*167^ Domestic Notices : — England. 



of very free growth, and blooming and fruiting readily and frequently. The 

 elegant racemes of scarlet berries which they bear considerably resemble 

 those of the red currant, and are termed by many English gardeners 

 " Barbadoes currants;" but whether this name be of their invention, or 

 derived from Barbadoes, we cannot say. — J, D. 



Further Information on the Plantain ( Musa paradisiaca'). ' — Sir, In com- 

 pliance with your request, I send you a brief account of my mode of culti- 

 vating this tropical vegetable. The plant I fruited at Exeter, as described 

 in your Vol. VI. p. 429., had attained considerable height when it came 

 under my care, but was lingering under bad health. On examining the 

 roots, I found the mould quite exhausted, and not congenial to the nature 

 of the plant. I had the soil removed from the top part of the tub, and I 

 then loosened and trimmed the roots, and applied to them a compost con- 

 sisting of strong loam of an argillaceous quality, decomposed vegetables, and 

 sandy peat, with all which a little lime and soot were intermixed. It is in 

 this compost I grow my young plants. This dressing was given in May, 

 1829, and by the June following the plant had sent up several splendid 

 leaves, and evinced symptoms of vigorous health. In July it began to show 

 symptoms of flowering, by throwing up a leaf considerably smaller than the 

 former ones ; the habit of the Musa tribe before flowering. This smaller 

 leaf was quickly succeeded by the spike of flowers, which, in its early state, 

 in form and size much resembled a bullock's heart. When the blossoming 

 had commenced, the spike divested itself of a spathe or sheath, that covered 

 the flowers, almost every succeeding day. I endeavoured to assist nature 

 in setting the fruit, by applying, with the feather of a quill, the pollen to 

 the stigmas, when the atmosphere of the stove was in a di'y state. From 

 my plants I never cut off any of the under leaves until they have performed 

 their office and are withered ; as when the leaves are cut off too soon, their 

 footstalks exude a considerable portion of sap, and thus exhaust the 

 succeeding leaves. The leaves extend a considerable length, many 10 ft. 

 and are very easily split; which ought to be most cautiously 'guarded 

 against, as the splitting retards the growth of the plants, and throws them 

 into a stunted state. The temperature I give to young plants is from 60° 

 to 70° ; to fruiting plants from 75° to 85° ; external heat. I give no bottom 

 assistance. In days of clear sunshine I admit a fi-ee circulation of air; 

 and then, as always, attend so punctually to the watering, as never to let 

 the plants get flaccid. The fruiting plants are great consumers of water, as 

 is the case with nearly all arundinaceous [reedy] plants. The plan I adopted 

 to keep the fruiting plants moist was a 4-gallon watering-pot, filled with 

 water, with some twisted worsted to act as a siphon ; one end immersed in 

 the water, the other placed over the tubs of the plantain. The tubs that 

 I used were about the size of half a hogshead ; but those for the fruiting 

 plants were of larger dimensions. A plantain (Musa paradisiaca) or ba- 

 nana (Musa sapientum) growing freely will throw up a fresh leaf every 

 three weeks or a month, and, with assiduous attention, will keep growing 

 during winter. With respect to the quantity of fruit ripened at Conver, I 

 attribute it principally to the accelerating influence of the genial heat of the 

 thermosiphon. The number fit for table was thirty; a greater number 

 swelled off to nearly full size, and then shrivelled. Doubtless, the season 

 being so dull and inclement prevented many from reaching maturity. The 

 fruit continued in succession for five weeks : some were preserved, which 

 were excellent. A ripe one that I tasted seemed of a farinaceous quality, 

 easy to be dissolved, and of a honey-like flavour. I am. Sir, yours, &c. — 

 Henry Dalgleish. At B. B. Dickinson's, Esq., Knightshat/s, near Tiverton^ 

 Devonshire, Sept. 1830. 



The rate of growth of the Musa sapientum, or banana, another species 

 of the same genus, in Mexico, will be found, p. 670. — Cond. 



