THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 256 



Sarracexia pukpurea, one of the prettiest of the North American pitcher 

 plants, has been for years flourishing and producina;' pitchers in abundance in 

 a piece of artificial bog in the Glasnevin Botanic Gardens, and has flowered this 

 season. A remarkable thing in respect of this plant at Glascevin is, that for 

 several of tb.e winter months it is completely submerged and covered with, water. 

 A specimen of the handsome Cordyline australis which has been growing out of 

 doors in these gardens for seven years past has also recently flowered. 



The Carpet Bedding in the grounds of the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, is 

 wonderfully rich and delightfully various, and we advise all students of parterre 

 colomnng to see it as soon as possible. 



The New Patext Climax Boiler, invented by Mr. R. S. Dunbar, of the 

 Thames Bank Iron Company, Upper Ground Street, S.E., is probably the most 

 powerful and economical boiler yet invented. It is simple in construction, beino- 

 made of wrought iron and welded together, will bear great pressure, and having no 

 joints or sockets connecting the various portions together, there is not the risk of 

 leakage, as is the case, unfortunately too often, with boilers having joints more or 

 less exposed to the direct action of the fii-e. It has a water-way back and front, 

 which adds very materially to its heating power ; there are also within the boiler 

 itself two side-flues, as in the Gold Medal Boiler, the fire from these flues passing 

 andtr the raid-feather, or wings on each side of the boiler before reachino- the 

 chimney-shaft. There is also the convenience of feeding from the top, and ample 

 space is provided for fuel to last from twelve to fifteen hours ; so that all night- 

 stoking in the most severe weather is dispensed with. It is made in various sizes 

 from 24-in. to 6i]-in. in length, the smallest being capable of heating 750 feet of 

 4-in. pipe. Compared v^ith other boilers, its price is moderate ; for instance, a 

 boiler for heating 1000 feet of -l-in. pipe is £18. This amount, we imagine, v,-ill be 

 repaid in course of a few years by the saving in cost of fuel. It is easily set in 

 brickwork, there being no complicated flues to- make or keep clean ; it can be fixed 

 with the ordinary furnace-bars, or the so-called " water-bars." This latter form of 

 fire-bar adds very considerably to the heating power, while there is comparatively 

 little or no risk of leakage. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Stephanotis not Flowering. — S. G. — Expose the plant to all the light you 

 can through the autumn and winter to thoroughly ripen the wood, and keep rather 

 dry through the winter. The very best plan possible to induce this plant to flower 

 freely is to take it off the trellis soon, and train it over the roof in one corner of 

 the stove, and let it remain there until the flower-buds are set in the spring, when 

 you can easily take it dov.-n and put it on the trellis again. You will obtain more 

 flowers this way than any other. It takes a certain amount of trouble, but not so 

 much as you may imagine. When the young growths are allowed to grow together 

 in a mass, they do not receive sufficient light and air to properly ripen them ; and 

 unless' the wood is thoroughly ripe, few flowers must be expected. 



Grapes Cracking. — A. B. C. — When the vines are dry at the roots, the skin 

 which surrounds the berries becomes contracted, and a sudden supply of moisture 

 in large quantities swells them out too rapidly, and the consequence of tliis is, the 

 skins burst. After a long season of drought, through neglect, or any other cause, 

 give a little at a time until the border is thoroughly soaked. Shanking is generally 

 caused by too much atmospheric moisture, and not enough air. When tlie grapes 

 are colouring, excessive moisture at the roots will also cause it. Guard against 

 excesses of all kinu>j, if you hope to be successful in grape-growing. 



Geranicm Cateiipill.a.rs. — M. S. — Hand-picking is the surest and best remedy 

 for the destruction of the caterpillars spoken of. We grant it is not a very agree- 

 able employment, but it is a labour that will receive ample reward by restoring the 

 plants to a flourishing condition, instead of being eaten up and destroyed. Patience 

 and perseverance are two grand points in gai-dening matters. 



The New Holland Pitcher Plant. — S. J. — This interesting plant will thrive 

 in a house in which a rather close and moist atmosphere is maintained ; such, for 

 instance, as would suit ferns without a bell-glass. But as you wish to grow yours 

 with the ordinary stock of greenhouse plants, we should advise you to proceed in 



August. 



