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THE

FLORICULTURAL CABINET,

MAY 1ST, 1846.

PART I.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

ARTICLE I. EMBELLISHMENTS.

MR. IVERY'S SEEDLING CINERARIAS.

1. PERFECTION.

2. VICTORIA SUPERB. 3. CONQUEROR.

THE Cineraria is fast becoming a popular flower, its gay and lively appearance at an early period of the season rendering it peculiarly useful for purposes of general decoration in the greenhouse; to the great improvement, however, which has recently been effected upon its original rude and starry-shaped flowers, remarkable only for their large daisy-like disk or eye, surrounded by a few narrow petals, may we attribute its present elevation.

The three seedling varieties, raised by Mr. Ivery of Peckham, and represented in our plate, afford ample proof of the improvement we speak of; there yet, however, remains much to be done, especially in the habit of the plant, which ought to be compact and dwarf. This is a point that must first be insisted on, because without uniformity in the plant, all its beauty is destroyed. Other good properties are, the trusses of bloom being large, close, and even on the surface, the individual flowers standing together so that their edges just touch each other, however numerous they may be, and finally, as the most beautiful of all forms in a flower that faces us, each separate bloom should form as complete a circle as possible, its centre or disk be proportionate to its size, that is, in all cases not more than one-third the diameter of the whole, and if somewhat less, perhaps, the better, as this portion of the flower is certainly the least interesting of any. We hope soon VOL. XIV. No. 159.

I

to see double-flowered kinds, which will be pleasingly admitted to obviate the last-named consideration.

A very excellent plan to adopt in the cultivation of this plant is to turn out the old plants (after undergoing a thorough cleansing process) into a raised bed, in the month of June. The bed should be composed of one-half leaf-soil, or other vegetable matter, with sharp sand; and if soiled up pretty close to the stem, abundance of fine young plants will be ready for pots by the early part of August: they should then be taken up, shaken entirely apart, and the plants singled out for general potting. The soil should be equal parts leaf-mould, peat, old cow-dung, charcoal, or wood-ashes, strong loam, and sharp sand; remembering in all these matters to drain the pots completely.

Nothing is then necessary but to place them all behind a wall, on the north side, immediately they are potted, and to sprinkle them well. About the middle of September they will require their final shifting into larger pots, using the same kind of soil in a rougher state. The plants may then be placed in a cold pit, near the glass, as they like abundance of light; they should be watered moderately, and removed to the greenhouse when required for bloom.

The following twelve varieties are amongst the best in present cultivation, and may now be procured at reasonable prices at most of the nurseries.

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In the vegetable creation consist the principal ornaments of the earth, and from them are derived the chief support for man and beast. To the traveller in warm countries the trees afford a grateful and necessary shade, and in cold climates they give shelter and protection. To the medical man plants yield properties of the utmost importance in alle

viating many of the diseases of life. To the botanist, their admirable arrangement and affinity of principles or qualities afford interesting and useful information; and to the horticulturist the structure of plants, and every circumstance affecting their growth, claims his especial regard. But at the same time that its importance is admitted, it must be acknowledged to be surrounded with difficulties, for it involves the question of the peculiar functions of living beings, a question which, notwithstanding the numerous valuable discoveries that different philosophers, from age to age, have made concerning it, still, in a great measure, remains unanswered. Chemistry, it is true, has of late done much to elucidate the nature of vegetable growth, but we are still ignorant of the peculiar controlling effects of vitality of chemical action; nor, on the other hand, are we better informed as to the precise manner in which light, heat, and electricity, influence vital action, and consequently the growth of plants. A knowledge of these points would enable the horticulturist to carry on his operations with almost uniformly successful results, but in the absence of such knowledge, he must at present be content to pursue the course which experience, and the amount of science already made available, shall point out; and it is gratifying to be aware of the fact, that though we have not a full knowledge of all the circumstances affecting the growth of plants, we do know enough to admit of valuable practical application. While, therefore, we reduce our science to practice, let us endeavour to extend its bounds, adhering to no theory which is not based on substantial facts, at the same time remembering that, with the advance of science, theories which to-day appeared well founded have shortly given way to others, which, upon the discovery of some fact previously unknown, have, in their turn, shared the fate of their predecessors. Admitting, as I freely do, the value of theories, without which science would lose the greater part of its value, I would simply caution your readers against their abuse: to have recourse to theories is very beneficial, yet to be entirely guided by them, in matters where our knowledge is not precise and certain, is voluntarily to give up all hope of advancement in the path of knowledge.

The material conditions necessary to healthy vegetation are a suitable soil, sufficiency of water, and atmospheric air. Plants being properly placed, with regard to these circumstances, and duly acted on by light, heat, and electricity, are observed to vegetate vigorously. The soil

serves to afford to the root of the plant mechanical support, it acts as a medium for the conveyance of moisture, and is the source of certain fixed elements, which are found essential to the perfection of vegetable growth. The presence of water is absolutely necessary, for without it, plants neither grow nor live; a definite quantity seems important; this quantity, however, is less than is generally supposed. The atmosphere is the source whence plants derive their chief supply of food, which exists there in different forms. Thus, aqueous vapour occurs in the air in very large quantities, and descending in the form of rain, mist, &c., supplies the plant with moisture; dew, also, another form in which water is deposited from the air, exerts a powerful effect on vegetation; how far the water held in solution in the air is directly appropriated by plants, has not been satisfactorily determined. The carbonic acid of the air is the chief source of the carbon of plants; their. azote or nitrogen, also, is principally obtained from the air, where it exists in different states, namely, in the form of ammonia, nitric acid, &c., and also in the uncombined states. Other substances, also, which affect vegetation, are found in the air, as common salt, particularly near the sea; and as it is highly probable that all the solid elements of the earth exist in very small quantities in the air in a state of vapour, it is possible that some of them may exert an influence on vegetation with which we are totally unacquainted. The influence of light, heat, and electricity, upon the vitality of plants is well known to be indispensable for their healthful growth; it is also probable that the action of such on the soil and on manures is highly important, though the question of their peculiar mode of action is involved in much doubt and obscurity. Some of the effects of light on vegetation are well known; for instance, it is the cause of colour in plants; those grown in the dark being blanched or colourless. The effect of light over the vital or chemical actions taking place within the substance of plants, is strikingly shown by the fact that, when exposed to its influence, they exhale from their leaves, &c., oxygen gas, whereas in the dark they exhale carbonic acid gas. The scientific views at present entertained about the growth of plants, are by no means of that settled character which would induce the horticulturist to rely on them as true guides in practice; indeed, it may be observed, that different, and even opposite views, are now held upon some of the first principles of vegetable physiology, and this by men of the greatest

eminence in science. Our best course, then, under existing circumstances, will be, as we before observed, to make the best use of the knowledge already existing, at the same time that we diligently use every means to extend its bounds, by experiment and close observation.

ARTICLE III.

ON THE SOIL, AND FORMATION OF A BED SUITED FOR THE SUCCESSFUL CULTURE OF THE PANSY.

BY C. C. OF SOMERSET.

HAVING observed in the last CABINET an article on the Pansy, by your respected correspondent, Mr. Johnston, of Ballykilbeg House, and as he intends it for the benefit of young amateurs, and has not told them the best way to make the beds to receive the plants on which the successful culture of this beautiful flower depends, I have forwarded these few hints for insertion in the CABINET.

If the soil of the garden rest on chalk, stone, or gravel, no drainage will be required; but if it be clay, or any other retentive soil, a good drainage must be resorted to. In the first place, the soil must be taken out of the bed to the depth of two feet, and place some rather large stones or brickbats to the depth of six inches, and on that some small stones or lime rubbish to the depth of five inches more, and put a layer of turf one inch thick with the sward downwards, to prevent the soil from getting down amongst the stones, and then fill up the remaining twelve inches with soil prepared in the following manner. Take some soil of a sandy nature, and mix with it one-fourth part of cow-dung and one-fourth part of leaf mould; mix it well together, and let it remain in a heap at least a month before use, turning it two or three times before using. The soil should be put in the bed in a moderately dry state, which would be a benefit greater than many could imagine, and should be left a week before planting. As to sorts, I should advise the young amateur not to plant any but large, well-formed, clear, and distinct-coloured sorts, for one bad-formed flower spoils the otherwise beautiful appearance of a whole bed, nor must he ever expect to raise a first-rate seedling except he discard all such trash from his collection. I should recommend a little moss, or some pebbles, to be placed over the surface of the bed during the

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