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JOXTKNAL OF HOKTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 



t Decemier 1, 1863. 



bushes, which were very old, and of large size. The Mis- 

 tletoe was very strong. I did not notice it on any other tree 

 or bush except the Apple. — Kate. 



VAEIEGATED AEABIS. 



A PLANT of this miniature gem came into my possession 

 last spring with the name of A. lueida variegata. Whether 

 this is the original kind or not I am not in a position to 

 say ; but for the satisfaction of your correspondents I have 

 no hesitation in asserting that this identical kind is deeply 

 margined with pure yellow — not a du-ty white — and is, with- 

 out doubt, a most valuable addition to the class of dwarf 

 variegated edging plants. It wiU prove a great acquisition 

 to the amateur, for it is quite hardy, is readily increased 

 from side-shoots or offsets, and grows fi-eely in any good 

 garden soil. Slugs are its greatest enemy, and it requires 

 careful watching in winter to prevent these pests from 

 riddling its delicate leaves. Grown as a dwarf miniature 

 pot-plant, it looks exceedingly pretty for a flower-stand or 

 small vase. — John Edlinoton, Crow Castle. 



TODMOEDEN BOTANICAL SOCIETY. 



A MEETING was held on the 2nd ult. Many specimens 

 lay on the table : among the more notable were monster 

 examples of the curious Polyporus betuhnus, gathered ii-om 

 Birch trees in the neighbourhood. This may be regarded as 

 a semi-commercial fimgus, being employed, at times, in 

 the manufacture of razor-strops. It is highly interesting, 

 as, indeed, ai-e most of the fungi. The fungus famUy, more- 

 over, is a useful one, vei-y many species, although not re- 

 garded here as edible, being the prized esculents of other 

 countries. 



A communication was read from Mr. J. Holt, the Secretary 

 of the Prestwich and Pilkington Botanical Society, announc- 

 ing for sale the renowned " Shepherd Herbarium," com- 

 prising 100 vols, (folio) of dried specimens of plants. The 

 Secretary was instnicted at once to communicate with Mr. 

 Holt, with a view to ascertain whether the herbarium can 

 be forwarded to Todmorden for inspection by the members, 

 and, in case of a difficulty in this, a number of gentlemen 

 were appointed a committee or deputation to go and inspect 

 on the Society's behalf. 



Mr. J. Lord, Bridge-end, Todmorden, presented to the 

 Society one hundi'ed and fifty sheets and thirty packets of 

 dried specimens of British mosses by name, being the whole 

 of the bryological collection of the late Mr. Edmund Holt, 

 senior. 



Edmund Holt died some twenty years ago. He was well 

 inown throughout the Todmorden and neighbouring valleys 

 as an enthusiastic botanist and n.atui'alist, and a man of 

 strong individuality withal. His shrewdness and sagacity 

 were uncommon, and his " sayings " are still quoted in the 

 neighbom-hood as oracular, and that not seldom. " As old 

 Ned Holt used to say," is the phrase. Who hasn't heard it 

 a hundred times? Whilst alive, "old Ned Holt" must have 

 been a power, influencing by no means a narrow circle, and 

 BOW that he has been twenty years dead, his words (or 

 "sayings") are a power still. He was commonly pronounced 

 an "oddity" — a "curiosity." But why was he odd F — why 

 was he singirlar? Because at every step he took over tliis 

 earth Holt found " the Beautiful," " the Wonderful," and 

 admu-ed and wondered accordingly (perhaps somewhat de- 

 monstratively), whilst the purblind people about him saw 

 "little or nothing to admii-e or wonder at." The glorious sun 

 shining in the heavens and casting its wealth of colours over 

 the clouds and over the earth, was no miserable " farthing 

 candle" to this man. "The Primrose by the river's brim " 

 was more than a yellow Primrose to him, and therefore did 

 the Peter Bells amid whom he lived and moved regard him 

 as a "curiosity" — an "oddity." Such men — men whose 

 hearts and minds are opened to the beauty of the universe — 

 are too much of " ciu'iosities " and "oddities" even now. 

 "Heaven lies aboiit us," if we did but know it — Holt knew 

 it. If we do but open our eyes we walk in Paradise — Holt 

 opened Ms eyes, and therefore he was "odd." Holt's heart 

 was tender in the extreme, as is the heart of every true lover 

 of Nature and of God. He was not uufi-equently overheard 



apostrophising in (supposed) solitude his favourite flowers as 

 he botauised along oiu- hill-sides through the changing 

 seasons in all weathers. The beautiful flowers were friends 

 of his, and then- blue eyes were as dear to him, and almost 

 as sentient, as the blue eyes of his human friends. However 

 much hoUowness or falsity there might be in the world's 

 blandishments, with the flowers, at least, he could hold pure 

 converse. It wiis a holy fountain this, at which he could 

 refi'csh and fortify his soul when wearied by the narrow cares 

 and crosses of life. Each of us can do the like ! Thousands 

 of miles did this man wander whilst searching for the 

 humble Mosses and Lichens, which to common unobservant 

 eyes are invisible, oi% if seen, are passed carelessly by. 

 " oil, many are the poeta that are sown 

 liy Nature— men endowed with highest gifts — 

 The vision and the faculty divine. 

 Yet wanting the acconipliahment of verse." 



CHICOEY : ITS USES AND CULTUEE. 



Othee readers of your Jotrrnal besides " J. S." ynO. pro- 

 bably be interested by an account of the plant which now 

 constitutes one-half of what is termed " coft'ee." I therefore 

 submit the following : — 



Chicory or Succory (Cichorium intibus), is an indigenous 

 fusiform or taprooted perennial, abounding in some parts 

 of the country, but of local rather than general distribution. 

 The leaves are strap-shaped, about 3 inches wide and a foot 

 in length, not unlike Dandelion (Leontodon taraxacum), to 

 which it is closely allied. The flowers are produced on long 

 spikes, branching and tapering upwards, wliich give the 

 plant a pyramidal habit and elegant appearance. They are 

 of a bright and lovely blue colour, each the size of a crown- 

 piece, and are produced profusely from June to September. 

 In a wild state, the flower-stems do not attain more than 

 from 2 to 3 feet in height, but under cultivation they grow 

 to 6 or 8 feet ; and in the herbaceous border not one of the 

 vaunted beauties of the flower garden is more ornamental 

 in its season. The roots are large, succulent, and elongated, 

 not unlike white Carrots, but having a multiplicity of fibres 

 adhering to them like Salsafy. 



The leaves when blanched are an excellent substitute for 

 Endive, and are, therefore, used as a salad. In addition 

 to their use as a salad, they afl'ord a great bulk of herbage, 

 which is considered good food for cattle. The roots form the 

 Chicory of commerce. 



1st, As a Salad. — For this purpose the seed is sown 

 about the middle of May, in diills a foot apart. The 

 ground is frequently hoed between the driUs, and the plants 

 are thinned out to 6 inches apart. Beyond hoeing between 

 the rows and keeping clear of weeds, the plants need no 

 further attention untU November, when the roots are taken 

 up and stored away in a cool place, so that they may be at 

 hand for forcing. The tops are cut o2' about an inch above 

 the crown ; for these roots, unlike those iutended for roast- 

 ing, are w.inted to grow. If a dark and rather warm cellai' 

 is at command, the roots may be placed there in moist soil 

 with the crown above the surface. A temperature of 50° is 

 quite high enough ; for if brought on too fast the leaves 

 are very naiTow, or little better than the midribs of white 

 Beet — in fact, they cannot be forced too slowly ; but still 

 the quicker they are forced the less bitter is the salad. It 

 looks better when the leaves are broad, and these should be 

 cut when about 6 inches in length, in which state they make 

 an excellent substitute for Endive, but, like substitutes in 

 general, not half so good as the genuine article. When a 

 cellar is not at hand I have put about a dozen roots in a 

 12-inch pot, and after thoroughly moistening the soil placed 

 it imder the shelves or tables of any house with a tempe- 

 rature above 50°, but not exceeding G5°, and then inverted a 

 similar-sized pot over it, closing the holes and other openings 

 with clay. One of these pots will afibrd a good-sized daily 

 salad, and sufficient pots should be introduced at weekly 

 intervals to meet the demands of a family. Pots, however, 

 not being always at hand, I have hunted up a narrow box, 

 and knocked one end off, nailing on the loose side, and then 

 bored holes all round about an inch in diameter, and about 

 the same distance apart. Commencing at the bottom, lay 

 about an inch of well-moistened soil just level with the first 

 tier of holes, and then place the roots with their crowns just 



