them, and as vigorous as if they had not been attacked by the insects. In this method of destroying them there is not that waste of liquor which there is in other mixtures applied by means of the garden engine. One ale quart was sufficient for all the cherry trees and plum trees in my garden.

The sulphuret of lime may be kept almost any length of time, so as to be ready for use when wanted for making the mixture, by filling small bottles with it, corking them, and immersing them, with their necks downwards, in a vessel of I am, Sir, &c.

water.

July 10. 1830.

N. T.

ART. XIII. A cheap and easy Method of raising Celery.*

Sir,

By Mr. E. ROGer.

As almost every person who has a garden plants a few early potatoes, those who are fond of celery will find the following method of raising it cheap, simple, and easy.

After the potatoes are fully hoed up, it will be found that the furrows are an excellent ready made trench for the celery; then take a small spade, and cover in a good dose of strong manure betwixt every alternate row of the potatoes, every furrow would be too close, and then plant in the usual manner. In digging the potatoes, take up every alternate row first, which will give more air to the celery.

The advantages of the above plan are as follows:- 1st, no ground is lost by the celery crop; 2d, no labour is required in making the trench; 3d, the celery plants really thrive better at first by being partly shaded by the potatoes; and 4th, the celery can be partly earthed up when digging the potatoes, without any additional labour.

I may also observe that every economical gardener may also take a crop of early cabbage from the other furrows, as every alternate furrow is only occupied with the celery; the other furrows may be planted with spring-sown cabbage plants, which will be quite ready for cutting before the earth is wanted for the celery. I remark farther that celery plants raised in the open air are by far the best, and just as easily raised as green kail or cabbage, notwithstanding the mystifications of some of the professional gardeners.

Originally published in the Ayr Advertiser, and recently sent to the Gardener's Magazine by Mr. Roger.

It will be seen that the above plan is really taking three crops off the same piece of ground, which will of course require to be well manured. Do not forget that "the midden is the mither o' the meal-kist."

I am Sir, yours, &c.

Turf Inn, Kilmarnock, June 18. 1828.

E. ROGER.

ART. XIV. On raising an early Crop of Peas, as formerly practised in Tynningham Gardens, East Lothian. By Mr. MAIN, A.L.S. Sir,

THE indefatigable President of the Horticultural Society, among his many valuable papers presented to the Society, has one on the practicability of raising a first crop of peas, by transplanting. On this same subject it may not be amiss, for the information of your readers, to detail the practice of gardeners in Scotland forty years ago, particularly the neverfailing method followed by the late Mr. Thomas Thomson at Tynningham, the seat of the Earl of Haddington.

About the 10th of November, provide as many clean 24sized pots as may be necessary; fill them with light rich compost; divide the pots by a diametrically placed piece of broken glass, slate, tile, or any thin bits of pales cut to length, thrust down into the mould; draw, with the two fore and middle fingers united, shallow drills on each side the partitions. In these sow the seed (the earliest sort) moderately thick; cover with the compost; plunge the pots in a cold frame, in an open spot, and protect them from mice and frost; giving air on all seasonable occasions throughout the winter. As soon as the rigours of winter are over, they may be transplanted; if under a south wall the better. Dig a spit along and close to the wall; cut out a shallow trench within 5 in. from it; turn out the contents of each pot into or upon the hand; withdraw the partition, and separate the roots of the divisions which will be found united at bottom with a knife; then place the divisions along the trench, earth up, and make all smooth. Stick them immediately with light slender sticks previously prepared, and about 2 ft. high. This will not only defend them from the boisterous equinoctial gales which happen about that time (middle of March), but also from frost. The peas are fit to gather about the 1st of May, according as the spring is more or less genial.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.

556

PART II.

REVIEWS.

ART. I. The Villa and Cottage Florist's Directory; being a familiar Treatise on Floriculture, particularly the Management of the best Stage, Bed, and Border Flowers usually cultivated in Britain. To which are added Directions for the Management of the Greenhouse, Hot-house, and Conservatory; with the different Modes of raising and propagating Exotic Plants: interspersed with many new Physiological Observations and various useful Lists. By James Main, A.L.S., Editor of the 23d Edition of Maw's Gardener's Calendar, and a Writer in various Departments of Gardening, Agriculture, and Natural History. London, 1830. 12mo. 6s.

THIS work is intended for practical florists; and where the author adheres to what should have been his sole object, the communication of the information obtained from an apparently extensive and long experience in the management of the flower-garden, the green-house, hot-house, and conservatory, we know few works that more deserve the patronage of the public than this little volume. But, soaring above the ambition of the horticulturist, Mr. Main has unfortunately involved himself and his readers in clouds and vapours, in attempting to theorise on vegetable physiology. Whilst, therefore, on the first account, we can honestly recommend the volume as a practical guide to the young and inexperienced florist, it is our duty to prevent erroneous impressions from being made, where they are most likely to be received, and to become permanent, on the minds of the uninformed and credulous. It is to this portion of the work that it behoves us, reluctantly, to direct the attention of our readers.

In describing the nature of bulbs, and the manner in which the offsets or young bulbs are produced, Mr. Main has given a kind of definition of the corculum, which, we confess, is far beyond our homely understanding. He informs us that it

is " an indefinite series of dividual essences, which are annu

ally brought forth in succession;" that "it is the most essential organ of a vegetable being;" and further, that it is "the fountain which first contains, and from whence flows all the productions of a plant." Now, previously to reading these passages, we flattered ourselves that we had some idea of what is usually understood by the word corculum, in reference to a bulb; we find, however, that we had quite mistaken the meaning of the term. But whether it is an essence, or an organ, or a fountain of vegetable production, our worthy author should have informed us, as assuredly it cannot be all three. We are still more puzzled to comprehend what follows. "It is," says our author, "variously located in the system: in some, it is confined to one place; in others, detached in groups from the first station; and, on the generality of trees and shrubs, it is diffused like a covering over the whole surface of the plant." (p. 2.) We are also informed that "the first, or highest in order," of this series of essences, ❝is, in the autumn before it is developed, composed of a surrounding envelope of thick fleshy bodies, like scales." Now, we candidly acknowledge that we have not capacity sufficient to understand this mysterious passage; but we are willing that our objections to it should be set down solely to the obtundity of our everyday intellect. We dare not attempt to follow our author in his profound lucubrations respecting the developement of the "processes of the senior part of the corculum," nor those regarding the increase in size of the vital principle (p. 3.); nor express our astonishment at the discovery," that the essence which covers the whole surface of trees and shrubs is no bigger than a grain of mustard seed;" neither will we venture to dispute the still more extraordinary information respecting the influence of disease in hyacinths. We speak this advisedly; for our author informs us that the new bulb is formed "by the gouty basis of some of the last and this year's leaves embracing those, together with the stem and flower, which are to be expanded in the next." The transcendental philosophy is a mere joke, comparing it with the mysticism of that of our honest phytologist.

It is surely unnecessary to say one word more on the physiology of this volume. We blame the author for his temerity in throwing away his bladders before he has learned to swim, and incautiously venturing beyond his depth; in plainer language, for introducing as physiology, vague, unintelligible, and crude ideas into his otherwise useful book; lessening his

the practical instruction that he is so well fitted to afford to them, by the exposure of his ignorance of a subject which is altogether out of place in his volume. It is painful to be obliged to make these remarks, especially when the castigation is applied to an individual who is a very able floriculturist, and a most respectable man; but we have a public duty to perform paramount to every other consideration. We therefore recommend the purchasers of this book to pass their pens over what is termed the physiology; and then they will find it a very useful guide.

But, leaving this part of the subject, we would correct a few errors that have crept into the better part of the volume. Thus tubers are frequently confounded with roots; and we are informed that the turnip and carrot are "bulbs differing only in form." Now we can most confidently assure our readers that neither bulbs nor tubers are ever the productions of roots, but of the stem, or ascending axis of the plant; and that the turnip, and also the carrot, is a real root or descending axis: it is of little importance, and does not invalidate the fact, that the portion of the stem usually producing bulbs and tubers is beneath the surface of the ground. We are more surprised that such an error should appear, after finding it stated, that tubers are productions of the stem. (p. 19.) We are also informed that the leaves are of no use in perfecting the young bulb; yet, in treating of the cultivation of polyanthus-narcissus, our author correctly admits that cutting off the leaves whilst in vigorous growth is detrimental. He doubts whether the crocus can be ranked as a bulbous plant. If it be not, what is it? The author's application of the phrase "vis inertiæ," to what he terms the sleep of the anemone, is perfectly new. In the use of well-known terms he is also frequently incorrect: thus he calls the support of the carnation a peduncle, whereas the immediate support of every flower is a pedicel; the prop of the pedicel, if it has one, is a peduncle. He uses the word fecundified instead of fecundated; and frequently other words peculiar to himself: thus, for example, cauline instead of caulinar. His employment of terms that

We cannot agree with our reviewer in this position. Unless the subject of vegetable physiology be altogether beyond the reach of cultivators, in what work can the application of its principles be more appropriately introduced than in a treatise on flowers? The fault of our excellent friend Mr. Main consists not in having introduced the subject; for that he appears to us to deserve great praise; but, as we have mentioned to our friend personally, in having mystified it. Mr. Main has too much good sense and good feeling, not to profit from the reviewer's remarks. — Cond.