518 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 14, 1876. 



by severe frost, bat from the base came several vigorous shoots 

 which have since reformed the specimen, and now its glaucous 

 leaves form a good contrast with the green of other trees. The 

 original trunk measures 4 feet in circumference. E. globulus 

 is not hardy at Eew, even with wall protection. E. Gunnii 

 and E. urnigera it is said should be hardy in the climate of 

 Paris. 



At a recent meeting of the Linn^ean Society, Mr. H- 



N. Moseley, of H.M.S. " Challenger," read a paper on the 

 flora of Marion Island. This island possesses considerable 

 interest from its isolation, and being within the antarctic 

 drift. It is about 1000 miles from the African continent, 

 450 from the Crozets, 1200 from the desolate Eerguelen 

 Island, about 2000 from Tristan d'Acunha, and 4500 from the 

 Falklands, to which, nevertheless, its flora appears related. It 

 is of volcanic origin, and snowclad. The rocks at half-tide are 

 covered with Darvilea utilis, above high tide Tillasa moschata 

 is found in abundance, and beyond the beach a swampy peaty 

 soil covers the rocks, where there is a thick growth of herbage ; 

 this is principally composed of species of Acajna, Azorella, and 

 Festuca, the first of these three being the most abundant plant 

 on the island, though the latter Grass is by no means scarce. 

 The Cabbage-like plant Pringlea antiscorbntica is less profuse 

 than at Eerguelen's Land. Some of the Ranunculus group 

 are met with at water pools near the sea. Four kinds of Ferns 

 were obtained; Lomaria alphia being the most numerous. 

 Lichens are scarce, but Mosses in plenty form yellow patohes, 

 which stand out conspicuously midst the green vegetation, 

 which rises to an altitude of probably 2000 feet. From the 

 occurrence of Pringlea on Marion Island, the Crozets, and 

 Eerguelen Island, and the existence of fossil tree-trunks on 

 the two latter, the author surmises an ancient land connected 

 between them. 



The Paris journals announce the death of a famous 



Orange tkee in its 455th year, known under the name of 

 Grand Bourbon or Grand Connetable. In the year 1421 the 

 Queen of Navarre gave her gardener the seed at Pampeluna. 

 Thence sprang the plant, which was subsequently transported 

 to Chantilly. In 1532, however, the Constable of Bourbon 

 (Lord of Chantilly) having Bided with Charles V. against 

 Francis I., his goods were confiscated, and along with them the 

 Orange tree, which was duly sent to Fontainebleau, whence, in 

 1684, Louis XIV. transferred it to Versailles, where it remained 

 the largest, finest, and most fertile member of the orangery, 

 its head being fifteen metres round, and the trunk seven metres 

 high. 



— — At the last meeting of the Floral Committee at South 

 Kensington we noticed two plants of Plumbago rosea, as ex- 

 hibited by Mr. Ollerhead from Sir Henry Peek's collection at 

 Wimbledon House. We have since seen this Plumbago grow- 

 ing at Wimbledon, and do not hesitate to say that the effect 

 produced is one of extraordinary novelty and beauty. The 

 Plumbagos are growing in 8-inch pots placed about 4 feet 

 apart, at the foot of a back wall of a heated pit devoted to the 

 cultivation of Melons and Cucumbers. The plants are trained 

 on the wall, and cover it in every part with fresh green foliago 

 and a profusion of rosy-pink racemes of flowers, producing a 

 charming effect. The plants arch gracefully over the path 

 when they reach the shelf at the top of the wall. The wall is 

 €0 feet in length, and its present mode of decoration reflects 

 great credit on Mr. Ollerhead. The effect of this Plumbago 

 thus grown is unique and beautiful. 



"J. A." writes — "I purchased a plant of the new 



double Poinsettia, and I now possess half a dozen small 

 plants showing their bracts, but they do not show any signs of 

 coming double. How is it ? " To this we reply, that plants thus 

 treated ought not to be expected to produce a multiplicity of 

 heads. Grow a few plants vigorously, not weakening them by 

 repeatedly stopping them and striking cuttings, and they will 

 reward with gorgeous heads of brilliant braots. This is only a 

 grand plant when well grown, and then it is indeed most 

 striking. 



A whiter in the "Journal of Chemistry " has thus re- 

 ferred to the medicinal use of Celery : — "I have known many 

 who from various causes had become much affected by ner- 

 vousness, and who by a moderate daily use of the blanched 

 footstalks of Celery as a salad they became as strong and steady 

 in limb as other people. I have known others so nervous that 

 the least annoyance put them in a state of agitation, and they 

 were in constant perplexity and fear, who were also effectually 

 cured by a moderate daily use of blanched Celery as a salad. 



Everybody engaged in labour weakening to the nerves should 

 use Celery daily in the season, and Onions in its stead when 

 not in season." 



In order to prevent the introduction of the Colorado 



Potato Beetle amongst Potatoes imported from the United 

 States or Canada, instructions have been issued to the col- 

 lectors of customs at the various ports of the United Kingdom, 

 that Custom House officers are to look out for the beetle on 

 board vessels, wharves, quays, sheds, or packages landed from 

 vessels, and instantly destroy it. To aid them in identifying 

 the beetle a lithographed sketch and description of it have 

 been issued. 



The propagation of Hyacinths from leaves has 



been lately referred to by Mr. Barleben, gardener to the Berlin 

 University. Mr. Barleben's plan is to take off the leaves when 

 in full vigour, cutting them off as close to the bulb as possible, 

 and insert in a saucer of leaf soil and sand, placing in a frame 

 or greenhouse, and in eight or nine weeks bulbs will form at 

 the base of the leaves. Many years ago an English gardener 

 increased new and rare Hyacinths in a similar manner, but 

 found it necessary to secure a portion of the scaly bulb with 

 the base of each leaf. 



Mr. McLeod, who was lately gardener to the Marquis 



of Lothian at Newbattle Abbey, has been appointed Super- 

 intendent of Public Parks and Gardens of Edinburgh, and we 

 are informed also that Mr. Graham has been appointed Super- 

 intendent of the gardens at Hampton Court. The experience 

 and ability of these gardeners are sufficient to ensure the suc- 

 cessful management of the important gardens placed in then- 

 keeping. 



Mr. Mowbray, gardener to the Earl of Leven and 



Melville, writing to us from Fulmer, near Slough, on early 

 vegetation, states — " Should the weather continue open and 

 mild I shall have several Peach trees in bloom Bhortly; the 

 buds are ready for opening now, and are as forward as they 

 ought to be in February. The Cherries are equally as forward. 

 It was the mild warm weather in September that swelled the 

 buds, and they received no check in October. I think we have 

 scarcely ever had a milder autumn than this— in fact, I do not 

 remember ever seeing the fruit trees as forward as they are 

 about here at this period of the year. The agricultural crops 

 of this district are also in active growth. Several pieces of 

 winter Oats nearly cover the ground." 



DOINGS OF THE LAST AND WORK FOR 



THE PRESENT WEEK. 



kitchen gabden. 

 The weather is so very wet that but little can be done on the 

 ground. Such operations as digging, ridging, and even trench- 

 ing cannot be performed with any degree of comfort to the 

 men employed or benefit to the ground. In such weather 

 Onions Btored in lofts, or roots and Potatoes stored in sand 

 in back sheds, can be overhauled and all decaying bulbs or 

 tubers be removed to prevent the spread of decay. It is not 

 possible to wheel barrowloads of manure in such weather with- 

 out making much extra work by cutting up the ground. Should 

 frosty weather set in advantage may be taken of it to wheel 

 manure on to the quarters. A not uncommon way with some 

 gardeners is to leave it lying on the ground in barrowloads. 

 This is probably the worst way in which to treat manure in- 

 tended for the garden. It is preferable to spread it out evenly 

 over the ground, or better still, to make a large heap by putting 

 together as much as will manure the quarter, and throw a little 

 soil over it. 



Should frost set in tender vegetables will suffer, owing to so 

 much wet, and the weather beiDg so mild has caused them to 

 make muoh growth, which further makes them more than 

 usually tender. Celery and Cardoons Bbould be protected with 

 straw — long littery stable manure is sometimes used. It is 

 thrown loosely over the sides of the trenches, and some of it 

 over the leaves. A much better plan is to use clean straw of 

 any sort ; let the top end of the straw be placed upright against 

 the sides of the Celery trenches, and so that it meets over the 

 tops of the plants. Very little straw iB necessary, as if there is' 

 too much the air will not circulate freely amongst the plants. 

 The straw is easily kept in its place by stretching a cord along 

 the trench near the top, and affixing the cord to Btout pegs 

 inserted in the ground at intervals along the rows. A little 

 Boil may be thrown on the lower end of the straw. 



Lettuce plants in frames require frequent attention in order 

 to remove any decaying leaves. In wet weather the lights re- 

 quire to be tilted both back and front, so that a constant circu- 

 lation of air may benefit the plants. Cauliflower plants require 



