parent. It does not absolutely matter
for obtaining this characteristic, whether
it be the male or female which is large;
but Mr. Knight generally found the
most robust female parent produced the
tinest ofl'spring.
4. Capt. Thurtell, from lengthened
observation and experiment, has ascer-
tained that the form of the petals
follows most closely that of the female
parent.
5. Mr. Knight says that the largest
seed from the finest fruit that has ripened
earliest and most perfectly, should
always be selected. In stone-fruit if
two kernels are in one stone, these give
birth to inferior plants.
6. The most successful mode of ob-
taining good and very distinct varieties,
is to employ the pollen from a male in a
flower grown on another plant than that
bearing the female parent. To avoid
previous and undesired impregnation,
the anthers in the female parent, if they
are produced in the same flower with
the pistils, must be removed by a sharp-
pointed pair of scissors, and the flower
inclosed in a gauze bag, to exclude in-
sects, until the desired pollen is ripe.
Another ettectual mode of avoiding un-
desired impregnation, is bringing the
female parent into flower a little earlier
than its congeners, and removing the
anthers as above described : the stigma
will remain a long time vigorous if un-
impregnated.
7. Although the fertility of all the
seed in one seed vessel may be secured
by applying pollen only to one style,
even where there are several, yet the
quantity of pollen is by no means a
matter of indiff'erence. Koelreuter
found, that from fifty to sixty globules
of pollen were required to complete the
impregnation of one flower of llybiscua
Syriacus; but in Mirabilis jalapa, and
M. longiflora, two or three globules
were enough ; and in the case of pelar-
goniums, Capt. Thurtell says two or
three globules are certainly sufficient.
8. M. Haquin, a distinguished horti-
culturist at Liege, has impregnated
flowers of the Azalea with pollen kept
six weeks ; and Camellias with pollen
kept sixty-five days. He gathers the
stamens just previously to the anthera
opening, wraps them in writing-paper,
places them in a warm room for a day,
collects the pollen they emit, and pre-
serves it in sheet lead in a cool dry
place. M. Godefroy suggests, that two
concave glasses, like those employed
for vaccine virus, would be better. The
globules of the pollen must not be
crushed. M. llafjuin thinks the pollen
of one year will be efl'ective if preserved
until the year following. Mr. Jackson,
of Cross Lanes Nursery, near Bedale,
says, he has found the pollen of the
Rhododendron Smithii tigrinum retain
its fertilizing power even for twelve
months.
9. It is easy to discern whether im-
pregnation has been eftected, as in such
case the stigmas soon wither. The stig-
mas which have not received the pollen
remain lor a long time green and vigor-
ous. " By the aid of the Stanhope
lens," observes Capt. Thurtell, in a let-
ter now before me, " I fancy I can dis-
cover the seed of the pelargonium being
H YD
318
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closed over in the space of four hours j it with water every evening, after they
after impregnation.
have got fairly into leaf. Towards au-
10. When double flowers are desired, i tumn withhold watering; altogether. Get
if a double flower should chance to have their wood ripe. For winter, stuff" straw
a fertile anther or two, these should be between their branches, wrap them well
employed for fertilization, as their ofi"- in it, and mat them up." — Card. Chron.
spring are almost sure to be very double.! Hydrangeas are best preserved
11. Many analyses of the pollen of through the winter out of doors, by
various plants have been made by che- taking off" their leaves in autumn, and
mists, without throwing any light upon putting over each one of the Shelters
hybridizing. M. Grotthus found the made of straw, as described under that
components of twenty-six grains of the j title
pollen of the tulip were —
Vegetable albumen . . .
Malates of lime and magnesia
Malic acid 1.00
Malate of ammonia, colouring)
matter, nitrate of potash J
HYDRASTIS canadensis. Hardy
20.25 '. tuber. Tubers. Loam and peat, in a
3.50 moist place.
HYDRAULIC RAM. This is a use-
- ful machine, the principle of which is
but partially understood and valued.
1.25
12. Superfcetation has been doubted ; To bring the hydraulic ram into opera-
but as it occurs in the dog, we see no tion, it is necessary that there should be
reason for disbelieving its possibility in ' a head or body of water, as a pond, sup-
plants. Capt. Thurtell thinks it may be plied by a running stream, from which
done by the bee introducing mingled ' a fall can be obtained. The ram is an
pollens at the same instant. Then why i hydraulic machine composed of a body
not if a similar mixture is inserted by 1 at the end of which is a valve called a
the camel's-hair pencil of the culti- i pulse-valve, which is closed by the mo-
vator? ' mentum of a running stream of water.
13. Plants nearly related, that is, j On the top of the body is an air-vessel,
closely similar in the structure of their in the neck of which is another valve
various parts, are those only which will | which admits the water into the air-
immediately impregnate each other ; , vessel upon the closing of the pulse-
but it is impossible, at present, to say : valve. The water meeting with an ob-
â– what families of plants may or may not j struction in the closing of the pulse-
be brought into fertile union through [ valve, immediately makes its way
intermediate crosses. A very short j through the valve into the air-vessel,
time ago, the azalea and rhododendron 1 The air in the air-vessel becoming
â– were thought incapable of such union ; j compressed, the valve leading into it
but this opinion is now exploded, forecloses, and thus liberates the pulse-
rhododendron ponticum has been fertil- I valve. The same action takes place
ized with the pollen of azalea sinensis, , again with the pulse-valve, and also
and the progeny between that evergreen , with the valve that leads to the air-ves-
and this deciduous shrub, is the pre- ; sel this continuous action takes place;
â– viously unknown phenomenon, a yellow , and at each time a portion of water is
rhododendron. Though such unions ' forced into the air-vessel. When the
may be effected, I entirely agree with air in the vessel is compressed so as to
Mr. Knight in anticipating that the pro- ' overcome the resistance in the pipe
geny will be mules, incapable of pro- i leading to the cistern, which it is in
ducing off"spring.
HYDRAiNGEA.
Six species. Hardy
tended to supply, the water flows over,
and continues to do so, as long as the
deciduous shrubs. Ripe Cuttings. Com- j ram remains in action
irion soil. The species most common
in our gardens is H. hortensis. To ob
There is also a small valve in the
neck of the air-vessel, introduced by
tain of this very large flowers on a very Mongolfier's son, to supply the vessel
small stem, strike cuttings ; do not let with fresh air. Persons acquainted with
them branch: grow them in rich soil, hydraulics are aware that a column of
and bloom them the following season.
To get large bushes of hydrangeas
water is equal to its base ; that is to say,
pipe resting on a base four inches
in the open air, plant them in good rich ' square is equal to sixteen times, though
soil; form a basin of clay all round them, I it rested on an inch square. This is
six inches deep, and in dry weather fill , the principle of the ram, as the falling
H YD
319
H YG
column, forcing up the pulse-valve,
shuts it. Practice shows that a ten-feet
fall vi'ill raise a column of water one
hundred and fitly feet high, at the rate
of five quarts per minute, or one part
raised to eleven wasted, where the ram
is only supplied by a two-inch pipe. I
may further add, that theory teaches
that a ten-feet fall will raise water three
hundred feet high — of course, in a very
small quantity. Mr. II. P. M'Birkin-
brine, of Philadelphia, has been very
successful in the construction of this
valuable power.
IIYUROCHAPJS morsmran(r. Hardy
aquatic. Seed and runners. Stillwater.
HYDROLEA. Two species. One
stove evergreen shrub, and the other
stove herbaceous. Cuttings. Loam
and peat.
HYDROPELTIS purpurea. Half-
hardy aquatic. Offsets. Still water.
HYGROMETER is an instrument
deserving of employment in the stove,
green house, and conservatory nearly
as much as the thermometer ; for the
correct degree of dampness of the air is
of very great importance in the cultiva-
tion of plants, and scarcely less than
that of the temperature in which they
vegetate.
The perspiration from the leaves of
plants increases with the air's dryness,
and decreases w-ith its moistness. If it
be excessive, not only are their juices
too much reduced, but the very texture
of the leaves is destroyed. If, on the
other hand, tlie perspiration is prevent-
ed, the juices are too watery, and the
secretions and assimilations arc devoid
of consistency, rendering the plants too
succulent and weak.
" It is impossible for any one to know
what degree of moisture he really main-
tains in a forcing-house without an in-
strument by which to measure it : that
instrument is the hygrometer, which
might as well be called the 'water-
gauge,' which is what the first word
really means. Of the many contriv-
ances to effect this end, the best for all
practical purposes, is Daniell's Hygro-
meter, of which the annexed cut (Fig.
93) exhibits the general appearance.
It measures the moisture in the air
quickly and precisely, and is not sub-
ject to get out of order.
" If moisture is brought into contact
with a substance sufficiently cold, a part
of the moisture is condensed, and is so
converted from a state of invisible va-
pour into water.
" Thus, in a cold day, the glass roof
of a green-house may be seen streaming
with water, which runs down and forma
'drip;' and in this often unsuspected
manner air is rendered dry, notwith-
standing the operations of syringing,
steaming, &c. Daniell's Hygrometer is
constructed with reference to this cir-
cumstance. The figure represents two
hollow glass balls containing ether, and
communicating by the glass tube which
rests on the support. The ball which
forms the termination of the longer
leg is of black glass, in order that the
formation of dew on its surface may be
the more perceptible. It includes the
bulb of a delicate thermometer dipping
in the ether, its scale being inclosed in
the tube above the ball ; and whatever
change takes place in the temperature
of the ether is indicated by this thermo-
meter. The other ball is covered with
muslin. In making an observation it is
first necessary to note down the temper-
ature of the air ; next turn the instru-
ment, so that when the muslin-covered
ball is held in the hand, the ether may
escape into the blackened ball ; and it
should also be held till the included
thermometer rises a few degrees above
the temperature of the air, when it
should be replaced on the support.
Then drop, or gently pour, a little ether
on the muslin. The evaporation of this
extremely volatile substance produces
cold ; and attention must be instantly
directed to the black glass ball and in-
cluded thermometer. The latter will
be seen falling rapidly ; and at length
a ring of dew will appear at the line
which runs across the black ball —
quickly, if the air is very moist, slowly,
if the air is dry. If the air is very dry,
no moisture will be thus deposited till
the thermometer falls to, perhaps, 10",
20^, or 303 below the temperature of
the air. But at vv'hatever temperature
the dew forms, that temperature should
be noted as the dew-point; and the dif-
ference between it and the temperature
of the air, at the time, is the degree of
dryness according to the indications of
this hygrometer. Thus, in a moderately
dry day, let it be supposed that the
temperature of the air is 6')^ in the
shade, and that the muslin requires to
be kept moist, before dew is formed,
till the blackened ball containing the
HY G
320
H YG
ether has its temperature reduced to is expected to nppear; because the dew
50°, as indicated by the included ther-
mometer, there are then said to be lo^
of dryness.
" Again, supposing the temperature
is So^ , and the dew-point found, as be-
is most easily seen where the line di-
vides the bright and black reflections on
the bulb; and inasmuch as the change
may not be noticed the very instant that
it occurs, it is well to make a second
fore, to be 70°, the degree of dryness observation of the temperature at which
is still expressed by 15^ ; but the quan- the dew clears off, and then take the
tity of moisture diffused in the air is,
notwithstanding, somewhat greater in
the latter case than in the former.
" If 1000° represent complete satu-
ration, the quantity of moisture, when
the temperature is 65° and the dew-
mean of two. If they are both taken
equally late, the errors will balance
each other ; because in one case the
mercury is falling, and in the other
rising." — Gai'd. Chron.
Mr. J. W. Harris, writing on the same
point 50^, will be 609°; but when the subject, says : —
temperature is S5° and the dew-point I " As I have for the last three months,
70°, the moisture will be represented used an instrument for the purpose of
by 623; these numbers being ascer- regulating the moisture of the air in my
tained by tables prepared for the pur
pose
Fig. 93.
orchidaceous house which has perfectly
The difference, however, in such answered my purpose, I am induced to
offer it to your notice. It consists of an
, old-fashioned instrument commonly sold
I in the opticians' shops as Leslie's Dif-
ferential Thermometer. It is arranged
I so that, when not in use, the fluid stands
I at zero in the stem ; over the bulb of
the opposite stem I place a piece of
muslin, which has been well soaked in
a strong solution of common salt in wa-
ter. The muslin having been cut into
a circular shape, is laid on the bulb
whilst wet; and the moisture will make
it adhere sufficiently. A shelf, or brack-
et, with sides, top, and back, is made
for it to stand in, to seclude it from the
sunshine — which is of course essential
— and also to prevent the damp wall
from having effect upon the muslin, so
that it may draw all its moisture from
the atmosphere alone. It will be found
a case is so small it is not worth taking convenient to have a thermometer hung
into account in a horticultural point of on the same stand, as in all hygrometric
view. But as these numbers can only observations the state of the thermome-
be ascertained by calculation it is more ter must be attended to. The rationale
convenient to reckon by the degree of of its action is simple. If the absorp-
dryness, bearing in mind that the dry- tion of moisture exceeds the evaporation
ness of the air is indicated by the differ- from the muslin, heat will be generated,
ence between the temperature of the which will expand the air in that bulb,
air and of the dew-point. Thus, if the and drive the fluid up the opposite stem,
ring of dew is formed as soon as ether indicating the degree by its rise. On
IS applied, and only 1° difference is the contrary, if the evaporation exceeds
observable, the air is nearly saturated; the absorption, cold will be produced,
if the difference is o^ to 10°, the dry- causing the fluid to fall. The general
ness is very moderate ; while 15° to 20° range of the scales made is from zero
ofdifference indicate excessive dryness, to 40^. I believe, in my stove, under
and beyond this the air is parching." — the general treatment of orchidaceous
Gard. Chron.
plants, temperature ranging from 78"
"The instrument," says Mr. Ross, to 95^, the hygrometer has ranged from
"should be held so as to obtain a por- 15=" to 30^. Of course, if the instru-
tion of bright reflection where the dew | ment were found to require it, it would
H YG
321
ICE
be lengthened in the stem, so as to
range to any degree required ; but I
do not anticipate that a greater range
would be required for the coldest pit
or green-house. As I have found it very
useful in my own stove, I hope it may
be of service to your readers; and as it
is self-acting, so I trust it will be found
on trial, ' simple, economical, and ef-
fectual.'" — Gard. Chron.
HYGROPHILA ringens. Stove
evergreen trailer. Cuttings. Kich light
soil.
HYLESINUS PINIPERDA. A spe-
cies of beetle which preys upon the pith
of young shoots of sickly or recently
felled Scotch and spruce firs. It is not
very injurious in this country.
HYLOTONIA rosce. A saw-fly which
injures rose-trees seriously by punctur-
ing in rows their young shoots, and de-
positing in the holes its eggs. The
best remedy is spreading a cloth be-
neath the trees in the evening, and
killing the insects shaken down upon
it. — Gard. Chron.
HYMEN^A. Locust-tree. Three
species. Stove evergreen trees. Cut-
tings. Loam and peat.
HYMENANTHERA df-nJafa. Green-
house evergreen shrub. Cuttings. Peat
and loam.
HYMENOPHYLLUM. Two spe-
cies. Hardy ferns. Seed and division.
Loam and peat.
HYOSCYAMUS. Henbane. Four
species. Two half-hardy evergreen
shrubs ; one hardy annual ; and the
fourth biennial. Cuttings or seed.
Common soil.
HYPECOUM. Three species. Har-
dy annuals. Seed. Common soil.
HYPERICUM. Seventy-three spe-
cies. Hardy, half-hardy, and green-
house. Mr. Paxton says the two latter
thrive in loam and peat, propagated by
young cuttings ; the hardy shrubs and
herbaceous grow from seed or division
in any soil; and the annuals may be
sown in spring in the open ground.
HYPHtENE coriacea. Stove-palm.
Seed. Sandy loam.
HYPOCALYPTUS abcordatus.
Green-house evergreen shrub. Young
cuttings. Sandy loam and peat.
HYPOESTES. Five species. Stove
plants of various character ; chiefly
evergreen shrubs. These, and the
herbaceous species, propagate by cut-
tings in a light soil.
21
HYSSOP. Hyssopus officinalis.
Varieties. — There are three varieties,
the white, red, and blue; the lust of
which is most commonly cultivated.
Soil and Situation. — A dry soil is the
one most appropriate for it. If on a
rich or wet one, it is generally destroy-
ed by the frost, as well as rendered less
aromatic.
Time and Mode of Propagation. — It
is propagated by seed, and slips of the
branches, and young shoots, as well as
by offsets. The seed may be sown
from the close of February until the
end of May. Rooted offsets may be
planted in March, April, August and
September; cuttings of the branches in
April and May; and slips of young
shoots in June or July. The seed may
be inserted in drills, six inches apart,
not deeper than half an inch. It is the
usual practice, when the seedlings have
attained the growth of six weeks, to
prick them out twelve inches apart ;
but it is by much the best practice to
raise them where they are to remain.
The slips and off'sets are best planted
at first in a shady or north border:
they are generally firmly rooted in two
months. In September or October they
are all fit for removal to their final sta-
tions. After every removal they must
be watered plentifully and regularly
until established. The only subsequent
cultivation requisite is the keeping them
free of weeds by frequent hoeings.
In spring and autumn likewise all
decayed branches and flower-stalks
must be removed ; those used as
edgings trimmed close, and the earth
gently stirred around them.
I B E R I S . Candy-Tuft. Twenty-
three species. A few hardy evergreen
shrubs ; but chiefly hardy annuals, bien-
nials, and perennials. Seed. Common
light loam.
ICE-HOUSE. Any vacant out-house
which can be thoroughly drained will
be an efficient ice-house. Moisture is
a much more rapid solvent of ice than
mere heat. If in an out-house, with
drains leading from its floor, a layer of
faggots three feet deep be placed, and
round the sides of the house a lining of
stubble or straw nearly as thick, and
then the ice be rammed in hard, and
covered over with a similar coat of
stubble, the ice may be preserved there
for twelve months.
•' The accompanying drawing and de-
IC E
322
ICE
scription of an approved ice-house and
dairy united, lias been contributed by
John C. Boyd, Esq., of Danville, Pa.
Mr. B. says, " For various purposes it
is far superior to the best constructed
spring-house; permitting to the largest
eitent all the luxuries of sweet cream
and milk, the preservation of fresh
meat, pies, fruit, &c., for a length of
time. Mine has been in use two years,
and during that period, we have not
had any milk to sour, which cannot be
said by those dependent on spring-
houses."
Fig. 94.
"A represents the ice-house, proper.
B dairy-room. C the steps thereto.
J) window in dairy-room. £ entrance
into the ice-house.
" The whole length, 24 feet: width
]5 feet; pit sunk, 5 feet in ground;
stone wall carried 2h feet above ground ;
making depth of stone work 7i feet.
On stone work, a frame of 8 feet to the
square is placed. Weather-boarded
on the outside in usual manner. Over
milk house, on top of wall is placed,
joist ] 8 inches from centre to centre,
on which a tight floor is laid, which
forms a convenient room for keeping
various things connected with the dairy.
" The partition between the ice-
house and milk-house is formed by
setting up studding from the sill in the
bottom of the ice-house to the square
under the roof, and weather-boarded
with inch boards halved together, well
nailed, so as to prevent any charcoal
dust, or dust of the bark from dropping
down into the milk trough.
" The inside frame is made 12 inches
less all round than the inside of main
building. That is to say, a space of
12 inches, (and it would be better if it
were 15,) must be left between the two
frames — to be filled in with charcoal
or tanner's bark, well dried, and well
rammed when filled.
The inside frame may be very simply
and cheaply made, by taking four pieces
of scantling, say 4 by 6, and halving
them together — and planking, or dou-
ble boarding up or down on the inside
— three of those frames — one oh the
floor — one midway, and the other at
top, are sufficient.
" The floor, which is the most par-
ticular part, should be made by placing
in the bottom good oak sills, with a
descent from the back part of an apart-
ment to milk-house of 15 inches. The
sills well bedded in clay, tan bark or
charcoal. Mine is bedded in common
yellow clay, well pounded in.
" The floor should be well laid, either
of plank, jointed, or boards double, and
small grooves run along to carry ice
water down to the milk trough. This
floor should be the size of the ice room
before inside frame is erected. On that
part of the floor which passes under the
partition between the ice and milk-
houses, small strips of a quarter of an
ICE
323
IMP
inch thick should be laid, and a board
fitted down tight to keep the filiing-in
from stopping up the water as it leaves
the ice. On top of square, joists with
floor on, is laid and covered about 2
feet thick with tan-bark. A ventilator
should be made through the upper floor
and roof about 2 feet square.
" The closet or recess formed on
each side of the small doors, leading
into the ice, may have hooks to hang
meats, or shelves, on which anything
may be set. This closet, or cold room,
is 3 feet 3 inches, by 3 feet 6 inches —
5 feet high, two doors in centre, each
18 inches wide, made of a single board,
and made to fit closely.
The ice may be put in on either side
just under the upper joists; an opening
18 inches by 2 feet is sufficiently large,
with two doors, or shutters — and the
space between, when the ice is in,
should be well stuffed with straw. No
straw to be used in filling ice-liouse —
except on top, when a good supply will
be of service.
" The milk-house should be well
white-washed. The room above milk-
house should be lined on inside of
shedding, and the space between filled
with tan-bark or charcoal. The cover-
ing may be a shed-roof, or any other
form best suited to the convenience of
the location. The door of my ice-house
is within a few steps of my back kitch-
en door. An arbour of grape vines adds
much to the comfort and coolness of
the establishment.
*' In filling the ice-house, much pains
should be taken to pack the ice closely.