BRIEF REMARKS. 



BRIEF REMARKS. 



129. 



Capsicum Fumigating. — I find, in perusing the Cottage Gardener, 

 tliat Mr. Beaton, one of the writers, has with admirable success tried 

 the Capsicum, or Cayenne-pepper, as a substitute for tobacco, in 

 destroying the green-fly. He recommends every one this season to 

 cultivate a quantity for the express purpose. If this can really be 

 brought into general practice, doubtless many will duly appreciate so 

 valuable a discovery. Tobacco is not only expensive, but highly 

 objectionable, especially where plant structures are attached to the 

 mansion, as the fumes of tobacco may be detected in every room when 

 it is necessary to use it for destroying insect life. We all know, how- 

 ever, that it is a safe and sure remedy, and it will not do to repudiate 

 the one until we are practically acquainted with the other. I have no 

 desire to appear sceptical, but at present I look upon the discovery as 

 being only in its infancy and trial. It is an experiment, however, 

 which I intend to subject to a fair test, and judge for myself, the result 

 of which, if acceptable, I will make known through the medium of the 

 Cabinet. — G. Fry. [We shall be obliged by the favour as early as 

 convenient.] 



Cycas revoluta. — This very singular apetalous plant is now 

 blooming at J. Penn's, Esq., of Lewisham, in Kent. It is in the best 

 possible condition, and, like many of our stove inmates, is a curious 

 and interesting plant. — G. Fry. 



Tea Roses. — The Tea Rose, on account of its beautiful tints and 

 peculiar fragrance, is a general favourite ; yet with amateur culti- 

 vators, who, like myself, reside within a few miles of the metropolis, 

 and who are compelled necessarily to grow it under glass in pots, it 

 turns out a complete failure after a season or two. We may be suc- 

 cessful with most kinds of plants, but this one proves always more 

 than our match. With great care, I get at first certainly very satis- 

 factory specimens, but I find it impossible to keep the plants in the 

 same state, and the blooms speedily deteriorate. However, before 

 giving up this vexatious and disappointing culture, I have made a new 

 attempt, which has been quite successful, and it is to make this plan 

 known that I trouble you with these lines : — I planted about fifty half- 

 standards and dwarfs in the autumn, consisting of Souvenir d'un Ami, 

 Elise Sauvage, Adam, Devoniensis, &c, in a well-prepared compost, 

 and I erected a low span-roofed house over them, having glass sides to 

 the ground, and side windows for ventilation, and I find it to answer 

 admirably ; the plants are looking remarkably healthy, and promise 

 well; the shoots are most vigorous, and are covered with buds. — 

 W. G., Stoke Newington. {Gardeners' Chronicle.) 



Treatment of Venus Fly-trap. — Clericus solicited, in a recent 

 number, some particulars of a successful management of this singular 

 plant, and some observations having appeared in the Gardeners' Maga- 

 zine of Botany upon its treatment, we have extracted the following, as 

 given by a cultivator, Mr. Brown, now in the Tooting Nursery: — 



" For soil, use equal parts of fibrous peat and of sphagnum cut very 

 short, mixed with a little sand. The pots should be well drained ; five- 



