first and second positions. In the class for shearling ewes, Mr. Pulley's were placed 1st, and Mr. Baker's and Mr. Firmstone's highly com- mended pens at the Royal Agricultural Show 2d and 3d. Mrs. Beach won with a shearling ram, to which the extra prize as the best male animal in the sheep classes was also awarded. Mr. Pulley was 2d and 3d. In the aged ram class, Mr. Fenn's Bath and West of England winner was 1st, and Mr. Tanner's 2-shear 2d, though we prefer the sheep bred by the late Earl of Aylesford, and exhibited by Mr. W. Baker, which obtained a high position at Wolverhampton, to either prize winner. The longwooUed sheep were confined to a few pens of good Leicesters, from Mr. Harris, of Stoney Lane ; some Lincoln Leicesters, from Mr. T. W. D. Harris, of Wootton ; and a couple of Cotswolds from Messrs. Wheeler & Son, of Long Compton ; amongst which the prizes were divided. Horses. — A spacious ring was made to show the horses, with the usual arrangements for seats and fences. The Earl of Coventry's "Umpire" was con- sidered the best thoroughbred stallion, with "The Mallard," bred by the late Lord Glasgow, 2d. Mr. Tomlinson's " Young Lofty," winner in the agricul- tural stallion class at Birmingham, added another to his numerous victories. Mr. Percival took the prin- cipal prize for hunters with his chestnut gelding "Melton," Mr. Cook's 4-year-old "Misfortune" being 2d. Pigs. — Messrs. Duckering and Wheeler were almost the only competitors in the classes for white pigs ; the former gentleman taking most of the honours. There was a good show of Berkshires, Messrs. Joseph Smith, Swanwick, Humfrey, and other well-known breeders putting in an appearance. Mr. Smith won the Ist prize and extra cup, with his only entry, ; I 4-year. II50 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 1871. old boar. Mr. Swanwick was the 1st for ! gilts, and Mr. Humfrey, 2d for sows. On Tuesday and Wednesday the weather was very fine ; but on Thursday, the day for the people — the " shilling " day — the rain came down freely, accom- panied by a hurricane, which blew directly across the field, and unfortunately carried off the canvass covering of several of the sheds. That was not all, for a sudden gust blew down the large tent in which were placed the plants and flowers exhibited at the horticultural show, and a portion of the dinner marquee shared the same fate. The following is the list of awards in the several CATTLE. Best Bull in Shorthorn classes, ;t25-— The Marquis of Exeter. The Toddington Challenge Cup, of the value of 50 gs., given by the Right Hon, Lord Sudeley, was also awarded to this animal. Best Bull, above 2 years old.— 1st, Marquis of Exeter; 2d, J. Outhwaite. Best Bull, above i and under z years old. — ist, H. Allsopp : 2d. R. Stratton : 3d, G. Game. Best Cow in milk or in calf.— ist, J. Outhwaite ; 2d, J. How. Best 2-year-old heifer in milk or in caH".— ist, J. How ; 2d and 3d, W. Bradbume. Best Yearling Heifer,- R. Stratton. Best animal in Hereford dowlas, Usk. Bull, above two y&irs old. Rev. W. Sneyd ; 2d, J. How : 3d, vfao, Mr. W, Evans, Llan- W. Evani ) years old. — J. Twinberrow Turner. Best Bull above one and i 2d and sd not awarded. Best Cow in milk or in calf- ist and 2d, R. Tanner. Best z-year-old Heifer, in milk or in calf.— ist, P. Tun J. Harding ■ 3d, T. Rogers Best Yearling Heifer.- J. Morris. Best three Dairy Cows i Beauchamp. , P. Turner : 2d, R. Tan milk, any breed.— ist a: Five best Breeding Ewes, having had Iambs in 1871.-151, \V. C. Firmstone ; 2d, W. Baker. Five best Theaves.— ist, J. Pulley; 2d, ^V. Baker ; 3d, W. C. Firmstone. Best Shearling Ram. — ist, Mrs. S. Beach ; 2d and 3d, J. Pulley. «. ■ J . Best Ram of any age.— ist, T. Fenn ; 2d, R. Tanner ; 3d, W. Best Shearling Ram.— ist and 2d, T. W. D, Harris. Best Ram of any age.— ist, T. Harris ; 2d, J. Wheeler & Sons. PIGS. Best Boar Pig, of large breed -ist and 2d, R. E. Duckering. Best Bleeding Sow, of large breed— ist and 2d, R. E. Duckering. Best Two Hilts, of large breed— :st, J. Wheeler & Sons ; 2d, R. E. Duckering. Best BoarPlg, of small breed— isl, R. E. Duckering; 2d, J. :-ist, J. Wheeler & Sons ; zd, K. E. Duckering. Two best Hilts, of small breed- ist, R. E. Duckering. Best Boar Pig, of the Berkshire Breed — ist, J. Smith, Henley- in-Arden : 2d, R. Swanwick. Best Breeding Sow, of the Berkshire breed— ist, J. Swanwick ; 2d, H. Humfrey. Two best Gilts, Berkshire breed— 1st and 2d, R. Swanwick. HORSES. Best Stallion Cart Horse, for agricultural purposes.— 1st, H. Tomlinson ; zd, W. Wynn. Best pair of Cart Geldings or Mares for Gelding and Mare), above four years old. which have been regulariy worked.- ist, J. Groves : zd, S. Davis. Best Cart Mare and Foal.— ist, S. Davis ; zd, T. Ballinger. Best Cart Filly or Gelding, two and under three years old.— " " ■ ■, J. Perry. Eari Coventry; zd, M. Uiddulph. Best Hunter, irrespective of weight. — ist, J, R. Cookes; 2d, Best Hunter, that 1 Worcestershire, Here Ludlow, North and South Staffordshire,' or North War^vic'kshii hounds. — ist. Major Martin : zd, W. Colman. Best Hunter, the property of a tenant farmer resident in Wor- cestershire.—ist, W. S. Coucher (this was objected to on account of Mr. Coucher not being a farmer) ; 2d, G. C. Matthews. Best Hunting Mare or Gelding, under five years old. — ist, C. Cook ; 2d, Major G. A. F. Quentin. Best Hack, not exceeding 15 hands. -^W. Lee. Best Pony, above 12 and under 14 hands.— W. Godsall. Best brood Mare, for producing hunters. — G. B. Jones. LEINTWARDINE. NORTH HEREFORDSHIRE. The Condition of the Labourer. — We give this week a more extended account of Mr..STRANGE's address on this subject at the meeting of the Agricultural Labourers' Improvement Society. The following are If you really wish to have your condition bettered, you must act faithfully, honestly, temperately, and dare to be men. Be sure to do your employer no irijustice, for he that does his employer an injustice does himself an injustice ; while an honest man is a noble man, and belongs to the highest order of nobility. Now, speaking of the cottage question, I believe still that in all cases where practicable the cottage should be held direct of the landlord ; for a commission before the House of Commons, when speaking on the ques- tion, said there was no doubt whatever that it was better for the cottager, because it placed him in a more independent position ; and a thing which makes a man feel more independent I believe makes him more manly. Artemus Ward said we want female women ; I maintain we want manly men. It may suit small men or tyrants to be surrounded by a cringing multi- tude, but servility is not courtesy, and it is not good, socially or morally. Now the thing has been fairly worked out concerning the cottage question by a gentleman, in the Times of last year, and has never yet been answered. He shows how cottage property can be made to pay a fair percentage with the rents at a low standard. I believe it is the wish of many to keep from being a burden to the parish, and I would say that he or she who needlessly throws him or herself on the industry of others, lowers himself in the scale of human beings, and acts dishonestly. I fear this is working an evil in the country at the present time. It is far more acted on in England than in Scotland. But perhaps you will say, " Yes ; but the Scotch labourers are better paid." Yes ; but when I tell you that it is far more acted on here than in Ireland, what think you of this ? I have seen myself a man skulking about receiving parish pay because he had no work, he said, when he might have had work, and leaving his garden unplanted . I know landlords in this neighbourhood who let their cottages at a low rental ; this is what I call practical philanthropy. Now, many admit the wages' question to be right, but say, " Can the farmer afford to pay higher wages in the face of the dry seasons of the last two or three years ? " With that, however much you may sympathise, you have nothing to do, because, after a continuation of dry seasons, there may be a continua- tion of wet ones, and where the hay is short now the grain may be short then. And how about the right time? Others charitably suppose for you that if you get more you will only be spending it on drink and tobacco. Of course this is shelving the question until the weather is made to bear and all have signed the temperance pledge. The last kindly argument does not say that a man earns no more, but finds fault with his way of spending it. One of our great writers says that the labourer is surely worthy of his hire ; and the wages of the industrial labourer ought to be equal to all the decent wants and respectabilities of his position in life; and though political economists may say that the labour market is not regulated by considerations of this kind, let us stand on higher ground than this ; let us say that such a portion or value of a commodity as is equal to his proper wants belongs to the producer, and that a landlord, merchant, &c., ought to be content with what remains after the producer has been provided for ; whereas too often the reverse is the case, many of the producers having to be content with the crumbs which fall from the rich man's table. I would ask you how is the new Education Act to be carried on in its entirety if there is to be no advance of wages — every child to be at school, a longer time to be at school, and a higher standard to be passed ? The men must have more wages, for I know too well that many of them are unable to pay with only a part of the children at school ; for this will cause an increased expenditure in two ways — first, by more of a family being at school, and secondly, by being a longer time in school — no earnings because of no labour ; and if the same ratio of wages is to prevail, how is that family to exist who now live principally on bread ? We must look these things fairly in the face. One statement which was made at your first meeting I am prepared to modify a little, although I did not make it. They said the wages were lower in this neighbourhood than anywhere else. I know there are many places where they are higher, but there are places where they are lower. A few days ago I was through Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, and inquired the state of wages, and found them to be lower than here ; but because there are others worse, it does not follow that you ought not to be better. This is where you deserve commendation, because you have not waited until your position grew worse or into as bad a state as theirs, but nobly, earnestly, and courteously you have begun the battle for the right. In this question I cannot, nor do I wish, to lay all the blame at the door of the farmer, for I wish to speak justly of all ; but I believe the landlord is equally to blame with the farmer. When saying this I would make this remark, that there are many landlords and many farmers who pay justly, but there are many who do not. The answer to all solicitations is, the supply regulated by the demand. This may suffice for pro- duce ; but beyond a certain limit it ought not to be for human beings : you see the result — people starved to death. But we maintain that property has duties as well as rights ; and if landed proprietors took more interest in the labourer it would be better for all. It is not a healthy state of things to see on large properties labourers without work, as at the present time there are. Why not all true-hearted landlords, when they find this to be the case, employ the surplus labour in the improvement of their estates? — for in consequence of these men being out of work it causes a reduction in the wages, and in consequence an increase of misery, pauperism, &c., whereas if employed this would be spared. How many of the landlords themselves are not giving their men the just value of their labour. If this be the case, is it a good example to set the farmer ? For, after all, the farmer is only the tenant, while the landlord of course is owner. Were it not for the unusual and unhealthy competition for farms which we see, after all it would come back on the head of the landlord. Let this competition pass away, and it will do so. When was not neglect followed by evil conse- quences ? The landlord may look with pleasure upon improved farms and estates of more value ; but after all there is something more. If with the im- provement of estates comes no bettering of the con- dition of the poor, but in consequence of an increase of population increasing squalor, pauperism, and degradation, I ask, is one a sufficient compensation for the other ? Let us just look around us, and do we not know villages which are very beautiful, houses fit to live in, nice gardens, and men in a splendid physical condition ; and do we not know of villages where quite the opposite is the case, where you see a degraded peasantry going home to their cabins ? Why is this ? One is cared for, the other not. We have heard some little objections brought forward against the men having a cow, — not that I have heard any one say it was a bad thing; on the contrary, I confess I do not see the slightest difficulty in the way, except getting the land. In the first place they say all cannot have it : we do not ask for all to have it. In the next place, they say that all men cannot buy a cow. Others say that the women are so ignorant it would be of no use for them to have a cow. Well, who are the women the men marry ? Are they not domestic ser- vants chiefly, and when in service does not one employer give a good character with the servant to go to another employer ? How is it after being in service for some years and learning cheese and butter making —how comes it, after getting experienced, they all at once become so worthless and ignorant as not to be able to look after a cow directly they get married? Others say you will have no time to look after a cow with its belongings ; in answer to these I would say that if many of the women have to be away from their homes now, from 8 until 6 working on the land, could not these said women if left at home so much as look after a cow ? And then if there was something extra, hours being from 6 to 6, the man could do it before, or after. Others say that it is impossible for a labourer to have 4 acres and do his work, because out of that he would have some tillage land. To these we would say we do not stipulate for four acres, although we mentioned that quantity ; but we merely mentioned that quantity as a standard to go by. What we want is land sufficient to keep a cow, quantity to be deter- mined according to quality. Others say that it could be left to the farmer to allow the workman to run a cow with his own. I think that if the labourer had the land himself it would be preferable, because other- wise it would always affect the man's wages, which would make it a doubtful benefit. We have stated that it should be one in proportion to every hundred acres. We do not say do this all at once, but try two or three of the best men and worthy womeii who will be able to do it in each neighbourhood, and I am con- vinced it would do. If this could be done in the pro- portion we have stated, we should have some hundreds of thousands more cows in the country, and millions of pounds of butter brought into the market, for at present butter and cheese making seem at a discount in many places. These pounds of butter mean an increase of grocery to the butter-makers, an increase of business to the shopkeepers, and a little account at the savings bank for a rainy day and old age. I venture to hope that the landed proprietors and your employers have your cause too much at heart to lay it aside for a few rails or a cow shed, or some trifling inconvenience, which will only affect them for a few moments, but which will benefit you for life. In regard to emigration, some are against it because they say it is not needed. In the first place, have we a surplus population or not ? We have to buy food — that is grain, &c., to the amount of nearly jf 50,000,000 yearly, because it is not produced at home. I know there are millions of acres of waste land which may be made productive, but it is not. In the next place, have we not always a great number of people either out of work or earning such small earnings as scarcely to be able to live ? This, I think, will prove that we have a surplus population. Then is it not better for a man, who is barely able to keep his family from want, to go to a country where he will be able to live, and have some comforts for himself and family ? We know it is done among the families of the great. Fathers send their sons to India to live for years in order that they may escape poverty. Do you think that if a gentleman of high standing could get hi? son into a like position in England he would not much rather do it than to send him very likely to die in India ? Well, if it be good for the sons of the great to go to India to acquire wealth, is it not equally good for the sons of the poor to go to America or elsewhere to acquire a competency, or at all events to live ? If there should be a greater call for a trade at a town you will directly see tradesmen flocking to that to\%Ti from other towns. I ask you what is the difference between going from one town to another, or from one country to another, excepting the question of distance, which, after all, is now a trivial affair. I believe the only obstacle is ignorance, bec.iuse you have hitherto thought that you should do no better at one place than another. I would say to those above us, not to think, because the surface is rugged and distasteful to the polished and refined mind, that nothing can be seen by stooping but •ance, immorality and crime. If they would but stoop, they would discover something more — they would see suffering, patience, and heroic fortitude ; they would see simplicity of life and nobility of charac- ter ; they would see the lowly battle of life fought in a manner worthy of the Bayards of our philanthropists ; September 2, 1871.] The Gardeners* Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1151 of coarse and ragged as that of Sydney or Raleigh ; struggling year after year to keep want from the door; watching with fond devoti ENGLISH WOOL. Business during the past week has been on a fair scale, at prices fully ^d. to 5^/. per lb. above the opening prices of the clip, and everything appears in favour of rates being maintained. For the moment, however, owing to the very high rates asked, and to the fact that manufac- turers have stocked themselves pretty freely, there is not the same excitement in buying that there was a fortnight ago. HA v.— Per Load of^^i Trusses, Smithfielp, Thursday, Aug. 31. PrimeMeadowHay, i< Inferior do : New Hay . . . . ! Inferic I Clover, ol Inferior d 1 Inferior d MARK LANE. Monday, Aug. 28. There was a better supply of English Wheat from Essex and Kent to this morning's market than for some time past (including about 1500 qr. of new), which sold slowly at the prices of this day sennight. The attend- ance was good, but only a moderate demand, Russian and American bringing an advance of i.r. per qr. Beans and Peas were without change. Grinding Barley u. per . che; per. Oats were a slow sale, at a decline of i Flour was unaltered in value. There were a few of new white Mustard shown, but no business iPERiAL Quarter. Ij. s.\ Kent, Suffolk.. White 54— 59 Red. ected runs do. ,58 -61 [Red. — Foreign Poland and Brew 2 Rye 3 RvE-MEAL, Foreign I Beans. Mazagan —s. to — f. ..Tick 4 — Pigeon 51J. to 59^... Winds — Foreign Small 4 Peas, White, Essex, and Kent. .Boilers — Maple, —s. to — j. Grey Longpod . Egyptian . Suffolk .. Foreign .. 34-38 LOUR, best marks, delivered, .persacki — './d ditto ditto — Country. — Foreign per barrel 24-28 Per sack. , Wednesday, Aug. 30. A steady tone has been observable in the grain trade )-day. A moderate supply of new English Wheat has foreign growth have been steady in value and inquiry. The supply of Bariey has been good. The trade has been steady on former terms. Malt has been quiet, at late rates. Oats have been in large supply and moderate request, at the rates previously current. Beans have been quiet, at late currencies. For Peas the de- mand has been inactive, at about previous quotations. Flour has changed hands quietly, on former terms. Arrivals of Grain, &c., into London by Water Liverpool, Aug. 29.— To-day's market was fairly attended by buyers of all classes, and in Wheat there was a moderate business, at about Friday's improvement of 2d. for the finest red, -^d, for white descriptions, over last Tuesday's prices. Flour of all kinds, choice brands more especially, was io more request, and commanded rather higher figures. Fine old Oats scarce and firm ; new English pressed, and tending downwards. Oatmeal dull, and new reduced u. per load. Egyption Beans and Canadian Peas both quiet, at previous rates. Malt slow, but not cheaper. Cariey, no sound on offer ; unsweet rather e.isier. Indian Corn met a fair consumptive demand, at the currencies of this day week. American white is quoted at 35J. 6d. to 36J. (}d. per 480 lb. averages. Wheat Barley. 58 o 58 o 26 6 26 7 SEED MARKET Our seed trade continues in a quiet state. In Clovers of all kinds there is but little passing. Trefoils are firm. Trifolium is in improved request, at the recent decline. New Rape seed is scarce, and must be quoted 3J. to 4J. per qr. dearer. New Mustard conies to hand at mode- rate quotations. Hemp and Canary are unchanged in value. Winter Tares do not at present come foi-ward very freely. The chief characteristic of this years's pro- duce is an abundance of haulm ; this to a great extent is prejudicial, both to quantity and quality ; hence many complaints are made of the yield of both cereals and seeds. John Shaw & Sons, Seed Merchants, 16. Water Lane, London, E.G. HOPS. Borough Market, Aug. 31. Messrs. Pattenden & Smith report that there is scarcely any inquiry for 1870 Hops, and prices are consequently merely nominal. A few pockets of the new growth have arrived at market, the quality of which is fairly good for early pickings., but they do not find a ready sale. September The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1*53 JAMES BOYD AND SONS, Horticultural Builders and Heattsc Engineers, Paisley. N.B CONSERVATORIES, GREENHOUSES, VINERIES, FORC- ING HOUSES, PITS and every description of Horticultural Building, manufactured in Wood or Iron by Steam-power Machinery^and in any part of the United Kingdom. Manuf Apparatus for Heating Churches, Mansions, Plans and estimates on app i of Hot-wal E.^ r cold where i Two yards wide . . AGAINST the SCORCHING RAYS of the SUN. WOOL NETTING, 2 yards wide and is,6d. per yard. "FRIGI DOMO" CANVAS." IS. gd. per yard. ss. 8d. per yard. Fouryardswidc 35. M. per yard SCRIM CANVAS, 72 inches wide, Toyardslong, sJ^rf. toSJ^rf p >ard HESSIAN CANVAS, do., do., 54 and 72 inches wide, 6H i ■ i ! England and the Continent. Illustr.at STABLES a competent person Ci JAMES BARTON, IiDn Works, 370, Oxford Street, Cottam's Iron Hurdles, Fencing, and Gates. OOTTAM S HURDLES are nu^de in the best Illustrated'Pricc Lists on application'to^COTTAM'ANlf CO.j Iron Works, 2, Winslcy Street, Oxford Street, London, W. Cleanly dun of Iron Price of Fittings per Cow, 5SJ : of COTTAM AMD CO , Iron WorKS.a V Pantheon), Oxford Street, London, W , »h( i, together with several important Impro\( 1st secured by Patent. fp G. MESSENGER, Hot-water Engineer, -•■ • Loughborough, is delivering HOT- WATER PIPES, f4c., free 3-in.'.Hot.«ater Pipes', is.gi. '„ | Connections afpi^oportVonate'ratK. The Heating of all shuloff perfectly, are full bore, and cheaper than anv o'"^-- '" Portable and Fixed Hot-water Apparatus HEATING CONSERVATORIES, HOTHOUSES, CHURCHES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PRIVATE RESIDENCES, TRUSS' PATENT UNIVERSAL FLEXIBLE and LEAKLESS PIPE JOINT and PATENT CRACKLESS EXPANSION-JOINTED TUBULAR BOILERS, of a VARIETY of FORMS, PORTABLE or for BRICKWORK SETTING. They are the MOST POWERFUL, whilst ONLY CONSUMING HALF the FUEL of OTHER BOILERS. PORTABLE BOILERS, to HEAT ANY LENGTH of PIPING; and ANY PERSON can TAKE these BOILERS, as also the PIPES, APART, and SPEEDILY PUT THEM TOGETHER AGAIN. T. S. Truss begs to state that the immense number of APPA- RATUS annually Designed and Erected by him in all parts of the Kingdom, and for the Royal Horticultural Society at South Kensington and Chiswick, with unrivalled satisfaction, is a guarantee for skill of design, superior materials, and good workmanship ; while the great advantage obtained by his Improved System cannot be over-estimated, consisting of perfectly tight joints with neatness of appearance ; effects a saving of 25 per cent, on cost of Apparatus erected compared with fectness of design supplied, insuring no extras. rice Lists, Plans, and Estimates T. S. TRUSS, C.E., S. Consulting Horticultural Engineer, "54 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 2, 1871. GREENHOUSES, FORCING-HOUSES. VINERIES, and ORCHARD-HOUSES, made of the best Yellow Deal, Glazed with 15-02. Sheet Glass, painted lour times : 90 feet by 12 feet, /40 i 3© feet by 12 feet, ;C6o: 40 feet by 15 feet, ^£85 ; Mfeet by 18 feet, 2i 10: 100 feel by 20 feet, ^1230. ^The aSove prices include Brickwork, Staging, Deliver)', and Fixing, within 50 miles of London. Plans and Estimates sent on receipt of size required to R. STEVENS, Horticultural Builder, Simpson's Road, Bromley, Kent. THE PATENT TERMINAL SADDLE BOILER. It is easily set, and very powerful. Illustrated Circularspostfree. J. IRELAND, Edward Street, Broughton Lane, Manchester. 'AMES WATTS AND CO., Hothouse Builders [ Road London S E GREENHOUSES from the FINSBURY STEAM JOINERY WORKS, 121, Bunhill Row, London, EC \V. H. LASCELLES, Proprietor. Lists sent on application Prices for Hou ses, as above, made of best red deal, and thick, glazed with ] locks, gutter, dowr I, delivered and fixed d four coats in best oil ( ' nd gearing for opening t. ', brickwork not included /;79 o o £■32 , by 20 ft. ;S238. Portable box c coats, reac Portable box c glazeoi 16 oz. good sheet glass . . ning one 6 ft- by 4 ft. light, painted four SLk\ A 1 ORILS &c , of the best construction, designed and supplied, carriage paid to any part of the country Illustritcd Price Lists free on application to the Makers, enclosing Apply to W RICHARDSON AND CO , Horticultural Darrington Station in Engl; WATER APPARATUS Complete, or^he_Materials supplied lor Heating^ Tubular BoiUr ECTIONS, with BOILERS of Cash at'The'ir Wharf ii""' Bankside, Soulhwark. London, : 4HOUSES, HOTHOUSES, CONSERVATORIES, CHURCHES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, &C. Greenbouses and Conservatories. FREFMAN AND SONS' HORTICULTURAL " ' "are Street, Hackney, E. Established 21; years. . ideGREENH0USES,i:la2ed,ready for fixing, : long 13 feet wide, j{l50:2I feet by 13 feet, /28: 12^ f . s J. . „„5., TORV onfand,35%l IMPROVED CO>ilCAL ong CAST-IRON TU WROUGHT-IRON PORTABLE BOILERS, ut brickwork, from 60J- each- Patent THROTTLE and other _ FURNACE DOORS, BARS. : WORK of every description and sii INDIA-RUBBER RINGS tor rip! Sockets require no other packing, £//,^( facture, delivered at Railway or LYNCH WHITE Old Barge Iron Wharf, Upper Ground Street, London,S-E (Surrey side Blackfriars Bridge)- Price List Latest Improvements by HOT WATER. IMPROVED CONICAL BOILERS, for HEATING PINERIES, Solely Manufactured by POLLARD, JEPHSON, AND CO. lie Bury & Pollard, Successors to John R- Peill, late Stephenson & These BOILERS are adapted for REDUCED PRICE LISTS FREE ON APPLICATION FOR SIE JOSEPH PAXTON'S Patent Hothouses for the Million. M \NUI ACTORIES — T 1 HEREMAN and MORTON, HORTICULTURAL ENGINEERS, J4, TICHBORNE STREET, REGENTS QUADRANT, LONDO.N, W. [BY ROYAL LETTERS PATENT. THE MOST PLRILCT HORTILULTUR.-VL STRUCTURE IS, THE IMPERISHABLE HOTHOUSE, Perfectly portable, formed of Glass, Iron and Concrete. No Masonry, no Brickwork, no Putty, and little Paint. Manufactured under the Patent of Mr. W. P. AYRES by the IMPEEISHABLIl HOTHOUSE COMPANY, NEWARK-UPON-TRENT, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. The Company are now in a position to execute orders to any extent, for Plant and Forcing Houses of all descriptions, Railway Stations, Market Halls, Workshops, and Glass Roofs of all kinds. A BOOK of DESIGNS, with explanatory particulars, will be forwarded in exchange for six stamps, and Special Designs and Estimates will be supplied when required. HEATING by HOT WATER upon the most approved, principles. Noblemen or Gentlemen waited upon in any part of the coimtry. MANAGE B-WM."p7 AYKES, ' FOREST ROAD WEST, NOTTINGHAM. September 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. "S5 Genuine White Lead, Oils, Colours, Brushes, ifc. GARDEN ENGINES, PUMPS, SYRINGES, INDIA-RUBBER HOSE, TAPS, CONNECTIONS, &c. Prices upon application. Glass for Garden Purpoaes. JAMES PHILLIPS AND CO. beg to submit their REDUCED PRICES as follows :- PROPAGATING ^ \ '■■ : ;; I i ii ;; ii I '" ;; '■■11 f ;: ;: 4 inche BEE GLASSES, with ventilalinff hole through knob. I •;. ;: :: : : " .. ■■ I °o IMPROVED PATENT ; PLATE. LINSEED OIL, Genuine WHITE LEAD, CARSON'S PAINTS, PAINTS of various colours ground ready for use. SHEET and ROUGH PLATE GLASS, SLATES of all sizes, BRITISH PLATE.PATENT PLATE.ROLLED PLATE,CROWN, SHEET, HORTICULTURAL, ORNAMENTAL, COLOURED, ■ ;very description of GLASS,orthebest Manufacture.at the lowest rate Street Without, E.C. Under Royal Patronage. STATUARY, FOUNTAINS, FLORAL ARBORETTES, y Lithograpiied Designs, post free for la stamps, which i . HANDYSIDE anI) CO., Britannia Works, Derby. ings, consequently bein GARDEN VASES, FOUNTAINS, &c, in Artificial Stone, very durable and of superior finish, and in great variety of design. P .»,n G. ROSHER, Manufacturers, Upper Ground Street, Black- ■ - ■- -• ■ '^W.; KingslandRoad.E. IE FRAMES," PLANT for FOXLEY'S friars, S. E. : Queen's Road Agents for LOOKER'S PATENT "ACMl COVERS and PROPAGATING BOXES PATENT BEADED GARDEN WALL BRICKS. Illustrated Price Lists free by post. The Trac o RNAMENTAL PAVING TILES for Conservatories, Halls, Corridors, Balconies, &c., from 31. per square yard Pattern Sheets of plain or more elaborate designs, with ■I'lTE GLAZED TILES, for Lining Walls of Dairies, Lard. vvttiij!. ULAZ-bU TILES, lor Lining Walls ot Dairies, Larders, Kitchen Ranges, Baths. &c. Grooved and other Stable Paving of great durability. Wall Copings, Drain Pipes and Tiles of all kinds, Roofing Tiles in great variety. Slates, Cements, &c. F. AND G. RO , Brick and Tile Merchants.— See addresses ; ILVER SAND, fine or coarse grain as desired. Fine 14X., Coarse 17*. perTon. In Truck Loads is. perTon less, v-ery by Cart within three miles, or to any London Railway or INTS^IJid 1 extra. Samples ol'Sand free b PEAT or LOAM nplcs 01 Sana Jrec Dy posi ICK BURRS for Rockeries or Ferneries. KENT XI B F. AND G. ROSHER.— Addresses SM^above^'' Ci.a. Orders promptly executed by Rail or to Wharves. A liberal discount to the Trade. ROYAL SCHOOL of MINE Director— Sir Roderick Impev Murchison, Bart., K.C.B., F.RS, &c During the Twenty-first Session, 187172, which will commence on Octoberl. the folIowingCOURSES of LECTURES and PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATIONS will be given :— 1. Chemistry. By E. Frankland, Ph.D., F.R.S. 2. Metallurgy. By John Percy, M.D., F.R.S. 3. Natural History. By T. H. Huxley, LL.D., F.R.S. t Minfi^'''^' } ^y Warington W. Smyth, M.A., F.R.S. 6. Geologv. By A. C. Ramsay, LL.D., F.R.S. 7. Applied Mechanics. By T. M. Goodcve, M.A. 8. Physics. By Frederic Guthrie, F.R.S. 1 Drawing. By the Rev. J. Haythome Edgar, M.j r Students desirous of becoming Associates is £^30 in c ranee, or two annual payments of ;£20, exclusive oft Pupils are received in the Royal College of Chemistry {the Laboratory of the School), under the direction of Dr. Frankland, and in tl Metallurgical Laboratory, under the direction of Dr. Percy. Tickets to separate Courses of Lectures are issued at £3 and £a eac Officers in the Queen's Service, Her Majesty's Consuls, Actir Mining Agents and Managers may obtain Tickets at reduced prices. : Agents : Royal Highness the Prince of Wales 1 s Two Scholarships, Agricultural Land ImproTements. DRAINAGE, SEWAGE IRRIGATION, FARM BUILDINGS, LABOURERS' COTTAGES, &c. THE GENERAL LAND DRAINAGE and IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. (Incorporated by Act of Pjirliament in 1849.) Directors. T. Chapman, Esq., F.R.S. I The Right Hon. Viscount Com. George Thomas Clark, Esq. bermere. John C Cobbold, Esq. Edward John Hutchins, Esq. Henry William Currfe, Esq. | Sir William Tite, M.P., C.B. Principal Engineer, Mr. J. BAILEY DENTON. Agricultural Improvements of every Company, or the outlay thereon repaid carrying out the works by their " Tenant Farmers may also,_ The outlay, with all ofli Estate, and f No investigation Special arrangements together'whh"air Wort; Application to be n Secretary, at the Offices sma^sioTterterm Lry, and no legal expenses ii of SEWAGE. indertaking Works ot :idental thereto. Tf to ARTHUR MILMAN, E«q. , Whit. s!'^.' rHE LANDS IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, (Incorporated by Special Acts op Parliament.) DRAINAGE. RECL.\MATION. FARM BUILDINGS, LABOURERS' COTTAGES, TRAMWAYS, RAILWAYS, &c. Directors. R. Ryder, Esq. \H.Somerset,E West, Esq. Henry Farquh; ' 3rd Garlics, J .hn Horatio 1 , . The Company advances of Agricultural Improvement, includi the Clergy in respect of their Glebe Lands the Farms UTILISATION of SEWAGE.— The noney for the purpose of Works of Sewage The whole outlay and expenses are liquid; he land, redeeming principle and interest, o ;sq.,Q.C. ,ry W. West, Esq., M.P. rlcs Watkin Williams Wynn, iq., M.P. (Chairman), ted in amount, for all purposes the Erect" '" CENTRAL ARGENTINE LAND COMPANY, Llmited, CAflirwwK— John Hegan, Esq. Agent in the JJe^ttblic—E. Harry Woods, Esq., C.E., Buenos Ayres. Superi7ttmdent—Wii.UAM Perkins, Esq., Rosario de Santa Ffi. The Directors offer, on advzmtageous terms to Settlers, either as Tenants or Purchasers, PLOTS, varying from 80 to 400 ACRES each, of the COMPANY'S LAND, situate on each side of the Central Argentine Railway, from the Port of Rosario to the City of Cordo' the entire length being 246 miles. Towns and Villages are being 1: out at various points on the Line, where smaller Plots may be secui for Building purposes. To secure the best class of Agricultural Settlers and facilitate t Emigration of Families, the Direct - " Colonisatioji of Lands within easy r. idapted for are prepared to treat for il of.the Stations on the Ccntr London-^5, Palmerston Buildings, Bishopsgale Str Buenos Ayres— 87, Calle de la Reconquista; Rosario — Terminus of the Central Argentine Railway ; iVhere the Surveys of the Land {about 1,000,000 Acres), togetht vith the Plans of the Colonies already established, can be inspected. GEORGE WOOLCOTT, Secretary. 85, Palmerston Buildings, Bishopsgate Street, London, E.C. THE FLORIS'; SEPTEMBER, contai BURGH PLUM, and the following, amongst other articles interest :— Mr. Fowler on Conifers v. Spring Frosts ; Mr. W. Paul . Roses (chap, viii.); Mr. J. Ball on Carnations and Picotces; Mr. Rt on Keeping Grapes in Water; Mr. Buckley on Aquatics (chap. v. Mr Williams on Lady's Slippers (chap, ix., Illustrated) ; Mr. Bennt on Storing Potatos ; Croton Hooker! (Illustrated) ; Garden Literatu (Illustrated); Imperishable Hothouses (Illustrated); Novelties Flower Shows, &C- Monthly, is. London : 171, Fleet Street, E.C. ► ROFESSOR LINDLEY'S INTRODUCTION to BOTANY. Fourth Edition, with Corrections and Additions, o Vols., 8vo, with Six Copper Plates and numerous Wood jravings. Price 24s. cloth, ndon : LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO., Paternoster Row, E.C. Brandon), being a practical combin Part I., royal 8vo, with Two Plates, 2s. 6d., BIRD LIFE. By Dr. A. E. Brehm. Translated C.M.Z.S., Zoologist to the Abyssinian Expedition. JOHN VAN VOORST, i, Paternoster Row, London, E.C. In a few days, post 8vo, cloth, HINTS on SHORE SHOOTING; including a Chapter on Skinning and Preserving Birds. By J. E. Hartinc, F. L.S. , F. Z.S. , Author of the " Birds of Middlesex," &c. JOHN VAN VOORST, i. Paternoster Row, London. E.C. WANTED, a SUB-EDITOR, for a New Weekly Horticultural Journal. Apply, by letter only, to Mr. ROBINSON, 28, Scarsdafc Villas, Ketisington, W. Cautioa to Gardeners.— When you ask for lAYNOR AND COOKE'S WARRANTED PRIZE ? PRUNING and BUDDING KNIVES, see that you get them, iserve the mark SAVNOR, also the Corporate Mark, Obtain i.^&'c.^^egre\Si^g''loSti^^GlrSers and others but are iipelled to do so, in consequence of an imitation, of common ality, having been sold lor the genuine one, and which has caused iny complaints to be made to them of Knives which were not of ;ir make, all of which are warranted both by Sellers and Makers. i. and C.'s PRUNING and BUDDING KNIVES are the best Paxion works, Sheffield. Established upwards of 125 years. No. 1, Peel Street, Mancliester, 1871. OUR HORTICULTURAL SHADINGS form a thorough Protection from Winds, Frost, and Hail, whilst at the same time they admit Light and Sun. They are used and strongly recommended by the most successful Exhibitors and Scientific Horti- iced the only "proper sl^dings" ever offered to the publi "■ '" "' "' -"-' "cc AsacoveringforStrawberries, Tulip ihouses, &c, they rings them within ■ It for many yea DANIEL COLLINGE and SON atsVp days from date gainst Birds, Wasps, Blight,&c AsacoveringforStrawberries, Tulips, yacinths, Seed- Beds, Greenhouses, &c, they have no rival The No. 2.-54 inches wide at 7^. per yard No. 3-— 54 inches wide at sK*. per yara run. ■ :r yard run. ^ _. _.. per yard run. In pieces of about 30 yards each, or any longer lengths when specially ^SLER'S CRYSTAL GLASS CHANDELIERS. Table Glass c '"'■'" *" AND ORMOLU, CHANDELIERS IN BRO^ I irmingham— Manufactory and Show Rooms, Broad Street. K I N AHAN'S L I, . WH 1 CREAM of IRISH WHISKIES, in quality unrivallctl, perfectly word's^'' KInVh AN^S™L L " " on S, label" and SJlZ' New Wholesale DepUt, 6a, Great Tilchfield Street, Oxford Street, W. W' LLIAM YOUNGER and CO. DINNER ALE.-Sparkling and Refreshing. INDIA PALE ALE.— Unsurpassed as a Tonic. Invigorating. Pure Aerated Waters. LLIS'S RUTHIN WATERS, Soda, Potass, :, Lithia, and for GOUT, Liihia and Potass. ELLIS AND SON, Ruthin," and every label Street, Cavendish !: pronounced by connoisseurs ''the only good Sauce," improves appetite and aids digestion. Unrivalled for piquancy and flavour. Ask for LEA AND PERRINS' SAUCE. : of imitations, and see the names of Lea & Perrins on the id labels. -CROSSE AND BLACKWELL, London; and sold by all n Sauces throughout the World. DINNEFORD'S FLUID MAGNESIA.— The best remedy for Acidity of the Stomach, Heartburn, Hcad- "?.Vitxfi?il^^^'^'^'>' sdap'ted for Ladies, Children, and Infants. SUDDEN CHANGES of TEMPERATURE are sure to produce COUGHS, COLDS, ASTHMA, and INFLUENZA, which are speedily cured by the u PULMONIC ELIXIR, the best rem ' ' ' ■ ■ the Chest and Lungs. : remedy for Asthma and Disorders o B'. Spasms, and all HEALTH.*' successful effect; and i lOCKLE'S ANTIBILIOUS PILLS ' THE SAFEST FAMILY APERIENT, In boxes, at is. t^d., 2J. gi., 4*. 6d., and lu. best and mildest vegetable of the flowers of the Camomile. They will be found a most efficacious remedy for derangement of the digestive organs, and for torpid action of the liver and bowels, which produce indiges- tion and the several varieties of bilious and liver complaints. They speedily remove the irritation and feverish state of the stomach, allay spasms, correct the morbid condition of the liver and organs subser- vient to digestion, promote a due and healthy secretion of bile, and relieve the constitution of all gouty matter and other which, by circulating in the blood, must injuriously affect the : of the kidneys ; thus, by removing the causes productive of so discomfort, they restore the energies both of body and mind. To who indulge in the luxuries of the table, these Pills will prove \ tropical climates. Their of the liver which ii al in India or China they are the fatal disorders peculiar to , if combined with the strictest congestive and unhealthy condition It must be understood that these :nded i able simplicity of combination, and whatever merit they may be found to possess depends as much upon the selection of pure drugs, and the unusual labour and attention bestowed upon their subsequent pre- paration, as upon the acknowledged peculiarity of their composition. They are not recommended as a panacea, nor are they adapted to all complaints; but as a mild and efficacious aperient and tonic in the resorted to under all systems of diet, changes ofclir the Australian Colonies. with an extraordinai This celebrated Family Aperient Kingdom, in boxes, at if. il^d., India, China, New Zealand, and lOCKLE'S ANTIBILIOUS PILLS, ' THE OLDEST PATENT MEDICINE, Id boxes, at u. t%i.t v. Qi., 4i. U., and iif. 156 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September i, 1871. WILLIAM S. BURTON, ^^. GENERAL FURNISHING IRONMONGER, By Appointment to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Sends a CATALOGUE Gratis and Post Paid. It contains upwards of 850 Illustrations of his Unrivalled Stock, with Lists of Prices, and Plans of the 20 Large Showrooms, At 39, OXFORD STREET ; i, ia, 2, 3, and 4, NEWMAN STREET ; 4, 5, and 6, PERRY'S PLACE; and i, NEWMAN YARD, LONDON, W. ' ; REAL NICKEL SILVER, introduced more than 30 years eo by WILLIAM S. BURTON, when Plated by the patent process ■f Messrs Elkington & Co., is beyond all doubt the best article next to terling silver that can be used as such, either usefully or ornamentally, s by no possible test can it be distinguished from real silver. A small useful set, guaranteed of first quality for finish and Fiddle or Bead Thread King's or Shell. I , d I J. d. £ t. d. £ s d Table Spoons . . •-r Sauce Ladles . . ■ 3 • ■ 4 • ■ 4 6 Total .. .. C^ ■ 6 i;ii '6 . jCi2 a 6 £'3 2 6 , &c., l^ iss. :ond quality of Fiddle Pattern :— Table Spoons and Forks . . £t rp EA and COFFEE SETS, Electro Silver, in great -*- variety, frotn £2 '5*- to £^^ t&r. DISH COVERS, Electro Silver, from £9 llie Set of Four to £s6. rtORNER DISHES, Electro Silver, from £7 loj. to ^ £18 i8r. the Set of Four ; Warmers, £7 21. &i. to £15 151. Biscuit Boxes, I2J. to £5 IM. /^RUET and LIQUOR FRAMES, Electro Silver, The largest stock in existence of Plated Dessert Knives and Forks, and Fish-eatine Knives and Forks and Carvers. All kinds of Replating done by the patent process. 1 TOILET WARE.— WILLIAM S. BURTON has ONE LARGE SHOWROOM exclusively 10 the DISPLAY of BATHSand TOILET WARE. ck of each is at once the largest, newest, and tnost varied ever lilted to the publ-c, and marked at prices proportionate with those have tended to make his establishment the most distinguished in BATH WILLI devoted exclu The stock of VERS, 8j. S, 8j. I .3.0 I PILLAR SHOWERS, PLUNGE, VAPo'lfR atid CAMP SHOWER BATHS. TOILET WARE in great variety,from us. 6d. 10485. the set of three. LAMPS of ALL SORTS and PATTERNS.— WILLIAM S. BURTON invites inspection of this season's show of Lamps. The collection of French Moderateur Lamps, care- fully selected at Paris, defies competition. The prices, complete with chimney and globe, vary from 8s. to £y los. Kacli 1-amp is guaranteed perfect; but to insure their proper action. WILLIAM S. BURTON upplics pure Colza Oil at the wholesale price, 3s, iid. per gallon. Moderateur Globes, full size, 2S, 6J. each t Chimneys, 6d. each; cotton wicks. 3rf, per dozen. Lamps of all other descriptions are on show in great variety. Cl;°V,"c:' .'DELABRA, BRONZES.- "N invites inspection of his Stock of E.ach article is of Candelabra (per p BEDSTEADS in the Kingdom.-A very large assortment of every description of Iron, Brass, and Composite Iron and Brass Bed- steads, ChiMren's Cots, &c., is on view in the spacious Showrooms. Upwards ol 150 different Patterns always fixed for inspection. These are, even in the lowest prices, of guaranteed quality, and of the best STRONG PORTABLE FOLDING CHILDREN'S COTS, from iss. to £15 15s. ORNAMENTAL IRONandBRASS BEDSTEADS,from30S. tO;£3S PATENT RHEIOCLINE COUCHES, Military Bedsteads, &c. PATENT FOLDING CHAIRS to form BEDSTEAD, with best Hair Mattress, 60s. complete. PATENT ELONGATING COTS to form Couch or Bedstead. Can be used by Child, Youth, or Adult. Full extended siie, 6 feet long, 2 feet 6 inches wide, price 45s. ; with Set of good Wool also form a useful CoucI Engravings of any of Bedding List see below. BEIJDING Manufactured on the Premises, and guaranteed by WILLIAM S. BURTON. FoK Bedsteads. Wide— 3 feet. 4 ft. 6 in. Sfeet. £..d. £ .. d. £,^d. jSu'hiteWoolMillJess":: " '.'. ^uperior"'Horsehair''dit°o' '.'. '.'. '.'. French Mattress, for use over Spring BJ^^'^'^- eiib ■■ •• Do'B'isfwi°i?"a?3"perlE!'.' ' i.' '.'. : ,i . I 2 6 I II 6 476 II : i.7 6 5 |3 - Feather Pillows, 3s. bd. to 145. ; Bolsters, from 61. 'illows, from 10s. dd. to 17*- 6rf. Blankets, Counterpanes, and Sheets in evcrj "PURNITURE for BEDROOMS.— A very large and Deal Washslands . . Mahogany ditto .. Deal Dressing Tables Deal Drawers Mahogany ditto .. Deal Wardrobes .. Mahogany ditto in evei Every other Article 0 of a Dozen complete \ WIL <^. per set of five pieces. FURNITURE for DINING-ROOMS.— An Assort- ment of Sideboards, Dining Tables, Dinner Waggong, Chairs Patent Ventilating Do. 5?x?JJg :; :: 1 1 50x27x34 .. .. 9 10 I small size, with water tank, £2 los. ; a large Cabinet, do. ,£141 ; Pails or Pots, 8s. to 3or. ; do. Moulds, 6*. 6d. to 13s. ; do. mah ichines, 3SS. to t3ps. ■£3 3 : li TLERY in the w S. BURTON'S, at pric because of the largeness of the sales. e all of the finest Table 1 Dessert | Carvers, Do. ■ with silver Do. with silvere II : OVAL PAPIER MACHE TRAYS, per KITCHEN REQUISITES (including BRUSHES and TURNERY), and evcrj' article for the FURNISHING of KITCHENS, is arranged in Four Sets, each complete in itself :— Brushes and Turnery Total per set . . No. t. Suitable for any Houses: No. 3, Suitable Fourth-class Houses. Any single article may .|8S 13 639 " 2I18 9 7 7 " 1; No. 3. Suitable for Second-c J-class Houses; No. 4. Suitable /^ASELIERS i GLASS or METAL. -The increased LLIAM S. BURTON t Gas in Private Houses has induced in Metal and Glass all that is new and choice in Bracket? and Chandeliers, adapted to Offices, Passages, and DwelUng-rooms, as well as to have some designed expressly for him, which present, for novelty, variety, and purity of taste, an unequalled assortment. They arc marked in plain figures, at prices proportionate with those which have tended to make his Establishment the largest and most remark- able in the Kingdom, viz., from 121. 6d. to £23. Brackets from is. gd. 1EA URNS, of LONDON MAKE ONLY.— The ■PilSH COVERS and HOT-WATER DISHES, in ■^-^ every variety, and of the newest and most recherchfi patterns, are on show. Block-tin Dish Covers, Ci5s. the set of six; elegant modern patterns, 3gs. 6d. to 49s. W, the set ; Britannia metal, with or without silver-plated handles, £3 2S. to £6 8s. the set of five ; electro- plated, ,£9 to £16 the set of four: Block-tin Hot-water Dishes, with wells for gravy, 12s. to 30t. ; Britannia metal, ais. to 80s. ; electro* plated, on Britannia metal, full size, ,£5 5s. j do. on Nickel, full siM,j£lfc FIRE-IRONS, and CHIMNEY-PIECES.— Buyers of the above ■equcsted, before finally deciding, to visit the SHOW-ROOMS. y contain such an assortment of Fenders, Stoves, Ranges, approached elsewhere, either for variety, novelty exquisiteness of workmanship, or price. Black Register Stoves fr I and Or.molu Fenders mney-Pieces . . :-Irons. the Set of Three from .. 8.. to/SS'- fromilaSs. toi3310». from 3S.M. toiSlM. from £2 los. to £2S. horn £t 12s. to £100. from 3s. 3d. to £4 los. TUESD.W, THURSDAY, and S.^TURD.AY : orough. 1 THE VANS DELIVER GOODS IN LONDON AND ITS SUBURBS AS UNDER. TWICE D.VILY ;— Bayswaler, Camden Town, St. John's Wood, West End (.-^U Parts). n\UV - f Belsize Park. 1 City. I Haverstock Hill. | Holloway. I Kensington. I Kilbum, I Pimlico. I Brompton. | Chelsea. Highbury. Islington. | Kentish Town. | Netting Hill. | Shepherd's Bu MOND.W, WEDNESDAY, and FRIDAY :—Fulham, Hammersmith. Camberwell. I Heme Hill. I Lambeth. I Tulse Hill. I Wandsworth. Claphain. | Kennington. | Peckham. | Walworth. | WEDNESDAY and SATURDAY :—Dalston, Hackney, Hampstead, Holloway (Upper), Highgate, Kingsland. Goods beyond the above-named places delivered by special arrangement. The cost of delivering Goods to the most distant parts of the United Kingdom by Railway is trifling. WILLIAM S. BU RTON will always undertake delivery at a small fixed ra Editorial Communications should be addressed to " The Editor ;" Advertisements and Business Letters to " The Publishei Printed by William Richards, at the Office of Messrs. Braddorv, Evams, 81 Co., Lombard Street, Precinct of Whiieiri: Richards, at the Office, No. 41, Wellington Street, Parish of St Paul's, Covent Garden, in the said County.— SATtJRDAY, THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE No. 36.— 1871.] SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER the General ) Price 5d. 1 Newspaper. ( POST FREE. s|rf. CONTENTS. HOME COKKESPONDENCE- ent Garden prices .... 116 Metcorolo^rv of Ihe week . . 1 Oaks, Articlioke trails o... . i Wre?^. !"'.... °"!'....'." 1 Weallh in good pastures .. 1 AffilK GARDEN PLANTS- Oncidium brachyandrum . j OUR LIVE STOCK- :;g FOREIGN CORRES- SOC/ETfES- THE APIARY- GARDEN MEMORANDA- Shorlhornsin America.... H79 : FARM MEMORANDA— Unculliv.nted plams I177 ' Ur ( inins farm at Hullon i.l Wheat crop of ,87,, the ..,.761 Tippcrty, near Aberde?" HOME CORRESPONDENCE- \ («'thcul) „1 Asparagus disease 1167 I OBITUARY— Ecaulv of the country, j Dr. Hyde Salter, F.R.S. .. ir spoi)inclhc 1180 i Cattle fpod, condimental ■ CALENDAROFOPERATIO^ ChaUeuBXen'soriiiip:::: \% SXHI^i^r^io'ij""'' ^ il' Corn, proleciion of, in the "^ ^ ' ■ field 1 180 I Weather Tables ii Notice to . THE SUBSCRIPTION to the GARDENERS- CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE is £1 3*. lorf, for 12 months, including postage to any pan of the United Kinndom. May be had of aJl Booksellers. 3n Street, Covent Garden. lUTTOXS' COLLECTIONS of FLOWER ROOTS, ' for Winter and Spring Flowering, in Open Ground :— UTLER, Mcculloch and co.-s usual c ► sicnment of above has just arrived. Early orders are solici TALOGUES, free and post paid, on application I, South Row, Covent Garden Market, London, W.C. Establis mgdom. May blished by W. RICHARDS,. N Noteworthy Horticulturists and Botanists. OTICE.— A SERIES of PORTRAITS of lOTEWORTHY HORTICULTURISTS and BOTANISTS le published in the "GARDENERS' CHRONICLE fbLTURAL GAZET--"' "- ' Dr. Hooker, C.B., F.R.S. W. Wlt.SON SAUNDERS, F.R.S Rev. M. J. Berkelev. F.L.S. Covent ILLIAM RICHARDS, following have alreatly ontothefublishe^viz.:- frolessor Reichenb.^ch, of Hamburgh Dr. Moore, ofGlasnevin Rev. S. R. Hole, M.A. E. J. Lowe, F.R.S. nburgh. Wellington Street, BRIGHTON and SUSSEX HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.-A GRAND EXHIBITION of PI ANT5 FRUITS, and CUT FLOWERS, will be held at the Roy£ Pav^hon 13 and 14. Prizes are offered on the same liberal scl' y^l'S^^The^ Railway Cup. value 'Ten Pounds, is offe "" TaMe'te-cm ilway Cop. value T clics of Show Dahl,„, .,,.„ , Eight Guineas, for the Best Three Stands . E. SPARY, tendent '■ f;^"V'vi.^:*-^'J Exhibition, Queen' EDWARD CARPE P..59?^,°' "" t^^™ Roots: AUL AND SON have now ready about 6000 fine plants, in 48 pots, for immediate planting. LIST of sons on TEA-SCENTED ROSES, in pots.-The largest stock of Tea-scented Roses in the Kingdom. -ri,c>- may be had in .WOOD AND SON, The Nurseries, Maresfield, near Ucklield, Dutch Flower Boots. Q. M. KEMP-WELCH'S CATALOGUE of the application The Bulbs are of 'the finest quality and midwate "in Seedsman and Florist, Colliam, Bristol. Dutch Rower Roots. S. WILLIAMS' ANNUAL CATALOGUE of . DUTCH FLOWER ROOTS, containing all the best varieties yacinths. Tulips, Crocuses, Narcissus, &c. ; also a Select LIST RUIT TREES, ROSES, &c., for autumn planting, is now ready. HYACINTHS, NARCISSUS, TULIPS, CROCUS, i Flowering Roots is now ready, and will ion. It also contains Selections of cho on TULIPS of the best strains. The Royal Nurseries, Slough. w Hyacinths, Tulips, and other Dutch Bulbs. M. CUTBUSH AND SON'S importation of the above have arrived, and have every appearance of being above le average quality, for which they have been noted so many years CATALOGUE'^ of the above, also FRUIT TREES and general URSERY STOCK, post free on application. Highgate Nurseries, London, N. STEPHEN BROWN'S BULB C.A.TALOGUE, Illustrated, Descriptive, and Cultural (free Customers), ' "^ ........ ■ : GLADIOLI, a large collect FRENCH, and other BULBS. Seed, Bulb, and Plant EstablishiT ith several ■Hfii t'ion^of !)UTCh' CAI'' Dutch Flower Roots. 'RANCIS & ARTHUR DICKSON & SONS have St large Importation of the above, and have the satisfaction to say : the BULBS are large, sound, and well ripened. Early orders respectfully solicited. Descriptive Priced CATALOGUE post free on Seed Warehou' , Eastgate Street, Chester. Choice Seeds, for Present Sowing. ■D S. WILLIAMS begs to announce that he has just J-». harvested NEW SEED of the following:— Williams' superb strain of PRIMULA, red, white, and mixed: Neill's choice strain of CALCEOLARIA; WeatheriU's Choice strain of CINERARI i ■ and Wiggins' prize strain of CYCLAMEN. All the above at 1$'. bd. zs. (id., 3s. tut., and y. per packet, post free. Victoria and Paradise Nurseries. Upper Hollow.-iy, London. X. New Catalogue. rOHN H. LEY, E.xotic Nursery, Croydon, S.E., will be happy to forward, post free on application, his NEW CATA- 3GUE (price very low) of PALMS, FEliNS, STOVE PLANTS. &c. To the Trade. CALCEOLARIA SEED, by a private Growe F., Giirdntcrs' Chronicli Oltice, W.C. B. R. DA'VIS having secured a quantity of choice BULBS of extra quality, grown by a successful Amateur, 'b° K. DAVli'TheXed War'eho'uK,' Yeovi"'Some''rser Hunt's Superb Sweet WiUlam. TAMES HOLDER can supply SEED of the above, in O 24 choice varieties, at 2s. 6d. and y. per packet ; also PLANTS, ■' l'°J'5' <■'*"""• '"'i'' 50 plants for V, or 100 for .5.., basket included. Crown Nursery, Reading. Tropseoluin Minnie Warren. 'OHN CATTELL begs to announce that he is now ply the above beautiful variegated plant at greatly , 3s.^ W. each, or 365. per dozen. Trade price on du?x; LARGE CAMELLIAS.— Two large Double White Camellias for SALE, well set with bloom-buds, in good health Height about to feet, and 5 feet through each. Price £-jo. EVERY GARDEN REQUISITE KEPT in STOCK at CARTER'S New Seed Warehouse, 237 & 238. High Ilolborn, London. TO Gentlemen and Others. 1 O BE SOLD, One LEMON TREE, and Three fine . ORANGE TREES; also a verj' fine young Black HOGG R. CURTIS, Market Gardener, Islcworth, Middlesex. The Royal Norfolk Nurseries, Norwich. EWING AND CO. respectfullv invite inspectii their extensive NURSERY STOCfC. Fifty acres of F TREES, ROSES, CONIFERS, ORNAMENTAL TREES, S the finest possible health and condition for removal next autumr British Fern Catalogue. ROBERT SIM will send, post free for si.v postaee stamps. Part I. (British Ferns and their varieties, 36 pagSs includingpricesof Hardy ExoticFerns), of his Priced DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE of BRiflSH and EXlJTIC FERNS, No. 7 " rsery. Sidcup Hil " Special Offer to the Trade. Spei _ FERNS, FERNS, FERNS.— A large Collection Stove and Greenhouse Ferns, from 42r. per 100. LIST of s S. ILLMAN.Thc t Filmy Ferns, Orchids from Jamaica. MESSRS. TEUTSCHEL and CO., Colchester, Agents for the Sale of Foreign Plants, have on hand HYMENOPHVLLA ASPLENIOIDES. HIRSUTUM. POLY- ANTHOS, TONBRIDGENSE, CATIIARIN/E (Hooker), very scarce; also, ORCHIDS, EROUGHTONIA SANGUINEA. AN- GR/ECUM FUNALE (very rare), ONCIDIUM LURIDUM, BRASSAVOLA CAUDATA. All in good order. RCHIDS. — Gentlemen interested in this class of Plants would do well to inspect our Establishment at Fairfield, tojudge of our modcof growing for themselves. The House we appears simple should have beei New Roses, 1871. CHOICE ROSES.— The finest stock of Tea, Noisette China, and other Roses to select from, all strong and healthv iA Pn„. Descriptive Priced LIST on 'app'-- ^-? •- "'=*"'''• '" RICHARD SMIT fe'S'M?! M^ DICKSON, BROWN. AND TAIT, Seed Merchants, Manchester Cinerarias, from one of the very finest Strains of JOHN STANDISH and' Co'^are^'ifow able to offei . fine»itrong healthy plants of the above, to flower eariy in th, •'"i"-'\,"- "^'^^■f-oct ioien, CiV^r lOo; also seed of the same a 2f. M. and sj. per packet. Ro>.al Nurseries, Ascot, Berks. PARIS, I BUTTONS' GRASS SEEDS for ALL 1867. I SOILS. The PREMIER PRIX SILVER MEDAL for GARDEN SEEDS, GRASSES, and GRASS SEEDS, was 'sU'TTON AND SONS, Seedsmen, by Special Appointment, to H.JL iheQueen, and H.R.JI. the Prince of Wales, Reading, Berks. QUTTONS'" FINE LAWN (3RASS SEEDTIot li\ Special Appointmei ..f Wales, Reading. Vales. 237 and 238, High Ilolborn. London, To the Trade.— Passlflora coerulea. HENDERSON has about 20,000 of tht: above, los. per 1000. Kci^K White Horse Road, Croydon. WANTED, SPECIMEN PLANTS of the following, to complete a Collection :— AGAVE I EUPHORBIA ALOE GASTERIA CEREUS OPUNTIA ECHINOCACTU3 PHYLLOCACTUS, and ECHINOPSIS I MAMMILLARIA generally. Apply by letter to J. CROUCHER, Gr. to Mr. J. T. Poacock, Sudbury House, Hammersmith, W. irilc"™ neglet Turnip and Mangel Wurzel Seeds-1871 Crop. JOHN SHARPE will on application furnish his LIS with prices, of the principal SEEDS he is growing this year. To market Gardeners and Others. CABBAGE PLANTS for SALE, bv the rod or more. The Fulham, Enfield Market, and Curcuit's Early East Ham WPRESTOE respectfully invites inspection of . samples of 12 varieties of EARLY POTATOS, including Eariy Rose and Climax. All harvested ripe and in the market on July 16. 1 hese varieties are warranted fit for table in succession, every month in the year, and maybe seen in Basingstoke .Marketevery Wednesday. Price 6d. per lb. Basingstoke, September 4. 1 158 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 9, 1871. COLOR GERANIUMS. rs, Dunnelt I Miss Burdelt Coutts r R Napier Italian Beauty ■ '^ ' Mrs. John Clitton Mabel Morris 'IfsT of sso v; LFRED FRYER, Nurseries, Chatteris, Cambridgeshir (HOICE ' Jetty Lacy package included. W - ■ r ,. , T T inspection respectful^' mvil beautiful Hybrid Perpetual PRINC tiyorm Perietual PRINCESS CHRISTIAN, PRINCESS BEATRICE, PRINCE LEOPOLD, and a number of other English 1 Foreign Seedlings. "rains from Bishopsgatc Station, Great Eastern Railway, and St- icras Station, Midland Railway, to Waltham Station, in about f an hour. Entrance ftom the platform, Waltham Station. PAUL'S Nurseries, Waltham Cross, London, N. Seed Warehouse : 44, English St., & Blaclcfriars St. NURSERIES & SEED FARM: KNOWEFIELD,nearCARLISLE THE SUBSCRIBERS having now entered upon possession ol the Old-established SEED and NURSERY :ontinuanceofthesupi \LLANTVNE, and they will endeavour to merit the confidence o close personal superintendence in every department o LITTLE AND BALLANTYNE .IITH.l Sole J Partners. !to 4 in, ito I,,™ ted, fine well-rooted p ches high, twice transplante OrcUds. JAMES BROOKE and CO. beg to their splendid stock of ORCHIDS, adapted for supplying a regular succession of the most exquisite cut flowers. The singular beauty, and the long continuance of cut Orchid blooms, recommend them as better suited than any others for high-class ornamental pur- poses, including use by ladies: and there is no reason why a skilful gardener should not nave abundance of them almost always at command, and with little more trouble than is required for .select Dutch Bulbs. Messrs, BROOKE AND CO.'s stock includes Hyacir Miniat Jonqui I Tulips, early and 1 inds of Flower Roots. Price SUTTON AND SONS, Seedsmen by Special Appointir e Queen, and H.RH. the Prince of Wales, Reading. Exhibition Hyacinths. Q UTTONS' SUPERB DUTCH^^^^ HYACINTHS, for Pots and Glasses,''S^ specially selected for Exhibition purposes. ^2^^ CHEAPER COLLECTIONS, MINIATURE HYACINTHS, finest naraeii ■arietics, 4s. per dozen. *»* To secure the best Bulbs, early orders 1^" All Flower Roots carriage /ret. SUTTON AND SONS, Seedsmen, by Special Appointment, to the Queen and H.R.H. the Street, Manchester. Fairfield, JEAN VERSCHAFFELT begs to offer the following CAMEI.U.\?, i''to Tf^foo't' '"" ermenione ow prices. Mi. . AZALEA INDICA, fine pli ..£7 P=y«'i 'a'S", £10 per 100. otaheit'e^oiTInges, wit JASMINUM GRANDIFLORUM, lil through the winter, 24s, per dozen. Early orders are respectfully s '" -- lAF , Ghent, Belgir New Bedding Plant, Thymus cltriodorus aureus MARGINATUS (Lemonscented gold-edged Thyme). MESSRS. FISHER, HOLMES, AND CO., Hands worth Nursery, Sheffield, will send out during the preseni autumn an exceedingly pretty Thj-me, of an erect-growing but much branched habit, with large obovate leaves, which are of 3 very bri-lr dark green in the centre, and with a broad rich golden-yellow nin gined variegation: is very handsome and attractive. It will pi-v very effective for edging flower beds, borders, or riband planting, [ci for growing in masses on banks, or in other varied forms: it m.-iy ii inter bedding, having proved i" 1 Dutch Flower Roots. ARCHd. HENDERSON rcccivelP' a ° lf?g"e°''"consie''nment If HUTCH and other BULBOUS ROOTS, carefully selected fror -\), . ,1 .Iv.icc and select LIST \ I.CEl ABLE and HARDY l-LOWER SEEDS for °Ll'sf ot STOCK Runners, out of pots, Dr. Hogg I Premii Due dc MalakoR Presid Vicomtesse Hi Runners, out of pots, per .00, s^. ; Ncw"st sOTls! such as"'rhe Ama"< 1 will be posted a ude I Wonderful Bers,inpots,per 100, ii I Rifleman I Sir Harry rs, in pots, per 100, la Crystal Palace Nurseries, F the early kinds, and a sure cropper. Plants are original stock, price SJ. per 100, package incf variety may now be thoroughly distributed fr plants will be sent post free for 15. dd. from the included. That this fine It post free for 15. 6rf. from the raiser. w: KNIGHT, Florist, Battle, Sussex. British Queen, John Poweli, Carolina Superba,' Frogmore Pine, and Dr Hogg. Basket for 300, 6d. Unless with orders from Trade, postage stamps must be sent, or Post-office Order on Liverpool. J. StIIELD, Strawberry Farm, Thorlon Hough, Neston, Cheshire. :ling assured that no other possesses such a robust really splendid flowers. Mixed, Red and White, Instructions for raising and growing sent if required reatham Place, Brixton HUl, London. S.W. ; and grown as bushes or pyramids for winte fectly hardy. Altogether, it may be c charming bedding plants known, and fragrance of the sweet-scented Lemon 1 It was exhibited at the Royal Hort 1871, and received a First-class Certific cultural Show at Nottingham, a First-class Certifii Dutch Flower Roots. ■%■ '^Ji /BARTER'S AUTUMN ;\jr«.-S,;fj V. y CATALOGUE of DUTCH 2^;, ■ -iI'\VER ROOTS, FRUIT TREES, I I R AND CO., Seedsmen to the Que li ; w .-■ 17 and 238, High Holborn, London, W.C also at the Royal Horti N^ ! varieties new FUCHSIAS of 1871 ! varieties best selected VERBENAS 1 fine new varieties VERBENAS of 1871 .. ! fine new vSrietres COLEUS of 187V '. '. '. '. I varieties best selected CHRYSANTHEMUMS 1 fine varieties new CHRYSANTHEMUMS of 1871 i fine new varieties PENTSTEMONS .. r fine varieties PERENNIAL PHLOXES ( varieties selected ZONAL GERANIUMS ! fine new varieries ZONAL GERANIU.MS of 1870 . finevar. GOLD and GOLDEN BICOLOR GEftAl r fine varieties JAPANESE AUCUBAS t new varieties Hardy C"" " ^' »•"'" ? CHILIAN MIMULUS. sSEDUMS iesSAXIFRAGAS .. i ANTIRRHINUMS !ties HELIOTROPIUH :ties LANTANAS \KDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS IRLE and SINGLE PETUNIAS.. tEENHOUSE CLIMBERS .. GREENHOUSE SUCCULENTS ..61. JREENHOUSE PLANTS .. .. 6j. « new AGERATUMS White Tom Thumb, White 'impe- 'ii d k f "&/ "' "'° "'"'■"t ; Sultan, I varieties AGERATl! NIS, including the above . . 1 fine varieties tall HERBACEOUS LOBELIAS 2 fine varieties VERONICAS '• ■• B. W. KNIGHT, Florist, Battle, Sussex. Her Majesty the Queen. | H.R.H. the Prince JAMES CARTER and CO. CARTER'S choice strains of CALCEOLARIA, CINERARIA and PRIMULA iiiiii ' ''„ Ss"'WifBff'.*^.-"i CALCEOLARIA (International Prize) —The plants of splendid strain recened First Prizes at the Ro)al Botanic, Royal Horticultural, and other places CALCEOLARIA, finest Hybrid, 2s. 6d. ; smaller packets ,, finest Spotted, 2s. 6rf. ; smaller F ' Saved with the greatest care, and from one c CINERARIA, : smaller packets aved trom a spl PRIMULA, choicest Mixci „ dark Carmine . „ Rose Fringed '' ! choicest While Fringed „ choicest Fem-lcavea Carmine „ choicest Fern-leaved White Forwarded immediately on receipt of Post-oflice Orders. Winter Flowering Heaths. EG. HENDERSON and SON respectfully invite • inspection of their stock of the above, consisting of some thousands of plants, in fine health, well (set for flower-buds, including E. HYEMALiS, GRACILIS, AUTUMNALIS, WILf-MOREA, GRACILIS VERNALIS, LINN.EANA, SINDRIANA. COLORANS, REGERMINANS,&c EG. HENDERSON AND SON'S NEW BULB • CATALOGUE includes Descriptions of the beautiful new variegated HYDRANGEA SPECIOSA; also the finest double- flowered white Indian Azalea, PRINCESS LOUISE, and the best striped.flowered variety, PICTURATA ELEGANS, &c. The CATALOGUE forwarded to Strangers on receipt of four postage stamps. v'ursery, St. , London, N.W, Gladioli, Amaryllis, New Roses. Faeonies, Iris, LILIUMS, PHLOX, &c. UGENE VERDIER, FiLS Aine, trusts that his Clients and Friends will again favour him with their orders, :h he assures them will be executed in a manner that will give Gladioli. GladloU.-To ths Trade. EUGENE VERDIER, Fils Aine, Nurseryman, 3. Rue Dunois, Paris, offers to his Friends a considerable stock of fine BULBS of his unrivalled collection of above; also the following New Varieties {the whole for ;£2 165.) ;— Alcyone (Souchet), Antigone (S.|, Antiope (S.), Ariane (S), Arsinije (S), Beatrix (S.), CelimSne (S.), Didon IS.). Jupiter (S), Minerve (S.), Ossian (S.), Phoebus (S.), (Catalogues, with description, win be obtainable about September 25, by addressing direct to E. V., fils ain&. u T O aaSSftg *-> NEW and CLEAN SEEDS LMtS^ FOR PRESENT SOWING. f%g,S^*r-^ Carriage Free. BUTTONS' PERMANENT PASTURE MIXTURES, specially prepared for all soils. ' IMPROVED ITALIAN RYE-GRASS. ■rifSlium.'ncwfate'red- M™Sard. '^ "^ rifolium, new late white. | Rape. Sfpl Special Appoin All goods carriage SUTTON AND SONS, Seed- Queen and H.R.H. ice of Wales, Reading. NITROPHOSPHATE. MANGEL, HOP, and POTATO MANURES. Alio PERUVIAN GUANO (as imported by Messrs. Thomson, Bonar & Co.), NITRATE of SODA, SULPHATE of AMMONIA, &c 116. Fenchurch Street, E.C. EDWARD PURSER, Secretary. REES AND CO/S^ BIPHOSPHATED PERUVIAN GUANO (Registered Trade Mark, Flying Albatross), is now ready for delivery in quantity and in fine condition. It is believed to be tlie best Artificial Manure yet produced. Its base is Peruvian Government Guano; it contains 21 percent of Soluble Phosphates, 5 to 7 per cent, of Ammonia with Salts of Potash. See reports of Dr. Voelcker, Dr. Anderson, Professor Way, Mr. Ogston, ancl Mr. Sibson. Delivered in rcwf bags, each ot which is secured by a leaden sea], bearing the Company's Trade Mark. The analysis is guaranteed so REES AND CO. (Limited), 58. O'd Broad Street, London, E.C. ANALYSIS by DR. A. VOELCKER, -L u Consulting (jnemist to the Royal Agricultural Socictyof England. " Ajialytical Laboratory, 11, Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, E.C , " London,.January 15, 1870. " Sir,— Enclosed you will find the results of a careful analysis of 3 jample of your Biphosphated Peruvian Guano. These results speak or themselves. I need, therefore, hardly add anything in comraenda- lonofthe high fertilising character of this valuable Artificial Manure, [led only 10 per cent, of moisture, and insoluble phosphates which I Manure will become kaown to September 9, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, 1 159 AT PRESENT, THE WINTER-GARDEN, AT ^Mr. Wm. BULL'S Establishment'^ IS A MOST LOVELY SIGHT. The GRAPE VINES, which are festooned over the building, are hterally covered with Grapes. These are grown for the purpose of shading the specimen plants, which are alone worth a joumev to see. Thousands of bunches of Grapes over-hanging magnificent plants of the grand ABYSSINIAN MUSA, matchless TREE FERNS. noble PALMS, picturesque ENCEPHALARTOS, graceful DR.'^C^N.A.S, and other Plants, present a coup d'ml tlnequalled in Europe, and perhaps in the World. An inspection of the above, as also of the NEW PLANTS, which are the great speciality, is invited, and can always be made by application at the Office. ESTABLISHMENT for NEW and RARE PLANTS, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, LONDON, S.W. NEW CRIMSON PRIMROSE, PEIMULA JAPONICA. ^m. Mr. William Bull Begs to announce that he is NOW SENDING OUT this NEW HARDY PRIMROSE. It has been recently figured in the " Florist and Pomologist," " Floral Magazine," and " Botanical Magazine ; " and the opinion of every one who has seea it in blossom maybe expressed in the one word, "lovely!" When exhibited before the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, it was voted a First-class Certificate by acclamation. '"^Kk reached Englai made lo introd seeds having b litin Japan.abaskci . It is just t itfulofbloomi; een of its men Fortune plants have been ., of Chelsea. Our gardens d exquisitely Bull may w separate whc splendid mai %yhich is really valuable c % atmosphere of London, are perfectly healthy, and introdi ut the middle of Ma\', some two or three weeks has si< lat which we now figure, when Mr. W. EvLL cj 1 the present year. Its history is now well knoi 00 much cannot be said. To Mr. Fortune, air enriching our ^rdens, are we indebted for it ; a 1 congratulate himself on being the first to intro A Primula a foot and a half high, bearing four Is of flowers, each flower an inch in diameter, a ■nta colour, and the plant, moreover, perfectly hardy- be added to this to indicate its value ? We >--—"-- ->- -' : will 1 plant has not been for The Plants now offered are very strong and healthy, in 4-inch pots, and will be sure to bloom beautifully next Spring-. Early Orders nre respectfully solicited to insure having the strong Plants, for the demand is expected to be very large. Price lOs, 6d., each, or £4 lOs. per dozen. Coloured Plates can be supplied at u. td. each. Those wishing to add this splendid Primula to their Gardens, are recommended to procure Plants, for even if imported Seed should be offered this season, it can scarcely be e.xpected to grow. Mr. Fortune imported Seeds many times during a period of 10 years, but they always failed to vegetate, except in one instance, when sent to this country in a special manner. ESTABLISHMENT for NEW and RARE PLANTS, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, LONDON, S.W. Q IR J. PAXTON'S HOTHOUSES for the MILLION. KJ Reduced Pnce LUts free. A Pamphlet, with Views of these and other Glass Roofs, for three stamps.— HEREMAN and MORTON, Hot- Water Pipes and Boilers. J JONES AND SONS deliver HOT-WATER • PIPES and CONNECTIONS, with BOILERS of every make, free to any Station in England, for Cash with order ; or they Horticiatural Buildings. SHANKS AND SONS* CATALOGUE of HORTICULTURAL BUILDINGS in IRON and WOOD, "1? erected by them in Edi GRAND WINTER GARDEN recently , Leadenhall Street, ISPOSED OF, a well-constructed CONSERVATORY.— Length 40 feet, breadth 20 feet, and .. ..r— . ._-.L IT— .:__c..-_.- n:_-_ Stapes. and Plants, complctc^ :t, London. E.G. Orcliard House Lights. VT/'ANTED, a number of the above. Second-hand, AjpliV^it For Double Floughs, E VENTILATED TORS of CUT FLOWERS, GRAPES. ^ERS.SALAp_S,_&c.,_winfindCHAPMAN;S PATENT obtained through ; or W. EASSIE sole manufacture. Price Lists TUBE bASES tor i^xhibition or "liansmission purpo& any of the Agents ; the PATENTEE, AND CO., who have arran " ■ ' ' and Testimonials on appli and CULTIVATOR may TH Manufactured Sole!' Composition and Granitic P For Price Lists, Testimo THOMAS CHILD, Manag. John fowler ,.. . Plough Works, Leeds. CELEBRATED GRANITIC PAINT :ly and Only by the Silicate Zopiss: Paint Company. 'attems of Colours, apply t( : William Street, London, E.C THOMAS CHILD, Gardeners. -When you asJE for COOKES WARR.'INTED PRIZE KNIVES, see that you get them. SAYNOR, \ 1 V Jib, see that you get them, the Corporate Mark, Obtain ving to caution Gardeners and others, but are in consequence of an imitation, of common sold lor the genuine onc; and which has caused n.t, tut u. «...ch are ■warranted both by Sellers and Makers. AND C.'s PRUNING and BUDDING KNIVES are the best the cheapest in the market. Paxton Works, Sheffield. Established upwards of 125 years. ET. ARCHER'S " FRIGI DOMO."— Patronised • and used for Frogmoreand KewGardens. It is made entirely f heat or cold where il PROTECTION AGAINST the SCORCHING RAYS of the SUN. WOOL NETTING, z yards wide and ii.&f. per yard. "FRIGI DOMO" CANVAS." BEDFORDSHIRE SILVER SAND and PEAT, sold only by J. ARNOLD, 29, Clarendon Square, N.W. Acknowledged by the largest and most extensive Growers and in the United Kingdom. Strongly recommended by all who 'have Maiden Lane, and Kingsland Goods Depot, N. L. Railway- By the w CONDENSED COMPOSITION c-load to all i J. ARNOLli, !g, Clarendon Square, N.W The Cheapest and Best Insecticide. pOOLEVS TOBACCO POWDER. Tincn and Seedsmen. Wasps.— Davis's Improved Wasp Destroyer. BR. D.A.VIS (Sole Manager of Mr. Scotfs Seed . Business for the last it years), was the first to introduce the T.fx:^i ' offer an article of \-astIy superi. itruction of Wasps, Hornets, Flie ully appreciating, re effective than any I have as i CATALOGUE r G I S H U R S T COMPOUND. Used by many of the leadinij Gardeners since 1859, ajjainst Red Spider, Mildew, Thi Green Fly, an.' ' solutions of Blight, gallon of s Winter Dressinc for Vines a Fruit Trees. Has outlived ma preparations intended to sup< Sold Retail by Seedsmen, Wholesale by PRICE'S PATENT CANDLE COMPANY (Limited), Battersea, London, S.W. Wholesale of ALEX. WILKIE, Oak Lodge Gardens, Addison Road, Kensington, Indestructible Terra-Cotta Plant Markers. MAW AND CO.'S PATENT.- Prices, Printed Patterns of Ornamental Tile Pavements for Conservatories, Entrance Eosher's Garden Edging Tiles. GARDEN VASES, and of superioi 3 G. ROSHER . E. J queen's E ... Agents for LOOKER'S PATENT "ACME i COVERS and PROPAGATING BOXES; also fo) PATENT BEADED GARDEN WALL BRICKS. Illustrated Price Lists free by post The Trade s WHITE GLAZED TILES, for Linii , Baths. &c. Grooved an Copings, Drain Pipes and Tiles in great variety. Slates, Cements, &a dG.RO."" - .ROSHER, Brick a J. Scott's Seed Business. P^Mv^I^T.^s'^Irl^?- B "r"^;^"^ ^r ^'"^ '"^"r^"* "'?,' ' KiXn'^lan^Lfi -M- ftiv i-ATE bHOPMAN, H. K. DAMS, has Sent circulars to all. , durability Wall C °^^'A^"p m? ifErB\";NV\'sTT''TEov';,..'''"7f?r«'Sl,' c"/ ' ^"^ *■ ' and, if possible, renewed exertionsanclatlentio'n to supply e't'erj'thfng QILVER SAND, fine or coarse grain as desi of the best quality only will be tny aim. lO Fine I4»^ Coarse 175. per Ton. In Truck Loads tj. per Ton c™ ,," ""■ o'" atSJ^rf-peryardr at 711. per yard rui at 5'Ad- per yard r at 4fl. per yard nil at 5^rf. per yard r each, or any longer lengths when specL JAMES beg t As suppl Society, ana to most United Kingdom. Each Box contains lo SQUARES Fourth quality F H I L L : HAI of the Nobility, Clergy, and Gentlemen t feet The prices only a :: ":"■£' > by 14, 20 by is. SMALL ! i§ by 12 17 by i; JibyMj :: EET SQUARES A\i 7>y 5 7] I3I. I'HITE : don Agents for ROUGH PLATE. SEED OIL, Genui PAINTS of various colours ground ready for use. SHEET and ROUGH PLATE GLASS, SLATES of RITISH PLATE, P.A.TENT PLATE, ROLLED CROWN, SHEET, HORTICULTURAL, ORNAMENTAL, COLOURED, and . ' ' ' J AS. PHILLIPS* description of GLAS^. of the best .Manu- terms. Lists of Prices and Estimate.*- :0., 180, Bishopsgate Street Without, E.C ii6o The Gardeners' Chtonicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 9, i87«. Paul & Son, THE OLD NDBSEEIES, CHESHDNT, N., ]IAVK NOW KKADY TOK llELIVERY THEIR THIS SEASON'S SUPPLY OF HYACINTHS, TULIPS, NARCISSI, CROCUS, AND OTHER DUTCH BULBS. Bting Imported from the leading Growers in Holland, no finer are to be obtained ; and the prices are fixed as reasonabfe as possible, to meet the increasing demand for cheap Spring decorative materials. Priced Descriptive CATALOGUES now ready, with appended LISTS of VINES and STRAWBERRIES for immediate planting. ^ "The Best Catalogue."— ^''«''^ " HoriicKitunst," Ociobc,-, 1870. - GNA r/s .,,,,1 POST FREE, a CA TALOGUE of DUTCH BULBS, Fruit Trees, Dried Flowers, and General Autumn Requirements. DICKIE A.DCLYFFE & CO., SEEDSMEN, HORTICULTURAL DECOR.A.TORS, and GARDEN FURNISHERS, 129, HIGH HOLBORN, W.C. SEED GROUNDS, ERFURT, PRUSSIA. PAUL'S HYACINTHS, TULIPS, «S;c. " Mr. Wm. Paul « • » » well maintained the high reputation he enjoys for the successful cuUi\ hnmhU. Ihis class of flowers. "—Ji""-/;,;/ of " A remarkably fine display of William Paul HYACINTHS, TULIPS, CROCUSES, and other DUTCH FLOWER ROOTS Have arrived in excellent condition, and he respectfully solicits early Orders. PRICED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE Free by Post. PAUL'S NURSERIES and SEED WAREHOUSE, WALTHAM CROSS, LONDON, N. DUTCH FLOWER ROOTS. JAMES Veitch & Sons BEG TO ANNOUNCE THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED THEIR ANNUAL SUFI'LV OF HYACINTHS, AND OTHER BULBOUS ROOTS FROM HOLLAND, And are pleased to say that they are in splendid condition. J. V. & SONS were awarded the following Prizes at the Liondon Exhibitioas last spring— viz., First Prize for i8 Hyacinths, distinct sorts, Roy.al Horticultural Society, March 15, l87r. First Prize for 18 While Hyacinths, distinct sorts. Royal Horticultural Society, March 15, 1871. First Prize for 12 pots Tulips, in 6 varieties, Royal Horticultural Society. March 15, 1871. Second Prize for 6 New Hyacinths, distinct sorts. Royal Horticultural Society, March 15, 1871. Extra Prize for Group of Hyacinths and Tulips, Royal Horticultural Society, March 15, 1871. First Prize for 12 Hyacinths, distinct varieties. Royal Botanic Society, March 22, 1871. First Prize for 12 pots Tulips, distinct varieties. Royal Botanic Society, March 22, i87t. Extra Prize for Collection of Hyacinths, Royal Botanic Society, March 22, 1871. lAMES VEITCH and SONS also supplied to the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Works the TULIPS, HYACINTHS, and CROCUSES which made such a grand display last Spring in Hyde Park. CATALOGUES are now ready, and will be forwarded Post Free on application. ROYAL EXOTIC NURSERY, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, S.W. DUTCH FLOWER ajestyl To I '■^^ \ BOOTS, ^"^ CARRIAGE FREE JAMES CARTER & CO. Having received their Consignment of DUTCH FLOWER ROOTS, which have arrived in splendid condition, beg to offer the following COLLECTIONS of BULBS, which will be found to contain, in the best quality, all the sorts required for the purposes mentioned : — CARTER'S COLLECTIONS of BULBS for CONSERV.\TORY and WINDOW DECORATION, including Basket and Packing, and Carriage Free. Price ioj. 6*/., 21J., 4*/., 63 J., and 845. CARTER'S " GUINEA " COL^ LECTION of BULBS for CONSERVATORY and WINDOW DECOR.'VTION, including Box and Packing, and Carriage Free. Contains — 12 HYACINTHS, in i2cxtrafinc | 6 TULIPS, 9 rOLYAI SUS. i JONQUl POLYANTHUS NARCIS- 3 „ La Candeur. ^""^ ■ '"i. 3 „ Royal Stand; ccnlcd. I b „ Yellow Princ 50 CROCUS, finest named. 3 „ Rosa Mundi I DI ELYTRA I LILIUM SPECIOStJM, 6 SCILLA SIBIRICA. 24 SNOWDROPS, extra I AMARYLLIS FORMOSISSI- 6 IXIAS, hnestraixed. [.MUS. 6 SPAKAXIS, finest mixed. 6 TRITELEIA UNIFI.ORA. CARTER'S COLLECTIONS of BULBS for CONSERVATORY and OUT-DOOR PLANTING, including Basket and Packing, and Carriage Free. Price 15J., 30J., 42J., 63J., and 84^. WELLINGTONIA GIGANTEA. Hugh Low & Co. ■ healthy ONE-YEAR SEEDLING I'LANTS, established in single pots, at SOs. per lo Special price for five or ten thousand. CEDRUS DEODARA. Fine TWO-YEAR SEEDLINGS, in store pots, £10 per 1000, CLAPTON NURSERY, LONDON, E. CARTER'S COMPLETE Col- lection of BULBS for CONSERVATORY and OUT-DOOR PLANTING, including Box and Packing, and Carriage Free. Price 30J. Contains - YACINTHS. in I2 extra 12 STAR of BETHLEHEM. .2 SCILLA BELGIC.\, mixed. 75 CROCUS, blue. 75 .. f>"P=<'-„ 75 „ laffjc yellow. « AlJEMONES.extralinemixed 8 GLADIOLUS BRENCH- LEYENSIS. 12 IRIS, extra choice mixed 12 ,, extra tine mixed Spanish. 12 JONQUILS. Campemel. 36 RANUNCULUS, extra fine 50 SNOWDROPS. [mixed. fine named sorts for pots or 12 II-!?ACINTHS, in 3 colours for bedding. 12 NARCISSUS, Double, white. 12 „ Poeticus or Pheasant-eye. 36 TULIPS, extra fine mixed. 6 „ Toumesol. 6 „ DucVanThol. 3 „ Royal Standard. : Double DAFFODILS COLLECTIONS" of BULBS for OUT-DOOR PLANTING only, including Box and Packing, and Carriage Free. Price ioj-. dd , 2is., 42j"., 63.^., and 84^^. For full particulars of all the above, see CARTER'S AUTUMN CATALOGUE OF DUTCH BULBS, FRUIT TREES. ROSES, &c.. Which may be had Gratis and Post Free on application. 5 /tv ceni. Discount for Cash. JAMES CARTER and CO., SEEDSMEN TO H.M. THE QUEEN, AND H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES, Z37 and 238, HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON, W.C, September 9, 1871.] 'ITie Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1161 ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, SOL'TH KENSINGTON. W. SHOW OF IJAHLIAS, ASTERS, &c , SEPTEMDER 6, 1871. AWARDS of the JUDGES. Class i-— 24 DAHLIAS, cut blooms, distinct. (Open ) rst, Messrs Kclway & Son, The Nurseries, Langport, Somerset, £1 55. 2d, Mr. C. Turner, Royal Nursery', SJoueh, £,\. 3d, Mr. C. I. Ferrj-, The Cedars, Castle Bromwich, near Uirmincham, ■SJ. ist, Mr. C. j'. Perrs-, 15!. 2d, Mr, R. Parsons, Waterstock, Oxford, loj. 3d, Mr. J. Beach, Or. to C. J. Herrics, Esq., St. Julian's, Sevenoaks, Class 3.-24 ASTERS, not quilled, cut blooms. (Open.) 2d,' Messrs. Kelway & Son, The Nurseries, 'Langport, Somerset, I5r. 3d, Mr. J. J. Chaler, Gonville Nurseries, Cambridge, lot. Class 4.— 12 ASTERS, not quilled, cut blooms. (Open.) ist, Mr J. I. Chater, los. 2d, Mr. I. Walker. Nurserj-man, Thame, Oxford, 75. 3d, Mr. E. Rowe, The Rookery, Roeharapton, 5s. Class 5.-12 ASTERS, not quilled, cut blooms. (Amateurs.) 2d, Mr. E. Famdeir, Gr., Surrey County Asylum, Springfield Farm, tst, Mr.T Row ,k.. ' 1 '2d Mr. B^'porte'r,"!!.' JX-i r.^e VERBENAS distinct, 5 '"Mr" °!r^..^.^Z Class 8.-6 pots "^fe'-i LIUM SPECIOSUM(LANCIFOLIUM), e'r^lrnfte" King's'SS'chelsea, S.W., I Class 9. net. Open.) Naples, Giant White Tripoli, and New Neapolii , Mr. E. Farndcll, £2 2S. Mr. J. Baverstock, Gr. to W. Hope, Esq., Parslocs, Barking, R OYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. •' "ITICULTURAL DEPARTMENT of the LONDON INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1871. International Jury, September 6, 1871 :— FIRST-CLASS CERTIFICATES. Agave Celsiana albida J - Agave Ile'scifn'iErispinis i From M Jean Vershaffcit, Ghent. Agave dealbala compacta J SECOND-CLASS CERTIFICATE. Agave dcalbata angustifolia, from M. Jean Verschaffcit, Ghent. ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. -HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT of LONDON INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, i87L On OCTOBER 4. i87t. jst. Silver Gilt Medal. j 2d, Large Silver Medal. Class 3.-COLLECTION of CULINARY APPLES, 3 fruits of each ist. Silver Gilt Medal. j ' 2d, Large Silver Medal. Class 4.— The most complete COLLECTION of PEARS, 3 fruits of isl. Gold Medal. '| '"^ '' 2d, Silver Gilt Medal. CLASS 5.-COLLECTION of DESSERT PEARS, 3 fruits of each i.st. Silver Gilt Medal. ' '|° '' 2d, Large Silver Medal. Class 6. -COLLECTION of KITCHEN PEARS, 3 fruits of each I 2d, Bronze Medal. SS— The LARGEST EC sg.— COLLECTION of of GRAPES. 2d, Bronze Medal. LEMONS, CITRONS Silver Gilt Medal. By Order of the Council, HENRY Y. D. SCOTT. C.B.. Major General. Secretary to the Royal Horticultural Society. And to Her M.ajcsty's Commissioners of the Exhibition 011851. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1871. ASEA.SON of unusual horticultural exertion and display is drawing to a close, and the thoughtful part of the outside public, as well ; the originators of and contributors to the ExH BITlON.s, must naturally ask themselves how far the efforts of the latter are producing any perma nent and real impression on the general mass of the people — whether the increase in the love of flowers, which is indicated by the number of exhibitions and the interest taken in thi belongs only to the upper classes, or is extending its way downwards and leavening the whole mass ? Jaded and exhausted by the summer's work, we anticipated the holiday of our legislators, and ere they had broken up had already spent a few weeks in visiting different parts of the country in search of ozone and health, and have thus had an opportunity of comparing the present state of things with what we remember 30 years ago in Kent, Herkshire, Derbyshire in its wilder parts the south of Scotland and Perthshire, and, with the readers' good permission, we shall ask them to compare their impressions with ours, and see whether we have not arrived at a right con elusion in the matter. So far as regards Kent and Berkshire, wt would at once eliminate them, or rather put them special category peculiar to them and those parts of Kngland which lie within villa-range, that is, the distance of a morning's railway ride from London or the great provincial capitals. The villa-range is expanding itself with marvel- "ous rapidity, and wherever it reaches, there town influences, town capital, and town ideas nake themselves felt, so that we cannot get at the natural and undirected bent of the mind of the people. " If, in such a district, we see a cot- tage tastefully embowered in flowers, and with a gay, tidy and well kept garden, we cannot set that down to the taste and natural inclination of the inhabitant. No doubt it may be so, but much more probably it is due to his being employed by the master of the neighbouring villa, who likes beautiful surroundings, and has suggested the decorations, supplied the plants, and possibly lent his gardener, besides offering prizes or other artificial inducements to pay attention to his garden. It, therefore, tells us nothing as to the degree to which the love of flowers has pene- trated into the heart of the people, nor how far, f left to itself and free from any artificial foster- ng, it would be developed, and show itself prac- tically. We would also put aside, as a special nd exceptional development, consequent on a peculiar condition of life, the love of flowers exhi bited in the suburban districts of great cities, as at Spitalfields, Nottingham, iSic. These do not concern our present inquiry. Turning from such places to the less peopled regions, where the foot of the stranger may still find room to wander from the path unchecked, where each side of the highway is not preserved from intrusion by an S-foot wall, and where thatched cottages with kailyards stand in lonely patches, or scattered at long distances, we shall have a better chance of seeing how far the natural genius of the people has been affected by the advent of Flora. We happened last month to be present at the pretty little village of Dalbeattie, in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, at the time when their local Horticultural Show was held, and had the honour of assisting at the concours. We were also not long since present at other country shows in similarly circumstanced places, and with the exception of trifling differences due to the greater or lesser size of the place, the greater or less number and wealth of the neighbouring country magnates, and the greater or less zeal, energy, and skill of the managers of the shows, the same features showed themselves in all. Unless where the place is of sufficient magni- tude to have a nursery in the neighbourhood, the contents of the show all divide themselves into three well defined sections, — the con- tributions of the neighbouring gentry, those of the traders and townspeople, and those of the cottagers. At Dalbeattie, under favour of a deep crimson card, of the hue patronised from time to time by the Royal Horticultural Society, we penetrated into a good-sized apartment with tables round the walls, and three parallel tables running up the middle, all well loaded with plants. The central tables were principally filled by green- house and hothouse plants of good size and well cultured, clean, healthy, and vigorous, such as Screw- Pines, Palms, good varieties of Coleus, double Pelargoniums, S:c. We did not need to ask, in order to know that these were the contri- butions of the neighbouring gentry, and accord- ingly, on inquiry, we found that they had been sent by Mr. Welwood Maxwell, of Munches, the member for the county, and the nearest landed proprietor. Next we found a table devoted to cut Gladioli, Tricolor Pelar- goniums, Petunias, Fuchsias, &c. ; these repre- sented the well-to-do tradesmen of the village. Then, longo intervallo, came the simplest and most common everyday flowers of the open border, such as Antirrhinum, Pyrethrum, French Marigold, &c. These were the product of the cottage garden, and manyof them (most of them) could scarcely be called the product of care or attention, but must have been merely culled from old plants which happened to be growing in the kailyard of the house which the exhibitor chanced now to occupy. That these were exhi- bited at all was an indication of the fostering thought of some one above them who kindly sought to introduce a taste, but no indication whatever that the taste existed where it was sought to be planted. No doubt if we knew all the outs and ins of the motives and state of mind of the exhibitors, we might see that we are doing them great injus- ce ; but, judging from appearances, we should say that this little exhibition showed that, so far as regards the upper classes, horticulture stood here exactly at the same high level as in London and any other part of England. The same habits, tastes, knowledge, and modes of thought, pervade the upper stratum of society in every corner, chink, or cranny of the kingdom. Com- parison with 50 years ago tells of little change in love of horticulture as regards them. Horticul- ture is more advanced ; but, as then, they are still at its head. A much greater change has taken place in the middle classes, and especially the lower ranks of the middle class. Formerly contented with no gardens at all, or only with yards like those of the cottager, they are now not satisfied unless they have their trim beds, their choice plants, nay, their greenhouses and conservatories. The advance has been great in that rank of life. But with the cottager pure and simple — the country cottager unsupported by the presence, the aid, the promptings of his supe- riors, we are bound to say that we can sje no advance ; in places we could point out, it rather seems to us that there has been retrogres- sion. We remember in our youth the luxuriant yard with its side beds edged with Chamomile, Hyssop, or Daisy, its Lily of the Valley in the shady corner, the large white Rose bush, the Valerian, the Campanula, and the big bush of Southernwood, which scented all the church on Sunday. When we have lately gone to refresh our memories with another sight of them, we have found their place occupied with a stack or a pigstye ; and we are told by inhabitants of the rural districts of which we speak (beyond squirearchal influence) that the taste for flowers has rather diminished ; that where formerly some old gardener or enthusiast could be pointed to who had a love for flowers, and a special collec- tion of them, now-a-days there are none such : you must go to the towns for them. In one respect, however, we must qualify the opinion we have expressed. If Flora is neglected, the cultivation of vegetables has made more pro- gress. Any improvement in what is to gratify the lower appetites, or to put money in the purse, seems more readily to make its way ; what is to improve the mind and gratify the higher and more delicate sensations stands still. This im- provement in the cultivation, and especially in the sorts of vegetables, probably comes to the cottager through the farmer. Let us hope that as progress is being made in the more material aims of horticulture, its more refined influences may also follow to the class of which wc hive been speaking. The annual dinner of the Market Garde- ERS, Nurserymen, and Farmers' Association was held at the Fox and Hounds Hotel, Putney, on Mon- day hist, when the President, Mr. Henry Meyers, pied the chair, and was supported by nearly ICXD of the leading agriculturists and market gardeners of* Home counties. After the usual routine business had been got through, the Chairman, in proposing " Prosperity to the Association," said that in the year 1S2S a proposal was made by the then Duke of Bed- ford to rebuild Covent Garden Market, and as con- siderable doubts were raised in the minds of the producers as to what tolls would be asked, a few of them, himself included, formed themselves into a committee, which ultimately developed into a wealthy and mtluential society, to watch over the interests of the producers generally. There were not more than four of the original members now alive, for the society had been in existence 43 years, but now, rather than at any other time, was the influence of the society most felt. They wanted a new market, simply because no effort was made to give them accommoda- tion at Covent Garden, and, aided by their strength and finances, they would have one. They would show, by their united action, that they were entitled to more con- sideration than had been shown them. Their interests were the interests of the whole metropolis, for not only did they stock the markets which supplied all London with vegetables, but they were also instrumental in upholding the health of the metropolis, by daily remov- ing the refuse and filth, and utilising it in the production of further supplies of fruit and vegetables for the markets. Why had they not been more looked to, and their interests more studied ? It was all very well for the people of London to set their faces against the removal of the market from Covent Garden ; but did they know the shameful neglect of all accommodation and inducement for the grower to continue his supply to thti market in question ? Did they know that for hours in the bleak winter morning, in rain or snow, the market gardeners had to stand out in the open air, because a wealthy proprietor would not so much as cover in a market which was returning large profits? It was not his wish, or the wish of other producers, to remove Covent Gijrden Market ; but what they asked lor wa'i 1 62 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 9, 1871. a good central market, where they could send their produce if they thought proper, and not be entirely in the hands of a landlord who would do nothing to accommodate them.— Mr. D. Clarke (another large grower) cited many instances of the injustice under which, he said, the producers were placed. Many of his men had had long illnesses through havmg had to stand with their waggons at Covent Garden exposed to all weathers. He also alluded to the fact of so many applications having been made to the Duke of Bed- ford to have the whole area of the market covered in, and the point-blank refusals on the part of his agent. — In response to the " Health of the Visitors," Messrs. BnNTEMs and Rudkin (members of the Market Com- mittee of the Corporation of the Cily of London) returned thanks. The former explamed that there was no desire on the part of the committee to bring about the removal of Covent Garden Market. A great want was felt in the City of a contiguous fruit and vegetable market, and as Farringdon Market was the most unsatisfactory of the City markets, the committee had resolved to improve it ; and if by doing so they could meet a want felt by the market gardeners, their object would be materially assisted. The committee's pro- vince was to provide markets for the better accommo- dation of the City ; and, next to that, their study would be to suit the convenience of the producers. ■ A correspondent writes, " Our Oaks have very few acorns, but are covered with growths like the enclosed. What are they? are they general this season?" We reply, they are Artichoke Galls, caused by the puncture of a female Cynipideous fly, called Aphilothrix gemma; (Linne). These galls are, to the detriment of our Oaks, very abundant almost everywhere this season, and the idea of harvest- ing acorns must be abandoned wherever the fly has got a firm foothold. If our correspondent will gently remove the hop-bloom, or cone-like foliaceous covering, he will find a small stunted acorn within. Let him now take his penknife and remove a flat slice from the shell, he will then perceive a cavity, within which a fat, white, footless maggot is nestling, biding the autumnal time, when his," Diogenes' tub " will fall to the ground, remaining exposed to sunshine and showers till spring liberates "the mature fly. We attribute the increase in the numbers of the fly to the reckless way in which our Oaks are often managed. Everywhere the fine timber is felled, giving place to unhealthy undergiowth, or upshots from the ancient roots remaining. Such copses are nurseries, from which issue swarms of these flies annually, whose oviposition in the buds of full-grown bearing Oaks destroys all hope of a harvest of acorns. We must give up " saving our bacon" so long as we encourage the wholesale felling of mature Oak timber, without taking care that its place is filled up by pro- perly planted, healthy young trees. Alli. M. We have received a copy of a circular announcing, in the names of His Grace the President and Council of the Royal Horticultural Society and of Her Majesty's Commissioners of the Exhibition of Industry of 1871, that a Great International Exhibition of Fruit, in which all home and foreign growers are invited to take part, will be held at South Kensington on October 4 next. Prizes, consisting of gold, silver-gilt, silver, and bronze medals will be awarded for the most complete collections of Apples, /or collections of dessert Apples, for collections of culinary Apples, for the most complete collections of Pears, for collections of dessert Pears, for collections of kitchen Pears, for collections of Grapes, (or the largest bunch of Grapes, for collections of Oranges, Lemons, Citrons, Limes, &c., and for miscellaneous fruit, not mentioned in either of the above classes. All packages of fruit for the exhibition are to be addressed to "The Secretary of Royal Horticultural Society, South Kensington, London, " from whom schedules of prizes may be obtained. For further particulars sec the advertisement in our present issue. The Maximum Temperatures of the Air Blackheath, stations in England of 7S°.5, and in .Scotland of 72^.2. The Minijium Temper.\tires of the Air ranged from 52". 5 at Liverpool, to 44° at^ Hull. The mean for the northern country was higher than that for the southern ; that for Scotland being 48*", and for Eng- land 47°.:. The Mean Temperatures ranged from 64° at Blackheath, to 56'. i at Dundee, the mean for England being 61°. i, and for Scotland 57°.9. The greatest falls of rain were 0.55 inch at Leeds, and 0.56 at Bradford. The mean fall for England was 0.18 inch, and for Scotland o.oS inch, (See Mr. Claisher's Tables, p. 1171). Those who have experienced difficulty in plant- ing the stronger-growing AquATICSmayfind the follow- ing hint, which occurs in one of Mr. Buckley's papers on Water Plants in the " Florist and Pomologist," use- ful to them, the more so, as he observes, that it is almost ludicrous to note some of the cumbrous modes recom- mended by persons who seem inclined to mystify the subject. Any urchin, he says, knows how to dispose of an old offending "grimalkin," by tying one end of a short string round a brick, and the other end round the neck of the nocturnal prowler. Behold in this simile all tlie mystery of planting Water Lilies ! If the rhi- zomes are thrown into the water without some weight attached, they will certainly rise to the surface, and so float and perish ; but when planted in this way, by the time the cord has decayed they will have taken root and become fixed. When the lake is large, it is best to use a boat, and just drop them where they are wanted to grow. If near the margm they can be thrown m. After this they will take care of them- It is stated in Dr. Lindley's "Vegetable Kingdom," ed. 3, 1853, that the Placenta in Cary- ophvllace,-e is proved to be really central by a monstrous Cerastium figured in this Journal (1844, P- 557)1 (see fig. 265), in which the carpellary leaves are partially turned inwards without touching the placenta, which bears a cluster of ovules, and is perfectly clear of all connection with those par- titions. In some normal species, however, the ovariitm is furnished at the base with delicate septa, which soon vanish, and it does not appear that the argu- ment in favour of free central placentation is much strengthened by Prof. Babincton's monstrosity. Tig. 264. Dr. Lindley had forgotten, however, that in 1S50 some absolute evidence was published in this journal (p. 612), showing that in a monstrous Carnation really marginal placentae were produced with ovules attached, while in other cases ovules were freely produced from the free margins of the carpellary leaves. We have monstrous salmon-coloured Clove, in every flower of which not only is the inflected margin of the carpels dis- tinct from the base to the apex, but in an early stage 01 growth the connection between it and the two divisions of the axile placentation is perfectly distinct, as is the solu- tion of continuity a little farther up The case published ppeared to us quite decisiv e as to the pomt but if any doubt could be raised as to its real bearing on the subject, that now before us is beyond all doubt. Our figure (fig. 264) represents a section from the base below the point where any ovules are produced, one higher up, showing the connection of the axile pla- centa with the carpels ; above this point the connection is often broken off on one side, while it remains on the other ; the lower figure merely shows the con- nection a little enlarged. M. J. B. [To our corre- spondent's remarks, we may add that a similar mal- formation was described and figured by Dr. Masters in " Saponaria," in the Journal of the Linnean Society, 1S57, p. 161 ; and that other cases are cited, and references given to many other recorded instaru;es of like nature, in the last-named writer's " Vegetable Teratology," pp. 96—100, 483. Eds.] We may note that one of the most interesting of formal subjects for summer conservatory, and ter- race garden decoration is to be found in Standard Lemon-scented Verbenas (Aloysia citriodora). The plant is always a favourite for its gratefully-scented leaves, and trained up, with a well-balanced head, as a standard, it has a very good effect. In the noble gardens at Ashridge Park, the seat of Earl Brownlow, we lately saw a very fine set of plants of this character growing in tubs, and set out on the terrace walk in front of one of the conservatories. They were perfect in symmetry, and not only effective but novel in their appearance. These plants had clean stems of about 5 feet high, and bluntly conical heads, formed by care- ful and judicious pruning, some 3 feet deep and 2 feet or more in diameter at the base. In the same gardens we noticed a most valuable decorative Tropasolum with deep blood-crimson flowers, an accidental seed- ling, we believe, but evidently a cross between Tro- pa^olum majus atrosanguineum, and some of the Lob- bianum varieties, and combining much of the colour of the former, with the less coarse and nonexuberant foliage of the latter. In reference to the late blooming plants of Lily of the Valley, referred to at p. 1041, Mr. Fleming tells us that he has had many in the same stale ; indeed, he finds it a common occurrence with the patches of foreign origin. They are the plants first put in heat for Christmas, and from not being ripened, or from not having had suflicient rest, not one in a dozen of the patches will start ; and if these are left in the houses, and are turned out in spring, they will then go on growing, and bloom late (July). Some illustrative examples sent us are quite like those referred to, as to their general appearance. Lieut. -Colonel Cormack, of Shawborough, Tewkesbury, writing recently in the Field, mentions a most extraordinary instance of Acorns inclosed in an Elm Tree, and requests an explanation from those learned in dendrology. He writes : — ' ' Two years and a half ago I felled, amongst others, a large Elm tree 12 feet in girth, and allowed it to lie until last October, when I commenced cutting it up. On saw- ing off the butt we discovered a cavity in the very centre of the trunk about 6 inches in diameter, and running up about I s inches, which the cross cut divided as nearly as possible'in the middle. The parting was no sooner com- plete than about a pint of Acorns Jell out of the cavity, which I immediately picked up. To my utter astonish ment, in that instant of time, on exposure tohght and air, each Acorn sprouted about a third of an inch (!), and on examination I found them in as perfect preservation as if they had just dropped from the parent tree, ahhough they must, for reasons which I will presently detail, have been inclosed any time from 100 to 500 years in the hollow of the Elm. I took 25 of the Acorns up to the garden, and planted them in a bit of ground I inclosed for the pur- pose, and at this moment I have 25 as promising young Oak trees from them as are to be seen in the West of England. The Acorns were evidently a squirrel's wmter hoard, for the marks of the little animal's rodents were quite fresh upon some of them. The cavity was an incipient decay, in which the Acorns had apparently been just stored, when, by some unaccountable occurrence, it must have become hermetically closed, and so remained for a period, over the length of which, from the following description, I should wish to ask the opinions of your scientific readers. As before stated, the tree was 12 feet in girth ; the cavity was 6 inches wide, 15 inches high, and 3 feet from the ground ; from the edge of the cavity to the bark, 2 feet 2 inches ; and no less than 120 rings of wood had added to the bulk of the tree, and grown over the hollow, with its inclosure of Acorns, since both had become hermetically sealed up ! Adopting even the usually accepted theory, that trees add one ring of wood annually, the Acorns must have remained with unimpaired vitahty for 120 years ; but I am inclined to think that an Elm tree, as it increases in size, requires several years to form a ring. This is, however, precisely the point on which I should feel obliged for information. The circum- stance is anyhow worth noticing ; but the problem I wish solved is, ' How long could the Acorns have remained in the tree, 120 rings of wood having grown over them since first inclosed?' " On the nth inst., the Sale of the Nursery Stock of Mr. H. Laurentius, at Leipzig, will begin with the hardy Coniferae. The catalogue contains 4125 lots, includmg something like 60,000 plants. Conifers, evergreens, and seedlings, 253 lots ; hothouse plants, 4S3 lots ; greenhouse plants, 221 lots, &c. Fine specimens of large Orange and Pomegranate trees, Tree Ferns, Palms, Camellias, Azaleas, Dracjenas, Agaves, Yuccas, Pitcher-plants, Orchids, Amaryllises, c&c. , are amongst the numerous lots offered for sale. On referring to some old correspondence with the Gardeners' Chronicle, we find that precisely the same affection in Grapes was brought to our notice at the beginning of September, 1856, by a correspondent signing himself " A. M.," and dating " C. M., Sep- tember 6," as that to which attention was drawn last week (p. 1 1 39), as produced by a species of Gla'ospo- rium in Muscat of Alexandria. He does not mention what was the particular variety affected, but, after trying all sorts of remedies in vain, the disease spread over the whole house, and was very destructive. It was stated the following week that it was due to a species of Gloeosporium, but without giving any specific name, and the specimens have remained ever since in the Herbarium, with the MSS. name Glseosporium uvicola. We are, however, now of opinion that it does not differ from G. l.-cticolor, which is occasionally destructive to Peaches and Nectarines, and it is the more necessaiy that this identity should be recorded, as, where Grapes are grown in the same house with stone-fruit, the malady may spread upwards, especially affected should, of course, be removed at September 9, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1 163 once. Both on Grapes and stone-fruit the spores of the Fungus are very variable in size, so that no stress can be laid on mere measurement. A figure of the closely allied species, G. fructigenum, will be found in " Cooke's Handbook," copied from this Journal, 1S56, p. 245. M. J. B. In the "Journal of Botany" for the present month we find the following note relating to Rosa gal- LicA, gathered by Mr. Wilson Saunders in a hedge near Charhvood, in Surrey. "Where it grows," says Mr. Saunders, "it is as wUd as Rosa canina, R. ar- vensis, and R. micrantha, all found in the same broad copse-like hedge so frequent in some parts of Surrey and Sussex. It grows on the west side of this hedge facing a cornfield, through which there is no footpath. There are two patches of the Rose, one about two or three yards in length, and containing only a few plants, the other many yards in length, and containing a con- siderable number of plants. The cornfield alluded to is situate about intermediate between two farms, which are nearly half a mile apart, and no buildings nearer. After diligent search, I cannot find the Rose in any other locality about Charhvood, either wild or in the gardens of the farms and cottages. It is a complete puzzle to me, the locahty of this Rose. I cannot con- ceive it to be originally wild there, but how it could get so thoroughly naturalised where it is, is equally diffi- cult to understand. It must, I think, have been very many years where it is." Can the Rose in question have been cultivated at any time in the locality for druggists' purposes ? We learn that the fourth and, we regret to say, concluding part of Mr. J. T. Moggridge's Flora of Mentone will be issued next month. New Garden Plants. Oncidium brachyandrum, Lindl. Pseudobulbus oblongus anceps prasinus supeme gregarie atro- purpureo punctulatus ^ix ultra sesquipollicem altus, unam latus, diphyllus. Folia gramineo-pergamenea, ligulata, acumi- nata, ad quatiior polUces longa, dimidium poUicem vix lata. Pedunculus gracilis, uni usque biflorus. Eracteae hyalinse Sepalum impar cuneato-oblong-jm acuminatum, alia lanceolata falcata acuminata. Tepala subEequa- omnia cinnamomea, limbo externo flavido angulis quibusdam flavidis. Labellum cuneato-rhombeum obtusan- gulum antice retusum, flavum. Lamella; supinai gemina; lobulats in disco, lamella subajquali externa magis basilar! utrinque addita. Colurana trigona hrachin ligulato obtuso cartilagineo utrinque supra buccas infrastigmaticas intus callura basilarem sc. unguem carina labelli excurrentem recipientes. Labelli cuneus nunc utrinque auricula obtusangula. — Oncidh sSXlate Lindl., Sert. sub. litde Id. Folia the well- A very delicati known Oncidium graminifolium, Lindl., but totally different in the leaves (unknown to Dr. Lindley), and the column and the lip. It is a very delicate, tiny thing. It appeared some time ago in the collection of Messrs. Veitch. Just now it has flowered with J. Day, Esq., who kindly informs me it came from Mexico in company with Epidendrum vitellinum and LoeUa majalis. H. G. Rchb. fil. Odontoglossum platyodon, n. sp. Affine O. Lindeni, Lindl. Sepalis unguiculatis oblongis acutis : tepalis cuneato-ovatis obtuse acutis : labelli laciniis basilaribus obtusangulis, lacinia antica oblongo acuta : carinis geminis per basin, carinula luia brevi mediana anteposita, utrinque addito dente lato prostrate et denticulo parvo : columna aptera arcuato ascendente. A yellow-flowered species, perhaps not without interest when bearing a full panicle of hundreds of flowers, just as the Calanthes, Oncidia, &c., gain favour, not by the single flowers, but by the mass of them. It comes from New Grenada, and appears to be distinct in the calli of the lip from the very poly- morphous O. Lindeni, Lindl. It is now also called Odontoglossum platyotum in gardens. The plant is very vigorous, and may prove easy to manage. I have got dry wild specimens from my invaluable corrt:- spondent, Stuart Low, Esq. H. G. Rchb. fil. THE POTATO DISEASE. Dr. Julius Kuhn has devoted much time and attention during the past and several previous seasons to ascertain whether the Potato blight (Peronospora infestans), is really communicated from tuber to tuber, either in the ground or after they have been stored away ; or, as some assert, whether it invariably proceeds through the haulm to the tubers. The cause of the blight in Potatos admits no longer of the least shadow of doubt, but few persons have the time and facilities for microscopical investigations to watch the progress and development of it. It is now quite certain that this blight is due to, and the eftect of the attack of the above-named parasitical Fungus, whose spawn penetrates the substance of the tubers. Whence the germinating spores come — or rather what their exact nature and capabilities are — is still an unsolved problem. There is such an infinity of forms of these lower organisms, that even the researches of those who have devoted their best years to the study of this branch of natural history have produced little beyond negative results. The theory that many of these apparently different blights and moulds originate from the self same kind of spores is a very attractive one. and one which has long had its supporters, both in this country and on the Continent. Indeed, it does seem probable that the spores of these Fungi, which pervade the air at some seasons of the year, are capable of accommodating themselves to circumstances, and also of assuming different forms under different conditions. At all events, some curious discoveries, bearing upon this pomt, have been re- ported, and next to nothing is known of the degree of variability these organisms are liable to; hence we must allow that this view possesses a certain amount of plau- sibility. The great variabiUty of plants of more com- plex organisation is a fact patent to all, and recent researches have shown that many of the supposed genera and species, amongst the lower cryptogams, have been founded upon different stages of the same plants. Many parasitical Fungi are conveniently named after the nurse-plants upon whose tissues they prey, but it is possible [In some cases certain] that the same species preys upon different plants, and exhibits certain pecu- liarities according to the structure and properties of the nurse-plant. But to return to Dr. KUhn's investigations into the possibility of the spread of the disease from infected to healthy tubers. It is pretty generally supposed that the Fungus does not come to maturity in or upon the infected tubers, and, consequently, that the disease is not conveyed from one tuber to another. Those Potatos afterwards found diseased in which no trace of it could be detected when stored away, are presumed to have had the germs of the disease in them before they were taken out of the ground. The mycelium continues to spread throughout the substance of the tuber, but as no zoospores were believed to be formed, and as the mycelium could not penetrate the skin of a sound tuber, it was naturally inferred that only those pre- viously infected through the haulm perished. But from Kiihn's numerous experiments and the exami- nation of tubers in different seasons, it is shown that the Peronospora does increase and perfect its reproductive organs as freely underground, or when the tubers are stored away, as on the haulm above- ground. The ramifications of the mycelium bearing sporophores emerge from the skin of the tuber in any part, though chiefly from the cavities of the eyes. And as the zoospores are abundantly produced, the least dampness will cause the disease to continue to spread and commit its ravages. There have been reports of cases of diseased tubers where no trace of blight had been observed on the haulm, but the probabilities are that it existed in small patches only, and thus it was overlooked. This discovery naturally impresses upon us the importance of attention to draining heavy land, and providing dry storage for Potatos. They should if possible be harvested and stored during dry weather, and never placed in thick layers or large heaps, where they would be likely to heat or induce condensation of moisture, for, however slight our knowledge may be on this subject, we know that moisture is the most favour- able agent for propagating the enemy. [Since the appearance of Dr. Kiihn's article, above alluded to, on the propagation of the Potato blight, a very interesting paper on the ' ' Cause of the Potato Disease and its Remedy," by Herr von Schultzenstein, has been published in the " Wochenschrift," and we believe it to be sufficiently interesting to warrant us in giving it in full. The' reader will perceive it is in direct opposition to the views of most physiologists of the present day.] According to Dr. Kiihn's communications, above alluded to, and the now widely-spread view, the cause of the Potato blight is wholly due to the para- sitical Fungus, Peronospora infestans, and hence pre- vention is to be sought in the destruction of its spores. Since Von Martins first pointed out the presence of a Fungus, Fusisporium Solani tuberosi, in the Potato disease, and the publication of Unger's memoir on the exanthemata of plants, wherein he alludes to the dis- tribution of parasitical Fungi, attention has been directed to the Potato Fungus, and the spread of the dis- ease to the tubers has been attributed to infection from the haulm. And this view has been the more strongly insisted upon, because the spores have been developed upon sound tubers when cut asunder, and placed in moist air under a bell-glass ; butstill,theinfection oflarge quantitiesoftubersunderotherwise natural conditions has by no means been proved ; and, although the presence and approach of moulds in diseased Potatos admits of no doubt, it has not been shown that the origin of the disease is to be ascribed to the attacks of the Fungus ; and the opinion that the disease may be prevented or cured by the employment of means to destroy the Fungus, will deceive those who rely upon it as their safeguard. The Potato disease consists of a withering or dying-off of the cellular tissue, and the vessels with their contents, which is visible in the discoloration and separation of the cells long before the appearance of the Fungus. Inthe tubersthis decay is firstseen immediately under the epidermis, which causes the latter to peel off when touched, as is the case with a frozen or scalded tuber. Here no Fungusisto be found, and this slate, inthe course of the disease, cannot be brought about by infec- tion with Fungus spores. The Fungus makes its appear- ance at a later stage of this decay, along with the chemical decomposition of the decayed parts, in a similar manner as it does upon all other putrifying and mouldering bodies, a.s upon mouldy bread or fruit. And then the supposition that only one species of Fungus, whether it be Peronospora or Fusisporium, originates upon rotten Potatos, is erroneous. The species are numerous according to the different condi- tions, a fact overlooked by previous observers. Espe- cially I have remarked a great difference in the species of Fungi in the two different forms of Potato disease, the dry rot and the wet rot. When di7 rot takes place the most diverse moulds are found belonging to the division of the Mucedines, not only Fusisporium and Peronospora, but also species of Botrytis, Asper- gillus, Penicillium, and Sporotrichum ; whilst in cases of wet rot — where, however. Fungi are much rarer — the species belong to the Mucorini, amongst which the common Mucor mucedo is the most abundant. Thus in regard to the species of mould which prey upon decaying Potatos, there is nothing different from what is found on any other decayed vegetable matters, and the mould on Potatos is as little the cause of their decay, as in the case in stale bread. [This theory seems hardly tenable, even when restricted to the Potato blight, and is in opposition to the opinion of our learned mycologist, "M. J. B.," and most scientific men when more generally applied. Plants and animals are not necessarily always unhealthy previous to the attacks of Fungi, and we should be mclined to consider them the cause of the disease or decay, as in the case of mildew on many plants, though doubtless in many instances they follow in the track or assist some organic disorder,] Hence we find the same Fungi growing upon frozen Potatos when left to themselves, as in blighted Potatos, but we certainly should not ascribe the decay of frozen tubers to the attacks of the Fungi. If, therefore. Fungi are not the first cause of the Potato disease their destruction will not help us much, even if we admit that the rapid spread of the Fungus can hasten or modify the course of decay. Certainly, then, the real cause of the disease in Potatos must be sought elsewhere. The causes can be no other than the decay of the living tissues and begm- ning of their chemical decomposition, brought about by the sudden changes of temperature and moisture, under the influence of which the haulm and tubers may rot in the total absence of Fungi. The Potato is a tropical, mountain plant, which enjoys in its native country a cool May temperature, with constant moisture at the root ; thus dui'ing its growth it is neither exposed to heat nor cold, nor to the repeated changes from wet to dry which it is sub- ject to with us. Here in Brandenburg we often have in seasons of Potato disease a dry heat whereby the ground becomes heated to 40° R., equal to 122° F., and naturally those tubers lymg near the surface become more or less scorched in places, and if they do not decay at once the disease may break out at a later period. If we wish to meet the true cause of Potato disease, we must endeavour to give the Potato as near as we can the same conditions that it enjoys in its native country. But as we cannot control climate and weather, we must do what we can in choosing suitable soil and position. A light, loose, somewhat sandy soil that does not readily part with its moisture, and becomes little heated by the rays of the sun, is the best adapted for the purpose, because the changes are not so rapid in this as in a heavier, closer soil. H. THE AMATEUR GARDENER. Soil for Potting Ptauls.— This is a knotty subject with inexperienced gardeners, and often a perplexing and trying one for those of considerable experience. We have, we believe, lost at least a dozen Camellias, during the last 12 months, from using improper soil ; and on turning out some fine Lilies, which had not done well, we found them sickly from the same cause. With us, the cause of these failures was, not ignorance, but the want of care in selecting our materials, for we used a kind of sand which hardened like burnt clay, and would not Incorporate kindly with the other ingre- dients. Yet it has always been a favourite axiom of ours that one compost, with judicious additions or subtractions of certain items, may be made to serve for all the potting purposes which can come before ordinary gardeners. Such plants as Heaths, and many stove varieties, must have special soils, but the amateurs, for whom I write, wiU judiciously abstain from trying their hands on such delicate and touchy subjects. When a plant is potted well, with suitable soil, it will let the water slip readily through on its being applied to the surface, instead of remaining for some time before it disappears. The pot wdl also feel light in proportion to its size, instead of heavy, like a lump of clay. The soil cannot be reckoned good which turns to fine dust when dry, but, on the contrary, it should be porous and lumpy rather than powdery, though, of course, the best soil will acquire the latter character by frequent watering if the surface is not occasionally renewed. When a plant potted in the right material is turned out for the purpose of inspect- ing the roots, they will be found to have run freely into it, while, in the contrary case, they will appear un- naturally confined by a clammy and cold surrounding material. It is clear, therefore, that an appropriate soil should be secured by the gardener before he can expect his collection of potted plants to flourish as they ought to do, and as by doing they can alone repay him for his labour. We have just made up about a small cartload of 1 164 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Asfricultural Gazette. [Se,.| 0. '87 J- such soil as we think we can use for most purposes, in the folIowinjT manner : — A barrow-load of leaf-mould, made of leaves thrown in a heap last autumn, and subjected to all the weather of the winter. If left for two or three years, the mould will be too fine, for the stalks and other fibrous parts of the heap are neces- sary to keep the mould porous, and without them it is apt to become too close, and even tenacious. Next, the same quantity of a good hazel loam, taken from an old pasture, with the fibrous matter in it. The best plan is to take up some turves growing in such a loam, and pile them up for a year or two, when the whole being chopped up together will admirably answer the purpose. But anything clayey must nut be mistaken for loam ; the genuineness of the latter being known by its feeling, when squeezed in the hand, like sugar, not like soap. Thirdly, the same quantity of rotten frame manure of last year, which is thoroughly fermented and decomposed, but has not lost the fibrous character of its materials. Last of all, to the whole of tliis material add a peck of white sand, that known as silver sand being the best. Mix all these ingredients well together, but do not be too anxious to break up all the lumps, for these will be most serviceable in potting. The whole should then be piled up in the open air, if possible in the angle formed by two walls. When winter comes on, a sufficient quantity for all purposes during that season may be housed in a shed, so as to be ready for use at any time. If this is not done, frost and wet may now and then leave the gardener without the necessary soil when he wants it. This compost should never be sifted, as is the ignorant practice of some people, for the fibrous matter in it will be found most valu- able, as securing the results which we have mentioned above. We confess that to the com- post now described we added a barrowful of peat, the refuse of a turf heap, which had been ex- posed all last winter, and which was thoroughly reduced to the condition of ordin.ary garden mould. Perhaps this was done without due consideration, for we feel a little doubtful of the result of the experiment. It may possibly make the com- post too clayey and retentive of moisture, and therefore we ad- vise our readers not to try it. The four other materials will, we think, make a useful soil for almost all purposes. //. B. Lilies fall conveniently into two sets, one with whorled j be confounded and the other with entirely scattered leaves. As this 1 widely spread, is the largest group of the four I shall have to spread it over three papers, and will in this take first the species with verticillate leaves, which are as follows, viz. :— Flowers purplish-red. casually white. 19. L. Martaoon. Flowers scarlet, passing into bright yellow. Whorls of leaves usually one; style 1 , luAriii atiim 6-7 lines long. I tui-AiLra. Whorls of leaves usually 3-4; style K L. canadense. I — 2 inches long. J 19. L. Martagon, Linn. Sp. Plant., p. 435; Jacq, Austr. t. 3sr ; Bot. Mag. t. 893 and 1634 ; Red. Lil. t. 146 ; Kunth, Enum. iv. 257 ; Eng. Bot. t. 279, 3d edit. t.-i5i8 ; Spae, Mon. p. 26 ; Reich. Icones, t. 451. — Bulb ovoid, I — \\ inch thick, the scales bright yellow. Stem 2—3 feet high, erect, terete, usually more or less densely clothed with fine grey pubescence. Leaves typi- cally in three or four regular whorls of six to nine leaves each, with a few scattered ones placed usually between the e. oblanceolate-spathulate, ;. 9 — 18 lines broad three- I'ed rather suddenly to an /erage of the genus in lex- ly downy below, spread- er three indistinct main uppermost and the infloresci the lower ones 3—5 inches i quarters of the way up, n.ii acute point, thinner than th< ture, glabrous ing nearly horizontaUy, the any other species, and, though so , it is very little liable to variation in its The principal forms which have been named are the L. hirsutum of Miller's " Garden Dic- tionary," No. 10 (L. Milleri, Schultes), a robust plant, with a densely pubenilous stem ; L. glabrum, Spreng. Syst. Veg. ii. 62, a more slender form, with white flowers, and subglabrous stem and leaves ; and the two forms (dalmaticum of Maly and Catanii of Visiani), lately brought into notice by Herr Leichtlin, 'th very thick perianth segments of an exceedingly dark purple shade. L. Martagon is quite different from all other Lilies in the colour of its flowers. I have seen a single specimen gathered by Bourgeau in Piedmont, in which the whorls were entirely broken up, and the leaves scattered indiscriminately down nth, Enu maculatun BOCCONIAS. BrccoNiAS are not so much seen in gardens as their striking y appearance would lead us to expect. The foliage is bold, and with a peculiar glaucous bloom ; the flowers elegant, and of a cream colour. The species best known is the old B. cordata, sometimes called Macleaya cordata, a perennial which is quite hardy in the country, at any rate in the south, and well suited for the front of shrubberies or borders. B. frutescens is of a shrubby habit, and more tender, but when sheltered it forms a fine plant for the subtropical Bocconia japonica, a recent introduction, is, as will be seen from the accompanying illustration (fig. 266), a fine bold plant, admirably suited to give effect on our lawns, but requiring to be grown in a sheltered situa- tion, and to be removed to the greenhouse in winter. The culture of these plants is of Jhe simplest. They prefer a rather compact moist soil, and should not be exposed to full sunshine. It would hardly be supposed, at first sight, that the nearest relationship of these plants is with the Poppies ; such, however, is the case. They are Poppies with a different habit, no petals, and a two-valved capsule. A NEW SYNOPSIS OF ALL THE KNOWN LILIES.— VII. -Subgenus 2. Lilium Proper.— Bulbs squamosa; stigma a thick head to the style, with three blunt lobes — ( Continued). Group 4 : Martagon (Turk's-cap Lilies).— Perianth broadly bell-shaped, always drooping, its divisions lanceolate, broadest about the middle, not distinctly clawed, reflexed (usually from half or two-thirds of the way down) when fully expanded. Stamens diverging much on all sides from the central axis of the flower. JJke the Isolirions and I^llIirions the Martagon Thunb. Linn. Trans, ii. 334 ; Miquel in Ann. Mus. Lug. Bat. L. Martagon, Led. Fl. Ross. iv. 149, ex parte; L. avcnaceum, Fischer MSS., Maxim, in Kegel, Gartenfl. 1865, p. 290, t. 485. — Bulb ovoid, an inch thick. Stem ij — 2 feet high, straight, terete, glabrous. Leaves arranged usually in a single whorl of about a dozen leaves near the middle of the stem, and a few scattered ones both above and below, the whorls rarely two, and sometimes, as in its allies, all scattered, 3-6 inches long. \—\\ inch broad at or very near the middle, narrowed gra- dually upwards to a long acute point, and downwards very gra- dually to the base, quite as thin as those of Martagon in texture, glabrous or very faintly downy Iselow, the two or three main nerves on each side of the midrib faint and indistinct. Flowers in the wild plant 2—6, but reach- ing up to 12 under cultivation, arranged in an irregular corymb, the erecto-patent slender pedicels cernuous at the apex, the lower ones reaching 3 — 4 inches long, and bracteolate at the middle. Perianth 15—18 lines deep, vary- ing from bright yellow to bright scarlet, the divisions lanceolate, bluntish and faintly pubescent at the tip, 4—6 lines broad at the middle, not distinctly spathu- late at the base, much reflexed from two-thirds of the way down when the flower expands, copi- ously spotted down the face with dark purple, not papillose or pubescent down the groove. Ovary 4 — 5 lines long ; style 6—7 lines long, growing gra- dually thicker upwards ; fila- ments 9 — 12 lines long ; anthers hnear-oblong, 3—4 lines long. A native of Kamschatka, Manchuria, the Kurile Islands, Japan, and the shores of Rus- sian America, in all which countries, I believe, but am not perfectly sure, it entirely replaces Martagon. It comes between Martagon and cana- dense, and, as will be seen from the synonyms given, has been confounded with both. I have never had the opportunity of studying it in a living state, and, indeed, am not aware that it has been grown in this I ^( M\ \r ~»M \ country. It differs from Mar- tagon by its glabrous stem, nor- mally solitary whorl of leaves, with a lens to be ciliated. Flowers 3 — la in the wild irregularly corymbose not regularly racemose in- plant, or as many as 20 under cultivation in a narrower and florescence, bright-coloured flowers, shorter ovary, more regularly pyramidal raceme than in any other species, style, and anthers, and, according to Maximowicz (who and which in fine specimens reaches a foot in length, i,as studied the plant carefully in its native country, and antl 4--S inches in breadth in the lower part. Lower -^^^ ^„ excellent account of it with the plate in Kegel's pedicels r— 3 inches long, drooping at the apex, not «>. p,.r,e„(l„„ "\ ;„ ,hp form colour ind stnicturp of bracteolate, but furnished with a pair of lanceolate or ., ^ l ,u ■„'' .- T^ »? ' t ■ ^"y'^'"'^\°' linear bracts at the base. Perianth pendulous, 15-18 ^^^ ''""'"■ ""= ,'^f , ">?' "'^ M^churian form has lines deep, typically a dull purplish-red, with copious "ore orange, slightly fragrant flowers, whilst the spots of dark purple, the divisions oblong-lanceolate, Japanese plant is scarlet and inodorous. I hope that cucuUate and pubescent at the lip, distinctly pubescent [ some of our English Lily cultivators will turn their down the back, soon much reflexed from three-quarters | attention to the species, and introduce it, for no doubt of the way down, 4—6 lines broad about the middle, not 1 it is perfectly hardy. From all the forms of canadense distinctly clawed, not papillose or pubescent down the , it may be recognised easily by the size of the flowers, groove. Ovary 5-6 lilies long ; style slender, 8-9 lines , ^nj thinner texture and indistinct veining of leaves, long, I ^iiich only quite casually make more than a single whorl. It would seem that these three verticillate Martagons curiously supplement one another in their geographical distribution, not overlapping one another, Thecommonest wild Europeanspecies, stretching from j but the three together stretching all round the world in Spain and France all through Central and Southern 1 the north temperate zone, one beginning directly Europe, and in Asia far into Siberia, but in the another stops. extreme East and Japan appearing to be entirely 1 , ^ t • t- „, . „ . replaced by maculatum, wh ch is confused with it in ,/'• /• ''•"""*'"% ^T' ,^PV • P" ^l^ ' = °'- Ledebour's^ " Flora Rossica." It is the old original ^ag- t. 800 and 858 ; Kunth Enum iv. 258 ; Spae lurks-cap Lily of the gardens, and is mentioned in ^ fcf,dulu,K. Spae, Mon:, p. 28. - Bulb more or Gerardes list of the plants cultivated in 1596. ' less obliquely rhizomatous. Stem ij-3feet high, but it has now given way to a large extent, as a erect, terete, glabrous. Leaves typically in four or five popular favourite, to its allies with brighter coloured, regular whorls 2— 3 inches apart, of 6—15 oblanceolate flowers. It is a very well-marked plant, not likely to leaves, spreading nearly horizontally, pale bright green long ; style sle long, curved from the base ; filaments 8—10 I all much curved ; anthers linear-oblong, 4— 4J lines long ; pollen reddish ; capsule turbinate, bluntly angled, an inch September 9, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1165 the I little abovi above, thicker than those of Martagon lower ones 2 — 4 inches long, 6 — g lines brc the middle, narrowed gradually to an acute pomt, mais- tinctly spathulate downwards, both sides quite glabrous, or the nerves below distinctly ciliated, the main veins stronger and more distinct than in Martagon, mostly three on each side of the midrib, the upper whorls especially liable to be broken up, and often a few scattered ones between the uppermost whorl and the inflorescence. Flowers i — 6 in the wild plant, corymbose, pendulous ; pedicels 1- (> inches long, with usually one, or even two, linear bracteoles : perianth z— 2J inches deep, the divisions spreading from about half way down when expanded, much less reflexed than in Martagon, varying in colour from bright yellow to pale bright red, with copious spots, especially in the lower two-thirds, of dark purplish-red, the divisions lanceolate, not distinctly clawed at the base, pubescent at the tip, not down the back, 7 — 9 lines broad at the middle, not papillose or pubescent down the groove. Ovary 7— 9 lines long ; style i—i J inch; filaments ij— li inch : anthers 5—6 lines ; pollen bright crimson. Capsule li inch deep, oblong, bluntly angled. Common in Canada and the northern United States, stretching eastward as far as Lake Winnipeg, and southward to Georgia, along the Alleghanies. The typical form is quite hardy with us, and widely spread in cultivation. It appears to have been one of the first plants introduced to European gardens from America, and is figured in Parkinson's "Paradisus" in 1629. There are several allied forms on the western side of the American continent, which differ more or less con- spicuously from the Eastern plant, of which the follow- ing are the principal with which I am acquainted. I am informed by M. Leichtlin that all the canadense Lilies that grow on the west side of the Rocky Mountains may invariably be separated from the eastern ones by their regular ovoid bulbs, and that several species have been recently described by Kellogg, in a Californian serial, which I have not hid the opportunity of seeing. I hope that he may be induced soon to give an account of his observations on the group. The of the Eastern plant. Mr. Elkanor Walker. Will very likely prove to be quite a distinct species when brought into cultivation. Var. 4, Hartvjegii, Baker. — Leaves all scattered, linear, much ascending, quite glabrous, like the stem, the lowest 4—5 inches long, 3—4 lines broad. Flowers 1—2 in the specimens seen, on long bracteolate peduncles, 3 inches deep, the divisions lanceolate, half an inch broad, narrowed very gradually to the point, reflexed from more than three-quarters of the way down in the expanded flower. Ovary 8-9 lines long: style r5 — 16 lines; fila- ments 2 — 2^ inches ; anthers half an inch. Gathered by.Hartweg, in 1S48, in the mountains of Santa Cruz, in California. Turning to the East again we have the following, which is usually regarded as a distinct species, but which is scarcely worthy of the name in the sense in which I am using it. Subspecies superhum = /,. superbum, Linn. Sp. Plant, p. 434; Bot. Mag. t. 936; Redoute. Lil. t. 103 ; Kunth, Enum. iv. 258 ; Spae, Mon. p. 28 ; Flore des Serres, t. 1014-5. — A more robust plant than typical canadense, reaching 4 — 6 feet high, with the stem in the lower part half an inch thick. Whorls of leaves more numerous, often 5 — 6. Leaves longer, the lower 5 — 6 inches long, narrowed rather more gradually at the base. Flowers more numerous, often 6 — 12 (reaching in an extreme case up to 40 according to Dr. Asa Gray), the inflorescence in well-developed specimens a broad pyramidal raceme. Perianth 3 — 4 inches long, spreading from lower down than in typical canadense when expanded. Ovary, style, and anthers longer in proportion. An exceedingly fine plant, spread from Georgia north- ward through the northern United States, where it is rather common in rich low ground. It is a plant which might be well cultivated in our gardens much more abundantly than it is at the present time. The follow- ing is intermediate between superbum and typical regards the colour of the flower, one with an entirely yellow groundwork (the variety flavum of Kunth), and the other with an entirely red groundwork (the variety coccineum of Kunth, and L. penduliflorum of Re- doute), are given in the two plates quoted of the " Botanical Magazine." I have several times seen this Eastern form in gardens lately under the name of L. canadense occidentale, a designation which ought to be suppressed, as I do not think this form grows at all on the west side of the continent. Var. I, parvifloruvi. Hooker, Fl. Bor. Am. vol. ii., p. 281 ; var. minm, Wood, Proc. Acad. Phil. 1868, p. 166 ; L. Sayii, Nuttall, MSS. — Stem more slender than in the type, glabrous. Leaves varying from 3—4 reguli whorls to most or all scattered, the lower ones 2^—3 inches long, i — I inch broad. Flowers genera.lly 2—4, the lowe: pedicels reaching 4—6 inches long. Perianth 15—18 lines deep, the divisions rather more deeply reflexed in the expanded flower than in the type, the inner ones 4 — 6 lines, the outer 3—4 lines broad. Ovary with style 12—15 lines long; filaments 12— 15 lines. Stretches from Vancouver's Island and British Columbia to Oregon and California. The form of canadense that comes nearest to Martagon and macu- latum. Var. 2, Humboldtii. L. Humboldtii, Roezl in Hort. Leichtlin. — A robust form, reaching 4 — 5 feet high, with glabrous green stems, mottled with red. Leaves nearly all arranged in 4—5 regular whorls of 10—15 leaves each, 3 — 5 inches apart, the lower ones 3^ — 4 inches long, by an inch broad three-quarters of the way up. Flowers 4—6 in the specimens I have seen, but said to sometimes exceed 20. Perianth-segments 3—4 inches long, spread- ing from about three-quarters of the way down in the ex- panded flower, a very bright orange-yellow, spotted throughout with large claret-red dots. Bracts ovate, about an inch long. Inflorescence with more of a tendency to run out into a raceme than in the type ; ovary, style, filaments and anthers longer in proportion. A very fine form, found in California, and lately in- troduced and liberally distributed by Herr Leichtlin, who, I believe, considers it distinct, at least as a sub- species, and who has noted differences also in the bulb between this and the type which he will no doubt explain fully when his observations are committed to print. In several points, as will be noticed, it approxi- mates to the eastern L. superbum, and these two are certainly the princes of the canadense set of forms. My notes above are taken from living specimens com- municated by Leichtlin to the Kew collection. I believe Torrey's var. puberulum (Torrey, Bot. Whipple, p. 90), to be essentially the same form, differing only by its markedly puberulous stem. Two other striking forms, known to me only from dried specimens, are : — Var. 3, Walkeri, Wood, Proc. Acad. Phil. 1868, p. 166. — Stem stout, glabrous, at least 3 feet high. Leaves narrower than in the type, not more than \—% inch broad, arranged in distinct whorls of 8 — 12 leaves each, 6 — 7 inches apart. Flowers up to 12—15 •" ^ narrow r: a foot long, the slender much ascending pedicels reaching 2 — 2i inches in length, the bracts linear. Perianth 12—11 lines deep, reflexed only towards the tip ; the divisions no more than 2 — 3 lines broad. Ovary 4 lines long ; styli filiform, 7—8 lines long; filaments 9 — 12 lines ; anthers li— 2 lines. lately by Professor Wood from specimens gathered by Var. carolinianum. Gray ; L. carolinianum, Michx., Flora, i. 199 ; Bot. Mag. t. 2280 ; Bot. Reg. t. 580 ; Kunth, Enum. iv. 258 ; Spae, Mon. p. 29 ; L. Michauxii, Poir, Enc. Suppl. iii. 457 ; Z. autumnali, Lodd., Bot. Cab. t. 335.- Stemslender, 1—3 feet high. Leaves like those of canadense, shorter and more oblanceolate than those of superbum, and flowers like those of canadense, not more than 1—3 in the wild plant, smaller than those of superbum, but, as in that, with the divisions reflexed from much below the middle when expanded. Similar to superbum and canadense in its geogr; phical range, but said to flower later, y. G. Baker. '..T» It Contim.cd.) gome Correspanknce. Challenged Censorship, &c.— "Best collection of 10 dishes of fruit, distinct varieties." I recently competed in a class thus defined, and was disqualified by the judges for showing two Pines— a smooth-leaved Cayenne, and a Queen — in the collection. I don't feel satisfied, mine being the best fruit shown. In a collec- tion of outdoor fruit I showed two dishes of Plums, distinct, and got the 1st prize. Exhibitor. [The judges :re certainly in error, the two Pine-apples being tho- .ighly "distinct varieties." Eds.] ■ At the B Horticultural Society's show Mr. M took the 1st prize in the open class, with the following 6 stove plants : — AUamanda neriifolia, worthless ; A. grandiflora, very poor ; Vinca rosea, nice plant ; Alocasia metallica, very good ; Coleus Queen Victoria, without shape or colour ; Caladium Chantinii, good. Mr. B , who was awarded 2d , had splendid plants of AUamanda grandiflora, well-flowered ; A. Henderson!, very good ; Dipladenia boliviensis, very good ; Bougainvillea glabra, well flowered ; Vinca oculata, good ; Anthurium Scher- zerianum, very fine, the rest averaging about 3 feet 6 inches high by 2 feet 7 inches wide. Which of these two sets ought to have had the 1st prize ? It would be well if country judges knew a little more of the nature of growing plants and their value, and then we should not be troubled with so many complaints. Fairplay. [According to this statement, B.'s plants should undoubt- edly have been placed 1st, the very fine Anthurium outweighed nearly the entire collection shown by M., and was besides well backed up by other good plants, well grown. Eds.] I. Is it permitted to exhibit Tomatos in a "collection of fruit" for a prize given for "best col- lection of fruit ? " 2. Are not Chasselas Musque and Josling's St. Alban's one and the same Grape? D. R. S. H. [I. No, not in this country ; they are here regarded as an esculent vegetable, falling into the same category as the Vegetable Marrow. 2. Yes. Were the judges right in awarding the 1st prize at a recent local flower show to a collection of " variegated plants " containing a specimen of Herrania palmata, which is strictly a greenhouse stove plant ? I may add that the judges themselves admitted that the plant in question was not admissible, but that they were influenced by the size and greater rarity of the collection over that awarded the 2d prize, although the latter consisted of well grown and valuable plants. VV. G, [Herrania palmata is not a variegated plant in any sense, and should, therefore, have disqualified the collection, if the class was defined as one of " v ' gated plants." There is no more frequent mistake made at country shows than in being influenced by the size of one collection as compared with another, or of certain individual specimens in a collection over those in competing collections. The first question, however, in all cases is. Is the schedule complied with ? If not, the exhibition should be disqualified in the class in which it is entered, even if it has so much merit that a supplementai-y award is made to it. Eds.] Lawn Mowers. — I see by the Gardeners^ Chronicle of August 26 that we have yet another patent lawn- mower, upon the old system. Now the machines of all the different makers cut well enough ; where we want improvement is in the grass-box. A box con- structed to hold more grass is what we want. I should like to see such an one, that will go 100 yards without requiring to be emptied. This would be a sensible improvement, y. Hardy Succulent Plants (see p. 1 133). -The specimen of Cereus tubulosus was a bought example, and was, I fancy, grafted on C. rostratus, but I cannot speak with certainty. Some growers consider that C. tubulosus is much more vigorous and floriferous when worked on another species, but such is not my experience, nor was it the opinion of the late lamented Mr. Bruce, of Kingston. I find it strikes freely, the wood much thicker, its beautiful blossoms quite as abundant on its own roots ; and, further, you save the trouble of grafting, and, as in my unhappy case, stand a better chance of saving your plants in the event of your water-pipes being frozen, yohn Daniel^ The Terrace, Epsom. ■ I am of opinion that the note on the above subject at p. 11 33 is likely to cause some disappoint- ment, should any of your readers act on the experience of Mr. Daniel, I should be obliged if he would state the exact amount of exposure %vhich the plants in ques- tion received— that is, were they in the open air ? — and if so, on the level ground, or on rockwork ? or were they under glass without any other protection ? If the latter, the plants being perfectly dry would assist them. It is known that Echinopsis oxygonus, multiplex, Eyresii, and Zuccariniana will pass the winter in a cool frame ; Opuntia Rafinesquiana vulgaris, O. corrugata (O. humilis, Engl.), Mammillaria vetula, and two sp. nova:, found by Dr. Parry on the Rocky Mountains, are quite hardy ; but Agave americana and variegata seldom stand the winter even in a cool shed, though th hay or straw. 7. Croucher, Gr., Sudbury House, Hammersmith. Yachting Shoes. — Those who, like myself, find great difliculty in mounting grassy hills in summer, or cutting trees in dry woods, should buy a pair of y. bd. yachting shoes. For most persons they are better even than the expensive cricket shoe for cricket, they give you a much firmer grasp of the ground. Somerset. Lightning-Struck Oak. — Half-an-hour since 1 was sitting at an open window observing a storm, when flash of lightning struck a brave old Oak, in the middle of the " great meadow " here. A very super- ficial examination since leads me to believe that the trunk is split down the middle from top to bottom. An opening in the bark extends all down one side ; on the other there appears to be a ribbon of bark, about I foot wide, completely stripped from the tree, but neither at the top or bottom ; in fact, if removed it must be cut at each end, and then it will fall away at once. Being most desirous of doing all I can for the old favourite, I would like to have an opinion whether this strip of bark had better be removed, or whether it can be fastened in any way so as to again be of benefit to the trunk. A sheep lying beneath was struck dead, and some of the arms are completely denuded of bark and smashed. A. C. M., Lorrenden, Ospringe. [There is not much chance of saving the tree. Pare the edges of the wound as well as you can, replace the bark, and cover the denuded surface with tar and cowdung. EdS.] Pruning Yew Trees. — I have recently moved 14 large plants of Yew, 12 to 14 feet high, and some of them as much through. They were moved with good balls, and have been well replanted in good soil and well watered and syringed overhead. They are intended to form part of a Yew hedge, and must be cut in for that purpose. Would it be better to cut them in at once or leave them till next year ? My own feeling is in favour of cutting them in on one side at once, and leaving the other side till next year, a little later than this. My idea is, as the roots have been cut, if I reduce the heads I give the roots less to do ; at the same time may not the leaves and branches assist in the production of fresh roots, and so do more good than they do harm, by affording a larger surface for evaporation ? C. F. P., The Grange, Kingston, near Taunton. [Cut them in, in a few weeks' time. Eds.] Parsons' Mignonette. — I, too, have grown this new Mignonette during the past summer, and can dis- interestedly vouch that it has no lack of odoriferous qualities, nor is it deficient in strength of hab packet of seed was sown in a box in the greer March, and the plants when two inches in he pricked out about 6 inches apart in a single ' open ground, and in very moderate soil, owing to the prevalence of cold winds, th rapidly became "small by degrees, and less ; " but when once a start was made. My ii66 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [Scpte ibcr 9, 1871. was rapid indeed, until the row finally covered a space 3 feet in width, and dense from end to end. It was the strongest development in the Mignonette under ordinary culture that I have ever seen ; the plants were generally true to character, and the size and length of spike unusually large, whilst the perfume was exceed- ingly powerful, not a visitor came but remarked it. The most disappointing feature about it was the dis- covery that the colour of the flower differed in no degree from that of the old variety, and required rather a stretch of the imagination to term it white. That it may come purer in colour under glass, there can be no doubt, but the same might be said of the old variety. Reseda odorata ameliorata is less striking in colour and flower, and has a shorter spike ; but it is also more short jointed, and stiffer in habit, and very robust. Indeed, could a pure white variety, having the habit of the latter, be secured, we should then possess almost a perfect foriii of the Mignonette. A. D. Preserving Tomatos. — Can any of your contribu- tors inform me of the way that Tomatos are preserved in America ? I believe that they are pickled in brine in some way or the other, but, whether the seeds are taken out, or whether they are simmered over a fire, I do not know. Old Charlie. Fruit of the Mountain Ash, Preserving of. — I understand that the fruit of the Mountain Ash, or Rowan tree (Pyrus Aucuparia), is made in a preserve or conserve in Scotland which is highly esteemed. Will some of your Scotch readers kindly give us southrons the benefit of one or more recipes for con- verting them into sweetmeats ? They are plentiful this year, when other fruit is not. W. Marshal!^ £h'^ September 6. Fertilisation of Leschenaultia.— As " F. W. B.'' inquires, in your number of August 26, about the seeding of Leschenaultia, I will give my small expe- rience. r)uring 1S60 and 1862, I was led to make some observations on the fertilisation of L. formosa and bdoba, from having read that with these flowers self-fertilisation was an inevitable contingency ; and this, from what I had seen during many years, seemed to me highly improbable. I found, as " F. W. B." states, that before the flower expands, the anthers open and the pollen is shed. This occurs in a considerable number of plants, as in most Leguminosae, Fumariacece, &c. ; but it can be clearly shown that this by no means necessarily leads to self-fertilisation. In Leschenaultia the pollen, when shed, is neatly collected in a cup- shaped indusium, the mouth of which is at first widely open, but soon closes. Thus far I can follow "F. W. B.;" but he will, I think, find, on further examination, that the pollen must, in order that the flower should be fertilised, be subsequently removed from the indusium, and then placed on an exterior sligmatic surface. This no doubt is effected by insects, tempted to visit the flowers by the copiqus supply of nectar. On the outside of the indusium there is a viscid surface, and when on two occasions I placed some pollen-grains on the surface, I found, after an interval of about 20 hours, that it was deeply penetrated by numerous pollen-tubes. I was so much surprised at this position of the stigma, that I asked Dr. Hooker to dissect some flowers, which he did with care, and he confirmed my conclusion with respect to L. formosa. He also examined two other species, and found no trace of a stigma within the indusium. I should here add tliat Mr. Bentham has subsequently described the structure of the parts in this genus, but I cannot at the present moment lay my hand on his paper. When the flower is fully expanded the lips of the indusium fit closely, and cannot be very easily opened. If, how- ever, a finely-pointed, small camel-hair brush be held parallel to the pistil, and be gently inserted into the flower, so as to imitate the entry of an insect, the tip of the brush, by pressing against the slightly projecting lower lip of the indusium, opens it ; and some of the hairs enter and become smeared with pollen. If the same brush Ije now successively inserted into sevenil flowers, pollen-grains will be found left on the exterior viscid stigma. During the early part of the summer I treated in this manner several flowers, but with no result. Towards the end of July, however, five flowers were thus treated, and the germens of all soon became much enlarged. Two of them, after a time, shanked ofl!', but three remained on till the autumn, and each con- tained about 25 seeds. My plant produced hundreds of flowers during two or three summers, but the germens of none spontaneously swelled, with the exception of two growing close together, which I imagined had been visited by some insect. These two produced some seeds, but fewer in number than in the above case. All the seeds were in external appearance good, but when sown they did not germinate. The (lowers were necessarily fertilised with pollen from the same plant, but it would have been in- comparably better if pollen from a distinct seed- ling plant could have been employed. This would have been all the more advisable, as the late Mr. Drummond, of Swan River, in Australia, to whom I wrote, asking him to observe in the proper season what insects visited the Leschenaultias, informed me that the species growing there in a state of Nature very rarely produce seed. It appears at first sight a sur- prising circumstance that in this genus and in some allied genera, the pollen, whilst the flowers are still in bud, should be scooped out of the anthers, in which it might have remained ready for use, and then be imme- diately enclosed in a specially contrived receptacle, from which it has afterwards to be removed, so as to be placed on the stigma. But he who believes in the principle of gradual evolution, and looks at each struc- ture as the summing up of a long series of adaptations to past and changing conditions — each successive modification being retained as far as that is possible through the force of inheritance— will not feel surprise at the above complex and apparently superfluous arrangement, or the other still more complex arrange- ments, though they may all serve for one and the same general purpose. Any one desiring to learn how diversified are the means for preventing self-fertilisa- tion, even within the limits of the same family of plants, should study Mr. Bentham's short but extremely curious paper, just published [in the Journal of the Linnean Society], on the styles of the Australian Pro- teacece. I cannot resist specifying one of the remarkable contrivances described by Mr. Bentham. In Synaphea the upper anther does not subserve its proper function Fig. 267.— leschen of producing pollen, but has been converted into a short broad strap, firmly fixed to the edge of the stig- matic disc. By this means the stigma is held in such a position that it cannot receive pollen from the fertile anthers of the same flower ; or, as Mr. Bentham puts the case, "the stigma thus held by the eunuch [i. e., the barren anther) is safe from all pollution from her brother anthers, and is preserved intact from any pollen that may be inserted * * by insects or other agencies." Charles Danviit. [In order to render this matter more clear we reproduce the woodcut from p. 1 103. Eds.] Malformed Pear. — By this post we send you a Pear fruit grown on a Jargonelle Pear, and which appears to us to be peculiar. J. Dickson &' Sons, Chester. — [The change in question is n^ and is explained by the circumstance that the core or true fruit is not produced, but in its place the stem grows out, assuming the same succulent fm-m as in the normal Pear. The accompanying cut (fig. 26S) shows an analogous instance. The edible portion of an Apple or Pear is now well known to be an expansion of the flower-stalk, the true fruit, in the botanical sense, being the "core " containing the seeds, and which in course of growth becomes imbedded in the succulent flower- stalk. EliS.l Thujopsis dolabrata. — On looking over my Gar- Jeiiers' Chronicle this morning (September 3), the first thing I read was your account of that interesting Conifer, Thujopsis dolabrata, growing in the pleasure- grounds at Ashridge, and until doing so I was vain enough to think I had the finest specimen of it in Eng- land, but I find now I must content myself with saying mine is one of the finest, not the finest plant in England, for the Ashridge plant beats mine. You say it is 5 feet 6 inches in height, and fully as much through at the base. My specimen is only 5 feet I inch high, and the same, or may be an inch or two more, through the base ; and, as to health, to all appearance it could not be more healthy or robust ; but I knve had it 12 years, and I fancy it is a very slow grower. Five feet is not much in 12 years. Perhaps it may go on better in the future, as it must be tolerably well established by this time. If any of your correspondents have a finer plant, will they kindly publish particulars of it? I have also a smaller specimen, which has the "abrupt unfinished appearance" you mention. I am thinking of making a rough open fence of branches of some kind round it, and leaving it there for a year or two, to see if it will draw it up. There is a wonderful difference in the date of growth of many of our exotic Conifers ; my Thujopsis dolabrata is growing within 30 yards of two fine specimens of Pinus Benthamiana, which came to me at the same time (the early spring of 1859), done up in a browii paper parcel— seedlings drawn out of the seed bed in which they were raised— root, top and all not more than six or seven inches, tied together with four others with a piece of bast, and then wrapped up in brown paper ; they are now 21 feet 6 inches, and 25 feet 10 inches in height respectively, and as robust and handsome as they can be. C. F. P., The Grange, Kingston, near Taunton, Faults in Dinner-table Decoration. — In a very able letter to the Times, on the 1st inst., Mr. E. B. Denison discusses some of the faults in modem archi- tecture ; and his opinions on this subject so exactly accord with mine on the subject of dinner-table deco- ration, that I venture to ask for space for the following extracts : — "The idea of making buildings handsome by their proportions seems to have perished out of the earth." "Contempt of proportions and symmetry, and an accumulation of ornaments, seem to be the leading characteristics of what may be called the Victorian style." "The ancients, of all styles, had ideas of proportion, and an eye for it ; they did not fancy that they could produce effects by height, out of all proportion to length or width." (I commend the foregoing extract in particular to some worthy and excellent friends of mine, who advocate the flat style of table decoration.) "Medieval architectswerenot afraid of making 1 2 or 1 3 bays of a long building all aUke, except sometimes in minor details ; while many architects of the present day cannot give us three or four in suc- cession without some startling variation to avoid their great bug-bear ' monotony. ' And yet their buddings are monotonous, in having but one tone of fussiness and overdoing and want of repose everywhere." "Everything that is permanently pleasing, both in art and mankind, must have that undefinable quality called repose, which involves (though it does not mean) simplicity. And our architecture will go on getting worse and worse, more and more vulgar, if this passion for over-decoration is not stopped, and old principles restored." IV. T. Water Weeds.— I beg to thank Mr. Campbell for his reply to my water weed question, but beg further to ask him what was the extent of the lakes he speaks of, and the number of swans that were introduced on to them. Swans were recommended here for the purpose of keeping the weed under. Accordingly, in the winter of 1869, nine swans were procured, which have this year increased their number to 13, but unfor- tunately they have not had the desired effect, as the lake has never been known to be so full of weeds as it has been this summer. So dense is the Myriophyllum that I think no reasonable number of swans would be able to keep it under, the size of the lake being about 30 acres. IV. E. The Potato Disease. — Although agreeing with what has lately been advanced in your columns rela- tive to the propriety of planting Potatos wider apart than has hitherto been customary, as a means of ren- dering them less liable to the attacks of the dire epidemic, by allowing the "tops" more space for development and exposure to the sun and air, I still con- sider that the innate constitution of the variety has as much as anything to do with its ability toresist the attack of thedisease [No doubt] ; in e.xemplification of which I may remark that a case in point has recently presented itself to my notice in the shape of a few rows of Bresee's Peerless and Prolific Potatos, which I planted on March 30, single eyes alone being planted, in rich soil, in a somewhat shady part of the garden, in rows about 30 inches apart ; which distance proved insufficient, as the tops of both kinds grew vigorously, and soon became interlaced, resulting, however, in a heavy crop of handsome tubers. And although the "tops" of both v.arieties were alike severely affected by the disease, the Prolific had but three or four of its tubers affected, whereas the Peerless was diseased to the extent of about a third of its crop ; hence, I think, conclusively proving that the natural constitution of the variety is as much to be taken into consideration as are other conditions. In further substantiation of this view, I may add that in a reserve garden here, but in a more elevated position, and less rich soil, several other varieties of Potatos, planted somewhat earlier than the foregoing, were more or less diseased, notably so Ne Plus Ultra (kidney), which was planted about ayard apart every way, by way of experiment, but which was badly affected ; whereas such as the Gloucestershire Kidney, Ashleaf Seedling, Mona's Pride, and Veitch's Ashleaf, were comparatively free from the disease, though con* siderably separated by intervening rows of Broccoli. September 9, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag'ricultural Gazette. 1 167 The reversi^ lioSvevev, occurred to Early Coldstream, Princess Dagmar, liarly Emperor, Prince of Wales, and Edgecote Seedling, all of which were more or less shaded by intervening beds of the Brassica tribe. I may add that I have invariably found that early kinds early planted prove infinitely less liable to the influence of the disease than either early or late varieties late planted. H^iV/iam Gardiner. Grape Growing at Kingston Hall.— As the temperature of the border may be readily ascertained from the outside surface, the fact of its being heated cannot be disputed. The bar to the circulation pointed out by Mr. Cruikshank, simply proves that each set of pipes has its special duty to perform. The narrow passage which contains the pipes under the front of the house is for the border heat, and the heat circulates in the chamber under the border, in the manner customary in Mr. Sylvester's arrangements, viz., through pigeon- holes in the outer wall. This is the identical mode of heating originally adopted for surface heat, and it was made to serve two purposes, for when it was not wanted in the house the valves could be closed, and the waste, or spare heat, was forced into the border chamber. Mr. Cruikshank says there are no ventilators to be seen in the front wall. Certainly not, why should there be ? The object %vas to force the heat into the border chamber, and that could only be accomplished by preventing its escape in any other direction. As I have before stated, the only alteration made in the inside wall was that of stopping the ventilators, so as to confine the heat to its proper object — that of heating the border. " F." frankly admits his inability to speak positively upon this point ; but from where he made his observations— the inside chamber— not one particle of heat goes into the border chamber, except what passes through the solid brick wall. You will thus per- ceive that my previous statement is substantially correct. As for the crops of my predecessor, not having seen them I cannot speak of their quality. Report says that enormous crops had been produced. At the time the Vines passed into my charge many of them had 70 to So bunches upon them ; and the fact that the crop had coloured badly for years, furnished unmistakable evidence that fast life in their youth had bent if not broken their backs. Add to this the ravages of insect pests, and it may be readily perceived they were only the shadows of their former selves. If there is any doubt upon this question, Mr. Sowray, now the gar- dener at Higlmam Court, Gloucester, who was foreman for years to Mr. Mackay, can settle it. Geo. WaHanJ. [We think enough has been said on this question. Eds.] Covent Garden Prices. — Three or four letters have appeared on the above subject. Being an old Covent Garden man I may, perhaps, be allowed to state my opinion. I begin with Pine-apples, which, at certain seasons of the year, are not worth growing ; at other times, namely, from October to July, few things pay better. Queens are very good, but none realise so much hard cash as Black Jamaica. Then as to Grapes : the most suitable are Black Hamburgh, White Muscat, Lady Downes' Seedling ; for very late, Muscat is the favourite, and none of the other varieties command so good a price. Grapes should be laid in baskets, holding 12 lb. each, in precisely the same way as put up for exhibition. Send your own man to the railway station, and let him give them into the guard's hands ; let your salesman know, in order that his man may meet them in London. In this way, literally speaking, they go out of the grower's hands into the salesman's. Never forget to shake hands with the guard, and your fruit will always go right. I may mention, if the bloom is not perfect it is of little use sending them, so particular are the great buyers on this point. Peaches and Nectarines also command a good price, but few gardeners send them to please the salesman ; for this reason, they pack all together — little and big. The proper way is to gather just before they are ripe, sort- ing them over to make firsts, seconds, thirds, and even fourths, packing each sort by itself in Peach punnets — label each basket with the number of fruit, and its qua- lity, first or second, as the case may be. Strawberries (forced ones) sell well, almost always. My favourite is Sir Charles Napier for the market, still Keenes' Seedling and President are very good ; but when good old British Queens are done well, they realise more money than any other I know off. They should also be packed in punnets, with a leaf between each fruit, and sorted over the same as Peaches, not forgetting to let the same man take them to the station on all occasions. I am happy to say I generally get good prices for all I send, my salesman being John Black ; never- theless, I know others equally good — Walter Davis, Solomon. I .venture to say, if your correspondent grows good stutr, and packs it in the way described, he will find prices remunerative. H. C, Stamford. Price of Peaches. — When I read in your paper such remarks as those of " A. D." at p. 1135, .about Peaches, I wonder that advertisements are not more resorted to by those who have articles to part with. I have no doubt that if " A. D." had put in an adver- tisement that he had 50 dozen Peaches at, say 3^. per dozen, and that he would send them packed — so many per week or half week— that he would have found customers at once. The fact is, as he states, that we fathers of families never think of buying Peaches, because of the very high price charged at the shops for them ; but there are thousands of us who would gladly supply our families with Peaches and other fruit, if \ could do so at a fair price, from the growers. I ha sold many things by advertisement, and scarcely ev put one in that I did not meet with purchasers imm diately. T?'. D. F. The Crystal Palace Show. — Every one who visited the show held at the Crystal Palace a few day; since in connection with the Metropolitan Floral Society will bear witness to the conectness of you] remark, that the right of the judges " to withhold the prize where they consider the subjects not worthy of it " would have been well exercised in the classes for Gladioli. Some of the spikes were certainly not worthy to be sent to an exhibition, and, on the other hand, some of the exhibits were of a very high character. ] am induced to write to you upon one or two other points in connection with the Gladioli sho^Ti there. To ■my surprise, one stand of 36 had not a single flower named, and moreover it was made up so irregularly that for some time I took the centre I2 to be ai exhibit of itself, the other 12 on either side looking different, and standing a few inches away from the centre lot. Of all flowers the Gladiolus should named, as you require to examine it for comparison with others. Another stand had two spikes of the flower. Both these stands had prizes awarded. Where was the committee of the Society? Do let us have placed fairly before us the Gladiolus. Marigolds. — The accompanying Marigold represent several types of habit as well as shades of colour, and are being selected in the hope that their respective forms may become permanent. The blooms marked No. i are African Marigolds, showing the varied shades that exist amongst them, comprising rich orange to bright yellow and lemon. The mixed flowers marked No. 2 are gathered fi-om a number of French Marigolds having a very stocky, bushy, free- blooming habit, the height, including flowers, averaging 18 inches. In respect of habit they are very superior to the tall rank-growing French kinds, producing : much denser mass of bloorti, as well as greate: capacity to resist drought. No. 3 is a Ranunculus flowered variety, the flowers being exceedingly double and of the most pleasing appearance when growing or the plant, which has also a very dwarf dense character rising in height about 14 inches. No. 4 comprises j mixed lot of flowers of a very dwarf section, consisting of plants varying from 6 inches to 12 inches in height, including flowers. No. 5 are flowers gathered from our selected Dwarf Orange French, for bedding, averaging 10 inches in height ; and No. 6 is a yellow variety, of the same habit. These are both very dwarf and continuous bloomers, standing drought well .4. Dian. [Very good examples of different types of Marigold. No. 2, with fine large flowers, is par ticularly handsome ; and Nos. 5 and 6 are pure- coloured, and likely to be useful for massing. The mixed Verbenas and Pentstemons sent with them indicate good strains of seed. The white Lobelia speciosa is very pure and good. You should send it to Chiswick, to be grown with other sorts in the next year's trials. Eds.] Utricularia montana — I have to thank " Ebor " for kindly furnishing us with some useful particulars as to the climatic conditions under which this peculiar plant flourishes in one locality. We as cultivators ought to be extremely thankful to real travellers when they give us their experience, which unfortunately is but seldom. The flowers of this plant (see fig. 233, p. 1039) are pure white, with a blotch- of orange-yellow on the bigibbous portion of the limb of the corolla, and two streaks of the same colour extend down the throat. The manner in which it propagates itself I toolc the precaution of illustrating in my sketch. The plant would seem to be common enough in the tropics, and also somewhat widely distributed. Would " Ebor " oblige by stating whether it is constantly epiphytal in Trinidad. We have three species of Utricularia or " Bladderworts " in Britain, viz., U. vulgaris, U. inter- media, and U. minor, all being aquatic, or submerged plants. Those who have access to the " English Botany " will find them figured or described in that valuable work. F. IV. B. [A coloured plate of this Utricularia is given in the "Botanical Magazine" for the present month. Eds.] Tabulated Lists of Flowers. — I remember, when the late Mr. Beck took the " Florist " in hand, he gave, from time to time, tabulated lists of the best Pelargoniums given in by all the best growers in the kingdom. And I well remember the interest and con- fidence that used to be felt in them by us country readers, and how much we missed them when they ceased to be given. Is it impossible for the Gardeners^ Chronicle to adopt the same plan? Surely not. What information could be more useful, more interest- ing, more to the taste of your general readers, than lists so made up— of Roses especially— say the best 12, then the best 24, 36, and 50, given in by 12 of the best growers in the kingdom, eight of them being nurserymen, and four amateur growers. It is the com- bination of such effectual efforts which I look to, if such can be brought to bear. For instance, if all 12 agreed in recommending one Rose as the best of its kind, who could have any doubts of its being so ? The same of the rest. Let those Roses which have the greatest number of votes stand in the first rank till they are beaten by others. The same with bedding Pelar- for they s have local propensities, c kind doing best here, and another there, while others seem to have no particular taste. I look upon the trial of bedding Pelargoniums at Chiswick as of the first importance, as all fight upon the same terms — a fair field, and no favour — a very important feature in my estimation. To those who visit the great flower shows of London and other places, such information is not so necessary, though not wholly useless to them, but to the general stick-at-home it is most important, and of all mundane information has the best -sharp of his heart. R. J. [We will endeavour to comply with your wishes. Eds.] Potato and Artichoke Grafting. — Be good enough to allow me to state, in reply to Mr. Dean at p. 1 135, that I had intended to exhibit my experimental tubers at South Kensington on the 6th inst. (expecting to be away from home on the 20th), but as both Mr. Dean and Mr. Fenn are expecting to put in an appearance on the 20th, I shall. have much pleasure in deferring my exhibition until that date. I lifted my tubers on the 1st inst., chiefly because the disease was so virulent on all sides ; but, happily, these have nearly escaped its ravages. Whatever may be the ultimate results of my experiments time will prove, but an hypothesis of my own is that by intermixing the properties of the Artichoke and the Potato, the latter must necessarily be hardened in constitution, and consequently better able to resist the disastrous effects of the Potato murrain, although it may be deteriorated in quality. These anticipations may in the end prove fruitless, but one thing is at least certain, viz., that the union of the Artichoke and Potato (Helianthus and Solanum) is a fait accompli [in our correspondent's opinion]. Next spring I propose to re-graft these tubers into the Artichoke, when I anticipate a further development of the characteristics and properties of the Artichoke ; and by repeated grafting in this way I am of opinion that the properties of the two genera will be so commingled as to defy even the worthy and talented authorities at 41, WeUington Street, to prove which genus it [the tubers] originally belonged to. More at the time of exhibition. Thos. Simpson, Broom- field, Sept. 5. [We shall certainly be surprised if we cannot tell a Potato from an Artichoke. Eds.] Asparagus Disease. — The whole of 21 acres of Aspar,agus— seedlings of various growths, young Aspa- ragus which was expected to be cut from for the first time next spring, and beds which have yielded well for two seasons, have been attacked by a Fungus, and the consequences cannot fail to be ver}- serious. The Fungus first appears in small brown patches on the stem, gradually spreading until the whole plant is covered with an envelope, which seems to ripen and then break, showing a black furry substance, which is the last stage of the disease. The land is of v.arious qualities, some of it wet and other parts dry, the disease being the same in all. The seedlings and the young Asparagus were attacked early in July, and, imtil the last ten days, had apparently died away, pre- senting to the eye the appearance which is usual at the end of November ; the seedlings are now apparently recovering, and looking green again, and the stems of the young Asparagus, which was expected to give a first crop next spring, are putting forth green sprigs, and shoots, although puny miserable things, are beginning to spring from below-ground ; these young shoots are also attacked in the same way, but appa- tly in a milder form. The beds which were cropped this year were attacked much later, and at the present have the appearance of bare bro^vn poles, all seed having disappeared, and no fresh shoots being formed. Underground the plants have a very unhealthy appear- ance ; the roots have in some cases rotted, and emit a very unpleasant smell. Many of the old shoots, which a few weeks ago were in a strong healthy condition, have now perished, and the others are putting forth a few feeble sprigs. I wish to leam whether this has occurred before, and what can be done for the plants. G. Hester, M.A., Ringtnore, Teigninouth, Dczon. Pinus pygmaea: Case of Reversion. — I send you branch, evidently of Pinus orientalis[?], cut from a nice little plant of Pinus pygmiea growmg at Chadacre Hall, the seat of Miss Halifax, about 8 miles from Bury St. Edmund's. The soil is a very strong loam resting upon clay, but many of the Pinus and Piceas, such as Pinsapo, orientalis, and cephalonica, do well, and form nice trees. The present intelligent gardener, Mr. Foulger, has cleared a good many shrubs away that were used for shelter, which has shown off the plants to more advantage by placing them on the clear turf. This tiny tree was one of those so cleared, and I gathered the branch sent, which was only a portion of the sport, a few days since. Such sports :g Conifers are rare, as far as my observation ds. Last year a gold sport, true, came on a ron Yew of great age, here. V. T. F. [The Clan- brasilian Fir not unlrequently reverts to its original form in the same way. Eds.] ii68 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 9, Foreign Correspondence. Paris in 1871.— It was with strangely mingled feelings that I found myself, one morning in last month, after a night's travelling from Brussels, at the station of the Northern Railway in Paris. One's thoughts had been for months so full of the miseries and suffer- ings of its people, of the terrible war with Germany, and the famine consequent thereon, and the still more terrible war of the Commune, of the devastations and burnings that the wretches who held sway under the ffpmtofthe latter had occasioned, that one questioned whether the fair city of the Seine would be recognised as the same. Some said, " Paris can never be herself again ; her beauty is so marred, her peculiar charm so disfigured that no amount of money can ever restore her to her pristine glory." Others, on the other hand, said, "The change is really very little ; a few houses here and there— some of the fine buildings, indeed — are gone; but, after all, it is not much." And here was I to judge for myself. The truth, as usual, lies about midway. Get into a ^ni-re, drive from the Northern Station down the Rue Lafayette, the Rue Poissonifere, on to the boulevards, then along by the Madeleine (you will misstheVendome Column, but, in artistic point of view, this would be no great loss), up the Boulevard Malesherbes, to the Pare de Monceau then on to tlie Arc de Triomphe, then again dow the Champs Elysees to the Place de la Concord) and you will say, " I do not see the least cliange. But if, instead of taking this route, you had done as did, driven down the Rue Richelieu, by the Louvr across the Place de Carrousel, over the Seine, to n hotel, in the Faubourg St. Germain, your estima would have been ditferent. You would have seen the blackened ruins of the Tuileries, of the Minist Finance, of the Chancellerie of the Legion of Honour — you would have wondered wliat had become of the Hotel de Ville and of the Palais de Justice, and you would have been able to form some idea of the dreadful scenes that must have been enacted in the month of May. Inside Paris the Germans liave hardly left any mark. All this is the work of the Commune— of wretches gathered out of every nationality, with, let us be thank- ful, the exception of England — marshalled by Poles, Russians, and Italians, but derided by Frenchmen, by those who have painted or carved on every public building "Liberie, Egalite, Fratemite," and then set fire to them, as an illustration of their meaning of the legend. From every Frenchman I met with — from English friends, who, like that gallant soldier of the Cross, the Rev. Dr. Smyth, of St. Germain, remained within all through both sieges— I heard but one story. Had the Commune had three days more, not a stone of Paris would have been left. But the readers of the Gardeners' Chronicle^ to many of whom Paris is well known, and to most of whom its parks, &c., are familiar, whether through the splendid work of Alphand, the popular pages of Robinson, or the columns of this journal, will want to know, horticul- turally speaking, what is the present aspect pf Paris — how fare its public gardens and promenades, its flower markets, and its holies. Well, it was with this end I took my course, and, without going into any quesiions connected with its political or social aspects, shall just detaU what I saw in connection with these parts. The inner boulevards, that cheering line of tree- bordered streets, which give such a peculiar charm to Paris, are untouched. Whether it was respect for their city, or because the green wood would not bum, certain it is that they have been left untouched, and in the month of August were all iu their leafy beauty. Outside the city it is different — the larger trees have been cut down, many battered to pieces by the shells of Mont Valerien ; but inside the city it is happily different. During the Commune fuel was not scarce ; supplies had entered of all kinds, and there was no ne- cessity for the destruction of the trees, so that those who have been wont to enjoy \\i€\xcafe under the shade of the Ailantus and Planes on the boulevards can still do so. On entering the public gardens, while you wondi at the order into which they have been brought, you at once see tliat they are vei7 different to what they used to be. How could it be otherwise? When thi Commune took possession of Paris, they cashiered M Alphand, who had been the director of all the public gardens, and placed in his stead a man of the name of earlier, who went by the nickname of " Pape-en-bois," and who cared as little for flower-beds as for the clean- liness of his own person. M. Alphand happily now occupies his former place, and if France remains at peace with herself, another year will see things such as they used to be. But what could be done? La Muette, the great nursery of tlie city, which supplied the parks with plants, was nearly battered to pieces ; and hence you will find— as for instance, in the Pare de Monceau, wliere the beautiful beds and the splendid tropical plants made such a scene of beauty — that annuals, and Petunias, and such plants as can be rapidly raised from seed, have had to take their place. It is the same way in the Champs Elysees ; beds of flowers there are, but they are comparatively few ; the only exception to this is the garden of the Luxembourg, where, dependent on his own resources, M. Riviere has been able to keep a supply of bedding plants sufficient almo'^t for his pur- poses ; but he has lost fine collections of Bromeliads poor. and other plants, owing to the failure of fuel to heat the houses. The Jardin des Plantes is a wreck of its former self, though that I never thought much of ; it always seemed to me a place utterly unworthy of French science, and of the illustrious names that have been associated with it, ending in the present able director, M. Decaisne. As a botanic garden, it was ile the collection of Orchids and other plants ly inadequate to represent the state of French scientific horticulture, so that I do not wonder that French savaiis think so highly of Kew. Although I have seen enough of German desolation, I do not believe that the damage they did to the houses here was intentional. If they had battered them down, and the Government had rebuilt them, it would have been a gain to all concerned. The houses are now com- paratively empty, although, doubtless, ere long, the various establishments of Europe will help M. Decaisne in his endeavours to refill them ; the garden is still oc- cupied by soldiery. I thought to pass down the avenue on to the quai, but was stopped, the " teilti d'abri " filled the avenue, and the red-trousered soldie ("quantum mutatus ab illo"— the "illo" being the spruce dapper soldier of the Second Empire) ; and so I was compelled to retrace my steps. The Buttes Chaumont, which were beginning to take their place as the most original of all the Paris parks, is a scene of desolation, but it is being rapidly rearranged. The remarks that I have made with regard to these larger parks and gardens will apply equally to the smaller spaces, as the Square de Montholon, the garden of the Tour de St. Jacques, Place Louvois, &c., all, to one who has seen Paris before, much inferior to their former state ; to one who had not seen it before, wonderfully neat and pretty ; to every one, a matter of astonishment how in so short a time so much could have been done. One of my eariiest visits in Paris is always to the grand I lalles Centrales, it was the first place I went to this time ; here thought I, I shall see whether French market gardening is recovering itself. Where the things came from I do not pretend to know, but there they were fresh as ever,— the stalls outside with their fresh looking vegetables and their little neat assort- of cut legumes for the potage, and inside the benches filled with Apricots, Peaches, and Grapes. The fine Peaches of Montreuil, and the yellow good- for-nothings of the South, rich, luscious fruit, at 6 sous each, the very best ; and Grapes (the Chasselas de Fontainebleau), both grown in the South of France, at 6 sous the pound. There, too, were the hotiqueti'eristes^ making their nosegays as of old, and of immortelles (alas ! poor France has need of many oj these) ; while, passing on to tlie fish depart- ments, there were still the same crawling masses of escargots, the crayfish in the running streams, salmon (which had perhaps come over from London), and other things as usual,— nay, I detected some of my old friends in the stalls, who seemed to have passed through the ordeal of two sieges tolerably well. And while speaking of the markets, let me say that the market gardeners in the neighbourhood of Paris have expressed much gratitude for the supplies sent to them, especially of Potatos. Myatt's Ashleaf had been sent in considerable quantities ; they have found its superiority to their own, and it will be largely planted another season. But, I thought, doubtless the flower markets and the bouquet shops will show the difference ; there can be little money to spend on such luxuries now, and few people who would care to buy them. What was my surprise, then, on going to the flower market Madeleine, to see it almost identically as it used tc there the stalls had sprung up again, there wi same plants, the Roses, Lilies, Vincas, Pomegranates, arranged in their paper envelopes ; while at Madame Fillul's, Borujon's, Privort's, and other well known houijuelitristes, there were the same daintily and taste- fully arranged bouquets, and people entering the shops buying and carrying off their fragrant burdens. So then, after all, some may say, things arc not so bad as it was reported, and the French Horticulturists' Relief Fund was not needed. " Aisy," as Paddy says. Have you ever, my friend, visited a country parson of your acquaintance, located in some quiet peaceful nook? Around his vicarage lies the little village, with its quaint old cottages and neat gardens, the Ivy-mantled church is close by — the schoolhouse, with its Roses and Honeysuckled porch, at hand ; it is a fine autumn evening, there is not a breath to move the air, the harvestmen are bringing home their last load for the day, and you involuntarily exclaim. Ah ! what a happy scene ; peace must surely reign here, and contentment be the rule of every heart. Ah !— alas for human nature ! your country parson will tell you his little village is but the epitome of the larger world in which you move ; and beneath this apparent calm that reigns you would find that envy and strife, tales of shame and of sorrow, are to be found concealed within many a house there, as well as in the larger houses of a city. All is not gold that glitters ; and so with Paris. Beneath the apparent restoration of everything to its former state, there is a mass of unrest and disquiet, of gloomy anticipation, of depressing feeling, which shows that all is not as it was. And so of horticulture. In my next communication I shall have to draw a very different picture -to tell of devastation and miseries, that make one's "heart sick to think of, and which will show, I am constrained to think, that all the aid and ympathy that we can give would be but as a drop m the ocean to that which is required. But I have thought it well to show what Paris is, and that those who have never visited it may yet hope to see it in its former beauty — the fairest city of the world. D., Deal. Societies. Royal Horticultural : Sept. 6.— Major Trevor Clarke in the chair. The usual preliminary announce- ments having been made, the Chairman said that to him the most interesting feature of the meeting was the excellent display of Onions, which had been gathered together after many years of selection and cultivation, and which had suggested to him how easy it would be to cross such plants by planting distinct kinds of such things close together. He had tried this method in the case of the Onion some years ago, and the result was the production of some beautiful varieties. He recommended this plan strongly to experimenters, and suggested that the plants to be so experimented upon, with the view to improvement, should be Onions, Cabbages, Radishes, Carrots, &c. Floral Committee.— Dr. Denny in the chair. The display on this occasion was confined to the Council- room, and consisted mainly of an excellent lot of DahlLas, Asters, &c. The best 24 cut blooms of Dahlias, in the open class, were contributed by Messrs. Kelway & Son, Langport, and so fine was the collection that we give the names of all the varieties shown, as a guide to amateur friends ; — ^Julia Wyatt, Mrs. Dix, Miss Hen- shaw. Volunteer, Flag of Tnice, Lord Derby, Ladv G. Herbert, Yellow Boy, Hugh Miller, Sydney Herbert, Ellen Potter, Lord Shaftesbury, Chariotte Doriing, Vice- President, Master of .\rts. Pandora, King of Primroses, King of Sweden. Jenny Austen, Lord Napier, Yellow Pe:- fection, Andrew Dodd. Princessof Wales, and Mrs. Bostor. All the above were represented by capital specimens, and formed the finest stand that we have seen this season. Mr. Turner was 2d, with a stand of seedlings which com- prised some very fine flowers ; and Mr. C. J. Perry, Castle Bromwich, was 3d. This collection contained superb blooms of James Cocker, Miss Roberts, High Sheriff, Mary Keynes, Queen of Beauties, and several of the abovenamed. The last named exhibitor was also ist in the amateurs' class for 12. The best 24 Asters, not quilled — and an excellent lot too for the season^ came from Mr. G. Wheeler, Warminster, Messrs. Kelway & Son being 2d, and Mr. J. J. Chater, Cambridge, 3d. For 12, not quilled, amateurs, Mr. Rowe, Roehampton, was ist ; Sir. E. Farndell, gr., Surrey County .Asylum, 2d ; and Mr. B. Porter, Isleworth, 3d. In the open class for 12. the best came from Mr. J. J. Chater, with Mr. J. Walker, Thame, Oxford, 2d, and Mr. E. I^owe 3d, all very good flowers. Mr. Perry sent the best stand of 24 Verbenas, distinct, five trusses of each, and Mr. J. J. Chater was 2d. For 12 .Asters, not quilled. Mr. Rowe was rst and Mr. B. Porter 2d, both collections being rather poor. The only exhibitor of Liliums was Mr. W. Bull, who took ist prizes in the class for six distinct, and of L. speciosum (lancifoUum), not less than three varieties, with very well-grown plants of L. speciosum, roseum, rubrum, rubrum superbum, punc- tatum, and speciosum album, tigrinum, auratum, &c, Messrs. Veitch & Son exhibited a small group of new plants, including a pretty new Masdevallia (amabilis ?) which received a First-class Certificate ; and the finest new annual of the season, .Amaranthus salicifolius, an introduction from Manilla, which grows in a beautiful pyramidal form to the height of about 3 feet, with long narrow leaves, the predominating colour being orange-red, which varies to a deep bronze. The plant had been lifted from the open ground, thus establishing its character as a first-class bedding plant, and for conservatory decora- lion at this lime of year; a First-class Certificate was awarded. Mr. Bull also sent a nice group of new plants, including a new dwarf, prettily marked, free growing Aroidaceous plant from Central America, named Syngonium albo-lineatum ; Saurauja nepalensis, a fine bold-leaved foliaged plant ; Dracaena metallica and elegans, two of the best of the dark-leaved section, and D. splendens, a dwarf, stiff-growing form from the South Sea Islands, which received a First-class Certificate. From Mr. Croucher, gr. to J. T. Peacock, Esq., Sudbury House, Hammersmith, came a very interesting group of a dozen new Cactaceous plants, including the very curious Echinocactus myriostigma, E. Kochii, E. californicus, E. Mourvillei, and E. Wisczlenii, Mammillaria bicolor cristata, M. sphjerocephala, and M. rhodacantha, &c. ; a Special Certificate was voted. Mr. Parker, Tooting, had some nicely- flowered specimens of Ixora amabilis ; and from Messrs. E. G. Henderson came a nice group of variegated foliaged bedding plants in the International Department. M.Jean Verschaifelt again contributed a fine group of new Agaves, of which the following were selected for first-classawards : — A. Celsiana albida, -A. ToneUana (Ghiesbreghtii ?), A. Mescal nigrispinis, A. dealbata compacta ; and A. dealbata compacta angustifolia had one of the 2d class. These, we hear, have all passed into the hands of Mr. J. T. Pea- cock, whose collection of these plants is now one of the richest in the country. First-class Certificates were also voted to Mr. Turner, for Dahlias John Standish, Mr. Saunders, Souvenir d'Herbert Turner, a fine white ; and Kate Haslam, delicate pink, fine in shape ; to Mr. G. Rawlings, for Dahlia Maid of Essex ; to Mr. G. Parker, Maidens Green, Winkfield, for Dahlia Old Port, well described by its name ; to Mr. W. Tillery, Welbeck, for Gladiolus Celestial, white margined with bright scarlet ; to Mr. D. Mackellar, gr. to C. Magniac, Esq., Colworth, Beds, for seedling Hollyhocks— Jeanie, white, and Rose of Sharon, crimson, large, and fine in shape ; to Mr. J. }. Chater, for seeding Hollyhock Peer- less, buff; to Mr. Keynes, for Seedhng Dahlia Dolly Varden, fancy, pinkish white, tinged with crimson ; William Laird, purplish blush ; William Keynes, orange- red, very fine ; and Marchioness of Lome, creamy- September 9, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag^ricultural Gazette. 1 169 yellow, tipped with crimson, which received one of the j second class. Special Certificates were awarded to Messrs. Veitch & Sons for a fine collection of Asters, and to Messrs. Ponsford & Son for cut specimens of Cleroden- dron Bungei, and Mr. Eckford, Coleshill, had a first-class award for Verbenas Lady Edith, very fine white, and Pluto, very deep scarlet, white eye. Respecting the Chiswick trials of flowers, it has been suggested that the best plan of making up the collections at Chiswick would be for the various growers to contribute at this (autumn) season of the year, when they can be so much more conveniently looked out and dispatched, such kinds as they can spare of those already sent out. To further this object, it was also suggested that catalogues should be sent to Mr. Barron, for him to mark in them the names of those kinds which the Society already possessed. Mr. Barron is quite prepared to carry out this suggestion, with a view to making the next season's trials as complete as possible, and would be glad to receive at once any varieties of the undernamed flowers which are not already at Chiswick. In addition to the bedding Pelargoniums, which always form the principal group of trial plants, it is proposed to form also as complete sets as possible of Phloxes, Pentstemons, bedding Lobelias, and bedding Violas for outdoor culture, and of Fuchsias for culture in pots. Address : Mr. A. F. Barron, Superintendent, Royal Horticultural Society, Chiswick, W. Fruit Committee.— G. E. Blenkins, Esq., in the chair. This was a very interesting meeting. Mr. Pearson, Chilwell, again sent several seedling Grapes, amongst which was a fine white one, which will supersede Foster's 'White Seedling, and named Dr. Hogg, which received a First-class Certificate. Two other black varieties were requested to be shown again. Special Certificates were voted to Mr. J. Reid, gr. to the Earl of Crawford, Haigh Hall, 'Wigan, for very fine fruits of Passiflora quadrangularis [?] ; to Mr. Perkins, gr., Thorn- ham Hall, Suffolk, for nice specimens of Queen Emmt Melon ; to Mr. W. Paul, 'Waltham Cross, for a large collection of Apples ; to the Rev. C. Ellison, Brace- bridge Vicarage, Lincoln, for e.xeellent specimens of Veitch 's Autumn Giant Cauliflower ; and to Mr. G. 'W. Pragnell, Castle Gardens, Sherbourne, for a mag- nificent collection of Onions, 21 varieties, including the new Giant White Tripoli, Giant Rocco, White Lisbon, Bedfordshire Champion. Reading, Danver's Yellow, White Moscera, Itahan Red Tripoli, Giant Madeira, &c. Examples of seedling Melons, one of which, a green fleshed variety, was of very good quality, came from Mr Cadger, Luton Hoo, and a green-fleshed variety, named Ne Plus Ultra, from Mr. J. J. Chater, who recei' from San Francisco. It was rather past its but good in flavour, melting up to the rind ; Mr Armstrong, gr. to T. D'Eath, Esq., Woodstock H Hendon, sent a Queen Pine, weighing 41b. 30Z., and Mr. Turner had a dish of the seedling Plum, Bonne Bouche, which received a First-class Certificate some three or four years ago, a variety much larger than the Green Gage, and quite equal to it in flavour. Messrs. E. G. Hender- son & Son sent examples of a seedling 'Wbite Grape, which ripens three weeks earlier than White Muscadine, but which it strongly resembles. Mr. Perkins, Thorn- ham Hall, also sent a specmen of the Sooly Qua Cucum- ber, over 5 feet long ; and from Mr. C. Osman, South Metropolitan Schools, Sutton, came a nice collec- tion of vegetables. Mr. Turner also sent specimens of Bluegown and the Wizard Cucumber, which in the case of the first-named fully bore out its high character. Messrs. Carter & Co. offered prizes for the best collec- tions of Onions, of which the ist was taken by Mr. E. Farndell, the Surrey County Asylum ; the 2d by Mr. J. Baverstock, gr. to W.Hope, Esq., Parsloes, Barking: and the 3d by Mr. Miles, gr. to Lord Carrington, Wycombe Abbey, who contributed excellent specimens. Mr. J. Garland, gr., Killerton, Devon, and Messrs. Barr & Sugden, were also exhibitors of Onions ; and Messrs. Carter & Co. sent examples a Runner Bean, named Canada Express, which appears to be a very free bearer. De.\l and Walmer : Aug. 31.— The show this year was very successful, owing in great measure to the efforts of E. Banks. Esq. For Achimenes the ist prize was awarded to E. Banks, Esq., and the 2d to G. Gardner. Esq. The show of Pelargoniums was very large, and the display excellent. The double-flowered Geraniums do not appear to have made their way yet sufficiently to displace .... ^ . .- ... jjj gj.gj^j I have made their \ the single kinds. The Dahlias, which variety, were never finer. The Gladioli [ beautiful, and the Verbenas in much better condition than are sometimes exhibited. The Zinnias fell far short in number and excellence. The prizes for flowers arranged in vases were awarded to E. Banks, Esq., W. J. Banks, Esq., and Mr. Street ; and for bouquets, to W. J. Banks. Esq.. Mr. Street, and Mrs. Coode. Messrs. Masters and Kinmont, of Canterbury, exhibited, but not for compe- tition, and their exhibits attracted much attention. Among them were a seedling Verbena, the Catherine, and cut flowers, of which the 12 Hollyhocks were good specimens ; and scarcely less to be admired were their 24 Dahlias and 12 Asters. Among the cut flowers, Mr. Bunyard's 48 Roses were noteworthy. On no previous occasion were the selected basket's of vegetables so numerous and so well supplied ; Red Cabbage was shown very good, and Onions were of immense size. who adopts the orthodox view, has to say on the ubject : — "According to some physiologists— Priestley, Ingen louss, Ville, and others— plants make use of the free nitrogen of the air for the formation of their nitrogenous compounds : but the experiments of De Saussure. Boussin- gault. Woodhouse, Senebier, Lawes, and others, lead to ■ conclusion ; and it is now generally admitted that vegetation has not this power. Apart from what ex- jriments demonstrate, the former opinion seems unlikely be correct, for although the freeoxygen of the atmosphere .- employed by plants in the formation of their compounds, and notwithstanding their marvellous powers of synthesis, ■ hard to believe that they are able to overcome the rkable antipathy to direct combination which char- ogen. Moreover, were the imbibition and ssimilation of the free nitrogen of the air actually in peration, would it not be in opposition to the economy f Nature, so far as we understand it ? The presence ot a large volume of nitrogen in the atmosphere is necessary for the continuance of life, and if vegetation were day by assimilating this gas, the normal and necessary com- ion of the atmosphere would (no natural supply of nitrogen having been provided), be quickly and for destroyed, and, as a consequence, man would cease :ist. Vegetation then, the destroyer, instead of as the supporter of life, would degenerate, and quickly away, and the earth would become a barren wild. There can be little doubt that this important element is received in a state of combination ; and the obser\'ations alike of chemist and agriculturist point to ammonia as, at ts, the chief source whence plants obtain their nitrogen." This extract will suffice to show the author's style and mode of treating his subject. Formula and technical terms are as much as possible avoided. The second part of the new edition of Yarrell's British Birds, by Prof. Newton (Van Voorst), has lately been issued. It includes the history of the hawks, kites, buzzards, and in part of the owls. Every one interested in birds, who has the means of so doing, must procure this new edition. The only regret is that already the Editor finds that the revision of the work will occupy more time than he anticipated, and that in consequence it will be impossible for the parts to appear monthly. — Another charming book is that of Brehm, of which the first part is now before us in an English dress, under the title of Bird Life (Van Voorst), trans- lated from the German by H. M. Labouchere and W. Jesse. This is a popular book in the best sei full of information, accurately record_ed, well kepi hand, and free from techn' "' ""' easy and fluent. The recently issued number (65) of theya«r«a/ of the Linnean Society, contains several interesting papers, including those of Dr. Hance and Mr. Hanbury on the smaller Clalangal of commerce, referred by the former to Alpinia officinartim, the characters of which are given at length. Adverting to the Chinese silk worm Oaks, Dr. Hance repeats his "all circumstances would seem to conspi the culture of the Oak silkworm in E matter of success, if properly set on foot and fostered, The rearing of silkworms on Oaks is, it appears, carried on both in the south-west and the north-east of China, and it will be a matter of great interest to ascertain whether any Oak is employed for the same purpose in northern Birma or Assam, in both of which the genus Quercus is a characteristic type of vegetation, and from which Kweichow is only separated by the province of Yunnan. Dr. Masters contributes a short paper on the floral conformation of Byrsanthus, the Rev. S. Mateer one on the popular names of plants in Travancore, the MM. Tula.sne publish a technical memoir on the Tremellineous Fungi, remarkable for the different forms assumed by their basidia and the mul- tiplicity of their reproductive apparatus. MM. Tulasne are doing excellent service in co-relating the various forms assumed by the diverse reproductive organs of Fungi. From the pen of Mr. Mansel Wcalc are two or three short papers on the fertilisation of sundry South African Orcnids and Asclepiads. The number is closed with a communication from the President on the styles of Australian ProteaceK, and detailing the modifications of structure and the methods by which the pollen is prevented from obtaining access to the true stigmatic surface of the style, even though it be collected and deposited on other portions of the style. With the number of the Journal containing the above papers are issued some sheets of " Proceedings,"— a record of the work of the society during the session 1870-71, li»ts of dona- tions, a very useful list of papers published in various journals, &c., on biological subjects, and the admirable presidential address from which we have already made The translation 1 to render ape a sure crowdj whose room would be better than their com- pany, around an unfortunate sufferer. — Mr. Rowell has reissued an abstract of several of his the Cause of Rain, Storms, the Aurora, and Terrestrial Magnetism (Williams Norgate). Mr. Rowell is a thoroughly honest thusiast and a man of genius. For years he has laboured tc convince the world that his hypothesis is the right one, and he now writes in the spirit of a dis- appointed man, complaining that those with means and opportunity have not tested the validity of his theories. It is not for us to enter upon the discussion of Mr. Rowell's views, which we are disposed to think Id have been taken up had they seemed more feasible, but we may say, that in our opinion his gravest cause of complaint, though it may not appear so to himself, is that no one has placed Mr. Rowell in such a position that he could work out for himself, and, so far as possible, by himself, by actual experiment, the truth or falsity of his hypothesis. Had Mr. RoweU's studies been in the department of classical literature it is possible that the university within whose bounds he has passed his life would in some way or another have recognised his talent, and given him the opportunity he has sought for so long in vain. Physical science was thought till lately quite unworthy a place in Oxford's learned curriculum, and hence a man who might, under proper direction, have conferred lustre on Oxford, and on himself, has been flattered by the sympathy of indi- viduals, and left to his hard fate to follow an uncon- genial occupation. The Hive, or what should Hold the Bees. — Messrs. Kirby and Spence think it probable that eggs which produce females are generally larger than male eggs, with the exception of the hive bee, in which the reverse takes places. Huber found the eggs of ants of different sizes, from which he was led to discover that they increase in size after being deposited. Thus, then, there is a difference between the drone egg and the worker (which is also, of course, the queen egg). Some other authority — I believe Swammerdam, and Latreille and Stephens besides, go into many details of the eggs of insects, with one great fact, the specific gravity of eggs of insects ; and in making experiments upon them, it should be remembered that no infertile or unimpregnated eggs will sink ! —that they uniformly float. This will greatly assist in solving the difficulty of the proofs required whether the drone eggs are deposited fertilised or not, which seems the gi-eat theory of the German school of bee-masters ; and care must be taken in examining the late deposited drone eggs and those laid in the summer : and should any bee-keeper be inclined to test any of those more delicate operations of microscopic examina- tions upon the fertility of the -egg, I recommend Swammerdam's test of boiling. In the case of bee eggs, I advise that the eggs be put into a test-tube, in liquid coloured with madder, and that then this tube be dipped in boiling water for a few minutes. The outer corion and the spermatozoa will be more easily detected by division. This also is a good test and process to follow out in the larva stages, to discover the future imago of the bee : but these fine dissections and dis- tinctions require great watching as to the periods or ages of the eggs, the larvae, the pupae, and the imago, which are peculiariy rapid in the stages of the queen's life, whilst the drone is uniformly the same (weather or temperature admitted being equal). I must, then, again defer the question of the best hive for the bee- egg to be deposited in ; whilst I am quite aware the question will be asked, What does it matter, when the queen bee deposits her eggs in the centre of the combs, and at the bottom of each cell ; and that, too, by an insect that only breeds in the warmer season and flower-producing periods of the year? W. A. Munn. |^0lias 0f §00hs. Notes on the Food of Plants. By Cuthbert C. Grundy, F.C.S. Simpkin, Marshall & Co. Pp. 126. Svo. This is a plain and brief account of the process of nutrition in plants— trustworthy so far as it goes. As the relation of plants to nitrogen has lately been under discussion in our columns, we quote what Mr. Grundy, VIr. Alfred Smee has published, under the of the Accident Insurance Company, a capital ittle pamphlet of Instructions for the Prompt Treat- ment of Accidents (7, Bank Buildings, Lothbury), illus- trated by woodcuts. The directions, given are simple, intelligible, and judicious. One or two more might have been given to the bystanders, such as " Don't lose your heads." Much mischief is often done from the want of presence of mind, leading to unreasoning terror, and this results either in unfortunate meddling, or in the loss of a valuable opportunity of doing ser- vice. Another direction very necessary to be observed is " Stand clear." Too often curiosity brings a gaping Garden Memoranda. Hyde Park. — The management of this Park passed into the hands of Mr. Gibson, on the death of the late respected Mr. Mann, just early enough in the season to allow of his introducing such changes and improvements in the bedding-out as his long and varied experience suggested ; and this has been done so well that we can freely aver that we never saw the floral decorations in better trim than they are just at the present time. The flower gardening proper is principally carried out on the long strip of land run- ning parallel with Park Lane, from the Marble Arch to the Stanhope Gate, whilst the subtropical gardening is carried out on a nicely timbered, gently undulating piece of ground, lying between the Drive and Rotten Row, in a line from Hyde Park Comer to Albert Gate, and again to the north of this, in a line with and terminating near to the east end of the Serpentine. This portion not being so plainly seen from the main drives as the former, is rather apt to be passed unnoticed by the visitor, though here are to be seen some of the finest beds in the Park, especially of Cannas, Polym- nia, and Aralias, &c. Entering the Park at the Marble Arch it will be seen that nearly up to the Grosvenor Gate the beds on either side of the well kept walk are for the 170 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 9, 1871. most part situated immediately under the shade of large Plane trees, a condition anything but favourable, but still, with due attention to watering, &c., a very creditable display is made. It is worthy of mention that many of these trees are of large size, and were moved some two years since, but are thriving well. The first prominent object to strike one's attention is a large bed of the Nosegay Pelargonium, Waltham Seedling, a very neat compact grower, and exceed- ingly floriferous variety ; and the next thing will perhaps be the splendid masses of yellow Calceo- larias, amongst which there is scarcely an unhealthy plant to be seen. For effective bedding this plant is indispensable where it does well, and it will be a good thing indeed that will entirely supersede it. There is no doubt that certain varieties thrive better in some situations and soils than others, and the only one grown here is Gaines' dwarf, Mr. Gibson having discarded all others of the same colour. It is very robust, a tolerably vigorous grower, and very free flowerer, and certainly one which is deserving of a trial where others have failed. Some of these large masses of Calceolarias are edged with the new Ageratum, Tom Thumb, which cuts a very poor figure indeed, growing very unevenly in size, the strong ones flowering not at all so freely as desirable, and the small ones look stained and dirty from the splashings of the water and rain. It does not at all impress one as the beau ideal of a bedding plant. Any- thing of its colour, with only de- cent credentials even, would be a decided gain. Pelargonium Comet, scarlet, too, is a very poor bedder, and as such will not be called upon to do duty here any more. Approaching nearer to the Grosvenor Gate, the bedding assumes its proper character, and on the left-hand side of that entrance will be found a capital bed of Pelargonium Lucius, still one of the best, with a mixed edging of blue LobeUa, Dactylis glomerata variegata, and some yellow seedling Violas — not the happiest of combinations it is true, though it points to a moral of great service, and illustrates how well the Violas of the cornuta and lutea type thrive when planted amongst dwarf things which give a little shade to the roots. In this way some very pleasing combina- tions of colour may be had. It may be interesting to mention here that, in the London parks espe- cially, there is a growing taste in favour of these mixed beds, which both Mr. Gibson, and his successor at Battersea, Mr. Rogers, find are to a certain extent more admired by the general public than those beds which contain only one pri- mary colour. An example of this style is to be seen near the above gate, where there is a long bed of Pelargonium Crystal Palace Gem, amongst which the Viola cornuta is planted thinly and regu- larly, the blue flowers of the latter rising just above, and in pleasing contrast with the golden self- coloured foliage of the Pelargo- nium. The beauty of this bed is enhanced by having an inner line of Iresine Lindeni, and an outer one of Cineraria maritima, around introduction, though, if we mistake not, it has been ends of Crystal Palace Gem. The same varieties are entirely ignored by the Floral Committee. Another not used aU through, though the general appearance of Mesembryanthemum is also used here with very good , all are alike. effect, i.e., the very quaint M. linguum, a thick, fleshy- | In the subtropical department proper, in which a leaved, prostrate-growing species, with yellow flowers, ' number of nice specimen plants of Palms, Musas, &c., which are kept pinched off. It is used as an outer edging are freely sprinkled about, the principal features to some heart-shaped beds, next to which is a line of j are the beds of dwarf Rhododendrons, edged with Golden Feather Pyrethrum, the centre being filled with | Sempervivum repens and Echeveria secunda glauca ; a carpet of Altemanthera magnifica. These beds, i a long scroll-shaped bed of Cannas, principally which are situated near to Mount Street Gate, are raised I C. Bihorelli, — one of the best, having broad coppery about 6 inches above the level of the grass, and have a j leaves, and orange-scarlet flowers — carpeted with • a capital efiect. It is a very pretty style of bed for 1 dark-leaved Coleus, like Murrayi, and edged with a employing to finish off the triangular junctions of \ dark bronze-leaved Beet, dwarf and compact, and appa- walks, &c. I rently a well selected strain. The next to challenge From the Mount Street Gate, for about 50 yards, we attention is a very effective oval bed of Centaurea experience another change in style, the long beds on candidissima intermixed with Coleus Verschaffeltii, the left all being edged with Iresine Herbstii, with an | around which is a hue of the beautiful Euonymus inner line of Purple King Verbena, and filled in with japonicus aureo - variegatus, and an outer one of such subjects as Gaines' dwarf Calceolaria, Heliotrope | Echeveria secunda glauca. Another one, of equal Miss Nightingale, a fine bed ; Pelargoniums Waltham interest on account of its boldness, though sombre in Seedling, Cybister, and Annie, &c., the latter silver- 1 colour, is filled with Caladium esculentum, carpeted with edged variety being mixed with that good old bedding Tradescentia zebrina and edged with Farfugium grande. Verbena, Ariosto Improved, a very effective com- 1 Passing some pretty designs worked out in Pelar- bination. Then, on the right, all the edgmgs are com- goniums, we come to a large heart-shaped bed com- posed of Gnaphalium lanatum, backed up with a line posed of tall plants of Ficus elastica, alternate with of Altemanthera, and filled in with two distinct con- equal sized specimens of Eucalyptus globulus, and trasting colours, as Pelargonium Artemus Ward and dwarfer examples of Musa superba ; the whole being Ariosto Improved \'erbena. Pelargonium Variegated completed with Coleus Verschaffeltii, and edged with a Stella and Verbena Purple King, which are row of Salvia argentea, and an outer one of Echeveria raetallica. This has a very im- posing appearance. Medium-sized plants of the Musa superba have a noble appearance when stood out singly by themselves, or when used as the centre attraction for small beds, as is the case here, the plant being surrounded with Coleus Baroness Rothschild, with a line around that of Golden Feather Pyrethrum, and finished off with a margin of Echeveria secunda glauca. The last design to notice in this portion of the Park, though not the last by any means to claim attention, is a large circular bed of Fuchsias, planted in circles of different colours, next to which comes a row of Iresine Herbstii, then one of Golden Feather Pyrethrum, and an outer one of large-flowering plants of Echeveria glauco-metallica, which has the character of varying in its habit, some plants being almost distinct enough to be reserved for separate use. For furnishing a little variety in winter, this portion of the park is planted with single specimens of bushy-headed standard Rhodo- dendrons, pyramidal bushes of different varieties of Hollies, Coni- fers, and Box trees, which are now effectively grouped with such elegant Palms, Draca;nas, Aralias, Strelitzias, and Musas as Mr. Gibson had at command. Experience teaches us to be- lieve that tall specimen plants of Musas will soon be discarded for this work, except for the most sheltered of positions, as, no matter how handsome they may be when put out, the first good gale of wind that comes rends their leaves into shreds, and transforms them like magic from objects of beauty frame. I e.vceeJingly effective. At the termination of this 1 into something like monuments of unsightliness ; not so, upon a group of beds in which however, those specimens which range to the height of only are used, which again termi- 3 or 4 feet — they to a great extent escape the 1 DI.\ CARAC.\SSANA. !-* From this point to the Mount Street Gate the style series of planting is altered, to afford variety. The whole of fine-foliage pi the beds on the right are edged with a bold outer line nates at the South Street Gate. The edgings of the Golden Feather Pyrethrum, and an inner one of beds— five in number— are alike either blue Lobelia or Purple King Verben; The Echeveria secimda gla then best of these are filled in with Pelargoniums, Chieftain, j Feather Pyrethrum^ and an inner one of Ce scarlet, good ; Rev. J. Dix, scarlet, first-rate ; Culford j candidissima, the centre and two outer beds being Rose, also first-rate ; Model, dwarf and good ; Duchess filled in with Coleus Verschaffeltii, and the inter- of Sutherland, very fine ; and Madame Rudersdorff, mediate ones with Abutilon Thomsoni, carpeted with salmon-pink, also a good bedder. Pelargonium Forget- I Coleus nigricans. The Abutilon, owing to the late- me-not, pink, it is to be hoped, will soon be forgotten ; j ness of the season, has hardly got up enough to bring its flowers are small, only two or three on a truss being out its full effect, though they are pretty enough to open at a time, and altogether it has a very poor appear- ; please fastidious people in their present condition, ance. It is not deserving of such a prominent position | We have yet another change, and this interesting as it has here. In the strip nearest to Park Lane is a i series is brought to an end at the Stanhope Gate, the mixed l3ed, which, on account of its chaste appearance, I pretty little lodiies of which are covered with the and the unique character and pical v.iricly of the- planis ' Vin.ini.nn ncr-prV, iiii,l nm,ini;;st which Clem.atis Jack- employed, is very much .i< Inn. ■ I III ,, : I. ,.| ,;:,il! ,,, ,1;,, ,,! : I;. ,, 11,1 1 > >, I iKill its bcauty. Tliclong groups and smgle specimen ,-.:- , , r. , |,,,, , , ,,i , , -roup have on the left an of Solanum margniatum, 1' ,. n I ,„ , 1 , , ,: iLiiK-nlc-uin, and , in inner Panicum sulcatum, Traik-iinui .n.ol,,,, .nni ( , 1,- lim- "[ iln ( m,M, h I , r I,. 1 ryretlirum, whilst those on taurea candidissima, carpeted undeine-atli, to lhr,)w up ' the right have an outer edging of Dactylis glomerata the above, with such plants as Altemanthera magnifica, I variegata alternating with blue Lobelia, and an A. versicolor, Iresine Lindeni, and Mesembryanthemum ' inner line of Iresine Lindeni. In the first named will cordifolium variegatum, one of the very best plants of | be found distinct masses of most of the best of the its kind of recent introduction, and one which is I bedding Pelargoniums, as Lord Palmerston, Mrs. destined to become as useful and as common as the I Laing, Lucius, Amy Hogg, Waltham Seedling, &c. ; Golden Feather Pyrethmm, and which for forming ! and the latter are composed of silver-edged Pelargo- ' ings in steep or unlevel places it will entirely super- 1 niums mixed with Purple King Verbenas, the alternate to tncsc I lent gusts oi wind, and carry a noble appearance t row of j out the season. For the most exposed position in the Golden j subtropical garde: sede. It ago by M but thanks for I being filled in with cross lines of Pelargonium Culford Rose, the long sides of Mrs. Pollock, and the legant plant than Seaforthia elegans, the pinnate leaves of which stand the wind in the most satisfactory manner. Indeed, at the present time no Palms have come through this precarious season so well, or look better, than Seaforthias, Latanias, and Phoenix ; the stiff wiry habit of the latter genus renders them mvaluable, so well does it enable them to withstand the effects of wind-storms. Jotting down the names of such plants as we found here doing excellent service, we have the Monstera deliciosa, Strelitzia Nicolai, Seaforthia robusta, Phcenix reclinata and P. dactylifera, and Aralia reticulata. These are all well adapted for standing about singly. Mr. Gibson says that, when so treated, their only requirements are to be plunged m their pots on a well-prepared bed of rubble to secure good drainage, and to be carefully attended to in the matter of watering. In the kept grounds, on the north side of Rotten Row, some of the largest and most striking beds are to be seen, princip.ally large masses of Ficus, Solanums, Cannas, Wigandia caracassana (fig. 269), Paulownias, Ferdi- nandas, Aralias, &c., all edged with the most suitable plants for contrasting, and doing well. In concluding our notice of the floral decorations in this Park we have only to say that the beddmg-out at " the Temple," the Sunday resort of the well dressed multitudes, is this' September 9, 1871.] The Gardenefs' Chronicle and Ag^ricultural Gazette. [171 year as attractive a5 ever ; and that, thanks to the worthy and estimable superintendent, the lodges at the principal gates have received a touch from the master-hand in tlie shape ol a suitable amount of much needed floral embellishment. In the obituary of the week we regret to have to record the death, at a comparatively early age, of Dr. Hyde Salter, F.R.S., physician to Charmg Cross Hospital, and well known in scientific circles for his extensive attainments in physiological science. Dr. Salter early gained a prominent place as a physiologist and anatomist at King's College, and subsequently, as a practising physician, more than maintained his reputation. As a teacher, he was always ready to render aid and counsel where science was in question ; as a kind, earnest friend, he was no less helpful, so that his loss will be severely felt, even beyond the limits of his immediate friends and THE WEATHER. TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR AND FALL OF RAIN . DIFFERENT STA TIONS, During the Week ending Saturday, Sept 2, 1871. Portsmouth Blackheath JJ'eX' NottineSan Sheffierd MMSestei Glasgow Duntiee.. Aberdeen Greenock Temperature c DeK 61.8 and"^s"e¥, 3.. Thi I. Fri 3. Sunday. 4 Monday k VVednci WeiEht ( Temperature of the Air. August 31.— Very fine. The clouds graduaHy cleared off as the day advanced. afternoon. Lightr aics^t! Jt!"hcnyou'd'less.°''ve'ry fine day. ing. Generally cloudy throughout, if lightning in the evening. Rain "'^ ' JAMES GLAISHER. Miscellaneous. Netiles for Food.— One of the most neglected, and certainly one of the most common of our British plants, is the Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) ; three species are known in this country, but the one men- tioned is, perhaps, the most common. Many country people believe in Nettle-tea as a useful spring medicine, and not a few boil and eat them as a green vegetable ; they were, in former times, grown in Scotland as a pot- herb, and if forced and blanched by earthing up in a ■ "ir manner to Asparagus and Seakale, the young make a very good dish. In Belgium, Germany, other parts of Continental Europe, Nettles are much more generally used as food than they are with . Food Journal. Cricket.— A match was played at Battersea Park I Thursday, August 10, between two elevens chosen from the nursery establishments of Mr. Wm. Bull and "■ J. W. Wimsett, Chelsea, when the latter were by one innings and 66 runs. #arb€n #p£rali0ixs. (FOR THE ENSUING WEEK.) PLANT HOUSES. As we have to some extent entered upon the a period, it will become necessary to husband our to the utmost in the ma"tter of providing flowers for an early future. Vallotas which are late in showmg for flower may be placed in a cool, shady situation out-of- doors, so as to retard them to the utmost. The earliest Primulas and Cinerarias should be encouraged to form good heads of bloom by liberal exposure to the sun. Many of the beautiful Amaryllis may also be pushed along by placing a batch into a rather close and warm atmosphere. Ixia conica and I. flexuosa, too, may, where planted at a proper time, be brought in very usefully for flowering in October and November. These and many other like plants help materially to brighten up Chrysanthemums, as well as to extend the dis- play. Every possible assistance should now be rendered to Poinseltias, to enable them to perfect a strong luxuri- ant growth. This must be done by frequent applica- tions of liquid manure to the roots and by surface sprinklings overhead, which they enjoy very greatly and turn to good account. It is not advisable to shift Poinsettias after this period, except in the case of late- struok cuttings, which may receive a very sinall shift. Chrysanthemums must now receive unremitting atten- tion in regard to protecting them from earwigs, which do much mischief to the tender young shoots and flower-buds. The only safe way to get rid of the pests is to trap them in flower-pots containing dry Moss, or, what is better still, with old Broad Bean stalks cut into lengths and stuck about amongst the foliage. Zonal Pelargoniums should now be encouraged to grow freely in all instances where they are required for conservatory decoration late in the season, by giving them weak manure water and by sprinkling them overhead morning and afternoon Keep them fully exposed to the sun, and encourage well ripened wood to form. Lachenalias should now be transferred to a moderately exposed position out-of- doors, where a strong sturdy growth can be made. Cyclamens which have been grown on quickly from seedlings in bottom-heat, may now, if they are early and flowers are forming freely, be kept somewhat cooler and more airy. This will tend to increase the strength and general vigour of the blooms, as well as heighten their colour. Do not delay the removal of all kinds of Orchids, such as Ve?tdrobiums, Epiden- drums, Cattleyas, &c., which have finished their growth, into a cooler, more airy and sunny house, where they will perfect their pseudobulbs more quickly and better. Such Orchids as are still growing freely should be hurried on as quickly as circumstances will permit. I refer to such plants as Sobralias, Huntleyas, &c. , which have not yet completed their season's growth. Indian Azaleas and Camellias, such as are required in bloom very early and which have perfected their flower-buds out-of-doors, may now be removed into any cool struc- ture having a sunny aspect. Push forward the pottmg of late Cafe Pelargoniums that a strong healthy young growth be assured before the adverse winter weather sets in. Make a strong effort now to destroy cvci-y kind of insect pest which may exist in any stiycture. A determined effort made at this time will be the is of destroying many, and will prevent much uneasiness and cause for dissatisfaction at a late date. FORCING HOUSES. Most late Vineries should now have the assistance of a little fire-heat, not only to ripen the fruit, but also to insure the wood being thoroughly matured, without which no lasting success can be expected. Let the sashes be placed upon Peach and Nectarine houses in- tended for the earliest forcing, to ward off the autumn rains. See that there is no red spider upon any of the trees. It is not enough to surmise that ■ the trees, having perfected their growth, will be safe from such injury. The beds containing Cucumber and Melon plants must, now that the cold nights increase m length, have additional assistance in the form of an occasional renewal of the linings. Though artificial aid is thus desirable, do not dispense with the giving of air freely at all proper times. HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. Owing to the peculiarity of the present season, many hardy fruit trees. Apples, Pears, Sec, will exhibit an unusual tendency to grow. Even those carrying good crops of fruit, which are few and far between this season, exhibit like symptoms. It will be neces- sary to pinch these young growths back determinedly as they continue to push, and 50 endeavour to centre fhX': the tree's whole effort in the production of flower-buds. Such fruit as are good ought to be watched regularly, so as to pick them at the earliest possible moment, so scarce is good fruit likely to be this season. I observe that some kinds of Pear trees are suffering greatly for want of root moisture, notably so the variety named Dr. Nells. It wiU be desirable, therefore, to water young trees showing such signs, especially if they have a crop of fruit which is swelling off indifferently. All les and Pears, when gathered, should be placed on airy room, where they will finish the ripening process. It is not at all advisable to let any kinds remain until they are what is called ' ' dead ripe ; " they do not keep any better, and only afford a greater temptation to insects. Especially should such early Pears as Jargonelle, Beurre d'Amanlis, Louise Bonne of Jersey— the two latter being very fine in this neigh- bourhood this season— be picked somewhat by antici- pation, not only because of the facts above stated, but because they suffer greatly by dispersion from the branches during wind storms, which may prevail at any moment ; so also does Fondante d'Automne, a somewhat later sort. HARDY FLOIVER GARDEN. Should the present dry weather continue, it will be necessary to give more frequent root waterings to Tritmnas, Pampas-grass, Cannas, and large foliage plants in particular. Prick out seedling Perennials into neat nursery beds, where they can stand the winter through. Immediately another rainy period comes round it will be necessary to transplant into their per- manent winter quarters any Perennial Plants which have been struck from cuttmgs, such as Crimson Thrift, &c. These make very beautiful edgings, and should be more extensively grown. Summer flower-beds will now require a larger share of attention than usual in picking off the dead leaves, removing decaying seedy blossoms, and shortening neatly any gross shoots winch attain to too great an altitude above their fellows. Proceed vigorously with propagation, as every week counts for much between now and winter, at the earUest advent of which most kinds should have formed roots, and become tolerably well established. Imme- diately the tenderer kinds have made sufficient roots, let them be fuUy exposed to the full sun and au". KITCHEN GARDEN. The water-pot will have become the vegetable grower's chief tool during the last week or two, and it must continue to be so if we have not a change soon. Especially wUl this be needful in connection with salads of all sorts, and more especially Radishes, Lettuce, &c. In connection with Peas, late Cauliflowers, and the like, do not be constantly slopping about, but rather give a good watermg about twice a week. Attend to the hoeing over of the surface of all artificially watered soil as soon as it gets dry enough to work upon. This tends to retain the moisture by breaking up the surface and neutralising the excessive action of the sun's rays. Further sowings should be made of Radishes, Golden or Australian Cress, Lamb's Lettuce, and Onions, to use young for future winter salads. Take up and harvest Onions of the main summer crops, preparing the beds subsequently for winter Cabbages to stand for spring use. Collect a further supply of the necessary materials for successional Mushroom beds, bearing in mind that these materials must be so dried as to pre- clude any possibility of becoming excessively heated in process of fermentation. W. E. Notices to Correspondents. Ants ; Q. V. writes for a remedy for black ants in sandy soil. Watson's sand for destroying Daisies in lawns is adv :ised i Arbor-vit.e : E. J. P. We should be inclined to refer the withering of the ends of the branches in question to electricity. Perhaps our correspondent may remember whether there was any ereat thunderstorm on the day when the damage was done ; there certainly was about that time in others parts of England, Australian Pea : Messrs. Kennedy of Dumfries send us samples of this Pea, which seems a good late cropper, ■ ■ nuous bearer. The Peas are when cooked olour and flavour, considering the season. ; studded with curious cellular excrescences Black Bryony (Tamus communis) : W. E. The point of the leaf has apparently been injured at a very early stage of growth, hence the deformity. Books: Paul Edu'jrds. Hoopes' ■' Book of Evergreens, an American book, to be had of Triibner & Co. , will perhaps answer your purpose ; or, Grigor's ' ' Arbori- culture" (Edmonston & Douglas). CAULIFLOWER EXCKF.SCENCE OF PELARGONIUM : R. P. A swelling or hypertrophy of the tissues, accompanied with the production of a number of adventitious buds, is not a very unusual occurrence. A case of the kind was figured in our columns, p. 725, 1855. Drac^nas : W. G. By a specimen of such plants as the Dracaena is meant a single plant originating from a single stem— not two or three plants put into one pot, which would be a fair reason for disqualification. A plant with suckers is altogether different. Dwarf Bo.\ : j. IV. B. We never heard of this pro- ducing flowers. Inquhe of Charlwood & Cummuis, Covent Garden. The Alpine Strawberry should be procured from any respectable firm. Fruitgrowing; Hampshire. A letter addressed to the gardener, C. Beard, Esq., Bury St. Edmund's, would probably secure the information you require. II72 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 9, 1871 Gkapes : S. A. H. F. Your Grapes and Vines are literally eaten up with thrip. The leaves you sent were swarming with the insects ; we scarcely ever saw a worse case. It is all produced by mismanagement and neglect, and it will be years before your Vines recover. As your Grapes of this season are worthless, cut them off and throw them away at once, as well as all the worst of the leaves, then fumigate with strong tobacco and syringe copiously and repeatedly every leaf and stem, and. indeed, every part of the house ; at the same time you will have to give abundance of air, so as to ripen the wood thoroughly. When the Vines are at rest, paint the stems with a good coating of soft soap, soot, and sulphur, andclean the house thoroughly. If even only air and more water had been given— :. c, had a more genial atmosphere been maintained— your Vines would not have been as they are now. Greenhouse Plants : R. S. Jones. It is very doubt- ful if any of the plants named would succeed in a greenhouse, even though it were kept "warm." Some of theni might live on if kept dry, close, and at rest in winter, but their life would be but a lingering death at the best. Goat Moth : Several correspondents have this week sent specimens of this destructive pest, an illustration llarluls. COVEN T GARDEN.— Sept. 8. Business here is very quiet, though there is a very fair demand for good fruit and vegetables. Peaches and Nectarines are more plentiful, and of better quality. We are receiving large consignments of foreign produce, but of home-grown goods the supply is about equal to the demand. In the Potato market we have no alteration to Apples, per J < Apricots, per d' Grapes, per lb. Lemons, per loc Cucumbers, each ..09 French Beans, p. lb. o 4 Herbs, per bunch ..02 Potatos (good sample: Nectarines, per di Oranges, per 100 Peaches, per doz. Pears, per dozen Pine-apples, per I Radishes, per bunch 02 — .. Shallots, per lb. ..08—.. Spinach, perbushel 26 — 30 Turnips, p. bunch. . 04 — 06 Round, 55. to 6s. ; Kidneys, . per cwt. Enfield Burial Board. To LANDSCAPE GARDhNEKS, NURSERYMEN, and OTHERS. tHE BURIAL BOARD of this PARISH OFFER 1 PREMIUM of TEN POUNDS for the best or approved PLAN id Planting the Ornamental Portions of the , Enfield, at a cost not exceeding ^^300 Inot , Forming, and Plantini , Plan c iCon. , 32. City Uy Oi : Office < Road, E.C. ■derof the Board. JOHN FURDEY, Clerk. of which we reproduce from a former volume. They may be destroyed by blowing tobacco smoke up the holes in the trees,— that is, if you blow hard enough ! Mushrooms : H. Y. Any sulphurous gas which would prove injurious to plants in general, should not be en- couraged in your Mushroom-house. The only thing we advise is a little more ventilation at the top, as in other respects your house appears to be a fitting one for the purpose — all other conditions being equal. Names of Fruit : J. C, Bromley. Your Fig was quite rotten when received. It is impossible to say what it is. Names of Plants : J. E. Hydrangea quercifoHa, a fine old neglected plant, and we should think well adapted for a (rellis against the house, such as you describe ; the large panicles of white flowers are \ery beauti- ful, as are those of H. paniculata grandiflora. — ^V. C. You have made some mistake, the plant enclosed is a Pinus of some kind, not a Spiraea. — F. Stokes. One of the varieties of the African Marigold, Tagetes erecta.— y. C, Br0mlcy. The Gesnera is one of the varieties of the G. zebrina type, of which there are too many garden forms to admit of their being recognised in the cut state. The Begonia not recognised without flowers. — A. \V. Daucus Carota. wild Carrot. One of the tificial basis. Rather procure good stiff loam, and with the addition of a moderate amount of good manure form your border thoroughly throughout. Peaches like stiff loam, but clay would act adversely during wet summers and in winter. The Keeping of a Garden : G. S. Given the extent of a garden, how much labour is required to keep it ? The question here put to us is extremely difficult to answer, so much depends upon style. One garden of two acres may require just double the labour that another of the same size may do, and still not look or even be much better. As a general rule, the market gardeners reckon upon one man to every acre of land. You would thus require three men to keep your kitchen garden of 3 acres, with the fruit trees, &c. They ought, however, to keep it well, and keep up a thorough good supply of vegetables all the year round. We would, therefore, consider three men, with the working head gardener and a boy, about the proper staff to keep your place. Catalogues Received : Hooper & Co., General Cat; logue of Dutch, Cape, and otKer Flowering Bulbs.- James Carter & Co., Catalogue of Flower Roots, Fni Trees, and Roses.— Dicksons & Co., Descriptive Cata- logue of Dutch Flower Roots, New Pansies, Violas, Fuchsias, itc— Robert Parker. Catalogue of Bulbous Roots, Fruit Trees, and Miscellaneous Plants. — Thomas Sampson. Catalogue of Bulbous Flower Roots.— Barr & Sugden's Autumnal Descriptive Catalogue of Bulbs and Plants, for Winter. Spring, and Summer Flower- ing.—Charles H. Dickson, Autumn Catalogue of Choice Dutch Flower Roots.— Thomas Sampson, A List of Bulbous Flower Roots.— Butler. McCulloch & Co, Autumn Catalogue of Dutch and Cape Bulbs. — E. F Francis & Co., Descriptive Catalogue of Roses. WANTED, a HEAD GARDENER, at the country residence of a Gentleman in New England, U.S., ' January i, 1872, who can give the most undoubted as to honesty and integrity of character, to sobriety who is thoroughly experienced in the care of all Greenhouse Plants. There are five Glasshouses, extensive, and the situation a very desirable one. Wages /20 per calendar month, with a house rent free, and vegetables. Application, by letter, givmg references and full particulars, may be JOHN T. McARTHUR, 24, St. Vincent Place, Glasgow w„' ,,„,„„ „„,„ ; as FOREMAN, w ANTED, as NURSERY FOREMAN, in a count: Nursery, a good general Man, well up in Fruits, Roses, ai knowledge of the other Stock generallymet with in a go< ry. Above all, he must know how to do his work, and to lal WANTED, a General NURSERY FOREMAN.- Must be well up to the business in all its branches, especially indoor, and have a thorough knowledge of the value of Plants. Good iddrcss indispensable. None need apply whose character will not beai :he strictest investigation for honesty, industry-, and sobriety.— Apply III own handwriting, stating age, wages expected, whether married 01 single, and whereat present or last employed, to JOHN Wellington Nursery, Heaton Chapel, Stockport. Wl ANTED, a GARDENER, without family, and of middle age preferred; the Wife to take the Laundrj'. Oi accustomed to an Orchard-house A good cottage found. A cow kept. A good character for steadiness afid sobriety indispensable. Mr. W. THORNTON, Old Bank, Reigate. / 1 ARDENER (Head).— Age 30, married, two chi v_T dren ; thorougly understands all classes of Plants, Forcing, £ Seven years in last place— J. NICHOLLS. Sunninghill. Bt:rks. GARDENER (Head).— Age 26 ; practical. Under- stands all branches. Eight years' good character.— A. B. C-, 155, London Road, Leicester. GARDENER (Head).— Age 29; ur Pines, Early and Late Forcing, and Layi Plantations. Fifteen years' experience.— Addr , Bishopstoke, Hants. understands Vines, Gardens and iting wages. married ; experi- G ARDENER (Head).— Age 31. enced. Has served 16 years in Noblemen's and Gentlemen' Gardens. Good references.— E. WEST, Gardener, Pentrcheylii Hall, Llanymynech, Oiwp^trv. GARDENER (Head).— Age 30, married, no i brance ; thoroughly understands Early and Late Forcing Pines, Cucumbers, Kitchen Gardening, &c. Excellent char ington Place, Chandos £ GARDENER (Head) Blacuere wishes to married, one child.— Lady de To Noblemen and Gentlemen. /^ARDENER (Head). ^Middle-aged, married, t^se umbrance : fully understands ei i?,s'ctai;^= /i ARDENER (Head), to any Lady or Gentleman vX requiring the services of a thorough practical Gardener.- Has Late Forcing, also the cultiv experience in Early nd Greenhouse Plai — „.ily recommended. . — _ , - 1 Street, Edgware Road, London, N.W, and "Greenhouse Plants, Kitchen and Floi ighly recommended. Nine yea Dorking, Surrey. : kept.— Mr. George Wheeler, The r good Single-handed). ids the Management of Vines, and^ Kitchen Gardening, &c.— /":j_ARDENER (Single-handed, or Second), where house Plants, Vines, Melons, Cucuinbers, and Flower and Kitchen Gardening, Two years' good character.— T. J., The Gardens, Birslall Hall, near Leicester. G ARDENER (Second), in a Nobleman's or Gentle- man's Garden.— Age 24, steady ; " ' " ' ' ■ ' ■experience both — '-- '^' ■ Gfass preferred. Glass and in the Garden- Principally General Post Office. Noi GARDENER (Under), age 19.— A Gentleman wishes to recommend a young Man, to whom he can give a good Dalston, N.E ' '_^ \ GARDENER (Under), in a good Establishment.— Age 23 ; accustomed to the principal work of a Gentleman's GARDENER and BAILIFF.— A Lady wishes to recommend a married couple— Man as above, Wife to take charge of Dairy and Poultry'. No children ; ages, both 40; very respectable and a t Office, Westerhan- ANDSCAPE FOREMAN, where first-class work is Gardening.— B. Z. M., Clark's Lib Modern Landscape and General WANTED, in a short time, a GARDENER— e _ Plantsman, to Manage a small Vinery, smalt Conservatory, and a large Greenhouse. No Kitchen or Flowc PAGE, Nottingham. , or Flower Garden. Wages WANTED, in a Nursery, an energetic MAN. for the Houses. Must be well acquainted with Potting, Growing, and Tying Plants, and handy at Packing. None need apply who are r and honest — Appl; Lvages required, P. C, Post WANTED, a good PROPAGATOR of Soft-wooded Stuff, Florist Flowers, Roses, and general Outdoor Stock. Good references as to ability and sobriety indispensable —Apply, Slating age and wages wanted, to WM. CLIBRAN and SON, w To tlie Seed Trade. \NTED, a WAREHOUSEMAN, an 'ASSISTANT, andaCLERK.-One of the largest establish. ole of the execution o 1 despatch. He may h )rovement. Als6aCLERK. He must bean expert penr t in accounts. A knowledge of the seed trade indispens; and abilities of each must bear strict invesligatio with full particulars, where employed, age, and wages to D. V. T , Messrs. Hurst " ' ' ' -----'■ .o'ndon, E.C. , 6, Lcadenhall Strt WANT PLACES.-Letters to be Post Paid. E= Gentlemen.— Further particulars given on application to Me; HENDERSON and SON, Wellington Nursery, St. John's W^ ARDENER (Head), in a large establishment, where -G. SCOTT, Royal Horticultural Garden To Noblemen and Gentlemen. /^ARDENER (Head!.— Age 39, married, no family. Rearer of Flow tianches. Most . ; very active and Nurserymen and FOREMAN, in a Nobleman's or Gentleman's Establishment.- Age26; thoroughly experienced i 'even years' experience in good establish -G. J., 47, James Street, Oxferd Street, W.( >ROPAGATOR, or FOREMAN and PROPAGATOR (General).— Age 30, married. Good references.- T. S., The irseries, Blisworth, Northampton. ESTATE AGENT, orSTEWARDand GARDENER. —Age 39; now leaving a situation where he has Managed with success a Home Farm of 500 Acres, large Gardens, Timljer and Plantations, and the general Repairs of a considerable landed Estate. Is a first-class Accountant, Correspondent, &c. References to present employer —J. H. DENNIS, White Horse Hotel, Guildford. To Noblemen and Gentlemen. STEWARD or BAILIFF.— The Advertiser, having s of a Proprietor. Twel To Noblemen and Gentlemen. FARM BAILIFF, or ESTATE MANAGER.- Agc 3g, Scotch ; good practical experience.- R. W., Mr. Taylc , Lower Norwood, S.E. To the Seed Trade. TRAVELLER.— Age 37; highest references. —J. P., Gardeners' Chroniete Office, W.C. riTRAVELLER or FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT. X —Well acquainted with the English, German and French Seed Trade, and speaks and writes these languages fluently. Has already travelled successfully on the Continent for the Seed Trade. Unex- ceptionable references.-P. W. Y., 28, Fenelow Road, Warwick Road, Kensington, W. CONFIDENTIAL CLERK, or MANAGER and SALESMAN.— Good knowledjge of the Nursery and Seed Busi- Manv years' experience in first-class establishments. Unex- BOOK-KEEPER, and would like l in the Shop— Age 21; five years' txpc Sutton & Sons, Reading. Highest references.— reman, or to Manage Country Shop or Branch.— Marrie /experience in the Trade. Highest testimonials —T. W. i . Thos, Gibbs & Co, comer of Half-moon Street, Piccadilly, 1 September 9, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ao^ri cultural Gazette. 1 173 RAYNBIRD, CALUECOTT, BAWTREE, BOWLING AND COMPANY (Limited), Corn, Sefd, Manure, and Oilcake Merchants. Address, 26, Seed Market. Mark Lane, E.G. : or Basingstoke. Samples and prices post free on application. Pnze Medals, 1851 for Wheat: 1862, for " ExcellentSeed Corn and Seeds." MR. TAMES ERASER (of the I. & J. Fraser, Lea Bridge Road), undcrtal TURAL VALUATIONS of every descripti. AUCTION, &c._Maylands Farm, Romford, Essex TTALIAN ALP or LIGURIAN QUEEN BEES.- X The autumn importations of these beautiful Bees having now commenced, Geo. Neighbour & Sons are offering QUEENS, warranted bred and fertilised in Italy, at the lollowing low prices:— One Queen, 121. : three. 331. : six, 6oj. GEO. NEIGHBOUR and SONS, 149, Regent Street, W. ; or 127, High Holborn, London, W.C. animals, price i^ guineas each. If not appro \VM. ATTRILL, Herdsman to \V. A. TO B and : SOLD, the 3USINE SEEDSMAN C. E., To be Sold Cheap, ancT part of pure , Milford Place, Vassall Road, Brixton, S.W. Joynlng's Nursery, Enfield Highway. 11 0 BE LET, with Possession, the above OLD JL ESTABLISHED NURSERY, in consequence of the death of the late proprietor. It comprises about 9 Acres of General Nursery- Stock and 3 Acres of Orchard Land, Dwelling House, Cottage and Seed Shop, Greenhouses. Pits, Stabling, and Sheds. Forfulfparticulars apply to Messrs. PROTHEROE AND MORRIS, , Lcy.t me, E. SALES BY AUCTION. M Orolilds. R. J. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 38, King Street, Covent Garden, W.C, on iDAY, September 12, at half-past 12 o'clock precisely, estab- ORCHIDS, rare varieties, in good condition; and several M' HlglUy Important Sale : CELEBRATED COLLECTION of ORCHIDS formed by S. RUCKER, Esq., at WANDSWORTH. . J. C. STEVENS has received instructions from & Sons, who have pu COLLECTION, to offer for SALE by AUCTION, at his Gr King Street. Covent Garden, W.C. on THURSDAY a " ' ■ ■ -' "Clock precisely e. t of Plants, amon. FRIDAY, Septctnber CYMBIDIUM EBURNEUM MASDEVALLIA TOVARENSE. finest plant in Ih DENDROEIUM WARDIANUM ,. FALCONERI SACCOLABIUM HOLDFORDII GUTTATUM DENDROCHILUM FILIFORME CATTLEYA EXONIENSIS DOWIANA LABIATA (autumn-flowering variety ODONTOGLOSSUM N/EVIUM MAIUS ALEXANDRAS ,, PULCHELLUM MAJUS PHALyENOPSIS GRANDIFLORA AMABILIS SCHILLERIANA, &c. All the Plants are in fine condition, and many ar On view the mornings of Sale, and Catalogues EPACRIS, CYCLAMENS, TREE CARNATIONS, MESSRS. PROTHEROE AND MORRIS instructed by Mr. John Fraser to SELL by J Premises. The Nursery, Le- "--* — " — J • THURSDAY and FRIDAY, ridge Road, Leyton, Esse: SlATfrs' each day, without 1 on the Premrses,t^5 o7t^e°Au?tion«r"an Essex. E. N.B.— Intending purchasers are respectful HOUSE PLANTS, rare ORCHIDS, choice FERNS. PALMS. Sic. MESSRS. PROTHEROE AND MORRIS instructed by Mr. R. Parker to SELL bv AUCTION, will reserve, on the Premises. Exouc Nursen'," Tooling. Surrey. TUESDAY. September 26. at u for r> o'Clock precisely, thouH of extra stock of STOVE and GREENHOUSE PLANTS, the w; of which are in a very healthy anti thriving condition, comprii quantities of Ananassa saliva variegata, Anthurium Scherzeriani splendid variety ; Greenhouse Rhodoi and Azalea indica, and numerous , choice ORCHIDS, including Vanda ilum, Ficus, Epinhyllums, iri ndtons, choice double Camellias tiers. Also a large quantity of La:liaprestans(l Thunia Eensoni ise and stove I SUCCULENT PLANTS, hardy HERBACEOUS :e TULIPS, &c. d the day prior to the Sale. Cat-ilogues may i, and of the Auctioneers and Valuers, Lcytoi M 4000 Araucarla Imbncata. To GENTLEMEN, NURSERYMEN, and OTHERS HILLFIELDS. BURGHFIELD. near READING. ESSRS. HASLAM and SON have received ii J. E. GarUnd. Esq.. to SELL by a Field adjoining the Gardens of Hill K sold without the slightest r and Cataio , Reading. t the Office of the ind GREENH ^ERY STOCK of the Horticultura SEPTEMBER ir, and following days. Catalogues may be had on applicati DISPOSED OF on Re Mr. E. Glendlnnlng, Deceased. PRELIMINARY NOTICE of ABSOLUTE S, To NURSERYMEN; FLORISTS, and OTHERS. High Road, Turnham Green, neariy opposite the Duke ;vonshire House, the pre; Wales, near the Toll Gate, and known as Chiswick Nursery, and The Nursery, Chiswick Lane, Chiswick. I. J. A. SMITH is instructed by the Executrix to SELL by PUBLIC AUCTION, at the Roebuck Inn, close to Toll Gate, on TUESDAY, October 10, at 3 for 4 o'Clock precisely. TWO LOTS, the valuable LEASES. GOODWILL. &c., of the portant Business and Residential Property, established nearly M^ le Home Nursery at ^184, rlet ; Chiswick Lane at £qo, .U rentlU f>^^f^y^-J"'^f^f :tk>n Offiles' s¥, KhigSre'e" ■nd each held at very 1 rottage und ■ to tlie Hii Chiswick La East, Hamn- Elvaston Nurseries, BorrowaslL TRELIMINARY NOTICE of a HIGHLY EXTENSIVE SALE of FIRST-CLASS NURSERY STOCK. MESSRS. POTT AND NEALE have received instructions from Messrs. Barron & Son to OFFER for SALE by AUCTION, on the Premises at Bo ' STOCK,' consisting of rare Conifers, E Shrubs, Golden Hollies and Yews, Roses, F OCTOBER NURSERY May October i Sunda: Brockton House, Eccleshall, StafibrdsUre. MR. JOHN THORNTON will SELL by AUCTION, without reserxe. on TUESDAY. September r2. at Brocktor of the " Peach TUossom " lor Place). " Georgiana." and oiher fashion- able tribes. The cows and heifers are in calf to Colonel Gunter's 8th Duke of York, and this celebrated young Bull will be offered at the Sale. Catalogues, with Pedigrees, may be had of Mr. BELL. Brockton House. Ecclcshall, or of JOHN THORNTON, 15, Langham Place, Extensive Sale of Pure-bred Shorthorns In Lincolnshire MR. JOHN THORNTON will SELL by AUCTION, without reserve, on THURSDAY, September 14, at Panton House, Wragby, Lincolnshire, t' ' ^ """" ' --■■-« SHORTHORNS, numbering : Septembc I HERDo PURE-BRED jished the Paul Catalogues, wit , Langham Plat of JOHN THORNTON; M Holly Bank, near Burton-upon-Trent. ESSRS. LYTHALL and CLARKE will SELL by AUCTION, on TUESDAY_ and _ WEDNESDA>^ : HERD of FIFTY HEAD of SHORTHORN CATTLE, s Barton and Walton Station, on the South Stafford- shire Railway. ORDER OF SALE. TUESDAY, September 12, the entire Flock of Shei WEDNESDAY. Set Poultry, Cheese, &c. , September 1 Tuesdays The Rams are < , Horses, Pigs, Luncheon on Wednesday a yCIot great scale, and very prolific. Among then to the carefully brea ones bclongine to the high price from Messrs. Beach. Baker, Byr The Dairy Stock arc remarkably well b, four crosses of pure blood. They arc of great size, rich colour, and gc The Young Stock are well worthy the at S^ropshires or Shorth°o"n He^rd°" As Mr^Wood % g the whole of the lots will be sold without the slight is seldom a better bred or more useful lot of Sh( For Catalogues, apply to the Auctioneers, : Birmingham. M Bingley Hall, Birmlngliani. IMPORTANT SALE of 1000 SHROPSHIRE SHEEP. ESSRS. LYTHALL and CLARKE will SELL by AUCTION, at Blngley Hall, Broad Street, Birmingham, on " ' 4, at ir o'clock punctually, 250 'ES and THEAV^S,thc property rs. Beach, Mr. Nock, Mr Vates, Show Sheep at SHROPSHIRE RAMS, and 7' of Lord Wenlock, Lord Sudeley, Mrs. Beach, ] and other most eminent Breeders, and includinj the Royal Agricultural Show at Wolverhamptoi ■ Catalogues, apply at the j MUcote, near Stratford-on-Avon. HIGHLY IMPORTANT SALE of the MILCOTE DOWN SHEEP. WHUTCHINGS has been honoured with instruc- • tions from the Executors of the late J. C, Adkins, Esq., to SELL by AUCTION, at Milcote, near Stratford-on-Avon, on WEDNESDAY, September n, at 2 o'clock prompt (Luncheon at 12), the whole of the celebrated FLOCK of MILCOTE DOWNS, com- prising 418 superb breeding Ewes and Theaves, 360 verj- superior Ewe and Wether Lambs, 22 grand symmetrical Shearling Rams, and 24 extraordinary Ram Lambs. The great celebrity of this Flock demands a few words as to its 1 Oxfordshire Downs : )r many years, blended occasiona Hampsnire Down blood, and ■ type of Down , and hardy lopment and sheep. With great siie, grand symi constitutions, the Milcote Downs ai weight of lean meat and of wool, and for their cai maturity. The rams will he brought forward in a natural ana uniorcca condition. The Auctioneer can, with great confidence, call attention to this Sale ; and can assure Flockmasters that an entire Flock of such high character is seldom offered to Unreserved Public Competition- Catalogues will be circulated in due course, and may be had of the Auctioneer, 28, Bridge Street, Stratford on-Avon. Trains stop at Milcote Station as under :— From Paddington, Oxford, Banburj', Leamington, Warwick, and Birmingham, 849 and 11.18. From Paddington, Oxford, Moreto.i, Evesham, and Worccatcr, ALTRINCHAM AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.— The TENTH ANNUAL SHOW will be held on THURSDAY, September 28, when FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS and SILVER CUPS will be offered in PRIZES for Horned Cattle. Horses, Sheep, Pigs, Dogs, Poultry, Roots, Grain, Cheese, Butter. Implements, &c. ENTRIES CLOSE SEPTEMBER 13. PRIZE LISTS, with FORMS of ENTRY, can be had on application to the Secretary, 28, Church Street, Altrincham. R. DAVENPORT. SMITHFIELD CLUB SHOW. AGRICULTURAL HALL, ISLINGTON, DECEMBER 4 to 8. IMPLEMENT DEPARTMENT. The LAST DAY for receiving APPLICATIONS for SPACE for IMPLEMENTS and MACHINERY, &c., is OCTOBER 2. Printed Forms of Application, with Rules and Regulations, may be obtained of Mr.- DAVID PULLEN, Assistant-Secretary, comer of Half-Moon Street, Piccadilly, London, W. All communications should bear outside the words " Smithfield Club." CATTLE.— Form A. For an OX or STEER (in any Class). „ B. For a COW or HEIFER (in any Class). „ C. For a BEAST in extra Stock. SHEEP. „ D. For a Pen of three WETHERS. „ E. For a Pen of three EWES. [Stock. „ F. For a SINGLE WETHER SHEEP in Extra PIGS. „ G. For a Pen ofthrce PIGS (in any Class). „ H. For a SINGLE PIG in Extra Stock. ENTRIES for LIVE STOCK CLOSE NOVEMBER i. Prize Lists, Forms of Certificates, and all information, may be obtained on application to Mr. DAVID PULLEN, Assistant-Secre- tary, at the Office of the Honorary Secretary, comer of Half-Moon Street, Piccadilly, London, W. N. B. All communications respecting the Sho\s- must be addressed to the Assistant-Secretary, as above, and should bear outside the words " Smithfield Club Show." SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1871. WE have found a mine of Wealth in good OLD Pastures, by ploughing them up and taking repeated crops of corn. It is Hke breaking up the prairie, or turning up the virgin soil of the forest ; the land is full of the raw material of crops, which costs so dear to buy in the form of manure, and which sells at such a high price when worked up into marketable produce. A certain amount of fertility arises from the decay of the old turf and its roots and fibres, but this is- only a shallow supply, which is soon e.\- hausted. We then fall back on the natural powers of the soil. How much available food does it contain? In other words, how many crops will it yield before it will require manures, solvents, tillages, and the usual round of opera- tions and treatment necessary for exhausted soils? Ploughing up old turf is a heresy ; and the answers to these questions will decide whether repentance is likely to follow. There is always a sacrifice in ploughing up old turf, because so good a pasture cannot be obtained again for several years, You sacrifice the time it takes for superior pasture grasses to establish themselves, and if the land contains only a shallow supply of the raw materials, so that you may expect to have to resort, in two or three years, to the accustomed routine in order to obtain a crop ; it must have been wrong to disturb the old turf ; but if you can rely on getting a succession of first-rate crops of corn, seeds, Potatos, &c., by merely ploughing and sowing, it is evident you have opened a mine of wealth. This discovery has been made on some of the most famous pastures in the countrj'- Plaistow Level, and other Thames-side marshes,* have yielded to tlie plough of late years, and the splendid pasturage of Romney Marsh has been attacked. A celebrated tourist, 100 years ago, observed " the vast flocks of sheep " in Romney Marsh, and remarked on the beef, " the largest in England," fed in that part of the country : but Leland, whose antiquated orthography we must modernise, says, " It is a marvellous rank ground for feeding cattle, by the reason that the grass groweth plentifully upon the ooze, some time cast up by the sea." liut even this is recent evidence compared to the antiquity of Romney Marsh. The Saxons called it tnerseware, and its in- habitants marsh-men. They, or some earlier improvers, fenced it from the sea and drained it ; and the conser\'ation of the sea-wall and of the dykes was provided for by local laws and obser- vances, termed " ancient and approved customs," so long ago as Henry III. It had its own ancient breed of sheep, which were, and are, able to withstand the humid air and such winter breath of old Neptune as would "melt" or "dissolve into dew" any other breed th.at clips 8 1b. of wool, and weighs 12 stones. The old breed, too, had acquired the habit of avoiding the ditches under circumstances that • See paje 339. 1 174 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Aericultural Gazette. [tjeptember 9, 1871. would result in felo dc se or accidental death in the case of any other sheep. One would suppose that the whole of this rich level of 44,000 acres— the ooze of the sea — would prove of similar and uniform agricultural value or quality. But this is not the case, and ad- joining fields differ so much tliat they may be worth ^80, ^100, or / 1 20 per acre respectively. These are actual values, for there are no fancy purchasers. It is found that the worst land is that which bears the mark of having been ploughed for thepurpose of crop growing some years since, and subsequently laid down again. So it would appear that a portion of the fee simple was exported in the crops. This is the view of present proprietors, who allow turf to be broken up only on condition of receiving an increased rent. Thirty shillings an acre is tlie annual addition usually charged for the privilege of breaking up the old turf and taking crops with- out restriction. As the sheep get no cake on the marsh, and no stock is kept to yield manure, except four horses for every 60 acres of ploughed land, and as a marsh farmer despises artificial manure, and disbelieves alike the nitrogen and the mineral theory, it is evident that the store of plant food contained in the " ooze of the sea " must be very great. The land must be tamed before it will bear corn, and a succession of such crops as Potatos, Mangel and other seeds, Carrots, &c., is taken before the usual course commences of — i. Turnip seed; 2, Wheat ; 3, Beans; 4, Wheat ; 5, Clover ; 6, Turnip seed or Wheat. The land has never yet tired of Wheat or any other crop ; it must, therefore, contain an inexhaustible supply of nitrogen as well as of mineral constituents, — unless, indeed, cultivated plants, like wild plants, are able to obtain sufficient ammoniacal food from the air when the soil contains an excess of their ash constituents. However this may be, we never knew a richer mine of agricultural wealth than Romney Marsh, and it will be un- fortunate for occupier and owner — who are often one and the same person— when the weakest link of its fertility fails, and they have to fall back on salts of ammonia and superphos- phate, like those of their countrymen who do not farm in what may truly be described as England Felix. That such a time will come is indicated by the mark left by the ancient ploughing. The system of non-restoration, though a present success, may be a future loss, but exhaustion is a very slow process. An excellent authority, it is true, informs us that the cropping in the Isle of Thanet has been too fast, and that corn has become less productive than it was 40 years ago in cases where it has received only the manure arising from a seven-course rotation. The marshes above Sandwich have undoubtedly been reduced from their former quality, but a little cake soon restores them ; and Romney Marsh 1800 years under grass has not yet failed. There is a wide difference, however, between the " ooze of the sea " and ordinary land, for while it seems impossible to injure the one it is very easy to do violence to the other ; and if we accept the authority of the common farm lease, there are several crops so exhausting that they ought never to be grown. Our usual rotations, so different from the above, prove that no inex- haustible wealth exists in the soil. If our readers can find a few acres of really fat turf-land they may perhaps safely plough it up, but we do not think the food supply is likely to be much in- creased by such discoveries. Romney Marsh itself is only a plot on the coast of Kent, and does not include atwentieth part of that productive county. One-half of Kent lies on chalk, far above the ooze, and, admitting there 'is something in site and subsoil, its character is imparted to it, a great measure, by the sheepfold and the de- spised " artificials." These are the aids on which we must rely, and the prosperity of agriculture and of the country requires that steps should be taken to increase the raw material of crops. A SHORT supply of English Wheat at Mark Lane on Monday was cleared off at ij". advance on the prices of that day se'nnight. Monday's prices obtained on Wednesday : trade steady. At the Metropolitan Cattle Market on Monday prices for beasts were lower, without effecting a clearance. Sheep made high rates, and calves a good price. Choice beasts, at Wednes- day's market, sold dearer than on Monday, and there was a further improvement in calves Trade in the Seed Market was quiet, owing chiefly to the want of Beet-Sugar Factory near Long Sutton. It appears tliat Mr. Arnold Baruchson, Mr. G. Martineau, and Mr. PI. Tate (sugar refiners of Liverpool and London), with other gentlemen, haw visited that district with a view of ascertaining its suitability for the purpose of establishing a Beetroot sugar factory. It is believed that the soil, water supply, facilities of transport, and labour supply, are adequate in every respect ; and occupiers have already promised (con- ditionally) very nearly the requisite acreage of roots. The crops will not altogether take the place of highly- manured Potatos and Mangels, but be an addi- tional source of profit to the grower ; and as the natural yield per acre is two-thirds the weight of Mangels under similar treatment, the return may be stated at about 20 tons (ranging from some- what less up to 25 tons or more) per acre, which the proposed company will purchase at 20j. per ton delivered at the works. The total cost of produc- tion, including rent, maybe stated at £lz per acre. Owners of land have signified their consent to the growing of the new crop, under proper limitations as to acreage, manuring, or consumption of the "pulp," which is equivalent to one-fifth of the crop in weight, but contains the major part of the constituents sup- plied from the soil. Mr. CLARKE accordingly endeavours, by a personal canvas to induce his neigh- bours to accept the proposal which these gentlemen have made, that ;£'5ooo out of the ^^30,000, or more, which will be needed as the capital of the company, shall be furnished by the growers of the locality, as some guarantee of continued local support, without which condition they could not prudently erect costly works and plant. The favourable promise of the desired investment appears from the fact that this pro- posal is guided by the commercial success of Mr. James Duncan's Beetroot sugar \ioxki at Lavenham, in Suffolk, now in their fourth year of operation. In a recently published letter, Mr. Duncan declares that after writing off 15 per cent, for \\'ear and tear of buildings, plant, tic, he made a nett profit last year of 15 percent., which would have been very much greater had he obtained a supply of roots equal to the capacity of his works ; and he further says, from his practical acquaintance with sugar factories, that profits of 20, 30, and even more per cent, are frequently realised. From various parts of the country we receive such reports concerning Cattle Diseases as to lead us to the conviction that these are now unusually rife. The J 'orkshire Post of the 29th ult. gives the following confirmatory evidence on the subject : — " If we have fortunately kept out the rinderpest, pleuro- pneumonia has done much mischief in this country, and in Ireland also. In France, rinderpest continues to com- mit ravages in the department of the Ardennes. It has just shown itself at Rivoli-lez-Givet, on the right bank of the Meuse. The Belgian frontier is infected for the whole length of this department as far as towards Longwy. Precautionary measures are thus more requisite than ever. The foot-and-mouth disease is the disease most prevalent •It the present time. Since the warm weather commenced it has from a few centres spread throughout the country. The cattle markets are now full of infected cattle, and in nearly every village and hamlet the complaint has made its appearance. In the grazing districts the reports are becoming appalling. Herds of animals nearly ready for the knife are now panting in pain, and wasting beef daily under the combined influence of the burning sun and the fever arising from the inflammatory suffering in the mouth and feet. To whatever cause this \'isitation of the disease is due, our own cattle traffic now unquestionably diffuses the infection daily over new areas. Severe restrictions against moving cattle from infected herds must, therefore, again be put in force, and farmers must not leave it to policemen to see the law carried into effect. They must inform the authorities of all infractions of regulations, and endeavour to bring fine and punishment upon those stupid, self-willed owners of stock who care nothing for their neighbours" interests, and bring, incautiously or igiiorantly, mfected cattle into fresh districts. In a lioble pasture, in which are annually fed upwards of roo head of cattle, the present occupier has now upwards of 30 animals down in the disease, and possibly the whole herd will go through the complaint. This national waste of food IS a gigantic and crying evil, aggravating to the con- suming public, but ruinous to the producing grazier. In the above case the disease originated from the careless but highly reprehensible conduct of an adjoining occupier, who brought a few fresh-bought animals into his pasture. Had he only suffered, his want of caution at this season of the year would have been properly punished, but unfor- tunately in this, as in most cases, ignorance not only injures its possessor, but others who are affected by its consequences. From every county the same reports come of a sudden and unaccountable increase of outbreaks of the disease. In Cheshire the cases are augmented a hundredfold in a fortnight. In Lancashire and Yorkshire the disease is spreading equally rapidly ; and in Cheshire and Derbyshire the centres of infection are nearly equally numerous. Now that the enemy has got in amongst us we must take care that it spreads no further, keep our fat stock in their own quarters till they go to the butcher, and put lean stock on a long quarantine in a separate and detached pasture. " At the Barnet Cattle Fair, during the past week, the usual immense gathering of farmers, graziers, and others interested in cattle, has taken place. Dealers have obtained advanced prices for all descriptions of store cattle, owing to the favourable prospects of the Turnip crops and the abundance of grass feed and straw fodder. Welsh black cattle met an eager demand, well-grown steers, at £,>) to ,^11 a head ; large promising ditto, ;^I3 to ;^I4. Scotch cattle for stalling made ^ 16 to ;^i8 ; ditto in forward condition, ^20 to £2-s ; Highland steers, /13 to ;^i6. Well- bred Devon steers realised /"le to ^18. Large Short- horn steers, £iy to ;^2i ; and large, weighty ditto, £2^. Promising Hereford store steers made ;^i6 to ;j2i, and heavy beasts £24. There was a large field of well-bred milch cows disposed of, and the London dairymen were large buyers. Large-framed Shorthom- bred cows in full milk made ;{^20 10^26 each ; second- rate ditto, ,,^16 to ^19 ; Durham, Ayrshire, and Alderney cows, £1$ to ^18 ; well-bred in-calf heifers, /■12 to ^ 14, and cows to calve down, ;£'io to £1^ ; Dutch milking cov/s, £ 14 to £16. The horse show is large, and the pony droves occupy a large section of Our Belfast correspondent writes, under date August 29, respecting the exaggerated rumours of disease in the Irish Potato Crop : — ' ' Rumours having been industriously circulated that the mysterious disease incidental to the growth of the Potato has broken out with all the vinilence of former years, and that the crop is almost a failure, I wish to state that I have reason to ijeheve, from personal observation, that the statements which have appeared are exaggerated, and that there is but faint warrant for existing fears. Certainly in the province of Ulster no signs of failure are apparent, and a good average yield may be expected. The season is well advanced, the tubers are maturing rapidly, and, so far, there is no such percentage of disease in the roots turned out as to justify any general alarm. In many districts, blackened and withered stalks are to be seen in the Potato fields ; but in no years, for the last quarter of a century, have there been wanting these indi- cations of something wrong. 'Misses,' and 'blights,' have always been seen in the Potato lands of Ireland ; and at one time they attracted but Utile notice ; but since the great failure, and the great famine which resulted from it, every withered stalk in a ' lazy-bed ' seems to strike terror into the farmer's mind, and every missed drill at once fills him with alarm of the dreaded disease. If people who happen to find blackened stalks and ugly appearances would have the patience and the prudence to examine the state of the tubers, they would, in all proba- biUty, find them sound in ninety-nine cases out of a hun- dred. No reasonable man need expect to turn out his whole root crop without finding some bad specimens. When it is known that the yield of Potatos is reported to be this year unusually large, that we have got almost over the month of August, it is but right to state that the ch.ances preponderate in favour of our having a fair average Potato crop in Ireland this season." " G. A. H." objects to our recommending Cabbage as a Snatch Crop, that it will not stand a severe winter. He states : " If you plant out Cabbages in November, the chances are that you lose three out of four." "G. A. H." is mistaken: thousands of acres of Cabbage are planted in the fields in November in the neighbourhood of Barking, in Essex, and they seldom suffer from frost, though the district is not particularly sheltered, and the varieties are the East Ham, or Enfield, Cabbages, which are early but not particularly hardy. The crop is in perfection in May and June. There are also Savoy Cabbages, which are far less liable to injury by frost when grown large than other sorts. In our notice of Mr. Rigden's sale. Lord NoR- bury's name, as that of one of the leading purchasers, was unfortunately mis-spelt. His lordship hired one of the highest priced rams at the sale. Ol/Ji LIVE STOCK. CATTLE. The Holly Bank cattle, which will be disposed of by Messrs. Lythall & Clarke on the I2th and 13th inst., comprise 36 Shorthorn dairy cattle, many of which are remarkably well-bred, having three or four crosses of pure blood. They are of great size, rich colour, and good milkers. The pure-bred Shorthorns consist of 1 2 animals, two of which are descendants of A>tmtlc by HorroX (11,591), two are descendants from Isabella by Accordion (5708), two are from Flmncehy Chilton (10,054); Zeal nth, a descendant of Zeal by Roman, forms an attraction ; lot 133 is Bonny Duke by 6th Grand Duke, and of the "Wild Eyes" tribe: and among the remainder we notice LORD Dorking by Earl of Barrington, and of the "Certainty" tribe, and Oxford Lad, also by Earl of Barrington, and out of bth Duchess of Oxford. Brailes House on the 21st, and Ellington, near Kimbolton, on the 28th inst. Such are the two important announcements which will now occupy the attention of Shorthorn breeders, after the excitement of the past week down in the North. The Brailes House event is the fourth biennial sale which Mr. Strafford has held there, and from the pedigrees m the catalogue we should expect the cattle to be fully equal to those shown on former occasions. America by Marmaduke, and her five daughters and descendants, constitute a group representing Acomb by Belvedere (1706). Clarence by Grand Sul- tan 2D (17,999), is the first of half-a-dozen of the " Craggs " tribe ; Lady Eiiiily 2d, lot 3, by 7TH Duke of York, and her son, Earl of Warwick- September 9, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1175 SHIKE by iSth Duke of Oxford, are good of Bates upon Knightley ; the four representatives of Countess of Barriugton by 3D DuKE OF Gloucester need no recommendation, and the same may be said of the Furbelow, Cathleen, Pintail, Walnut, Foggathorpe, and Annette heifers and bulls, all of Knightley origin, which will be offered. Darlington \2lh by Duke of Geneva, Woman in Red, of the "Blanche" tribe, and Lord of the Border by iSth Duke of Oxford, and of the " Fillet" tribe, will be among the other attractions. Mr. Ladds' sale takes place on Thursday, the 28th. The principal features of the catalogue are a large assortment of Red Duchesses, and numbers of the Farewell, Verbena, "J," Flirt, and Picotee tribes. For many years Bates sires have been used, such as Cambridge Barrington ist (14,223) by Duke of Cambridge (12,742), out of Lady Barrington St/i, a winner at the Royal Society's meeting at Lincoln in 1854; Duke of Cambridge (15,919), of the "Cam- bridge Rose" tribe, now so fashionable ; the Barrington bull Sir Joseph Banks (20,836), by the renowned the 7TH Duke of York (17,754); Lord Royston (24,463), of the " Blanche " tribe ; and, more recently, the grand Waterioo bull Wellesley (25,421), bred by Lord Penrhyn, a son of his 600 gs. DuKE OF Geneva (19,614), and Earl of Barrington 2d, a first-class sire, bred by Mr. Sheldon, of Btailes. Fifty-nine of the lots are by Wellesley ; the cows and heifers are chiefly served by this bull or by the Earl of Barrington 2d. Mr. Thornton has issued a catalogue of 72 cows and 12 bulls, constituting the entire herd so long bred by the Messrs. Dudding, of Panton. This grand lot of animals will be sold at Wragby on Thursday. The reputation of the Panton herd has been maintained by the use of such well-bred sires as Mr. Foljambe'i Robin (24,968), Mr. Jonathan Peel's Stuart (27,630), and Mr. Booth's Warlaby bulls Manfred (26,801) and British Crown (21,322). Previously, among other famous bulls, we notice the names of Ravens- wood (22,682) and Royal Buckingham (20,718), both of the ' ' Bonnet " family, and celebrated stock- getters. These, allied to cows by Vanguard, Sir Roger, Prince Alfred, and other first-rate bulls, have left a " grand lot " of stock, characterised by size and uniformity. The Brockton House herd will be sold by Mr. Thornton on Tuesday. It comprises about 50 head of the famous Kirklevington blood, which Mr. Bell obtained directly from Mr. Bates. The catalogue con- tains representatives of the " Peach Blossom," "Georgiana," and other tribes. The cows and heifers are in calf to Colonel Gunter's 8th Duke of York, which will be offered for sale. The Chapel Brampton sale of Shorthorns has been unavoidably postponed. SHEEP. Mr. Lane, of The Cottage, Northleach, who has so long been known as a breeder of Cotswold sheep, disposed of his flock on Wednesday week, Messrs. Acock tS: Hawk acting as auctioneers. The flock consisted of 115 ewes, 51 theaves, 85 ram lambs, 87 ewe lambs, and two shearling rams. The average of the whole 338 sheep was ^^5 12s. each ; the ewes and theaves averaged £^ 2s. ; the ram lambs, including two shearlings, made ;^8 8j. each ; and the ewe lambs £;} 3^. each. The most extraordinary feature of the sale was the competition for theaves. Very high prices were given, which cul- minated in Mr. Swanwick purchasing a pen of five for the unprecedented price of 1 7 gs. per head. These sheep were the cause of a brisk competition, in which Mr. Brown, of Marham, and Mr. Swanwick bid against each other, until they were secured for the College Farm, at the high price just mentioned. Mr. Willoughby Wood, of Holly Bank, who has for so many years occupied a leading position as an agriculturist and Shorthorn breeder, has let his home farms, and advertised his stock for sale. Messrs. Lythall and Clarke have issued a catalogue of Shrop- shire sheep, some useful dairy cattle, and the remaining, pedigree Shorthorns which remain over from the last sale. The catalogue opens with a list of 28 shearling rams ; 38 ram lambs, 130 shearling and young ewes, and 70 ewe lambs. The sheep are by well known rams, such as Forester, bred by Mr. Keeling, Lord Ufiing- ton, Stockley by the Nugget, 2d Lord Kinver by Lord Kinver, Baronet by Valiant 2d, Monarch by Old Norton, Holly Bank by Baronet, and Horley's No. 14 by Evans' No. 10. These excellent sires have been allied to ewes by Pride of Freeford of the Patentee blood, Lease Farm Ewe, Holly Branch, Hannibal, and many are by the rams already named as sires of rams. There are four species of llamas and alpacas, and only four of the animal know-n by the generic term llajna, viz., the alpaca, llama, guanaco, and vicuna. The two former are domesticated, and vary in colour ; the two latter are wild, and are always of one colour. The most valuable of all these animals is the alpaca, called pocoeha by the Indians of the country. It is smaller than the llama proper, has the raised croup, droops towards the fore legs, and is covered with a long silky wool. They feed m large herds, only on the highest plains of the Andes, on the grass growing on marshes. They are owned by Indians, who cut the fleece every three years, and bring it to this city for sale. Each fleece is divided into two, being the wool taken from each side of the animal as it hangs down from a parting down the back, and the half fleece is called a bellon, and weighs on an average 3 lb. There are five distinct colours ; jet black, pure white, grey, coffee, and light fawn. The llama proper is a larger animal, with a straight back and clumsier head. It has coarse wool mixed with hair, which is never shorn off, as it is valueless. The animal has been used by the Indians from time immemorial as a beast of burden, and is so now, large herds entering the city daily, loaded with alpaca wool, and returning to the interior with bags of flour or small cases of English beer. A llama carries only about 100 lb. ; thus two cases of a dozen bottles of Bass' pale ale form a load, and are conveyed as far as Cuzco, a distance of 100 leagues, at the rate of about 4 leagues per diem, the animal travelling for several days without water. As the alpaca and llama pasture together, there is a weU-knowncross-.breed between them called a huarizo ; and it is much to be regretted that, from the careless- ness of the Indians, this crossing is allowed, as the wool of the cross-bred is much inferior, and the animal is mostly useless as a beast of burden. The llama also is of various colours, the same as the alpaca. The two wild species, the vicuna and guanaco, are much alike in colour, bemg a light fawn : but the vicuna yields a wool, while the guanaco, like the llama, has a coat of hair. The guanaco is a larger animal, and is found from Cape Horn to the northernmost parts of Peru. The vicuna is most abundant in Peru and Bolivia, where immense herds are found ; and many are killed yearly for the wool, which is very short, but silky. The average annual export from Callao for the last 20 years has been about 6500 lb. , and as each animal only yields about half a pound, 13,000 of these animals must be killed annually to supply this export, independently of the considerable quantity of this wool used by the Indians in their own manufacture. Both the guanaco and vicuna can easily be domesticated, but domestica- tion is not carried to any extent. A cross has been known between the alpaca and vicuna, but it is excessively rare ; the guanaco and vicuna in their wild state never cross with each other. Specimens of the alpaca, Uama, and guanaco exist in the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park. RAM SALES. Lincolns. — The Panton ram show and letting took place on Tuesday, the 29th ult., under the direction ol Mr. Calthrop, auctioneer. Messrs. Dudding's shear, lings this year are chiefly by the two I^Ianchester and Lincoln prize sheep in 1S69, by a celebrated ram, Old Topper, the line of the Oxford and Sleaford pri shears, and by an old sheep hired at 66 gs. The first eight shearlings were let for 131 gs., being an averagf of i6|. No. 3, a grand ram, was taken by Mr. Robin- son, of Huttoft, for 20 gs., and No. 5, one of the besi sheep of the flock, fell to the lot of Mr. Parish, o: Toynton, for 30 gs. Of 2-shear sheep six let for 137 gs. No. 72, a noted show sheep, was knocked down to Mr. Needham, of Huttoft, Tor 31 gs., and lot 74, a magnificent well-fleeced ram, was taken by Mr. Garfitt, of Scothem, for 38 gs. No. 22, enormous width, by a sheep of Mr. Kirkhai bought by Mr. M'Viker for 20 gs. No. 24, a splendid ram by Champion, 3d at York, was bought by M Garfitt, of Scothem, for 40 gs. There were 73 ram most of which were sharlings, and the prices for the rams sold ranged from 6 gs. to 40 gs., the whole flock showing an average of £\ii 6s. i^ii. i'ho has for a improving the Mr. Vessey, of Halton Holga quarter been noted foi breed of the fine old Lincolnshire sheep of the marsh district, let his rams on Monday, the 28th ult. They were a very regular uniform lot. Shearlings let at from 12 to 40 gs., the 2-shear, 62 in number, at from 10 to 30, and the 3-shear, 40 in number, at from 15 to 40. No. 44, one of the choicest rams penned, if not the flower of the shearling flock, was hhed at a high figure by Mr. J. L. Needham, of Huttoft, a gentleman distinguished for his judgment and success as a breeder of rams. On Thursday, August 31, the annual letting at Biscathorpe took place, and a large company, many of whom were themselves ram breeders, assembled to do honour to the occasion. Of the 100 sheep penned, 40 were shearlings. We have seen Mr. Kirkham's shearlings in better condition, and some of them were scarcely up to the mark of previous years, the 40 realising an average of only ;^I3 14?. 3 t,s. 94a'. No. 45 was taken by Mr. Marshall, of Branston, for ^■42 ; No. 48 fell to the lot of Mr. Clarke, of Scop- I ' We Englishn wick, for £^0 ; No. 53 was taken by the same ram breeder for ^53 ; No. 65 (the best shear of 1S70) was secured by Mr. Isaac Sharpley, of Boswell, for £2>^. The 3-shear sheep, 23 in number, were let at an ave- rage of ;^I5 IOJ-. 5c/., No. 81 fetching the highest figure, bemg taken at £^0 by Mr. J. Clarke, of Welton. Mr. Vessey, of Holton Holgate, got No. 82 for ^'30, and S3 fell to the lot of Mr. Grime, of Holton Hol- gate, for Z^33. Considering the very superior character of the flock the average on the whole of ;^I5 is. was not so much as had been anticipated by many persons Shropshires. — Ut%iK. Lythall & Clarke, of Bir- mingham, held their third sale in the Smithfield, Shrewsbury, on the 29th ult. There was' only a small attendance of buyers, owing to the harvest, but any- thing of really good quality sold remarkably well. The first lot of rams (Mr. T. S. Meire's four grass-fed shearlings) made £& 2s. r the ov( rket, beca The altbl uring industry has r of these riches has narrowed the has passed into the hands of men ■ifice a large portion of the ordinary chase the social distinction which whose large purchases the cost of ivy charge. nufactunng prosperity h ngthen the land monopoly, nanufacture have become su of the lando opoly of 1 done re than of the lughters The ndlord all he can to keep the smal Among the most induslriou: cost of the conveyance of purchase-money, which pas: so that while the expense or ;^S. that of the conveyanci would be /■5000. But her poses a system precisely the the purchase of small pr charges, the percentage of i the increase of the purchas agent asserts— and the exj similar— that he has often of property of small value, \ 5 to the coffers of the I purchase of ;^ioo wo of property worth ^r. by a posing ably ( A well-known of hundreds wil =eds for the pure legal expenses 1 nty of the the prejud occurred Solicitors centage fo the limitat The cha nber duly magnified t( e of the small capitalist. An example of thi; ■ithin my own knowledge the other day ow permit themselves to charge by a per the costs of a mortgage, and an owner of lane ■d .at i700o. anxious for certainty, agreed to paj cent., or ^140. The lawyer told me the title wa: mple that he could not. if he had made out a bill charged more than ^^40 ; so that this unfortunat( m needlessly paid ;^ioo, merely from fear of the un inty of the amount of law charges. It is not necessarj tplain how even more strongly the same motive; sled of 1 nfide uedi Z300- lat the lly, is operty c England, n selling speaking of the couni value to the extent of f the incubus of this syst The grave evil resulting from encumbered entailed estates is shown in its bearings both upon farmers and labourers, the first being necessarily thwarted in their endeavours at improvement, and the second degraded and demoralized by insufficient house accommodation. Regarding the labouring population Mr. Arnold says : — refuUy to avoid invidious dealing with any the fault : Disgracefu: the syste ather tha , the nd immoral overcrowding has been the result lal owner's indisposition or inability to build , and hundreds of parishes will furnish such viU briefly describe from official records. In vered roof of a single-roomed cottage— a loft ontained ten peopU the father, mothe occupied by three of 20 years of af sons, aged resf ■S. G. O.s' test 13 feet square, dying of consun daughters 18 and married couple, before.' Lookinj. the English peasan nd infant sc ughters, of ivrfy '17! I ny as to CO 1 the first 1 on; on the bed held third bed lay the foi I the third, a young ithi; ages. I blu arry nd havi dthe videi the who manufac English clergym; instance of my having married a woman who was not either pregnant at the time of her marriage, or had had one or more children before her marriage.' I lay this frightful immorality, whicli every country clergyman can confirm, to the charge of the system of entails, which reduces the landowner to the position of a tenant and not unfrequently. of a helpless tenant. And as with the peasantry of this kingdom, so it is with the farmers. In mortgaged to the fullest possible the : land i obtain the ng the homestead.' As to t "Often doing the nost effici ; works of He wil le permanent ; the nominal restrictions as the deeds by which ownership of the land. The signal: of agricultural England is that for man's land '—it is held in perpetua lord is a life-tenant, and the farmei are exceptions ; I record most contrary with peculiar pleasure. Derby said, in 1864:- 'I thmk « is expected to stay permanently on entitled to ask for a lease from very simple alternative ; if a mar an estate with a lease, he is not fil if he cannot be trusted with a lease with the land. ... I say th saying I am rather, in my own 1 lords than tenants — I say, if a tens landlord- f^L: tha the of ■, having leases drawn more they are at present — would go question of land-ownership of whi thing of late.' " Further remarks follow upoi upon the law of "settlement,' ; heard sorr Is attenda thereby stultified lere is for the inve: nly be released fron field 1 the part of the nomina and also what a gigai tment of capital, could the land these legal trammels. Finally, sh free trade in land— of which in irks 1 have endeavoured to establish ;est legislation directed to the fol- "2. The abolition of copyhold and customary tenures. "3. The establishment of a Landed Estates Court, for the disposal of encumbered settled property. " 4. A completion of the Ordnance survey of the United official the 11 sums. A certificate of title osts in respect of any freehold ed owner could pro' gistry Office upon evi , being the same as it ; compulsory, could be of of the land t( beques establi- the exc or the ; of • nded epti( the the Dr in shares, no gift, or lid hereafter be lawful ; of trusts for the widow attain majority) of the testator, or for the benefit of a c time after the death of the testator. " In this work I would ask, and I expect to obtain, the co-operation of the landowners. They are most largely interested in promoting this reform. By the abolition of the law of primogeniture— by which I mean the gift by the State to the eldest son of all the real property in cases of intestacy— when the State ceased to inculcate primo- geniture, parents would gain that proper authority which they never possess over the 'heir.' This scheme would leave intact their power to bestow their possessions in the but tha well ■ necks— res md being 3f their p ng of the masters of great he law would have put into the hands of Dwer for which those wlio are most sensible of isibilities would surelv be grateful. Insolvent would be relieved of' the millstone about their ored to a natural position ; not seeming rich inutterably poor. They would be real owners ■operty. A large proportion of the 30,000 o mainly possess the agricultural land of the uble ation of their propt 1 the place of these higher than : costly properi ered land, probably by T//E WHEAT CROP OF 1871. A VERY severe winter, a cold spring, and a great excess of rain in June and July are nut conditions of season favourable lor an abundant crop of Wheat. In the "Meteorological Journal" for January last Mr. Glaisher states that such a period of cold weather as occurred between December 21, 1870, and January 13, 1871, has only been exceeded twice during the previous 27 years. It unfortunately happened, too, that during a considerable portion of the period of intense cold comparatively little snow fell ; while, of that which did fall, much was swept into the furrows, hollows, and hedges by the high east winds which prevailed. In many fields the Wheat plant, thus deprived of the protection of the snow, was either killed or very much injured. In some of my fields the injury was strikingly apparent on the side of the lands sloping towards the north and east. Tooke, in his " History of Prices," mentions the same thing as occurring in other severe winters. A cold spring and summer frequently follow a severe winter. The mean temperatures of May, June, and J uly were below the average this year, and June and I uly were both very wet months. At Rothamsted the rainfall amounted to 3. 86 inches in June, and to 4 inches in July, giving a total of 7.86 inches for the two months, which is 3 inches more than the total which fell during those months in the three preceding years taken together. Heavy storms of wind and rain occurred in July, beating down the crop, and twisting it about in all directions. The reaping machine has been useless on much of the land on which it would otherwise have been employed, and hand labour has been imusually scarce. The brilliant weather which prevailed throughout the month of August has, how- ever, been of immense service in drying the soil, drying and ripening the crop, and arresting blight and mildew. Although coming too late for the production of a full crop, the favourable change has enabled farmers gene- rally to secure what there was in good condition. The following Table shows the produce of Wheat by different manures in 1S71, obtained in a field which has now grown Wheat for 28 years in succession. It also gives the produce on the same plots in each of the September 9, 187I.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1177 eight preceding years, there having been no change in the condition of the different plots as to manure during the last 20 years : — Bushels of Dressed Corn per Acre. Harvests. IJI III Artificial Manure. Plot 7. Plots. Plot,. |^»:^^ « » T7f 44 ^i5 s,S '^'.h .45 38i ,86* .. ,61, 4^i 40* 49 3=i 30 3> 1869 .. '4i l8i 34 39 34 43 IS 39 =2i Aver, of 20 years, 1832 -1871 .. Ml 355 35l 38I 365 36i Uqi Weight per Bushel i 1871 6z.7 63.1 60.6 61.5 56.. 56.9 54.8 57-6 60.0 63.3 56.6 1.3 sq.o 62.1 62 3 62.6 63.1 62.7 63.2 58.6 57.0 58.4 58.9 58. 3 • Equal 24 bush., at 6i lb. per bush, t Equal 28 bush., at 61 lb. It is seen that, in 187 1, the produce by farmyard manure is considerably above, and that without manure, or from artificial manures, much below the average over 20 years under the same conditions as to manure. The characters of the season appear to have a far more marked influence, both for good and for evil, on the crops grown by artificial than on those grown by ordi- nary manure. Plot 2, with farmyard manure, and plot 7, with artificial manure, give nearly the same average produce over 20 years. But, while the differ- ence between the highest and lowest produce obtained over that period is with farmyard manure only 25 bush., it is with the artificial manure 3I5 bush. ; and, taking only the nine years referred to in the Table, the diflTer- ence is with farmyard manure only 164 bush., and with the artificial manure 314 bush. Taking, as in former years, the mean of the produce without manure, of that by farmyard manure, and of the three artificial manures taken as one, we get an average produce for 1871 of 25,^ bush. This is more than 6 bush, less than last year, and nearly 4 bush, less than the average of 20 years. As shown in the lower part of the Table, the average weight per bushel fluctuates very much from year to year. In order, therefore, to make the comparison more correct, it is necessary to assume a uniform weight per bushel. Adopting 61 lb. per bush, as the standard, the 25^ bush, at 57.i lb. per bush, will be reduced to 24 bush, of 61 lb. This is 4 bush, below the average produce of the last 20 years' calculated in the same way ; and the deficiency is equal to rather more than 14 per cent. Before accepting the above result as indicating the probable average yield of the crop of 1871 throughout the United Kingdom, it will be well to take into con- sideration the amount of produce obtained in some cases of ordinary cultivation, and to compare them with the results obtained somewhat similarly in former years. The best portion of a field which had been summer-fallowed, and folded with sheep, has given 374 bush, per acre, and another 33I bush. Again, during the last two years, a number of well-known varieties of Wheat have been grown at Rothamsted, the field and manure selected each year being such as it is considered should grow the fullest crop of the sea- son. The following are the results obtained during the last three years with six of the Bi;sHELs OF Dressed Cor.v, PER Ac E. 11 ^^eJ- " , Wonder No. 2. Old Red Laiumas No. 3. Red" ^R°ed^' Nursery V^o-olfy. Ear White. ^Vhit^e Chid- 1871I 3,i 3'i Hi E 5;l 3il a We.gh n 1 The deficiency of the produce of 1871, compared with that of the two preceding years, is, upon the whole, considerably greater in these cases than in those in which Wheat has been grown for so many years in succession on the same land. In the latter the crops stood up comparatively well against the storms of wind and rain in July, while every one of the 20 varieties grown together in an adjoining field was more or less laid, and some of them very much so. In my letter on the Wheat crop of 1S70, published in your journal of August 26 last year, I estimated the average produce of the United Kingdom at 30 bush, per acre, and that it would require an importation of rather more than 74 million quarters to supply an average of 54 bush, of Wheat per head of the popu- lation. The actual quantity of imports, less exports, from September i, 1870, to August, 31, 1871, is, ac- cording to the returns, a little over 8,000,000 qr. My estimate was founded upon the assumption that the average population of the United Kingdom requiring to be fed would amount to only 31,000,000, whereas the recent census returns show that this figure was probably about half a million too low. Again, I took the number of acres under Wheat in 1S70 to be some- what less than in 1869, but equal to that in 1S68 — namely, 3,937,275 acres ; but according to the agricul- tural statistics since published, this estimate of acreage for 1870 was too high by 163,612 acres, the actual number returned being 3,773,663. Adopting for the harvest year, September i, 1870, to August 31, 1 871, the increased number of the population and the re- duced area thus indicated, the amount of Wheat required to be imported for the supply of the period would be rather over 84 million quarters. Calculated according to the census returns of 1871, the average number to be fed in the British Islands during the next 12 months will be 31,843,970 ; and, assuming the average consumption to be 54 bush, per head, the quantity of Wheat required will be little short of 22 million qr. Taking the home produce at 24 bush, per acre (of 61 lb. per bush.), and the area under Wheat to be the same as returned for 1 870 — namely, 3,773,663 acres — the gross produce of the United Kingdom will amount to about 11 J million qr. Deducting from this 2^ bush, per acre for seed, we have left for consumption as food about loj million qr. , leaving a requirement of over Ii4 million qr. to be supplied from foreign sources. How far this estimate is well founded time will show. It may be that the Wheat crop has suffered more in this than in the aver- age of districts ; but there can be little doubt that, at any rate, in many districts the yield will be below the estimate formed of it, and that disappointment will follow the test of threshing. There are several cir- cumstances pointing to a large consumption of bread during the coming harvest year. Meat is exceedingly dear ; labour is in great demand, and full wages are paid. The Potato disease has appeared in various districts, and, although it is too early to form any estimate of its ravages, it is certain that the crop not be so plentiful nor so cheap as it was during the past year. The information at present at command leaves no reason to fear that there will be any deficiency of foreign corn to supply our wants. But those wants will undoubtedly be large ; and as France will require considerable quantities to supplement her own deficient crop, it is probable that the price of Wheat wil advance considerably before the spring of next year In conclusion, I may remark that although my Wheat crop is so deficient, both Barley and Oats are, on the same farm, unusually abundant, y, B. Lawes^ Rothant sua, Herts, September 2 (in the " Times"). UNCULTIVATED PLANTS. The question of utilising our railway banks and waste spots of land by the growth of plants requiring little or no care in their cultivation, which might be made available for paper materials, has been from time to time advocated and discussed without any satisfactory result being arrived at; Considering the great demand for paper-making substances, it appears to us the price they would command would quite com- pensate for the small outlay necessary for their pro- duction on comparatively worthless sites. There are many also that might be made to yield returns in more ways than one, for, besides materials for paper- making, some of the produce might be utilised for the manufacture of brooms. Nearly all our broom materials at present are brought from the Continent or other foreign countries, and realise such prices as pay for their production and freight ; the stems of Sorghum vulgare, and other species of Millet, which are largely imported for the manufacture of carpet-brooms, may be instanced as among the most important. These Millets are cultivated all over the South of Europe for the sake of their seeds, which form an important food crop, not only for the use of man, but also for horses, cattle, poultry, &c. The flour is very white, and makes excellent bread. The cultivation of S. vulgare has been more than once attempted in this country as a grain crop, but the climate has been found too cold or damp for the seeds to ripen properly, so as to prove a remunerative crop, and consequently its growth has not been persevered in. As a cereal crop, cultivated only for its seed, experience, then, has shown it to be unsuited ; but we do not recollect whether the market value of the stalks, after the removal of the grain, has ever been taken into consideration, either as a paper or a broom material. Another well-known plant, having a wide distribu- tion over Central and Southern Europe and temperate Asia, is the Gold of Pleasure (Camelina sativa). Though it is often found growing with corn and Flax in this country and in Ireland, it is supposed not to be a native, nor even capable of assuming the title of a naturalised plant, but is no doubt largely introduced with foreign seeds. The plant is an annual, about 2 feet high, with a branching stem and lance-shaped leaves. It has long loose racemes of yellow flowers, which are succeeded by small fruits or pods about a quarter inch long, and containing a quantity of small seeds. In many parts of Continental Europe the plant is even cultivated for the sake of the oil which is expressed from the seeds, and which is used for a variety of domestic purposes. It is of a clear yellow colour, and has a smell somewhat similar to linseed oil. It is sometimes used for lamps, and is said to bum slower than olive oil. Its chief consumption is by soap makers. The cake or " must " left after the expres- sion of the oil is used to feed cattle ; but though it contains a great deal of nutritious matter, its acrid and pungent properties cause it to be more or less danger- ous, and consequently not much sought after. Birds, however, are very fond of the seeds, readily pecking them out of the fields, and so are also geese and other poultry, who readily fatten on them. The plant has been grown as green fodder for sheep, and if sown early may be so fed off, and then allowed to run to seed. In the southern States of North America the plant is cultivated, and highly valued by agri- culturists. In some parts of the Continent where its cultivation has been introduced, the seed is sown either in rows about a foot apart or else broadcast. This is done in March or April ; during its growth it needs little attention but weeding. The seeds ripen about July, and the crop is harvested either by pulling or mowing. It is estimated that from four to six pounds of seed is required to sow an acre of land, and this yields from 18 to 24 bush. The stems contain a large proportion of fibre, and are commonly used in the districts where cultivated for making brooms. Another cruciferous plant is the well-known garden Cress (Lepidium sativum), which, though not a native of this country, has been cultivated since 1548. The plant is too well known to need any description. With us its only use is for salads or for the purpose of garnishing dishes, but in Russia the branching stems are collected after the seeds have ripened, and are made into excellent brooms. At one time the Dit- tander, or Poor Man's Pepper (Lepidium latifolium), a plant common on many parts of our coast, was culti- vated in cottage gardens as a culinary vegetable, but it is now seldom seen. The much-branched stem of this, like those of the garden Cress, might, however, be made useful for brooms or for paper-making, as might, also, those of L. draba. The wild Mignonette (Reseda luteola) is a common plant on waste places, more especially on clay or chalky soils. It has been used from very early times for pro- ducing a yellow dye, which is prepared by making a decoction of the whole plant. At one time it was largely used by dyers and paperstainers, and it is said that the colour called Dutch pink is still prepared from it. It is a plant that grows without any care or attention, and besides the colouring matter yielded by it, a quantity of fibre is contained in the stems, which we should think might be made available both for brooms and paper- making, though we are not aware of their ever having been tried. Amongst leguminous plants the Broom (Cytisus scoparius) deserves a first place. It is a well-known shrubby plant, usually from 2 to 5 or 6 feet high, and found growing on heaths and commons. The plant has been used in medicine as a diuretic, and had at one time a place in our Materia Medica. It was given in the form of a decoction made from the tops of the twigs, or a tincture prepared from the seeds. In days long gone by, before the introduction of Hops, Broom tops were used to impart a better flavour to beer, and even now it is said they are sometimes put in ale to increase its apparent strength. The flower- buds in a very young state are occasionally gathered in country places and pickled as capers, and the ripe seeds have been used as a substitute for Coffee. Besides these applications the stem contains a quantity of excellent fibre, which is easily extracted after maceration. The twigs are used in many parts of the country for making brooms and baskets, and they have been before advocated for, if not actually applied to, the manufacture of paper ; and as they contain a quantity of tannin, they might e^^en be used, if other materials failed, for tanning leather. The plant is tolerably hardy, but sometimes suffers by very severe frosts. Amongst other common fibrous plants, we may may mention the Nettle (Urtica dioica),. and Hop (Humulus lupulus). The first of these, though so exceedingly common, and so repulsive to us on account of its stinging properties, might be made a very useful plant. In many parts of England young Nettles are collected, boiled, and eaten by the peasantry. Though cattle refuse to eat the full-grown plants, they will feed upon them when they are young, and do not object to them when dried and mixed with hay, showing that it is the poisonous matter of the sting which alone pre- vents their more general use. Though Nellies might be made use of in various ways, it is more particularly as fibre-yielding plants that we now wish to draw attention to them. It has been proved that they will produce 5 per cent, of a very beautiful and easily bleached fibre. The order to which they belong is essentially a fibrous one, the China Grass (Boehmeria nivea), and some of the Indian species of Urtica, being noted for the large quantity and very excellent quality of the fibres contained in their stems. Nettle fibre has been used in England and Scotland as a substitute for Flax ; and an old writer quaintly remarks, ** In Scot- land I have eaten Nettles, I have slept in Nettle s, and I have dined off a Nettle table-cloth. The young and tender Nettle is an excellent pot-herb ; the II78 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 9, 1871 Fla for ly that she stalks of the old Nettles making cloth. I have hei thought Nettle cloth more durable than any other species of linen." In France and Germany paper of the finest quality has been made from Nettles. One objection that has been urged against their growth in this country for commercial purposes is, that land suitable or their cultivation might be sown with Flax, which would yield a more profitable return. This may be true, but as Nettles will grow without cultivation, and do grow in immense quantities on almost every spot of uncultivated ground, why are they not collected and made use of? The Hop is another plant abounding in strong fibre, which may be extracted by macerating the stems in water ; when properly prepared the fibre is equal in appearance to Hemp, though strong. vede used fo! been used, both by s!"which have his country, is lative of Chili 1 2 feet high. "From 'inter and spring frosts. of cloth. Hop-bines themselves and conjointly wiui oiucr manufacture of paper, and, consider annually produced luider cultivation time something was done towards tli utilisation. Amongst oil-yielding pi; been recommended for cultivation ii the Madia saliva, a Composite plant and North California, where it is als is an annual, and grows its valuable property of e the Madia may either be sown m autumn or sprmg, me ground being previously well pulverised. Four pounds of seed will suffice for sowing an acre in drills, and about 6 lb. for the same space broadcast. The young plants should be thinned out, so as to stand at least 4 or 5 inches apart. The crops should be reaped when the earlier seeds acquire a grey colour, and disposed in handfuls to facilitate drying ; after which it should be immediately threshed out, as if stacked in the haulm the viscid matter which adheres to the foliage would cause fermentation. The seeds should afterwards be washed in warm water, to clean them of the same viscid or glutinous and strong smelling substance." The oil is said to be of a very fine kind, superior even to olive oil. The Ling (Calluna vulgaris), the Heath (Erica tetralix and E. cinerea), the Marsh Mallow (Althaea oflScinalis), and many other plant! growth, might be mentioned as illu ance of utilising waste land and pi; growth. But we will content ourselves by quoting a paragi-aph on the use of Thistles which, though it appeared in an Australian paper some few years back. IZ nport- ipprc the of the This indulge themse a few days befo mistaking the r A gentleman in fondness of the observed the fa^ whe young, fol grou lewing it. But let the Thistles be cut and allowed to lie exposed for a day r'ill then droop, and become quite soft, irses or cattle will prefer the Thistle to F green food. Within these few days en horses, rejecting rich grass-feed, on Thistles which had been rooted up md had become soft, and there was no 1 with which the animals were feeding, s neighbourhood, who had noticed the .rse for the Thistle in this state, and ingquahtiesof the plant, is accustomed growing in his paddock, which he cuts ise. Both horses and cattle, wuh an which almost amounts to reasoning. the the pla observed that the Thistle is of the variety known as the Pampas Thistle originally introduced from South America, t having been probably conveyed entangled in t of imported horses. The plant is of a very be good po represented. The show of pigs is proportionately large.] The Earl of Dekby, in proposing the toast of the even- ing, said,— I rise to propose " Prosperity to the Man- chester and Liverpool Agricultural Society," and fortu- nately the figures in my hand enable me to assure vou that that prosperity is not merely a wish in your mind or in mine, but an accomplished fact. The society has existed now in its present form for nearly a quarter of a century, and its history is one of steady rapid growth. In 1850 the number of persons who paid for admission to the showyard was 3300, in ]"' ' :Ma I the 33.< Iha tha show. have 750 members, of whom 150 were admitted within the last 12 months. We have /looo laid by for a rainy day ; we have an income which was last year over .^3000, not including the balance from the year before. Our yearly subscribers are 20 per cent, more in number than they were in 1870, and an extra fund of more than ;^20oo has been raised by the local committee in aid of this exhibition. I think you mil want no further proof that the society is doing its work and holding its own. Nor is it necessary that I should stop to argue the question as to the usefulness of societies of this kind. Experience has decided that matter for us. There is hardly a parish in England which does not help to support one, and m these parts, so far from their falling off, the Their < lake the itha : Englan ndho answer. Foreign compel; can only be met by the combination of chemical and mechanical appliances, requiring some capital to attain them and some knowledge to manage them. Of course a man may go on after the fashion of the Irish cottiers, scratching the earth for a bare subsistence— but that is not farming ; and I am only repeating an opinion which I have expressed before, and which I hold very strongly when I say that the cottier, the peasant cultivator— honest and industrious and frugal as he may be— has just as much chance of holding his own against the combination of capital and science as bows and arrows have of superseding breech-loading rifles, or hand-loom weaving of driving the power loom out of the field. And do not let anyone imagine that this question of; alth( the sented by 20c millions yearly of British wealth for which we lay the whole world bution, should make us comparatively indif Df the ard. mils, is a verA' reasonable claim, for the preser\'ation of a loderate proportion of our little island for purposes of eauty and enjoyment, whether to the owners or to the ublic. High farming is apt not to be picturesque, and Dme sacrifices of profit may reasonably be made in the nerest of that kind of taste which we all desire to see lore and more extended. But, after setting apart all !iat can be required for that purpose on a liberal allow- nce, the fact still remains that we do not get, as yet, ut of English earth one-half of what we probably might dth advantage if all our present resources were brought the soil. Mr. Mechi, who, as most of you athe ithusia this I do has been, and there is great i nd then about the reclamation endeavoured to raise a cry on tl nee I can remember, 'ithou bout it ; and in half a century we have pretty 1 in changing the face of the country ; and nplains that this process of improvement n fast enough, they must remember that in all our tenants had capit think that very few landl^ as a principle that any fications should be turn AGRICULTURE AND THE LAND QUESTION. [The lollowing admirable speech was made last 'uesday at the annual meeting of the Manchester and .ivcrpool Agricultural .Society, which has been held uring the past week. It is 12 years since this Society ol. The sly of. /3000, r having previ of prizes is aUo very large, bei tne amount subscribed on the former occasion been but ^696. The entries of implements, mac and miscellaneous articles number 1574. Thi 200 entries of cattle, all the principal breeds being repre- sented. The number of horses is exceedingly large, being 546, the roadsters and hunters numbering about 150. In this department considerable interest is created by a special prize of £^0 for the best hunter. The entries of sheep number about 160, the largest representation being among the Shropshire South- downs. The Leicesters and Southdowns are also well iessing these qual farm on which h lived. We want t !el. It may al required. his own on to the soil- though, of course, that is desirable — than that he should offer no obstacle toils being put on by the tenant. Security is the first requisite, and I hold that any tenant good enough to be kept permanently on the land ought to have a lease, if he warns one. I say "kept permanently," because there are, of course, cases where tenants are retained from kindly feelings, though not very fit to do justice to their farms, and in such cases the landlord may reasonably desire some check upon mismanagement. As to conditions of letting, thev would varv in different places, but I have not altered the opinion which I expressed some years ago, that, as a rule, they ought to be few and simple. If a man is not able or willing to do the work, he is in the wrong place, and would be better away, though I admit that in practice you cannot always act upon that view. If he is fit for his business, he will probably do it best in his own way. Then there is that ticklish question of game— a word I am almost afraid of uttering on such an occasion, though I do not think I shall have anything to say upon it that can provoke controversy. I have always thought it a question which, with moderation and good sense on both sides, ought not to give trouble. Nobody can doubt that there is a great deal of over-preserving in England, and that in some places it has been carried so far as to amount to a public nuisance ; and when that is the case I hold that what is in fauh is, not the love of sport, but a love of ostentation and display, and it can hardly assume a more objectionable shape. )ld tha the; the subject. N sportsman, ow, personallj and I shall a , I am not a very keen :quiesce heartily in whatever Parlia ment r nay decide ; bu t I would just point out that it is possible for you to go so far as tq defeat your own object Th absolute sweeping away of the power of keepir g g'l' le on farms, h owever brought about, would, of CO mply, under heir changed conditions, a gener U re'va woul d certainly not be a gainer ; while in other cases t might probably lead to this,— the rich men, fond of the r spor , and willing t 0 make sacrifices in order to keep t, wou d take more a nd more of their estates into their o^vn ha nds in order to enjoy their amusement undis- turbed. Th e an arraneement, I think, for the be nefito f any party. One thing, I think, the tenant really has in many cases tc complain of. and that is the difficu Ityof making a fair b irgain with his landlord where game ncemed ; beca use, noi knowing what the lyof 1 will be. he ca inot form an estimate before- hand as to the probability of loss. If that can be remedied —and I do not see why i should not be-I cannot see that there is any injustice 0 gnevance remaining so far as rned. I 0 ught 0 apologise fo r the length at which I am detair ingyo u, but there is f far wider and graver question whicl many have for years past been discussing at public meeli ngs, a nd which I d 0 not like to leave entirely ched- I mean the qu stion of ownership of the soil. Ihav ;butl ttle to trouble ou with in regard to it, and I shall carefu Uy avoid touch ng on anything that can be sidered political gr< these isla'ti persons, bu nd that probably r .xpediency of doing somethir nthem sread ng of a staten ent made in 61. In that Census only ibout 50.000 derthe lead of landowners. old and ha tered them- odo, under Dther c esignations jfof the lalla cy of th e figu es is this, - Df the whole med w ere women. ;-tenth if 1 were compelled to do so I should say you might multiply the figure I have given of 30,000 by ten at least, and still be below the mark. Another fallacy constantly repeated, and which I can with similar confidence con- tradict, even from my own limited experience, is that it is a very difficult matter for any one to buy a landed estate, that land is so locked up that it cannot be brought into the market. Now, inasmuch as people having estates to sell are fond of pressing them on the notice of those whom they suppose may wish to buy, I have some personal knowledge of that matter, andl affirm with confidence that there is at this moment hardly a county in England where a man lookil othe ■ should f ,'ers. We iny people nd that is If it t to any part of the a feeling more likely to increase than be the fact— I believe it is— that a man who wants only a' few acres does not always find it easy to buy them, but if there is any real demand for small free- holds, surely it would be worth the while of speculators to buy up large estates as they come into the market and to sell them again piecemeal. If that is not done, the only reason can be that it does not pay. Then there is another notion afloat— that estates are constantly tend- ing to become fewer in number and bigger in size. That is the point on which no man's observation can be wide enough to enable him to speak with certainty ; but I greatly doubt whether the fact is so. Some large estates, no doubt, are growing, but many, alas ! break up, and the one process probably balances the other. Near great pecially near Londoi , more of disruption than 01 though I give it only as a aable, not as a thing provec ' small properties are becoi nly, as ; ■ accumulation. My belief thing which seems to me — that both very great and ning fewer, and those of a prefer ; per ;ent. from the othei 1 do not ally: -the I extend bject to why should we be left on th mere speculation? Is it impossible to get at tne lacis t is a Domesday Book more difficult now than in the days of the Conqueror? If what is called the Land Question is to come to the front, as I suppose it will, surely we ought to discuss it with as much positive knowledge as we can bring to bear ? I am not insensible— no man who keeps his eyes open can be so— to the value, in a social point of view, of having a numerous body of My contention is only thi of land : ;emed in le supply the market fully equals the present demand, September 9, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, 1 179 and that the popular theory, that it is so locked up that nobody can buy, rests on no solid foundation.— The noble lord resumed his seat amid great applause. [W= THE HOP HARVEST. he following Hop reports from the il . Jon The reports with which we have been favoured, through the kindness of numerous correspondents, accurately represent the position of the Hop crop. Mid Kent is evidently this season a favoured district, but after carefully analysing the reports, we find that even here an average of not more than 3 to 3i cwt. per- acre is to be calculated upon. Of course the average of the country will not come up to this, as it is well known that in East and West Kent the growth is almost a total failure. Where picking of the Prolifics and early sorts has commenced, we are invariably told that— as they have done with the Wheat crop- growers have been over sanguine, and their estimate of the produce has been much too high. The Rochester district is most unfortunate. In many grounds, we an told, a bin will scarcely be placed ; and around Maid' stone there are gardens where the cost of picking cannot be recouped to the grower. The late high winds have done much damage, and as the season is getting late, there is a danger of their recurrence. Mould, although it has appeared in several grounds, is, fortunately, not at all general, and the samples, there- fore, we may hope, will be bright and marketable. Ashford.—T\i(i past fortnight's fine weather has been very favourable for the growth of the Hops. In thi grounds where there was any bine, from 3 to 5 cwt. per acre will be grown. Boitghton Blean, Selling, Chilham, ffmi/iill, Goodite- stone, and Grcivcney. — In this immediate district the following classification would give an estimate as near the truth as possible under present circumstances — a destructive wind is raging while we are writing. Dividing the acreage into fifths — say i, i cwt. per acre ; 2, 2 cwt. per acre ; 3, 4 cwt. per acre ; 4, 5 cwt. per acre ; 5, 8 cwt. per acre ; 5-20, say 4 cwt. per acre. A late improvement is now likely to be seriously checked by winds and cold rains, to be followed by mould. The above may be less, but more is very doubtful. Botighton Mpuchelsea. — Here and there a small piece will produce 15 cwt. per acre, more 7, many 5, a few I . Tlie average in the district we mention may be taken at 5 or 7 cwt. per acre, but directly the visitor gets away from this line it is a very sorry affair indeed — from nothing up to 4 cwt. Brenchley.—1\vi Hops in this immediate locality are about an average of the plantations. Should warm weather continue, the best grounds will grow from S to Can/t-rlmn'.—The Wincheap grounds (close to this city) are still very bad. Some few have made a little improvement, but others are almost a blank. "^ should not think they would average 2 cwt. per ac The average expectancies in other parishes are follows :— Capel, not 4 cwt. per acre ; Collier Street, 24 to 5 and 6 cwt. ; Cranbrook, a good yield ; East Farleigh, a good crop ; East Lenham, 2 to 3 cwt. per acre ; Eynsford, not i cwt. per acre ; Frittenden, very light — say 2 or 3 cwt. per acre ; Hadlow, about 4 c Hartfield, a small crop. Headcorn. — About 5 cwt. per acre. Ilunton. — 5 cwt. if the weather continues fav able ; should it prove unfavourable it will not realise so much. The quality of the Goldings here will be remarkably fine. IJield. — Very short. Some few may grow 2 or 3 cwt. per acre. /.angle)'. — This parish is expected to yield from 6 to 7 cwt. Lenham. — Our Hops will, I think, average 4 to 5 cwt. per acre. Mcreimrth. — 7 cwt. per acre is quite the full quan- tity, and rather a high set. The plantations are im- proving a little. Northiam. — The Hops are going on well, and we expect the growth will be larger than a month ago could have been anticipated. Otford. — There is an unexpected change for the better in some grounds here. The crop, however, will be very small indeed. Pembury. — The crop will be generally good, espe- cially where there has been high farming. Rocheslcr and Hundred of Hoo. — The Hops near Rochester and all through the Hundred of Hoo district are very bad. In many gardens there is a total blight, and they will not have a bin put into them. Shorne, near Gravesend. — The crop in this district will be exceedingly short. Speldhurst. — The Hops in the parish promise to yield about 4 cwt. per acre. Staplehurst, August 28.— The high winds and cold nights are much against the full development of the Hop, which is closing up, and consequently, the crop must be short, even of my last week's report. The gale on Thursday battered most grounds severely, and will very materially afiect the colour of samples of the few Hops we shall grow in this neighbourhood. Teston. — Our prospects are pretty favourable, but the crop will not be so good as in -some of the neigh- bouring parishes. Tenterden. — Our Hops, where the blight did not stop the heads of the bines, are doing all they can, but, taking the parish as a whole, we shall not produce quite a third of last year's crop. The Hclmadale Vallev, near Sevenoaks. — The Holmesdale Valley will not produce more than a pocket per acre, if it reaches that. The fearful wind now blowing must damage and prevent backward burr, and will seriously bruise the better and forward Hops. Tonhridge.—'Wif: heat of the weather which pre- vailed from the first up to the middle of this month, combined with the recent rains, have improved the condition of the Hops. Many farmers have hopes of a small crop. Tr/iA/j'.— The Hops in this parish rest with two or three of the largest growers, who will grow from S to 9 cwt. per acre ; the rest of the parish will not grow more than 2 cwt. per acre. Ticehurst and Neighbourhood, August 27. — In our opinion the quality will be very fine, much better than last year, but as to quantity not one-third shall we average ; and if we set it at 5 cwt. per acre, taking a radius of 4 or 5 miles, with Ticehurst as the centre, we shall be putting them at the very top of the tree. Uckfield. — In some of the best grounds it is estimated that 12 cwt. an acre will be grown, while in others the average is calculated to be about 5 cwt. The plant has improved wonderfully the past few weeks. _ Wadhurst. — Prospects are vciy encouraging, and shall have a better crop than ever could have been pected. In some places picking is talked of commence this week. Wateringburv. — Owx estimates of the growth per re of Hops in the undermentioned parishes is ; follows :— Wateringbury, 64 cwt. ; Offham, 34 cwt. ; West Mailing, 24 cwt.; East Mailing, 2 cwt. Whatiington. — In our most favoured grounds we hope to realise 8 cwt. per acre, while others will pro- duce 2 to 3 cwt. per acre. This estimate is, however, subject to favourable weather and other contingencies. SHORTHORNS IN AMERICA. [The following e t from Mr. lornton's " Circular" for July, of papers on this subject.] Shorthorns are not confined to the Southern and Eastern States ; they have been imported of late years into California, Washington Territory, and Oregon, extreme Western States, whose shores are washed by the Pacific Ocean ; into Colorado in the centre ; and into Minnesota and Wisconsin in the North. Col. W. S. King has recently purchased land bordering on two charming lakes near Minneapolis, 1500 miles from New York, where he has erected splendid farm buildings and purchased several of those animals which IMr. Cochrane recently imported from this country. He also bouglit some fine cattle from Mr. Sheldon and Messrs. Wallcot & Campbell. I went to see this new country and the Shorthorns under the adverse circumstances of food and climate. After leaving Chicago, one of the most wonderful and rising cities on the whole continent, the railway takes a per- fectly straight course, and for 200 or 300 miles passes through a fine rolling country, said to be good com land, and growing prairie grass and a few scrub Oaks ; it is as yet comparatively a wilderness, with 5 and 6 feet of good black soil. The Indians had a custom, which in some degree accounts for the absence of timber, of burning a portion of the prairie grass every other year, considering that it improves and sweetens the next year's growth for the buffaloes. Near a river or watercourse, magnificent trees flourish. Col. King's buildings are so arranged that calf boxes are behind each cow stall. They are very lofty, and the hay and corn is stored aw.ay in spacious lofts. Ar enormous vat is also filled with water, and prO' tected against the severe frosts. The cold is very severe here, but being a dry fine climate, it is nc keenly felt, though the thermometer, during my v stood at 22° below zero. The cows are turned every morning ; they blow the hoar frost and s away before it becomes too deep, and graze the scanty grass that is to be found ; icicles hang to their and eyelids, and after an hour or two out, they are put in and well fed. Lady Pigot's celebrated cow Rose- dale was here as fat and as hale as any ; her heifer also, RosedaUs Duchess by the I ITH DuKE OF Thorndale, is very thick and good, though hardly so hand: her dam. Also Messrs. Mitchell's Blue Bell. The prize heifers. Countess of Yarborough, Queen Diamonds, Lady Sohoay, Rubcrta, and Booth's L caster, with old Roscdale, form a group, as they stand in the snow, with a bright sun and brilliantly blue tliat would be hard to match at home. Duchess c)-jth, in a comfortable box, looked very elegant, but, milking heavily, was thin. Mr. Harvey's Wild Eyes 26th has grown into a large good cow, and Weal Bliss, Flcwei of Warlaby, and General Napier are fine represen. tatives of the Aylesby herd. Two very good Oxford heifers are also here and breeding ; they were pi chased as the two best from the Geneva herd previous to Mr. Sheldon giving it up ; also 6th Duke of Geneva, a pure 2-year-oId Duke bull of great size and growth. On the broad back of Constance of Lyndale, a roan yearling heifer bred from Mr. Fawkes' stock, the hair waves 3 inches long, and Old Sam (M Crabb's prize bull at the Essex show) ' ' grown and done well in his new home. It has transpired that Mr. Cochrane has repurchased Duchess cj-}th, the two Oxford heifers. Wild Eyes 26th, with 6tii Duke of Geneva, from Col. King, who in the present unopened state of the country prefers to breed from animals of not such extreme value ; indeed, great credit is due to him for the spirit and enterprise with which he has invested a large fortune in farm build- ings and fine stock, both of horses. Shorthorns, Ayr- shires, Lincoln sheep, and pigs, in a country where scarcely a quarter of a century ago the Indian built his wigwam and the buffalo grazed, and where even yet a few hours' ride will convey one without the bounds of civilisation. Another new herd has been recently started in that district by Mr. Geo. Murray, at Racine, Wisconsin. Most of the animals have been purchased at auction or privately. Among them are many remarkably good animals, which have been extremely well selected as to type and blood. Louan 2\st, an 8-year-old cow, was bought at Mr. McMillan's sale, Ohio, for about 720 gs. ; Uh Louan of Oakland, a yearling, for 400 gs. ; and Forest Queen, descended from Aylesbf Lady by Baron OF Warlaby (7813) for 560 gs. Some very fine Mazurkas are among the number, also an Airdrie Duchess, from Mr. Alexander's and some of Mr. Shel- don's herd. Two Duke bulls, iith Duke of Air- drie, red, and 13TH Duke of Thorndale, roan, both large, fine animals, are the sires. Messrs. Parks, at Waukegan, in the same neighbourhood, are also establishing a herd. Ontario, or as it was formerly called Western or Upper Canada, more particularly in the neighbour- hoods of Brantford and Toronto, has long had fine Shorthorns. The Messrs. Miller of Pickering were among the earliest importers. Mr. George Miller, who emigrated about 1832, took out Galloways, Leicester sheep, white pigs, poultry, and pigeons, and had a good stock, but the Galloways have given way to Shorthorns, chiefly from Mr. Syme's stock of Annan, N.B., the Leicester to the Cotswold, and the white to the black or Berkshire pig. Mr. John Miller made several purchases in this country last year, chiefly from Mr. J. B. Booth, Mr. Currie, and Mr. Marshall. His herd contains many fine animals, especially some of the Atha tribe, descended from Robert CoUing's Golden Pippin, and of Messrs. Crofton's " Elvira" tribe, the same family as the well-known prize bull Edgar (19,680). Oxford Mazurka, by Royal Oxford from Mazurka, Mr. Torr's Fawsley Chief (26, 143), and Mr. G. Bedford's Kosciusko are the bulls in use. The Provincial Agricultural Society endeavour to en- rage the importation of stock by giving additional premiums at their shows ; three times the amount of the prizes being awarded to bulls and twice the sum to ■■ 'mported ist-prize animals. At the Toronto show last year there were 1 88 entries, and Mr. J. Miller won the 1st, 2d, and 3d prizes for cows, the 1st prizes for 4-year-old, 2-year-old, and yeariing bulls, and the diploma with Fawsley Chief for the best bull of any age. Mr. John Bell, of Pickering, has also a good even herd, all bred from Mr. Syme's cow Jane ; and it is considered in that part of America that calves are best reared by drinking from a pail and giving them gruel of oat and other meals ; opinions, however, differ as to this plan. The farming is very fine in this dis. trict, and the land well laid out in squares of about 400 acres, the toads running at right angles, those east and west extending a mile and a quarter, and those north and south half a mile. Upwards of 40 tons of Swedes are grown to the acre ; Peas and Barley are generally splendid crops, and Indian Com cut green for fodder will often stand 12 feet high and yield about 36 tons to the acre. It is chiefly peopled by Scotch settlers, who have by their own energy, perseverance, and frugal industry raised themselves to wealth and position. The necessities of the country and want of appliances develope the faculty of invention, and in- genious contrivances for lessening labour may frequently be observed. A simple apparatus at Mr. Cochrane s farm for lifting the heaviest animals by means of a leathern apron and straps attached to a beam and windlass, would be particulariy useful on any breeder's establishment. Among the other good herds in Western Canada are those of Mr. F. W. Stone, of Guelph, who has been a large importer both of cattle and sheep for many years, and has greatly improved the stock of his district ; the Hon. David Christie, who imported from Mr. Douglas ; the Hon. Geo. Brown, Mr. John Snell, Mr. Thomson, and .others, but time would not permit me to visit them. Herefords have also been imported into this territory, but experience has shown that the stock of the country assimilates better with the Shorthorn than with the Hereford. The United States and Canada have been mutually benefited by imported cattle. Before the civil war broke out the Canadians gave great prices at the Southern shows, and encouraged American breeders. During the war prices declined, and breeders in the troubled districts were not only glad to realise at low figures, but many sent their cattle away for safety info the quieter States. When peace was restored the demand for good cattle arose, and a duty of 20 per cent, on the declared value was charged on all animals going from Canada to the States ; yet Mr. Cochrane s great importations, in the teeth of this restriction, com- menced soon after ; and the celebrity of the cattle was so great that the public in great numbers came many miles, during the summer and ai to see them ii8o The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ae^ricultural Gazette. [September 9, 1871. Many drove long distances, brought provisions, and after inspecting the stocl<, begged hot water and pic- niced beneath the Plane and Maple trees that encircle the homestead at Hillhurst. Notwithstanding the duty a large trade was done with the Americans, and the high prices given by them have, doubtless, had a great influence during the last three years on prices in this country. This duty was withdrawn during the present spring, and all cattle for breeding purposes are now imported into America free. In the New England States great attention is paid to the dairy properties of Shorthorns, tliough the barren nature of much of the soil, and the exhaustion that even that has undergone, renders breeding a diffi- cult and uphill course. Mr. Augustus Whitman, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, has a large herd of pedigree Shorthorns kept especially for milk. Some are of the " Knightley Rosy " tribe, and others of the "Sock- burn " and '* Princess " families, which have been much esteemed in the district on account of their dairy pro- perties, though they have become somewhat light fleshed. They are nearly all heavy milkers. 6TII Duke of Thorndale, a line light roan bull, was here. The food is steamed, and a mixture of chaff and shorts, with corn and oil meals, are given daily with 5 lb. of long hay ; it is all carefully weighed before being served out, the quantity of milk given by each cow-measured, and every animal is weighed the first of each month. The calves get new milk for three or four weeks, and afterwards porridge of meals and milk. The milk is sent into Boston, and sold at i M. a quart in summer, and 2.^^. in winter. The Herd Book is published by Mr. Lewis F. Allen, of Buffalo, and the loth volume has just appeared. It is prepared very nearly on the same plan as the English book, but more profusely illustrated. The first volume, with which is given a liistory of the breed, was brought out, partially through the instiga- tion of Mr. Clay, in 1846, but there was little support on account of the low prices and general depression in agriculture, and the second volume did not appear until nine years afterwards. In 1S57, the third volume was issued, in which several errors that had inadvert- ently crept into the previous volumes were corrected. The volumes during the war were small, and the sixth contains the least number of pedigrees. Since then tlie trade increased, and the entries were returned so fast that the volumes are now issued almost annually. Vol. ix, is in two parts, and contains over 5°*^ pedi- grees, but, unlike the English book, many of the con- tributors are not subscribers, and the work is not pecu- niarily successful, althought about ^. are charged for each pedigree, and two guineas for the volume. Con tinuous numbers are given to the bulls, but the Englisl volumes are necessary to thoroughly investigate a pedi gree. Breeders in America, like those in this country, are greatly indebted to those who undertake a laboriou tedious work, requiring the utmost vigilance and care. A stranger, accustomed to the "roast beef of old England," will possibly notice in the States th« absence of fat and flavour in the beef, and often it i- both lean and tough. There are several causes for this, An Australian, having large herds in New South Wales, remarked that the large droves of cattle which he saw travelling on the roads in the Western States to market were not near so fat as those on the nms, in hi; native country. The natural prairie grasses being some what long and coarse, have, probably, not great fatten ing properties ; and the leanness of the buffalo meat which when young is uncommonly good, in a degree corroborates this. The "quality" or "handle," so greatly considered by our old-established breeders here, is not so closely studied on the other side, where many of the animals are thin handlers. Moreover, the great distances that many cattle travel before they are slaughtered somewhat affects both the quantity and the quality of the meat. Beef and pork are chiefly eaten, and fetch almost the same market value, namely from ■jd. to 9Ir. HuTCiiEO.x said he saw no difficulty about the atter whatever, and the longer he thought about it it emed to him the more reasonable. There could be ) doubt whatever that gentlemen would be found who could read all these answers, and who could tabulate them all, so that they could be submitted to the joint tee, and form a basis of indisputable facts. He t think it would take 12 days or 12 hours to do stead of 12 months. There was a way of doing s which, as it had been expressed in the news- papers, was, " How not to do it." But there were parties connected with business who would have no ■fficulty ingoing over the tables that were submitted to them. He presumed that there would not be more difficulty in collecting the 7000 schedules than there would be in collecting the agricultural returns sent to hole of the United Kingdom, of which he had no doubt that, in a very short time, there would be an abstract before the public. Surely, in the matter it would not be more difficult to put in a tabulated form the answers to the questions submitted. He thought, if the meeting affirmed the principle which he advocated, of sending schedules to the tenant-farmers, the proprietors, he would be disposed to leave to the sub-committee the form of schedule to be drawn up. He begged leave further to say in regard to the expense, that if the sum was within reasonable limits, such as he had hinted at, he would guarantee to find, on the part of his agricuUural friends, half the amount. He did not think the question of expense ought to warrant them to override the consideration of the matter. If it were admitted that there was a game grievance, they should not hesitate about full inquiry. He moved :— "That the report of the sub-committee be approved of, and that these queries, as amended, be issued to the proprietors, and further remit to the sub committee to prepare a series of queries to be sent tc all tenants in the county who pay a rental of ^^14 am upwards ; and that it be expressly mentioned that the answers will be kept strictly secret, and that no names will be made public. The schedules to be sent to the sub-committee, and the members of that committt authorised to open them and prepare a Table for the conference." After the adhesion of many other gentlemen to M Hutcheon's proposal, Mr. Walker (Bithnie) said he was very much pleased to see so many of the pro prietors willing to have the matter fully investigated He thought it would be a pity when they had begim. not to elicit the whole of the facts ; it would also be a pity if the matter of the expense would in any deter them from going into the question. He hoped the gentlemen would agree to the motion made by Mr Hutcheon. Mr. Leslie said of course the answers would not be made public in any form, or made known beyond the committee. Mr. Barclay said the sub-committee should be custodiers of the papers, and it should be the business of the sub-committee to see that the matter was kept secret. He presumed the conference would have fidence in the committee in stating the returns, and he proposed the matter be delegated to them. The report as amended, was then approved follows :— I. That the following queries be addressed by the conference to eacli proprietor in the county who has p rcnt.al of ,^500 and upwards, in the hope that he will havt no objections to iurnish tlie information required, witl any particulars bearing on the question, viz. : — i. Whal are the covenants in regard to game contained in the leases or in the general regulations of your property] You are requested to furnish copies of the clauses, 2. What is the actual practice (apart from such covenants) which obtains on your properly in regard to gi 3. Have complaints, or claims of damages in respect of alleged injury by game, deer, and rabbits been made by any of your tenants to you, or to any one on your behalf, within the last five years? 4. If so, how many complaints or claims, and by how many tenants were they made, what were the sums claimed, and how were the claims settled? 5. Do you preserve game and rabbits, and, if so, what arrangements do you make to protect the crops adjoinmg your preserves? 6. Do you let any part of the shooting on agricultural lands on your estate, if so, what arrangements are made for the protection of the agricul- II. — That the tenant-representatives be invited to com- municate to the conference in writing the views held by them as a body in regard to the matters under the con- sideration of the conference. A meeting of the Tenants' Committee was held at the close of the above meeting, Mr. M'Combie in the After a good deal of desultory conversation, the clerk read the following as a statement of the conclu- sions arrived at by the njeeting of the Farmers' Com- mittee held in the Com Exchange on June 23 : — That, any the plaint with respect to game and other wild animals, the principal grounds being— r. Damage to crops by hares and rabbits ; 2. Damage by deer in the neighbourhood of deer forests, &c. ; 3. Damage to crops by semi-domesticated pheasants in the immediate vicinity of pheasant preserves ; 4. The practice of game- keepers on certain estates shooting, trapping, or poisoning dogs and domestic cats. II. That the best remedy for the existing grievance between landlords and tenants would be to give the tenants absolute and unrestricted right to kill, either by their own hands or any one employed by them, hares and rabbits on the lands they occupy, the landlord's right of shooting remaining as at present. The committee believe that this remedy would be effectual, except as to deer and semi-domesticated pheasants. III. That to confer such right as a gift, revocable at the pleasure of the landlord, would not be satisfactory, and that no remedy based on compensation for damage to crops would settle the grievance. Mr. Douglas (Culsh) did not quite agree with those conclusions, thinking that the farmer should have power to protect his crops from all kinds of wild animals, and he was under the impression that that was the feeling of the meeting at the time. Mr. Copland said the report read was a very good summary of the views expressed at the last meeting, but he thought the committee should not transmit it to the proprietors until they had received the returns from the various districts of the county, when additional information might necessitate some alterations. Mr. Walker (Bithnie) again urged delay in sending the conclusions to the proprietors. He thought the right to kill hares and rabbits would not be satisfactory. They should have power to defend their crops from all kinds of game, &c. Mr. M'Combie, M.P., said : The question now under consideration is, what remedy would remove the grievance and bad feeling between landlords and tenants ? I believe that the giving up of hares and rabbits would do a good deal to mitigate the griev- ance, and that it would be accepted by a majority of the tenant-farmers as such, except as regards deer and pheasants ; but I hold in the general interests of the nation the Game Laws ought to be abolished. Mr. Copland moved that the meeting do not pro- ceed to an expression of opinion in the meantime till the returns be received from the various districts meeting proceed. The amendment was carried, and the clerk was instructed to forward a copy of the report to the sub- committee of the conference. A vote of thanks having been passed to Mr. M'Combie for presiding, the meeting terminated. Farm Memoranda. Mr. Oefin's Farm at Hutton.— We (Chelms- ford Chrofdde) wrote to Mr. Ofiin, asking if one of our representatives might go over some of his fanns and make observations and inquiries pertinent to the subject under discussion, and the permission having been readily and cordially granted, the visit was paid on Tuesday last. Now, when we repeat the statement which Mr. Ofiin made in one of his letters, that he farms more than 5000 acres, and when we add that these 5000 acres are intersected by numerous farms held by other people ; that from the extreme point of one of the off-hand farms in East Ham to the extreme point of another at Latchingdon the distance is no less than 36 miles, and that this goodly number of holdings touches no fewer than 26 different parishes, it will be sufficiently obvious, w^e think, that it was only a very moderate portion of the ground that we could go over in the half day at our disposal. We were assured, however, that, to use a plain phrase, Mr. Offin does not make fish of one farm and flesh of another, and that what we saw was only a sample of what we should have continued to see if it had been possible to cover the whole 5000 acres. But, if we had a very big loaf to test, we took care that the slice by which we tested it should be correspondingly large. We are not quite familiar with the boundaries of the parishes about Mr. Oflin's house, but we cer- tainly went into two or three different parishes, and on to many different farms, stretching in an unbroken line of 3 miles from Hutton Park on one side, and of one mile on the other. It was to the condition of the labouring population, and to what concerned them, that we paid primary attention, but, as will be seen from what follows, we were naturally induced to make notes also upon points of general interest, having, perhaps, only a remote affinity to that subject. Fu-st of all, we had a good view of Mr. Oflin's own resi- dence and grounds. On sallying forth into the village of Hutton, we were delighted to find that, while dwelling in a "ceiled house" himself, Mr. Ofiin had not forgotten the claims of his poorer neighbours, but had provided them also with decent and convenient homes. Instead of that squalid poverty which we have heard so much of lately, and which undoubtedly does exist more or less in some neighbourhoods, the village of Hutton seemed to be dozing from an absolute excess of comfort. The population, we believe, is about 400 September 9, 187 1.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 183 all told, and we saw no fewer than from 20 to 30 cottages, all of which have been erected within the past few years — some of them, indeed, have not long been finished. Generally, the cot- tages are in pairs, but the first block we came upon consisted of four, standing, by the way, upon the site of an old "Tom and Jerry," which institution has now no representative in the parish. Very neat are these, and all the other dwellings, in their outward appearance. Some have cemented fronts and blue slates ; others — and these were the more recently erected— are of red and white brick, with the tiles common to the county. There is a piece of land both at the front and back of each house, sufficient for any man to keep in good cultivation in addition to do'ing his ordinary work. The land in front, we observed, was in most cases devoted to flowers and ornament, and was in all cases kept with great neatness, and even taste ; in that behind, fruit trees and vegetables were the rule, and there was every mdication that these ministered considerably to the comforts, and in people we passed to tlie school where their children are taught. It is a pleasant- looking building, in dark red brick, entered by an orna- mental porch, and having large pointed windows. . . . We next entered the church, which, small and old- fashioned, it is proposed to rebuild, from .,^1500 to ;^i6oo having already been pro- mised, we understand, in aid of the work. On the panels of a small pl«» of aun west gallery we observed an inscrip- tion, setting forth the benefactions to the parish of Hutton. The last recorded was a bequest of £S°° Consolidated 3 per cent. Annuities, by John Offin, gentleman, of Brent- wood, uncle of the present Mr. John Offin, for the benefit of the National School of which we have just been speaking. This bequest was made in 1841. ... So much for the homes of the labourers and the provision made for the training of their children. Next comes the question of their wages. On this point we cannot do better than quote, with one or two supple- mentary observations, a sentence from Mr. Offin's first letter to the Chelmsford Chronicle. "The aver- age wages of the majority of my men throughout the year," he said, "upon all my occupations, are from 15J. to i6j. per week." Some of the men, Mr. Offin told us, have done even better than this, for he was anxious that his statement should be under rather than over the mark. It must be remembered, too, in connection with the subject of wages, that the men have only to pay nominal rents for the cot- tages we have described, — that is to say, the cottages are let, free of all rates and extra charges, some at £,6, and some at £^ los. per annum, Zs. being returned to one class of tenants, and 2s. 6il. to the other, when the rent is paid punctually, as it invariably is. The cottages, with the land adjoining, are worth, we should say, nearly double what is charged. In addition to all this, the labourer gets his children taught for a mere bagatelle, so that he can- not by any means be said to be badly off. Just the same state of things prevails in the parish of Ingrave, where we saw some excellent cottages that have been erected by Lord Petre. Those standing in odd places about the parish have a piece of garden ground attached, as at Hutton, while the tenants of those forming the village have allotments close at hand. Regarding the number of labourers employed by Mr. Offin — for that was a point to which " Observer " directed special attention in his strictures upon off-hand farming — we questioned two or three persons likely to be informed upon the subject. One man, who has known the whole district for many years, told us that there were at least twice, if not three times, as many men employed on many of the farms which Mr. Offin has acquired as there were when they foiined separate holdings, and that the grand total of men was something considerably more than it was formerly. The way in which this large consolidation of farms is managed is somewhat after this fashion. Every separate farm is visited at least once a week either by Mr. Offin personally or by one of his sons, while, except in one or two cases, where they are let to tenants, the old farm- houses are divided into two tenements, one occupied by a horsekeeper, the other by a stockman or looker, and it is the busmess of these per- sons to see that all goes on as it should. The horse-keepers and lookers have between them the same amount of garden ground as sufficed for the old tenants, and, in addition to his wage, each has an allowance of is. per week for firing. In all there are nine lookers, and generally each has a horse to himself. Several horses are also kept for the use of Mr. Offin and his sons. And now for a word on Mr. Offin's system of farming. Nearly all the land he holds is heavy, and the average depth of his drainage is about 3 feet. He uses the steam-plough, but only goes a moderate depth. In almost every grass field we observed a large herd of bullocks or a flock of sheep, so that he makes a good deal of his own manure, and what he uses besides are chiefly, if not entirely, Peruvian guano and superphosphate of lime — the home-made manure being applied to the grain crops, and the artificial to the green crops. He is what we should call a thin seeder, sowing ij bush, of Wheat to the acre, of Barley 2 bush., and of Oats 3 bush. Harvest had been commenced at Hutton the day before our visit ; at Latchingdon, as is usually the case, it was commenced a week eadier. We thought, from what we saw at Hutton, there would be a good average crop of Wheat, and perhaps something above an average of the other grain crops and of roots. To his late uncle, Mr. Abraham Offin, the present Mr. Offin ascribes the seed of his success. The uncle died in 1S55, at which time Mr. John Offin practically became his own master. He has, since that time, considerably augmented his holdings, many farms having come into his hands under circumstances which he described in 30 2- 1. Clean the cattle thoroughly ,, 3.30 2. Clean stalls and Turnip .. ,, 4- 3. Clean out the byres .. „ 4- 30 4. Straw the cattle .. -. ,, 4-45 5. Bed up the cattle .. .. ,,5. 6. Interval ,. 7- 1. Give the cattle oilcake or bruised Oats, &c. .. ,, 7-30 2. Bed up the cattle . . . . „ 8. P.S. Each cattleman to wash his cattle once a fortnight, and to keep the dung pit well levelled down, and to turn out his cattle every 14 days, and also to attend the threshing-mill when working after % o'clock A.M. Rules for the Horsemen on Tip- perty.—x. Each horseman on enter- ing on his services at Tipperty. wiU have his horses banded to him with cart and plough harness, comb and brushes, carts, shelvings and frame, plough, shovel, graip. and key of press and com chest, all complete ; and he will have to hand the same over on loavmg. 2. All horsemen to enter the stable at 4.45 a.m. : stable clean out, dung- pit well levelled down, and horses led to the water, fed, and cleaned until half-past 5 ; breakfast from half- past s until 6 A.M. ; and when horses are not working from 6 to 6, bam igj,f.j.^, work, &c., until yoking time. -' ' 3. Horses returning from the yoke to be well rubbed down for 15 minutes, ERTV. and fed ; dinner until 12. 15 ; horses receive Oats on entering the stable, and cleaned. 4, Horses on returning at 6 o'clock p,M., are cleaned down for 15 minutes, afterwards, being watered and fed, a few Swedish Turnips given, . „ , c Stable entered at 7 P.M. ; horses cleaned well down, aftenvards watered, receive Oats or bait, and suppered up ; stable closed at 8 P.M. No horses to be aUowed to leave the stable without a stall collar on. Rules for Sabbath.— h'i horsemen to attend in the morning and evening on their horses, and in no case to be absent without appointing a substitute approved by the horseman to have charge all day by with the foreman. These rales are pasted up in the bothy at Tipperty— an institution which is intimately connected with the condition of the agricultural labourer in Aberdeenshire. This subject has been very much discussed, and the mere name of a "bothy" has been made almost sufficient to conjure up visions of dirty ploughmen and ill-clad women. One result is, that Scotch farmers — who thoroughly appreciate the result of giving a dog a bad name— now designate as "barracks" those bothies which are used as bed-rooms, and as "kitchens " those in which the labourers get their food and spend their evenings. Whatever want of orlhodo.xy my opinion may possess, I cannot help thinking that the faults in the bothy system which are held up to public reproba- tion are to be seen as frequently in the cottages of East Lothian as in the bothies of Aberdeenshire. Therefore, it seems more just to lay these faults at the door of the labourer himself than at that of the system under which n84 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. tSeptember 9, 1871. he is housed and fed. The Aberdeenshire system is to have a "kitchen" for the unmarried plouglimen in a convenient position attached to the steading, or situated near it. This is a room furnished with a long table, three or four benches, some stools, and a separate locker for each labourer, in which he keeps his "house- hold gods." It is generally the duty of an old woman to cook the food for the labourers, and to keep the room and furniture in a condition that is suppo.scd to be clean. As a rule, the labourers sleep in attics over the byres and stables, and spend their evenings in the "kitchen." .So far as the "kitchen" itself is con- cerned, I look upon it very much as a humble kind of club. The system of constructing dormitories over byres and stables is not a'Sthetically defensible ; but, practically, it is liked by the men, especially in the winter, when it is piercingly cold outside and comfort- ably warm within. Journal of the English Agricultural SocU'ty, vol. vii. [£ch's Wm\\. September 9. — Trijolium imarnatum. — Sow 4 bush, of the rough seed in the husk, or 20 lb. of clean seed per acre, and bush or chain harrow in on a clean stubble. Some give the land a stroke of the harrows before the seed is sown, purposely to raise a fine mould ; others roll or clod-crush, when the soil is crusty ; but a very fine mould is not desirable at this season. The cultivation of the crop is exceedingly simple. It follows Wheat, Barley, and Oats, and is sown from August to the close of the current month. Liming in Autumn, for winter Beans, Vetches, Clover, &c., is preferable to liming the land at the removal of these crops for Wheat or other cereals ; pulse crops being greater consumers of lime, and hence profiting more by its application than the succeeding white crops. It should be thoroughly incorporated with the surface soil, purposely to prevent its sinking to the bottom of the staple, which it is very liable to do. From 30 to 300 bush, of shells from the kiln are applied per acre ; 100 bush, being a common dose. The quantity depends upon the nature of the land, the quality of the manures used, and the length of time between the limings. Some prefer frequent limings, others give large doses at a time, with long intervals IilIuclh. Lime is also applied to grass land, either alune ur in the form ul lime-compost, and to land beinj; l.iid d..>wn permanently to grass. Winter I VA7/,'.t.— Sow for soiling or folding in spring. Some make two sowings this month, for the purpose of successive soiling and folding, one early and the other late— the last of the season ; others prefer the last sowing in October. The crop is partial to a rich clay soil, but will grow on friable land in good condition. If the land is foul, scuffle and clean it. Some manure on the flat — 15 to 20 loads of farm dung per acre- ploughing in shallow, and then drilling 3 bush, of Tares, and i bush, of Rye per acre. Others smash up and drill in the above quantity of seed, with from 3 to 5 cwt. of guano per acre. Laying ihnun Lajid to permanent meadow and pasture. — The old rule, " fill the land with seed and manure," still applies ; but modern systems of cidti- vation differ from those of the olden time. Thorough drainage and deep tillage are primary operations, that must never be neglected ; and should the land require lime, chalk, marl, or clay, these should be applied before the manure and the seed. The seeding and management afterwards are siinilar to what is given above on renovating grass land. The quantity and kind of seed will depend upon the soil and climate. The quantity varies from 30 to 70 lb. per acre, so that 50 lb. is perhaps not far from an average. Jvyc. — Sow, on land adapted for it, 24 to 3 bush, per acre. There are large tracts of poor sandy soil capable of growing Rye, which will not grow anything else, and on such it should be grown. If kept clean such land is very easily cultivated, and being generally dry, there is no obstacle in the way of carting. Where there is a command of clay, 80 loads per acre — /. c, half a load to a pole— will change, and greatly improve inch of fresh soil is brought to the surface, which forms an excellent seed-bed. In this way the grassy sward is broken and incorporated with the soil, thereby insuring its decomposition, with the destruction of insect life, more successfully than when ploughed with a single furrow. Others turn the green sward, by means of a skim-coulter, into the bottom of the furrow, to rot under the furrow slice, the land being thus left at one operation ready for the seed-drill. When Rye-grass and Clover lea lies one or two years in pasture the sward is thicker and more liable to be infested with wireworm. Insects seldom deposit their eggs in healthy pastures, but the presence of much effete matter is always to be suspected, and to rot such sufficiently for the safety of the Wheat a top-dressing of lime compost, artificial manure, or (far better) liquid manure is applied before ploughing on either of the above plans, so as to set up the rotting process, effectually decomposing the green sward under the furrow-slice, thereby depriving the young insects of food in the spring-time when they first make their appearance in the grub form, and per contra supplying food for the Wheat plant. Another plan is to plough early, and to compress the furrow- slice with a heavy presser, and then by harrowing and rolling, at intervals of a fortnight or three weeks, the green sward is effectually rotted, and a sufficiently solid seed-bed secured for the Wheat plant to stand and ripen without becoming "root-fallen." But this plan re- quires the land to he in tolerably good heart, other- wise compression will not rot the effete sward of a poor soil without some top-dressing. Notices to Correspondents. -Artificial Manures ; Yorkshiremaii, who wrote on this subject some time ago, should give us his name and address. RAPE Cake and Bean Mi:al : G. M. The following is a comparison of rape cake and bean meal in the ex- perience of a cow-keeping correspondent :— Having seen rape cake strongly recommended for cows, I was induced to try it. but the results are unsatisfactory ; several of my cows will not eat it at all. The cow I put on trial liked the rape cake, had calved about three months, and is an average cow. She gave on rape cake 3 lb. 12 oz. of butter. When 4 lb. of bean meal was substituted for 4 lb. of rape cake, she gave 5 lb. 4 oz. of butter, and 4 quarts i pint more milk. ' addition to the cikc or meal. I gave the cows 50 day of Turnips pulped up and mixed with hay straw chaff ; it is allowed to heat for 24 hours, and then given to the cows, who relish it extremely. Erratum : The Agricultural Labourer. The Editor wishes, however late, to correct a misprint on p. 1078, at the third line from the bottom of col. c. It is there desired, for the benefit of the labourer, that he should have full liberty to do the best he can for himself, without any tie, actual or implied, to farm or "parents." The word written was "parish," and the thing objected to was that local "settlement," with the habit growing out of it, which hinders the labourer from migrating to localities where labour is in demand. HA v.— Per Load of T/S Trusses. Smithfielp, Thursday, Sept. 7. leMeadowHay, 95J.toiioj. I Clover, old .. .. nor do 50 70 Inferior do ' Hay . . . . - - — I Prime new do. . . rior do — — Inferior do jup. M - - Ne» , Thursday, Sept. 7. nferior Clover . . 9, Prime 2d cut do. .. — MARK LANE. Monday, Sept. 4. The supply of English Wheat from Essex and Kent to this morning's market was very small for the season, and was cleared off at li. per qr. advance upoa the prices of this day se'nnight. There was a good attendance, and a fair demand for all descriptions of foreign, at a similar improvement. Barley, Beans, and without change. Oats are in rather better vith the turn against the buyer. Flour was Peas demand, unaltered Price Essex, Kent, Suffolk. .White 5*5— 6olRed. fine selected runs do. .59 -fizjRed. Talav, Norfolk . . Foreign .. . grmd.&dist.. Foreign . . grindJt Oats, Essex and Suffolk — Scotch and Lincolnshire. .Potato — Irish Potato — Foreign Poland and Brew 48—67 .Chev. — Malting, stilling 28— 31 'Malting . — Pigeon 51J. to 59s. ..Wind: — Foreign Small 40— ^ Peas, White, Es.sex,and Kent. .Boilers ■- — Maple, —J. to —J Grey — Tick ^9— 50 Harrow ..'49—30 '■-'■- Longpod -I — Egyptian. 33—34 t marks, delivered, -per sack I Foreign .. 29 — 30 Foreign . 38—60 per barrel 2 Wednesday, Sept. 6. The grain trade at Mark Lane to-day has been devoid of any feature of especial inlercst. There has been a moderate supply of English Wheat on offer, and the Is Irom abroad have been on a fair average scale ; teady, at Monday's prices. the trade has supply of Barley ha been inactive, but been dull, on former good ; the trade has beei place in value. Beans a at the rates previously c late rates. Monday's prices. The been moderate ; the demand has prices have been steady. Malt has The show of Oats has been |uiet, but no change has taken Peas have been disposed of rent. Flour has been fair, at [arkts. thet< A'cwly-:ih-an,-cl Cah-cs, are liable to be infested with lice on the skin, and worms in the windpipe, &c. ; our improved breeds more so than the older races. The former (lice) are easily seen behind the ears, and along the neck and back. Harsh, frequent, dry, husky coughing indicates worms in the air passages — the malady being termed *'hoose" or "hack," from the peculiar sound of the cough. ** It follows," says one of our best authoiities, Spooner, "bare pasture, with a bad supply of water. Cows are sometimes affected." Both lice and worms may be prevented by a liberal diet, with plenty of soft, filtered water to drink, so as to keep the calt growing sleek, and without losing its milk-flesh at the time of weaning. Keep other beasts in equally good heart. As for cure, consult your veterinary surgeon. Rye-grass and Clm'er leas intended for Wheat should now be ready for seed. Some rib or rafter plough the lighter class of soils with the view of rotting the sward, and at the same time getting a proper seed-bed with the desired clod. If this was done shortly after the removal of the hay crop, the land, after lying a month, is coup- ribbed, or cross-ploughed, or scarified, as circumstances may direct ; and when ploughed for the seed furrow an METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. MoNDAV. Sept. 4. We have an unusually large supply of Beasts, but they are chiefiv foreign. Prices are lower for all kinds, and a clearance' cannot be effected. There are a few more Sheep than last Monday : good English aie very scarce, and make high rates. We cease to quote Lambs, the season being over. Choice Calves are making a good price. Our foreign supply consists of 3360 Beasts, 15,800 Sheep, 424 Calves, and 20 Pigs ; from Ireland there are 150 ■" '*bik, 20; and 1620 from Best Scots, Here- fords, &c. Best Shorthorns . . 2d quality Beasts Best Downs and Half-breds Do. Shorn Beasts, Best Lonii- wools Do. Shorn Ewes & zd quality Do. Shorn Calves Pigs Sheep and Lambs, 25,500 ; Calves, 438 ; Pigs, 65. Thursday, Sept. 7. The number of Beasts is much smaller than on Tliurs- day last, the falling off being principally in foreign. There are very few choice qualities on offer, and they are sold rather dearer than on Monday. The supply of Sheep is very little altered, either of foreign or English. The trade is not quite so active as on Monday, yet prices are not much lower. Trade is brisk for Calves, at highi rates. Our foreign supply consists of 450 Beasts, 7490 Sheep, 367 Calves, and 20 Pigs. Best Scots, Here- fords, &c. . . s Best Shorthorns . . 5 quality Beasts Best Downs and Half-breds . . Do. Shorn Best Long-wools 6 Do. Shorn Ewes & zd quality 5 Arrivals of Grain, & .. INTO London by Wate rCakriacf. 1 Wheat. 1 Barley. Oats. Flour. English & Qrs. Scotch.. i 880 Irish .. — Foreign.. .2,570 Qrs. ..70 Q^. Sacks. 1 A,,.. j .3,450 1 ..80 1 .,.440 Liverpool, Sept. 3.— There was a full attendance at to-day's market. A large business was done in Wheat, at id. to 2rf. per cental advance on Friday's prices on both red and white sorts. Flour held for extreme prices. Beans 61/. higher. Oats and Oatmeal steady. Indian Corn in good demand, at the full prices of Friday last. Mixed American, 30^. ; Sheep and Lambs, 13,560: Calves, 4 METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET, Sept. 7. Best Fresh Butter 16s. per dozen lb. SEED MARKET. demand, the seed trade Neither white nor red Clover meet at present with any attention whatever. In new Trefoil seed a few trans- actions have been passing, at full prices. Trifolium moves off in retail, at late rates. Winter Tares are in fair demand, at recent currencies. White Mustard seed comes to market more^freely ; many of the samples, how- ever, appear to be in" poor condition. Rye-grasses are advancing in price. New Rape seed is in improved supply ; it meets with a brisk demand. Bird seeds are unchanged in value. John Shaw & Sons, Seed Merchants, 16, Water Lane, London, E.G. COALS.— Sept. 6. Holywell Main, 17J. ; Walls End Hartlepool, 17J. ; Walls End Kelloe, i6j. gd. ; Walls End East Hartlepool. 17J. gd. ; Walls End Original Hartlepool, l8r. 6d. — Ships at market, 9 ; sold, 9 ; at sea, 30. September g, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1 185 _, /^ rj^^^^^^^ , -^ T^^-r-.--^-^ G LATE, for Gardening and Agricullural Purposes, &c, Gray's Oval Tubular Boiler, ^--boxk....... „.,.„. „,,,.,,.„ INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, Class IX., No. 21 19. Mr. gray begs to call the attention of the Nobility, Gentry, Nurserj'nien, Gardeners, Sec, to his NEW OVAL TUBULAR BOILER. Acknowledged by practical judges to be a great improvement on every form of Tubular Boiler yet introduced It has proved itself superior to all other Boilers for quickness of action and economy of Fuel, doing its work w th one-third less the amount required by any other. Extract from Report in Gardeners' Chronicle of International Exhibition, May 24, 1862, page a,i6 " The upright form of Boiler is usi but the oval form Biven to Mr. GRAv; fire The usu furnace being a parallelogram I sf lh°l < ade of all sizes, which, with prices, may be had on application. JAMES GRAY, HORTICULTURAL WORKS, DANVERS STREET, PAULTON'S SQUARE, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, S W BAMFORD'S MODEL' GARDEN ENGINE, FOR STRENGTH ij DURABILITY UNEQUALLED. PRICE LISTS & TESTIMONIALS SENT POST FREE BAMFORD iSONS, UTTOXETER, MAi\(jtKt3, easily kept clean, non-absorbent, an GARDEN STEPS ani PAVING, unsusceptible DUST BINS, clean ■■ ■ CORN BINS, CATTLE and FRAMES, &c. ALFRED BRABY, Bangor Wharf, Belvedere Road, Lambeth, S.E. THE STEAM-ENGINE TRIALS OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY of ENGLAND, OXFORD, 1870. The FIRST PRIZES at this SHOW were again AWARDED to CLAYTON and SHUTTLEWORTH m; First Prize for Horizontal Fixed Engine of lo H.P. ; First Prize for Steam Engine, with Boiler combined At the previous Trials of Steam Engines, at Bury, 1867, CLAYTON and SHUTTLEWORTH took ALL the FIRST PRIZ ENGINEsTalso a PRIZE ofjfiis for THRESHING MACHINES, and the Society's SILVER MEDAL. CLAYTON AND SHUTTLEWORTH have received FIRST PRIZES at all Trials of the Royal . which they have competed since 1849. N.B.— All the principal Makers of Portable Engines, &c.. Com the only Trials in Great Britain conducted ade in the best con AM AND Co \ Iron thoroughly i : practical e Engines, &c., C< t Compete a PORTABLE ENGINES, from 4 to 25-Horse Power. THRESHING MACHINES, Single, Double and Treble Blast, with Patent Rolled Steel Beater Plates, and all other recent improvements. pie; GRINDING MILLS, SAW BENCHES, STRAW ELEVATORS, &o. 1^ CATALOGUES ON APPLICATION, OR FREE BY POST. CLAYTON AND SHUTTLEWORTH, 78, LOMBARD STREET, LONDON, E.G. ; S. Owens & Co., HYDRAULIC ENGINEERS, \\ 111 I 1 I 1M \RS SI R] n LONDON PC THE IMPROVED SELF ACTING HYDRAULIC RAM Thib useful Self acting fVpptrltus wlneh u rks d i\ ind niglit without needing attention to any height or distance without cost for labour or moti\e power w here a few feet fall can be obtained and suited for supplying Public or Pri\ ate Establishments Farm Buildings Railway Stations &c v -!s' description and size. /^% INDIA RUBBER RINGS for Pipe Joints •^^^U^ Sockets requii-e no other packinB, ElMU: BctUr ■ T , h^rf in London. LYNCH WHITE Old Barge I 1 ' i7- ■■■:5«^^ -_^| : s from , IToprielor. the ■I^st^ FINSBURY STEAM unhiU Row, London, E.C. sent on application. and gearing for opcnine the vci J^ Tl ese Boilers possess also of w ought iron, are notl : advantages of the old Saddle Boiler. nts, viz., the water.space at back and ddle Boiler" will do about twice the n Stock and sold onlj 1 , 6, Eankside, Southwai PortatJle and Fixed Hot-water Apparatus HEATING I ONSERVATORIES, HOTHOUSES, CHURCHES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PRUATE RESIDENCES, TRUSS' PATENT UNIVERSAL FLEXIBLE and LEAKLESS PIPE JOINT and PATENT CRACKLESS EXPANSION-JOINTED TUBULAR BOILERS, of a VARIETY of FORMS, PORTABLE or for BRICKWORK SETTING. They are the MOST POWERFUL, whilst ONLY CONSUMING HALF the FUEL of OTHER BOILERS. PORTABLE BOILERS, to HEAT ANY LENGTH of PIPING; and ANY PERSON can TAKE these BOILERS, as also the PIPES, APART, and SPEEDILY PUT THEM TOGETHER AGAIN. T. S. Truss bega to state that the immense number of APPA- RATUS annually Designed and Erected by him in all parts of the Kingdom, and for the Royal Horticultural Society at South Kensington Price Lists, Plans, and Estimates for^^'arded on applicatioi T. S. TRUSS, C.E., Sole Manufacturer, Consulting Horticultural Engineer, Iron Merchant, Hot-w( Steam Apparatus Manufacturer, Friar Street, Southwark Bridge Road, London, S.E. 5j>^ £iO o o £79 0 ,^^;^e GARDEN I *.ijf'J?^,iVie--' 3 fl. by 4 ft. lights, s in. thick, unglazed . 3«. -S^i^^^^^^_ --^ ,, >i » glazed, i6-oz. good sheet glass .. .. 6j. 01. good sheet glai nped envelope, i Portable h LIGHTS AND BOXES. , unglazed , i6-oz. good sheet glass "iz-e-c^'i ' STEVENS' "TRENTHAM" IMPROVED CORNISH BOILER. The Advertisers have great pleasure in calling the attention of Gardeners, and all interested in Horliculture, to the above excellent Boilers. Being of the most simple construction, and in wrought iron, they are very durable, economical, and powerful ; and, in the opinion of many competent judges, are superior to all other Boilers, even to the most approved form of Tubulars. Appended are a few Testimonials !— " Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, S. 1 SIR,-: :hey ; replaced ... ., months, we are very pleased to be able to report most favourably of them. They are certainly more powerful than the Tubulars Ihev : M-ork, and examine to many people, and A ' Combe Abbey Garden: ure they will by nproved Cornish. Its introduction has made our heating a master- lece, one Boiler heating 4000 feet of 4-inch pipe. It saves consider- ily both in time and labour, by comparison with the now discarded ubular Boiler. " Wm. Millei!." ' Ingestre Hall, Staflord." " Dear Sir.— I am delighted with your Improved Cornish BoilerJ It is by far the simplest and most powerful Boiler I ever used, and believed possible, unless I had had ocular demonstration of the fact. " W. Phipps." " Huntroyde Park, Burnley, " D6.\R Sir.- We have had your Improved Cornish Boiler "PYf""? that^I cannot speak too highly in its praise. ■,.,,_ "I have worlted a gool many kinds of Boilers, but not one that requires so little fuel and labour to do so great an amount of work as ' Atherstone Grapery. 'DEAR SOLE MAKERS-THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE ENGINEERING CO., LIMITED, FENTON, STOKE-ON-TRENT. LONDON AGENT-JAMES GRAY, HORTICULTURAL Works, DANVERS STREET, CHELSEA, S.W. From either of whom full PartictUars, with Sizes and Prices, and Testimonials, can be obtained. September 9, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1 187 -The TWENTY-FIRST SESSION BEGIN on MONDAY, Oc.obtr_2^_rrospe<:tu5es may_be. had on QCHOOL BOTANY; OR, THE RUDIMENTS O BOTA Illustratic AT OTICE.— ROYAL SCHOOL of MINES, Jermyn , -L~ Street, London.—The TWENTY-FIRST SESSION will | ir 2. Trospcctuses may be had or TRENHAM REEKS, Registrar. CANCER HOSPITAL. Brompton, and 167, Piccadilly, W.— In consequence of a Considerable increase in the number o Indoor Patients in this Hospital, which now exceeds Sixty, greai additional expenses have been incurred. The Board earnestly sblicii further SUPPORT,, to enable them to continue to afford Relief to thai portmno^tj^ic^^^oorsu^enng^romt^^stem^ Bankers— Messrs. Coutts & Co., Strand. Office and Out-patients' Establishment, 167, Piccadilly, By Order, H. J. JUPP, Sc( Works on Botany, by Dr. Llndley. , 8vo, half bouDd, with 4 n Guineas a Life Governor. ... J. JUPP ,. Governor; and a Donation rriHE LANDS IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. DRAINAGE, RECLAMATION, FARM BUILDINGS. LABOURERS' COTTAGES, TRAMWAYS, " ' Directors. John Glutton, Esq. I Granville R. Ryd< Frederick L. Dash' ' " " ~ _ hwood, Esq. Henry Farquhar, Esq. LordGarlies, M.P. John Horatio Lloyd, Esq. t'i^s Watkfn'i sq.. M.P. (Chairman), ited in amount, for all purposes Erection of Cottages and id other Estates, and to msent of their Landlords, execute the 1 the Farms which they occupy, charging UTILIS.\TION of SEWAGE.— The Company Qoney for the purpose of Works of Sewage Irrigation. The whole outlay and expenses are liquidated by a rt RYDER, Esq., Managing Director, No, i, Gre: Agricultural Land Improvements. DRAINAGE, SEWAGE IRRIGATION, FARM BUILDINGS, LABOURERS' COTTAGES. &c. THE GENERAL LAND DRAINAGE and IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. (Incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1849.) T. Chapman, Esq., F.R.S. George Thomas Clark, Esq. JohnC. Cobbold, Esq. Henry William Currie, Esq. Edward John Hutchins, Esq, OF Botany, comprisir MEDICAL and QECONOMICAL BOTANY ; 01 . Account of the Principal Plants employed in Medicir Domestic CEconomy. In i vol. 8vo, with numerous Woodcuts, THE ELEMENTS of BOTANY, Stkuctu and nu'^mTrourilTultration^ ]^''\^.. ^^°^^^^ o*" Technical Terms, This completes the series of J Professor Lindley, of which "School Botany," and " The Vegetable Kingdom," form the other parts. The first two Parts of The Elem Structural and Physiological Eotanyj and a Glossary of Eo't; School Botany. N.B. The Glossary may be had separate! rjlHE VEGETABLE KINGDOM; or. The Structure, Cl.\ssification, and Uses of Plants. Illustrated upon the Natural System. In One Volume, 8vo, cloth, price 36s., with upwards of 500 Illustrations. "The Vegetable Kingdom contai plants of no known importance to mai The principal pS^of 'those^S^ other Students who have made the' can be brought by teach* among the earliest subjects of stud : pages, where they are arranged in the '^EGETABLE Kingdom ' of the author, with :e of younger students woult^ be consulted trusts that this selection will be found to ly that all teachers who possess reasonably trating their lectures, and all Botanic irger part of the species which are men- ^nsabfe ; firstly, because a :he reach of the majority of ;nence shows us that those : BRADBURY. EV^ Principal Engineer, Mr. J. BAILEY DENTON, Agricultural Improvements of every kind are execul Company, or the outlay thereon repaid to I carr>ing out the works by thei Tenant Farmers may also, The outlay, with all official e'xper Estate, and paid off by a Rent-charge Landowners who prefer 1 their Lajidlords, charged upon the UTILISATION of SEWAGE. Special arrangements will be made with Boards of Health, S( Authorities, and others, for undertaking Works of Sewage Imga together with all Works incidental thereto. The outlay in res LAND COMPANY, Chairfitan—Jouy Hegan, Esq. Assent in the Republic— 'E.. Harry Woods, Esq., C.E., Buenos Ayres. Superintendenl— William Perkins, Esq., Rosario de Santa Fd. Tenants or Purchasers, PLOTS, varying from 80 to 400 ACRES each, of the COMPANY'S LAND, situate on each side of the Central Argentine Railway, from the Port of Rosario to the City of Cordova, the entire length being 246 miles. Towns and Villages are being laid out at various points on the Line, where smaller Plots may be secured A.jTes— 87, Calle de 85, Palmerston ] abtained at the Offices of the Con ildings, Bishopsgate Street, E.C. la Reconquista; entral Argentine Railway ; Land (about 1,000,000 Acres), t< already established, can be inspc GEORGE WOOLCOTT, Secrt ishopsgate Street, London, E.C. THE NEW METHOD of GROWING FRUIT and FLOWERS (by the Rev. John Folntaine, Southacre, Brandon) ■J""rT Third Editi ure " Office, 1 1, Illustrated. Free 1 . Fleet Street ; or to th T O U DON ' Foi-ei"n " Propagation. Culture, , halfr JE D E N C Y C L O TREES and SHRUBS, Comaining the Hardy Trees and Shrubs of Great Britain, N "^ 'ly and populariy described, with d Uses in the Arts, wiih n^-arli/ T Thouss " WARNE AND CO., Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London, > BOTANY. Fourth Editi. Two Vols., 8vo. with Six Cop Engravings. Price 24s. cloth. London: LONGMANS, GREEIS INTRODUCTION Plates and numerous Wood 3 CO., Paternoster Row, E.C, THE ACME GARDEN FRAME and GROUND VINERY. , Commercial Street, S J Horticultural and Window Glass Warehouses. AMES MILES, 6, High Street, and 12 and CONSERVATORY and'ORCHARD-HOUSE GLASS. Genuine White Lead, Oils, Colours, Brushes, 6fc. GARDEN ENGINES, PUMPS, SYRINGES, INDIA-RUBBER HOSE, TAPS, CONNECTIONS, &c Prices upon application. QSLER' ( London— Show Room CRYSTAL GLASS CHANDELIERS, TABLE Glass of all kinds. CHANDELIERS IN BRONZE AND ORMOLU, ""'^""•"' ■■ -mps, and Lamps lor India. O.KFORD STREET, \V. Rooms, Broad Street Moderator Lamp; Protection from Fire. .fflE PUBLIC ARE CAUTIONED ACAINSf DANGEROUS IMITATIONS. I^IN L li . WHISKY.- •e'c'^,^ ■ Wholesale Dep8t,6A, Great Titchfield S w LLIAM YOUNGER ANI DINNER ALE.— Sparkling and Refreshing. INDIA PALE ALE.— Unsurpassed as a Toni< DINBURGH ALE.— Nourishing and Invigorati Of all Retailers, in Cask and Bottle. FARM B adopted i SPON, 48, Chan . and in good condit 1855, handsomely Notice. {By Appointment to the Royal Horticultural Society.) To HORTICULTURAL IMPLEMENT MAKERS, NURSERY. MEN, FLORISTS, and OTHERS. A DAMS^ AND^ FR.-\NCIS JNSERT ADVERTISE ADAMS AND FI t Agents, 59, Fleet S THE COTTAGER'S CALENDAR OF GARDEN OPERATIONS, BY THE LATE SIR JOSEPH PAXTON, M.P. KV.-eVa-^l'E.li !tamt.\\aGAKDENERS' CHRONICLE AND AGRICULTURAL C.-)Z.£'7T^, with ADDITIONS. Price 3d. each, or 5s. for 25 Copies for distribution amongst Cottage Tenantry, Str rjT H the appeti Beware of imitat bottles and labels. Sauce.— Lea & Perrina "WORCESTERSHIR E." by connoisseurs "the only good Sauc( aids digestion. Unrivalled for p ' Dealers in Sauces throughout 1 ■pvINNEFORD'S JLy The best remedy for Aci( for'ilA'A d s< BLACKWELL, London ; and ! FLUID MAGNESIA.— ity of the Stomach, Heartburn, Head- s'for Ladtls. Cllildren"and I°nfan°ts!^^ ° New Bond Street, London ; and of all GI-OU1 and RHEUMATISM.— The e.\cmciating w days by that celebrated Medicine, RHEUMATIC PILLS. and are certain to prevent the disease attackir Sold by all Medicine Vendors, at is. i%d. obtained through any Chemist. BLAIR'S GOUT and lement during their use, , Etnd 21. gd. per box, or PILLS. COCKLE These Pills ( ANTIBILIOUS of a careful and peculia) Idest vegetable They will be found of the Camomili and bowels, PUBLISHED at the OFFICE of the GARDENERS' CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE, 41, WELLINGTON STREET, COVENT GARDEN, W.C. Every Saturday, of any Boo!...- -i^-.:. -IM lYIiATTERSEA, EARLY YORK, .•,:'! I ■■ M ■■■■■.. ' "MlKll.. LITTLfi PIXIE, and Ri 'II ■ II 1 1 1 K.\D, at 3t per IIQO The Gardeners* Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September 1871. , SOLD, for WANT of ROOM. FERNS.— Lomaria gibba, Pteris serulata, Gymnogramma Polypodium trichodes, all strong, healthy plants, in & ^. per dozen ; 305. per 100. Dicksonia antarctica, sti in 48-sized pots, SELAGINELLAS. — Martensii, spoda, denticulata, and Double GERANIUMS, strong scarlets, in bloom, 12s. per 100. Terms, cash. Remittance or reference must accompany all or from unknown correspondents. Post-oihce Orders payable Huntingdon, All package free for cash with order. KIRK ALLEN, The Nurseries. Brampton, Huntingdon. ,,.&• each; 2s.pe dozen. - Martensii, » pots, 35. per spod dozen ■class sorts, per 100 plants, c M-^ Kare PI 4Ss:^ , Chel Blioaodeiidron and Ferlskia Stocks, and Epiphyllums QEEDLING RHODODENDRONS, from the best 2 to 4 inches high, twice transplanted, fine well-rooted plants 4 to 6 inches high, twice transplanted, fine well-rooted plants 6 to 9 inches high, thrice transplanted, fine well-rooted plants Eio to 12 inches high, four times transplanted, fine well-rooted plants, fit for grarting. PERISKIA, Stocks, strong. EPIPHYLLUMS. in variety, good. Prices on application to B. WHITHAM, The Nurseries, Reddish, WILLIAM SCALING, Willow Nurseryman WILLOW PLANTS and CUTTINGS for TIMBER and ORNA MENT.*\L TREES for HEDGES and GAME COVER Is and fir BASKET-MAKING purposes. CATALOGUES free upon appli The SALIX, or WILLOW, a revised and enlarged Edition, taininp Instructions fc — ' ' ~ ' ' ' "' Game Coverts, Post i Boses.-New Hoses, Gladioli, Camellias, Azaleas, P.EONIES, &c., from PARIS. '.EVEQUE ET FILS, Nurserymen, Ivry sur Seme ulevard dc I'Hopital, Pans). De^ to inforn and Friends i E Gladioli, Amaryllis, New Eoses. Pseonies, Iris, LILIU.MS, PHLOX, &c. UGENE VERDIER, FiLS Aine;, trasts that CATALOGUES ^ 'mdin"F'; IER.'fil :t Irom him about bept -, 1 CO., Co.\'s yua>. Lower ulteur,3, RueDunois Pans GladloU, GladloU.-To the Trade. EUGENE VERDIER, FiLS AiNE, NURSERYMAN, 3. Rue Dunois, Paris, offers to his Friends a considerable stock of fine BULBS of his unrivalled collection of above; also the following (S,), Anliope (S), Ariane (S-). Arsiniie (S.), Beatrix (S.), Celi'm6nc (S.l, Didon (S.), Jupiter (S), Mincrve (S.), Ossian (S.), Phojbus (S.), Virginalis (S.i CATALOGUES, with description, will be obtainable about September 2::. by addressing direct to E. V., fils ain6 ; or of his Agents, C. J- BLACKITH AND CO., Co.i's Quay, Lower Thames Street, E.C. JEAN VERSCHAFFELT begs to offer the following, O in fine healthy plants, at the undermentioned low prices, viz. :— CAMELLIAS, I to t'4 foot high, with buds, best sorts, all named varieties (selection left to J. v.), £7 per 100 ; larger, ;Cio per 100. AZALEA INDICA, fine plants with buds, first-rate varieties, £s OTAHe'it'e' ORANGES, with'frui", "as^pa dozen. JASMINUM GRANDIFLORUM, fine grafted plants, flowering all JEAN VERSCHAFFELT, Nu "l^EW ai he carriage will be paid to London ! fine varieties DOUBLE GERANIUMS 40 1 superb new varieties DOUBLE GERANIUMS of 1870 ..80 1 varieties best selected FUCHSIAS 20 r varieties new FUCHSIAS of 1871 40 ! varieties best selected VERBENAS 20 ! fine new varieties VERBENAS of 1871 26 1 varieties best selected COLEUS 20 ! fine new varieties COLEUS of 1871 26 I varieties best selected CHRYSANTHEMUMS .. ..26 I fine varieties new CHRYSANTHEMUMS of 1871 .. ..30 i fine new varieties PENTSTEMONS 40 lAL PHLOXES 30 I varietiesselectedZONAL GERANIUMS 30 • finenewvarielicsZONAL GERANIUMSof 1870 .. ..60 r fine var. GOLD and GOLDEN BICOLOR GERANIUMS 6 o r fine varieties JAPANESE AUCUKAS 13 o 1 new varieties Hardy CHILIAN MIMULUS 30 I fine varieties ACHIMENES 26 I fine varieties IRIS ( I fine varieties SEDUMS 12 select varieties SA.XI FRAG AS 12 fine varieties ANTIRRHINU.MS 12 select varieties PANSIES 12 fine varieties JAPANESE EUONYMUS 12 fine varieties BO UVARDI AS 12 fine varieties MESEMBRYANTHEMUMS .. 12 select varieties HELIOTROPIUMS 12 select varieties LANTANAS 12 fine varielies PELARGONIUMS 12 fine varieties IVY-LEAF GERANIUMS 50 select varieties FUCHSIAS 50 select varieties CHRYSANTHEMUMS >.. SO select v.inclies HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS 100 select v.iricties HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS 12 fine varieties DOUBLE and SINGL ^ 12 fine varieties TROP/EOLUMS .. 12 fine varieties HYDRANGEAS , . ies VIOLA ODORATA Dutch Flower Boots. DOWNIE, LAIRD, and LAING have now received their annual importations of FLOWER ROOTS, consisting of Hy.icinths, Polyanthus, Narcissus, Double Narcissus, Crocus, Tulips, Jontiuils, Ranunculus, Anemones, Snowdrops, &c., which have all been carefully selected from the most celebrated establishments in Holland. The Bulbs this season arc well ripened, unusually large, and very heavy, and have arrived in splendid condition. Descriptive CATALOGUES forwarded post free. Nurseries: Forest Hill, S.E. ; and Edinburgh, N.B. Dutcn Flower Boots. ■ RTER'S AUTUMNS' CATALOGUE of DUTCH DICK RADCLYFFE AND CO., Seedsmen, lorticultural Decorators and Garden Furnishers, 29, High Holborn, W.C. Seed Grounds, Erfurt, Prussia. Exhibition Hyacinths. [UTTONS' SUPERB DUTCH ^^4 H\ ACINTHS, for Pots and Glasses, -iS selected for Exhibition purposes. ^^ CHEAPER COLLECTIONS, l^° A// Flower Roots carriage free. SUTTON .IND SONS. Seedsmen, by Special Appointment, to the Queen and H.R.H. the S fine varieties ECHEVERIA 1 fine varieties GREENHOUSE CLIM_E_ERS_ GREENHOUSE SUCCULENTS ..fir. 1 I I \l sGREENHOUSE PLANTS e darkest, for is. 6d. VERONICAS whitest; Sultan, :: I B. W. KNIGHT, Florist, Battle, Sussej. R^„ „ inctudme priLes of Hardy Exotic Ferns), of his Priced Descripi CATALbeUE of BRITISH and EXOTIC FERNS, No. 7. Foot's Cray Nursery, Sidcup Hill, Kent. CO., Handsworth Nursery, Sheflicld, are now sending out an exceedingly pretty Thyme, of an erect-growing but J"':'f^|i- dark green in the centre, and with a bruad rich golden-yellow mar- very effective for edging flower beds, boolers, or riband planting, and for growing in masses on banks, or in otner varied forms; it may be grown as bushes or pyramids for winter bedding, bavin fectly hardy. Altogether, it may be considered as on ectly hardy. Altogethei 1 Thyn Royal Horticultural Society on Jun. 871, and received a First-class Certificate ; also at the Royal H ultura! Show at Nottingham, a First-class Certificate. I plant for 2S. 6j.j.^ j^| P ^q^^.^"" ^ ^" "P*^' ^i^jjj^ ings, consequently bemg much EN VASES, FO GARDEN VASES, FOUNTAINS, lurable and of superior finish, and in great variety c F. andG. ROSHER, Manufacturers, Upper Grc 7^^ ,cv BOXES Black- >ad, E. -, -LANT FOXLEY'S covTAV -- PATENT BEADED GARDEN WALL BRICKS. Illustrated Price Lists free by post. The Trade supplied. ORNAMENTAL PAVING TILES for Conservatories, Halls, Corridors, Balconies, &c., from 31. per square yard upwards. Pattern Sheets of plain or more elaborate designs, with prices, sent for selection. WHITE GLAZED TILES, for Lining Walls ofDairies, Larders, Kitchen Ranges, Baths. &c. Grooved and other Stable Paving of great durability, Wall Copings, Drain Pipes and Tiles of all kinds. Roofing opings. k and Tile Merchants.— See addresses a trse grain as desired. uelivery oy cart wiinin tnree miles, or to any London Railway or Wharf, 2J. per Ton extra. Samples of Sand free by post. FLINTS and BRICK BURRS for Rockeries or Kerneries. KENT PEAT or LOAM s ■• ■ • "W. ROSHER.-Addres . Wharves. Notice of Removal PHILIP PALMER has REMOVED from his old- established WINDOW and HORTICULTURAL GLASS WAREHOUSE, 118, St. Martin's Lane, W.C, to more extensvie premises, at 36. ST. MARTIN'S LANE, nearly opposite. Glass for Garden Purposes. AMES PHILLIPS AND CO. beg to submit their REDUCED PRICES as follows :- PROPAGATING Jincesm lameter .. o 3, JJ mc es m lameter 4 „ „ .. o sk 1.4 „ I ;; ;; ;; ° |« ;| ;; ;; London Agents for HARTLEY'S IMPROVED PATENT ROUGH PLATE. LINSEED OIL, Genuine WHITE LEAD, CARSON'S PAINTS. PAINTS of various colours ground ready for use. SHEET and ROUGH PLATE GLASS, SLATES of all sizes, BRITISH PLATE.PATENT PLATE.ROLLED PLATE,CROWN, SHEET, HORTICULTURAL, ORNAMENTAL, COLOURED, and every description of GLASS, of the best Manuiacture.at the lowest terms, lists of Prices and Estimates forwarded on applicalion to JA3. PHILLIPS AND CO., 180, Bishopsgate Street Without, E.C. September l6, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agfricultural Gazette. 191 SIR J. PAXTON'S HOTHOUSES for the MILLION. Reduced Price Lists free. A Pamphlet, with Views of these and other Glass Roofs, for three stamps.— HEREMAN AND MORTON, 14, Ticbborne Street, Regent Quadrant, London, W. Horticultural Buildings. ;■ CATA HORTICULTURAL 1 A SHANKS AND SONS' • HORTICL uding DESIG TALOGUE of 1 IRON and WOOD, GRAND WINTER GARDEN recently erected by them in Edinburgh, will be forwarded on receipt of Dens Iron Works, Arbroath, Forfarshire ; and 27 Leadenhall Street, London, E.G. G. MESSENGER. Hot-water Engineer Loughborough, is delivering HOT-WATER PIPES &c free r (nett) — The Patent Imperisliatile Hothouse. YRES'S PATEN glass, IRON, and CONCRETE, ore building a Plant or Fruit House of any kind, sen 15, and obtain the Illustrated Prospectus of the IMPERISHABLE HOTHOUSE COMPANY, Newark-upon-Trent, Notts. MANAGER— W. P. AYRES, C.M.R.H.S., Forest Road West, Nottingham. , Specifications and Estimates supplied upon the shortest r JAMES WATTS AND CO., HOTHOUSE Builders and Hot W ater Appar. Tt;s Man FAtrrt^RERS 35? O d Ken Road London S E chamber and Valve for Pumps. Thousands at w Prices :— 4-inch, 21J. ; s-inch, 17s. W. ; 2 MESSENGER'S PATENT HOT-WATER 200, GLASSES al si References o Coun n Ent LIGHTS 6 feet by 4 t Gentry and Trade O T-W A T E APPARATUS laterials supplied lor Heat ng MHOUSES, TKlnUarBaUr HOTHOUSES, INSERVATOR- CHURCHES, CONSERVATORIES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS. &c HOT-WATER PIPES at whole sale prices ; Elbows, T Pieces Syphons, and R(5UGHT and CAST-IRON CONICAL. SADDLE, and IMPROVED CO^iICAL, also Elliptic, Boilers, f :xtra strong C ater Bars, fro ■ CAST-IRON TUBULAR BOILERS, CAST and WROUGHT.IRON PORTABLE BOILERS, on Stand, or use without brickwork, from 6oi. each. P.rUhUB«Ur. J,'iT,r^''^°^Ii-^^!i\ ?'d" FURnI!! Patent THROTTLE and FURNACE DOORS, BARS, WORK of every description and INDIA-RUBBER RINGS Sockets require no other pacidng, and are perfectly water-tight. Whar'fin L', Chelsea, S."" IrfSl'fC Mr. Stevens' ting a master- aves consider- d Cornish Boiler ' Dear Sir,— We have had i " Ingestre Hall, Staflord.' EAR MR,— 1 am aeiigniea wuh your Improved Comi-'- **-=' by far the simplest and most powerful Boiler 1 ever i mises my fuel and labour to an extent that I could ■ed possible, unless I had had ocular demonstration of tl " Huntroyde Park, Burnley, mproved Cornish Boiler upwards ' I have worked a good many kinds of Boilers, but not one that luircs so little fuel and labour to do so great an amount of work as irs, and when the Boiler becomes known it will be very generally :d. "H.Lindsay." "Atherstone Grapery. ' Dear Sir,— Your Boiler is the simplest and most powerful that I !r used, and I would back it to beat any boiler now in use, for jnomy of fuel and labour with thorough efficiency. ' It is a real Ganim«j' Boiler, and wUl be a Hot-Water Pipes and Boilers. TONES AND SONS deliver HOT-WATER PIPES and CONNECTIOiSS, with BOILERS of every , free to any Station in England, for Cash with order ; or they a liberal Discount for Cash at their Wharf in London. Greenliouses and Conservatories. H FREEMAN and SONS' Horticultural- • Works. io6. Mare Street, Hackney, E. Established 25 years. Good substantially made GREENHOUSES.glazed, ready for fixing, wide, £50:21 feet by 13 feet, ^£28; 12!^ feet by ome CO\SERVATORY on hand, 35 "^ feet by ymen LIGHTS i;25 per 1000 feet. ^_ lS'Po = Portable and Fixed Hot-water Apparatus 1NSERVAT0RIES, HOTHOUSES, CHURCHES, PLBLIC BUILDINGS, PRI\ \TE RESIDENCES, TRLSS P\TENT UNI\ERS'VL FLEXIBLE and LE\kLtSS PIPE JOINT and PATENT CRACKLESS EXP V\ I IN JOINTED TUBULAR BOILERS, of a VARIETY ft R IS PORTABLE or fo BRICKW ORK SETTING. They a c MOST POWERFUL vh St ONLY CONSUMING HALF he FUEL of OTHER BOILERS PORTABLE BOILERS, to HE-VT AN\ LENGTH of PIPING and ANY PERSON can TAKE these BOILERS as also he PIPES, APART, and PEEDIL\ PUT THEM TOGETHER AGAIN. T S Truss hegs o s a e hat he mmense number of APPA RATUS annuall Des gned and Erec ed b him ih all parts of the Iv ngdom and fo he Roj a Hort cultural Soc ety at South Kensington d Ch s ck h un vailed sat sfac on s a guarantee for skill of e gn supenor ma enals and good o kmanship : while the great ngof pe fectlj tghtj erected compared wu 5t of Appaiati i ly and exped ously cc L s Plans and Es ma es fon a ded on application t 1 S TRUSS, C E , So e Manufacturer, t ng Hor cultural Engineer Iron Merchant Hot wate C 0.. Norwich, : CON- WS. BOULTON Al Manufacturers. New labour-saving machinery enables us to supi)ly fi SERVATORIES, VINERIES, ORCHARD HOUSES, FORCING PITS, &c., at very low prices. Designs and Estimates furnished. Carriage paid to any station in the kingdom. MELON and CUCUMI'F" t i^..T« ...J.. f„, dcl-.-en-. LONDON AGENT—JAMES GRAY, Horticultural Works, DANVERS STREET, CHELSEA, S.W. From either of whom full Particulars, with Sizes and Prices, and Testimonials, can be obtained. 8 feet long 1 . Za 15 I 16 f . £3 .7 I =4 f it..£s If prepared with wood alls, to Duud on oncK wau, ana iignts to slide, prices, carriage paid as above :— loi feet long by6 feet wide.. j£3 ol 24! feet long by 6 feet wide. . £7 c I7l feet long by 6 feet wide. . Zs o I 3ii feet long by 6 feet wide. . £9 c Other sizes at prices in proportion. PLANT PRESERVERS. Illustrated Catalogues free on application. Rose Lana Works, Norwich, 1 192 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ap^ricultural Gazette, [September 16, 1871. wt. PAUL'S ROSES are NOW in BLOOM, nspection respectfuUy in\ited. Amont'st Novelties are the beautiful Hvbrid Perpetual PRINCESS CHRISTIAN, PRINCESS liEATRICE, PRINCE LEOPOLD, and a number of other English ind Foreign Seedlings. Trains from Bishopsgate Station, Great Eastern Railway, and St Pancras Station, Midland Railway, to Waltham Station, in about lalf an hour. Entrance ftom the platform, Waltham Station. PAUL'S Nurseries, Waltham Cross, London, N. Si w!t°h^TlJ *>t^f full Cullura] I Ranunculus ditto Anemones Crocus I Tulips, early and la :r kinds of Flower Roots. Price i ND SONS, Seedsmen _b>;_SpeciaI Appoir f Wales,' Readini;'" Hugh Low & Co. INVITE INSPFXTION OF THEIK VERY EXTENSIVE STOCK OF ERICAS, EPACRIS, CAMELLIAS, AZALEAS, TREE CARNATIONS, AND OTHER WINTER AND SPRING-BLOOMING PLANTS, All of excellent quality. CLAPTON NURSERY, LONDON, E. PAUL'S HYACINTHS, TULIPS, &c. " Mr. Wm. Paul * « • • well maintained the liigh reputat: of this class of flowers." — Journal of Horticulture, 1871. "A remarkably fine display of Tlyacinths. " — Gardeners Chronicle. he enjoys for the successful culti^ William Paul NCE THAT HIS HYACINTHS, TULIPS, CROCUSES, and other DUTCH FLOWER ROOTS Have arrived in excellent condition, and he respectfully solicits early Orders. PRICED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE Free by Post. DUTCH FLOWER To H.R.H. tie BOOTS, Pri^ice of wales. CARRIAGE FREE. PAUL'.S NURSERIES and SEED WAREHOUSE, WALTHAM CROSS, LONDON, N. AT PRESENT, THE WINTER-GARDEN, AT ^Mr. Wm. Bulls Establishment^ IS A MOST LOVELY SIGHT. The GRAPE VINES, which are festooned over the building, are literally covered with Grapes. These are ^rown for the purpose of shading the specimen plants, which are alone worth a journey to see. Thousands of bunches of Grapes over-hanging magnificent plants of the grand ABYSSINIAN MUSA, matchless TREE FERNS, noble PALMS, picturesque ENCEPHALARTOS, graceful DRAC^NAS, and other Plants, present a coup d'ail unequalled in Europe, and perhaps in the World. An inspection of the above, as also of the NEW PL.\NTS, which are the great speciality, is invited, and cm always be made by application at the Office. ESTABLISHMENT for NEW and RARE PLANTS, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, LONDON, S.W. NEW CRIMSON PRIMROSE, PHIMULA JAPONICA. •^ Mr. William Bull Begs to announce that he is NOW SENDING OUT this NEW HARDY PRIMROSE. It has been recently fibred in the " Florist and Pomologist," " Floral Magazine," and " Botanical Magazine ; " and the opinion of every one who has seen it in blossom maybe e,\pressed in the one word, "lovely!" When exhibited before the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, it was voted a First-class Certificate by acclamation. since Mr. Fortune met with it in Japan.a baskei having been brought to his door; tney were, ol the journey home was too much for them* and d reached England alive. Ever since that time 1 since plants ' of the Primroses 1 i from seeds imported by Mr. Fortune plants have been istablishment of Mr. W- Bull, of Chelsea. Our gardens ured a perfectly new, thoroughly hardy, and exquisitely sc, one which is really valuabPc on account of its intrinsic au'ty. Of the hardiness of the Primula iaponica there can be no plants which have been standing all the winter, fully : trying atmosphere of London, arc perfectly healthy, and L _ .. .L_ __: jj.p p|- May^ some two or three weeks :n potted and flowered under glass " 'Floral Magazine" remarks,- i was displayed for the first t; ot recollect so great a sensati "Since the day when Lilium , when Mr. W. Bull exhibited iistory is now well known, and To Mr. Fortune, already so icparate whorls of flow :an anything be added d the plant, moreover, perfecily hardy— 5 to indicate its value ? We hardly think eful plant has not been for many years its hardiness there can be no doubt, as it ist severe winter in the neighbourhood of The Plants now offered are very strong and healthy, in 4-inch pots, and will be sure to bloom beautifully next Spring. Early Orders are respectfully solicited to insure having the strong Plants, for the demand is expected to be very large. Price 10s. 6d. each, or £4 lOs. per dozen. Coloured Plates can be supplied at \s. 6d. each. Those wishing to add this splendid Primula to their Gardens, are recommended to procure Plants, for even if imported Seed should be offered this season, it can scarcely be expected to grow. Mr. Fortune imported Seeds many times during a period of 10 years, but they always failed to vegetate, except in one ' country in a special manner. when sent ESTABLISHMENT for NEW and RARE PLANTS, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, LONDON, S.W. JAMES CARTER & CO. Having received their Consignment of DUTCH FLOWER ROOTS, which have arrived in splendid condition, beg to offer the following COLLECTIONS of BULBS, which will be found to contain, in the best quality, all the sorts required for the purposes mentioned : — CARTER'S COLLECTIONS of BULBS for CONSERVATORY and Vi^INDOW DECORATION, including Basket and Packing, and Carriage Free. Price los. 6d., zix., 4«. 63J., and 84J. CARTER'S "GUINEA" Col- lection of BULBS for CONSERVATORY and WINDOW DECORATION, including Box and Packing, and Carriage Free. Contains— 12 HYACINTHS, in ijcxtrafine i 6 TULIPS, Rex rubrorura. I POLYANTHUS NARCIS- 3 „ La Candeur. SUS, in 9 varieties. '3 „ Roval Standard. . CKOCUS, finest named. 13 " Rosa Mundi. ' DIELYTKA SPECTABILIS. 6 „ Due Van ThoL LILIUM SPECIOSUM. I 1 AMARYLLIS FORMOSISSI- nixed.. IMUS. TRITELEIA UNIFLORA. CARTER'S COLLECTIONS of BULBS for CONSERVATORY and OUT-DOOR PLANTING, including Basket and Packing, and Carriage Free. Price 15J., 30^., 42J., 63J., and 84J, CARTER'S COMPLETE Col- lection of BULBS for CONSERVATORY and OUT-DOOR PLANTING, including Box and Packing, and Carriage Free. Price 30J. Contains — ■ 2 STAR of BETHLEHEM. 13 SCILLA BELGICA, mixe 73 CROCUS, blue. 75 „ large yellow. 3S AtiEMONES, extra fine miMd ! HYACINTHS, in 12 extra fine named sorts for pots or ! HYACINTHS, in 3 colours for bedding. NARCISSUS, Double, white. ! „ Poeticus or Plieasant-eye. : DAFF U.S. DRENCH. L fine tnixed Spanis JUILS, Campemel. JNCUI.US, extra fi SNOWDROPS. [mixe llilf^ COLLECTIONS" of BULBS for OUT-DOOR PLANTINC; only, including Bo.K and Packing, and Carriage Free. Price 10s. bd. , 2IJ-., 42J., 63.J., and 84J. For full particulars of all the above, see CARTER'S AUTUMN CATALOGUE OF DUTCH BULBS, FRUIT TREES, ROSES, Sec, Uaiich may be had Gratis and Post Free on application. 5 per cent. Discount for Cash. JAMES CARTER AND CO., [237 and 238, HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON, W.C. September l6, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1193 Seed Warehouse : 44, EngUBh St., & BlackftlarB St. NURSERIES&SEED FARM; K.NOWEFIELD.ncarCARLISLE THE SUBSCRIBERS ha\ing now entered upon possession ol the Old-established SEED and NURSERY BUSINESS so long cairied on by Messrs. LITTLE AND BALLAN. TYNE, ol this city, respectfully request a continuance of the support -■ '■ .'■■ r. _ „.j'„:_:L tu„, shall continue to conduct tSe Firm of LITTLE AND "t the confidence liberally accordcd.to the Old I EALLANTYNE, and they will endeavour to the Public by close personal superintendence LITTLE AND BaTlANTYNE WM. BAXTER SMITH,! Sole JAMES WATT, ) Partners. HOICE TRICOLOR GERANIUMS. Tettv Lacy 1 Mrs. Dunnett 1 Miss Eurdett Coutls Coronet Sir R Napier Italian Beauty Pre-eminent Phoebus Mrs. John Glutton Sunrav I Sunbeam I Mabel Morns ms cash. Remittances L LIST of 250 varieties ALFRED FRYER, Nurseries, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire. The 12 for 21J., package ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. -HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT of LONDON INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 1871. On OCTOBER 4. i87t, a great INTERN-VflONAL EXHIBITION of FRUIT will be ited to take part, and on which i ZES V 1st, Gold t following COLLECTION of APPLES, 3 fruits of Silver Gilt Medal. Cuvss 2.-COLLECTION of DESSERT APPLES, 3 fruits of each 1st, Silver Gill Medal. | 2d, Large Silver Medal. Cla-SS 3. -COLLECTION of CULINARY APPLES, 3 fruits of each ist, Silver Gilt Medal. '^ '^ j ' 2d, Large Silver Medal. Class 4.-The most complete COLLECTION of PEARS, 3 fruits of 1st, Gold Medal. '^'^ ^j ' ad. Silver Gilt Medal. Class s.-COLLECTION of DESSERT PEARS, 3 fruits of each ist. Silver Gilt Medal. ""'' ^' 2d, Large Silver Medal. Class 6. -COLLECTION of KITCHEN PEARS, 3 fruits of each 1st, Large Silver Medal. j 2d, Bronze Medal. Class x—COLLECTION of GRAPES, 2 bunches of each variety. ist, Gold Medal. I 2d. Silver Gilt Medal. CLASS 8._The LARGEST BUNCH of GRAPES. 1st, Silver Medal | 2d, Bronie Medal. Class 9.— COLLECTION of ORANGES, LEMONS, CITRONS, IE3, rGilt -MISCELLANE HENRY Y. D. SCOTT, C.B., Major C Noteworthy Horticulturists and Botanists. NOTICE.— A SERIES of PORTRAITS NOTEWORTHY HORTICULTURISTS and BOTANISTS is being published in the "GARDENERS' CHRONICLE AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE." The following have already appeared, and copies may be had on application to thePublisher, viz. Dr. HOOKER, C.B., F.R.S. I Professor Reichenbach, W.Wilson SAUNDERS, F.R.S. „"='"'""■£'>,„. Rev M J Berkeley F L S ^'- ^^OORE, of Glasnevin M.i)ECA,sNE ■ •■ I Rev. S._R. HOLE, M.A. G. F. Wilson, F.R.S. 1 James McNab, of Edinburgl Published by WILLIAM RICHARDS, 41, Wellington Stri ®ljc (iarhncrs*C|rijnklc SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1871. .lEETING FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. it does, tend to create rust. There is certainly the risk of damaging the outer coating of bloom, on the perfect condition of which the beauty of the fruit mainly depends. A very ingenious mode of avoiding all neces- sity for handling the Grapes at all whilst thin- ning them has been practised, for his own convenience, by Mr. W. Chapman, of Notting- ham, and it is so simple and so perfect in its working, and so greatly facilitates the operation of Grape thinning, that, with his permission, we proceed to explain in what his "Grape holdfast" consists. It is merely a thin narrow strip of deal. Elder, or any other light wood cut off to a ■enient length, one end of which is bluntly pointed, and a few irregular and unequal notches are cut near the pointed end, as shown in fig. 272, A. All the sharp edges are then pared off, and the implement is complete. When in use it is taken in the left hand, the point introduced amongst the ramifications of the cluster, which one by one are lifted out clear from the remainder, being caught by one or other of the notches, and that without touching a berry, or injuring the fruit in the slightest degree. While the shoulder or branch of the cluster is thus held lightly but n WITHOUT attaching undue importance to what is sometimes facetiously termed "kid- glove gardening," and without in the slightest degree depreciating the value to practical men of the free and unrestricted use of their digits, it may, nevertheless, be maintained, that there are, in the Practice of Gardening, many little Mechanical Contrivances, introduced fre- quently by amateur cultivators to facilitate the performance of certain operations, and which, while they may be safely recommended to their brother garden amateurs, are by no means to be despised by the practical professors of horticul- tural science. In this way is not unfrequently introduced some simple expedient by which to facilitate the performance of an operation other- wise requiring rather de.\terous manipulation, and it is to one or two of these that we are now about to invite attention. Among the many operations of gardening there are perhaps none more tedious than the thinning of Grapes, and the tying-out of the shoulders of large bunches. They are j'ust the operations one can well imagine unpractised hands would find to be irksome ; and yet they are operations, the former especially, which must be honestly faced, and that at the proper time, unless the crop is to be suffered to go to ruin. The expe- rienced practical man takes his Grape scissors, and with this implement, aided by the thumb and finger of his left hand, he manipulates the clusters with more or less of expertness ; but it is next to impossible even for him to avoid rubbing and touching the remaining berries to some extent — and to rub or to touch them does them no good, and may possibly do them harm, even though it may not, as some hold n this way the thing is done in less time than it akes to describe the operation ; and, of course, /hen the Grapes are gathered, instead of having 0 take out the forked sticks, or to cut down the strands of bast, all that is necessary is gently to unhook the wires. Their great advantage lies in the facility with which they can be used, and in the fact that they afford no harbour for insects. These two simple contrivances, which greatly facilitate the thinning of Grapes and the open- ing up of the bunches during the swelling pro- cess, both of which have been devised and brought into use by an intelligent amateur, if we mistake not, recommend them- selves to the notice of our practical brethren^ linly to non-professional gardeners. securely, the supernumerary berries are cut away according to the judgment of the operator, the holdfast is gently unhooked, and passed on to the stalk of another branch, and this is repeated until the whole cluster has been gone over. There is hence no fingering of the bunches or berries in any way, and the operation of thinning can be carried on quite as rapidly and as easily as if the fingers alone were in requisition. Mr. Chap.MAN has another contrivance, equally facile, for supporting the shoulders of the Grape clusters. Usually these are held apart during the swelling and ripening processes either by inserting thin forked sticks across the bunches, or by tying up the shoulders by means of fine strands of bast matting. In either way the berries are very liable to be rubbed and thus disfigured. To avoid this Mr. CHAPMAN takes someofthevery fine wire used for wiring the corks of lemonade and seltzer-water bottles, cuts it into convenient lengths, turns a small hook at each end, as in fig. 272, B, and by this means momentarily, and without handling the bunch at all, hooks up the shoulders, one by one, and supports them in the required position by catching with the hook at the opposite end an adjacent branch or wire, whichever may be rnost conveniently placed. — The following correspondence, on the subject of CovENT Garden Market, recently appeared in he columns of the Times : — " Sir,— Several statements have recently appeared in he public press reflecting upon the Duke of Bedf ):ii ■ s disregard of the interests of his Covent Garden M trie t tenants, in omitting to cover in, and protect from tlie weather, the open spaces appropriated for business pur- poses in the market. " It does not appear to be generally understood that the widest diversity of opinion prevails in the market upon this question, and that a large and influential section of the tenants, whose interests entitle them to the most attentive consideration, have always been adverse to any proposal to extend the covered area of the market. " In the year 1858, when such a proposal was under consideration, a memorial upon the subject, numerously and influentially signed by the Duke of Bedford's tenants in the market, was addressed to Mr. Hardy, who was at that time his Graces steward. " I have enclosed a copy of this memorial, and have to request that you will kindly allow it to appear in your columns at an early date. " I should add that, whenever a reconsideration of the question has been urged upon the Duke by the Market Gardeners' Association, counter-memorials and protests, similar to that below, have always been received by his Grace, and that his Grace has always been desirous of dealing with the subject in the manner most conducive to the general welfare of the whole body of his tenants having interest in Covent Garden Market. " Possibly an opportunity mayyetbe afforded for recon- ciling conflicting views, and I am instructed by the Duke of Bedford to say he would gladly assist any effort which may be made in this direction. ' ' I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, "Thomas J. R. Davidson. " Bedford Office, Bloomsbury, Sept. 5." " Sir,— 'We, the undersigned, beg leave to acknow- ledge the receipt of the correspondence between the market gardeners and yourself on the subject of covering in the market, and your letter of March 9, and to tender our respectful thanks for your courtesy in furnishing the same. "After carefully perusing this correspondence, it appears to us to admit of but one conclusion, and that is. if the market gardeners choose to accept the terms and conditions proposed from the Bedford Office, the said proposition must be carried out to the imperilling of the interests of the parish and neighbourhood, and, conse- quently, as we beheve, the interesis of his Grace the Duke of Bedford himself ; and we feel assured from the mass of evidence already obtained bearing on the subject from inspectors, salesmen, and others connected with the other markets, that the sanitary condition of your memorialists will be seriously affected thereby. "It, therefore, appears to us necessary to trespass a little more on your time by stating that we cannot help thinking our views, as set forth in the memorial to his Grace dated February 4, on this subject, have not received that due consideration to which we feel them entitled , as your memorialists represent fully three-fourths of the income which his Grace derives from the market, and who represent, when compared with the market-gardeners, or 'Landed Association,' as they are pleased to style themselves, the principal agency by which Covent Garden market is rendered what it is in its attraction and its popularity, for we have no hesitation in saying, and we are prepared with evidence to prove it. that without the energy shown by the shopkeepers and salesmen, who have opened up remote markets, and who maintain constant communication with all parts of the United Kingdom, that not unfrequently a considerable portion of their pro- duce would remain unsold ; and in this matter the market gardeners have never to our knowledge interested them- selves, but maintain much about the same stationary opinions they held 20 years since— always assuming the market to have been exclusively intended for them, and that salesmen and shopkeepers alike are interlopers. And if we place it in another light, we shall find it easy to show you that were all the "Landed Association * to quit their stands in a month's time, plenty of other growers are to be found ready to avail themselves of the facilities offered here under existing conditions, and we are quite satisfied no difficulty would be experienced in indemnifying his Grace for all loss occasioned bv the change. " However, setting aside all reasoning and the com- parisons we have reluctantly ventured to draw, for the purpose of proving that we are. as a body, equally as important and deserving as much consideration as the ' Landed Association ' in connection with the market, we beg leave to state that we are prepared, with the co- operation of the parochial authorities and our fellow parishioners, to take the matter up with them on public grounds ; and, however much it may be opposed to our desires and inclinations to raise any unpleasantness among our neighbours, we feel it to be due to your courtesy and patience, and an act of justice to ourselves, to signify our 194 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September i6, 1871. intention of opposing the Supplementary Act of Parlia- ment whenever it is applied for, for the purpose of carrying the before-named proposition, by all legal means, and in all its stages, not in any spirit of coercion, or selfish opposition, but that the question may be set at rest once and for all. ' ' Trusting that some final decision may soon be arrived at in the matter, we venture again to solicit the earliest notice of such decision that may be compatible with your convenience." The Disease in Asparagus which is noticed by Mr. G. Hester is by no means uncommon, and is known in some districts under the name of the Copper Web. It is not confined to Asparagus, but attacks Potatos, and either the same Fungus or one closely allied is destructive to Saffron, Lucerne, and Mint. Rhizoctonia violacea on the two former is beautifully figured in Tulasne's "Fungi Hypoga;i," but no perfect fruit was detected. Mr. Broome, however, found fructification on the Rhizoctonia of Mint, which is described in "Annals of Natural History," June, 1S61. It is of a tawny tint at first, but the tips of the threads acquire a violet tint and produce subglobose spores, about 5^5j of an inch in diameter. The tufts of thread.s gradually become compact, and are converted into granular bodies about the size of Mustard seed, which are connected by a violet web. These bodies are in general quite smooth, but occasionally they retain about them little tawny patches still showing traces of the original threads. There is no distinct nipple-like tip, as in R. violacea (crocorum). They resemble more nearly the granular bodies on the plant when growing on Lucerne. It is probable that the perfect fruit has not yet been discovered, and the bodies discovered by Mr. Broome at present can be only regarded as a secondary form of fruit (conidia). M. J . B. In a paper on the Fossil Plants of the coal Prof. Williamson, the common relationship Lepidendron and Sigillaria was insisted on, and the separation of tlie latter from the former as a group of (r.ymnosperms, suggested by Brongniart, was held to be untenable. The remarkable develop- ment of exogenous woody structure in most members of the entire family was considered to indicate the necessity of ceasing to apply to either of them, or to their living representatives, the term Acrogenous. Hence the Professor proposed a Division of the Vascular Cryptogams into an exogenous group, containing Lycopodiacea?, Equisctacciv. aitd the fossil Calamitaceae ; and an endogenous grou]), containing the Ferns ; the former uniting the Cryptogams with the Exogens through the Cycads and other Gymnospernis, and the latter linking them with the Endogens through the Palms. ■ At a recent meeting of the French Academy of Sciences, it was remarked, in connection with the Extraordinary Cold experienced on May iS and June 3, 1S71, that in 1802 hoar frost was observed as late as the month of July. This appears to have been the worst year known for low temperatures in the summer months. The Maximum Temperatures of the Air during the week ending September 7, ranged from 76°. 3 at r.lackheath, to 64° at Greenock, with for all English of 72°. I, and of all Scotch of 67°. The Minimum Temper.vfures of the Air ranged from 48". 2 at Bradford and Portsmouth, to 40" at Perth. The mean for England was 46°, and for Scot- land 48°.S. The Mean Temperatures ranged from 60°. 5 at Blackheath, to 54* at Perth, with a mean for the southern country of 58°.:, and for the northern of 56°. 4. Rain was recorded as having fallen at all stations, and at three places falls of 2 inches or more occurred, viz., Portsmouth, 2. 15 inches ; Birmingham, 2 inches ; and Wolverhampton, 2.52 inches. The mean fall for England was 1.42 inch, and for Scotland 0.44 inch. (See Mr. Glaisher's Tables in present issue, p. 1203.) It is curious that we have now before us another case, quite different from those previously noticed (p. 1 162), of plants attacked by Gl.eosporium l.iti- COLOR. A large Cucumber, arrived at its full growth, and in consequence turned yellow, has been forwarded to us by Mr. Thos. Thornton, which is clearly attacked by the same Fungus. We have not detected it on the leaves, though very possibly, had they arrived in better condition, we might have detected its presence there. The Fungus in question is different from Myxosporium orbiculare, which is very common on decaying Gourds, and which is believed by Messrs. Tulasne to be merely the pycnidia of one of the commonest of Fungi, Sphceria herbarum. It indeed resembles it at first sight, but the spores are very much smaller, and equal in size. In the Gleeosporium they are frequently ^J^, of an inch long, whereas in the Myxosporiuin they do not exceed 53^. There are three other species found on Gourds, in all of which the spores are different. M. 7. B. The Botanic Garden in connection with Clifton College is now fairly established, and con- tains over 1000 hardy herbaceous plants, arranged according to the natural system. The arrangement is similar to that adopted in the herbaceous ground at I Kew, consisting of long narrow beds, with grass paths between. A rockery has been built for alpine plants, and there is a collection of the common ornamental trees and shrubs. We learn from the last "Marl borough Report " that the Botanic Garden there has "fully realised the hopes of its originators;" and special subscriptions are solicited towards the expenses incurred by its formation. In both schools the hi barium receives many additions, that at Marlborough being already of very considerable extent. Dr. George Bennett has published : interesting paper " On the Introduction, Cultiv TioN, and Economic Uses of the Orange, and others of the Citron tribe, in New South Wales." A full account of the introduction and cultivation is given, founded on the author's own observation, and thi practical experience of some of the extensive Orange growers in the colony, and the establishment of farm.s for the cultivation of the Orange for its commercial value in the art of perfumery, is advocated. The paper is full of information on Orange culture, and Dr. Bennett considers, from his own experience, that the Orange may, with proper care and attention, be rendered the most profitable of all the fruits grown in New South Wales. recall Mr. Webster's observations on the Hardiness of Centaurea candidissima, published in oc our monthly contemporaries, and in which he says it is in reality perfectly hardy : — " I have had it tested through the last winter (r869) in different situations ; one of them was behind a north wall, where the sun's rays could not reach from September till March, and another at the base of a south wall, with full open exposure. The frost was long and severe, and a better trial of its power of endurance could scarcely have been had. as we had little or no snow to cover the ground. In some open and exposed places the frost penetrated a foot or more into the ground. Notwithstanding all this, the Centaureas stood unscathed. It was interesting to observe, when a tliaw came, that while a quarter of Globe Artichokes quite adjacent was killed to the surface, the Centaureas stood up quite erect and firm. As a proof that it is not necessary to coddle up these plants under ghrss, I may add that we obtained our best batch of spring cuttings from those at the bottom of the south wall, for although we have had some six or seven dozen pots under glass, the cuttings from them were not so sturdy and firm as the outdoor ones. It will be an important matter to many to be able to save the winter room these plants occupy." ■ The energetic Dr. Ferdinand Mueller has lately delivered at Melbourne a "Popular Discourse on the Application of Phytology to the Indus, trial Purposes of Life," which is admirably calcu- lated to direct attention to the subject, and contains, in a small compass, a vast number of suggestive facts. He advises the extensive introduction of foreign plants, especially such as could readily be naturalised, and are of practical importance ; and advocates the permanent exhibition in the rooms of the Industrial Museum of " instructive portraits of all the edible and noxious plants likely to come within the colonist's reach." The subject is treated in a light and simple style, but is none the less likely on that account to be impressed upon the hearers of Dr. Mueller's lecture. ■ In our answers to correspondents. May 27, 1S71, is one relative to Spot in a Double Pelargo- nium sent by " W. C. B." After stating our opinion that spot arises from bad cultivation, we added, " we shall endeavour to strike the specimen, and if it becomes healthy we shall then believe that it is a local alTection. " We have now three perfectly healthy plants, confirming our opinion. As regards the white patches on the stem, we have since seen a similar case, and are pretty sure that they are merely an exaggerated form of spot. The condition is probably uncommon, as we have not found any experienced cultivator who has met with precisely the same form of spot. M. J. B. The French Government offers a prize of 20,000 f. to any one who discovers an effectual means of prevention or cure for the New Vine Disease caused by the Phylloxera vastatrix (Peritymbia Vitisana of Westwood). — The current volume of the Woolhope Club contains an interesting translation of Prof. Fries' Autobiographical Sketch of his Studies in Mycology. He thus describes the happy chance which induced him to devote himself to the subject which was to render his name illustrious among botanists : — By the time I had completed ray twelfth year I was lainted with all the principal plants of the district, even now, at the distance of more than 50 years, most gratefully do I recall how I was walking with my ' er in search of Strawberries through a wood partially k1, when it was my fortune to light upon a noble men of Hydnum coralloides. This discovery first d me to make the tribe of Funguses my study ; but, tming over Liljeblad's ' Svensk Flora,' my only scientific book, I was annoyed to find myself ignorant of he word ' lamella, ' there so frequently recurring. So, shortly after, walking with my father, I said to him : ' Die, pater, quid est lamella ? * for my father never suffered me to speak to him except in Latin, so that I picked up Latin even before my native Swedish. ' A lamella,' he rephed. ' is a thin plate.' With this expla- nation, the phrase seemed to me to describe so happily the fructification of Agarics, that by the next day I knew all the genera contained in that excellent work." A photograph of Fries accompanies the sketch. Mr. Graham Dunlop, the British Consul- General at Havana, in his report for the year 1870-1, observes that the papermakers of England, who are in lack of materials for carrying on their craft, should give attention to the enormous quantities of Fibrous Tropical Plants and trees which abound in Cuba. Successful experiments have been made by local paper- makers on the fibre of the Bamboo cane, and on some of the creeping parasitic plants indigenous to Cuba. The Consul hears that attention is being given in Jamaica to the preparation of the fibre of the Bamboo for the papermakers in America. This beautiful plant grows abundantly in Cuba, and could be purchased and crushed at very cheap rates. It is said to excel for paper all the fibrous grasses of late used by our paper- makers, and to mix easily with the linen rag pulp and other more ordinary materials. A notice issued by the Postmaster-General states that on October 5 next the following Reduced Rates of Postage for inland letters will come into operation : — For a letter not exceeding i oz., \d. ; for a letter exceeding i oz., but not exceeding 2 oz., i^J. ; from 2 oz. to 4 oz., 2d. ; from 4 oz. to 6 oz., 2\d. ; from 6 oz. to 8 oz., yl. ; from 8 oz. to 10 oz., l\d. ; from 10 oz. to 12 oz., 4./. Any letter exceeding the weight of 12 oz. will be liable to the postage of id. for every ounce, or fraction of an ounce, beginning with the first ounce. A letter, for example, weighing be- tween 14 and 15 oz. must be prepaid i.r. 30'. A letter posted unpaid will be charged with double postage, and a letter posted insufficiently paid will be charged with double the deficiency. An inland letter must not exceed the dimensions of I foot 6 inches in length, 9 inches in width, and 6 inches in depth. Concurrently with the reduction of postage on inland letters, the inland sample post will be abolished. From the same date inland book packets will be limited to the same dimensions as inland letters, viz., I foot 6 inches in length, 9 inches in width, and 6 inches in depth, and to a maximum weight of 5 lb. Any book packet which may be found to contain a letter, or communication of the nature of a letter, not being a circular letter or not wholly printed, or any enclosure sealed or in any way closed against inspection, or any : enclosure not allowed by the regulations of the book post, will be treated as a letter, and charged with double the deficiency of the letter postage. Any news- paper which may be found to contain an enclosure will be charged as a letter. In other respects the regula- ins affecting inland book packets and newspapers will main unaltered, In the "Florist and Pomologist" for the present month, Mr. Bennett, of Enville, has the following seasonable remarks on Storing Potatos : — ^otatos should always be stored away in as dry a state as possible ; and should any disease be discovered among them, I would recommend that but small quan- should be pitted together, certainly not more than a cartload in each clamp. In the centre of this clamp should be placed a lump of lime about the size of a man's head, and before covering them in, they should receive a good dusting of quicklime. The hme absorbs the mois- ure during the time the Potatos sweat, and by so doing prevents the tubers from overheating, whilst its apphca- ilso greatly improves the quality of the Potatos ; no doubt it absorbs much of the water from the tubers, and ;quently they boil more floury than if pitted without After the tubers have laid in small pits for at least month, they should then be carefully looked over, and may be placed together in one or more large clamps, ■ the centre of which should be placed a large basket of hard lumps of lime ; or should the clamps be long, it will be found beneficial to insert other baskets at about 12 feet apart. The whole heap should also be sprinkled well with lime before covering it up. I always prefer to my clamps made low and narrow, for they are then less liable to heat than those which are made up wide and high." New Garden Plants. Epidendrum eicameratum, Jichb. /. — Epiden- DRUM squalidum, Liitdl. non Lex. ; E. Karwin. SKII, Rchb.f., supra, p. 710, 1869. When I proposed to name this plant Epidendrum Karwinskii, I overlooked the fact that there was already species bearing that name — a terete leaved one. I hasten to correct the mistake, and to give a new name, in allusion to the two hollows on the lip. H. G. Rchb. fil. BOLBOPHYLLUM CHLOROGLOSSUM, Rchb.f.,ct Warm. Afline Bolbophyllo recurvo, Lindl. Labello basi utrinque uni- BOLBOPHYLLUM CHLOROGLOSSUM, Rchb. f., et Warm.y Orchid. Lag, Sunt. ined. Pseudobulbus conicus angulatus et sulcatus. Folium cuneato obfongum acutum. Pedunculus deflexus paucivaginatus apice longius n-icemosus. Bractex paleaces ligulatx obtuse acut« ovaria pedicellata subsequantes, uninervis. Mentum bene rectangulum, Sepala ligulata, lateralia pauIo latiora. Tepala linearia acuta. Labellum oblongo-li^latum, ante basia utrinque dente exsiliente. Columna apice tridentata. A small species in the way of B. recurvum, but quite September l6, 1871. ] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. t95 different in the lip. It has small whitish or rosy flowers, often with some purplish dots and a green lip. It was found at Lagoa Santa by Dr. Eugene Warming, the Danish botanist, and has been introduced from Rio Janeiro by A. D. Ben-ington, Esq., with whom it first was flowered. H. G. Rchb. fil. SOPHORA JAPONICA PENDULA. The accompanying portrait of this beautiful tree forms one of a series of several beautifully executed plates, prepared by Messrs. Letts and Co., from pho- tographs of specimen trees in the Knap Hill Nursery, and used to illustrate Mr. A. Waterer's admirable cata- logue. To praise the beauty of the tree is superfluous ; the portrait speaks for itself, and being exactly copied from a photograph, it tells no false tales. Sophora japonica was sent by Father d'lncarviUe, in 1747, from China to Paris, whence it was distributed by Bernard De Jussieu. It is a handsome, fast-growing, deciduous tree, and yields a fine, hard, handsome wood. Loudon notes one remarkable property it does not turn yellow or drop off, as does that of most other pinnate-leaved Leguminous trees, its deep-rooting habit being the probable cause of this retention of verdure, a property shared by the pendulous variety which forms our present subject. We find no mention as to how, when, and where the weep- ing variety of the Sophora origi- nated, but MM. Decaisne et Naudin, in their " Manuel de I'Amateur des Jardins," state that it has been obtained by cul- tivation, and is preserved by grafting. Among weeping trees, they observe, there are few so characteristic as the Sophora. Grafted on the stem of an ordi- nary Sophora some few yards high, and pruned so as to form a regular head, this drooping variety forms a tree which, in aspect, is at once strange and graceful, and whose pendulous branches are not tardy in reach- ing the soil. It is noted by Loudon as one of the most orna- mental of pendulous trees, a description which it thoroughly justifies ; nevertheless it seems but partially and imperfectly known to the general ; public. Mr. Mongredien, in his recent book on Ornamental Trees, does not appear to be even aware that it is a distinct variety, as he says, when treating of S. japonica, "when grafted on a standard, so as to assume a pen- dulous habit, it produces a most charming effect." We trust, therefore, that this notice and the accompanying illustration may help to bring it into greater prominence, since it certainly stands in the very front rank of pendulous-habited trees. In the catalogue above referred to, it is mentioned as "one of the most characteristic of all weep- ing trees, and one of the greatest g~ ^^~ elegance and beauty. It is so .^ thoroughly pendulous in habit that the branches seem to fall sheer do\vn in tufts or bundles, like the spray of an interrupted but perpendicular waterfall. The pinnate leaves have also a droop- ing character, being too long to sustain their own weight, and hence they fall down in the same lines as the branches." The peculiar manner in which the branches spray out in successional tufts is noteworthy, and it gives a very marked and characteristic appear- ance to the tree during the winter, when devoid of leaves. We have here one of those elegant arboreal objects of moderate stature, which can be pointed out as appropriate for the decoration of any garden or pleasure ground, sure to meet a fitting place, however large, and not the least out of place, however small it may be. T. M. nicknamed Gennany the Fatherland ; but this by- word has now assumed, in their mind, a respectable meaning, giving rise to serious reflection, for it is so ' unexpectedly great that it cannot yet be quite compre- hended. In trying to define the true causes of success of our German armies, we shall discover them to be the very same as those which have shaped our pro- gress in medicine and agriculture. Eminent physicians and advanced agriculturists have been known at all times, and renowned military leaders in like manner. For centuries the fixed idea has therefore I prevailed that .in the so-called practical avocations practice and experience were all-suflicient, and that theory was not to be depended upon ; and why ? simply because true theory was not known. Practical knowledge and aptness are indispensable ! in following agriculture, and not less so in medicine ; | but we are now aware that absolutely certain results depend upon the knowledge of causes, and intimate acquaintance with all the active principles by which \ of the PRACTICE AND SCIENCE. [The foIIo^ving Prof. Liebig of Science, Munich, on March 28.] We celebrate to-day the one hundred and twelfth anniversary of our academy. Great historic events have taken place since last year's festival ; a new Germany has arisen ; the dreams of our youth have become reality, and Germany has ceased to be a mere geographical expression. The English people have Fig. 273.— sophor. phenomena are influenced ; we kno^v that this know- ledge is real theory, and that genuine practice is the art of bringing these principles into play at the proper time and of assisting in their reactions. The old practice, based upon uncertain rules, gave way to scientific practice, which is founded on unalterable truths,— the happy inspirations of a genius who grasped a certain law without being able to account for its causes, are resolved into principles, and can be worked out and applied by others. The exclusive property of the genius which constituted his superiority, could, by scientific application, be owned by all. The foundation of the German empire and the German victories steadily following one another have the closest connection witli those military events which, 66 years ago, overthrew and shattered into frngmcnts the State of Frederick the Great,— a State antiquated and ossified in red-tapeism. One way only existed to heal the wounds of tlie State and to impart fresh vigour, and this way Pi-ussia followed to the salvation of Germany ; by the foundation of the University at Berlin in 1810, the year of the death of the high-minded Queen Louisa, the road had become visible and had been sketched out ; the inexhaustible mind succeeded where the limited and worn-out material forces were wanting. German science was destined to become the source of a new and youthfully fresh political life. Thus we observe the Prussian people labour persever- ingly to acquire that power which science alone can give, and all have witnessed the result to which this long and stevn struggle has led. The incidents of a war, such as a siege or a defeat, are owing to causes which may be traced as clearly as those of natural phenomena ; and the real secret of the superiority of Prussian strategics consists in the study of military sciences upon the basis of exact methods of natural sciences, and in the thorough investigation of, and acquaintance with the principles ensuring success or defeat. Among the branches of instruction at the military academy at Berlin, those natural sciences are most carefully studied which may be utilised for warfare, and the discoveries of the last half- century have been made avail- able for military purposes. And just as the philosopher, in order to solve a problem in exact sciences, must commence with the small, apparently trifling subjects, before he understands and masters the greater one, so we Germans had to pass through a long course of schoolmg and training, while other so-called eminently practical nations named us dreamers ; but it was science which, in 1866 as well as in 1870-71, defeated unsound practice ; knowledge that im- parted strength and stability to force, and created in our ad- versaries a fear akin to horror of the German system of spies. Our colleague. Professor von Giesebrecht, in his address as rector of the university, has dwelt upon the part which the German universities had in fostering the national idea of unity among the German races ; he showed how the national feeling, long a glowing spark, kept alive in legends, and then roused and reared by German poets, at last ripened at the centres of German science. We are proud that our king was the first German prince to give expression to the national idea of a German empire, and this deed will remain a brilliant monument for him in history. It may not be out of place to state publicly, on behalf of our academy, that a hatred of races between the German and Latin nations does not and cannot exist. We look upon the heavy misery which Germany has suffered in former times from the French as upon an illness, the pains of which are soon forgotten on recoveiy. The peculiar disposition of the German, his knowledge of lan- guages, his reading of foreign characters, the culture of his mind, render him just to other nations, often to the extreme of being unjust to himself; and thus we do not forget how much we owe the great French philo- sophers, mathematicians and workers in natural sciences, who have been in many branches our teachers and our prototypes. Forty years ago, when I went to Paris to study chemistry, accident drew Alexander von Humboldt's attention upon me, and a recommend- ing word of his induced Gay-Lussac, one of the greatest chemists and physicists of his time, to propose to me, a youth of twenty, to continue and to complete, under his assistance, an investigation of mine ; he placed me in his private laboratory as pupil and assistant ; the whole course of my life was thereby decided. Xever shall I forget the kindness with which Arago, Dulong and Thenard met the German student ; and how many of my German compatriots might I name who, like myself, thankfully recollect the active assist- ance in the pursuit of their scientific studies, given to them by Yrcnch sdTaats ! Warm sympathy for every- thing great and noble, and disinterested hospitality are among the finest traits of the French ch.aracter ; they will revive and become active again on the neutral ground of science on which the best minds of both nations must meet in the pui^uit of tlie high common object, and thus the indissoluble fraternisation, on scientific ground, will assist in softening the bitterness which animates the French national feehng towards Germany, the consequence of a war forced upon us. The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag-ricultural Gazette. [September l6, 1871. POTATOS. I PRESUME it will generally be accepted as an unde- niable axiom, that as long as we eat Potatos so long shall we strive to improve upon the respective charac- ters of our existing stoclis. The wonder, therefore, is, where shall we finally get to ! We seem likely to con- tinue eating Potatos, as long as we have to rely upon food for subsistence. What, then, will be the Perfec- tions, Kings, and Queens, of future generations? Doubtless, marvellous indeed. Hitherto our efforts in the direction of Potato improvement have mainly been devoted to the respective features of earli- ness, quality, quantity, and shape ; and in these features, during recent years, no inconsiderable pro- gress has been made. The Potato disease has now brought to the front another demand upon the esculent, namaly, a combination of early ripening with late keeping ; a combination that is at present both anoma- lous and non-existent. It is true that for certain kinds the opinion has been pronounced that they largely possess these qualities already, but the assumption is too vague, and only based on partial testimony. As far as my experience has hitherto gone, it has led to these conclusions, — first, that just in proportion as a Potato ripens early, so will it commence to form an early growth in the succeeding year ; and second, that the keeping qualities of Potatos, whether early or late, depend more upon the temperature ol the place where they are stored than is generally acknowledged. I am not aware as to whether the subject has been scientifically considered (although there can be little doubt that the matter has engaged the attention of scientific men ere now), but I have an impression that from the time it is ripe for lifting until the time that it is ready fur planting, a chemical change is going on within tlie tuber, and that that process of change is accelerated or retarded just as the conditions under which the tuber is placed are favourable or otherwise. In a few cases, where specially cool stores or cellars are available, tlie growth of Potatos may be retarded, but in the majority of cases Potatos have to be stored where the temperature materially depends upon that ol the external atmosphere, and too frequently under con- ditions that make the warmth greater rather than less. Here no late keeping qualities will avail, except those that have resulted from very late ripening. The very best keepers I have yet met with are Yorkshire Hero, Lapstone, Yorkshire Hybrid, and Paterson's Alex- andra, and these are all late ripening Potatos. I shall not be surprised to find it to be generally acknowledged that an early ripening Potato cannot be converted into a long keeper. A far more likely improvement to be realised is that which shall bring large crops of good-sized tubers in conjunction with haulm of very moderate growth. A coarse, rampant growth of haulm is an evil at any season, but especially so when the disease rages. Take that largely grown variety, the Regent, for instance, and note to what a height the growth has extended during the past summer. Not only has it made the disease worse than it otherwise would have been, but where in market or other gardens a green crop was put out between the rows of Potatos early, the strong growth of haulm has almost strangled it, and in many cases the plants are not larger than when first put out. To rectify this evil I should commend the culture of the American Early Goodrich Potato instead of the Regent, as it is rather earlier, is quite as heavy a cropper, tubers as good in quality, and the haulm is much shorter, and of a dwarf robust habit of growth that would not interfere with the growth of winter greens. If any beneficial results to the Potato are likely to grow out of the grafting process it will prob- ably be in the direction of shortening the growth of the haulm. Where the cross has really proved effective, this result has invariably been attained ; and the lesson that Mr. ?>nn has now learnt from his experiments hitherto, comes to this, that his grafts in the future must be sorts that produce heavy crops of good quality, but are burdened with far too much top growth. The stocks will be selected from kinds that produce short haulm, but lack that prolificacy that is so essential to the production of a first-rate Potato. Onwards grafted into Yorkshire Hero produced haulm just half the height of the parent, and with tubers proportionally small. Hero grafted into Onwards produced haulm about one-third less in height than the parent, with a fair average crop of the very handsomest kidneys. Next year the strong growing Excelsior Kidney will be the graft, and one of Mr. Fenn's new early kidneys the parent stock, a combination from which good results may be looked for. A heavy cropping kidney Potato of first-rate quality, producing a short stubby haulm of from about 12 inches to 18 inches in height and speedy in its results, would prove valuable. I fear after all that speculation as to the probable character of the Potato disease will lead to far less practical results than will discussion on the best reme- dial or palliative measures that should be adopted. And I am not at all sure that we shall find in "early ripeners " one of the most effective. I have seen this year the very worst forms of the disease that have come under my notice developed in Hyatt's Ashleaf, certainly an early ripener, thus showing that even the early kinds cannot escape the disease. And I have seen enough this season also to convince me that just in proportion as the soil is enriched with application planting, so is the disease found to exist in the crop. This fact has often been urged upon the attention of growers, but its lessons seem to be easily forgotten. To put in a dressing of raw manure with a crop of Potatos is positively to court the disease in its worst form. I have enjoyed comparative immunity from its ravages in the tuber in the whole of my stocks this year, and attribute it entirely to an absence of any form of dressing but superphospho- guano. The worst features were developed where a few barrowloads of decomposed vegetable refuse was dug in with the crop. The wisest form of cultivation consists in manuring for a previous crop of some other vegetable ; but where that plan cannot be adopted, then the manure should be worked in early in the winter, the soil being bastard trenched, and the manure placed below the top spit. Another prolific promoter of the disease is close planting. We are too anxious to clutch a heavy crop, and thus sometimes over-reach ourselves. It is better at all times to give 6 inches too much room between the rows than 6 inches too little. Coming now to the special purpose for which this paper is written, I wish to say a little with reference to my Potato trials here during the past summer. It is no small comfort to know that the soil seems to suit the Potato admirably, and developes not so much huge samples as nice, clean, moderately-sized tubers, that suit both my purpose and taste completely. My trials, in consequence, have been very satisfactory so far as a fair test of respective qualities are concerned, and fully bear out the opinions formed of the respective kinds in previous years. But I feel a mild kind of objection this year to entering very fully into the various merits or demerits of the kinds I have grown, for the simple reason that we are in view of a public trial of Potatos at Chiswick next year ; from whence not simply one person but a hundred or more may directly draw their own conclusions. To limit a trial of such a character to kinds of recent introduction would be absurd. It will be necessary to grow in large variety the best old kinds, not only for test purposes, but also to synonymise the various classes into which all new kinds must be placed. Thus, in the matter of early kidneys, it will be found very difficult to decide wherein lies the difference between Royal Ashtop, Veitch's Improved Ashleaf, Harry Kidney, and several others, all of which are of the true Ashtop type. One of the very best of all this batch is Alma, a first-rate early kidney, and one I hope that will not be overlooked at Chis- wick. The only real Walnutleaf kinds that I have or know of are the Early Walnutleaf Kidney and the Burlington Prolific alias Sandringham Early; but neither seem equal to the Ashtop varieties. As a second early, the Waterloo Kidney still holds its place as one of the very best and most distinct, but several kinds of recent introduction are so essentially Lap- stone in character, that I venture at once to name a batch, that, should representatives of them come under Mr. Barron's hands next spring, I hope he will plant them all in a lump — Cobbler's Lapstone, Haigh's Lapstone, Pebble White, Huntingdon Kidney, Lady Paget, Yorkshire Hero, Rixton Pippin, Daintree's Kidney, Beaconfield, and Headley's Nonpareil. All of these have the true Lapstone blood in them, and have about the same difference in the appearance of haulm as exists between the famous "tweedledum and tweedledee." Of course I do not imply therefrom that relative differences of merit may not exist in the root produce, but I now simply point out the striking family likeness. The Lapstone family all produce good Potatos, but there is a lack of stamina about them that makes them liable to disease. Another large batch possesses special features that compel me to put them into what I may term the Webb's Imperial, alias Dawes' Matchless, group. These are all strong growers, differing in character of haulm only in a minor degree, resembling each other closely in appearance of tuber — a long flattish white kidney, and differing only in relative differences of quality and crop. They consist of Webb's Imperial, Emsworth Kidney, Wormsley Kidney, Excelsior, Coombes' Favourite, England's Fair Beauty, Cumberland Bangers, Chagford's, and Bryanstone Kidney, several of which are positively alike. The best and most distinct forms I take to be Webb's Imperial, Wormsley Kidney, and Excelsior. Closely allied in character is Milky White, Prince of Wales, and Berkshire Kidney, and these should be planted in close company to the others. One of my favourites still stands in a good position— the King of Potatos, sent out by the Messrs. Sutton, and the best of all their stock. It is a good clean second early kind, tubers always smooth and handsome, and a good cropper ; the flesh unfortunately is yellow, but the flavour is good. It is a capital companion variety to the Waterloo Kidney, but lacks the whiteness of the latter kind. To lovers of the Fluke I can fully com- mend King of Flukes as a first-rate cropper and mode- rately early, and one of the best of its tribe. Mr. Tay- lor's new graft Jiidney, Yorkshire Hybrid, bears a close resemblance in the tuber to Golden Blossom, being of the old-fashioned type, large at one end and small at the other. The haulm is robust and it ripens late, but it is so highly commended by Mr. Radclyffe as a good keeper that I shall offer no further opinion upon its merits, preferring to leave that point to the Fruit Committee next year. Coloured kidneys are becoming more abundant, and where prizes are offered for them, as is the case at many provincial shows, it becomes a matter of importance to the grower to have a good selection from which to choose his sorts. Fortunately colour is not their only recom- mendation, as there is no deficiency of other good qualities also. Of purple kinds, the two best are the old Purple Ashleaf for early showing, and Paterson's Blue Kidney, a really excellent white-fleshed and pro- ductive kind for later exhibitions. The old Red Ash- leaf sometimes yields handsome tubers, but is not so certain as is the wonderful Red Kidney, a handsome high-coloured variety. Somewhat alike in colour to the Early Rose, but generally handsome and more refined in appearance, is Mr. Allen's Eureka, a really fine Potato. For a red kidney for cottagers' growth none can beat the Cottager's Red, a high-coloured Potato, that is an immense cropper, of robust habit, and, though yellow in the flesh, is of most excellent quality, and having no deep eyes does not cut to waste. It keeps very late. Round Potatos at present offer no very special fea- tures of novelty. Mr. Turner's Union is one of the best early white kinds, and will be largely grown. Fenn's Onwards is a first-rate second early, both in crop and quality. Early Emperor is still the very handsomest red kind, of the highest quality, and Pater- son's Scotch Blue, as a pebble-shaped purple, is not excelled ; this latter variety is a capital one for small gardens, as it produces so small an amount of haulm, and is yet a good early cropper, while the flesh is very white and good. Two very handsome later red kinds are Wellington, a white tuber, heavily blotched with red ; and Red Diamond, with roughish red skin ; both of these should be grown for late showing. Magpie has a tuber coloured nearly black and white, more novel than taking; whilst the finest purple-skinned kind is Alexandra, a fine late-keeping Potato, having very white flesh and of first-rate quality. These are just a picking from three times the number that I have grown of round kinds. The American kinds have also come under notice, and include American Rose, King of the Earlies, Climax, Peerless, Prolific, Early Goodrich, Early Calico, Callao, Gleason's Late, and Mr. W. Robinson's Mormon Potato. King of the Earlies and Climax have far too many eyes for my notions of beauty, but I like Peerless better, and Prolific best of all. Putting aside cooking quality, in which respect all these kinds are much alike, I put Prolific as the very best of all the Transatlantic introductions. It would be all the more valuable were the colour of its skin pure white ead of being tinted with brown. Early Calico is only purple variety, but it has very white flesh. good cropper, producing tubeis of a The most singularly marked the Calla delicate flesh colour. of all the kinds is Gleason's Late,''a flattish late round, having a white coat heavily banded with red ; when grown in light open soil it produces very hand- some tubers. I have grown here also this year some 40 or more of Mr. Fenn's more recent batch of seedlings, amongst which are some of exceedingly high promise. In the front rank comes his new Rector of Woodstock, the handsomest white round kind I have yet seen ; it is a first-class Potato in all respects, and has been so acknowledged at South Kensington. Eliza Fenn and Goldfinder are also handsome kinds, of special merit ; and as a hotel chop Potato, to cook quickly and good, Mr. Fenn specially commends the Mayor of Wood- stock, so named in compliment to a respected hotel- keeper, the holder of that important office a year since. Cricket Ball and Cottager's Blush are two very hand- some red kinds, and Betsy's Favourite is a handsome tuber blotched with purple. Of the kidneys none can exceed in beauty Bountiful, a beautiful red kind and veiy productive. English Rose somewhat resembles its American confrire, but with more colour and fewer eyes ; whilst of the white kinds, Mary Bowers will carry the sway for beauty. These, however, are but a few of the number selected for further trial next year, and of which Mr. Fenn will show samples at Kensington on the 20th.* He is devoting his energies to the production of kinds of ster- ling merit, and in the promotion of that object will not hesitate to destroy all that do not come up to his high standard. Out of his well known small-growth section two most excellent early kidneys have been selected as likely to be suitable for forcing in pots, and are named Little Gem and Multum in Parvo. Perhaps Mr. Barron would not object to test a few of each kind in that way at Chiswick. In concluding this paper, I would add that I am satisfied that no really useful trial of a large variety of Potatos can take place unless there is in the planting such an arrangement of sorts as shall throw all those kinds that have similar qualities into immediate growing contact to each other. In this way the work of censors is not only greatly simplified, but the labour of testing the merits of new kinds against older sorts of a similar character is rendered much easier. The process of synonymising is also materially aided, and if from 200 to 300 kinds are grown, it will be surprising what a "slaughter of the innocents" in this one respect only will take place. In all these respective matters I shall be only too happy to afford Mr. Barron the benefit of any small experience I may I & Sons, of Readin 1 Floiirball - on the s Ur^e collecuon- September i6, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Asjricultural Gazette. 1 197 possess, and none will watch the proposed Potato trials at Chiswick next year with greater interest than Alex, Dmiit BeJfont. S!'^; BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS.— XIV. IN' the preceding articles we have endeavoured to put before the reader descriptions of some of our commonest flowers. We began with those having the smallest number of parts and the simplest structure, and proceeded from these to others of more complicated construction. Moreover, we have endeavoured to ex- plain the reasons for the increased complexity, so that the pupil who has followed us so far should be able, when he meets with any flower, no matter what its lineage may be, to form a pretty accurate opinion as to the points in which it differs from the simplest form of flower, and how those diversities may be explained, whether by addition of parts, their imperfect separa- tion one from the other, their union one with another, their irregular growth, or what not. Incidentally we have called attention to the other parts of the plant, but, in the main, we have confined our atten- tion to the flower. It is, however, absolutely es- sential to any one who wishes to know something of botany that he pay heed to the mode of growth, and to the forms of roots, stem, or leaf. These points are too often neglected by the beginner and the amateur, owing, perhaps, to the superior attractiveness of the flower over the other parts of the plant. No one with a real love of his subject will allow of such a plea, moreover, a very little study will show that the lessons to be learnt from these less gaily bedight organs are to the full as important as those taught by the floner Moreover, they are of cardinal importance to the right understanding of the. flower ; and, again, they can be studied at all times and seasons. As we are now about to deal mainly with the form assumed by the stem, and with the arrangement of the branches and leaves, it is as well to begin at the beginning, and to cast a glance at the baby phnts as they emerge from the seed. Our countr)man John Ray, was one of the first to discover and nnkt known the great importance of a'.tending to seedlmg plants. Some things, like a tropical Orchid of great priLC, are important from their rarity ; other things, like the humbler Cabbage, are important from their frequency It is in this latter sense that seedling plants are valu able to the botanist, and John Ray had the sagacity to see that, so far as constancy is concerned, there was no better mode of grouping the entire mass of flowering plants ot all sorts and descriptions known to him than that furnished by the seedling plants. Speaking broadly, and disregarding for the moment too few in number to affect the general flowering plants may be ranged under two categories, those whose seedling plants have one seed-leaf, and those which have two of equal age. These seed leaves are known as coiyUdons ; and plants with one seed-leaf are called jnonocotyUdons \ those with two, dicotyledons. The importance of this distinction is shown not only by its very general — almost universal — application, by its constancy as a botanist would say, but by the fact that this arrangement is almost invariably associated with other marks of difference between the two groups ; and so we have cumulative evidence as to the distinct- ness of the two. For instance. Dicotyledons have almost invariably net-veined leaves, and the parts of their flower arranged in fours or fives, or some multiple of those numbers — their wood, when they have any, is arranged in annual zones, zone over zone, from the centreoutwardly ; while Monocotyledons have — barring a very few exceptions — straight- veined leaves, the parts of their flowers are in threes, and their wood is not arranged in zones, not to speak of other characteristics. This is enough to show the importance of paying some attention to the seedling, and there is this consolation, when a seedling cannot be got, its general character- istics can be pretty safely inferred from the leaves, or flowers, or wood, as just mentioned. To illustrate the two forms of seedling, our artist has delineated a seedling Oak {fig. 274) and a seedling plant of Wheat, and we will advert to the more important features of each, premising that the be- ginner need not experience much difliculty in seeing these things for himself. Grains of Wheat are easily procurable just now, and acorns soon will be, or, failing them, a Broad Bean or a Pea will serve the purpose equally well. Let some of these be sown in moist earth or sand in a flower- pot, or in damp moss or sand, and kept in a moderately warm place, and soon the life within the seed, at first not obvious, will make itself seen. It is a capital plan to suspend an acom or other large seed in a bottle half filled with soft water ; so that the seed just touches the surface of the water, put the bottle into a dark cupboard for a few days ; for the exposure to full sun is not propitious to the first stages of plant growth ; and when the shell cracks open and a root makes its appearance through the rent, then the bottle may be brought out from its obscure retreat, and the whole further process of germi- nation witnessed. The shell of the acorn is the true fruit— the ovary arrived at maturity, and greatly changed in appearance from what it was when it nestled like a tiny egg in the nest-like cup then bigger than itself, but since by com- parison dwarfed. Within the shell of the acorn is the seed proper, whose stmcture we have now to explain. If an acorn be not at hand, a Bean or an Almond will answer the purpose as well, especially if previously soaked for a few hours in water. The great mass of the acorn consists of two thick fleshy lobes, rounded on one surface, but flat where they come into contact one with the other ; these are the two seed-leaves, the cotyledons, thick and fleshy, because they are the store-houses of food whence the young plant may derive its supplies before the root and leaves are able tosupply its requirements (fig. 274, A, a). The seed-leaves are not always like those of the Oak. In other cases they are thin and green, soon pushed up above ground to fight for themselves, and differing but little, save in contour, from the ordinary leaves of the plant, indeed, fulfilling the same office as they do. Now, supposing that there is but little nourishment stored up within the tissue of the seedUng plant, or within the seed investing it, it stands to reason that the seedling must quickly shift for itself, or succumb for want of proper nourishment. This is one reason for the quicker germination of some seeds than others ; for instance, the common Mustard germinates very quickly, as every one knows. It sends its roundish, notched seed-leaves up above ground into the light and air with all possible despatch, to get food for the young plant. The upper left-hand figure shows an acorn in situ, cut through the middle ; at F, is shown the cup of the acorn and the r.-»dicle protrdding from the acom, the outer shell of which is the fruit proper. At E, the ^eed is shown detached from the fruit, with the radicle still further developed. The lower figure shows, at a, a, the seed-leaves ; at fl, the portion of stem above the seed-leaves : at c, the young bud or plumule ; above D, is the portion of the stem below the seed-leaves (caulicle) ; and below D is the radicle, or primary root. These are the leaves eaten as Mustard, with the coi - responding leaves of the Cress, as salad. Revert- ing to our acorns, we see closely packed, between the two seed-leaves, a little oblong mass, at one end of which rudimentary leaves are readily seen, while at the opposite extremity is a root. When the seedling Oak begins to grow, as also in all other plants, the first to break loose from the investing seed is the root. Given a sufficiently high temperature, a sufficient supply of air and water becomes a prime necessity ; and in order to get and appropriate it, the root descends — always descends — it may ascend for a time if put out of its course by any obstacle, but left to itself down it goes— a pretty good mark of a root : and note, it goes down continuously (provided there be no obstacle) as long as there is any necessity for it to do so, it is not arrested in its course, but continues to go on in the same direction as that in which it started — this is continuous growth. In other instances, as we shall see by-and-by, growth proceeds in one direction for a time, and then, from some cause or another, growth is checked ; and if renewed, it goes on in another direction, at an angle to the former line of growth, perhaps in an altogether different place. Here we have illustrated two facts never to be lost sight of in studying plant growth — the continuous or indefinite mode of growth, as contrasted with the arrested or definite mode of growth. The root of the acorn, under natural circumstances, and if not interfered with, developes into a tap-root, a valuable form for anchoring a plant in the soil, but not so desirable in the eyes of the nurseryman, who has occasion to shift the young plants, and hopes ultimately to transfer them altogether to fresh fields and pastures new ; for this purpose a tuft or leash of roots is better than a single one. In transplanting there is less chance of cutting off the supplies when there is a tuft of fine feeders than when there is but one ; hence it is a not unfrequent practice to pinch or cut ofl" the end of the tap-root, after a little while, when a number of fibres or thread-like roots are developed, to carry on the work heretofore conducted by the one tap-root. At the opposite extremity of the seedling plant are, as already said, the rudimentary leaves (fig. 274, c), packed in what is virtually the first bud. As this grows it lengthens upwards in a direction precisely opposite to that of the roots ; the latter want water, and go down in search of it ; light and air are essential requisites for the leaves, and they are thrust up to seek these life- giving elements. We know the fact, we know the object of this upward and downward growth respec- tively, but the way in which it is done is still, despite many curious experiments and much hazy speculation, obscure. Now it is a canon in botanical science that whatever bears leaves and buds is a stem, or a part of a stem, a branch, and that, per contra, a root never bears leaves and buds (always making allowance for occasional and very rare exceptions) ; hence in our seedling Oak that portion to which the seed leaves are attached, and which bears the young bud, is to be accounted stem, and that portion which bears neither leaf nor semblance of leaf and goes down is root. Thus, in our illustration (fig. 274), the space from D to B is to be considered as stem, bearing two seed-leaves, A, A, and a terminal bud, c, sometimes called \.\ie plumule. The portion below D is the radicle, or true root. It will be noticed that the portion from p to B tapers upwards, while below B the tapering is from above downwards. This outward difference of appearance corresponds with an inward difference of structure. Here we must leave our seedling Oak for the present, and defer the consideration of the seedling Wheat till another opportunity. The Potato Disease.— I was pleased when I had read your leading article on the improvement and culti- vation of the Potato. It will prove a great means of drawing public attention to the esculent, which forms so important a part of our national food. I should require quite another seven years of life to meet the writer's views. By that time, if I am spared, I have hopes of being enabled to fulfil the requisitions there put forth. In order to do so, we must work to get white-fleshed early Potatos, with a smooth outline and few eyes, and which must also have good keeping and non-sporting qualities. I believe I have varieties which come as near to those requirements as any up to the present time. But my cropping desires are not satisfied. How nearly they are likely to become so, I propose to show next year in the rare old garden at Chiswick, under the care of Mr. Barron. I intend also to give the judges and critics on Potatos an opportunity again to try and discern for themselves the qualities of my improved and latest selected eedlings and crosses, at South Kensington, on the 20th inst. Mr. R. Dean's paragraph answered at once the chief request of Mr. Fish, I must beg, nevertheless, to thank Mr. Fish for having referred to me personally in so kind a manner ; but I fear that the '* gold medal in bas-relief" would prove too uncomfortable for a civilian to wear. I am proud, however, to inform him that my cabinet already holds gold and silver medals, won by the sweat of my brow, and in fair competition ; but honours of this sort are not thought proper for such as us to make a display of. "Emblazoned" medals can only be proudly and conscientiously "worn" by the destroyers of our species, so that my "best taters " can never be represented on my breast, though I trust in time that the worthy defenders of our country will feel the benefit of them in the way of * ' sticking to their ribs." Practically, as regards myself, I can happily say that I have grown better Potatos since than I ever did before the advent of the disease. I remember well how the barbarous "good old plan" used to play pranks in the form of dry rot, bobbin-jones, gappy- plots, &c. Forthe how and " wherefore of all this," I would refer Mr. Fish to the pages of a contemporary for many consecutive years, only I feel that it would be a work of supererogation, as in every probability he has been as familiar with those columns as myself. I may mention, however, that I have never laid special claims for my practice over that of my fellow^. What I have done and written has been for the sheer :98 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September l6, 1871. love of the thing, and to try and impress upon I'olato growers to do likewise for their own good. In answer to "A. D.," I stated that the Potato was not a special victim to electricity. I think my critics have read my paper hastily. I said it was subject to be stricken by electricity, more so at the particular stage of growth which I pointed out, and this is still my conviction. The circumstance has become too familiar to my senses to allow me to "gue.ss" about it. How to prevent it is what I also "want to know," and in this way critics do not help me in the least. .Suppose I was to propose encircling our Potato grounds with galvanic wires as lightning conductors ! Well, that is certainly no new idea of mine, so I take heart of giace, and feel to tread the earth firmly. But how about my new seedling crops, now growing in the orchard-house under glass ? In lieu of " disproving the agency of electricity," it rather appears to confirm it ; at any rate, some discovery is lurking anent the glass, either as proving it to be a non-conducting or repellent power, so far as the seedling Potatos are concerned, or why sliould they there remain scatheless ? The glass cerlainly "robs" them somehow of the "disease orii^inating force." An enthusiastic Potato lover, and a very good neighbour of mine, " steps in " occasionally to "smell the old Potato smell " given off from their green and flourishing tops, and to witness the yellow (lying off of the foliage of the precocious ones, as he "used to smell and see them when a boy !" I believe I shall eventually take up every tuber of them free from the least sign of disease, and I am keeping them constantly watered, both tops and bottoms, longer than is at all necessary, on purpose to test the wet theory, if it be a producer of the murrain, to the uttermost, and, in this case, to allay the uprisings of any afterdoubts of criticism. Per contra, those seed- lings which I transplanted into the open yard, I took up, what remained of them, three weeks since. The haulm was black with disease, the greater part of it quite rotted away, and the young tubers also. Of the remainder the murrain had attacked the mmore or less; they "keep going" to this very day, and I shall not be able to preserve one-third of them. The tempests proved too much for their voyage, and if it was not owing to electricity in connection with the "white rain," I pray my critics to convince me otherwise, for these seedlings were as healthy and promising before the lightning, thunder, and the rain came as their pro- totypes under the gla^s close by. Why did they not remain so, if my theory is incorrect ? Again, in the open ground in this garden I have some tubers planted later than my general crop, which took the place of a bed of blind Strawberries. On August 9 they were in midgrowth, green and flourishing, with scarcely a fault upon their foliage. On the 13th I was walking in the evening, in the county of Middlesex, with he of Bed- font, and before us, and afar off, we became witnesses to the quick uprising of a magnificent outline of dark clouds. Nature's artillery was there, though silent for us. I said, " If that tempest is breaking in its full force over the rectory in Oxfordshire, and it pass away at once, my late planted Potatos will take no harm in their greenery, otherwise than by becoming stricken with the 'spot.' Should the storm linger thereabouts, for only one day, the spots will become .surrounded in their margins by Fungus mould ; and should damp muggy weather continue upon the tail of that storm for two or three days, the ' zoospores ' that Mr. Berkeley told us of would, as an effect, and not as a first cause, become generated in continuation of the deadly work begun in the first instance by electricity or ' fire blight ' (see p. 1 135) upon the leaves; and the more glazed and fii-m of texture the leaves are, the more resistance they offer to the above destroying powers." I have one seedling Potato now in its fourth year of tri.il, having leaves of peculiariy finii textui'e, and remarkably glazed. This has stood throughout the season's ordeal triumphantly ; all my other sorts have been spotted more or less, but that, I am happy to say, has been the chief harm. I never had better crops of Potatos, taking them altogether, and they are all of my own originating. Well, I returned to Woodstock on the 15th, and soon inquired if they had experienced a thunder-storm on Sunday night. "No," my wife said; " it lightened very sharp, but we had tempest with rain, slightly, all yesterday." I hastened to inspect the healihy foliage I left.behind me, and upon it, sure enough, was im]jrcssed the fatal spot, and its accompanying Fungus mould, though the splendid after weather completely stopped it from doing further harm. The Potatos are ripe, and still in the ground, without, I believe, a single trace of the rot to be found upon them. I would ask your correspondent, Mr. Taylor, is there any other esculent under the sun that has suffered the neglect which the Potato has, in contravention of Nature's intentions ? Then pray do not let us go back : let us begin again, and try by good cultivation and care of the noble tuber to bring back that sound pristine health and primeval constitution, now lost to it through supineness and neglect. Useless retorts can do no good ; the evil stares us in the face. In conclusion, allow me to relate how that I planted more Potatos in this garden on August 8, for the further- ance of the electrical test if possible ; how they are now flourishing in full greenery of haulm ; how they experienced rain for the first time on their foliage last Saturday the 2d inst., also on Sunday again. Yesterday (Wednesday) we had 12 hours of downpour, to-day it has been splendid weather. I have minutely examined the foliage, and not a single "spot" is visible upon it. We had no tempest with the rain ; the air is not charged with electricity, but feels cool and refreshing, and the rain was not what is termed "white rain." Ex nihilo nihil fit. Robt. Fenn, Rectory, Woodstock, Sept. 7. Propagation of Oaks. — Having what is believed to be a valuable golden variegated form of the Turkey Oak, which I believe is quite new, will you kindly advise me as to the best means of increasing it— in- arching cannot in this case be practised. If budding be practised, should it be done in the open ground, or would it be better to procure a few stocks in pots, and work it in a frame ? or will grafting, if properly done, be pretty certain ? R. A. D. [We referred this letter to Mr. Charles Lee, of Hammersmith, who kindly furnishes us with the following reply : — " Alter several years' experience in propagating Oaks, I find that the only safe method is by inarching. A very experienced grafter may get one in four or six to take, but it often results in the success of one in ten. Grafting on estab- lished plants in jiots, under close handlights, may be more successful, but it wants much experience."] Peach Culture at Madresfield Court. — The kitchen garden at Madresfield is a comparatively new one, and the site chosen is well adapted to the growth of fruit trees in general, the soil being of a calcareous nature. The Peach wall is about 10 feet in height, and the trees have been planted five years. They are for the most part trained horizontally from an upright shoot, a mode of training which we seldom employ, although a favourite system with the French, and one which has, no doubt, some advantages, one of which is that a wall can be covered with wood in the shortest possible time. And by this form of training Mr. Cox has in five years succeeded in covering the whole surface with the fresh green of the Peach tree, while the growth has been perfectly regidated, presenting an elegant appearance, reflecting the highest credit on the cultural skill displayed by the gardener. It is the finest display of Peaches and Nectarines I ever beheld. To those who in despair announce their intention of giving up Peach culture on open walls, I would say, go and see for yourselves what is done at Madresfield, and judge whether such results are not worthy of great endeavours to imitate. The wall coping projects about 6 inches. This Mr. Cox con- siders of great advantage. When wide, permanent copings are objected to, it is best to have brackets permanently fixed into the wall, to receive temporary copings, for there is not a doubt that, with wider copings, we should suffer less from the vicissitudes of our climate ; and protection from spring frost is of first importance, for without this necessary iirecaution not only the blossom-buds, but the trees at times, suffer irreparable injury, and this without a doubt is the pre- cursor of those bare-limbed, unsightly-looking objects one sometimes sees, and which are a disgrace to gar- dens. The Madresfield Court Black Muscat, which originated in these gardens, is planted in several of the houses, and from its distinct and bold characteristics is at once discernible amongst the others, and is well deserving of the high encomiums passed on it. George IVeHlaud. Influence of Scion upon the Stock. — I have not seen the following quoted amongst the illustrations of this which have been collected :—" 'Tis by tjie descent of the particles from the graft, and their reascent, that the variegations appear in the other parts of the shrub : a pregnant example of which happened to Mr. Bridgman, gardiner at Hertford, who engrafting a Hedgehog slip into a Holly, the graft dy'd, but another variegation appear'd afterwards below it, upon the same stock." (Blair's " Botanick Essays (1720), p. 386.) W. T. Thiselton Dyer. Acer Negundo variegatum. — I am not quite sure that this very pretty hardy deciduous shrub is so well known as it deserves to be. I have been much pleased this summer with the effect which some standards planted in the shrubbery border here produce. In looking through a conservatory in a large establishment lately, I was agreeably surprised to see it used in the shape of low bushy plants for decorating ; and well it looked, intermixed with other plants. I presume it was growing on its own roots, as the standards bought in are worked upon a green variety. I consider this one of the most " telling " variegated plants we have, either for use indoors or out. T. Wynne, Holbrook, Suffolk. Polemonium cceruleum variegatum as an Edging Plant. — Having failed to observe in the various reports on bedding plants which have from time to time appeared in your pages any notice of this comparatively scarce hardy herbaceous perennial as a bedding plant, I am induced, for the benefit of some of your readers, to remark that as an edging plant in particular it is entitled to prominent position, and especially in combination with Coleus Verschaffeltii its rich purple coloured foliage of the Coleus contrasting so charmingly with the unique and elegant variegated Fern-like leaves of the Polemonium, as is exemplified by an example in one of the flower gardens here, which signally eclipses contemporaneous beds of Coleus and Iresine Lindeni, respectively edged with Geraniums Golden Fleece, Crystal Palace Gem, and Cloth of Gold — all of which are in a flourishing condition, lacking, however, the compact habit and elegance of the Polemonium. Apart from its excellent bedding quality, it possesses the property of comparative hardi- ness, requiring merely the protection of any cold glass structure throughout the winter, and if placed in a little heat early in the spring a quantity of side shoots is soon afforded, which if slipped off and inserted in small pots speedily become established plants. For indoor decorative purposes it is also invaluable, especially for table decoration. Amongst other novelties allow me to notice Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum, which is also a charming edging plant, especially for small beds. At the present time I have it doing duty as an effective edging, in association with blue Lobelia, toa bed of Lady Constance Grosvenor Nosegay Geranium, and it is much admired alike for its pretty diminutive purple flowers as for its neat heart-shaped foliage. William Gardiner, Lower Eatnigton Park. Blue Apron.— Is it possible to get the true stuff for making gardeners' aprons anywhere ? if so, where ? For many years now I have had the greatest difficulty in getting anything like the stuff that we used to be able to get quite commonly. Possibly the reason is, that the young gardener of the period is too much of a dandy to wear such a thing as an apron (if so, small credit to him), and that consequently there is no demand for gardeners' apron stuff'. May I throw out a suggestion to the nurserymen : could not they add it to the list of things that they keep for the accommodation of the gardener ; and thus every gar- dener, when he ordered his seeds or plants or bulbs, could also order his apron stuff at the same time. N. H. P. Thujopsis dolabrata. — In answer to the request of a correspondent in your last, I send you the dimen. sions of a Thujopsis dolabrata that we planted here in 1S63. It is 6 feet 6 inches in height, 5 feet 6 inches through the base, and 16 feet round the base. It was covered with cones this year for the first time. T. C. Richardson, Gardener, Perryfield, Godslon, Sept. II. Moving Large Hollies. — It may be interesting to some of your readers, and those who attended the large sale by Mr. Stevens at the Royal Horticultural Gardens at Chiswick in November last, to hear that the whole of the large Hollies, 16 to 20 feet high, con- sidered by many too large and unsafe to move, are all "alive and growing," breaking like Furze bushes, not- withstanding the severity of the weather just after- wards, and the accident they met with at the railway arches between here and Chiswick : several had 4 to 5 feet of their tops crushed, and others had to be shifted, in consequence of their being too high for the arches to admit them through. This was no easy task, as they were on ordinary stone trucks, and their weight from I to 2 tons each. W. James Epps, Landscape Gar- dener, Leu'isham. Extension of the Peach Season.— Much has been written in the gardening journals at different times, during the last few years, upon the prolonging of the Peach season, and too much cannot be said in praise of such men as Mr. Rivers and Mr. Pearson, who, to attain this end, have directed their energies and great experience to producing early and late varieties of the Peach and other fruits. Little had pre- viously been done towards the production of early Peaches, though, it is true, we have long had what were called "late October Peaches;" these were, for the most part, very insipid in flavour, but this is not the case with some of the new late Peaches — Rivers' Princess of Wales, for instance, which I have myself retarded till November, and found excel- lent. Those who have not gone to the expense of a series of glass houses are ever complaining of a glut of Peaches— all coming in at once, with a dearth of fruit before and after. The efforts that have been made by our great nurserymen (as before stated) have slightly obviated this evil, and the orchard-house has helped still further to the same end ; fur instead of boasting of 50 or 60 dozen Peaches on one tree, the owner of the orchard-house can show as much fruit in the same space as this tree occupies, and that, too, separated into little divisions of different sorts, early and late, each contain- ing their three or four dishes of fruit. But we want to extend the season far beyond these limits, and I have no hesitation in saying that it may be done, and with very little trouble. There is still considerable difficulty in persuading many gardeners that my "new method of growing frmt, &c.," is not a substitute for succession houses only, for no amount of succession houses would give the advantages claimed for it, and which are thus entirely overlooked. , The high terms, however, in which it has been spoken of by some of our best gardening authorities, who have looked fairly into it without solicitation on my part, emboldens me to lay before your readers a process of extending the Peach season far beyond the limits which the new varieties command, and the pot system of the orchard-house further advances. I am, of course, not speaking of early forcing houses. It is unnecessary to do more September l6, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Aoricultural Gazette. 1 199 thanl n the "new method" itself, as it is now pretty well known, being simply a combination vinery constructed with movable platforms for trees and flowers, to be moved in and out of the house at will, and that at a moment's notice. Suppose a vinery so arranged with five platforms : let the first be filled with the best early Peaches, Belle Beauce, Rivers' Early, Early York, &c., and let this platform be kept in the house as much as possible, except for an occasional ■warm sho%ver in the early stage of the growth of the fruit, to keep the trees in good health ; and let its occupants be subject to such warmth throughout their growth as the Vines have, till about a week before ripening, when they may be moved out, weather per- mitting, to flavour and colour the fruit. These Peaches being early sorts, and forced besides, will come in very early. Let the next platform contain early Peaches under mixed treatment ; then would come mid-season Peaches, and, lastly, the best late Peaches, such as Walburton Admirable, Princess of Wales, Lord Pal- merston, &c., and these should be kept entirely out of the house, as far as spring frosts and subsequent storms will allow, and, where practicable, shunted behind a north wall, to be retarded as much as possible, and then finally brought into the house in November for the fruit to be ripened and finished off by fire-heat. This excessive retarding will, no doubt, affect the flavour of the fruit in some measure, according to the season, but it will produce Peaches when you cannot have them ripe at all by any other process that I know of, and also at a much less expense, for one house will do the whole under the direction of a good gardener, yofin Fountame, Soiithacre Rectory, Brandon. Hardiness of Niphobolus Lingua. — It will interest many of your readers to know that what appears to have been an accident resulting from the disastrous siege of Paris, in the discovery of the hardi- ness of Niphobolus Lingua (as mentioned at p. 1098), may be new so far as our French brethren are con- cerned, but I may say that for the last 12 years I have planted this Fern in ordinary outdoor ferneries. Just 12 years since I was called in to enlarge and otherwise Fern growing at an elevation of a yard from the gravel walk adjoining. It was in the most robust health, a round patch 18 inches through, made up of closely- packed foliage, as fine as any I ever saw grown under glass, and I was assured it had withstood the cold of several winters with perfect impunity. Since then, I have introduced the plant into hardy ferneries whenever opportunity has offered, and always have had reason to be satisfied with its hardiness. To insure quick and vigorous growth this Fern should be planted in lumpy, fibrous peat, and be liberally sup- plied with water till it is established. Under proper treatment, the wiry, mousetail-like rhizomes of this plant will push rapidly in all directions, and soon form fine specimens. Its dissimilarity to any other of the usual denizens of the outdoor fernery will render it an acceptable and ' interesting addition. milia»t Chitty, Stamford Hill. Taxodium distichum. — This superb ornamental tree is so little planted now, that I wish to draw atten- tion to a very handsome specimen at Cadlands, near Southampton, the seat of E. A. Drummond, Esq. It is about 90 feet high, and the trunk is fully 12 feet in circumference at 6 feet from the ground, and bare to the height of 18 feet. It is growing close to a large ornamental pond, and is in luxuriant foliage. Such situation appears always to suit this tree, and both and the pendulous form ought to be more generally planted. It is also known as Cupressus disticha, th deciduous Cypress. Close by were fine specimens c Hydrangea japonica and Magnolia grandiflora i: flower, the latter shrub being extensively planted in the open borders and on lawns along the south coast. Figs also luxuriate in this district, and it occurrence to meet with large trees 10 and 12 feet high with an abundance of fruits equal to that obtained under glass. D. H. Diseased Asparagus. — Enclosed are portions of Asparagus stems and branches, which, I fear, strongly approximate the state of your correspondent's plants (see No. 36), whose description caused more minutely my own plants, some of which I have latterly observed had assumed an unusually brown and unhealthy appearance, including in some instances complete defoliation of the plants, but which I attri- buted to the ravages of the larvae of the beetle (Crioceris asparagi), or some unseasonable influence. I have, however, as yet failed to discover that the disease — if disease it really be — had penetrated to the roots of the plants. Neither are the stems— that is, the portion nearer the soil — much affected, excepting in I-year-old plants, nor are the whole of our planta- tions affected alike, the less vigorous ones having been most severely affected. I may add that concurrently with your correspondent's remarks there is an account in the Globe, by a large grower in the west of England, stating that the majority of his large plantations of Asparagus are badly diseased, so much so that even the roots of many of the plants emit an offijnsive smell. A similar account was also this morning received by me from a neighbouring gardener, namely, that he has also latterly observed that his plants presented an un- Uy brown appearance, and that recent inspection had disclosed the presence of a Fungus. Hence I fear we shall learn that these are not isolated cases, though [ trust the disease may prove to be of a casual and not an epidemical character. IVilliam Gardiner, Lower Eatington Park, Stratford-on-Ai'on, Sept. II. [See p. 1 194. Eds.] Wasps' Nests. — This year we have been plagued hereabouts with a perfect cloud of wasps, and the quantity of nests taken within a radius of a quarter of 'le circle is nearly 50. I have myself taken ten week, and my neighbour has taken the same number ; and Re took eight the week before, and I four the same week. The damage they have done to he fruit is almost incalculable ; one gentleman told ne that they had taken all his Apricots, and they had begun at his Pears ; but what I want to say is about taking wasps' nests. There is a general notion afloat that it is rather a difficult business to take a wasps' nest. Now, nothing could be more simple. Get a small watering-can filled with gas tar, find out your nests in the day time, either by following your wasps home or getting the country people to tell you when they know of any, but mark the nest in the daytime by a piece of white stick or lath, so that you can easily see it at night, and as soon as it is dark take your pan of gas tar and pour about a quarter to half a pint of tar into the hole of the nest, close the opening with a little sod, and all will be right. You can go next night and dig the combs out if you like, or if you have a friend a fisherman he will save you the trouble. If you are near a town where fishermen live you can get something for the combs of grub by taking them to the fishing-tackle shops. However, let there be no more difiiculty with wasps' nests now. I grant that the old way of taking them with fuzes of gunpowder and sulphur was an awkward one, and not always safe and certain, but I guarantee gas tar to be both safe and sure. N. H. P. Plums. — The enclosed Plums are sent to show how exceptional the season has been in some instances. Generally we have a good crop of these — about 50 sorts. Those sent will show you how some of the trees are loaded. My experience here this season has been that all Iruit trees — and, in fact, cone-bearing kinds. Thujas and Cupressus in particular — escaped the frost and cutting hailstorms that we had in April and May. The Plums blossomed early, and escaped ; the Pears were in all their beauty when the hailstorm in the nigl ' of May 10 spread desolation amongst them, and only a few sorts escaped. How six or seven sorts should so out of more than 1000 kinds I cannot divine, unless there were something peculiarly hardy in their nat Those that escaped are Belle et Bonne, Beurre de Capiaumont, Beurre Goubalt, loaded with nice clean fruit ; Peach Pear, some of which I sent yesterday ; Anna Audusson, and a few others. The Myrobalan Plums flowered in the end of February and beginning of March, and escaped entirely — leaves, fruit, and branches — in the most healthy condition. I intended to have sent you some fruit to show you in what fine condition they were, but I went from home, and the fruit was gone on my return. It is only occasionally we get this sort to fruit, although it is generally clothed with a sheet of bloom eveiy March. How it escaped with other Plums in this neighbourhood, I am at a loss to know. It is certainly strange that nearly all trees that blossomed early for the most part escaped, and that those which blossomed in April, May, and June, were cut off. One curious thing that happened here this season was that there was no male blossom on any of the Cupressince, yet they are loaded with cones, and I am curious to see whether any fertile seed follows ; at present there is an appearance of it, but whether it will germinate or not remains to be seen. The Amentaceae are, like the Cupressin^, loaded with fruit, and the seeds are, in their case, good. Nuts of all kinds are abundant in this locality ; and here again is another instance of an escape from the destruction that befel later flowering trees. There is an evil that is likely to follow the stagnation and rest induced in many kinds of trees, especially Pears : these are now starting into young growth, and some trees are entirely covered with young branches and leaves, as if this were the beginning of spring instead of the fall of the leaf. I am afraid that in all cases, where the trees will grow in the manner described, that it will be at the expense of the fruit-buds. How- ever, all trees that were transplanted in the spring have done well, and grown in the usual way, and therefore will escape the weakening process of growing a second time. I think of commencing root-pruning in all those that show an inclination to grow, and may thus stop them, and perhaps save them from the weak condition they will be sure to be in if left unchecked. J. Scott, Merriott. Veitch's Autumn Giant Cauliflower. — With the view of testing the merits of this Cauliflower I made a sowing of it on April 17 last, planting out a good batch of it, along with the winter Broccoli. We cut the first heads about the end of August, and at the present time (September 7) there is a grand lot coming on, some of the most forward heads are nearly a foot across, firm, compact, and beautifully white. Whether it is cut small or large the flavour and colour are most excellent, I have a lot of Walcheren coming in, but the heads open before they attain half the size of the Giant \utumn Cauliflower, the colour is bad also, being a ;reenish yellow. However well the old sorts of Cauli- flower do in spring and early summer, they seldom turn ■jut so well in autumn. By making two sowings of Yeitch's Autumn Cauliflower, one in the beginning of .\pril and another the beginning of May, I am con- fident a good supply of Cauliflower may, with proper cultivation, be ensured from the middle of August to the end of December. D. Melville, OteUy Gardens. Mimicry. — Your correspondent "J." mentions an instance of a Convolvulus which had become entwined with Lonicera aureo-reticulata, and produced leaves similarly reticulated. I do not myself think that the Japanese Honeysuckle had anything to do with this change of colour in the leaves of its neighbour. In this neighbourhood I not unfrequently find plants of Convolvulus arvensis and Bellisperennis growing wild, with beautifirl aureo-reticulated leaves, which certainly never had the honour of growing near a Japanese Honeysuckle or any other variegated plant. H. Harpur- Greece, The Rectory, Drayton-Beauchamp, Tring. [We quite agree with you. Eds.] On Fruiting the Banana. — In reply to the inquiry of your correspondent, *'E. N.," as to how long the Banana takes to ripen after the fruit is set, I may state the experience I have had with it here. In March, 1870, we planted a bed 28 feet square, in the centre of a house 40 feet square, with Musa Cavendishii, most of which showed fruit in August, September, and October, and these were cut in February, March, April, May, June, and July. About the middle of May of the same year, we planted two specimens of Musa sapientum in the centre of the bed : they both showed fruit in March and were cut in August. The heaviest fruit we had was from one of the plants of M. sapien- tum, which weighed about 75 lb. Several of them weighed between 60 and 70 lb., and the remainder between 50 and 60 lb. J. N. Parsons' Mignonette. — In Febmary last I ob- tained, direct from Mr. Parsons, a small packet of what he called his "new Reseda odorata alba eximia, or white Mignonette," for which I was charged 2s. 6d. This I sowed in a pan placed under the shelter of a cold frame, and towards the end of April transferred the plants to an open bed, putting them in singly a foot apart every way. After they had made some progress, the tops were pinched out of the leading centre shoots, and the laterals pegged down. These shortly filled up the bed completely, producing a pro- fusion of bloom. Previous to planting the top soil was removed from the bed to the depth of S or 9 inches, some decomposed dung from an old hotbed dug in, and a compost that had lain heaped up during the winter, consisting of fibrous yellow loam three parts, rotted dung one part, and sand one part, well mixed together and sifted, substituted in the same proportion as what had been taken away. In another bed there sprang up a number of self-sovm common Mignonette plants from last year's crop, which were allowed to remain just as they stood, being othenvise treated in the same way as the preceding. These also grew luxu- riantly, and displayed a mass of blossom. On comparing the two kinds together, I could not discover any differ- ence between them, either in colour or size of flower. The habit of Mr. Parsons', however, I admit, was more robust, but that was all, and such may have arisen from the superiority of soil in which it was cultivated. Sonne of my neighbours, who also tried it, fully concur in what I have here adduced, and several of my fair sex acquaintance to whom I presented bouquets, culled from both beds, unanimously agreed they could see no dissimilarity. Why, therefore, the kind in question should be designated "white," any more than the common large flowering variety, I confess puzzles me to know. In your editorial remarks, p. I134, you say, — "Our o^vn proved to be a very mixed and uneven example. The selected specimens now sent are fine." It is a very simple matter for a person to pick out from a bed or pots, two or three heads of the best flowers ; but may I be allowed to ask, were the latter, or your own, in reality whiter? That I should like to learn, and in what respect they differed from Mignonette, except, as I have before observed, in rankness of growth — which may or may not be an improvement, according to fancy. I also obtained from one of the leading London seedsmen a small quantity of seed of what was called " new crimson-flowered Mignonette," which, in like manner, has turned out identically the same as the old sort. A Subscriber, September 7. [There has with us been no appreciable difference of colour. except 1 which the anthers were of _ darker chestnut, giving the mass a somewhat redder hue — but certainly not crimson. Mr. Parsons' pot plants, as shown last spring, were paler than the common sort, but whether naturally so or from indoor culture we cannot say. Eds.] Swans and Water Weeds- — Judging from the very effective way my swans have done their work, I should say that one pair of swans to an acre would certainly not be too much. By simply leaving the 13 alone this summer, and feeding them in winter,^ anotheryearoughttogiveyourcorrespondent, " W. E.,' enough swans to eftectually clear his pond. Somerset. The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ao:riculturaI Gazette. [September i6, 1871 Foreign Correspondence. The Winter of 1870-71 at Montpellier.— M. Charles Martins, the active professor of botany at Montpellier, has published his observations upon the winter of 1S70-71, so far as it affected the Jardin des Plantes of that place, and the environs of the city. Some of the details noticed in his report are so inte- resting, that we translate them for the benefit of our Among the plants entirely destroyed in the garden are three Date Palms, three dwarf Palms, and an old Eriobotrya japonica, all of which endured the severe cold of January, 1855. Others, which perished in that year, and since then have not been affected until last winter, are Benthamia fragifera, Schinus Mulli, and Opuntia Ficus-indica. A longer list is that of plants which do not suffer in ordinary seasons, but were un- able to stand the excessive cold of the beginning of the year, and were killed down to the ground, although retaining their vitality ; among these the Laurels have been much affected, both the old and young plants, although Prof. Martins says that he has observed with astonishment that the latter have relatively resisted better than the former. The largest Laurel in Mont- pellier is almost entirely dead, as are also those of the Jardin des Plantes. A third class is of plants which were injured in their leaves and branches, but which are usually unaffected by winter, and, in many cases, resisted the cold of 1855. A second portion of the paper treats of the effects of the cold on the cultivated or spontaneous plants of the environs of Montpellier, to which the following re- marks, by no means unimportant, are attached: "I cannot help directing attention to the fact that among all the plants the sensibility of whicli to cold we have mentioned, the greater number of those which are considered as indigenous (because they propagate themselves spontaneously in the country, where they have existed from time immemorial), belong really to exotic groups, of which they are the sole representative! in Central France ; such are the Olive, the Bay Laurel, the Pomegranate, the Myrtle, Pistacia Terebfnthus, and the Caper. * * By the philosophic botanist, all these plants ought to be regarded in reality as exotics in this sense, that their congeners are so, and that they contrast as types with those of the Mediterranean flora. Several have been found in the miocene forma, tion, and have remained in the existing flora, after having passed through the glacial epoch without disappearing altogether ; but their rarity and theii sensibility to cold, as well as their forms and botanical affinities, betray a paleontological origin, and show that they originated at a time when the climate of Languedoc was warmer than it is at present. I ma. be permitted by a comparison to show that Ihi induction is logical and legitimate. " Supposing for an instant that we did not know the date of the introduction to Languedoc of Agave americana, Aponogeton distachyon, Jussirea grandi- flora, Onopordon tauricum, and Opuntia inermis— all naturalised species. There is no botanist who would not be struck by their foreign appearance, and feel astonished at finding them mingled with the indigenous flora. Tradition teaches us that they have been intro- duced by man, and all is explained. As to the other plants cited above, history is silent ; we only know that they have existed in Central France from time immemorial ; but the same signs indicate to us a foreign origin, differing from those of the Mediterranean and northern floras, which, united, embrace the whole of the plants which now occupy the European shores of the Mediterranean." the one side and three on the other, added immensely to the general effect of the transverse table of fruit. Here Palms, Tree Ferns, and Screw Pines, towering high ; their fellows, enlivened with the gorgeous Lilies Japan, the beautiful Ixoras and Periwinkles from the East Indies, and the waxy-flowered Heaths from the Cape. The Fuchsias seemed to look their very best, and the gated Pelargoniums, always effective, gave a glow of colouring to the normal green, so largely represented in Ferns and Club Mosses. There were some of the best Ferns we have seen exhibited, the fine depending fronds of Adiantum assimile making up a beautiful plant, such any lady would select for window adornment. Gold I silver Ferns make suitable furnishing for introducing among flowering plants, and it is almost a pity that subjects so admirable should be grouped together in classes instead of being interspersed among flowering plants of less elegant habit. Pansies were, as usual, well exhibited, and the spikes of the Gladioli were in splendid form, of Cockscombs, that formed the boundary he exhibits of fruit, were in the best style of 1. The bouquets, both table and hand, were iff and formal, and although they presented a le, still they did not exhibit the very fine flowers, of which many of them were composed, to the best advantage. Roses were good — some of the stands better than might have been expected from the untoward summer. Hollyhocks were deficient in numbers and in quality ; while Dahlias— the regal Dahlia of the florist, that is so soon destroyed by the least breath of frost- were in fair character. The table of fruit above noticed was of a very excellent character. Dozens of competitors entered for Black and White Grapes, the palm of honour falling respectively to Mr. D. Y. .Stewart, Barassie, and Sir James Lumsden, Arden, both being hardly pressed in their classes by Mr. Collms, Maryhill, and Sir Jame; Colquhoun of Luss. We have seldom, indeed, seer better samples exhibited. The tables groaned witf excellent fruit. Grapes, Peaches and Nectarines, Plums, I'ears. and Apples. These classes were fully contested. Vegetables are generally much better shown in the West of Scotland than in any place in the kingdom, the climate being favourable and the gardeners put on their mettle Mr. 'M'Lachlan of Greenock, showed a "verge cutter' that will economise time and labour to all who employ it in their gardens. Enfif.ld Horticultural : Sept. 7. — The chief features of this pretty local show — one of the best we have seen for some time — consisted of foliage plants. Lilies, Ferns, and Asters, together with a good display of fruit, much of which was of a very high quality. The show, which was held in the grounds of Mrs. Adams, took place in a spacious tent, supplemented by two smaller 'ed much of its effect arrangement secured by the indefatigabl honorary secretary, Mr. foliage plants staged were Seaforthia elegi tasteful i of the Marshall. Amongst the examples of the Anderson, gr. to Societies. Glasgow and West of Scotland Horticultural : Sept. 6, - -The concluding show of the season was a crowded one. There were 1580 entries in the respective classes of plants, fruits, cut flowers, and vegetables ; many of the articles exhibiting good cultivation, and at no former meeting had there been so magnificent a display of fruit. The dinner-table decorations from Colonel Buchanan of Drumpellier, and Colonel Campbell of Blylhswood, were unquestionably the chief objects of attraction. The arrangement of both these designs was wonderfully good. t'le premier one being the most elegantly put up, although lacking the quality of fruit of the second. Mr. Lewin arranged his table with three crystal designs as centre- pieces, after the elegant Marsh design that finds so much favour in the metropolis. These were elegantly decorated with Maiden-hair Ferns, variegated Panicum, Passion- flowers, and Bouvardia. The centre-piece had twisted appendages of glass, from which Ferns, &c., sprang, and the ground-work had a geometrical line of colour in Pansies. set upon golden Pelargonium leaves, with little sprigs of scented Geranium dotted in, making a most effective border. As corner dishes there were nice lots of Grapes. Melons, and Peaches and Nectarines, and between these again were little glasses filled with Ferns and the Bouvardia. stylish but easy. The whole was in a dessert service of burnished gold. Mr. Methven's style was a little difl'erent. His centre-pieces were not so elegant, and his design was more crowded. He studied the comforts of the table by giving ample space round the margin more than his fellow-competitor, and his dishes of fruit were beyond question much more luxurious, comprising, besides the fruits named above, a fine Cayenne Pine-apple, Bananas, and some of the commoner fruits. The collections of plants on longitudinal tables, three on D. Henry. Esq., and the grand Yucca-like Cordyline australis from Mr. Brockwell. gr. to P. Twells, Esq. Mr. Wilson, gr. to W. Marshall, Esq., had one of the finest masses of Alocasia metallica ever shown, and which must have borne as many as 60 or more well-developed leaves. There were some finely grown Crotons from Mr. Wilson. Mr. Shaw, gr. to J. Muir. Esq., and others. Amongst the flowering plants was an exceedingly well managed specimen of the now seldom seen Clerodendron iallax. from Mr. Cuthbert. gr. to Mrs. Adams, a plant about 3 feet high, bearing 14 panicles of its brilliant scarlet flowers. Mr. Brockwell had a grand specimen of Allamanda Henderson!, exceedingly well-flowered, and which might well dispute with Mr. Marshall's Alocasia the premier place in the exhibition. There was a grand display of Lilium speciosum, peting, the best form one of the most conspicuous features of the Brighton show—were in a large marquee on the lawn, and, with a few other plants, such as Fuchsias, cut Dahlias, Begonias, :onstituted a very effective exhibition. The fruits, i plants, Ferns, and cut flowers, were in the saloons of the building. The Railway Cup was this year offered for 48 Dahlias, id the veteran grower Keynes worthily carried it off — us both cups went to Salisbury. Cockscombs in the county division were well represented. Begonias were well-flowered, especially B. weltoniensis. Kelway and Parsons had fine collections of Gladioli, the former taking the ist prize. Of Pelargoniums there was a wonderful display. Parsons holding his own as usual. Fuchsias were by no' means good, although large. Indeed, cut flowers, taken altogether, were quite equal to the general run. Roses, of course, were poor, the well-known Sussex man, Mitchell, standing istin 48 varieties. The competition for the Ashbury Cup was keen, and the judges must have had some trouble in deciding the claims of the numerous competitors. The first on the list left little to be desired, and there were many others very tastefully designed. The too prevalent fault of over- crowding and massing the flowers was here, however, as apparent as it has been elsewhere, and we can only recommend the managers of provincial and metropolitan shows to continue to encourage this branch of floriculture. Stove and greenhouse plants were very good, notably Bougainvillea glabra, Allamanda Hendersoni, Vinca, Ixora amboinensis, &c. A few good Orchids were exhibited, but were so badly placed in one of the rooms that they were passed by almost unnoticed. There were two or three good collections of wild flowers, including most of the rarities of the South. Amongst fruits, Pines were pooriy represented, an unripe though large Smooth Cayenne taking ist prize. Black Grapes, especially the Hamburgh, were remarkably fine ; and the collections of 10 dishes of difterent fruits were good. Melons were numerous. Plums fine, and Apples and Pears inferior. The wax and paper flowers exhibited by Miss Weekes and Mrs. Snelling were so good as to require close inspec- tion to convince one that they were not natural. A small basket by the former lady, containing Primroses. Forget- I me-nots, &c., was excellent, and the s&m& might be said I of many other artificial productions, including some wool- , work Passifloras ! Crijjps, of Tunbridge Wells, exhibited a beautiful set of new seedling and named Clematises, and Messrs. Veitch their remarkable crimson-leaved Amaranthus, named salicifolius, resembling somewhat the narrow-leaved pendant Crotons. Mr. Ward, gr. to J. N. Miller, Esq., of Bishop Stortford, was very successful with his fruit, taking 1st for While and Black Grapes, and a collection of 10 dishes of different fruits. Mr. Chard, gr. to Sir F. Bathurst, of Salisbury, gained the Ashbury Cup for dinner-table decoration, comprising three stands. Alto- gether, the arrangements, under the superintendence of Mr. Spary, were admirable, and the attendance s to justiTy the hope that the Society will reviv Mr. Ma n. There was o fewer than fivi from Mr. Cuthbert, had a fine plant of the true high-coloured original L. speciosum. Asters in pots were a pretty feature, but as it was a rule that they should have been grown in the pots, the choicest lot was disqualified ; the best of those grown according to the schedule came from Mr. Mills, gr. to W. R. Arbuthnot, Esq. Ferns were shown in con- siderable numbers, and comprised many remarkably well grown specimens. There was a grand plant of Balantium Culcita, and several good examples of the Bird's-nest Fern, Thamnopteris Nidus ; besides which, we noted a magnificent example of Pteopeltis mussefolia, and good plants of Todea superba. Adiantum farleyense. as well as a luxuriant mass of Asplenium marinum, the latter all from Mr. Marshall's collection. There was a fair display of cut flowers, amongst which some double Zinnias from Mr. W. Paul, and some Tiger and other Lilies from Messrs. Paul & Son, neither of them competing, were conspicuous. In the competition for a device in cut flowers, which here meant a stand of flowers for the table. Mrs. Marshall was placed first with one of the Marsh stands tastefully filled ; a very pretty stand from Miss Adams, rather weak in the filling, being placed second. The fruit was exceedingly good for a local show, and occupied a considerable space on the tables. Some of the more noteworthy examples, were— Black Grapes (Ham- burghs), from Mr. Anderson ; White Grapes (Buckland Sweetwater), from Mr. Shaw ; Peaches (Bellegarde). an excellent sample, from Mr. Wilson ; Nectarines (Violette Hative), from Mr. Mills ; Pears {Marie Louise and Williams' Bon Chretien), from Mr. Shaw ; Cherries (Morello), from Mr. Anderson; and collections of 12 dishes from Mr. Cuthbert, and of 6 dishes from Mr. Anderson. The vegetables and cottagers" productions were very creditable. Brighton Floricultural and Horticultural: Sept. 13 and 14. — This was perhaps the most successful autumn show held in Brighton for many years ; indeed, it would be difficult to find a competitor for it at this season. Though the Pavilion buildings are not eminently suited for floral displays, it may be said, that for some things they are preferable to canvass marquees. The stove and greenhouse plants and Pelargoniums— which always South of Scotland Horticultural: Sept. 5. — The fifty-ninth annual exhibition of this Society was held in the Mechanics' Hall, Dumfries, underfavourableauspices. Upon the whole the show was one of the most successful that has ever been held in connection with the Society, either as regards the number or the quahty of the pro- ducts exhibited. Amongst other exhibitors were Messrs. Milligan & Kerr, who sent a beautiful collection of Geraniums, comprising aboui 60 new varieties — such as Sir Robert Napier, Princess Louise, and Sparkler. Messrs. Kennedy & Co. exhibited a beautiful collection of Asters, Dahlias, Fuchsias, Stocks, Liliums, &c. The various departments of the show were well represented. Amongst other plants much admired were some Ferns standing on one of the centre tables. The ist prize plant, exhibited by Mr. Farquharson, was especially noticeable on account of its great size and beauty, while the second prize taker, belonging to Messrs. Milligan & Kerr, was little inferior. The exhibition of fruit and vegetables was good. gntias 0f go0hs. Catalogo Poliglotto delle Piante. Compilato dalla Contessa de San Georgio. Firenze, 1S70. Deutsche Pfianzennamen. Von Hermann Grass- mann, Professor am Marienstiftsgymnasium zu Stettin. Stettin, 1870. (Plant names.) It is now 20 years since Dr. Seemann published his pamphlet *'On the Popular Nomenclature of the Ame- rican Flora," in which a polyglot dictionary of popular plant names was referred to, and a hint given that, at some future time, such a work might be accomplished by the same author. Since then Dr. Seemann has been steadily accumulating material, and as, from his extensive knowledge both of languages and countries, it would be difficult to find any one better qualified for the task, we may hope that at some time or other the work may be forthcoming. Meanwhile, in England, as on the Continent, the subject of plant names has attracted considerable attention, and we have, from time to time, referred to works bearing more or less upon the matter, and in more than one instance entirely devoted to it. The two, the names of which stand above, are the most recent contributions to the literature of this subject. The project of a polyglot dictionary of plant names is by no means a new one. In 16S2 was published a folio volume by Mentzelius, entitled "Index nominum plantamm univgrsalis," which is very good in its way, although now-a-days of little use, owing to its ante- Linnean nomenclature. A similar dictionary was com- piled by Grertner during his residence at St, Peters. Septembev i6, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ao^ricuUural Gazette 201 reflect upon the incompleteness which it must of necessity manifest, however much care may have been bestowed upon its compilation, we shall not wonder that the death of the author has preceded the com- pletion of the task. It is to this feeling that we must attribute the non-publication of the " Dictionnaire des Noms Vulgaires des Plantes " in 67 languages, which was compiled by Moritzi under the direction and with the assistance of the elder De Candolle, and which occupies in MS. four folio volumes. The objections urged against vernacular names may be freely admitted, and the uncertainty which sometimes attaches to their use may be granted ; but apart from this, there can be no doubt that, if a comprehensive catalogue could be compiled, even of the names of garden plants alone, it would be useful to many, as our ' ' Answers to Correspondents " often show. There are many plants well known in our gardens by English names to which it is not always easy offhand to assign their Latin equivalents ; and many which, although grouped together under one English name, used generically, belong to many different genera when scientifically considered. To take an example from a recent bulb catalogue, we find, besides the true " Lilies " of the genus Lilium, the following, to which the scientific equivalents are wisely added : — African Lily, Agapanthus ; Atamasco Lily, Zephyranthes ; Australian Gigantic Lily, Doryanthes excelsa ; Bella- donna Lily, Amaryllis Belladonna; Black Lily, Satana kamschatika ; Cuba Lily, Scilla peruviana ; Day Lily, Hemerocallis ; Guernsey Lily, Nerine samiensis ; Jacoboea Lily, Sprekelia fornipsissima ; St. Bruno's Lily, Anthericum Liliastrum ; Scarborough Lily, Val- lota purpurea ; Lily of the Valley, Convallaria. Besides these, the following, which occur to us as we write, may be added : Lily of the Nile, or Trumpet Lily, Richardia africana ; Rockwood Lily, Ranunculus Lyalli ; Barba- does Lily, Hippeastrum equestre ; Mexican Lily, H. reginse ; Wood Lily, Convallaria and Trillium ; Lent Lily, Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus ; Flame Lily, Pyrolirion ; Brisbane Lily, Eurycles australasica ; Rock Lily, Dendrobium speciosum ; Checkered Lily, Fritil- laria; Hedge Lily, Convolvulus sepium; to say nothing of the various Water Lilies and many more wliich might be added to the list. Even judging by this example, the first book on our list appears in no favourable light — only six names are in the index under "Lily," of which two are genuine species of Lilium, and two do not appear in our enumeration. Indeed, viewed from whatever point we may choose, this polyglot catalogue is, to say the least, unsatisfactory. The list of authors consulted demonstrates this. None of the works which should be indispensable, such as Dr. Prior's volume, are enume- rated ; English names are taken from Bentham and Baxter ; the " Botanical Magazine," and "Register," and Johnson's "Chemistry of Common Life" (!) with similar- works ; and for French and German names equally unsatisfactory authorities are quoted. Thus a large number of the English names can only be so called by courtesy, as they would never be used out of books, and are often mere adaptations, such as " Euphorbia bush, medicinal," for E. officinarum ; " Guyana Centaury," for Exacum guyanensis ; "Barton's flower, golden yellow," for Bartonia aurea ; "Nitre plant, Russian," for Nilraria Schoberi, and so on. Nor do genuine English names fare better, inasmuch as they are too often misapplied : thus Galeopsis Tetrahit is given as the " common dead Nettle;" the name "Buttercup" is limited to Ranunculus repens and acris ; and, worse still, misprints are so abundant on almost every page, that the meaning is obscure. Thus Medicago echinus is called the " Sea Egg-medick plant;" M. scutellata is the "Swain Shell;" while one page in the index gives us the " Macquarie Habour-Grappe plant," "Lords and Ladies," " Litimus plant," &c. Some such mistakes are perhaps to be expected in the English of a book printed abro.id, but here they are so nerous that this excuse will hardly avail. The most sfactory part of the book is the relation between the the index ; the plants are arranged alpha- betically under their Latin names, and numbered con- secutively, the synonyms in each language being given. We have then a separate index for each language, the number of the plants being given after the name, so that reference is easy. The work, however, is far from satisfactory as a whole, and will be of little use, so that a polyglot dictionary still remains a desi- deratum. Prof. Grassmann's little volume is much more useful, as it contains not only the German vernacular names, but their Swedish, Danish, and other European syno- nyms, with notes on derivations, and copious references to previous writers on the subject. The chief fault we have to find with it, is in the invention of vernacular names — a system which has been proposed among our- selves, and carried out more or less fully in Mr. Bentham's "Handbook." Prof. Grassmann's plan is to take some common name of a well-known plant, and to render it generic, coining, as it were, specific names for each member of the genus. Thus, Cytisus Laburnum is generally known as "Golden-rain" (Gold-regen) ; the word Regen is then taken for the genus, and adapted to each species : — C. alpinus, Alpen-regen ; C. argenteus, Silber-regen ; C. austriacus, Oester-regen ; C. capitatus, Kopf-regen ; and so on through about 20 species. This example, taken a random, shows the unsuitableness of the system : thi idea of rain is appropriate enough to the Laburnum and is embodied also in the Swedish guldregii, but i quite out of place in connection with the majority o the other species, notably such as C. capitatus. Thi work is, however, on the whole of value, and will no be overlooked when a comprehensive polyglot die tionary of plant names shall be in progress. Flprists' Flowers. There is much reason to fear that year by year the ea of the cultivation of the Tulip as a florist's llower becoming more and more circumscribed, especially e that men who, because of their long connection with the Tulip, can worthily be termed veteran cultivators, are one by one falling aside from the beaten track, and are found offering their collec- tions for sale. Many have learned with unfeigned regret of these acts of withdrawal, mainly carried out, be it stated, because of growing physical infirmities which interfere with that active supervision so necessary to a grower who would succeed. In the case of the retire- ment of Mr. George Lightbody, of Falkirk, who has been a florist since 1817, and of Mr. John Read, of Market Raisen, so well known to the floral brother- hood, through their various periodicals, under the pseudonym of " Dera," and who has enjoyed a long and honourable career as a cultivator of the Tulip also, there is cause for much regret among Tulip fanciers. To them it is like the passing away of the renowned commanders in the times of a country's greatest emer- gencies. It must not be supposed, however, that others are not stepping forward to supply the vacant places. Tulip growers are yet a numerous body ; one occasionally stumbles on them in various places, tend- ing their flowers with all that ardour that enters so strongly into the composition of an enthusiastic florist, and reaping the pleasant reward of much real gratifica- 'ion of the Tulip has much ricts of England ; in the No doubt th died out in the sou north it is still pursi 1 with much ardour. At the National Tulip Exhibition, held at Cam- bridge in May last, the northern growers appeared in strong force, and their ardour and enthusiasm were manifested in a remarkable degree. It was a rare study of human nature to stand by a group of these men, gathering their opinions of the flowers staged, of the estimation in which certain points were held — and in this respect there was much difference of opinion, as well as in the estimate which had been formed by the judges and their decisions. The popular regard, also, went out largely after the Tulips —perhaps because of the novelty of their appearance, and the tent in which they were shown was crowded with visitors during the day. The Tulip, to be certain of securing some approach to desired quality, must be grown under favourable conditions, and these are not incompatible with its perfect hardihood. Mr. Richard Headly has declared that the Tulip is a much hardier bulb than the Swedish Turnip. Experienced growers hold the opinion that it is not possible for " either wet or frost to injure them materially, although submerged in a flood for days, or bound up by frost for weeks ;" still there is scarcely a cultivator who would care willingly to expose his bed to such great lisks. An undrained soil, which from its inability to pass away quickly the rain that falls on the bed must keep the earth about the bulbs soddened and cold, is a thing to be particularly avoided ; and it is no doubt owing to this that beds are invariably raised above the ground level. Some attempts are frequently made to protect the beds from frost and heavy winter rains, and this is generally done by means of a set of low iron hoops, with a line of laths passing along the top to keep them together ; and over these Russian mats are thrown when requisite. One eminent cultivator has stated, and his words contain a warning worthy of note, especially in cold and keen localities — that the greatest harm from frost is likely to arise when it follows with some severity on the heels of heavy rain ; when the foliage is often filled with water, and that water is suddenly congealed to ice. The stems are thus nipped, and although the consequences are not immediately visible, future disappointments may be predicted with certainty. They may stand apparently all right till nearly in full bloom, but at every visit to the bed the probability is that the florist will find some of his favourites lying prostrate, their stems being tainted half through. To obviate this misfortune, the foliage should be kept as dry as possible from the time when it first opens to the period of full bloom, and this can only be effected by having a top cloth on during all wet weather. With Tulip growers it is a kind of tradition (with some of them at least) to plant on November 9. It is best to plant in dry weather, and not at a time when the soil is excessively wet through heavy rains. Generally the bed ranges from east to west, probably to get as much as possible the full action of the sun. The soil recommended is a good sandy turfy loam, applied to the depth of 6 inches, and well mixed vnih the soil in the bed, and left for three or four weeks before planting is done. The beds are invariably formed with turf sides and ends, about 9 to 12 inches in depth ; and when planted the soil is levelled to the surface of the edging, or just below it, and the bulbs placed on it in regular positions, according to thei height of growth, in seven lines : a little white sand i placed about each bulb, and they are then covered with soil to the depth of 5 inches in the middle, and three at the sides. This gives a kind of sloping or bevelled surface, and helps to throw off the rain. The following list includes some of the best flowers shown at Cambridge in May last, together with others not seen on that occasion :— Bizarres : Dr. Homer, feathered, Everard, Richard Headly, Henry Groom, and Mr. F. Perkins, flamed, all first row flowers ; Vivid, feathered. Caliph and Dr. Hardy, flamed, second-row flowers ; George Hayward and Pactolus, feathered. Sir J. Paxton, J. R. Scrivener, and Poly- phemus, flamed, third-row flowers ; Royal Sovereign, Glory of Abingdon, feathered, Owen Glendower, King (Delaforce), and Lord Raglan, flamed, fourth-row flowers. Of these the following were specially fine— Sir J. Paxton, which deservedly obtained the premium prize as the best flower in the exhibition ; Polyphemus, in superb style ; Dr. Hardy, very fine ; George Hayward, a grand flower ; also a feathered form of Sir J. Paxton. Byblcemens : Queen of the North, Purple Perfection, and Wood's Rembrandt, flamed, first-row flowers ; Victoria Regina, Storer's Clara, Bat- tersby's Chancellor, and Violet Amiable, feathered, Walker's Duchess of Sutherland, and John Kemble, flamed, second-row flowers ; Lord Denman and Maid of Orleans, feathered, Queen Charlotte, Thalia, Nora Creina, and Claude, flamed, third-row flowers; Adonis, feathered, Alexander Magnus, and Princess Royal, flamed, fourth-row flowers. Of these Duchess of Sutherland, Queen of the North, Alexander Magnus (finely marked, but rather long in the petals), and John Kemble, were in fine condition at the National Tulip Show. Of Roses, the following form a good selection : Sarah Headly and Arlette, feathered, Lady Stanley, Naomi, Goldham's Gem, and Couniess of Blessington, flamed, first-row flowers ; Heroine, feathered. Rose Celestial, flamed, second-row flowers ; Mary Headly, Aglaia, Triomphe Royale, and Maid of Falaise, flamed, third-row flowers; Vicar of Radford, Gibbon's Duchess of Sutherland, and Claudiana, feathered, Emily, Elizabeth (Jeffrey's), and Anastasia, flamed, fourth-row flowers. Roses were very fine indeed at Cambridge, and especially the following in the foregoing list : Aglaia, very finely marked ; Heroine, very fine, and the premier rose ; Rose Celestial, and Triomphe Royale. This gives a list of 54 good reliable varieties, iS of each section, arranged according to their height of growth. Of other good flowers not included in the foregoing lists, but shown finely at Cambridge, are Talisman (Hardy), a very fine feathered byblcemen ; W. E. Gladstone (Headly), do., shown in fine condi. tion by Mr. R. Headly ; Circe, flamed rose, very pretty ; Prince of Wales (Headly), flamed bizarre, — this was very fine, large, and beautifully marked, but hardly strong enough in colour ; Mrs. Pickerell, feathered byblcemen, and the premier feathered flower of the exhibition ; Jacomb's Perfection, feathered bizarre, a variety little known but rightly named, one of the best of its class, and perhaps the richest coloured of any bizarre in cultivation ; Nepaulese Prince, flamed byblcemen, finely coloured ; Henry Steward, feathered bizarre, very fine ; Captivator, flamed rose ; Arethusa, feathered rose ; and Sarah Leach, flamed byblcemen. Garden Memoranda. Battersea Park. — The bedding-out here will be found in excellent order just now. Mr. Roger has to a certain extent struck out a new line for himself, which is at once seen on going to those snug nooks and corners where we always expect to find something good, and which we shall take the opportunity of noticing as we come to them. Of course the change which is found in the open style of planting which Mr. Roger has adopted is not radical enough to entirely alter the whole character of the place, though this appears to have been adopted in every case where bold, striking foliaged plants are in question, and the results appear eminently satisfactory. Our provincial friends, we know, take exception to the great number of plants which are crammed into the flower-beds of the public parks and private grounds in the metropolis, but then we have a reason for it, and a very substantial one, inasmuch as here, when the plants are put in, we must have a show at once, which can only be gained by thick planting in the case of the ordinary run of bedding plants, whilst it is quite probable that the gardensattached to the palatial and baionial mansions in the shires are never seen by the proprietors until the commencement of the shooting, or the termination of the so-called London season, when a full blaze of beauty is of course expected to be found. Here, then, thick plant- ing would not answer, nor is it attempted. The plants are put in moderately thin, they have plenty of time to "get up," as the expression goes in gardening phraseology, and are found " in a blaze of bloom " when wanted. In the case, therefore, of ordinary bedding plants, Mr. Roger has adhered to the usual system, but with the large, fine-foliaged plants proper to the subtropical garden, he has adopted a bolder course, as, instead of reproducing large massive beds of a single species, or variety, as the case may be, of any I202 Ihe Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [September l6, 1871. near to the Peninsula, are • was a happy thought that suggested of these un-Enghsh nooks to Mr. 1 them we find a great variety of ^ g tropical subjects which cannot be Here is a case in point. The extreme ends j golden-self Pelargonium Gem of Brilliants, with rich 1 trusted out in the open, and which we should other- and centre ofa long bed situated at the bend of the walk, 'magenta flowers, which Mr. Roger speaks very highly I wise miss from this thoroughly enjoyable place. The taken to the right on entering from the cricket ground, of The three first named plants are flowering very I long geometrical beds, of which we gave plans last popular plant, such as we have so much admired from I the case when the convex form of surface is employed — the hands of his predecessor, Mr. Gibson, he has cut up i we have nothing to equal it, in a similar colour — bright these beds into sections, and planted them with two or j orange-yellow. The next is composed of Vallota pur- three kinds, chosen for their general distinctness of ' purea, mixed with Agapanthus umbellata and Imanto- character and adaptability for forming agreeable phyllum miniatum, around which is a line of Wills' tropical vistas as usual. It the formation Gibson, for : very interestii besides, its flow bed with \'allotaf which entirely kil phyllum is scarcely decided I year, at p. 1 1 58, are this season planted in the Gr warrant a more free use of it ; [ key pattern, the plants used being Alternanthera and look washy, and in any j the Golden Feather Pyrethrum ; whilst the two round be planted in the same ones are planted with succulents, with a view to subdue the intense scarlet flowers of | the colour of the others. This is decidedly a change of Vallotas and | for the worse, as the design, though a pretty one in i unworthy of the place now occupied are planted with the noble-foliaged Wigand cassana (see fig. 269, p. 1 1 70), 4 feet apart rows, and 3 feet from row to row, the two intt sections being filled in, thinly in proportio Solanum marginatum. Under the Wigand: carpet of the fiery spined Solanum pyracanthc . under the Solanum marginatum is the cut-leaved | Agapanthus would have a capital efiect. Another I certain positions, Geranium anemonifolium, the whole being finished 1 plant which, when in flower, commands considerable | by it. off with a line of the last-named Geranium altemat- I attention — Erythrina Crista-galli — is flowering unusu- | The mass of Acer Negundo variegatum, which forms ing with Tussilago Farfara variegata, and an I ally freely this year. Some round beds of this, edged such an attractive feature in this portion of the outer margin of Sedum virescens. The Wigandias I with dwarf plants of Aralia papyrifera, have an exceed- [ park, now that the plants are getting up in have made a capital growth, and being allowed , ingly good appearance, the outline being easily i height, well illustrates the exceeding valuable plenty of room, they stand out boldly and well in their ! and sufficiently defined, without the severely formal i character of the plant (of which we give an noble proportions, whilst the silvery leaved Solanum, character pioduced by dwarf and more compact- 1 illustration, fig. 275) for ornamental planting. though made good use of its time, is in the very nature of things con- siderably dwarfer. In this lies the great feature of the arrange- ment : it breaks up the mass, as it were, into small groups, and opens up any characteristic feature in the rear, which, in of a pair of fine Musas, and which are seen to the greatest advantage through the openings so made. Besides being a capi- tal illustration of an excellent style of arrangement, this bed has another feature of originality, deserving of the attention of those seeking good useful plants for fur- nishing bold efiective edgings, or for carpet- ing under tall-grow- ing plants — we mean that it fully bears out Mr. Roger's high opinion of the merits of the many beautiful cut-leaved and sweet- scented Pelargoni- ums for the purposes above mentioned. He has employed several of these charming old plants to a consider- able extent, and we believe intends doing o more extensively, and that they will do him good service we have ample evidence in the illustrations before us. A very bold and effective design, in the style above alluded to, is also to be seen on the opposite side, in which the ends and centre are planted with Solanum Warsce- wiczoides, and the intervening spaces with the New Zealand Flax, Pliormium tenax, carpeted with a deeply cut leaved sweet-scented Pelargo nium, and edged with variegated Ivy. In tlie same neighbourhood we notice that tlie fine bed of the prettily variegated Vitis heterophylla is this season rendered even more beautiful by its being made to do duty as carpeting to those really elegant plants Acacia lophantha and Grevillea robusta, which are planted thinly amongst it, with a very good effect. Other examples of tasteful bedding which we noticed in our stroll round, and think worthy of record, are a circular one of Coleus Verschafi"eltii, with a tuft of Centaurea candidissima in the centre, and a line around of the same plant, next to which comes one of mixed succulent plants, and then a margin about 12 inches deep of Mesembryanthemum cordifohum variegatum, which here, as well as at Hyde Park, is regarded as one of the best plants for such a purpose in cultiv.ition. For edgings, which are made almost perpendicular with cow- dung and loam— a plan largely followed in the me- tropolis, to lighten the labour of watering, every drop of water going to the roots of the plants, instead of We have also a change to notice in the style of bedding carried out around the refreshment rooms, on the north side of the park, facing the Thames, which, in former seasons, con- sisted of ribbon bord- ers and beds of dis- :ng to the roots of the plan the surface, and caking it, i growing plants. The latter style finds little favour with Mr. Roger, who employs the former and more graceful method much more freely with tall plants, and with excellent results. The large beds of Cannas are looking and doing well, especially those which are left in the ground undisturbed. These grow much stronger tlian those planted out annually ; but the latter plan is the best where it is desirable that the beds should not exceed a certain height to fall in agreeably with their surroundings. The former, too, are liable from exhaustion to make a spindly growth ; and, to obviate this, Mr. Roger, we believe, intends to take them up every three or four years, divide, thin out, and replant in renewed soil ; and this will, no doubt, have a very beneficial effect in giving breadth and substance to the foliage. The Palms and Musas, which owing to the severity of the weather were put out late, are doing very well, espe- cially Chanijerops humilis, Seaforthia, and Phcenix sylvestris. The experience here is that any Palms in habit approaching in character to the above, are the best for subtropical work, and that Musas of the height of 3 or 4 feet are more serviceable tlian taller Pelargoniums, but which now — that is, the half circular border — is most effec- tively carpet-bedded in a design resembling a well executed piece of cornice work a- round the ceiling of a room, and very well indeed it suits the position. The ray beds on the left, near to the West Gate, are rather weak and dull, but this, it must be obser^'ed, is due to the circumstance that the plants first put in suffered so severely from the effects of the weather that it had to be nearly all replant- ed, and that, too, when nearly all the other bedding was finished — when the work could only be carried out at a very great disadvantage. Opposite to the above, however, is one of the best beds in the Park — of Aralias, openly planted and edged with the emerald green - leaved and peppermint - scented Pelargonium tomento- sum. Space forbids us from noticing any other of the many interesting things to be seen here, but we cannot conclude with- out remarking that Mr. Roger has dis- carded Calceolaria floribunda, and relies mostly on the good old Kayi ; and that he has in a Verbena named Sportsman, bright pink, one of the best bedders ever sent out. It is exceedingly telling in rows, and has a capital effect here blended with Oenothera macrocarpa. as is too often I specimens, and ntirely agree. The Every frequenter of the meeting-room of the Royal Horticultural Society will have missed of late the kindly, genial face of the chairman of the Floral Committee. Every member of that Committee — we may say every horticulturist, who came in contact with him, will grieve to read this announcement of the death of the Rev. Joshua Dix, M.A. (on the 12th inst., at Langley, near Slough). He may fairly be said to have died in harness, for we cannot forget how he, ever mindful of his allegiance to horticulture and hor- ticulturists, contracted what has proved to have been his last illness on an occasion when he bore witness of the faith that was in him by performing the last sad rites over poor John Veitch. It was fitting that a clergyman who had so greatly identified himself with the progress of horticulture should be the one September The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1203 to utter the solemn words of our burial service over the grave of one who may himself be reckoned among the martyrs to horticulture. It is sad to recall that in tlie exercise of that duty our friend was stricken wiih that sickness from which he had never thoroughly recovered, and in consequence of which we now have to lament his decease. The Rev. Joshua Dix was a graduate of Oxford, and officiated, we believe, as curate and de fudo incumbent of a country parish in Kent for several years in the absence of the rector. There he gained the respect and love of his parishioners ; there he contracted that love for Nature and Nature's handiworks which never forsook him. We, whose duty it is to pen these lines can look back for nearly a quarter of a century, and recall our friend hot in the eager search for the " Purple Emperor," as he flitted over the top of a spreading Oalc We remember his exulting cry as he proclaimed that he had found the Royal Fem (Osmunda). We call to mind how he showed us, then less than a stripling, the first Oxlip (so called) we had ever seen. This idyll was destined to be but as a dream. The curacy in Kent had to be given up, and our friend was promoted — save the word — to a small living in the heart of the city of London. Here amid " wholesale houses " and commercial empo- riums, the lot of a tl-ue-hearted clergj-man was cast. There was literally no field for his sympathies. His parish was, so to speak, one in name only. In the evenings and on the Sundays it was almost entirely deserted. His congregation may be described literally as where " two or three were gathered together, " It was under these circumstances that Mr. Dix devoted himself heart and soul to the concerns of the Royal Horticul- tural Society, or rather of the Floral Committee. Free from prejudice or bias, either towards or against the Council or the exhibitors, Mr. Dix presided for some years over the deliberations of the Floral Committee, with an impartiality, a geniality, and tact which secured for him the cordial goodwill and respect of a large and somewhat heterogeneous body. Their respect was testified some short time smce, at a time when it was felt that some mark of their esteem should be presented to their chairman — their sorrow at his loss will be shared by every one who knew him. Requiescat We have to record the early death of Mr. Fred. Parsons, son and successor of the well-known nursery- man and florist, of Brighton. The deceased succeeded to the business less than two years ago upon the retire- ment of his father, and for some months has been suffering from dropsy, to which he succumbed early in the morning of the 7th inst. We deeply regret to have to record, on the autho- rity of the foreign scientific journals, the death of Dr. MiLDE, who has made many important contributions to crytogamic botany, and whose valuable " Fill Europas et Atlantidis," was noticed in our volume 1867 (1174). Dr. Milde had also published some i portant observations on new Ferns, entitled Reliqi Metteniance, in recent volumes of the " Linnrea " (: vols. XXXV., p. 385 ; and x.\xvi., p. 43). We have to record the death, at a very advanced age, of J.-VMES De C.^rle Sowerby, the first Secretary of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Regent's Park, office which he held till last year, when he resigned it in favour of his son. Mr. Sowerby belonged family, many members of which have distinguished themselves by their devotion to various branches of science, and to the pictorial illustration of natural objects. On Tuesday, September 12, at Chatsworth, after a few days' illness, Sarah, ^vidow of Sir Joseph Paxton, M.P. At?*.M. Reading of 'jr'irssSs^^iif-r Sep.. Ba.™eteJ H reduced to t- " 3— i«i k II H Weight pi m 2975 2950 ii Deg. Deg. 1 ir 1 § 4.8 1 tl Sept. Temperature of the Air. Rain. 1 1 II 1 lia lilt 11 1 7- Thurs. . V^S-i-^^ Deg. Deg. Deg. S.W "i^ O.OI a Friday . 68.0 : 51 1 .6.9 ; 58.4 + 0.6 J ^N^- }■" 0.23 9. Satur... 67.S 51.0 l6.8 1 56.6 -.-.J 0.28 0 Sunday 73.S Sio 22.8 6t.o + 331 E|E- }265 000 ll£L 78,6 ' 60.0 '^.l , III Si S:5 13.4 61.4 N.E 325 0°:^ Sept. 7. _ 8 "is -4 amounts of cloud pre%ilent dunng the day ; cloud- atn.ght Aurora and lighuimg at nighL A htde lell m the early morning, fell in the morning and heavily from 7 P.M. till 3)£r^!nrS^M^ Cloudy til, 3 P.M. y line day. Light clouds generally P.tesent. 1 Amounts of cloud prevalent throughout A line - 12 -Smi - .3 rally cloudy throughout. JAMES GLAISHER. T//£: WEATHEH. TURB OF THE AIR AND FALL OP RAIN . DIFFEREN T STA TIONS, During the Week ending Saturday, Sf.pt. 9, 1871. l| ' 5I S.3 si (FOR THE ENSUING WEEK.) PLANT HOUSES. Make every preparation now for getting all plant structures ready at the earliest moment for the recep- tion of their winter inmates, as it wUl be necessary to house all hard-wooded plants of any value immediately a decided change in the weather is perceptible. As it will be necessary also to house such cool greenhouse plants as may be " standing out," all stove plants which may have been used in greenhouses for a time must be returned to their proper quarters. Not to overlook smaller though generally important matters, the amateur should also have his flues cleaned out and set in order, ready for work in the incoming season. Many kinds of plants should now be introduced into a somewhat moist heat, where a good early autumn dis- play is of importance. These include perpetual flower- ing Cartialiotis, Neapolitan Violets, Anne Boleyn Pinks, Tea Jioses, having young growth now forming, such as would be likely to bloom in pots if hurried on somewhat, and some kinds of bulbous plants, t!cc. Gradually reduce the amount of atmospheric moisture in stoves and Orchid-houses proper, and so aid the plants to divest themselves of some of the watery matter contained in their system, and thereby harden them to better withstand the effects of the winter. In removing all plants that have been placed out-of-doors for a period into their proper struc- tures, take care to wash the pots thoroughly clean, to remove any green mossy formations from the surface of the balls, and to look care- fully to the drainage, to ascertain if in this respect any of them may require remedial measures. Look out for mildew amongst Heaths, as this pest not unfre- quently makes sad havoc amongst them at or about the time they are taken in and housed for the winter. The best preventive of mildew at this season of the year is the freest possible admission of air. Freely should air also be given to cool plant structures subsequently to the housing of the plants- first place, to keep the temperature down, assimilate their present position to their past ; the second, to secure the ripening of the wood, under such conditions, is more eflectually cat Each individual grower must now treat his forward stock of plants for winter decoration according to the date that he is desirous of having them in flower These comprise Heliotropes, Salvias, Begonias, Mig nonetle, and the like. Those who require an early bioom must not pinch any back after this date, whih it is desirable that those intended to bloom later should be once more stopped ; but the done the better, that time may be afforded them again to break and grow. HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. Gathering the slight crop oi Apples and Pears should now be proceeded with, and, considering what a limited supply exists, all ^possible care should be taken of every single fruit. Do not rub off the bloom, this beautiful covering has, we doubt not, \vithin itself highly to lay each upon and take shelf in such a manner tha bruised in the least degree. Still continue to go over Peach and Nectarine trees, and divest them of all superfluous gross lateral shoots, and so aid and en- courage the ripening ol those shoots which have been laid in for a permanency. KITCHEN GARDEN. When finally earthing up Celery endeavour to give all the freedom possible to those leaves which it is possible to maintain above ground. By destroying such, or indeed bundling them up so closely together their proper functions cannot be performed, we the very means which is likely to increase the propensity, caused already by earthing up, to form weakly drawn growth more than is neces- sary or proper. A small bed of late Broccoli may now be planted, if strong plants exist. There is just a chance that they will form a small head late in spring, though it is too late to expect in any reason to get proper Broccoli. Hereabout they plant the Purple Sprouting variety late, and if it does not head it goes into market as a green, stalks and all, by weight, at the poor Londoner's expense. Cut down now all Herbs, such as Mint, Marjoram, Tarragon, &c., that the stools may become better prepared "thstand the hardships of the incoming winter. Where Chervil has come up very thickly in the seed- bed, hoe it out more thinly, and if stock sufficient does the bed forming, transplant another bed from amongst the thickest of the plants. This is a much in demand in the kitchen during the winter ths. Hoe well amongst the young growing crop of Spinach, thinning it out well betimes, that a strong young plant be formed for winter. Make just another chance" sowing of Lettuce. Cut off the old bloom-stalks from stools of Globe Artichokes immediately they cease to be useful. Transplant permanently the Spring Cabbages. I strongly recommend planting these upon the old Onion bed, without any attempt at digging it up. Hoe the surface well, draw the drill rows, and plant forthwith. Tie up Endive for blanching. Draw the Onion crop wholly, and give all the subsequent attention necessary to harvest them efficiently. Weeds should now be hoed, and killed outright before the sunless days and long dewy nights of late autumn arrive, when their eradication, save by removal, will become impossible. W. E. Notices to Correspondents. ACHIMENES : A Subscriber. Yes. They should be covered with a thin layer of fine soil. Arboretum: B. C. One of the most recently established that we know of is in the University Park at Oxford. The entire extent is, we beheve, about 100 acres, but we do not know how much of this is devoted to the growth of trees, though we think the collection numbers nearly 1000 species and varieties. Artichoke and Potato Grafting: \V. M. E. We are greatly obliged for your hint, and value any suggestion of yours. You cannot, however, have been a rery diligent reader on this subject, else you would know that our opinion has been expressed pretty decidedly on this matter. Books; E. C. M. Thompson's " Gardeners .\551stant Kwj written by Robert Thompson, of Chiswiok— S<;/w magne iwmcn'l^J. Dixon. ■' Indoor Gardening' (Jour- nal of Horticulture Office), and "The Greenhouse as a Winter Garden " (S. Low, Son & Co. ). Caterpillar : G. McG. You ask us to name a cater- pillar from your description : that is beyond c Send us a specimen, and we will try to ace 1 of the Ferns : Jay Aye. Peg down one of the proliferous fronds of the Polystichum, and run a little silver sand m amongst the bulblets. The spring is the best time to do this, but if the plant is in a house, and growing, it may be done at any time.— r. Lawtoii. Trichomanes radicans is a Bntish Fem in the usual sense of that e.x- pression,— that is. it grows wild in the British isles. Therefore it should not be shown as an exotic, unless in the form of some distinct variety. Not of British growth. Insects : L. B. The small objects on grass sent (Cynosuras cristatus) are an accumulation o. the minute eggs of some species of insect. I hey are beautiful objects for the microscope, and were probably deposited by some small moth. I.O. W. Education of Gardeners : D. R. Apply to the Secre- tary of the Royal Horticultural Society, South Ken- sington, and of the Society of Arts, .-Vdelphi, London, respectively. You will find Oliver's " Lessons in Eleuicntary Botany " (MacMillan) suit your purpose, or the articles on Botany for Beginners in our columns. We sh,ill be glad to assist you if we can. Eng.\gi.mknt : Quiz. Three months' notice is all you Frenci? Wasp Trap : Inquirer. No doubt they can be procured from any of the large seedsmen or garden ■ ■ sundry " establishments. They may be had of various Fungus on Alder-wood : W. G. The green tint on Alder-wood is produced by the spawn of Peziza ajrugi- nosa. The tinted wood is much prized at Tunbndge, where it is used for inlaying and other ornamental work. M. J. B. , . „ u Gallon Rose: D. M. "Robins Pincushion, —the work of an insect. 'Very common. Names OF Plants : IV. T. If the leaves are keeled at the base, the plant is Sparganium simplex; if flat, S. natans. The Labiate is Savory, Satureia hortensis. The Orchid next week.— A Cornusmas.. the Comehan Cherry. The pulp around the seeds of Tacsonia Van VoKemii is pleasantly flavoured.— A'. H. C. Genliana germanica, with many thanks.-/'. S. D., Slingsby. 1204 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [Seplcmbcr i6, 1871 M.liiotiis olhcmalis; ( pillars on the Pear leaf been the lan-a of the :ommon Mclilot. The eater- were smashed. They may have saw-fly. — --^w Old Subscriber. ative of North Ajnerica. //. It is the old, long known cin-insii\-, lull !, ;,t ■-■ly L^rown for food in the South of Passion-flowek : J. R. Many thanks. We suspeeted when we saw the fruit that it was P. maerocarpa. and not P. quadrangiilaris, and we are confirmed in our opinion by the leaves you send ; but without seeing the flower we eannot be absolutely certain. Plum Tisees Infested with Aphis : A Subscriber. There is no better remedy than that recommended by Mr. Rivers in his ■■Miniature Fruit Garden :"— Boil 4 oz. of quassia chips in a gallon of soft water. soap. It should be stirred, and the trees syringed with it twice or thrice. The trees should be syringed ne.'ct Preserving Filberts and Walnuts ; A Gurdencr. from a bad condition ot the roots, induced by bad draining and marked alternations of drought ■ and drenching. M. J. B. Tkop^.olum : W. G. The materials sent are insufB- cient. It does not, however, appear to have any special merit beyond others already in cultivation. Violas : T. C. Much like other seedlings of Viola lutea. The numbers were disarranged when they reached us, but the large yellow without the spot in the eye is the best, so far as the blossoms are concerned, though much of their merit depends upon habit and profuse- ness of flowers. ; your errata :oM«UTN.CATioNS Received.-W. H.-C. J. W.-T. B.- C. W. M.-H. H.— G. W.— R. S.— A. B. C.-R. G.— G. K.— W. M.— G. H.-C. F. P.-G. McG.— S. & Sons.-D. M.— A. B.— T. W.-A. H.-A. B.-E. J. W. -O. O., King's Langley (box received without any communication). — A. F. Ikrhtls. COVENT GARDEN,— Sept. 15. Business here still continues very steady. I>ate wal uit is coming in very good, and prices rule a trifli nver. The market is badly supplied with Apples anc Oranges, per 100 .. 8 0—12 o Peaches, per doz. . . 20 — 80 Pears, per dnjtcn . . 20—40 Pine-apples, per lb. 26—60 Artichokes, per doz. Beet, per doz. Brussels Sprouts, p. HorseRadish.p.bun. 30 — Lettuces, perscore.. 09 — Mushrooms, p. pott. 10 — Onions, per bunch ..04 — Parsley, p. bunch ..20 — Peas, per quart . . 10 — Radishes, per bunch 02 — Shallots, per lb. ..08 — Cucumbers, each ..09 — 10 Spinach, perbushel 26 — French Beans, p. lb. o 4 — 06 Turnips, p. bunch. .04 — Potatos (good samples). New Round, y. to 6s. ; Kidneys. 5J-. to -js. per cwr. Cabbages, p. dc Cauliflowers, p. Celery, red, p. WANTED, a PARTNER, with /"soo. to Manae. One ofTwo Nurseries, situated near the (frj'stal Palace, doin, a good business in Florists' Flower Seeds, Fruit, and Vegetables to become W^T. \"l.s, 1!° ddrn/pfaMs,' and I onally.— Apply, in own han< ndustrious, active MAN, for the jrscry, near London, where the Foreman ind"fe abYe''u>"pack'occa': to*^ lf''\'!™Post' CiSfcc, Isle of Man. -General Lunatic Asylum. WANfED, as GARDENER ATTENDANT, a s.r.int', active, willins Man. Waces to. commence at i^i per c.uiol^' w'lh "c5l?.'n1Infa"s, to'L°madr'to*"Dr.' HARRTsONrUnion W-: vvool'i. I stating wages, &c, to G. J. ,d Pruning ol Wall Fruit ; the Wife >rou^hly respectable, sober, honest, s, milk, and vegetables when any. rst place, to J. G., Mr. Wm. Paul, BaUlff, or Land Steward and Forester. WANTED, for one of the Midland Cour Ireland, an experienced LAND STEWARD. Mus gh knowledge of the Buying. Selling, and Manage ither as regards the expenditure ol the Farm or fr a FARM LABOURERS. All must " " T AND CO., Seedsmen, 45, C.ipel Street, I Land Manager and Farm Building Resident Agent. WANTED, in Devonshire, an active, intcUiKcnt Person, between 30 and .,-, 1. " ■ f ■■ . 1,,,1,,,. ,, y, ,,;. ,1 knowledge of Stock, and of the Val.M IN ,1 1 ,. I.M m„i rhe''E7ection%nd"Re?ai'!'"of Tarii, I I , . family (if any), and references, to be addressed to R. m'., 21, Arundei Street, Strand, London, W.C. /^ARDENER (He :>). — A Lady wishes to recommend I Man, as above : master of the L. ccpted.— A. B., 13, Charles Street, Porlman / :i A R p E N E R (Head). —Married; thoroughly Forcing.'^alsoth'e Cultivation of Stove and Greenhouse jla"ta, and years' personal character.— T. "ll., 4, Park Terrace, Upper Richmond Road, Putney, S.W. GARDENER (Head, Working).— Age 38; under- stands the profession in all its branches. Good character. Wire GARDENER (Head, Working), Carlton, Gaidener to the Hon. Mrs. Ho lepted. Character wil /::j.ARDENER.-Age 41, married; thoroughly 1 Z. Y.,''lfa"ker'sLiErary?l'°am'mersmilh. \V. ARDENER, in a Suburban Nursery.— Good Plant B.,"^'Hall P°ace?Hail''pyr'k,"pa'ddPn'etonT\^""'°"'" " To tlie Seed Trade. WANTED, a WAREHOUSEMAN, ASSISTANT, and a CLERK.-One of the largest estal ments in the North of England has openings lor a thor WAREHOUSEMAN, capable of the execution of agricultural Joume>"'occasional"s"''ArsoanTsslSTANT (J 3 a CLERK. He accounts. A knowledge of th i abilities of each must bear strict mvcstigatio I full particulars, where employed, age, and w; >. V. T., Messrs. Hurst & Son, 6, Leadenhall Sti a suitable open- : indispensable. \\ GARDENER. -Age 40, married ; thoroughly practical. Land and Stock if required. Wife no objection to Laundry, D.niry.or Poultrv. Ten and a-half years' good character.— F. M., s,ven years' experience in a large establishment, tiood I 1 . :. -A, P., Birch Hall, near Colchester, Essex. GARDENER.— Age 27, single; understands the Management of Kitchen and Flower Gardens, Greenhouses, and the Forcing ol Grapes No objection to a good single-handed place.— I. PAYNE. Mixbury, near Brackley. Northamptonshire. GARDENER (Single-handed).— Age 24, understands Stove and Greenhouse Plants, Vines, Cui and Flower and Kitchen Gardening. Would not object t Foreman's place. Good references.-C. B., 7, Orange Tree Slonebridge, Willesden, N.W. GARDENER (Under), or to take charge of Houses. General Post Office, Nor^vit Cottage, King William Strt Vandsworth Road, '■ GARDENER (Under).- .Age 19; would not object to a Single-handed place. Two years and three months' good ^ARDENER, G.XRDENER and BAILIFF. - -L JU.SIOK CLERI-;, «ith a knowledge of putting up -seeds ncallv and with care. Wages, 20s. per week.- Apply, by letter, to PAUL WANTED, a young Man, as JUNIOR INVOICE CLERK, in a London wholesale Seed House. Salary 181. to 2t!i. per week, according to ability.— Z. AND CO., Gardeners' ChronicU Oflice, W.C. WANT PLACES.-Letters to be Post Paid. To Gardeners and BaUlffs (Head, Foremen, or Under). JAMES CARTER AND CO. having many applications for the above, request that those WANTING SITUATIONS will send NAME, ADDRESS, and COPIES of TESTIMONIALS, for ENTRY in their FREE REGISTER. Only those who can send ""JnyVady o? GenUcman tcquiriiig' GARDENERS or BAILIFFS Carter & Co. adi d 238. Hi( I-irst-das's tesuininiaTs'Trom' Ubt"a!id' pi e 7, Star Place, North End Road, Fulham, S \ Lady or Gentle- , employers— C. F., li^OREMAN and GROWER. -.-Vge 36, married; has JJ had a thorough practical knowledge in Plan Growing for London ^fa^kets the last 16 years. C FOREMAN, or FOREMAN and PROPAf Long piaclicc in Hard and Soft Wooded Propagat 2s'°Ro"'iand Grove' WellsVoad, lvdenham,'K'eni,'s.E.' To the Nursery Trade. FOREMAN (Working), in a small, respectable Nursery.-A steady, industrious, trustworthy, attentive Man, with a good general knowledge of the business in each department. A good Market Grower and careful I'ark.r, .v.- Terms moderate — , The Green, Pari caged ; first-. w-^^i^^i:':; January 1, 1872. v I, AA/'^ -^"^ 1 I' 1 '. ■' - "^ ' '' "■^ ' I ' '' I ■ i ^ ~s_ in a country Jth a kn'wled 'e Tr'the Ti",™ i'.'"'k".'cn "m",^'""'> ^°"'' the head of the other men cmployed.-Address, statin B S., Post Office, Ashford. Kent. HENDERSON a /-^ARDKNM-- Si-.''' '. TT'STATEAGENT.or STEWARD and GARDENER. ;, ., lUid the general Repairs of'a considerable Landed Estate. iiil r -I- H., Mr. Dennis, White Horse Hotel, Guildford^^ A^ S IWTE BAILIFFT— Age 37, married ; is a first-class rui:ycomSent, "HTunde''rs^ta^ndTJllYindrorEstaTe''worl^i I'Vncinc, Draining, Road Mai Vtjung Trees, and Felling : practical knowledge of Land ly Plan! cadic, Staffordshir General Foreman. -I can be well WAN I ED, an experienced GARDENER.— One who ,??" Lav-out Ornamental and Pleasure Grounds preferred. The Wife to take charge of Dairy. &c. Good character as to skill ,-,;;;^Pf '?;/" ' Zotr:%;ri^ WA^-i'\LD, a steady active iMAN for the Shrub DeDartment, and to act as Salesman, and take charge in he / ' AKIM'M.R (Head).— A.ce 35. married; thoroughly GARDENER (Head), m ,1 i Pines, Grapes, all Fruits and V.-'Lii;. Trees and Grounds.— Age 35. no incnml) -G.'VcOTT, 'Royal*^ Horticu ^" ""' Gardens, South Kensington, /^ARDENER (Head).— Age 29, married; has had standsVarl'yan^SrFordnB'^of pTnL^Vin^sVsTovean^^^ Plants, Ferns, and Kitchen and Flower Gardening, and will beat liberty in a fortnight to engage with any Nobleman or Genllemnn in Joseph Meredith, The Vinc\ard, (iarsi.-n, nc;u l.ivcnin,,]. /^I ARDENER (Mi .M- .\-.- ,-\ in.i;i:.>l. thoroughly V-T practical. Has li ,,nti Forcing Stove and Grecnhou-.i i ; l-frns, the Forcing of all sorts . t 1 ■ . ^ the Conser- vatory gay throughoiji 1!'. Mil. I'll! r.i .■■'■:>1 M.iriiicemcnt of and Outbi iteady and Can produce ample id, if necessary, can R to this will oblige :s offered, to M. ll. , Grazing, Buying, and n in Norfolk. »K year -R. S. C, Post Office, I* AILIFF.- Brcedint'. Buying, and Selling all kinds of Stock perienced Man ; understands branches, both Heavy and Light Soils: also "■• ' "'lea good Dairy Row. East Gririslcad, from late employe BA 1 1, 1 undersl Poultry." c'ai Cross VVai s I — Middle-aged, married ; ■ Heavy and Light Land, Farm- To the Seed Trade. TRAVELLER.— .'\ge 37; highest references. —J. Gardeners' Chronicle Office, W.C. QHOPMAN, or SHOPMAN and CLERK.— Age 30 ; S?e' HOPMAN.— Age 22 ; eight No. 6, Post Office, lierw perience. Good To Seedsmen. SHOPMAN, or ASSISTANT. — Six years' good experience : has a knowledge of Plants. Can he well recom- mended. No objection to Irefand,— G. D., 10, Millman Street, Bedford Roiv, London, W.C. September i6, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1205 J. ST J. Fraser, Lea AL VALUATION! AUCTION. &c.—Mayland the late Firm of ndcrlalifs HORTICUL- ■scriDtion, SALES by -TALIAN ALP or LIGURIAN QUEEN BEES tions of .hesc beautiful _Be=s^h^v,n|^, g°lo nmenced, Geo. Neici rranted bred and fertili! e Queen. 12s. ; three, 33J ;eo. neighbour > , High Holborn, Londoi offerinj QUEENS, I THREE sows. Pure Berkshire I FOR SALE, THREE BOARS £ six monlhs old-Mr. Griggs' Prize Stock. Will be S( mo crate^pnce. ^ p^j^j,gp 5^^,^ Street, Romford, Essen. -Mr. G. Griggs, the ural Show of Four First, Four >ns, has some first-dass PIGS ! Lane Expria, of August 7. in tbe report of the York —"The Berkshires are a moderate show, with t^^- ""'''^• Duckering's magnificent Sow, which took th St year, and was bred by Mr. Griges, in Essex." Cups aklands. Romford, Ess WANTED, to RENT, from 40 to 50 Acres, with A. B.. Eagle House. Vii 1 SMALL FARM, on Lease, I 12 miles of Covent Garden Market, oria Road, Kilburn, N.W. 'ARM TO BE LET. -600 Acres, in excellent the Trade. tEATHS, HigMy important FXTEN*iI\'E S.\LE of WINTE EPACRIS, CYCLAMENS, TREE CARNATIONS, ».. MESSRS. PROTHEROE AND MORRIS are instructed by Mr. John Fraser to SELL by AUCTION, on the Premises, '1 he Nursery, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, Essex, on THURSDAY and FRIDAY, September 21 and 22, at 11 for 12 o Clock hEATHS. remarkably well grown, '^ji^'^'j"/.'"^^^",^^","^!!,^; pirsicum, and profusely furnished with bloom-buds; C\TISSUS, ACACIA DROMMONDII; a lai potstSOLANUM CAPSICASTRU TION.S, LAPAGERIA ROSEA, a ■ TEA ROSES, : TREE ( any day prior to the Sale. Catalogues may b and of the Auctioneers and Valuers, Leyton; r purchasers are respectfully invited to inspc rpo BE SOLD, ± BUSINESS. S.-C., reasonable terms. 0 SAMUEL GATES, Seed' -A FLORISTS d scarcely be found. IMPORTANT SALE c ^-,,,„=. HOUSE PLANTS, rare ORCHIDS, ci.o.^c .^„..., PALMS, &c. MESSRS. PROTHEROE AND MORRIS instructed by Mr R Parker to SELL bv AUCTION, wil reserve, on the Premises, Exotic Nursery', Tooting. Surre] TUESDAY, September 26, at II for 12 O^Clock ..f ..^rrr, stork of STOVE aod GREE^ a very healthy and t Greenhouse Rhododer ,„H numernus^ol^ers.^ (Vdfch's'vSfet'? •stans (true), Angroccum ses BensoniJe: and hundreds To Nurserymen and Florists. I BE LET, \vith immediate possession, near Sirkenhead and Liverpool, a NURSERY (including a good . anH rr,tia.rpi rnnfain.nfr about Five Actcs of Land, situatc in increasing neighbourhood. The whole To Florists and Market Gardeners. TO BE LET. at Teddington. S.W.. %vithin i the Station, and with iicccss 10 the River if desi SEVEN THOUSAND FEET of GLASS, comprising Orchard, Pine, and other houses, with all the necessary SALES BY AUCTION. SALE THIS D.\Y and MONDAY NEXT. Dutch Bulbs. MR. J. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms. 1.1.. King Street, Covent Garden, W.C, on SATURDAY and MONDAY, September 16 and iS, at half-past 12 o'clock precisely each day, several importations of ch ' HYACINTHS, TtlLIPS. CROCUSES. NARCISSUS. IRIS, other Buths, just arrived from Holland, Lotted to suit the Trade ce ORCHIDS, including' maculosum and Lobbii, Laslia . Cypripedium Vcitchii, 'I'hunia FERNS, fine greenhouse and HOUSE Hants', the whole jm, Ficus. Epiphyhums. in Acrides LTRINCHAM AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. ENT! 28. w 'es°clOse septem The TENTH ANNUAL SHOW will be held on THURSDAY, "" - ■ ~VE HUNDRED POUNDS and SILVER PRIZES f " - - — ■ Horned Cattle, Pigs, Dogs, Poultry. ENTRIES CLOS ORMS of ENTRY, c 28. Church Street. All R. DAVENPORT. POULTRY T ANNUAL EXHIBITION'of FAT CATTLE SHEEP PIGS, DOMESTIC POULTRY, CORN, ROOTS, and IMPLEMENTS, will be hdd in Binglev Hall, on SATURDAY. MONDAY, TUESDAY , WEDNES- ?R4El".tS?=I^^T^^t&V,!sSD%?^6^&^U?rbfElS "" PRIZE? "LIST'sr'cERTIFICATES of ENTRY, and every information may be obtained from the Secretary. The ENTRIES CLOSE e i, 3^, New Slrt 1 SATURDAY, IMITHFIELD CLUB SHOW, AGRICULTURAL ) HALL, ISLINGTON, DECEMBER 4 to 8. IMPLEMENT DEPARTMJN-T.^ LAST DAY for receiving / "" iIENTS and MACHWEl I Forms of Application, with Rules and Regulation of Mr. DAViD PULLEN, Assistant-Secretary, on Street. Piccadilly. London, W. All communicatio IMPLEMENTS i s shouiti LTu'rALHaCC ISLINGTON, on MONDAY afternoon. December 4. and Four following Days^ Intending Exhibitors are requester STEER ( SUCCULENT PLANTS, hafdy'HERBACEOUS TULIPS. &c. . _. „ , ,.,., Valuers, Leytoi 4000 Araucarla imbncata. To GENTLEMEN. NURSERYMEN, and OTHERS. HILLFIELDS, BURGHFIELD, near READING. ESSRS. HASLAM and SON have received om T. E. Gariand, Esq.. to SELL by i adjoining the Gardens of Hillfields. Burgh- f'£ot^''40»'ARAVcARIA'"lMBRICATA'; d, specially imported by Horatio Bland, Esq., M AUCTION, i Choice Lot. They 1 w strong, healthy, an GARDENER at Hillfiel to draw special 1 the slightest rese: 1 Catalogues had IVlKe Highly Important Sale (Final Portion) Of the CELEBRATED COLLECTION of ORCHIDS formed by S. RUCKER. Esq., at WANDSWORTH. MR. J. C. STEVENS has received instructions from Messrs. A'eitch & Sons, who have purchased the entire COLLECTION, to offer for SALE by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, iS. KingStreet, Covent Garden, W.C, on THURSDAY and FR 1 DA Y. September 21 and 22. at half past 12 o'Clock precisely each day, the final portion of the above magnificent lot of Plants, amongst MBIDIUM EBURNEUM ~-VARENSE.fi 5DIANUM CONERI .DFORDII SDEVALI.IA ' DENDROBIUM V SACCOLAEIUM I ODONTOGLOSSUM PHAL Choice Stove and Greenhouse Plants. MR. J. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, his Great Rooms. ,8, King Street, Covent Garden, W.C, TUESDAY. September 26. at half-past 12 o'clock precisely, a vi choice COLLECTION ofSPECIMEN STOVEand GREENHOU PLANTS, belonging to a Gentleman, many having been exhibited a good selection of very well-grown and healthy Azaleas, in 12-ii pots; also New Uollantl Plants and Cape Heaths, with nice plants Allamanda, Ixoras, Dipladenias, and Stephanotis : of Orchi Aerides, Saccolabiums, Phala;nopsis ; several varieties of Dend biums, Cattleyas, and many others, to be offered without reserve. On view the mornings of Sale, and Catalogues had. Preliminary Announcement.— Nursery Stock. MILL HILL NURSERIES, HENDON, MIDDLESEX. MESSRS. HUMBERT and COX have received instructions from Messrs. Wright to SELL 1 the Premises, the Nurseries, Mill Hill._ Hendon, - • ■ ■' NURSERY STOCK, "• :s (Apple, Pe , Portugal aod common Lauri )warf Roses ; Forest Trees, CATTLE.— Form A. For or HEIFER (in any Class). C. For a BEAST in extra Stock. D. Foi - .--..^"^ E. For a Pen „ 'ES. [Stock. , SINGLE WETHER SHEEP in Extra iS ;; G. For a Pen of three PIGS (in any Class). H. For a SINGLE PIG in Extra Stock. ENTRIES for LIVE STOCK CLOSE NOVEMBER i. ;lred'-i"^ippSon°«'MfSv^'D"pVLlkt,TsSnSc?^^ at the Office of the Honorary Secretary, comer of Half-Moon :«, Piccadilly, London, W ,Hrfre„,rtto SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER i6, 1871. 'HETHER we believe position ( 1 the direct inter- f COTSWOLD SHEEP MR THORNTON will SELL by UNRESERVED AUCTION at il oClock punctually, on TUESDAY next, September .0 at OZLEWORTH PARK, the ENTIRE HERD^pf ■pijRE.BRED SHORTHORNS, FLOCK several well-bred HORSES, together w MENTS, Sc, the property of the late Sir J are bred from the celebrated stocks ot Col. jxccllent breeding condition, and muci Catalogues, with Pedigrees, may be Park Wotton-under-Edgc, Gloucesters i.S, Langham Place, W. MR. TOHN THO RNTON will SELL by AUCTION without reserve, on WEDNESDA^Y, September 27, at Nether '■^■r^^^ Garden Road Nursery, Abbey Road, St. John's 'Wood. MR. J. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, on the Premises, as above, by order of the Mortgagee, on FRIDAY, October 6, at halfpast 12 o'clock precisely, the UNEX- PIRED LEASE of 45 years ol the GARDEN ROAD NURSERY, about One Acre, rent £21 per annum ; also the THREE COTTAGES and TWO GREENHOUSES, and the HARDY PLANTS, consist- ing of Fruit Trees, Conifers, and a great variety of Hardy and Oma- mental Trees and Shrubs in Lots, to suit large and small Planters. F. KE'ARSEY,°Esq.,°36,'oid'"jcw?f ;°and° of Mr. L C.°STEVENS, Auctioneer and Valuer, 38. King Street, Covent Garden, London. Re Mr. R. Glendlnnlng, Deceased. PRELIMINARY NOTICE of ABSOLUTE To NURSERY.MEN, FLORISTS, and OTHER High Road, Turnham Green, nearly opposite the Dul MR. J. h. SMITH is instructed by the Executrix SELL by PUBLIC AU - . - the Toll Gate, on TUESDAY. : Roebuc 3 for 4 o'clock pre OODWILL. Sic, erty, established Home Nursery at JC84, cottage adjoining ;t ; Chiswick Lane at ij^, cottage underiet t rental i;6o only. Frontage to the High We on Offices, 58, King Street East, Hammersmit ^\Z M^H Bralles House, Shipston-on-Ston IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. STRAFFORD has received .nrv T Sheldon, Esq., to announce tnat tnc puuKin AL SALE of PURE-BRED SHORTHORNS will take THURSDAY, September 2t, at Brailes House, Warwick- I will consist of upwards of Forty Head of Bulls, Cows, and -hiefly of Kirklevington and Fawsley blood. Amongst them 'und descendants of Asia, Harrington, Blanche,, Craggs,Dar- nd Surmise families, as well as from Fillet, Primrose, Rosy, and 9lher well-bred animals. The Sires used have been of l'2S,50Si, from the'f. ' "" " "— ' — ' '•■- 1 House. Shipstoi :d Holker Herd alf to him. T . healthy and regul; «e bcnajid, manne may be had on a M ElUngton, near Kimbolton, Hunts. VERY IMPORTANT SALE of SHORTHORNS. ?. STRAFFORD begs to announce for SALE by AUCTION, without reserve, on THURSDAY. September 28 AUC lytv, witnoui rese^^j^^ ^^ ^^^^ SHOR-fHORNS, Df Ellington, which numbers I Heai "'lulls. Gov-! r.'chrisp;^ fenrhvn's, and 2d Earl of Barri lame famed line of blood : the tv Catalogues, with Pedigrees, ir Mr. STRAFFORD, 13, Euston Ellington, near Kimbolton, Hun vV position of Providence, or refer events to general laws, which maintain not only the physical equilibrium of the globe, but an equilibrium in the contending influences which regulate the fate of its inhabitants, no one can well deny that the system of compensation which prevails in all the arrangements of Nature has a marvellous resem- blance to the operation of design. Even the mo5t indiscriminate supporter of " natural selec- tion " will admit that the effects which he refers to that cause at least indicate design, and may probably be due to it indirectly, if not reached by the most rapid and straight route. But there are cases of compensation which, although con- sequential, may be too unconnected to be inten- tional, and consequently can only be regarded as coincident. We draw the reader's attention to one in this doubtful position, not only for its bearing upon the subject of compensation, but on account of other claims which it has upon their interest. The reader is familiar with the fact that the act of man in destroying vast tracts of forest in Russia, America, and elsewhere has in some cases already produced, and in others has every appearance of being in the course of producing, an appalling deterioration of large portions of the earth's surface. An unconsciously compen- satory action by man in the other direction has, however, now begun to make itself felt, viz., that where settlements have been made in treeless plains, as in the prairies of North America, the result has been an improvement in the climate. It appears, from a report by Mr. R. S. ELLIOT, " On the Industrial Resources of Western Kansas and Eastern Colorado," published this year along with other reports in the United States Geological Survey of Wyoming and con- tiguous territories, and which we have just received, that there is a popular persuasion in Kansas that a climatic change is taking place, promoted by the spread of the settlements westwardly. The chief of the direct causes to "Sl^sHEilDt^N, I which this is ascribed is the breaking up of the soil. Wherever this is done Mr. ELLIOT tells us " the wild Sunflower (Helianthus), and others of the taller growing plants, though previously unknown in the vicinity, at once spring up almost as if spontaneous generation had taken place. These shade the soil more thoroughly than the short grasses, and thus check or modify the reflection of heat from the earth'r surface, &c. It is also noted that even where the prairie soil is not disturbed, the short Buffalo-grass disappears as the " frontier" extends westward, and its place is taken bv grasses and other herbage of taller growth, that this change of the clothing of the This Sale will afford ; heretofore and Heif specimens from Red iJucness ana ntha, by Mr. Beasley; Farewell and mTlaI^DS, at I2o6 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ae^ricultural Gazette. [September i6, 1871 plains, if sufficiently extensive, might have a modifying influence on the climate can hardly be doubted, but whether the change has been already spread over a large enough area, and whether the recent apparently or really wetter seasons are due to this, is a question which can- not be solved for years to come, when more extended statistics shall have been obtained. The fact appears to be admitted, that rains have increased ; and this increase has coincided with the extension of settlements, railroads, and telegraphs so decidedly that some have referred them to the mysterious electrical influence induced by the telegraphs. Prof Henry, a man in whose judgment we should be disposed to put more trust, thinks that the increased rains are due to extra mundane or cosmic in fluences not yet understood. If he is right, the change may be permanent, progressive, inter- mittent, or retrograde. If it is due to the settle- ments, then it must go on. Within the last fifteen years, in Western Missouri and Iowa, and in Eastern Kansas and Nebraska, a very large aggregate of surface has been broken up, and must hold more of the rains than formerly. During the same period, similar modifying in- fluences have been put in motion in Utah, Mon- tana, and Colorado. It appears that only very small areas of timbered land west of the Mis- souri have been cleared — not equal, perhaps, to the area of forest, orchard and vineyard, planted ; hence it may be said that all the acts of man in that vast region have tended to produce condi- tions on its surface ameliorative of the climate. With extended settlements, Mr. Elliot antici- pates (and we see no reason to dissent from his expectation) that the ameliorating conditions will be extended in a like degree, and that a perma- nent and beneficial change of climate may be experienced. The spirit in which questions connected with Land and Land Laws have been discussed— as recently in Trafalgar Square— though beef is lod. a pound, shows that moderation and good temper are still national characteristics. It must be admitted the price of many articles makes the times trying. It has always been remarked that the temper of the community depends, in some measure, on the price of food. In periods of abundance order has usually prevailed ; discon- tent has generally followed close upon a rise of prices ; riots have always occurred during dearths. We wish to call attention to one particular point in the politics of the " working man " and his leaders, in connection with agriculture. It is generally maintained by our Trafalgar .Square friends that the inclosure of commons has, in some way or other, been effected at the expense of the poor. It was not always thought so, and the idea seems to us to be erroneous. The great Inclosure Acts were popular when they were passed. During the long series of deficient harvests, after the close of the remarkable era of abund- ance ending in 1765, when our exportations of home-grown com ceased, and our increasing population began to be pinched, the legislature was forced, by popular agitation, to facilitate the methods of inclosure. Few other subjects occa- sioned the writing of so many pamphlets, even in th.at age of political pamphlets, as the waste arising from commons and the e.xpediency of inclosing them. Such was the importance attached to the subject that Dr. Palev intro- duced it in his " Theory of Moral Sentiments," expounding the arguments for inclosures, and showing their necessity and justice. Nor was this over-estimating the urgency of a question which involved that of feeding our increasing population. Then followed the various Inclo'sure Acts, and especially the important General Inclosure Act of 41 Geo. III. During the war, a period of European scarcity when apparently one of the cycles of deficient harvests occurred, about 3,000,000 acres were enclosed. Subsequent inclosures have been comparatively trifling in extent, and only a small portion of the 8,000,000 acres of common land that arc still uninclosed is naturally good enough to pay for improve- ment at the present time. The question which is beginning to be asked throughout the country, and to be answered in various ways, some of them extravagant enough, is, - How is our food supply to be increased ? It is a momentous question, for the high and rising prices of food not only diminish the profits of agriculture, but they increase the pressure of poverty and of pauperism, which is acknow- ledged to be a growing emergency, and they threaten to raise the cost of production, so as to invalidate our position as a manufacturing country. Few persons realise that the cost of agricul- tural production must necessarily increase under the present circumstances while our agriculture has to fight against a national system of waste. It is unfortunate that the means of agricultural improvement are so little understood by the country at large, and that so many people should vainly anticipate improvements from mere politi cal action which can only proceed from totally different causes. It is, no doubt, a matter of great importance to a country what form of government it adopts ; but whatever the form may be, whether it be a little more or a little less perfect, so long as it is secure we do not think the food supply would be affected one way or the other. The blessing of greater plenty depends on the application ol knowledge in agricultural affairs, and not on mere politics. There is no doubt that legislation is needed, but in taking practical action for the general improvement of agricul- ture, certain hindrances can only be removed, certain prejudices overcome, and the necessary constructive measures adopted, when the teach- ing of science is more generally understood, and public opinion better prepared to sanction and demand the legislation that is needed. Meanwhile those who aspire to teach and to lead the working classes, with a view to the improvement of their material condition, cannot do better than abandon mere politics, and take in their hand LlEBIG'S " Letters on Modern Agri- culture," remembering that knowledge is power when properly applied, and that capital will flow to our fields when the public ceases to be care- less of the truth. When conviction and energy are concentrated in the same individual, the world around will most likely be made aivare of it. Such a person seldom hides his light, or muffles his tongue ; why should he, when he is convinced he is right ? After all, the world is very tolerant ; we become accustomed to the loud mentors, speech makers, and prompters of society, and should miss them sadly from the agricultural arena, especially when they have held possession for long. Young performers, perhaps, are less admired, whatever their merits may be ; but they have only to persevere, since force will always be respected, whether it be physical or mental- thunder and lightning or enthusiasm. The agricultural world usually rejoices in its large number of enthusiasts, and is exceedingly obliged to them for relieving the dull monotony that intervenes at certain periods of the year. May their numbers never be thinned, and may they retain their characteristics ! An agricul- tural enthusiast should be regardless of results, and indifferent to pecuniary considerations ; he ought to have no money interests ; nobody ought be able to follow his advice without suffering pocket. His rules ought to be hard and fast long as he holds by them ; his opinions should dogmatically expressed, and coincide with those of no other person ; his general laws ought to bind no one, and suit no circumstances but his own. An agricultural enthusiast, being less practical than most men, exercising less caution, and pos- sessing less tact and judgment, than other people, should try all sorts of experiments. He should lose a great deal of money, and settle very slowly, if ever, to practical, successful farm- ng. He should go on sowing his wild oats ong after his contemporaries have finished. We have no opinion of a prudent enthusiast ; if he becomes matter-of-fact, his character is gone, and nobody notices him. He should set up a standard which ought to be talked about and written about and recommended, on scientific grounds if possible, till it is forgotten, super- seded or disbelieved, as the case may be. Prac- tical success is a test which ought not to be applied by an agricultural enthusiast ; it should be contrary to his principles to succeed in any- thing at the first intent, and without losing time and money. Success, in his case, like Flax- man's early marriage, in the opinion of Sir Joseph, would " spoil him for an artist." It would never do for an enthusiast to imitate those successful agriculturists who possess a faculty for farming, and an agricultural genius which guides them through all difficulties. He must not be misled by their varying practice. their power of correct observation and com- parison ; their pondering of the laws of Nature, silently and sometimes instinctively obeying her voice — scientific without knowing it, and successful without talking about it. Instead of that he must proclaim his doings on the house-top, and before his plans are carried out he must change his mind and begin something fresh. He should always remember he has a character to keep up as an agricultural enthu- siast, and he should shun sound practice and plain sense as he would shun extinction. Wheat has again risen somewhat in price during the past week. In Mark Lane on Monday it was Ij. dearer ; and on Wednesday the full rates of Monday were realised. Barley, also, was in fair request, at full prices. In the Metropolitan Cattle • The following analysis of the extraordinary Shorthorn Sale at Holker last week, described ill another column, is taken from the columns of the Fidd. The average prices realised by the members of the several families represented deserve a record : — "Ox/ords." Grand Duchess of Oxford 7th . . . . jCq6o 15 o Average of females .. .. .. ..'^885 10 o Duke of Oxford 19th 351 15 o' Average of eight animals, jfsSS. " mUEyes." Bright Star ^78 15 o Winsome 2d 372 15 o Lady Bright Eyes 157 10 o Wmsome7th 3"5 o o .. Sth 336 o o 9'h •'25 5 ° ;: ;«h ;•. :; :: :; |^ 1° " Average of females . . . . , . . . 305 3 i^ Sunshine 52 10 o Sunlight 94 10 o Wastwatcr 52 10 o Average of bulls 66 10 o Average of 11 animals, ^240 is. ^^,t " Blanc fie" Tribe. Blanche 3d Z220 10 o Bracelet 105 o o Blanche 5th 89 5 o Bland 54 12 o Blanche 8th 115 5 o gth 157 10 o Average of females 128 4 o Dunbar 49 7 o Average of nine animals, ^£119 8jr 6|(/. " Rose o/Raby " Tribe. Oxford Rose ;£22S 15 o Macgregur 105 o o Average of two animals 1G5 7 6 " Barrifigtofts." Lady Laura Barrington 372 15 o Barden .. . . 231 o o Average of two animals . . .. .. 301 17 6 Summary. Total. Average. 31 cows and heifers .. ..;£770i i5 o •■ •• ^^248 Biol 43 £^0,^60 7 o ^£240 18 9 ■ ■ A correspondent in Thursday's Times speaks of the possibility of Confining Rabbits by Wire Fencing properly fixed : — When renting a shooting manor in Bedfordshire I paid for three years an average of j^i3 a year compensa- for damage round one 26-acre wood. I then deter- mined to wire it in, and did so in the following way :— A plough was run round to make a trench 6 inches deep ; into this was sunk wire 2 feet wide, and thus 18 inches only were out of the ground— light soil. I never paid another penny piece for compensation, and the wood good for iioo or 1200 rabbits a season. I have now, having sufficient room in my walled garden^- about three quarters of an acre of ground enclosed in the same and with the same width of wire, and have not lost a My neighbour preserves rabbits— so many that I 3n any moonliglit night count them by the score. inot keep a flower in my shrubberies, and some Cabbages in open ground are represented by bare poles. ; all round my netting where the rabbits have :hed, but, finding the wire, they, not knowing how deep it may be, I suppose, desist ; and I grow Asparagus, Peas, Beans, Carrots, Cabbages, &c., within the wire, ) inches under and 18 inches above ground, without being nterfered with. I have never known a rabbit jump or scramble wire, and I have watched them for years ; in proof of this, flower- beds on my terrace, protected by wire inches high, are safe, while the same flowers in the shrubberies are eaten. farm, and make it a rule not only to shoot down, but to destroy all the stocks I can find. One of my neigh- 1 put down 1600 yards of wire on the surface — the rabbits got under, of course ; he then earthed up, but once under always under ; had he sunk it, as I have done, he Id have saved his crops. I told him, or rather his I, this when putting it down, but receinng for answer September i6, 1871.] L'he Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1207 that ' they knowed all about it," I rode on and left them to pay for their experience. I may add, in conclusion, that my supplementary kitchen garden was intact all last severe winter, when rabbits were found dead about me OUR LIVE STOCK. CATTLE. The results of Mr. Strafford's Shorthorn sales of last week in the North prove that there is no diminu- tion in the value of high-bred Shorthorns. At the long-to-be-remembered sale of Mr. Hegan's herd in 1865, " the trainer of the Duchesses was so delighted with the Duke of Devonshire's bid of 600 gs. for Grand Duke ioth, that he rose and asked the auctioneer 'How much for the depreciation of Shorthorn prices ? ' an allusion which was caught up and highly relished." We may still, in 1871, repeat the same question, and thereby again arouse pleasant rejoin- ders. Six hundred guineas for Grand Duke ioth appeared at the time it was given an enormous — a fancy— price. But the events ol the past week have proved it to have been an excellent purchase, and we hope that the spirited bids which have so nobly compensated the Duke of Devonshire for his bold speculation, may be equally profitable to recent We have three important sales to record — the first on Wednesday week at Holker, the second on the succeeding day at Beaumont Grange, and the last on Friday at Killhow. The sale of the Duke of Devonshire's stock at Holker far eclipses anything of the sort for some years past. The cows were large, good, and in excellent condition, and the heifers were a very fine lot, as, indeed, they ought to have been to have provoked such unprecedented compel: tion. The general average over 43 animals was £2ip ly. lod. each; the average over 31 cows was ;^248 2s. 6d., and over 12 bulls, ;^22i lis., while the sum realised was ;(fio,349 17.1. The leading feature of the sale was the disposal of the "Oxford" tribe, eight in number, which realised £s^^ each. The price of the day, 1005 gs., was given for Grand Duchess 0/ Oxford 18M, calved September 27, 1870, got by Baron Oxford 4TH (25.580), and out of Grand Duchess of Oxford \lth by Grand DuKE IOTH {21,848), who traces back to the Malc/iem cow by Matchem (22S1). This splendid offer was made by Lord Bective, who seems bent on securing the best blood he can lay his hands on. A bull of the same family, also by Baron Oxford 4TH, was purchased for 1000 gs. by Lord Feversham ; and 300 gs. was so frequently bid, that we must refer our readers to the list for information regarding even such extraordmary At Beaumont Grange, on Thursday, 19 females and II bulls were offtred. The whole herd were suffering from foot-and-mouth disease, and yet in spite of this drawback some good prices were given. An average oi £ti 10s. 31/. was obtained over 28 animals sold. Nineteen cows realised ^78 f,s. each ; 9 bulls realised £s^ $5. 8./. each ; and the sum total was /2002 ^s. The demand for pure Bates blood was attested by the sale of a Lady Bates heifer by 2D Duke OF Tregunter, born on February 19, f^or 500 gs. ; and we may add that the general impression was that the calf was cheap. A similarly bred yearhng bull was sold for 200" gs. Name of Animal. Cra'i and Heifir Lady Spencer id .. Moss Rose 5/A Golden Duchess . . Rose of Lancaster . . Rose of Cambridge Ducliess gth Golden Ditchess zd, . Sweetheart j^t/t . . Cambridge Beauty -id Red Ducliess fjth . . Lady Tregtmter Bates Royal Charmer sth Fawsley Duchess id Duchgss soth Cambridge Beauty ^d .Spe Name of Animal. Co^os and Heifers. Bright Star Cleopatra sth Lady Butlerjly Princess. Blanche id Grand Duchess ofO.t/ord 7th Gloria ^oth .. .. Winso7He 2d Blajicke ^th Bracelet Blaftcfte^th Elvira &tk Oxford Rose Bland Caroline Lady Bright Eyes Blanc/ie -jtn IVinsome -jtk Blanche 2,th Musical Grand Ducliess of Ox- ford loth Winsome C}fh Blanche gth Ladyfocelytt Winsome ioth Grand Duchess of Ox- ford iZth Carry , Blanche ioth Lady Laura Barrington Blanclie nth Macgregor Wastwater .. .Ijan.,1871 Duke of Oxford 2ist.. Feb., 1871 Duke OF Oxford 22D ..April, 1871 Stars and Stripes . . JApril, 187: Dunbar May, 1871 Duke OF Oxford 23D ..jjuly, 1871 Summary:- . r 31 COWS at . . . . £2^^ - Mr. T. Barker. Mr. W. H. Wakefield. J Capt, Gandy. Lord Penrhvn. Mr. H. D. de Vitre. Earl of Bective. Not offered. Mr. J. N. Dickinson Mr. G. Ashburne. Capt. Gandy. Not offered. Earl of Dunmore. Lord Chesbam. Mr. W. Angerstein. H. D^.°de Vitre. R. B. Hethering- Earl of Bective. Rev. P. Grabam. Earl of Dunmore. Rev. P. Grabam. Earl of Bective. Mr. W. Angerstein. Mr. W. Angerstein. Earl of Bective. Earl of Feversbam. Earl of Feversham. 25'Mr. Ormanby. 47 Mr. Greetbam. 155 Mr. A. Brogden. Wbei . . 187: April, 187: 187; 30 1 Mr. Gibbon. 41 1 Mr. Parker. 50] Mr. R. C. Richards. SilLordCheshara. 4o|Mr. Ha.slam. 32 Mr. Todd. 65 Mr. Haslam. 44iMr. Richards. ioc'Mr. Barnes. SolMr. Swarbuck. 261 Mr. Parker. Mr. Fawcett. Mr. S. K. Fowler, Mr. J. Boyd. Mr. Todd. Lord Chesham. Mr. Gibbon. Lord Chesham. Mr. Kendal. Mr. Bowling. Mr. Eckersby, Mr. R C. Rit Lord Bective. Grand Ditchess Ursula Flora Mclvor Countess of Roseberry Countess Cardigan Blue Bell . . Fairy Gwynne Duke Gwynne Gs.l 34 Mr. JefTerson. 93 Mr. Angerstein. 32s Mr. Angerstein. 75, Sir VV. Lawson. 25JMr. Fawcett. 6rlLord Bective. 36 Sir W. Lawson. 3ojSir W. Lawson. 60 Lord Bective. £-ioj = .£5570 56 animals averaged . . £102 i 6 = .£5709 i 4 At the Brockton House sale on Tuesday, 49 Shorthorns, bred by, and the property of, Mr. Thomas Bell, brought an average of /S^ 'S-f- S''-. and a total of ^2874 i8j. This high figure was due to the sale of the 8th Duke of York, for 1065 gs., the highest price ever given for a bull, at which sum he became the property of Mr. J. Fawcett and a friend. The sale of Princess Victoria 1th, by 13TH Duke of Oxford, and of the "Place" family, to Lord Skel- mersdale, was the only other important event. With the exception of two "Georgina" heifers, and two " Hilpas," descended from Cornfltnucr by Bashaw, the remaining stock sold for prices under 50 gs. ;<;,486 ; Suimnary 19 females at .. . . ^78 9 bulls at .. .. 57 5 8 = 28 animals averaged . . Z71 lo 3 = .^2002 7 o — At Killhow, on Friday, the Sth inst., 56 of Mr. Foster's animals made .^102 ij-. bd. each. Fifty- wo females were sold for an average of .£107 is. is,d., nd 4bulls fori;34 15^. each. Carolina yh, by 7THDUKE OF York, who was bought at Didmarton for 201 gs., secured by Mr. Mcintosh for 215 gs., and her calf last September by Grand Duke ioth, made 325 gs. by Mr. Angerstein. Ursula 19M, bought in 1869 for 100 gs., was resold at 105 to Mr. Angerstein ; and her heifer calf. Grand Duchess Ursula, brought 125 gs. from Mr. Fawcett. Grand Duchess 6th by Duke of Geneva (19,614), and of the "Wild Eyes" tribe, was secured by Sir Curtis Lampson at 325 gs. T-win Duchess 3. Mr. Torr still lets his rams on the old-fashioned principle of each customer having first choice of his last year's ram, and if there is more than one customer for a shearliug, the sheep is put up in a friendly manner by auction. In connection with the Border Union Agricul- tural Society, the annual sale of Leicester and half-bred rams took place at Kelso on Friday. The best Leicester ram sold realised the unprecedentedly high price of /115. It was one of the Mertoun lot, the property of Lord Pohvarth, whose sheep have long been esteemed among the best on the Borders. This ram was purchased on behalf of Mr. Sanderson, and will go to Australia. Other rams of the Mertoun flock sold at jf95, ;^65, /S4, £^0, £\'~„ ^36, £t,t„ £2%, £2T, £2b, £2^, and smaller sums. The average price of Lord Polwarth's sheep (30) was £},0 los. At last year's sale Lord Polwarth also got the highest price for his rams, viz., j£'l6o, average ^^22 141. ; in 1866, highest ;^42, average ;^I5 os. Sd ; in 1868, highest /86, average ;^25 141. lod. ; in 1867, highest ^106, average ^^25 I2j. ; in 1S66, highest ^98, average £21 IS. ; in 1865, highest £9S, average £2,1 iSj- lo^d. ; in 1S64, highest ^^70, average £26 19J. i^d. ; m 1S63, highest £(>o, average ;f2i ds. 3d. The rams which brought the ne.xt highest prices belonged to the Mel- lendean flock, the property of Miss Stark. The highest price obtained by these rams on Friday was £100, which was paid by Sir George Dunbar. The prices of other rams in this lot were ^f 91, /'60, 2'50, £43, £^0, &.C. The average price obtained for 36 Lecester rams of the Mellendean flock was ;^28 I5r. Sid. In 1870 the highest price given for the Mellendean rams was ^'32, average ^13 10s. ; in 1S69, highest /109, average ;4l6 gs. 4d. ; in 1868, highest /62, average 2 18 OS. lO.Jfl'. ; in 1867, highest £84, average ^22 I4f. gd. ; in 1866, highest j^So, average ;^25 l$s. ; in 1865, highest ;£'8i, average ;^24 3^. Several of the other lots of rams sold brought very high prices. Among them were Rev. R. W. Bosanquet's, Rock, highest, ^50 ; average for 66 rams, ;^I4 3^. 3d. Mr. John Lee's, Marvingstone, highest, £40 ; average for 20 rams, ^^12 lOf. Mr. Forster, Ellingham, highest, ^■32 ; average for 82 rams, ;f 10 Is. 6d. ; and many others. The highest prices paid for half-bred rams were ;^20, ;£i9, /f 17. £^5 lo^-. &<=. Lincolns.—KX Owersby the show was conflned this year to 88 shearlings, bred by the late John Davy, Esq. No. 45 fell to the lot of Mr. Hall, of West Finsley, for 30 gs. The 88 were sold for ^1009 12j., being an average of £\ I gs. 3\d. Somewhere about 30 years ago it was computed that Lincolnshire fed 2,000,000 sheep, producing I208 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Aq-ricultural Gazette. [September 16, 1871. 22,000,000 lb. of wool. It is now estimated that the number of sheep in the county is upwards of 4,000,000, and thewool relurnsnot farshort of 50,000,0001b. With the gradual extension of sheep farming, there has been a corresponding increase of ram breeders to meet the wants of the green-crop folk. Amongst the most successful of the North Lincolnshire sheep breeders, Mr. Havercroft deservedly takes a first-class position. His flock of 60 longwool shearling rams, sold on Friday, would take a deal of beating, and attracted a goodly assemblage of customers, as well as admirers, to his pleasant homestead at Wootton Dale. This year the 60 sheep sold averaged £\i los. yj., the prices ranging from 7 gs. up to 46 gs. The latter price was given for No. 12 by Mr. Robert Walker, of Somerby, near Brigg. SArop/tir^.~Mr. May, of Elford Park, near Tarn- worth, held his annual sale of rams ami ewes on Tuesday. There were rather more rams than usual in the catalogue. Of those sold, Nos. 14 and 15 made the highest figure, viz., 184 and 18 gs. to Mr. Ridg. way, and Mr. James, of Sudbury. Mr. Beardall secured a good 2-shear, by Sailor, at 145 gs. ; the others rangingfrom 14 down to 54 gs., and the average being just under .^10 lOf. STEAM CULTIVATING COMPANIES. At p. 1047 Mr. Jacob Wilson told us that " there was a steam-cultivating company which, only the other year, had got from 20,000 to 30,000 acres to cultivate. Their prices were moderate ; they could earn a fair percentage for their money, and, what was far more important, it was a source of profit and accommodation to the tenant-farmers of their district." Let Mr. Wilson tell us where thi; wonderful con-- pany exists, and let him give all the particulars about this large number of acres worked at a moderate price, clearing a fair profit to the shareholders ; and, above all, let him give the names of the farmers benefited thereby— giving the number of acres done on each farm, with time of working, &c. ; for as yet I have never been able to learn that contractors have been able to work it at a moderate price, that would enable farmers to farm regularly by steam-power. I will repeat the q\iestions that I asked in the Times on June 12, 1S65, in reply to J. A. Clarke : " Where is their regular work ? Where are their regularly cultivated farms ? They have done a little experimental job- work by bit here and a bit there, and that is all " (see p. 589, 1865) ; and state that that is about all Mr. Wilson's wonderful company has done. If not, why does he keep the name of the company, &c., in the dark ? You say in your article, at p. 1046, on Mr. liulstrode's letter, that "the only real annoyance in the former method (hiring) consists in having to wait the conveni- ence of the contractor ;" and then you follow up thus : — " There is constant risk of losing the great advantage of having the land worked at the right season," and then you encourage '* an accommodating spirit among those who employ the apparatus," advising the con- tractor to remember "a customer who has suffered from delay." This may look very kind and friendly upon paper, but the suffering farmer's pocket will not be relieved thereby, and, besides all that, while this preference farmer is getting a plaster for his sore pocket, it may be that another farmer is suffering, and thus a perpetual suffering will go on in one quarter or another. My own practice thoroughly convinces me that a system of perpetual suffering will never farm England by steam-power, for I am certain the following results could have been attained only by having tackle at hand, to be brought out when needed. Take first my Heavy Land. Field No. i.— 16J acres. Beans after Wheat : .^fter harvest 12 tons of dung per acre were spread over the Wheat stubble ; on September 29, the ridger and sub- soiler was set to work by steam-power to work it ro inches deep, and put it into ridges ready for the winter, to be planted with Beans in February. The cost of this opera- tion was bs. 2 3 feet, 3 to 4 feel Planting Season. TAMES DICKSON and SONS beg to draw attention nspcction of, their almost unlimited stock ' ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, of foiIest, FRU.., .... „.. ROSES, and all other NURSERY STOCK. The "Newton " Nurseries can now be reached : Chester Passenger Station. Priced LISTS JAMES DICKSON & SONS, " I Autumn Planting. TEAN VERSCHAFFELT'S New Descriptive P?eT„mi„^tbTl!r?y'^larn?„f?olEsf treS'^i'Io'^^^^ ^mbe'^'^ofN?S"nd Rare%ynts,Ts"1?isfuedT„'S'crbf obtline'd "Ef'TAL TREeI aS '^HRU^Bs' a?^foducrng »ore su° esrf^i JEAN VERSCHAFFELT, 134, Faubourg dc : .....=.,.3. ,ne large Drcaotns 01 i^AKcniis, trom i to 3% leet, SCt Street, FIRS, NORWAY SPRUCE, AUSTRIAN PINES, and other 1, 1 sorts of FOREST TREES, are unusually fine, and worthy of i CATALOGUES and special ollirs will be < - -^ ' 't.s ana special otters will be lu inbur{,'h and London, October, 1871. THE LARGEST, CHEAPEST AND BEST STOCK OF ROSES IS STILL AT ^VILL.IAM PAUL'S. PAUL'S NURSERIES and SEED WAREHOUSE, WALTHAM CROSS, HERTS, N. PRICED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE FREE BY POST. THE ROSE GARDEN, Second Edition, 6s. 6d. 5 ROSES IN POTS, Third Edition, 2s. CUCUMBER ARMITAGE'S SATISFACTION. Is. per packet. HAMMOND'S IMPERIAL WHITE BROCCOLI, Is. per packet. THE TRADE CAN NOW BE SUPPLIED. WM. ABMITAGE & SON, SEED MEECHANTS, HUDDEESFIELD. BUSINESS ESTABLISHED 1842. MR. LAXTON'S NEW PEAS FOR 1872, SUPERLATIVE, Average Siz Messrs. Hurst & Son, H.WING BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE EOLLOWnG- DISTIICT NOVELTIES II &AEDEI PEAS, IHE LATEST PRODUCTIONS OF MR. LAXTON, WILL, THIS SEASON, BE PREPARED TO SUPPLY A LIMITED QUANTITY OF EACH, IN SMALL PACKETS, FOR TRIAL ONLY. WILLIAM THE FIRST. The finest Pea yet sent out for carliness. flavour, and appearance cotnbined. It is a first early variety, with long and well-filled deep greenish pods ; ripe seed parti- coloured. like "Ne Plus Ultra." It has been thoroughly tested and recommended at the Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens at Chiswick on several occasions, and was the only Pea exhibited in Mr. Gilbert's first prize " Gardener's " collection of Vegetables at the Society's E.\hibition at Nottingham in July last. Height 3 feet.— For further description see " Hogg's Gardeners' Year Book for 1871," page 73. GRIPFIN. A remarkable and distinct variety, as early as "Sangster's No. i," of a fine colour and flavour when cooked ; the ripe seed is also of a bright grass-green colour, and well calculated to supply "Green Peas all the year round. " Pods medium-sized : height about 2 feet 6 inches. POPULAR. For general crop this Blue Wrinkled Marrow will bo found earllef, more prolific, and to have better filled pods than those of " Champion of England," to which variety it is quite equal in flavour, and against which it should be tried. Height above 4 feet. SUPERLATIVE. The largest and finest podded variety yet raised : indispensable as an Exhibition Pea. The pods, which have been e.\hibited 7 inches in length, are more than twice the size of those of the parent Pea, " Laxtons Supreme," which during the last three seasons has taken nearly every first prize when shown in competition. It is also quite as early as that variety, and very prolific. As "Superlative " sometimes runs 7 or 8 feet in height, it should be slightly pinched in when the growth is about 5 feet. The colour and flavour of the Peas, when cooked, are excellent. OMEGA. This dwarfish late Pea was raised by fertilising " Ne Plus Ultra " with "Veitch'5 Perfection," and has all the valuable characteristics of the former variety. It is remarkably prolific, the pods are very fine and closely filled, and the flavour and colour of the Peas, when cooked, unequalled. Ripe seed like " Ne Plus Ultra." Height 2 feet 6 inches. I^* These Peas can be confidently recommended by Mr. Laxton as decided acquisitions, having been thoroughly tested by him for several years, and selected at great expense from hundreds of cross-fertilised varieties, themajority of which, ahhough far in advance of older sorts in cultivation, have been discarded and suppressed. They will be sent out in sealed Packets only, at £1 Is. the Collection, And may be obtained Retail of the principal Seedsmen in London and the Provinces. Sole Wholesale Agents for the United Kingdom, MESSRS. HURST and SON, SEEDSMEN, 6, LEADENHALL STREET, LONDON, E.G., To -whom the Trade can apply for Terms. December 2, 1 87 1.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1545 PSUTTON&SONS^ BEG TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE SPLENDID NEW WRINKLED PEA Z^. 1 SMITHFIELD ] Z'^. CLUB SHOW. JAMES CARTER & CO. SPECIMEN ROOTS Ever exhibited, including Carter's Imperial Hardy Swede, Carter's Mammoth. Prize Mangel, Carter's "Warden Orange Globe Mangel, Carter's Imperial Green Kohl Babi, Turnips, Cabbage, &c.. r' BEST OF ALL (McLean). The best Wrinkled Marrow Pea ever introduced, i a Main Crop variety. Height 3 feet. 5s. per quart. ALSO TO THE FINEST CUCUMBER. MABatriS OF LOBNE. W'liite-spined a superb Exhibition \ariety 3s. 6d. per paclvet Trade Prices on appbcation SUTTON AND SONS, SEEDSMEN BY SPECIAL APPOINTMENT TO THE QUEEN and H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES, READING, BERKS. New Tea-Bcented, Noisette and other Roses. JOHN WATERER AND SONS are offering strong plants, in pots, at 12s. per dozen, comprising the following sorts :— MAkECHAL >IIEL. CLIMBING DEVONIENSIS, BELLE LYONNAISE, Chamois, Jeanne d'Arc, Le Mont Blanc. Madam Ducher, Madame Levet, Tol Rcve d'Or, Isabella SprunL CLEMATIS JACKMANII. CLEMATIS STANDISHlf, Bertrand, Lamarqui CLEMATIS RUBRO VIOLACEA, , Bagshot, Surrey. New EngUsi Kose (Hybrid Perpetual CUmlilng), PRINCESS LOUISE VICTORIA. . KNIGHT, Floral Nursery, Hailsham, t iser of this ROSE, will send it out this month (in str , in good plants, at 7s. 6d. each, three ior 2u. Has b< Three First-class Certificates. See Report of Floral Com- Gardmers' Chrm ■ • - ' W^ HLANE AND SON'S Descriptive CATALOGUE . of ROSES, FRUIT TREES, VINES, CONIFERS, DECIDUOUS and EVERGREEN TREES and SHRUBS, RHODODENDRONS, AZALEAS (Indian), CAMELLIAS, &c^ moderate, combined with quafitj'. An inspection of the growing stock is earnestly solicited. The Nurseries, Great Berkhamsted, Herts. N' Notewortliy Horticulturists ajid Botanists. DTICE.— A SERIES of PORTRAIT.^ of NOTEWORTHY HORTICULTURISTS and BOTANISTS is being published in the "GARDENERS' CHRONICLE ANO AGRICtJLTURAL GAZETTE." The following have already appeared, and copies may be had on application to the Pubhsher, viz. ; — Dr. Hooker, C.B,, F.R.S. rders booked during the Sho supply at very low prices. All Seeds and Bulbs Carriage Free. CARTER'S " SUBURBAN " COLLECTION Of CHOICE BULBS contains the most showy and popular varieties for the Decoration of the Drawing- room and Garden. ! HYACINTHS, , i NARCISSUS- ' 24 TULIPS, It IRl's,ex. Double Roman Paper White Van Sion ! GLADIOLUS BRENCH- Double ' 24 ANEMONES, extra fine ex. choice mi^xeW, Spanish ' ij CAMPERNEL JONQUILS Price 25s. Packing and Carriage Free. HALF the ABOVE, including Packing, 12s. 6d. Five per cent, discount for Cash. JAMES CARTER and CO., 257 and 238, HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON, W.C. ;fx1 M. Decaisne G. F. Wilson, FR.S. Dr. Moore, of Glasnevin Rev.' S. E. Hole, m'./ E.J. Lowe, F.R.S. Tames McNab, of Edinburgh. ROBERT HOGG, LL.D. James Bateman, F.R.S. NOTICE.— The GARDENERS' CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE for DECEMBER 0 will contain a FULL and ILLUSTRATED REPORT of the SMITH- FIELD CLUE CATTLE SHOW. Copies may be obtained on Friday morning, December 8, at STAND No. 88, Galleries, Agricultural Hall. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1871. MEETING FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. ■, Dec. 6! IN another paragraph we have noted the days on which the next year's Meetings and Shows of the two principal London Societies, are announced to take place. The Prize Sche- dules of the Royal Horticultural Society, which are in course of distribution, now lie before us, and we proceed to note some of the provisions made for the meetings at Kensington. In the first place, we are glad to observe that the principle adopted some two or three years since, of offering encouragement to a variety of subjects which develope their beauties in succes- sion throughout the year, and of not limiting the prizes to such as can be squeezed into the summer shows, has been adhered to. It is only by iteration that the invitation to grow other than the routine " show " plants, can be made to exert its proper influence on the contents of our gardens. The results are most unfortunate when radical changes in matters of this sort are too frequently made and unmade, since no one knows what to be about ; and a single season is, in many instances, not sufficient to enable the grower to get up a set of unfamiliar plants, or even a specimen example. Next, we note with approval the fact, that a show something more like the grand displays of former days, is to be attempted once in the course of the season, namely, on the first meet- ing in June— this to be a three-days' show. This will consequently be the Society's special fete; and it is to be hoped that the foreign horticul- turists who come to take part in international contests, as well as those who may come only to see what English gardening is like, may find in it something of a more attractive character than was presented to them at the meetings of the past summer, when no special effort was made. This great show will also, we trust, be on a scale suffi- cient to satisfy the longings of those country horticulturists who complain that the London shows no longer offer them the same kind of attractions or inducements to visit them which they were wont to find in days gone by — a truism probably, but not wholly arising, as some would have it, from the inferiority of modern shows, either as regards display or culture, but partly, at least, attributable to the unsatisfied craving which is ever crying out for something beyond, and which, in fact, has already, step by- step, led to the swallowing up of the space of our exhibitions by those elephantine specimens 1546 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 2, 1871. which, whatever may be said in their disparage- ment, we cannot entirely dispense with, now that we have once had them. For the behoof of our foreign friends, there various competition prizes offered among new plants, which form the class of exhibits most freely brought from the "other side of the water." Thus, there are classes for^ 6 new plants, in or out of flower, introduced by } Gold Medal. the exhibitor, and not in commerce. Open, . . |" Silver Medal. 2 new plants, shown for the first time in flower, j Gold Medal- Open J SilverMedal. I ncAV plant in flower, introduced by the exhibitor, | Gold Medal, and not in commerce. Open (SilverMedal. 1 new plant, not in flower, introduced by the) Gold Medal. exhibitor, and not in commerce. Open. . . ) Silver MedaL 12 new plants, in or out of flower, sent out ) Large Gold Medal. ^ in 1870 and 1871. Open. . . . . j Large Silver Medal. Besides these, foreigners are specially invited to compete with Agaves and Cacti ; they can, moreover, enter into competition with English growers in any of the classes of the schedules ; and are further invited to contribute specimens or collections of plants or fruits not specified therein, as well as to make permanent exhibitions of such plants — Cycads, Pandanads, Palms, Arads, Ferns, for example — as may be suitable for that purpose. Comparing the schedules with those of last year, we find that especial care has been taken to invite a set of new growers, in the shape of persons who have not taken the Society's prizes in the respective subjects on previous occasions. Small groups of stove and greenhouse plants, of Heaths, of Orchids, of Ferns, of Hyacinths, &c., are introduced with this object. The prizes for Azaleas in April have been considerably ampli- fied, and should bring a better display than has usually been seen at the early shows ; while at the great show in June (which, as already stated, is to last three days) the prizes are generally augmented for all the more important classes. Roses remain much as before, except that at the second meeting in May a grand prize of ^20, with three other proportionate prizes, is offered for a group of 50 plants in S-inch pots ; and another of ^12 for 12 specimen plants. The fruit schedule is extended at the great Juno show, by the multiplication of classes, but probably more might still be made of this element. An International Fruit Show, for which special shedules will be framed, is, however, announced for November. Dinner-table arrangement is revived — two classes, with first prizes of £30 and £10 respectively, being provided at the second meeting in May, the smaller one to be tested partly by economy of cost in the proposed arrangement. Delphiniums,Phlo.\es,Pentstemons, Lobelias, Hardy Perennials, &c. — all good sub- jects if well handled — are retained ; and we really hope the growers will let us see something like good examples of them, equal in quality to the perennials which have been shown from Tooting, and the Pliloxes from Stanstead Park. The Florists have encouragement offered for Aiu-iculas, Pansies, Ranunculuses, Roses, Pelar- goniums, Fuchsias, Pinks, Carnations, Picotees, Phloxes, Gladioli, Verbenas, Hollyhocks, Dahlias, and Chrysanthemums ; and Tulips w^ould have been added but for the fact that the meetings do not fall con\eniently for them ; so that the wants of this class of the horticultural body are fairly met. Of absolute novelty there is but little. Poinsettias form a class in November, Roman Hyacinths in December, and Rhododendrons, in baskets or pots, in May ; all being subjects eminently suitable for exhibition. The meetings of the Floral and Fruit Com- mittees remain as before, certificates being offered on these occasions for deserving novelties. Such, in the abstract, is the London pro- gramme of the Royal Horticultural Society ; and it is only fair to the Council of the Society to add, that while its schedules are comprehensive and Uberal, and such as should command the hearty co-operation and goodwill of the British section of exhibitors, it is understood that the arrangements in progress for setting out the e.xhibitions will show something at least of the improvement in this direction which has so long been desired. The details of the Provincial Show, and of the international department of the London Shows, remain to be adjusted. We extract the following remarks on the London Parks and Uieir surroundings from the admirable letters of M. Taine, translated in the DaiJy JVeu/s. It will be seen how greatly the opinion of a cultivated Frenchman differs from that of some of our home detractors : — quently, they must think us neglected and poor. Paris is mediocre compared with these squares, these crescent; these circles and rows of monumental buildings of massiv stone, with porticoes, with sculptured fronts, these spacious streets ; there are 60 of them as vast as the Rue de la Pai.\. Assuredly Napoleon III. demolished and built Paris only because he had lived in London. In the Strand, in Piccadilly, in Regent Street, in the neighbour hood of London Bridge, in twenty places, there is a bust, ling crowd, a surging traffic, an amount of obstmction which our busiest and most frequented boulevard an arm of the sea, the cabs go twice as fast ; the men and the omnibus conductors condense into a word ; words and gestures are economi and time are tiuTied to the utmost possible at human being produces and expends twice as much as among us. "From London Bridge to Hampton Court are eigh miles, that is, nearly three leagues of buildings. After the streets and quarters erected together, as one piece, by wholesale, like a hive after a model, come the countless pleasure retreats — cottages surrounded with verdure and trees, in all styles, Gothic, Grecian, Byzantine, Italian of the Middle Age, or the Resival, with every raL\ture and every shade of style, generally in lines or clusters of 5, 10, 20 of the same sort, apparently the handiwork of the same builder, hke so many specimens of the sami or the same bronze. They deal in houses as we ( Parisian articles. What a multitude of well-to-do, fortable, and rich existences ! One di\'ines accumulated gains, a wealthy and spending middle class quite different from ours, so pinched, so straitened. The most humble, in brown brick, are pretty by dint of tidiness ; the win- dow-panes sparkle like mirrors : there is nearly alway: ' * 1 he entire circimiference of Hyde Park is covered with houses of this sort, but finer, and these in the midst of London retain a country look ; each stands detached in its square of turf and shrubs, has two storeys in the most perfect order and condition, a portico, a bell for the tradespeople, a bell for the visitors, a basement for the kitchen and the 5er\'ants, with a flight of steps for the service ; very few motlldings and ornaments ; no outside sun shutters ; large clear windows, which let in plenty of light : flowers on the sills and at the portico ; stables in a mews apart, in order that their odours and sight may be kept at a distance ; all the external stu-face covered with white, shining, and varnished stucco ; not a speck of mud or dust : the trees, the turf, the flowers, the ser\'ants pre- pared as if for an exhibition of prize products. How well one can picture the inhabitant after seeing his shell ! In the first place, it is the Teuton who loves Nature, and who needs a reminder of the country ; next, it the Englishman who wishes to be by himself in his lircase as in his room, who could not endiu-e the promiscuous existence of our huge Parisian cages, and in London, plans his house as a small castle, independent and enclosed. Besides, he is simple, and ish external display ; on the other hand, he is exacting in the matter of condition and comfort, and separates his life from that of liis inferiors. The number " such houses at the West End is astonishing ! The rent is nearly ^^500 ; from five to seven servants are kept ; the iter expends from j^i2oo to j^ 2400 a year. There are of these fortunes and these lives in England to every The impression is the same when visiting the parks ; taste, the area are quite different from what is the case among us. St. James's Park is a genuine piece of country, and of English country ; huge old trees, real meadows, a large pond peopled with ducks and waterfowl ; cows and sheep, in an enclosed space, feed on the grass, which is always fresh. There are even sheep in the narrow green border that surrounds Westminster Abbey ; these people love the country in their hearts. It is suflicient to read their literature from Chaucer to Shakespeare, from Thompson to Wordsworth and Shellev, to find proofs of this. What a contrast to the Tuileries, the Champs Elysee, the Luxembourg. As a rule, the French garden, that of Louis XI'V. , is a room or gallery in the open air, wherein to walk or converse in company ; in the English garden, such as they have invented and pro- pagated, one is better alone ; the eyes and the mind con- erse with natural things. We have arranged a park on this model in the Bois de Boulogne ; but we have com- mitted the blunder of placing therein a group of rocks and waterfalls ; the artifice is discovered at a glance, and offends ; English eyes would have felt it. '■ Regent's Park is larger than the Jardin des Plantes nd the Luxembourg put together. I have often remarked nat our life seems to them cooped up, confined ; they need air and space more than we do ; Englishmen whom knew in Paris left their windows open all night ; thus Tses their longing for motion, their horse and foot races the country. STENDHAL justly said that a yoimg EngUsh girl walks a greater distance in a week than a young " girl in a year ; the Northern man, of athletic tem- perament, has aneed of free respiration and of exercise. This park is in a retired neighbourhood ; one hears no longer the rolling of carriages, and one forgets London ; it is a sohtude. The sim shines, but the air is always charged ith damp clouds, floating watering-pots, which dissolve I rain every quarter of an hour. The vast watery meadows have a charming softness, and the green branches drip with monotonous sound upon the still water of the ponds. I enter a hothouse where there are splendid Orchids, some having the rich velvet of the Iris, others a flesh colour of that inexpressible, dehcious. mingled tint transfused with light, like palpitating living flesh, a breast ; the hand desires, yet dreads to press it ; alongside, Palm trees raise their stems in a tepid atmo- sphere. A strange thing to us is that there are no keepers ; admission is free, and no damage is done. I can understand that they must ridicule our establishments and public festivals, with their accompaniments of pal guards. It is the same at the railway stations ; every one is free to move about, to stand on the side of .the line, to come and meet his friends at the carriage door. They are surprised and annoyed to see us caged in our waiting-rooms, enclosed, led like sheep, and always under the eye or the hand of an official." Both the Royal Horticultural and the Royal Bota.nic Societies have now fixed and announced the days for their shows and meetings in 1872. Those of the Royal Horticultural Society take place on :— January 17, February 14, March 6 and 20, April 3 and 17, May I and 15 — 16, June 5 — 7 and 19, July 3 and 17, August 7 and 21, September 4 and 18, October 2, November 6, December 4. It will be seen that there is a two-days' show in May, and a three-days' show in June, the latter being the grand show of the season. The Royal Botanic Society announces spring shows on March 13, April 10, and May 8, and summer shows on May 22 — 23, June 19 — 20, and July 10 — II, all the latter therefore being two- day meetings. It will also be seen that the June show is fixed for the same day as the meeting at Kensington, a blunder which will necessarily lead to a conflict of interests, and which, as the Royal Horticultural days are in regular sequence {first and third Wednesdays), and had been, moreover, publicly announced, should not have taken place. By way of supplementing the remarks of Mr. Newton, in another column, on the Ornamental Water in the Victoria Park, it may be worth while to show how much is made of it in addition to its pictorial effect. Two yacht clubs, we are informed, belong to it, one called the Victoria the other the Prince of Wales, each employing the lake for sailing matches, the prizes consisting of cups, &c. Each club is governed by a commodore, vice- commodore, secretary, treasurer, and com- mittee. The yachts are divided into three classes, viz., third-class cutters, which are 4 feet 6 inches long; first-class schooners, 4 feet 6 inches long, all measure- ments being made at the water line. Each club is limited to a certain number of members, owning fleets of 70 vessels. The lake is also much used for bathing purposes by the class of visitors who frequent this park ; and to show how much this privilege is appreciated, we may mention that on the first Sunday morning in August in the year 1868 the number of persons who entered the gates leading to the water was 18,642 ; it was further calculated that 12,000 bathed that morning between 4 and 8 o'clock. About So acres of this park, too, consists of open grass space, to which as many as 82 cricket clubs are attached, for the purpose of prac- tising and playing matches. The MAXIMU.M Te.mperatures of the Air for the week ending November 25 ranged from 51° at Greenock to 40° at Hull, with a mean for the English stations of 43°.4, and for the Scottish of 48°.?. The Minimum Temperatures ranged from 34°.5 at Greenock to 19° at Leicester, the mean for the several English stations being 23°. 7, and for the Scottish 28". 5. The highest Mean Temperature, 41'°. 2, was recorded at Greenock, and the lowest, 32°. 3, at Hull ; the mean for the English stations being 34°. 6, and for the Scot- tish 37°.8. Thus the air during the past week has been warmer in the northern country than in the southern, both by day and by night. The cold weather that set in at tlie beginning of the month continued during the past week. On the 19th the mean daily temperature was 30°. I, being 11°. 7 below the average, and on each of the other days generally less than 35°, all being in defect of the average, though to a less extent. Rain fell at all stations, but much less in quantity in England than in Scotland ; the greatest fall in the southern country being o. 72 inch at Portsmouth ; 2.30 inches fell at Greenock, "2.15 inches at Dundee ; all the other stations in Scotland, with the exception of Aberdeen, recording a fall of more than I inch. The mean fall for the English ions was 0.19 mch, and for the Scottish 1.69 inch. (See Mr. Glaisher's Tables, p. 1555.) — It might not uiu-easonably be supposed that we had Pe.\s enough of all grades of earliness, and all degrees of excellence ; but those who, like Mr. Laxton (one of our best and most careful hyhridisers), are ever on the look-out for new and improved varieties, are not disposed to stand still ; neither is the public at all more mlling to stick to the old love, if we may judge from the prices asked for the new. Messrs. Hurst are the agents for Mr. LA-XTON, and it is certain that many of that gentleman's varieties, such as William the First, are of excellent quality ; others, such as Superlative, are better adapted for the exhibition table. Whether they are worth the price asked, is for the consumer to consider. We have before us the programme of a great Exhibition of flowers, fruit, vegetables, and horti- cultural subjects generally, to be held at Berli.N' in June next, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Society for the Promotion of Horticulture in Prussia. The exhibition will be held from June 21 to June 30. Prizes to the extent of 2000 thalers (2^300) are offered by the Society, in addition to special prizes offered by individuals for groups, Pahns, Ferns, Roses, coniferous plants, and cut flowers, the details of which will be hereafter published. The schedule is divided into three classes — I, for The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1547 miscellaneous stove and greenhouse plants, including 46 classes ; 2, for plants representing special orders or genera, e.^., Orchids, Arads, Lilies, Pelargoniums, SiC, 62 classes j 3, fruit and vegetables, 9 classes, From an advertisement in another column it will be seen that the valuable collection of Botanical and Horticultural Books of the late Mr. Baxter is to be sold by auction at the Clarendon Hotel sale- room, Oxford, on Wednesday next, December 6. At a meeting of the Royal Botanic Society, held last Saturday, the following Directors of Foreign and Colonial Botanic Gardens were elected Correspond- ing Members : — Dr. J. Anderson, M. J. Decaisne, Mr. C. Moore, Dr. F. von Mueller, Dr. R. Schom- burgk, and Mr. G. H. K. Thwaites, F.R.S. Among the donations reported was a fine plant of the Australian Chestnut, lately received from Queensland. Harper's Weekly offers the following suggestion to those whose Fruit and other Trees have been destroyed by the late Fire in Chicago : — "In many instances the vitality of the roots has not been impaired. By cutting off the trees close to the surface of the ground before winter, and covering the wounds with a heavy coat of grafting-wax, the life will be preserved until next spring, when they will, in a majority of cases, send up strong shoots and grow rapidly. Some varieties of trees will not sprout, but fruit trees, Grape Vines, berry bushes, and valuable shrubbery will sprout again if cut close to the ground before cold weather comes. The burned and heated portions of the wood should be removed until a live surface is laid bare, when a warm coaling of grafting-wax should be applied. This should be covered with brown paper or cloth, and several inches of fine earth should overlay the whole. A suitable grafting-wax may be made of equal parts of resin or pitch and tallow, or one part of Unseed oil and two of coarse resin. In the spring the soil should be removed, leaving only about an inch over the stump." In a communication to our contemporary, the Builder, a correspondent thus writes upon the import- ant question. How to Heat a Small Conserva- TORY Free of Cost :— " A few years ago a friend of mine bought a house, one of a row ; it contained two sitting-rooms on the ground- floor, — one to the front, the other to the back. In summer the back room was unfit for habitation, owing to the heat caused by a close range in the wall which separated it from the kitchen of the adjoining house. This suggested to me an idea which has been carried out successfully. In planning a new villa, I placed the kitchen fireplace in the west gable ; the space behind the range was left open, and against this was built a con5er\'atory, 14 feet by 8 feet. The open space behind the range is furnished with a wooden door, over which, in the thickness of the wall, is formed an air-flue, having a damper. By shutting the door and opening the damper, the heat from the range is carried off, and vice versa. This contrivance may not suit those who wish to maintain a high state of tempera- ture in the conservatory dming the winter, but a heat suf- ficient to protect plants from frost, and varieties to flower during that season, can free of cost." The BuLBiFEROUs Character of the Stems of certain of the Lilies, e. g., tigrinum and bulbi- fenim, is a well-known feature. It would seem, however, as if there was a strong tendency in this genus to develope these axillary separable buds, for the same phenomenon may sometimes be observed near the base of the stems of L. auratum and other species not usually bulbiferous ; and we have lately seen in Mr. Wilson's collection examples of the longiflorum section in which the stems were bulbiferous at every axil from base to apex, quite as much so indeed as in the Tiger Lily, though the plants in question are usually non- bulbiferous. Possibly all Lilies might be forced to produce axillary bulblets, and if so the propagation of rare species might be much expedited. Referring to the wonderful increase in the Taste for Flowers which has taken place in America during the past 20 years, in the columns of that excellent Transatlantic monthly, the "American Agriculturist," Mr. Peter Henderson states that statistical investigations taken in the rough, extending in a radius of ten miles from the centre of New York Island, proved that the number of florists* establish- ments was above 500, and the capital used in stock and structures upwards of 6,000,000 dols. If the number of establishments, writes Mr. Henderson, is nearly correct, and there is no reason to doubt it, it is certain that the value is not overestimated, as there are at least half a dozen establishments where the capital used in stock and buildings must be nearly 100,000 dols. each ; and this, too, in New York and its suburbs, where the taste is lower than it is in either Boston or Philadelphia. Most works on Eastern travel tell us of the great Utility of the Stems of the Climbing Palms and Bamboos for the manufacture of baskets, hats, mats, and hosts of other equally conuuon and useful articles. The most striking uses, however, of the slender stems of the Calami are for twisting into ropes and cables (such cables being used on many of the Indian coasting vessels), and in the manufacture of those fearfully dangerous-looking, net-like suspension bridges which are thrown across rivers in India, and about the construction of which Dr. Hooker in his be maintained *' Himalayan Journal " tells us that ** two parallel canes on the same horizontal plane were stretched across the stream, from these others hung in loops, and along the loops were laid one or two Bamboo stems for flooring ; cross pieces below this flooring hung from the two upper canes, which they thus served to keep apart. The traveller grasps one of the canes in either hand, and walks along the loose Bamboos laid on the swing- ing loops." The stems of these Calami, of which many species grow in the eastern forests, are seldom more than an inch or two thick, usually they are much less, indeed quite slender, and they mostly grow to an enormous length, climbing and scrambling amongst the surround- ing trees, in the branches of which they support and attach themselves by the hooked spines of their leaf- stalks. The stems are of a tolerably uniform thickness throughout their entire length, and to what an enormous length they grow may be judged from a stem lately received from Ceylon, and now exhibited in the No. 2 Museum at Kew. This stem, which is pro- bably that of Calamus rudentum, measures 369 feet long, so that if it had grown perfectly upright, it would have been nearly as high as the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral. They are imported into this country as rattans in bundles, each bundle containing about loo canes, and each cane averaging from 12 to 16 feet in length. The number of canes annually imported into this country amounts to about 7,500,000. These are used chiefly for splitting and making bottoms of chairs, bodies of gigs, dog-carts, &c., and at one time were largely used by schoolmasters, as many an old boy will remember ; for " crinolines," for ribs of umbrellas, and, when split very fine, for stiffening for silk bonnets. Rattans are also largely imported for walking-sticks ; these, how- ever, are thicker than those just mentioned, and are probably the produce of another species of Calamus ; they have, moreover, a small portion of the root remain- ing, to form the handle. The valuable walking-sticks known as Malacca canes are also the stems of a Calamus, probably C. Scipionum. • We hear that Parliament is to be applied to next session for the incorporation of a company to form a short RAILWAY from the ring line, or Metropo- litan and District Railways, near the South Kensington Station, to the Exhibition Buildings at Albert Hall. Application is also to be made for power to form a subway from the South Kensington Station to the Albert Hall. PORTRAITS OF GARDEN PLANTS. Actiniopteris kadiata, Flore ^cs Serres. t. 1853. M. Van Houtte here gives a nice figure of this very elegant dwarf stove Fern, which in its general aspect simulates that of a miniature Palm. The small erect slender fronds grow up in a neat tuft, and the laminse, which are fan-shaped, and 1—2 inches across, are cut down into narrow segments, much in the way of the leaves of the Fan Palms. It is a native of India and Ceylon. It was figured in the " Florist and Pomologist," in the volume for 1869, and in our own columns the following year. Alloplectus vittatus, Illust. Hort. ser. 3, t. 13. A stout-growing Gesneraceous plant, requiring stove temperature. It has erect fleshy stems, bearing large short- stalked broadly-ovate leaves, 6 — 9 inches long, of a deep velvety green, having a broad greyish-green laand down the centre, branching ofif along the course of the principal veins. The flowers are terminal and fasciculate, sur- rounded by vivid red foliaceous bracts, and having a large crimson calyx, and a pale yellow corolla. It was collected by Mr. Wallis at Moyobamba, in Eastern Peru, and is in the hands of M. Linden. Alonsoa Matthewsii, Refug, Bot. t. 158. A pretty little soft-wooded greenhouse shrub of the Scrophulariaceous order, with slender quadrangular stems, lanceolate toothed leaves about an inch long, and lax terminal racemes of scariet flowers, of which, as in the more familiar species, the upper lobe is much the largest. It was obtained by W. Wilson Saunders, Esq., from seeds sent from Peru, and is said to produce its brilliant flowers in abundance. Aralia japonica aureo-reticulata, Illust. Hort. ser. 3, t. 22. A variety of the well-known evergreen and nearly hardy shrub, often called A. Sieboldii in gardens, and referred by botanists to the genus Fatsia. It differs in having the greater part of the leaf-surface of a pale yellowish green, reticulately marked with yellow, the midribs being pale, almost white. It is a Japanese plant, and was imported by M. von Siebold. Begonia magnifica. Rev. Hort. 1870, 271, with tab. An ornamental stove perennial, of suffrutescent habit, with ovate unequal-sided finely toothed leaves, and termi- nal cymose panicles of drooping rosy carmine flowers, which have the four parts convergent, x\ inch long, oblong-ovate, slightly bifid, the two inner ones being deeper coloured. Introduced by M. Linden from New Grenada. Bignonia purpurea, Bot. Mag. t. 5800. This magnificent stove climber has long been cultivated at Kew. It is closely allied to B. speciosa, differing in the narrower tube of the corolla. The stem is slender ; the leaves bifoliolate, sometimes ending in a tendril, with the leaflets obovate-lanceolate ; and the flowers are large, funnel-shaped, with neariy equal rounded lobes, mauve- coloured, with a large white throat. Nothing is known of its history further than that it is considered to be the Bignonia purpurea of Loddiges' catalogue. Ceratostema speciosum, Illust. Hort. ser. 3, t. 9. This Vacciniaceous shrub forms a splendid ornament for the greenhouse, being an evergreen, with the stem growing erect from a tubercular base. The leaves are leathery in texture, ovate-lanceolate, with a short twisted petiole ; and the flowers, which grow in short, axillary, secund, drooping spikes, are cylindraceo-costate, about if inch long, bright orange-red, with a short and slightly spreading yellow limb. It was collected in Ecuador by Mr. Wallis, and is one of M. Linden's novelties. Cissus LiNDENi, Illust. Hort. ser. 3, t. 2. A smooth, shrubby, cool stove climber, of the Vine family, with terete tendriled branches, and ovate-cordate bright green leaves, which are freely mottled with white between the veins. M. Linden has imported it from the Sierra Nevada of Santa Martha, in the temperate regions of the United States of Colombia. Clematis stans, Gartenfiora, t. 657. A dwarf-growing half-shrubby plant, with erect stems, temate leaves, having ovate toothed leaflets, and small terminal panicles of whitish flowers, tomentose on the out- Dfja Cotyledon atropurpurea, Refug. Bot. t. 198. The Echeveria atropurpurea of gardens, a well-marked showy plant, with short, stout, glabrous stems, and obo- vate-spathulate dark-purple leaves, covered with a glau- cous bloom, and aggregated into a dense rosette at the top of the stem. The flower-stem is erect, bears much smaller leaves, and terminates in a long raceme of bright red pentagonal flowers, white towards the base. It is supposed to be a native of Mexico, and is aUied to C. canaliculata. Cotyledon glauca, Refug. Bot. t. 61. A very pretty dwarf greenhouse succulent, forming a dense rosette of obovate-cuneate mucronate farinosely glaucous leaves, and slender pinkish flower-stems bearing a secund raceme of 12 — 20 scariet flowers tipped with yellow. It is better known in gardens under the name of Echeveria glauca, and is closely allied to C. (Echeveria) secunda, from which it differs in little besides its glaucous covering. A native of Mexico. Both it and C. secunda are much used in the modem system of planting flower gardens ; and are remarkably neat and pretty subjects, totally distinct in aspect from some of the other plants referred to the same genus. Cotyledon Salzmanni, Bot. Mag. t. 5801, A charmingly beautiful rock plant, of the Crassulaceous order, of annual duration, and forming literally a mass of brilliant golden star-shaped flowers, relieved by the red tips of the spreading corolla lobes. It has a stout ascend- ing leafy stem, fleshy, terete, green leaves, covered with short red streaks; and golden-yellow flowers, spotted with red, which form a broad compoundly corymbose head, and are between funnel and salver-shaped. It gathered by Mr. G. Maw, at Tangiers, and in aspect 5 possible from the Echeverias which are referred to Cotyledon, and bears much more resemblance to a Sedxun. Cypripedium candidum, Bot. Mag. t. 5855. A pretty hardy perennial Orchid, with leafy stems, the leaves broadly-lanceolate, plaited, the flowers small, with green sepals and petals marked with purple fines, and an inflated oblong white Up streaked with purple round the mouth. A rather rare native of bogs, from the Central and New York States of North America, to Kentucky and Wisconsin, extending thence into Canada to the north- ward, and to the Platte Plains and Rocky Mountains to the westward. It is closely allied to C. pubescens and parviflora. "Like all the boreal Cypripediums, this is easily cultivated in a bog soil, with a cool bottom, plenty of shade, and a copious littering of dead leaves." DendrOBIUM SchRCEDERI, Floral Mag. t. 502. A handsome stove epiphyte, with the general aspect of D. densiflorum. It has clavate stems, oblong-acute leaves, and dense pendtnt racemes of flowers, in which the sepals and petals are pure white, and the lip bright yellow, with a strong orange tint along the upper margin. It is cultivated in the collection of the Messrs. Veitch. Drosophyllum lusitanicum, Bot. Mag. t. 5796. A very remarkable sub-shrubby species of Sun-dew, with a thick woody stem, 2 — 3 inches high, at the top of which are seated the elongate linear attenuated leaves, which are circinate and revolute in vernation. The whole plant is covered with stalked purple capitate glands. The large yellow flowers form a corymb at the top of a leafy stem, which grows a foot high. It is found in Spain, Portugal, and Mauritania, growing on sandy shores and dry rocks by the sea as well as inland. It has been flowered at Kew. Hemerocallis Dumortieri, Refug. Bot. t. 213. A very pretty and little known hardy herbaceous peren- nial of the Liliaceous order, a native of Japan and Western Siberia. It has long narrow tapering leaves, i— li foot long, and the scape is erect, and bears 2—4 large orange-yellow flowers, the perianth being 2 inches long, with a very short tube. It is closely allied to H. minor of Miller (H. graminea of Andrews), but is a stronger plant, with leaves twice as broad, and shorter-tubed flowers. It is sometimes called H. rutilans and H. Sieboldii in gardens. HOMALONEMA RUBESCENS, Gartenfiora, t. 634. A stout-growing stove perennial, belonging to the Araceas. Its stem grows i — 2 feet high, and bears sagittate- cordate dark green leaves, having the under surface purplish, and the petiole of a deep red. The peduncle is also red, and is terminated by a sub-cylindrical convolute spalhe, which is reddish-purple without, and whitish within. It is a native of India. JUSTICIA LiNDENi, Rev. Hort. 1870, 250, with tab. An ornamental sub-shrubby stove plant, of the Acan- 1548 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [De. iiljer 2, 1 87 1 thaceous family, having smooth stems, glabrous, oval- acuminate leaves, and terminal heads of showy orange- yellow flowers. It was imported from Mexico, to the Jardin du Museum, Paris. VICTORIA PARK. At a time when paragraphs are going "the round of the papers " as to the ill-efifects of encroaching upon the boundary lines of this park, it may not be un- interesting to direct attention to one or two of its chief features of internal beauty, viz., the lake, and what is not inaptly termed the Pagoda island. My object in placing before your readers the annexed illustration (fig. 330) is not only to furnish one of the best views to be found in this park, but to show how happily the materials employed have been associated and blended together, so as to make a beautiful picture, even on a small scale. In this case the water does not occupy more than about 6 acres, which are ornamented with three islands, the outlines of which are of a strikingly marked character, and which are applicable to any part of a country park, where water can be brought within view of the mansion. This park collection of trees and shrubs, which, being young, i just in the best possible condition for transplanting I effect, a chance which should not be lost, inasmuch diversity of form in the groundwork, the whole space occupied in the matter being about half an acre. Trees and shrubs of a fastigiate character occupied the fore- ground and middle distance. These consisted of Irish Yews, Cupressus, Junipers, and Cedars ; next in effect came vases of flowers, archways, and pillars, portions of ruins obtained from the Old Temple Church. As to the rockwork put up it was as much a matter of neces- sity as of choice, inasmuch as it surrounded a reservoir ^ of water for the supply of the houses and other wants 1 of the establishment, including ornamental water and j fountains in other parts of the grounds ; and as all the water had to be pumped from a well by means of a steam-engine, it also blocked out the objectionable appearance of the chimney shaft. Architectural effect was given to the scene by a clock tower, and the whole was bounded by a background of Elms and other large trees. I so contrived the outline of the water in the scene, that in passing round it a series of ; panoramic views occurred at short distances apart, each being so varied as to be distinct in character— a desideratum obtained by throwing up the material ! taken from the site of the water into banks and mounds of various shapes and sizes. These banks and mounds were margined with rockwork, made of con- crete, and planted with a very complete collection of 1 wild plants found in the district, all being carefully woodcut, two other examples have been adduced of the way in which our home surroundings may be improved, and they are of such a kind as hundreds might possess, but few do, simply because they lack the energy to make the attempt. If as much attention were paid to the improvement of features of a per- manent character about a place as is bestowed on inlusing colour into our flower-gardens, we should soon have backgrounds and boundary lines worthy of the often prettily designed mansions and villa residences which they enclose. Joseph Newton, Oxford Terrace, Hyde Park. THE FORTHCOMING MEETING OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL .SOCIETY A T BIRMINGHAM. As you invite suggestions in regard to the social and intellectual catering for this annual reunion of the craft, I am anxious to contribute something, however little, to the development of these most important features of the provincial shows. Fortunately for you and the object we have in view, though rather trying to us who may be expected to offer suggestions, you have in your two leaders pretty well exhausted the subject, and have hardly left us wind enough to bag our sails. A if left much longer without removal they will be so thick as to injure one another. The islands are rich in Willows, of which, along with other things, many fine varieties were bought at the late Messrs. Loddiges' sale, and the fine Salix babylonica, or Weeping Willow, as shown in the illustration, ex- plains how much real beauty can be exhibited by a tree when it happens to be placed in a situation suitable to its character. Amid the vegetation of these islands, the numerous water-fowl that ornament the lake find shelter, and a suitable home. The Chinese pagoda in the background is that which was shown in the great International Exhibition of 1851. It was presented to this park, in which it forms a feature of much interest. That considerate and kind lady, Baroness Burdett Coutts, presented this park with a magnificent drmk- ing-fountain, by Derbyshire, the cost of which was about ;,i9000. This is about the chief building of interest which the park contains. Subtropical gardening has been tried here as well as in the other parks, and with considerable success. Unlike that in Hyde Park, it is less guarded from the public by means of iron protectors, a singular fact when the respective positions of the two parks are taken into consideration. As a bit of boundary line, what viewed from the windows of a mansion. At Hatton, near Hounslow, I at one time created a somewhat similar scene on a rather unpromising site. It consisted of water and rockwork, associated with planting and named and systematically arranged. A screen or boundary line of a very different character may be found at Fulham Palace. In this there is no water ; the foreground is, however, richly ornamented with Rhododendrons, behind which is a thick mass of shrubs and low-growing trees, planted in front of the wall of the kitchen garden, which it is desirable to hide from view from the ornamental grounds. The entrance from the latter to the fruit and vegetable department is through an ancient Gothic archway, which is so charmingly overhung with Ivy as to form quite an enchanting feature in the scenery, which is strictly in the gardenesque style. Beyond the kitchen garden, itself one of the oldest in England, is a belt of stately trees, which serves as a boundary line to the domain, and at the same time eftectually shuts out the town of Fulham, whose antique church top is constantly brought into view of the Palace. The situation being close to the banks of the Thames, is flat and comparatively uninteresting, were it not for the planting, which has not only been skilfully done at first, but by age has ripened into full develop- ment, showing to advantage the mature character of most of the materials employed in it. Vistas have of late years been cut through the boundary line, so as to bring in occasional peeps at the waters of the Thaines, thus giving life and interest to a scene which previously was the reverse of ani- mated. Thus, in addition to the pretty piece of ornamental scenery represented in the accompanying dinner, an assembly room, a congress, and a special committee or committees to arrange each or all — little more can be needful to develope the social and intellectual features of these gatherings to the fullest extent. And yet one thing more, and that the chief, is necessary to command success, and that hitherto has been con- spicuous by its absence. I mean the thorough identifi- cation of the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society with each and all of these social and intellectual aspects of the meeting. For the future there must not only be no cold shoulder, but no condescending patronage manifested in regard to these features of the programme. The latter is most offensive, and has been most keenly felt by the most honourable working members of the craft. Two equally straightforward courses are open to the Council : the one is to ignore the social and intellectual side of the meetings wholly, the other is to adopt them as part— and one of the most important parts— of the official programme. Practical men could appreciate either course. We have our views about which of the two would tend most power- fully to the advancement of horticulture, but either way we could not justly blame the governing body of the Royal Horticultural Society. Its officers are bound to guard its honour and consider its prosperity first of all ; and if it is thought that social fellowship and intel- lectual communion with practical horticulturists mars the one or hinders the other, the Council are bound to abstain from both, and we are equally bound to honour them for their abstention. What we can neither understand nor appreciate are December 2, 1871.] The Gardeners* Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1549 the compromises between these two courses that have been from time to time adopted at these meetings — the Council now adopting, now ignoring, and again entrapped or dragged into a recognition of those impor- ; social and intellectual features of the pr^ meetings. The dignity of the Society and the ' and self-respect of practical horticulturists alike demand that this policy of compromise should cease. Thanks to your vigilance and zeal in the good cause, which has never faltered, the subject has been mooted early. The .Society has ample time to consider it and announce its final decision. I trust it may heartily embrace these social and intellectual features, and per- manently engraft them upon its provincial shows. But if not, I do think this should be the last time of asking. We owe much to the Royal Horticultural Society, but more still to our self-respect ; and it is hardly consistent with the latter that we should go begging year after year of the Council to help us dine, or hold congresses or social rhitiions. Assuredly we are strong enough to do these things for ourselves ; and if the Society chooses to stand aloof, why let it stand out in the cold, and in peace. Hitherto the Society has concentrated, and seem- ingly exhausted, its energies on the show. It is of the first importance that the show should be successful. It must be made such as to draw company and pay. We are not so unreasonable as to wish the Royal Horticul- tural Society to visit the provinces at a pecuniary loss. It can do little or nothing for the advancement of hor- ticulture without the sinews of war— vulgar money. The shows, also, give a powerful stimulus to the ad- vancement of horticulture. They are object lessons for counties and districts, where nevvscholars may be counted by the thousand. They raise provincial horticulture at one bound to the highest level, and whet the appe- tite for novelties to the keenest edge. The Society has done good work by going into the provinces, but it has left equally good, .and better almost, wholly undone. It has cared more for the exhibition than the exhibitors, the products than the producers ; and while smiling its sweetest official blandish- ments on the works of our hands, it has given the workers the cold shoulder, or worse. Such a course is as unwise as it is ungenerous. It is likewise most suicidal ; for practical men, gainsay it who will, are the backbone of horti- culture. Raise, refine, strengthen them, and you raise refine, strengthen horticulture. Indeed, the shortest cut by far to the advancement of horticulture is to instruct, raise, better its practitioners. Grand oppor- tunities are afforded for this at these annual gatherings ; and the Society that permits such to run to waste misses a royal way of being true to its charter. Pro- mote social intercourse, stimulate intellectual activity among horticulturists, and the result will soon be seen and felt in the exhibition. More will add to their riches, and all will have more pleasure in bringing their best. In many cases now, money is the only power that draws forth superior excellence ; sym- pathy with the objects, identity of interest with the Society, and a hearty desire to promote its pros- perity, would prove far stronger motives. The Society has it in its power t simply taking the same inter of horticultural progress as it Nay, we do not yet ask it neither to test nor reward 01 itself with us in our social ;v««. and sympathise with our intellectual exertions. The attempt to divorce us from our works, to reward the latter while ignoring the former, is vain, and would only prove mischievous if possible. We are united for better or worse, and those who would reward our best doings had better begin or end, we care not greatly which, by giving the workers their just due, for the men upon the whole are better and more precious than their best doings. Perhaps it may be well to add a sentence or two upon the Congress. First, as to time. The evening would probably be best. Most visitors have so much to see, and so little time to see it in, that all the day and every day is crowded with engagements. I merely throw out the suggestion, however, and am well aware that there may be strong objections urged on the other side. Again, as to the manner. There have been great complaints about haste and appearances of im- patience. Doubtless this has been caused at times by an excess of papers, when 10 or 12 readers have raced against lime for a hearing at a singl sitting. But at other times, and without this excuse presidents have looked bored, and practicals felt discouraged by an almost indescribable feeling that the whole thing was felt to be a bore. I blami but only advert to an impression that was largely prevalent at some of those congresses. Then matter. It always seemed to me that the utmost freedom ought to be allowed at these meetings. There are social and peci moment to horticulture that have been carefully excluded from discussion. I believe horticulturists are the only class in the country who continue to meet, and remain dumb on their own peculiar grievances and prospects. 1 would be glad to learn who could be compromised or injured in any way by the thorough discussion of such a question as this at the Birming- ham meeting— The iUitiis and rewards of horticul- of employers and employed, and to the further advance- :nt of horticulture ? In addition to the dinner, assembly room, and con- gress or congresses, I would suggest a soiree and con- zioiie if possible. Also, if practicable, that ladies might be invited to the dinner, as suggested by Mr. Pearson, at Nottingham. Finally, might I, without presumption, propose that the Rev. Reynolds Hole, who I trust has been added to the Council of the Royal, be elected chairman of the committee for pro- oting the social friendship and intellectual fellowship of horticulturists at the Birmingham meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society ? D. T. Fish, all forth all these by ;t in the human branch DW does in the cultural. 0 do so much as that, merit, but to identify ns, and share and help in the Mil surprised to find that the THE MYSTICAL PLANTS of BRITAIN. The superstitions which, in olden time, connected themselves with certain trees and plants have been pretty fully dwelt upon of late,* but, as we think, without exhausting the subject, or deriving from it all the materials for thought which it is capable of afford- ing. The tendency of modern opinion is to suppose that wisdom dwells with the present age, and that the early races of mankind were as much inferior in power of mind as they certainly were in the means of testing their views of Nature, by subjecting them to the verify- ing process of experimental research. Those who have studied the Chaldean philosophy, in so far as it has made its way down to us through the opinions of Pythagoras, or have seen how remarkably some of the choicest results of modern scientific thought were anti- cipated in other schools of Grecian lore — those who have looked into the charming poem of Lucretius, " On the Nature of Things," will not entertain these disparaging ideas of the capacities of our forefathers. In this article we mean to explore but one branch of this wide subject, in the connection of the early fire worship with the mystical properties ascribed to plants and trees. In order to comprehend these views of the Aryan nations, we turn first to the Rig- Veda, which is unquestionably the most ancient documentary evidence on the subject, reaching back probably to the times made familiar to us by the history of the Judges in Israel. In this work we find, especially in one passage not devoid of sublimity, the distinct recognition of the unknown God— as in fact "the ineffable One;" but to these early philosophers everything that was un- known was mystical, and the whole world was pervaded by subordinate deities. These were formed into shape by drawing largely on the resources of a fertile imagi- nation. They were struck with the sudden manifesta- tion of the electric force in lightning, as showing something peculiarly divine ; and this they extended to fire, and to all the varied and subtle operations which we are accustomed to class under the heads of elec- tricity and magnetism ; and, penetrating still further into the unseen world, they associated also in the same categorv- the vital principle in animals and in man. Thus tiie Parsees,t m a controversy which arose be- tween them and the missionaries at Bombay, claimed the well-known lines, beginning — "Vital spark of heavenly flame," as exactly expressing their opinions on this point ; thence also (as we have been informed) the custom of placing frankincense on the forehead of a corpse which is about to undergo the process of incremation, as it is supposed that the vital spark escapes from that part of the body. An intensely poetic appreciation of Nature appears everywhere. The clouds were the cows of heaven, from whose udders the fertility of the earth was replenished. They beheld in the sun a god, whose chariot was drawn by the horses of the dawn. The first rays shoot- ing up from the horizon, before the emergence of the orb itself, were the horns of the hind or gazelle of the morning. Probably the imaginary hammer of the Scandinavian Thor, which always returned again to his hand after it had been launched against any object, was an illustration of the same accurate observation of the phenomena of a thunderstorm, as is well described by the Roman poet Lucan — " Dat stragem late, sparsosque recoUigit ignes." These last illustrations do not belong (it is true) to the Rig- Veda, nor do we think that the Aryan nati< be segregated from the rest of mankind to the which is prevalent. The nations generally have found inworking powers, especially maleficient powers, a' work in the storm and the tempest, and deities watch ing over the productions of the earth, and, as we shall see, requiring to be appeased J: — ' ' The demons that are found In fire, earth, .air, or underground." The connection of all this apparatus of deities with mystical notions about trees is well illustrated by the story of one of the deities of the Sanscrit-speaking race which, whdst in the shape of a falcon rescuing the soma, or heavenly ambrosia, from the evil dei lost, in the contest, a feather, which, falling to earth, and taking root, became the origin of sctl, the with feathered leaves. vhilst claw which came earth in the same encounter became a thorn-bearing Catechu. Bishop Heber was amazed perstitions attached themselves to the Mimosa in India and to the Rowan tree in Scotland — superstitions connected ith the promotion of fertility in animals. He in- quires, "What nation has in this case been the from what common centre are these ns derived ? " The answer probably leads us back to the very earliest period of the history of the of Adam as the first opening out of this well of tradition. The superstitions connected with the Ash, mentioned by White in his "Natural History of Selborne," are probably from a different source, scarcely less ancient. The Scandinavian tradition was, that the gods formed out of an Ash tree the first man, who was thence called Aske. This was probably the first progenitor of the Teutonic race, well shown by Knobel in his " Volkertafel " to have been (almost certainly) Ashkenaz of Genesis x.,* so that the fabled Ash, Iggdrasil, with its roots directed towards heaven, towards Tartarus, and towards the region of frost, and overshadowing gods and men, looks like an enunciation beforehand of the preponderance of the German races. "Rhetoric turned into logic" has produced worse things than the Ash Iggdrasil. Then the passing of crippled children through the cleft Ash was simply an introduction into a new and, it was presumed, better life. As with the Brahmins, the twice-born of India, as with the masonically initiated Druids — for whom an analogous birth was provided, — ■ so with these unfortunates, the reversion to the original stock was to be healing and cure. These things are not specially to our purpose, and therefore we turn to the Oak and the Mistleto, and enter upon the domain of Celtic superstition. More particularly (omitting the kindred Picts, Scots, and Irish) we look to the Welsh, the Cymri (descendants of Gomer), as representing our early British ancestry. There can be no doubt that these have preserved the traditions of the past to a much gi-eater extent than the more thoroughly English part of our population. Indeed we need scarcely class among things of the past some of the superstitions, especially about fairies, which still haunt the Principality. The physicians of Myddvai (whose lore was reputed to be derived from this source) are the subjects of a volume published at Llandovery in 1861 ; but we leave, for the present, these gentlemen to settle accounts with the regular practitioners, and We ourselves have met among the kindred Bretons with an illustration of the still powerful belief in the fairies. When driving along near the celebrated Cymric Menhirs of Karnac, we alighted to gather the Dodder (Cuscuta europcea) which, with its weird-look- ing, thread-like branches, covered abundantly the Gorse bushes of the neighbourhood. On returning to our vehicle the Breton driver most earnestly remon- strated, begging that we would throw away the perilous fruit of our botanical research. "La reiiie dcs Fees vous blessera ! " he exclaimed ; and if we understood him aright believed that, if this were not done, we should all be dead before we reached our destination. He did not pay much regard to our dissent from his creed, so we thought it most prudent, all things considered, to throw the weed away, lest the nervousness of our driver should really bring us to grief. There is no doubt that the Druids looked upon the Oak as a divine tree, and most intimately asso- ciated with, even identified it with, the god whom they worshipped. The feelings of religious horror with which the Gauls regarded a grove of ancient Oaks dedicated to the gloomy rites of Celtic superstition, are well described by Lucan, who exhibits for admiration the courage of Cresar, in himself giving the first stroke of the axe, in order to break through the dread which swayed his legions and threatened to hinder his designs. Thus, in Taliessin's poems we find the following — The name of the Oak in Welsh is similar to its appellation in Greek, and has connection with the title of the Druids themselves, t ' 'BeniM, a Druid, is com- pounded of g-uiytid^ a wise man, and denv, the Oak. The strict connection, both in Hellenic and Roman mythology, between the Oak and Jupiter as the god of the thunder and lightning, was drawn even closer among these Celtic nations, as the Gallic Jove was represented to the eye by an open stem and two lateral branches in the shape of the Greek ir in its elementary form. Derzti, an Oak, takes also the form dir, plural deri, but v daran, a servile form of taran, means a thunderbolt, and daron and daronivy are synonymous with taranon; and Taranwr^ the tliunderer, is the same as Taranis, whom, according to the Romans, the British worshipped. Dar must therefore have once signified equally an Oak and the thunder ; and the thunder and the prophetic Oaks of Dodona had a like connection at the time when oracles were supposed to be delivered from their branches ; and the fitlgura and fttlmiita, the pheno- mena of lightning, were supposed to be the most trust- worthy phenomena whence a knowledge of the future might be obtained. Whether this dar represents the ^^ 1550 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 2, 187 1, electric fluid or not, we have ample proofs that the tree was mythically confounded with that of which it was only a symbol." Thus, Taliessin :— " The swift moving derw, From liis presence would shrink both heaven and earth." It may lessen our surprise at such a confusion when we remember that our own select word electricity, in somewhat similar manner, identifies the whole range of these phenomena with the electron, or amber in which they were first noticed. The Welsh word Trydan, "pervading fire," is in so far more philosophical, in that it is an attempt to give a definition in the very word itself.* After all, we ask ourselves, whence came this strange idolatry of the Oak tree— from its height and grandeur as pre-eminent amongst the trees of the English forests? from the character of its boughs reminding of the We append a note concerning it from a practical j hardy for outdoor work — no plant can equal it for gardener of high standing, and we can quite endorse ' conservatory, table room, or vase furnishing. It is no all that he says as to the merits of the plant, removed, e.Naggeration to add that I believe those long droopmg as we were t^ld, from the open border ?or the purposes : -h- so rich m^colour and ^-=[^1 - o™-^ -^ of the exhibition. One regret we may express, and that \ ^.^^^ ^^^ j,^^^^^ j ,^^3, f, „^j, ^e offered at sSch prices is, as to Its name. It may be an Amaranthus ; at present ; ,j,^( ^^^^ garden in 1872 may be lightened up with the we have no means of telling what it is. Perhaps, like , brilliance and dressed with the grace of this charming Iresine Lindeni of gardens, which is certainly not ! noveltv." an Iresine, this may not be an Amaranthus. But then what to call it ? that's the question. We object on principle to the custom of affixing scientific names to plants that are not known to scientific men, and which names in eight out of every ten cases are ultimately found to be inappropriate. Suppose, for The Price of Vegetables. — I take it that want of a better name, the present plant had been ' correspondent, " W. R. H." is a greengrocer, and called " Veitch's Amaranth," would it not have sold as , therefore able to state (if he attends the Borough well as it will now under an assumed name? The . Market) whether the prices quoted by "A Market Gar- English word Amaranth is a general one, and has not ^ dener " in your last journal are a fair example of those Jiottif Comsponbence. of the lightning, or fro struck than other trees? We cannot say ; and though our Oak trees have been struck we do not know that they really attract the lightning, as it is commonly supposed, or are more subject than other trees to this visitation. It is a fair subject of inquiry as to the fact. The worship of trees lingered much longer amongst the Conti- nental nations than in our island. Keysler tells us of a sacred Oak (Quercus Jovis) cut down by St. Boni- face, and tells the story of another Oak whose great age was owing to similar causes, and of so great a size that when it became hollow by age a mounted horseman could ride round with- in it, which feat was performed by Albert I., of Prussia, and by his son also. This Oak continued long an object of supersti tious veneration. It grew between Wolavia and Oppen, and was 27 ells in circumfei ence. Another (alike recorded by Hart knoch+) was honid with the blood of sacrifices $. Another, near Labiau, in Prus its being frequently ' the precise signification that Amaranthus i\ la sia, ■ shipped by the people that the clergy thought it best to dedicate it to a saint (Jodocus), by which means it be came a source of gain (at least of lucre) to the Church. The dreadful deeds of Fntluploltiim and On ellemim became as much the objects of solicitude to Popes, councils, and clergy, as the interpretation of the words to critics in a later age. Peni- tence of from one to ten years seems to have been decreed by Gregory III. Our author .satisfies himself that the first was a kind of Dryolatry, or revival of the old worship. The second more clearly refers to the Alder, "whicli trees were held in such veneration, and according to Arnkiel still remained so in his day, that in many places it was not thought right by the stupid people to strike them with the axe, before they had, on bended knees and with precedent prayers to the goddess of the Alder (as they vainly ima{;ined), sought the wood as suppliants with promise of its return. This M. Torgillus Arnkiel reports that he has often seen and heard, in his work ' De Religione ethnica Cimbrorum.' " //. AMARANTHUS SALICIFOLIUS. One of the most prominent features of the past 1 ic;? to pass through or ovar. Richard's Diet. Diss., vi.. m. 4 and 6: also Diss. xiv„ t " Undique in trunco hacrente." 331. — .\MARANTHrs SALICIFOLIUS (HORT. VEITCH), hence would not introduce the element ol uncertainty, probably of error, which the present name does. The plant is an annual or biennial (?), of pyramidal form, 2—3 feet high. The leaves are from 5—7 inches long by \ inch in width. The colour in the young state is a bronzy green, which changes, as the plant gains age and vigour, into a bright orange-red colour. It wa-s, we are informed, introduced from the Philippine Islands by the late Mr. J. G. Veitch. "Permit me," writes our correspondent, "to add my testimony to the beauty and grace of this charming plant. I happened to drop in at .South Kensington when it made its dKbiit, and it so fascinated me that 1 liad eyes for little else at that gathering of good tilings. My first impression was — Well, Celosias must have progressed marvellously since I left off growing them on account of their inveterate tendency to hark back to tufted Cockscombs. With this stock, there is nothing to equal Ihem. .'\s I approached these plants, ' These never can be Celosias ! ' rose to my lips, before I had the pleasure ol reading Amaranthus sali- cifolius. No cut or coloured plate, no, nor mere descrip- tion, can do justice to the full merits of this plant. Whatever place it may take in the flower and sub-tropical garden — and that will be very high, if it proves sufficiently each market day, but we have scarcely ex- ceeded, and havesome- times fallen short of the prices quoted, withinthehours named by "W. R. H.;"and I will add that the reason why such prices exist is to be found in the lack of buyers, and not in the fact, as he asserts, of salesmen overstanding the mar- ket. An injudicious .salesman may occa- sionally sacrifice his goods to a desire to maintain prices, but to suppose that every salesman in the mar- ket would continually refuse the offers of the retail dealers, and eventually throw down his loads to be carted away to cows at a fodder price, is absurd. Having now respond- ed to "W. R. H.,"I hope he will in return tell me in what way he can justify the difference between the prices paid to the growers and those charged to the con- sumers? When the market prices were fairly remunerative to the producer the retail prices were as nearly as possible the same as they are at present. When the prices to the producer are positively ruinous, those to the public remain unal- tered. If'W. R. H.' could by any possi- bility fairly explain this state of things, all inducement to high cultivation would van- ish ; but if, as I am confident, no such satisfactory explana- '. ' tion can be given, then such alteration in ex- isting arrangements must inevitably be made as shall enable the people to profit by that which is now, in a prolific sea.son, from the neighbourhood of the metropolis to the markets of the manufacturing districts, or ploughed into the ground, or used for food for cattle. Henry 7. Morgan, Lodge Farm, Barking, Nov. 28. Reading the complaints of your correspondents, in regard to the inadequate returns received by the cultivators of garden produce, in comparison with the prices paid by consumers, I am tempted to send you an extract from Alphonse Karr's book, *' Promenades hors de mon Jardin," on the subject of middle-men. Mons. Karr says, " It is a condition at once odd and illogical : the intervening person between the culti- vator and consumer is a sort of parasite, whose business it is to buy at a very cheap rate of the grower, and to sell at a very dear one to the other. If the interested parties were to make an advance one to the other, to hold out the hand, and come to an under- standing, both of them would make a good thing of it, in dividing the profit which is madeout of them under the pretence of bringing them together." The difficulty of carrying out Mons. Karr's suggestion may be an insuperable one, but as the tendency of the state of things described by your correspondents is to restrict ither s Decembei- 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1551 production by making tbe cultivation of vegetables un- profitable, and so to inflict the hardship of higli prices on the general consumer, any plan by which the evils complained of could be remedied would be welcomed by a large class of growers for the gieat markets of the country, and would confer a great boon on that class of consumers whose greatest deprivation, beyond the absolute staff of life, would be the loss or curtailment of their cheap supply of greens, ff. Ingram, Bdvoir. Rochea falcata.— Though I have known this plant for many years, I have never been so struck with its beauty and utility as a flowering plant till this winter, having generally seen it among collections of succulents where it never had a chance of flowering. I had two plants planted out this summer among other succulents ; they grew well, and when about 8 inches high each threw up a flower-truss. I took the plants up in October and potted them, put them in an inter- mediate house, and they have now been in bloom for a fortnight, and promise to last another month or more. The corymbs are somethmg like those of the Sedum Fabaria, but broader and more rounded, and I cannot describe the colour better than by saying it is a com- bination of deep orange, scarlet, and pink. The plants are only about a foot high, the trusses 10 inches across, and most conspicuous objects. The Rochea is a characteristic-looking plant when bedded out, and when taken up before the frost destroys the flower- buds and potted, it comes in for winter decoration, and in my opinion ought to rank high as a conservatory plant, and be grown in batches. J. Simpson, li^i»l/ty- Leptosiphon roseus. — It may interest your readers to hear that, so far, this beautiful little annual has passed through the recent severe frosts here in the open gi-ound entirely uninjured. I have it growing from seed sown in June, the plants still putting forth a few blooms when the sun shines ; and I have it also in the form of small seedling plants (looking just now like small Portulacas) that have come up where my earliest summer stock of it seeded. Whether it will pass as unscathed through the entire winter remains to be seen. I have just lifted some of these small ones, and pricked them into pots to stand the winter in a cold frame, so that I may be pretty sure of a display of it in the spring. It is a charming carpet plant, and would pro- duce a lovely effect if mixed with Aubrietia Camp- bellii. A/ex. Dean, Bedfont. Pruning Scissors. — The most useful of all instru- ments in a fniit garden is undoubtedly a good st'cateur, or pruner, but, as in everything else, there are both silly and clever ones. The one you notice at p. 1483 is one of the clever-looking ones, but as the drawing fails to show if the blade is rivetted on to the handle [it is], or if it and the handle is all one piece, I am dubious as to its being really a clever acting instrument. There is no question that for a skateur to be an efficient one the blade most be a piece of itself, thin and blade- like, as in a knife, and rivetted on to the handle, which should be strong, thick, and powerful for the work. I have had practical e.'iperience with a good number of these fruit-tree primers, and every one has failed to please me except one. This is made by a working smith at Versailles. Prevost's sicateiir is considered by most gardeners, in Seine-et-Oise at least, with M. Hardy and his assistants, and all the fruit-growers in that department, the sicateiir ; and for my part I have no hesitation in saying that it is the best and most efficient pruner ever made. Of course, in those days nothing good came out of Versailles, and it was not patronised by the Paris centre of horticultural skill as it might have been. The price of this sicateiir is 7 francs— rather dear, but it will last for years, since a blade can be put in when necessary, as I have had done with one or two of mine. M. Albert Trufiaut, of the Rue des Chantier Nursery, Versailles, is sending me a pair or two, as I have forgotten M. Prevost's address. These si'cateiirs are made in two sizes ; the smaller size will cut an inch Hazel stick in two — on the slant, of course — quite easily. H. A'., Floors Gardens. Old Garden Favourites. — In the " Botanical Magazine," plate 1622, there is a figure of a most singular variety of the Carnation, D. Caryophyllus, in which some of the flower-buds, by a most curious mal- formation, assume the appearance of a green Wheat- ear. This singular flower seems to have been well known to the past generation of gardeners, among whom it went by the name of the ** Wheat-ear Carnation." Where is it gone to ? It was so curious that it ought never to have been lost, and very possibly it still exists in some of those dear old-fashioned gardens whose owners have stood bravely out against the bedding mania, and have zealously propagated and zealously preserved these choice gems of floral antiquity. Who now grows the real old white Clove Carnation? I don't mean the poor thing commonly sold for it, but the precise counterpart in grass and flower of the old crimson. I have often heard it talked of, but it has never gladdened my eyes. Does any one grow that fine old plant Malva campanulata, which, alas ! I have lost, and know not how to recover ? Where, too,' is its congener, Malva purpurata (Bot. Mag. 3814) ? Can any one tell me how to get Rosa microphylla (Bot. Mag. 3490) or Rosa Brunonii (Bot. Mag, 4030), and Primula amcena (Bot. Mag. 3252)?— and are Scilla villosa (Bot. Mag, 3211) and Fritillaria leucantha (Bot. Mag. 30S3) now in cultivation? I have now before me in a pot, in full bloom, a clump of thai beautiful autumnal Crocus, C. longiflorus. Can anyone tell me where to get the white variety ? H. Harpur- Creiiie, The Rectory, Drayton-Beaiichamp, Tring, Noil. 28. Golden Champion Grape.— What I am about to state is my own practical experience of this Grape, and nothing could be more favourable. I planted it here in the spring of 1869, cropped it for the first time last year, and this year the bunches and berries astonished every one that saw them, and the flavour was exquisite. My employers were delighted with it, every berry was faultless. In a place not six miles from here I saw three very fine bunches of it this year, in the month of August, from a Vine on its own roots ; not a single spot to be seen, in fact they were all that could be desired. I am aware that it has failed with other growers, but so have Black Humburghs, when they are red ; WhiteMuscats, when they are greenand shrivelled ; LadyDowne's, when the bunches are decimated with the spot it is subject to. The Golden Champion, as far as known to me, is the only one of the new Grapes that has been taking first prizes this year single-handed, and I believe that next year it will do so to a much greater extent, f. Loiiza, Gr. to Sir H. S. Stewart, Bart., Zoueh, Stirlingshire, Nov. 7. Hardiness of Dracaena indivisa. — It may be worth mentioning, perhaps, that this plant will stand with ease many degrees of frost. In two large vases at one of our private entrances had been plunged a pair of veiy fine plants, with fully 100 leaves on each, that have stood from 4° to 12° of frost for several nights since October. They were only taken in yesterday during a fall of snow, and are none the worse for their cool ordeal. The aspect, where they have been stand- ing, is east, and only in very early morning, during the summer time, do they get any sun. I have an idea they would have stood many more degrees of frost with impunity. If this catches the eye of some of our French friends, who were sufferers last winter about Paris, one of them may be able to say what degree of frost this handsome decorative Draccena will stand. M. Riviere, in a late number of the "Journal de la Societe d'Horticulture de France," speaks of a Vanda teres flowering more profusely than ordinary after being exposed to frost some time last winter. M. Chantin, of the Rue de Chatillon, and many others, could a tale unfold, I have no doubt, regarding many indoor plants. Anon they may be induced to give their experience. You may also allow me to say that some Echeveria secunda glauca are also yet in their summer quarters, and up till now are apparently as hardy as Semper- vivum califomicum ; at all events, it is a much hardier thing than I had previously believed it to be. H. Knight, Floors Gardens. Ferdinand de Lesseps Grape.— Tastes vary in fruits as in other matters ; one person delights in the rich aroma of a perfumed Pear, another in the simple sweetness of a flavouriess fruit. The merits of Grapes, in the opinions of some connoisseurs, consist very much in their posession of that flavour which dis- tinguishes the Muscat of Alexandria : while the juicy sweetness of the Hamburgh commends itself to the taste of others. ' A writer in the Gardeners' Chronicle, who has recently commented on certain matters con- nected with the cultivation of the Vine, employing the nom de plume of " Vitis," speaks in disparaging terms of a Grape raised at Chilwell, and called by Mr. Pear- son Ferdinand de Lesseps. 'This opinion illustrates my remark that "tastes vary." Although "Vitis" ven- tures so far as to predict that this Grape will be con- signed to the limbo of obscurity, many persons who have had the opportunity of tasting it have given it a good position in their vineries, so that obscurity will not be its fate just yet. Like the first of Scrooge's Christmas laughs in Dickens' " Christmas Carol," I regard Ferdinand de Lesseps as the first of a line of illustrious fraits and precious wines which will flow from the auspicious union of the Vines of Europe and America. The Grape has yet the dwarfed proportions of an undeveloped but pure stock, its merits consist in its intrinsic excellencies of flavour, and not in the meretricious advantages of size or colour. Like one of its parents, the Muscadine, it is comparatively small in size and bunch, but it has gifts beyond — being marvel- lous in quality. W. Ingram, Behoir. Hot-Water Circulation. — Your respected corre- spondent, Mr. Fish, thinks that I ought to have shown which takes the initiative in circulation, the hot or the cold. I hope to do so (and in a manner which shall not leave my reasoning open to such an objection as that contained in the last sentence of his letter) in those papers which you kindly approve of my sending for insertion in the Gardener^ Chronicle. I do not enter into the matter here, not wishing to intrude needlessly on your space ; for the same reason I leave unanswered other remarks, not sufficiently understanding them. I apologise for having mistaken the purport of Mr. Fish's remark upon the " driving power of caloric," and now understand that he classes gravitation with it as a motive power of at least equal potency ? But does he carry out this definition fully when he goes on to assign to gravitation as "its proper function" nothing more than "returning back the cold," while to caloric he pplyt assigns " the sending forth of the hot water ?" I believe he does not, and I am confident that I shall not be alone in the belief that this is not a proper estimate of the function of gravitation. I have no other object in the task I have set myself than to elicit the truth, and when my papers have been published I shall be glad to have any point sifted oranyerror exposed bymyrespected friend, Nlr. Fish, or others. I think that my criticism of Mr. Fish's statements would be more fairiy described as a criticism of leading statements and defined conclu- sions rather ihan of "detached sentences" and of mere words, y. M. Taylor, Seer Green Vicarage, Beacons- field. The Cockspur Thorn.— Planters in search of the singular and the habitually beautiful combined should plant the Cockspur Thorn, Crattegus coccinea Crus-Galli, an old North American species introduced nearly two centuries ago. Its pecuharity is that spines, spurs, or thorns are formed along its branches, many of them 3 inches in length, which makes them very conspicuous. It has large leaves and flowers, and belongs to the scarlet-fruited section, the berries being moderately large, and of a dark red colour. IVilliam Supposed Influence of the Moon on the Flow of Sap.— That there are constant changes in the current of the sap in plants no one can deny, but that there is a periodicity in it which is regulated by the influence of the moon I am not disposed to admit. It may at once be granted that Mr. Hutchison is correct in his observation, and that he actually observed that during certain days following the third day after new moon the sap was apparently more abundant. But are there any grounds for connecting the apparent increase of sap with the phase of the moon? I certainly think not. Mr. Hutchison has omitted all mention of the state of the weather and of the temperature. This is most unfortunate, because if a record of the tempera- ture during the period of observation could be ob- tained, then the lunar theory would probably be shown to be untenable. During the winter months, when there is no flow of sap from the roots to_ the leaves to the water necessary for transpiration, the fluid always contains air-bubbles. The efliscts of the temperature on this mixture of air and sap are peculiar. If the temperature rises, the stem of the tree is heated, the air in the capillary tubes expands, and compresses the fluid or sap contained in the stem. As the fluid cannot move downwards it must move up- wards and towards any cut surface, which will at once appear wet. In fact this is merely the process of bleeding so often seen in many trees — a phenomenon which ceases as soon as the leaves form, and the rapid ascending flow of sap is re-established. If Mr. Hutchison and others will again carefully observe the supposed lunar action, but in addition make records of the temperature of the air, he will probably be led to abandon his new theory. As the temperature of- the trunks of trees does not correspond exactly with that of the surrounding air, it would be advisable to bore a couple of holes in the stem of the tree in a slanting (downward) direction. In each of these holes must be inserted a test-tube of very thin glass, into which mercury is to be poured, and the bulbs of a register- ing maximum and minimum thermometer placed in the mercury. It will then most probably be found that the disturbed state of the sap corresponds with the rise of the temperature of the stem — a fact well known to vegetable physiologists — and not with the changes of the moon. W. R. McNab. Nephrolepis tuberosa.— As a basket Feni this is, in my estimation, the best for either a conservatory, stove, or greenhouse. It seems to adapt itself to either of these structures better than any other exotic Fern that I am acquainted with. In a shaded position in the stove, if well attended to in watering, it will make fronds from 3 to 4 feet long, with numerous tuberous rootlets hanging about in all directions. In such a condition it is wonderfully effective ; in the conservatory it looks equally as well, but does not produce such long fronds ; and when grown in the greenhouse it has a more upright habit of growth, but it is very handsome. I need scarcely add that when grown in a greenhouse frost must be kept out, although it has stood a few degrees without any visible signs of injury. When about to put plants into baskets they ought to be potted in 4 or 6-inch pots, and be grown in the stove for a time, to get them well established, and the pots filled with roots. Then line the baskets with wet Moss, put in some leaf-mould, turfy peat, and charcoal, and turn the plant into this without breaking the ball, filling up all round the ball with the above com- post, and covering the whole with Moss, the green side up ; run some small wire over the Moss, to make it firm, give a good watering all over, and the operation will be finished. 7. T. Burns, Tollesby Hall, Middles- borough-on- Tees. Artichoke Galls. — Pray give me three lines to assure Mr. Albert Midler that his criticism upon my remarks on this subject proceeds upon a mistaken assumption. In using the expression "better known as Cynips gemmre," in relation to his having styled the insect in question Aphilothrix gemmas, I by no means intended to say that the former was the better name, or should be generally adopted. It was only as if I had said, " which our readers will know better under 1552 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 2, 187 1. the name of Cynips gemma'." I do indeed think it the better name for the pages of the Gardeners' ChroiiUh; for many of its readers would recognise it by the former who would not by the latter. At the same time I equally admit that where scientific ento- mologists are addressed, Aphilothrix is the proper name for the genus. The propriety of making such a distinction between one's hearers or readers is a vexed question, on which Mr. MiiUer and I would take opposite sides, but which, I agree with him, is not matter for discussion here. I do not, however, regret having used the expression (even although I should be in the wrong on this point), as it has drawn from Mr. Midler the very clear statement (in last Gardeners' ClironkU) regarding the nomenclature and what is known of the insect. I infer from his silence on it that he is not able to throw any additional light on the point which I suggested for his consideration, viz., whether the insect always selects flower-buds for the nidus of its if the leaf-bud attacked undergoes metamor- ito a half-developed acorn. There would therefore, still to be something for entomo- logists'to observe regarding this creature. I would like to observe further, that I find Mr. MiiUer's state- ment as to the scarcity of acorns this year confirmed by one of my correspondents. As I have already said, this is certainly not universal, but its occurrence in ter is curious and interesting. golden variegation the plant may be tl ■vho don't •'"" "" ^ A,uh\ • Mil. The Brussels Sprout.— This excellent vegetable is only excelled by the Cauliflower as a general favourite for the dinner-table, and a few hints about its successful cultivation may be of interest to some g.ardener,s. Having the advantage of a glass-covered wall, with a border inside, I have, for the last few vears, sown the seed of the Brussels Sprout in the beginning of February, and had the plants strong enough to plant out early in April. By this early planting, and in well manured ground, the plants in the course of the summer and autumn get to a great size, and produce enormous quantities o( sprouts at cutting time. As every gardener has not the means of growing ths young Sprout plants so early, a box or two of seed, sown and put into a cold frame or late Peach-house or vinery, and pushed on till the plants are ready for jiricking or planting-out in the spring, would answer the same purpose ; or a bed might be sown in the autumn, along with the Cabbage and Kale plants, and they would be ready to plant at the same time, if they stood the winter. When the Brussels Sprout seed is sown at the usual time of sowing the Broccoli and Kale in the spring, the plants are seldom ready for planting-out before May or June, and they never grow so tall and fine as the early planted ones. I find the seed of the Brussels Sprout imported from the Conti- nent the best to be depended upon, and have discarded all the varieties in the nurserymen's catalogues, said to The Rosebe rf late hardy kind uninjured with me last winter, when there was such a destruction amongst the Brassica tribe ; and it will be the same the ensuing winter should the frost be severe, for all vegetables at the present time are in a very succulent state, although checked a little by the late frost. IVU.'mm TiNery. The Thames Bank Peach— This Peach is not so generally known as it should be. As a late Peach it is decidedly one of the best we have, being a strong, robust grower, of good constitution, and a free setter. Dr. Hogg, in the " Gardeners' Year Book " for 1S64, describes it as follows :— " A yellow-fleshed, or Apricot Peach, raised by Mr. Rust, gr. to L. Sullivan, Esq., very marked and distinct, and ughly relied upon. Card plant may ue luorougiiiy icucu u^un. vj.nut.iv. ) don't turn up their noses at the use of Beet fo inier bedding, won't object to use this Cress fo r purposes. j4. D. Variegation, Transitory and Habitual. — Permit me to add two examples which I have met with. Just below the kitchen-garden at Digswell grows a robust young Horse Chestnut tree, which, though greatly shaded, assumes on many parts a slight variegation about midsummer, which it loses before the leaves change to a ripened hue. Not 20 yards from the above grows a large Spanish Chestnut tree, one of two twin branches of which has been broken off by the wind some 40 feet above the ground. From near this wound about a dozen branchlets have grown, which form a somewhat thick mass when in leaf, the leaves being of usual size, with the peculiarity that every one has, for the last 12 years, been of a pure and beautiful white, with no solitary exception ; yet no sign of variegation exists on any other part of the tree. William Earley. Fulha the; of La reaks of juicy. The yello Admirable, and lather more oblong in shape ; thi skin is deep orange-yellow ' ' ' ' ' the sun with several broken flesh is tender, melting, ar fleshed Peach is highly flavoiired. This is certainly the best of yellow-fleshed Peaches we know, and is highly ornamental as a feature in the dessert." I can fully indorse this description of it, having seen it in different situations doing well. No doubt there are others quite as good, but this one I can speak of with confidence. G. Warren, Gr., Balcomhe Plaee, Susse.x. Figs— The treatment of this fruit seems to me to be little understood by gardeners in general. I believe that the knife should rarely be used. Such is the case in the Fig orchards in the South of England— Broad- Nvater, to wit. You would do good service to Midland ry ga ■ vails (matted up dur np win er) if you vould fa vour hem w th the practic le ence of othe rs. I be lieve hat the branches of I- j„ should be c mtrollec ,not ly knif , but by bend np then 1 down in va rioussh apes. so as 1 0 check grow and promote fru iting. hem c It just as the f c; ooseberries. Apple S. W Peache , &c, : the res dt s ve ry little frui Golc en Variegat ed Cress. —Thos e who may Icsire 0 see a littU li velii ess in their flower heds luring he winter mo ith she uld get a pa cket of seed .f this iretty Cress, a ad sow it in the 0 pen air next May ; they will then have plenty of it for winte ration. It is one of the very hardiest of oma Foreign Correspondence. To the Aspinwallians the B.\na.na Tr.\i.e is their all. The Banana is their only export ; and the arrival of the -American steamer is an event of great import- ance. Not a steamer leaves without taking from 5000 to Soco bunches, and during the year something like 150,000 bunches of Bananas are exported to New York. It gives the name to the steamer ; for to more than half the people it is only known by the name of " Banana boat," and the day of its arrival is called "Banana day." And when it does come it is a day of rejoicing ; for the carrying of the Bananas gives employment to more than half the poco tempo people. The Bananas are grown on the " farms " some seven or eight miles from the town. These farms are merely bush lands, partially cleared. The word "farm" to an English ear would give no idea of what an Aspin- wallian means by it : there is no order— no fences or subdivisions— all is rude and rough. On these farms many of the large trees remain stand- ing. After the small bush is cut down, fire is run over the land, and the suckers are planted irregularly all through 6 feet or 7 feet apart. The Plantain is not exported, but is only used for home consumption. The Indians manufacture a kind of spirit from the Plantain. When the Plantain is fully ripe, the Indian gathers it, peels off the skin, and throws the fruit into a dish, where it remains for some days. After ferment- ing, he draws off the liquor and puts it in his hom- made bottles for future use. The liquor (or, as the Indian terms it, rum) is said to be very strong, and very intoxicating. When drunk to excess the effects remain for two or three days. In Jamaica the Banana seldom comes to maturity in less than twelve or four- teen months ; but in Aspinwall six or eight months are sufficient. In Jamaica, when a sucker is planted, it only comes up single, and bears but one bunch of fruit ; but in Aspinwall a sucker comes up with several shoots, and these bear in succession one after another. As a general rule, the Banana plantations are kept in good order— persons constantly going through them and carefully clearing away all dead leaves, &c. In Aspinwall the Banana trade is principally con- fined to four merchants, and these export almost all the fruit sent to New York. These merchants contract with the growers to take their whole crop, at so much per bunch, large or small, deliverable at the side of the railroad. About a year since the contract price was 3J-. per bunch. In the contract the merchant agrees to take all, and the grower agrees to sell to him, alone, all his crop. As soon as the Banana boat comes in sight, notice is sent to the farm to prepare. Then all is bustle, diligence, and activity. The merchant goes to the steamer, and ascertains how much room he obtain, for it is very seldom the steamer has suffi space to meet all the wants of the Banana exporte: As soon as this is ascertained, he sends his agents to the farms, informing those with whom he has con tracts that he requires one, two, or three thousand bunches. It is of great importance that the Bananas should come to the steamer uninjured, and to insure this, great care is taken in cutting and handling the bunches. It is of equal, if not greater importance, that the fruit should be quite fresh when shipped. Consequently the gathering, carrying, and shipping the bunches is crowded into as small a space of time as possible. When cut the fruit is carefully caught in the hands, and at once carried to the place where the horses can take it. There it is gently laid down, so as neither to b nor break the fruit. For much of the value of the bunch depends on its presenting a handsome appe: ance, without any of the "hands or fingers" being broken off'. If a bunch has one or two of its " hands " broken oft, it is at once rejected by the shippers. The fruit is cut with as long a stalk as possible fo the convenience of carrying, and it is always cut green before it ever begins to turn ripe, or even half ripe the Bananas would be of no good otherwise ; they would rot long before New York was reached. Having gathered all the Imnches which are fit, and iily (on which is fastened a large piece of canvas), and the bunches of Bananas are handed to them, and held by them on each side of the animal. Five, seven, bunches— always an uneven number, the odd bunch going on the back of the horse, according to pose the load. The ends of the canvas are ght up and the bunches carefully collected to keep them from being bruised. The bight of a rope (which rope is so arranged as, when taut, to firmly hold the load) is next brought over the canvas, end of it passed through and carried back under the horse's belly over the side and tied to the ck " Is passed through the end, and the whole screwed up as tight as the horse will bear. Experience seems to have proved this mode of fastening the Bananas to be more secure than any other way ; for the loads thus fixed are carried over and through tracts which seem scarcely possible for foot passengers— and scarcely does a line so fastened break loose. One man then takes charge of the beast, and leads him out to the railway track, when the line is very carefully untied and the Bananas gently laid on the ground. For the purpose of readily counting, each contractor places his Bananas in long rows of three tiers. A watchman is left in charge, and the man and horse go back for another load. If the "farm "is near, two or three trips may be made for each steamer. Early in the day, the merchant or his agent comes to the spot, and as soon as the last load from the contractor is put down, proceeds to count the whole number, which from the Bananas being arranged in a mass of jmplished, and either pays for m order on his store. The Bananas being contracted for are taken as they come, large or small, as long as they are not bruised or broken, at one fixed price, somewhere about 3^. or 4J-. per bunch. Meanwhile, a number of independent growers have also been sending their Bananas to the railway company's track, which for a few hours resembles a bustling market. These bunches are sold according to size and value — a large bunch bringing 8j. to <)s., while the small ones are not worth more than \s. td. to zs. As each bunch is purchased, it is laid in the rows, of three tiers deep. As soon as all his purchases are made, the merchant, leaving a faithful watchman, gets into his "hand car" (a small railway carriage, pro- pelled by two men by means of a crank), and proceeds to the depot, where he engages as many trucks as he has occasion for, which are instantly sent off to the Banana market. Everything is carried on with the utmost despatch, and as soon as the trucks arrive on the spot an animated scene commences. The long stem and end of the fruit which had been left on are now cut off, and the bunch is carried carefully and arranged in the truck. As soon as the loading is com- pleted, the locomotive takes the cars to the dock, when, if the steamer is ready, the work of loading at once commences. Should the steamer not be ready, the doors of the truck are opened for the sake of admitting air, and a watchman placed at each end to prevent plunder ; for the theft of the Bananas at the dock is something fearful, the petty officers and seamen of the steamer being at all times ready to purchase, and giving high prices, 3 dols. to 4dols., for a bunch or so, to take to New York with them. On board the steamer, large bins or bunks are con- structed, into which the Bananas are carefully packed, being placed upright with their stems down. As far as possible, while being loaded, the Bananas are separated into two sorts, the choice and the common, and placed into separate bins. The choice kinds are not any distinctive fruit, but merely large ones— those having from 10 to 12 hands ; but care is taken not to ship any fruit which is not green, or unripe. If a bunch seems turned (beginning to ripen), it is thrown away as useless. Even with all the care that is taken in handling the fruit, or rejecting all that are bruised, or that begin to turn yellow, a large proportion of the fruit is spoilt before it reaches New York. Yet the profits on this branch of commerce are so great that if only half of the whole quantity shipped reach New York in good condition, a large profit is made. The retail prices of a single Banana in New York is \s., and £,^ to /6 is known to have been paid for a single bunch. Trinidad Correspondent. Societies. ..—The first held : Edinburgh Bot.\nical : Kov meeting of the 36lh session of this S, St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh, on the above date. Alexander Buchan, M. A.. President, occupied the chair, and delivered an inaugural address, of which the follow- .^Z rpose in Ih e and weathe s a ddress t ative to 0 make some r the geographic emarks on il distribn- plants, hav US' ecently completed carta n inquiries nd minfall wh tely connected w th the s ubject. In 184- iiade some resea rches ir vegeta live species ards th e North in E iirope and c1 a Tived a the conclusion that every lim t in C ntral or Northe rn Europe advan ces as'far as t Hr ds a certain fixed amou nt ol heat. calculated from thj tdJ y of the year when a ce tempe rature comm •nee s, to th e d.ay when tha mean ter- minat es. This la ation of the V h e applied with great in thern limit of .^lyssum nd Dianlhus carthusianc genuity in calycinnm, Kuon mus europ.-i- mm. December 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1553 It is evident that this law can be best tested by apply- ing it to the limits of Wheat, Barley, the Vine, and other cultivated species, since, owing to the care taken of them by man in their cultivation, it may be considered that it is climatic conditions alone which set the limits to their destination. According to Boussingault, Wheat requires 8248° Fah., from the time it begins to grow in spring for the proper ripening of the crop ; and, moreover, this heat must be so distributed as to secure a mean temperature of 58° during the period when the seed is ripening. This statement referred to the continent of Europe, to which his researches were confined. But we have found in Scotland that a mean temperature of 56° with the average amount of rain and sunshine is sufficient to ripen Wheat pro- perly. Not only so, but the crops of 1864 ripened well with a temperature as low as 54^.4. In this year, how- ever, the sunshine was much above the average, and the mean temperature of the day was high. Now, whatever be the cause, whether the longer day in Scotland, or the clear sky, or both combined, which brings about the above results, it is clear that in considering the influence of temperature on the ripening of plants, it is not merely mean temperature, but the manner in which this vital element is partitioned during the 24 hours, which must be Now, what most influences the mode in which tempera- ture is distributed during the day is the amount of cloud and moisture in the atmosphere, to a knowledge of which the rainfall through the months of the year may be re- garded as furnishing the best available key. Indeed, so great is the direct and indirect influence of moisture on plants, that we shall not be far WTOng in supposing it to be co-ordinate with that of temperature. De Candolle's researches applied to a region where the chmates are determined rather by variations of tempera- ture than of moisture. Not the least valuable of the results he arrived at in applying the law to other regions is this, viz. :— " On the borders of the Mediterranean Sea, the limits appear to be so often determined by the humi- dity, or by causes still unknown, tliat the operations of temperature always eluded my calculation." In the climates of this region the rainfall plays a conspicuous part, and hence, as was to have been expected, assumed a climatic limit to species, which did not include the rain- fitU, and turned out to be inapplicable to the facts of distribution. Again, perennial species, especially trees and shrubs, are in many cases arrested, or limited, by the absolutely lowest temperature that occurs. The great frost of Christmas, i860, brought us very valuable information bearing on that point. Those low temperatures depend to a great extent, no doubt, on the latitude, but they more particularly are determined by the state of the sky, and by local situation. If the climate is characterised by a dry calm atmosphere, the loss of heat by radiation during the nights of winter is great, and the temperature falls correspondingly low, and owing to the greater density, and consequently weight of cold air, it flows down the slopes of a country which is being cooled down, much in the same way as water, and settles in the low-lying situations. It is well known that it is in such situations where the destructive effects of frosts are the greatest on vegetative forms. Now, what we wish to draw forcible attention to, is this : — Of the two conditions, heat and moisture, we have in the distribution of rain a body of facts which will lead to a knowledge of the laws which regulate the distribution of temperature. It is not merely the daily and annual fluctuations of the temperature of a climate which may be inferred from a knowledge of its humidity ; it is not merely the greater immediate results which accrue to plants, arising from a change in the humidity than rises from a change of temperature ; but what especially concerns the question is this vital distinction between the two, viz., as regards temperature, climates merge into each other by comparatively nice gradations, whereas, on the contrary, the most diverse climates as respects moisture or dryness are frequently placed sharply side by side. I have been long impressed with the importance of a knowledge of the rainfall viewed in these aspects ; and have recently constnicted 13 maps, showing for each of the months, and for the year, the rainfall over the greater part of the land of the northern hemisphere. The result of the whole discussion, in its relation to climate, is very striking. Everywhere the rainfall is dependent on the prevaiUng winds, and on the configuration of the earth "s surface ; and since the prevailing winds depend on the distribution of land and water over the globe with respect to the heat of the sun, it follows that the present climates of the earth arc determined by the relative distribution of land and water, and that with* different distribution we should have different climates. Perhaps nowhere on the globe does there exist such diversity of climate as in America, west of the Rocky Mountains ; and there is also very great diversity in India, the region of the Caucasus, and Spain and Portugal. The United States of America, both the prairie and Alleghany regions, British America, the Mediterranean regions, Sweden and Norway, and the south and east of Asia, have peculiar and well-marked climates. Not only so, but even in Russia there are great differences arising from the different way in which the rainfall is partitioned most diverse from each other, and many of them sharply defined, that the geographical distribution of plants may be best studied, because those climates afford the condi- tions best suited for tracing the influence of climate in Ihis'distribution, and in the changes it effects or does not effect, on the habits and different organs of the plants themselves. But to develope this part of the subject so as to arrive at some really scientific knowledge of the Utws regulating the distribution of plants, it is absolutely necessary that the confusion in our present catalogue of plants be rectified, and that the areas of the distribution of species be stated with a precision much greater than hitherto has been thought necessary. To effect- those salutary changes, we must invite the aid of local natural history societies, and botanists will require to give their supplying us with exhaustive monographs of separate genera, or other naturally allied forms. On the motion of Professor Balfour, a cordial vote of thanks was given to Mr. Buchan for his address. The following communications were read : — I. On the /.ones 0/ Con if era:, from the Mediterranean to the crest of the Maritime Alps.—V,y M. Moggridge, Esq. The following Table shows the lowest and highest elevations in feet at which the different species are Lowest. Highest. PinusPinea 0 1046 P. halepensis 0 ^'S. rinus sylvestns .8ii A. pcctinata 1900 3600 Taxus toccata Jun.perus communis ° 6300 The starting points from the coast embraced the line from Monaco to Ventimiglia. II. Note on the Therapeutics of Physalis Alkekengi.— By E. Drummond, Esq. III. Notes on the York and Lancaster Rose (Rosa versi- color).—By Mr. William Gorrie. Parkinson, in his "Garden of Pleasant Flowers" (1656), thus describes Rosa versicolor :— This Rose, in the form and order of its growing, is nearest to the Damask Rose, both for stem, branche, leaf, and flower, the difference consisting in this, that the flower hath the one-half of it sometimes of a pale whitish colour, and the other half of a paler damaske colour than the ordinary ; this happeneth so many times, and sometimes also the flower hath divers stripes and markes in it, as one leaf white or striped with white, and the other half blush or striped with blush ; sometimes, also, all striped or spotted over, and other times little or no stripes or marks at all, as Nature listeth to play with varieties in this as in other flowers." The same author states that the Damask Rose "is of the most excellent, sweet, pleasant scent, far surpassing all other Roses or flowers, being neither heady nor too strong, nor stuffing or unpleasant sweet, as many other flowers." The speci- men of shoot with leaves shows this to be a variety of the Rosa damascena of Miller, and as its flowers agree with the description, there can be no doubt but that it is the true York and Lancaster Rose, which name is now gene- rally applied to the Gloria Mundi Rose of the florists, which is of comparatively recent introduction, and a variety of the Rosa gallica, or French Rose. IV. Note on the Growth of Wellingtonia girantea.— By Mr. M'Nab. Mr. M'Nab exhibited a section of Wellingtonia gigantea, 4 feet 7 inches in circumference, grown at Linton Park, Maidstone, and presented to the Museum at the Botanic Garden by Mr. Robson. The tree was planted in January, 1868, when 38 inches high. The site was a sheltered one, where most other Conifers grew remarkably well. The tree was all right till the hot summer of 1868, when it showed symptoms of decline, caused by the excessive drought at the time. A good watering was given to it, but it never recovered. The tree died and was taken down the following year. It was then 26 feet high, and 5 feet 9 inches in circumference at the base. Its leader was twice cut off by squirrels, some 8 or 10 inches each time, it quickly formed a new leader, and soon became as uniform as before. It scarcely made any growth during 1868. The section shows ten distinct growing seasons, that is, between planting and cutting down, the annual growths averaging i to 1 4 inch each. Mr. Robson states that there are many other trees of Wellingtonia at Linton Park, but none of them are yet showing symptoms of premature decay. He would not, however, recommend the Wellingtonia to be planted as a memorial tree, as he is far from satisfied of its constitutional vigour, unless the tree alters very much when older ; the timber, in the meantime, does not seem to be of much value. He has quite as much hope of Thuja Lobbii (T. gigantea), which grows even faster than the Wellingtonia, the only fault or hindrance to its becoming a handsome tree is the tendency it has to load itself with seed, whether abortive or otherwise, which ultimately must check its growth. Mr. Robson also sent a section of the stem of Crypto- meria japonica. The tree was broken down with the wind in 1867, when 40 feet high. The section is 2 feet 4 inohes in circumference. i0tias 0f |00hs. Manuel de I'Amateur des Jardins. Tar MM. Decaisne et Naudin. Vol. iv., Svo, pp. 657, with 225 woodcuts. (Williams & Norgate.) The concluding volume of this important work hardly equals our expectations ; in fact, we were disappointed, in glancing through it, to find that it would compare unfavourably with more than one English work of the same description. The woodcuts, it is true, as in the former volumes, are faultless, and far superior to those ordinarily met with in our works of the same class ; but the selection of the subjects for illustration is cer- tainly open to criticism, the utility of elegant represen- tations of such familiar vegetables as the Carrot, Parsnip, Turnip, Radish, Cabbage, &c., is, to say the least, extremely limited, even to the merest tyro. If, on the contrary, these almost superfluous figures had been devoted to some of the less-known herbs, such as are employed in salads, soups, i;c., the book would undoubtedly have gained in interest and value. Curiously enough not one of these is figured, and, what is still more remarkable, especially in a French work, some of those considered indispensable by the cook are not mentioned. The most important of those otnitted are the Mints, Lemon Thyme, Coriander, Dill, Anise, and Caraway. The medicinal herbs, Chamomile, Rue, Tansy, Liquorice, &c., are wholly ignored. Another feature of this work which strikes us as being rather out of dale, is the chapter on garden implements. As a rule, the tools figured in horticul- tural \yorks are of the most impracticable form, but ihe operation of digging with an implement resembling a baker's peel must be a painful task, and one requiring considerable dexterity : and no other description of spade or fork is alluded to. Amongst vegetables there is no novelty, but there is brevity, which is of more importance. No reference is made to the Cherry and Currant varieties of the Tomato. In recompense for some of these shortcomings, the scientific matter is usually of the most complete description, and the cu'- tural directions ample ; while the selections, with descriptions and figures, of some of the more desirable sorts of Apples and Pears grown in France may be consulted with confidence, coming as they do from the pen of an accomplished pomologist. Taken as a whole, it forms a handy and reliable little volume, and its extraordinary low price places it within the reach of every young gardener wlio may be desirous of improve- ment in his profession and in the French language. We learn that, with the number for January next, the Floral Mad.vzine will commence a new series, enlarged to quarto size, and affording a limited space for select articles, reviews, and correspondence on subjects connected with floriculture. • Amongst New Publications, we have before us the first number of Mr. Robinson's new venture, T/ie Garden, an illustrated weekly journal, devoted to Horticulture. It is well got up, both as to matter and manner, and is a pleasant evidence of the in- creasing taste for horticultural pursuits. — (if others, to which we may again refer at greater length, we have a Catalogue of the Plants und.i- Ctdtivalion in the GoreriinteiU Botanic Gard{}ts, AJclaiJc, South Australia, by Dr. Schomburgk, Director. — The Royal Institution, its Founder, and first Pro- fessors, by Dr. Bence Jones (Longmans). — Gaiiot's Elementary Treatise on Physics, translated by Dr. Atkinson; fifth edition (Longmans). — Poems and Songs, by the late John Palmer, nurseryman, Anan (printed for private circulation). — The Farm, Garden, ■S^c. (Horace Cox).— The Bclgravia Annual, by Miss Braddon.— Crtwrf/'j Illustrated Almanac for 1S72. — The Field Quarterly Magazine and Rc-'u-o (Horace Cox). — Genesis and Geology : A Plea for the Doctrine of Evolution ; being a Sermon preached bv the Rev. George Henslow, M.A., F.L.S., F.G.'S. (Hard- wicke). — Australian Cooked Meats : Economic, Nutri- tious, Wholesome, and Palatable ; with Practical Re- cipes for use in the Mansion, the Cottage, or Public Institution. By An Old Militia Surgeon. (Hardwicke.) — Slaves of the Lamp : being the extra Christmas Number of " All the Year Round." Florists' Flowers. Perhaps none of our Florists' Flowers are so much damaged by being moved from place to place as the Fuchsia. This fact is sufficient to account for their so seldom making their appearance at the meetings of the Floral Committee and other shows, in consequence of which some persons may be apt to think that none of the new varieties are of any importance. I am, however, glad to say that such is not tlie case, for hi almost every class there are some fine additions ; and it is only by having them in one's possession, and continually having an eye upon them, and upon the best older varieties, that their true merits can be determined on. As the season of 1870 was so exces- sively hot and dry, I was not able last year to make any correct report, so that I have now the productions of two years to write upon. As usual, Air. Banks* productions carry off the palm. His dark single kinds, which are unapproached for their glossy colours, large size, and perfect shape, include several of unusual merit : — Fuchsias with Scarlet Tube and Sei'Als, and dark Corolla. Pride of IVoolwicli (Banks).— .A very beautiful bright dark blue corolla, of the most perfect shape ; tube and sepals bright glossy coral-red, the latter well rcHexed ; admirers of this family to be one of the choicest. Beauty of Kent ( B.anks). —This is also one of the prettiest imaginable flowers, and very similar to the abo\e, but the sepals reflex quite round, forming four perfect rings. It is a very free bloomer, of nice pyramidal habit, with good Splendour ( Banks).— The corolla of this variety is of an intensely dark purple, nearly a black, and very long and spreading ; tube and sepals dark scarlet, the latter well reflexed. A strong grower, and a verv noble kind. J. F. .1/'£/n>v( Banks).— This is a most beautiful variety, possessing the 'longest blue corolla (occasionally striped with red) of any Fuchsia yet sent out ; finely refle.xed tube and sepals of a bright carmine-red. \'ery free, a good grower, and branching in habit. Tht Right Hon. J. bright (Banks).— This is a splendid Fuchsia, of the liijlit lavender or bright mauvc-colouied 1554 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 2, 1 871. is, of fine strong bushy habit at in substance, bright c( npletely reflexed, and the The besi class fo Crown certainly e of Prussia (E. G. Henderson).— T ; beautiful Fuchsia, with dark tube er very broad and thick, of an in :arlet, and finely reflexed, and the corolla violet-blu fine buihy pyramidal habit. f-K/7/iW/(Ban; Fuchsi nqueslii the ablyc Df Kil sepals coral-scarlet, the latter most beautifully reflexed, quite round, forming four perfect circles. A very free bloomer, and of a good free pyramidal habit, with small Per/cctwii (Banks).— The flowers of this variety are rather small, somewhat resemblmg the hardy varieties, but kirger ; the colour of the tube and sepals and their perfect shape render this perhaps the nearest approach to perfection of any Fuchsia we possess ; unfortunately it is but a moderate grower, and so very free-blooming that it becomes rather difficult to grow. Gatcllc (E. G. Henderson).— This is one of the best King of the Stripes (Banks).— This is a very distinct Fuchsia, producing fine bold flowers, having each petal distinctly striped with red on a violet-blue ground. It is very free blooming, and possesses a fine vigorous pyra- mid.ll habit. Nabob (E. G. Henderson), and Vesta (Banks).- Both good new Fuchsias, and an advance on older kinds, but scarcely wanted, as they so nearly approach some of those already described. Sedan (Hock & Co.).— Strange to say, since obtaining that beautiful Fuchsia, Madame Cornelissen, we have had nothing from the Continent to approach it in excellence, but ou't of a quantity of new kinds imported this season the above promises to be a very attractive and distinct variety, although it is nearly a self-coloured flower, and is very smiilar to a good old kind called the Duke of Wel- lington, whicli used to be extensively grown about 20 years ago. The colour of this variety is very bright, and the corolla is remarkably attractive. It has short, thick-set, finely reflexed flowers, blooms very freely, and possesses a beautiful habit, so that it will un- doubtedly become a favourite, especially for market and pot work. FlTtlsIAS WITH WHITIi TuBE AND SEPALS, AND Red Corollas. Arabella. Improved (Lye).— Good varieties with light sepals and tube are always scarcer than the dark kinds. This, however, is really first-class, although perhaps rather coarse. It very much resembles Arabella, from which it is a seedling, in conjunction with Annie. Tube very large ; sepals broad, of thick leathery substance, and well recurved. It is a quick grower, with a vigorous nly.9ne the best light Fuchsias • E°A"(VVeston).-This v( i variety called Annie, t for perfecta S. Williams).— This is a Conti- lla is perfectly distinct ; in fact, we have never had any of the light tube varieties with a striped corolla before. It is a strong-growing kind, of weeping habit, a free bloomer. Tube and sepals waxy white, the latter broad and well recun'ed ; corolla bright carmine-scarlet, each petal distinctly striped, particularly on the inside. I had this exceedingly handsome all through the autumn. Fuchsia with White Corolla and Scarlet Mrs. Bland (Bland).— This class of Fuchsias have rom their very first introduction by Mr. Storey, abou 9 years ago, generally assumed a long slender habit o Towth, with foliage quite distinct from that of othe lasses, but this variety possesses a beautiful dwar igorous habit, and its foliage is broad and bold, anc indistinguishable from that of the dark kinds. The orolla is very long and barrel-shaped, the sepals larrow but well reflexed. ' ' " •• he best in its class. very free bloome Double Fuchsias with White Corollas. valanche (G. Smith). — This is the most noble hsia in its class yet sent out. The tube and sepals are . light carmine and pink, the latter short though of ■\ substance and well recurved ; the corolla is pure closely set with petals. profuse blooir for . double Princess of Wales (Bland). —Also a variety with double corolla, possessing splendid broad tube and sepals of a fine glossy coral-scarlet colour, the latter reflexed in the boldest form, almost equal to any of the dark varieties. It is of good free bushy growth, blooming most profusely. Little Alice.— Th\% is another of the same class, and of neat miniature growth, and a very valuable kind for small pots. It is of ei;eedingly dwarf growth, very free, with small foliage, and producing an abundance of pretty little perfect blooms, for which reason it is well adapted for Double Fuchsias with Dark Corollas. Champion of the World (Bland).— This is by far the largest Fuchsia that we yet possess. The foot -stalk is of unusual length and strength, so that the flowers stand boldly. The tube is short ; the sepals are very broad of great substance, well reflexed, and of a most beau coral-red. The corolla is of immense size, and as it pands forms two-thirds of a perfect ball, its colour bi of the most intense bright dark purple. The plant i free growth, tall, and blooming abundantly, so thai conservatory decoration it is one of the most valu; Fuchsias yet sent out. Harvest Home (E. G. Henderson).— This is a very tinct double, on account of its peculiar and intensely dark corolla, beautifully flaked with red rose. The tube and sepals are dark red, the latter finely reflexed, the stamen- long and showy. It is free blooming, and of fine graceful habit. Albert Memorial (Bland).-A double dark Fuchsia, very attractive on account of its general free growth and free blooming qualities. It has a scarlet tube a ' pals, the latter well reflexed, and a very broad large e.xhibif of the fin uble Fuchsias i is also a very good tube and sepal; waxy cumine-scarTet, the latter well reflexed ; the cc is much spread out, the outer petals arranged similarly to those of the single dark \arieties, the centre 1 " tilled up with smaller ones of a light bright violet, habit is strong and the foliage large. It is a free bloc and a fine exhibition Fuchsia. H. Cannell. P.R.H.S. Garden Memoranda. Lo.xFORD Hall, Ilford, the Residence Francis Whitbourne, Esq. — The editorial note at p. 1482, on the Chrysanthemums grown by Mr. Dougli the gardener at this place, started me across country to see, and I must admit, to greatly admire, the very supe- rior display which he has. The plants are tastefully aiTanged in a very commodious span-roofed orchard- house, which in itself is fully in keeping with the many glass structures around it, which Mr. Whitbourae, as a great lover and patron of gardening, has erected, and to which I hope to refer further on. Amongst the varieties grown for the size and beauty of their indi- vidual blooms I made a note of Princess of Teck, a beautifully incurved pure white flower ; Her Majesty, a fine globular silvei^ bloom ; and Mrs. Heale, a star amongst the pure whites, both in size and form, the shape of the flower being exquisite — indeed too much cannot be said in favour of this variety as brought out here. Empress of India is perhaps too well known to require any comment, but the blooms which I saw here exceeded in size anything that I had seen before. The finely incurved John Salter is a fitting representative of that worthy name, the orange shading upon its cinna- mon-red broadly incurved florets being very striking. Faust, a variety of an intermediate habit, had very finely shaped flowers, in colour a dull bronze-purple, strikingly tinted with gold at the points of the slightly incurved florets. Mrs. Sharpe is another finely incurved bloom, deep rose in colour. Miss Hope, similar in build, is equally meritorious, but not of so dark a tint. Jardin des Plantes is a most lovely variety, of which blooms of cricket-ball size and build were prominent. Yellow Perfection comes second to it, and is superior to Plutus when both are seen at their best, as they are here. Nor should Golden Queen of England be forgotten, for when I say that some of its flowers measured 7 inches, by rule, enough will have been said to show the very superior manner in which these blooms are brought up. Venus is a finely incurved flower of a peculiar tint of peach. Lady Hardinge, delicate rose, is well-known. Progne, with its ama- ranth colour and violet-like scent— even if somewhat straggling in habit— is worthy of cultivation. Prince of Wales is a dark violet and beautifully incurved variety, the blooms here being very large. Duchess of Wellington is a very chaste rosy flower; and Lord Stanley is a large, finely incurved flower, of an amber- orange tint. Turning to specimen plants suitable for exhibition— of which there were some very meritorious specimens of standards and dwarfs, averaging about 3 feet in diameter, more and less— I noticed that Bob possessed a remarkably bright colour, quite a shining scarlet in fact, similar to Julie Lagraviere. Aurea multiflora is good of its colour for this work. Dr. Sharp is a decided acquisition to specimen growers on account of its good habit and darkish crimson, or .red and crimson-coloured flowers. Amongst the Pompon section staged in another house I noticed Golden Aurore, the best white; Mdlle. Marthe, dwarf and free ; the varieties of Cedo Nulli, four in number; and, what is grown very successfully here, the dark rosy violet Hdlene. Of large-flowered Anemones, were Miss Margaret, white centre, which should not be con- founded with Fair Margaret (rose-coloured peach) ; King of Anemones, crimson-purple ; and Empress, lilac, and a large bloom. Amongst Pompon Ane- mones, Madame Montels, Miss Nightingale, Madame Chalonge, Sidonie, Perle, Marie Stuart, and Mr. Wyness, were conspicuous ; whilst Queen of Ane- mones and Jean Hachette, respectively crimson and white, deserve a place in evei^ collection. Turning now to the quaint Japanese forms, we possess in Red Dragon an indispensable variety, the petals being suflicientlynumerousto compensate for their narrowness and length to form a very pleasing bloom, whilst the spots, or mottlings of golden tint, give it a most novel and pleasing character. Other conspicuous kinds are— Meteor, with its yellow and orange twisted florets ; Grandiflora, another yellow, and very properly named ; Jane Salter, broad florets, possessing a white ground, striped with light lilac; Prince Satsuma, another telling yellow; Bronze Dragon, &c. James Salter is a fine large mauve, or lilac, and is perhaps the earliest bloomer in this section, whilst Dr. Masters is a most useful late variety, of a reddish tint tipped with gold. Yet one other form amongst the many — the best Chrysanthemum of all as a free grower and free bloomer combined, with purity of colour and form— I refer to Mrs. G. Rundle, of which the largest specimen I ever saw was at Loxford Hall. It measures, upon a 4-inch single stem be it understood, 6 feet across the head, or 18 feet in circumference. We have all heard of the man who built an article within his workshop which he was unable to get out at the door. This has absolutely occurred in this instance, for this single specimen has to remain in solitude within the structure wherein it was trained, because it could not be got out at the door. As November days are but short we hurried through the other houses. In two Cucumber-houses Mr. Douglas' new seedling, "Tender and True," flourished, with good examples of its long, neatly-shaped fruits. Seed it will not, however, hence it will not be propa- gated so freely as could be desired. In three neat and useful Pine-houses are a remarkably robust stock of Pines, in the various successional stages— the Queens, Charlotte Rothschilds, Cayennes, &c., which will doubtless tell their own tale anon. Very fine examples of Lapageria rosea exist in the greenhouse, whilst fortunately for the owner, considering the mistake that has been made, the true white variety is in bloom, and growing strongly, in another house. Among perpetual and other Carnations, &c.. Ascot Yellow is a strong grower and free ; Madame Adele Calmito and Mons. Jacotot are two good Italian varieties. A good flower, too, is Prince of Orange. Turner's Bride has a fine bloom, and Queen of Whites is a true perpetual. Le Grenadier is a very useful scarlet, and one extensively groivn for market under a variety of synonymes. There is also the old Bride, which has fringed petals by way of contiast to Turner's Bride, possessing smooth petals. In this house I noticed a new variety of Thrift, with wider leaves than ordinary garden varieties, and the flowers are of a rosy pink colour. In the late vineries were some excellent examples ot late kinds of Grapes : Mrs. Pince, for instance, with bunches from 3 to 4 lb. in weight ; Lady Downe's the same ; whilst the red-foliaged Barbarossa had a heavy crop— some of the bunches, X estimate, would weigh 6 lb. ; and of Black Hamburghs there was a bunch amongst many that I think will likewise bring the scales down to the same weight, or more. Here were also examples of the Golden Champion grown along with Ham- burghs, still firm, fresh, and of most delicious flavour. The bunches never had been large, but the berries were both large and good as I have described, whilst their hanging capacity, in contrast with the Hamburghs, was alii that could be desired. As I must now con- sider myself encroaching upon your space, I will briefly add that collections of Masdevallias, Odon- toglots, and of miscellaneous Orchids are grown here, amongst which I noticed a remarkably healthy speci- men of Phalrenopsis grandiflora, a nice plant of Cattleya Warneri, various Vandas, &c. These were associated, more or less, with a valuable collection of stove plants, including Palms, conspicuous amongst which were Chama?dorea graminifolia, and C. elegans, each fine table plants ; Areca lutescens, A. aurea, &c. Two species of Nepenthes, viz., N. Rafflesiana, and N. phyllamphora, served to show how infinitely superior is Sir Stamford Raffles' variety to the Chinese one which took possession of the technical specific name. The lesser Pitcher-plant has, however, one great merit, it will exist where the Singapore plant would not live at all, i.e., in a temperature of about 55°. Amongst the stove plants Ixora coccinea bore fine heads of bloom, suggesting that the ancient Eastern heathens, who offered them annually to their deities, must have possessed a very refined taste. There were good examples of Anthurium Lindeni and A. Scherzerianum, illustrative of a genus possessing very distinct and divergent characteristics ; also of golden I'ems, and the new variety of Blechnum or Lomaria, which Mr. Douglas has marked out distinct. It is a quaint Fern certainly, for whilst the fronds and .the characteristic broad niiic of B. corcovadense are mainly conspicuous, rrow fertile fronds occasionally push, precisely like ose upon Lomaria gibba. Nor should I pass by thout notice a nice specimen of Lomaria gibba var. Bellii. One other incident which proved of interest to myself, and might perhaps to some readers, I may d. There is amongst the Conifers upon the lawn an exceedingly beautiful specimen of Cupressus Lawsoniana of moderate size. I have generally planted -aricty in conspicuous places in shrubberies only, however, worthy of a position, as a single speci- men, in even the most prominent situations. These ied remarks prove how thoroughly I appre- d your hint regarding the merit of the Chrysanthe- mum display at Loxford Hall, nor can I close with- expressing my hearty thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Whitbourne, who considerately and unrestrainedly December 2, 1 87 1.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1555 permit those who are interested in garde of their able gardener, ©fiituarg. We have to record with regi'et the death of Mr. Robert J.\mes, of the " Rochester Castle," Stoke Newington. Mr. James may be said to have been th founder of the Stoke Newington Chrysanthemuc shows, which really gave the first impulse to the cultivation of that useful autumn flower. He was a enthusiastic florist, and an ardent supporter of hort culture, to which he devoted a large portion of his timt In private life his moral character was exemplified by the strictest integrity, kindness, and benevolence ; his left hand, it may truly be said, never knew what his right hand did. He died rather suddenly, after three days' illness, on Tuesday, the 2Sth ult., '.miversally respected and regretted. THE WEATHER. B OF THE AIR AND FALL OP RAIN A DIFFERENT STATIONS, E Week ending Saturday, Nov. 25, 1871. Dcg. I Deg fNouinghaii Sheffiefd Liverpool 30.2 0.8 32.7 I 8.9 z k Hygrometrical Deductior from Glai5her|s Tables, n TEMPERATURE OF THE A.H. Wind. Rain. M^TH iiii«iiii ' . 11:1 Dee. i Deg. Deg. IS5!- 5:1 i N.I. . Monday 41.7 35.0 . Tucs. .. 39.8 ■ 34.3 . Wcdnes 40.0 30.0 I 39.3 1 -'"t E.N,E. ;"5 3S.1 -3.0 IE.N.E. 180 34.8 I —6.8 N.byE. 233 cloudy ionally. JAMES GLAISHER. ^iirbcit #pcrati0n;s, (FOR THE ENSUING WEEK.) PLANT HOUSES. KVERY gardener who takes a pride in his place will now be doing his best to make the plant-houses under his charge as gay and cheerful-looking as possible, whether these be stoves, greenhouses, or conservato- ries proper, all of which may be made more or and. less pleasing and attractive, according to th( played in the aiTangement of the subjects at c Much may be done in creating variety even with a slender stock of plants, if the style of grouping is occa- sionally altered ; but, in any case, every plant now in flower should occupy a front position. The best of the available specimen foliaged plants should be used for intersecting the former, and for occupying the most prominent and telling positions in the rear or above as the case may be, and it is with these that agreeable changes may be made by occasionally and judiciously transposing them. Fire-heat must be applied occa- sionally to all plant structures, even during moderately temperate weather, to dispel damp, and so save not only the blooms but also the more tender foliage from injury. These moderate fires should always, however, be lighted at such times that, by creating a little extra dry heat, the air may be made more buoyant during the time that it can be given with moderate freedom. Give now as much room as possible to Pelargoiiiiiyns intended for early flowering. Stop the young shoots, and by keeping the air around them free and dry assist tiiem to break well. Particularly bear in mind that a more limited regimen will tend to aid them more during this process than would a more liberal one. Tie out such as require it, and make preparations for pot- ting them as soon as they have formed a sufficiency of young shoots. Place as many Dutch Bulbs in the forcing-pit as are likely to be wanted for successional display, as well as any of the many other desirable plants to hand, such as Azaleas, both Ghent and Indian, Rosis, HdwtropLS, Migiiondte, Pinks, Lilies of ilie Valley; Solomons Seal (Polygonatum), &c. Persist in drying off Fuchsias, so that they may be denuded of their foliage as quickly as possible, when, as before intimated, they may be stored away in any dark corner \\'here immunity from frost is assui-ed. Persist, also, in ripening off and resting all hard-wooded and other stove plants which should enjoy a season of rest, by keeping them somewhat short of water, and by maintaining them at the cool end of the house. Jlake the necessary selection, and mark off such of the stock of Chrysanthemums 3S it is intended to grow next season. Those who wish to grow large specimens during the ensuing year should put in cuttings now. FORCING HOUSES. Attend well to such Vines as are now in the act of breaking into gi"0^vth. Keep up the heat in any fermenting materials placed in the house to soften the buds, and so induce them to break more freely, by adding more material where necessary, and by occasionally turning the main body over, and damping it, if it becomes too dry. As the operation of forcing advances, the atmospheric moisture must be increased and the wood be damped over with the syringe. Care must also be taken to maintain a gentle warmth in all outside borders attached to such houses ; proceed, however, with great moderation, as nothmg is gained by excessive forcing in the early The temperature should not be allowed to rise above 60° by day, even on the most favourable whilst for a time 55° will be a suitable mean ; this by day, of course with a relative decrease of from 8° to 12° by night. Do not omit to keep a slight warmth in the heating medium attached to all Vineries containing crops of late Grapes, and more particularly if these consist of Plamburghs, or other thin-skinned varieties. Keep the temperature around such Pines as are push- ing up their blooms, or are already swelling, mode- rately brisk, to aid them onwards. If any have at this date to resort to dung-linings to maintain sufficient heat around Pine-pits, great care must be taken to prevent steam from entering, and to have an uninterrupted supply of fresh fermenting materials in readiness to renovate the heat as soon as it is found to be on the wane. In Mushrooni-hauses an abund- ance of moisture must be afforded when the young "buttons" begin to form and subsequently, especially where arid flue-heat only is afforded. The necessary successional beds should also be made, and a further supply of Asparagus and Seakale should be put in for a like purpose. HARDY FLOWER GARDEN. Those who have delayed mulching such somewhat tender subjects as Pampas-grass ((Tywr/ttOT argenteum), Tritomas, Tv/r/zjij "stools " which stand out-of-doors during the winter, should do so no longer. In this department almost constant work will be found in sweeping, cleaning, rolling, &c., for the next week or two, as it is only by incessant application that the sward and gravel walks are brought through the ordeal with perfect order, neatness, and freedom from injury. This will be found a good time tore-label such outdoor plants as have their existing labels more or less injured, and the names more or less obliterated by the ion of the weather. Be particular also at this sea- i not to let fallen and decaying leaves collect and lie ongst beds, borders, or patches of tender annuals ; for, even if they do not cause any to rot off; they do, to say the least, cause the plants to become drawn and unhealthy. Those who have not filled their flower- beds with annuals, bulbs, &c., should now have them anured with decayed leaves, and dug deeply, leaving the soil fully exposed to the action of the winter's air which would only tend to grow leaves at the expense of a dwarf, freely-blooming habit. KITCHEN GARDEN. Cauliflo^oers, Lettuces, &c., grown under hand-lights or plant-protectors, should have as much air as pos- sible at all times excepting during frosty weather, at which time, if the frost proves at all severe, a covering of some kind of waste litter would be beneficial. Watch the Peas and Broad Beans already sown, for doubtless the mice or birds will molest them greatly ; where there are no Pea " rizzles " it will be well to soot and lime the surface of such Peas as are already through the ground, as adeteirent of both birdsand mice. Have a few ordinary wooden hurdles neatly thatched with straw in readiness to place over beds of Parsley, Endive, &c., at the advent of snow, with its general accompaniment — frost Coleiuorts and young Cahbage plants might, during a mild period, be earthed-up more permanently, in preparation for the severe frosts of winter. Take up and store away safely from frost a limited supply of yerusaleni Artichokes, Horse-radish, Parsnips, &c., to be in readiness, should a sharp period perchance visit us. Place also a good thickness of litter over the stools of Seahale, from which t'ne supply of roots is got for forcing, and so prepare for all eventualities. W. £. Notices to Correspondents. Early Grapes and Peaches : F.R.H.S. Judging by the data which you fiunish, and presuming that your Vines have akeady been pruned and prepared for forcing, our advice is, that you should start them early in the second week of December. Simply keep the house closed for the first week or ten days, and maintain only a temperature ranging from 42" at night to 46* by day, with occasional syringings. This will prepare the Vines for a gradual rise in the temperature, towards the end of the month, up to 50" by night and 55' by day. In this way they will be induced to break freely by the time the increased light of the lengthening days is felt, when forcing may be advanced rapidly. You do not say by what time you want your earlier Peaches ripe, but we would suggest that, as your earliest house is situated so unfavourably as regards the sun, you should start it about two months earlier, in the same manner as described for Vines. Fungus on Grapes : J. S. Your Grapes are attacked by a mould or Penicillium, which lifts up the colourless cuticle, when the juice oozes out by capillary attrac- tion, and causes the pretty dotted appearance. We have seen similar cases before. M. J. B. Gardener's Luncheons. Subscriber. It would be better to have a definite understanding when the engagement is made. There is no established nile on the subject that we know of. If a proper sense of duty on the part of the employed, and a befitting confidence on the part of the employer exist, no harm to the masters interests, but often the reverse, may ensue from a good ■ under- standing between housekeeper, cook, and gardener. The harm is when such things are done "on the sly," or in contravention of direct orders. As a rule, we think it better that the gardener should keep out of the house. Maricet Gardening : J. M. 6= Sous, Aberdeen. • ' Cuthill on Market Gardening " will perhaps meet your requirements. Names of Plants : % M. Polystichum aculeatum. Orchid Leaves Spotted : A. C. It is the common case of Orchid spot, which so frequently attacks species of Phalsenopsis. The cause is unknown, as is also the remedy. It is not the mere result of cultivation, as it occurs in specimens in their native country. It appears to be contagious. M. J. B. Pear, Williajis' Bon Chretien d'Hiver : W. D. F. The merits of this Pear were stated by Mr. Scott at p. 203. Primulas : Fisiier, Holmes &• Co. An excellent strain of crimson Chinese Primroses, the same as that grown in various quarters. Sobralia Elizabeth.41 ; Orchidophilisl, Dublin. We have reason to believe that this Orchid, described by Schomburgk as having been found by him on the banks of the Orinoco, and as having flowers of "splendid configuration and exquisite scent," has not been intro- duced into our nurseries ; at all events, we do not see it advertised in any of the trade catalogues before us. Veitch Memorial Prizes : G. L. We are informed that the trust deed, which has been for some time past in the lawyer's hands, now only requires the signa- tures of the trustees and the other contracting parties. When this is completed, the trustees will, of course, meet, and decide on what shall be done. iRRATA : At p. 1516, col. (". first line of third paragraph from bottom, for " l and 2" read " 2 and 3." At p. 1318, col. b. line 41 from bottom, read "HjTnenopte- ron;" line24 from bottom, read "Mayr" for "Mayer;" line 7 from bottom strike out " Cynips glandis." Sarhtts. CO VENT GARDEN.— Dec. i. A moderate rate of business prevails, and the markets generally have a tendency to quietness, the supply being and frost. By thus manuring them at this season, the about equal to the demand, and there being no novelties properties of the manure are absorbed by the soil, to induce inquiries amongst us. Portugal Grapes prove and so become divested of their original strength, I generally very inferior on breaking the bulk. Hothouse 1556 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 2, 1871. e burticienl for the trade. Good samples 01 Newtown Pippins have made 6o.t. per barrel, the Potato market prices ' '^-i ■■ j j slightly downward Apples, per i si Cobs, per 100 lb. Filberts, per lb. Grapes, per lb. Lemons, per 100 Asparagus, per 100 1: Beet, per doz. . . i Broccoli, purple, per Cabbages, p. doz. . . Capsicums, p. 100. . Carrots, p. bunch . . Cauliflowers, p. doz. Celery, per bundle . Chilies, per loo Pears, per dozen . . — 50 Pine-apples, per lb. —10 o Pomegranates, each Vegetables. Horse Radish, per bundle .. ..: Leeks, per bunch . . c Mushrooms, p. pott. 1 Onions, per bunch., c Parsley, p. bunch . . < Radishes, per bunch < Rhubarb, p. bund. . : S.alsafy, p bun. . . < Scorzonera, p. bun. ( Seakale, per punnet ; Shallots, per lb. .. < Spinach, per bushel ; Tomatos, p. sieve . . . Turnips, p. bunch. . i 30s. : Flukes, 1205. to Per doz. o 4I-0 Parsnips. Red Beet. o 6 ■ POTATOS.—Southwark, Xoz: 27. During the past week the arrivals coastwise and by rail have been more than equal to the demand. Trade dull, quality very various, as well as prices. The following quotations have been barely maintained ;— Yorkshire Flukes, per ton, xaos. to 138J. ; Yorkshire Regents, 6or. to was.; Dunbar and East Lothian do. , nor. to i4or. ; Perth, Forfar, and Fifeshire do., gor. to I :oj. : do. Rocks, Qor. to 95^. ; Kent and Essex Regents, 50;. to loor.; do. Rocks, 8oj. to goj. ; French Whites, 755. to 80J. L ILIUM SPECIOSUM LILIUM AURATUM—Ordcrs r tions from Japan .Mr. WILLIAM BULL'S Eslablis KinR's Road, Chelsea, London, S.W, New Catalogue of Bulbs, Plants, Fruits, &c, 3BERT PARKER begs to announce that NEW CATALOGUE, containins Select Descriptive I Lists of Dutch and other Bulbs, Plants suitable for Bed Jccorativc Purposes. Fruit Trees, Grape Vines, Sweet Vic » now published, and will be forwarded to applicants. WByaclntSs, Tulips, and other Dutcli Bulbs. M. CUTBUSH AND SON'S importations of the above have arrived, and have every appearance of being above ' CATA£o?;"uE^'orthe above? also"FRUIT TREES and Kencral NURSERY STOCK, post free on application. Highgate Nurseries, London, N. Pelargoniums for tbe Million. TAMES HOLDER'S unrivalled COLLECTION of FRENCH, FANCY, and SHOW VARIETIES, arc now ready, ™ strong Plants. CATALOGUES gratis on application. HUNT'S superb SWEET WILLIAM, in 24 varieties, seed or I ants, as per ormer (.^^^';j^"'J1J=P^^ ,j^jjj;„g Geraniums to Offer. HOICE GOLD and SILVER TRICOLORS, 18 new and distinct sorts^^ including PRINCE of WALES anTBRONZE for 151. , LASS O'GOWRIE CHOICE GOLD 13 NEW DOUBLES for 6j. IS NEW ZONALS of 1871 for 1 A List of Names of each Collect WM. POTTEN , Seedsman and Florist, JOHN WATERER AND SONS, Bagshot. Surrey, are the EXHIBITORS of RHODODENDRONS at the ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, Regent's Park. Their Descriptive CATA cgp- The Catalogue fully de: Rhododendrons. Lilies of the Valley. H. KRELAGE and SON, Nurserymen, Seeds- Lnd'e«ra fine''and sfrong "yr^old CON VALLaTi." CLU M Ps! The Fairy Apple. JOHN JENNINGS has fine PYRAMIDAL TREES, with bloom-buds, of the above beautiful dessert Fruit t< DISP(;)SE OF, at 51. each. The fruit is in season from Decembei ' Destined and worthy to take its place amongst the worthiest of it: M R. JAMES FRASER, Horticultural and Agricultural Valuer and Auctioneer, Mayland's Farm, 3rd, Essex : late of the firm of J. & J. Fraser, Lea Bridge Road. BUTTONS CHOICE SEED POTATOS. BUTTONS' STAN f 36 of the best IKD, No. 70, a CATTLE SHOW. Lowest prices. Royal Berkshire Seed Est Illustrated de6cripli\ Planting Season. JOSEPH HOBSON begs to offer to Gentlemen and he Public strong OAKS, SYCAMORE, BIRCH, BE .AR, LARCHES, SPRUCE, SCOTCH, SILVER 1 .T -rREEs'and QU'lCKWOOD.'e.v'trrstron^ gro»n, < Church Hill Nurseries, Easingwold, Yorkshire. Smlthfield Club Cattle Show, E DMUND PHILIP DIXON, The Yorkshire Seed Establishment, 57, Queen Street, Hull, invites attention of — .. w;_ u„i.:i.r..„« of Speri"""' "f ^'" --l-^.-.! .."--i-.. "f XON'S Orders FARM SEED LIST ( CALDECOTT, BAWTREE, . COMPANY (Limited), Corn, Seed, Manure, and Oilcake Merchants Samples orWfieat irkct, ^iark Lane, E.C. ; or Basingstoke. "^xcellent°s"ce°(rCo'm and E Medals, 1851 Agricultural and Garden Seeds. AND F. SHARPE'S Trade CATALOGUE idy. It contains all I superintendence. '. owing Establisiiment, Wisbech. H E DWARD TAYLOR, Nurseryman Yorkshire, offers as under :— NT asparagus roots, i-yr., 7s. M. per 1000. PAMPAS CRASS, Double Roman, Groot GOcJsEB^R RI ES?°(4' DAFFODILS, is. 6rf. p TULIPS-La Candeur, LISTS on application. ■t. very I It, very fine. Cerasus 'Watererll, New Double Japanese Cherry. ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED by MR. FORTUNE. rOHN WATERER and SONS are just now sendini out the above new plant. The colour is white, edged with pinli ;r^' large double, and sweet scented. They r jsirabic plant. Price lOJ. bd. each, or 6 for 42; Fruit the First Year— Best Sorts. STRONG PYRAMIDAL APPLES, PEARS, J PLU.MS, and CHERRIES, it. each; Dwarf-trained PLUMS nd CHERRIES, as. M. each; very fine RED and BL LUCOMBE, PINCE and CO. beg to direct attention to their large stock of PODOCARPUS CHINENSIS and CEPHALOI'AXUS FORTUNEI, which prices; also a large stock of CONIFERS a IfRUIT and FOREST TREES, VINES, and STOVE HOUSE PLANTS. They have ' ... plants suitable for producing -^ ' "Surser>-, Exeter. choice SHRUBS i GREEN splendid specimer irged. w-^ \T/- ANTED, Jatdeners' Chronicle Office. ' I Rcctoo', Wrotham WANTED, a MAN and his WIFE, without family. stand Vines and House-work; strictly honest, oblicinB, and a eood worker. Wife required to be clean and a good Laundress, and willing to do family washing. Wages for both, 251. a week and a house ; no perquisites whatever.— ALFRED J. NEW, Esq., Easthorpe House, Ruddington, Notts. Seed Trade. WANTED, a JUNIOR SHOPMAN.— .\pply, by letter, to B. C. D , Mr. Harris, Newsagent, Blackfnars Road, w Seed Trade. ANTED, a thoroughly experienced ASSISTANT. Apply, staling age, terms, references, &c., to JAMES N AND SONS, loz. Eastgate Street, Chester. w ANTED, an ASSISTANT, to serve in Seed Shop. for Orders, and assist at Books. One having a prac- ■e of Nursery Business preferred. Character must be lie.— Address, in own handwriting, B. B. & Co., Waite, Buniell, & Co., Soulhwark Street, London, S.E. WANTED, an ASSISTANT SHOPMAN.— William Wood & Son are requiring the services of a younsr Man, in the above capacity, age about 18. This would be a good opportunity to any young .Man wishing to learn the Nursery Business during the summer and autumn months.— W. WOOD AND SON, WANT PLACES -Letters to be Post Paid. Wl'a-v, E= HENDERSON/ ARDENER (Head), or GARDENER and ilf years' first-class character from present employer, and tcsti- lials lor the previous 10 years. Wife could take charge of Dairy Poultry.— GARDENER. Hawkley Hurst. Petersficld, Hants. GARDENER (Head, Working).— Age 46, single; thorough practical knowledge of the profession in ever^- branch. Good character, with references —J. C, i, Lower Hamilton Terrace, Hamilton Road, Lower Norwood G MAHONIA AQUIFOLIA, The above can be f JOHN MORSE, Eltbam Nursery, Kent, S,E. ■two MILES from ELACKHEATH STATION; ONE MILE from ELTHAM, LOOP-LINE. THIRTY ACRES of healthy, well-grown NURSERY STOCK, of every description, comprisine Specimen CONIFERS 1 EVERGREENS rs&m FRUIT TREES, SURPLUS STOCK of the following to be SOLD, cheap :-PRINCE ALBERT, LINN.tUS, and VICTORIA RHUBARB: FASTOLF RASPBERRI " MMIA JAPONICA ^^ " SPARA- MATIS LANUGINOSA; PERNETTVA SPECIOS.A, the „v..,-.,v......,, ....,^.,, LIMU.ATA, bicolor and viridis; SALIX BaEyLONICA SALOMONII, the hardy Weeping Willow, rices, c, on^a^p u;auon. ursen-man, Ormskir P L S T O C 1 MOSS ROSES for open ground or potting, for forcing , Tarvin Road Nursery, Boughton, Chester. Transplanted Scotcli Fir. ROY, JUN., NURSliRYMAN, Aberdeen, has a very i extensive stock of Transplanted SCOTCH FIR, of various vths : as the whole has to be cleared off this season he offers as 2-yr. SEEDLINGS, ayr. transplanted 3-yr. SEEDLINGS, 2-yr. transplanted a.yr Seed -ii^N^^i sco'tchfi'f t 3.. to 30.. per IN LAURELS,3toj feet. SE CHESTNUTS, 6 to 7 feet, straight. .■ET, upright and ovalifolium. 3 to 4 feet, nid APPLES, PEARS, PLUMS, and CHERRIES. B. MALLER, The Nu H Y E M A L I S ECHEVERIA RETU; Price and Trad . MALLER. The Nurs H E ..^ LIST on : Surplus Stock. SPRUCE FIRS, bushy, and feathered to suitable for Christmas Trees. SCARLET CHESTNUTS and LABURNUMS. Large THUJA AUREA and ARBOR-VIT.E. Large bushy AUCUBAS and common LAURELS. Large TREE BOX and LAURUSTINUS. r'eD and ilLiJcK! CU°RANTS, RHUBARB, &c. THOMAS EVES, late England Clarke. Gravesend Nu WANTED, a PROPAGATOR and GROWER Vines ; albo the Charge of \"inerics. To a thorough experienced Man liberal wages will be givcn,-MAN.\CER, Melbourne Nursery, Anerley Road, Ancrlcy, S. .\RDENER (Head, Working).— Age 31, married, " ■' ■ has a thorough knowledge of Forcing all kinds of ..._._ _ _, . nd Vegetables- Can take charge of Park and Stock if jired. Three years' excellent character from last situation.— H., 5r, Cirencester Street. Harrow Road, Faddington. N.W. GARDENER (Head, Working).— Age 42, married, no incumbrance : steady, energetic, and practical. Well up in Grape, Melon, and Cucumber Culture; also Orchard-house Fruits, Stove, Greenhouse, and Conservatory Plants. Has a knowledge of Meadow Land and Stock. If required. Wife could attend to Poultrj-. GARDENER (Under), in a Nobleman's or Gentle- man's Establishment.— .\ge 21 : wishes to improve himself in the prolession. Willing to pay a small 1 J. MARTIN, The Gardens, Oslerley Pa Premium. Good < G^ : kept. G ROUND FOREMAN Man, of excellent character 50N'!l'he''Nu?sirieJ!Maresifel<^Uc'kSs ded.-WMr WOOD F^ and ability.-H. JONES, ►ROPAGATOR, or PROPAG.\TOR under the Fore- man.—Age 22; has had experience in the Propagation of lifers. Clematises, Rhododendrons, and Roses, &c., in a Provincial, MANAGER, or ASSISTANT MANAGER, of Tea, Coffee, Sugar, or Cotton Plantations.— Age 27, single, English; has had ten years' praclicM experience in some of the largest Gardens in Europe. Well educated. No objection to any part of the world. St!5ro'rdshirc. ' '' ' '_ .' To ttie Seed Trade. TRAVELLER.— Age 37; highest references.— J. P., Gardtilrrs' Cltimttclt Office, To Gardeners. fMPROVER, in a good Establishment, where he could L learn Gardening thoroughly.-A respectable Youth, age 18. .'illing to give a small Premium. — ,M. DARKER, tcton, near w To Horticulturists, Gardeners, asc, ANTED to APPRENTICE .1 YOUTH ■here he would have an opportunity of leal W-; i8>».] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricuhufal Gazette. '557 m SUTTONS' # HOME-GROWN FARM SEEDS. SPECIMEN ROOTS ON VIEW. Smithfield Club Cattle Show, DECEMBER 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Stand No. 70. BUTTONS' (IMPROVED) MAMMOTH LONG RED MANGEL, THE HEAVIEST CROrPING LONG MANGEL EVER INTRODUCED, And took the First Prizes at Birmingham in l86S, 1869, 1870, and 1871. Although it attains such an enormous size, the roots are very sound and solid, and of most symmetrical form. It is an extraordinary heavy cropping variety, 64 tons per acre having been grown by our customers, Lord Norburv and Mr. Thomas Goui.stone. The Twelve Prize Roots at the Royal Berkshire Root Show on Nov. 18 last, weighed 4851b., averaging over 40 lb. each, while those which took the First Prize at Birmingham this year (for the fourth time), weighed 45 lb. each. BUTTONS' Berkshire Prize Yellow Globe Mangel THE LARGEST GLOIJE VARIETY VET INTRODUCEH. It is an extraordinary heavy cropper, CHARLES GOCHER, Esq., of Bolton Hall, having grown the enormous weight of 72} tons per acre. Its beautiful shape, neat top, tine clear skin and single tap-root, recommend it as an eminently profitable variety, inasmuch as great labour is saved in drawing and storing the crop. BUTTONS' YELLOW INTERMEDIATE MANGEL ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR IN CULTIVATION. From its peculiar shape it can be allowed to stand closer in the rows than other kinds, hence it produces a very great weight per acre. It is of beautiful shape, small neck and leaves, and of superior quality. Having only one tap-root it can be pulled with half the trouble of the coarser varieties. Sixty tons per acre have been grown at the South Norwood Irrigation Farm. SUTTONS' IMPROVED CHAMPION SWEDE. The merits of this Swede are now generally known, and its superiority over every other kind universally acknowledged. Among the numerous Prizes which have been awarded to this splendid Swede this season, is the Twenty Guinea Silver Cup given for the best Four Acres of Swedes in the County of Gloucester, awarded to our cus- tomer, W.M. Hartland, Esq., Upleadon Court ; and the Twenty-four Prize Roots which gained the ^10 loj. Silver Cup at the Royal Berkshire Root Show, on November 18, averaged 22 lb. each. Prices of the above, and all other GENUINE FAEM May be had of Messrs. SUTTON as above, or on application to SUTTON & SONS, SEEDSMEN BY SPECIAL APPOINTMENT TO THE QUEEN and H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES, ROYAL BERKS SEED ESTABLISHMENT, READING. I'O BE DISPOSED OF, an Old-established NURSERY BUSINESS, in the principal town of the West of England, «here a successful Trade has been carried on for the past -- years, consisting of good general Stock, Four large Greenhouses, ames. and remainder of Lease (lo years). The ground IS all walled and contains about i^i Acres, with Six-roomed House, pleasantly !! URSERYflA°N, Mess°s.''Hurst I Son, 6, Lcadenhall Street, E.G. SALES BY AUCTION. SALE THIS DAY, at HALF-P.\ST TWELVE O'CLOCK. Plants from Engllsli and Dutch Nurseries, and BULBS from HOLLAND. MR. T. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 38, King --—- '" '"— '- """ — RDAY, Dece-^-- " - id Dwarf -past 12 o'clock precisely, ..,„ „.,„. „.., HOLLIES, RHODODENDRONS. a,.>.,u..u and Trained FRUIT TREES, specimen CONIFERS, and DECIDUOUS TREES and SHRUBS from Holland. CAKN.-\- TIONS, PICOTEES,and PINKS, RASPBERRY CANES, Standard ROSES, and other Plants, from English nurseries : and an impor. lation of HYACINTHS, TULIPS, LILIUMS, CROCUSES. IRIS, NARCISSUS, ANEMONES, RANUNCULI, and other BULBS, Bulbs from Holland. MR. J. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, his Great Rooms, 38, King Street, Covent Garden, W.C, MONDAV, December ^, at half-past 12 o'CIock precisely, seve hundred Lots ol choice HYACfNTHS, TULIPS, CROCUSI d Catalogues had. Periodical Sale of Poultry and Pigeons. MR. J. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 38, King Street, Covent Garden, W.C, on TUESDAY, Decembers, at half-past 12 o'clock precisely, first-class Silver-spangled HAM BURGHS, from Miss Browne, of Chard; Silver Grey DORKINGS, and GAME BANTAMS, from Mr. Salter, ixfotd; POUTERS and CARRIERS, ' " " '- >ugh ; Yellow BARBS ' " ™ Breede^rs and Exhi M his Great Rooms, 38, King Slrt Carder Decemb^cr ELLIAS, INOIAN AZALEAS, PALJIS. YUCCAS, DRA- C/ENAS, ERICAS, PI.MELEAS. ORANGE TREES. &c., from It: Trained and Standard FRUIT TREES, from Holland; and ietyofother Hardy TREES and SHRUBS. Also an importation hoice HYACINTHS, TULIPS, CROCUSES, NARCISSUS, i, LILIUM, ANEMONES, RANUNCULI, GLADIOLI, and -BULBS, from well-known F; : morning of Sale, and Catalogues had. -JDAY, DECEMBER 4, and TWO FOLLOWING DAYS. TO BE EXPOSED to ROUP, on the above dates, in suitable Lots, the whole of the valuable STOCK in William Taylor's Nurseries, at the West Port of Cupar, extending oyer Eight Acres, consisting of FRUIT, FOREST, and ORNAMENTAL TREES and SHRUBS, rare CONIFERS, &c., and about Six Tons of EARLY POT ATOS.i - "" ' '' — ' " ' Mr. BAXTER, formerly CURATOR of th. BOTANICAL GARDENS, OXFORD. MR. JOHN FISHER is instructed to valuable COLLECTION of BOOKS, at the CI Sale Room, Oxford, on WEDNESDAY, December 6, ( II o'clock. 1 at the Offices ( M^ ally, the following valuable Properties, in Iwo Lots. Lot i.-A very compact COPVHOLb FARM, known as Hodgkin's Farm, Dallington ; comprising about 93a. or. agp. of capital Arable, Pasture, Hop, and Wood Land, with Farm Mouse and convenient Out-buildings, in the occupation of Mr. T. Pilbeam, at the verj- low rent ot ps per annum. The quit rent amounts to £1 51. 3e progress of agriculture and the increase of population necessarily deprived him of his privileges, but he enjoys a long list of advantag:es, for "a large proportion of the blessings which civilisation and philosophy bring with them is cornmon to all ranks." The historian proceeds to notice that the rustic and his cart can, in one hour, reach his market-place, which, 160 years ago, was a day's journey from him. " The street, which is now a secure, convenient, and brilliantly lighted walk, was, 160 years ago, so dark, that he might after sunset have broken his neck, or been knocked down and plundered of his small earnings." But now, every bricklayer who falls from his scaflbld, every sweeper of a crossing who is run over may have his bones set and his wounds healed for a trifle, with more skill than a great lord could have purchased with all his wealth 160 years ago. These are great advantages, no doubt, to people who have occasion to go to market in a cart, and to brick- layers who break their legs ; but, remembering our million and a half of paupers and the misery of the poor in our great cities, we hope that some future historian will be able to claim certain more substantial advantages among the " blessings of civilisation and philosophy." Manners have, no doubt, greatly improved since the 17th century; we are less rude and rough now-a-days ; our ancestors were less humane than their posterity, harsher in their families, severer to schoolboys, less kind to servants, rougher with their wives, and more cruel to their malefactors. Public opinion is in many respects far more enlightened than it was, in proof of which we may quote the same author : — " The practice of setting children prematurely to work, a practice which the State, the legitimate protector of those who cannot protect themselves, has in our time wisely and humanely interdicted, prevailed in the 17th century to an extent which, when compared with the extent of the manufacturing system, seems almost incre- dible. At Nor\vich, the chief seat of the clothing trade, a little creature of six years old was thought fit for labour. Several writers of that time, and among them some who were convinced as eminently benevolent, mention with exultation the fact, that in that single city boys and girls of very tender age created wealth exceeding what was ne- cessary for their own subsistence by ^12,000 a-year." As "the State" now means public opinion, and Government has become the executive power for carrying into effect the will of the public, it is evident that the knowledge which guides public opinion must always be the measure of social progress. The " golden age '' will approach in proportion as the public becomes more intelli- gent, enlightened, and virtuous, and when morals have improved in the same degree as manners. It is unfortunate that at present the most active-minded of the working classes are more interested in watching the mere machinery of Government than in gaining knowledge of the means by which Government might aid society to improve the conditions of our social life. They suffer from political restlessness ; they do not seem to recognise that we already have a Government from which the public can obtain any measures it thinks proper. They do not understand that our welfare does not depend on the improvement of the mechanism of govern- ment. There never was, and never will be, a perfect, patent, ruling machine ; on the contrary, in good hands, a great deal may be done with an old machine, and in bad hands the best machine is useless. Questions relating to labour, food supply, shelter, sun, air to breathe and water to cleanse, or abounding pauperism, noisome crowded alleys, with circumstances of existence noxious and even murderous, — alt such questions relating to the moral and material progress of society are more urgent than any others that can occupy public attention, and they depend for solution not on mere mechanism of Government, but on the enlightenment of public opinion. We ha\e few political grievances now- a-days ; we no longer sufter from the injustice of Government, the ascendancy of the nobles, or the oppression of any class of the people. The country has its griefs and grievances, but they arise from social, not from political causes, and their root is ignorance. The reform that is needed is such reform as shall better the condi- tion of the millions, mending their manners and mending their meals. It must be confessed that in this age of progress the poor have fared badly. The concentration of capital has pro- duced extremes of poverty and wealth. Let the cost of producing food be materially reduced by methods that have been often indicated, and a new channel will be opened for surplus labour. " Ever)- step in advance made by agriculture serves to alleviate the sufferings and troubles of mankind." Agriculture would itself require a large increase of its labouring forces, other industries would be invigorated, and there ^\•ould be an end of emigration and of an increasing poor-rate for many years to come. " Improvements in agri- culture constitute the only solid foundation for further progress in all other branches of know- ledge," but " observation and reflection are the fundamental conditions of all progress in natural science ; and agriculture presents in this respect ample room for discoveries." * These are quotations from one whose works, be)ond all others that have been written, reveal the special knowledge which is needed in order to understand the food question. They show the necessity for the co-operation of public opinion in the work of agricultural improvement. Farmers cannot prevent the continual increase in the cost of production, which is injurious alike to themselves and to the country. Legislation can alone deal with the modern evil of " town waste," and the voice of the public can alone issue those commands to the executive without which it never \-entures to act. The problem the public should set itself (not deputing the matter either to chemists or manure companies, for it is altogether too big for them to handle it effectu- ally) is, to arrest the impoverishment and accom- plish the enrichment of the soil. It would be easy to pile up authorities to prove that no sub- ject can be more important. Much as the cir- cumstances of the world have changed in these days of steam and progress, there are old rules which are as correct as ever they were, as, for instance, this of Swift's : — " The first cause of a kingdom's thriving is the fruitfulness of the soil, to produce the necessaries and conveni- ences of life ; " and likewise this other sentence of Adam Smith's : — " Whatever increases the fertility of land, in producing food, increases not only the value of the land upon which the improvement is bestowed, but contributes likewise to increase that of many other lands by creating a new demand for this produce. That abundance of food, of which, in consequence of the improvement of land, many people have the disposal beyond what they themselves can consume, is the great cause for the demand both for the precious metals and the precious stones, as well as for every other conveniency and ornament of dress, lodging, household furniture and equipage. Food not only con- stitutes the greater part of the riches of the world, but it ' Modern Agriculture," Li«big. The subject of the food supply, which has so often been brought under the notice of our readers, exceeds all other social subjects in importance, and is perhaps the one on which the public is least informed. Consequently we have '• Land Leagues,'' meetings in Trafalgar Square, and impracticable schemes for increasing sup- plies by colonising the waste lands. These may be hannless, but the discontents, the misappre-. hensions and the hatred, bred of ignorance and want, are not harmless. A MODERATE Supply of l^nglish Wheat at . Monday sold at the prices of that day Wednesday's trade 1 Mark and prices Trade was active in beasts on Monday, at the Metropolitan Cattle Market, at an advance on the quotations of the previous Mon- day. In sheep, only choicest Cjualtties made last week's prices. On Thursday trade in beasts was not brisk, but choice qualities were not affected. Sheep had to give way. The report of an Oltbreaic of S.mall Pox among Sheep, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, natu- rally excited some alarm ; but we are glad to be able to state that there was no foundation for the rumour. It appears that scab is prevalent in some flocks in one locality, and this circumstance seems to have given rise to a report which has happily been proved to be false. The E.XTE.Nsiox of the Meat Importation is thus alluded to by the Pall Mall Gazette :— " The meat trade may, for satistical purposes, be roughly divided into four distinct categories. The first comprises live stock alone ; the second, salted, fresh, and preserved meat ; the third, animal produce — butter, lard, and cheese ; and the foiu-th consists of vegetable food obviously intended for the fattening of cattle. To these it would probably be possible to add a fifth list, compris- ing game, eggs, fish, &c. ; but we have thought it on the whole desirable to omit them from this article. " The increase which has taken place during the last four years (we have purposely extended the period em- braced in the latest returns of the Board of Trade) is thus Ten Months ending October 31. Oxen, Bulls, and ^ Calve. .'! Swine andHogs!! Total head .. 187,. 182,868 36.349 453,019 I 885,850 7,067 I 1,091,323 Beef, salted Beef, fresh or^ slightly salted I nenvise pre- , fresh, or I ;htly salted ) Ten Months ending Oc ober 3 1870. ] 1871. 33,445 108,654 193,895 234,712 S7,435 3. — Afiitnai Produce, Lard Total c Ten Months enc ing October 31. 1868. 1,869. 1S70. 1 1871. m Cwt. 742,'3=5 = 13.301 Cwt. 1 Cwt. 909,731 \ J.io5.S>i 788,93s 1,064,977 167,151 1 398.504 1,708,424 ',9=5,847 ,,865,8.7 ; 2.568,99a 4. —Food for Cattle. Oilseed cakes Ten Months ending October 31. Tons. Tons. " From these Tables it will be seen that, with the exception of last year, when the w.ar created an unusual demand for meat abroad, there has been a progressive increase in the meat trade in the United Kingdom far exceeding, as we believe, the conceptions of most people. Since 1868 our trade in live stock has increased by more than 140 per cent. : in dead meat by more than '80 per cent. ; in animal produce by more than 50 per cent. ; and in oilseed cakes by more than 20 per cent. ; while the population of the United Kingdom is not certainly more than 3 per cent, larger than it was at the commencement of the period. The supply of meat from abroad is, in December 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1559 other words, rapidly overtaking the demand at home, and its price is consequently less and less dependent on our home produce. Whatever consequences may result from this circumstance to the landed interest, it is hardly possible to doubt that the vast body of our feUo"'" countrymen must be deriving benefit from this branch of our import trade. There are already indications that the price of meat in this country is beginning to declme ; and if our trade continue to expand at its present rate, it may at least be safely predicted that it cannot go on rismg. In an able discourse before the Cirencester Chamber of Agriculture last week, in which the Rev. T. Constable, Principal of the Royal Agricul- tural " College, advocated the introduction of the Metric Systesi of Weights and Measures into Great Britain, he thus referred to the confusion pre- valent, especially among agriculturists, in the matter of weights and measures : — " There are in this country alone no fewer than 20 dif- ferent ideas of a bushel. We go to Saltash, perhaps, after learning in our tables that there are 3 bush, in a qr., and discover that in that part of the world there are 5 qr. A load of Wheat means in one part of the country 5 qr. ; in another, 5 bush. ; in another, 3 bush. If I buy Wheat at Swansea, I must order by the stack of 3 bush. ; if at Barnard Castle, by the boll of 2 bush., and must not, when I compare quantity and price, confuse this boll with the two other bells— one of 140, the other of 280 lb. If I buy at Beccles, I must order by the coomb of 240 lb. ; if at Preston, bv the w indie of 220 lb. ; if at Wre,\ham, by the hobbet of '168 lb. But even if I do happen to know what a hobbet of Wheat means at Wrexham, that know- ledge, good for Flint, is not good for Carnarvonshire. A hobbet of Wheat at Pwlheli contains 84 lb. more than a hobbet at Wrexham ; and a hobbet of Oats is something altogether different, and a hobbet of Barley is something altogether different again. There arc no less than 10 flicting systems in national use :— t, Decimal grains, for the scientific Troy weight, of 5 Geo. IV. 2, Troy. ; Troy, with decimal divisions, called bullion, 16 Vict. . Bankers' weights, to weigh 10, 20, and sovereigns. ; Apothecaries. 6, Diamond weights and pearl weight including carats. 7, Avoirdupois weights. 8, Weights for hay and straw. 9. ^^'ool weights, using as factors, 2, 3, 7, 13, and their multiples. 10, Coal weight, under i Wil- liam, 6 Victoria, i. ,5, .2, .1, .05, .025. PracticaUy every- thing in the way of weight and measure goes its own gait. A gallon is not a gallon. It is a wine gallon, or one oi three different sorts— an ale gallon, or a com gallon, or a gallon of oil— and the gallon of oil means 7^ lb. of trair oil, and 8 of some other oils. If you buy a pipe of wine, how much do you get ? Ninety-three galls, of Marsala, 92 of Madeira, 117 of Bucellas, 103 of Port, 100 of Tene- riffe. What is a stone ? Fourteen pounds of a living man, 8 of a slaughtered bullock, 16 of cheese, 5 of gli 32 of hemp. It is r4 lb. as sold by the growers, 15 as sold by the woolstaplers to each other. And as regard; acres, there are seven measures to define an acre. Again, a man may live by selling coals at a less cost per ton than he paid for them at the pit-mouth. A ton of coals ^ at the pit mouth from 22 to 28 cwt., of 120 lb. each. Of cheese, 32 cloves (each 8 lb.), make a wey in Essex— 42 ir Suffolk. We walk by foiu: sorts of miles, English, Scotch Irish, and geographical. Our very sailors don't mean thf same thing when they talk of fathoms : on a man-of-wai it means 6 feet, on a merchantman 4i feet, and a fisher man means 5 feet. Not to weary you with any mori details, I will simply read the names of the different measures found to exist in this country by Dr. Young. 1820, when he prepared a report on the subject for the use of Parhament.— The awn, bag, bale, basket, bat. bay. bcatment, billet, bind, bing, boll, bolt, bolting, bottle, bout, box, bucket, bunch, bundle, burden, cabot, cade, canter, caroteel, carriage, cart, cartload, case, cast, cheef. chest, clue, cord, corf, cran, cranock, cut, cyvar, cyrelin. daugh, dish, drop, dupper. erw. faggot, fall, fan, flask, fodder, fotmal, frazil, garb, gaun, glean, gunny, gwaith- gwT, hank, head, heap, hide, hobed, hoop, hutch, hyle, incast, ingrain, jar. jug. keel, kemple, kenning, kibin, kishon, kiver, knot, lay, leap, lispound. Hath. Uathen, gyvelin, llestraid, lug, maen, maise, mark, mast, math, measure, meer, meiliard, merk, mount, mug, o.xland, pack, packet, paladr, pared, peccaid. peget, piece, pig, ploughland, pocket, poke, pot, pwys, quintal, reel, rees, rhaw. ridge, role, rope, roul, sack, saume. sester, sieve, skain. skin, skron, sleek, spindle, square, stacca, staff, stank, stick, stimpart, stook, stoeed, sum, takle, talshide, tankard, teal, thrave, thread, threave, timber, topston, truss, tub, tunnell. verg^e, vragina. waggon-load, wain, warp, web, weight, and windle ; in all, 154. The Annual Root Show of Messrs. Carter & Co. was held on Friday, the 24th ult., on the premises of the Pneumatic Despatch Company, High Holborn. Notwithstanding that this show has been uted only a comparatively few years, it numbered this s 1 by Me upwards of 200 entries. The 1 Carter's customers, under ordinary farm cultivation. The most striking feature of the show was a collection of enormous specimens of their Mammoth Long Red Mangel, weighing individually upwards of 50 lb. The 1st prize of 10 gs. or a silve cup, for 24 roots of their Imperial Swede brough a great number of competitors. Twenty-four roots in this class weighed over 4 cwt. There 1 also a very handsome collection of Carter's Pi Intermediate Mangel, a variety which produces great weight per acre, its form admitting of its being left closer in the rows than other kinds. The othe most noticeable sorts were Imperial Green Globe, Pomeranian White Globe, Devonshire Grey Si new Purple-top Mammoth Turnips ; the Imperial Green Kohl Rabi, White and Yellow Belgian Carrots, Ox Cabbages, &c. ; all evincing great care in the selection and cultivation of the various kinds. The following are some of the awards :— For the best 24 roots of Cirler's Imperial Hardy Swede. — ist. E. Lythall, Esq., Radford Hall, Leamington, a Silver Cup, value 10 cs. ; jd, Mr. D. Tully, Bowes House, Fence Houses, Ci 5.!- ; 3d, S. London. Esq-. High Chimneys. Hurst. £,i y. ; 4th, R. W. Glendennlng, Esq., Bromdykes, Chirnside, A= ■is. For 16 roots of Pomeranian or other White Globe Turnip.— ist, J. Gosling, Esq., Sonning, near Twyford ; sd, Mr. J. Cave. Surfiect. „ , ,, For 5 roots of Mammoth or other Long Red Mangel.— ist. Mr. R. Beecher. bailiff to J. Be.amish, Esq.. Kilnialooda ; 2d, Dr. J. Buck, Leicester. For 6 roots of Elvelham or other Long Yellow Jlangel.— ist. J. Fleming, Esq., Grouiidslow, Stone; =d, Mr. D. M'Xicar, 3f Warden or other Yellow Mangel. - Mr. R. Beecher. of Red Globe^ Mangel.— is!, W. B ■A, S- London, Esq. other Purple Kohl Rabi.- S. Robinson, Esq., Melboun Grimsthorpe. M'Vicar ; 2d. For 6 root Weybrldge; For 6 roots of Intermediate Prize Mangel. M'Vicar ; 2d. J. Haws, Esq , Romford. For 12 roots of Mammoth '•-- Fleming, Esq. For the finest Ox Cabbage, Derby. Mr. Mechi writes thus of the proceedings of a clever Scottish farmer in Essex, who had been " driven out " of his farm in Scotland by a still cleverer Scoitish farmer as we must pronounce him to be, see- ing that he had to pay the higher rent from which his predecessor ran away : — ■• Scotch farmers are being driven out of Scotland by an enormous increase in their rents at the termination of their 19 years' leases, especially those who, as good and profitable farmers, improved their land at the commence- ment of their leases bv draining, liming, and other means. There being no tenaiit-right in Scotland, the landowners get the benefit of these improvements at the termination of the leases ; and, where the demand for a new rent is excessive, the tenant seeks for cheaper and unimproved farms— often in England. This is good for England, as I purpose to show by the following recent instance in our county of Essex. A Scotch farmer, whose lease was approaching termination, and who was paying ;Ji6oo a year rent for 400 acres of land, purchased in Essex a farm of 350 acres, with a good residence. &c., upon it, for ^20 an acre. This was a good, honest, but very stiff tile earth or collapsing clay, undrained. which went begging for ! i6j. per Unfor- tunately, there still exists in Essex a belief among farmers that it is of no use to drain these plastic or collapsing clays, although the hard chalky clays are frequently drained. Our Scotch farmer, having no such mistaken prejudice, drained all the land 18 feet apart and 3 feet deep, put the fields into proper shape, broke up the wretched pastures, using the steam-plough, thus reducing his number of horses to nine instead of 17. and now grows 150 acres of Wheat, 40 acres of winter Beans, fine crops of winter Tares, Clover, and Mangel. The farm being close to water carriage, all the crops and straw (except what is required for the farm horses and a few bullocks) are sold off the farm, and the barges that con- vey them to London bring back London manure. ^Vhat a change in the scene ! Poverty superseded by plenty, employment for labour and capital greatly increased, food for the people multiplied, capital remunerated, and the manufacturer of farm machinery benefited. 'Fhe land is all deeply steam-ploughed by a lo-horse engine, on the roundabout system, the iron harrows having teeth 12 inches long. No cultivator is used. This soil was in the first instance so adhesive and tenacious that three horses or more were required to plough it, and in its original un- drained state it was scarred with deep furrows and water furrows to carry off the water from the surface. Now. by deep steam cultivation, the land is all levelled and the water passes down readily to the subterranean drains, there not a sufficient evidence of the necessity for provement when land so near the great food-requiring metropohs is to be had for £,10 per acre ? I have seen such land so sold within the last 12 months, and there is plenty to be had at prices ranging from £20 to ^^30 per acre. This would not be so if we had manufacturers in Essex. " This Scotch farmer wisely adopted the crops suited to our Essex soil and climate, such as Beans, Wheat, Mangel. Clover, and Tares, and avoided the usual error made by Scotch farmers in attempting to grow Turnips here on the Scotch plan, or spring Wheat." OUR LIVE STOCK. CATTLE. A VERY neat catalogue of the Dunmoie herd, just published, already contains the names and pedigrees of the recent importations from America, The high-bred assemblage of Shorthorns collected together by Lord Dunmore, comprise members of a large number of famous families. The herd may even be criticised as heterogeneous, when compared with the tenacious adherence of most of our eminent breeders to, at most, a few names. This is, however, a fault (?) to be looked for in a young herd, and as time goes on we shall pro- bably find certain tribes asserting themselves more emphatically, to the exclusion of others. This diversity constitutes our principal difficulty in reviewing the Dun- more catalogue, in which we find a list of 88 animals, and representing 33 families. Among these. Duchesses 106M and 107M occupy the first place. Next follow four Oxfords— IT//; Lady of Oxford, and her calf by 6th Duke of Geneva, imported last April ; and 8M Maid of Oxford, and her calf by 4TH Duke of Geneva, imported during the present month. The four " Red Roses," also just landed from America, come next, after which we have a collection of eight Kirklevingtons, known also as Siddingtons, and at Dunmore as Marchionesses. Lord Dunmore's three Kirklevington cows have been prolific since he obtained them at Didmarton and Siddington, having produced five heifer and two bull calves. There is one Waterioo cow, one Cherry Princess of the Cherry Duchess tribe, and Lady Thomdak Bales of the Lady Barrington tribe ; after which a considerable array of Wild Eyes cons and heifers concludes the Bates portion of the catalogue. Knight- leys appear inconsiderable force, representing Cathlem by Candytuft, Flourish by Little John, and Annette by Little John ; Sweetheart yh represents Milcote, and Baroness Oxford and her daughter Cygnet the Southcott " Californias ; " Red Bonnet, by Mr. Peacock's Gajie Boy, bred by Earl de Grey, is the ancestress of the Revelry family, now boasting among them a Rez'ehy ()th (late Kiily). Mason and Colling blood is also present, the former represented by Lady Thorndale, a direct descendant of Portia by Cato, and the latter by representatives of Countess by Cupid, and later of Vu^let by Henwood, and stock in turn possessed by the late Earl Ducie and Mr. Bowly, of Siddington. Musicals, of Siddington notoriety ; Cleopatras with a cross of Booth, through the famous DuKE or Buckingham (14,428) ; animals from Didmarton, from Nunwick, from Kingscote, and from other famous herds, conclude a long list of well bred cattle. 2D DuKE OF Collingham, bred by Captain Gunter, and purchased at the Didmarton second sale, still heads the list of bulls, and the remain- bulls are from cows now in the herd ing: . the The Mark Lane Express thus comments ( prevalence of white cattle among the prize-takers at Birmingham: — "If not quite fashionable, the white Shorthorns were altogether in the ascendant, as, where there was any competition, all the first-prize oxen and steers were of this colour. Thus beyond Mr. Stratton's ox, the best of the next class, who came from Scotland with a high character, and goes on to London, was a white ; but though a really good steer, he had not much to beat, and the same may be said of Lord Exeter's white, a 1st prize at Oakham."— The prejudice against white Shorthorns is surely dying out, as it deserves to do. It is tnie that some two years since a butcher, described as "a man of education and thought," repeated again and again, as the invariable result of his experience, that a white animal has not nearly as much blood in it as one of another colour- little more than half as much. Such a statement is an admirable example of the rash generalisations and irresponsible theories too often hazarded by practical men. Whether whiteness is a real disparagement to an animal may of course be open to discussion, but while we have vigorous well-grown sires, or excellent milking cows of this " objectionable" hue, we can hardly believe that they are deficient in quantity of blood. Neither is the fact insignificant that not only our native wild cattle are nearly white, but that escaped cattle tend to the same colour. On the Ladrone Islands in the Pacific Ocean, immense herds of cattle, which were wild in the year 1741, are described as milk-white, except their ears, which are generally black ("Anson's Voyage"). The Falkland Islands, situated far south, offer a more in- teresting case. Cattle have run wild there, during 80 or 90 years, and in the southern districts the animals are mostly white, with their feet, or heads, or only their ears black (Darwin). Now, it is evident that, when animals are unrestrained, a kind of natural selection is constantly taking place ; the weakest go to the wall, the strongest bulls become the sires, and if any particular colour was correlated with constitutional weakness, it is hardly probable that it would at length predominate over other tints. We should not have any difficulty in naming famous bulls and cows among our most noted herds of a white colour ; and the results of sales show that the opinion of breeders is not averse to white. The 14th number of Thornton's Circular con- tains the prize lists of our principal shows, so far at least as Shorthorns are concerned ; the results of all the chief public sales from July 5 ; an account of cattle exported ; births and deaths among Shorthorns, and lists of bulls for service and animals for sale. The present number derives an additional and sad interest from obituary notices of the eminent agriculturists and Shorthorn breeders, whose loss during the last few months we have had to deplore. We refer to the late Mr. T. C. Adkins, Mr. T. W. Bramston, Mr. John Clayden, Mr. Richard Eastwood, Sir John Rolt, and Mr. Richard Slratton. It is seklom that death has, in a single year, made such sad changes among us, and we may abk— Where is the agriculturist, of any note, who among these esteemed and lamented men has not lost a friend ? SHEEP. In the notice of the late Mr. J. C. Adkins' agricul- tural career (Thornton's Circular) the following passage occurs, relating to the origin of the Milcote Down sheep : — "It is, however, as a breeder that his (Mr. Adkins) name is widely knowm ; sheep were the stock upon which he mostly depended, and he quietly succeeded in prodtic- ing another variety of Downs. Cotswolds were originally kept, but there was difficulty in running them thickly ; they produced fat at the expense of lean, and this, with the preference of dark for white faces in the market, pre- 1560 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agri<;ultural Gazette. [December 2, 1871. Pure-bred Cotswold ewes, and pure Down tups i character, but even with judic weeding he failed to secure ur he pursued another systen the darker n those with the Cotswold ious selection and vigorous iformity. Nothing daunted, The purchased ; aside, and cross or home-bred ones used ; these were reared on two principles. From the best Cotswold flocks a few of the finest ewes were occasionally selected, and mated with first-class Hampshire Down rams. A robust Cotswold or Down tup was paired with Hampshire or Wiltshire Down ewes, and from these alliances were reared cross-bred rams, of which the best alone were reserved for service. Carefully pursuing that system, with that fine judgment and care with which Mr. Adkins was so liberally endowed, the Milcote flock steadily became uniform ; a large fall of lambs was regularly secured ; the ewes were admirable nurses, and when the tegs were about a year old they went fat from Mangel and hay, weighing from 20 to 25 lb. per quarter. The weight of wool was scarcely sacrificed, and compact, so uniform 'eignt 01 wool acreable yield decidedly increased, hardy, and thriving was the flock, and withal was its character, that an active demand has risen in the neighbourhood for rams. The type of the Milcote Down is somewhat as follows :— A dark mottled face, rather large broad head, tapering to a fine muzzle, a short stout neck, a swelling bosom, well clad with wool, the carcase long, cylindrical, and well ribbed up, with strong good loin, supported on rather short, brown-mottled legs, the wool partaking of the Down character, and averaging from the whole flock between 8 and 9 lb." T/{£ LEICESTER SHEEP. VouR review of Mr. Bell's history of the improved vShorthoms (August 26, 1871, p. II 12), relating to Leicester sheep, is not likely to add to the credit of his volume. As you ask the opinion of Leicester sheep breeders upon the following anecdote, I beg to offer a few observations : — "Mr. Bates often mentioned a fact which showed Mr. Waistells discernment. Mr. Bakewell, he said, had con- cealed from the world how he had produced that wonder- ful improvement in his flock, but if the tntth were known, he was sure that it would prove that he had done it by the use of a black tup. Seventeen years after Mr. Bates heard Mr. Waistell state this, he named it to a gentlemen who had visited Mr. Bakewell in his early career as a breeder, and he said that, ' While staying with Mr. Bakewell I observed that there was one part of his premises he did not show me, and I got up very early one morning and went and examined these premises, and I there found a black tup, a most extraordinary animal ; but as il was a liberty I had taken I did not mention it tc any one, ' w hich confirmed what Mr. Waistell had said, Mr. Bates further stated that he had leamt from good authority that Mr. Bakewell bought this black tup ai Ashbourne market, in Derbyshire, and that the fact wa; well known by those who saw him buy the same black tup, and that he also had good authority for saying that of late years black lambs occasionally came from Leicester ewes, though none were ever seen in Mr. Bakewell's days, which is a strong proof that animals breed back even tc ivell s mquts in his search, for any one at all cognisant of Mr. Bakewell's character and habits will give him credit for being too good a general to be taken by surprise by any man, he had his staff so well regulated. The history of the black ram is simply and easily told. The facts are these :— Mr. Bates, with Mr. John Clifford Elches, then of Barton Park, near Burton' Trent, afterwards of Hurley Thome, near Stone, and another friend, came to Dishley, from the meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society at Derby, and spent a day and a night with me ; and any one knowing the inquisitive mind of Mr. Bates, will readily imagine the theme of conversation on such an occasion : the three subjects discussed were Leicester sheep, Shorthorns, and manures. Mr. Bates was very anxious to copy some memoranda of mine on artificial manures, and when I came downstairs early in the morning, I found him hard at work at the subject. Whether the black ram had disturbed his rest, I cannot say ; but now for its history. The first that was heard ol the black ram was related by Mr. Bakewell himself, . and was not found out by any Pry. Messrs. J. P. and Thomas Stone, the former of Quorden, and the latter of Barrow-on- Sour, sent ewes to Dishley to the ram, and Mr. John Stone sat up for a week with his favourite sheep, and at length she produced a black lamb, whereupon the brothers went to Dishley to complain to Mr. Bakewell that the shepherd had turned their ewes to "lane tup." Mr. Bakewell gooJ-humouredly tapped Mr. John Stone on the shoulder, and said : " Voung man, let this be a lesson to you through life ; I can account to you for this black lamb. In my early improvements of my flock, I went to Ashbourne Fair, and the best ram I found there was a black one, which I bought, and used him, and that is how your black lamb came." Now, with reference to what is stated by Mr. Bell or Mr. Bates, that he or they could add information as to Mr. Bakewell having been seen buying the sheep — it appears a fabrication ; but I can easily imagine it from two snch fertile minds. Now, Mr. Elches v native of Ashbourne, and his father was an extensive butcher, and I knew them intimately, and beli should have heard all about the black ram. The fact is, there was a black lamb at Dishley about 1S20, and at the June show of that year there was much conversation about it, and Mr. J. B. Stone related the anecdote. The lamb was killed for the show, and Mr. Turner, of Cadbury, near Tiverton, found fault with my father for killing it ; that was the only black lamb that occurred in our flocks for nearly 50 years, and that fact was related to Mr. Bates and Mr. Elches at Dishley. Mr. Bates appears to be silent upon what passed about the Bolingbroke or Duchess blood in Shorthorns. What must we say about the statements of Mr. Dixon's prize essay, " Rise and Progress of the Leicester Breed of Sheep," No. 8, 2d Series, Part II., 1868, of the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, which has only just come under my notice? He states that Leicestershire had good sheep before Bakewell's day. In searching some antiquated records of 200 years ago, he speaks of the famous Rothley plain as a rabbit warren and a sheep walk. Who ever heard of good sheep in the present sense of the word on a rabbit warren ? He might as well have included Churley Forest, which extends from near Ashby de la Zouch to Leicester. Now, the forest sheep were very small, with grey faces and legs, and fine wool. Mr. Dixon limits the palm to Bakewell as the great improver of the Leicester ; but not only are the Leicester sheep, Longhorns, and the heavy horse, indebted to Bakewell, but every other breed, for he set men to think about improving their breeds. Mr. Dixon states that there are pictures extant of the great breeder in his drab Quaker-cut coat, jack-boots, and periwig. On this subject, however, I am bound t take issue with Mr. Dixon, and say there neve was a likeness of Bakewell taken from life, c painted from memory within 50 years of h death ; what has been painted since I cannc tell. It was a constant object with my father to try to get a portrait of the great man. I have heard him talk to Mr. Walton, who was a pupil of, and many years with, Bakewell, who was afterwards represented in the portraits of the Woburn and Holcombe sheep shearings, and with Mr. Vickers, of Loughborough the surgeon, who was a constant guest at Bakewell' table ; and also with Mr. Weaver, the artist, who he frequently asked and tried to persuade to paint Bake- well from memory. Now Weaver was a pupil of Mr. Boultby, who painted stock for Bakewell, so that had there been any portrait of Bakewell Weaver known it. Mr. Dixon then says, "dine who might with him, he would not break through his rule of having a small round table to himself in the comer near the window.'' This is partially true, although a round table, but a sort of desk or rostrum, from which he held all conversation with his guests. Had Mr. Dixon been well informed upon this subject, he would have known that there is an anecdote told of Bakewell, at the time the Duke of Bedford and Sir John Sinclair were dining with him. Mr. Vickers, who was there, as the clock was nearly ten, asked permission to have his horse ordered, at which the Duke remonstrated with Mr. Vickers, hoping he would not break up the company, but he replied, " I know Mr. Bakewell's rules, my lord." Bake- well was appealed to, and replied, " If my servants do not go to bed at night, I cannot expect them to do their duty to me in the morning ; " and no matter who was there, bed candlesticks were always brought in a little before ten o'clock, and no servant was expected to attend after that hour. Mr. Dixon then comments upon the black cart horse of the ■ old K sort," which was nearly as much Bakewell's delight as Longhoms and Longwools. ' ' When Bakewell received a notice to show one of his horses in London to George III., his Majesty looked more at the ledge, for Mrs. Honeyboume gave to my father everything of antiquity Bakewell left — principally pies of wool, specimens of sheeps' heads and bones I a large Flemish horse shoe, sea weeds, and the like. Had there been such a book, she would have been pleased to have given it to my father, to whom she felt she was under considerable obligations. r. Dixon's informants seem to have very little knowledge of where Mr. Bakewell sought for crosses for his flock. Tor he never mentions one word about the Derbyshire limestone sheep," or the " Teeswater," both of which, it is generally understood, were brought to Dishley ; neither does he quote the " Romney Marsh " sheep as springing from Mr. Bakewell's flock, as there is no doubt they did, and their history trace- able, which, however, would scarcely be required by any man who knew the true type of a " Leicester." There is one more statement of Mr. Dixon's that I cannot pass over. Mr. Bakewell's flock, he says, went after its founder's death into the hands of Mr. Smith, of Dishley, and passed from him to Mr. Honeyboume (Bakewell's nephew). The fact is, my father succeeded Mr. Honeyboume, and felt that the flock had so much deteriorated in Mr. Honeyboume's hands that he did not buy a single lot, perhaps from the practice of " in- and-in" breeding, a fallacy long admitted. I cannot close this letter without asking permission, as an admirer of Shorthorns, to thank Mr. Sanday for his valuable paper read at Newark upon the deterio- ration of that breed, in the main points of which I perfectly agree with him. B. Smithy 37, Caledonian Road, London, N. , late of Dishley. than at the horse." Does Mr. Dixon wish to convey that the King was surprised at Bakewell's eccentric appearance, or was it that his Majesty was looking with interest on the man who had con- ferred such lasting benefits upon the kingdom and mankind? I should think the latter, for it must not be forgotten that twice in his pecuniary difficulties Mr. Bakewell received assistance from the State. Such was the opinion of the Government of the benefits Bakewell had rendered to his country. It may not be out of place here to mention an occurrence that took place at the " Warwick show," at which Mr. Bakewell was generally asked to preside. After his failure, some one asked Mr. Fowler, of Row- bright, to take the chair, and after dinner taunted Bakewell that Fowler's bull " Garrick " was the best bull in England. The old gentleman said, "Perhaps so." After the taunt had been repeated, Bakewell replied, " It takes a great deal to constitute the best bull in England," and observed, "we have always our discussions held that that bull, horse, or ram tl got the best stock was the best animal. Now, I s Mr. Fowler's bull 'Garrick' is not the best bull England, but that Dishley ' Twopenny ' is the best bull in all England, for he got ' Garrick.'" Mr. Dixon further states the memoirs of this old Leicestershire worthy have never been published, but that his sayings, such as "Money wears out three lives," "Consume half the com you grow with beasts, or lay out half its price in cake ; " " Rise with the lark and to bed with the lamb " — are still preserved in aMS. book at Dishley I assert there never was such a book in Bakewell'; days ; if there had, it must have come to my know THE AGRICULTURAL LABOURER. A FEW days since. Earl Nelson gave his annua audit dinner to his tenants at Whiteparish, Hants. His lordship spoke upon the position of the agricul- tural labourer, with especial reference to two questions of the day very nearly concerning their common inte- rest, and their relations to each other. First, the demand pretty prominently put forth that if the rights of property were to be held sacred, the duties of pro- perty were as sacred and must be duly performed ; secondly, the growing endeavour of the lower classes to rise in the social scale and to improve their condition physically and morally. He was going to be very plain-spoken in stating what he considered to be the present relation between the tenant-farmer and his labourer. Might one not hear many a farmer say something as follows? — "We don't very much like this education movement, but we can't help it now. We would sooner people would not migrate, for we are in danger of having too small a supply of labour. The men must be looked sharply after, or they would chisel us out of a good deal at day-work ; some are not above cheating even when we give them piece-work to help out their wages. When they get more wages we have no security they will not squander them in drink. They are pretty sure to come upon the poor-rates when ill, and when past work ; we are so burdened by these rates that we can't give a good man higher wages, and yet they are getting so independent that the only way to get any power over them is to get hold of their cot- tages. But we are kind to them ; we visit them when draw their fuel, put them into a clothing club, and they ought to be contented." Now, he did not think ' 's was a satisfactory state of things ; it was ruling by king men feel their dependence ; it was good for nothing unless the screw was put on now and then ; and he thought this feeling of dependence had a direct endency to destroy provident habits and increase pauperism. They ought to go right-about-face alto- gether and try a different system. He believed he could clearly show that the rate of wages was every- here very much according to the labour given, except that three good, provident, sober labourers at l$s. i'ould be everywhere cheaper than four inferior, impro- ident, and dmnken ones at lis. It was manifest that their own Wiltshire labourer, though he had not got the benefit of good food or of continuous hard work to keep up to its full efficiency his working power, could and did do more at piece-work than he did at daily wages ; therefore he could give more if he chose, and if they could gain his good-will they would get all the labourer could give, which was more than any super- vision or any dread from a feeling of dependence could gain for them. First, there should be a hearty zeal for the real education of the people. A sham or half education brought all the evils and none of the good. Let them not wait for Parliament to compel them, but of their own free will refuse to employ a child until he had passed in the third standard, and oblige the children to go to school in the winter months till they had passed to the fourth or fifth. Secondly, their present system was altogether tending to drive out of our people all that spirit of independence and self- respect which used to keep them off the poor-rate. It was no good to tell them not to drink and to save their money if they had nothing to save it for, and if their chance in old age or sickness was to share outdoor relit f on the same terms as the profligate, the thief, and the drunkard, who had done nothing for his independ- ence, and had been a biu-den on the rates all his life. Thirdly, a wholesome migration, by helping those who had saved something for the purpose, might be en- couraged in overcrowded parishes, and everything that would give those that remained a greater interest in the December 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1561 land they were required to till would tend to attach them to it, and encourage provident habits. He would suggest the following practical points for their consideration : — 1st. That with a general consent of all the tenant-farmers of the neighbourhood, Is. per week should be added at once to the general wage rate of all who belonged to a duly registered provident society. This, whenever generally adopted, would benefit the tenant-farmer wherever he might be, as tending directly to reduce the poor-rate for sick pay or permanent relief. 2d. lie should advise half-an-acre of ground being given at a fair rent as garden ground to every cottager on the farm, and that the tenant-farmer should plough it up for his labourer. That would enable any man to keep a pig without fear of the temptation to steal for its support, and would not take away from the work which the farmer might fairly require from a well-paid man. In the largest farm it would amount to little more than the ploughing up of five acres gratis, and ■' "on of the perma ' ' ' so much as to ir any vacancy. 3d. He woul quarter of a ye; ake the i , fill very Dttagei , full pay- ment Irom nis successor lor any crops left in the ground at the time of his leaving his cottage. 4th. In the matter of neighbourly favours to the labourers there were various little things enumerated by his lordship which would be a great help to their endeavours for the good of the people. With regard to the duties of the landlord, he would say that his first duties were to live on his property and among his people, to take a lead in supporting their church and school and provident and other societies, and where, unfortunately, non-resident, that he should visit his property from time to time, and give larger subscriptions for the support of those things, to make up for his enforced absence. These were truisms which were happily now pretty generally accepted. But more than this was required of him. He must not allow his personal gratifications to hinder him from a careful performance of all parochial and county duties ; he should not allow a large herd of game for his own amusement to interfere with the proper development and improvement of the land ; he should be forward in encouraging such improvements, and must not be afraid, if required, to give long leases, at least to those whom he had found by experience to have the and capacity for improving the land ; he should be ready above all things to have sufl'icient cottages on his farms, and in good repair ; and he should be willing to share in the payment of the poor-rate, as giving him as well as his tenants, a direct interest in keeping then down. To complete the special work for improvini she condition of the agricultural labourer, he might di two things to encourage provident habits among them— start a system of small cow-lands to be let to labourer of good character who had saved jf lo to jf 20, am build or set apart a few houses on the property to b had rent-free by such labourerers or their widows wh' had worked long on the estate, and had secured fo themselves sick or old age allowance from their provi dent society. He believed by the plans he had yen tured to put before them they would obtain for them selves a contented and attached peasantry, who wouli he willing at all times to give an honest day's labour for an honest day's pay THE LAND QUESTION. This great and grave question is at the presen moment occupying a foremost place in many people': minds, and it will doubtless have some day to be met It behoves all who are interested in the coming struggh to gird on their armour, bearing in mind that to be fore warned is to be forearmed. A small section of persons with Professors Stuart Mill and Fawcett at their head has for some time been busy promulgating the opinioi that there is no private property in land, but that it be longs to the people, or rather to the .State, for the publii good, and that it is necessary for the good of thi country, and even its safety, that we should adopt the French system of moirelU-mmt : in other words, that the land should be cut into slices, and that we should have small farms and a peasant proprietary. To thi: doctrine I demur. However this system may be adapted to France, it has been I ■ . . . Engla nd fai 1 this coun The only 1 .veil ex ressed it, by doing th two labourers, and living at the expense c ■ we examine into the effect of the small farr :n Ireland, we can find nothing for congratu The landlords are dissatisfied, and woul The n Engla U the m: the tim gradually become there is hardly or .Simply because th answer iheir purpo These Tged ii s are dissatisfied with erything else, while lingly fertile, and low ito the larger Why has thi could not, 01 all the V ably ght else, he does not generally se nan more needy than himself, but, ; of common sense, he offers it to y for it. It is the old story here, over ; money begets money. Lane rule pays less interest than any other form of sect and provided things are allowed to go on peaa and quietly, which I trust they may, the ownersh land in this country will become a luxury in which only the wealtliy can indulge. A millionnaire may obtain enough to satisfy his wants at 2 or 25- per cent., and be willing to make a sacrifice of income for the locus standi which large landed possessions give. Not so John Green. He finds that he may toil on his few acres all his life and be in income no better, and in anxiety much greater, than a labourer. He wisely parts with his little freehold, and with the proceeds he can go into business on a larger scale, or, if he prefers it, he can invest in some other of the many kinds of security in the market, whereby his income may be doubled or trebled. This is no fancy sketch, it is wlrat has been going on daily for the last century. And so long as it answers the purpose of the poor man to sell, and the rich man to buy, I cannot see what anybody else has to do with it, provided it be not detrimental to the public good. I maintain that it is not. It is my belief that land in large parcels is beneficial rather than otherwise to the commonwealth. The large estates in this country are generally the best managed. It is on these where improvements of a permanent character have been most extensively carried out. In fact, I can sysi elem ntsofh uman happine sexist in so large a degree as tl ey do on a large, ^ wner fully rec veil-ordered its w ealthy c ognises the privileg es and rintre > of his exalted posi ally fin d the most prosperous tenant y and then ost thri ving and cont nted peasar try. t n such estat s good chools have fo r years exisi ed, whe 1 in the paris les owned by needy sn rail proprie ors the e have been no schc ols at all, or none worthy of the name. The laboure s and other retainers ho ve had better homes with la r allotments at easie r rents. the sanitary condition of t le people : as been better atten ded to. mployment ha s been more regular all the year round, a nd, in fact, the beneficial nfluence of the great house has been felt as widely as its sway extended. If we turn for a moment to the poorer open parishe: we find that little progress has been made as regard: the permanent improvement of the soil. Needy land lords and needy tenants often co-exist. Here, how ever, the village tradesman or other small capitalist has had no difficulty in getting hold of a bit of land where small savings could be invested in running up a fe breeding hutches for paupers. These have been built on the principle of giving the smallest possible accon- modation for the largest possible amount of rent, i other words to get as high a rate of interest for th outlay as possible. Into these places the labourei have from time to time congregated until their numbei were utterly disproportioned to the requirements of th cultivators of the soil, and hence it has been here th: labour has received its worst remuneration, and the poor-rale has been the heaviest. There are sev< parishes of this kind in this county, and I have doubt in every county in England. A word now on the agricultural labourer. His c dition has in my time considerably improved, and 1 continue to improve. A good deal of nonsens: twaddle has been written and talked during the : year or two, about rooting the labourer to the soil. I was born there he must either live or starve. If he left the parish to which he belonged, and where he could obtain no work, and went to another where employ- ment was to be had, he was hunted out by the parish officers as an unclean or pestilent thing, and sent back whence he came. Happily for him a better state of things now exists. His shackles have been cut; he is free to go where he pleases to sell his labour in the best market. This is as it should be. He hi much right, and in fact it his duty, to improv< position as well as the rest of the community : provided always, as the lawyers say, he does so in a quiet, 1 obtrusive way ; but strikes I regard as unmitiga curses. There has never yet been a conflict betw( labour and capital but has been productive of n chievous and disastrous results. From the parish which I dwell there have, during the last year or l\ Vorks able •ell there have, du a hundred soul; where the childn ages. Now, if the have somehow they have gone a slice of beef ^ whereby all tin people go whe being a clog u money fo uld have d ligrated to Ha I get employed ; : people had all rei with them : as it I be supported out of the : e been inconvenienced more th ng to shortness of hands, but th idevil. If we have less people, ay : and I prefer it to having, as [hful davs, a do/cn men and ho selves the first thing in the morning asking for work, which meant wages, when there was none to give. Shortness of hands, too, has the effect of leading to stricter supervision on the part of the master ; and as necessity is the mother of invention, it makes him set his wits to work so to manage the forces at his disposal as to make the most of them. Too great an abundance of cheap, or rather underpaid, labour often leads to laxity of discipline. Now that labour is allowed to fiow freely, the labourer may be safely left to take care of himself, and practically he Ls doing it. The result will, ultimately, be a nearer approximation of the wages as paid in town and country. It would be better if three well-paid men would do three men's work, than that five underpaid men should do it. Unfortunately, I find in practice that when hands are scarce and wages higher, it leads to the belief on the part of the men that their services cannot be dispensed with, and is apt to make them both idle and impertinent. It appears, however, that the friends of the working man are not satisfied with the intention of splitting up the land for his benefit, but the whole of the middle class, in the shape of tradesmen as well as farmers, is to be wiped out as with a sponge, and all his wants are to be supplied from huge co-operative stores. Now, let me ask who and what are the middle classes of this country ? In our rural districts those belonging thereto have either themselves or their forefathers risen from the ranks to the positions they occupy by dint of superior intelligence, industry, thrift, frugality, and self-denial ; and if any one of them ceases to practise these virtues, he very soon drops into the ranks again. If we go to the metropolis, or any of our large seats of manufacture or commerce, and inquire into the ante- cedents of the prosperous tradesmen or the merchant princes there, we shall generally find that either they or their fathers before them have begun life with barely a shilling. The same avenues to success are still open to the working-man ; in fact, they are multiplied, owing to our greater wealth ; and, so long as he is content by fair and proper means to better his con- dition, and raise himself in the social scale, I for one wish him " god-speed ; " but I have no patience with any set of men, whether philosophers or fools, who wish violently to break up the existing order of things, and build up a new social fabric on the ruins. A word now about that long-suffering and much- abused animal the British farmer, the only person in the world who is popularly supposed to know nothing about his own business. Through evil report and good report he has somehow managed to hold his own. I have no fears for him yet, provided he is fairly dealt by. Give him long leases, or some well-devised scheme of tenant-right, and do not unduly eat him up with game, and he will compete, as he has competed, successfully with the whole world. I am satisfied that the only way in which the broad acres of England can be culti- vated to the greatest advantage is by the manufacturers of bread and beef taking a lesson from their brethren, the manufacturers in other.departments of industry ; and by a liberal application of capital, and a judicious use of machinery, securing the largest result at the least cost. This is impossible on a small scale. No bank will pay a better interest for the investment of our savings than the bank on which we exist, provided that the bank in which we place our deposit should give us good security. It is easy to talk of the slowness of farmers, and their want of enterprize ; but where on earth can any set of men be found ready to invest such large sums as they do in another person's property, with nothing better than a six months' notice, which hangs like the sword of Damocles suspended by a hair over their heads, and may any moment fall, through some slight hitch in conduct, some trifling breach of duty, or some un- fortunate word spoken at a public meeting, as was lately the case with a tenant-farmer, who, for a speech made at Leamington, has been banished from the home where he and his forefathers had for generations dwelt. The connection between landlord and tenant is of too serious and impoitant a character to be thus lightly broken. The cultivation of the soil is above all other interests paramount, inasmuch as it is impossible for the world to go on without it. If all the old: and the irld, with all the subterranean treasures of the globe we inhabit were piled together in one huge heap, man could not subsist on it for a single week. It is that which is grown on the surface of the earth which sus- tains, not only the human race, but all animated Nature. Hence it is of vast consequence to every man, woman, and child in the world whether that surface be well or ill-culiivaled. And in the common interest those who are engaged in this department of industry should have every encouragement and security offered to them. Even as things go, all writers on agriculture, whether English or foreign, concur in saying that the farming of this country is the best in the known world ; and this is, in my opinion, sufficient proof that there is not much wrong in our system of land management, either as regards ownership or occupancy, and ought to be held as conclu-ive evidence against those who desire to effect radical changes. I look upon the English farmers as the braces which bind together the up lof : the kept ! 1562 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 2, 1 87 1. Jome Comspnknte. The Education of the Agricultural Labourer, —There can be very little doubt— if we take the tone of the last discussion at the London Farmers' Club as a guide, that the average farmer is opposed to the education of tlie labourer. There were no observa- tions received with a more general murmur of assent than that of the chairman, Mr. Spearing, when he said, " It seems to me that the agricultural labourer is get- ting over-educated," "if he becomes much more educated we shall not be able to depend on his labour at all." When Mr. Clare Sewell Read objected to "the prohibition of boys working under 10 years of age," and " to the compulsory attendance of children up to 12 years of age in secular schools ; " and when he said, " the man who is taught book-learning is not necessarily a better labourer" — "that our fathers were badly educated " in the ordinary sense, but were "better men than ourselves !"— that " whatever may be the result of improved education the farmers will derive less benefit than any other class"— that "the elementary education will not work well in the rural districts "—all this was highly approved ; and if the audience had consisted of hundreds of farmers instead of dozens, it would have been enthusiastically ap- plauded. What is the reason of this feeling, so universal amongst farmers and shared by not a few old-fashioned squires? Does it not arise from the quality of the education hitherto imparted at consider- able personal sacrifices by the rural clergy? How seldom is it that in a village school anything is taught, anything is read, having reference to the animals, the plants, the tools, or the occupations in which the chil- dren are to be interested when they go to work. I do not know one good text-book that gives an account of the live stock of the farm, written by a practical man, in the style that would interest children— I mean the style of which Canon Kingsley is such a master, and of wdiich Mr. KnatchbuU Hugessen has lately published an excellent example in fairy tales. Books of natural history there are in plenty, and pictures of all sorts of things to adorn school walls, that have nothing to do with practical rural life. Now farmers are practical men, tliey find the little labourer able to read more or less imperfectly, but not the least improved in intelli- gence as regards farm work. Why should not the cattle, according to their breeds, — Shorthorn, Here- ford, Devon— and all the qualities, peculiarities of feeding and digestion of the milk cow, form the subject of one thoroughly interesting handbook, written in a plain, clear, exact, yet amusing style, expressly for children ? Why should not another be devoted to the sheep with its varieties, as suited to rich pastures, downs, and mountains? Why should not the modern implements of the farm and operations be made a subject of familiar reading? The child of ten hears of broadcast sowing in his Bible lessons, but not of the drill, and its appropriate manures, until he goes to work. A series of really practical handbooks for the use of rural schools do not exist at present. Those which have been published are quite above the comprehension of children, and are usually too theo- retical and too dry. This would be a proper subject for the education committee of the Council of the Royal Agricultural Societv. Their last educational effort has not been crowned with very brilliant success — four competitors and one prizeman sweeping all the prizes, at an expense to the Society of nearly /loo. But I know it would be a waste of time to press any- thing so practical and plainly useful on a committee which is so entirely ruled by its chairman, and wdiose chairman considers his own style of didactic dulness the perfection of agricultural instruction. How many of the prize essays of the Royal Agricultural Society, which he admires so much, have ever been found uorth separate publication? S. Sidiuy, AW. 22. Middle Class Schools.— The British public are yet in much perplexity relative to the final appro- priation of the many charity school funds throughout the kingdom. It is manifest that evei-y charity school fund for the especial purpose of educating poor children is superseded by the late Elementary Schools Act, which amply provides for their education from funds derivable from rateable p"roperty. This act of legislation has therefore set at liberty the funds of these schools for other purposes. To what purpose then can they be most beneficially and equitably applied ? My reply is, in establishing middle-class schools wherever practicable. It would not be equit- able or just to the country generally if they were applied to reduce the amounts paid in rates by the favoured parishes who possess one of those charity schools. All laws should be equal to all classes of the community : no particular parishes should derive exclusive benefits These charity school funds then should be thrown open, and, as far as possible, be appropriated for universal service. This in a great measure may be effected by establishing schools of a higher order, /. c, middle- class schools, in every convenient locality or district, to be open to all classes under proper and salutary regulations,— such schools to be under the superintend- ence of competent local authorities, and to be managed and taught by masters capable of teaching the higher branches of knowledge usually taught in our higher order of "grammar schools," "' These schools should be easily accessible, and by an amalgamation of the funds of several parochial charity schools may comprise a whole district ; or, if more desirable, neighbouring parishes may form a more local school for these parishes only, and irrespective of every such parish being pos- sessed of a charity school. In this way these funds may be made universally applicable for the general good, the local authorities to provide the school-rooms, elect the masters and teachers, and otherwise manage the affairs. The funds for building purposes to be borrowed of the Government Commissioners, as under the Elementary Schools Act, and to be charged upon the charity estates for the longest term permitted. Unquestionably these schools would ultimately be a great boon to the middle classes, and which they are fully entitled to, as some compensation for the unjust imposition upon them of the maintenance of tlie elementary schools from rateable property. It is quite superfluous to stipulate that these schools shall be un- sectarian, no other can in these liberal and enlightened times for a moment be tolerated ; but to banish from them the book of books, " the Bible," is still more un- tenable. It must be the School Book, and be read without denominational teaching. The difficulties attending the establishment of these schools is not great, and should be promptly commenced as the various masters of the charity schools are super- seded. 0. F. Milk as a Necessary Article of Food to the Children of Agricultural Labourers.— Mr. Mechi, in his article on the " Agricultural Labourer," in your last week's impression, says, " Skimmed milk is sold about here at ^c/. per quart, when once skimmed, but only a halfpenny if twice skimmed ; but there are so few cows kept that it is difficult to get any. It is a great boon to a labourer's family of small children." Here, I think, Mr. Mechi only half states the case ; it is not a great boon, but an absolute and urgent neces- sity. Living and practising for many years as a country doctor in an agricultural neighbourhood, I have had constant opportunities of seeing and lament- ing the great scarcity of milk among the labouring population, many of whom are not able to obtain any. Fortunately and happily the poor and hard-working mother is most often able to supply her offspring with a fount of natural breast-milk that the high-bred and wealthy parent would give much, but in vain, to possess ; and so for the first twelvemonths, or perhaps more, the children are plump and well-conditioned. If, how- ever, the mother should fail in her supply of milk, the child falls off, and sooner or later finds its way to the surgeiy, with all the appearance and history of wasting and pining. The first question. What are you feeding it on? reveals all. The mother is weakly, has no natural supply for it ; the child is fed with sop, bread, water, sugar, tea, sometimes a little broth. Milk often not one drop ; it cannot be procured. Thin and wasting as it is, we are told the little thing is never satisfied, and takes a great quantity, &c. To tht njunction generally given to represent the child's con. dition to the employer, and ask for a supply of gooc milk for it,—" Please, sir, they only keeps one cow for the use of the house." It is not to be procured, and often does the poor little sickly thing have its belly rubbed with cod-liver oil instead of having it filled with good milk. I'rom the time the labourers' child leaves the breast its previously rapid growth generally becomes arrested, and its development for the next few years ' lly very slow. True, after a time, the natural changes in dentition and the whole digestive system fit ■ for digesting all and any kind of food ; while the constant exposure to the atmospheric air causes a great demand for it in quantity ; and so, out of much bread and Potatos, oatmeal and bacon, the growing boy appears to extract enough nutriment to make him grow up a tough and enduring man. (I speak now more of the boy than the girl, for girls much sooner get away from home to good food and comfortable hom( under nurses, &c. ) But although he regains much lost ground as he grows up (and it is wonderful against what disadvantages Nature will fight in the great struggle for life) he seldom attains to the A I clas< among the types of his race. The agricultural labourers, as a class, are not nearly so fine a race as they should and would be if their progressive development were never checked. The registrars' report shows a sat! amount of mortality among the children of the labour, ing class, and a comparison of it with the death-rat( existing in the better classes would reveal a startling amount of something wrong. Not all, of course, ' very large proportion of the fault lies at the do mal-nutrition. But does this state of things cas reflection or reproach upon us as employers of the labouring population? I think so. How fully every intelligent farmer amongst us aware of the dis trous effect of checking the growth of any of his young stock by a want of that continuous supply of foods suited to its respective periods of age ! Have we a flock of lambing ewes? How sedulously do we care that there shall be a cow to calve just about the right time, to provide against the possible wants of the little strangers! Have we a sucking colt ? How carefully do we look to its dam and her food, and if she appear not to be giving to him sufficiently, how we ransack the farm for a bit of rich Clover, a few- green vetches, or, in winter, a mash of bran. Linseed, maltcombs, or other milk-giver. The same with our valuable Shorthorn calves ; we would not have their early growth checked for pounds : before they cease sucking how we entice them and coax them ith little niceties. The same, indeed, with all our valu- able stock — all we breed or rear ; while the young of lan, the best and most useful and valuable and highest lass of animal of all, born in the image of the Great Creator, grows or stunts, flourishes or pines as may be, without any special provision being made to ensure his progressive sustentalion at this most important period of his life. I am far from saying that this state of things is universal ; on the contrary, there are large numbers of benevolent farmers, and their wives, who :ientiously care for the families of their labourers, but coincident testimony from many parts of England at least show that this is a widely prevailing evil. There ought be no selling milk twice skimmed at iide, Fochabers. N.B. : breeder, Mr. Alexander Paterson, Mulben, Elgin : 2d, li extra prize of ;f 10 los. given by C. RatclilT. Esq., as best Scot bred and fed by the exhibitor). W. McCombie. Esq., M.P., Tillyfour, Aberdeen, 7^'!: breed is shown in two classes ; Lord Walsingliam's name and flock no longer appear. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales takes the 1st prize, and the 2d goes to Lord Sondes. The prize sheep are long, deep, and wide, and handle well. Colonel Kingscote sho\vs a commended peir of rather smaller sheep, with finer \\ool and quality. The Si/v/shircs were not so large a show as usual. They are a much more even class than they used to be, with, however, still some difference in the character of the wool and head. Mr. Allsopp, of Hindlip Hall, Worcester, shows a sheep with a long and heavy fleece, of much coarser, looser wool than that, for example, of the sheep shown by Mr. Yates, of Shifnal, close by. The prizes go generally to the latter class of sheep, and Lord Chesham's sheep, which take the head prize, may be taken to represent the best type of the breed. The two styles are again contrasted in the class of single sheep. Mr. Allsopp's entries here compete with Lord Wenlock's, but the judges in this case have given the prize to Mr. Allsopp. In another set of pens close by, RyelandSy Dorsets and Hampshire Doicns^ all very good of their kind, compete with one another. They are capital repre- sentatives of the several breeds : the prizes are given to the Downs. A small class of Oxford Do-WJis represents that short, stocky, heavy-fleeced, thick, upstanding breed — Messrs. Stilgoe, of Adderley, taking all the prizes. The Cross-bred sheep are a middling lot, beginning with the produce of such an ill-assorted couple as it Cheviot and a Hampshire Down. Others, however, are better, as Cheviot and Leicester, Oxford Down and Long-woolled, &c. The classes for single fat ewes are interesting speci- mens of the several breeds, and there is here, in a class all to itself, a single specimen of that useful sheep, the Border Leicester, a much heavier and larger sheep than any that is knomi as Leicesters in the Midlands, 1564 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 2, 1871 JUDGES. -Mr. John Wood, Harewood Hill, Darlington; Mr. H. Overman, Weasenham, Brandon, Norfolk; Mr. C. R. Keel- ing, Yew Tree Farm, Pcnkridge. Leicesters. Class 29. Fat Wethers, not exceeding 23 months old.— ist, £15 {extra prize of j^io, given by the Linen and Woollen Drapers of Birniingham, and Silver Medal as breeder:, the Executors of the late Lord Berners ; 2d, £xo, do. ; 3d, £5, do. Highly Conimended : W. P. Herrick, Esq., Beaumanor Park, eedii.g 23 months old.-. St. Z15 Linen and Woollen Drapers oj 1. as breeder, Mr. 1. Byron, , do, ; 3d, ,£5. Mr. T; (iunnell, Hall, Gi Harford, DedJington ; 2d, i;io, Messrs. J. Wheeler & Sons, Long Ci.inpton, Shipstnn-on-Stour ; 3d. £5. Mr. R. S\ R. A. College Farm. Cirencester. Highly Class 32. Fat Wethers, not excee :extra prize of £10 ros. , given l.y M.P.), and Silver Medal as brc Wales: 2d. /lo, Lord Sondes. Kli Cl.lS! Fat' . .prizeof.i,o ,„ , „ , .. and Silver Medal as breeder. Lord Chesham, Latimer, Chesham, Bucks : 2d. £10, Mrs. Beach. The Hattons, Brewood, Stafford- shire ; 3d, £s, Mr. 1'- Nock, Svitton Maddock, Shifnal. Highly Commended : Lord Chesham. Mrs. Beach. Commended : Mr. H- ^L'lttllews. Montford. Salop. Class 35. Fat Wether, exceeding 23, but not exceeding 35 months old —Silver Cup, value £$, given by Messrs. Mapple- beck & Lowe, and Silver Medal as breeder, H. Allsopp. Esq. , Hindlip Hall, near Worcester. Highly Commended : H. Allsopp, Esq. l.s old.-rst, .£15 lien Drapers of .Mr. N. Stilgoe, ; 3d. £5. Mr. immended : Mr. (ext. 1 36. Fat Wethe 3nd Silv Adderbury Manor lar Z. W. Stilgoe. Adderbu OT Qr.i, . Fat Wi Medal .- "JJ}', :sq., FonthiU House, : Mr. H. Farthing, J. B. Downing, Tisbury ; 2d, £5. do Hi-hly Conimended NctherStowey, Britlgewater. Commended Holme Lacy, Hereford. Class 38. Fat Wethers, not exceeding 23 months old. -ist, £15, a_n1 Silver Me.lal .t- l,r,7,:,l,.r, Mr N Stilgoe, Adderbury M.inor F.irm : 2d, £^, Ml \\ I II It !ii. The Manor House, Eve.sham. Highly Comm:. I , \, ..;llgoe, Mr. W, F. Holtom. W. P. Herrick, Ks,] Class 40. F.it Lmcoln Ewe, h.aving bred one or more Lanibs. -Silver Medal, value £2 21., Mr. J. Byron, Kirkby Green, Sleaford. Class 41. Fat Cotswold Eu-e. having bred one or more Lambs. —Silver Medal, value £2 is., the Executors of the late Mr. ]. Godwin, Trov Farm. Somerton. Deddington. Highly Com- mended: H. S. Waller. Km|., F.armlngton, Northlcach. 1-1 I ■, 4 1.' - ut-luwn Ewe, having bred one or more L.iiii' •; ' >.d„e £11 2s.. H.R.H. the Prince ol \\'il II ' ' 1 I!, iided : Lord Sondes. Commended; F I ~ I ( Kberton Hall. Worksop. Karnhill, Forres, N.B. :ivm.g bred one or more Ir. Z, W. Stilgoe, Oxon. : breed, having bred one Ci 2.t., Mr. R. H. Harris. begir THE PIG CL.\SSES 5 usual in Bingley Hall, of unrivalled excel- The 1st class, of lat pigs under 10 ntionths old, with Lord Aylesford's jien of three black Cerk- which is followed by Mr. Cartwright's three white pigs, of equal merit, and then by Berkshires — the 1st and 2d prizes going' respectively to Lord Ailesbury and the Rev. li. Bally. Then follows a class under 15 months, and fully one-third bigger than the other. Here, too, white and black are inter- mingled. The pen shown by Mr. Biggs, of Leighton Buzzard (Berkshire), takes the Ist prize, and an extra prize as the best fat pigs in the yard. There is a large class of single pigs over 15 months, the Ist prize going to one of extraordinary length and weight, shown by Mr. Eden, of Salford. In the classes of breeding pigs there is a most interesting and admirable illustration of the Berkshire breed ; from 269 to 287 in the catalogue we have a succession of pens uf five pigs, each of really traordinary beauty, which they owe not only to good "■'of getting up lith, of Henley- -Arden, in particular, showing the polished skin shining through the hair. The judges had a dilHcult "' class, of other large breeding and feedii _ fur show — the pigs sho by Mr, The these classes, i of much more various quality — whites of character competing with one anothe vhite pigs of a small breed, though poorly represented, ire a much more even and respectable display. The following is the prize list of the pigs ;— hadbury. j Mr. H. £3, Mr. J. H. Clark, Lowood, wood Asylum. Lichticld. Class 48. Fat Pigs, exceeding 15 months old.— ist, £6, and Silver Medal as breeder. Mr. P. Eden. Cross Lane, Salford; ij, £i, Mr. S. Deacon. Jun., Polebrooke Hall, Oundic ; 3d, j£2d Messrs. R. E. Duckering & Son. Highly Commended : Mr. P. Eden (2'. Commended : C. R. N. Beswicke-Royds, Esq., Pyke House, Littleborough. Breeding Pigs— Berkshire. Class 4g. Five Pigs of One litter, exceeding 3 and not exceed- in.; '. i;i .1,(1,- ..Id. — 1st, .i^io. Silver Cup, value jCs s^., and ^1 ' ' ■ liieeder, ^Ir. J. Smith, Henley-in-Arden ; 2d, ,:,. : Extra prize (Silver Med.all, Mr. R. T. Rad- Medal as breeder, C. R. N. Beswicke-Royds, Esq., Littleborough; sd, £5, Me.ssrs. I. Wheeler & Sons, Long Compton, Shipston-on-Stour ; 3d, £3, Mr. M. Walker, Stocklcy Park, Burton-on-Trent. Pigs of a Small Breed. Class 51. Fivepigs of one litter, exceeding 3 and not exceeding 6 months old. — ist, ;£io. Silver Cup, value £5 5s., and Silver Medal as breeders, Messrs. J. Wheeler & Sons, Shipston-on- ■ ' ' " - " " ■ " n-on-Tri P. Edet THE ROOT SHOW. The yard is surrounded by a gallery, in which is displayed, in capital light, and well arranged, a very interesting collection of roots of all kinds, and seeds and tubers, of which the prize list is given below. There is, first, a class competing for a silver cup or other article of plate, of the value of five guineas, offered by Messrs. Proctor & Ryland, of Birmingham, as a prize for the best collection of the three following varieties, namely. Long Mangel Wurzel, Globe Mangel Wurzel, and Swedes — six roots of each to be shown for this prize alone. Thirteen entries compete for this prize. Mr. Moore, of Long Itchington, Warwickshire, takes the Ist prize with roots of extraordinary size. Then come other prizes, offered by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, of Reading, and Messrs. Carter & Co., of Holborn, for somewhat similar collections, which are well competed for. The Kohl Rabi and Mangel Wurzel are of extraordinary size. There are classes of Kohl Rabi, Mangels of various sorts, Swedes and common Turnips, Carrots, Bovinia Potatos, and Cab- bages. We must refer to the prize list below for the enumeration of the most successful exhibitors. It is a very extraordinary collection, and the awards, except, perhaps, in the case of the common Turnips, appear to us to have been fairly given — sufficient, but not excessive, regard being paid to quality as apart from weight, which after all determines for the most part the merit of a root crop. The Kohl Rabi and the Cabbage are the most extraordinary display this year. We can only add that there is a very full and well-classified exhibition of Potatos, and an extremely interesting set of samples of Wheat, Barley, Oats, and Beans and Peas. The following list of weights is taken from the Time's : — Long Mangel. Globe Mangel, and Swedes, six roots of each, is won by Mr. John Moore, the weight of the 18 specimens bemg 484 b. The 5-guinea cup of Messrs. Sutton & Sons, for the best Long Red Mangel, Globe, and Intermediate Mangel, Purple-top Swedes, Kohl Rabi, and Turnips, six roots of each, is won by Sir William Heathcote, the 30 specimens weighing 569 lb. The 5-guinea cup of Messrs. James Carter & Co., for a similar collection of roots, is won by Messrs. G. & J. Perry, the 36 specimens weighing 583 lb. Colonel North. M,P., is ist and 2d for Kohl Rabi, ave- raging 12 lb. to. 13 lb. per root. Mr. G. Baylis is first for long red Mangel Wurzel, averaging no less than 43 lb. per root. Sir F. Smythe is ist for Globe Mangels, averaging 25 lb. per root ; but quality, not weight alone, carries the honour, as Mr. G. Baylis" 2d prize Globes, averaging more, namely, 31} lb. per root. Mr. .•\. K. -Mgie is 1st for Swedes, averaging 20 lb. per root. Lord Willoughby de Broke's ist prize Bovinia Potatos average over 2 lb. apiece. Mr. Samuel Robinson's ist prize Drumhead Cabbages weigh 64 lb., 63.J lb., and 53I lb. apiece ; and his 2d prize Cabbages weig'h 6oi lb., 57^ lb., and 49 lb. apiece. Of 139 lots of Potatos we can notice only the classifications adopted — namely, Ashleaf Kidney, Roy.rl Ashleaf Kidney, Gloucestershire Kidney, King of Potatos. Milky White, Flukes, Dalniahov, White Regent, Red Regent, \'ictoria, Redskinned Fourball, and classes for variety of early kidney, second earlies. white late or winter «arieties, red or blue late varieties, early kidney, &c.. and second early, &c. Some white Silesian Sugar- Beels are exhibites. an acre on arable land. " i^ow, allow me to have a word upon your statement. You say, ' Upon a farm of 800 acres it would be difficult to find employment for more than 20 hands, men and boys ; and if we allow 141. a week to all the labourers, irrespective of age, we have an actual expenditure of .1^728, or nearly i8j. per acre.' " This farm contains 420 acres, 40 of which are in permanent pasture. November is not an over busy month of the agricultural year, but I have now at work 18 men, five boys, and four women, besides the bailiff, groom, and gardener. At present, I have no 'difficulty in finding them employment.' " Indeed, to prepare the food and attend to the com fort of 80 or 90 cattle, and about 100 pigs — to say nothing of sheep and horses— needs so many hands that I employ as many labourers in summer as in winter. You liave allotted i8j. per acre for the labour of arable land. Are that upon every acre of corn we grow the simple act of harvesting the crop costs us about I2J. This is all done in one month, which, according to your calculation, would leave 6s. an acre for the other II months of the year. Fancy 6s. for the manual labour employed in ploughing, harrowing, drilling, hoeing, weeding, threshing, dressing, and delivering the grain ! Upon 800 acres of arable land you would grow at least 400 acres of com, and you would be lucky with your ' 20 men and boys ' if you secured your crop by Michael- mas. In Norfolk we like to have the harvest ended in August, but then we should employ 40 hands instead of 20. " P.S. My labour account for the last fortnight amounts ! of value, and absence of the usual fluctuations in price ^31 3i. lOrt'. ; of this about 10 guineas is paid for task- during the whole season. On all sides the question is asked. What is to be done with the root crop ? The natural reply is, Abide the spring season, and then decide. It is also asked, what is the cause of the high prices for sheep and cattle, and how can they pay for fatting ? There is no work, the rest for day labour ; but it does not include the standing wages of the carters, shepherd, &c." To this we add the following Table, giving the ascertained particulars of wages on 14 different farms, extracted from the Handbook named above : — Extent in Acres. 1 Hand Labour. , m Acres to sach Pair Arable. si:;.i is X ii 11 1 i 1 J Is 1:11 P P '§ £ s. d. 210 350 ,5 20 28 22 .,8, 1 .S6 20 156° 20 i f' 70 , >6o 30 7 26 T200? 62 20 u 430 16? Medium Soils .. ■■ '^l 78 1^ I-! 500? 32 0 63 19 5 as 40 r ,66 P46 I7 'li 2! '7 ". 250? " 0 i5 U 120 8 to 8CO 46 0 ..* " (4 ^~WV ' ' The reader may be left to extract for himself what information the Table can convey. It will, however, be right to say, that our first instance of a medium-soil farm must be considered as altogether exceptional ; a very unusual proportion of the land was in laborious fallow crop, and not only was the quantity of hand labour unusually large, but the quantity of horse labour was unusully small. Taking those cases, of which the full particulars are given— viz., 13 out of the 14 farms de- scribed — we have the following gross results : — On 7824 acres of arable land, and 1690 of pasture, 242 horses are employed, and work is given to 359 men, 134 women, and 143 boys and girls, costing, on the whole, not less than .,f 14,323. This, if we deduct ^423 for the pastures, is equal to about 2V- P^"" acre of arable land. The horse labour of these farms amounts, on the average, to one pair for every 65 acres of arable land, or for every 49 acres of actually ploughed land. " It will be observed that more than the average wages are paid for manual labour on those farms where steam- power is employed as an auxiliary force. The interests of the labourer will be considered more fully in a subsequent chapter, and the possibility of his suffering by the employ- ment of a cheaper force and more powerful machinery will be discussed. Meanwhile it is a fact, that on those farms of which the details are known, where steam-power is employed for cultivation, the wages paid for manual labour exceed the average. And if it be alleged that this is a consequence of the stiffer nature of the soil in those cases, the rejoinder is. that this intractability of soil has hitherto resulted in such land being kept in pasture, or, when cultivated, being devoted only to such crops as grain. Vetches, Clovers, which involve the least manual labour in their cultivation, whereas, where steam-power is avail- able for cultivation, our clays, retaining their superior fertility, are made available for all kinds of fallow, labour- giving crops, such as Mangel "Wurzel, Kohl Rabi, Cabbages, and other winter food for sheep and cattle. ' ' And there is, thus, extra labour needed not only in their cultivation, but also in tendance of the live stock needed for the consumption of their produce." doubt a great diminution of stock, occasioned by the scarcity of food in former years ; and the vale farmers are beginning to think that they ought to breed as well as feed their stock, the same as the hill flock-masters. The price of meat to the consumer is unusually high, and may be especially so for prime meat at Christmas. The importation of preserved meat from Australia is attracting attention, but can be compared only to a drop in the ocean, when it is considered that the total portations of live and dead meat amount to only per cent, of the consumption. If, therefore, the trade of the country continues satisfactory, the prices of meat must rule high until the flocks and herds can be replenished by favourable breeding seasons. We cannot avoid alluding to the progress the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution has made in this county within the past few years, and it must be gra- tifying to all well-wishers to know that Hampshire is now placed in the foremost rank of counties in its sup- port of the institution, through the exertions of the local secretaries and the numerous subscribers ; and it is worthy of special remark that 400 subscribers have lately testified their approbation of the zealous and dis- interested exertions displayed by Mr. Alderman Naish, of Winchester, as hon. local secretary of the institution, by presenting him with a handsome testimonial and a purse of 235 sovereigns ; and let us hope that the atten- tion of landowners and agriculturists generally will be called to the subject, and induce yet greater numbers to subscribe, and thus enable the institution to assist those who, through the vicissitudes of the farming business, may have fallen into adversity, yoseph Blun- dell, Snithatnpton, Nmeinber 20. Farm Memoranda. Ha.mpshire.— The close of the autumnal seed-time appears to be a fitting time to review and report upon agricultural operations. There can be no doubt that the past Wheat season has been better than in some previous years, having been favoured with copious rains during the month of October. The land has worked closer and heavier than during the dry seed- time of last year. We may, therefore, expect a better and more regular plant of Wheat for the coming sea- son. All kinds of autumn seeding has been finished in capital style. Whether we speak of Rye, winter Barley, winter Beans, or Vetches, they are all equally well planted ; and, although not forward, are very regular and promising both on the hill and vale farms. Looking at the favourable seed-time and price of Wheat in our markets, it is fair to infer that at least an average area of land has been sown with this crop, and it is probable that more than the average extent on strong soils has been seeded to Wheat. The yield of Wheat by the further test of threshing is found to be quite as deficient as reported at harvest, and the weight and quality very light and various. Barley proves about an average in quantity, but the samples are very thin, yet the best are found to work well and kindly in the hands of the maltster. Oats are, as first reported, a very large and yielding crop, of good quality. Beans a good average, and Peas an abundant produce. Hay is very various in quality, the best having receded considerably in price, being about 30;. per ton lower than last year. The great abundance of grass in 1 the meadows, with fine open weather for grazing, has, with a great root crop, tended to maintain a high price for sheep and cattle, the value of both being higher than at any time during the past 40 years, and a remarkable feature in the trade has been the uniformity ' December 2. — Horse Ploughing prosecute in open weather. Stubbles should have been finished before this, but in wet weather it is better to turn into lea fields until the stubbles dry than to poach the land. In late wet seasons in the North, stubbles liable to poach are not unfrequently left until spring for Beans, the Beans being sown in the stubbles and thinly covered by "ribbing," i.e., stetches made by the common plough, each with one furrow. It is, however, only the heavier clay soils that are thus left to spring, and the practice is becoming less frequent as the land is thoroughly drained. Clay, Chalk, Marl, and Compost apply to grass lands requiring them, in order that the coming frost and rains of winter may disintegrate and wash them in before the growth of spring commences. Some marly clays are sufficiently friable to be broken fine in the spreading for working in immediately by a chain-harrow ; others re- quire frost to break them down. Composts generally may be thus applied and harrowed into grass land. But when from 200 to 400 cartloads per acre of clay are applied, to change the texture of poor, sandy, gravelly and peaty soils, seed-harrows or the common harrow may answer better than the chain-harrow or bush- harrow — frequent harrowings being sometimes necessary to effect the disintegration and washing in. Chalk is also found so broken, when dug from pits or drifted strata under clays, as to be easily applied and harrowed into clayey and peaty soils. On farms ploughed by steam, the carting of such applications forms profitable employment for the teams. Claying Fen Land is extensively practised at this season. Sometimes the clay is carted, but over a large area of the Fen country the work is done by manual labour at from 30J. per acre and upwards. The clay or clayey marl is sometimes found only 2 or 3 feet below the surface of the peaty soil, but in other cases much deeper. It is not, however, so deep as it much of the cultivation is done 1566 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Aofricultural Gazette. [December 2, 1871. formerly was, owing to the general of the subsidence of the staple below the original surface level. Narrow trenches are opened down to the clay, which is next dug up, and spread across between the trenches with the spade, or spade and harrow, when the trenches are wide asunder, at the rate of from 50 to 200 cubic yards per acre and upwards. The trenches are then filled with the peat earth- dug out above the clay. The work is heavy when the clay lies at a con- siderable depth, but remunerating ; and, although much land is annually clayed, yet the practice is limited compared with what it should be, and would be, could steam-power and machinery be successfully brought to bear upon it, either by digging or warping. Trials both ways have been made ; the former (digging by steam) proved a failure, but the latter is a success- ful practice, which merits greater patronage than it at present receives. Water Meadows. — Attend to the alternate floodings; in a season like this the process requires close watching. Where there is a limited supply of water, provision should, if possible, be made for turning it on to a dry field, as the respective flooded ones are gone over, so as to use the whole supply at command. In this way a very small supply of water judiciously applied may enrich a much larger area of land than is generally imagined, and i cwt. of guano or artificial grass manure sprinkled over the meadow by a broadcast manure dis- tributor, will greatly reduce the quantity needed to insure a heavy crop of hay. ©fittuarg. We regi-et of the Koyal V) the death of Prof. Spooner, lary College, on Friday of last Student in the time of Prof. Coleman, he gave a course of lectures privately soon after he got his diploma. He afterwards entered the College as demon- strator, and at length became deputy professor under Prof. Sewell, on whose death, about 20 years ago, he became Principal of the College. He was a member of the Cattle Plague Commission in 1865, and may be said to have long been the chief authority in horse matters in this country. He died at the age of 66, on Friday, the 24th ult., after an illness of two days. Notices to Correspondents. BuOKS : The Shepherd cas\ obtain a " Farmer's Diary " by applying to Mr. Jemmett, Murrell HiU Farm, Bin- field, Berks. Mr. Perry's Onions. — "Ahingdoniensis" should have given his name. At present, his letter is a mere advertisement without autliciUicity. RVE-STRAW ; The Earl 0/ F.iscx asks for information, through the Agricullural Gnzetle. as to the value per ton of Rye-straw, which is chiefly used by collar- makers. Will any reader give us his experience? Smoking Hams ; A Correspondent inquires if any reader will kindly give information where Cambrian Essence, or a good substitute, for giving a smoke flavour to hams, bacon, &c., is to be procured. Turnip Seeds.— Messrs. Sutton & Sons, of Reading, have sent us specimens of their Champion Purple-top Swede, and their " New All the Year Round Turnip." whicli they were putting out for seed at the time the frost set in, as "a fair sample of the roots put out for general sale, larger being used for stock purposes." This is in reply to an article or two a short time since in our paper as to seed-growing, one writer having gone so far as to assert that a good deal of the seeds were saved from "stems Uke walking- sticks, and having no [arhtts. rates, but other qualities were easier to purchase. Malt sold slowly, on former terms. The market was well supplied with Oats ; the demand was hmited, but prices without material change. Beans and Peas were dealt incautiously, at about late prices. Flour experienced slow sale, at Monday's quotations. ^RIVALS OF Grain, &c., into London by Water Carriage. Wheat. 1 Barley. Oats. FiGur. English & Scotch.. Irish .. Fomgn.. Qrs. 57° 21,380 Qrs. 170 5640 Qrs. 24,79° Sacks. ..,95° 1 58.0 24,79° Liverpool, Nov. 28. — There was again a poor attendance of actual buyers at this morning's market, and the Wheat trade was without animation, sellers, in order to make progress with sales, having to allow some reduction on last Tuesday's prices. Flour quiet, but nominally unchanged. Beans quiet, at33J. 6d. to 33^. grf. Indian Corn in moderate request, at a decline of about 3^. per qr. ; American mixed, 33^. - 25 .. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET, Monday, Nov, 27. We have a shorter supply both of English and foreign Beasts ; trade is active, at an advance on last Monday's quotations. The supply of Sheep is larger ; some of the choicest qualities are making about the same as last week, although our top figure is an extreme one. Hea\7 fat sheep are decidedly lower. There is no alteration in the Calf trade. Our foreign supply consists of 1720 Beasts, 14,380 Sheep, and 230 Calves; from Scotland 65 Beasts ; from Ireland, 900 ; and 1205 from Best Shorlhorns.. 5 6—5 2d quality Beasts 4 o — 4 Best Downs aiid Half-breds .- 6 8-7 ; Sheep and Lambs, Best Long-wools 6 4106 8 Do. Shorn . . . . — . . Ewes & 2d quality 4 8—5 6 Do. Shorn . . . . — . . Calves W '.'. 4 o-6"4 Pigs .. .. 3 4-4 8 , 22,380 : Calves, 236 ; Pigs, go. Thursday. Nov. 30. We have a fair supply of English Beasts to-day as to numbers, but the average quality is not very good ; with foreign we are but scantily supplied. Trade is not very brisk, yet choicest qualities, being scarce, are not cheaper. There are a few more Sheep, both English and foreign, and trade is exceedingly dull ; prices are rather lower, and a clearance cannot be made. Choice Calves are still scarce and dear. Our foreign supply consists of 315 Beasts, 6240 Sheep, and 158 Calves. Best Scots, Here- fords, &c. . . s Best Shorthorns . . 5 2d quality Beasts 4 Best Downs and Half-breds . . 6 Do. Shorn Beasts, 1000; Sheep and Lambs, 81, METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET, Nov. 30. Best Fresh Butter 18.J. per dozen lb. Second do. do i6j. Small Pork, 4^- A^- to 4J. 8 1 with Salts of Potash. Seel i Trade Mark. The i ECORTICATED COTTON CAKES, of best THE AGRICULTURAL TURAL (CO.OPERATIVE) ASSOCIATION (Limited). Analyses and Prices on application. EDWARD OWEN GREENING, Managing Director. 3S, King Street, Westminster, S.W. 54, at the Cattle Show, Agricultural Hall. TOBACCO TISSUE, for FUMIGATING GREEN- HOUSES.—will destroy Thrip, Red Spider, Green and Black Fly, and Mealy Bug, and burns without the assistance of blowing, and is entirely free from paper or rags, Piice 31. W. per lb., carriage 'to be 'had" ot°Messrs!'^ROBER¥s''AND'sONS, Tobacco Manufac- turers, 112, St. John Street, Clerkenwell. E.C., of whom Copies of Testimonials may be obtained : and of all Seedsmen and Nurserymen. iTEVENSONS ABYSSINIAN MIXTURE, ) For the Destruction of all Insects Infesting Plants, TRADE MARK. Surpasses all other remedies for— [-Killing easily Mealy I Bug, Brown ana 1 WhiteScale.Thri Id by all Nurser^-men and Sceds- in the United Kingdom, in , with full directions for use. iturer, F. STEVENSON, Lark Hill, Timperley, Cheshire. S H U R S T COMPOUND. Used by many of the leading G HOPS. The tone of the market is firm ; the demand is of the same retail character as during the past two or three weeks. The Alost market has fallen, and now stands at as low a point as at the commencement of the season. Only very few of the recent importations are Hops of fine flavour or quality, the bulk being Belgians, foreign Hops of inferior quality, or yearlings. Choice Bavarian and French Hops command a rise of 5J. to loj. per cwt. HA Y.—Pcr Load ofj,(> Trusses. Smithfield, Thursday, Nov. 30. PrimeMeadowHay, Soj.to 90X. I Clover, old .. ..iisj. 130J. Inferior do 50 70 Inferior do 50 90 Rowen 40 6s Prime 2d cut do. . . — — Inferior do — — Inferior do — — Straw 34 4= ' Market. Thursday, Nov. 30. toiooJ. I Inferior Clover .. Soj.tonof. 84 Prime 2d cut do. . . — — - New do — — — Straw 40 46 Cum Sup. Meadow Hay Inferior do Battersea, London, S.W. MANGERS, I GARDEN SI DUST BINS CORN P^ an'J PA\ i-absorbent, and t ALFRED BRABY, Bangor Wharf, Belvedere Road, Lambeth, S.E. /-IHAPMAN'S "ANTI-CLOCHE" VENTILATED \J MULTUM-IN-PARVO PLANT, FLOWER and SEED PRO- TFCTOR nreser^'es Plants, &c., from Snails, Slugs, Earwigs, Wind, - n and' frost "quite as iseful for all purposes as the Hand Glass out half their cost. Any Gardener can repair them, nests, of different sizes. Cost of Set, with one for s or Hollyhocks, Dahlias, Roses, or Chrysanthe- on, with stake clip, and all complete, from One . ^,.v. Cloche can be made any size. nates given to Nurserymen, Market Gardeners, &c., for large ies. When not in use, they pack in a very small compass, t liability to breakage. To be obtained from W, F. CHAPMA>r, Patentee, Bristol Road, Gloucester, ■mittance from unknown Correspondents will have attcntioa Rain, a or Cloche, They art protecting December 2, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ap:ricultural Gazette. 1567 STAND No. 15, AGRICULTURAL HALL. HOVv^ARD'S DOUBLE PLOUGHS HAVE BEEN NOT ONLY THE MOST SUCCESSFUL, BUT THEY ARE THE SIMPLEST, STRONGEST, AND MOST DURABLE DOUBLE PLOUGHS BEFORE THE PUBLIC. THEY ARE MADE ALMOST ENTIRELY OF WROUGHT IRON AND STEEL, Are the Lightest in Draught, and Greatest in Demand. Full particulars can be had on application to J. AND F. HOWAED, BRITANNIA lEON WOEKS, BEDFOED. LONDON OFFICE :— 4, CHEAPSIDE, three doors from .St. Pauls. HOWARD'S INTERNATIONAL REAPER IS NOW THE MOST POWERFUL, DURABLE, AND EFFICIENT REAPING MACHINE BEFORE THE PUBLIC. SEVERAL IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE IN IT DURING THE RECENT HARVEST, Which will be Exhibited for the first time at Stand No, 15, Agricultural Hall, Full particulars can be had on application to J. AND F. HOWAED, BEITANNIA lEON WOEKS, BEDFOED. LONDON OFFICE :— 4, CHEAP.SIDE, three doors from St. Pauls. 1568 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 2, 1871. J. For Double Plouglis, Catalogues free- FOWLER'S PATENT STEAM PLOUGH and CULTIVATOR i :ural County in Engl apply to JOHN FOWLER. AND CO., 71, Comhill, ,H. Plough Works, Leeds- SmltMeld Cattle Show. STAND No. 183. TT A Y W A R D, T Y L E R, SMITHFIELD SHOW. John Fowler & Co. IBIT AT STAND No. 9 TU , WORKS, DRAINAGE WORKS, GAS WORKS, IRRIGATION, HYDRAULIC WORKS, SOAP WORKS. BRICK FIELDS, IRON WORKS. TELEGRAPH WORKS, BATHS, STEEL WORKS, ROPE WORKS, PAPER MILLS, COTTON MILLS, PATENT FUEL WORKS, TAN YARDS, GLYCERINE WORKS, BUILDERS' WORKS, QUARRIES, WATER WORKS, WIRE WORKS. be made to any of the ahoi LLIAM S. BURTON'S. The Blades arc all of the finest Table Dessert Carvers, Steel. 3 Ja-inch ivory handles . .per c 3^2 do. balance do d 13 6 WILLIAM S. BURTON, Furnishine Ironmonger, by api to H.K.H. the Prince of Wales, sends a CATaIoGUE, containing upwards of 850 Illustrations of his unrivalled Stock, with Lists oT Prices, and Plans of the 20 large Showrooms, post free.~39, Oxford Street, W. ; I, ia, 2, 3, and 4, Newman Street ; 4, 5, and 6, Pcny's Place ; and i, Nev^man Yard, London, W. The cost of dclivenng Goods to the most distan^ parts^of^ihe United Kingdom by Railway at a's3 fixed rate 1.KV Protection from Fire. TnEPDBUCARECAiniONEDAfiAlNSr DANGEROUS IMITATIONS. Grateful— Comforting. 'PS'S COCOA. BREAKFAST, horough knowledge of the natural laws which eovem the -r J- -^^ ^j^jj nutrition, and by a careful application of a well selected cocoa, Mr. Epps has provided our a delicately-flavoured beverage which may save r's bills."— Ci'i'iV Service Gaxette. simply with boiling water or milk. Each packet is labelled, JAMES EPPS AND CO., Homoeopathic Chemists, London. us many heavy GRAY'S Oval Tubular Boiler. INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, Class IX., No. 2110. Mr. gray begs to call the attention of the Nobihty, Gentry, Nurserymen, Gardeners, &c., to his NEW OVAL TUBULAR BOILER. Acknowledged by practical judges to be a great improvement on every form of Tubular Boiler yet introduced. It has proved itself superior to all other Boilers for quickness of action and economy of Fuel, doing its work with one-third less the amount required by any other. Extract from Report in Gardeners' Chronicle of International Exhibition, May 24, 1862, pag&a^'jS. 'The upright form of Boiler is U5ually made on a circular plan, | rather than a 3t|uare, it seems feasible that the Boilers on the oi t the oval form given to Mr. Gray's variety of it is said to be plan should bnng the tubes more completely within range of t iferable in consequence of its bringing the tubes in closer contact burning fuel; and this being so, the change, though a slight oi th the fire. The usual form of a furnace being a parallelogram | is no doubt an improvement." ^* They are made of all sizes, which, with prices, may be had on application. JAMES GRAY, HORTICULTURAL WORKS, DANVERS street, PAULTON'S square, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, S.W. The Gardeners' Chronicle and Asfricultural Gazette. 1571 Visitors to tlie Cattle Show. WOMAN IN WHITE, pronounced by the Press and Public the m"sl Bmmnc success o! the season.- Works on Botany, by Dr. Llndley. B' Wo M A N IN WHITE, dramatised by the distinf:uished author, WlLKli: Collins, from his fawn mar- vellous ^vork, " The Woman in White." - OLYMPIC THE.iTRE. WOMAN IN WHITE may be classed as one of the most perfect specimens of Dramatic Art of the present age-OLVMPIC THEATRE. tion and the Use of Schools. Price 15. 'HE ELEMENTS of BOTANY, Structural AND Physiological. With a Glossary ot Technical Terms, M'^T W OMAN IN WHITE.— OLYMPIC. —Powerfully bv all concerned. This i .od b^y New Work by tlie Rev. J. G. Wood, THI.A. UNIFORM WITH "HOMES WITHOUT HANDS In One Volume, 8vo, with a Frontispiece in Colours and ' _ of 700 Illustrations (21 full size of page) engraved on Wood G. Pearson from Original Designs by E. A. Smith and Zwecker, price 215. cloth, INSECTS AT HOME ; being a Popular Account of British Insects, their Structure, Habit ■ ~ - By the Rev.J. r ^. - ■ Hands," "Bible London : LONGMANS, GREEN. AND CO., Fat^ [.A., F.L.S., Author of "Homes Without 11 be published, price is., free by post f ps, with Nine Illustrations, TTALY in ENGLAND; a Practical Treati; HOULSTON AND SONS, 6s, Paternoster Row, E.C. ; through a BENJ. LOOKER, Kingston-on-Thames. THE SALIX, or WILLOW. By W. Scaling, Willow Nurseryman, Basford, Notts. A revised and enlarged edition, containing Instructions for its Planting and Culture, with Observations upon its Value and Adaptability Tor the Formation of Hedges and Game Coverts. Poll free w. : or of SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, and CO., London. Hogath's Works, 150 iIlustratK iH Essay by Lamb, 2 vols, 410, pi 'lants, with 100 coloured illustn ;vo, cloth, pub. at 2V., offered a ty W. B. Scott, with 16 autotyp es that Genius leaves to ["thosrw^ho"ire"Ttlrniorn'^^'°"' :t£sy.,_okereda.t£4 4s.: Alpine k\ cfemTopMod'irn Bdg'ian'^Ar^ Vanity ^Fa"r Arbumrp?)r*t'rahs of each, ofljlcred at 311. each ; Mack; by Millais and others, 4to, cloth Tennyson's Works, new library from Old Masters, graphs, 4to, cloth gilt, pub. at i: Many Thoughts of Many Minds, 12*. &;.,ofrerecf " Great Painters, by G. ' b. at 15J., ofTered at ] . Turner, 24 photo- , 8vo, cloth gilt, pu 'Szt comprising 2 yearly vols les solic plete, pi ending Decembci I'^oTV-'comprisinsjul i6j., offered at 13J. ; Gooc , .... .j. ^ — .^ — ... .„,., illustrated, 8vo, cloth gilt, pub. at 75. 6d.f offered at 6s. gti. ; Gems of Dutch Art, 12 photographs, from engravings in the British Museui by S. Thompson, 4to, cloth - ■ - . Andersen's Fairy Tales, 12 V. R., 4to, handsomely be Viardot's Wonders of Sculp complete uniform edition, to ; in colour, after drawings by E. solicited ; Bei tiful Pic ntings, engraved ( be completed ; Thackeray's in 12 monthly v 2 published), I at I7S. : Scotfs 4to, cloth, elegant, pub. a new book, by Samuel Smil S. AND T.GILBERT a cash. Postage additional.'at the rate of 4ii. per London : S. and T. GILBERT, 4, Copthall Buildings, back of the Bank of England, E.C. [Catalogues of general and remainder stock, gratis and post free.] Cingdoi The t These 1 ; published in one octavo voii iree parts form a complete " Students who have made I of Botany for Medic The Glossary may be had separately, price p. IHE VEGETABLE KINGDOM; OR, Thr STRt;cTURE, Classification, and Uses of Plants._ Illustrated rardsofSMlll jlume, 8vo, cloth, price 36s. , with "The Vegetable Kingdom contains, among a large quantity ot plants of no known importance to man, various useful species employed in medicine, the arts, or in the many branches of domestic oeconomy. The principal part of those which can be brought by teachers in Europe under the notice of students, or which, from their great importance, deserve to be among the earliest subjects of study, are mentioned in the following pages, where they are arranged in the manner proposed in the ' Vegetable Kingdom ' of the author^ with the sequence of matter departed from in a few instance^ when it was by doing so. The author trusts that this selection will be found to have been made in such a way that all teachers who possess reasonably ■- means of illustrating their lectures, and all Botanic -__ <-__^--U| jj^g larger part of the species whiob are men- lection was indispensable ; firstly, because a have been beyond the reach of the majority of andly, because experience shows us that those Botany, require to Gardens, may purchasei in: BRADBURY. EVANS, and CO., 10. Bouverie Street. E.C. " Journal of Horticulture " Office, 1 New Volumes now Ready. BOTANICAL MAGAZINE : 72 beautifully Coloured Plates, with Descriptions by Dr. Hooker, of New and Rare Plants of Botanical Interest, and suitable for the Garden, Stove, or Greenhouse. Vol. 27 of the Third Scries, 425. FLORAL MAGAZINE : 48 richly Coloured Plates, with Descriptions, of the choicest New Flowers for the Garden, Stove, or Conservatory. Vol. 10, 31s, 6d. A NEW SERIES of the FLORAL MAGAZINE, enlarged to Quarto size, will COMMENCE with the NUMBER for [ANUARV, 1873, to be published Monthly, with Four Plates, loured in the first style. Price 31. 6d. ; annual subscription, post l! REEVE and CO., 5, Hei Beal Values of Feeding Stuffs. Just published, SECOND COLOURED SUPPLEMENT to the "AGRICaLTUR.\L ECONOMIST." for the last Supplement ( Address : Agricultural and Horticultural {Co-operative) A Field Sports— Notes on Fishing and ting— ine farm, the harden, and the Stable— Yachting Perform- 5 of the Year— List of Hounds, their Masters, Whips, &c London : H. COX. 346, Strand. W.C. FRANCIS MOORE'S ALMANAC for 1872, price 6d. This very popular Almanac, which, besides the usual Calendar, Now published, price is., and free by post for is, iT4d. THE GARDENERS' YEAR BOOK, and ALMANAC for 1872. By Robert Hogg, LL.D., F L.S., Co-Editor of the "Journal of Horticulture." " The Gardeners' Year plete Garden Calendar ; nd Pomological Novel- ers of the Nobility mass of \ Horticultural, Floricult'u: Tables in connection with Horti Gardei of Horticulture and Cottage Gardener" Office, rriHE GARDEN, the Uz Illustrated Gardeni ^c'l dening for a half-year, and iQs. 6d. for a year, payable in advance. Single Copies (post free), 4J^J, Drumlanrig, N.B. The DECEMBER NUMBER contains :-Extremes in Grape- Growing— Notes on "American" or Peat-Soil Shrubs— Flowering Plants for December— Transplanting Old Fruit Trees— Hints for Amateurs : December— Our Crop of Peas during the Piist Season— What is the best way to Dispose of Decomposable Garden Refuse ? — Notes on Autumn and Winter Flowering Plants— The Cultivation of Hardy Fruits— On Wiring Garden-Walls- Cooking Potatos— B»onia Chelsoni— Dieffenbachia Bausei— The Gayest of American Wild- Flowers, No. II— A Disease of the Gooseberry— The Herbaceous Calceolaria— On the Road— Horticultural Exhibitions— The Weather near London— Weather Report- Calendar. Imperial 4to, Copiously Illustrated, Price 12s., ^ARM BUILDINGS: a Digest of the Principle; adopted in Construction. Reprinted from the " Farm Home ads of England," now out of print. By J. Bailey Denton, C.E. E. and F. N. 'sFON, 48. Charing Cress, W.C. Notice. {By Appointment to the Royal Horticultural Society.) To HORTICULTURAL IMPLEMENT MAKERS, NURSERY- MEN, FLORISTS, and OTHERS. ADAMS AND FRANCIS INSERT ADVERTISE- MENTS in all the London, Country, Colonial, and Foreign Newspapers, Magazines, and Periodicals, WITHOUT EXTRA CHARGE ts. "iq. Fleet Street, E.C. ADAMS AND FRANCIS. J E HUNDRED COLOURED PRINTS, and on..^i J. REYNOLDS, 174, Strantl, W.C. K IN AHAN'S WHISKY.- This celebrated and most delicious old mellow spirit is the i CREAM of IRISH WHISKIES, in quality unrivalled, perfectly pure, and more V '^-' .--.l- c the finest Cognac Brandy, WILLIAM YOUNGER and C O.'S EDINBURGH, INDL4. PALE, and DINNER ALES. Sparklinff, refreshing, nourishing, and economical, to be had of the firincipal Retailers. Observe Trade Marks, as other brands are rcquently substituted. . Edinburgh. Estab. 1 London Stores ; Road, S.E. Lea & Perrlns' Sauce, WORCESTERSHIRE,' by Connoisseurs " the only eood Sauce." Improves -■-'- •••-— ^on. Unrivalled lor ' Bottles and Labels. Dealers in Sauces throughout ti "^INNEFORD■S FLUID MAGNESIA.— J The best remedy for Acidity of the Stomach, Heartburn, Head- he, Gout, and Indiges' ■ -■ ■ ...... . .. nstitutions, especially respectable .M( i%i. andgs ' £10 to ,£50. ar. intending Dendrobium Falconeri, 21s. to 63s. each; D. Wardianum, 63r. to i05r. : D. chrysotis, 21s. to 63s. ; D. McCarthia;, 42s. to 84s. ; D. letcrocarpum, 55. to 21s. D. moniliforme, ros. 6rf. to 2ir. ; D. trans- Karens, ss. to 2IS. ; D. Devonianum, 7s. bd. to 21J. ; D. nobile, 5s. to 105s. : Odontoglossum grande, 7s. 6d. to los. 6d. : O. Insleayi, 7s. bd. to Mr.^to63s. : 6. Rossi superbum, 21J. to 3'is. bd. ; O. crocidypterum, Iss^l O. Uroskinne'ri, 10s bd. to' 15s. ; Vanda'ccerulea.'ios: M. to 105!. ,' Pleionc Wallichii, 3S. bd. eich, 30s. per dozen; P. lagenaria, 51. to [Or. bd. ; Cypripedium hirsutissimum, 7s. bd. to 2is. ; Cattleya Mossise, pectabilis, los. bd. to 63s. ; meri. los. bd. to 63s. ; ,ta,.3S. 6if. t0 2is.; C. V=.,^...„ ... r. bd. to 63s.; Oncidium Papilio Ghent, Belgium, 50 LILIUM TIGRINU> tlSIFERA AUREA, fine, m. s of THUJA VERVAENEANA, 40!. s of TOM POUCE (ELLWANGERIANA), SKIMMIA JAPONII 25 plants of ILEX, of sorts, 2IS. too INDIAN AZALEAS, of sorts, younf 12 vellow'^rho'dodendrons. oI 12 rhododendron MADDENII, 50 Greenhouse FERNS, of S( r L.\PAGERIA ROSEA, strong, : I ILLICIUM plants, /6. ! finesteiAfofBALANTIUM ANTARCTICUM, > ) CHAMA;R0PS F0RTUNEI,42s. 1063s. J „ HUMILIS, 20s. ) CORYPHA AUSTRALIS, 63s. i DRAC.'ENA AUSTRALIS, hne strong plants, 181 ) „ VEITCIIII (SANGU1NE.\), fine strong J GLOXINIA, in fine mixtures, 2ts. J PANDANUS HUMILIS, small, 42s. , „ „ larger, 63J. to logj. ) ACHIMENES, in sorts, 21s. ' ANTHURIUM SCHERZERIANUM.flowcringp ; CALADIUMS, in varieties, 25s. 3 sorts of TJiOPICAL ORCHIDS, 60s, CUCUMBER ARMITAGE'S SATISFACTION, Is. per packet. HAMMOND'S IMPERIAL HARDY WHITE BROCCOLI, Is, per packet. tiijs Trade caiv nojv he supplied, WM. ABMITAGE & SON, Seed Meechants, Huddeksfield. BUSINESS ESTABLISHED 1842. 1576 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 9, 1871. THE NEW PEA OF THE SEASON. B. S. ^^^ILLIAMS Has much pleasure in offering the undersigned GENUINE FIRST-CLASS PEA to the Public, as a decided acquisition to our List of Vegetables. WILLIAMS' EMPEROR OF THE MARROWS. A Blue Wrinkled Marrow Pea, coming in about the same time as Veitch's Perfection, but more prolific and far s be whole length of the haulm, and requires to be planted 2 inches apart in the rows ; it is of branching habit, produ ■ feet higher up. The pods and Peas are of a large size, the latter of exquisite flavour, and it is undoubtedly the most prolific variety ever brought out. It has been pronounced by some of the bes udgcs to be the very best Pea they have ever tasted, and in every way a Pea of sterling merit. It is very hardy, and continues bearing until late in the autumn. Height 6 feet. Per Quait, 6S. J^- A LIST OF THE TRADE WHO HAVE SECURED SUPPLIES WILL SHORTLY BE PUBLISHED. VICTOEIA AND PARADISE NUESEEIES, UPPEE HOLLOWAY, LONDON. December 9, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1577 Hyacinths, Tulips, and otlier Dutcli Bulbs. WM. CUTBUSH AND SONS importations of tl above have arrived, and have ';;5f;j'PP=»^^"J= man?'"faS° 'all'o'FKu"lT°TREES and Rena CATALoJllE^'of'the NURSERY STOCK, posl Higlieal. New Catalogue of Bulbs, PI ROBERT PARKER begs NEW CATALOGUE, containinE Priced Lists ol Dutch and other Bulbs, and Decorative Putjoses. Fruit Trees, G Exotic Nursery, TootinK. S s. Fruits, &0. announce that his :lect Descriptive and British Fern Catalogue. ROBERT SIM will send, post free for six i stamps. Part L (British Ferns and their varieties, 3 inciudine prices of Hardy Exotic Ferns), of his Priced De CATALOGUE of BRITISH and EXOTIC FERNS, No. J Foot's Cray Nurser>', Sidcup Hill, Kent. Fruit Trees, Fruit Trees. JOHN PERKINS, Sen., begs to off ioUowing :— Standard PEARS of all the leading sorts, 5 to 6 feet stems, 6n, without any disadvantage to neatness Forest Trees. WOOD and INGRAM ofter as follows, very fine stuff:— Per 1000.— s. d. OAKS, 3 yr. Seedlings 76 „ 3to4feet 30 o 4 10 5 feet 33 o ELM, English, i-yr. Seedlings So ,, . 2-yr. Seedlings er IM o o HORSE CH'ElTNUTS,'3-y" Seedlings '.'. '.'. !"'"?. 1% rpWO HUNDRED THOUSAND extra fine 3-yr. X transplanted QUICK, 3 to 4 feet. 100,000 2-yr. transplanted QUICK. 2 to 3f^ feet. 500,000 2-yr. Seedling do,, 1% to 3 feet. M.ooo 2.yr. transplanted .\SH. 3to 5 feet. l,oS>,ooo ENFIELI5 MARKET CAflBAGE PLANTS. 3 tons ASHTOP KIDNEY and EARLY ROSE POT'ATOS. Samples and prices on application to W. COCKS, Old Nurseries, Donington. Spalding^ be SOLD, d VICTORIA ERRIES; 4- „„.,, ...» „ TAPONICA; CLEMATIS CUPRESSUS LAWSONIANA; PERNETTV/ ■ : variety; AUCUBA LIMEATA, b ERYMAN, Wandsworth iffer to Gentlemen who intend 1 stock of FRUIT, FOREST, indard and Dwarf ROSES, CATALOGUES rth Common Railway Static ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIET' SOUTH KENSINGTON, W. SHOW of LATE CHRYSANTHEMUMS, HARDY EVER- GREENS, Sic, DECEMBER 6, 1871. AWARDS ol the JUDGES. Class 1.-12 TREE CARNATIONS, distinct, in 8-inch pots. (Opel Class 2.-6 TREE CARNATIONS, distinct, in S-inch pots. (Amateurs.) Cl.iss 3.-24 CHRYSANTHEMUMS, Japanese and late varietil E. Rowe, Gr. to Mrs. Lewis, The Rookery, Roeham . J. D'.uglas, Gr. 1 5d, Mr. J. .Esq., H. Little, Esq., dlS'l,'llfo'i -Collection of HARDY EVERGREENS, bearing bernt (Hollies excluded). (Open.) ;rs. John Standish & Co., Royal Nurseries, Ascot, £t. Class 5.-9 HOLLIES, in t2.inch pots. Class 6.-6 BOX, distinct, in 12-inch pots. -9 HARDY EVERGREENS, of the Yew or Cypress typ Class 8.— Collectic (Open. Class 9.-Collection of ENDIVE, and other SALADING. (Open.) PRIZES OFFERED by MESSRS. JAMES CARTER AND CO. -1 ASS io.-Collection of VEGETABLES, to include Carter's Littlt Pi.iie Savoy, Scotch Kale, Brussels Sprouts. Carter's Garnishing Kale. Parsnips, Scorzonera, Salsafy, and Leek. ist, Mr. W. G. Pragnell, Castle Gardens, Sherborne, Dorset, £2 2j. MISCELLANEOUS-E.XTRA PRIZE. Gr. Noteworthy Horticulturists and Botanists. „ .^ SERIE" ' "-'--"«'-^ = iY HORTIC ' GAZETTE.' Dr. Moore, c ERS' CHRONICLE The following have alreaa; plication to the Publisher, viz. :- Prof. Reichenbach, Hamburg Rev. S. R. Hole, M.A. E. J. Lowe, F.R.S. James McNab, of Edinburgh. R s. I Robert Hogg. LL.D. asnevin I James Bateman. FR.S. ILL! AM RICHARDS, 41, Wellington Streel PRICED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUES may be had on application. All See(Js and Bulbs Carriage Free. CARTER'S " SUBURBAN " COLLECTION Of CHOICE BULBS contains the most showy and popular varieties for the Decoration of the Drawing, room and Garden. 12 HYACINTHS,! 36 NARC'I'SSUS-Poetic > CROCUS-Blue ! !! WhPte 1 „ Large Yellow ! G L A D I O L U S BRENCII LEVENSIS 1 CROWN IMPERIALS ' LEUCOJUM -ESTIVUM I ANF.MONES, extra line ! CAMPERNEL JONQUILS Price 25s. Packing and Carriage Free. Half the above, incliijing Fatiing, 12s. 6d. 36 IRl's,t Double Roman Five per cent, discount for Cash. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1871. JAMES CARTER and CO, SEEDSMEN TO H,M. THE QUEEN, AND H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES. 237 and 238, HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON, W. C. ON more than one occasion it has been our duty to criticise the tasteless, uninstructive manner in which the fruit and vegetables at our great FRUIT SHOWS are arranged, and to enter our protest against the continuance of a system so little creditable to our exhibition managers. There is the less excuse in the case of fruits and vegetables, as the articles are not so fugitive or perishable as flowers, and more time could be spent in arrangement and in their subsequent exhibition than is always possible in the case of flowers. With a view of calling atten- tion to this matter, we give a plan of the arrangement of the great fruit show held last month at Vienna, and we add a few particulars concerning the exhibition, from our special cor- respondent. The catalogue of the exhibition (which lasted from October 7 to 13) comprises no less than 55 closely printed pages, divided into four classes— fruit, vegetables, stove plants, horticultural seeds. There were about a hundred exhibitors, including most of the Vienna nursery- men, many Hungarian Vine growers, and private gentlemen. From one of the latter, Baron Gaymuller, alone came 177 Apples and 77 varieties of Pears. Indeed the exhibition was one of great magnitude and completeness, and its tasteful arrangement may in some measure be inferred from the accompanying plan, and the remarks of our correspondent. "The colour," writes our correspondent, "usually afforded bv flowering plants was on this occasion, with the exception of a splendid collection of cut flowers of Gladioli, supplied by quantities of beautifully-coloured Apples, Pears, and Grapes, by gigantic Gourds of many hues, by Tomatos, striking in their splendid yellow and red tints, and by the large pure white Cauliflowers. Indeed, on looking down from the gallery of the building, the round tables, loaded with the fruits on dishes, bore a resemblance to large hand bouquets placed on a green carpet of turf. ' ' Pears and Apples were shown in great quantities, and of very fine quality. The shape of the fruits in general was very perfect and clean, but the size was often not quite up to the mark. " Vegetable seeds appeared in general m quantities from 2 to 30 lb., there being no less than 754 exhibits in this class. We found .amongst them a good collection of Potato seeds, and the well-known forcing Rape-cole of Vienna. "The exhibition of vegetables was a very good one. It was not only richly supplied with good examples of the usual market vegetables, but also with several collections of splendid Gourds. Mayer & Metz, of Laibach, were unrivalled in their rich collection of these vegetables, not less than 134 kinds were exhibited by thetu, aU remark- able in shape, and of great variety in colour "Among the collections of Beans and Peas were Laxton's Prolific, Alpha, Supreme, and Prohfic Early Long-pod, Prince Albert, Victoria, and Maclean's Best- of-All. &c. " Tomatos, from those of the largest size to thos>- of the small cherrv-like shape, made a great effect by 1578 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Aoricultural Gazette. [December 9, 1S71. many hundreds of cut flowers of Gladioli, attrai eye by their remarkable splendour and the I colours. They were all seedlings of the last yeai Mr. Daniel Hooibrenk, of Hitzing, near raised from seeds collected from his own plai le, witl :ted th( 'The Bo Garde: xhibited. of the Un buled some very fine stove plants, several Aroidece, Ges neraceas, and a few Orchidaceous plants in flower Among the plants exhibited by Mr. Abel, nurseryman of Vienna, we observed, for the first time, the .'\nanass: Mordilona in fruit. The fruit was already pretty large, but not fully ripe. As this Pine-apple needs'but little heai for cultivation, and its weight usually amounts to 10 lb., of bn iwhe ngli. thet ased m gardei fixed on a handle in such a way that we can m run before us if we intend to measure a dis to the wheel is fixed a brass box, covered w glass. In that box every rotation of the wht and when we have arrived at the end of the to be measured, nothing has to be done but to box and mark off' how many feet have been Another object worthy of mention consisted i composed of asphalte and paper. They are keep the water perfectly clean through their highly surfaced walls, and are of a moderate The illustration on p. 1579 shows the an the exhibition above referred to. ;s of North byMr. F. ctly 3 feet, is ike the wheel ince. Close ■ It will be remembered that in connection with the Horticultural Department of the International Exhibition of 1S71, certain Permanent Exhibitions of a horticultural character \vere arranged for, with the view to the decoration of the entrance to the Horticul- tural Gardens, and to the furnishing of certain portions of the arcades not otherwise occupied. These exhibi- tions have been incidentally alluded to in the course of the season, but now that the awards have been made we propose to offer a few brief notes on the whole e.xhibition. The assessors were the secretaries of the Horticultural Department of the International SI aided by such foreign jurors as were present at several meetings. These exhibitions, which were c menced with spirit, were well kept up during the season ; the exhiliitors being Messrs. Kelway & Son Lane & Son, W. Paul, Paul & Son, Standish & Co., and Wills, and the following are the deci: anived at :— Mr. W. Paul earned the first posi In the early part of May he had a magnificent display of pot Roses, such as were probably never brought together before by one exhibitor. Their excellence has been marked by the special award of a gold medal. Later on Mr. Paul kept up an excellent display of cut Roses, supplemented by ornamental evergreens and various other interesting objects in season. Messrs. Lane & Son have been awarded the next place ; their exhibition was of a more miscellaneous character, and mainly consisted of hardy evergreens, with Rho- dodendrons and Azaleas as the chief floral elements. Messrs. Standish & Co. also made a very effective exhibition, which was well kept up with objects of interest of a very varied character. These three were far ahead of the remaining competitors. Mr. Wills kept up a display of what are known as furnishing plants, and introduced a very ingenious revolving stand, which was considered deserving of special mention ; the general arrangement, moreover, was very tastefur and eflfective. Messrs. Paul & Son's exhibition consisted chiefly of evergreens, set off by a supply of cut Roses throughout the season— but latterly this "exhibit " was neglected, and instead of an orna- ment became an eyesore ; and Messrs. Kelway & Son's consisted wholly of Gladioli, and was, therefore, necessarily more limited in duration. The sum of ^^250 was set apart by the Council for the remuneration of the exhibitors, and the awards were made according to marks recorded on a monthly inspection of the several exhibitions. They were, we understand, as follows : — variety of Hudson's ciliatus and to attach to the long ha means of a glutinous subsl perfect plant of that Fucui deceived Dr. Macculloch the 6th shows the ), which it seems to cut off, irs of its body and legs by lance. It thus imitates a i so accurately as to have ." The plate illustrating le of the Liiinean Trans- e of this disguise. In a notice of Captain Forsyth's book on " The Highlands of Central India," W\sAthml AND SONS, Trade price on applicatic B. R. CANT, St. Jol MCLEAN'S ADVANCER, LAXTON'S PROLIFIC LONGPOD (improved stock), SUPREME, and ALPHA PEAS. Prices on applic " /ei F. TELLEY, Seedsi MR. LAXTON'S NEW PEAS for 1872.— F Garden Peas, which will be sent out by us this season in trial packe seepa^^^^o ^^'^ ^^^j^ ^^ Leadenhall Street! London, E.C. JAMES TAPLIN, Seed Merchant, Uitbridge. To the Trade. CUCUMBER SEEDS.— Pearson's Long Gun, and RoUisson's Telegraph (true). Price, per oz. or 100 seeds, on app ica ion o^^ cqOLING, Mile Ash Nurseries, Derby. TDIRD'S KING of the CUCUMBERS, n. 6rf. BIRD'S QUEEN of the MELONS, is. per jacket. The green-fleshed variety. May be had of all the Seed 'Trade, and of JAMES BIRD, Nurseri-man and Seedsman, Downham. CONOVER'S COLOSSAL ASPARAGUS.— Strong 3-yr. old plants, 21J. per 100. Orders booked now for dcliveiy in ^'jaSeS DICKSON AND SONS, "Newton" Nurseries, and 102, Eastgate Street, Chester. JAMES DICKSON AND SONS, 02, Eastgate Street, Chester. and Extra fine Forcing and Planting Seakale. C:* EORGE CLARKE has many thousands, very fine T clean stuff, this season, which he begs to offer as under;— Planting size, 55. per too; forcing, tor., I2j., and some superline selected Crowns, 151. per too. ■ -■ .; and Mottingham, Kent, S.E. ;ffiii;i Turnip and Mangel 'Vurzel Seeds— 1871 Crop. JOHN SHARPE will on application furnish his LIST, with prices, of the principal SEEDS he is growing this year. .tn.-jX Seed Fotatos. XT AND F. SHARPE'S Wholesale LIST of SEED application. It comprises all the best early and late varieties, also all the Amtncan sons worthy of cuiiivaiion. The quality is excellent, Seed Growine Establishment, Wisbech. 1642 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 23, 1871. RICHARD SMITH'S LIST of EVERGREEN and DECIDUOUS SHRUBS.RHCIDODENDRONS.STANDARD ORNAMENTAL TREES, CLIMBING and TWINING PLANTS, IWO HUNDRED THOUSAND transplanted QUICK, 5 to 4 fe. 100,000 2-yr. transijlanled QUICK, 2 to 500,000 2-yr. Seedling do., t',~i to 3 feet. 50,000 2-yr. transplanted ASH, 3 to 5 f( 1,000,000 ENFIELD MARKET CABB _„ _ 3 tons ASHTOP KIDNEY and EARLY ROSE POTATOS. Samples and nrices on annliratinn to W. COCKS, O SB AGE PLANTS. , Donington. Spaldin R? and Specli VIN clai: ES ROSES, 1 Fine Dwarf ROSES, best sorts, 7s. pe Fine fruiting VINES, of sorts, 51. eacl CIRK ALLEN, The Nu Wholesale Prices, Gladioli Seedlings, by Name, from Paris. T EVEQUE ET FILS, Nurserymen, Ivry-snr-S -Li near Paris (late Boulevard de I'Hopital), offer the followine GLADIOLI SEEDLINGS, first-class, per too, 7,. ; per 1000 £3 %\ll w LLIAM POTTEN'S CATALOGUE of choice VEGETABLE and FLOWER SEEDS, all selected from the iks, is noiy ready; also his CATALOGUE of BEDDING WM. POTTEN, Seedsman w Qvaston Nurseries. LLIAM BARRON AND SON'S Priced CONIFER.'E and other RHODODENDRONS, Descriptive CA'TALOGUE FRUIT TREES, &c. ready, and may fc Elvi Nun ;endinp purchasers is respectfully ■rowasTi, near Derby. GENUINE SEEDS ONLY. James Veitch & Sons DF.G TO ANNOUNCE THAT THEIR IimSTRATEB PRICED CATALOGUE OF GARDEN AND FLOWER SEEDS FOR 1S72. With List of Implements and other Garden Requisites, Is 1WW Published, and will be forwarded Post Free on application. ROYAL EXOTIC NURSERY, CHELSEA, LONDON, S.W. NEW AND GENUINE SEEDS. B. S. Williams BEGS TO ANNOUNCE THAT HI! R OBERT NEAL, NURSERYMAN, Wandsworth Common, Surrey, S.W., begs to offer to Gentlemen who intend ng this season his large and varied stock of FRUIT, FOREST, ORNAMENTAL TREES, Standard and Dwarf ROSES "" R-Ii, SHRUBS, &c., which are CATALOGUES may be had fret RHODODENDRONS, CONIFERS, SHR within a few minu orth Common Railw walk of the Clapham I Stat [NE HEALTHY NURSERY STOCK Per dozen.— s. a l^ DOUGLASII, 4 to 5 feet, clean and well grown, dark lush'^ fine'''"'°°'2& " , well transplanted 5NEASTER ; AMERICAN ARBOR-VIT.15, ^to., feet .. PORTUGAL LAURELS, 2 to 3 feet, bushy " " "' - ■■ - ■ THORN, 5 to 6 fe I Double Scarlet T NGUINEA RHODODENDRONS SANGUINEA, : fine" hybrids, hy healthy plai 00 fine "named Hybrid p'e'rpetu'al ""' "ky'^may. HENK MAY, The Hope 1 Bedale, York'stoe. W^ 3-yr. Seedl TheNu Cross Nurseries, LbiesDouglasii,3to4feet'. i8 „ Deodara,'2 to 2I4 feet 18 o Co'ptomeria Lobbii, 2 fact . . 90 Cupressus macrocarpa, 2 feet 9 0 rens. 3 to 4 feet 90 !imana,3fcct . 60 Picea balsainea, 2 Lobbii, iJi foot .. 8t occidentalis, 3 to 4 ft. 51 Taxus baccata, z% feet Lobbii, r- " Berteri Berberis Darwinii, ; „ dulcis, 2 fc „ Mahonia. ; Cotoneastcr micropl Ivy, Irish, for edgin „ Portugal, I f bushy, per 100, foot, per 100, ass. . . ^oses. Standards, best so; „ Dwarfs . . Selecled from CatalogU' Str;,'neC?ider; Blenheim, Loi "IV/r ILFORD NURSERIES ■^^ near Godalmlng. For NEW and RARE HARDY PLANTS and CONIFER.^1, see MAURICE YOUNG'S New Descriptive For HARDY ORNAMENTAL TREES and SHRUBS, EVERGREENS, &c., see MAURICE YOUNG'S New Descriptive CATALOGUE. For RHODODENDRONS and other AMERICAN a^KS'G^f. "^"'^'^'^ ^■"™'^'^ ^- """i»"- For STANDARD and HALF STANDARD ROSES, see MAURICE YOUNG'S New Descriptive CATALOGUE. For NEW JAPANESE AUCUBAS, see MAURICE YOU^fb•S New Descriptive CATALOGUE. For JAPANESE NOVELTIES, see MAURICE YOUNG'S New Descriptive CATALOGUE. For Cheap EVERGREENS and SHRUBS for COVER %*U^Nl^rSew°'Des^^L"e"lllTL!jGUr "^"■''^'^ For PLANTS suitable for WINTER BEDDING see MAURICE YOUNG'S New Descriptive CATALOGUE. For TRANSPLANTED FOREST TREES, see MAURICE YOUNG'S New Descriptive CATALOGUE For EXTRA TRANSPLANTED or QUARTERED. FOREST TREES for Plantinf; Belts or Shrubberies see I MAURICE YOUNG'S New Descriptive CataloKul. ' Forwarded on application enclosing stamp. I Milford Nurseries, near Godalming. 1 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF FLOWER, VECETABLE, AND AGRICULTURAL SEEDS FOR 1S72, Containing many New and Choice Flower and Vegetable Seeds, IS NOW READY. POST FREE TO ALL APPLICANTS. VICTORIA and PARADISE NURSERIES, UPPER HOLLOWAY, LONDON, N. GARDEN SEEDS. OSBORN & SONS' SELECT LIST OF KITCHEN GARDEN AND FLOWER SEEDS, WITH ORDER SHEET, FOR THE ENSUING SEASON, Is now ready, and may be had on amplication. FULHAM NURSERY, LONDON, S.W. THE LARGEST, CHEAPEST AND BEST STOCK OF ROSES IS STILL AT Vv^ILLIAM PAUL'S. PAUL'S NURSERIES and SEED WAREHOUSE, WALTHAM CROSS, HERTS, N. PRICED DESCRIPTH'E CATALOGUE FREE BY POST. THE ROSE GARDEN, Second Edition, 6s, 6d. ; ROSES IN POTS, Third Edition, 2s. 32, Maida Vale, Edgware Road, W. THE PINE-APPLE NURSERY (one of the Oldest Nurseries extant) IS NO'W CONDUCTED BY A COMPANY, WHO ARE PREP.'XRED TO WAEEANT GENUINE EVERY ARTICLE SUPPLIED TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. THEIR STOCK AND RESOURCES ARE ALMOST INEXHAUSTIBLE; AND THEIR MOTTO IS "LIBERALITY." Please write for their NEW CAT-ALOGUE, and also for their SEED CATALOGUE, to be published January i, 1872, which will contain a large fund of useful information. Address, JOHN I5ESTER (Manager), PINE-APPLE NU-RSERY, MAIDA VALE, LONDON, W. December 23, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1643 GEORGE GOR LARCH, from =4 - j- ■■- INlfs AUSTRIACA LARCH,_from;4_10 3oinchesi SCOTCH FIRS 10 40 inches; i-yr. seedling LARCH, am m true native Scotch seed, that he can d °'^'george go: :'l,'f?oS SCOTCH FIRS, of at reasonable "4,"fempfe'D?le°Street, Liverpool. FASTOLF RASPBERRIES; ASPARA. JAPONICA; CLEMA^riS' LANUGINOSA; CUPRESSUS LAWSONIANA; PERNETTYA SPECIOSA, the berry-bearinK variety; AUCUBA LIMBATA, bicolor and viridis ; SALIX BABYLONICA SALOMONII, the hardy Weeping Willow. ISAAC DAVIES, Nurseryman, Ormskirk. rpo WILLOW GROWERS.— The Planting Season ± having commenced, WILLIAM SCALING, Willow Nuksery- MAN, Basford, Notts, is now ready to execute orders for WILLOW PLANTS and CUTTINGS for Timber Trees and WILLOv" PLANTS and CUTTINGS for Onamental Trees and ----- '" ^CUTTINC^ ... „,.. PLANTS i The Cheapest and Best iBsectlclde. OOLEVS TOBACCO POWDER. Of all Nursen'men and Seedsmen. 10BACCO TISSUE, for FUMIGATING GREEN- . HOUSES.— Will destroy Thrip, Red Spider, Green and Black ', and Mealy Bug, and bums without the assistance of blowing, 1 is entirely free from paper or rags. Price 3*. 6d. per lb., carriage Used by many of the leading Gardeners since 1850, against - ■ Spider, Mildew Tlirips, ;n Fly, and other Blight, in Planting Season. TAMES DICKSON and SONS beg of F"/REST,°FRu'lTTa'nd ORNAlliENJAL TREES, SHRUBS, from the Chester Passenger Station. Priced LISTS post free. JAMES DICKSON and SONS, "Newton" N •series, Chester. Glass for Garden Purposes. JAMES PHILLIPS and CO- be REDUCED PRICES a Wholesale by PRICE'S PATENT NDLE COMPANY London Agents for HARTLEY'S IMPROVED PATENT ROUGH PLATE. LINSEED OIL, Genuine WHITE LEAD, CARSON'S PAINTS PAINTS of various colours ground ready for use. SHEET and ROUGH PLATE GLASS, SLATES of all sizes, BRITISH PLATE.PATENT PLATE.ROLLED PLATE CROWN SHEET, HORTICULTURAL, ORNAMENTAL, COLOURED and every description of GLASS, of the best Manuf ' ' JAS. PHILLIPS AND CO., 180, Bishopsgate Sti Richard Smith, NURSERYMAN AND SEED MERCHANT, WOECESTEE. ROSES -Standard, Dwarf and Climbing. FRUIT TREES of every description. CREEPERS, for Trellises and Walls. FOREST, SCREEN, and TIMBER TREES. SHRUBS for GAME COVERTS. QUICK and other STOCK for HEDGES. CONIFEROUS TREES and SHRUBS. EVERGREEN FLOWERING ORNAMENTAL „ AVENUE GARDEN and FARM SEEDS of all kinds. DESCRIPTIVE PRICED CATALOGUES to be had on application. George Jackman & Son, THE "WOKING" NURSERIES, SURREY, ESTABLISHED UPWARDS of 60 YEARS, and NOW OCCUPYING an AREA of 180 ACRES, Respectfully call the attention of all who are interested in Planting to the resources of this Establishment. Their DESCRIPTIVE PRICED NURSERY CATALOGUE of frequently TRANSPLANTED STOCK, can be had Free by Post on application, with Plan (Home portion) of Nursery. Standard Fruit Trees. ■ Orchard :--Pyramid, Dwarl JIaiden, Cutback, and Trained It trees. ^ For the Garden :— Embracing all the finest and ular varieties of Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry, Peach, Nectarine, .Strawberries, Medlars, &c. Standard and Dwarf Roses, Of all the best new and old varieties of Provence, Moss, Hybrid Per- petual, Bourbon, Noisette, China, Tea, Climbing Roses, &c. Climbing and Trailing Shrubs (Including the Clematis).- Well adapted for covering Verandahs, Pillars, Festoons, Walls, Porticos, Trelliswork, &c. American Plants, hardy species and varieties in cultivation. Ornamental Deciduous Trees (For Park and General Piantingl— including Trees with eith< able growth or foliage, such as weeping, cut.lcaved, c variegated, &c Evergreen Trees and Shrubs (Suitable for Clumps, Belts, Screens, &c.)— containing a chc tion of all shatles of foliage. Forest Trees (for Covert and Coppice Planting)— All carefully transplanted, free grown, and good rooted. • goods direct from the producers. with orders) >viU WOKING NURSERY, SURREY. G , Laure amage paid to any raihv. BROWN AND CO , , London, E.G. ; Netting 'ountney Place (close to the OPFice WS. BOULTON AND CO., Norwich, • Horticultural Builders and Hot-water Apparatus Manufacturers. New labour-saving machinery enables us to supply first-class CON- SERVATORIES, VINERIES, ORCH.^RD HoOSES, FORCING PITS, &c., at very low prices. Designs and Esiim:itcs furnished. MELON and CUCUMBER LIGHTS ready for delivcrj-, ..3a With handles complete. Prices. —Carriage paid to any station within 200 miles of Norwicl 8 feet long by 6 feet wide. . £2 15 I 16 feet long by 6 feet wide. . £< 12 feet long by 6 feet wide. . jfis 17 I M feet long by 6 feet wide. . £7 If prepared with wood cills, to build on brick wall, and lights t Other s PLANT PRESERVERS. Illustrated Catalogues free on appl Rose Lane Works, Norwich. no Woodwork o. Partitions to impede Ventilation or breed Vermin; Hay Rick dispensed with as unnecessary; increased width and depth of Feeding Troughs, Water Cistern, and Patent Drop Cover to prevent over-gorging. Cleanly, durable, and impervious to infection, being all of Iron. Price of Fittings per Cow, 55s. COTTAM AND CO., Iron WorKs, 2, Winsley l^Kol^el The Eoysa Pottery, Weston-super-Mare. BASKETS, RUSTIC FLORAL ARBORETTES, stATUARY, GARDEN POTS (from a to 30 inches in diameter), of superior quality, withstand frost, and do not "become green! EDGING TILES, &c. See specimens in the Royal Horticultural Gardens. Price List free Book of Drawings, 6d. each. JOHN MATTHEWS, Royal Pottery, ' Roster's Garden Edging TUes. 1HE above and many other PATTERNS matenals of great durability. The plainer sorti suited for KITCHEN GAR GARDEN VASES, FOUNTAINS, &c, in Artificial Stone, very urable and of superior finish, and in great variety of design F. AND G. ROSHER, Manufacturers, Upper Ground Street, Black- friars, S.E. ; Queen's Road West. Chelsea, S. W. ; Kingsland Road. E. ;s for LOOKER'S PATENT "ACME FRAMES ■ — " ' — CO^E ORNAMENTAL PAVING TILES for Consen'atories, Halls, Corridors, Balconies, &c., from 35. per square yard upwards. Pattern Sheets of plain or more elaborate designs, with WHITE GLAZED TILES, for Lining Walls of Dai Kitchen Ranges, Batl ■ " ' >•■-■■- durability, V?all Copi , Baths. . Copings, L in great variety, Slates dG. ROSHER, Brick a Stable Paving of great ig Wall: Pipes and Tiles of all kinds,' Roofing ihants.— See a SILVER SAND, fine or coarse grain as desired. Fine 14*., Coarse 171, per Ton. In Truck Loads ij. per Ton less. Delivery by Cart within three miles, or to any London Railway or Wharf, 2J. per Ton extra. Samples of Sand free by p ' FLINTS and BRICK BURRS for Rockeries or Fi PEAT or LOAM supplied at lowest rates in any qua (1 ROSHER.-Addresses see al KENT mpt\y executed i644 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 23, 1871 TO THE TRADE. Hurst & Son, IIAVINi; PURCHASED THE HALF STOCK OF THE UNDER-NAMED NEW PEAS Have much pleasure in offering to the Trade, for the first time this season, TWO NEW PEAS raised by Mr. Laxton. These two varieties, DIFFERING FROM EACH OTHER, inasmuch as One is a smooth Pea and the other an indented Marrow, present a different type from any yet introduced, and may be probably the forerunners of considerable improvements in Garden Peas. From the distinct and peculiar colour of the seed, that invaluable desideratum, a dish of really Green Peas at table, may be realised, even when the outward appearance of the pods denotes maturity. LAXTON' S EVERGREEN PEA. A very distinct novelty. A smooth Pea, of a peculiar dark green colour when cooked. Very productive, and of excellent flavour. LAXTON' S CONQUEST PEA. A tall, late, green wrinkled Pea, exceedingly productive, and of a fine rich flavour. This variety is most distinct, the seed being of a very bright green colour, with a white eye — the pro- duce coming to table with a beautiful appearance. THE WHITE GEM PEA. This novelty is thus described by the eminent Canadian Seedsmen, Messrs. J. A. BrUCE & Co., Hamilton, Ontario : — " This is a very early variety, not more than four days later than ' First Crop' or ' Ringleader,' pods large and well filled, excellent flavour, and very prolific. We consider this a valuable acquisition to the list of extra early Peas." Height, 15 to iS inches. THE FIRST CROP BLUE PEA. This is the combined result of natural and artificial cultivation selected from " Little Gem " and " Laxton's Supreme." The following de- scription is also from the trial of Messrs. J. A. Bruce & Co., Hamilton ; — " This Pea comes into use with ' White Gem,' with very similar habit and foliage— a good bearer, pods large and of uniform size. It is a fine flavoured Pea." Height, 12 to 15 inches. Price on application to HURST AND SON, 6, LEADENHALL STREET, LONDON. J. G. WHEELER & SON, SEED GROWERS, GLOUCESTER and LONDON, Offer the following interesting Novelties, &c., this season. WHEELERS' KINGSHOLM COS LETTUCE Thi^ mignihccnt I ettuc made )t appeimnce three years iincL m a piece of \\ hite Cos It withstood the summer heat foi i long time after all other varieties (with the exception of \\ heelers Tom Thumb) had run to seed, headed in without t)ing and formed one of the most perfect models of a Cos I cttiice e\t.r seen At length it ran to seed owmg to the hte period of the season it had started the produce was howe\er small The wholf stock was carefully pres«r\ed for next season's seeding. The crop of seed was agam very limited but the Lettuces were magnificent, many of them weighmg 7 lb. each. We are now enabled to offer seed at is. per packet. It was seen last summer by a gentleman connected with Covent Garden Market, who remarked it was the finest Lettuce he had ever seen, and far superior to anything brought to the London Market. We recommend those who contemplate growing Lettuces for Exhibition to give this variety a trial. Get it sown in a frame, and planted out early in the season, on deeply dug and well-manured land, and we have but little fear such specimens will be pro- duced that will defy competition. Packets, is. ; Small Packets, 6J. each, post free. A Packet of this Lettuce will be given gratis with our celebrated Guinea Collection of Garden Seeds. WHEELERS' TOM THUMB LETTUCE. th summer and winter. In our Little Book for 1872 i extracts from 13 letters, speaking in the very highest ■ms of its excellence. Price ij. per Packet, post free. Small Packets, 6J. WHEELERS' COCOA-NUT CABBAGE. •m CARTER'S GENUINE SEEDS, Carriage Free. THE EARLIEST PE.-\ KNOWN IS CARTER'S FIRST CROP (Or Ringleader) ; Vide Tif/tf/Y 0/ Trial made hy the Royal Hortictiltni al Society. PER QUART, Is. 6d. CAETER'S FIRST CROP BLUE PEA. sP Wheekrs Coll i nut i i . s uid \ perfectly distmct ol niu:,t cxllUcuI lUi.c planted i8 inches apart w ill > leld an tarly and con supply. This Cabbage is a decided no\elty and a great acquisition. Owing to the small supply of seed this season, we much regret that we cannot supply the Trade until we have harvested our next crop. Price IS. per Packet, post free. Small Packet, dd. WHEELERS' LITTLE BOOK for 1872, Illustrated, will be published on January i, price 6(/., post free, gratis to customers. J. C. WHEELER and SON, SEED GROWERS, GLOUCESTER ; and 59, MARK LANE, LONDON, This is the combined result of natural and .irtificial cultivation, selected from LITTLE GEM and LA.XTON'S SUPREME. The following description is also from the trial of Messrs. J. A. Bruce & Co., Hamilton : — "This Pea comes into use with Carter's White Gem, with very similar habit and foliage — a good bearer, pods large, and of uniform size. It is a fine- flavoured Pea."' Height, 12 to 15 inches. PER QUART, 2s. 6d. CARTER'S ILLUSTRATED VADE MECUM FOR 1872, PRICE ONE SHILLING, Is now ready, and will be forwarded Grati: and Post Free to Purchasers. JAMES CARTER and CO., UNDER THE IMMEDIATE PATRONAGE OF THE QUEEN, AND THE PRINCE OF WALES, 237 and 238, HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON, -W. C. December 23. 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag^ricultural Gazette. 1645 To tlie Trade. IV/riXED HYACINTHS, Named HYACINTHS, XVX Mixed TULIPS, Named TULIPS, Mixed Crocui CROCUS, WHITE CROCUS, BLUE CROCUS, SeedlitiE CROCUS, POLYANTHUS NARCISSUS NARCISSUS, &c., at very low prices. Quotations will be given The quantity required should be named. BARR AND SUGDEN, 12, King Street, Covent Garden, VV.C HYACINTHS, TUL Sic., for fillinff flower flower-borders.— These may are now beinj; cleared out to HYACINTHS, TULIP flowering indoors, at very lo BARR AND SUGDEN, i CROCUS, :nt Garden, Autumn Plajitlng. MENTAL TREES and SHRUBS, as producing 1 : large breadths of LARCHES, from i to M feet, SCOTCH , NORWAY SPRUCE, AUSTRIAN PINES, and other leading ~ re unusualK' fine, and worthy of inspec- ut,b and special offers will be furnished upon linburgh and London, October, 1871. THE GARDENERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.-Notice is hereby given, that the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the MEMBERS of this SOCIETY will be held at the Bedford Hotel, Covent Garden, on THURSDAY, January 11 next, when an ELECTION for THREE ;;r^b N Notawortliy Horticulturists and Botanists. OTICE.— A SERIES of PORTRAITS NOTEWORTHY HORTICULTURISTS and BOTAN ing published in the "GARDENERS' CHRONICLE [CULTURAL GAZETTE." The following have ; on to the Publisher, Reichenbach, Hai i. R. Hole, M.A. LTURAL GAZETTE." The .ppeareo.and copies may be had on applicat Dr. Hooker, C.B.,F.R.S. 1 Prof. Covent Garden, W.C. E.J. ILLIAM RICHARDS, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1871. AS we write these lines, cartloads of Holly are passing our windows, iVIistleto pours into our great metropolitan market by the ton, and Spruce Firs, in quantities sufficient to form a veritable Wood of Birnam, are carried by our doors. Away in the country shrubberies have been ruthlessly despoiled of their stores, the orchards of Somerset and Worcester, of Nor- mandy and Brittany have yielded their stores of mystic Mistleto, and nimble fingers are gaily stitching and tacking and nailing the leafy devices which are to quicken our thankfulness, gladden our hearts, and testify that even in the gloomiest of midwinters hope and joy and good fellowship are to be found among us. If we remember that there is nothing in the spelling of the words " holiday," and " holy- day," to justify our pronouncing the former as if it were spelt holliday, and that this pronuncia- tion is solely determined by custom, it will not be difficult to believe that what we now call the Holly Tree was by the earlier writei supon plants spoken of as the " Holy tree." But if we go back to the Saxon, we find " Holegn" is the Holly tree, while "halig" is holy. In Anglo-Saxon times, too, the Holly was, according to Dr. Prior, called " clebeam," or oil-tree, from its branches having been used for Olive branches and strewed before th Cemage of jESUS, in cer- tain solemnities of the church that represented His entry into Jerusalem. It is evident that the fruiting branches of the tree have long been in use for religious festivals amongst many northern nations in Europe, since we find it called Christmas in England, Christdoan by the Germans, and Christoon by the Swedes and Danes. Doubtless its " thorny leaves, and berries like crimson drops," have been regarded by Christians in all times as symbolical of an event which they thankfully keep in remembrance. We all know how e.xtensively the branches of this tree are used for decoration at this season, both in houses and churches, both with berries and without berries, although there is no Scrip- tural authority or warrant for its use, since none of the kinds grow in Western Asia, and it is not one of the trees mentioned in the Bible. It is this extensive use of Holly that leads us to think that some account of its culture for decorative uses might be acceptable at this season. In some parts of England Holly occurs in great abundance, and increases from seed ; but in nurseries it is found a saving of time to strike cuttings of the ripened wood under glass in some sheltered situation, while the rarer sorts are ■usually grafted upon the common Holly. Seeds, ■ that is, the berries, may be sown in October, and covered with about an inch of soil, but none of them begin to vegetate until 15 months after- wards, while some will remain dormant for more than three years. Owing to this uncertainty about their germina- tion, we cannot recommend raising plants from seed to those who have not a surplusage of land and labour to spare, to say nothing of the risks of loss by frost, if the seedlings should unfortunately be left unprotected. Besides, it cannot be worth while for any amateur to incur all this trouble and risk when he can buy seedlings 9 inches high for 50J-. per 1000. It next becomes a question, what sized plants it would be most economical in the end to buy. Our recommendation is to purchase Hollies about 3 feet high, which can be had in parcels of 50 at the rate of about 75^-. per 100. These should be planted 5 feet apart in rows 5 feet from each other, and the first plant of the second row should be put in i\ feet from the end of the row, so that trees shall all have as much root room and air as possible. The plants should be obtained from some respectable nurseryman who is a large grower, for it is important to the speedy well-doing of the young trees that they should have been transplanted several times before they find their way into the purchaser's hands. Bushy plants should be selected, since good crops of leaves and berries are the main requirements. The soil in which Hollies grow best is a deep sandy loam. They will grow in almost any soil that is well drained ; but they have a decided objection to a wet subsoil, or to any situation where their roots are constantly damp. It cannot fail to have been noticed that the Holly trees on the top of the hedge-banks by the sides of roads have usually finer crops of berries than the trees in plantations or woods ; and this fact indicates that a plantation of Hollies should be made upon a raised bank or an incline, and that a deep ditch or drain should run between the rows, if the soil should be at all retentive of moisture. The time for planting is in April, when mild, open weather should be selected ; or, better still, the middle of October, as there is perhaps less to fear from November frosts than from May sun- shine, though protection from either extreme of temperature, and particularly from cold, dry winds, is imperatively necessary. Cutting the branches for decorative purposes is not a matter which it is prudent to trust to the man who chances to have the sharpest knife or the thickest-skinned fingers. Much judgment and discretion are required, for upon the ability or ignorance exhibited depend to a great extent the future " crops." No branches ought to be cut from a young tree until it has been planted a year. Supposing there are 100 young trees from which a few branches might safely be cut, it will be better in the end to cut from the 25 strongest plants, and then leave them untouched for four years. By thus cutting at only 25 in each year, although more is taken out of each tree, the trees have a longer time to recover the pruning, and ultimately keep up a succession of berries, since by more frequent pruning the trees would be less to be depended upon for a regular crop. No doubt hard pruning has a tendency to make a tree produce a heavy crop of fruit ; but this is an abnormal condition of affairs, which is by no means to be recom- mended, for although it might give a quantity of berries one year, there would probably be none the following Christmas. Grafting and budding must not be forgotten, as it is by these means that the variegated kinds of Hollies are cultivated, the common green kind being the stock preferred. From the middle of July to the middle of August is the best season, care being taken to choose wet or damp weather for the operation, and to shade young buds from the sun, if the weather becomes hot and fine. As, however, this sort of work requires an amount of practice and patience which amateurs might deem expensive if purchased by ex- perience, we should not be surprised to find that many will prefer bu)ing the variegated sorts ready grafted, since nice young plants can be had from I5.r. to 40^-. per dozen of all the best varieties. We began this article with an allusion to the suggestive or sentimental uses of Holly. We passed on to a question of philology, quickly diverged into the regions of practical gardening ; suppose, by way of wishing our readers a Happy Christmas, we conclude by singing them a verse or two of an old carol — here it is :— Here comes Holly, that is so great. To please all men is his intent. Alleliijah ! Whosoever against Holly do crv. In a loop shall be hung full high. Allelujah ! Whosoever against Holly do sinf, He may weep, and his hands wriLg. Allelujah ! It is often said of a certain personage, who shall be nameless, that he is not so black as he is painted ; and, though we have had of late but too painful reminders of the wickedness and imperfection of human nature, there has been one redeeming feature amid all the horrors and miseries of which we have been the unwilling witnesses, and that feature is Sympathy— human sympathy. We all know the world is bad enough— most of us can at least sec the faults of our neighbours — but we are tempted to ask, is human nature really so bad as it is some- times stated to be? GOD knows there is no cause for vainglorious boasting or pharisaical self-coir- placency, but we may fairly, as a nation, fed th; t we did what we could to assuage the miseries 01 our neighbours across the Straits of Dover in the time of their direst need. When Chicago, all but burnt to the ground, but still undaunted, set to work to repair her losses with a degree of pluck that commanded the admiration of the British heart, our sympathy was not limited to words. Science has done for us, in fact, what Ariel only hinted at in words empty as " airy nothings," and no more noble service has been done by the wire at the bottom of the Atlantic than that which conveyed from our shores the message of practical sympathy. Still more recently, in a case where no actual outlay has been required from us, there has been a genuine outburst of human sympathy, more valuable by far than many a costly offering, more valuable as indicative, in these oft-decried days of selfishness and hardness, of a real store of charity unsus- pected by the Gradgrinds and Mawworms of the world we live in. We look on these facts as valuable evidences of the intrinsic sound-heartcdness of our fellow citizens. Appeal to their sympathies in a good cause, and see how ready and cheerful is the response. Cast but the shadow of a doubt as to the goodness of the cause, however, and all the commercial instinct and business prudence returns, and for the time substitutes the implacable columns of the ledger for the nobler impulses of the heart. Thus has it been to a great extent with the French Horticulturists' Relief Fund Started at a time when all Europe was ringing with the distress and miseries of the French in the invaded districts, the fund in question was fairly set going by and amongst our own horticulturists. Some five hundred pounds were subscribed, and then came the Com- mune. It is needless to dwell on its horrors : suffice it to say that the effect was to put an instant stop to the flow of charity. It was not quite logical to make the unoffending gardeners of Paris responsible for the frightful catastrophe that ensued ; but now that that has passed, it may not be amiss to call attention to the subject once more, and to make public certain facts which have just come to our know- ledge. The French Relief Commission, with which our own Committee has been in com- munication, have drawn up a list of the estimated losses sustained by the gardeners around Paris, detailing only those on whom the loss has fallen heaviest, and omitting altogether those who, from the possession of larger capital or other cir- cumstances, were considered only less fitted to be recorded in such a list. The case stands thus ; — In 20 districts or communes in the department of the Seine, i.e., in the neigh- bourhood of Paris, 555 nurserymen are enu- merated as worthy to be helped, from the extent of their losses or the poverty of their resources. In the commune of Montreuil 354 nurserymen are estimated to have lost by the destruction of their premises an amount equal to 238,338 f , and by the loss of their plants 151,667 f. In the district of Vitry the losses incurred by 123 gardeners and small nurserymen are estimated at 1,444,714 f 30 c. The sum total of this loss is estimated at 2,626,330 f., and (let us be precise) 52 centimes- equal in round numbers to upwards of ^100,000. Now, the sum to be set against this as our contribution towards our fellow horticuUurists is 1646 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 23, 187 1. 13,500 f. (^540), there or thereabouts. Surely it is sufficient to put the two sums in juxtaposition to awalvcn once more the slumbering sympathy of British horticulturists, and induce them, ere the subscription list is finally closed, to render the disparity a little less striking. We may also here state that we have been requested to ask that all subscriptions not yet paid, and all monies received by nurserymen or others for the fund, be paid in at once to the Treasurer, G. F. Wilson, Escj., Weybridge Heath ; or to the Secretary, Rev. H. H. Dombrain, Westwell, Ashford, Kent. y\t home, fortunately, we have no tale of dis- tress of such magnitude, but the list of candi- dates for the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution, as well as other cases— one of which is mentioned in a communication in another column — are sufficient to show that there is enough for each and all of us to do in the matter of human sympathy and help for our fellows. We may surely ask those who have the social welfare of their employes at heart, to bestow some considera- tion on the social evils of which the best and most honourable among our gardeners complain, in the matter of scanty wages, long hours, inade- quate house accommodation, and that horrible announcement in our advertisement columns, summed up in the two words, " no encumbrance." Our Christmas will be none the less merry, and our New Year none the less happy, if we each and all in our several degrees, and according to our several means, endeavour, in a practical, de- monstrable, but not self-laudatory manner, to love our neighbours as ourselves. On Saturday last an adjourned Public Meeting of the Market Gardeners, Nursery- men, and Farmers' Association, to which were invited the shop-keepers, salesmen, and other persons renting stands or premises in Covent Garden, was held at the Bedford Head Hotel, Covent Garden, for the purpose of furtlier discussing the great necessity of a roof being constructed over the uncovered area of the market. Mr. H. Meyers, who occupied the cliair, stated the object of the meeting, and said they would be very pleased to hear any remarks or suggestions upon the subject. He had every reason to hope that the question would meet with a favourable reception at the Bedford Office, and although lie had now been 40 years endeavouring to obtain this much-wanted pro- lection, he did not despair. The principal objection raised by the shop-keepers was that the market gardeners would turn higglers, and stay late in the day to retail their goods to the public ; but he believed if they would consent to an extra toll if they sold after a certain hour, that objection would be overcome. Mr. PococK called attention to the statement tliat the place would be unbearable for habitation if wliolly covered in, and that currents of air were absolutely necessary for their health. One of the shop-keepers complained that they would have to inhale the noxious breath of the costermongers if the present open parts were covered in. The Chairman said he believed another obstacle was, that the amount provided by the Act of 1S2S for the covering was not considered sufficient to make a reasonable return. Several of the growers piesent objected to the proposal of an extra toll, as very often the morning-gathered .Strawberries did not arrive until late, and others objected to it upon principle ; but it was generally acknowledged that the present over-crowded state of the market could not long continue, as on a full market the growers' carts and waggons filled all the surrounding streets, toll being taken from them as if they were in the market ; while a great portion of the available space was appropriated to the retailing of foreign produce. Mr. Clarke said the market gardeners should follow the example of the flower growers, and purchase a market for themselves, and drew the attention of the meeting to the proposed new market in Leicester Square, and Newport Market, which offered a fine site, as shown on tlie plans. Mr. LOBJOIT moved that the memorial for the covering of the 'open parts of Covent Garden be presented to His Grace the Duke of Bed- ford, and said that although he was willing to make any reasonable concession, he could not agree to the proposed extra toll, as he could not see how it could be collected ; if all present were to agree to it, others not present might disagree to it, and an Act of Parlia- ment would have to be obtained. As to the statement which Mr. PococK had called their attention to, he believed the Act never intended that Covent Garden should be occupied by dwelling-houses, at least, not to the prejudice of those for whom it was originally granted, viz., the growers. In reference to the price fixed by the Act, he thought if ^d. per foot was con- sidered sufficient 43 years ago, surely it was enough now, with our economical roofs of iron and glass. He was sorry the shopkeepers had not accepted their re- peated invitations to the public meetings, as he felt sure a little friendly discussion would soon dispel all their fears as to tlie injurious effect of the covering, and Se hoped all present would, like their worthy Chairman, persevere in their efforts to obtain the long-sought pro- tection. The resolution having been carried, a vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings. The Council of the Royal Agricultural and Botanical Society of Ghent has issued a notice that it intends to hold, in the end of March, 1873, its usual quinquennial International Horticultural E.\HIBITI0N. The programme of this exhibition will appear early in 1872, and it is presumed that the display will exceed in magnitude and importance that of 1868. M. de Ghellinck de Walle is Presi- dent, and C. Charles Leirens, Secretary. We learn that the opening of the Provincial Show of the Royal Horticultural Society, at Birmingham, has been fixed to take place on Tuesday, June 25. The show wiU close on Saturday, June 29. We hear officially from Manchester that the Botanical and Horticultural Society of that city, which has been for some time past in correspondence with some of the leading exhibitors, with the view of estab- lishing there Monthly Floral and Horticultural Meetings similar to those held fortnightly at South Kensington, has determined upon holding six such meetings in the ensuing year, on the following Tues- days, namely, February 20, March 19, April 9, Sep- tember 10, October 8, and November 19. The Annual National Horticultural Show, under the auspices of this Society, will be held in May, from the iSth to the 23d ; the Rose and Fruit Show on July 5 and 6. The monthly meetings are to be held in a suitable room in the city, and it is intended that First-class and Second- class Certificates and Commendations shall be awarded according to merit, by a competent committee, to the novelties which may be exhibited on these occasions. • We are requested to state that the JOURNAL of Botany, lately under the Editorship of Dr. See- MANN with the assistance of Mr. Baker and Dr. Trimen, will in future be published under the direc- tion of the latter gentleman. In an early number we propose to give a Table of the Dates Fixed eor Exhibitions throughout the country, when these are sent to us officially, or are announced in our advertising columns. The secretaries of the various Societies and others con- cerned in the management of flower shows, are requested to afford us early information on this point. The Table will be repeated monthly for the conve- nience of persons requirmg to consult it. Last year the French journals called public attention to a Disease in Aucubas, which attacked the leaves, and destroyed them wholly or partially. The removal of the affected parts appeared to be an efficient remedy, as the plants pushed forth new leaves, but, unfortunately, such has not proved to be the case, since the disease has again appeared this year in a form which has proved fatal to the plants. When attacked, the leaves show black spots and droop, the roots become rotten or ulcerated, and the pith blackened. Neither a cause nor remedy for this disease has been suggested. The Maximum Temperatures of the Air during the week ending December 1 6 ranged from 50°. 9 at Birmingham to 40. °5 at Paisley, with a mean for the several English stations of 48°.4, and for the Scottish of 47°. 5. The Minimum Temperatures of the Aik ranged from 35°. 5 at Sheffield to 23° at Norwich, the mean for the places in England being 29°. 4, and for those in Scotland 29°. 7. Thus it will be seen that the days have been warmer and the nights colder in the southern country than in the northern during the past week. The highest Mean Temperature, 44°, oc- curred at Bradford, and the lowest, 33°. i, at Paisley. The mean for the English stations was 40°. 3, and for the Scottish 39°.$. The wave of rising temperature that set in on the 9th continued steadily till the end of the week. The mean daily temperatures passed above the average on the 13th, and have continued in excess since that day. The remarkable cold wave that preceded this rise had lasted from November 2, and reached its minimum on December 8, with a mean daily value of 22°. 4. Rain fell at all stations on one or more days during the past week, the fall being much greater at the Scottish stations than at the English. The maximum fall, 2.05 inches, occurred at Greenock. The mean for the English stations was 0.24 inch, and for the Scottish 0.81 inch. (See Mr. Glaisher's Tables, p. 1655.) The colonists of New South Wales find a sub- stitute for our Christmas Holly in the Ceratopeta- lum gummiferum, which is named by them Christ- mas Tree. It is a very elegant tree, with a profusion of delicate branches, and attains a height of from 15 to 30 feet. Dr. Bennett says, that in November it is covered with minute white blossoms, which, in the fol- lowing month (about Christmas Day), assume a red colour, as if the flower had changed suddenly from white to red : most persons consider this appropriate to the time of year, and as ushering in the festive sea- son. The change of colour is caused by the disappear- ance of the white corollas, while the persistent calyces remain, thus imparting to the tree a beautiful red colour, which lasts until the end of February. It for- merly grew in the vicinity of Sydney in abundance ; but, owing to persons at Christmas cutting down entire trees, the owners of the land stopped the destruction. By enclosing and carefully tending those remaining, they have succeeded in preservmg it. It is a common greenhouse plant here. In Mr. Baker's paper, at p. 1516, on the Fruit of Yuccas, it is inferred that Hesperaloe yuccefolia had not been introduced into this country. This we now learn is an error, a young plant havuig been sent to Kew by Professor AsA Gray. The volume of the Botanical Magazine for the current year is dedicated by its Editor, Dr. Hooker, to Mr. I. Anderson-Henry. A gentle- man more deserving such a recognition it would be hard to find, as there are very few who have been the means of introducing more valuable plants, and still fewer who take up horticulture in a scientific spirit, increasing its bounds and its resources by carefully devised and well conducted experiments. Professor Balfour has recently published, in the Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, an account of a species of Hieracium, which alters its character materially at different seasons of the year. In June the plant presents itself in two small-flower«d forms, one with, the other without offshoots or stolons. Many of these stolons produce flower-heads in August, such flowers being considerably larger than those pro- duced on the primary stem in June. Others of the stolons root near their extremities, and become inde- pendent plants. Some of these latter produce one or two large flower-heads in October and November ; others do not produce flowers till the succeeding year, when they flower like the June form. The species re- ferred to is considered to be H. stoloniflorum, but whatever it may be it affords an excellent example of variation in habit of the same individual species, appa- rently not dependent on the action of external con- ditions, and so far confirms what was stated at p. 1481. A good instance of an Armorial Bearing originating in a play upon the name of the family who bore it, may be found in the case of the family Mal- herbe, of Devonshire, who bore three nettle-leaves proper. Gwillim, in his Display of Heraldric, figures this coat of arms, and says, " The Nettle is of so touchie and froward a nature that no man may meddle with it, as many testy-natured people are. One writes that a little girle being stung by a Nettle, in her father's garden, complained to him that there was such a curst herbe in his garden, as that it was worse than a dogge, for it would bite them of their owne house. Her father answered her, that it was the nature of it to be impartiall, and friend or foe were all alike to it. Yet this propertie it hath, that the harder you presse it, the lesse it will sting." We extract the following passage relating to Dr. Mayer's researches on the Effects of Heat on Plants, from an article of Prof. Tvndall's in a recent number of Nature. Dr. Mayer, it may be re- marked, recently received the Copley Medal from the Royal Society for his researches : — "Having thus with a firm step passed through the powers of inorganic nature, his (Dr. Mayer's) next object is to bring his principles to bear upon the phenomenaof vegetable and animal life. Wood and coal can burn ; whence come their heat, and the work producible by that heat ? From the immeasurable reservoir of the sun. Nature has pro- posed to herself the task of storing up the light which streams earthward from the sun, and of casting into a permanent form the most fugitive of all powers. To this end she has overspread the earth with organisms which, while living, take in the solar light, and by its consump- tion generate forces of another kind. These organisms are plants. The vegetable world, indeed, constitutes the instrument whereby the wave-motion of the sun is changed into the rigid form of chemical tension, and thus prepared for future use. With this provision, as shall subsequently be shown, the existence of the human race itself is inseparably connected. It is to be observed that Mayer's utterances are far from being anticipated by vague statements regarding the ' stimulus ' of light, or regarding coal as ' bottled sunlight." He first saw the full meaning of De Saussure's observation of the reducing power of the solar rays, and gave that observation its proper place in the doctrine of conservation. In the leaves of a tree, the carbon and o.xygen of carbonic acid, and the hydrogen and o.xygen of water, are forced asunder at the expense of the sun, and the amount of power thus sacrificed is accurately restored by the combustion of the tree. The heat and work potential in our coal strata are so much strength withdrawn from the sun of former ages. Mayer lays the axe to the root of many notions regard- ing the vital force which were prevalent when he wrote. ■With the plain fact before us that plants cannot perform the work of reduction, or generate chemical tensions, in the absence of the solar rays, it is, he contends, incredible that these tensions should be caused by the mystic play of the vital force. Such an hypothesis would cut off all in- vestigation, it would land us in a chaos of unbridled phantasy. ' I count, ' he says, ' therefore, upon assent when I state as an axiomatic truth, that during vital pro- cesses the conversion only and never the creation of matter or force occurs. ' ' ' Having cleared his way through the vegetable world, as he had previously done through inorganic nature, Mayer passes on to the other organic kingdom. The physical forces collected by plants becoine the property of animals. Animals consume vegetables, and cause them December 23, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1647 New Garden Plants. (Cypripe- Veitch & Sons, the happy possessors of the whole stock the soil I have referred to being placed in a steep of the plant. hillock on the spot marked for each tree ; but this not The accompanying woodcut {fig. 34S) represents, at being approved, it was levelled down, and the avenue I, the staminodeof ourplant; at2, that of Cypripedium ' of Araucarias was then planted — that is, the little barbatum ; at 3, that of Cypripedium insigne ; and at shrubby, healthy plants were simply turned out of 4, a side view of the lip. H. G. Rchb. fil. 32-sized pots, and a little wire cage for protection was ziz:zi=^^:^=:^^^^^=^ placed around each. ^^,~^. ,r rrr ' The large Araucaria Standing in the flower garden, ARA UCARIA IMBRICA TA.—No. III. „„ ^ little circle of grass surrounded by a gravel walk, (Continued from p. 1580.) being in a stunted condition, getting brown, and having At the time refen-ed to in my last letter, the resinous matter oozing at the base of the stem, I set f ''''i°,f nw^ »n,H?m/r^Vn^ main road was about to be diverted, so as to aboutrenovatingthesoil, with the view to induce healthy rarls pilis elongatis ciliatis, remove it further from the church, American garden, growth. First, I had a trench taken out all round it nplicito in processum trian- &c and a common foot-path was also about to be 2 feet wide, and 4 feet deep, and the soil being a canali aperto, sacco pandu- <=" '" ^'^e the borders, puberulous outside, KWoJaMil^ / / / Arboretum, planted at the base with numerous dark purplish \S^SffK») / / / of a slope, had quite given up grow- nerves, becoming white and one- ^^^ISDfflP / / '"S; and was tembly browned, coloured over the whole upper ^MIBfl / / giving out from its bulged, car- part, with many purplish blotches ^!HWf / / buncled stem quantities of resin on the nerves toward the inferior -^lEr^ / / which hung like bunches of part; the numerous ascending ^-^J^^^^^^^i^ / snake's eggs, and as large. This transverse reticulations of the /5^#^ ^ ^^^5^ / •"■"= T,' """^f '", '° ^^.^^"^^ f""! nerves are greenish ; and there is ^y^"^ - /^\vV^^\ / T^ro osed to*" remove" to the \\,TZxZ^. ^ Thelnferior "sep'al X / y^^ ^ ~ ' n\5^$^^^^:SX Arboretum, the second year after triangular, acute, whitish, with ^-/^^y^^y' I W^^^^^^ w^ a°sfented t'o"'''Tm°ade T rare n"er'vTs'"^Tre\lpL^'^re'lS!ilate! ,,^^^^^^^^1 // 1 / W ^^^^^ F^'^^T JrV'/l''-H°h i'T transversedescending.^vilhafew /^^^^I^MM W/ / / W ^.i^ by I had the turf laid back to undulations, ciliate,greenish.white t/^^^^ Wim^^AV /> Ml/ 1 a diameter of 50 feet, trenched with purplish veins, the borders I'Jr Mft^^^^lVfK/l /WA the space from 2 or 3 feet deep coloured totally with purple, and ^ HJOg^ V *1 / W/ \ ^""^ "'"'■f '^ °° 'I. ""^"^ r u some purplish reticulations of 7^^/ <\/ f iV new soil ; we then success ully transverse nerves. The claw of / / ^V 11 ,---). -^ removed this noble tree with a the lip is turned in, and bears an / / / | 1 / 0 \ ball of earth 8 feet across by 4 feet openchannel; the sac is pandu- / / / ii " / ^ *% \ b'''^thrmiT of n^frlots"^^^^^^^ SgeTntachs'ireTftsToIouT'is / / / ILl [ 1 "^ * • *" ) i/ the^oil which had been placed pale purplish, with yellow tints / / W \ < ^jT^^ / ''™™'^ '^•. • ^' '''^ removed to its and numerous purplish blotches ' / 1[ ^ '-^ "f'tT P?='"°n^°'°^t successfully on the pallid nail. The column -f / / f. ' although, with its many tons of is wholly yellow. The staminode -y/ %'■ earth, it had to travel a very half circular, split on its base in // .r^/ » ^-^ awkward road up hil and down two acute teeth, forcipate in / L^/ ll J-> fX ^"'1°'"'/ '''l •„ ^\w ^'Th front, with a shorter tooth in /// W AHPA with its huge baU on the trenched the centre of the sinus. There /// 'M /■^\ raised surface just referred to and are numerous short purplish hairs 1/ / .,^_ |i /' ' ' \ probably nearly 200 loads of old on the surface / / Ill^^^N y^ IIFI / - \ ^° ' ^^^ loam, i:c. , which The plant is a hybrid between / / ^^ /Tk ill I C^ J we had close at hand were placed the two species above-named, / / Wl\\\((rV%K ill ^S Flower - segments about ) i inch broad. ( Leaves thin, not ciliated. j .eaves i— i inch broad, 3—5 Flower-segments i— i inch Bernh. (p. 1325^ C. Koch. (p. 1335). {.. broad. Leaves 60- TOO to a stem. Leaves jo- 30 to a tern. Leaves i inch Stem .4-3 f broad, et high. or less, , CAM i 30. L, Leichtlinii, ( Hoi*.fil.(p. 1423). Stem a foot high, with 30 — Jo ) December 23, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1651 e numbers refer to the speci s, not to the pages. The na in itilics are the adopted nam es, the others are sj-nonyms. Urilleri, 19. atrosanguineum, 15 neilgherricum,4. B;o;;;i;^ :■ pardalinum, 21. bulbiferum, 15. tartheneion, 17. Buschianum, 15. pendulifiorum, 2.. canadenle, 21. pendulum, 21. cmtdidum, 7. pennsylvanicum, 15. CTnMuum. 23. carolinianum. Cat., 14. carolinlanum,il//f/,., ji. peregrlnum, 7. ihiladelphicum, 12. tolyphyllum. 25. Catanu, 19. tompommu. 3,. Cateshn. n. pomponlum, Thuub chakedanicum, 26. pniticum, 24. chalcedonicum, 23. pseudo-tigrinum, 30. citrinura, 15. colcticum. =2. puberulum, 21. pubescens. .5. cokimbiamim, at. pulchellum, 16. Lekhtlbiii, 30. Mttrtagoii, 10. Maximomczii, 30. 1 Wittei,n: Of any of the following, which I do not know where to place, I should be glad to have specimens or draw- ings sent : — abchasicum, alternans, califomicum, Teffersoni, lilacinum, pinifolium, puniceum, pygmwum, and Sieboldii. J. G. Baker. j0nu dDflrresponbenct. Cleaning-out Boilers and Hot-water Pipes. — Few suggestions could be more seasonable and im- portant than that of Mr. Duval Campbell at p. 15S5. Every hot-waler apparatus should be emptied once a year to get rid of sediment, and only soft, clean water should be used for refilling. Fully half the irregularities of circulation and of boilers burnt out arise from sedi- ment or incrustation. And even should these be avoided or mastered, deposits of dirt and carbonate of lime are coal wasters of the most inveterate type. They act like buffers between the fire and the water, and no heat can reach the latter without first passing through these more or less impervious strata. The dirt, too, in many instances has to be driven along the whole length of the line of motion, lifted here, driven round a sharp curve yonder, pushed throughahalf-shut valve at another place, everywhere and always hindering the free course of the water, and absorbing force that would otherwise have been expended on the diffusion of heat. And yet (it seems hardly credible, still it is true that) very few of the older boilers have any proper means for running off the water. More marvellous still, hardly any of the newer ones have a waste pipe of sufficient capacity to rinse the pipes and boiler clean. Nothing does this so effectually as the rapid outpouring of the water. This carries all before it. In old boilers I have often had the brick setting removed, and the lower part of the boiler pierced to let out the water. The hole can be safely enlarged with a steel augur for iron, and a threaded bolt fitted closely in. It is not safe to plug such boiler with an iron pin, tow, and red lead, like pipe joints. Now the weather is milder it would pay well in the reduction of coal consumed, and the ensur- ing of greater efficiency of heat, to have this matter attended to at once. There is no danger in the tapping of old boilers. Before doing so, however, see that your drainage is all right, or make provision for the removal of the water. Those without experience in such matters will receive a new lesson on the annoying capacity of long lengths of 4-inch pipes. I remember the first apparatus I ever saw emptied. It was that of a large span-roofed conservatory. A pipe gave way against the boiler, with 30° of frost beating down the temperature. Nothing astonished me through the dreary night, spent in covering the roof with rick- cloths, &c., like the rush of water. It ran all night. filling the stokehole, and engulphing even the top of the hirnace and boiler. Next to the difficulty of keeping the frost from the plants was that of getting rid of the water. That lesson was not lost. I have planned many stokeholes since then ; deep or shallow, my first care has been to see them thoroughly drained. Prevention in this matter of boilers lessens the need of cure. See that nothing but clean water is used, and there will be little or no sediment, still there will be some ; the water rusts the iron, and this should be run out. Above all things beware of hard water ; the lime forms a crust on the boiler which no mere rinsing will remove. If spring water must be used for hot-water apparatus it should first be exposed for a week to the air, when most of its mineral constituents will be neutralised or deposited, or a considerable proportion of common washing soda or wood ashes added to hard water wiU soften it. A weak solution of muriatic acid will also loosen calcareous deposits from boilers, and enable them to be rinsed out ivith the water. It is safest, however, not to allow them to form, as mechanical scrubbing or scraping, which is impracticable inside most boilers, is need- ful to get rid of these incrustations after they have grown to any great thickness. One caution more : beware of the frost touching either pipes or boilers ; it will at once strain or rust either or both by the expan- sion of the water in freezing. Either empty unused apparatuses for the winter or keep fire enough to pre- vent freezing. D. T. Fish . Laxton's Alpha Pea.— This Pea I planted in good loamy soil, 6 inches apart, in single rows, 34 feet between the rows. Even this sowing was too thick. The crop was enormous, pods well filled, the Peas very large, and of delicious flavour. I cannot speak too highly of it. J^. B. Read^ Coogee^ Neio Soiti/i iVaUs, October 12. Lawn Mowers. — Mr. W. Heale (p. 1619) de- scribes a lawn, in the county of Cork, that had become one mass of Daisies, from using (as is thought) a non- collecting lawn mower. Now, my experience has been just the reverse. Our soil is very dry — a portion of our flower garden occupying what was formerly (gene- rations ago) the site of a part of the old abbey, portions of the foundations of which arc frequently found in making alterations. As a consequence the turf in dry summers used to bum very much. Last spring we procured two of the Archimedian lawn mowers, as I was previously thoroughly impressed with their utility in dry situations, and the result has been so far very satisfactory — the turf is much finer and thicker, and if the Daisies are not less numerous, they are certainly less conspicuous. Without wishing to detract from the merits of Green's machines, which I have used many years, I would advise all who have a lawn much sub- ject to burning to give the Archimedian a trial. The advantages may not be so patent in warm ganial moist climates like the south of Ireland, but on dry parched lawns I think the result will be satisfactory. We find it necessary sometimes in warm showery weather to mow twice a week, and sometimes to sweep up the grass if it is too thick, but it is astonish- ing how soon the cut grass disappears. A lawn very full of Daisies, if the time or labour at com- mand will not admit of their eradication, would require to be mown very frequently during the time the Daisies were in full bloom, and it might perhaps be advisable to use a machine with a collecting-box for two or three weeks at that time. One word more as to the most suitable sized machine for manual labour. I think a 1 2-inch machine is quite large enough for one man. If there is much to do, two men, with a 12-inch machine each, will do more work than the same men with one machine of a larger size ; and there is also this advantage about it : a 12-inch machine will run into all the nooks and comers, thus doing away with the necessity for using the scythe. In the case of the lawn in question, I quite agree with Mr. Heale in recom- mending a trial of Watson's lawn seed. Edward Hob- day^ Gr, , Ramsey Abbey ^ Hunts. Goniophlebiura appendiculatum. — It is well known that many Fem leaves, even when they are matured, will not stand long in water after being cut — one or two days at the most will suffice to finish their beauty. Even the Maidenhair, though quite matured, will not stand more than three days. I may mention one kind which is a very beautiful Fern in any way we choose to look at it, whether in pot, basket, or Fem- case — Goniophlebium appendiculatum, fronds of which will stand three weeks in water in a perfect state. I look on this Fem as a most valuable one at this season of the year. It is a warm greenhouse kind, and like most of the valuable winter decorative Fems, is most impatient of heat. It should never be allowed to get dr)', and a saucer of water at the roots in summer will assist it very much to mature its numerous fronds for the winter months, when they are found really valuable. H. K. Hardiness of Dracaena australis. — This must be the plant Mr. Wildsmith mentioned as enduring 16' of frost. If the dead leaves are allowed to remain around the stem, i. e., allowing Nature to protect herself, it will stand even more cold. Even if the plants should be killed to the ground, they will again sprout up, and form nice plants in the following summer. The prac- tice of pulling off the decayed leaves of Yuccas is often the cause of their death. The frost gets thoroughly through the stem, and when this takes place the plant falls to the ground. In many instances, however, I have found, that if immediately propped up, they will recover, ff. M. Cast Metal Flooring. — It is pretty generally acknowledged that there is no kmd of greenhouse flooring so neat, clean, and serviceable as the cast- metal grating of different patterns ; but the great advantage of this kind of flooring is most seen when crossing an inside Vine or Peach border that requires to be pretty frequently forked over. It is so easUy lifted and laid down, and, when down, is no hindrance to the border being equally watered, the water running quickly off, and soon drying again, admitting the heat and air freely to the border. Yet this kind of flooring is not perfection ; heat and the daily use of water cause the metal to rust, in spite of the different kinds of outward applications to keep this enemy in check, and few coatmgs stand for any length of time, owing to the continualtreadmg there must necessarily be upon it. I have tried, with very good results, dipping the gratings after being heated into boiling coal or gas tar, and immediately they are taken out dusting them over thickly with dry lime and sand, previously well mixed in about equal proportions ; this dusting not only hardens the surface, but prevents the smell when they are again laid down. The great secret in this permanent coating is the equal and suf- ficient dusting, which is quickly done with the hand or sieve. Tar applied without this addition soon perishes, and retains its smell for a length of time. John Taylor^ Rose Hill Lodge. Weather in Cornwall. — We have had, for us, an early beginning of winter. For nearly a month we have had frost more or less every night, the shifting of the wind causing variations of 5° to 10° of frost in a few hours. It is also remarkable that such difference in the temperature should exist in a distance of a mile or two — often of 8° or 10°. If a situation has no outfall, so to speak, for the cold mist to escape, the cold is the most intense. To-day it has broken up into mild, warm weather. H. M., December 14. Picea nobilis. — Your correspondent "J. B." (p. 1617) says — "Indeed I do not know, and should be obliged to any of your correspondents who would tell me, whether living plants have ever been raised from cones of Picea nobilis grown in England." Your correspondent cannot be a very careful reader of the Gardeners" Chronicle, or he would hardly have made such a request. Let me tell him, many thousand Picea nobilis have been for years past, and are yearly, raised in this country from cones ripened in this country. I have two Picea nobilis nearly 20 feet high, raised from seeds ripened in England, I believe at Elvaston Castle. If your correspondent doubts my word, let him inquire of any of our leading nurserymen. Why surely he must have seen the controversies that have been carried on in the Gardeners' Chronicle as to- whether Picea nobilis, when raised from seeds grown in this country, was as robust as when raised from imported seeds. C. F. P. , The Grange, Kingston, near Taunton. Winter Cucumber Growing.— Those cultivators who wish to make the most of a hmited space, and to be able to cut fine handsome Cucumbers at Christmas, I would earnestly advise to try a variety called Early Winter ProUfic, a Cucumber which averages from 12 to 16 inches in length ; it is an abundant bearer, of excel- lent quality, and of a dark green colour. Having grown it this season with success, I can strongly recom- mend it before any of the Sion House section, which I had previously grown. The Telegraph is also an excellent Cucumber, but I find it requires more heat than I have at command. It is of the utmost import- ance to secure an excellent and productive variety for winter work, for it is no easy task to maintain a con- tinuous supply of good Cucumbers through a long dreary winter, except the cultivator has a well con- structed and powerfully heated house, in which case there is not much difficulty. My Cucumber-pit is merely a one-light lean-to, or perhaps it would be more correctly described as a division of my fmiting Pine-pit. The mside measurement is 7 feet 8 inches long and 4 feet 6 inches wide. The bed of soil in which the Cucumber plants are growing is 5 feet 3 inches long by 2 feet 9 inches wide, and the depth of soil about 18 inches. I have been cutting Cucumbers from this pit since the end of September, and when the plants show signs of a little exhaustion I mulch with rotten manure, and encourage the shoots to extend inside the Pine-pit, both front and back. They thus become re-invigorated 'and more productive, proving that extension is better than restriction in the culti- vation of the Cucumber. It has often struck me as being remarkable that although the Cucimiber has been from time immemorial a cultivated and coveted esculent, I believe it is not known when, nor by whom, it was introduced into England. Probably the Romans may have done so, as they have enriched our gardens with many fmit trees, as the Vine, Apple, Peach, &c. Whether the Cucumber is a native of Egypt or not I do not know, but it appears that the Israehtes more than 3000 years ago, when wandering in the Wilder- ness, remembered with regret the Cucumbers which 1652 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 23, 1871 Hardiness of Primula japonica. — Have any of your correspondents proved the hardiness of Primula japonica? In the autumn I had two splendid plants from Mr. Bull, which I repotted and plunged under a north wall ; they grew away in line style, and were pictures of health. When the cold weather came on the plants were covered with a hand-glass as a precau- tion. When the hard frost was on I examined the plants, and found they were suffering severely, and now the frost has disappeared all the outer leaves are dead, and I am not at all sure the plants will recover. This is a s.ad disappointment to me. Jay Ayf. Periodical Variation of Leaves (pp. 1517, 1552). —There is, doubtless, a great deal of interest attached to this subject ; and, as stated in the leading article of November 18, it is a subject upon which we are all very ignorant. The first thing to be done, however, is to collect facts, and to record any circumstances which may tend, in any degree, to throw light upon the matter. But I think there has been some little mis- understanding of the meaning of that article. I take it that it referred exclusively, or, at any rate, especially, to the changes of colour which take place in certain leaves during the time they are growing upon the tree [Yes.], and not to those permanent variations or sports in which the same colour remains unchanged during the whole life of the leaf. Of course there is an intimate connection between the two, and many of the same laws will affect both phenomena ; but instances of the former, or what the Editors aptly called " periodical variation," are those that are particularly asked for. As a remarkable case in point, I may draw attention to the following : — Three yearsago some variegated seedlingsof the common Sycamore were brought to me, which had been found in a small wood under trees of the ordinary colour. To begin with, it was strange that so many variegated seedlings should be found at the same time ; .scores of them were pulled up, and scores more might have been collected. There were no variegated trees near, and one could only account for the great number of variegated seedlings by supposing that some atmo- spheric influence had been at work with the flowers the year before. A number were planted out, but they were fully in leaf, and dry weather set in, and many died ; but of those tliat were left one has turned out to be a curiosity. When first the leaves exftind they are of a vivid pink colour, marked with white strokes and blotches, and the plant then is exceedingly pretty. In a few weeks one sees that the colour has faded considerably, causing the white to be very much more conspicuous. One also sees that a slight tinge of green has begun to mingle with the red, and this change gradually goes on until green has taken the place of pink. The green is never very brilliant, always a little dirty, so that the plant is not nearly as pretty in summer as in spring. The white, likewise, gradually becomes tinged with green, so that in the autumn, when other green leaves are turning red, or yellow, or brown, this seems to be almost reversing the order of things, by becoming green. The variegation evidently affects the plant in other respects, for it is of a branching habit, and grows very slowly, and appears as if it never meant to be anything but a shrub. I shall be anxious to see whether in a year or two it will become permanently green, like the seedling Horse Chestnut and Sycamore men- tioned by " D. T. F." on p. 15S3. Jiohrt Holland. Hoya bella.— This beautiful little plant is not met with .so frequently as it should be, for it is one of the most charming of small stove plants. The essential points of its treatment are :— .\ strong moist heat while growing ; abundant moisture at the root ; and a per- fectly open well-drained soil. The latter may consist of a mixture of about equal parts of good fibrous peat, leaf-mould, and sand. When started in spring the temperature should be from 65° to 70° ; when ripening in autumn from 55° to 60°, — the plant being then placed on a shelf near the glass and kept drier, though not so much so as to affect the foliage. It is a good stove basket plant. W. H. O. The Introduction of Araucaria imbricata into England. — " The Spaniards, having settlements in the immediate vicinity of the country of the Araucanians, employed Don Francisco Dendariarena, in 1780, to examine the trees, with a view of discovering if any of them were suitable for ship-building. The result of his experiments was to select this species (the Peghuen of the natives), which was accordingly made use of to repair the Spanish squadron, then lying at anchor in the port of Talcaguano. The Abbate Molina, who was then writing his 'Civil and Natural History of Chili ' (published at Bologna in 1782), supposed t-he tree to be a Pinus, and he described it in his work under the name of Pinus araucana. In 1782 the Spanish Government commissioned Don Joseph Pavon to search for this tree ; and he, finding both its flowers and fruit, ascertained that it was a distinct genus, and called it Araucaria imbricata. Don Joseph Pavon (who had previously visited Chili in company with Don Hippolito Ruiz and the French botanist Dombey, in 1777) sent specimens of Araucaria imbri- cata to France, to the care of Dombey, who showed them to MM. Lamarck and De Jussieu, in Paris— the former of whom called it Dombeya chilensis, while Jussieu retained the name of Araucaria. Don Joseph Pavon, however, complains, in his account of this tree, published in the first volume of the ' Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Madrid,' that both Jussieu and Lamarck made several mistakes in their de- scription of the botanical characteristics of the species, which had been avoided by both Molina and himself. In 1795, Captain Vancouver touched at the coast of Chili, and Mr. Menzies, who accompanied the expedi- tion, procured cones, seeds from which he sowed on board ship, and brought home living plants, which he presented to Sir Joseph Banks, who planted one of them in his own garden at Spring Grove, and sent the others to Kew. From this circumstance, the tree was called at first, in England, Sir Joseph Banks' Pine. The tree at Kew was kept in the greenhouse till about 1806 or 1S08, when it was planted out where it now stands by Mr. M'Nab [the fatherof the present superin- tendent], of the Edinburgh Botanic Garden. After it was planted out, not being considered quite hardy, it was protected during winter with a temporary frame covered with mats, and having become habituated to this mode of treatment it has been considered unsafe to leave it off. The species is, however, now found to be quite hardy at Dropmore and other places, and we have no doubt that as soon as plants can be procured from seed at a reasonable rate it will be as generally planted as the Cedar of Lebanon or the Deodar, and will be found to be quite as hardy as these trees." From vol. 4, second edition, of the " Arboretum Britannicum," pp. 2436-7. The above extract from Mr. Loudon's great work corroborates what "G., Bath," says of the introduction of the Araucaria imbricata into this country, p 1618. C. F. P., The Grangs, Kinsston, near TantUoii. Observing a letter in your issue of Saturday, December 16, from " G. Bath," disputing the statement put forth by our esteemed friend, Mr. Barnes, respect- ing the date of the introduction of the above-named plant to this country, I would beg respectfully to refer him to Loudon's " Encyclopredia of Plants," which is one of the most valuable and correct works extant, and in which he states, at p. 846, that this Conifer was introduced by Sir J. Banks, from Chili, in 1796 ; this shows only a difference of one year as compared with Mr. Barnes' statement. E. Wilson Serpcll. The Odours of Plants.— Mr. Alex. Nesbitt 1620, referring to the odours of plants, sweet-scented blue alpine Primula, and the Editors justly remind their readers of the fragrance of blue Violets, yet Mr. Britten, at p. 1583, is not far out about blue flowers generally ; and even amongst all the coloured flowers in cultivation there is a paucity of sweet-scented kinds. Nature seems to have bestowed upon the white flowers an extra portion of odour, to compensate for the want of gaudy colouring. I will just dot down a few of the white beauties as they occur to my mind, and I think it will be difficult for any one to quote a better list from any other colour. Well, to take the Lily of the Valley, the Woodruff, the white Violet, the white Hyacinths, the white Clematises, the white Roses, especially Lamarque, the white Ver- benas, the white Petunias, the white Magnolias, the white Erica fragrans, odorata, &c. ; the white Rhodo- dendron, Gibsoni and others ; the white Jasmines, at least six or eight sorts ; the Gardenias (several kinds), Bouvardias, Carnations and Pinks, Crataegus, Daphne, Cytisus, Pittosporum, Rondeletia, Svvain- sona alba, Brugmansia grandiflora, Tuberose, Mock Orange, white Lilac, Phaljenopsis, Citrus, Lilium, and the following climbers — Mandevilla sua- veolens, Stephanotis floribunda, Rhynchospermum jasminoides, Lapageria alba, Petr:ea volubilis, Richiea fragrans, Quisqualis volubilis, white inside. The same may be said of Luculia gratissima and Clerodendron fragrans ; these have a brownish tinge outside of the petals, but are nearly white within. I am sorry that my time does not allow me to go more minutely into this subject. I have long thought led to consider it more closely about a year ago, on being applied to by a gentleman who required sv scented climbers for his conservatory. On going the matter, I found I could furnish very few climbers that had coloured flowers and at the same tin" sweet-scented. It would, no doubt, be of consii service to a great many of your readers if some one of your correspondents (Mr. Britten, for instance) give a detailed list of odoriferous pb.nts, arrangmg them in colours and in sections, showing whether they were hardy, greenhouse, or stove kinds. I would do the thing myself, but I have been so long out of harness amongst plants, and memory fails, that I think there are many now more able to perform the task in satisfactory manner; and I trust that some one who has time and opportunity will take the subject up. J. Scott, Men-hit, Somerset. On the Hardiness of Various Ferns. — We have here a specimen of Adiantum cuneatum, planted in the hardy fernery, which has been exposed to 12° of frost without showing the least signs of injury. A Capillus-\'eneris planted near to the above, and pro- tected with a mat, has some of its fronds blackened through the sharp weather. Asplenium marinum has not been the least injured. Pteris cretica albo-lineata, also planted with the above, but with a bell-glass placed over it, has been frozen several times with- .'Susse.r. The Price of Potatos. — I hope some of your cor- respondents, acquainted with the facU, will tell us something of the retail price of Potatos as well as of market produce in general, I find the highest pric« of best York Regents, in your Saturday's issue, at the Southwark market, was i loj-.per ton, or 8j. !ple Label ivcred free in London by ent on receipt of a postage stamp, Or^ JOHN fIsHEK and CO., Label V , Lincoln; Horticultural and Wlndoir Glass Warenouses. JAMES MILES, i, High Street, and 12 and ■ 3, Blosson Street, Shoreditch, London, E. CONSERVATORY and ORCHARD-HOUSE GLASS. Genuine While Lead, Oils, Colours, Brushes, b-e. GARDEN ENGINES, PUMPS, SYRINGES, INDIA-RUBBER HOSE, TAPS, CONNECTIONS, &c Prices upon application. )SLERS CRYSfAL GLASS CHANDELIERS, Table Glass of all kinds, CHANDELIERS IN BRONZE AND ORMOLU, London-Show°Rooras[4S?'o?!Fo'RD "SeET^W.' Birmingham— Manufactory and Show Rooms, Broad Street. >ARTNER WANTED, Established Market- A|)p")?b>°ic"t"e'r''ui"li^'lo'B!''A.', G»rS?iitrt' ChrlmtUt w ?UCe' FIN I§L.a'y, Bo'tMic hardVn^ mL /^LERK to the Curator, Royal Uardans, Ke\» (age LondMi on JAN UARV i6, and following days. Candidates must be ive had the necessary Technical Training.- .\pply, at t egulations, and for the necessary Form, to The SEi ivil Service Commis SECOND ASSISTANT in the Herbarium, Royal Gardens, Kew {a^je 18 to 30).— An Open Competition for this days.— Application for the Regulations and for the necessary Form should be made at once to The SECRETARY, Civil Service Commission, Cannon Row, S.W^ Seed Trade. C. WHEELER and SON, of Gloucester, have a OPENING foraJUNIOR ASSISTANT SHOPMAN. TT7-ANTED, a young Manas SECOND SHOPMAN. counter work.- Addrxrss, suting wages require! Box 6r, Post Office, Hull. WANT PLACES.-Letters to be Post Paid, s'DERSONandSON.WcIUh , St. John's Wood. N.'V Gardeners and Under Gardeners. WM. CUTBUSH and SON beg to state that they whose characters ■will bear the strictest mqairy. Any Gentleman making application wnuld save time by clcarlv sialinR the dutie* to ba undertaken, wages offered, &c., so that suitable Men may be selected. — HiehEaie Nurseries, London, N. G well recommended.— Apply, firs AND CO. (Limited), 58, Old Broad Str. , London. E.G. ;uLiivAHJK may dc acc-n ai WORK 1 County in England. • o JOHN FOWLER and CO., 71, Comhill, 1 PI 1 Steam Plough Works, Leeds. J. Catalogues free. 'HE CELEBRATED GRANITIC PAINT, THOMAS CH I LP, Manager, SQA, King William Street, THE SILICATE ZOPISSA COMPOSITION To CURE DAMP in WALLS, and Preserve Stone, &c., from Deoay. Manulacturcd Solely and Only by the Silicate Zopissa THOMAS CHILD, Com For Partici Manager, 30A, /"VhaPMAN'S "ANTI-CLOCHE" VENTILATED Kj MULTUM.IN-PARVO plant, FLOWER and SEED PRO TECTOR, presenes Plants, &c., from Snails, Slugs, Farwigs, Wind, Rain, End Frost; quite as useful for all pur| ■ " " "' Guinea. The J II purposes as the Hand Glass ^ny Gardener can repair them, n nests, of different siies. Cost of Set, with one foi us or Hollyhocks, Dahlias, Roses, or Chrysanthe :ion, with stake clip, and all complete, from One i-Cloche can be made any siie. 1 to Nurserj'men, Market Gardeners, fire, for large tJiey pack in a very small compass, ut liability to breakage. To be \V. F. chapman; Patentee, M' I J. & J. Eraser. Lea Bri To Nurserymen and Otters. lO BE LET, on LEASE, or FREEHOLD 1 . sale, an EIGHT-ROOMED HOUSE, CHAISE-HOUSE, s ABLE.— Large G.-irden, suitable for Glass ; high, open groui SALES BY AUCTION. Bare Lilies, Seeds and Orchids. MR. T. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 38, King Street, Covcnt Garden. 11' ■" — THURSDAY, December j8, at half-past 12 o'" descriptions and drawings; a variety of LILIES from a quantity of SEED orPRIMUI.A JAPONICA in si% -Coloured Illustrations, by nati\e artists, will be exhibited at PHCENIX PALUIJ SEEDofLILIUM AURATUM, ABIES FIRM; I Sale, and Catalogue WILLIAM LAWSON, To Analytical Cbemlsts. THE COUNCIL of the YORKSHIRE AGRICUL- TURAL SOCIETY are desirous of APPOINTING a CONSULTING CHEMIST for the Members of the Society. The reside in the County of York, and a handsome retaining aid to him by the Society. The Scale of Charges for Analysis, wl by the Che Chemist to I Croft, Dai Clel^grkuItaraliiH^ette, SA TURD A K, DECEMBER 1871. SOME weeks ago a correspondent asked a question regarding The Coprolite Beds of Cambridgeshire, and having before us the notes of a recent visit to these " diggings," we now proceed to answer il. These deposits are found generally at the bottom of the so-called " green- sand " formation, lying in the last foot or perhaps two feet of it, above the " gault. " They are not continuous, except for a few acres together ; they are by no means equally full of the greenish- black nodules for which they are worked over ; and they are at various depths beneath the surface. Similar beds are occasionally found below the gault, where they lie above the lower green-sand ; and coprolites are also found in the "crag" of Suffolk and Norfolk, a much more recent formation. The Cambridgeshire coprolites in the upper green-sand are, however, the most valuable, containing a remarkably uniform (52 to 56) percentage' of phosphate of lime, with much less mischievous ferruginous matter than is present in the crag and lower green-sand fossils. A recent Royal Commission has investigated the probable duration of the coal fields of this country. There is a useful field for a similar inquiry regarding coprolites. The beds are being rapidly worked out, and though no doubt the area in which they may be found is large, and new discoveries are constantly being made, and the district is far from having been thoroughly "prospected," yet after all there is but a limited supply, and there are increasing annual demands upon it. Mr. Lawes alone digs 12,000 to 15,000 tons of coprolites each year, corresponding to probably an area of 60 acres, and the quantity dug out in the whole of F^ngland must be from eight to ten times as much. It was to some of Mr. Lawes' workings that we paid a visit last week, and his experience may be quoted for the information of those who may believe that they have coprolites in their land. This belief may have arisen from some of the characteristic fossils having been found within the soil, or having been turned out when digging drains. The first step is to examine the field by borings. There is a tool for the purpose, a sort of taster, by which a 2-inch boring of the subsoil can be brought up from any depth, of 2 or 20 feet. Such borings should be made at lo-yard inter- vals all over the suspected area, and it the exist- ence of these coprolites is revealed by them, the layer must be uncovered here and there, perhaps in three or four places in a lo-acre field, and thequantity of the coprolites must be ascertained by washing a square yard or two of the layer, taking up its whole thickness for the purpose. But, indeed, if the owner has ascertained the existence of a bed of sufficient richness, all this somewhat expensive process will be done for him by the purchaser. He will thus ascertain how many tons of coprolites he may expect per acre, and the depth from which they have to be dug. The buyer will offer a price according to these two factors in the valuation. He will make a contract with the tenant also, engaging to complete the work of extraction in three or perhaps four years, undertaking to level the moved subsoil and replace the soil, leaving everything as he found it, and paying a eertain sum per acre for the lost profits of the occupa- tion. The contract with the landlord specifies the purchase-money, varying from ^60 to £iQO or more per acre, according to the ascertained productiveness of the bed, and the estimated cost of working it. When these particulars are settled, the pur- chaser proceeds to work the field. He sinks and bores a well, getting through the gault into a water-bearing stratum. He sets up an S or lo-horse power engine in a shed near the well, and thence he pumps sufficient—say, 30 or 40 galls, a minute— into a horizontal washing- mill, into which and out of which this water lly pours. The mill itself is a circular ring trough, perhaps of nearly 14 feet outer and 9 feet inner radius, thus providing a circular bed less than 5 feet wide and 3 or 4 feet deep, into which, it may be, 100 trucks of the dug-out coprolite stratum are tilted, one in every five or six minutes, throughout the day. A pair of heavy long tined iron drags within this trough arc continually driven round and round, by proper mill gearing, worked by the steam-engine, and the muddy water, laden with the clayey matter thus discharged, is constantly pouring from it, leaving the hard nodules in the bottom of the trough. After 60 or 70 loads have been thus tilted in, the water is allowed to run clean, and the coprolites, roughly tumbled over by the spade, are at length thrown out clean. Three such washings, each of 4 tons weight or there- abouts, may be got out in two days. In one field at Shillington, near Hitchin, there were three such mills at work, and 100 tons a-week were being got— about 170 men and boys being at work. The diggings here are very deep, and the costs in this case probably are largely in excess of the average. While the mill is being erected a party of men commence digging down to the bed, clearing, it may be, from 6 to 10 feet width, according to the depth of the layer, along one side of the area. We know of no workings more than 18 feet deep. If the stratum is deeper than that it does not pay to lift it, urtless indeed it be unusually productive. The "rid" or waste top layer is in the first instance removed to a piece of land hired to receive it, the top soil being kept separate for replacement ; but the next slice of land, yard by yard, is thrown forward into the trench dug out, the top soil for a width of perhaps 30 yards being put in barrows and wheeled into a ridge along the top of the first moved slice of subsoil. When 30 yards in width of the field has been dug over and the stratum dug out has accumulated in a heap beside the mill, the next 30 yards is skinned ; and, the soil being placed in another ridge parallel with the first along the nearest line of moved subsoil, the interval of roughly turned over subsoil between the two ridges becomes a " pane," on which the washings of the mill can be poured. The washing then commences. Clean water is pumped into the mill, and the muddy stream is pumped from it, and by trough- ing is conveyed evenly over the surface of this interval until another space is ready, which in its turn receives its share. In this way then the whole field is cleared, dug over perhaps 5 feet, perhaps 1 5 feet deep. The coprolites, washed out and picked over, are weighed into the nearest railway trucks ; the mud washed from them is evenly spread over the intervals be- tween the parallel ridges of moved soil ; and the whole, after a summer's drying, is ready to be levelled back again. This may cost from £8 to £\\ an acre. The farmer gets his land restored to him with the subsoil deeply stirred, and the soil relaid evenly ; the wells are filled up, and the machinery removed to other dig- gings, and the land is left better than it was before. The landlord has meanwhile had per- haps the double of its agricultural value put in his pocket ; an anny of labourers — and a capital set of fellows they looked, the Cambridgeshire quarrymen, or navvies, in Mr. Weston's em- ployment,underMr. L.AWES, at Shillington— have earned their 15J. a-week apiece during the winter months ; and the tenant has had an easier earned farm profit (with his rent paid for him) than any other field has given him. Moreover, the land is improved without expense to him. 'V.Ve saw a large stubble field, on which manure was lying here and there on two portions, the rest remaining unmanured. This last was where the coprolites had been dug two or three years ago, and the other portions undug, needed the manure to bring about an even crop over the whole. It is plain that every- body is well served when a coprolite bed is found and worked ; and the discovery of Professor Hensi.ow has proved most fortunate for land- lord, tenant, labourer, alike. The whole workings at Shillington are con- ducted on the piece-work plan. The top soil is removed and wheeled into ridges and the first 3 feet deep of subeoil is thrown forward— the whole for, perhaps, 4/^. a cubic yard. The re- mainder, thrown forward in great masses, and dug down afterwards to clear away the stratum, costs from zd. to 31/. per cubic yard, till you reach the layer. This, which is rarely more than. 1658 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 23, 1871 18 inches thick, soon reveals itself by the rattle of the pickaxe among the nodules, and is thrown up on to the surface and loaded into trucks, which are drawn to the washing mill. The thinner the bed the richer generally it is, and a thin bed near the surface is thus a very valuable property, occasionally yielding upwafds of 300 tons of coprolites per acre. Worth jpj., or rather more, per ton at the railway station, they carried thence for grinding, and thereafter for the sulphuric acid treatment to manufactories ovei the island. And yielding, after skilful manu- facture, a superphosphate rich in soluble phos- phoric acid, they thus contribute to the current fertility of the whole island from stores of excrementitious matters deposited long ages before the present configuration of the earth's surface existed. At Mark Lane, on Monday, the trade English Wheat was dull, at the prices of that day se'nnight ; increased depression characterised Wed day's business. Butchers having bought largely last week, Monday's trade in beasts at the Metropolitan Cattle Market was very slow. Trade was bad for slieep. Thursday's was nearly a holiday market, purchases being made very sparingly — sheep scarcely inquired after. Mr. W. H. Dei^no, C.E., the financial secretary of the French Peasant Farmers' Seed Fund, and manager for many years of the Continental busines: of Messrs. J. & F. Howard, Bedford, has accepted the post of manager to the French Asphalte Paving Com- pany, 59, Rue de la Victoire, Paris. Mr. Delano retains his office at No. 4, Cbeapside, E.C., where the agency of the Societe des Agriculteurs de France will be carried on under the superintendence of his brothers The following is an extract from the Message of President Grant to the Congress of the United States of America, having possibly some significance for English politicians and agriculturists : — ' ' The Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture gives the operations of his department for the year. As agri- cuUure is the groundwork of our prosperity, too much importance cannot be attached to the labours of this department. It is in the hands of an able head, with able assistants, all zealously devoted to introducing into the agricultural productions of the nation all useful pro- ducts adapted to any of the various climates and soils of our vast territory, and to giving all useful information as to the method of cultivation, the plants, cereals, and other products adapted to particuliar localities. Quietly, but surely the Agricultural Bureau is working a great national good, and, if liberally supported, the more widely its influence will be extended, and the less dependent wi shall be upon the products of foreign countries." ■ Mr. Hope, V.C, of Parsloes, contributes ; useful letter to the recent discussion in the columns o the Titnes on the subject of Sewer Ventilation pointing out— I. Th.at the best and cheapest way of ventilating a house drain is to place a loose-hanging shutter, or "tidal valve," outside the wall of the house to permit the sewage to flow out, but to prevent the gas flowing in, and then just outside this to run up to the top of the house a pipe the sectional area of which is equal to not less than half that of the drain. 2. That if sewer gas produced fever as it escapes into the majority of houses, either continuously or intermittently, the cases of enteric fever would be almost indefinitely multiplied, and the country would soon be depopulated. Here the germ theory of disease comes to the aid of common sense and chemistry, and affords a solution of the difficulty. No one ever heard of a chemist catching an infectious disease from experimenting with gaseous compounds in his laboratory. Mr. Hope prefers there- fore to believe with Sir Thomas Watson that it is not the gas which produces infectious disease, but specific germs which are occasionally present in the gas, and of the danger of the possible presence of which the gas may always be taken as an indication. The gas is the warning, but the germ is the real danger ; and this alone explains how the same arrangements of drains and traps may suddenly produce fever, which have existed harmlessly for years previously, or at most have only produced a little nausea. 3. Mr. Hope adds : — "I would protest most earnestly fof the thousandth time against the notion, still so complacently entertained, that if good sewers are constructed and good ventilators added the sewage difficulty is solved. It is only removed to a little distance and its form changed. The sewage still has to go somewhere. At present, in the case of inland towns, it goes into the drinking water of the next town down the river, and in the case of sea-side towns it goes into the sea in which the invahd visitors bathe. Until it is converted, by its application to land, into plant life, it will continue m obedience to the laws of Nature to produce animal death," The following translation of a letter, reporting the Effects of Steam Cultivation, which lately appeared in the Wimcr Latidwirthsc/ia/tlichc Zritiing, has been forwarded to us for publication by Messrs. Fowler & Co. : — " In the following I have the honour of comnmnicating to you the results of experiments with steam-ploughing, which took place near Wieselburg, end of |une, 1871. The figures are taken from the official report of the administration of H.I.H. the Archduke Albeecht's estates at Ungarische Altenburg. "The Administration had orders to take the exact measurements with regard to quantities, and it reports about the effect of steam-ploughing as compared with ploughing by horses, as follows : — " The plots (in one large field), which were partially ploughed by animal power, partially by steam, employing either plough or grubber, remained as a fallow from 1870-71, and were put into Beetroot in the spring of 1871. " The harvest gave the following' results on the differ- en- plots :- Ordinary deep ploughing, with oxen or C« t. of Beet, horses, 10 to 12 inches deep, gave.. .. 143.77 per joch. Ditto, 15 inches deep .. ,. .. ,. 253.45 ,, ,, Cultivating 10 to 12 inches deep .. .. 174.51 ,, ,, " This shows an increase of respectively 58, 109 anc 30 cwt., or of 40, 76, and 24 per cent, in favour of steam- ploughing, compared with horse labour. ' ' The trial plots were close to each other. The naturs of the alluvial soil was, therefore, of the same quality, and the difference in the results appears to be due solely to the superior quality of the cultivation. "After the experiments at Altenburg, this steam-plougli went to the estates at Bellge ; similar experiments have been made on these estates, but the figures are not yet in our hand.s. By special order of H.I.H. the Archduke Albrecht, two more steam-ploughs were ordered, o which one is destined to work at Altenburg, where agricul turists of that district will be enabled to get personally acquainted with the working and the results ofsteam culti- vation,—(Signed) Jotit, Vunna, December \, 1871," We quote from the Times portions of a descrip- tion of the New Market for Imported Live Stock AT Deptford which lately appeared in its columns. A visit to the place on Thursday gave one the impres- sion that a great deal remains to be done before the old dockyard will have been completely converted to its new purpose. It is, however, advertised to be opened for use on Thursday next : — "The dockyard at Deptford, comprising an area c 22 acres, with a river frontage of 1012 feet, included tidal basin of x\ acre in extent, with seven 'slips' or deep excavations in which vessels were built, these being covered by four great sheds, and neariy half the remainder of the area was occupied by ranges of buildings, houses, yards, and gardens. The arrangements for the conver- sion of these old Government premises into the new marke* were designed by Mr. Horace Jones, F.R.I. B.A., the City architect. By connecting together the three great sheds around the dock basin, the architect has formed the principal roofed-in area, in ground plan of a penta- gonal horse-shoe form, with the basin in the middle and the side next the river left uncovered. From the two ends of this horse-shoe range of lairs two separate piers or landing-stages, 350 feet apart, project into the river ; and a third landing-stage, 400 feet farther east, is provided for a long shed, which stands apart from the other lairs. Each pier, consisting of timber work of very strong and superior character, projects 172 feet from the frontage, terminating in a transverse stage 95 feet in length, flanked by dolphin piers ; and upper and lower fixed platforms, one 14 feet above the other, are being constructed for un- loading at high or low tide. At low tide there is a depth of 12 feet or 13 feet of water, so that steam vessels can lie alongside the pier head to discharge cargo at any state of the river, and three vessels may be unloading simulta- neously. Should disease appear in any of the cargoes, one pier or two out of the three may be kept disinfected. Cattle and sheep will walk oft' the ship along a gangway, just as passengers pass off a river steamboat ; and Mr. Philcox, the clerk of the market, has contrived an arrange- ment of gates and of removable posts and chains for receiving the animals at any part of the stage front and prevent accidents. A traversing steam crane, with a jib projecting 35 feet, will land in a sling any animal unable to inake his own exit from the ship. Close by the shore end of each pier is a house for the immediate slaughter and melting down of any animals condemned as unfit for human food ; an excellent arrangement being contrived for hoisting each carcase, lowering it into a strong iron cylinder, something like a steam boiler set on end, and digesting it by means of steam at a high pressure. Animals not condemned by the inspectors will pass into the covered lairs or pens ; and the horse-shoe range of sheds is divided by two brick walls into four large com- partments for the better separation of healthy and sus- pected cargoes. The shed-roofs of the 'slips,' some 80 feet or 90 feet in height to the ridge, were open at the sides, but these have been converted into houses, by side enclosures of wood-framing, the lower portion boarded, the upper part glazed, with a large aggregate area of opening panes and of glass louvres inserted for ventilation. The pens are paved with brick on edge, and the road- ways of 20 feet breadth passing down the centre of each building are of granite pitching. The new roofs uniting together the slip-sheds are of wood and slate, carried upon iron pillars, and are about 15 feet in height. In one place have been fitted up a few iron pens, constructed of iron stanchions and round bars, while some sheep-pens, with opening and shutting hay-racks, testify to the ingenuity of Mr. RUDKIN, their designer. But nearly all the cattle and sheep pens are constructed of stout oak posts and bars, two different varieties of headstall for feeding and watering having been contrived according to the practical knowledge of Mr. RUDKiNandMr Brewster, two active members of the City Markets Committee. Water-troughs of wood, connected together by short lengths of pipe, are fitted in most of the cattle pens, but some have smaller roughs of iron, and water is turned on by a cock at the :nd of each row of headstalls, the cast-iron water mains being filled by the Kent Waterworks Company from their artesian wells. Iron hay racks are hoisted in the sheep- pens. Each lair is well lighted at night by gas standards. The cattle pens are of 24 feet wide, and 60 feet to 90 feet long, according to the breadth of the building, the pens running transversely from the central roadway to the side wall, while 6-feet broad passages divide pen from pen. Each sheep-pen measures 27 feet in length by 10 feet wide, the fences consisting of wooden uprights, with iron round bar rails, and small iron drinking-troughs are placed upon the ground, and connected by pipes, so that water flows from one to another. — By a rough estimate there must be more than sj acres of these lairs ^nder cover ; and the exact calculation is that, with an aUowance of 30 square feet per beast, there is accommodation for 4000 ; or, allowing 22 square feet per beast, there is space for S300. At 5 square feet for sheep, there are pens for 11,500 ; or at 4 square feet for sheep, there are pens for 14,500. As a test of the sufficiency of this house accom- modation, take the maximum importation arriving in readiness for a Monday market ; this occurred on October 15, 1865, when 4074 beasts, 171 calves, 426 pigs, 14,500 sheep arrived in London from Harwich in the course of a Saturday and Sunday. It would appear, therefore, that the Deptford market is capable of warmly housing, feeding, and watering any number of foreign cargoes likely to arrive for any one market day The animals will be sold alive in their pens, and then butchered in the abattoir.— These ranges of fine slaughter ;^hops have been formed of the former arsenal and store-rooms, a pile of brick buildings standing midway between the two blocks of lairage .shedding, and intended for a very different use when they were erected in the last century, around the remijins of an old monastery, which still stands, bearing tb» date A.D. 1513. The cattle slaughter houses occupy two parallel rows, with a court between, each row being divided into 10 shops, of which the dimensions are 43 feet in length by 23 feet in breadth, and each of these shops is parted into t%vo bays by iron pillars supporting trussed girders. The internal height is about 22 feet. The partitions are of wood, the lower portion closed, the upper part consisting of open upright wood rails. The floor is asphalte, excepting that about one-third next the slaughtering end is paved with large flagstones. A wooden pound outside the entrance receives each beast till his turn comes for the poleaxe. There are six separate slaughter-houses for sheep— namely, three measuring 42 feet by 24 feet each, and three measuring 28 feet by 24 feet each ; and as 300 to 450 sheep can be hung up in one house, this amounts to an accommodation for killing 2200 sheep without removal. Hence it appears that ample accommodation for both buying and butchering is provided at the Deptford mar- ket ; and, indeed, the smaller fittings, such as the ' crutch ' and the ' fat-tray, ' are now in perfect readiness for use. Every arrangement for drainage, cleansing, and ventilation has been carefully attended to, and a long line of marine barracks and workshops has been furnished as stables and van houses for use by the salesmen and butchers, with stores for hay, offices, &c. ; while a tavern and coffee-house, with a limited number of beds, have not been forgotten. At the Brentford Petty Sessions on Saturday last, Mr. Price Jones, a cattle dealer, of Abergele, North Wales, and John Thomas, his drover, were summoned for causing a herd of cattle to be driven along the road at Twickenham while several of the animals were infected wth foot-and-mouth disease. Mr. W. Jasper Hinge, the local cattle inspector, stated that on Sunday, November 12 last, he overtook, on Twickenham Common, a drove of 125 Welsh cattle, under the charge of Thomas, and on getting among them he observed that about 50 of them bore symptoms of the foot-and-mouth disease. Thomas said they belonged to Mr. Price Jones, who had gone on to Kingston. Information was sent to the latter and he came back to Twickenham, when witness served him with notice of the declaration of the disease in his herd. As he left Jones at the field his last words were, " Now, mind, Mr. Jones, those things must not be removed." Early next morning witness went to the field to see that the animals were fed and watered, and he then found all missing. He traced them to Kingston fair. Richard Lovell proved that the cattle were noved as soon as the inspector left. For the defence was argued that none of the beasts had the disease when seized by the inspector, but that several had recovered from it. The Bench fined THOMAS £y>< and Jones .^100, including costs. ■ The Journal of the Agricultural Society of New South Wales, which is the consistent advocate of Judging by Points, publishes specimens of the award paper on a recent occasion, wherein the whole status of the beasts exhibited is distributed over 15 columns — the thousand marks, to which ideal perfection attains, being divide,d thus : — 40 for colour and hair ; 80 for hide and handle ; 60 for evenness of flesh and fat ; 70 for horn, eye, expression, face, and muzzle ; 60 for neck, throat, shoulder, and forearm ; 70 for breast, brisket, and chest ; 50 for chine and back ; 90 for fore and ribs; 50 for loin ; 60 for flank and belly; no imp, hip, quarter, tail, and set-on ; 60 for twist and thigh ; 40 for bone : 60 for size ; and 100 for general sym- metry. The estimate isgivenundereach head in reference to any beast passing under judgment,^nd the totals vary ' om 220 up to the ideal 1000 in the 60 or 70 instances hich are cited. It seems to us that the method is ily wanted where there is a very near approach to equality, and that it is just there where it will not safely apply. Take, for example. No. 16S and 171 on the published list : the former had achieved a total of no less than 925 marks, the latter only 915 — the one accordingly took the first prize, the other the second. But now, on looking through the lists, we find that the latter of the two is the better in respect of "good symmetry " and of "size," in respect also of superiority in "twist and thigh," and "flank and belly," and December 23, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agfricultural Gazette. 1659 DD," and "hide and r." Of these several points the first, third, and sixth, would certainly be accounted very imporrtant. Moreover, it was equal to its competitor in "bone," "loin," and "chine and back." The first prize beast, on the other hand, was superior in " evenness of fat and flesh," " neck, throat, &c.," "breast, brisket, &c.," "chine and back," " fore and back ribs," and " rump, hips, quarter, Sec." We doubt if arithmetic, to which the task of deciding merit is here remitted, is capable of performing it aright. Better let two such equal animals walk round the ring, and let the impression of vigour, health, and style, qualities of which it is impossible to make a numerical valuation, determine the award. . Mr. JEMMETT, of Murrell Hill Farm, Binfield, Berks, tells us, on the subject of Farm Accounts, that the majority of his correspond( 50J. an acre. He thought landlords and agents were 1 &c. It is probably his work in the promotion of steam in danger of forgetting the different circumstances of , cultivation that most of the readers of this note will agriculture now to what they were 20 years ago. They ; remember when thinking of his services to agricultural "nexhaustible supply of different j progress. — To him also was owing the origination last manures which they did not possess to any extent 40 or 50 years ago; and he thought some consideration should be shown to tenants who were willing to use those manures, and to take advantage of the other improvements in agriculture, and that they should be allowed almost perfect freedom in cultivation. yearot the Seed Fund for the benefit of French farmers, by which jf 50,000 worth of seed was sent, chiefly by English farmers, to meet the wants of the districts which had been ravaged by the war. Farm Account - Book " firm is now i speak of as satisfactory, but as requiring in the pocket- book additional space for the labourers' names. Provision is now made for I4name5. Tomeet, how- ever, the case of larger farms, or for the use of stewards or bailiffs, the pocket-book form is now arranged anew, the object being twofold : 1st, to give the same room in a column of pay list as is given in tlie " Annual Farm Account-Book" — two columns (recording for a fortnight) meeting the requirements of the 300 to 600 acre farmer. On pp. 2 and 3 there is the same form for recording the work done as is given in the "Annual Farm Account-Book," also for a fortnight. Then follow notes of stock and com, with cash account for the same period — lastly, a page for memoranda and en- gagements. In cases wherethefarmerrequires to record the time and employment of 30 to 35 labourei-s, tlie second column of pay list must be taken into use. A bailiff can use the first column of pay list to note the time of the labourers employed on the farm proper, second column for those em- ployed on account of ggrdens, home grounds, WBodland, drainage, or any other permanent im- provements, as the case may be, the work done being recordedon p. 4, — in these cases making the six pages a full record of one week ; whereas the ordinary farmer, em- ploying up to 20 hands, will find space for every entry for two weeks. At an adjourned meeting of the mem- bers of the Wisbech Chamber of Agricul- ture, to continue the dis- cussion on Mr. Ruston's paper on Freedom of Cul- tivation, Mr. J. H. Little alluded to the experi- ments of Mr. Pkout, near Sawbridgeworth. He said that the Commissioners of the Royal Agricultural So- ciety, who visited his farm in 1866, were so struck with the absence of all stock on his farm, and the fact that nearly the whole of it is given up to white straw cropping, that they thought it could not go on for long, and asked Mr. Prout what he intended to do. He answered that as soon as he saw any necessity for keep- ing a stock of sheep or bullocks on the farm he should not hesitate to do so. Five years, however, have elapsed since then, and he has seen no reason to change his tactics. In 1870 his results were perfectly marvellous. Off 450 acres of strong lands he sold ^'5310 worth of com, leaving /1880 as the tenant's profit. The very feet of that kind of cultivation having been carried on for nine or ten years proved that the fertility of the soil, if it was properly used, could not be exhausted. Mr. Prout was in the habit of applying enormous quan- tities of artificial manure to the land, at least it would seem enormous to people in his part of the country, although he did not think he exceeded on the average NOTEl^ORTHV AGRICULTURISTS. ^.^^^^frand e?t°eero7 theTubhcthantroL which Mr. James Howard, M.P. are due to his connection with the great manufacturing The leading member of the great Bedford firm of , firm at Bedford. For many years he has taken a deep agricultural machine makers deserves a prominent interest in the advancement of agriculture and in the place in the list of noteworthy agriculturists. The I progress of agricultural societies. His management, growth of little more than 30 years— not much older ' too, of his own farms has been a useful example of than the Royal Agricultural Society of England — this i successful strong land culture by steam-power. ; the largest manufacturers of imple- , Mr. James Howard was bom October 16, 1821. ; educated ; the JAME.S HOWARD, meiits and machinery for field and fold and barn ; and to Mr. James Howard's judgment, pluck, and energy, its prosperity has been largely due. From the day when he personally held a pair-horse plough and won the prizes in the earlier trial-fields of the National Society, till now, when through a long course of public services, still chiefly in the agricultural field, he stands Member of Parliament for his native town, he has lost no step in the clamber upwards for lack of earnest, confident, persistent, and laborious industry. Mr. James Howard was born in 1821. He has been for many years an active member of the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, and of the Central Farmers' Club, of which, also, he has been President, and at meetmgs of which he has read papers on Continental agriculture and on that of the United States and Canada, full of valuable information, collected by himself during personal travel. Mr. Howard has taken especial interest, both in and out of Parliament, in many other subjects of agricultural interest, e.g. , the retention of the patent laws, the purifica- tion of our rivers, the promotion of steam cultivation, the utilisation of town sewage, the Sugar-Beet industry, great public schools of distinguished himself. Before the age of 14 he had carried off three of the principal annual prizes, and upon the sudden dismissal of the head master of the lower school, he was placed, at this early age, in charge of it, and for some months dischai-ged the duties of a school- master, much to the satisfaction of the head master, who, to the day of his death, watched the career of his pupil with a lively interest. For many years JMr. J. Howard's energies were almost entirely de- voted to the manage- ment and extension of his own business. Na- turally fond of mecha- nical pursuits, he turned his attention, soon after leaving school, to the improvement of the ploughs made by his father. In 1S41, with *a plough of his o^vn design — the first iron- wheel plough of the present type ever exhi- bited— he went to the Royal Agricultural meet- ing, held at Liverpool, and, not finding a man who understood a wheel- plough, and having been accustomed to the hand- ling of a plough, he determined to hold the implement himself, and at the conclusion of the trial found himself re- warded with a first prize. In the following year he went to the Bristol meeting of the Royal Agricultural So- ciety, where he again carried off the chief honours. Having thus and so early gained a reputation in connection with the Royal Agricul- tural Society, his busi- ness rapidly expanded, and at every meeting for many years afterwards he was to be found with ploughs brought nearer and nearer to perfection. In the spring of 1856 Mr. Howard was invited by Mr. Smith to go to Woolston to see his steam-cultiva- tor at work, and he at once saw that a new era was dawning upon agriculture, and that his vested interest, so to speak, in the plough trade might be in danger. Instead, however, of opposing the new system, he at once offered to join Mr. Smith in bringing his appa- ratus before the public ; accordingly, in the same year, at the Royal Agricultural Society's meeting at Chelms- ford, Mr. Smith and the Bedford firm were allied in working the Woolston tackle. For several years afterwards Mr. Howard threw his whole energies into steam cultivation, and took a hilly, strong-land farm, for the purpose of experimenting and improving the apparatus. Finding, from the rapid wear of the rope, that without something more durable than iron wire, steam cultivation would be financially a failure, he had one made of steel wire, which, we beUeve, was the first steel-rope ever used in ploughing. \\e have always regarded it as an unfortunate event for the country that the misunderstanding which occurred i66o The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 23, 1871 about 10 years ago should have separated two such energetic, although differently constituted men. About the time of this separation, Messrs. Howard bought of Lord Ashbumham an estate near Bedford, upon which, on the testimony of the Royal Agricultural Society's Commission, and many others, steam cultiva- tion has been most successfully carried out. Moreover, the records of our agricultural societies show how successful Mr. Howard has also been as an exhibitor of breeding stock. As these farms have been visited by thousands of English and foreign agriculturists, they have contributed in no small degree to the general advancement of agriculture, and particularly of steam cultivation. Mr. J. Howard's grandfather lived for many years at the ancient Priory at Bedford. He farmed the Priory lands, which are now occupied by Mr. Charles Howard, of Biddenham. They adjoin those belonging to the firm of Messrs. J. & F. Howard ; the brothers thus have in hand amongst them some 1600 acres of land, on which to try their implements, and carry on their experiments. The Britannia Works were built upon a plan pre- pared by Mr. J. Howard. They are among the best- arranged manufactories in the kingdom : they occupy an area of upwards of 18 acres, and the extent of the business may be judged by the fact that some 600 railway trucks per month, laden with implements, leave or arrive at the private station upon the works. Notwithstanding the abundant occupation supplied by a rapidly growing business, Mr. Howard found leisure for much public work. In his own locality he was the founder, with a friend now deceased, of a working men's institute, to the members of which he has from time to time lectured on important subjects. His lecture on "Labour, Wages, and Machinery," may be mentioned as proving that he had made political economy the subject of careful study. Another important institution of which he was the originator is the Bedfordshire Middle-class Schools. About seven years ago, in speaking at the county agricultural meeting, he remarked that although much had been done to raise the standard of education among the labouring classes, no corresponding effort had been made to bring a good liberal education with- in the reach of the sons of farmers ; and he suggested a county school. The idea having been brought before the Duke of Bedford, he at once joined Mr. Howard and others, and the present splendid pile of buildings was erected, at which 300 lads are boarded, and receive a superior education, at a cost of about .^30 a year. Mr. J. Howard was elected Mayor of his native town in 1S63, and at the end of the year was unani- mously re-elected. In that official position he was enabled to cairy into effect many local improvements which he had long advocated. Amongst other sub- jects, he turned his attention to that of town drainage and sewage utilisation. B;:fore recommending a plan for Bedford, he went a tour through England and Scotland, to ascertain the results obtained in other towns. During his mayoralty, a comprehensive scheme of drainage, water supply, and sewage utilisa- tion, was inagurated ; and it is no little to the credit of his sagacity that Bedford was the first place to be sewered on what is now called " the separate system." In his report on the subject to the Corporation ol Bedford, he recommended that the rain-water should be discharged separately into the river by the existing sewers. Up to that time, no proposal to separate the rainfall from the sewage had come before the public, although the plan is now advocated by the leading sanitary engineers. The electors of Bedford had, for some years before Mr. James Howard entered Parliament, urged him to become their representative ; but he declined all over- tures until the election of 1868, when, in view of the important public questions to be settled, he was prevailed upon to stand, and was returned at the head of the poll. During the first session, Mr. Howard spoke on the Endowed Schools' Bill, and was invited to act on the Select Committee on that Bill. The Cattle Diseases Bill was introduced about the same time by Mr. Forster, to whom Mr. Howard's practical knowledge and judgment on rural affairs apparent, and were of no little service in framing the provisions of that difficult measure. Mr. Clare Sewell Reed, M.P. for East Norfolk, has borne public testimony to the parliamentary services rendered by Mr. J. Howard to the agricultural inte- rest, in a speech in which, after introducing Mr. Howard as President-elect to the London Farmers' Club, he said : — ' ' One evening last session, when there was a debate on the Patent-laws, and that great man, Sir Roundell Palmer, and that other great man, Lord Stanley, had denounced the Patent-laws, up got Mr. Howard abolished the legal arguments of the one, and the philosophical notions of the other in the most charming and beautiful way. A gentleman who was ;' me said ' Well, the Liberal on the other side of the house seems to me to knock tliose great dons c if they were ninepins, and this he does while he with good nature.' " After the session of 1869, Mr. Howard went a tour upon the Continent, and on his return read a paper to thi London Farmers' Club on "Continental Farms and Peasantry," which was full of interest. Mr. Howard, believing it would counter.ict much misapprehension on c|uestions connected with land, was subsequently induced to give a more lengthened account, and publish his paper. In this book he was one of the earliest to direct public attention in this country to the question of Beetroot sugar manufacture. Mr. J. Howard's previous papers read at the Farmers' Club — on the "History of Steam Ploughing," "Things in America," being an account of his tour in that country— contain much valuable information, and had placed him quite in the front rank at the Club, of which he was subsequently elected Chairman. Accord- ing to Mr. John Coleman's paper on " Cheese Fac- tories," the first account published in this country of associated dairies and cheese factories is to be found in Mr. Howard's "Things in America." Mr. Howard is also the author of letters and pam- phlets on a variety of subjects. Some years ago, on the invitation of the principal agricultural implement nanufacturers, he wrote a brief historical sketch ol the mplement trade, the effectof prizes upon that business, and suggestions for improved arrangements in the trials of agricultural machinery. He was also the author of the scheme for dividing the implement trials of the Royal Agricultural Society into triennial courses, and submitted to the Council a classification showing how the various machines should be arranged in the classes. A few months after the breaking out of the Franco- German war he conceived the idea of aiding the French farmers with seed wherewith to crop the land, and at once put himself in communication with a French friend. His Excellency M. Drouynde Lhuys. Owing, however, to an attack of illness, and the long continuance of the war, no steps were taken at the time, but subsequently Lord Vernon came to Mr. Howard's assistance, when about jCs°!°°° was raised, and in the spring the seed as distributed among the distressed peasant-farmers of France, Mr. J. Howard acting as treasurer to the Fund. Mr. Howard's health, already weakened by an attack of sunstroke in Egypt, suffered much from the long hours of the House of Commons, during his first and second session. Owing to this he has not until recently been well enough to resume his numerous duties, and consequently has not taken so prominent a part in Parliament as he probably would have done. It is gratifying to know that a rest for several months has restored his former strength and vigour of mind. For two or three months past he has resumed the management of the Britannia Works, and has been busily engaged with his old pursuits of carrying on experiments in the field. Prophets are said to be without honour in their own country. In Mr. Howard's this is far from being the case. The Bedfordshire Agricultural Society, which has for seventy years been presided over by a member of the aristocratic or hereditary landowners of the county, this year unanimously elected Mr. J. Howard to the presidency, an office which he fills at "the present time. Indeed, it may be affirmed that he not only stands well in his own district, but that his neighbours fully appreciate the laurels he has gained elsewhere. MODEL FARMS IN IRELAND. Education, lately addressed a meeting ( Ireland Agricultural Society on this subj< is his speech, as reported in the Dublin Farmers Gazette.} Mr. Baldwin said he attended on the invitation of the secretary, and with the sanction of the Commis- sioners, to afford the members every information they might require. The system of agricultural education now in operation in this country under the direction of the Board of Education consisted of two distinct branches, which were, to a great extent, independent of each other, but which were capable of acting and reacting on each other most beneficially. Much confu- sion has arisen from not viewing these two branches each on its own merits. The first branch consisted in blending, in ordinary rural national schools, instruction in the elements of agriculture with the ordinary course of literary education. The Commissioners have been pur- suing this combined system of literary and agricultural education with varying success for upwards of 30 years. At first it was not well understood ; but at last the efforts of the Commissioners were in a fair way of being crowned with success. The number of rural national schools in which agriculture is taught has been steadily increasing of late. In 1S62 the number of boys who came within the influence of this species of instruction might be counted by hundreds. They are now more than ten times as many. The disposition of the gentry and clergy of all denominations is more strongly in favour of extending this branch of agricultural educa- tion, and the Commissioners were doing all in their power to meet the wants of the country. It was need- less for him to dwell on the importance of this branch of education at a meeting of enlightened gentlemen such as he had the privilege of addressing. The pre- sent time was favourable for its extension. The farmers evinced an increasing desire to receive it. The Board aimed at affording sound elementary notions of modern agriculture. The knowledge thus imparted would give the tenant-farmers a new power of develop- ing the resources of their farms. The extension of improved implements and machines rendered it an im- perative duty to afford elementary knoivledge of agri- cultural mechanism to the rising labourers. He ven- tured to invite the co-operation of the gentry and clergy, in developing the simple and inexpensive system of agricultural education to which he had just referred. The second branch or grade of the Board's system of agricultural education was afforded in the model farms, to which the meeting wished that he would, on this occasion, more particulariy address himself. Of the model farms, it may be said that their establishment was forced on the Commissioners ; that is to say, the results convinced all classes that the state of agricul- ture which had prevailed should, as far as possible, be superseded by a new system ; and many good and wise men advocated a system of model farms, as one of the means of accomplishing that object. The Com- missioners yielded to the demands made upon them, and established some twenty of these farms throughout the country. It was not in his province to offer any opinion on the policy of the course pursued ; but he could state, for the information of the society and of he public, that the farms, as farms, are now, one with another, paying a satisfactory amount of profit, and ex- hibiting judicious modes of farming. The soil of the Belfast farm is, unfortunately, very stiff and plastic ; but after the application of capital and energy, it has at last been brought to a state in which it will hence- forward pay. There is a splendid building in it, capable of accommodating a large number of boarders. There is a first-rate staff— a clever, sensible agricul- turist, who manages the farm, and affords systematic instruction to his pupils in the science and practice of agriculture. The literary instruction of the pupils is directed by one of the best masters in the empire, who has also charge of the general discipline. There is adequate assistance ; so that at the school you have at present a staff competent to afford a sound, general literary, and agricultural education. They teach the elements of chemistry, of physics, and other branches relating to farming ; and the general education includes land surveying and mapping. The day is divided equally between practical agriculture, including out- door business, and the cultivation of the mind. The head is stored with general knowledge, and tha head and hands are turned to skilled practices. With the view of placing this excellent general education 1 special training m improved ideas and practices hin the range of all classes, the fee for paying pupils inly £2 a quarter, including board and education, the Commissioners contributing the additional amount required to provide suitable diet ; and in order that young men of intelligence and promise, who evince a decided taste for farming, but whose parents or friends may find it inconvenient or impossible to pay £z a quarter, the Commissioners take in four pupils without any fee. These free places are given away by com- petitive examinations. Of young men who seek admission to qualify themselves for farming a high standard of proficiency is not required. If they can read with intelligence, and write a fair hand, and do a little cyphering, they are admitted. A higher standard is required from those who intend to become land stewards, agriculturists, and agricultural teachers. They must be persons who, by their intelligence and aptitude for agricultural pursuits, would, by promoting the public good, render the slate an adequate return for the cost of their agricultural training. There is a central Agricultural Training Institution at Glasnevin, near Dublin, and to which the pupils who receive a preliminary agricultural training at the provincial agricultural schools are drafted from time to time. At present the great number of pupils free, admission being obtained half- yearly by competitive Well educated "persons from all parts of the country are allowed to compete ; the most intelligent and promising are selected. It is competent for a boy who fails to obtain a free place to become a pupil on paying a fee of £% per quarter. Paying pupils are also admitted at all periods of the year. Some of these young men go to farm for themselves or for their parents ; a large number seek employment as stewards, agriculturists, and agricultural teachers. For a long time a very well-founded objection was raised to them by the landed gentry on the ground of youth and inexperience. They are sent out as working stewards to the larger model farms, and, as opportunity offers, as assistants to clever stewards and successful farmers. A young man enters the Belfast farm, after his pupilage there he goes to Glasnevin, from Glasnevin he is sent as a working steward to the model farm at Kilkenny, Cork, or Athy. He often undergoes a four or five years' training before he is recommended to a country gentleman. This arrangement has worked ad- mirably. The demand is increasing, in proof of which this one fact may be mentioned, that while the course of training at Glasnevin is two years, there is not at present a pupil of 18 months' standing ; and at the present moment nine persons are wanted to fill situations that require a good deal of agricultural know- ledge, as well as intelligence and tiiistworthiness. An admirable arrangement has been commenced by Lord Clancarty, who has been good enough to encourage his steward, Mr. Nesbitt, himself a Glasnevin man, to take six Glasnevin men as apprentice pupils to finish their agricultural training on the home farm at Garbally. All he would say, in conclusion, was th.at it appeared December 23, 1871.] I'he Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1661 to him that no man who uncierstood the state ol Ireland could for a moment doubt the utility of such p system of agricultural training as he had now endea- voured to explain. [It was then agreed that the secretary, Mr. Bingham, shoulc nd School 3 he names of applic uld be filled from l 067? LIVE STOCK'. CATTLE, of the principal Shortho The results ot the principal hnorttiom sales given in the accompanying Table show, when compared with those of previous years, the extraordinary increase in Talue of this kind of stock. We have been accus- tomed at the close of each year to place before our readers similar tabular summaries, and looking back at th«e we find the following average results over a large number of Shorthorns disposed of at public sales. The figures are not supposed to represent the entire number of .Shorthorns sold, but the general results of the sales recorded in these columns during each year : — In i863, 1423 Shorthorns averaged . . £:is 7 o each. 101869,1585 ., ,, .. 35 5 o ., Colonel Kmgscote..: Right Hon. Lord Kit^hardingo . . ' 770 S 731 17 7S8 8 Hon. Lord iMr. VV. Chalmers , . Mr. Thomas Barber Lord Walsingham.. Mr, G. A. Cooper. Mr. W Derham . . Mr. Goode . . Messrs. F. Leney & mV. Fred. Morton". H. M. the Queen Mr. J. Harward and Mr. J. Downing Earl of Feversham . ' Mr. Thomas Barnes Mr. J. G. Grove . . Duke of Devonshire Mr. '.V. W. Slye .. Mr. J. P. Foster . . Mr. Thomas Hell . . Duke of Richmond . .May .8, .May 19 .May 31 lUg. =5 44 3>' exportations of the season have been very considerable, and indicate the great favour with which the Shorthorn breed is viewed wherever it has been introduced. Sept. R-'ok'"^ ;'. Sept.' Sheldon . Sept. Average 8j 37 561 37 10 3264 9 3 979 '3 o 1848 o 4377 9 5^6 4 4 I 2663 1 o i 898 I 3 631.9855 A year ago, Mr. Thornton commented in his Cir- cular (No. II) upon the "wonderful increase that is taking place" in the value of Shorthorns, and recorded an average increase in value of £2 per head over the sales of the previous year. The most extraordinary increase in average price during the last year may be, partially at least, accounted lor by the general en- couragement given to British breeders from abroad, and while we hear of such high prices in the colonies and I'nited States for the best strains of English blood, we can hardly expect present prices to lower. The number of good sales this year has bean unprece- dcHtedly large, and the general average has been swollen by such sales as Mr. Cheney's, when 56 animals made £91 ip. each ; Mr. Jonathan Peel's sale, where 19 animals made /'hS Sj. <)tl. ; the late Mr. Eastwood's, where 15 animals averaged £i?,i is. ijd. ; Mr. Barnes' sale ( Ireland), where44 animals made ,.f 100 i^s. iJ, ; and the Duke ol Devonshire's sale, where 43 animals made .1^240 I3J-. loy. each. Such prices were unknown last sea-on, when the highest average was £g6. obtained at .Mr. Saunders' sale ; or in 1S69 and 186S, when Mr. Bowly's average of £y2 l6*. stood unrivalled. The CAPITAL AND LABOUR. I HAVE oftentimes met of late in books or the public prints some expression of regret at the fact ol such a vast amount of pauperism existing, side by side with immense wealth ; and the writers, although they do not say so, seem to imply that the poverty of one class is attributable to the richness of the other. I am of a totally different opinion. I certainly fail to see that if our capitalists were only half as rich the very poor would be less poor. Now, what is capital? Political economists tell us it is accumulated labour. I agree with them. Money is only the standard by which the value of labour performed is measured, so that when a man takes his sovereign for wages at the end of the week, that represents a week's labour. Now if he contrive to lay up weekly a portion of this labour, in the course of time it becomes accumulated labour or capital, whicli will set other labour to work. I will try to illustrate this, after a very simple fashion. Tom Thrifty and Sam Spendall are both young men, working in the same shop ; they are equally good workmen, and get the same wages, but they are of totally different characters. Tom has both heard of and known men who have risen from low estate to much higher positions, and he is determined to try and do the same. So he is very diligent in business, loses no time, but if a chance offers makes overtime, and every week sets aside a portion of his earnings to go into the saving's bank, and what necessaries and comforts the remainder will not purchase, he wisely resolves to go without. He determines thtit he will not marry until he can keep a wife and family respectably. In the course of a few years he has saved a nice sum of money, and having made the acquaintance of a decent young woman alter his own turn of mind, and with a little money, too, Tom marries, and sets up in business in a small way for himself, and instead of remaining an em^hyt, becomes an employer of labour. Such a man is sure to succeed. With perseverance and industry out of the house, and frugality and good management within, success is certain to be achieved. Sam Spendall, on the contrary, likes to spend his money and enjoy himself as he goes. He spends his evenings chielly at some place of amusement, or with a jolly set of fellows, like himself, at the public house ; saves nothing for a rainy day, and after a while falls in love with, and marries, a little toy in the shape of a woman, and as a consequence soon a little crop of Spendalls appear on the scene. With bad management in the house and carelessness out of it, poverty begins to stare them in the face. Sam finds himself comfortless at home, and returns to his old haunts, goes from bad to worse, until he and his family become numbered among the very poor, for whom so much concern is manifested. It is idle to ask which of these two men was the better citizen. Each of them had the same opportuni- ties, but made a different use of them. Each of them earned the same wages, and in a free country had a right to dispose of them as he pleased ; but the man who wasted his opportunities has no right to turn round on his more prudent companion who has made the most of them, and become a capitalist, and is in this capacity probably employing, or being rated for the support of, the other's children. It is a fact which cannot be too strongly impressed on the minds of all young persons that future ease and comfort mean present self-denial. Fortunes are generally saved, not made. It is true that the few— and the very few — may grow suddenly rich by successful speculations, but, as a rule, the aggregation of the money which forms the capital of this country has been amassed by small savings, in the same way as the bridge is built brick by brick. Capital, so far from being antagonistic to labour is, in my opinion, its best ally. It cannot increase while kept idle, and in these days men do not wrap their talents up in napkins, but every nerve is strained to keep them in motion, and it is impossible to do this without the application of labour. Hence it follows that the greater the capital the more labour it requires for its profitable employment, and the greater the demand lor labour the better will be its remuneration. It is when capital lies idle or stagnant, owing to there being no profitable field for its use, that labour suffers the most. If there were no capital there would be none to employ, and works of any magnitude could not be attempted. The late Mr. Brassey is said to have died worth nine millions. Now I will venture to assert that in amassing this great capital he made no man poorer, but a great many richer. It is a positive fact that a man can hardly do anything to directly benefit himself without indirectly benefiting others. If Mr. Brassey could have eaten his gold, or even had he hoarded it, it would have been mere selfish enjoyment, but so long as he kept employing his vast gains on reproductive enterprise he was benefiting the working man, and adding to the wealth of the nation, as well as to his It seems to ma that undue prominence is at present given to what is called the working man, and by a certain party all the results of labour are credited to him. It seems to be fogotten that the horse is a great power, the steam-engine a still greater power, in the drudgery of the world. Surely this is not the property of the working man. Again, the power of brain appears to be utterly ignored, but where is the philo- sopher who will venture to assert that when the head fails any establishment can flourish. On the contrary, wlien that bit of brain which governs and directs does not properly fulfil its duty, no matter how skilful or how numerous the workmen, the concern will inevitably colltipse. The working man of the present time, about whom so much fuss is made, and in whose interest the interest of all the other classes is to fall, appears to me to be of a genus who is willing to render very light service for very heavy wages for one half of the week, and to employ the other half in spending them. Will any of our philosopher friends kindly explain how it is that persons who work for wages, no matter whether they be high or low, are so much less thrifty than persons who receive a similar income from any other depart- ment of industry. I know of many small village trades- men or small shopkeepers in towns who would con- sider they had a princely income if their weekly profits were as great as the wages received by some of the skilled workmen in our factories ; and yet they struggle manfully on regardless of the hour system, working all the day and ofttimes into the night, paying rates and taxes, they send out their children to service, live in the most frugal manner, and, in fact, do anything to keep themselves from pauperism, while the highly paid workman or those belonging to him are too often on the verge of it. Yet this is the class that is to be wiped out so that the working man can be supplied by co- operative stores. Surely our country cannot be so gone mad as to uproot the Oak, the growth of centuries, to make way for a Mushroom. It is no uncommon thing at the Board of Guardians at which I have a seat, for a smartly dressed young widow in weeds to present herself. To the question of "What is your application?" the usual answer is given, " For relief." " Where was your husband em- ployed?" "In the works." " What were his wages?" The answer may be 30^., 351-., 40^., or 45J., as the case may be." " How long has your husband been dead ? " "A month." " Well, you received ;£'io from the club?" (a compulsory one). "V'es, but the funeral expenses and some bills that were due exhausted all the money." And so they have. Relief is given, and the little, comparatively indigent shopkeeper and tiadesman have to aid in their support. It would be most unfair to suppose all skilled workmen equally reckless, but where all depends on one life, it seems a pity tliat something were not in all cases put by for emergency, or life insurance adopted. Co-operation, we are told, is the grand panacea which is to cure all the ills to which the working man is subject. I don't believe it. A society of this kind was started near me a few years ago, which was to supply its members and customers from a miscellaneous store. A large flour mill was erected, with bakery, &c., and, apparently, private enterprise was to fall before it ; but it did not last long. For the last two or three years a large, useful-looking building, fitted with expensive machinery, has remained a profitless heap of bricks and mortar. If the country were studded with these societies for the manufacture of goods as well as their distribution, some would be successes, others would be failures. In the latter case, those interested would be losers. Commend me to private enterprise. I cannot see the wisdom of the industrious man being chained to the lazy one, or the intelligent man to the stupid. In a country like our own, where every man is free, and has fair play, every atom of humanity will fall into its own proper place, and society will in such a case regulate itself far better than it can be done by any number of bricklayers or cobblers, with a few philo- sophers to boot. I have seen a great deal of town and country life, but I have never yet met with an industrious, steady man, who could not obtain a tolerably comfortable livelihood if he practised ordinary prudence. I see nothing wrong in any number of young men co-operat- ing and adding their savings together for the purpose of starting a factory, stocking a farm, or, following the example of the building societies, buying an estate and splitting it into small farms, if they choose ; but I have a strong objection to their confiscating the savings or property of other people. The political economists tell us that the safety of the nation depends on a small peasant proprietary. I cannot see why, if a man to better his condition leaves the cultivation of the soi', it should make him less patriotic. How has it farea with France and peasant proprietary against Prussia and feudalism. The peasants and small farmers were for peace at any price, so that they could be left quietly to pursue their callings. The labour with which I am at present concerned is agricultural labour, and the wages of this class vary so much at different seasons, and there are so many ad- vantages in lieu of wages, that it is difficult to institute a fair comparison between that and other unskilled labour. It is a false principle to give a man a cottage and garden worth 2s. or y. a week for Is., on the ground that the man cannot afford more. The same remark applies to gratuities of beer, milk, cider, &c., and numerous other extras. The correct principle would be to pay the man fuller wages, and make him i662 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 23, 1871. pay full value for what he receives. Although I could live more comfortably in a labourer's cottage as they are found at present, than in a cellar or attic in a town, I should be right glad if our landlords generally would provide enlarged and more decent homes for the labourers with at least a rood of ground adjoining, or as close as possible to tliem. Much has already been done in this respect, and it is to be hoped will, in the course of a few years, be generally carried F. W. Bignell, Lotig/Uon, Sloiiey Stratford. COXDENSED MILK. We believe that tlie credit of first condensing, rather concentrating mMlt, is due to a Frenchn named De Leignac, about 24 years ago, from whom the process was obtained soon afterwards by Mr. E. D, Moore, a medical man attached to the Court, who had manufactories in Staffordshire and Middlesex, making concentrated milk, and also a combination of it with cocoa. In 1857 Mr. House, now of 76, Minories, on the retirement of Mr. Moore, whose manager he had been, took up the business, and, on an " improved patent," has continued it ever since. It was from Mr. House, through a Captain Fletcher, that Mr. Gail Borden, of New York, got his idea of preserved or con- densed milk ; for, though Mr. House calls his " con- centrated" milk, we imagine that the process differs little from that of producing " condensed " milk, the former being obtained by evaporation of the water from the milk in open pans ; the latter by evaporation in closed vacuum-pans. We mention these facts to show that primarily to a Frenchman, though mainly to an Englishman, the credit of first producing concentrated or condensed milk is due, and not to Mr. Borden, or any other American who may have perfected the process and developed the trade, and seem inclined to take credit for the organisation of the whole matter. Mr. House has mainly confined his business to the supply of shipping, and has not "pushed" his article for home consumption. Of its merits we can bear witness, having lately tasted a tin of his concentrated milk, which was "put up" in the year 1858, and since then has made a voyage to Calcutta and back. It was the sweetened mixture, and cut and tasted very much like an extra rich blanc mange, but capable of being reduced, or rather expanded, into sweetened milk by the addition of It was with Mr. Borden's process, and, perhaps, some improvement on it, that the originators of the Anglo-Swiss Company established themselves in S\vitzerland, at Cham, in the Canton of Zug, in 1866. Their works are on the banks of Lake Zug, opposite the Higi range of mountains, on the lower parts of which, and on the adjacent villages, most of the cows from which the company get their milk are pastured. At their first commencing business they only took the milk of about 350 cows one day a week, for which they paid about id. per quart. The demand for the condensed milk has so increased that they now take the milk of between 1 500 and 2000 cows daily (Sun- days included), under contract with the neighbouring farmers, using in the process more than a ton of sugar per day. Preparations are being made for still more extended operations, and it is expected that next year they will be able to turn out about 10,000 tins daily. Of the total manufacture by this company, about one-half is consumed on the Continent, the other in England and its colonies, and other parts of the world. The Aylesbury Company is an offshoot, or rather secession from the Anglo-Swiss, its manager, Mr. Merriam, having been one of the chief promoters and managers of the latter from its commencement, and other directors of the old company are now associated with its English rival. It was established last year, and begun its business in September, taking the milk of about 400 or 500 cows, producing about 1200 galls, of milk daily, with the exception of Sundays, when the farmers who own the cows use the milk for butter and other purposes. The company have just erected further buildings to meet the increased demand for their milk, and when in full working order, which they will shortly be, they will take the milk of more than 1000 cows, and expect to make from 6000 to 10,000 tins per day, according to the season, of the year. The factory, in which about 100 hands, old and young, are employed, is a few minutes walk from the town of Aylesbury, picturesquely situated on the banks of the canal which runs through the famous vale, and having a road on each side, forming the company's premises, which they rent under Baron Rothschild, into the shape of a triangle, pleasantly surrounded by trees, and about 3 acres, including grass lands, yards, and I mgs. If for no other reasons, it would have been a happy thought to have fixed on Aylesbury for their locale, the very name being redolent, like Canaan, of milk and the good things connected therewith ; and the supply of excellent milk from some of the best pastures in England will doubtless commend the choice. Steam is got up in the factory at 6 in the morning, and the farmers, who live within from I to 10 miles of it, begin to deliver their milk about 7 ; but it is nearly 9 o'clock before the last arrives. We were on the scene during the delivery, and remained till the end of the process. The milk is emptied at once from the large tin cans generally used in the trade into a trough, which ducts it through sieves into a large tank holding about 800 galls., in the department where the first part of th process takes place. From this tank it is drawn inti large open metal cylinders, which are slung up by : crane, and placed in a hot bath in large tanks, some what after the manner of the tins of meat in the pre serving process ; after remaining in this some time they are again lifted by the cranes and emptied into larg open funnel-shaped vats, whence the hot milk is drawi up through a pipe in the centre into the condensing pans on the upper floor ; the sugar having been mixed with it solely for the purpose of preserving it. It remains in these, subject to somewhat low heat, for two or three hours, while the evaporation of the watei is taking place, and the milk gradually condensing. When this part of the process, which may be seen through the glass window of the condenser, is com- pleted, the milk, then about the consistency of liquid honey, returns by a pipe into the lower room, and is received again into the open cylinders, which swung into the central tanks ; this time being filled with cold water for the purpose of cooling — the 1 lation of the temperature during the whole process being a matter of the greatest nicety. Thence it is taken to the filling-room and run into the i lb. tins, which are soldered up and packed in cases of four dozen each, ready for sale. The greatest care is taken that no tin leaves the establishment unless perfectly air- tight ; and to ensure this each one is closely examined by a lad, who, in addition to his regular wages, gets \d. each for every tin he finds imperfect, and the sol- derer has to take and pay for its contents. The con- densed milk in these tins gradually thickens, becoming slightly more consistent up to five or six months ; after which it remains of the same consistency, and will continue goodfor years, perhaps as long as the tins them- selves continue sound, and in all climates ; and, even when opened, remains sweet for weeks. It should be mentioned, that the greatest cleanliness is observed throughout the whole process. Even the milk tins which the farmers deliver, immediately on their being emptied are, in the receiving room, placed in warm water and scrubbed inside with brushes. A strong jet of steam is turned into them, searching every chink and cranny ; and, finally, another very powerful jet of cold water completes the cleansing process, which is also applied continually to all cylinders and receptacles used in the factory. And, in addition to this, the floor of the lower room is con- stantly deluged with streams of water supplied by pipes from the Chiltern Hills Water Company's works. The milk received from the farmers, at about zd. per quart, is tested in a variety of ways several times in the week, and some is stood in pans to test the rise of cream, a record of which is carefully kept. The contracts with the farmers are very stringent, and if any- thing is found wrong with the milk the company reserve to themselves the right of returning it, and at once throwing up the contract. They are careful also to examine the police records of the district, to see if any of the farmers whose milk they take have any cases of diseased cattle on their farms, which they are bound by Act of Parliament, under heavy penalties, to report at once to the police. The sugar used is of the best refined kind, some also from Beet- root, and we need hardly observe that no adulteration takes place at any part of the process ; it would be impossible, and if attempted would at once defeat the great object— namely, the preservation of the milk ; and as the article is sold only in the Company's tins, hermetically closed and labelled, it is impossible for retailers to tamper with it. The result is, that we have an article which is pure milk, not an article made from milk, with the addition of sugar ; all that is taken from the milk being the water, which in milk direct from the cow constitutes as much as So parts out of 100. Astounding as this statement may seem, there is no doubt about it, and the stream of colourless water which runs, as we saw it, con- tinuously from the condensers give ocular evidence of it, and its being almost tasteless further shows that by the process the milk loses nothing but its water, and this it does to the extent of about 55 parts out of the 80, leaving in the condensed milk from 20 to 25 parts of water, the rest being the caseine, butter, or fat, and other solid substances which remain intact. This is proved by the fact that when the proper quantity of water is again added to the condensed milk, it will, at a certain temperature, churn into butter. The analyses of the condensed milk produced by the Swiss and English companies made by Baron Liebig and many other eminent chemists leave no room for doubting the above facts. We may here mention that the -\ylesbury process is substantially the same as that used by the Anglo-Swiss Company ; by Mr. Borden, in America ; and by Mr. Newnham's Irish company, at Mallow ; but the last- named brand is not often seen in the English market. There are other companies on the Continent, one near Munich, one in the Canton St. Gall, and another in Holstein ; but their business at present is somewhat limited. In America, also, there are several manufac- tories, but Mr. Borden takes the lead. He also produces the condensed milk without sugar, which will keep good for a week or ten days, and it is this form which a large portion of the population of New York and large -American cities have used for some years past. The English company will probably offer some of this kind to the public, and we see no reason why it should not be very extensively used. Each household knows with tolerable exactness its weekly consumption of milk, and by taking a weekly supply in this form will be sure of getting a genuine article. We should not forget to mention that the English company make a preparation of condensed milk and cocoa, which is sold retail, at about is. for the i lb. tin. We wit- nessed the roasting, grinding, sifting, and general pre- paration of the cocoa, which is all done at the Ayles- bury Works, and a most excellent combination is pro- duced, the cocoa assisting as well as the sugar in the preservation of the milk. Two teaspoonfuls, equalling in value one penny, with boiling wlter, make as good a cup of cocoa, already sweetened, as can be desider«5. They contemplate also bringing out a mixture of the milk with essence of coffee. But to return to the condensed and sweetened milk. The present retail price of the I lb. tin of both com- panies is about 81/. J and as this will bear at the very least as much water added to it as will make it equivalent to 2 quarts of pure milk, we have a genuine article at ^d. per quart, with the addition of nearly one pennyworth of sugar to each quart, — no slight consideration when estimating the price. Thus, it is considerably cheaper than any milk sold in towns, even if that could be obtained pure. The condensed milk can be used for any purpose for which ordinary milk and sugar are used — for puddings, custards, and other cooking purposes ; less than a teaspoonful is sufficient for a cup of tea, sweetening it at the same time ; two or three times the quantity will make a large basin of sweet bread and milk. The Standard, g0M Comspirbeitce. Sugar-Beet.— In consequence of numerous letters on the cultivation of Sugar-Beet, I determined to try some again, although I had not succeeded in doing any good with them some three years ago, being obliged to consume a much smaller crop than I grew of Mangel in the same field. Also the difference in the Wheat crop after was most marked in favour of that part of the field which grew the Mangel. I selected 12 acres of deep friable Turnip land adjoining a railway siding, which I ploughed twice, subsoiling 16 inches deep with a double-furrow plough, one share removed replaced by a subsoiler. Sixteen loads of house-made dung and 6 cwt. phosphate-guano per acre were applied. The plants 12 inches apart made hand hoeing requisite to prevent injuring the roots, and to get them up nearly every root had to be dug. The best sbed from Germany was used, at 2s. 6d. per lb. The year was very favourable, and no frost came, or the crop must have been resown, as frost causes the roots to seed, and renders them useless for sugar-making. No place missed, and the result was 372 loads of what have been allowed to be very superior roots. The account stands : — 2 ploughings and 1 ploughing and subsoiling ■■ £2 8 o 2 grubbing^, at 3J. . . . . . . . . ..060 2 harrottings, at 21 040 I rolling, at IS 010 Planting, y. id. . . 031 3 horse-hoeing5, 6s. 2d. .. 062 Hand hoeing, 35s. 150 Lifting and storing .. ..0150 15 loads of dung, at 53., two-thirds charged 1 6 cwt. phospho-giiano, 12J,, two-thirds charged j ■ 5 i 4 Rail, If. 6i/. per ton ..140 Rent, 40J. 200 The estimated produce is i6 tons per acre at 2Qf., which only leaves £i 6s. $d. profit in a good year. Now, I can grow 35 tons of Mangel at a cost of /"il II.f. per acre, and for them I get most years 20J. ; last year 30.f., but only 16s. this year, which leaves a profit of ;f 13 6s., against £1 6s. $d., showing a clear gain o( £11 igs. "jd. in favour of Mangel, Cincinnalin, Nm: 21, Utilisation of Sewage, &c. — Very much has lately been written, and spoken, relative to the utilisa- tion of town sewage and all similar sewerage manurial deposits, and family closets, privies, cesspools, &c. Too much cannot be said to induce every family in the kingdom to take especial care to preserve for manurial purposes every kind of *' refuse " that can be so tilised. The agriculture of the country requires every ttention to be paid to these minor matters. The modern improvements cannot be fully realised, unless from a much larger application of manures for the many supernumerary crops now introduced in modem agriculture, as also the many additional crops intro- duced in the improved order of farm management, hich can not only be carried out, but greatly increased / the liberal application of manures of one order or another. It has become already one of the farmer's great difficulties how to supply himself with suitable ires. The chemical manures now manufactured are too high in price to be made generally applicable, because so much is required to replenish the soil suf- ficiently to cause that fermentation of soil necessary for the full and rapid progress of the crop. It is now a matter of fact, that a slight dressing is of little avail — even good soils requke dressmgs of from 7 cwt. to December 23, 1871. The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1663 10 cwt. per acre to c; results. The best Peruv ficial in somewhat less qu Splendid results have foil applications, which of general could such :e effectual and beneficial 1 guano might prove bene- tity, but not 50 with others, 'ed from doubling the above urse would soon become provided greatly reduced cost. What surprising benefits would be derived, could all manurial substances and sewage be preserved and applied as a fertilising agency, and thei^e really is no great difficulty in the way. It only reqilil-es attention, and the adoption of some of the many schemes and plans for such an object. Moule's earth closets are applicable instead of water-closets. Convenient cesspools might preserve the sewage ; indeed, any of the thousand-and-one projects before 116 public might suffice, if only the requisite care and attention were given to utilise the whole. This could not fail to benefit the whole country greatly, by providing a much larger supply of food for its popula- tion. In small tovviis and country villages this mode of ajsplication could not profitably be adopted, but still all might be preserved and means provided for its conversion into home-made guanos, or other very use- ful ihanures or "mixens." The great loss of these almost invaluable manures lies with the towns. In the villages most of these deposits are brought into service. It is quite customary in the winter months to empty cesspools, privies, &c., and cart the contents into pre pared receptacles in the fields, there to be mixed up with other suitable manures, chemical or otherwise, soil, ashes, &c., by which a cheap and valuable manure for drilling is manufactured. The writer of these lines has practised this course idr iflany years, large circular vat is prepared by casting up the earth around to about 3 feet in height ; into this poured the contents of privies, cesspools from brewers and privdte families, carted to it in the common scaven- gers' carts. This is covered up by straw or ditch- i-oadings for a time. As the season advances fresh sub- stances are added, i. e., good soil-ashes from turf. Twitch, &c., cinder-ashes, road-scrapings, soot, pig manure, and any Suitable refuse likely to be beneficial. I avoid lime, and occasionally use superphosphate when mixing for drilling, the whole being previously prepared by repeated turnings till reduced to such a powdery state as to be applicable for drilling. I very confidently recommend this course as one means of obtaining a highly useful and cheap manure for drilling in with Mangel seed. Turnip seed, &c. It is also applic- able as a dressing to be sown down ridges or furrows, ■where Potatos are to be planted. Its great value lies in forcing the young plants. In Turnip or Mangel culture this is important, to prgVent injury from fly, '&c. O. F. The Six Months' Notice to Quit.— Your cor- respondent, "Anglo-S; perfectly justified in cal conduct of a landlord who perm: his land at a great outlay and then raises the rent either the improving tenant or a successor, without first repaying the man who improved the land. But then this can be done in England according to law. Our Parliament has seen fit to grant justice to Irish tenants, and if farmers would combine and send the right sort of men into the House of Com- mons, many other just things besides tenant-right might be secured by farmers in England. A neigh- bour of mine told me a week or two ago, that duribg the last few years he had spent between ;£'70O and /'Soo on permanent improvements on his farm. The farm had now just begun to repay him by increased crops when the landlord sold it. It made nearly ^1800 more than it was worth before the tenant had it. The tenant's rent has been raised by the new land- lord £^c) a-year. This increase of refit is about 10 per cent, on the sum spent by the tenaiit. It is as though the latter, instead of spending his own money, had borrowed it of the landlord, or, as though the landlord had Hiade the improvements. The tenant then asked the former landlord to return him a portion of the money thus spent in improvements, but could not get a farthing ; the tenant's money is, therefore, wholly confiscated by the laws of the country. Cannot farmers see what is the remedy for this injustice? It is this : at all elections take care to pledge candidat to vote for a good tenant-right. H. H. 0. Sunflower. — I notice some remarks on the abo^ plant in ybur paper of the i6th inst. Thinking some further particulars may be interesting, I condense a few notes I have on the subject for insertion in the Agricul- tural Giizelle. The Government of India made some inquiries in 1869, through Lord Lyons (Ambassador at Paris), as to the effect of the cultivation of th flower plant in neutralising the injurious effect of marshy exhalations. These inquiries did not result much of a definite nature, however, except that it v understood that Sunflower had been planted in H land for the above purpose, and that no one had occasion to fear intermittent fever who settled the reclaimed land of the Lac de Haarlem, if he took cai-e to plant Sunflower. Might not the experimental growth of the plant be tried on some of the irrigation farms ? The Sunflower oil is said to be superior to either Olive or Almond oil for table use, and is alsi useful in the manufacture of soap, candles, and woollen goods. The flowers furnish a brilliant dye, which said to stand well. I have also heard that the seed splendid food for poultry, and I know that bees are ceedingly fond of the Sunflower. The leaves are reputed to have a pectoral value when smoked as cigars. The plant would thus seem to be useful in every part, like some Palms. Each bushel of seed yields on an average I gall, of oil, the average yield per acre being 50 bush. Lime nlbbish is said to be a good dressing for the land, to be sown with this crop. The quantity of seed required is about 6 lb. per acre, and it is the practice, I believe, to leave about 15,000 plants or upwards to the acre of ground, pro- bably a distance of i\ feet between the rows, and 14 foot between each plant would be better in this climate, looking to the necessity of a sufficient expo- sure to the sun. The quantity of seed is said to be increased by *' dwarfing," /. i?., stopping the plants. I do not know the Continental plan of sowing, nor do I know the value per gallon of the oil, James Mac- Pherson. The Root Show at notes, that you may use t Roots and seeds are a fii unusual diversity, a result, Islington. — I send you my rem, if you please, as we " ownright robbery " the lits a farmer to improve the Thos. Gibbs & Co., Half-moon Street, Piccadilly, have a very uniform selection of roots, not over large but ' fine quality : ox Cabbage, large, weighing 60 lb. There is as usual a fine exhibit of seeds, and the whole stand tastefully laid out. Wheeler & Son have an excellent stand. Their gre< Kohl Rabi is very superior, so are their Mangels and Swedes, and. as usual, they have a splendid exhibit of Potatos, grass seeds, &c. The Messrs. George Gibbs & Co., of Down Street, Piccadilly, have some wonderful Cabbages, one heart weighing 65 lb. They exhibit 100 different sorts of Potatos, and some 26 of Onions. The Mangels and other roots, grown by Wm. Dickenson. Esq.. on New Forest, erit special notice, both for weight and quality. Raynbird, Caldecott, Bawtree, Dowling & Co., also exhibit some of Mr. Dickenson's splendid Nev» Forest roots. They have a fine show of seeds, cake, and manure. Isaac Wright & Son, Great Bentley, Essex, have a small but select exhibit : so has Mr. Dixon, of Hull. Mr. Hope's sewage produce has already been noticed. The Messrs. Carter & Co., Holbom and Essex, have a splendid selection from their general show, reported in previous Agricultural Gazette. The roots are large d of unusually fine quality, thus illustrating the high value of the seeds from which they are grown. Cabbage large, .and their Potatos and Onions are remarkably fine nples. f. K. King, Coggeshall, Essex, has a very fine selection medium-sized roots, finely grown, with single tap-root 3 small top, the bulbs being well shaped, with clean ni, indicating great hardihood. Samples of 2-year-old roots aie shown in proof of their being as fresh and sound as they were last year. Seed fine and well dressed. Sutton & Sons. Reading, have one of the best shows ever exhibited in the great hall. We do not recollect seeing its equal, and the artistic manner in which the dif- ferent varieties are arranged displays their great weights, symmetry and quality to the best advantage. The central bed of Potatos is a splendid show of itself. The almost incredible weight of the Mangels was given in previous reports, to which we refer for the particulars. Alfred Hall, of Westbury Farm, Wilts, has as usual a very fine selection of his " Westbury Swede," Long Red and Globe Mangel, also a peculiar variety of Belgian Carrot that grows some 6 to 7 inches above ground. W. B. [A known correspondent.] Cattle Feeding. — A bullock two and a-half years old is estimated to consume 14 cwt. of Turnips in the 24 hours. Fed on Turnips, the increase of weight should be i4 lb. By giving in addition to the above weight of Turnips 4 lb. of oilcake, the increase of weight will be brought up to if lb. daily. Under heading " Odds and Ends of Farming Facts," the Mark Lane Express contains the above piece of info; mation, upon which, with your permission, I will make a few remarks, with a view of gaining accurate infor ihation. If I am right in inferring from the abovt quotation that it will take 4 lb. of oilcake to produce J lb. of beef, and that the writer of the article is right in his assertion, then it is plain that stall-feeding with oilcake at £\2 per ton is no a profitable business, as I now propose to show, 4 lb. of oilcake, at £,\2. per ton, costs ^\d. its manurial value (taking ^Ir. Lawes' estimate o £\ 12s. per ton) is i^ji/. ; to this add, say 2d., the value of i lb. of beef; then by deducting the selling price of the beef, and the manure value of [thi cake from its cost, there is a loss on the 4 lb. o l^J. ; or, upon i ton, £2 14s. Sd. Would you or an] of your correspondents give an opinion, based 01 experience, as to the profitableness of feeding with oil cake ? S/wrt Crass. HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL. Dec. 6. — At the monthly meeting of the directors 01 this Society, the Most Noble the Marquis of Tweeddale, K.T., president — Chemical Department.— The board agreed, on the suggestion of the chemistry committee, to offer premium of .1^50 for a report on '* What has chemistry done for agriculture by improving or increasing the produce of the soil ? " A suggestion originating from the chemical committee, that the Society should estab- odel farm, was remitted to the committee, their proposals not being yet matured. Transit of Animals.— The report by the committee on the transit of animals by railway was submitted. It narrates the whole proceedings of the Society, from the time the subject was first taken up by the directors in 1867, and proceeds as follows : — "After carefully considering the documents submitted, and the Act to which the Order of Council has reference, the committee beg to recommend that the board should again com- municate with the Lords of the Privy Council, through Dr. Alexander Williams, specially pointing out,— I. That the Order of Council (300) called 'The Transit ol Animals Order of May, 1870,' for providing trucks with spring buffers, and supplying water to animals carried by railway, is not only systematically evaded, but is defective in respect that provision is not made for supplying animals with food ; and that a new Order of Council is urgently called for. In the new Order it should be specially provided— (i.) That ani- mals should be supplied with water when tracked and untrucked, and during the journey with both food and water ; the necessary food to be provided by the owner of the animals, the water by the railway company. The Act says that if animals are allowed to be in trucks without water for a period between 12 and 30 hours (to be fixed by the Privy Council), the railway pany will be guilty of an offence. A rule of the e kind should be adopted for food against the ers. (ii.) That in addition to the spring buffers stated in the Order of Council (300), it is absolutely necessary to provide covered waggons, closed at the ds, and 18 inches along the sides from each end, th an arrangement of troughs for the proper supply the animals with water, and racks for supplying hay the trucks during the journey. 2. That many im- portant railway stations, where animals are trucked ■ untrucked, ar§ not included in the schedule hed to the order of Council (324), called ' The Transit of Animals (Water) Order of March, 1871.' (Here follow the list of additional stations suggested ; but the committee consider that, should the Privy Council issue an Order that water be supplied in the trucks, it will not be necessary to have it at all the stations enumerated.)" The committee further suggest that, should the Privy Council not give effect to the representations proposed to be made to them, an ■ fluential deputation should be formed to wait on leir lordships. The report was approved of by the directors. Fisken's Systei The following report 1 . cultivating machinery, which took place on the Marquis of Tweeddale's home farm of Yester Mains, during the week ending November 1 1 last, prepared by Mr. Swinton, Holyn Bank, Gifford, was submitted to the board ;— Lord Tweeddale, being desirous to see this system of steam cultivation at work, and to give the agricultural community an opportunity of inspecting it, arranged with the Ravensthorpe Engineering Company of Mirfield, near Leeds, to send the patented part of the machinery to Yester ; and hired from Mr. David Roughead, Myreside, a traction engine and balance-plough, made by John Fowler & Co., of Leeds. This engine is stated by Messrs, Fowler & Co. to be of 14-horse power ; but several practical engineers who saw the engine at work expressed doubts about the engine being of this power, and the price paid by Mr. Roughead for it (^^420) indicates a smaller horse-power, although Mr. Roughead states he got a good bargain of it. Mr. Roughead has used this engine for over three years, in working a set of round- about tackle on Howard's system. The only aheration which this engine required in order to adapt it to the Fisken tackle was the fixing of a grooved rim on the fly- wheel to receive the driving rope. The plough hired from Mr. Roughead was one of Fowler's ordinary balance 4-furrow ploughs, but with mouldboards made according to a pattern of Mr. Roughead's. This plough was only adapted for a furrow not exceeding 9 inches deep, and had to be considerably altered to enable it to turn a 14- inch furrow. This it did not do very satisfactorily, and a trial was made to fit on mouldboards of the common horse-plough in use at Yester ; but as the head of the plough and the mouldboard were not adapted to each other, the furrow was not so well turned as it might have been. The Fisken tackle is not, however, in any way answerable for deficiency in the quality of the ploughilig, as this was wholly the fault of the plough. The field to be ploughed contains 75 acres, and had been under a crop of Oats in 1871, and was wished to be deep ploughed in preparation for a crop of Turnips in r872. The part of the field operated on consisted of soil of various kinds, from stiff clay to sand and gravel, and a narrow hollow or glen passed through it, into which the plough had to descend and ascend at each turn across the field. This part of the field was chosen in order to test the working of the machinery on uneven land. The field had, during several previous rotations, been ploughed by horses to a depth of from 14 to 16 inches, and all the large stones removed. .K full description of the Fisken method of steam cultivation is given in the pamphlets issued by the patentees and makers of the apparatus, and need not be here repeated. The Fisken tackle, consisting of two patent windlasses, six comer anchors, one tension anchor, 30 light rope porters, two claw anchors, two rope porters for steel rope, two wood levers, crowbars and tools, 1200 yards of hemp driving rope, 800 yards steel rope, 100 yards of steel rope lor anchors, and weighing in 1664 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag^ricultural Gazette [De:ember 3j, 1871. ig and 200 y marked off, r work, ards all about 8J tons, arrived at Haddingt Saturday, November 4, and required nine carts to convey it to Yester, 6 miles. 1 were set down in the field near their pos and a portion of the field, 400 wide, and contoining about 16 the anchors and porters for the driving rope were set up roimd about it. The engine and plough arrived in the field on Monday, November 6, and about three o'clock on that afternoon of that day commenced to plough. Several hours were spent in getting the engine into posi- tion, in consequence of the wheels having sunk in the soft headland, which was very wet from the heavy rains on the previous days. Tuesday, November 7, was spent in making sundry alterations on the plough, and adjusting some parts of the Fisken tackle which had not been pro- perly fitted. Wednesday, November 8 : the tackle was fairly started this morning, and the number of people employed was as follows :— One engine-driver, two windlass men, one ploughmen, one lad at wire rope porters, one man and horse driving water to engine, one man and two horses driving coals (8 miles). Not long after starting the bear- ing of the pulley of the corner anchor, nearest to the engine on the tight rope, became heated, and the anchor had to be removed and another one substituted. About three hours after starting the small pinion on the first motion of the patent windlass stuck fast on the shaft on which it runs loose when not in gear. The work had to be stopped, and part of the machine had to be sent to the blacksmith's shop to be adjusted, and the shaft ground, thereby causing a delay of three hours. Both of these .stoppages occurred through sufficient provision not having been made for lubricating the bearings, and can be verv easily remedied. With the above exceptions, no faults or deficiencies were observed in the patent tackle wliile at work at Yester. It was, however, remarked by several persons conversant with such matters that the bearings of the comer anchors, and also of the patent windlasses, would be improved by being lengthened, so as to spread the pressure over a greater surface ; and that better provi- sion for lubrication was required, as most of the bearings are vertical. Lord Tweeddale having required the land to be ploughed 14 inches deep, wliich is the depth ploughed by three horses at Yester, the balance-plough was altered accordingly, so as to plough three furrows of the required breadth and depth ; and although the land was not so well turned as was desirable, still the soil was moved to the depth required, except where the land was light and gravelly on the slope of the glen or hollow, where the tendency of the plough was to throw out of the ground. On several occasions, and in order to test the strength of the tackle, the plough was loaded with men, and forced into the stiff clay, so as to stop the engine. No breakages occurred. It was found that with three furrows 14 inches deep, one hour was required to plough an imperial acre, with the steam gauge of the engine showing a pressure of 80 lb. of steam per square inch. On Saturdav. November it, the work was inspected by the directors of the Highland and Agricultural Society, the steam plough committee of the Society, and several other gentlemen. The registering dynamometer of the Society was in the field, but in consequence of the non- appearance of Mr. Slight till late in the afternoon there was not sufficient light properly to apply the dynamo- meter. This is much to be regretted, as there is no record of the power expended in draggi.ng the plough, or the driving rope and windlasses without the plough. At the desire of the directors, the tackle was removed and set to work in a dififerent part of the field. The engine moved itself to its new position. Three horses were required to move the windlasses, and two horses and carts to move the anchors, porters, and other apparatus. The time occupied in this removal was i hour and 35 minutes from the time of commencing the removal till the plough was again at work. Some delay was caused by the coiling up of the hemp-driving rope on the reel, which, instead of being on the engine (its proper pl.tce), was temporarily fixed on a cart. The engine-driver, who has had charge of Mr. Roughead's engine for the Last three years, states that the power required from the engine to drive the Fisken tackle is as near as possible the same, and cer- tainly not more than is required to work the " Howard " tackle on Mr. Roughead's farm, and that the consump- tion of coal and water was also the same. The engine was found to consume aS cwt. of coal and 16 cwt. of per hour, and — of om Fountainha best quality of stean oal, is the coal commonly used lor engines in ttus part of the country. The oil and tallow required for the lubrication of the windlasses. anchors, and porters, after these got into proper working order, wa,s i imperial pint of sperm oil per day, and about I lb. of tallow per week. The working strain on the hemp driving rope is said to be a fourth part of the strain on the wire rope which drags the plough, so that, supposing the strain on the wire rope with the plough turning three 14-inch furrows to be 28 cwt., the strain on the driving rope would be 2 cwt. The driving rope when new will stand a strain of 20 cwt., and the wire rope 14 tons. The working of the Fisken tackle during the week it was em- ployed at Yester was very closely watched, and after the tackle was fairly started notes of everything that occurred were taken. The only defects observed in the tackle were those already mentioned. They were easily remedied, and with a little more care in manufacturewould not have occurred. The management of the windlasses is apparently within the capacity of any ordinary working- man, and the facility with which these can be put into and thrown out of gear, and the plough thereby stopped, without communication with the engine-driver, seems to have reduced the danger of any accident almost to a minimum. The use of the friction clutch for setting the windlass in motion is also considered a great advantage, IS the risk of breakage from the plough coming in contact A-ith setfast stones is much reduced. The tackle was examined by many practical agriculturists during the week, and they were unanimous in expressing their appro- bation of the apparent suitability of the tackle to perform the work required of it. It is to be hoped that the eminent consulting and practical engineers of the High land Society will express their opinion as to the mechanical arrangement adopted on this system, and as to the pro- bable endurance of the windlasses and other parts of the ; of wages paid in dif the distance from coals ■ith: : there had been uffici An attempt was made to have another system ol steam cultivation at work in the field in order to contrast this .system with another ; but, in consequence of the conditions laid down by the agent of the other system it was found to be beyond the means of a private indi- vidual to conduct such a trial as he insisted on, and Lord Tweeddale is of opinion that such a trial could only be carried on in Scotland by the Highland and Agricultural Society. The board instructed the secretary to conrey the thanks of the Society to Mr. Swinton for his able report, and to communicate with Professor Macquorn Rankine itnd Mr. Slight, with a view of getting a report from them of the mechanical arrangement, and to the probable endurance of the windlasses and other parts of the machinery adopted in Mr. Fisken's system. Humanity to Animals. — A committee was named to read and report on the papers lodged for Lady Burdett Coutts' prizes for essays on the most efficient method of inculcating in primary schools the duty of humanity to the lower animals. Mr. Menzies reported that forty-three essays had been received. SCOTTISH CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE. The Land Laws.—Kl a recent special general neeting of this Chamber Mr. M'Nkal Caiku de- ivered an address on this subject, from which we iiake the following extracts : — I. The first point to which I shall ask attention is that part from stipulation, and by mere force and pre- umption of law, an ordinary farm lease cannot be ffectually transferred by the tenant unless he can obtain the landlord's consent. The lease is the tenant's property — very often, through his skill and expenditure, a very valuable property. I stand here to claim for the tenant one of the essential rights of property— the right to dispose of it. Consider the case of a tenant- farmer who has his means locked up in the land, and whose health or circumstances disable him to remain in the management, though he may have many years of a valuable lease to run. What is the worth of his valu- able property then? He cannot sell it — he cannot ablet i the the cropping are running on. He is unable to wait. He can do nothing but cast himself on the mercy of the landlord. He is constrained to renounce the lease, and the landlord enters to his labours with such compen.sation, if any, as it is of his mere pleasure to give. Is it a righteous law which puts the tenant-farmer into that predicament ? Take the case of a child, a few years old, succeeding to his father's lease. Fortunate, indeed, will he be if he has friends possessed of the courage and the ability and will to undertake the grave risk and responsibility of farming for a minor during 12, 15, or 1 8 years to come. For if they are not, his rights also must be placed at the landlord's mercy. And then consider what may be the position of the tenant-farmer on his death-bed, with the bulk of his means invested in his farm. The law does not permit him to regulate the succession to his own lease. How is he to secure a home for his widow? His eldest son may be settled abroad, or have no knowledge of farming ; he may be a spend- thrift or a drunkard, but the unfortunate father has by law no power to leave the lease to any other of his children. That is not the case with other property. Lord President Islay Campbell, when he was outvoted on this question on the bench, indignantly exclaimed, " It is not common sense " for the landlord to control the tenant's succession. I may venture to add, it is not common justice. It is a law expressly for the interest of the landlord ; which can be pleaded by nobody but the landlord ; which is, therefore, not available to the eldest son if the landlord chooses to accept the heir named by the tenant. And here is a climax to the intolerable wrong of this law. It puts both the eldest son and the selected heir at the mercy of the landlord. On the other hand, it would be unjust that the tenant should have the power by disposing of the lease to escape from his obligations to the landlord. I think it reasonable that in any alteration of the law the original tenant sliould remain responsible to the landlord along with the tenant to whom he transfers the lease. 2. I now come to the great question of tenants' improvements. When a man's lease is approaching its termination, every ton of purchased manure that he puts into the land is a premium to somebody else to offer a higher rent for his farm. Common prudence compels him to hold his hand, and to take out of the farm as much as he can get on a reduced expendi- ture, and the productive power of the farm is thus diminished at the end of the lease. This is a source of great national loss. It is hurtful also to the landlord, ivho incurs a hi A his lease to res hurtful exp< the incor iby wh uffers t fertility of the farm. The ich he suffers, and by which hrough him, commonly con- tinues till he has at least gone over a full course of cropping. Neither is it for the advantage of the out- going tenant if he were protected against the loss of his unexhausted manures and tillages. The true interest nf all coucerned is that he should have a right, by law, to have their value ascertained and allowed to him on his removal. You might then expect that farms in general would be kept in full fertility till the end of the lease, and the whole country would benefit by it. Reflect for a moment on the amount of wealth which is lost to the country through the want of reasonable arrangements on this subject. Have we any means of roughly estimating it ? On a seven-course farm held on a 19 years' lease you may reckon that the last five years will be a period of reduced expendi- re by the outgoing tenant, and of ex ping. Then the first seven years of the new lease will be a period of liberal expenditure and gradual restoration of productive power. In the next seven years you may expect the farm to be in full fertility ; and then begins again the evil cycle of exhaustion. You will have on the individual farm seven years of Egyptian fatness alternating with periods of comparative lean- ness ; but the lean years will be in the proportion of 12 to 7. Where there are no leases and no compensa- tions on removal — judging by the motives by which men are commonly influenced — the leanness will be apt to become chronic, unless in exceptional cases, or where the character of the landlord gives a tenant all the security which he could have from a lease. Then consider that this kind of thing is in constant action all over the country. And when you remember the enormous value of agricultural produce in Great Britain, even as things are, you may form some con- ception of the untold millions of wealth which might be poured into the coffers of the country through the pockets of farmers, if by wise legislation on the subject, based on the motives by which men are acted on, you could sustain the land in full fertility during the whole 19 years of a lease, instead of seven out of 19. I need hardly suggest that when the value of all that addi- tional produce finds its way into the tenant's pocket, it is according to all experience that no inconsiderable share of it will soon pass into the rent-roll of the land- lord. If we could raise the average rate of acreable produce in Great Britain by only one-fourth, which is not an unreasonable expectation, the result in money could probably not be less than 40 millions a year. Again, if an enterprising farmer erects farm buildings or labourers' cottages, or executes drainage or other permanent improvements, the law is prompt to punish him for his rashness. The house is no sooner built— the moment the improvement is executed, the law- takes the ownership of it from the man who built it, and transfers it without compensation to the landlord. The high priests of the law pronounce the formula, imtdificatum solo, solo ceJit, and every tenant must bow his head and submit, so potent is this mystic phrase to juggle away the just interest that every man has in the work of his own hands. It contains a dogma of the legal creed which lawyers generally accept with unquestioning reverence. In plain English it just means, "What is built on the land belongs to the land." It is an assertion, not a principle or even an argument— an assertion not always supported by fact or reason. We are told in God's law, " The sea is His for He made it," but in man's law the reading is re- versed ; thehouse is thelandlord's though hedid not make it. That is the law of Scotland. Is it reasonable ? Is it just ? Is the law to cast the balance always, and irre- versibly, against the tenant? Our Yankee brothers have adopted the opposite principle for their unoccu- pied lands in the West. They call it the homestead law, and it is one main secret of the amazing growth of that great country. Its principle is, " Where a man builds his house and settles, the land shall be his." It is a wise and noble law for an unappropriated country. the able Df bei adapted, as they ought to be adapted, t stances and wants of society. We of thi once vast, almost illimitable, tracts of u land in the colonies. And there never gigantic blunder than was committed by when they failed to establish a homestead law, able to every subject of the empire, before they .rge of these la of public land i commons, the birthright and pr which are being encroached 01 and enclosed year after year neighbouring proprietors. Theii greater than is generally known, a parenthesis, might it not be a: ded popu' We ve stil I this island — great ■perty of the people, and frittered away by the pressure (rf extent is immensely I wouJd just ask, in appreciable relief to a wise and well-con- ered homestead law for these immei ng all reasonable priority to adjo 1 lands, this— What a fen take it away unles 3- Ids shall be his i paid for it. jthers which, though of les: lufficienlly galling. The legi .1 importance, ; ing of 40 days dequate. The exigencies December 23, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette 1665 modern agriculture require a farmer to look a long way ahead. When he manures his green crop, or folds sheep on his Turnips, it is in preparation for the grass crop which is to grow, not in that year, nor the next year, but the year after that. He pre- pares in summer the cattle that are to be fatted in winter. Whenever the corn is off the ground, the tillage for ne.\t year's crop should begin. He can hardly get his winter crops in too soon. Yet he may be kept in the most painful uncertainty whether he is to remove or not till he reaches the 40 days before Martinmas. The old law was more reasonable. It made a difference between removals in May and removals in November, in the very month of winter. Till 1S53 a tenant could not be removed at the winter term without notice 40 days before May 15. That gave him six months besides the 40 days. But in 1S53 there was a Bill in Parliament, a technical Bill, to regu- late the business of Sheriff Courts. A clause was slipped into it that there should be no longer a distinction as to removings between one term and another — that 40 days before the actual term of removing should be sufficient in all cases. Away went the six months at a blow. That at least must be reversed. But since it brings under discussion the whole subject of warning to remove, I venture to say that, having regard to the expenditure which a man has now to ms ' and the necessity he is under of farming contemplate the future, no agricultural be removable on less than I2 months' m I his farm, plans which ce at least. Farmers' Clubs. EAST LOTHIAN. DoMe Ploughs.— T\i^ following paper was lately ] read before the East Lothian Farmers' Club, by Mr. James Wyllie, Innerwick : — With regard to the comparative draughts of double- furrow and common ploughs, a great many trials at pubic competitions and elsewhere have been made, and the general result has been to show that the double-furrow is about one-half heavier to draw than the common single plough. I have, for my own satis- faction, tested the draught of both implements in various kinds of work, with very much the same results. As I carefully noted the results of the last trial, I will now, with your permission, give particu- lars. The land we were ploughing at the time was after Potatos, and had been harrowed and grubbed, so that it was loose for 3 or 4 inches on the surface and firm below. The furrows turned by both ploughs measured 7 inches deep by 9 wide. On applying the dynamometer to the common plough, I found it draw- ing, as nearly as I could judge, considering the varia- tions of the instrument, about 31 stones. On trying the same plough without a furrow, I found it drew quite 10 stones, so that about one-third of the horse- power was exerted in moving the mere implement. On bringing the double-furrow plough to the same ground, and fixing it to the same size of furrow, I found it drew 43 stones. When trying the draught of the empty implement, we found the slight incline of the field made a great difference on the draught— much greater than that noted when testing the common plough without a furrow. Though very little uphill it drew 13 stones, while downhill it only drew 7 stones. The common plough was tested empty, both in the open furrow and on the surface. The double-furrow was, of course, only tested on the surface, which, as I mentioned before, was loose from being grubbed, so that the wheels sank somewhat into it. The average weight, then, of the empty double-furrow I put at ID stones, being the same as that of the common single plough. From these results we find that to turn two furrows by the common single plough the total draught required of four horses amounted to 62 stones, I 54 stones to each, while by th the double-fui amount of work was done at an exertion on the part of three horses of 43 stones, or 14^ stones to each ; so that three horses, in the double-furrow, did the work of four in the single plough without being harder wrought. In this case three horses were somewhat easier in the double-furrow than two in the single ; but in other cases I have found the draught about equal, and in one case somewhat in favour of the two in the single plough. In trying to account for the evident saving of power effected by the use of the double-furrow, we find, on comparing the draughts of the empty implements, that to turn two furrows by the single plough 20 stone: were required merely to move the empty implement while in the case of the double-fuiTOw under the same circumstances only 10 stones were required. This apparently gives us at once a saving of 10 ston favour of tlie double-furrow ; but, as to turn furrows by the single plough required 62 stones, and by the double-furrow only 43, we have still 9 ' evident saving to account for, or 4.^ stones for each furrow. As I cannot show from actual experimerit how this is effected, I can only state how I suppose it may be. In the first place, I believe part of this saving of draught is due to the great attention which has been paid to the construction and shape of the working parts of the double-furrow plough, and to the substitut- ing of steel for cast-iron mouldboards. Then, I have already shown that to perform an equal amount of work, the double-furrow, on wheels, requires one- half the amount of draught to move the unloaded implement that the single plough, without wheels, requires. Although it did not occur to me at the time to try, we can easily suppose that had the im- plements been loaded with any equal weight, the implement on wheels would have shown to a still greater advantage. Now, when at work, a plough has to raise the furrow, turn it, and place it in another position. This lifting, and perhaps partly the turn- ings, will cause a certain amount of downward pres- sure, or, in fact, form a load on the implement, to what an extent I am unable to say ; but at all events we may suppose the load to be equal in either case, and no one, I think, will doubt that a given load, whatever it may be, will be easier drawn upon wheels than without them, so that we may safely conclude that some part of the 44 stones of saving to be accounted for is effected in consequence of the weight of the turn- ing furrow being borne upon wheels. Still, another part of the saving may be effected by the side, or lateral pressure, being, in the case of the double-furrow, provided against by wheels set at an angle for this pur- pose, here again substituting a rolling for a sliding motion. I hold, however, that the front, or pilot wheel of the double-furrow plough, effects no saving in this respect, as the adjustment of the line of draught, rather, the proper adjustment of the plough to the line of draught, counterbalances this ; and I can but think that had the eminent engineers who, in the late patent case, laid so much stress upon lateral thrust in front, been at the trouble of experi menting with a plough actually at work, they would have modified their opinions considerably upon this point. I cannot see how a case of lateral thrust 1 front can be made good, when it can be shown that double-furrow plough which has no side or sole-plate I sustain such will work perfectly with the p ' heel moving several inches away 'from the angli the furrow ; indeed, were it a fact that later ' could not be overcome in front by the adjus the implement to the line of draught, then the " _ plough would be useless without some appliance for preventing it from being pressed to an ever increasing width. But while holding that the proper adjustment of the plough to the line of draught over- the lateral pressure which might be worth providing against in front, were the implement pushed from behind, I believe the angular set trailing wheel of the double-furrow plough effects a con- siderable saving in this respect. It is a very common practice on the part of ploughmen, when setting double-furrow ploughs, to place the draught-chain too much on the right-hand side of the plough-bridle, thereby causing an undue pressure of the pilot-wheel against the edge of the unturned land ; but this, instead of lateral thrust might be called lateral draught, as they virtually cause the horses to drag the wheel against the land, and I know from actual trial that when this is done to excess it adds considerably to the draught of the implement. When a double-furrow plough is properly set, the pilot-wheel should move easily on the angle of the furrow, neither pressing to, nor seeking away from, the unturned land, so that it may be either easily steered away, when a narrower furrow may be needed to straighten, or pressed some- what closer to when a slightly wider furrow is wanted ; this latter may be done by merely drawing the horses a little more apart than ordinary : indeed, a good ploughman can, when once his work is properly begun, keep it quite straight and equal solely by the skilful management of his horses, at least where the soil is of uniform quality. The advantages arising from the use, of double- furrow ploughs, granting that they are only about one- half heavier to draw than the common single plough, are manifest. On an ordinary-sized farm the saving effected by them in horse- power must be very consider- able, and I have no doubt that in some cases from their use a pair of horses might be altogether dispensed with, in which case a direct saving of about ^100 a year would at once be effected. I would not, how- ever, generally build much upon this idea, as plough- ing is by no means the only operation requiring horses on the farm, otherwise steam ploughing would have been more general ere this time. At the same time I am aware that in some cases a reduction of the number of horses has been effected. One of the chief advantages arising from their use is found in having work well forward at all times and so being able ' ' everything done in proper tid and "" ' in many cases might be estimated at as mucn or even more than the saving of the keep of a horse or two. When working well, no common plough can compete against them, so far as equality of the work goes, and land ploughed by them in spring, where perhaps Turnips have been eaten on, will be found much more friable and easily harrowed down than when done by the common plough. This is caused, I think, by th< hard surface cracking into comparatively small pieces, as it begins to rise, because of ,the wheels keeping the implement at an uncompromising depth ; whereas by the common plough the ploughman is constantly using the stilts by way of a lever, and by this up-and-down motion breaking up great solid clods which often after wards require a tiresome amount of horse-power t< by them be able to make as good work as skilled ploughmen, but this is a mistake. Indeed, so far as perience goes, I have reason to believe that we more need than ever of clever, intelligent men. en happens that, in changing from one sort of work to another, some difficulty is experienced in setting the plough to the best advantage, and it is often, especially until considerable experience is gained, ly after an amount of trouble and patient thought that both frrrows are got quite equal, and the imple- work otherwise in every way well. I l^ve seen a very slight alteration effect all that was wanted after having been long puzzled. Should any one be thinking of investing in double- furrow ploughs, and not have his mind made up to bear letty annoyances, or not have one in imes urged as an argument 11 ■ ploughs that boys, or second- authority under him who has energy and det enough to make them succeed, I would caution him that he is not yet in a proper frame of mind to go in for them, as there is no denying the fact that a preju- dice exists against them amongst many farm servants, who, if listened to, will soon find lots of excuses for throwing them aside. This same prejudice has already, I think, been a great means of consigning the double- furrow to oblivion, and, but for the greater perfection to which the implement is now brought, and the smart rents that farms are now fetching, might again succeed in accomplishing the same end. Discussion. Mr. Gaukroger, Southfield, said he had used double- furrow ploughs for two years with the greatest satisfaction. When he first introduced them on his farm he had to put up with the objection that Mr. Wyllie stated, that farm servants had a prejudice against them. Now, however, the men who use them were highly pleased with them, and agreed with him entirely that they did the work very much better than the old single plough. The Ch.\irm.-\n said that the work done at the recent hrust I double-furrow trials at Hallow fair was very common- ., „f place. _ I Mr. Wilson, Crachil, noticed a double-furrow with a couple of handles, which he thought were very necessary, if it was for nothing else than keeping the ploughman in his place. The plough referred to possessed an apparatus which enabled the ploughman to lift the plough 3 or 4 inches out of the ground and run it along. Double- furrow ploughs were very suitable for ordinary soils, but they were not adapted for stiff" lands. Mr. Smith, Stevenson Mains, was convinced of the ility of the double-furrow plough, and of the saving of horse-power. Since introducing that implement on his farm he had reduced the number of his horses, and now ought 350 Scotch acres with 4J pair of horses. Mr. Robertson said double-furrow ploughs were t in their infancy. He had used one for two months, d he was not very strong in its favour. In regard to r. Wyllie's remarks, as to saving £16 a-year by the use of double-furrow ploughs, his (Mr. Robertson's) experience was that on a farm of 300 acres the saving might be set down at from ^^30 to ^^40 a-year. Mr. WVLLIE, Bolton, said it was two years past since he got a double-furrow plough. It was not long before he got another, and recently he had procured other two. He ploughed the bulk of his land with double-furrow ploughs, and calculated the saving at 55. a-day by every one used. Moreover, the work was done better and quicker than any common swing-plough. KING.SCOTE. Farm Capital.— Kn excellent paper, on this subject, was lately read before the Kingscote (Gloucestershire) Farmers' Club, by Mr. F. Burnett, who said :— First, Is it advisable to increase the working capital on the farm ? We will confine the question to this immediate neighbourhood. The answer to the question would be No ; and a very proper ans\yer, too, under the present system of holding. There is no doubt but that the produce of the land can be much increased by an extra outlay of capital, especially in those parts where the soil is deep and wet. Few of us are in this position. But who would think of building a house under the best of landlords under a yearly tenancy ? This being a rule and not an exception— not only in this neighbourhood, but throughout England — it is quite time it should be altered. I feel I cannot do better than quote the words of the Earl of Derby at the Liverpool meeting. The noble earl said : — "Security is the first requisite, and I hold that any tenant good enough to be kept permanently, ought to have a lease if he wants one." The Earl of Leicester at Docking said :— " I will ask you whether we have in this description of soil, and in a favourable season, grown all that is possible to grow with profit ? and is our grain crop and our root crop all that could be desired? I fear that these questions can hardly be answered in the affirmative ; and as long as we are so cautious in deviating from the beaten track, and so slow in adopting the knowledge that is extending itself throughout the country, we shall be more dependent upon the seasons than we ought to be, and we shall obtainthat success for our efforts which we otherwise should do. Since I last met you I have travelled much through England and through parts of Scotland, and taking into consideration the whole of the land that I have seen under cultivation, I think I may safely state that the produce of the land might be nearly doubled under a perfect system of agn- This is strong language, remembering the quarter from which it comes. Here we have, not Mr. Mechi, but Lord Leicester, the best landlord, in one of the best cultivated counties in England, This alone 1 666 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 23, 1871 saying many words tha iy half as well farmed the ind should be — the pro- light be doubled. l!iit Lord Leicester went further, as he went practically into the merits of deep and shallow cultivation ; and fortunately he went still further. Why is the land but half cultivated ? Why do we not see more capital, skill, and energy brought to bear upon the business of farming? "Because," says Lord Leicester, " there is a want of proper security." " Because," said Mr. James Howard, at the Leeds Congress, "what was needed was security of tenure. He had known many a man of capital and intelligence brought up to farming who, rather than embark his •ied hi ntelligei ) othe It is thus that we drive the best men away, and it is thus that Lord Leicester would bring them back again :— " I have found that in the leases in use on my estate there were many restrictions, such restrictions as I should not like to be bound by were I a tenant of a farm. I have, therefore, with the assistance of my agent and my tenants, deviated from the beaten track, and endeavoured to frame a lease more in accordance with the spirit of the age, avoiding all interference with the capital of the atedi the well. That 1( jhrases as is I copy of tha tangeously, which ' have endeavoured to place my tenants in that position which I should like to hold as an occupier of land, and in doing so I am satisfied I have studied my own interest as will be printed, and with as few legal :ticable, and I shall be happy to submit ise to any of my friends who may like to believe, with certain modifications, it may be adapted to many estates of this country, both for the advantage of the landlord and the tenant." Let us believe that the good time is coming when every tenant-farmer will have in his possession a lease that will give him security of tenure, with fair and just protection for the interest of the community at large. 2. Comfortable accommodation for man, beast, and machinery. This is also a landlord's question ; not that we would call upon the landlord for increased accommodation, without repaying him interest for his capital invested. Before the farmer can lay out extra capital, he must have a prospect of doing it advan- be done in agriculture more of business without sufficient strength to carry it out ; therefore, it must be of the greatest importance that there is sufficient house accom- modation for his labourers— they must be comfortably housed and well fed. As with man so it is with beasts. We are all agreed that animals will do with much less food throughout the winter months if they have dry and comfortable lodgings — the less exposed to the weather the better ; indeed, I believe that, on this high elevation on which we are situated, it would pay to have large covered-in sheds. Warmth and cleanli- ness are indispensable requisites to the well-being of all animals, and will repay any e.\tra care and attention. If the farmer is to increass his machinery, this must also entail an extra expenditure on the part of the landlord, as efficient covering ought to be provided for them when not out in the fields at work, else the machinery will depreciate more in value than any reasonable per- centage for a covering. I fear we must not ask the landlord for much more ; indeed, situate as most of you are, there is no need for more requests, although that is not one-tenth of the many needfuls absolutely necessary in the greater part of this country, such as draining, road-making, grubbing up hedges, and cut- ting down trees, and that never-failing annoyance, superabundance of game. I feel sure that all these requirements must be met before any great progressi revolution can take place in agriculture. 3. We will now fancy ourselves in the position all our needs supplied so far as the landlord is co cerned. In what way are we to set about increasi; the capital per acre advantageously ? Mr. Mechi tells us to break up the old pastures. Another tells us there is a mine of wealth in our old pastures if well manured, the moss dragged out, and where required fresh seed sown. Another says deep cultivation, and grow Wheat year after year, sell all the produce and keep no stock, but use a little artificial manure. Others are day after day saying, " Why think of growing any other root than Sugar-Beet ? — sell it for distilling purposes, and have it back after the juice is taken out to mix with chaff for feeding purposes ;" and many are the won- derful accounts we hear of cooked food, straw being made as good as hay by steam passing through it ; and it is only to try any of the many cattle foods and condi. ments and your fortune is made. Then there are steam- engines— fixed, portable, and traction — from 40 to I- horse power, the makers of I which can supply any testimonials as to their efficiency. One thinks over these and many other systems of money-making by farming, but when one thinks thoroughly over any one of them we find great difficulty in applying them to our circumstances. So to arrive at anything beneficial to us we must come home. Let us take our pastures in this district — Is it advisable to increase the capital in their restoration ? I use this word because I believe that our pastures have not been fairly treated, and they are o't^h^ better, if as good, as they were 20 years ago. The peculiar seasons we have had for some years past may been the means of bringing me to this conclu- but I fear all must not be laid to that. We now that, however full our granary may be, if we were to take a peck a day it would get less ; this is in a great measure how we treat our grass land. Mow and carry away, or graze and take away in milk, beef, mutton, &c. The more my agricultural experience is, the more I am convinced that close and continual feeding with sheep and horses will ruin any pasture, however good, and make it like a Wiltshire or Hamp- shire down. .Sometimes we put a little on, but I believe it would repay far more liberal treatment. Worn-out pastures, which more properly might be called sheep-slight, would pay for an extra outlay in breaking it up, if only for a few years ; but I should not advise cropping it year after year without applying manure, but treat it as the rest of the arable land. 4. What is to be done with our arable land to increase the produce, so as to give a higher percentage if an extra capital is expended? Go 50 miles from home and ask the question, and nine out of ten y( will tell you, deep cultivation. You may say, ' near the rock now." The reply will be, " Go 1 rock, and take a little of it, so as to increase your soil." Practical experience does not agree with this, and it would not be advisable to increase our capital in turn- ing up the rock which lies near the surface of the greater portion of the Cotswold hills. Where there is depth of soil, even if that soil is only what we call a cold or dead sand, an increase of capital would repay the itlay of subsoiling. This involves another question : hether it is more advantageous to use horses or steam ? The answer would be horses, if this is the only cultiva- tion that steam could be applied to; but I am of opinion there are many other uses, such as cultivating stubbles after harvest, cultivating across the fallows in the spring, and I am not sure whether it would not be advisable to have a traction engine to perform all our stationary operations on the farm, and also road work, such as hauling dung a long distance, taking out corn, bringing home coals and feed from the station ; this would be increasing the capital. Now let us see whether we can make it anything like advisable to do so. Let us take a lo-horse portable engine and set of tackle I saw working on Mr. Peacey's farm a short time ago, known by the name of Howard's roundabout system. The engine. Brown & May's double cylinder (which is preferable to a single cylinder), cultivator and windlass made by Howard. It was working on a stiff clay Pea stubble, 6 inches deep, and at the rate of 7 acres per day, which, in comparison with reports we hear of quantities done, is very small ; but an average of 7 acres per o .,.80 Liverpool, Dec. it). —There v id Wheat was in improved dem Friday last are unaltered. F, barrel and u. IS a fuller attendance, rid, but the quotations and 6(/. pe per sack lower on the week. Beans quiet, n of yf. to 61/. ; and Peas 6d. per qr. Dn Tuesday last. Oats and Oatmeal quite 37J id 36 9 36 8 METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. Monday, Dec. 18. The number of Beasts is small, but the butchers hav bought largely in the past week, and consequently trade is slow to-day ; prices are lower, and a clearance is with difficulty effected. The supply of Sheep is also small— about the same as the corresponding day last year ; there are several of a prize character, but the trade is bad for them. Choice sizeable half-breds are in request, at not much lower rates. Choice Calves are scarce and dear. Our foreign supply consists of 600 Beasts, 3900 Sheep, and 116 Calves: from Scotland there are 130 Beasts: from Ireland, 500 ; from Norfolk and Suffolk, 370 ; and 1060 from the'Midland and Home Counties. R,«f Srnts. Here- ' ' ' ' 1 Best Downs Half-breds Do. Shorn .. 6 6—6 8 Best Long- wools Do. Shorn 2d quality 4to6 Do. Shoi Calves .. .. 4 8—6 8 Pigs .. ..38—5. 12,640 : Calves, 123 : Pigs, 50. Beasts, 2660 ; Sheep and Lambs, This is very neariy a holiday market, both as regard supply and demand ; a few of the choicest beasts have been sold at Monday's rates, but the butchers having for the most part supplied their wants for Christ buying very sparingly to-day. Sheep are scarcely asked for. The few Calves on offer make a good price. Our foreign supply consists of 95 Beasts, 990 Sheep, and 45 Calves. Best Long-wools Do. Shorn Ewes & 2d quality Do Shorn Beasts. 520 ; Sheep and Lambs, 2620 ; Calves, 72 ; Pigs, 5. METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET, Dec. 21 Best Fresh Butter 19J. per dozen lb. Second do. do. 17^. » Small Pork, 45. 41/, to 4s. id. ; Large Pork, 31. SJ. t( Smokeless Stoves.— No Flues. ATASH AND JOYCE'S PATENT -'-' portable STOVES, for drjinK and warming ire no attention ; with one supply of fuel burn e new REGISTERED PATTERN STOVE lor Greenhouses, with ash receiver, may be kept burning ;gulated to any required degree. Price las. 6d. to juineas. PATENT FUEL, i8i. per 120 lb. ; in U. Medical Teslin: HOT-WATER erected Complete, or the J ,_, J /-,_.„, GREENHOUSES, Imprtrsii Corneal. HOTHOUSES, CONSERVATORIES, CHURCHES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, &c. HOT-WATER PI PES at whole- sale prices ; Elbows, T Pieces, Syphons, and every other connec- ' WR'oUGHT^nd CAST-IRON CONICAL, SADDLE, and IMPROVED CONICAL, ^.^ ,,,__ alco Elliptic, Boilers, from 24*. each '-'"*-— ^uu.^-' extra strong CAST-IRON TUBULAR BOILERS, I Water Bars, from 521. &i. each. i-ROUGHT-IRON PORTABLE BOILERS, on Stand, >„w„l;, B..7._ Patent' THROTTLE and other VALVES, orMllBoiUr. FURNACE DOORS, EARS, and FURNACE WORK of every description and sue INDIA-RUBBER RINGS for Pipe Joints; ■ .packing, ElhpticBoil ivered at Railwa; id are perfectly wal Goods, -' --- -— ..cture, d. - Wharf in London. LYNCH WHITE, Wharf, Upper — Norfolk — Foreign '51—69 Barley, gTTnd.&dist.,26rt0 3ir. .Chev. 38—40 — Foreign . . grinding and distilling 28—31 Oats, Essex and Suffolk 20—33 — Scotch and Lincolnshire. .Potato'25 — 27 — Irish Potato|24 — 26 — Foreign Poland and Brew, 23— 26 31—33 . to 35J... Tick 35-50 — I'lgeon 38r. to 59J... Winds — — Foreign Small 40 — 44 Peas. White, Essex, and Kent. , Boilers 40—42 — Maple, — r. to — s Grey — Flour, best marks, delivered, .per sack 44—50 Red. Feed ... Feed ... Feed ... Foreign . Egyptian Suffolk . 56-58 Country ..40 — 4 per barrel Wednesday, Dec. 20. An increased amount of depression was obscn-able in the grain trade here to-day. There was a small show of English Wheat on offer, but from abroad a large quantity came to hand. Trade was inactive, and to HA v.— Per Load ofz6 Trusses. Smithfield. Thursday, Dec. 21. PrimeMeadowHay, 85^.10 95^. 1 Clover, old .. ..iiSi. 130J. Inferior do 5° 7° Inferior do 50 90 Rowen 40 65 I Prime 2d cut do. .. — — Inferior do. .. .. — — I Inferior do — — Straw 34 4° I Cumberland Market, Thursday, Dec. zr. Sup. Meadow Hay ga^.toiooj. j Inferior Clover .. 84j.toio5r. Inferior do 70 84 Prime 2d cut do. .. — — New do — — New do — — Inferior do — — Straw 40 45 Superior Clover ..120 132 I Joshua Baker. ENGLISH WOOL. For English wool there has been a good demand during the last week, and an almost general advance has been realised. Buyers begin to see that there is no chance of manufactured goods going cheaper, and consequently place their orders more freely. HOPS. Borough Market, Dec. 21. Messrs. Pattenden & Smith report but little business doing, as is usually the case at this time of year ; still in all cases where sales are effected, prices are well sustained. Continental markets continue to rule very firm, owing to the limited supplies. COALS.— Dec. 20. Walls End Russel's Hcton, 221. ; Walls End South Hetton. 23J. : Walls End Original Hartlepool, 23.^.3 1/.; Walls End Tees, 231. ; Brancepeth Cannel, igj-. 6(/. — Ships at market, 16 ; sold, 16 ; at sea, 25. Portable and Fixed Hot-water Appaxatus HEATING CONSERVATORIES, HOTHOUSES, CHURCHES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PRIVATE RESIDENCES, TRUSS' PATENT UNIVERSAL FLEXIBLE and LEAKLESS PIPE JOINT and PATENT CRACKLESS EXPANSION-JOINTED TUBULAR BOILERS, of a VARIETY of FORMS, PORTABLE or for BRICKWORK SETTING. They are the MOST POWERFUL, whilst ONLY CONSUMING HALF the FUEL of OTHER BOILERS. PORTABLE BOILERS, to HEAT ANY LENGTH of PIPING; and ANY PERSON can TAKE these BOILERS, as also the PIPES, APART, and SPEEDILY PUT THEM TOGETHER AGAIN. T. S. Truss begs to state that the immense number of APPA- RATUS annually Designed and Erected by him in all parts of the Kingdom, and for the Royal Horticultural Society at South Kensington andChiswick, with unrivalled satisfaction, is a guarantee for skill of design, superior materials, and good workmanship; while the great advantage obtained by his Improved System cannot be over-estimated, consisting of perfectly tight joints with neatness of appearance ; efJects a saving of 25 per cent, on cost of Apparatus erected compared with other systems ; facility for extensions, alterations or removals without injury to Pipes or Joints; easily and expeditiously erected ; and per- fectness of design supplied, insuring no extras. BATH and G.\S WORK ERECTED in TOWN or COUNTRY. The Trade supplied. Price Lists, Plans, and Estimates forwarded on application to T. S. TRUSS, C.E., Sole Manufacturer, Consulting Horticultural Engineer, Iron Merchant, Hot-l Steam Apparatus Manufactu GEORGE'S PATENT CALORIGEN, For WARMING and VENTILATING. Prices : — Coal Calorigen, ^6 6s. | Gas Calorigen, ^3 y. BuildinRS, Shops, Conservatories, Off inspected at the Sole Manufacturers, J. F. FARWIG and CO., 36, Queen Street, Cheapside, London, E.C. 1670 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 23. 1871. . Broufihton Lane, Manchester. JAMES WATTS and CO., Hothouse Builders and Hot-Water Apparatus Manufacturers, 3S3. Old Kent Road, London, S.E. SIR J. PAXTON'S HOTHOUSES for the MILLION. Reduced Price Lists free. A Pamphlet, with Views of these and other Glass Roofs, for three stamps.— HEREMAN 14, Tichborne Street, Regent Quadrant, London, W. Before bu The Patent Imperlsliable Hothouse. RES'S PATENl GLASS, IRON, and CONCRETE. Idinc a Plant or Fruit Jlouse of any kind, send ! obtain the Illustrated Prospectus of the IPERISHABLE HOTHOUSE COMPANY, MANAGER-W. P. AYRES, C.M.R.H.S., Imperishable Hothouse Company, Newark-on- Trent Plans, Specifications and Estimates supplied upon the shortest r Oreenliousea. H FREEMAN AND SONS, HORTICULTURAL • Builders and Hot-water Apparatus Makufacturers. 106, Mare Street, Hackney, E. Good substantial-made GREEN- HOUSES, Glazed, ready for fixing, 42 feet long by 13 wide, price £yt ; 21 feet by 13 feet, ^£28 : 12J4 feet by 10 feet, jgit A handsome CONSERVATORY in stock, 36 feet long, 18 feet wide. 1 for any branch in the above in Wood or Iron. Gave your Plants from the Frost. MARRATT'S SELF - REGISTERING THERMOMETER, for Marking; how Cold it has been, aiid MARRATT, Optician, 63, King William Street, London Bridge, E.C STEVENS' "TRENTHAM" IMPROVED CORNISH BOILER, 20(1 Slrontl OKLLNUUUbE LIGHlb, GLAbSEb. all sizes References to the Nobility, Gentry, Counties in Englind ^^ "^ -^^-.>^.?- ^_^ — The Advertisers have great pleasure in calling the attention of Gardeners, and all interested in Horticulture, to the above excellent Boilers. Being of the most simple construction, and in wrought iron, they are very durable, economical, and powerful ; and, in the opinion of many competent judges, are superior 1 the most approved form of Tubulars. all other Boilers, They'^re^Trfaf.i Appended are a few Testimonials i 'Dear .Sir,— T am delighted with your Improved Cornish Boili iption?f full believed possible, unl /EtI i regards consumptioi GREENHOUSES from the FINSBURY STEAM »;ecommi JOINERY WORKS, 121, Eunhill Row, London, EC | degrees W H LASCFLLES, Proprietor Lists sent on application | Pnces for Houses, as above, made of best red deal, and sashes 2 inches thick, glazed with 16 01. good sheet glass, delivered and fixed within 30 miles of London, painted four coats in best oil colour, including locks, gutter, down-pipe, and gearing for opening the ventilators at one time,— heating, staging, brickwork not included ;— . by 16 ft. 60 ft. by 20 ft. 100 ft. by 24 ft. 900 £132 o o £23S 10 o £N LIGHTS AND BOXES. 3 ft. by4ft. lights, 2 in. jhick, unglajcd. . ^ 3s. each We shall be pleased for you to refer to many people, ar ely used— We are, d £40 o o 6 ft. „ Estimates given lor 1 r Greenhouses to any Desiga d we are sure they will by " Combe Abbey Gardens, near Coventry, anything I can say in favour of Mr. Stevens' Boiler far short of its leal merits. The dilemma of choosing ow been set at rest, by the advent of Mr. Stevens' ,sh. Its introduction has made our heating a master- s-inch pipe. It saves considcr- TuLlai ^e and 'Sol r demonstration 0 [ hav^e^wonTed a'^gond many kind lires so little fuel and labour t( " Huntroyde Park, Burnley. Improved Cornish Boiler upwards )0 tcct of 4-inch piping, and I feel ?S "H. Lindsay." "Atherstone Grapery. SOLE MAKERS— THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE ENGINEERING CO., LIMITED, FENTON, STOKE-ON-TRENT. LONDON AGENT— JAMES GRAY, Horticultural Works, DANVERS STREET, CHELSEA, S.W. From either of whom full Particulars, with Sizes and Prices, and Testimonials, can be obtained. S. Owens & Co., HYDRAULIC ENGINEERS WHITEFRIARS STRFFT, FON^DON PC THE IMPROVED SELF-ACTING HYDRAULIC RAM This useful Self-actmg Apparatus, which works day and night without need ng attent on will ra to any height or distance, without cost for labour or motive power, where a few feet fall can be obtained and suited for supplying Public or Private Establishments, Farm Buildings, Railway Stat ons &c No. 49. GARDEN ENGINES of all: I Oak or Galvanized Iron Tubs No. 63. No. 46.7. IMPROVED DOUBLE ACTION PUMPS BARROW for Watering No. 49(7. GALVANIZED SWING WATER CARRIERS, for Garden use. No. 50 and 54.7. FARM and MANSION FIRE ENGINES of every description. No. 38. PORTABLE LIQUID MANURE PUMPS, on Legs, with Flexible Suction. WROUGHT-IRON PORTABLE PUMPS of all sizes. CAST-IRON GARDEN, YARD, or STABLE PUMPS. up Long Lengths of Hose for ery description of Hydrauhc and General Engineers' Work for Mansions, Farms, Ac, comprising PUMPS, TURBINES, BATHS, DRYING CLOSETS, G.^S WORKS, Apparatus for LIQ " Particulars taken in any part of the Country. Plans and Estimates furnished. [LLUSTEATED CATALOGUES CAN HAD ON APPLICATION. December 23, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1 67 1 TALY in ENGLAND ; a Practical Treatise on the Cultivation of choice Fruits, Flowers and Vegetables with the aid of Looker's Horticultural Appliances in Earthenware and Glass, which defy the Winter and assist the Summer. HOULSTON AND SONS, 65, Paternoster Row, E.C. ; throufih all BookseHers, and of BENJ. LOOKER, Kingston-on-Thames. 1 Stock and sold only t Price Lists of HOT-WATER PIPES and Connections, with Boilers, of all sizes and shapes; or ESTIMATES for HOT-WATER APPARATUS, erected complete, will be sent on application. J. JONES AND SONS, Iron Merchants, 6, Bankside, Southwark, By Appointment to H.E.H. The Prince of Wales. "•ARTON'S PATENT STABLE and HARNESS ROOM FITTINGS. BRACKETS. &c. Patronised by H. H. the Viceroy of EctpI, the King of the Belgians, the King of Italy, the King of Holland, by the principal Nobility of the Kingdom, and adopted by the first Architects and Builders of England and the Continent. Illustrated Catalogues sent on receipt ° For AL'i ERATION of STABLES a competent person can be sent to any part, to inspect and give Estimates. TAAtES BARTON, Iron Works, 370, Oxford Street. W. w For Cnristmas. M. YOUNGER AND CO.'S EDINBURGH, INDIA PALE and DINNER ALES. ' '■ nourishing and economical. lished 174Q. Ix)ndon store Road, SE. ; Liverpool, i, Seel Street; Bristol, 14, Nai Dublin Stores, 7. Lower Abbey Street; Swansea, Qu Glasgow, Queen Street ; Birmingham, 13, Temple Street K INAHAN'S . liL celebrated and /HISKIES. ... ^„„..., -.. finest Cognac I Titchfiel CREAM of IRISH WHISKIES, Jn quality unri Now ready, HE SALTX, or WILLOW. By W. SCALING, Willow Nurseryman, Basford, Notts. A revised and enlarged an, containing Instructions ior its Planting and Culture, with Value and Adaptability Tor the Formation of : at Chiswick. n. Illustrated. Free i ticulture" Office, J , Fleet S ; or to the / Imperial 410, Copiously Illustrated, Price 125., ^ARM BUILDINGS: a Digest of the Principles )tcd in Construction. Reprinted from the " Farm Home- England," now out of print. By J. Bailey Denton, C.E., ;v Denton, J un. E. AND F. N. SPON, 48, Charing Cross, W.C. SCIENCE IN GENERAL, THE USEFUL ARTS, &c. SPECTRUM ANALYSIS FAMILIARLY EXPLAINED. By Dr. H. Schellen. Translated by Jane and Caroline Lassell; Edited, with Notes, by \V. HUOGINS, LL.D., F R.S. With Coloured Plates and other Illustrations, including Copies of Angstrom's Maps. One Vol. 8vo, price zSj. cloth. [fn jfattitary. THEORY of HEAT. By T. Clerk Maxwell, M.A , LL.D. Edin , F.R.SS. L. and E. Professor of Experimental Physics in the University of Cambridge. With 41 Woodcuts and Diagrams. - ■■ ~ ■ - '. ^- — Edited by T. M. Goodeve, M.A. HEAT a MODE of MOTION. By Professor lOHN TvNDALL, LL.D., F.R.S. Fourth I Crown 8vQ, with Plate and io8 Woodcuts. Price loj. 6d. SOUND: A Course of Eight Lectures delivered at the Royal Inst By Professor John Tvndall, LL.D.. F.R.S. New Editio Portrait and 105 Woodcuts. Crown 8vo, 9s. Other Works by Professor Tyndall :— e 31. 6d. 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BOOKS are the legacies that Genius leaves mankind, to be delivered down from generation to generaii( as presents to the posterity ol those \vho are yet unborn." fered at 20s. ; Gems of Mwfem Belgian Art, lutotj-pes from Belgian Masters, 4to, cloth, ed at 17J. : Vanity Fair Album, portraits of m Vanity Fair, ist and 2d series, pub. at 425. ; Mackay's 1,001 Gems of Poetrj', illustrated >, cloth gilt, pub. at 12s. 6d., offered at loj. ; library edition, to be completed in 5 monthly Old Masters, 8vo, cloth gilt, pub. at 12s. 6d., offered at los. ; Homely Scenes from Great Painters, by G. W. Turner, 24 photo- fraphs, 4to, cloth gilt, pub. at 151., offered at 12s. 6d. ; Southgaie's lany Thoughts of Many Minds, 2d series, 8vo, cloth gilt, pub. at I2J. td., offered at 105. Leech's F 3 vols., hall £2 45. 6d. ; Morris' Punch, new libraiy monthly vols., each backs, pub. . at 21J,, offered at 175. (subscribers names solicited), iprisingjuly to December, 1841 and 1842, complete, pub. at at 13s. ; Good Words, the volume ending December, 1871, Jvo, cloth gilt, pub, at 7s. 6d.j offered at 6r. 3^ ; Gems of by S. Thompson, 410, cloth gut, Andersen's Fairy Tales, 12 desig , 25^-, Wonders of Sculpture, with numerous ;, pub. at I2S. 6d., offered at ic uniform edition, to be complete ed at ds. 2d. each (vols, i ai : Beautiful Pictures by English ' low prices aflixed.i modern pamti Sydney Armytage, 4to, cloth gilt, pub. at 21s., offered at 17s. ; Scott s Lay of the Last Minstrel, with 6 beautiful photographs, by Sedgfield, small 4to, cloth, elegant, pub. at los 6d., offered at 8s. 6d. ; Character, a new book, by Samuel Smiles, uniform with "Self Help," " ■- cloth, pub. at 6s., offered at 5s. S. AND T.GILBERT are now offering the above ' ' " cash. Postage additional, at the rate of 44 to 3 feet, bushy and line, lof. per ICO : 2 to i% feet. 121. per 100. AMERICAN ARBOk-VIT/i;, transplanted spring, i87i,2Mt03 feet. Delivered free in Liverpool. Terms cash. Cultivated and grown IrtlCHAEL GRANT, Nurseryman, Newry, Ireland. W^l GHT'S GROVE WHITE CELERY, one of ach' ""ft' wl' rauirKS'"a„°i te Celeries fn"ultivatL7Thit"s ,rgc?t',th 'V^^ To tlie Trade. ■pvIMMICICS NONPAREIL DWAKF GREEN- XJ TOP BEET.— A very fine and perfectly distinct variety, foliage creen and very dwarf; root, medium size an '1 well formed; colour, Beep crimson (not purple), very bright and rich, without the purple stains and rings which prevail in other varieties ; flavour excellent. riift Gardeners' Chronicle, aViro^mi^rii, 1871,/. 1459:— " We have tried >our Beet, and can report favourably on it ; in com- parison with Waterloo it is of fuller flavour, while it is not so coarse as irserj; and Seed Eslablis nd value, and now offers it for the alication. 146 and 147, High Street, Ryde. MR. LAXTON'S NEW PEAS FOR 1872, SUPi,E,LAli\i Av^iage Size. Messrs. Hurst & Son, HAVING BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FOLLOWING DISTINCT lOVELTIES H (JAEDElf PEAS, THE LATEST PRODUCTIONS OF MR. LAXTON, WILL, THIS SEASON, BE PREPARED TO SUPPLY A LIMITED QUANTITY OF EACH, IN SMALL PACKETS, FOR TRIAL ONLY. WILLIAM THE FIRST. The finest Pea yet sent out for earliness, flavour, and appearance combined. It is a first early variety, with long and well-filled deep greenish pods ; ripe seed parti- coloured, like " Ne Plus Ultra." It has been thoroughly tested and recommended at the Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens at Chiswick on several occasions, and was the only Pea exhibited in Mr. Gilbert's first prize " Gardener's" collection of Vegetables at the Society's Exhibition at Nottingham in July last. Height 3 feet.— For further description see " Hogg's Gardeners' Year Book for 1871," page 73. GRIFFIN. A remarkable and distinct variety, as early as "Sangster's No. i," of a fine colour and flavour when cooked ; the ripe seed is also of a bright grass-green colour, and well calculated to supply "Green Peas all the year round." Pods medium-sized : height about 2 feet 6 inches. POPULAR. For general crop this Blue Wrinkled Marrow will be found earlier, more prolific, and to have better filled pods than those of " Champion of England," to which variety it is quite equal in flavour, and against which it should be tried. Height above 4 feet. SUPERLATIVE. The largest and finest podded variety yet raised : indispensable as an Exhibition Pea. The pods, which have been exhibited 7 inches in length, are more than twice the size of those of the parent Pea, " La.\ton's Supreme," which during the last three seasons has taken nearly every first prize when shown in competition. It is also quite as early as that variety, and very prolific. As ' ' Superlative " sometimes runs 7 or 8 feet in height, it should be slightly pinched in when the growth is about 5 feet. The colour and flavour of the Peas, when cooked, are excellent. OMEGA. I This dwarfish late Pea was raised by fertilising " Ne Plus Ultra " with "Veilch's Perfection," and has all the valuable characteristics of the former variety. It is remarkably prolific, the pods are very fine and closely filled, and the flavour and colour of the Peas, when cooked, unequalled. Ripe seed like " Ne Plus Ultra." Height 2 feet 6 inches. 1^ These Peas can be confidently recommended by Mr. La.\ton as decided acquisitions, having been thoroughly tested by him for several years, and selected at j great expense from hundreds of cross-fertilised varieties, the majority of which, although ' ■ ■ of older sorts in cultivation, have been discarded and suppressed. They will be sent out in sealed Packets only, at £1 Is, the Collection, Atid ?nay be obtained Retail of the principal Sectismen in London and the Provinces. Sole Wholesale Agents for the United Kingdom, MESSRS. HURST and SON, SEEDSMEN, 6, LEADENHALL STREET, LONDON, E.G., To whom the Trade can apply for Terms. ' The Publisher," at the Oflice, 4>p Wellington Stn , No. 41, Wellington Street, Parish o THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. No. 52.— 1871.] SATURDAY, DECEMBER Registered at the General I Price 5d. Post Office as a Newspaper. ) POST FREE, si''- LEADING ARTICLES, Sfe — Astrocan-um Ayri 1677 Cambridijcshirc Chamber of Agn~culture 1686 Floral seasons in different latitudes 1678 CONTENTS. I CORRESPONDENCE- yat Horticultural So- Sewage i M. Taine Aericulturai Coilege 1686 _e irrigation .685 Water caverns of \ ucatan . 1077 KEW GARDEN PLANTS— Eoidendrum {."^'J'J'^^; v— .• "^?^ Sheep and pigs for America ORIGINAL ARTICLES— A friendly discussion Denton, Mr. Bailey (with HOME CORRESPONDBNCE- Frcnch Horticulturists' Re- Holly stealing!!'.!!!!!!!! ! 1 Milk as an article of food. . ] Outdoor Fig culture I Piceanobills 1 Potato, American Early Practical sympathy 1 Treatise on FARM MEMORANDA- Banffshire Sandringham CALENDAROFOPERA TIONS Farm work of the week . . 1693 Garden operations 1683 Weather Tables 1683 Notice to SubBonbers. THE SUBSCRIPTION to the GARDENERS' CHRONICLE and AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE !■ /i 35. lorf. for Twelve Months, including postage to any part of tht tjnited Kingdom. May be had of all Booksellers. I'ublished by WILLIAM RICHARDS, 41, Wellington Street Covent Garden, W.C. Cnristmas Trees. SPRUCE FIR, in aU sizes, ranging from 2 feet 15 feet. For prices, apply to THOMAS CRIPPS AND SON, Tunbridge Wells Nurseries, Ken I URPLUS STOCK of SPRUCE FIR, growing in w HITETHORN QUICK, i-yr., fine. For sample B. K. CANT, St. John's Street Nursery, Colchester. Fine Transplanted Larch. HENDERSON and SONS offer transplanted LARCH, 1)4 to 2;^ feet, 2 to 3 feet, and jK to 3K feet, clean grown, with perfect leaders. Pnces, cheap, to be had on application. RlHU To tie Trade. TRONG HAZEL, SLOES, 3-yr, Seedling OAK, 2yr. Seedling BIRCH, 2-yr. (i-yr.l AUSTRIACA, " ARCH, I-yr. transplant ' " '"" LARCH, VICTORIA DICKSONS AND CO., Waterioo Place, Edinburgh. LlUes of the VaJley. EH. KRELAGE and SON, Nurserymen, • Seedsmen, and Florists, Haarlem, Holland, have yet t( spare a few hundred extra strong 3-yr. old Clumps of LILIES OI •THE VALLEY, very 6t for forcing. Price on application. ImmediaK orders are solicited. To Orchid Growers. JAMES BROOKE and CO. have in stock variety of all the besi J. B. & Co^ never fail to gi CATALOGUES, post Tr Street, Manchester ORCHIDS. Selections left to 16 and 18, Vict British Fern Catalogue. ROBERT SIM will send, post free for six postag stamps. Part I. (British Ferns and their varieties, 36 page; including prices of Hardy Exotic Ferns), of his Priced Descriptiv CATALOGUE of BRITISH and EXOTIC FERNS, No. 7. Foot's Cray Nursery, Sidcup Hill, Kent. B^ vely in all the London Parks offer. Price per oum BUTLER, Mcculloch and CO., Covent Garden f Pruning, Lifting, Cropping, Treatment under Glass, also their synonyms, qualitj-, size, form, skin, colour, flesh, flavour, use, growlh, duration, "RIC^^RD^SMITHrNi G. charge made for packing or packages. Charmeaux, &c, y. per i O FRENCH, FANCY', and SHOW VARIETIES, are now ready, in strongPlants. CATALOGUES_gratis on application. HUrft-S superb SWEET WILtlAM, ia,, varieties, seed 01 plants, as p«r former Advertisement. Crown Nursery, Reading. SONS, Readin Trade Price Current Seeds for 1872. ulgifR'ow! and will be forwarded i Row, Cannon Street, Planting Season. I HE PRICED LIST of SEEDLING and TRANS- PLANTED FOREST TREES, SHRUBS, ALPINES and RNS of WiM. URQUHART AND SONS, Dundee, may now bt M^ NEW AUCUBAS, EVERY GARDEN REQUISITE KEPT in STOCK at CARTER'S New Seed Warehouse, 237 & 338, High Holbom, London. B. R. CANT, ; Planting Season.— Roses, Fruit Trees, So. W KNIGHT intimates to intending Planters that • his NEW CATALOGUE of HARDY TREES and PLANTS is now ready for distribution, containing faithful descrip- tions of his stock, which is unsurpassed in the Trade. Catalogues free. New EngUah Rose (Hyhrid Perpetual Climbing), PRINCESS LOUISE VICTORIA. M. KNIGHT, Floral Nursery, Hailsham, the W^i Show Roses. ERANIUMS.nost free, on appl ALFRED FRYER, The Nurs Gladioli and Roses. PRICED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE of FRENCH HYBRID GLADIOLI, ROSES, &c., fonv: 'DRUiJSl'oND" "brothers, Seedsmen, Nurserj-men, Florists, 52, George Street, Edinburgh. O^ J Seed Merchant. Worceste: Y\ Cheap. For p JOHN FRASER, The itv: Grape Vines, Fruiting and Plemting Canes, 6s. each. LEWIS WOODTHORPE begs to offer a fine and well-grown STOCK of all the best sorts. Descriptive CATA LOGUES free Second sized BLACK HAMBURGHS, 3s. dd. each, L. W.'s system of packing saves half the cost of carriage. Munro Nursery, Sible Hedingham, Essex. Fruiting and Succession Pines. TO BE SOLD, in consequence of the decease of the owner, igo healthy clean PLANTS of the above, in capital condi- tion, all (JUEENS. For terms, apply to Mr. C. RUSSELL, The Gardens; Mrs. LEAF, The Woodlands, Clapham Park, S.W. W^ BBS PRIZE COB FILBERTS, and other •RIZE COB NUTS and FILBERTS. LISPS of these from Mr. WEBB, Calcot, Reading. WEBB'S NEW GIANT POLYANTHUS, Florist Flower, and GIANT COWSLIP SEEDS; also Plants of all the varieties, with Double PRIMROSES of different colours ; URICULAS, both Single and Double; with every sort of Early . .... ,.„.,. ...-,._ Mr. WEBB, Calcot, Reading. Spring Flowers. LIST on a r eo; loj. per too, free by post. CER, Skerton Nurseries, Lancasl Double Tuberoses. IHE UNDERSIGNED offers to the Trade finest . quality Howering TUBEROSE BULBS, own growth. Price, per 1000. No charge for box and packing. JOHN SAUL, Washington, D. C, United Slates, America. WANTED, 10,000 Strong transplanted APPLE STOCKS.— Must be perfectly clean. JAMES DICKSON AND SONS, Newion Nurseries, Chester TX^ANTED, Twenty-five LIMES, 15 feet, good heads. E. COLE AND SONS, The Nurseries, "Withington, near Manchester WANTED, MANETTI STOCKS, Address, stating price, JOHN CARTER, Nursery, Keighley, Yorkshire. THE PINE-APPLE NURSERY COMPANY. 32, Maida Vale, Edgware Road, W. JOHN BESTER, Manager of^ the Nursery and Seed Department. '^Tk.. r„...r.^„,. ,T..^rantee to their Customers Punctuality, Liberality, s. The favour of a visit is earnestly solicited. The Company guarante, Agricultural and Garden Seeds. TT AND F. SHARPE'S Trade CATALOGUE of Growing Eslablishmenl 1 238, High Holbom, : BARTER'S COLLECTIONS of VEGETABLE r Cottage Packing and carriage fre 237 and 238, Hi| RAYNBIRD. CALDECOTT, BAWTREE, DOWLING AND COMPANY (Limited), Corn, Seed, Manure, and Oilcake Merchants. Address, 26, Seed Market, Mark Lane, E.C. ; or Basingstoke. Samples and prices post free on application. Prize Medals, 1851, for Wheat ; 1862, for " Excellent Seed Corn and Seeds." Agricultural Seeds. IHARLES SHARPE and CO., Seed Growers ' and Seed Merchants, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, beg to intimate t their WHOLESALE CATALOGUE of HOSlE-GROWN RICULTURAL SEEDS is now ready, and will be forwarded. PARIS, I SUTIONS' GRASS SEEDS for ALL 1867. I SOILS. The PREMIER PRIX SILVER MEDAL for GARDEN SEEDS, GRASSES, and GRASS SEEDS, was SUTTON AND SONS, Seedsmen, by Special Appointment, to The Forwardest Pea known. UTTONS' RINGLEADE Price ij. &/. per quart. May be sown at once. SUTTON AND SONS, Reading, Berks. The Best Wrinkled Pea is EST OF ALL (M c L ; '"slfTloiJ^ND sons'! 'R'e"di'Dg!''J!e'rks.' To the Seed Trade. FOR SALE, in large quantities, the following PEAS : NE PLUS ULTRA, I CHAMPION OF ENGLAND. HAIRS' DWARF 1 John's Street Nursery, Colchester. MCLEAN'S ADVANCER, LAXTO.N'S PROLIFIC LONGPOD (improved stock), SUPREME, and ALPHA PEAS. Prices on^ap^igjtgnt- , Seedsman, Stamford. For Cash. SCARLET RUNNERS, 14J. per bushel: ADV.ANCER PEAS (handpicked), lor. per bushel: EARLY FRAME POTATOS (true) ; SlYATT'S ASHLEAF POTATOS.— For further information aw j'^to .^^^j^j^j^ g^^^ Merchant, Uxbridge. To the Trade. SOOLY QUA CUCUMBER. JUTTON AND SONS have a limited quantity of Royal Berks Seed Establishment, Reading. To the Trade. CUCUMBER SEEDS.— Pearson's Long Gun, and Rollisson's Telegraph (true). Price, per oz. or 100 seeds, on ''''' '"""" '"e. cooling. Mile Ash Nurseries, Derby. BIRD'S KING of the CUCUMBERS, \s. td. packet. The best for exhibition. BIRD'S QUEEN of the MELONS, IS. per packet. The green-fleshed variety. May be had of all the Seed Trade, and of JAMES BIRD, Nurseryman and Seedsman, Downham. CONOVERS COLOSSAL ASPAR.AGUS.— Strong 3.yr old plants, 2ii. per 100. Orders booked now for delivery in "TaSeS DICKSON AND SONS, "Newton" Nurseries, and 102, Eastgate Street, Chester. FORCING ASPARAGUS and SEAKALE. Extra strong, for immediate forcing. JAMES DICKSON AND SONS, "Newton" Nurseries, and 102, Eastgate Street, Chester. SP.^NISH ONION SEED, supply the following, for ■cing, lOJ. per 100 ; second size, cini, 255. per 1000. WHITI^ •j.t-: Extra fine Forcing and Planting Seakale. EORGE CLARKE has many thousands, -levj fil clean stuff, this season, which he beg; ~ fe'iS''e"icrow'ns^'.> G' on, S.W. ; and Mottingham, Kcnt.S.E. Crop. his LIST, Turnip and Mangel Wurzel Seeds-1871 "■ "IPEwillonapF , of the principal SEE BardneyManor, Lincoln.— July 6. Seed Potatos. (HARLES SH.'SiRPE and CO., Seed Growers ' and Seed Me seed Potatos. HAND F. SHARPE'S Wholesale LIST of SEED . POTATOS is now ready, and may be had, post free, on application. It comprises all the best early and late varieties, also all the American sorts worthy of cultivation. The quality is excellent^ and the prices very moderate. Seed Growing Establishment, Wisbech. 1 674 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 30, Carter's Vade Mecum for 1872. JAMES CARTER and CO. have the pleasure announce the publication of their ILLUSTRATED GAR- DENER' FARMER'S VADE MECUK -fTTTM. CUTBUSH A the average ouality, for which tney nave [ CATALOtiUES of the above, also F NURSERY STOCK, post free on applic R Hew Cataaogue of Bulbs, Plants, Fruits, ac. OBERT PARKER begs to announce that hu NEW CATALOGUE, containing Select Descriptive anc Lists ol Pulih and other Bulbs, Plants suitable for lieddinf ccorative Purposes. Fruit Trees, Grape Vines, Sweet Violets .OR GE RAN : ■rt Napier Mrs. John i The 12 for 21S., cash ; package free. ALFRED FRYF.R,''Th'e'Nurseries, Chatteris, Cambridgeshir New Japanese Lilies, Orolilds, Maples, Conifer Seed, &c. MESSRS. TEUTSCHEL AND CO., Colchester, Agents for Messrs. Kramer & Co., Seedsmen and Nursery- CATALOGUES of Importations in preparation, will include three New Lilies and L. Leichtlinii, several New Orchids, Seeds of Abies GladloU Seedlings, by Name, firom Paris. EVEQUE F.T FILS. Nurserymen, Ivry-sur-S ' - s (late Boulevard dcl'Hopital), offer •^'"-'— SEEDLI ' • .GLADIOLI, by n GLADIOLI SEEDLINGS, I Special Notice. ROSES and VINES at 'Wholesale Prices. Fine Standard ROSES, best sorts, los. per dozen. Fine Dwarf ROSES, best sorts, 7s. per dojen. Fine fruiting VINES, of sorts, 5s. each ; S4S. per dozen. Fineplanting VINES, of sorts, 2S.M. each; 24s. per doz. LISTS free. Terms cash. Post Office orders payable at Huntingdon. KIRK ALLEN, The Nurseries, Brampton, Huntingdon. JTANDARD ROSES, strong, * extra strong, splendid heads, i8j. ybrid Ferpetuals, strong and fine. PEA^C^LUMS, , BERRIES, 4 yr., GOOSEEERRreS QUICKS, 15!. R. THOl ."'chotc, 'cHERk' per dozen, /3 per 100 ; do., U.. with ■'bloom.buds, of ti, DISPOSE OF, at 51. each. TI ' Destined and worthy to take from December CPOYDOv Seed Warehouse, North Dutcb Flower Roots. A RCHd. HENDERSON ifu-rCH ^and'*''°other"l"lJLi!OUS ROOTS, carefully selected from the Descriptive and Priced CAT;A- practieal directions for their successful cultivation on all the various systems now adopted. Also, a choice and select LIST of VEGETABLE and HARDY FLOWER SEEDS for Autumn °Ll's^ of general NURSERY STOCK, containing a superb collec- and post free upon application. :ath, Surrey ; and at the East Surrey Planting Season. DICKSONS AND CO., Nurserymen and Sekdsmen, I, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, beg to call the SKxk'of FORF.ST*TREE°S,''f'rU°T TREES, oRnAMENTAL TREES and SHRUBS, which are now in fine condition for trans- otcd, and their wood is thoroughly ripened. Samples and Cata- ;ues on application. Special nrices will be quoted where large Experienced " FORESTERS," 'S^RDENERS, and LAND STEWARDS recommended. 1,000 Lombardy, Italian, and Balsam POPLARS, 7 to 0 feet 5,000 SPRUCE FIRS.j'i feet | 5.000 Evergreen PRIVET, 2 to 3 ft. S.ooo CoiTimon LAURELS, 2,1.4 to 3 feet, and 2,000 bushy, 4 to 5 feet JSiooo Green Vollies.etoginchcs s'.ooo Berberis aquifolia 50 Variegated ,, 2to2',2feeti 100 Red Cedar, 2'^ to 3 feet 2,000 Birch, 4 106 ft. i 2,oool!ecch,4 to 5 ft ; 2,oooTree fiox,2!^ tosft. 1,000 Horse Chestnuts, 4 to 5 ft. | 20 Evergreen Oak, 4 to 6 feet 4,000 Beech, 3-yr. old | 400 Red-twigged Limes, 8 to 10 feet too Pinus austriaca, 4 to 3 ft., good 5,'ooo Ash,' 3 to 4 feet I 10,000 Green Hollies, 10 to 15 inches high. FINE HEALTHY NURSERY STOCK. . Per dozen.— s. d. ABIES DOUGLASII, 4 to s feet, clean and well grown, dark BEfBERIS°DAR-iviNn, 2t0 3feet,'bushy, fine' „ ' 2m! 4 c PINUS AUSTRIACA, 2 to 3 feet „ aos. 4 e „ „ 3 to 4 feet, well transplanted . . . . 9 c THUJA LOEBII, 3t0 4fcet 12 ( COTONEASTER SIMMONSII,3to3fcet 6 c AMERICAN ARBOR.VIT.-E, 3 to 4 feet 9 < PORTUGAL LAURELS, 2 to 3 feet, bushy 9 t Paul's New Double Scarlet THORN, 5 to 6 feet . . per 100, 751. ij c RISES SANGUINEA, 2t0 3feet 20!. 3 < RHODODENDRONS, line hybrids, various colours, line bushy healthy plants, 2 feet., per too, 351. 6 t 10,000 line "named Hybrid Perpetual ROSES,' "on 'Manett'i Stock, fine plants per 100, 505. 9 ( HENRY MAY, The Hope Nurseries, Bedale, Yorkshire. Ji WING AND CO., The Royal Norfolk Nurseries, Dwarf.trained Kirke's, Coe's Seedling, Dwarf-trained Morello, Mayt" ^ Standard red-twigged LI Mfc PURPLE BEECH, of the b PLUMS, varf-trained Morello, Mayduke, and other CHERRIES. i;s, fine. ; dark variety, worked, and furnished is'us'ma'ii'al'eb VARIEGATA HEREFORDSHIRE ELMS, fine, 6 to 8 feet. CHICHESTER ELMS, line, 6 to 10 feet. HORSE CHESTNUTS, 6 to 8 feet, very stout. COMMON LAUREL. 2 to 3 feet, bushy. EVERGREEN PRIVET, 2 to 3 feet. JAPAN PRIVET, fine, transplanted. PINUS AUSTRIACA, transplanted, i to 2 feet. PICEA PINSAPO, nice specimens, 2 to 3 feet. THUJA WARREANA, ex. transplanted, 2 to 4 feet. MAHONIA AQUIFOLIUM, transplanted. nd. 6 to 8 f( Planters of Large Trees for Blinds and Immediate EFFECT may be glad to know they can be SUPPLIED by WILLIAM MAULE and SONS, from their Nurseries, Bristol, in large quantities, at moderate prices EVERGREEN TREES. HOLLIES, Green, on stems. 10 to 12 feet PINUS EXCELSA, Stoiofeet NORWAY SPRUCE, 8 to 10 feet CEDRUS DEODARA, 8 to 10 feet CHINESE ARBOR.VIT.'E, 8 to 10 feet ABIES DOUGLASII, 5 to 6 feet ARAUCARIA IMBRICATA, 4 to 5 feet MOUNT ATLAS CEDAR, 6 to 7 feet CEDAR of LEBANON, 7 to 8 feet CHINESE JUNIPERS, THUJOPSIS, and a gre.a variety of choice EVERGREENS, 7 to 8 feet PINUS AUSTRIACA, 4 to 5 feet PORTUGAL LAURELS, 4 to 5 feet CUPRESSUS LAWSONIANA, 4tosfeet ENGLISH YEWS, 5 to 6 feet RHODODENDRONS, bushy, 4 to 5 feet DECIDUOUS TREES. POPLAR, BLACK ITALIAN, 10 to 12 feet BIRCH, to to 12 feet Lycopodlum denticulatum. WANTED, 100 dozen strong plants, in 48-sized pots ; also large PALMS, such as Seaforthia elegans, from 8 to 20 high; also handsome TREE FERNS, with 8 feet stems: also g GREENHOUSE CREEPERS, established in large pots, full particulars as to size, price, &c., to UN WILLS, Royal Exotic Nursery, Sussex Place, Old ipton, London, S.W. X Mr. John Wills, of Old Brampton, whose ;ly commented on in terms of eulogy." — yideCity Prtis.Nov. 11, 1871. All kinds ol FLORAL DECORATIONS, 'WEDDING, OPERA, d other BOUOUETS. JOHN WILLS, Royal Exotic Nursery and Floral DcpOt. Sussex Pface, Old Brompton, I-ondon, S.W. Forest and Ornamental Planting. PETER L.'WVSON AND SON respectfully solicit early orders for FOREST TREES and ORNAMENTAL TREES and SHRUBS, which they can supply to great extent. The large breadths of LARCHES, from I to 3!^ feet, SCOTCH f these Peas, early sowing is erLilive, at the Royal Horticultui ibition at Birmingham. 0 be had only in sealed Collections of ti principal Seedsmen in the United K isrs. HURST AND SON, 6, Leadenhall and wholesale < THE NEW PEA OF THE SEASON. B. S. WILLIAMS Has much pleasure in offering the undersigned genuine first-class PE.A to the Public, as a decided acquisition to our List of Vegetables. WILLIAMS' EMPEROR of the MARROWS, A Blue Wrinkled Marrow Ves, coming in about the same time as Veitch's Perfection, but more prolific and far superior in flavour to that variety, or any other yet introduced. It produces pods the whole length of the haulm, and requires to be planted 2 inches apart in the rows ; it is of branching habit, producing from 2 to 5 stems close to the ground, and again branching about 18 inches or 2 feet higher up. The pods and Peas are of a large size, the latter of exquisite flavour, and it is undoubtedly the most prolific variety ever brought out. It has been pronounced by some of the best judges to be the very best Pea they have ever tasted, and in every way a Pea of sterling merit. It is very hardy, and con- tinues bearing until late in the autumn. Height 6 feet. Retail price, 5^. per quart. Trade price on application. The undermentioned Seedsmen have obtained their „ Bolton & Co „ Carter, Dunnett & Beale . „ James Dickson & Sons . „ Fisher, Holmes & Co. . „ J. Caraway & Co. . . „ Heyd in & Sons . . „ Hurst & Son „ Peter Lawson & Son.s „ J. &C. Lee „ Little & Ballantyne „ Minier, Nash & Nash . „ Vilmorin, Andrieu.x & Co. The Pine-apple Nursery Company Mr. Thomas Ballard . . „ E. Cooling „ Robert Cooper „ Charles H. Dickson " Frederick Oee '.'. '.\ „ E. Holmes 152, l- leet Street, E.C. Market Place, Manchester Biggleswade Lichfield Yeovil Oxford Street, Manchester Market Place, Manchester VICTORIA and PARADISE NURSERIES, Upper HoUoway, London, N. THE STEAM-ENGINE TRIALS OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY of ENGLAND, OXFORD, 1870. The FIRST PRIZES at this SHOW were again AWARDED to CL.A.YTON AND SHUTTLEWORTH, viz. t- First Prize for Horizontal Fixed Engine of lO H.P. ; First Prize for Steam Engine, with Boiler combined. At the previous Trials of Steam Enffines, at Burj', 1867, CL,\YT()N AND SHUTTLEWORTH took ALL the FIRST PRIZES f ENGINES; also a PRIZE of ^15 for THRESHING MACHINES, and the Society's SILVER MEDAL. CLAYTON AND SHUTTLEWORTH )'''^rilrs°i"G?Mt B^i have received FIRST PRIZES ; B.-AII the principal Makers of I PORTABLE ENGINES, from 4 to 25-Horse Power. THRESHING MACHINES, Single, Double and Treble Blast, with Patent RoUed Steel Beater Plates, and all other recent improvements. GRINDING MILLS, SAW BENCHES, STRAW ELEVATORS, &o. 1^ CATALOGUES ON APPLICATION, OR FREE BY POST. CLAYTON AND SHUTTLEWORTH, STAMP END WORKS, LINCOLN ; LOMBARD STREET, LONDON, E.C. ; and TARLETON STREET, LIVERPOOL. O WILLOW GROWERS.— The Planting Season havinj commenced, WILLIAM SCALING, Willow NuRSiinv- MAN, Easford, Notts, is now ready to execute orders for PLANTS and CUTTINGS for Timber Trees and LLOW PLANTS and CUTTINGS for Onamental Trees and Descriptive CATALOGUES "THE SALIX, c* WILLOW," second ofSIMPKIN, MARSHALL AND CO., Lot ENUINE ROLLED TOBACCO-PAPER, CLOTH, or CORD, is H PERKINS, 16, Cambridge Circus, Hackney . Road, N.E., who has a large STOCK of the best quality on Orders by Post promptly attended to. "CONDENSED" to be the CHEAPEST BUG, SCALE, and T: A. Dickson & Sons, „ Downie, Laird & Laing, Forest Hill, S.E. „ Drummond & Sons, Stirling „ Drummond & Sons, Dawson , Hurst & Son, 6, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C. , Kennedy S: Co., Dumfries , Laird & Sinclair. Dundee ', tittle & B"iai.t''y"™'cidi'sle COMPOSITION and only EFFECTUAL MEALY -IRIP DESTROYER. sed to furnish a printed Copy of ilessrs. Lowe & Co., Wolver- „ Osborn & Sons. Fulham, S.W. „ Dick Radclt'ffe & Co., 120, HiKhHolborn,London,W.C. „ Eollisson & Sons, Tooting „ Smith fit Son, Market Street, Aberdeen ,, Stuart fit Mein, Kelso „ Sutton fit Sons, Reading „ Veitch & Sons, Chelsea „ Wood & Ingram, Huntingdon Hr. Benj. Eracher, Halifax „ E. Cooling, Derby „ G. Cooper, Derby „ William Cutbush, Bamet „ C. H. Dickson, 23, Market Place, Manchester „ John Fraser, Lea BridRe Road, London „ John Harrison, Darlington „ F. Kinghom, Richmond,S.W. I- J, ;rry, Banbury , Birminghi ao. High AMES PHILLIPS AN beg to submit their prices as follows ;- GLASS for ORCHARD HOUSES, The above prices include the boxes, whic HORTICULTURAL GL Stock sizes, i6-oz., in 100 feet boxes. These prices only apply to the s 13 by II 14 by III .. 1 .. 14 by 12 IS by ijiis by 11 16 by I j6 by 13 17 by is'aoby 12: .. t6 by 14 20 by 13 18 by 13 17 by 14 iS by 14 20 by 14I .. SMALL SHEET SOU. - by4i4 7> lobyS loKbyS-i , .. Boxes 2S. each, reti SHEET BRITISH PLATE, PATENT PLATE, ROLLED PLATE! CROWN, SHEET, HORTICULTURAL, ORNAMENTAL, COLOURED, and every description of GLASS, of the best Manu- facture, at the lowest terms. Lists of Prices and Estimates forwarded on application to TAS. PHILLIPS AND CO., 180, Bishopsgate Street Without, E.C. BOBher'B Garden Edging Tiles. nd of superior finish, and in great variety of design. G. ROSHER, Manufacturers, Upper Ground Street, Black- friars, S.E. ; Queen's Road West. Chelsea, S. W. ; Kingsland Road, E. Amenta for LOOKER'S PATENT "ACME FRAMES," PLANT PROPAGATING BOXES ! also for FOXLEY'S PATENT BEADED GARDEN WALL I e by post The Trade supplied. ORNAMENTAL PAVING TILES for Conservatories, Halls, Corridors, Balconies, fitc, from 31. per stiuare yard upwards. Pattern Sheets of plain or more elaborate designs, with kinds. Roofing s Merchants.— See addresses above, , as desired. Delivery by Cart within three miles, or to any London Railway ( Wharf, 2j, per Ton extra- Samples of Sand free by post FLINTS and BRICK BURRS for Rockeries or Ferneries. KEN' PEAT or LOAM s [.B. Orders promptly executed t T676 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 30, 1871. NEW AND GENUINE SEEDS. B. S. Williams lUlGS TO ANNOUNCE THAT HIS DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF FLOWER, VEGETABLE, AND AGRICULTURAL SEEDS FOR 1872, Containing many New and Choice Flower and Vegetable Seeds, /S NOW READY. POST FREE TO ALL APPLICANTS. VICTORIA and PARADISE NURSERIES, UPPER HOLLOWAY, LONDON, N. GARDEN SEEDS. OSBORN & SONS' SELECT LIST OF KITCHEN GARDEN AND FLOWER SEEDS, WITH ORDER SHEET, FOR THE ENSUING SEASON, h now ?'t'ady, and may be had on application. FULHAM NURSERY, LONDON, S.W. THE LARGEST, CHEAPEST AND BEST STOCK OF ROSES IS STILL AT ^VILLIAM PAUI^'S. PAUL'S NURSERIES and SEED WAREHOUSE, WALTHAM CROSS, HERTS, N. PRICED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE FREE BY POST. THE ROSE GARDEN, Second Edition, 6s. 6d. ,' ROSES IN POTS, Third Edition, 2s. GENUINE SEEDS ONLY. James Veitch & Sons S-CE THAT THEII! ILLUSTRATED PRICED CATALOGUE OF GARDEN AND FLOWER SEEDS FOR 1S72, With List of Implements and other Garden Requisites, Is now Published, and will be forwarded Post Free on application. ROYAL EXOTIC NURSERY, CHEI^SEA, LONDON, S.W. Richard Smith, NURSERYMAN AND SEED MERCHANT, WOECESTEE. ROSES— Standard, Dwarf and Climbing. FRUIT TREES of every description. CREEPERS, for Trellises and Walls. FOREST, SCREEN, and TIMBER TREES. SHRUBS for GAME COVERTS. QUICK and other STOCK for HEDGES. CONIFEROUS TREES and SHRUBS, EVERGREEN FLOWERING ORNAMENTAL „ AVENUE GARDEN and FARM SEEDS of all kinds. DESCRIPTIVE PRICED CATALOGUES to be had on application. CAETEE'S % ILLUSTRATED VADE MECUM FOR 1872 Is Now Ready, CONTAINING UPWARDS OF TWO HUNDRED ILLUSTRATIONS, WITH MUCH VALUABLE INFORMATION, Post Free Is. Gratis to Purchasers. From The Farmer, Dec. 25, 1871. " Messrs. Carter, Dunnett & Beale h.ive excelled themselves this year in the production of their Catalogue. It contains a large amount of valuable information, both about the Garden and the Farm. The Illustrations are profuse, and they thoroughly represent the articles which they profess to do. This is more than can be said of many works of a similar character. All who cultivate Flowers should possess a copy." CARTER'S COLLECTIONS OF VEGETABLE SEEDS PRODUCE A SUCCESSION OF THE BEST VEGETABLES All the Year Round. Collection No. 1 CoUectiou No. 2 Collection No. 3 Collection No. 4 for a Cottage Garden for a Small Garden for a Medium Garden for a Larger Garden lOs. 6d. Sis. 30s. 4Ss. Packing and Carriage Free. Collections No. 5 and 6, for Large Gardens, 63s. and 84s. DETAILED TABLE of CONTENTS on applic Five per Cent. Discount for Cash. JAMES CARTER and CO., SEEDSMEN TO THE QUEEN AND THE PRINCE OF WALES, 237 and 238, HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON, W. C. December 30, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1677 iTRONG and EXTRA STRONG FRUITING ? VINES— The leading varieties, slrone and ""ell ripened, foi liting and planting. Priced Descriptive CATALOGUE free upon Grape Vines. FRANCIS R. KINGHORN has Fruiting and Planting in considerable number :-BLACK ' HAMBURGH. MILLHILL HAMBURGH, BUCKLAND SWEETWATER, ESPERIONE. and FOSTER'S SEEDLING, 3s. 6d., 75. M., and los. M. each. Sheen Nursery, Richmond, Surrey. w SEEDS of NEW VEGETABLES, SEEDS of NEW FLOWERS. descriptions in Mr. WILLIAM BULL'S Rare Plants, King's Road, Chelsea CATALOGUE. " Every article priced. Eilablishment for " . - - London. S.W. FRENCH HORTICULTURISTS' RELIEF FUND. —As the Accounts are now about to be closed, it is requested that any Nurserymen or Seedsmen who undertook to receive Sub- scriptions will be kind enough, if they have received any, to forwan them to the Treasurer, GEO. F. WILSON. Esq., care of J. Richards Esq., Royal Horticultural Society, South Kensingl - ■-- "~ Sec, the Rev. H. HONYVVOOD DOMBRAIN.W Ashford, Kent. Sum not previously acknowledged Collected by the Rev. W. Middle— ■■ •--^-■- the Hon. lleton, Huybridge, N Notewortliy Horticulturists and Botanists. OTICE.— A SERIES of PORTRAITS of NOTEWORTHY HORTICULTURISTS and BOTANISTS !ing published in the "GARDENERS' CHRONICLE evhTL Dr. Hooker, C.B.,F.R.S. The following have already pplication to the Publisher, viz. :— Prof. Reichenbach, Hamburgh Rev. S. R. Hole, M.A. E. J. Lowe, F.R.S. Tames McNab, of Edinburgh. robert hogg, ll.d. James Bateman, F.R.S. by WILLIAM RICHARDS, 41, Wei SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1871. N I N E hours' movement for gardeners "— "Observance of Saturday to Monday"— of many of the people who make an outcry for these and similar concessions, some times reasonably at other times unreasonably, take into considera- tion the numbers of people, the due performance of whose avocations is quite inconsistent with such amenities as those above alluded to. To be sure we have heard of the "frozen-out gardeners," and we have too often seen the labourers in a nursery chopping wood, or doing nothing, owing to a lock-out on the part of King Frost, but speaking generally, winter brings the gardener comparatively little cessation from toil, and if he have much glass to look after, or much forcing to manage, to say the least, his anxious forethought is not less at this season than at any other, and his enjoyment of short time and statute holidays pretty much a matter of observ- ance in the breach rather than in the custom. A retrospect of the work of the year has forcibly brought this subject to our notice, and the recollection of what happened last year in France calls attention to another cause which may — GOD forbid that it ever should — put a forcible stop here, as it did across the Channel, to all the pursuits of peace. It is as well now and then to remember, that in case of disaster, the evil time will make itself felt first in the garden. As we have seen in France, not alone those branches of horticulture which minister to the luxuries of mankind, but even those which supply his absolute needs, alike suffered. This remembrance may serve as a useful lesson now and then, and, at any rate, it may make one and all rejoice that this year we have not to point with a shudder to a fearful struggle, such as was then raging. If we except the International Exhibition and its association with horticulture, there is little worthy of special comment in the progress of the craft during the year that is just closing. The period has been one of quiet progress. The exhibitions, already too numerous, have been increased in number ; their general quality has been good, and some few objects of sterling merit, to which we shall hereafter allude, have made their appearance. The horticultural department of the Inter- national Exhibition was not so successful as it might have been, owing, in the first instance, to the war, and next, to the difficulty of securing so frequently as every fortnight an adequate repre- sentation of Continental products. Next year, we believe, while it will be open to foreign horti- culturists to compete at any or all of the fort- nightly exhibitions, a special effort will be madt to secure a more important international contesi at the great June show. We trust also that some effort will be made to illustrate more fully the practical bearing of gardening on the dail) concerns of life, not as a mere luxury, but in relation to its food-producing import- ance, and its association with manufacturing interests, such as those devoted to cotton and paper. It would also add greatly to the educa- tional value of the exhibition, if such of the gar- dening processes as are capable of being shown, were illustrated — such as the various modes of grafting, training, pruning, and so forth. Among matters of public importance during the year that is passing away, the abolition of the sample post nuisance may be mentioned. It ought not to be forgotten, that the horticulturists and members of the seed trade took an active part in bringing about this reform, and no more perfect illustration of the absurdity of attempting to lay down a definition of what was and what was not a sample, was offered than that put forth by the seedsmen. In our own columns we have endeavoured, as heretofore, to keep our readers well abreast of the times in all matters relating to gardening, whether in its practical, scientific, or social aspect. We have endeavoured to bring merit to the fore, and have not flinched from pointing out defects. At the same time, while not concealing our own opinions, we have tried to avoid dogmatism, and to allow all sides of a question to be fairly dis- cussed. We have largely increased the number of our illustrations during the past year, and have done our best, as chroniclers, to record matters of interest to horticulturists, not only in our own country, but also abroad. Our correspondents have kept us well furnished with garden gossip, or notes of travel, and botanical memoranda from the Continent, from our colonies, from India, and even from the recesses of Utah, and the still more unexplored districts of Morocco. It has been our duty also— always a painful one — to record the loss from among our ranks of many votaries of gardening and kindred pursuits, among others, of Lemaire, the scholar and the botanist, unrivalled in his knowledge of Cactes ; of Hartweg, a name known in all gardens ; of Wilson, our foremost authority in Mosses ; of Dix, the genial Chairman of the Floral Com- mittee ; of Bellenden Ker, once so active in the horticultural world ; of the veteran Baxter ; and, only the other day, of Seemann, to whose life and labours we devote an article in another column. What we have done in the past will be the best promise we can make for the future. . We extract the following additional remarks relating to our London Parks from M. Taine's '* Notes on England," published in the Daily Nczvs: — "The things which please me most are the trees. Every day, after leaving the Athenajum, I go and sit for an hour in St. James's Park ; the lake shines softly be- neath its misty covering, while the dense foliage bends the still waters. The rounded trees, the great green domes, make a kind of architecture far more delicate than the other. The eye reposes itself upon these softened forms, upon these subdued tones. These are beauties, but tender and touching, those of foggy countries, of Holland. Yesterday, at 8 o'clock in the evening, although the weather was fine, everything seen from the Suspension Bridge appeared vapoury ; the last rays dis- appeared in whitish smoke ; on the right, the remains of redness ; over the Thames, and in the rest of the sky a pale slate tint. There are tones like these in the land- scapes of Rembrandt, in the twilights of Van der Neer ; the bathed light, the air charged with vapour, the insensible and continuous changes of the vast exhala- tions which soften, imparts a bluish tint to, and dims the contours, the whole producing the impression of a great life, vague, diffused, and melancholy — the hfe of a humid country. " At Richmond, I felt this still better. From the terrace can be discerned several leagues of country ; the Thames, which [here] is not larger than the Seine, winds through meadows, between clumps of large trees. All is green, of a soft green, almost effaced by the distance ; one feels the freshness and the peace of the infinite vegetation ; the grey sky extends over it a low and heavy dome ; at the horizon are whitish mists in floating layers, here and there a darkened cloud, or the violet patch of a shower. From all the ground rises a sluggish mist ; one watches it as if it were a piece of muslin drawn between the interstices of the trees, and gradually the floating gauze of the earth re- unites with the uniform veil of the sky. How still is the park ! Troops of deer feed in the moist brake ; the hinds approach the fence, and gaze on the passer by without fear. Can a tract of country be better arranged for relaxing the nerves of the man who struggles and toils ? The Oaks, the Lime trees, the spreading and huge Chestnut trees, are noble creatures which seem to speak in low tones with majesty and security ; at their feet is thick and tall grass ; the blades of grass, whereon the rain has left its tears, smile with a tender and sad grace. .A. sort of fond quietude emanates from the air, the sky, and ail things ; Nature welcomes the soul, wtary and worn with striving. How one feels that their landscape suits them, and why they love it ! Without doubt their chmate befits trees, and, besides, they have had no invasion or popular rising to mutilate or cut them down ; the national taste has favoured their preservation ; olden things have been more respected and better pre- served than in France, and among them must be numbered the trees. ' ' Those of Windsor and of Hampton Court are as beautiful. From Kew Gardens to Hampton Court [in Bushey Park] extends an alley of gigantic Horse Chestnut trees, of which the large pink and white bunches resemble girandoles. The foliage is so thick that underneath it is cool in the height of the sun. Upon the velvet of the grass [in Kew Gardens] constellated with flowers and bordered by Nasturtiums, stand forth clusters of Rhodo- dendrons, as tall as two men, entirely covered with rose- coloured flowers, amid which bees are hummin:;. There are so many of them, they are so magnificent, of so tender a tissue antl of so fine a tone, they are grouped with such profusion in a single clump wholly impregnated with light, that one remains dazzled ; it is delicious, intoxt- eating ; almost beyond Nature. A little way farther, in an enormous hothouse. Palms, as large as Oaks, spread their curious vegetation, and Bananas unfold leaves which would cover a child 12 years old. This is one of their talents ; they admirably understand the architecturri of trees, of grass, and of flowers ; I have not seen ev -n a classical palace or even a poor cottage where it was un comprehended. Sometimes, indeed, the effect is too strong ; in the sun, it is overpowering : the incomparable verdure then assumes tones so rich and intense that they cannot be transferred to canvas ; they would offend, they would be too raw ; it is necessary to enjoy thera with the mind, not with the eyes ; they are a feast, and, as it were, an outburst of deUght ; in order to prepare and maintain them, swell and expand the tissues, moisttire was required, excessive moisture, the caress and the guardianship of soft vapoiu: : beneath a warmer sky such flowers would be stiffened and dried ; they are not accustomed to bear the full sun ; hence it is that they break forth to-day under his blaze. They have the tint of a beautiful lady ; they, too, are patricians developed, preserved, embellished by all the refinements of art and of lu-xury ; I have had the same impression at a full-dress morning party, before a staircase filled from top to bottom with young laughing ladies in swelling and sweeping dresses of tulle, of silk, the head covered with diamonds, the shoulders bare. This was a unique sensation, that of splendour and brilliancy carried to the highest pitch— all the flowers of civilisation and of Nature in a single bouquet and in a single perfume , " Hampton Court is a large garden in the French style, laid out in the time of William III. Our style was then the reigning one in Europe. Yet EngUsh taste is dis- coverable here also : the borders have been planted with standard Rose bushes, and these, closely trained along the shght espaUers, form columns of flowers. Ducks, swans swim in all the pieces of water ; Water Lilies unfold their velvet stars. The old trees are propped up by iron rodf. When they die, in order that they may not be wholly tost, the remainders of their trunks are converted into a kind of huge urn. Cleariy, they are cared for, and they are loved. There are no fences. I noticed young boarding- school giris walking and playing on the grass, but they never pluck a flower. The following notice suffices to protect the garden: — 'It is hoped that the public will abstain from destroying that which is cultivated lor the public gratification.' I have seen families of common people taking their dinners on the green sward of Hyde Park ; they neither tore up nor spoilt anything. This is perfect ; the aim of every society is that each one should be always his own constable, and end by not having any Mr. W. F. Chapman, of Gloucester, has recently invented an ingenious contrivance for Pro- tecting Plants and Flowers from the inroads of snail, slug, earwig, frost, wind, and rain. These boxes are said to be so arranged that they answer the purpose of hand-glasses, one of their chief recommendations being that they are much cheaper, not so liable to break- age, and can be repaired by any gardener. The boxes are ventilated to prevent damping off; and they are so compact, they, can be stowed away in a very small space when not in use. They are provided with e-xcellently contrived slides, which enables them to be used to great advantage in preserving blooms on tall stems, such as Hollyhocks, &c., whilst growing, and intended for exhibition purposes. A contrivance of indiarubber is also provided, which makes the boxes impervious to insects, and does not injure the stem. The ASTROCARVUM AVRI, a fine pinnate-leaved Palm, growing some 20 to 30 feet high, and remark- able for its numerous long black spines, has proved to be relatively hardy in the Palm-house of the FlmrisU, in Paris, it being the only one of numerous spiny species which bore the low temperature to which, in consequence of the want of fuel, it was exposed during the winter of 1870-71. This Palm has also fructified in the greenhouses of the same establish- ment. Among the more remarkable features of Yucatan may be mentioned the Cenotes, or Water Caverns. These are in some places entirely sub- terranean, and are then without vegetation ; in others more or less uncovered, in which case they become what may be styled subterranean oases, often of sur- passing and singular beauty on account of the gorgeous development of vegetable life. Spots of this character abound especially through the southern and eastern portions of the peninsula, and to them the few Ferns 1678 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 30, 1871 belonging to Yucatan are almost exclusively confined. Among the more remarkable Phanerogams which are almost peculiar to the Cenotes may be mentioned a species of Vanilla, the pod of which is brought to the market of Valladolid, where it may be bought for an almost nominal price. The Maximum Temperatures of the Air during the week ending December 23 ranged from 56° at Perth to 43° at Paisley, with a mean fur the several English stations of 50°. 9, and for the Scottish of 52°.8. The Minimum Temperatures of the Air ranged from 35°.3 at Blackheath to 16° at Perth. The mean for the several places in England being 30°. 2, and for those in Scotland 25°. The highest Mean Temperature, 42^.7, was recorded at Liverpool, and the lowest, 33°. 7, at Paisley. The mean value for the English stations was 40°. 7, and for the Scottish 39°. As a rule, the weather has been warm over the country, but at several places in Scotland low night temperatures have been experienced. On the 20th a heavy S.W. gale swept over the country, doing much damage at places. At Blackheath, pressures exceeding 30 lb. on the square foot were recorded. Rain fell at each of the several stations, and at Greenock as much as 3. 15 inches was registered. The mean fall for the English stations was 0.60 inch, but for the Scottish, 1. 19 inch. (See Mr. Glaisiier's Tables, p. 1683.) We cull the following from a monthly maga- zine published in Cape Town ; it is interesting as affording a comparison of the Floral Seasons in widely Different Latitudes : — " During September gardens begin to appear gay with flowers — Anemones, Ranunculuses, Stocks, Pansies, Azaleas, Petunias, and an innumerable host of annuals, are in flower during the month. Hyacinths, Crocuses, &c., are just going out, The greenhouses at the Bota- nical Gardens are gay with Azaleas, Chorozemas, Cycla- mens, Cinerarias, Begonias, Correas, Chinese Primroses : of these a very fine display, &c. A very curious and beautiful epiphytal Orchid, Angrascum sesquipedale, may be seen in one of the houses ; it has been in flower for four or five weeks, and is now rather past its best." We are happy to hear that Mr. Leighton is bringing out a Conspectus of all the Lichens hitherto discovered throughout the world, with diag- noses. His work on the Lichen Flora of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Channel Islands, will be a guarantee to all Lichenologists that the work will be worthy of the subject. Of this he is preparing a second edition, which will comprise an introduction, glossary, and index, which it is hoped will be ready for the press early in 1872. The glossary will be printed separately, so as to enable possessors of the first edition to purchase separately. New Garden Plants. EpIDENDRUM TURIALV.'E, «. Sp. (Amphiglottiura.) Caule erccto, polyphyllo ; foliis papyraceis linearibus acutis basi cuneatis usque spathamaiis vaginis pedun- culi superioris arctis acutis, intlorescentia racemosa, nunc sub- paniculata : bracteis squamasformibus minutis ; sepalis a basi fineari-oblongis acutis : tepalis linearibus acutis apice dilatatis ; labelli laciniis posticis alte cordatis antice obtusangulis, islhmo extus retusis ; carinis geminis a basi in apicem : callo utrinque in basi oh\.u^nzv\o.—Epidendrum^ n. sp. ? Rchb. (il., Beitr. Cent. Am. p. 8s. When I wrote the above-cited pamphlet, I did not dare to propose this as a new species, since the flowers and the interior part of the plant were not consistent. And yet they had been given me by that most honest observer, Hermann Wendland. I am not at all surprised to find that he was completely justified for having put the fragments together, since the plant has now re- appeared in the Saundersian collection (N. 2124). Mr. W. Saunders also introduced it from Costa Rica. H. G. Rchb. fil. Maxillaria Reichenheimiana, Endr., Rchb./. Afiinis MaJciUariae crocex. Pseudobulbis ellipticis ancipitibus ; foliis cuneato-oblongis obtuse acutis more Ptialaeuopsidis SchiUerianx pallide pictis ; pedunculis plurivaginatis, mento iepalis a basi triangula acuminatis : tepalis basi et ante basin inferne obtusangulis ; . ilatato apice trilobo, lobis lateralibus antice lobulatis, lobo medio ligulato antiije valde carnoso inferne carinato ; callo lineari apice acuto a basi usque ante basin lacinia: mediae, papiUis quibusdam (iliformibus brevibus circum- spersis ; columna brevi circa androclinium fimbriata, limbo stigmatico angulato porrecto. Imagine a small Maxillaria with minute bulbs not larger than a threepenny piece, leaves just as long as one's middle finger, painted in the way of those of Phalffinopsis Schilleriana, with pallid colour on dark green and then yellowish flowers, not much over an inch and a-half in length, on stalks 3 to 4 inches long. The lip is very remarkable, having a very thick, nearly triangular, anterior lobe, and bears some violet and purplish spots. It was discovered by M. Endres, in 1867, at an alti- tude of 5500 feet, in Costa Rica, and was gathered later by Mr. Zahn, when one of the Centro-American col- lectors of Messrs. Veitch. M. Eirdres proposed its being named in honour of M. Moritz Reichenheim, of Berlin, now tlie possessor of one of the very best col- lections of showy Orchids in Germany. ubaquahbus Poor lovely plant ! If it were an Anecochilus, a Ha;maria, a Vanda, a Renanthera, every Orchidophilist would be in ecstacies on account of its singular beauty. But since it happens to be a Maxillaria, what avails it that it possesses so much beauty and excellence ? Is it not just the same with plants as with men? H. C. Rchb. fil. Oncidium globuliferum, //. B. K. Rhi2( e scandente filiformi ; pseudobulbis longe distantibus, aribus seu oblongis prasinis ; foliis lieulatis obtuse inflorescentise longiarticulala: ramulis atbreviatis uni- randifloris: scpalis cuneato-oblongis acutis, lateralibus itis : tep.ilis sublatioribus obtuse acutis supra basin ; labello basi sagittate dein in isthmum angustum con- antice latissime reniforme bilobo ; callo baso triangulo e triserrato, dente adventitio solitario majusculo extrorso c in basi, parvulo utrinque antica ; columnae alis dola- ibus crenulatis ; tabula intrastigmatica utrinque basi \s..-Oncidimn scansor.'S.tXh. f, l.innaea, xxii. 844! Folia Oncidium, N. 83. One nder tab. This has a peculiar manner of gi'owth. The slender creeping filiform rhizome bears at long intervals little bulbs of a glaucous colour, and small oblong leaves. There are long or short axillary peduncles with showy golden-yellow flowers equalling those of Onci- dium bicallosum, showing red spots at the bases of sepals and petals and lip. Heretofore we only knew that the plant grew in New Grenada, where it was gathered by Humboldt and Bonpland ! Schlim ! Funck and Schlim ! Warscewicz ! and Karsten ! It is a new discovery that it occurs also in Costa Rica, where it has been found both by Endres and by the late M. Zahn, who sent it to Messrs. Veitch, with whom it has just flowered. There is, indeed, a slight diffe- rence, but I can only think it a local variety. For a long time nobody knew what the Onci- dium globuliferum of Humboldt was, and decidedly it could not be recognised from Kunth's description. Hence we are not to be blamed that we did not under- stand it. There is no vestige of it in the Berlin Museum, so rich in Humboldtian types. I was at length so fortunate as to find it in the Jardin des Plantes, at Paris, and I like to re-establish the oldest names since Kunth must be forgiven for his valueless description. It is by a lapsus calami that Lindley indicated "flowers red" (see Oncidium, fig. 58). Kunth says — "flores flavi, rubro maculati. H. G. Rchb. fil. THE LATE DR. SEEM ANN. We mentioned in our issue of the l6th inst. the un- timely decease of this distinguished naturalist, and we now redeem the promise then made of laying before our readers a biographical notice, and a portrait of our lamented friend. For the portrait we have availed our- selves of the photograph published by E. Edwards, B. A. , in the series published some two or three years since under the title of " Photographic Portraits of Men of Eminence." We have also availed ourselves very largely of the accompanying biographical memoir, the facts for which were, we believe, furnished by Dr. Seemann himself. From this account we learn that Dr. Seemann was born at Hanover, on February 28, 1825 ; he received his education at the Lyceum of his native town, the head master at that time being the celebrated Grotefend, one of the earliest decipherers of cuneate writing ; and that he graduated as Master of Arts and Doctor of Pliilosophy at the University of Gottingen. The most ardent wish of Dr. Seemann, from his youth, was to see foreign countries, and he early com- menced preparing himself, devoting much of his time to the study of the natural sciences, especially botany and anthropology. To this end he came to Kew in 184410 prepare himself for the work of a botanical collector, and there attracted the notice of the then curator, Mr. Smith, and of the late Sir W. Hooker, the Director of the Royal Gardens, who quicldy recog- nised the talents of the young botanist, and in 1S46 recommended him to the Admiralty as naturalist to H.M.S. Herald, at that time employed on a surveying expedition in the Pacific, the appointment having become vacant by the untimely death of Mr. Thomas Edmonston. Leaving England in August, 1846, he went to the Pacific, by way of Madeira and the West Indies, touching at several islands, and disembarking at Chagres, to cross the Isthmus of Panama, at that time not a journey of hours, but of days. When, in Sep- tember, he reached the city of Panama, the surveying expedition, consisting of H.M. ships Herald and Pandora, had not yet returned from Vancouver's Island. Dr. Seemann profited by the delay to explore the greater part of the Isthmus of Panama, and collect the materials (augmented during subsequent visits), which enabled him to produce the most complete general description of that country ever published. His observations extended to almost every branch of science, and he discovered not only a large number of new plants and animals, but also some curious hiero- glyphics in Veraguas, on which he afterwards read a paper before the Archaeological Institute of Great Britain. When, in the beginning of 1847, H.M.S. Herald relumed from the North, Dr. Seemann joined her, and remained with her until tlic completion of her voyage round the world, during which three cruises to the Arctic regions, vitt Behring's Strait, were made. Dr. Seemann at this time had the opportunity of exploring nearly the whole west coast of America, frequently making long journeys inland. His explorations in Peru and Ecuador, when he was accompanied by Mr. (now Captain) Bedford Pim, R.N., led him from Payta through the Peruvian deserts, and across the Cordillera of the Andes to Loja, Cuenca, and Guaya- quil, and familiarised him with the magnificent scenery, vegetation, and population of a large section of the former empire of the Incas. Subsequently, he traversed several of the western States of Mexico. At that time the Comanche and Alpache Indians were very troublesome, and Dr. Seemann narrowly escaped with his life. In 1848, the fate of Sir John Franklin began to excite apprehension in England, and H.M.S. Herald, accompanied by the Plover, was directed to proceed to the Arctic regions, by way of Behring's Strait, to search for the missing voyagers. This gave an entirely new character to the surveying expedition under Captain Kellet, which, up to this time, had been used simply for making hydrographical studies of the west coast of America. Three times did the Herald proceed to the Arctic regions, the second year joined by the Enterprise and Investigator, making valuable discoveries at each visit ; a new island was discovered between Asia and America, and the vessel attained a higher latitude than any other had pre- viously accomplished on that side of America. Dr. Seemann availed himself of these opportunities to collect materials for a very complete Flora of the extreme north-west of Arctic America, and for the anthro- pology of the Eskimos. In her various voyages, the Herald visited repeatedly Kamchatka and the Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands ; and in 1850 she began her homeward course, touching and remaining for some time at Hong Kong, Singapore, Cape of Good Hope, St. Helena, and Ascension, and reaching England in June, 1851. Dr. Seemann was requested by the Admiralty to publish the result of this remark- able voyage, and he accordingly produced the "Nar- rative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Herald," being a cir- cumnavigation of the globe, and "Three Cruises to the Arctic Regions, in Search of Sir John Franklin," in two volumes, octavo, published by Messrs. Reeve & Co.— translated into German, partly by the late Edward Vogel, the celebrated African traveller ; it passed rapidly through two editions on the Continent. The botany of the voyage, written by Dr. Seemann himself, appeared in a quarto form, with a hun- dred plates by Filch, and comprises an account of the floras of Western Eskimo-land, north-western Mexico, the Isthmus of Panama, and the island of Hong Kong. About this time Dr. Seemann's scientific labours at- tracted the attention of the Imperial German Academy of Naturalists, and soon after he was made a member of the Academy, under the name of "Bonpland," — the ancient usage of scientific men changing names, on coming prominently before the public, being still upheld. A few years later, after rendering some important services to the Academy, he was elected Adjunct or Vice-President for life. In 1859 the Viti or Fiji Islands in the South Pacific Ocean were formally ceded by their king and chiefs to Great Britain ; but before accepting the proffered cession. Colonel Smythe, R.A., and Dr. Seemann— the latter at the instance of Sir W. Hooker— were com- missioned by our Government to draw up official reports on the state and condition of these islands. Leaving England in February, i860. Dr. Seemann went, by way of Egypt and Mauritius, to Sydney, touching at King George's Sound and Melbourne, and thence proceeding, in the John Wesley missionary vessel, to Viti, where he arrived some months before Colonel Smythe, and at once commenced exploring this little-known group of islands, collecting informa- tion on all points of interest, and accumulating large collections of plants and other objects of natural history. During his stay of eight months he became familiar with the whole of the islands, and addressed a series of letters to the Atkeiicatm and to the Gar- deners' Chronicle regarding them. They gave a vivid picture of Dr. Seemann's dealings and inter- course with the natives ; his efforts, combined with those of Mr. W. T. Pritchard, in saving the lives of 500 people, who had been doomed to death, to com- memorate the coming of age of the son of the Chief Kuruduadua ; his ascent of Voruaand Buku Levu, two peaks never before climbed by any white man ; of the scenery and vegetation, and also the customs and manners of the cannibal tribes amongst whom he found himself. The letters in our own columns contain ac- counts of the vegetation of Malta, Egypt, Mauritius, parts of Australia, and the Fiji Isles. The substance of these letters, together with much fresh matter, and Dr. Seemann's official report on Fiji, was afterwards incorporated by their author in a separate work, pub- lished by Macmillan & Co., under the title of " Viti, an Account of a Government Mission to the Vilian or Fijian Islands." After doing full justice to the popular side of this subject. Dr. Seemann commenced a scientific quarto work, in Latin and English, on the vegetable products of Fiji—" Flora Vitiensis." This work is published by Messrs. Reeve & Co., and is now nearly completed— the final revision, index, as well as the elaboration of the Ferns, having been entrusted to Mr. Carruthers. iS7i.] Ihe Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1679 The "Flora of Viti " comprises not only the results of Dr. Seemann's own labours, but also all materials accu- mulated by other British expeditions to the South Seas, some of which have now been in the country for nearly a century without having been rendered useful to science. It comprises not only the scientific history of the plants observed, but also pleasantly written details as to their uses, &c. The articles on Cotton, Kava, Sandal-wood, and many others may be referred to in illustration. In 1864, some French and Dutch capitalists availed themselves of Dr. Seemann's practical experience and intimate knowledge of tropical countries, to report on the resources and capabilities of a portion of the terri- tory of Venezuela. He left Southampton on February 2, and reached Caracas towards the end of the same month ; thence proceeded to Porto Cabello, Chichiri- videi, and Tocuyo, and returned to Europe, z'h! Cura5oa and St. Thomas. During this expedition he had the good fortune to discover, on the banks of the Tocuyo, extensive coal-beds, the coal being smokeless, closely resembling Welsh steam coal in appearance, and being valued in Lon- don at 30J-. per ton. Dr. Seemann wrote English, German, and several other languages idiomatically, and with considerable power, and he published his first article when he was 17 years of age. Since then his pen has ever been busy, and his articles, literary, scientific, or political. Fifty - eight scientific papers relating to natural history and botany arc catalogued in the Royal Society's Cata- logue of Memoirs, the greater number being contributed to Hooker's "Journal of Botany," or the " Annals of Natural History." In 1853 he started the " Bonplan- dia," which, though pub- lished at Hanover, he edited in London, and to which many of the lead- ing botanists of all na- tions contributed. The " Bonplandia," after the completion of the tenth phosed into the "Journal of Botany, British and Foreign," Dr. Seemann retaining the editorship, but latterly delegating the chief portion of the task to Dr. Trimen and Mr. Baker. This continues to be the only journal devoted exclusively to botany in this country. Besides the works inci- dentally mentioned in the foregoing account, Dr. Seemann has published several other independent ones, the principal being his "Popular History of Palms,"and which, trans- lated by Dr. Bolle into German, has already passed through two edi- tions; " Paradisus Vin- dobonensis," a large folio work on botany, in Latin, English, and German, and illustrated by 84 plates, printed in colours; "The Popular Nomenclature of the America Flora," an attempt to collect all the native names of the American plants, arrange them alphabetically, and give their scientific equi- valent, so that any practical man may at once know to what plant any given produce belongs, when the native name is mentioned ; " An Enumeration of all the Acacias cultivated in our gardens," and " Hano- verian Customs and Manners, in their Relation to the Vegetable Kingdom." Amongst Dr. Seemann's literary labours should also be mentioned his translation of Kitlitz's " Twenty-four Views of the Coasts and Islands of the Pacific," and his introduction to Lindley and Moore's "Treasury of Botany," a companion volume to " Maunders' Treasuries," and his " Dottings on the Roadside in Panama," written in conjunction with Captain Bedford Pirn. Dr. Seemann was a frequent contributor to the pages of this journal, and in addition to the letters relating to Fiji, already referred to, contributed quite recently a series of articles on Palms, in which he reviewed all the genera of the order which have representatives in our gardens. In his recent frequent journeys to Nica- ragua Dr. Seemann discovered many new and inte- resting plants, several of which were described for the first time in our columns, and many of which he introduced at various times to our gardens through the mediation of Mr. \V. Bull. Among these plants may be mentioned the Cannibal Tomato, formerly eaten with human flesh by the natives of Viti, of which we gave a figure in 1864, copied from the "Botanical Magazine;" the colossal Arad, Godwinia gigas ; Maranta Seemanni ; the elegant creeper, Antigonon leptopus ; the singular Parmentiera cerifera, the Candle Tree ; Psychotria cyanococca ; Vitis chontalensis ; Agave Seemanni ; Campsidium chilense { Gan^. C/iron. 1870, I182, fig. 228); Bomarea chontalensis {Card. Chron. 1871, 1387, fig. 305) ; and some good Palms, including Guli- elma utilis, and Malorleia lacerata. Among his more :tly botanical papers, in addition to the separate voyages to that country. He died at his residence at the Javali mine, on October 10 last, after a short illness. SERTHOLD SEEMANN, Ph.D. graph on the last named order has been published separately. In 1865 Dr. Seemann was elected honorary secretary of the "International Botanical Congress," projected to meet in London, under the presidency of M. Alphonse de Candolle, in conjunction with the great International Horticultural Exhibition. But after devoting himself for a short time to the duties of this office he was reluctantly compelled to tender his resignation, in order to carry out an engagement made with his old fellow-traveller. Captain Bedford Pirn, R.N., to explore New Segovia and other parts of Nicaragua, for the Central American Association. This led him a third time to the West Indies, and brought him once more to Panama, and other places and scenes with which his writings have made the public famihar. Dr. Seemann was a Fellow of many of the botanical and horticultural societies of this country and the Con- tinent, and took much interest in the Anthropological Society. Of late years he became connected as managing director with a gold mining company in Chontales, Nicaragua, and in its service made many THE FOXGLOVE. One of the most beautiful features about some of the French woods, especially in those connected with many of the old Royal residences, is the masses of gorgeous- coloured Foxgloves in all their natural beauty, asso- ciated with Bracken and Heather. One spot particu- larly calls for especial notice in the Versailles wood, through which the Chemin de Fer de I'Ouest passes to Rambouillet and on to Brest. This spot, I venture to say, is unequaUed anywhere for such masses of this splendid, uncultivated flower. There may be places in this country where Foxgloves look and thrive as well, and, no doubt, there are hundreds of places where they would grow and flower in perfection were a few hundred plants planted in favourable spots at first, since it would perpetuate itself easily. This was done at one or two pri- \'ate places, to my know- ledge, and was brought about by the sight of those above mentioned. I could mention a few places in France where the proprietors introduced them with effect near the flower gardens, in large masses, alongside the avenues that in all French chateaux run away right and left into the uncared- for woods. Fo.xgloves among masses of green, whether Bracken, or what not, have a grand and majestic look, such as is not easily forgotten when once seen ; and I think, in places where we too often see such masses of Nettles, with a very small amount of trouble we might see in their stead the beautiful Foxgloves, as a rule, in I purpose planting some hundreds next year about, here and there, among Rhododendrons — newly planted Rhododen- drons, for where these thrive in the natural soil I have invariably seen the Foxglove do well. Many hundreds of plants can be raised from a good packet of seed, and, now-a-days, when we have such fine, spotted, improved strains, I think we may look forward to the time when all our woods, and shaded, fre- quented nooks, will be beautified with this fine wild flower. To those who have had no expe- rience with this plant I would further remark — procure a packet of seed and sow it in a pan, in a moist heat, in February. As soon as large enough to handle, prick out an inch apart or so in a frame or under a hand- light where there is a slight heat, and where no frost can enter. A month or so after they will be large enough to plant out into borders, to be lifted again in autumn to plant in perma- nent places anywhere and everywhere where suitable, to flower the following summer. They must be nearly two years old, and strong, ere they flower profusely. We had spikes of flower last year fully 4 feet long, from two year old plants. These were planted, however, in garden soil among large Rhododendrons, and had a fine effect. They continued to throw up spikes all the summer, and being a moist year, they, moreover, being situated on an east aspect shaded by a high wall, they continued to flower till September. I can't say they are as brilliant as the Gladiolus, but one thing in their favour is, they can be grown among large evergreens in a dressed and formal way as well as in the shady woods. At the Chateau de Dampierre, the residence of the young Due de Luyne— who was killed during the late war, under melancholy circum- stances— about 20 miles from Versailles, I remember seeing, some years ago, on its being pointed out to me by M. Cide (the gardener there) an improved spotted form of Foxglove. It was amongst a lot, gi'owing wild ; and he kindly gave me a pod or two of seed, from i68o The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agn<;ultural Gazette. [De nber 30, 1S71. which I have grown the sort here and elsewhere. It among Foxgloves, what the new spotted form of Glox nia that came out at the French Exhibition in 1S67, among Gloxinias, and it varies in colour from pure white to dark pink and purple. The one I speak of as growing in the Versailles wood is a much darker variety, and shows at a distance, but is not spotted is the sort which I grow. H. K. NEW FRUITS, VEGETABLES, Certificated at the Royai, Horticultl-ral Society's Meetings, 1870 — 71. First-class Certijicates were aivarded to tJie following Apple, Galloway Pippin Cherry, Bigarreau Noir de Schmidt „ Burghley Park Cucumber, Luton Hoo ., Tender and True Fruit-gatherer, Bouckart's J. Backhouse & Son G. Cooling, April 20, 1870. Veitch & Sons, Nov. 2 T. Rivers & Son, July 870. Gripe, J. Douglas, May 3, M. Verhulpen, Sept, J. R. Pearson, Se 1. Standish, May T. R, Pearson, A, W. Paul. Dec. i. ,.87,. ., Early Ascot Frontignan ., Ferdinand de Lesseps ., WaUham Cross Mel ^11, Victory of Bath Parsley, Covent Garnishing .. . . . . Ca Pear, Brockworth Park . . J. Plum, Duke of Edinburgh .. Di Radish, Californian WinK """ Roiffea. or Reed-grass (fc tying) R. Wrench & Sons, July s, Strawberry, The Amateur .. S. Bradley, July ig, 1871. „ Royalty .. .. J. Trolman, June 20, 1870. \V. Robinson, Dec. 6, 1 FOREST CULTURE. [Extr-icts from a lecture delivered by Baron Ferd. von Mueller, C.M.G., M.D., Ph.D., F.R.S.. Government Botanist for Victoria, and Director of the Botanic Gardens of Melbourne, on June 22, 1871.] How to provide, in time, the wood necessary for our mines, railways, buildings, fences, as well as for the ordinary domestic and other purposes, becomes a question which from year to year presses with increased urgency on our attention, the consideration of which we have already far too long deferred. It may cer- tainly be argued that in the eastern portion, and some of the southern parts of the Victorian territory, abundance of forests still exist, enough to supply all wants for many years to come. This is perfectly true in the abstract ; but how does this argument apply, when we well know that such timber occurs in secluded places, mostly on high and broken ranges, without roads ? And even if the latter were constructed, which certainly will be required gradually, at what price can such timber be conveyed the required distance ? .Sup- pose, however, that all these difficulties are overcome, whence are we to obtain the deals of northern Pines, the boards of the red Cedar, and the almost endless kinds of other woods, which future artisans will require? For, assuredly, neither Europe nor North America can sustain the heavy call on their indigenous and even plained forests for an indefinite period to come. Tro- pical woods might for a time be brought from the jungles of three continents, but certainly not at a small cost. Besides, tropical trees, as a rule, are not gre- garious ; we cannot judge before hand in every instance of their durability and other qualities ; we cannot re- cognise their extraordinary variety of sorts specifically from mere inspection of the logs, and we should find ourselves soon surrounded by endless difficulties and perplexities were we to depend on such resources alone. Would it not be far wiser timely to create in- dependent resources of our own, for which we have really such great facility? With equal earnestness another aspect of the timber question, as concerning our national economy, forces itself on our reflection. The inhabitable space of the globe is not likely to increase, except through forests which would initiate a new organic creation, or at all events bring the present phase in the world's history to a close ; but while the area of land does not increase, mankind, in spite of deadly plagues, of the horrors of warfare, and of unac- countable oppressions and miseries, which more ex- tended education and the highest standard of morals can only reduce or subdue— mankind, iri spite of all this, increases numerically so rapidly, that before long more space must be gained for its very existence. Where can we look for the needful space ? Is it in the tropic zones, with their humid heat and depressing action on our energies ? Or is it in the frigid zone, which sustains but a limited number of forms of organism ? Or is it rather in the temperate and particularly our warm tem- perate zone, that we have to offer the means of sub- sistence to our fellow-men, closely located as they in future must be ? But this formation of dense and at the same time also thriving settlements, how is it to be car- ried out, unless indeed we place not merely our soil at the disposal of our coming brethren, but offer with this soil also the indispensable requisities of a vigorous in- dustrial life, among which requisites the easy and inex- pensive access to a sufficiency of wood stands well-nigh foremost. I may be met with the reply, that the singular ra- pidity of the growth of Australian trees is such as to bring within the scope of each generation all that is required, as far as wood is concerned ; and as a corollary it would follow that each generation should take advan- tage of the facility thus brought locally within its reach. I can assure this audience that enlightened nations abroad do far more than this, and would not rest satisfied with the greater facilities here enjoyed ; they provide, with keen forethought and high appre- ciation of their duty for their followers, that before- hand which cannot be called forth at any time at will. If we examine this part of the question more closely, we shall find much to think about, much to act upon. Not even all our Eucalypts are of rapid growth ; they further belong to a tribe of trees with a hard kind of wood, which, though so valuable for a multitude of purposes, cannot supply all that the needs of life daily demand from us for our industrial work. The quick-growing Eucalypts, among which the blue-gum tree of this colony and Tasmania stands pre- eminent, are comparatively few in number, nor are these few all of gigantic size. They are, moreover, restricted in their natural occurrence to limited tracts of country, from which they must be established by the hand of man in other soil for the necessities of other communities— for the gratitude of other populations. Then, again, the Pines of foreign lands, often impress- ing a splendour on their landscapes, must be brought to our shores— to our Alps— with an intention of utilis- ing every square mile of ground, however unpromising in its sterility ; for, after all, that square mile repre- sents a portion, albeit so small, of the land surface of the globe. See how the Norway Spruce (which gives us so much of our deals and tar) insinuates its massive roots through the fissures of disintegrating rocks, or, failing to penetrate the stony structure, sends its trail- ing* roots over the surface and down the sides of the barest rocks until they have found a genial soil, how- ever scanty, on the edge of a precipice. I have endeavoured to arrive at some idea of the real age of the larger trees, which are sinking daily under our axes, often sacrificed unnecessarily. On this occasion, as an apt one, I may then explain, that a period of a quarter or even half a century must elapse before a solid plank, hardened by age, can be obtained from even a rapid-growing Eucalyptus tree. It is estimated to require 20 to 25 years before even a sleepei of blue-gum wood can be obtained from a tree planted in ordinary soil ; and that double the time will elaps before a sown tree of the still more durable red-gui Eucalyptus will furnish sleepers, such as hitherto have been in use for our railway works. But a supply of fuel from these trees may be obtained much earlier. Mr. Adam Anderson, a timber merchant of this city, Vet for forest operati of a twofold kind, for which justly envied. We can dissemi Eucalyptus trees in the most arid to them, as a first shelter, many of the native Casua- rinas and Acacias, and thus gain cover for less hardy trees of other countries. On the other hand, we fine" in the moist and rich valleys of our ranges a vast exten of space, where, under the mild influence of the clime sub-tropic trees could be reared million-fold ; where for instance, whole forests of the red Cedar might be originated. Besides, we do not stand at any advantage if we want to raise a belt of sea-coast 1 all along the shores, or if we wish to rear the Norway Spruce, or Silver Fir, or Larch, or Weymouth Fir, or the Douglas Pine, or any of the Pitch Pines of North America ; because we can call forth, if we like, whole forests of them on sub-alpine heights never yet thus utilised. Suppose we reckon that 100 forest trees would be required to be planted on an acre, allowing for periodic thinning-out ; and assuming that for climatic and hygienic considerations, as well as for the maintenance of wood supply, we should require finally one-fourth of our Victorian territory kept as a forest-area, we would expect to possess 1,568,000,000 trees, and to provide for their timely restoration in proportion to their removal or natural loss. Most of us are lulled into security by seeing that we receive as yet our foreign woods in the course of ordi- nary traffic, and we are not easily inclined to think that the supply may cease suddenly, or be obtainable only at an exorbitant expense. Even in the United States of America there are places where the price of fuel and timber has already risen fourfold. We are told that recently, in the States of Wisconsin and Michigan alone, during one single year, 2,000,000 of Pine trees were cut for lumber ; and it is estimated that at the present rate of destruction no timber trees will be left in those States after 50 years, while it will take a century to replace them, if even this be possible. Quebec exported in i860 not less than 70,000,000 cubic feet of squared or sawn timber, equal to about a million tons of wood — a large share yielded by the Weymouth Pine (Pinus Strobus)- not taking into account the current local consumption. This tree, yielding the white American pine-wood, requires fully 60 years of growth before it can be sawn into timber of any good size. During the first two years of the recent civil war in North America, 28,000 Walnut trees were felled to supply one single European factory with the material for gun-stocks, demanded for that fratricidal war. Is it not right to reflect in due time on the vast extensions of 'Iroads, manufactures, mines, ship-building, dwellings, and so forth, and then to ask, where is the wood supply to come from ? The requirements in this direction must necessarily rise with the increase of the population and the augmented refinements of civilisation, yet the area of supply we see constantly decreasing. The loss on Wheat crops during four of the more recent years in the State of Michigan alone, for want of shelter against cutting winds, was estimated at ;f 5,000,000, and this is regarded as the mere sequence of the removal of the forests, and not traceable to exhaustive culture. Cereal crops and Vines were destroyed in many parts of South Europe also, through the complete want of shelter. To give some idea how long a time will elapse before actual timber, not merely firewood, is obtained from planted trees, I subjoin a brief list of the more common Middle European forest trees, together with notes of their age when eligible for various timber purposes : — 1 Fir ve enjoy here advantages [ in Middle Europe we are quickly-grow That, however, in our winterless zone, such of these trees as will endure a warmer clime would advance with more quickness to maturity, must be readily mani- fest. The accurate Customs returns for the last year show an importation of foreign woods to the value of ;,f 223, 769 ; there was scarcely any export. This very month the imported building wood sent to Sandhurst alone has cost ^58,000. Some countries have not been altogether unmindful of the conservation of their forests. Germany, already much devastated at the time of the Romans, received its first forest laws as far back as the reign of Charlemagne — indeed with the commencement of agriculture and the settling of the nomadic hunter on fixed habitations. The forests thus discontinued to be common property, and in the 14th century there had commenced a forest economy. Full legislation, regular management and actual cultivation of trees on an extensive scale, date back 150 years. Venice formed its forest laws in the 15th century. Although the desire for ample hunting territory gave a great impulse to the restrictions placed on the encroachment of the Middle European forests, this at the same time saved them to the country. Within the operations of wood culture may also be included that of subduing drift-sand, and solidifying the latter finally by plantations. For this purpose can be chosen the Aleppo Pine, Cluster Pine, Scotch Fir, or our own less arboreous so-called seashore Tea trees {Melaleuca parviflora and Leptospermum lieviga- tum); further, the drooping She-oak (Casuarina quadri- valvis), the coast Honeysuckle (Banksia integrifolia), and also our desert Cypress, or so-called Murray Pine. As not only in close vicinity to our fine city one wilder- ness of shifting sand exists, but as also in other places of our shores the sand is invading villages, towns, and perhaps harbours, and as, moreover, many a desert spot inland may be reclaimed, I would remark, that to arrest the waves of the sand some wickerwork or cover of brush is needed on the storm side. Large seaweeds help to form such covering. Sods of Mesembryanthe- mum, to which the unpoetic name of "pigfaces" is here given, and which abounds on our coast, should copiously be scattered over the sand ridges ; wild Cabbage, Celery, Seakale, Samphire, New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia), Chamomile and various Clovers and Broom plants should be sown, and creeping Sand- grass (Festuca littoralis, Triticum junceum), Buffalo- grass (Agrostis stolonifera), &c., should be planted, particularly also sand Sedges and sand Rushes, among the best of which are Carex arenaria, and here the Sword Rush (Lepidosperma gladiatum). Psoralea pinnata and Rhus typhinum, Prunus maritima (the Canadian sea-coast Plum), and Ailantus glandulosa, prove also valuable in this respect. As eligible, I may add also the native Couch-grass (Cynodon Dactylon), the South African Ehrhartia gigantea, the European Psamma arenaria, Elyraus arenarius (or Lyme), even the Live Oak (Quercus virens), as also another American Oak (Quercus obtusiloba), and the Turkey Oak (Quercus Cerris), and perhaps Poplars, some Willows, and, among Firs, the Pinus insignis, Pinus edulis, P. rigida, P. australis. The common Brake Fern helps also much to conquer the sand. The New Zealand Flax covers coast sand naturally, within the very exposure of the spray. + It is needless to remark that exclusion of traffic from the sand is imperative, as also security against ingress of goats and domestic animals of any kind, otherwise the eflfort is hopeless. Fencing of the area and stringent municipal laws will make, how- ever, any operations of this kind, even without great expense, a success, as, in consequence of my advice, lould be remembered that most of our forest ranges are devoid of pine-wood, only one species of Callitris occur- few limited mountain districts, while our second Callitris ert species. Without coniferous trees of our own we Ity experience difficulty of obtaining the required supply pitch, turpentine, and pine-resin. Doubtless for many res iron is now substituted, but even a ship or a be built entirely of iron, and the very production of pendent on fuel. In the absence of coal, the use of iron, involving here an expenditure for heavy freight, must neces- t Dr. Jam. Hector calculated that in New Zealand an acre of „jod Flax land contained about 100,000 leaves of the Phormium tenax, and yields about 10 tons weight of dry leaves ; or, if only the outer leaves are taken, 4 tons. The yield of clean fibre is about 23 per 100 of the green leaf December 30, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ao^ricultural Gazette. has been shown at Queenscliff. Wood culture on drift- sand carries with it also the recommendation of pro- viding the needful belt of shelter which each coast should possess. There are a few other Pines— for instance, Pinus Taeda, the Loblolly Pine of North America, and several other trees which grow fast in sand whenever it is no longer moving ; they endure the sea storms, gradually consolidate the soil, and render it in course of time arable. In South Africa Tiome Proteas and Leucospermums, the Virgilia, also Myrica, grow in coast sand. All these planting opera- tions must be performed very early, and in the cool season. The grasses and herbs must precede the Pines and other trees. Teclmical Industries will gain from these Pines in due time. On the modes of raising or renovating forests not much can be said on this occasion. For natural up- growth, perfect clearing and fencing is recommendable. Subsequently, the removal of young crooked trees and the surplus of saplings is needed. Seedlings may be transferred from spots where they stand too densely, to more open or bare places. Suckers should be destroyed where the gain of good timber is an object. Periodic clearing of young trees is effected according to the rate of growth of the particular species ; lopping of branches is advisable should they densely meet. For broadcast sowing, the ground should be completely cleared and burnt. By breaking the ground a great acceleration of growth of the trees is attained, even to a tenfold degree. Planting in rows affords the best access for subsequent thinning and successive removal of the timber ; the quincunx system will give approach in three directions. Pines are planted in Germany only about 7 feet apart, as they require least room of all trees ; but 15 feet is a fair distance at an age of 40 years. The New Hampshire Pine stands only 5 to 6 feet apart at an age of 50 years, and yet is not pre- vented by this crowded growth from being then 100 feet high, with the stems very straight, and 1 8 inches in diameter at the base. If Pines and Oaks are pro- miscuously planted, then the former, which act as nurse-trees, are removed in 10 or 20 years, and the ground is left to the Oak, or any other deciduous tree, at distances at first 10 or 12 feet apart, and subse- quently wider still. No decayed wood is left in planted forests, as it would harbour boring insects. Pines are considered not to increase much in value after 80 years, when most of them have attamed full maturity ; afterwards they grow but slowly. Sometimes as many as 1200 Pine trees are set out on an acre, with a view of early utilisation of a portion of the young trees. The rate of growth may be much accelerated in most trees by irrigation, hence mountain streamlets should be diverted into horizontal ditches where forests are occupying hill-sides. The best cultivated forests of Germany are worth from three to five times as much as native woods. For shelter plantations, intended to yield ultimately also timber and fuel to farming populations, it is re- commendable to adopt the American method, according to which belts of trees are regularly planted at about quarter-mile distance, the belts, according to circum- stances, to be from 4 to 10 rods wide, and to be formed in such direction as to front the prevailing winds. These timber-belts are usually fenced. Such shelter- trees are likely to rise to 30 feet in 10 years, and have proved so advantageous as to double the farm crop, while judicious management of these tree-belts will supply the wood necessary for the farm. There are 1,400,000 square miles of treeless plains in the United States, which in due course of time will necessarily be converted to a great extent into agricultural areas on account of the generally excellent soil. The Locust tree is much chosen for shelter purposes. Denuded woodland of poor soil, left undisturbed to natural reno- vation, has become in some populous localities five times as valuable as the adjoining mferior tillage, or pasture land. F"or the greatest profit in fuel the trees in some parts of North America are cut about every 16 years. We here, commanding Eucalypts, Acacias, and Casuarinas, would gain wood-harvests still sooner. The increased value of less fertile lands through spon- taneous upgrowth of timber is estimated at yV^ths of simple interest annually in woodless localities, no labour being expended on this method of wood-culture. Judicious management in thinning-out enhances the Value of such forest land still more. Wet and un- drained grounds can be made to yield a return in Elms, Willows, Cottonwood, swamp Cypresses and other swamp trees, or stony declivities in Pines and Kucalypts, at a trifling cost. For details, the forest literature, which is in Germany particularly rich, should be studied. Capitalists would likely find it safer and more profitable to secure land for timber growth, than to invest in many another speculation. After the example set at Massachusetts, our agricultural societies might award premiums and medals for the best timber plantations raised in their districts. We have societies for the protection of domestic animals, native or intro- duced birds, young fish, &c. : why could not a strong and widely-spreadmg league be organised for the saving of the native forests ? Might not every child in a school plant a memorial tree, to be entrusted to its care, to awaken thus an interest in objects of this kinds at an early age ? Reverting to the importance of shelter, let me remark that 50 years ago the Peach flourished in North Pennsylvania, in Ohio and New York, where it caimot any longer now be grown, in consequence of the now colder and far more changeable climate, since the forests have been extensively removed. Even ordinary orchards and cereal fields suffer there now. Vet poor land will yield a better return in wood than in com crops, and it is not too much to say, that the favour- able effect of a young forest on climate may be felt already after a dozen years. Even on ordinary sheep runs trees are of the greatest importance, both for shelter and shade. (TV ic Ccutinued:) NYMPH.EA ODORATA. In Nymphaia odorata we have a perfect miniature of the N. alba. Its flowers are white, about the size of a florin, and highly fragrant, and they usually appear about July or August When cultivated in the open air the leaves average about 2 inches across, but when grown in the stove or greenhouse (as it often is, though perfectly hardy) the flowers will be 2 inches and the leaves 4 inches across, the latter generally of a reddish- purple underneath. It is of all others the plant for small tanks or basins, requiring only a depth of from 6 inches to 9 inches of water for its perfect development. If planted in a pond, it should be near the margin, and must not be planted more than a foot below the surface. It will also be advisable to introduce a few rough pieces of rock, so placed that the water can flow in and out, to separate it from the rest of the pond ; and also to lay a few smooth pebbles over the surface of the soil, to keep it in its place. The native habitat of this desirable aquatic is in ponds and slow-flowing streams from " Canada to Carolina." It is the most lovely of all the small- growing water plants, save and except that it has a rosy-cheeked cousin across the Atlantic, which, when introduced from the Canadian lakes, will become a formidable rival to it. Be it known, therefore, unto "Ye Englysshe " that the Nymphrea odorata rosea does exist in those lakes, and when we get the two to flower side by side, one rose and the other white, both equally fragrant withal, and corresponding in size, it will be a sight to see, and would almost justify us if we were to adopt the old name for these flowers, viz.. Water Roses, for thus they were termed in this country about the time, now nearly three centuries ago, that Prosper Alpinus wrote his work on " Egyptian Plants," the 136 plates of which, containing the Nelumbium, Papyrus, &c., were cut in "brasse." The N. odorata occasionally ripens seed in the open air in this country, and young plants have been raised therefrom ; still it is slow to increase, and is therefore comparatively rare. IV. Buckley^ in Fhfist and Pojnologist. gome Cflmspnknce. Holly Stealing. — For more than twenty years I have been a regular subscriber to and constant reader of your paper, and have learned to look upon it as the authority on all gardening matters, but notwithstanding this and the awful threats held out in the carol quoted in the article upon Holly in your last publication, I must ciy out, and if I were musical would sing too against Holly, for the following reason. About 20 years ago when I took possession of my present residence, the orchard was divided from the private road, leading only to my residence and the adjoining farm, by an old shabby quickset hedge, which I grubbed up and replaced wilh young Hollies from a nursery, for which I was ridiculed by my neighbours and pronounced a thorough Cockney for expecting them to grow in our soil and situation ; but, to their great surprise, they flourished to perfection, and with fair play would now be an object of perfect beauty : instead of which they are a perfect nuisance to me from the manner in which they are treated by passers-by of all classes at this period of the year. Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather of the past summer for most trees and shrubs, my hedge was fuller than ever of berries, but the consequence is that it is torn and cut to pieces by people of all classes. As there must be many other persons suffering from the same cause I think you could help us greatly by publishing in your widely circulated journal the risk such depredators run, which I think very few of them are at all aware of ; for which purpose I enclose an extract of the Act of Parliament. A Crier-out against Holly. Extract :—•' An Act to consolidate and amend the Statute Law of England and Ireland relating to Malicious Injuries to Property. 24 & 25 Vict., cap. 97, .August 6, 1S61. — Sec. 20. Whosoever shall unlawfully and malici- ously cut, break, bark, root up, or otherwise destroy or damage the whole or any part of any tree, sapling, or shrub, or any underwood growing in any park, pleasure- ground, garden, orchard, or avenue, or in any ground adjoining or belonging to any dwelling-house (in case the amount of the injury done shall exceed the sum of ^^i), shall be guilty ol felony, and being convicted thereof, shall be liable, at the discretion of the court, to be kept in penal servitude for the term of three years, or to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour, and with or without solitary confine- nient, and, if a male under the age of 16 years, with or without whipping." [We think our correspondent should rather call police than cry out against Holly, as it is cleariy the marauders— may their hands be well scratched ! — that are to blame. Perhaps an announcement that any one found in the act would be held guilty of purloining •'Ilex Aquifolium medio - picta - aurea-pallida-hetero- phylla," might create a wholesome terror. Seriously, we fully sympathise with our correspondent, and we cherish the same feelings of wrath against Holly stealers as against those who burden the poor bush with such appellations as the above. Eds.] Practical Syinpathy. — I have recently witnessed the sad destruction of the property of French horticul- turists in various parts of France, and have seen with how much care they nursed what still remained to them out of the wreck of what only a short time ago was the means of keeping them and their families, if not in a state of affluence, at least in competence suf- ficient for their modest wants ; but now all is changed, and nothing hut desolation is seen. No day seems too long for the humble French horticulturist ; at break of day you may see him, his wife, and children, commencing their daily toil — no nine hours' move- ment affecting in any way the aim and purpose of their lives — they work as much for the love of horti- culture as for the profits derived from it. It was very distressing to see a class of people, who, from the nature of their profession, must be considered in- telligent and who had no voice in bringing about or in preventing the folly which has desokted their homes, starved their children, reduced theur horticultural build- ings to heaps of ruins, and turned then: own beautiful gardens into wildernesses of tangled weeds and rubbish. Your appeal to our human sympathy will not, I hope, be made in vain, and, for my own part, I have much pleasure in handmg you a cheque for three guineas for the fund, and earnestly hope all horticulturists, whether amateur or professional, will aid a cause which has so great a claim upon their generosity. John Wills, F.R.H.S., December 25, 1871. French Horticulturists' Relief Fund. — I have read with much pleasure your appeal to the nation on behalf of the French horticulturists. Depend on it, there is no Communistic sympathy among them. Their occupation makes them a quiet, peace-loving people, content to live by the labour of their brains and hands, and never dreaming of snatching from others what they or their forefathers have for the most part acquired in the same way. I know by long intercourse with them that their instmcts and interests are alike opposed to revolution in every shape. They know full well that their business thrives in time of peace, and fails in war, and they are too practical and thoughtful to indulge in any wild vagaries. Thus it would be hard if they should be made to suffer for the mad escapades and sins of their fellows. Last year's destruction of the stock of many, and the limited sales of all, have been a heavy blow to many an industrious and thriving family, and the early and severe frost of this autumn has further seriously reduced the value of their small properties. In a letter now before me, from one of my regular coirespondents in the south of France, he says : — " We have justhad averysevere winter at Lyons, the thermometer has shown 24° and 26° of frost. The Roses are much injured, the wood of the Tea-scented is already cut down to the gi-ound, and the hybrid perpetuals will, I expect, be the same. We have had scarcely any snow, and this helped to cause a great deal of the mischief done. Standard Roses and Grape Vines will be as much damaged as they were last year." Let us then push on this movement, for I judge that by so doing we shall not be countenancing revolution, but rather discountenancing it, by holding out the hand of fellowship to those of our fellow labourers who are earnest, rational, and industrious. The desperadoes of the dark alleys and back slums of the large towns, if our efforts should reach their eyes or ears, will know well why Englishmen sympathise with and help those who labour industriously and orderly in the full free light of a cultivated garden. William Paul, Waltliaitt Cross, TV. Manure for Conifers. — .V few days ago a friend brought me a handful of one-year seedling Larch, the finest I have ever seen in Scotland ; the smallest measures 45 inches, the longest Sj inches in length, the strongest branched like two-year seedlings. The sample was pulled " without selection " from a breadth of about 2 acres, all of the same quality, in Messrs. Lawson & Sons nurseries, near Granton ; and what makes this crop the more interesting is the fact that while the Larch crop is but very middling in general about Edinburgh, this lot is in all respects first-rate. The man who gave my friend the sample said the reason of their being so very fine was, that there was a large quantityof guano used when sowing. Now as I have grave doubts about using guano for Conifer seedlings, I venture to hope that some of the readers of the Gardeners' Chronicle will give their experience in this matter. In the course of last summer I had a con- versation with Mr. Coates, Messrs. Lawson & Son's late foreman, and he was then against the practice of using guano for such purposes, and preferred well rotted manure ; but whatever manure he used or what- ever system he followed with his Conifer seed, the Larch referred to does him great credit. I am much interested in the cultivation of the Larch and Scotch 1 682 The Gardeners' Chronicle and ricultural Gazette, [December 30, 1871. Fuchsia Riccartoni.— I observe that attention has been called to this fine autumn shrub by Mr. Tillery. Too much can hardly be said in its praise. It has stood unprotected here for ten years ; sometime.^ when the old wood escapes the frost, it flowers early, from June to November. When cut down to the gi-ound, either by frost or by the knife, it pushes strong shoots from below, and makes a bolder shrub, but does not flower so early. In either case the mass of rich crimson flowers it produces, which you have only to turn to see the purple gems within, are gorgeous in autumn. I know of no shrub, unless it is the Hibiscus (Althcea frutex), at all comparable to it at that season. miliam Paul, Waltimm Cross, N. Picea nobilis. — We have a number of healthy p'ants of different sizes, both of Picea nobilis and Abies Douglasii, raised from seed ripened north of the Grampians. So well does the Douglas Fir succeed, that there is some annual growtli on the leaders of upwards of 3 feet in length. The Picea nobilis we have were raised from seeds grown in two different places in the North, both of which vegetated freely, and are growing healthy and strong, but none of them partake of the beautiful glaucous green of the parents. Their vigorous growth, however, thoroughly proves that the cones were perfectly ripened. I may here remark that I saw in Ross-shire, about theendofjune last, a fine healthy tree of Picea nobilis, somewhere about 50 feet in height, with its top branches well covered with large cones. This interesting specimen was growing in a sheltered situation in the pleasure-grounds and near the mansion house of CouU, the property of Sir Robert McKenzie, Bart. , and is close to the south-west base of Ben Wyves, "the windy hill," or "hill of the storm.'' There was also growing in the same grounds a much larger specimen of Abies Douglasii, but unfortunately it had lost its top some years ago by the wind : it has now got a divided top of several leaders. These facts will serve to show tliat the climate of the far North is, after all, really not what those wlio have never frequented these parts suppose it to be, as may be readily seen by referring to Mr. Glaisher's interesting weather tables, weekly recorded in these pages. It will have been observed that for three weeks' readings previous to the date of December 9, the average temperature of both day and night was higher in Scotland. It is also worthy of remark that at Norwich the temperature was 8° lower than any recorded station, thermometer being at 9°, or 23° of frost, while at this place the lowest.tempe- rature up to December 21 has only been 25°, or 7° of frost. Although it is not usual to have such a dis- parity, still as a rule we have less frost and a higher summer temperature along the southern shores of the Moray Frith and in Easter Ross than is to be found in many other places in Scotland and north of England. This is no doubt owing to the influence of the Gulf Stream washing our northern shores, and the narrow breadth of land between the Atlantic and German Oceans. I think Mr. Glaisher would do science some good by having another station somewhere along the Moray Frith. J. Wcbsler, Gonkm Castle. Carrot Grubs.— Can any of your readers tell me of a preventive for the Carrot grub ? I say preventive, because I am afraid nothing will destroy it. I have put some of the larva? into quicklime and soot, and they seem to exist for days, and ultimately perish from want of sustenance more than from the ill elTects of the lime or soot. I have dug these into the ground until it has been black with the latter. Though our ground is not what is considered favourable for Carrots, we seldom fail to have good-sized ones — indeed, I think they have increased in size for the last three years ; but our crops are of very little use to us after Christmas. Perhaps some of your entomological readers would give the history of this formidable enemy, and, if possible, drawings of it, with any hints as to the best means of getting rid of it. W. P. K. [Which of the several larva; that attack the Carrot does " W. P. R." refer to? Ens.] Orange Culture.— I am glad to see that Mr. Rivers is making such satisfactory progress in Orange growing ; but, before he equals the culture of half a century ago, he will have to step considerably ahead of the pot system of growth. The following extract from a paper writen by my late father, and read before the Horticultural Society, March 13, 1820, will show what was thought of Orange culture in those days. He " The fruit which I exhibited before the Society was part of the produce of 1818, which was particularly great in that year, 19 of the older trees yielding 298 dozen of fruit, being an average of nearly 15 dozen to each tree. This quantity was thus produced :— The Citron tree in the greenhouse produced eight dozen of fruit, eacli Citron measuring from \3,\ inches to 16! inches in circumference ; three China Orange trees, one m the greenhouse and two in the conservatory, had 60 dozen of fruit, some of which measured 13 inches round ; six Seville Orange trees, one in the greenhouse, three in the conservatory, and two in tubs, bore 140 dozen of fruit ; seven Lemon trees, three in the conservator}-, three in the greenhouse, and one in a tub, had 50 dozen of fruit ; and from two Lime trees, CO dozen of fniit were produced." I mny mention that, for the growth of this crop, which was specially visited by Sir John Sinclair, Sir Abraham Hume, and Mr. Sabine, my father was made a prac- tical Fellow of the Horticultural Society ; and Mr. Donald Munro but a short time before his death stated in public company that the collection referred to was the best ever exhibited before the Society. Oranges at Shipley, where my father was gardener, were regarded as a specialty, a supply being required for the dessert just the same as of Peaches, Grapes, or Pine-apples. An Orange fully matured upon the tree is something very superior to those which we purchase, the best flavoured fruit being those which drop dead ripe from the tree. W. P. Ayres, Ne-Mark-on-Tmit. The Visit of the Royal Horticultural Society to Birmingham,— I witnessed some of the short- comings at Nottmgham. I think an arrangement may be made by which all articles relating to horticulture or floriculture should be concentrated, even from a watering-pot up to the most costly conservatory. The bazaar part should be distinct. The hints thrown out by Mr. Thorpe are worth consideration. I am also of his opinion, that there is very great improvement needed in the exhibition of vegetables, the most useful products of the garden. I can also bear testimony to the necessity of protecting choice fruit when staged. Some few weeks back I attended a three days' show in the West of England, held in a building the floor of which was paved with wood. The dust from it, I can assure you, did not improve the appearance of the fruit by the end of the third day, anil there were instances of pilfering also. Now f the fruit had been protected by a case similar to those placed on shop counters, but made in a more portable and economical manner, both would have been prevented. Surely the Royal Horticultural Society has power to allow exhibits to be thus protected. I ould suggest that all exhibitors should be allowed cover their fruit after the judges have made th< awards. Exhibitors would then be enabled to lea their exhibits for two or three days without fear of injury or pilfering. I enclose you a sketch (fig. 354) of what I would suggest ; they can be made in pine or mahogany, varnished, and could be itsed for other and void of interest, but quite the contrary. We grow our Tomatos in pots (9-inch ones), under glass of course, and we have them from May to December. Amateurs, I have no doubt, would find they could get ripe fruit sooner by growing them in pots and training them against a wall than by planting them out and allowiiig the roots to go everywhere, the shoots also, and void of fruit — g-inch pots half plunged during the early season, and the roots wandering out of the bottom for a time, and severed by lifting the pot when the fruit was half-grown, would insure more ripe fruit than the ordinary common way of planting-out entirely. I was not aware till this year that the Currant Tomato was of much use in the kitchen. I have grown it as a pillar fruiting plant, and on trellises for ornament, and for the first time it has been used this ways by our chefde aihi/ie. I have : be used as j m many it could fruit preserved in sugar syrup, as is purposes, which would be useful to gardeners. These fruit protectors can also be made continuous, or rather in sections, which fasten together in different compart- ment>, to cover show tables of any length, and may be made with or without bottoms. TT. F. Chapman, Brhtc! Rmd, GlouccsU-,: Plants in Bloom at Knowsley Garden, Decem- ber 14, 1871. — In the siovo : Poinsettia pulcher- rima and its variety, albida ; Pentas carnea. Plumbago rosea, \'inca rosea and alba ; Epiphyllum truncatum, violaceum, and aurantiacum ; Gesnera zebrina, Panicum variegatum. Begonia Ingtamii, fuchsioides, rosea, odorata, hydrocotylifolia, and a free blooming white one, not known here : Fucharis amazonica, Serico- graphis Ghiesbreghtiin?., ArJisia cienata {well berried). Orange, Gardenia litiuni,.;.!. Cuul Iiouse : Chrysan- themums of kind;. riim-lA Lliinjiiii; of kinds, double Polyanthus Narci^sui, l;.ini,in I ly.^.cinth. Erica hieinalis, Lapageria rosea, LucuHa gratissima. Tree Mignonette, Camellias of kinds. Azaleas splendens and amcena, Heliotropium peruvianum, .\butilon striatum. Pelargo- nium RoUissou's Unique. The Abutilons, Luculia, Lapageria and Heliotropium, are planted out. Foliage plants that look wcil to mix with stove plants named above : Drac.'ena teratinalis, Cooperi, and ferrea ; Cro- ton pictum, variegatum, and angustifolium ; Pandanus utilis, Sanchezia nobilis variegata, Maranta Veitchii, Cyanophylhun magnificum, Dieffenbachia picta, Alo- casia metallica, Peperomia argj'rea, Fittonia Pearcei and Verschaffeltii. Pothos argyrea, and Tradescantia discolor. A. Z. Tomatos.— The Trophy Tomato I put as No. i, for this reason, that among Tomatos it is as superior as is the Rock Potato coarse among Potatos. It is a round, smooth, large, handsome Tomato, entirely void of ridges and furrows, as in all other large sorts of Tomatos, and hence more useful in the kitchen, and less liable to damp and rot at this season. We have some very fine specimens just now, that were gathered partially green and ripened on shelves in the pineries. As the taste for Tomatos is gradually increasing in this country — now that it is pretty well known they are in any way a remedy for dyspepsia and indigestion— to know what sort is best to grow is not a small matter, done with all other ripe fruits so cleverly, by the French chiefly. It would form a very beautiful dish if the colour and the entire grappe could be preserved. The variety I allude to is the Solanum racemigerum, which must not be confounded with a variety some- times called the Currant, of the size of a Cherry. This le is as small as a Black Currant, and with grappes foot and more long. //. K. Habits of Ants.— On the Riviera there are certain species of ants which habitually collect very large supplies of seeds of various kinds, those of wild species of grasses, leguminous plants, Amaranth, &c., forming the bulk of these collections ; but cultivated plants are also put under contribution, and beds of Parsley and borders of dwarf Campion are not unfre- quently robbed. Now I am aware that Huber, Gould, Kirby, and Spence have all stated that their experience of the habits of European ants was entirely opposed to the statements previously made as to their systematic harvesting of seed ; but still the fact remains, that in Southern Europe, India, and Texas ants do amass large quantities of grain ; and I have met with a few- intelligent, though not trained, observers who assert Etirope. I shall feel much obliged to any person who is in the habit of cultivating plants for seed in England or on the Continent if he would furnish me with any reliable data as to robberies committed by ants upon the produce of his crops of grain or seed. ?. Trahcrtte Moggridgc. Outdoor Fig Culture.— Praning the Fig or using too much of the knife has acted on our best cultivators rather like the paring of corns. Now all, I think, will agree with me that neither will Figs do long nor corns feel comfortable without a certain amount of the knife. The only difference between praning corns and Figs is this — the com you can prune until it nearly comes to the bleeding point ; the Fig requires to be well thinned out with the knife in order to prevent the over-crowding of the shoots from the great exuberance of its foliage, and if not duly attended to in proper time to give the wood a chance of ripening, it is needless for me to say the crop will in general be a failure, unless in very favoured localities. Unless the trees are kept thin of wood, whether trained horizontally or fan fashion, the chances of good crops will be indil- ferent. I have mentioned before in your columns that summer thinning is of the most importance to the well ripening of the wood of the Fig out-of-doors. I must admit that I never gained much by pinching the Fig cultivated in the open air. As your able correspondent, IMr. Fish, truly observes, "except in the sunny South, only one crop can be ripened in the year out-of-doors;" and, as he further and justly observes, respecting his so-called Figlets, I thoroughly believe in a good how of them ; thin, weakly wood -will not produce them, neither under inside nor outside cultivation ; so that, whatever system the cultivator may adopt, success will, as a general rule, follow the strong, short-jointed wood, and with plenty of feeding at the proper time they will produce plenty of Figs. J. Miller, Worksop Manor, American Early Rose Potato. — At p. 1619 "Amateur" ask for information on the above Potato in different soils, &c. In 1870 1 planted a small qu.an- tity— I lb. of seed — and had 33 lb. of good-sized tubers from it, and, owing, as I think, to the very dry ner, they were of very fair quality when cooked (boiled), but not equal by a long way to our best Eng- 'arieties ; when baked with their skins on in a brisk , they wei-e very good, and looked very nice when dressed for table. In 1S71 I planted a con- siderable quantity, thinking it might improve in quality, but was greatly disappointed, as it turned out ' e one of the very worst in our whole collection, ig, probably, to some extent, to the wet summer have had. They were planted in rows 2 feet iches apart, and 15 inches from set to set, all planted whole, with all eyes but one cut out, on very heavy loam : the yield was very heavy, and fine, large, handsome Potatos, but of so little value, that I have for ever discarded it — and this is the verdict of nearly evei-y one who has tried it in this neighbourhood. The .me, to some extent, maybe said of qualities of all the merican varieties of which I have any experience, have great pleasure in drawing attention to a Potato December 30, 1871.] The Gardeners' Ch ronicle and Agricultural Gazette. of leal ; , f . , , - , ''"'' n^™ely. Veitch's Improved Ash- leaf. Although not exactly a new one, it is not suffi- ciently knoivn, or it would be much more extensively cultivated. It is quite a week earlier than Myatt's Ashleaf, Improved Walnutleaf, or Mona's Pride and produces much larger and more even-sized Potatos than any of them. This for earliest, with White Blossom Kidney second, Webb's Imperial third, Fluke fourth, and Paterson's Victoria latest, will o-ive " Amateur " much more satisfaction than any of^'the American varieties yet offered, notwithstanding the extraordinary price asked for some of them. John May, Tl,c Gardens, Westfield, Haylrngs Island, Hants. „ £"'^""1,''"®-— A' P- '6'S, your correspondent, H. K., in speaking of Cucumbers, says, " I look upon Blue Gown as the handsomest and finest ol all Cucumbers also as prolific." Would he kindly inform us if he grows Rollisson's Telegraph (true)'— the general opinion being that this is by far the most prolific, although I have no desire whatever to deny the handsome appearance of the Blue Gown G Shnmonds, Sydenham. 1683 Long. Elementary Treatise on Physics, etc. lated and Edited from Ganat's Elements de Ph By (i. Atkinson, Ph.D. Fifth Ed mans. 1S72. Pp. 828 ; fig. 726. This is an .admirable text-book, clearly and accurately written and well illustrated. It occupies a middle place between rudimentary outlines and the more elaborate and complex works or monographs on parti- cular subjects. The editor has evidently been careful m this new edition to incorporate the results of the most recent researches of Tyndal and other physicists It might have been expected, perhaps, that the appli cation of physics to vegetable and animal physiology would have received more attention at the hands of the author and editor than it has done, and we can but regret that the subject is passed over with such scanty reference. Englisli literature is singularly deficient in this respect as compared with German, and we believe that one reason for the neglect on the part of our teachers and pupils of this most important subject is the absence of a good text-book, setting forth clearly the agency of light, heat, gravity, and electricity on plant-life. That the author and editor of the present work are not disqualified for such a task, is shown by the following citation, which may serve as an illustra- tion of the method employed in the work before us :— " Cold Produced by Nocturnal Radialhm.—Xim'ma the day the groun_d_ receives from the sun more heat "than reverse is the earth loses by radiation is consequently a fall of temperatu greater according as the sky is clearer, for clouds send towards the earth rays of greater intensity than those which come from the celestial spaces. In some winters It has been found that rivers have not frozen, the sky having been cloudy, although the thermometer has been for several days below 4- : while in other less severe winters the rivers freeze when the sky is clear. The emissive power exercises a great influence on the cold produced by radiation ; the greater it is the greater is the cold. In Bengal, the nocturnal cooling is used in manu- facturing ice. Large flat vessels containing water are placed on non-conducting substances, such as straw or dry leaves. In consequence of the radiation the water freezes, even when the temperature ol the air is 10° C. The same method can be applied in all cases with a clear sky. "It is said that the Peru\ians, in order to preserve the shoots of young plants from freezing, light great fires in their neighbourhood, the smoke of which, producing an artificial cloud, hinders the cooli ' " radiation." age age were over 70, The £ died in that year was ' ' Adanson, the French botanist old when Ihe Revolution broke out, lost everything- his fortune, garde But his ■ forsook him. patK about 70 years amidst the shock places, and courage, and resignatic He became reduced to the greatest siraits, ana even wanted food and clothing ; yet his ardour of investigation remained the same. Once, when the Institute invited him, as being one of its oldest members, to assist at a siancc. his answer was that he regretted he could not attend for want of shoes. ' It was a touching sight,' says Cuvier, ' to see the poor old man, bent over the embers of a decaying fire, trying to trace characters with a feeble hand on the little bit of paper which he held, forgetting all the pains of life in some new idea in natural history, which came to him like some beneficent fairy to cheer him in his loneliness.' The Directory eventually gave him a small pension, which Napoleon doubled ; and at length easeful death came to his relief in his 79th year. A clause in his will, as to the manner of his funeral, illustrates the character of the man. He directed that a garland of flowers, provided by 58 families whom he had established in life, should be the only decoration of his coffin-a slight but touching image of the more durable monument which he had erected for himself in his works." space, and the temperature rises. The during night. The heat which the longer compensated for. and takes place, which produced Character. By Samuel Smiles. Murray. Small Svo. Encouraged probably by the success of his former works, Mr. Smiles has here given us a long series of extracts from his common-place book, tiresome to read fronj their multiplicity, and deficiency in cohesion. Each individual anecdote has its interest and its value, no doubt, but the reader becomes wearied by the incessant passage from one subject to another, with only ail imperfect link to connect them together. In truth, Mr. Smiles has here accumulated materials for a dozen books, and has used them with much less literary skill than did Isaac Disraeli in his famous "Curiosities of Literature," and other works. Nevertheless, Mr. Smiles' book may, with all con- fidence, be recommended to those who at this season are in search of a "nice book" for their elder children. As an illustration of Mr. Smiles' method of treating his subject, we may quote some of his remarks as to the cheerful frame of mind with which many naturalists have been blessed :— " The study of natural historj', more than that of any other branch of science, seems to me accompanied by unusual cheerfulness and equanimity of temper on the part of Its votaries ; the result of which is, that the life of nnl"^ r'' "■, °" T ""''°'^' "'°''<' Pi-olonged than that of any other class of men of science. A member of the Lmnean hociety has informed us that of 14 members who died in 1870, two were overgo, five were over 80 and iwn I We have received from Messrs. J. Weeks & Co. a specimen of their annual Pocket Bool; and Diary, which contains, in addition to the diary, which can early history and development of the hot-walei ratus. It is well got up and nicely finished off, i THE WEATHER. TEMPERATURE OP THE AIR AND FALL OP RAIN Leicester Norwich Sh° mefd "' Livernool Manclieste! Sallord .. Bradford Edinburgh GlasBOw DunSee.. (^rn^rn #perali0tts. (FOR THE ENSUING WEEK.) PLANT HOUSES. Camellias, though they do not at this season give much outward indication of growth, are nevertheless very busily at work. As the development of the being earned on very rapidly, to permit lufler from root drought at this particular time IS to induce certain injury to the blooms, either by causing the buds to drop off, or to render the future blossoms of poor quality. The whole plant also suffers to a great extent. We must, therefore, give every possible attention to these plants, and more particularly to those that are planted out into open borders. We may easily learn what state the lower soil of such borders is actually in, and act accordingly. A good root-watering is, however, likely to aid them all at this time. These remarks are applicable to Indian Azaleas, and some other similar plants which we intend to force at an early date, that they also may have an oppor- tunity of niaking some advance before we begin to force. It is not only advisable but also necessary at this dull, damp period of the year to look over all kinds of plants periodically, and to remove at the earliest possible moment all dead leaves or other symptoms of decay that exist. This cannot be too much insisted on, as the symptoms increase with great rapidity. Amongst the many more or less hardy kinds of Orchids there may be some which are showing flower at this season, such as Phaius grandl/olms, Dendrobinm noldle, D. chrysaiithum, Cymlddinm, &c. ; these must be encouraged by an occasional supply of at the root, and by being maintained i epid 1 The , which i arger, later vhilst Friday '. 25. Monday 2«. Tues. . Wednes =9-8i 39.5 =9.62 ,4.3 « )S Weight ol t^3 I Vapour in O Z Foot of Temperature c Deu. i Deg. Deg. Sunday. 25. Monday ass's %ll ill I :)-:■ ; overcast aftenvarc S,°t'i^l *■' alent ; a fine day. Lui JAMKS GLAISHER. IS necessary to keep grow- ing on, will in all probability be much benefited by a shift at this time into pots one size larger, and into a good rich compost, somewhat more consistent than that in which they have previously been grown. The number and quality of their blooms will by this means be increased. Press the soil somewhat more firmly into the pots than before for a like purpose. These plants must still be kept in a cool tempera- ture, and where a steady strong growth can be made. Others which are about to flower may be kept in a somewhat warmer temperature, which will aid them greatly at this dull season in the development of their flowers. Be very careful not to over-water any kind of pot plants, bearing in mind the fact that we only should wish to keep the plants in as perfect health as possible, and to induce as little real growth as may be practicable. FORCING HOUSES, In regard to forcing operations generally, it may be said, now, when a certain though only moderate I increase of daylight occurs, that the change is in favour of the forcing practitioner, ond his opera- tions may be carried on with greater success than heretofore. We must not, however, permit these facts to induce us to increase the artificial heat incau- tiously, as no amount of after caie will retrieve the of vigour occasioned by over-forcing just now, it by "holding back" at this period such an amount of vigour will be retained for the benefit of the forced subjects, as will admit of a very high tempera- ture being used by-and-by when a very rapid and safe advance will be possible. In regard to Fruiting Pines, permit the bottom-heat to range up to 82° or 84° with unbroken constancy ; in view of which have fresh tan ready, scatter a goodly thickness of it on to the surface of the beds, and so stir the whole with a stiff stick as to mix them together without upsetting the pots. In all instances where, owing to the vicinity of pipes or flues, the old tan has become dry, endeavour to moisten it by the usual means. Do not by any means excite the successional plants to make any unnecessary growth at this season. Those Forced Vines which started in November, exhibit signs of "breaking" freely and uni- formly, should now be tied up permanently in cases where the rods have been loosened and bent down to aid them in making a start. Keep up the slight sprinklings, and afford on every possible occ.ision a nice amount of fresh air, taking care to avoid draught. Proceed with the dressing of successional houses with the usual mixture of soft soap, lime, and sulphur. In very early Peach and Nectarine houses increase the heat a little when the blooms show signs of final develop- ment previous to expanding. Do this by affording addi- tional heat as gradually as possible, so that nothing like a fluctuation of temperature be experienced. Water the earliest Figs copiously at the root, and syringe them freely overhead as a preliminary to starting them into activity. Sow seeds of desirable sorts of Cucumbers, keeping the pots reared well up to the glass at the time germination takes place, and during the earlier stages of growth. The same remarks apply to Melons in cases where very early fruit is in demand. Bring another batch of Strawherry plants into a cool house ; make also a sowing of Dwarf French Beans toward the end of the incoming week, placing them in a moderate temperature only, that the process of germi- nation be not hurried. Sow in 60-sized pots. HARDY FLOWER GARDEN. At this period, when great vicissitudes often occur in the weather at short intervals, it will be necessary 1 684 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [December 30, 187 1. to attend more particularly to Auriculas, Polyanthuses Pansles, &c., in cold frames than is necessary in settled weather. In regard to such subjects as the above, and indeed the general stock wintered in this place, it will be necessary to allow air with great freedom during all mild periods following a frost, as the condensed vapour bathes all internal surfaces in such a place with dripping moisture. FRUIT ROOMS. Look over and sort out Pears and Apples in the fruit room, and where it is possible to do so light a very moderate fire to move the stagnant air, and dis- pel its clammy dampness. Lay the fruit out singly if possible, removing all straw or other material which has ceased to be of use, and only tends to increase the injurious internal dampness. KITCHEN GARDEN. Beds of fermenting materials should now be made up to sow PaMs/ics, Onions, and similar salads, where a great demand exists. During a mild period take up also such plants of Endive as still exist under temporary shelter out-of-doors, and remove them to frames or other suitable situations, where a moderate growth can be made and the necessary blanching carried out. Another batch of Chicorv should also be placed in the simila position, to furnish Mushroom-housf the successional supply of blanched leaves. As the success of outdoor-sown Peas and Broad Beans already in the ground is somesvhat questionable, owing to the early and untoward frosts, it will be advisable imme- diately they show through the ground, to place a layer of decomposed leaf-mould, or some similar light subject, not over retentive of moisture, over them. This ivill aid them whilst they are establishing their roots more permanently in the ground, especially should another harsh, cold period follow quickly. IV. E. Notices to Correspondents. •.LECTION OF Peas : G. .itile rrcniier, Veitch's Perfectj Premier, Veitch's Perfeclic seasons, and grow desire in the way of VSPAEAGU ■e Yardlcy. Earliest Crop : r. Second or Main Crop : Late Crop : Advancer, These, sown at the proper 1, will give you all you can I dwarf Peas with quality. ETiciioKES ; E. L. Your letter did ;losure. Asparagus you may plant at any time now, when the ground is in good condition. Artichokes should be planted in March. Books- M. G.. Brixton. Thompson's "Gardener's Assistant" (Blackwood).— .4 Constant Reader. " Br^- haut on the Peach," " McEwen on the Strawberry."— T. W. Mrs. Loudon's " Amateur Gardener's Calen- dar " (Warne & Co.), will suit you admirably. Reply to other question next week. Lichen : W. P. , Shrewsbury. The plant which persist- ently appears year after year, though a thick coat of paint on a garden rail, and referred by you to Peziza, is a Lichen, either Lecideaasruginosa, or very near to it. Peaches, &c. ; A Subscriber. Six Best Peaches : Early York, Grosse Mignonne, Bellegarde, Noblesse, Barring- ton, Walburton Admirable. Two Nectarines : Elruge, Victoria. Three other Peaches: Royal George, Lord Palmerston, Belle Beauce. One Nectarine : Pitmaston Orange. Catalogues Received ;— 'Wheeler & Son's Little Book, or Select Seed List for 1872.— |ames Cocker's Descrip- tive Catalogue of Gladioli and Pansies.— Sutton's Ama- teur's Guide and Spring Catalogue for 1872. Errata.— In Mr. Baker's analytical key to the species of Lily, at p. 1650, owing to an oversight, the meaning of a portion of the Table is rendered obscure. The portion of the key referred 10, is correctly follows ; — Leaves i— J inch broad, 3—5 Flower-segments i— i inch broad. Leaves close, 50 — 80 to a stem. Flowers bright red, not (26. t dotted. I ^ Fruit. ; s.d.\ to 5 o Melons, e.ach —6s o Oranges, per 100 — 10 Pears, per dozen — 6 o I Pine-apples, per II — 10 o Pomegranates, eai Vegetables. Beet, per doz. . . i Broccoli, purple, per bundle Brussels Sprouts, p. Cabbages, p. doz. . . Capsicums, p. 100.. i Carrots, p. bunch . . < Cauliflowers, p. doz. ; Celery, per bundle . : Chilies. per too . . i Potatos, Regents. Herbs, 1 Onions, per bunch.. 04- Parsley. p. bunch ..02- Peas, new, per pun. — - Radishes, per bunch 02- Rhubarb, p. bund. .16- Salsafy, p. bun. ..09- Seakale, per punnet i 6 - Shallots, per lb. ..08- Spinach, per bushel 30- ,os. ; Flukes, 120J. to 150J. POTATOS.— Southwark, Dee. 27. iring the past week the arrivals have again been in ;s of the demand, and many stored to save demurrage. The trade is very dull, and likely to be so till the Christmas holidays are over. The following are the quotations ; —Yorkshire Flukes, per ton, looi. to 130^. ; Yorkshire Regents, 6or. to iooj. ; Dunbar and East Lothian do., iioj. to i4or. ; Perth, Forfar, and Fifeshire do., 901. to iioj. ; do. Rocks, 85J. to 90J. ; Kent and Esse: Regents, 50^. to 90J.; do. Rocks, yos. to %os. Whites, 60J. to 70^. Indestructible Terra-Cotta Plant Markers. MAW AND CO.'S PATENT.— Prices, Printed Patterns, and Specimens sent pc ' Patterns of Ornamental Tile Pavements Halls, &c. MAW and CO., Bcnthall ■ Conservatories, Entrance JOHN PARCHMENT or Labels, punched parchmt for 35s., cash on delivers'. S postage statrip. Orders delivered free LABELS-Tree or PI: I'.KIi '°°°f "' fsHE\''"XNircoT,"Labei Works; Bo! Lincolnshire. Save your Plants from the Frost. MARRATT'S SELF- REGISTERING THERMOMETER, for Marking telling the Present Temperature. No G; Price IS. , or by post, IS. 4^. MARRATT, Optician, 63, King Willi ^ how Cold i Liardener should be without it. , London Bridge, E.C. JAS. ANDERSON'S TAGANROG MA' led post free on applii T. ANDERSON, 7. TS gives the size Petersburg, for Covering and Packing. Second ; angel, lOos. ; Petersburg, 60s. and 80s. : superior close Ma andsjs. : packing Mats, 20s., 30s., and 33s. per 100; and description of Mats at equally low prices, at J BLACKBURN AND StJNS, Russia Mat and Sack 4 and 5, Wormwood Street, E^^ H^^Sna bIackbur'n . J. elac Manufactui i. per yard, advancing y^d. rim, 3<; 3}iji 4^., 4ft<<. and M tjS, Sack and Bag Makers, and Horticultural and 'Window Glass 'Warencuses. JAMES MILES, 6, High Street, and 12 and 13, Blosson Street, Shoreditch, London, E. CONSERVATORY and ORCHARD-HOUSE GLASS. Genuine White Lead, Oils, Colours, Brushes, b-c. GARDEN ENGINES, PUMPS, SYRINGES, INDIA-RUBBER HOSE, TAPS, CONNECTIONS, Stc. Prices upon application. 1 address.— EDMONDSo'n BROTHERS, WANTED, Two young Men, as IMPROVERS, have had some experience in Nursery Work in the v W^a^nted; "" a young Man, 18 or 20, as IMPROVER, aan's Garden, where a general system of Gardening . Premium required.— D. JUDD, The Gardens, W^ ^N , a steady, ted with tli« Seed Trade : Place', Stoc'kport. Seed Trade. WANTED, a young Man as SECOND SHOPMAN. -One who has had some experience, and accustomed to Counter Work.— Address,! stating wages required, with references, toEox6i, Post Office, Hull. WANTED, a thoroughly respectable and cc Man as PORTER, in a situation of trust in the B^\'o! irr're°ui?i"d''ofsome"°J s^joperlnnu WANT PLACES.-Letters to be Post Paid. Gardeners and Under ( WM. CUTBUSH AND SON beg to state that they undertaken, wages otTcred, &c., so that suitable Men may be selected. — Highgate Nurseries, London, N. HENDERSON A well recommended.- Apply, first ti c Management of La .MUIR,OultonParl Managemenj Pine-apple Nu Gardening gencrally.- GARDENER (Head).— The Advertiser offers £s to any Nurseryman, Traveller, or Gardener who will procure him is.-AL'pffAi t Office, Ryde, Isle of Wight. /•:i ARDENER (HEAD).-Age26. . Greelih"'. years experience ( 1 ARDENER (Head).— Age 37, married, V!T has a thorough practical knowledge of the proles; take charge of Park or Meadow Land, '^ '— ' - '■' , 16, College Slrest, H. 106, Mare Street, Hackni HOUSES, Glazed, ready f 21 feet by 13 feet, £28 : CONSERVATORY in stc Estimates g JAMES Horticultural atf.r arpar.\tus manufacturers, ,. Good substantial-made GREEN- ing, 42 feet long by n wide, price ^50 ; feet by 10 feet, ,£15. A handsome S feet long, iS feet wide, ill 10. h in the above line in Wood or Iron. GARVIE AND SONS, Horticultural , beg respectfully tural buildings they 1 ; of every descriptio VINERIES, STOVES, iveSs^'in' VF.STif ATION and^'HEAff^ HOT-BED FRAMES, and every requisite 1 Leaves la-x, about 30 t Flower-segments 3 — r in Hook. fil. if first paragraph, -T. L.-T. B.- , Weddell.-J. I 1.— G. W.— W. ! CO VENT GARDEN.— Dec. 29. The markets have been very languid and dull since last week, the holidays intervening having a marked influence as usual. Supplies, however, have been well kept up, and the northern markets have nnich assisted us, in taking large quantities of rough produce. Asparagus and Sea- kale have much improved with the open weather, and i excellent, though not large. A few new Peas I hand from France, T-WATER APPARATUS of t up in New and Old Houses. Houses Repaired. Painted, an lating Apparatus. Designs and Estimate TEAM JOINERY WORKS, 60, Huntl Fitted up wit WANTED, as PARTNER, a persevering Working Man, capable of Managing the Outdoor Department of a small Nursery, sTtuntcd ncnr a Targe Town in the South of England. Satisfactorj. nftrcncesjiivcn ai.d expected. Terms, £100 down, and iisoin 12 mni.ih \'. : I ,\;. IS Howcroft& Co., Seedsmen, &c., M? ESS :ultiTator. I 1 CH AND SONS wish uinaiuhly competent to undertake t terns, including all the best Sto\ The Greenhouse Palms would al references and wag Road, Chclst Nursery, ng refei King's Greenhouse, and Hardy be under his charge.— A] WANTED, in a Gentleman's Establishment, an UNDER gardener, who understands the Forcing of Pot Vines, Cucumbers, Melons, and Flowering Plant: S-own. Wages. j8s. per week.— State age ARDENER, Broughton, West Derby, near Lii I large quantity are -jyj-ESSRS to a suitable person.— Apply, in the particulars, Royal Exotic Nursery, _ ClerlES. EITCH AND SONS are MEETING with a thoroughly efficient CORRE- NG CLERK. Liberal and progressive wages will be given in the first instance, by letter, stating full London, W. GARDENER (Head), age 37, mamed, (aged 9).— John Easteb, Head Gardener to G. Stubton Hall, Newark, is at liberty to treat with any well versed Greenhouse hcrough practical oaraener. Vines, Peaches, Stove and d Ferns, also Early and Late I good Kitchen and Flower J. C-, Cromarty 'Sut PROPAG.VrOR in general, or PROPAGATOR and GROWER— Age 26 ; a good Salesman. Good character. -A. B, , Post Office, Leytonstone, Esse-\. PROPAGATOR (Soft-\ Married, no family; has a the Can Grow for Exhibition or Marl character.— A. B., I3, Hill Road, Si ■OOD), and GRO'WER.- ough knowledge of the professic et, if required. Nine years' go John's Wood, London, N.W. Son, who for en on applic LAND STE open for engi a good Judge of Stock of all kinds, the Estate being transferred. Engl; Mr. M'l.AREN, Gartshore, Kirkin F.\CTOR.— ' a Ho'me"a"rm^ -piARM V,^ Nobleman or Ge petent Person. . ' Poultry ]f requir near Ilcreford. board hims. pleasuresee ren.-D F., Pn. o familv).— The Advertiser is ion, and w'ill be glad to treat with any liring the services of a thorough com- lertake the Management of Dairy and \S FOWI.ER, Home Farnii Garnons, ndustriotis young To Florists. BOUQUET MAKER, and to fi Shop or Glass Department.- Ag« 241 good hand. A permanent engagement req Jharacter.— Apply, stating wages, &c,, to A. St. John's Road, Hoxlon, N. Good reference.— C. D. £.| 3i St. Andrews, December 30, 1871.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 1685 rHE LANDS IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. DRAINAGE, RECLAMATION, FARM BUILDINGS, LABOURERS' S, RAILWAYS, Sic. John Clutton, Esq. | Granville R. RycJer, Es!v Frederick L. Dashwood, Esq. Granv.lleR.H.Soniers«,EsQ.,' Henry Farquhar, Esq. Henry W. West, Esq., M.? LordfcirliJs, M.P. Charles Watkm Williams W John Horatio Lloyd, Esq. I Esq., M.P. (Chairman). The Company advances money, unlimited in amount, for all purp REES AND CO.'S BIPHOSPHATED PERUVIAN GUANO (Registered Trade Mark, Flying Albatross), is now ready for delivery in quantity and in fine condition. It is believed to ' ' " ' ' ' Phosphates, Government Gu, h they occupy, charging UTILISATION of SEWAGE.— The Company also advances money for the purpose of Works of Sewage Irrigation. The whole outlay and expenses are liquidated by a rent-charge upon the land, redeeming principle and interest, over 25 years. No investigation of title is required. For Forms and further information, apply to GRANVILLE R. RYOER, Esq., Managing Director, No, 1, Great George Street, Storey's Gate, Westminster, S.W. C/m.'i-oiaii— John Hegan, Esq. Agfiti in the Bepuhlic—^. Harry Woods, Esq., C.E., Buenos Ay Su/'eriHtettdent—WiLUAM PERKINS, Esq., Rosario de Santa "" The Directors offer, on advan " ' Tenants or Purchasers, PLOTS, of the COMPANY'S LAND, q 400 ACRES each. Port of Rosario to the City of Cordova, ' Villages are being laid To secure tlie best class of Agricultural Settlers and facilitate th< Emigration of Families, the Directors are prepared to treat for th< Colonisation of Lands within easy reach of the Stations on the Centra Argentine Railway, and adapted for immediate cultivation. Further particulars may be obtained at the Offices of the Company : London— 8s, Palmerston Buildings, Bishopsgatc Street, E.C. ; Buenos Ayres— 106, Calle P ' f the Central Argentine Railway : ' ' Land (about 1,000,000 Ac: London, E.G. For Double Plouglis, Catalogues free. FOWLER'S PATENT STEAM PLOUGH and CULTIVATOR may be SEEN at WORK in every Agricultural County in England. For particulars apply to JOHN FOWLER and CO., 71, Comhill, London, E.C. ; and Steam Plough Works, Leeds, 1 and Granitic Paint Company. For Price Lists, Testimonii ' THOMAS CHILD. Manager, THE SILICATE ZOPISSA COMPOSITION, To CURE DAMP in WALLS, and Preserve Stone, Sic, from Decay. Manufactured Solely and .Only by the Silicate Zopissa Composition and Granitic Paint Company. Fo? Particulars and Testimonials apply to THOMAS CHILD, Manager, aoA, King William Street, London, E.C. ET. ARCHER'S " FRIGI DOMO."— Patronised • and used for FrogmoreandKewGardens. It is made entirely of prepared wool, and a perfect non-conductor of heat or cold where it PROTECTION AGAINST the COLD WINDS and MORNING FROSTS, WOOL NETTING, 2 yards wide and is. 6d. per yard. "FRIGI DOMO" CANVAS." Two yards wide ts. tod, per yard. Three yards wide 2S. lod. per yard. m'^a SKrf. toi^d SCRIM CANVAS, 72 inches wide, 7oyardsIong,5Krf.to8';^i. p. yard, HESSIAN CANVAS, do., do., 54 and 72 inches wide, 6Hd. and SHd. per yard. ELISHA T. ARCHER, Only Maker of " Frigi Domo," 3, Cannon CHAPMAN'S "ANTI-CLOCHE" VENTILATED MULTUM-IN-PARVO PLANT, FLOWER and SEED PRO- TECTOR, preser\'es Plants, &c., from Snails, Slugs, Eanvigs, Wind, Rain, and Frost ; quite as useful for all purposes as the Hand Glass or Cloche, and at about half their cost. Any Gardener can repair them. They are made in nests, of different sizes. Cost of Set, with one for protecting Gladiolus or Hollyhocks, Dahlias, Roses, protecting Gladiolus or noJlyhocks, Guinea. The Anti-Cloche can be made any Estimates given to Nursery-men, Market and all complete, i^he'n" without liability to breakage. To be obtainei W. F. CHAPMAlT, Patentee, Bristol • wn Corresponder , for large W T O N, MR. JAMES ERASER, Horticultural and Agr'tcultural Valuer and Auctioneer, Mayland's Farm Romford, Essex ; late of the firm of J. & J. Eraser. Lea Bridge Road w To Land Agents. ANTED, either to BUY a SMALL FARM - RENT a GRAZING FARM of about 150 or 200 Acres SALES BY AUCTION. Periodical Sale of Poultry and Pigeons. MR. J. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, his Great Rooms, 38, --■ - "ha&burgh Dark BRAHMAS, from Mr. Cufl ; DORKINGS, barbs, owls, TURBITS, IACOBINS, &c., fi , and Catalogue M Plants and Bulbs. R. J. C. STEVENS will SELL by AUCTION, at his Great Rooms, 38, King Street, Covent Garden, W.C,,on WEDNESDAY, Januarys, at halfjiast i2 o'clock precisely. Dwarf, trained. Standard, and Pyramid FRUIT TREES; 1000 Standard and Bwarf ROSES rSpecimenCONIFERS, CARNATIONS, PICOTEES, and PINKS; R/CsPBERRY CANES, STRAWBERRY PLANTS LAURELS, RHODODENDRONS, YEWS, &c; also some HYACINTHS, TULIPS, CROCUSES, NARCISSUS, LILIUMS IRIS, GLADIOLI, RANUNCULI, and other BULBS fron Holland. On view the morning ol Sale, and Catalogues had. A in'2cwt.' bags, each ot which is secured by bearing the Company's Trade Mark. The analysis is guaranteed so ""rEEs' Atm Co"'(Lrm"ited)', 58,' Old 1 Street, London, E.C. HE LONDON MANURE COMPANY. CONCENTRATED AMMONIACALMANURE,forTop-Dressing PURSER'S BONE TURNIP MANURE. SUPERPHOSPHATE of LIME. NITROPHOSPHATE MANGEL, HOP, and POTATO MANURES. Also PERUVIAN GUANO (as imported by Messrs. Thomson, Bonar, S: Co.), NITRATE of SODA, SULPHATE of AMMONIA, &c. - ■ ■ - t. EDWARD PURSER, Secretary. C|e|^gnattorEl§a^ette. SATURDAY. DECEMBER 30, 1S71. THE letter on Sewage Irrigation, by Mr. Bl.ACKiiURN, which we have given in another page. States the conchisions of an experienced and trustworthy man. We entirely agree with him in deprecating the destructive method of dealing with a valuable property, which is inevit- able when the drainage of one or more thousand people is poured over a single acre of land. There is an immense destruction of fertilising matter under the most economical system of sewage irrigation yet in practice, and to convert land into a mere filter-bed— which is nearly all that we can expect it to be when it has to deal with so much filth per acre as is contained in the drainage of a thousand people per acre— is still more to aggravate this loss. The drainage water of many a sewage farm is well worth redistributing for the use of another, and yet another, set of plants before it isfinallydis missed. That of the Methyr filter-beds, and that of the Lodge Farm, Barking, alike show that two thirds of the fertilising matter in the sewage has remained unused. It has been all completely defecated, and is admissible into running streams without risk of polluting them ; but it still con- tains, though in an altered condition, more than half of the nitrogenous matter to which original value as a manure is due. It is very desirable, therefore, that the urgency with which the " intennittent filtration " mode of dealing with the sewage difficulty is being advocated, be moderated, and that it be recommended only as a last resource, when the difficulties of adopting irrigation appear to be insuperable. Let us, however, cordially acknowledge here the great services which Mr. Bailey Denton has rendered by his courageous adoption of the intermittent filter to meet the difficulties in which Merthyr found itself Our remarks the other day upon this subject entirely failed to convey our meaning if any one has gathered from them that great credit is not due to the engineer to whom we owe the perfect success which has there attended the adoption on the great scale of a method which till then had depended for its justi- fication upon mere laboratory experiments. Nor must we omit to acknowledge that in carry- ing out the works at Merthyr, to which this successful result is due, great care has been taken to ensure a perfectly even division of the stream of sewage over the several plots, to which it is directed in exact proportion to the extent of their several areas. The uneven distribution to which we referred (p. 1625), as occurring in spite of this perfectly proportionate apportionment of the sewage to the land, occurs when each particular bed has to deal with its separate share. That, as we said, sinks away in some places in fourfold quan tity as compared with others ; and we do no see how the difficulty can be avoided, except the sewage be made to fall as rain does, on each square foot alike. Wherever sewage flows from a carrier over land, finding its way ultimately to a drain either on the surface, in which case it may be redistributed, or in the subsoil, from which it flows direct to the river, that portion of the land nearest to the carrier gets more than its share of fertilising matter— gets more, indeed, than its share of work to do. The reason why the crop is uniform in spite of this unevenness of distribution, is because the land which get; the least gets more than its plants can use, and thus the water which finally leaves the field is still full of manure. And the reason why the work of sewage defecation is complete, in spite of this uneven distribution, no doubt is that this method of destroying organic matter in water which we owe to Dr. Frankland's ingenuity and research, is of even greater power and effec- tiveness than has been imagined. There is still a great deal to say on this sub- ject before the discussion of it is exhausted ; and we shall probably return to it, in order that the personal as well as the public sides of it may be properly presented ; but these remarks will suf- fice for the present, both as an introduction to Mr, BL-i^CKBURN's useful letter, and as an adden- dum to the short memoir in another page, which we are very glad to give of the distinguished agricultural career of our friend, Mr. Bailey Denton. It is a very old saying, and there is a certain amount of truth in it, that " Experience holds the torch to Theory." We think that in the case of Cli.m..\te in Rel.\tion to Crops thissayingmay be applied with force. In Scotland, as in England and Ireland, the question where to grow Wheat has been settled by experience— that is to say, repeated failures have defined the exact situa- tion of favourable localities, and of those to be avoided. Meteorologists have come to the assist- ance of agriculturists, and now we have mapped out for us the various climatal zones, and the " why and the wherefore " are thus jotted down. Perhaps no man has done better service to his generation in this respect than the President for the year of the Edinburgh Botanical Society, Mr. Alexander Buchan, M.A., well known for his explorations in the field of meteorology. In his inaugural address for the session 1S71-2, he referred to the subject of climate and weather, in relation to the geographical distribution of plants ; and, from this address, we now give a few extracts, confirmatory of the experience of agriculturists, and therefore of value to them. He says : — " In 1847 Df. Candolle made some researches into the causes which limit vegetative species towards the North in Europe and similar regions, and arrived at the conclusion [already determined by Experience] that every species having its limit in Central or Northern Europe advances as far as it finds a certain fixed amount of heat, calculated from that day of the year when a certain mean temperature commences, to the day when that mean ter- minates. ... It is evident that this law can be tested by applying it to the limits of Wheat or Barley. . . . since, owing to the care taken of them by man in their cul- tivation, it may be considered that it is chmatic con- ditions alone which set the Hmits to their destination. .According to BoussiNGAULT, Wheat requires 8248" Fahr. from the time it begins to grow in spring for the proper ripening of the crop : and, moreover, this heat must be so distributed as to secure an average temperature of 58° during the period when the seed is npening. This statement referred to the continent of Europe, to which his researches were confined ; but we have found in Scotland that a mean temperature of 56°, with our average amount of rain and sunshine, is sufficient to ripen grain properly. Not only so, but the crops of 1864 ripened well with a temperature .-^s low as 54^*. 4. In that year, however, the sunshine was much above the average, and the mean temperature of the day was high. Now, whatever be the cause, whether the longer day in Scot- land, or the clear sky, or both combined, which brings about the above results, it is clear that in considering the influence of temperature on the ripening of plants, it i.s not merely mean temperature, but the manner in which this vital element is partitioned during the 24 hours, which must be taken into account." It will be seen that the "old saying" alluded to, is of some force here. Doubtless, De Can- dolle and BOUS.SINGAULT had their ears, as well as their eyes, open during the term over which their observations extended ; but their recorded observations and deductions therefrom, are as much the property of the observant and experienced agriculturist, if not more. The farmer's facts, however, derive greater force and authority from being recorded by such learned men as those named. To return to that ver>- acute observer, Mr. BuCHAN :— " Wliat most influences the mode in wliich temperature is distributed during the day, is the amount of cloud and moisture in the atmosphere [more especially in the western islands of Scotland, where a Macintosh and an umbrella were, or now are, indispensable travelling companions], to a knowledge of which the rainfall through the months of the year may be regarded as furnishing the best available key. Indeed so great is the direct and indirect influence of moisture on plants, that we shall not be far wrong in supposing it to be co-ordinate with that of temperature." There is a nice distinction drawn here, which the practical farmer may fail to observe ; but it is fitting that he should. Therefore, we append the following paragraphs ;— " As to the two conditions, heat and moisture, we have in the distribution of rain a body of facts which will lead to a knowledge of the laws which regulate the distribution of temperature. It is not marely the daily and 1 686 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. [Ucccmlier 30, iSyr. results which accrue to plants arising from a change in the humidity than arises from a change of temperature ; but what especially concerns the question is this vital distinction between the two, viz., that climates merge into each other by comparatively nice gradations, as regards temperature, whereas, on the contrary, the most diverse climates, a= repects moisture or dryness, are frequently placed sharply side by side. " I have long been impressed with the importance of a knowledge of the rainfall viewed in these aspects, and have recently constructed 13 maps, showing for each of the months, and for the year, the rainfall over the greater part of the land of the northern hemisphere. The result of the whole discussion, in its relation to climate, is very striking. Everywhere the rainfall is dependent on the prevailing winds, and on the configuration of the earth's surface ; and since the prevailing winds depend on the distribution of land and water over the globe with respect to the heat of the sun, it follows that the present climates are determined by the relative distribution of land and There are laws general and laws particular — those adverted to by Mr. Buchan, and those modified by the absence or presence of wood- lands. That these exert an immense influence on 1 ind, and therefore on crops, in their immediate vicinity no one can doubt — no one does doubt ; and that thorough drainage and deep cultivation exercise a beneficent influence is .also a proven fact. Drain.age ineans to some extent a raising of the temperature of the soil. It is astonishing how much cold the head will stand, so long as the feet are kept warm ; and no better proof of this can be found than in the experience of the agriculturist. Deep stirring of the soil is a wonderful .aid to drainage, and where the two are co-existent, it is almost safe to say that they can afford to give away one or two degrees of temperature in the game of life, and still go in and win. It would be interesting to all, when Mr. Buchan publishes the next edition of his Tables, if they could find notes appended giving loca- lities where draining and deep ploughing are the rule, and the crop results compared with others in the same " zone," where neither draining nor deep stirring of the soil are the rule. E. Theise was no Corn Market on Christmas (lay. On Wednesday in Mark Lane the grain trade ruled heavy, sales being effected with difficulty at previous r.-ites. The Metropolitan Cattle Market has been this week of an unimportant character ; the very short supplies have, however, failed quite to supply the demand, and prices of both beef and mutton are higher than those of last week. — ^ Mr. Bi.AcKUURN, of the AWershot sew.-ige f^rra, has written a capital letter on Sewage Irriga- tion in the Times; and we make the following estracts from it : — ' ' The last new process which the authorities of towns liave been asked to sanction is intermittent filtration, originally invented and suggested by Dr. Frankland, as worthy of trial under certain conditions only, but now energetically recommended by some few engineers and others ; nevertheless, I must say that if it is adopted in any locality where irrigation is practically available, it can but be viewed as so much loss in the shape of food to the country. We are told, from the experience, be it remembered, of a few months only, that the sewage of 3000 person can be filtered of its impurities through one acre of land, and also that edible vegetables can be produced on this intermittent filter at the same time ; but any reliance which maybe placed on the appropriating or scavengering power of such an infinitesimal amount of vegetable growth as can be raised under such conditions must be futile in the extreme ; in fact, about as hopeless a task as two men attempting to scavenge the streets of London. Therefore, purification in this case must depend almost solely on the unaided resources of the soil itself ; and my conviction is, that such vast accumulations of manure, coupled with the action caused by the solvent powers of sewage, will in time absolutely choke up its pores. I may say this opinion is based on many years' experience of the treatment of land under sewage, combining a variety of sources. "Some of the advocates of intermittent filtration attempt to create what is purely an imaginary differ- ence between irrigation and filtration, which, so far as the soil is concerned, really does not exist ; irrigation — that is, utilisation — embraces filtration, the principle in both cases is the same ; but the application of that principle involves the question of the production of food in the one case and waste in the other— in fact, irrigation does all that intermittent filtration is said to accomplish, with the valuable recommendation of producing food in addition, besides which the cleansing process of vegetable growth involves a con- stant abstraction of the fertilising matter deposited in the soil, and the almost continued conversion of the same into food maintains its filtering powers unimpaired. Sewage utilisation and purification must go hand it hand, and it will be a great national loss if the latter only is considered and rendered subservient to former. I have myself made a filter of all parts of farm since the year 1854, the extreme poverty of the land rendering it necessary that it should be supplied with large quantities of sewage matter before any vege- table growth could be obtained. This was accom- plished by deep cultivation, with thorough soaking at short intervals for about a year, a few deep drains having been put into the land where found necessary. It has also been asserted as one of the drawbacks to sewage farming, that the experience said to be gained in the cultivation of Italian Rye-grass is th.at it may readily be groivn in excess of the demand in a green state.' But there can be no necessity to limit the cul- ture of so valuable a plant on that account, and it is admirably adapted for the profitable conversion into that which is in ample and ever-increasing demand— viz., dairy produce or meat. As to the large quantity of sewage it is said to appro- priate, I find that depends a good deal on the cultivation pursued. Under this management it yields a higher return per acre than most other crops, with the manure resulting from its consumption in addition. In support of this 1 know instances where cowfeeders pay from ^'25 to ^'40 per acre for the grass, which means a gross return in milk or butter of some- thing like from /So to /too.— The late glut of vegetables in the market has to some suggested the idea of growing cereals, and it has been seriously proposed that farmers having the command of sewage, with all its advantages, should grow that which can be obtained of much better quality and cheaper from America, Russia, and elsewhere. Moreover, there is no doubt that, under ordinary agriculture, the rest of the country could success fully compete with sewage farms in the growth of graii crops. A deeply-cultivated, well-manured soil wil retain in this climate a sufficiency of moisture for the perfecting of their growth without any additional supply from sewage or other artificial sources. All our leading men have long since agreed that the futu: success of our home agriculture must depend largely on dairy produce and meat, and I think it would show | a want of sagacity in any sewage farmer to adopt so retrograde a step as a dependence on corn growing when he possesses such extraordinary facilities for raising green crops. " A sewage farm should, I maintain, consist of such an area of land as will convert on the smallest space of ground the largest amount of sewage into vegetable growth without waste, thus recognising the economy of intensive as opposed to extensive farming, and to do this such plants must be grown as can build up the greatest quantity of fertilising matter into food in the shortest time. "By all means put a stop to the nuisance arising from the pollution of our rivers ; but instead of destroy- ing that which occasions it as an enemy in an inter- mittent filter, convert it into a friend that will help to feed the British subject. I "The labouring class, and especially the children, j are not much more than half nourished, and yet we find men recommending the waste of that which, if pro- perly managed, should go some way towards feeding them ; a plentiful supply of milk placed within reach of the rising generation of the poorer classes would improve them both mentally and physically. But, granting for a moment that intermittent filtration is to prove a success so far as purification is concerned, its general adoption would be a deplorable misfortune for this country. " At the close of the sessional examination at the Royal Agricultural College last week, the Rev. John Constable, the Principal, said it gave him great pleasure to present a satisfactory report of the intellectual condition of the College. There were now six diplomas and a number of certificates and prizes to be distributed. It was the wish of the Council that the College should maintain its place among the educational institutions of the country, and he was sure that when they came to hear the report he was now m.aking they would be satisfied. With regard to the moral tone of the College he could conscientiously remark that it would favourably compare with any college or institution in the country. Lord B.VFHURST presented the prizes to the successful students. Diplomas were awarded to— John Player Sturge, Tyndall's Park, CUfton, Bristol ; Francis Wright Bourdillon, 2, St. John's Park, Blackheath, Kent, S.E. ; John Dodson, Sheinton, Much Wenlock, Shropshire ; Hugh Parker Holme, Mardale, Haweswater, Westmoreland ; Wil- liam Read Erskine, 39, Nottingham Place, London, W. ; Charles Jones Mounington, Bitteswell X'icarage, Lutterworth, Leicestershire. At a recent meeting of the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Agriculture, assembled to discus the policy of establisliing a county school, availabl for the sons of farmers, the Rev. J. L. Brereton gave the following account of the Devonshire County School : — "This school has for several years been a centre of examination for Oxford as well as Cambridge, and it has, I believe, obtained more certificates and honours than any other school in the country. I do not mean that higher honours have not been obtained by other schools which have sent in a smaller number of candidates, but then it should be remembered that in the Devon County School no bovs take up Greek, and only a small numlier Latin, pupil of this school to be in the English section of the ex.imination — the first in all lingland. My object, how- ever, is not to boast of their performances, but to give this Chamber some real assurance that the teaching which the Devonshire boys receive is, of its kind, 'excellent.' And now, what is the cost? 1. To the parents. 2. To the shareholders. Last year there were in boarders (on the avenage) in the school, and four day-boys. The total charges were— for board and tuition, /3033 7.1. 8i6 acres. It is no libel on a certain portion of this recently acquired land now in process of being broken up to say, that lor agricultural purposes it is in its present condition valueless. No manipulation will make it produce a crop that will repay cultivation until the infusion of some powerful fertilising agency. '^'•~ annual application of about ^200 worth of town r which the farm receives, in addition to the quantity made upon the farm by the extended system of feeding (38 head of cattle were at the time of our visit upon full feed. Turnips, cake, and meal), together with the trenching and system of spade husbandry carried c is rapidly changing the whole aspect of the pla The farm accounts for the last year show a balance favour of the institution. About 71 per cent, of the lads discharged are known to be doing well, which fact affords the best proof of the practical benefit the institution confers upon society. It is devoutly wished that the Reformatory at Netherton will prove the pioneer of many similar institutions. There the problem has been solved how to provide honest, pro ductive labour on the soil for a class who would never either seek or find it anywhere but under compulsion. Society would rid itself of a great burden by extend. ing this provision to other classes whose liberty of action has furnished proof that they mean to live by preying on their fellow-creatures. It is not beyond the bounds of probability that schemes will be here- after carried out on a very extensive scale for the cul- tivation of unreclaimed lands by public companies, who, with Parliamentary powers and Government aid, will buy up such lands, build, plant, and cultivate, not solely for aggrandisement, but from commercial and philanthropic motives combined, composed of persons who will endeavour to make it impossible for any one to say in their hearing or district that they cannot find employment. Johnston was one of the earliest who wrote on this sub- ject a quarter of a century ago : — La?id Drainage. — "The first step to be taken in order to increase the fertility of nearly all the improvable lands of Great Britain, is to drain them. The advantages that result from draining are manifold. "1°. The presence of too much water in the soil keeps it constantly cold. The heat of the sun's rays, which is intended by Nature to warm the land, is expended in evaporating the water from its surface ; and thus the plants never experience that genial warmth about their roots which so much favours their rapid growth. "The temperature which a dry soil will attain in the summer-time is often very great. Sir John Herschel observed, that at the Cape of Good Hope the soil attained a temperature of 150*^ Fahrenheit, when that of the air was only 120° ; and Humboldt says that the warmth of the soil between the tropics often rises to from 124° to 1360. When the land is full of water, it is only after long droughts, and when it has been thoroughly baked by the sun, that it begins to attain the temperature which dry land under the same sun may have reached, day after day probably for weeks before. " 2^. Where too much water is present in the soil, also, that portion of the food of the plant which the soil supplies is so much diluted, that either a much greater quantity of fluid must be taken in by the roots — much more work done by them, that is — or the plant will be scantily nourished. The presence of so much water in the stem and leaves keeps down their temperature also, when, the sunshine appears — an increased evaporation takes place from their surfaces— a lower natural heat, in consequi prevails in the interior of the plant, and the chemical changes, on which its growth depends, proceed with less hich the roots have already refused to penetrate, and will cause the crop to droop and wither. But put in a drain, and lower the level of the water to e f, and the rains will wash out the noxious water from the subsoil, and the roots will descend deep into it ; so that it a drought again come, it may parch the soil above c d, as before, without injuring the plants, since now they are watered and fed by the soil beneath, into which the roots have descended. "7". In many parts of the country, and especially in the red-sandstone districts, the oxide or rust of iron much in the soil, or in the springs .which nto it, as gradually to collect in the subsoil, and nore or less impervious layer or pan, into which ;s cannot penetrate, and through which the sur- ;er refuses to pass. Such soils are benefited for by breaking up the pan where the plough can but the pan gradually forms again at a greater depth, and the evils again recur. In such cases, the Elements of Agricultural Chemistry and Geology. By Tames F. W. Johnston, M.A., F.R.SS.L. and E. Ninth Edition. Revised and Edited by G. T. Atkinson, B.A., F.C.S. W.Black- wood & Sons. This little book is, as regards the main bulk of it, as it was when Professor Johnston left it. Of the correc- tions and additions which seemed necessary, some are taken from notes left by the late Professor John- ston, others from various sources. An index has been added, and two or three woodcuts have been replaced by new ones. It is hardly necessary that we take any pains to 1 describe and characterise a work of which more than 10,000 copies have been already sold. That, perhaps, is best done by taking an extract from its pages, and we shall select one on a subject connected with which some controversy has already taken place, both as to the true theory involved, and as to the credit for originality due to the various writers, of whom Prof. rapidity. ' ' 3*. By the removal of the water, the physical proper ties of the soil, also, are in a remarkable degree improved, Dry pipe-clay can be easily reduced to a fine powder, but it naturally, and of its own accord, runs together when water is poured upon it. So it is with the clays in the field. When wet, they are close, compact, and adhesive, and exclude the air from the roots of the growing plant. But remove the water and they gradually contract and crack in every direction, become thus open, friable, and mellow, more easily and cheaply worked, and pervious to the air in every direction. 4°. The access of this air is essential to the fertility of the soil, and to the healthy growth of most of our culti- vated crops. The insertion of drains not only makes room for the air to enter by removing the water, but actually compels the air to penetrate into the under parts of the soil, and renews it at every successive fall of rain. Open such outlets for the water below, and as this water sinks and trickles away, it will suck the air after it, and draw it into the pores of the soil wherever itself has been. "Vegetable matter becomes of double value in a soil thus dried and filled with atmospheric air. When drenched with water, this vegetable matter either decom- poses very slowly, or produces acid compounds more or less unwholesome to the plant, and even exerts injurious chemical reactions upon the earthy and saline constituents of the soil. In the presence of air, on the contrary, this vegetable matter decomposes rapidly, produces carbonic acid in large quantity as well as other compounds on which the plant can live, and even renders the inorganic constituents of the soil more fitted to enter the roots, and thus to supply more rapidly what the several parts of the plant require. Hence, on dry land, manures containing organic matters {farmyard manure, &c.) go farther or are more profitable to the farmer. "5°. Nor is it only stiff and clayey soils to which draining can with advantage be applied. It will be obvious to every one, that when springs rise to the surface in sandy soils, a drain must be made to carry off the water ; it will also readily occur, that where a sandy soil rests upon a hard or clayey bottom, drains may likewise be necessary ; but it is not unfrequently supposed, that where the subsoil is sand or gravel, thorough draining can seldom be required. "Every one, howe\'er, is familiar with the fact, that when water is applied to the bottom of a flower-pot full o soil, it will gradually find its way towards the surface, however light the soil may be. So it is in sandy soils 01 subsoils in the open field— all possess a certain power of sucking up water from beneath. If water abounds at the depth of a few feet, or if it so abound at certain seasons of the year, that water will rise towards the surface; and as the suns heat dries it off by evaporation, more water will follow to supply its place. This attraction from beneath will always go on when the air is dry and warm, and thus a double evil will ensue— the soil will be kept moist and cold, and instead of a constant circulation of air downwards, there will be upwards. Thus will the roots, the under soil, and the organic matter it contains, be all deprived of the benefits which the access of the air is fitted to confer, and both the crops and the farmer wiU suffer in consequence.* The remedy for these evils is to be found in an efficient system of drainage. " 6^. It is a curious and apparently a paradoxical ob- servation, that draining often improves soils on which the crops are liable to be burned up in seasons of drought. Yet, upon a little consideration, the fact becomes very intelligible. Let a <5 be the surface of the soil, and c d the level at which a b the water stagnates, or below which c ■ d there is no outlet by drains or na- e f ural openings. The roots will readily penetrate \q c d ; but they will in general refuse dcd the Rrowth of t and the of drains below the level of the pan is the most certain mode of permanently improving the soil. If the pan be now broken up, the rains sink through into the drains, and gradually wash out of the soil the iron which would otherwise have only sunk to a lower level, and have again formed itself into a solid cake. "8*. It is not less common, even in rich and fertile districts, to see crops of Beans, or Oats, or Barley, come up strong and healthy, and shoot up even to the time of flowering, and then begin to droop and wither, till at last they more or less completely die away. So it is rare in many places to see a second year's Clover crop come up strong and healthy. These facts indicate, in general, the presence of noxious matters in the subsoil, which are reached by the roots at an advanced stage of their growth, but into which they cannot penetrate with- out injury to the plant. The drain calls in the aid of the rains of heaven to wash away these noxious sub- stances from the soil, and of the air to change their nature, and this is the most likely, as well as the cheapest, means by which these evils can be prevented. "9°. Another evil in some countries presents itself to the practical farmer. Saline substances are in certain quantity beneficial, nay, even necessary to the growth of plants. In excess, however, they are injurious, and kill many valuable crops. I have already adverted to the existence of such saUne substances in the soil, and to the fact of their rising in incrustations to the surface when droughts prevail. In some countries, as in the plains of Athens, and near the city of Mexico, they come to the surface in such quantity as actually to kill the more tender herb- age, and to permit only the stronger plants to grow. In the plains of Athens, when the rainy season ends, a rapid evaporation of water from the surface begins. The water, as it rises from beneath, brings much saline matter with it. This it leaves behind as it ascends in vapour, and thus at length so overloads the surface-soil that tender grass refuses to grow, though the stronger Wheat plant thrives well and comes to maturity. " " This result could scarcely happen if an outlet beneath were provided lor the waters which fall during the rainy 3n. These would wash out and carry away the ex- of sahne matter which exists in the under soil, and Id thus, when the dry weather comes, prevent it from ascending in such quantities as to injure the more tender herbage. It may be objected to this suggestion, that drains in such countries would render more dry a soil ahready too much parched by the hot suns of summer. It is doubt- ■" * however, if this would really be the case. Deep drains, as in the case above explained (6°), would enable to penetrate deeper, and would thus render them more independent of the moisture of the surface- On this subject I shall add one important prac- tical remark, which will readily suggest itself to the ho has studied the action of air and water th^ various clay-beds that occur here and there, as members of the series of stratified rocks. There are no clays which do not gradually soften under the united in- fluence of air, of frost, and of running water. It is false economy, therefore, to lay down tiles of the common horse- shoe form without soles, however hard and stiff the clay subsoil may appear to be. In the course of ten or fif- teen years, the stiffest clays will generally soften so much as to allow the tile to sink to some extent — and many very much sooner. The passage for the water is thus gradually narrowed ; and when the tile has sunk a couple of inches, the whole may have to be taken up. Thousands of miles of drains have been thus laid down, both in the low country of Scotland and in the southern counties of England, which have now become nearly useless. The extending use of the pipe-tile will, it is to be hoped, gradually lessen the chances of pecuniary loss which the above practice involves." Farm Memoranda. West Sussex : December 16. — We have now got to the dullest time of the year for the farm. Wheat is all sown, and coming up very slowly. The weather has been very sharp for some time : we have not had much snow, but a long continued dry frost, which has now given place to dull, mild weather. Our fat stock and root show has passed, and as usual is going down ; there were only eight or ten beasts, four or five pens of sheep, with two of pigs, but they were all good. It is remarked by the local papers as a strange thing that there should be one of the smallest shows connected with one of the largest markets in the south of England, but West Sussex is not over lively in any public matter. There is plenty of good land, and, as a 1692 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, [December 30, 1871. nile, it is well farmed, but everybody appears to mind their own business and leave national affairs to shift for themselves. Work is all well forward, and perhaps the labourer will not be so fully employed as he some- By-the-by at this time we hear a good deal of talk about treating the agricultural labourer better in every way than he is at present. One party says give him a better cottage, a bit of land, a cow, and a pig. Well that is all right, and it is well that the labourer is so well cared for, but some of our advisers might turn their attention a little nearer home : some of them may have property in towns, and how about the accommoda- tion there ? Why, by the side of a hedge, without a cover, in the country, seems to be better than the homes of many in towns. Now we have had plenty of advice from "men who live far off in large towns," and per- haps we needed it, but now it is time to say " Physician, heal thyself." Surely it is somebody's business to look after the habitations (?) in towns, and might we not re- commend them not to waste as they do, and to see that their cottagers are properly housed, and have three bedrooms and two or three downstairs for each family ? Would not this be a revolution ? And if not, why But this is hardly a report of West Sussex farming, only, as there is not much at this season to report, and as it is the time for wishing well to all, and as cottagers in West Sussex are pretty well provided for in the way of room, we can only wish everybody as well off in this respect. When we are advised to farm better, we become debtors to that ; but when it is pay and house your labourers better, we can return that advice, and pay off our score. Of course, "Our Own Correspondent" may come among us, and find many things not as they ought to be, and he can get about among us without fear ; but he hardly dares enter the locality where the city cottages are built, certainly not unless the pair of policemen are near. And now we will promise to attend to the gratis advice that we have so often received for the next year, and let all our and city monitors turn their attention to their more urgent cases. G. S. Banffshire, Boyne Distkici : December 25. — We are enjoying excellent weather for the season of the year, consequently farm work is well forward. Lea-ploughing is almost finished, and during last week many of the fanners having clay land in Turnips have ploughed all that was clear, as it was in excellent con- dition, and will get a chance of the frost to pulverise it before sowing time. We can now boast of a steam-plough in Banffshire, and in the "Boyne," too. Tochineal, a farm once famous for its whisky distillery, is now famous for its being the first in' this county to have a steam-plough. The soil isja very stiff clay, but the fields are large and open, having water at almost every corner of them. The tackle was supplied by Amies & Barford, and is doing its work in good style, and is being visited daily by farmers from a great distance, who pronounce the work done to be very satisfactory ; besides the plough there is a Smith's cultivator and harrows. Our neigh- bours, the Aberdonians, have taken the hint, and are taking the subject under consideration, and we believe, before another year passes, five or six sets will be in operation in that county. Two or three are ordered from the makers already ; one, the same as the Tochineal set, is ordered for the farm of Mains of Towie, in Auchterless parish, and is to be forwarded for spring work. " The canny Scots are slow but sure." The past two frosty winters have taught a useful lesson on the Turnip crop. The greater part of the crop in this district is all secured in many different ways. Like other counties we have a great many cases of foot-and-mouth disease, otherwise our live stock is doing well and paying ; and although prices are now somewhat down, if not rack-rented, with beef and grain as it is, a living can be made. Draining is the principal improvement which is going on in this district, which creates a great deal of labour for the working class, who have been very fortunate, having had scarcely a broken day since harvest, and good wages. So on this excellent Christmas day I wish you, Mr. Editor, and all the readers of the Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette^ a Happy New Year. William 7oss. Sandringham.— [We abridge the following report by the Special Correspondent of the Times, which appeared in that journal of Wednesday last.] The Sandringham estate consists of about 8000 acres, and includes the parishes of Babingley, West Newton, and Wolferton, with part of Deringham. It is rich marsh land where it joins the sea near Wolferton ; black sand upon car-stone towards the middle of the estate, and light loam upon chalk, adapted for Barley and roots, at the east end, towards Anmer. The estate was purchased by the Prince in 1862. At Sandringham and West Newton, we find about 7 or 8 feet usually of the black sand upon car-stone. In 1861 this village contained, according to the Diocesan Calendar, a population of 300. The census of April, 1871, shows a population of 330, but an enumeration of the population which I was enabled to take on Saturday, the 23d current, showed a popula- tion on that day of 295. This points at once to what jvidently been a source of some of the troubles ol the village — an influx of lodgers into a village nol fitted to receive them, although it has since the Prince me into possession of the estate rapidly grown into 3re favourable residential conditions. Attention has been prominently drawn to some ill- built and badly-arranged cottages. They do not pre- sent a fair sample of the present state of the village, unless the whole facts are known, is it possible to draw a just deduction from that which has been said concerning them. The number of inhabited houses this day in West Newton is 62. In this village, however, there are two small freeholds belonging to small pro- prietors, and on which are erected in all 16 cottages, so that the Prince's property in West Newton in- cludes 46 cottages. Of these 26 are entirely new erections since he came into possession. Prior to that time the village consisted of a number of cot- tages which are described to me by the rector and others as having been miserable huts like Irish hovels, most of them with one living room and one sleeping room only, many of them destitute of the necessary sanitary conveniences, and not three in the whole parish having two bedrooms. Of these cottages 17 have been pulled down during the last six years, and 26 new cottages built. Three more are to be pulled down. Of the increase of the amount of accommodation thus afforded an opinion may be formed from the fact that for a population of the same number the number of bedrooms in the cottages of the old property was 25, in place of which there have now been provided 67, an increase of 175 per cent, in the amount of sleeping room. The improve- ment in quality is even more marked than the increase n quantity. Of the new cottages in the village there s a row of eight, called the Alexandra Cottages, a group of nine called the Louise Cottages, four cottages designed for old people, and a group of four cottages Dt yet named. Of these the Alexandra Cottages were first built, and brief sketch of these will answer also for the Louise Cottages, which very much resemble them. They are '1 two-storied cottages, built in the rustic Gothic yle, of pleasing elevation, provided with a poich and nple accommodation, built of car-stone, with white and red brick facings, having 14-inch walls, with con- creted foundation. Each cottage has on the ground floor a front living room, about 12 by 14 feet, and 9 feet high, well lighted ; a back kitchen provided an excellent cooking stove, oven, and copper, a pantry, and coal-house ; above are three good bed- rooms, two with fire-places. Detached from the se is a brick out-house, with kindling shed and tary conveniences. Each cottage has 30 perches of garden ground, and some of them have as much field allotment. The water supply — and here we come to the weak place in the arrangements — is from a well 16 feet deep, cut through about 8 feet of sand, and then on the car- ; it is brick built, and within 20 feet of the cess- pool, and was within 7 feet of a midden or kitchen heap. The purity of this water has been impugned ; and, from the analysis which has been published, it would appear, not without good reason. The Louise ottages are built precisely on the same plan, except that they have the further advantage of having well- spouted roofs, which collect the rain-water, and that each house is furnished with a pump connected with sunken and covered rain-water tank. The well here is 23 feet deep, and on Saturday contained 7 feet of water. The garden houses are 100 feet away at the bottom of the garden, and so are better placed than at the Alexandra Cottages, where they are too near the houses. The cottages for old folks have the bedroom on the same floor as the living- room, and are altogether arranged for the comfort of the old people who are placed in residence. They afford evidence of the characteristic kindness and berality which preside over all the arrangements of le estate. The rents of the Alexandra and Louise Cottages, with all their comforts and conveniences, and with their five rooms, garden ground and allotments, are not higher than were those of the two-roomed huts which they have replaced, or the poor and scanty tene- ments still existing in the village on the small freeholds to which I have referred. In going through these new cottages it was pleasant to find them for the most part clean and well kept, and sometimes singularly neat. Many of the garden grounds, also, were evidently properly valued and carefully cultivated. But not all, and it is evident that some of the cottagers do not appreciate at its worth all that is done to help them and to enable them to help themselves. I was told, however, that a considerable improvement in this respect has been effected all over the estate by the influence of a Cottager's Garden and Flower Show for the estate, which is annually held in the Park in September, under the auspices of the Prince and Princess and the clergymen and leading tenantry. Prizes are given to the value of £ 10 for the three cleanest and neatest cottages and gardens in each parish on the estate. The report then proceeds to discuss the vital statistics of the village. It appears that there has been no fewer than 10 deaths from typhoid and scarlet fever in 1871. I find that in 1869 there was only one death in the parish, and that from an accident. In 1868 there were eight deaths, of which three were from diphtheria. Moreover, there has not been any death either from typhoid or scarlet fever in any of the 25 new cottages which the Prince has built. No case of typhoid has occurred in them at all, and this is especially significant of good residential and sanitary conditions, although, unless the quality of the drinking water be carefully examined, no one can say that it might not occur. What is still more significant is, that although scarlatina was imported into the village and ran through all the Alexandra Cottages, no death occurred. The most excellent residential conditions and purity of air, soil, and water, will not afford immunity from " catching" diseases such as scarlatina, which can only be successfully dealt with by isolation ; but cleanliness, ventilation, and sound hygienic condi- tions greatly lessen their mortality, and this is the moral which may be drawn from the comparative immunity from death of the Prince's tenants in these cottages. The black spots of the village are in the cramped and sometimes over-crowded portions, over the greater part of which the Prince's agent has no control. Thus one of these small properties contists of two blocks, one containing four and the other three cottages. Three out of the first four have only a single bedroom. In one of these cottages there have been living falht r and mother, an adult daughter with her two ille- gitimate children, and five of her brothers and s, from a lad aged 16 to a child aged five— in all ten. In a double cottage on this freehold— or, her a cottage divided in two— there lived in one half- cottage, having a living room about 12 feet square, ard a sleeping room over it, a family consisting of father and mother, eldest son of 21, married daughter and son-in-law, and five little children— in all five adults and five children. The two rooms thus crowded appear to have been poisoned with contiguous filthy nuisances, and in January, 1871, the eldest son, aged 21, was attacked with typhoid fever, and died ; in March the mother, aged 43, and in April the marritd daughter, aged 20, died of the same disease — filth fever, as it is emphatically named by Dr. Murchison and Mr. Simon. Experience teaches us to look for pollution of the wells and water supply in every outbreak of typhoid fever as the most common cause of the disease. Mr. Barrett, of Grimston, the Poor-law medical officer of the district, makes the following valuable observations this subject : — ' As to the depth of the wells, there are at least two !er-bearing strata, besides that supplying the surface ;er ; for at the top of the hill the water is 155 feet from the surface, while near the bottom of the hill it is 32 feet from the surface. Lower still, the water is only 2 fett from the surface. So the wells are not all shallow. "here have been two epidemics of typhoid in the vi- lage, one beginning in i860, the other in 1870, each in the onth of September. In each outbreak of fever there were ,0 different centres of the disease, each centre using a separate well. There were, therefore, four different wel's to question, which I will name after the people using , giving the measurement from the ground to the top of tlie water, as follows :— Dye's, 32J feet, near bottom of hill : Melton's, shallow, now replaced by a deeper one, of hill ; Boughens, 2 feet, bottom of hill ; Smith'?, 9.; feet, on the fall of the hill. Smith's well has been analysed, but neither Boughen's Dye's ; and if we are to look to the wells for the ;e of this disease, it would be interesting to know what their analysis would reveal, especially as each comes from a different stratum." The circumstances connected with the supposed out- break of diarrhcea and enteric fever among the visitors Londesborough Lodge have directed public atten- n to the fertile source of disease in the pollution of and water by sewer gas, from ill-ventilated drains, and from the ill-arranged inlets of sewers within dwell- ing houses. I am not without hope that the present report on enteric fever in West Newton will serve an equally beneficial purpose by attracting equal attention to that well-known, but much neglected source of typhoid, diarrhcea, and cholera — the pollution of -H-ells by penetration of foul matter through the soil. Typhoid fever, it is known, is essentially the fever of the country as typhus is that of great cities. It attacks every year in this country about 100,000 people, of whom it kills from 20,000 to 25,000. They for the most part absorb the poison by drinking water polluted with sewage. The report concludes with a reference to the great improvements effected in the estate since Sandringham became the property of the Prince of Wales. The large number of new cottages which he has built have every comfort and every provision for health and domestic propriety. They have been built at a con- siderable expense ; they are let at very moderate rents. The rate of earnings has risen considerably meantime, from the increased demand for labour. Every induce- ment is held out to neatness, cleanliness, order, and good conduct. West Newton has been provided with a school, tow.ards which the Prince and Princess of Wales con- tribute half the cost of maintenance, besides many little encouragements in the way of school feasts, at which they personally attend and take their share in making the little ones happy, as well as annual gifts of cloaks. The Princess, during her residence at the Hall, comes frequently to the schools and takes a class, and the little ones are well accustomed to her kindly and gracious presence. For the December". 30, iS?!.] The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag^ricultural Gazette. 1693 sick there is an organised system, by which doctors and clergy alike can and do draw directly upon the Hall for every comfort which is needed, and for the minor luxuries which alleviate sickness and hasten cure. A spirit of intelligent thoughtfulness and kindness pervades the whole management of the estate. The schools of Sandring- ham parish are maintained not less liberally than that of Newton. Of the game which is shot upon the estate a large part is presented by the Prince's direction to the county and other hospitals. What is done is carried out merely by the efficient execution by General Knollys and Mr. Beck, and by the rectors of the parishes, of the Prince's general directions. It is done indeed in great measure under his own super- vision, by his own wish, and according to his own plans, and the great improvements which have been made on the estate are due to his own active fulfil- ment of the highest duties of a landed proprietor. ^t mttKs maxk December 30 : Farm Accouuls. — With the close of the year tradesmen's bills are paid, new inventories made, and the books balanced. The increased expen- diture in cake and manure bills, the amount of capital invested in implements and machinery, and the annual outgoings for repairs, as compared with former times, which the balance-sheets of some farmers show, would hardly be credited. The inventory for the ensuing year requires to be carefully made, otherwise the accounts and balance-sheets are worse than useless. The assumed calculations of farm capital actually invested too often lead astray as to the capital required per acre on farms of different sizes, qualities of land, and modes of farming, from a too hurriedly made out inventory. The pro- ductive state of the land from cultivation, the quan- tity of manure on the land, and the tear and wear on implements and machinery, including the tear and wear on the teams, are questions that require a careful solution before anything satisfactory can be arrived at. Two plans in use present an interesting contrast, viz. , the fireside calculations of the amateur, and the off- hand estimate of the farmer who keeps no books at all, but who concludes that he is worth so much more or less than he was last year, or he may be worth about the same ; and however much the latter is out of date, it, in nine cases out of ten, merits more confidence practically than the former. The contrast evidently shows that were the farmer's books property kept the conclusion would be the other way. Trnirhiiis t""J Planting, reclaiming waste land, and deepening shallow, rocky, and stony soils already under the plough, by trenching that cannot be done by steam or horse power, are works favourable for the close of the old year, and commencement of the weather permitting. In most places hands are easily got now than earlier, and wherever such is the case, the works of trenching and deepening should be pressed forward with all the strength at command in places where not frozen out. Large arej- -'" waste land are too full of stones and the like t broken up by the plough, but may be profitably trenched, and what will not pay for being kept per- manently under ordinary crop cultivation may be planted with young trees suitable to the soil and climate, or with Gorse, should such pay better Shallow rocky soils are deepened, either by trenching out the rock or by carting on fresh soil, and not un- frequently both — the former (trenching) being necessary to remove portions of the rock that crop out tc " ' surface, and the latter (earth) carted on to level supply soil sufficiently deep for tillage and the roots of plants. In some rocks the roots penetrate freely into crevices, but even in such cases the staple should be less than from 15 to 18 inches in depth. T/torn and Beech Hedges plant as soon as the thaw comes. The land, if wet, should have a drain on each sid from 6 to 10 feet from the hedge — it should be trenched 2 feet deep, and be well manured with lime compost. The healthiest hedge grows on the flat, but banks and ditches are sometimes necessary to protect them. If planted on a bank between two open ditches, trenching may not be required unless there is moorband ; but grown thus the young plants are more exposed, and stand more in need of manure. Some plant two vertically on the top, others level the bank when half made, lay two rows of plants horizontally, with the roots to each other, and cover when finishing the b The former is the more natural, as the roots will not grow horizontally ; but the latter is best for soils that require the roots to spread over a greater surface. Carting push forward at every opportunity. Brood Mares. — What was said of Farm Horse the 23d inst., and something more, applies to brood mares, for they often endure enough hardships at season to, kill them, and this happens as frequently to those not worked as to those daily in harness. The fretus now begins not only to draw largely upon the daily sustenance of the mare, but also to weigh heavily upon her physical energies in a twofold manner when she is in harness. Mares kept for breeding only gene^ rally suffer, not more from the changeable nature of the weather thts. Flour. Irish .. Foreign.. Qrs. 7610 Qrs. 14,490 Qrs. 53,940 Sticks. ( 2660 \ 4040 brls. .a. 1 ... = 3,940 Averages. 55 'O 56 7 METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. Tuesday, Dec. 26. This being Christmas week, the market is held to-day instead of Monday ; it is of a very unimportant character. The supply being very short, however, has caused a rise in price in many instances ; our top quotations are in some cases exceeded. Our foreign supply consists of 200 Beasts, 59° Sheep, and 31 Calves ; from Scot- land there are 23 BeasI Norfolk and Suffolk, 30; Home Counties. Best Scots, Here- fords, &c. Best Shorllioms . . Best Long-wools Do. Shorn Do. Shorn Best Downs and Half-breds .. 6 Do. Shorn .. .. - .. Pigs Beasts, 550 ; Sheep and Lambs, 1320 : Calves, 42 ; Pigs, 15. Thursday, Dec. 28, The supply is usually short on this day, but the num- bers this year are smaller than for some years past. The demand for both Beasts and Sheep has exceeded the supply, and consequently prices are higher for all kinds of stock. Our foreign supply consists of 95 Beasts, 700 Sheep, and 27 Calves. Best Scots, Here- fords, &c. Best Shorthorns . . Best Long-wools Do. Shorn Ewes & 2d quality 4to6 8 Beasts. 670 ; Sheep and Lambs, 2350 ; Calves, 4 8—6 3 8-5 : Pigs, 20. METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET, Dec. 28. Best Fresh Butter 191. per dozen lb. Second do. do. I7^. ,, Small Pork, 41. ^. to l/s. id. ; Large Pork, 31. ^d. to PrimeMeadowHay, 85J Inferior do 50 Inferior do — HAY.— Per Load of z^ Trusses. Smithfield, Thursday, Dec. 28. Inferior do. . I Prime 2d cut t Inferior do. . Prime 2d cut d , — _ New do. . — — Straw Joshua Baker. HOPS. Borough Market, Dec. 28. Messrs. Pattenden & Smith report very li doing this week, but the tone is very firm, and a good consumptive demand is looked forward to in January. Continental markets are all strong, with an upward tendency. COALS.— Dec. 27. Buddie's West Hartley, 19J. 3d. ; Holywell Main, 21J. bd.\ Tanfield Moor Butes, i8x. few days will be published, price js., free by post f< 13 stamps, with Nine Illustrations, TALY in ENGLAND ; a Practical Treatise A MERICAN CHARCOAL BOX IRONS. J\, Price <;i.,fe., and 75. PORTABLE VAPOUR and HOT AIR BATH, wuli iarfje Cloak, 215. and 101. 6d. Medical Testimonials and Prospectus Free on xford Street ; and JOYCE'S I of Looker's Horticultural Appliances in Earthenware and Glass, ! which defy the Winter and assist the Summer. SONS, 65, Paternoster Row, E.C. ; through all STOVE DEPOT, 119, Newgate S cas ^^ Tuitdar BaiUr. HO T-W A T E R erected Complete, or the M; Imprmiei CmicaX. HOTHOUSES, ^NSERVATOR' CHURCHES TC BUILDIN _ HOT.WATER PIPES atw hons, and every other connec- ?UGHT'^and CAST-IRON . CONICAL, SADDLE, and IMPROVED CONICAL, Elliptic, Boilers, i Improved and extra strong CAST-IRON CAST and WROUGHT-IRON PORTABLE BOILERS, on Stand, for use without brickwork, from 6oj. each. p^^^hl. c.;— Patent THROTTLE and other VALVES, PcrlahU Bcln: puRNACE DOORS, BARS, and FURNACE WORK ofevery description and size. . INDIA.RUBBER RINGS for Pipe Joints ; Sockets require no other packing, muhnc Boiler. GREENHOUSES, HOTHOUSES, CONSERVATORIES, CHURCHES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS. rCAST-IRON TUBULAR BOILERS, /^EORGE'S PATENT CALORIGEN, ^-^ For WARMING and VENTILATING. Prices : — Coal Calorigen, £6 6s. | Gas Calorigen, £3 ss. eight, 36 ins. ; diameter, 21 do. Height, 28 ins. ; dian 1^ 1 „e of Cold Air to Cal made warm ; I— gas burm The only Gas Stove which 1 It will be found very valuab Buildings, Shops, Consen CHANDELIERS IN BRONZE ANfa ORMOLU, Moderator Lamps, and Lamps for India. ow Rooms, 45, OXFORD STREET, W. Birmingham— Manufactory and Show Rooms, Broad Street. TT I N A H A N ■ This Day is Published, WISE, WITTY, and TENDER SAYINGS, in PROSE and VERSE, selected from the Works of Geobce Eliot. By Alexander MAltj. Handsomely printed on Toned Paper, "wiLLfAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, Edinburgh and London. t'HE GARDENER. Edited by DAVID Thomsom, Author of " Handy-Book of the The lANUARY NUMBER contains i—Address-A few Obser- itionson He.iling bv Hot Water-Notes on Hardy Conifers, No. I. Hardy Shrubs for Forcing-The New Plant-houses in the Uotanic —Seedling Pine-apple 1 ' ' " r Outdoor Decoration- Notes on Bedding Plants— Obser a Princeps— The Calanthe— The Weather of 1871 and its ■Quercus Ilex— To Transplant— Cyclamen Culture— Euphor. 'c'i'^l BLACKWOOD -Forcing Department — Notices to ■. per annum, free by post. ND SONS, Edinburgh and London. Notice. {By Appointment to the Hoyal Horticultural Society.) To HORTICULTURAL IMPLEMENT MAKERS, NURSERY- MEN, FLORISTS, and OTHERS. ADAMS AND FR.'^NCIS INSERT ADVERTISE- MENTS in all the London, Country', Colonial, and Foreign ADAMS AND FRANXIS., t Agents. ';q. Fleet S BOOKS are the legacies that Genius leaves to ■°Mo£ri slgian Masters, 4to, cloth, y Fair Album, portraits of : and 2d series, pub. at 42s. Jems of Poetry, illustrated at I2S. (id., offered at loi. ; be completed ' Worksj volunies, vol. i, post 8vo, cloth, pub. at los. 6ii., offered (subscribers solicited); the Mighty Works of Our Lord, wit, graphs from Old Masters, 8vo, cloth gilt, pub. at 12s. (id., loj. ; Homely Scenes from Great Painters, by G. W. Turne graphs, 4to, cloth gilt, pub. at 15?., offeretf at 121. W. ; S ntany Thouchts of Many Minds, 2d scries, 8vo, cloth g' 125. 6rf., offered at loi. Leech's Pictures Irom Punch, 5 series complete, \^^J.'\d^. Moi^is-'^B'rifish' Troths, with nearly 2,000 coic mens, 4 vols,, royal 8vo, cloth, pub. at £,t, offered a monthly vols., each one comprising 2 yearly vols, 4 backs, pub. at 21J., offered at 17s. (subscribi — —vol. I, comprising July to December, i8ji and il 161., offered at 13J. ; Good Words, the volume en. illustrated, 8vo, cloth gilt, pub. at 7s. dd-j offered _ . Dutch Art, 12 photographs, from engravings in the British by S. Thompson, 410. cloth gilt, pub. : 6s. 3rf. ; Prospectuses free of COTTAM and CO., Iron WorKS, 2, Winsley Street (opposite the Pantheon), Oxford Street. London, W., where the above are exhibited, together with several important Improvcmerta in Stable Fittings just secured by Patent. FENDERS, STOVES, KITCHEN RANGES, FIRE-IRONS, and CHIMNEY-PIECES.— Buyers of the above ■ ■ ■ - ■ ■ ■ SHOW-ROOMS. Stoves, Ranges, are requested, before finally deciding. They contain such ar — -^^- Chimncy-Pieces, Fire-I approached elsewhere, i ■.^:S, ^ire-Irons 'the Set of Three) .".' .".' from 3s. zd. to ^^ loj. 10AL S5COOPS.— WILLIAM S. BURTON has > 400 different Patterns of COAL SCOOPS on SHOW, of which invites inspection. The Prices vary from ij. gps, trom 4J. oa. ; 0 WII ,,^from^.2^.;^Jnehly ion of Wooden Coal ,IAM S. BURTON d most varied. Assortment in the World. tVILLIAM S. BURTON, Furnishing Ironmonger, by Appointment, H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, sends a Catalogue containing upwards rge Show.rooms, post free. 30, 0.xford Street, W. ; i, 1 A, Newman Street; 4, s, and S, Perry's Place: and 1, New- man Yard. The Cost of delivering Goods to the most distant partsof the United Kingdom by Railway is trifling. W'lLLIAM S. 11 U RTON will always undertake delivery at a small fixed rate. ?Ki^i: iigns in colour, after drawings by E. d, pub. at 25J., offered at 2oj. 6rf. ; Sculpture, with numerous illustrations, 8vo, ' ' offered at i&j. ; Thackeray's Works, new , to be completed i lires by English Ar 12 moniniy published), subscribers ts, a series of celebrated li L . WHISKY. CREAM of IRISH WHISKIES, in quality unrivaileci, perfcct'iy pure, and more wholesome than the finest Cognac Brandy. Note the . words, " KINAHAN'S . LL . " on seal, label, and cork. New Wholesale Dep6t, 6a, Great Titchfield Street, Oxford Strc«,W. | Sydney Armytage, 410, cloth gilt, pub. at 21s., offered at 17*. ; Scott's Lay of the Last Minstrel, with 6 beautiful photographs, by Sedgfield, small 4to, cloth, elegant, pub. at ro5- td., offered at 8j. 6ndon stores, Belvedere Road, S.E. ; Liverpool, i, Seel Street; Bristol, 14, Narrow Quay; Stores, 7^ Lower^ Abbey Street ;_Swansea, Quay Parade; Glasgow, Qu E C O Grateful— Comforting. P P S ' S CO BREAKFAST. 1 thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern' ins of digestion and nutrition, and by a careful application properties of a well selected cocoa, Mr. Epps has provided c st-tables with a delicalely-flavoured beverage which may ss ,- heavy doctor's bills."— ttufV Service Ga: " Made simply ■ JAMES EPPS AND CO. packet is labelled, ,, Homoeopathic Chei Lea & FexTins' Sauce, • W C pronounced by Connoi THE "WORCESTERSHIR E," pronounced by Connoisseurs " the only good Sauce." Improves Unrivalled for piquancy and flavour. ASK FOR LEA and PERRINS' SAUCE. Beware of Imitations, LEA AND PERRINS on all Bottles and Labels. DINNEFORD'S FLUID MAGNESIA.- The best remedy for Acidity of the Stomach, Heartburn. Hea ache, Gout, and Indigestion ; and the best mild aperient for dclice constitutions, especially adapted for Ladies, Children, and Infants. DINNEFORD and CO., 172, New Bond Street, London ; and of Chemists throughout the World. R^ ASTHMA in TEN VAFERS. Office, Whitefield Road, Liverpool, of severe suffering and fearing many and GOUT and RHEUMATISM.— The excruciating pain of Gout or Rheumatism is quicltly relieved and cured in a lew days by that celebrated Medicine, BLAIR'S GOUT and RHEUMATIC PILLS. ""sofrby "SVleliclnrVendoi? «° ll^^i\ii' Z"^?^r box, or obtained through any Chemist. 1696 The Gardeners' Chronicle and Ag^ricultural Gazette. 30, 1871. Now ^^^ octy, Price is., Gratis to Customers, SUTTONS' SPRING CATALOGUE AMATEURS' GUIDE for 1872, Profusely Illustrated, containing the most practical information on successfully cropping the Kitchen Garden and beautifying the Flower Garden, with a new uwari bHAKbfEARE complete List of the Best Seeds to Sow. aster, u I Extract from the Irish Farmers' Gazette. r Flower useful practical Border and Kitchen Garden abundance of everything in its season." 1 peruse and occasionally n Price IS., Post Free, Gratis to Customers. SUTTONS' SHORT SELECT SEED LIST FOR 1872, Is also ready and may be had Gratis and Post Free. SUTTON AND SONS, SEEDSMEN BY SPECIAL APPOINTMENT TO THE QUEEN and H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF W,^LES, READING, BERKS. 32, Maida Vale, Edgware Road, IV. THE PINE-APPLE NURSERY (one of the Oldest Nurseries extant) IS NOW CONDUCTED BY A COMPANY, WHO ARE PREPARED TO WAEEANT GENUINE EVERY ARTICLE SUPPLIED TO THEIR CU.STOMERS. THEIR STOCK AND RESOURCES ARE ALMOST INEXHAUSTIBLE; AND THEIR MOTTO IS "LIBERALITY." ublished Address, JOHN BESTER (Manager), PINE-APPLE NURSERY, MAIDA VALE, LONDON, NE^/^^ CUCUMBERS. HEATHERSIDE BIVAL.— Universally acknowledged to be a very superior kind, of the most perfect form, quite smooth, of a dark green colour, and scarcely any heel, also a great cropper. 23. 6d. per packet, DEAN'S EASLT PROLIFIC (True).— A great cropper, and excellent for winter work, smooth, and of good form ; average length about 15 inches. Is. 6d. per packet. " Those cultivators who wish to make the most of a limited space, ] mend it before any of the Sjon Mouse section,^ which I had try Early Winter Prolific, a Cuci I 16 inches in length, an abundant b< f^^oulJ « Gardtners' Chronicle, Dec. ongly recom- ' Early Winter Prolific." PRICE TO THE TRADE ON APPLICATION. THOMAS THOENTON, HEATHERSIDE NURSERIES, BAGSHOT, SURREY. POTATO. VEITCH'S IMPROVED EARLY ASHLEAF KIDNEY. James Veitch & Sons Desire to direct special attention to this excellent EARLY POTATO, about which they are constantly receiving very flattering Testimonials. It is quite distinct from every other sort, and may be fairly described as THE BEST Ashleaved Kidney in CULTIVATION, being a very heavy cropper, of excellent quality, and A first-rate forcer. Per peck, 4s. ; per bushel, 15s. PRICE TO THE TRADE ON APPLICATION. J. C. WHEELER & SON, SEED GROWERS, GLOUCESTER and LONDON, Offer the following interesting Novelties, &c., this season. WHEELERS' KINGSHOLM COS LETTUCE made its appearance three of White Cos. It withstood the time after all other varieties (with hadi 1 tos headed-in without tying, and formed one of the most perfect models of a Cos Lettuce ever seen. At length it seed ; owing to the late period of the season it had started, the produce was, however, small. The whole stock was carefully preserved for next season's seeding. The crop of seed was again very limited, but the Lettuces gnificent, many of them weighing 7 lb. each. We are now enabled to offer seed at u. per packet. It 5n last summer by a gentleman connected with Garden Market, who remarked it was the finest Lettuce he had ever seen, and far superior to anything brought to the London Market. We recommend those who contemplate growing Lettuces for Exhibition to give this ariety a trial. Get it sown in a frame, and planted out arly in the season, on deeply dug and vrcU-manurcd land, and we have but little fear such specimens will be pro- duced that will defy competition. Packets, u. ; Small Packets, id. each, post free. A Packet of this Lettuce wilt be given gratis with our celebrated Guinea Collection of Garden Seeds. WHEELERS' TOM THUMB LETTUCE. This is undoubtedly the best Cabbage Lettuce in cultivation, and a remarkable favourite. It is good both summer and winter. In our Little Book for 1872 are extracts from 13 letters, speaking in the very highest terms of its excellence. Price IS. per Packet, post free. Small Packets, bd. WHEELERS' COCOA-NUT CABBAGE. ROYAL EXOTIC NURSERY, KING'S ROAD, CHELSEA, S.W. Wheelers Coco l nut is a newand\ery early variety, perfectly distinct of most excellent flax our It should be planted iSinches apart will >ield an eirly and continuous supply This Cabbage is a decided no\Llty and a great Owing to the small supply of seed this season, we niuch regret that we cannot supply the Trade until we have harvested our next crop. Price Ts. per Packet, post free. Small Packet, (d. WHEELERS' LITTLE BOOK for 1872, Illustrated, will be published on January i, price 6rf., post free, gratis J. C. WHEELER and SON, GLOUCESTER ; and 59,'MARK 'LANE, LONDON. ■ and Business Letters to " The Publisher," at the Office, 41, Wellington Street, Covent Gfrden, London, W.a J .Lombard Street, Precinct of Whitelriars, City of London, in thet;o. of Middlesex, and Published by the saia vvii.i.iA« Richards, at the Office, No. 41, Wellington Street, Parish of St Paul's, Covent Garden, in the said County.— Sati/rday, December 30, 1871. •hr«8 I ^?^?-?'^9?^nvv. \