July 21, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



47 



by the Baroness Wenman, H. Wykeham, Esq., and H. C. Tawney, 

 Esq., Messrs. Lane again had the field to themselves, and were 

 awarded the first prize for very fair examples of a Peach and Nec- 

 tarine, Apple and Pear, Plum and Cherry. The exhibition here is, 

 however, by no means so good as we conld have expected. 

 Vegetables will be noticed next week. 



Fkcit Committee, July 20th.— G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., in the 

 chair. Messrs. Standish & Co., of Ascot, sent a seedling Grape called 

 Citronelle Muscat, in appearance much like Chasselas Masque, and 

 much resembling it in flavour. The Committee requested that it 

 Bhould be sent again later in the season. Mr. Eckford, gardener to 

 the Earl of Radnor, Coleshill, again sent his Beedling Grape, named 

 Coleshsll White Hamburgh, which too closely resembles the old White 

 Tokay, to be of any value as a new variety. From Mr- Anderson, 

 gardener to the Earl of Stair, Oxenford Castle, came a seedling Straw- 

 berry, named Moffatt's Duke of Edinburgh, raised from Keens' Seed- 

 ling, orossed with Elton Pine. Fruit very large and extremely hand- 

 some, but very deficient in flavour. Mr. T. Elcome, Rhug Gardens, 

 Corwen, sent a seedling Strawberry named Owen Glendower, but of 

 no merit. Mr. Gilbert,' Burleigh Park, sent a seedling Cherry, raised 

 at Burleigh more than thirty years ago. It was somewhat in appear- 

 ance like Bigarreau Napoleon, but more acid. It received a first-class 

 certificate. Mr. Smith, gardener to the Earl of Gainsborough, sent 

 EOme Scarlet Gem Melons, stated to have been grown in the open 

 air. Mr. G. Lee, Clevedon, Somerset, sent Lee's Prolific Black 

 Currant, which had before received a certificate. 



EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT ON THE 

 BRISBANE BOTANIC GARDENS. 



Encouraged by the great success of the growth of the Palms 

 and the Cycads made in the compartment of ground set apart 

 for them near the aviary, and the great interest taken in them, 

 a new plantation has been formed adjacent to the residence of 

 the Director, and many of these graceful and highly useful 

 trees have already attained to dimensions of considerable im- 

 portance ; they consist of the Cocoa Nut (Cocos nucifera), the 

 African Oil Palm (Elais gninensis), the -Date Palm (Pbcenix 

 dactylifera), the Wine Palm (Caryota urens), the Cabbage Palm 

 (Oreodoxa regia), the Sago Palm (Sagus Rumphii), the Sago 

 Palm of Queensland (Sagus Blackalli), the Wax Palm (Ceroxy- 

 lon andicola), the Betel Nut (Areca catechu), &c. 



Of the fibrous plants the China Grass-cloth plant (Bcehmeria 

 nivea), still continues to thrive exceedingly well, but though 

 many have essayed to prepare it for manufacturing purposes, 

 all have most signally failed. It has been experimented on by 

 those who have spared no pains, and on every occasion with 

 similar results. The remaining fibrons plants consisting of the 

 Jute (Corchorus eapsulaiis), the Sun Hemp (Crotalaria juncea), 

 the Queensland Hemp (Sida retusa), &n., are thriving, and 

 gradually gaining favour among those interested in the culti- 

 vation of what may yet become a new and important branch 

 of industry. The Cotton Plant was doing extremely well up to 

 the late rains, which, however, have severely checked its deve- 

 lopment. Some five or six varieties have been furnished to 

 this department, during the six months, for experimental pur- 

 poses, and are now bearing ; one or two of these varieties 

 promise to prove an acquisition to Queensland planters. 



Of the dye plants the Indigoferatinctoria (Indigo), the Rubia 

 tinctorum (Madder), the Lawsonia inermis (Henna plant), and 

 the Cochineal insect, &i., still continue to prove their adapta- 

 bility for successful cultivation in Queensland. 



THE STAPLEHURST ROLLER BARROW. 

 All who have grass lawns, and flower beds around them or 

 in these, know full well how very inconvenient it is to go to 

 work on them with a barrow, especially after wet ; the wheel 

 makes Bucb> marks in the grass that the work seems almost 

 useless. I have lately seen a very ingenious contrivance brought 

 out by Messrs. Pollard, Urquhart, & Co., of Bear Garden, 

 Southwark, entitled the roller barrow ; it is made of iron, and 

 there is no wheel, but in lieu of it there is a broad roller, 

 which, instead of making marks and spoiling the grass, really 

 improves it, and, of course, the fuller the barrow the better is 

 the result produced. It is exceedingly light, can be moved by 

 a boy, and is, I think, a contrivance well worthy of attention 

 by all those who pride themselves upon the condition of their 

 grass ; it will also save the tearing-up of walks by the wheel, 

 barrow in wet weather. With care it is likely to last a lifetime. 



and thus again has an advantage over the old wooden barrow - 

 — D., Deal. 



[We conclude that the Staplehurst barrow is the same as 

 that described as follows in the English Mechanic and Mirror of 

 Science. " The peculiarity of thiB ingenious invention is, that 

 it causes no unsightly soores or marks upon lawns or walks in 

 wet weather, when the use of the ordinary wheelbarrow is a 

 source of constant disfigurement. It is easily worked by a boy, 

 though it can be rendered of any weight desired by filling it up 

 with ballast, the load being discharged at once by tipping the 



handle. It is very serviceable for bedding-ont plants, carrying 

 away cut grass or turf, gathering up leaves, or when manuring 

 the ground. The roller barrow is equally adapted for grass 

 lands where horses and carts cannot be employed, and for 

 croquet lawns, being always sufficiently light to be managed in 

 case of need by a lady. It is in use at the Crystal Palace, 

 Kensington, and other gardens, where its handy qualities have 

 rendered it a permanent favourite." 



Another combination is of the roller and watering engine, 

 made by Mr. J. Dove, 17, Exmouth Street, Clerkenwell. 



The advantages of this neat little garden machine may bo 

 seen in not only throwing water a distance of about 60 feet, but 

 of watering and rolling grass or gravel walks at the same time, 

 so that while two wheels would in either case be injurious, this 

 roller absolutely does good, and is so portable that any ordinary 

 domestic may use it. — Eds.] 



STANDARD ROSES. 



Thebe is a trifling art or secret in the budding and preser- 

 vation of standard Roses, perhaps not observed and practised 

 by our rosarians generally. I refer to the need of one good 

 bud at least on each side of the standard, not opposite exactly, 

 but 1J or 2 inches distant, betwixt the buds on opposite sides,, 

 to form somewhat equal heads and flower shoots. Aud I allude 

 to the necessity of a clean-cut or Bawn standard apex or point, 

 not more than 1 inch beyond the highest bud, and protected by 

 a cap of grafting wax or pitch (a thin patch), to preserve the 

 core of the standard from decay, and the wood of the standard 

 from dying down to the buds, and the decay thus reaching and 

 destroying the buds also. Long standard remnants above the 

 buds carelessly cut admit the air and frost into the cavity of 

 the decayed core, like a mown ThiBtle stem, and hence our 

 standard Roses pei i=h. I say protect the ends by capsules of 

 wax, pitch, or tar for preservation. — Reader. 



LAWN MOWERS. 

 Having read the letter of " Vitis " on the subject of the 

 Archimedean mower, I write to give you my opinion on the 

 value of the machine. I have at present a 30-ineh machine of 

 Green's, and a 15-inch one made by Kennan of Dublin. The 

 two are equally good. I purchased this year a 14-inch Archi- 

 medean, and the result is that I find one man or well-grown, 

 lad can work it with greater ease than a man and boy can work 



