G8 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



[July 21, 1888. 



the fresh soil should take place. They were then 

 taken to a frame where no heat was employed, and 

 from thence to their place at the foot of a south 

 wall, but allowing them to remain in the boxes till 

 the weather was genial enough for planting. I have 

 now several dozen fit to cut which measure fully 

 8 inches across the flower-heads. G. II. Merton. 



Cultural Memorandum. 



STEPHANOTIS FLORIBUNDA. 



Plants of this, the best of all stove climbing plants, 

 which are growing in 12-inch pots, in a mixture of 

 sound fibry loam and good peat, with a liberal 

 sprinkling of sharp sand added, the pots standing 

 on bricks placed flatwise on two bottom-heat pipes 

 i:i the centre of a raised bed in a small stove here, 

 and the shoots trained to a wire trellis about 4 feet 

 wide, fixed the full length of the house underneath 

 the apex, yield a bountiful supply of their de- 

 liciously-scented white flowers every summer and 

 autumn. They have not been potted for several 

 years, but the plants are top-dressed once or twice 

 a week with Beeson's Manure before giving water 

 at the roots. In addition to this frequent applica- 

 tions of weak manure- water are given at the roots 

 weekly during the growing season. The plants so 

 treated are, at the time I write, completely smothered 

 with large clusters of well-developed flowers. All 

 plants having a large spread of foliage and flowers to 

 support, with the roots rather confined, should have 

 liberal and frequent supplies of liquid and artificial 

 manure given at the roots. The same advice is 

 applicable to fruit trees growing in pots, tubs, and 

 narrow borders. H. W. Ward. 



THE VEGETABLE PRODUCTS 

 OF MOGADOR. 



Consul Payton, reporting on the products of 

 Mogador, refers to the following as special articles 

 of culture : — Hemp (Cannabis sativa) — which, it is 

 well known, is largely grown for its narcotic proper- 

 ties, furnishing " hashish," prepared from the 

 powdered leaves — has, it seems, received a material 

 check, in consequence of its cultivation and sale, to- 

 gether with that of Tobacco and opium, being pro- 

 hibited by the Sultan's edict early in 1887. The 

 principal fruits cultivated are Figs, Dates, Grapes, 

 Melons, Water Melons, which are grown among the 

 Maize ; Walnuts, Pomegranates, Lemons, Limes, 

 Peaches, Apricots, Plums, Apples, Pears, and 

 Prickly Pears (the fruits of the Opuntia), which 

 form such admirable hedges for small enclosures. 

 In the neighbourhood of Mogador the cochineal 

 insect has been cultivated on this same Cactus, but 

 its production has been on a very small scale, and 

 with the low prices obtained by the cochineal growers 

 of the neighbouring Canary Islands, may be regarded 

 rather as an interesting experiment than as a remu- 

 nerative trade. Of Pigs, which are very abundant in 

 many parts, the preparation is far too rough, the 

 Figs being simply exposed to the sun on a cloth or 

 skin, sometimes slightly salted. If properly pressed 

 and boxed, as in Turkey, they might form an attrac- 

 tive article of export. 



Any account of the vegetable resources of southern 

 Morocco would be incomplete without some mention 

 of the Argan tree (Argania Sideroxylon), large 

 forests of which exist in the province of Haha, and 

 some in Shiadma and Sood, but not generally spread- 

 ing more than about 40 miles inland. It is a hard- 

 wooded tree, with rough bark, very sharp spines, 

 small leaves, and a fruit like a large hard yellow 

 Olive, from the kernel of which is expressed an oil 

 of peculiar flavour in very general use in the dis- 

 tricts mentioned, both for cooking and lighting pur- 

 poses, and which is exported coastwise in years of 

 abundance. The fleshy part of the fruit also yields a 

 nourishing food to cattle and goats, and to the 

 numerous herds of wild boar which roam through 



the Argan woods. Another valuable tree is the 

 "Azar" (Callitris quadrivalvis), which yields a 

 beautifully grained hard wood of a reddish-brown 

 colour, much prized in cabinet making, and known 

 to the ancient Romans as Citron or Thyme wood. 

 The root of a little plant known as the " Terny " 

 (Arisarum vulgare) affords a food to the rural popu- 

 lation in times of famine. It is not very palatable 

 or wholesome, but is nevertheless life-sustaining. 

 The acrid juice which the roots contain has to be 

 got rid of by much washing and trituration; and 

 the edible product is the Truffle, a white variety— 

 so abundant in years of good rainfall that after 

 plentiful rains they can be bought for about a penny 

 a pound ; but these white Truffles, many of which are 

 as large as good-sized Potatos, are far inferior in 

 flavour to those of France. 



Fruit Register. 



STRAWBERRY THE CAPTAIN. 



Some fifty years ago Black's Seedling Strawberry 

 was raised in Aberdeenshire, and imported into the 

 South, where it was sent out as Black Prince. 

 During all those years it has been our earliest Straw- 

 berry until Laxton some six years ago raised and sent 

 out King of the Earlies and The Captain ; the latter I 

 have now no hesitation in saying is the best of the three, 

 and is in every respect a first-class variety, with fine 

 large fruit, of good flavour and a strong constitution. 

 Every gardener knows that in a late season like the 

 present there is often disappointment in the supply — 

 the pot plants are over, and the outdoor varieties are 

 not fit to pick: The Captain, when planted on a 

 south border, forms, as it were, the connecting link 

 between the indoor and outdoor supply. I have no 

 experience of it as a forcing Strawberry, but should 

 judge it would do well. Very often it happens that 

 Strawberries are nearly as dear in the beginning and 

 middle of June as early in the season, and I should re- 

 commend this variety to market growers. J. Rust, 

 Eridge Castle. 



A VIEW IN ST. JAMES'S PARK, 

 LONDON. 



[See Supplementary Sheet.] 

 This now picturesque Park was formerly a swampy 

 waste, first enclosed and improved by Henry VIII., 

 and put into its present form and much of it planted 

 by Loudon about the year 1828. The land, always 

 flat, was made dry by draining the surface-water 

 into what is called the. lake— a view of which is 

 depicted in our Supplement to this week's number. 

 The smooth character of most of the surface is not 

 marred by any misappropriate mounds, and softness 

 of outline is the prominent character of the scenery 

 within the boundary of the Park, which is the more 

 effective by reason of its contrast with the lines of 

 the public and private buildings all around. 



The southern and western side of the lake is much 

 masked by plantations of trees of moderate height, 

 chiefly exotic species of Poplar, Willow, and other 

 water-loving subjects, and fine specimens of Planes 

 and common Elm abound, as well as symmetrical 

 shaped Thorns of large size. These trees, so valu- 

 able as living specimens to the botanist and tree 

 planter, cannot be said to be in vigorous health — 

 a state of things due, doubtless, in part to unhealthy 

 surroundings. 



Owing to the groups of trees being situated on the 

 western and southern sides of the water, there is 

 a considerable amount of shadow thrown on the 

 water, but then there are other stretches of the lake 

 where the sun has free play, so that the monotony of 

 a continuously shaded surface is avoided, and a 

 pleasing contrast afforded. The lake abounds with 

 water-fowl, which find quiet nesting places and 

 haunts in the bouquets of shrubs and plantations 

 that run down to the water's edge. Not many 

 flowers are grown in the Park, in beds set apart for 



them, but considerable quantities of bedding plants 

 and hardy herbaceous subjects are employed as 

 margins to beds and groups of shrubs. 



Plants and Their Culture. 



Winter-flowering Plants. — These should now 

 receive encouragement, it being only when this is 

 <nven, and a well-matured growth obtained, that the 

 best results may be looked for. Late struck Libonias 

 will require close attention, and whether they be 

 planted out in frames or grown in pots, it is impor- 

 tant that they should not suffer any check. If it be 

 intended to pot them again, this should be performed 

 as soon as the roots fairly occupy the old soil, and 

 pots from 4 to 7 inches will be found sufficiently 

 large for" the young stock, putting older plants in other 

 suitable sizes. For soil use turfy loam, with a small 

 quantity of peat or leaf soil, and plenty of sharp 

 sand with some well-decayed and pulverised manure. 

 After shifting, it will be necessary, if the weather be 

 sunny, to shade slightly for a few days, but this 

 should be discontinued as soon as possible. Cool 

 frames which can be shut up early in the afternoon 

 suit them admirably. 



Serioographis GhiesbregMiana and Pcristrophe (Jus- 

 tioia) speciosa. — These plants will also succeed during 

 the summer, under the same treatment as the Libo- 

 nias, but as they are not quite so hardy, the frame 

 must have a light and sheltered position, and it is 

 well if there are means of raising the temperature 

 during dull, cool weather. To get well furnished 

 bushy plants, the shoots must be frequently stopped, 

 and if the stock of Peristrophe be short, there is yet 

 plenty of time to raise good plants before the winter, 

 provided cuttings are put in now. The rich purple 

 flowers of this "plant are always very telling when 

 associated with other winter-flowering subjects, but 

 the plants are rather apt to get infested with thrips 

 and red-6pider, however, with due attention to 

 syringing them regularly, these insects may be kept 

 in check. 



Poinsettias. — The present is a good time to put in 

 cuttings of this plant, and plenty of these can now be 

 obtained from the old stock plants. In choosingthe 

 cuttings only those which are vigorous should be 

 taken ; the weak ones are better if left on the old 

 plants until they have grown large. By so doing 

 much greater progress will be made than by employ- 

 ing the small shoots, and moreover successional 

 plants are valuable in prolonging the flowering 

 season. Poinsettias strike readily if a genial moist 

 atmosphere and :> mild bottom-heat can be afforded 

 them ; and an ordinary dung bed frame is a very 

 appropriate place, as the constant humidity arising 

 from the fermenting materials will, with care in shad- 

 ing, generally be found sufficient to keep the cuttings 

 from flagging without having to use much water, 

 but flagging must in any case be guarded against, 

 as it weakens them very much. If the cuttings 

 are very soft I have sometimes found it of advantage 

 to immerse them in water for about an hour before 

 putting them in. This has the effect of making 

 them stand up better during the operation of potting. 

 Insert the cuttings singly in small pots with one 

 good crock for drainage, and use a light sandy com- 

 post ; care should be exercised not to bruise the 

 cuttings. I find less damage from this cause if I 

 simply fill the pots with the soil loosely, rather 

 heaped up, so that when pressed down there will 

 be just enough of it to easily fill the pot. The cut- 

 tings must be inserted before the soil is pressed 

 down ; and it is as well to put a pinch of sharp sand in 

 the centre of the pot for the base of the cutting to 

 rest on. When thus put in the whole mass of soil 

 gently presses round the cutting, but not so much so 

 as to bruise it, and the porosity of the soil is greater 

 than when a dibber is used. If all go well they will 

 be rooted in a few weeks, and should then be potted, 

 employing a rich friable compost for the purpose. 

 Six-inch pots are a useful size, but size of pot 

 depends on requirements. After potting, shade 

 slightly for a few days, gradually discontinuing it 

 until they can stand full exposure. An airy 

 place, with a temperature of 60° and 70°, suits best, 

 for when grown in one that is hot and moist, flabby 

 leaves are developed, which are difficult to retain on 

 the plants. In all stages of growth keep them as 

 near the glass as possible. F. Boss, Pendell Court. 



