26 Journal of Agriculture. [8 Jan., 1908. 



inserted in sandy soil in autumn root readilv, but do not produce as 

 much foliage for cutting as divisions during the first season. Autumn is 

 the proper season for dividing and replanting. Sage is often raised from 

 seeds when the plants have become enfeebled by excessive cutting. The 

 seeds germinate freely and a fresh stock of plants may be raised with little 

 trouble. The seeds may be sown in autumn or spring, the former for 

 preference. The young plants bear transplanting well, and may be re- 

 moved at any time except mid-summer and mid-winter, without injur}'. 

 The seedlings should be allowed to grow without much cutting of foliage 

 during the first year. Mature plants may be out several times in the 

 season ; a general cutting for drying for winter use is best done when the 

 flowering shoots are showing. Excepting when wanted for seed-saving 

 purposes, herbs grown for foliage should not be allowed tO' bloom. In 

 all cases a few leaves should be allowed to remain on each shoot or branch 

 Avhen the plants are being cut in summer. 



Hyssop. — Hyssop is almost identical in its needs with sage. 



Mint, Marjoram, and Savory. — The herbaceous plants, mint, marjoram, 

 and savory, are best planted adjacent, as thev require slightlv different 

 treatment at times to the shrubs. The shoots of these die to the ground in 

 winter, the roots remaining alive. Thev are propagated from divisions 

 •of the roots in autumn or from seeds. Mint is generally increased from 

 divisions and requires a cooler and moister soil than the other herbs. It 

 is a perfect weed in some places — a weed being defined as " a plant out 

 of place" — while in dry hot situations it is often a matter of difficulty to 

 •establish it. In such places a liberal quantity of cow manure should be 

 added to the soil and the plants mulched and watered until thoroughly 

 established. Shoots should be cut and dried as they approach the 

 flowering stage. 



Sweet Marjoram and Siveet Savory are annuals and require to be sown 

 annually. They should be sown in rows in spring and thinned to allow 

 sufficient room for the plants to develop. 



THE PROCLAIMED PLANTS OF VICTORIA. 



{Continued from page 720, Vol. V .) 



Alfred J. Ewart, D.Sc.. Ph.D., F.L.S., Government Botanist; and 

 J. R. Tovey, Herbarium Assistant. 



Apple of Sodom. 



Solanum sodomaum, Linn. {Solanaca:.) 



A spreading or diffuse shrub or herl) of one to three feet. Foliage 

 green, but sprinkled as well as the branches with a few small star-shaped 

 hairs. Prickles stout often thickened downwards on the stem and leaves, 

 more slender on the calyces. Leaves deeply pinnatifid, with very blunt 

 rounded, obovate, or spathulate, lobes, often wavy ; the whole leaf three to 

 six inches long. Flowers in small clusters on shoTt and simple rarely once 

 forked stems. Calyx divided to the middle into blunt lobes. Berries 

 globular, rather large, variegated green and white, or finally yellow. 



An introduction from Africa. Sometimes wrongly called Kangaroo 

 Apple. It is a most obnoxious weed undoubtedly poisonous, and should 

 be pulled up before the fruits mature, piled and iDurnt. 



Proclaimed for the whole State, February. 1907. 



