SiS 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [January i, 1886. 



bat which may be iucreased to 7 or tj inches when 

 choice flowers, as double Primulas, Bouvardias, Koman 

 Hyacinths, and Lily of the Valley, are employed. The 

 diameter of the first-named may be a surprize to 

 many; it is, however, fully justified by experience, and 

 is more readily understood if the breadth of a very 

 ordinary Chrvsonthemum, Camellia, or Eucharis be 

 taken into account ; with a moderate-sized flower of 

 either of these, and some smaller sprays to fmnish 

 the sides, and with Fern fringing the inner and outer 

 margins, it will be seen how easily the size may be in- 

 creased twofold. My idea of a full-sized wreath when 

 linisheJ and ready for use is 15 or 16 inches in dia- 

 meter (above that size I turm them specials), and for 

 this size a skeleton of 9 inches diameter will be ample. 

 Having sho^^-n, then, something of how the size may be 

 gauged, we must now construct the skeletoii.. and for 

 this purpose galvanised iron wire will be louud to 

 answer well. Having got this into .shape and of re- 

 quired size, next secure a hazel or willow to it and 

 round the interior. This will prevent the wire revolv- 

 ing in the hands of the operator, and which frequ- 

 ently misplaces a flower or two, thereby causing in- 

 convenience and annoyance. Haviug secured the hazel 

 or willow to the wire, some fresh green moss shuuid 

 be bound tightly over it with small twine, which when 

 finished should be slightly flattened. Wheu tliis is done 

 a fii-m surface about an inch wide will be the re- 

 sult, and all will be ready for placing the flowers. 

 There are several other ways of preparing these 

 skeletons, some binding tbem with cotton wool 

 which I object to, on the gionndof a green base for the 

 flowers to rest upon being more suitable. Further, 

 when the bulk of the flowers are arranged it fre- 

 quently happens that by inserting small choice bits 

 here and there a great improvement is made in the | 

 wreath. This mav be done easily where moss is em- 

 ployed as a foundation, having a piece of stem wire ; 

 to pierce the moss, and doubling it back .as it emerges 

 from the opposite side secures it in position. When , 

 cotton wool is used it will not allow of wire pas.-;ing ' 

 through it. For these reasons, and for the fact 

 that moss retains the moisture considerably longer 

 than cotton wool, which robs the flowers of the 

 little moisture which is about them, 1 am strongly 

 in favour of a moss fouudatioa. .Wreath skel- 

 etons made in various sizes are sold by horticultural 

 suudriesmen, but all 1 have seen are anything but 

 suitable for the purpose. They consist of two wires 

 arranged in circles at about li inch apart, and fixed 

 by about four cros.s wires. This leaves a large cavity 

 with which it is difiicult to deal, and also uses an 

 immense amount of binding wire in the work of ar- 

 ranging the flowers. One of the simplest ccuriv- 

 ances I have se-sn is male of block tin cut in circles 

 abjut t;i.-ce-iiu-.rt»rs of ao inch in width, r they 

 may be made of scraps ai.d soldered together. In 

 the" latter way, though a little more trouiile in mak- 

 ini;, they are" firmer than when cut out in one piece. 

 Any tinman will make them. 1 have used these in 

 qua.itity ill sizes ranging from 5 to 12 inches ju 

 di vmi'ter. It may not be out of place for a moment 

 to refer to the arruugcnient of a wreaub, though, as 



I be-o:e reiaaikod, much w.li aepend on iniUnduai 

 ♦aste. Frefumiog, Iheii, the flowers are cut. suck as 

 Bouvardias, L-.iy of the Vaiii-y, Koman Hyacinths, 

 Oardcnias, T'l'iuiosts,- Eucharis, Azaleas, aud douuie 

 riv-o.^iu-^' ..-i;; ucrd wiib.e, aii.i Cumelli-'S and I; v.ses 



id need piercing, tne !oi ■■ er on account of the 

 u^tx'ni tu l.^^<.L >il{ th« H.oi.'^rs with no wood at- 

 lticu«i, hence stemlcss, and b- prevent them from 

 f liiug ; uud Xbf latier to keep lUtin from beconiiiijj 

 t"j gai.uii;. If at h:.nri s.iine small sprays of Cu^.- 

 iv-tsus Laws -i.iaiia will be scr^iciable, and ,"';si.=^t m 

 111^ ic..i.;m>s^g i.f M...Jeiiuaii Fci-ii, which is jjeueraliy 

 a .^wlCc ar.icle at this Jiuie of year. He^m the arr- 



II gtiioei.i, tut'i, bv i.yi.gaspray i>f ('ypioss a..d uptu 

 wliic. pi.^.e 11 fiiiii'vi d JI j.»-iih.)ii, rbe latti-r .lomewhat 

 t ud.i.g ami net iio dti; tli.-i comes a Cum.ila, 

 Kucbarn, or Gard uii— or, ii fact, i.iiv of the lait,er 

 and more proiniueut flowers to occupy the ceite, 

 filling iu the sides with smaller flowers. Ijly ol the 

 VaUeji Deutzia gracilUs, aud Eoman Hjraciuths do 



well for fringing the sides. Continue the use of the 

 Cypress, and insert bore and there a small spray of 

 Fern, firmly bimting them as you proceed, and using 

 a snuU pinch of moss on the stems of the flowers. 

 This will keep Ihe wire from cutting the stems, 

 and will also supply moisture to tbem. alwavs avoid 

 a heavy arrangement and overcrowding, and allow as 

 far as possible the flowers to assume their natural 

 position. Use the flowers in as much variety as pos: 

 sible, and, if procurable, a few wtll-coloured sprays 

 of Panicum variegatum will be found very pretty 

 aud effective jutting out here and there. It is pro- 

 iluctive, too, of lightness and elegance, which should 

 characterise the arrangement throughout, and with it 

 and Maidenhair Fern interspersed among the flowers 

 a very pleasiuL' and elegant wreath may he formed. 

 In -case of packing this is easily done by placing a 

 stick across the skeleton, allowing it to rest on 

 either side under the flowers, and attach a string to 

 its centre: ihen make two holes iu the bottom of 

 ' the box, fast a string through aud fasten .securely 

 underneath it will travel safely thus, and the persen 

 unpacking it will see at a glance how it is secured — 

 J. H E. 



IXDIARITSBEE IN THE DCICH EAST-IndiES. — N. Mc 



Xeill, Esq., the acting British Consul at Batavia, 

 informs us that the exports of Indiarubber during 

 the years 18S1, I8S2, and 1883 were, respectively, 

 otl, 765, and 1,217 piculs (a picul equals 140 lb). 

 The trade in this article of produce has been very 

 dull lately. Tht- Indiarubber is obtained by the 

 natives from the bai"k of the trees, and always con- 

 tains more or less woody fibre intermingled with it. 

 It is also occasionally adulterated with woody fibre 

 to increase the weight. The island of .Sumatra is 

 richer than Ja\a in the production of Indiarubber, 

 the principal producing districts being Beucoelen and 

 the Lampougs. The rubber obtained from the latter 

 is generally consiiiertd tho better of the two. The 

 prices have varied duriug the past year from 120 to 

 .^0 florins for Beucoelen and from IbO to 110 florius 

 for Lnmpong per picul. (The Dutch East Indian 

 florin is worth Is. SJd.) It is better to attach 

 fixtures to a lathe spindle by means of the screw 

 than to ho!d them by ius"rting a sliank iu tbe socket 

 where the centre is put. The turning centre should 

 run perlecrly true, and where a prac*^ce is made of 

 iiiserting drills, reamers, shai'is, and otner tools, the 

 surface of Ihe centre seat may be so marretl and 

 enlarged that the rotation of tbe centre will be 

 out of iuie with the axial rotation of the spindle. — 

 /iidiiindliei- and Gui'ttapeycha Jonnial. 



Should Hoeticcltcbe be Taduht in ocr Public 

 Schools? — This question was ably handled by Pro- 

 cessor ^','ickersh;' "1. late L;ipfrintendeut of Public 

 Jnsiruetiun of ^he State of Peunsyivaru.i, a' the late 

 State Horticultural meeting. Objection was made 

 that studies were now lc;i num'^rous for tht six 

 hours a day, and six or eicfht months in the year 

 of public sclioolieg, b"t. the Professor explained that 

 he did not reconimerid tht ;ati-oduclioo of this ;»nd 

 pirailar studies in addirion to tho*iH aire.ady in^tuct^il,— 

 bit in the place of smub othv:rs. He cont,-nded that, 

 Bs the result of a car'Tut .tiijy of public education, 

 t'at a Wrgc propTt^ .•. of :i;ne sjert in geo;jiaphy, 

 grai^m.'r. e^:«n^pie«, aiit^ so fovth, was ajsoUitely 

 ilirown away, — I'lat tho aim of public educ tiou 

 shonid not b" so ii^uch t.' educate as t j plara children 

 ou th" parh t6 euacatt, tbeitiselves. Public tcboKl 

 tcchin? s1>o<aM siioiy ,uinisi c:iuJ-.a .vitb t.ieto, .« 

 b- which t'ley co'.'tl ■ i ivf tht-ir .^o w»t as 'vrcum- 

 stances should iri*'", a.i.i >c io (it Tihem fT e.uy fiaiii- 

 cidar way. Chi: '■ t" tajg't to observe, to 



t. u<k. and to ]ii lid .lave a gT'rdeu attached 



to ev. ly puMi. >l-. ..i. i. .'. I 'l:e tl.; hour s.)'? ; a 

 gc'srnphy or ;;ra.uniar, and Wi^h '.'.i^ children iu 'he 

 girdeii, with the living piacts before them, and a 

 t' acher ctpable of explaining thiu?-. do ni re gO' d 

 than the V.ook siU'iies of a who'e we«k. The te marks 

 of the Professor made a deep imprcssiou.— f.'iu-rfcH<-rs' 

 Moiithlj/. 



