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JOURNAL OP HOBTIOULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ AprU 22, 1875. 



are mossed, they have kept pretty well. We clo not commence 

 the mossing process so early as Mr. Osborne from not having 

 frame aooommodation in March, and also from the wish we 

 have of each plant furnishing one or more cuttings before it is 

 disturbed. About the 10th of April, and from that time up to 

 nearly the end of the month, is the time we have found most 

 convenient, as our means of shelter is very homely. I may 

 say that some time before we begin some boys are sent into 

 the woods where moss abounds and a large quantity is ob- 

 tained, which on being brought home is looked over and sticks, 

 especially thorny ones, are picked out, and a tub being filled 

 with it and stamped down , boiling water is poured over it so as 

 to saturate the moss. This scalding not only destroys all 

 insect and animal life that may be lurking inside, but destroys 

 vegetable life as well, and also the seeds of noxious weeds 

 that may be troublesome hereafter. This done and whether 

 the moss be allowed to dry or not it is ready for nse. A 

 quantity of soil being handy on the potting-bench, the boxes 

 of Geranium plants are brought out and are shaken-out with 

 as little injury tn their roots as possible, and the operator 

 placing a piece of moss flatways on his left hand adds a little 

 soil in the centre of it, then lays on the cutting with its roots 

 on the soil, putting at the same time a little more soil over 

 that, then folds-up the moss all round the whole, and wraps 

 round it a piece of matting, which for convenience is prepared 

 into lengths to go about three times round the moss. When 

 completed it resembles a small plant growing in a little mossy 

 bundle of the size of a large goose egg, the moss reaching to 

 the lower leaves. This work, as Mr. Osborne justly remarks, is 

 suitable for a wet day. Boys with a little experience often 

 excel their seniors in quickness of mossing, and a great many 

 Geraniums may be thus disposed of in a day. 



The next question is. What to do with them '! No doubt a 

 frame placed on a properly made-up hotbed would be best, 

 but the usual frames required for forcing are generally always 

 in use at this time, that some other makeshift has to be 

 adopted. In our case we have some old spare lights, and a 

 rough frame is made by nailing four 9-inch wide boards to- 

 gether the size of about three of the lights, which is about 

 10 feet by G. These boxes with care will last several years, 

 and are useful in many ways. I may also add that we generally 

 have plenty of leaves, which with a little dung added, form a 

 very suitable hotbed, which, however, is only very shght, and 

 the bed is usually made higher on one side than the other to 

 allow the rain to run off the lights ; the frame is put on, and a 

 little soil is put in, the tied-up plants are packed in rows 

 almost touching each other, and very often partly slanting to 

 keep their heads below the top of the boards, a little soil being 

 pressed against them as the work proceeds. The frame is 

 speedily filled, and if the moss has been dry when used a little 

 watering is given, but if otherwise, very little is wanted while 

 they are there, and the lights which are put on at once may, 

 nevertheless, be partly removed on fine days, and entirely so 

 before planting-out time, when the plants will be found to 

 have formed a set of bearded roots projecting through the 

 mossy ball on all sides, and as we usually put a good pro- 

 portion of leaf soil into the compost they are grown in, much 

 of it adheres to the roots and travels with them to their final 

 quarters. We have thought the roots of such plants are in a 

 better condition for transplanting than the pot-bound plants 

 often met with, but on this head I have some misgivings, and 

 am not certain but the porous material around the ball of the 

 plants allows a very dry season more chance to do mischief 

 than when all is more firm and solid. Although I have had 

 many years' experience with mossed plants on as extensive a 

 Bcale as most people, I will not undertake to give a positive 

 opinion on that head, but it has many other advantages in its 

 favour, which it may not be out of place to mention here. 



First of all it will be generally admitted that the months of 

 April and May are exceedingly busy months in all gardens. 

 Anything that tends to diminish labour at this season is a 

 boon, and not the least important matter is watering, which 

 everything in pots require at this season ; and although the 

 rose watering pot may be dexterously used so as to water 

 a good many at one swing, whether they all want it or not, 

 the repetition of the process consumes time, besides which 

 water is not always so plentiful as could be wished. Now, 

 plants treated as has been shown require very little water 

 indeed ; nay, I am not sure but some frames we have had 

 were never indulged with any given in an artificial way. 



Secondly. When planting time arrives there is a vast deal 

 less carriage in removing a thousand moss-tied-up plants 



than the same number in pots, as the former can be heaped- 

 up on the hand-barrow or basket without much damage, and 

 be only a fraction of the weight of the potted plants, besides 

 which there are no pots to return to the store, and all the extra 

 trouble of washing and preparing them for the purpose is 

 avoided. Many other reasons might be urged in its favour, 

 which can be left to the general reader to consider for himself 

 in accordance with his individual means of meeting either the 

 tying-up or potting system as his means may allow; at the 

 same time due allowance ought to be made for the cost of 

 pots if they be decided upon, for notwithstanding all care a 

 certain breakage and loss will occur whenever they are used. 



With regard to the relative time of the potting or tying- 

 up, there is no question but the first is the quickest, but 

 the stowing away in a becoming manner makes the two 

 about equal, for as a piece job men have offered to do the 

 tying-up at Grf. per hundred, which is not much, but the 

 other advantages or defects of the system are likely to be more 

 studied. 



While treating on this subject, I may say that other 

 plants as well as Geraniums may be managed this way, as 

 Verbenas, Heliotropes, and the like, but Petunias are so liable 

 to become unwieldy at the neck that I have never done much 

 good with them ; but sometimes a row or two of something 

 else than Geraniums is useful in separating two kinds from 

 each other. This, however, and many other matters of detail 

 will suggest themselves to the general manager. When moss 

 falls short we have used short grass from the lawn instead, 

 but it is not so good, and had better go to assist the heating 

 material. Glass lights as covering have also been dispensed 

 with on an emergency, and a rough framework to support mats 

 at night has been adopted ; it is needless to say this does not 

 answer so well, but at a busy season all makeshifts have to be 

 made use of, and the above taken as a whole is a lecommend- 

 able one. — John Eobson. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 

 We have received from the Hon. and Rev. J. T. Boscaweu 

 specimens of Parsons' White Miononette, which for length 

 of spike, size and whiteness of the flowers, and delightful 

 fragrance, exceeds anything in the way of Giant Mignonette 

 we have ever seen. Its scent is not unlike that of Gardenia 

 fragrans, and is quite as powerful. It is an invaluable strain, 

 worthy of careful preservation. 



Mr. Cannell of Woolwich has sent us flowers of the 



Pelaroonicm oelongatum, a species with yellow flowers, which 

 he has been distributing among hybridists for the purpose of 

 producing a new race of Pelargoniums with yellow flowers. 

 We hope to hear that the attempt has been successful. 



The superficial surface of the Floor of the Great Hall 



at Antwerp, in which the Flower Show was recently held, is 

 17C.3 yards. That of the galleries 590, making in all '23(i2 square 

 yards, or nearly half an acre, under one roof. This informa- 

 tion, which we could not get at the time of the exhibition, has 

 been kindly sent us by Mr. Charles Gilbert. 



The Governor of the Bahamas reports that the culti- 



vation of the Pine Apple is rapidly spreading through those 

 islands. He saw last year what is probably the largest field of 

 Pino Apples in the world. It is on the estate of Mr. Johnson, 

 in the eastern district of New Providence, and from one spot 

 could be seen at a single glance 1,200,000 Pine Apples growing. 

 They were well weeded and in good order ; and this broad 

 expanse of young fruit, in its clusters of delicately-tinted but 

 sharp and distinct leaves, gave a peculiar feature to the land- 

 scape. The Governor states that Pine Apples to the value of 

 £53,4',)" were shipped from the Bahamas in 1H73 to the United 

 States and England. The inferiority of the Bahamas Pine 

 Apples hawked about the streets of London to the hothouse 

 Pine Apples of England is due to the necessity of cutting 

 them unripe, that they may outlive the voyage. 



GALEANDEA BAUEEI. 



The Galeandras have had their generic name translated 

 " Casquewort," because their flowers are shaped like a helmet 

 or casque. Dr. Lindlev mentions the species now before us as 

 " Bauer's Casquewort." The specific name commemorates 

 Mr. Francis Bauer, the botanical portrait-painter. 



This Orchid was first discovered by Martin in French Guiana, 

 but the first living specimen was sent to Mr. Barker from 



