MISCELLANEOUS SECTION. 281 



Cantua dEpendens. — A correspondent writes that in July he pro- 

 cured two plants, one was placed in a stove and the other in a green- 

 house. The former grew the fastest for a-month, and then the foliage 

 turned yellow, this was caused by the attack of the red spider, the plant 

 was dusted over and under with sulphur, and the enemy was destroyed, 

 still the plant has not yet recovered the disaster. The plant placed in 

 a cool greenhouse has grown well, and has continued in excellent 

 health. It is quite evident the plant will not thrive in the stove, but 

 must be kept in a cool, dry greenhouse, or pit-frame, &c, if grown in 

 pots, and in summer others will flourish in the open ground. 



Prevention of "Weeds on Walks, &c.. — An asphalte composed 

 of sand, lime rubbish, cinder ashes, and gas-tar, has been found to 

 answer satisfactory, no weeds will grow upon it. It appears that 

 the remedy is in the gas-tar, it being a foe to vegetable life. These 

 materials do not appear at the surface very agreeable, but if half 

 an inch of gas-tar be spread over the surface of the substratum of a 

 walk and upon it be laid a coat of gravel two inches thick, the unsight- 

 liness of the former is avoided, and a neat gravel surface, freed from 

 weeds, will be secured. Dr. Lindley states, in the Gardeners' Chro- 

 nicle, that he had had some walks coated with gas-tar, thick enough 

 to cover the moss, but it was found that the gas-tar became sticky 

 as soon as it was warmed by sunshine, or even in dry weather. The 

 application, however, stopped the growth of weeds effectually, and the 

 piece of walk so treated nine months back is now as bare as when 

 first done. Subsequently an extensive path in the shrubbery had been 

 painted over with hot gas-tar, and when a few yards was done sand was 

 sifted upon the walk and a roller drawn over it. Thus treated, the 

 walk was firm, dry, and hard, and neither weeds or moss have since 

 grown upon it, nor is there any trace of the walk having been tarred, 

 the surface has the appearance of any other gravel walk. 



MISCELLANEOUS SECTION. 



Review. — Observutiojis on the Culture of Roses in Pots. By "William 

 Paul. Second edition, pp. 43. London, Piper. 



It contains practical remarks on the subjects of potting and preparin"- 

 the plants, pruning, training, forcing, and retarding them for winter 

 bloom ; and has lists of varieties adapted for all purposes and seasons ; 

 also advice on budding, grafting, and choice of stocks, &c. That it is 

 very useful the following extracts will confirm : — 



" The soil in which Roses succeed well, and that generally used 

 here, is, two parts of stiff' turfy loam, broken up, but not sifted, two 

 parts manure (road-gatherings laid by for a season, or the remains of a 

 hot-bed, not too far decomposed), and one part burnt earth. This 

 compost, should be thrown up in a heap in autumn, and turned two or 

 three times during winter, and a little newly-slaked lime scattered 

 throughout to destroy worms and grubs. This is the soil used for the 

 mass ; but for the delicate varieties (Chinese, &c.) it may be improved 

 by the addition of one part leaf-mould, or well-pulverised manure." 



Vol. xix. No. 09.— N.S. 2 A 



