August 14, 1S73. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



123 



to the strainer above mentioned ; the exti-act trickling slowly 

 into another flat vessel, left the remainder iu the silk gi-ass. 

 After exposing the strained extract to the sun for about three 

 hours, he added the sUmy juice pressed out of the root of 

 Mnramu which had pre\-iously been soaked for a short time iu 

 the boiUng poison, and then had been pressed out. The poison 

 presented imjiiediately a remarkable alteration, curdling to a 

 jelly-like substance. After this peculiar process, he poured 

 the poison into earthen vessels, flatter than the ones before 

 mentioned, for the purpose of changing the poison to a con- 

 sistence equal to that of thick treacle by exposing it to the 

 Biin. Afterwards the poison was poured into the peculiar small 

 calabashes or small half-round earthen vessels, manufactured 

 only for that purpose, where it will ultimately change to a 

 hard substance. 



The third day the poison waB ready ; when the cook, satis- 

 fied with the produce, tried the strength of the poison in my 

 presence, for which purpose he cauglit some lizards. He 

 dipped the point of a pin which I gave him into the black 

 treaole-like substance, let the poison get dry, and wounded one 

 of the Uzards in one of the toes of the hind foot, and then let 

 it run. After the lapse of nine minutes the peculiar symptoms 

 of the poison made their appearance, and one minute after 

 that the slightly wounded animal was dead. A second and 

 third were wounded on the tails, when the poison operated in 

 the same time. He had chosen the lizards for the trial, main- 

 tiiining that the operation of the urari with a warm-blooded 

 animal takes only half the time which is reqnu-ed for a cold- 

 blooded animal. A rat caught by a boy confirmed that asser- 

 tion, and died in the fourth minute ; a fowl, which I had bought 

 for my dinner, died the third minute. Each of these animals 

 was but shghtly wounded. The Indians maintain that the 

 poison, even if kept well, and especially dry, will retain its life- 

 destroying power only two years. Should the poison lose its 

 power, they restore it by adding a little juice of the poisonous 

 ManUiot root (ifanihot utUissima). After pouring some of 

 the Manihot juice into a calabash containing the urari, they 

 dig it into the ground, covering it with earth, and let it re- 

 main there for a day and a half. The Manihot juice is then 

 mixed with the poison, and it then regains its former strength. 

 The truth that after a certain lapse of time the poison would 

 need a longer time to take effect, I have seen confirmed by my 

 own experience with the urari manufactured in my presence. 

 I brought some of the urari with me to Berlin, and made 

 several experiments with it, when I found that it frequently 

 took from fifteen to twenty minutes, according to the tenacity 

 of life, before death took place. I am sorry to say that as yet 

 a really correct analysis of the poison has not been made, 

 though the renowned chemist. Professor Heintz, of Berlin, 

 has spent a long time to ascertain it. 



A LuN\VK Rainbow.— At 9.20 p.m on August 4th the moon 

 was nearly due south, and appeared unusually large and bright, 

 and the clouds in the north looked wild and black, when to 

 my great delight I saw a portion of a rainbow, and in a few 

 minntes it became quite perfect, forming a semicircle. The 

 colours were not so bright as if caused by the sun. This is 

 the first time that I ever saw a lunar rainbow. — James R. 

 PococK, Brombrourjh Hall Garden, Cheshire. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN OARDES. 



As the rains are very partial, it is still necessary in many 

 localities to continue watering seed beds and recently-trans- 

 planted crops. Keep the soil loose where practical)le ; give 

 timely thinnings to those crops that require it, and water after- 

 wards if the soil is dry. The latest crops of Broccoli should 

 now be planted out if not yet done. Another sowing of Cahhagc 

 may be made about the end of the week to stand in the seed- 

 bed through the winter. A late sowing sometimes comes in 

 very useful ; also make a sowing of Red Dutch for summer use. 

 Make a sowing of Cauiijlowera in the end of the week for 

 plant^ to stand the winter. The Asiatic is a large and excellent 

 sort for this purpose. Previous to earthingup Crlerij for the 

 first time, give the trenches a thorough watering, as the plants 

 will not receive much benefit by the application afterwards. 

 The earthing-np should bo carefully done, the whole of the 

 leaves being kept close together at the time. The lights may 

 be drawn off those Cucumbers that are in frames during gentle 

 showers of rain, but not when it is sufficiently heavy to injure 

 the leaves. Gather Gherkins for pickling. Keep the crop of 

 Dwarf Kidney Beans closely gathered, for if allowed to remain 



until they are too old for use they do not bear as they other- 

 wise would. Sow largely of Lettuce for standins through 

 the winter. The Brown Cos, Black-seeded Bath Cos, Green 

 Cos, and Hardy Hammersmith or Brown Cos are the best sorts 

 for sowing at this season. Plant-out from the late sowings for 

 autumn use. Pull-up the bnions, and house those that have 

 done growing. If the main crops have long necks the tops may 

 be broken down; if not, there is no advantage in doing so. 

 Make another sowing of Black and "White Spanish Badislies, 

 and also of the Turnip-rooted sorts. Let the forwardest of the 

 Tomatoes be fully exposed to the sun, remove some of the leaves 

 which shade the fruit. Keep all the shoots stopped as soon as 

 there is sufficient young fruit on the plants. 



FRUIT G.UIDEN. 



Vines wiU now require much attention where there is a pro- 

 spect of ripening the fruit. The bunches should receive the final 

 thinning, and unless in the case of small sorts, no more than 

 one bunch should be left ou a shoot. Remove all superfluous 

 wood in order to throw as much strength as po«sible into the 

 fruit. If the spur-system of pruning is adopted leave as many 

 shoots besides those in fruit as will be wanted next season; 

 shorten beai-ing shoots one joint beyond the bunch, or to the 

 joint of the fruit provided the leader is preserved and one joint 

 of the lateral allowed to remain. Pick-out a few of the buds at the 

 axils of the leaves towards the poiuts of these shoots, that the 

 buds at their base maybe rendered more plump for nest season. 

 If the long or succession-rod system is followed, no short shoots 

 should be left that do not carry fruit, and these must be kept 

 well shortened, so that by removing all useless growth and 

 plucking-out the young buds in the axils of the leaves of such 

 .shoots, more strength and free exposure may be given to tho 

 long shoots you intend for bearing next year. Leaving a lateral 

 with a leaf or two attached has a tendency to strengthen the 

 bud at the base, and prevents the bud bursting if the shoot 

 should be rather prematurely shortened ; but some successful 

 gardeners object altogether to the leaving of such laterals, con- 

 sidering that they render the buds three-cornered instead of 

 plump and round. Grafts should now have their bandages 

 loosened and their shoots properly secured from wind. See 

 that mildew does not make its appearance on your wall trees. 

 As a temporary remedy nothing is preferable to flowers of 

 sulphur ; if merely the points of the shoots become affected cut 

 them off at once. Some trees from their tender nature are very 

 liable to its attacks, but in their ease its ravages may be much 

 modified if not altogether removed by paying attention to keep- 

 ing the roots and top of the tree iu an equal state as respects 

 temperature and moisture. 



FLOWER GAJIDEN. 



In addition to the proper preparation of the soil of flower-beds 

 it will also iu another season be advisable to place more rehance 

 upon annuals for an early spring display, and, consequently, a 

 proper preparation must be made l)y sowing a general collection 

 of the best kinds towards the middle of September. In the 

 spring the plantingof the beds is recommended to be thicker than 

 usual, and accordingly, instead of allowing one plant to every 

 square foot, as was the rule in former years, two are planted. 

 Flower gardens will now be in their gi-eatest beauty, and every 

 means must be taken to keep turf, gravel, and edgings of all 

 kinds in the neatest possible order, that no drawbacks to the 

 complete keeping of the whole may occur. Dead flowers should 

 be picked off daily, and stray growths reduced within proper 

 limits. Trailing and climbing plants should be frequently gone 

 over to keep them neatly trjiined and secure from rough winds. 

 For the same purpose examine Hollyhocks, Dahlias, and other 

 tall-gi-owing plants. Remove dead flowers from Roses, and en- 

 courage the production of autumn blooms in the Perpetuals by 

 watering with liquid manure ; and mulching the surface ot the 

 ground where practicable. Commence the propagation of plants 

 for uext season, in which dispatch with the more delicate Felar- 

 coniiims should be urged to get them established before winter. 

 Fork ground among Dahlias slightly, and mulch the surface 

 withvervrottenmanure; waterplentifullyeveryevening. When 

 the weather is dry take care that the laterals are well staked out, 

 and use every means to entrap earwigs and other vermin wJiicn 

 injure the flowers. Look over faded blooms of Pinks, extractin^r 

 the petals from the pods. Should wet set in the decayed petals 

 will act prejudicially by retaining moisture round the lower 

 part, which will cause rottenness, and consequent destruction. 

 Rooted cuttings of Pansies for making up autumnal beds should 

 now be readv, or nearly so. It will, therefore, be necessary to 

 make beds 'for their reception. In doing so it is absolutely 

 necessary that wireworms should be caught, therefore the com- 

 post should have repeated turnings, for those pests are as de- 

 structive to young Pansies as they are to Carnation layers. 

 Throw out the soil from the Tulip bed on to the paths, so that 

 it may sweeten previously to being returned. Some florist^ 

 adopt'with considerable success the plan of sownigon it Mustard 

 seed, whicli after having vegetated is mixed with the soil; 

 this in believed to be the means of banishing wireworms from 

 the bed. 



