Octeber 15. 1868. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



281 



It is also probable that a similar position marks tho spot where 

 the Himalayan Deodars are found, only the latter are at an 

 altitude of several thousands of feet above the Lebanon trees, 

 and what is more strange still, as before stated, so much farther 

 inland, conseiiuontly beyond the roach of whatever influences 

 the winds might acquire in passing over an expanse of salt 

 water. A certain amount of hardiness would seem to be re- 

 quired for both situations ; possibly frost may be more felt 

 on the Himalayas than on Lebanon, but the latter has quite as 

 tempestuous a position, and it has its frosts and deep snows as 

 well. It would be a great loss if tho small remnants of the 

 ancient forests of tho Israelitish kings were entirely destroyed, 

 and it is to be hoped that tho same Society which is now pro- 

 secuting its researches amongst the antiquities of the Holy 

 City, and its neighbourhood, will also take charge of the few 

 remaining trees. It is painful to reflect that their number is 

 really much less than could be found within a few miles of 

 London. 



In speaking of Cedar wood there is often great confusion, for 

 it not unfrequently happens that some Cypress is confounded 

 with it, to which nothing can well present a stronger contrast, 

 and the reader will at once point to the small slips of a rather 

 soft wood forming the black-lead pencils of everyday use. These 

 Cedar pencils, as they are called, are said to be made from a 

 soft kind of Cypress imported from Florida, while the kind of 

 Cedar met with under the name of pencil Cedar, used in furni- 

 ture-making for the lining of drawers and wardrobes, is from 

 Bermuda. There is every reason to behove that not only the 

 roof of the Holy Temple was composed of Cedar of Lebanon, 

 but also the roofs of similar buildings devoted to heathen deities. 

 The Temple of Diana at Ephesus was said to be of this tree and 

 to have lasted four hundred years ; while another, dedicated to 

 Apollo, built with Cedar obtained from the African coast, was 

 said to be quite as old. In Hindoo usages the durabihty of 

 Cedar wood was equally appreciated, as it was used to contain 

 the remains of the most renowned men, and for other pur- 

 poses where endurance was required. 



In this country, who can say that any other tree exceeds the 

 Cedar in beauty when the specimen is good? and there are 

 many such in England, the valley of the Thames containing 

 many noble trees, as at Chiswick, Sion, and higher up, while 

 even in the far north of Scotland it is growing with as much 

 vigour as the native Fir ; and as many of the oldest specimens 

 in this country exhibit no signs of constitutional debility, it 

 may be placed on the same footing in that respect as our 

 native trees, which is certainly not the case with many Conifers 

 of more recent introduction. Those, therefore, who wish to 

 plant a given space, as an avenue, or even to plant a single 

 tree as a memorial, I would recommend to select young, well- 

 rooted plants of the Cedar of Lebanon that have not been in 

 pots, and if the site be favourable the result need not be feared. 

 I would certainly advise the Cedar of Lebanon in preference to 

 the Deodar, for if the latter is not the same, it is inferior to it ; 

 but I expect that eventually they will be both regarded as one. 

 — J. KoBSox. 



TRICOLOR PELARGONIUMS BREAKING. 

 YouE correspondent, " Persist, " asks, " How long a time 

 elapses before a Pelargonium will break, or show signs of varie- 

 gation, it bred from a green Zonal ? " This depends upon how 

 much tricolor blood there is in the seedling plant. Some seed- 

 lings will show signs of variegation in a very young state, 

 others will continue growing for several years without the 

 slightest symptoms of variegation appearing, and afterwards 

 throw out variegated sports. I have found that green seed- 

 lings bred from variegated parents, if crossed again with the 

 poUen from variegated varieties, will generally produce a large 

 per-oentage of gi'een seedlings slightly tinged and striped with 

 Tariegation on the cotyledons or seed leaves. Some of these will 

 show symptoms of variegation very early, by streaks of red, 

 white, &c., appearing on their stems, and spots and blotches of 

 variegation on some of their leaves. After the plants have 

 fully developed from five to seven leaves, the green portions of 

 the leaves should be gradually pinched away, this will allow 

 the variegation to predominate and assume the mastery over 

 the green portion of the plant. Much, however, will depend on 

 the skUl of the person having the care of the plant, as to 

 whether it will survive after its green portions are taken away. 

 If the plant has not a strong, vigorous constitution, the green 

 portions of its leaves must be very gradually pinched away, 

 otherwise the plant will become weakly, and ultimately die al- 

 together. When the seedlings are small, and the proportion of 



variegation is too great, it is often necessary to pinch awaj 

 portions of the variegation in order to allow the plant to gain 

 strength by allowing tho green portion to take tho load for a 

 sliort time. This may be easily checked by the moans men- 

 tioned above, and the growth of the plant regulated to the 

 greatest nicety, if its condition be properly studied, and a due 

 amount of watchfulness be bestowed on it. 



I know of no branch of floriculture more interesting than 

 this, nor anything approaching the interest one feels in it after 

 becoming acquainted with tho subject. 



The next question asked by your correspondent is, " If a 

 Tricolor Pelargonium is bred from a golden variety, what will 

 the seedling be ? — will it be golden, and afterwards break ? " No 

 favourable results can be expected, or if expected such are 

 seldom realised. The progeny in this ease would be so weak 

 that httle or no hope could be entertained of their ever surviving 

 more than a few days or weeks after their appearance above 

 the surface of the soil. They have, generally, very little chlo- 

 rophyll in the cotyledons or seed leaves, and are, consequently, 

 unable to bear the light. A golden variety should, therefore, 

 never be selected as the female parent. 



The third question, '• If seedlings raised from a Bicolor will 

 be bicolored ? '' may be answered in a similar way to the 

 above. Bicolors do not make good seed-bearing parents for 

 the same reason, unless they are very strong growers, and have 

 not much yellow in the leaf. 



The best of all parents to select, is a good green horseshoe 

 kind, with a good habit, and having the zone clearly defined 

 and deeply stamped on the leaf. — J. Wills. 



INTERIM REPORT TO THE COUNCIL OF THE 

 ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



BY THE SUB-COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO THE 

 ADULTERATION OF SEEDS. 



1. In accordance with your instructions, your Committee have 

 taken steps to ascertain whether there is any just foundation for the 

 representations which have been made to the Council regarding the 

 unsatisfactory state of the seed trade and the bad qnahty of much o£ 

 the seed sold to the public. 



•2. It was represented to the Council that, as the business of seeds- 

 men is at present conducted, the purchaser of seeds frequently re- 

 ceives neither the kind nor tho quality of the seeds he pays tor, and 

 that against this he has no remedy except a doubtful and expensive 

 lawsuit after the mischief has been done. 



:^. It was also urged that, unhke most other kinds of adulteration 

 or deception in the quahty of goods, the injury done in the case o£ 

 seeds does not terminate with the use of the article purchased, but 

 entails, in addition, the loss of the rent of the ground on which the 

 seed may be sown, and of the labour expended upon it in preparing 

 the soil and tending tho crop— not to speak of the disappointment of 

 the reasonable expectations of the cultivator. 



4. Having no means of compelling parties to give evidence, your 

 Committee's investigation into the alleged adulteration, mixing, or 

 deterioration of seeds has necessarily been confined to making in- 

 quiries of those who have tho means of knowledge, and on whosa 

 statements they could rely. 



.5. From information so acquired, they believe that the pnbhc 

 snii'ers more or less from tho neglect and malpractices of dealers in 

 seeds in at least the following ways : — 



(1.) GeneraUy by seeds being kept too long and being sold after 

 thev have lost their vitality. 



This is the most injnrions of all the causes of depreciation ; for it 

 applies equally to tho honest and dishonest trader. In adulteration, 

 the evil must br done with the uitent to defrand. Here there may ba 

 no intention to defraud, but mere neglect or want of judgment may be 

 as iujnrious to the purchaser as if there were. 



(■2.) By the addition of bad seed to good, and mixing old and new. 



i:).) By the addition of seed whose vitality has been killed. 



This is done in tho case of varieties of peculiar exceUenco, when 

 tho supply is insufficient to meet the demand. Killed seed of a cheap 

 kind, similar in appearance to that of a dear kind, is added to increase 

 the quantity without affectiiiR tho quality. In this kind of adultera- 

 tion the purchaser is only deceived in the quantity. What comes np 

 at .ill, comes true, and the character of the dealer for supplying a true 

 article is maintained. _ 



(1.) By manipulatmg and doctormg the seed so as to make bad 

 seed look hke good, as by dying bad Clover seed, sulphur-smokmg ba^ 

 grass seed, oil-dressing bad Turnip seed, &c. 



6. Your Committee have been unable to ascertain to what extent 

 these different practices are carried on ; but they have reason to think 

 it must be considerable. One of their mformants was able, froni 

 personal knowledge, to instance oue individual whose principal buBi- 

 neas consisted in destroying the vitality of cheap seeds for the purpose 

 of mixing with sound seed of greater value ; and they have reason to 

 beheve that ttiis is by no means a solitary case. They are told also that 



