1878.] 



AND HOR riCUL TURIS T. 



87 



very prevalent. The result, we are further 

 assured, was the complete elimination of ague 

 from within the area named, a result which it is 

 ditlicult to understand as heing produced either 

 by the absorption of tlie poison tlu'ough the leaves 

 or the extreme moistui-e by the plant's roots. 



The sun-ttower, though a rank grower, is a 

 puny affair as compared with the Eucalyptus, 

 which must spread out its roots either horizon- 

 tally or vertically to a great distance. If the sun- 

 flower's action coincides with that of the Austra^ 

 lian plant, then one would suppose that it should 

 be grown thiclvly lilce a grain crop, covering the 

 entire ground. As the broken stalks of the sun- 

 flower are an excellent substitute for the corn- 

 cob as kindling, and as the seeds are greatly rel- 

 ished by poultry, it would not be an altogether 

 unprofitable work for those living in localities 

 afflcted with the ague, to give the plant a thor- 

 ough test as regards its sanitary value. 



Have any other plants been successfully tried 

 for a like purpose in another climate, or could 

 3'ou name any wliich it would be worth while to 

 try experiments with? 



[Tbere are few trees better adapted to dry up 

 marshy land than Willows and Poplars. The 

 roots drink up enormously. It is the cheapest 

 kind of underdraining. 



We have no doubt that any plant that will aid 

 in rjdding the soil of superabundant moisture, is 

 so far a benefit to public health. — Ed.G.M.] 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Cahxivorous Plants.— Mr. Francis Darwin 

 has proved very conclusively the truth ot his 

 father. Charles Darwin's position, that the so- 

 called carniverous plants do make use as food of 

 the plants they catcli. A large number of plants 

 were fed on meat, and as many on what they 

 could get from the earth as best they could, and 

 the ditterence in growth and final product were 

 very much in favor of the meat-fed plants. 



Fungi and Disease.— Prof. Burrill, of the 

 Industrial University of Illinois, and one of the 

 most conscientious investigators of minute fungi, 

 has the following attributed to him, going the 

 "rounds" in the agricultural papers: "There 

 is good evidence that the theory of the fungus 

 origin of the fire-bhght of the pear, and the 

 common twig-blight of tlie apple, is well founded, 

 but, th#ugh particular species, or what have been 

 regarded as species, are known to accompany the 



disease, proof has not yet been obtained as to 

 their causing the death of the limbs, nor as to 

 the real action of any fungi upon these limbs. 

 In the meantime, besides every attention to se- 

 cure vigor and healtlifiilness of development 

 with little pruning, carefully washing in winter 

 time with a strong alkaline substance in solu- 

 tion is recommended for trial, and as careful re- 

 moval and burning of every dead limb or twig 

 as soon as observed, winter or summer." If 

 the origin of apple and pear l)light is, " on good 

 evidence," fungoid, and it thus becomes an ad- 

 vantage to "burn everj' diseased twig," to keep 

 the spores from settling on healthy wood, and 

 spreading disease, what is meant by the state- 

 ment that " proof has not yet been obtained as 

 to their causing death V " What is the diflerence 

 between " good evidence " and " proof? " Prof. 

 Bm-rill has no doubt been incorrectly reported. 



LiBERiAN Coffee. — This new^ species of 

 coffee which is attracting so much attention in 

 Europe at tlie present time, was brought to the 

 notice of the Kew Gardens, by the Philadelphia 

 firm of Edward S. Morris & Co., who have been 

 the pioneers in the Liberian trade. They have 

 also a large trade in Palm Oil soap, which is 

 made in tlie Liberian colony, from the Oil Palm, 

 Elais guiniensis. It has been heretofore the 

 practice to bring the oil to Europe or America 

 for soap-making piu-poses. It is found that tlie 

 fresh oil on the spot makes a better article. 



Dwarf June Berry. — The Iowa Horticul- 

 tural Society warns people that agents are sell- 

 ing " Dwarf June Berries" for real "Huckle- 

 berries." What are Dwarf June Berries ? 



Submerged Roots in Winter. — A case is 

 reported in the Journal of Forestry, where a 

 Cupressus macrocorpa was submerged for two 

 months in the winter without injury. This ac- 

 cords with American experience. No tree 

 suffers from submergence for montlis in winter, 

 though a few days of submergence in the growing 

 season is fatal. It seems also understood in France, 

 where winter submergence is recommended for 

 grape vines, to destroy the phylloxera. 



What is a Fruit ? — At a recent meeting of 

 the Montgomery Co. (Ohio) Horticultural Soci- 

 ety, Professor Morgan gave a very interesting 

 lecture on botany. At the conclusion of tlie 

 lecture the following proceedings are reported: 



•• Mrs. Powell asked the Professor where the 

 drops of moisture came from which -.we fouiul in 

 flic Crown Imperial. 



