July 25, 1872. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



79 



mum 4 feet aboveground, it is almost sure to be fine, though 

 if the weather is very hot and the wind breaks to the south- 

 east, electrical storms may come on. 



One of the safest signs of fine weather in summer is a steady 

 rise of the glass, with a south-west wind, combined with a steady 

 rise in temperature. My experience teaches me that no de- 

 pendance can be placed on the barometer without taking the 

 thermometer into consideration as well, and that observations 



of the barometer taken only at one hour in the day, say eight 

 or nine o'clock, are not sufficient ; the observations ought to- 

 be more frequent. I remember one week of violent storms in 

 December, when the range of the barometer taken at 9 a.m. was 

 only 1.21 inch, whereas the real range was over 4 inches, the 

 mercury having fallen or risen during each twenty-four hours, 

 and then returned to nearly the same point ; this daily variation 

 being almost an infallible sign of severe winds. — G. P. Peach. 



COLOCASIA ESCULENTA. 



This plant is the Arum esculentum of Linnaeus, and is, 

 perhaps, more popularly known by the name of Caladium 

 esculentum; indeed, the genera Caladium and Colocasia are 

 very closely allied, the points 

 of distinction being chiefly 

 the differences in the shape 

 of the spadix, and the manner 

 in which the stamens are in- 

 serted on that organ. It de- 

 rives its specific name from 

 the fact of its tubers forming 

 a large portion of the diet of 

 the natives in the countries 

 to which it is indigenous. The 

 produce of this and a few 

 similar species is known by 

 the various names of Tarns, 

 Eddoes, Cocoa-roots, Tara, 

 and Scratch-Coco. It ap- 

 pears, however, not to find 

 much favour amongst Euro- 

 peans. The leaves are also 

 frequently boiled as a vege- 

 table, and used after the man- 

 ner of Spinach with us ; but 

 they are said to be very acrid, 

 and are apt to produce very 

 unpleasant sensations after 

 being eaten. It is not, how- 

 ever, as an economic plant 

 that I wish to draw the at- 

 tention of your readers to it, 

 but to the fine effect which 

 its bold tropical foliage pro- 

 duces out of doors during the 

 summer months if a little 

 care and attention are be- 

 stowed upon it. The leaves 

 are peltate, entire, and some- 

 what ovate or cordate ; they 

 frequently measure 3 feet or 

 more in length, and are of a 

 soft glaucous green. As far 

 as my own experience goes, 

 this plant cannot be reckoned 

 amongst the most hardy of 

 • the subjects used for sub- 

 tropical gardening, but with 

 a little care it will display its 

 fine foliage to considerable 

 advantage in gardens in the 

 neighbourhood of London, as 

 well as in the southern and 



western counties. I have not seen the plant used in the north, 

 but should be happy to hear from anyone who has tried it, 

 with details of the mode of management and success. The 

 beginning of June is quite soon enough to expose it to our 

 variable climate, and it will be well to select somewhat 

 sheltered situations for its reception, as by so doing its large 

 leaves are not so apt to be slit with rough winds, and thus its 

 effectiveness is not destroyed. 



The manner of planting will depend much upon the taste of 



the operator ; the plant is extremely beautiful grouped as a 

 front row to a clump of other larged-leaved, strong-growing 

 subjects, and it forms very handsome groups isolated upon 



grass, and planted near tha 

 walks or borders. When au- 

 tumn comes lift the plants, 

 dry them thoroughly, and re- 

 move all moist, dead, or de- 

 caying portions from the 

 tubers ; then store away in 

 some cool but dry place, where 

 they may be left until the 

 middle of March. After pot- 

 ting in that month, place 

 them in a slight heat, and 

 prepare them again for their 

 summer quarters. 



The foregoing remarks ap- 

 ply chiefly to those not pos- 

 sessing a plant stove ; where 

 such exists, lift the plants 

 carefully and remove them to 

 it, first potting them in a 

 mixture of equal parts of 

 loam, peat, leaf mould, and 

 good decomposed (but not 

 sp6nt) manure. Let the pots- 

 be well drained, and supply 

 the plants liberally with 

 water, which must also be 

 given freely in their summer 

 quarters, otherwise they will 

 not develope very fine leaves* 

 I have hitherto spoken of 

 C. esculenta as a subtropical 

 plant, but where sufficient 

 space can be afforded it in a 

 stove all the year round, it 

 will make a wonderfully effec- 

 tive specimen. It only re- 

 quires good rich soil, it will 

 stand any amount of heat, 

 and must have an abundance 

 of water — indeed, it may 

 stand in water if such is at 

 hand ; under this treatment 

 it cannot fail to afford the 

 greatest satisfaction to all 

 lovers of ornamental leaves. 

 It seems to be indigenous 

 to the tropics of both hemi- 

 spheres. 

 Colocasia nymphaifolia, for 

 the illustration of which we are indebted to Messrs. E. <3 

 Henderson & Son, of the Wellington Nurseries, St. John's 

 Wood, resembles very much the species previously named. 

 Some of our eminent botanists consider it a variety only of 

 C. antiquorum ; but be it species or variety, it is a beautiful 

 object in the flower garden during the summer months, and 

 the treatment recommended for C. esculenta will also apply to 

 j this plant. The leaves of C. nympha?folia are used as a vege- 

 table in the Sandwich Islands. — Expekto Crede. 



Colocasia nymphrefolia. 



HAEDINESS OP AQUILEGIA GLANDTJLOSA. 



I believe I said nothing as to the hardiness of Aquilegia 

 glandulosa; it is perfectly hardy. I merely intimated the 

 difficulty of keeping it in health in the south, owing, I believe, 



to the dry atmosphere. Have your correspondents the true 

 sort — height about 15 inches, flowers 4 inches across ? Aqui- 

 legias from seed are worthless, unless one sort only is grown, 



