December 1, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



435 



and soon involving all its limbs with the tentacula around the 

 mouth, the victim is gradually dragged into the polyp's sto- 

 mach, there to perish. All its softer parts, all that can be 

 nutritious, is digested and dissolved, until at length the Actinia, 

 being satisfied with its abundant meal, opens again its mouth, 

 and then regurgitates the shell and what is indigestible. Nor 

 does a little food suffice to satisfy its appetite. The Actinia is 

 voracious, harmless and flower-like though it seems ; some- 

 times, for instance, it will swallow whole three or four mussels 

 for a breakfast, and dissolve them all except the shells. Mr. 

 Gosse calls this species the 'beadlet,' from its possessing a 

 number of blue bead-like tubercles around its mouth. The 

 scientific name of Actinia is from a Greek word, meaning 'a 

 ray,' in allusion to the tentacles. This is a very variable 

 species as to colour, and the oommonest of all the Sea Ane- 

 mone family. The Actiniae resemble their relatives the Hydra, 

 in their power of reproducing lost portions of their bodies. If 



one be cut in two with a sharp knife or razor, each half will 

 grow to a whole animal." 



We wish to arouse more attention to the marine aquarium, 

 and, therefore, will republish the following which appeared in 

 our columns about twelve years since : — 



" In the subjoined cut are represented four of the best Sea 

 Anemones, whether for a beginner or an adept. In the richest 

 collection the common 'Mes,' or Actinia mesembryanthemum, 

 is as valuable as the rarest, on account of its intrinsic beauty ; 

 and as to hardiness and longevity, no creature of the deep ever 

 yet brought within domesticating influences, can equal it. 

 When all goes wrong, and the pretty creatures drop from their 

 stony pinnacleB and perish ; — when the water gets putrid, and, 

 perhaps, half a dozen degrees of specific gravity too dense — 

 ' Mes ' will still be found alive and unhurt, and will display its 

 coral fingers and bright blue beads the moment he is lifted into 

 a purer element. This is known by many popular names, of 



which the most common is ' Strawberry Anemone,' for the 

 most plentiful form of it is that which strongly resembles, whan 

 closed, a well-grown Sir Harry. But it haB so many varieties, 

 that for mere effect this species is, in itself, sufficient for a 

 small tank. In its most common form it is spotted on a 

 crimson ground, Strawberry fashion ; in another it is of a deep 

 maroon, without spots. There is another variety of a deep 

 quiet chestnut ; another of a dark olive green, and a rarer 

 and exquisitely beautiful one of a very bright, almost grass 

 green. 



" The numbers on the out refer to the speoimens as follows : 



— 1, 2, 3, Sagartia anguicoma, or snaky-looked Anemone, in 

 three different states, the last being shrunk up; 4, Bunodcs 

 clavata in its ordinary force of expansion ; 5, the common 

 'Mes' expanded, and closed; the row of heads resemblirg 

 torquoises which surrounds the tentacles, is peculiar to this 

 species, and adds vastly to its beauty, especially in the rose 

 and coral-coloured specimens ; 7, Actinia bellis, the Eea Daisy ; 

 8, the lovely red Alga, Delesseria sanguinea, drawn from a very 

 fine specimen ; the plant on the other side is Furcellaria fas- 

 tigiata ; 6, one of the few purple Algas that may be preserved 

 in small collections." 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAMJEN. 



■Various are the sohemes of rotation practised by different 

 gardeners, many of them being baBed on no better foundation 

 than the convenience of the hour ; where, however, the kitchen 

 garden is sufficiently extensive, and where much produce is 

 required, the rotation of crops should be carefully studied. 

 Calendarial limits will not permit me to offer more than a few 

 words of advice, which, however, will, as far as they go, be a 

 tolerably safe guide. The great difficulty is to procure fresh 

 ground for the Cabbage tribe, so numerous are the kinds as 

 well as successions in cultivation. Broken-up plantations of 

 Strawberries, Raspberries, and bush fruit, with Celery ground, 

 should at all times, as a leading principle, be set apart for some 

 of the Cabbage family. The ground from which Celery has 

 been grown, especially in the Scotch or bed fashion, is also 



ready-made ground for new Asparagus beds. Potatoes prepare 

 well for almost every crop. Deep or tap-rooted crops Bhould 

 be succeeded by Bhallow or fibrous-rooted ones. When the 

 course of cropping has been decided on for the ensuing year, 

 and duly entered with numbers in the garden book, the practice 

 is to set up laths opposite to the space appropriated to each 

 crop, with the number corresponding with the book, and the 

 name of the crop on one side, and on the other the manure, 

 where from, and the quantity, with the mode of cultivation — 

 digging or trenching. ThiB done, a labourer who can read the 

 label can set out or proceed with the work at any spare time. 

 Winter has at last commenced, and it behoves every one 

 possessing a garden to cast his eyes once more round in order 

 to see whether its rigours can be further softened with regard 

 to anything tender. An opportunity will now occur of covering 



