not the ungenial soil, as is generally supposed, which is the sole cause of canker, but I think the Stromatosphæ`ria múlticeps Green is the principal cause of that disease. I trust the enclosed shoots of pear tree, which are of one and two years' growth, in addition to those sent before, will enable you to trace it from the beginning to the end, that is, until it has from its first growth underneath the cuticle destroyed the whole of the layers of the bark, and, consequently, the branch. How, or by what means, it gets underneath the cuticle, I cannot pretend to say; but I think it possible, and even probable, that the sporidia may enter the pores of the epidermis. But I wish it to be understood, that, when I say it is the fungus which is the cause of canker in the pear tree, I do not mean to assert that it is the cause of every species of canker; for I believe there are other species of fungus that cause other species of canker. For instance, there is a kind of canker very prevalent amongst apple trees that has the same effect on them as the Stromatosphæria múlticeps has on the pear tree; that is, their branches die towards their extremities, more particularly the young shoots. The above-named fungus seems to thrive much better on some varieties of pear tree than on others, amongst which are the Windsor, the jargonelle, the summer and autumn bergamot, and swan's egg. I have seen a tree that had been grafted with two kinds of pears, and one of them was the autumn bergamot, which has suffered very much from canker or fungus growing upon it; the other kind is not hurt half so much: but, wherever it appears, it soon spreads itself on almost every variety of pear tree, should the season prove favourable to its growth; and the last season appears to have been one of this kind. The circumstances in which I am placed at present will not admit of my using any means that may suggest themselves for its destruction; but, were I to give my opinion as to the best means of destroying it, I should say, use the knife very freely, and then give a good washing with caustic lime water, at the same time cleansing the tree of all loose and decayed bark; I should then apply a liquid composition, and, perhaps, that of Forsyth would be as good as any. I hope that these remarks may induce some of your abler correspondents to investigate the subject further than I have done. Shipston on Stour, April 10. 1840. ART. X. Some Account of a Method of growing and preserving New Potatoes for a Winter Supply. By AMAZIAH SAUl. I AM not aware that the following method of growing new potatoes for a winter supply has been published in the Gardener's Magazine. I am induced to make this communication, in consequence of having been in several gardens, and never, till I came here, having seen it practised. I think it well worthy of a trial, as it is well known to be a desideratum, in large families, to obtain a supply of this useful vegetable, in a young state, during as much of the season as possible. This method, as far as I can learn, was first practised here by a person of the name of Job, whom I succeeded as gardener. The kind of potato cultivated is the Irish red, a very good kind of late potato, and it succeeds well planted in the autumn. To have them ready for use in October, they should be planted about the middle of July. For the principal crop for winter use, the first week in August is the best time for planting. They should be planted on a good rich border, the drier the better. I have generally planted them in rows about 24 ft. apart, and about 1 ft. distant plant from plant. It is necessary to place the rows a good distance apart, in order to insure good foliage by freely admitting the rays of the sun, as well as a free circulation of air among the leaves, &c.; as, in my opinion, the quantity as well as the quality of the crop depends much upon a proper attention to this point; and it probably might be better attained by placing the rows 3 ft. apart. Potatoes planted in August will be ready for the table in November; and will continue good from that time till April, at which time it is easy to have a succession from those planted in the spring. The only extra trouble attendant upon potatoes when planted at this season is, to cover them in winter with leaves, or any other material which will keep out the frost. They must be taken up only as wanted for the table. When potatoes are thus managed, any person may insure a supply through the winter, of almost as good a quality as those grown during the summer months. The only difference that I can perceive is, that those planted for the winter are rather more waxy than those raised during the summer; and with many this would be considered an additional recommendation. It is necessary that potatoes intended for the autumn planting should be of a late kind, should be kept in a cool situation till the season of planting, and also be kept as clear as possible from sprouts. Castle Hill, Southmoulton, Devon, June 22. 1840. ART. XI. On Apiarian Societies. By J. WIGHTON, Gardener to Lord Stafford, Cossey Hall, near Norwich. Of late years the keeping of bees has fallen into gradual neglect among cottagers. Apiarian societies have recently been established in various parts of the country, to encourage the revival of the practice. Sundry causes may be assigned to account for the cottagers giving up the keeping of bees. First, the remarkable fact that for several years past we have had long cold springs, which have discouraged many from attempting to keep bees; secondly, many tracts of waste lands having been brought under cultivation has sensibly diminished the favourite wild flowers of the bees; thirdly, the low price which cottagers have been able of late years to obtain for their honey has operated most naturally as a discouragement; and fourthly, the quantity of honey imported from foreign countries has of course lessened the demand for that of native production. It is an interesting consideration, how far apiarian societies can remedy the effects of these various causes. The first stated is the most serious obstacle to bee-keeping; and over that these societies can have no control. We can only hope that our oldfashioned genial springs may be permitted to return. Nor can the societies procure the waste lands to be again untilled. These lands are rendered far more profitable to the community, than they were when producing wild flowers for bees. It must be remembered, however, that the waste lands produced food for bees in autumn only, they being deficient of spring flowers; and their loss is in some degree made up by the greater number of flowers now cultivated. The operation of the third cause can be prevented, if the wealthier classes can be induced to make more use of honey. It was in much greater esteem among our forefathers than it is at present; and, if apiarian societies exert their influence, they may persuade the higher and middling classes to consume more honey in their families, by which the price will be advanced. Formerly the cottager sold his honey to the gentry in his neighbourhood; now he must depend solely upon the druggist or apothecary to purchase his produce, who is sure to give him a low price, knowing that the poor man has no other market. He will undervalue the honey, upon the pretence of the cheapness of foreign honey, the importation of which has been stated as the fourth cause of the discontinuance of bee-keeping among cottagers. It is true that some imported honey of a bad quality is sold at an inferior price; but the good brings double the price which the druggist will give to a cottager for native honey equally good; and for pure honey in the comb, the cottager receives only about one third of the price at which it is retailed in the shops. This might be remedied, if the societies were to appoint agents to collect the honey of the cottagers, and carry it to a better market. In this county of Norfolk, an apiarian society is about to be established through the exertions of Mr. Hart of Billingsford, and a few other gentlemen, who have done much to encourage cottagers to cultivate their gardens instead of sleeping away their spare time, or spending it in places ruinous to themselves and their families. Those gentlemen who encourage apiarian societies will render valuable assistance to their cottagers. Formerly they cultivated bees to their profit, and we hope to see them do so again. The keeping of bees would prove also a source of pleasure, and the interest they would take in observing the habits and industry of these insects would often divert their minds from heavier cares. Cossey Hall Gardens, December 26. 1838. ART. XII. On Honey. THE popular name of virgin honey, as applied to that which is taken from hives on the depriving system, and from late weak swarms on the destroying plan, arises from an idea, prevalent among old bee-keepers, that the purest honey was to be obtained from a swarm thrown off by a swarm of the same season, and whose queens they believed to be virgins. No brood being in the combs of such hives is, however, to be traced to very different causes; for late weak swarms from old stocks, provided they be thrown off at the same date, are equally without brood combs, and contain as pure honey as those erroneously called virgin hives. When a late swarm is thrown off, be it from an old or a new stock, the season is past for the production of brood, while the weakness of the swarm is a still more powerful reason for its non-appearance, the number of bees not being large enough to keep up the temperature requisite for maturing the brood. The common supposition, that the combs are discoloured by the brood and pollen (or brood bread), is only partially correct; for, in weak hives, the cells containing them are not much discoloured; while in strong stocks, not only they, but the outside combs, soon become dark; a proof that the discoloration is more the effect of great heat, the cells being flexible, and the constant traffic of the bees having the pollen about them, than of the brood. As a farther proof that virginity of the queens has nothing to do with the purity of the honey, old blackened combs will yield honey as pure as fresh ones, provided the honey itself be of the same age, and gathered from the same kind of flowers. This fact is very easily ascertained by piercing the cells, to let the honey drip out. Much good honey is spoiled by its being squeezed from the combs. The combs should be cut or carefully broken, and allowed to drip through a muslin bag. Cossey Hall Gardens, April 2. 1840. ART. I. REVIEWS. Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London. 2d Series, Vol. I. Part V., and Vol. II. Parts I. II. III. 4to. London, 1833 to 1840. (Continued from p. 348.) 59. REPORT on some of the more remarkable hardy ornamental Plants raised in the Horticultural Society's Garden from Seeds received from Mr. David Douglas, in the Years 1831, 1832, 1833. By George Bentham, Esq., F.L.S., Secretary. Read June 17. 1834. These are Ribes glutinòsum, R. malvàceum, Leptosiphon androsàceus, L. densiflorus, Gilia tricolor, Phacèlia tanacetifòlia, Nemóphila insígnis, Collinsia bícolor, Chelòne centranthifòlia; all now common in the nurseries. 60. Meteorological Journal, &c., as before. 61. Remarks on the Growth of a peculiar Fir resembling the Pináster. By Sir C.Lemon, Bart., M.P., F.H.S. The plant in question is a pine, not a fir. It is a variety of the Pináster, characterised by the form and position of the cone, and the effects of the growth of the tree resulting from that position. In the common Pináster, the cone is oblong, tapering towards the base, and having large projecting echinate scales, with deep fissures between them. In the kind in question it is smaller, more ovate, tapering but little towards the base, and having moderatesized unarmed scales with shallow furrows between them. The position of the cone is a still more striking distinction. In the common Pináster, the cones, of which there are generally three or four, are situated behind the shoots of the whorl, and in the mature state point backwards. In this obscure species, on the contrary, the cone is single, and it as universally occupies the place of the leading shoot, the side shoots being behind it. The necessary consequence of this position is, that the tree can have no regular leader, but each year one of the side shoots strengthens and continues the growth for the ensuing season. The year following, the same process is repeated in another direction; a new axis of growth is formed, and the stem of the tree acquires a zigzag appearance, which is never entirely lost, though of course much obliterated by age." 50 These distinctive characters, Sir C. Lemon observes, may indicate: 1st, a distinct species; 2d, a hybrid, between adjacent species; or 3d, an accidental, perhaps permanent, variety." |