ends and containing a single seed. It hras failed to germinate as 3^et, 

 and no plants have been raised from seed. It is propagated by cut- 

 tings and it is hoped shortly to have a good number for distribution 

 to horticulturists. Hosea Lohbiana was first discovered by Lobb, no 

 doubt at Kuching, during his visit to Borneo but his dried specimen 

 was labelled Penang by some accident and the plant described as 

 Clerodendron Lobbiana by Clarke in the Flora of British India. Lobb 

 does not seem to have got it home alive. Miss North found it again 

 and made a coloured drawing of it now in the North Gallery at Kew. 

 Specimens were also collected in Borneo by Hullett, Haviland and 

 others. 



The plant is certainly allied to Clerodendron differing, however, 

 entirely in its fruit which appears to be adapted for dispersal by 

 water. It grows in very wet swampy spots and its fruits are doubt- 

 less floated away by streams. 



Its introduction to cultivation is due to the Right Reverend Bishop 

 Hose who had it in his garden at Kuching and sent a cutting to Singa- 

 pore. An additional plant was sent later by Mr. Hewett. 



Being found to be generically distinct it was described by the 

 Editor in the Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic 

 Society as a new genus under the name of Hosea Lobbiana, Ridl, in 

 honour of its first introducer Bishop Hose. It is known to the Dyaks, 

 says the Bishop, as Tanga Bulan, or the moon-ladder. 



Hosea, though not a very fast grower, seems to make a tolerably 

 strong growth in damp soil, and will also grow in stiff clay soil of 

 which so much of our country is composed. It is improved by 

 manuring, with leaf mould and cowdung, and is best grown on a 

 trellis or arch, as it is not stiff enough to grow in a bush form like 

 Mussaenda and Allamanda. 



It is a decidedly fine acquisition and addition to tropical gardens, 

 its brilliant colouring being very distinct, and the sprays lasting a 

 long time in beauty. 



Cleaning Cement Floors. 



In plant houses where the floors or paths are cemented or tiled, 

 it frequently happens that they get slippery and dangerous from the 

 presence of a minute alga usually blackish in colour which is espe- 

 cially abundant in wet weather and usually entails much scrubbing 

 with sand to Ret the surface fit to walk on with safety. We find 

 that such a condition is most quickly and economically cured by 

 spraying with a squirt with a weak solution of copper sulphate 

 which destroys the alga and leaves the floor clean and safe. The 

 system could be used successfully for bath rooms, etc. — Ed. 



