HINTS TO AMATEUR GARDENERS. THE CALENDAR FOR JULY. WE are now beginning to reap some of the advantages of our toil, and to be in a great measure reconciled to our early disappointments in the fruit and flower garden. We have lost many of our pets, we grant; but they are replaced by others. It is true philosophy to take things as we find them, and to be thankful that matters are no worse. Ours is a singular climate! FRUIT. If it is intended to make new plantations of Strawberries, select now some of the strongest runners for that purpose; by planting out during showery weather at this season, they become well established before winter, and usually produce a few fine fruit the following season, which can hardly be the case when delayed until spring. Cherries, Peaches, or Plums, may now be bedded. Examine grafts, and remove any shoots or suckers that may withdraw nourishment from the scion, and keep it secure from injury by winds. Trained Pears, Plums, Apples, or Cherries, should have all the summer growths, except those intended to be trained in, shortened back to two or three eyes to encourage the formation of fruit-buds. Vines must be regularly looked over, and have all weak, useless shoots removed, as last month: if the smallest berries are thinned out regularly and carefully with a pair of scissors, the remaining berries will swell much larger, and in favorable seasons be scarcely distinguishable from hot-house fruit. Currants and Gooseberries should have any of their summer wood that may shade the fruit, cut out. FLOWERS. ANNUALS, during showery weather, may be thinned out, and the thinnings planted. BULBS.-Continue to take up as their foliage decays, and supply their places with annuals or other plants. CARNATIONS.-Towards the middle or end of the month is the most proper time to layer these, for which choose dry weather; the shoots are then much less liable to snap off, when bending them after the incision is made. The operation is performed as follows: First remove the leaves from the part of the stem to be buried in the soil, and about an inch of the extreme points of the terminal leaves; then, with a sharp knife make an incision a short distance below the most eligible joint, to be found within about two or three of the top; the cut should pass half through the stem, and then upwards, nearly to the joint above, and cut the small portion of stem remaining on the tongue immediately below the joint; then bend the shoot down to the soil, which has been loosened for its reception, and secure it there with a small hooked stick-covering it with some finelybroken soil, an inch deep, made tolerably firm about it; after this, a watering renders the operation complete. All common layering is managed on the same principle, a layer being a cutting not separated from the parent plant until it has emitted roots for its own support." In layering many kinds of brittle plants, it will be found a good plan to make the cut upon the upper side, instead of the lower one, for this reason: when the layer is bent down, after the incision is made at top, the strain is upon the stem, which will stretch a little without breaking; but when made at the under side, the strain is on the flat-sided wound, which readily snaps. Where the carnation stems are very numerous, it may be worth while to put some in as pipings, in the same manner as recommended for pinks, about the first of the month; these are much less certain than layers, but are said to make healthier and stouter plants when they do strike; a gentle bottom-heat would be of advantage to them. The opening flowers must be protected from sun and rain, the calyx tied or secured, and the petals arranged as has been recommended for pinks. If seedlings were raised last year, they will now be in flower; select those worth keeping. DAHLIAS. Thin out weak branches, and keep the plants neatly and securely tied; cuttings may now be struck, for preserving in pots during winter. HEARTSEASE. Plant out seedlings, and propagate choice kinds by cuttings, in a shaded situa tion. HYDRANGEAS may be increased at this season by cuttings, or by layers, making the tongue at the origin of this season's young wood, and shortening the top. PELARGONIUMS which have flowered may be cut down, and cuttings of the best kinds put in; they will readily root now. PINKS.-Pipings may be still put in, and the decayed flowers removed. ROSES may be budded if the bark rises freely. The stems which have flowered should be cut down to a good eye. A succession of flowers will be thus encouraged; examine the earliest buds, that the ties are not pinching. STOCKS.-In leaving single-flowered plants to produce seed, choose those containing the greatest number of petals. When double-flowering herbaceous plants are going out of flower, they will be usually found in the fittest state for increase. Clip Box-edgings also deciduous hedges. Keep creepers neatly trained up, and allow no weeds to be seen. TAKE CARE OF YOUR EYES. LET all who value their eye-sight, be careful how they trifle with it. The eye is easily damaged; and a hint or two to the thoughtless may be in season. Looking into the fire is very injurious to the eyes, particularly if a coal fire. The stimulus of light and heat united, soon destroys the eyes. Looking at molten iron will soon destroy the sight. Reading in the twilight is injurious to the eyes, as they are obliged to make great exertion. Reading or sewing with a side light, injures the eyes; as both eyes should be exposed to an equal degree of light. The reason is the sympathy between the eyes is so great, that if the pupil of one is dilated by being kept partially in the shade, the one that is most exposed cannot contract itself sufficiently for protection, and will ultimately be injured. Those who wish to preserve their sight, should preserve their general health-by correct habits, and give their eyes just work enough, with a due degree of light. MODERN IMPOSTORS,WOMEN, AND THE "SPIRITS." Try the Spirits.-BOOK OF WISDOM. All the shelves, The faithless winds, blind rocks, and sinking sands, Are WOMEN all-the wreck of wretched men. LEE. 80 INDUSTRIOUSLY PUT FORTH, by those who ought to know better, to mislead the Public and to fright the town from its propriety -that we feel called upon to step in, and enter a formal caveat against the reigning imposture of the day. The world, we have said, is mad, ever has been mad; but it is going even beyond this! We will not be wearisome; but as ours is avowedly a JOURNAL OF NATURE, we must vindicate what is natural, and put down what is not. The Public need not now be told of what is daily going on at the west end of the town, in the way of humbug,-patronised, too, by the haut ton. We allude to the sleight-of-hand performances of a notorious female juggler. We would have left this wide-awake, vulgar woman, to fleece her visitors at her pleasure,-had she not secured to herself the sanction of so great an authority for her imposture as Dr. Ashburner. We regret, with the rest of his friends, that this worthy and very clever man should have been made the dupe of such a shallow artifice; for his was a fine mind. We judge him,—not from hearsay, but from his own printed Letter to G. J. Holyoake, Esq. Let us join in the general remark,-" Alas, how are the mighty fallen!" Festus said of St. Paul, the Apostle,—“ Much learning hath made thee mad." The remark was not true in that instance, however applicable it might be now. Nobody loves philosophy more than we do. Nobody takes greater pleasure in tracing every natural occurrence to its very source; but we deem it a mark of true wisdom to let our inquiries have reference to the present world only. All beyond this, we consider it unlawful to pry into; and when we mark the "consequences" of doing so, we feel quite satisfied of the correctness of our views. "Thus far shalt thou come, but no farther." We shall not attempt to analyse Dr. Ashburner's Letter. Everybody should read it. But we will offer one or two observations upon it. We pass over his experiments in omnibuses-inducing certain passengers," by the power of his will, to fall asleep, and put their hands into his; besides doing other ridiculous things." He says " he has often done it." That may be. We certainly should not like any of our woman-kind to journey by the same conveyance as the worthy Doctor. We may be singular, but we speak our feeling on the point. Dr. Ashburner then goes on to say, that he lost his father fifty-five years ago; and he tells us gravely how, by entering into a coalition with Mrs. Hayden, the latter brought up the parental ghost, also, what the ghost said, totidem verbis. We think we behold the vision now. "Oh, my prophetic soul,-my Father!" VOL. III.-24. The Doctor has, we fear, fallen into bad hands. He is older than we are, and ought to know more than we do of Woman's power. When good, she is an angel of mercy. When bad, she is the let the Doctor fill up the chasm; for he must be well aware of the "Media" by this time! Women first draw us in with flattering looks We throw this out as a kind hint,-for the game cannot last very long. We have said, we love Philosophy. But can any one bring a philosophical countenance to bear upon such a ludicrous picture as we have brought upon the tapis? We think not. That the Doctor is sincere in his confession of faith, we readily believe. This makes us feel his lost position in society the more. His Letter is a great mistake. It will be used against him, and against the good cause he has until recently been so anxious to promote-both far and near. To show the state of Dr. Ashburner's mind, we will conclude with some few of his observations at Page 8. He says, after recording his imaginary conversations with certain ghosts,-"These are only a small part of the numerous proofs I have had of the identity of persons with whom I had been acquainted years ago. I have, in subsequent séances, had many opportunities of holding intercourse with a score of other persons now in the upper magnetic regions of space surrounding the earth,-intelligences, some of whom were friends here, and some of whom were individuals of whom I had been desired to learn facts that turned out to be marvellously true." It will be seen that the Doctor numbers his interviews with ghosts "by the score,"—like herrings. A few more, or a few less, are of little consequence. He whistles to them, and, singing sweetly— They come to his call, like the birds in the song of "Home, sweet Home." But we drop the curtain here; lamenting deeply the publication of such a document. Litera scripta manet. No argument, now, can do away with what is indelibly impressed upon paper. Impiety like this; and so supreme a contempt for the Maker of Heaven and Earth, whose love for his children, and their everlasting happiness, is more boundless than the ocean,-needs only to be brought into view to be received as it ought to be, with undisguised horror. Before quitting this sad subject--for it is sad to see such a prostitution of time and intellect-may we ask, how so very many respectable mothers of families can persist in encouraging the imposture? If their own self-respect be of no consequence, let them,-pray let them consider their innocent children, and not initiate them in vice. When we lay aside this mortal coil, no fear shall we have of being subject to exorcism by strolling vagabonds, who can make spectres of us at will. Oh-no! The God we worship does not deal after this fashion. So let us now leave the whole crew to their meditations. BB ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. 66 you New and Curious Method of Causing Plants to Blossom at Will.-I observe, Mr. Editor, a very curious account given of some experiments, recently made at Onslow House, Brompton, illustrative of a process, the invention of M. Herbert, for promoting, in a space of time so short as to be not improperly termed "instantaneous," the flowering of plants. Some geraniums, and also a rose tree, it appears, were placed under a species of glass receiver; the earth in which they were set having already been impregnated with certain chemical compounds, which, submitted to the action of a prepared fluid poured upon it by the operator, generated a strong vapor, and with it a peculiar condition of heat, the effect of which was to expand the buds of the geraniums, and throw them into full bloom. The rose tree remained impracticable; but M. Herbert accounted for the failure in this instance by saying, that he had not had the plant in his possession sufficiently long to prepare it for the process. The experiment was curious, and the promised "blossoming" was no doubt accomplished; but to what extent the process may be made available, with what degree of ease, what the safety as regards the plant itself, and what the period of the bud at the moment of making the experiment-are points yet to be satisfactorily elucidated. The geranium flowers which were produced by M. Herbert, on this occasion, were distributed among the ladies who were present. This experiment is rather curious than useful, for nobody could take pleasure in systematically setting aside the operations of nature. Birds and Bird-Catchers. I need not tell you, my best of friends, how delighted I am to read all you say about those villanous bird-catchers. I hate them as bitterly as you do. My old master, BOMBYX ATLAS, too, is equally their enemy. Now and then (for he is ever on the look-out) he catches some boys and men climbing the trees; and waits till they get pretty high up towards the nests. Knowing what game is "up," I hide myself till my master's whistle summons me to my pleasing duty. The rascals are then loudly called to, and desired to 46 come down instantly. I hasten their descent by a bark and a growl, both perfectly comprehensible I assure you! When "Bombyx" has done with them, and a pretty dressing they get from him!—I lend them a hand, by seizing them à tergo. My teeth generally meet,-not in their flesh, but right through their habiliments; and when I have frightened them till they are nearly half dead, then I allow them to escape. I have created quite a reign of terror in our neighborhood among the bird-catchers; and I still watch them narrowly. But now, my dear friend, I have a bone to pick with you. How could fall so cruelly foul of ME,-the Public's own dog "-in your last number; and so cruelly misunderstand the parenthetical remark I made about "Our Editor?" Do read again what passed in that "Stroll through Epping Forest." Neither I nor my master, while speaking of that old birdcatcher, commended his "calling." Surely not! We spoke of him as a weary traveller. My remark-HELEN W. that he was "just the man for you," had reference to his knowledge of the habits of birds; with all Oak-Apples. What are these, Mr. Editor, and which, he said, he was so intimately acquainted. how are they produced? I was asked the question, Pray set me right with the world on this matter-one day last week, and was obliged to confess my for I am now a public character, and must not ignorance.--ROSALIE. have any slur cast upon me that I do not deserve. Indeed you were very snappish with your old friend. You snubbed me cruelly; nor did I get any sleep, after reading your severe remarks, for several days and nights. I know your disposition too well, to imagine that you will refuse to do me justice; and therefore at once appeal to your generosity to see me righted. You told me to shut up." Do you remember this? Oh! cruel Roses and Rosebuds-At a season when we remark! What did you mean by it? Adieu! are positively revelling in the enjoyment of flowers, Thine own faithful, loving friend,-FINO, Totten--whose praises, my dear sir, you do so rejoice to ham, June 10. your [They are the produce of a fly, scientifically called Cynips. This little creature is furnished with an ovipositor, or egg-layer. With this instrument, the bark or leaves of a tree are perforated. An egg is then deposited therein, and around this arises an excrescence, termed a "gall," or oakapple.] sing, let me "assist " in directing particular atten[Thou very best of all good and loving dogs! tion to the fairest of all our flowers, the Rose. It is That we have injured thee is too true,-in word now shedding its sweetest fragrance on all around. though, rather than in thought. The fact is, The Rose may be said to be the oldest of celebrated FINO, at the time your excellent master's account flowers; and, in the impassioned strain of the of "Stroll through Epping" reached us, we ancients, we find it associated with the Lily of the were half crazy at the complaints made to us from Valley, as expressive of all that is pleasing to the all parts of the country, about the doings of "bird-senses and renovating to the mind. In the mycatchers." The very allusion, therefore, to one of their tribe, no doubt irritated us; and our ire fell upon your devoted head. Forgive us, dear FINO. Hand us thy faithful paw, and let us shake it with all the sincerity of true friendship. From our very heart we love thee, and thy dear master too. So wipe thy eyes, and let us all be better(no, that cannot be) as good, we mean-friends as ever.-P.S. What delightful weather this is, for you to tear away after those rabbits! We hope to join you soon in a forest ramble.] thologic ages, it was sacred as the flower of young affection and endearment, and of mature love,the favorite of Cupid and of Venus; and stripping this of the mythological phraseology, which in all cases was a fictitious mantle thrown around something previously felt, no similitude of any flower could be more appropriate. The Rosebud, the sweetest subject that appears in the garden, is typical of all beginnings from the issue of which enjoyment and pleasure are expected. The early dawn, the lamb playing its first gambols around its mother, the young bird trying its half-fledged to a wing, young schemes and projects,--young life, -young love (though the last is especially subject worm i' the bud "),--and a hundred other young associations, all of delightful kind, are linked with the Rosebud. An ample bed of Roses in full bloom has no parallel among the productions of the earth. The habits and colors of the several varieties, are varied almost without end; and yet there is great beauty in each of them. Then the perfume with which they embalm the zephyr as it plays over them, is quite unique; nothing among other flowers can be compared to it. Most of the fragrant flowers have something of a sickly nature in their perfume, which, while it gratifies the sense for a little, soon brings a heaviness over the mind. This is especially the case with bulbous-rooted flowers-such as hyacinths and lilies, which contain a small portion of prussic acid, and a much larger portion of diluted carbonic, which soon brings the perfume to the ground. The odor of the Rose, on the other hand, is all-exhilarating, floats light and buoyant on the breeze; and, besides being the most delightful to the sense, it gives tone and elasticity to the mind. In most instances the odor of a flower dies along with it, and the decaying petals are offensive to the nostril; but not so the Rose. We find it yielding a variety of fragrant liquors, which do not require the corrosive ingredients which are in many of the compound essences of the shops; and Attar of Roses, especially when prepared in the valley of the Ganges, where square miles are devoted to the growth of this flower, is now almost the only substance which, weight for weight, is more valuable than gold.-HEARTSEASE, Hants. leaves, trills a placid and soothing lullaby. I quite agree with you, my dear sir, in believing that we may learn many a practical lesson from these sweet creatures. I never fail to carry out, to the best of my ability, the many hints kindly thrown out by you for my individual benefit. I know many others, too, whose sentiments are in unison with my own.-HELEN W. [We are proud, fair Helen,-pleasingly proud, to have such a coadjutor as yourself. You are perfectly correct in the feelings you cultivate, and are to be commended for spreading them far and near. Rely upon it, OURS is the true philosophy.] The Poultry Fountain.-I observed in your last, an announcement of a Poultry Fountain, which was said to be useful to amateurs. Do you know anything about it, or have you seen any of them in use ?-JOHN F., Marlow. [The fountain you allude to (we have two of them in use) is the registered invention of Messrs. BAKER, King's Road, Chelsea. It is a cheap and very clever contrivance for supplying pure water to the poultry-yard,-its contamination by dirt, being rendered impracticable: The great secret of success in keeping fowls healthy, lies in the practice of giving them a constant supply of pure water. We must, and do ever insist upon this. Half the complaints we receive about sickness in the poultry-yard, arise from the impurity of the water that is given to the inmates. Messrs. Baker's fountains are well calculated to remedy this evil. By placing them in a horizontal position, they are readily filled,-there being only one opening, which is below, immediately over the trough; when full, they are placed upright, and immediately become self-supplying. It must be remarked, that no more water flows from the reservoir than is actually required, and it will continue to flow so long as there is any left. The fountains are so prepared that they cannot corrode, and therefore may be used without fear.] The Voice of the Skylark.—I cannot wonder at this bird of Heaven being such a favorite with Our Editor. He is indeed a lovely fellow; as all must acknowledge who see and hear him in his upward flight. Hogg calls this bird "the emblem of happiness," and he certainly does diffuse happiness on all around him. His is "the" voice that sings at the portals of the golden sky its Chloroform administered to a Horse.-A grateful hymn of contentment, and pours out its few days ago, says the Editor of the Bris heart full of adoration to the Supreme Being. He tol Times, chloroform was administered, under is the lowliest dweller on the green-sward, the the direction of Mr. J. G. Lansdown, to a horse loftiest soarer skywards. There is a sweet cheerful belonging to Messrs. Matthews and Leonard, of The object of lesson to be learnt from that voice in the air-one this city, and called "Sambo." of contentment, light-heartedness, and gratitude. giving it to him was, that they might be able to And what bird has so good a right to sing "at shoe the animal with less difficulty than they Heaven's gate" in the summer sky, as this gentlest usually experienced; his violence on such occaand truest of birds? He never wanders from hissions being so great, that it took seven men six nest, and his native land, but dwells ever among us, hours to perform the work, and then only at a risk The experiment making the very clouds musical during the spring, of having their legs broken. summer, and autumn; and gathering together, in was successful; for after gradual doses had been the silence and gloom of winter, in friendly flocks, administered for half-an-hour, the animal comwhen his song ceases. He is then too often destroyed menced a sort of dance on all fours, which he into supply the table of the luxurious! Nor, whilst creased rapidly, and finished by raising himself speaking of this charming songster, may we forget up and falling backwards in a corner of the shoehis kindred bird, the woodlark; for his song also is ing shop. He was then dragged out, and revery sweet, when he warbles in the choruses of mained perfectly motionless until one fore and one spring. Less brilliant than that of the lark, it has hind foot were shod, the chloroform being contigreat softness and tenderness; and after sunset, nued in small doses all the time. The two shoes when his sun-worshipping cousin has sunk in were put on in twenty minutes; he was turned gentle silence on his grass-sheltered nest, the over, and in eighteen minutes the other two were woodlark, perched on the largest branch of some completed. While the operation was going on, neighboring tree, and looking down on his nest, the animal got into a sweat, and continued so unwhich is placed beneath the shelter of a May-thorn til towards the end, when he became rather cold: hedge, or hidden by rank grass and gigantic dock- he was then well rubbed all over, and was got on his legs, when he appeared weak, and staggered at first, but, being supported by the men, soon after recovered himself.-By this, it would appear, Mr. Editor, that a certain and harmless remedy is at hand, in cases where severity and force are useless. Let us hope it will more frequently be resorted to.-WILLIAM C., Gloucester. The Growth of Salmon.-In the year 1850 a number of salmon smolts, says the Berwick Warder, were taken from the river Tweed to stock a pond near Melrose. A few days ago, three or four of these fish were captured with the rod, and although by this time nearly three years old, their average weight was found to be only half a pound. They have all the appearance, however, of full-grown salmon, their stunted growth being no doubt attributable to their being kept in a fresh water pond without ever having an opportunity of reaching the sea.-JAMES L., New castle. Spiritual Manifestations.-That the world is turned upside down, Mr. Editor, appears plain; for we see that, in addition to the fashionables at the West, many of the clergy are supporters of this crafty deceit. I congratulate you on your remaining true to your principles. I see the conductors of Chambers's Journal are veering round, and giving in their adhesion to the Spirits. It is to be regretted; but not to be wondered at. Yet is it sad to think that the established Christian Religion should be publicly avowed a farce. The idea seems monstrous to a reflective mind, that the Creator should permit any intercourse (at the will of a juggler) to take place between the departed and the living. John Bull will believe anything! But this last American humbug is "too" bad. It proves, as you say, that we are going a-head Well may we read of so many people going mad after witnessing such exhibitions! We are getting "wise above what is written;" and we must take the consequences.-E., Bath. [We are weary of commenting on this subject. Infidelity is not to our taste. We have repeatedly said the world is mad; and are they not proving it daily? If the people will give themselves up to such silly bewitchery, let them do so by all means; but we are sorry to see leaders of the people willing to listen to it; and still more sorry to observe them treat the imposture with gravity and composure-aye, and even argue upon its truth. WE are clear of this.] over fast. More of the Spirit Ghosts, Spirit Goblins, and Hobgoblins.-Let me compliment you highly, my dear sir, for having so early and so loudly raised your voice against those ghostly impostors, the Spirit Rappers." I hardly need tell you, that my mind was thoroughly made up, long since, about the absurdity of these catch-penny exhibitions; but not wishing to have it said that I was prejudging the "Spirits" without going to see them "called up," I have just martyr'd myself and family for the public good! Mrs. Hayden has had from me, and mine, five golden pieces; in exchange for which, we enjoyed a succession of hearty laughs that you might have (almost) heard at Hammersmith. As you have so ably exposed the details of the humbug, in former numbers, I 44 will briefly tell you that a more ridiculous piece [We have made it our business to confer personally with all the party who are referred to above; and they are unanimous on this point-that a more abject piece of humbug was never before introduced to an English public. What sane person doubts it ?] Trees, or Old Ruins, Covered with Ivy.-To give a picturesque appearance to a tree, or ancient ruin, covered with ivy, or any evergreen climber, clematis montana and a Virginian creeper (ampelopsis hederacea) should be planted, to run up over the ivy. Do not, however, allow them to cover it all over. The clematis, after reaching the top, will hang down in long wreaths of snowwhite blossom to the ground in the month of May; and in the autumn, the purpleish scarlet tinge from the fading leaves of the "creeper" would be no less beautiful, nor less in contrast to the deep green below it.-EMMA G. |