May 31, 1S77. ] 



JOUBNAL OF aORTICUIiTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



405 



olasa certificate from the Eoyal Horticultural Society, and a 

 certificate of merit from tlie Eoyal Botanic Society on the 

 same day." 



Crofoa Queen Victoria is stated by Mr. B. S. Williams , who 

 is sending it ont, as " the first hybrid Crotou that has been 

 raised in this country. It is the result of a cross between 

 G. Weiamanni and C. interruptum. It far exceeds in beauty 



is of medium growth and free branching habit, a most desir- 

 able feature in the formation of good specimens ; the leaves 

 when well matured are from 9 to 12 inches long, and about 

 2 inches broad, oblong lanceolate ; the ground colour of the 

 leaf is rich golden yellow, beautifully mottled with green ; the 

 midrib and the primary veins are of a rich magenta colour, 

 changing with age to a vivid crimson. The margin of the 



any of the imported species offered up to the present time. It ' leaf is unevenly banded with carmine, often extending as far 



56.— Croton qoeen viciosi 



as the midrib, and so harmonising with the rich yellow as to 

 produce a gorgeous effect. It has received a first-class cer- 

 tificate." 



Some remarks on the oultivation of Crotons will be foand in 

 another column. 



BLACK. THREAD as a PROTECTION from BIRDS. 

 I HAVE in the past been one of those who have langhed, 

 almost sneered, at the idea so confidently set forth by others, 

 that a single line of black thread strung along a row of Peas, 

 or crosswise over a bed of seed, say Radishes, Lnttiiops, or 

 Broccoli, would prevent birds from committing depredations 

 on the young Peas or seedlings; bat though I have langhed I 

 have often tried it and found it right, but I have never tried it 



so thoroughly or perseveringly, nor with so good results, as 

 this season. As soon as my Peas were sown, or certainly 

 just before they were ready to make their appearance, I had 

 them strung their whole length with only one line of black 

 thread. To particularise the operation I may say that I cut 

 pieces of split lath 9 or 10 inches long and stuck them into 

 the ground 'i or G inches deep the length of the row, 2 yards 

 apart in quincunx fashion — that i», I put one at the top of the 

 row in the middle, then stepped 2 yards and put one on the 

 right-hand «ide, stepped 2 yards more and put one on the 

 lefthnnd side, and so on to the end; then with a bobbin of 

 Kooj strong black thread I fastened it to the top peg (half an 

 inch down from the top say), and then strung it to the next, 

 wrapping it round once or twice, and in that way proceeded to 

 the bottom, and by means of this protection I have eight rows 



