much larger supply of the rheumic acid than those of the other species; and, if it be less early in the season before they can be used, the roots continue to shoot forth leaves until a much later period of the year: indeed, if the flowering stem be cut down soon after it shows itself, the leaves are put forth so abundantly, and for so long a period, that the footstalks may be obtained until autumn. It is true that the supply of fruits fit for baking during summer and in autumn render the cultivation of rhubarb for this purpose less necessary; but I am one of those who think a good rhubarb tart a luxury at any season. From the observations which I have been enabled to make respecting the cultivation of the Rheum palmatum in market gardens, and even in the garden of the Horticultural Society, I am satisfied that the general stunted appearance of the plants, which is the chief objection made to this species, depends, in a great measure, on the stiffness of the soil and the too free exposure of the plant to light. We are informed by Dr. Rehman*, who had the opportunity of seeing this species of rhubarb growing in its native soil and climate, the declivities of the chain of mountains near the lake Kokouor in Tartary, that the soil is light and sandy; and the Bucharians assert that the best grows in the shade, on the southern sides of the mountains. I planted two roots of the R. palmatum five years since in the open part of my small garden, and found that whilst they continued fully exposed to the influence of the light of the sun, the leaves were moderately expanded only, and the footstalks not more succulent than those of the other specics; but on removing them to a part shaded by rose bushes, the leaves which have been put forth in each succeeding season have been very luxuriant. state for making tarts, the footstalks are green, with purple streaks, have a short fracture, ready separation of the cuticle and cortex. sary to add, that although the root of this species of rhubarb be that which is employed medicinally, yet the footstalks have less of the flavour of the medicine than those of any of the other species. When in the best If the attention of market gardeners be directed to the cultivation of this species of rhubarb, and the public thereby abundantly supplied with it at a moderate price, I have no hesitation in predicting that it will supersede every other; and * Vide Mém, de la Société Impériale des Nat. de Moscow, 1809, tom. ii. p. 126. your insertion of these hints will secure to you the hearty thanks of every one who, like myself, feels grateful for every elegant addition which can be made to the harmless luxuries of the table at a small expense. I remain, dear Sir, yours, &c. 91, Sloane Street, May 30. 1826. ART. XIII. On the Treatment of Cactus speciosus, speciosissimus, and other ornamental succulent Plants. By Mr. W. J. SHENNAN, Gardener to Major Morison, at Gunnersbury Park. Sir, IF you consider the following hints on flowering the Cactus speciosus, speciosissimus, and other succulents, worthy of a place in your Magazine, they are at your service. Two years ago a friend of mine from the country was much surprised at seeing our Cactus speciosus and speciosissimus flower so freely: he said that he had some large plants of both sorts, but they never flowered. I communicated to him the following observations on our method of growing and flowering them; and I have lately had the satisfaction of hearing from him that they have this year flowered remarkably well. The compost is loam and peat with a little lime rubbish. We grow them in the stove until they get a pretty good size, or until we want them to flower, for they will flower at any age or size. In the month of June or July we turn them out of doors into a warm sheltered situation, and perfectly exposed to the mid-day sun; and there they remain till we take in our tender green-house plants, when we remove them to a shelf, or airy situation, in the green-house for the winter. In the spring we remove them into the stove or forcing-house in succession, as we wish them to come into flower. They will flower in the green-house; but the flowers are small, and the growth but slow, in comparison to those that are removed into a higher temperature. Their flowering depends, like most other things that flower upon their wood made the preceding year, upon its being well ripened and matured in the sun and air, and kept perfectly free from shade. C. speciosus fruits freely with us, and ripens its fruit about three months after flowering. C. speciosissimus requires longer time to bring its fruit to perfection. The flowers that were set last July twelve months with speciosus are now ripe and about the size of a hen's egg, and have a very rich and agreeable smell, resembling that of a pine apple. That beautiful species C. truncatus seems to require less light than the others; it flowers at any size and at all seasons, without being previously set out of doors. Crassula falcata, with the same treatment, flowers freely with us about eight inches high. I am, Sir, &c. Gunnersbury Park, near Ealing, Middlesex, W. J. SHENNAN. ART. XIV. On the Use and Abuse of watering Vegetables in dry Seasons, and on the Advantages of Shade to Culinary Crops in Times of great Drought. By Mr. GEORGE FULTON, Gardener to Lord Northwick, at Northwick Park, Gloucestershire. Sir, As a reader of your very useful Magazine, may I beg to be allowed to offer a few remarks on the watering of vegetables, as applying more particularly to last year and the present dry season? Such seasons, I believe, have prevented a number of gardeners from raising any thing near the variety of vegetables usually in demand by the cook of a considerable family. The scorching suns of the longest days of the year, want of rain, and almost no dew in the night, are, no doubt, the principal causes of the failures that have generally taken place in the vegetable kingdom: but there are other causes, under particular circumstances, which I think ought to be noticed. One is the carrying to an injudicious extent, the watering of vegetables in very dry weather. How often do we see water thrown upon plants in the open air as it were at random, and frequently the earth washed. away from their best roots? How compressed the earth becomes after repeated watering is well known, particularly in stiff or clayey soils. It seems against the economy of nature to water plants at all in a clear atmosphere and dry state of the air. Vegetables, instead of being refreshed, in the night become chilled, and actually scalded as it were in the day. The sickly appearance of plants under such treatment is soon visible, and the decay and death of many is the consequence. Water is used too freely in dry seasons upon the stem of the plant, both by young gardeners and cottagers in their gardens: the former pours it on them without any other thought than what is necessary for the performance of the operation; while the latter thinks that in watering so much he is doing great things, although his cabbages are in the last stage of consumption before his eyes. All this is wrong; a variation in this, as in many other points of gardening, is better than uniformity of treatment. I have found that in the evenings sprinkling low-growing vegetables over their leaves, and alternately watering their roots, is a good method, if the surrounding air be in a moist state: but if the drought increases with much sunshine, it is better to withhold water for a time; then again to vary the system, by watering between the rows of vegetables, alleys, &c., which tends, in some degree, to produce a moist air and dew. This, however, should only be done in calm evenings, in order that atmospheric dews, and all exhalations from the earth, water, and vegetation may be promoted. Watering when clouds intervene is attended with good effects, and also when it actually rains; vegetation is, in the latter case, accelerated in a great degree. Different kinds of shade have been used by gardeners in hot summers to protect vegetables, and I believe not without success. The practice of growing vegetables between beds of asparagus is, I think, a good one. I have, last year and the present, had cabbages, cauliflowers, dwarf peas of the Spanish sort, spinage, French beans, and lettuces, between asparagus beds, for a great part of both seasons, when they were scanty crops every where else in the garden. Therefore I consider that the above useful vegetable is not cultivated to the extent it ought to be, as, independent of its own use, it is also an excellent protection for vegetables in dry weather. If, Sir, you think the above hints worthy of a place in the next Number of the Gardener's Magazine, I shall be glad of having, in some degree, contributed towards a work which seems to have for its chief object the improvement of gardening and the advancement of gardeners. I am, Sir, &c. GEORGE FULTON. Northwick Park, near Moreton in the Marsh, On a Devonshire Practice in planting Vines, &c. 401 ART. XV. On a Devonshire Practice in planting Vines, and on the Use of Salt as a Manure for Arable Lands, and for renovating Grass Lawns. By WILLIAM COLLYNS, Esq. Surgeon, Kenton, near Exeter. Sir, IN one of the Numbers of your very useful Magazine, there is a statement from a gardener, of the grapes in the garden he superintended having invariably rotted before they ripened, and of his having remedied this, by taking up the vines, and planting them at a less depth than they were before. Now, in this part of the county of Devon, vines are very commonly trained over the cottages, and they are planted in almost every garden; and it is a common rule with our labourers and gardeners, if the subsoil is not gravel at the depth of a foot or eighteen inches, to fill in the pits where vines are to be planted, to within that distance of the surface, with stones, gravel, broken pottery, &c. in order, as they say, to prevent the roots running too deep, as then the grapes will rot, and seldom ripen; whereas by such management it very rarely happens but that our out-door grapes ripen every season; and as a proof of its good effect, I have this day, August 18th, had gathered from a vine so treated some years ago, a very fine bunch of sweet water grapes, from a south wall, perfectly ripe. Your notice respecting the sowing of the Salsola sativa, in Languedoc, is not correct; the inhabitants do not dread the corrosive powers of salt, but knowing how the soil is impregnated therewith, their practice is to sow the salsola with their wheat, that they may be sure of a crop, as, if the wheat fails, the salsola succeeds, and vice versa. You observe, too, from Mr. Bennett's statement to the Bath Society, that salt is not a manure at all, but merely a stimulant. Now I have proved its great value as a manure in arable lands that are light and sandy, and its astonishing power of recovering old pastures, and renovating the greensward in gardens, lawns, and pleasure-grounds, which I have detailed in a small pamphlet, printed by Mr. Woolmer at Exeter, one of which I will send to you as soon as I get a reprint, the others being all sold. It occurs to me, that your notices respecting cottage economy may be valuably improved, by occasional notices of the medicinal effects of our indigenous plants, as affording cheap and useful remedies; and if that portion of old woman's knowledge which I possess can contribute to so useful a purpose, it is at your service. Sir, I am, &c. Kenton, August 18. 1826. WILLIAM COLLYNS. |