June 10, 1876. ] 



JOUBNAL OP HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENER, 



4;J3 



style of growth. Its leaves average 18 inches in length by 

 8 to 9 inches in width. The variegation is very stiiking, the 

 ground colour of the leaf being deep green, and the whole 

 surface beautifully marked and mottled with smalUsh blotches 

 of greenish yellow and white. It was awarded a first-class 

 certificate by the Royal Horticnltural Society, June ith, 1873, 

 and also a certificate of merit by the Boyal Botanic Society, 

 July, 1872." 



By our early botanists this and other relatives would have 

 been included in one or other of the genera Caladium or Arum. 

 It now legitimately belongs to the genus named in honour of 

 the German botanist M. Diefi'enbach. It is one of the plants 

 known in the West Indies as " Dumb Canes." " The Treasury 

 ofJBotany " says, " The name of Dumb Cane in the West 



I Indies is in consequence of its fleshy cane-like stems rendering 

 speechless any person who may happen to bite them, the juice 

 of the plant being bo excessively acrid as to cause the month 

 to swell, and thus to prevent articulation for Etveral days. 

 [ It is said that the West India planters were formerly in the 

 [ habit of punishing their refractory slaves by cruelly forcing 

 them to bite a piece of this plant ; and accidents have occa- 

 sionally occurred with it in this country, where, however, it is 

 ' only to be found growing in the hothouses of the curious. 

 The negroes in the West Indies make an ointment for rubbing 

 dropsical swellings by boiling the juice of the plant in hog's 

 laid ; and a physician in the reign of Charles II. recommended 

 1 the juice to be administered internally as a cure for dropsy, but 

 I it is so excessively acrid that it is almost impossible to swallow 



Fig. lOR.— DiEFFENBACHIA ERASILIEN3IS. 



it. Notwithstanding the acridity, however, a wholesome starch 

 has been obtained from the stem. When the leaves are pulled 

 awav the stem has a cane-like appearance." 



The Dieffenbaehiaa are stove plants of considerable beauty. 

 Their aspect when well grown is imposing, and they area valu- 

 able addition to our fine-foliaged plants. They are admirable 

 for exhibition purposes, and are fine for associating with Palms 

 and Ferns. They are also adaptable for corridor decoration 

 (luring the summer months. In culture they are very easy. 

 Propagation is ciYected by cutting down the plants and insert- 

 ing pieces of the stem in a sandy compost, and placing the 

 pots in heat. The compost suitable for growing-on the plants 

 is a mixture ol turfy loam and peat, incorporated with sand 

 and charcoal. When in active growth abundance of water is 

 needed both at the roots and by the syringe. A gentle bottom 

 heat improves the growth of the plants, and weak liquid 

 manure improves the colour of the foliage. A high tempera- 

 ture, rich feeding, and copious supplies of water are the prin- 



cipal requirements to bring these noble plants to perfection. 

 They are seldom injured by insects, but if affected the leaves 

 should be washed with the sponge in preference to fumigation, 

 which is injurious. 



THE CUCKOO A CATERPILLAR-DESTROYER. 



"West Scerey " (page 142), knowing no bird that will take 

 the " filthy Gooseberry caterpillar," will be glad to hear of 

 one, which, unlike sparrows, have no mixture of good and evil 

 in its nature, and is welcomed alike by old and young, rich and 

 poor. Logan draws a pathetic comparison of the joy expressed 

 at the renewal of the well-known cuckoo note. 



"Delighttal viailaot I with thee 



I hail the time of tlowcrp, 

 ■^Tien heaven is fUIod with mnsio sweet 

 Of birds among the bowers." 



The cnckoo (Cncnlus canorus) is a great devourer of the hairy 



