April 3° 



189S 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



285 



r carbonate solution is used asifollows : 5 ot. copper carbonate, 2 quarts 



niacal copP««™ u It is for the ^ parpose as Bordeaux mixture. . 



^The^Uowmg wash for old trees with scurvy bark, also used quite krgejy m 



v TH tit °rfhe rSy spring for clean^ tree's, is the potash wash consisting of 

 >0 ? SC f " ; t er it/ to 2 lb. crude potash. This must be applied as a spray 



igals. of water, 

 before buds swell or burst. 



SOURCES OF CO 



INDIA-RUBBER. 



first of the two Cantor lectures on the sources of commercial india rubber 

 ,«; w n hv Dr. Morris, CM G., on April 18. ... ' _ 



^ifSVntog Dr ' M ° f " S Said that ' SinCe ^ d f S ^i tn LC r 



fondamine first described the rubber-tree of Brazil, and Don Jose, King of 

 PnCal in 1 755 sent several pairs of his royal boots to Para in order that they 

 S be covered with the water-proof " gum-elastic," the use of India-rubber 



has 



lianuiactures, uic iapiu ucvtiupuiwn kjl t^nug, ~- — — . 



for carriage wheels, has added largely to the increased consumption 



interesting article. The quantity of raw caoutchouc imported into the United 

 Kingdom in 1830 was only 23 tons. Even in the year of the accession of our 

 Oaeen it was about 200 tons. Last year it had increased to 20,000 tons. 



The present value of the imports are about five millions sterling. The total 

 trade is probably not less than ten millions sterling. More than one-third of the 

 imports is now received from British possessions. In 1888 only about one-fifth 

 was so received. It is estimated that the world's consumption of rubber is 

 60,000 tons, of the value of fourteen millions sterling. This stupendous quantity 

 of raw material is laboriously extracted from the milky juice of trees and shrubs 

 belonging to three natural orders, viz., the Spurges (Euphorbiacea)^ the Nettles 

 (Urticacecc)) and the Dogbanes ( ' Apocynacea J. These plants are distributed 

 over nearly every part of the tropical zone — none are found in the temperate zones 

 — :he most important being found in the vast basin of the Amazon, an area almost 

 as large as that of the continent of Europe ; others are found on the east and west 

 coastt of Africa, in Assam, and the Malay Archipelago. 



Hitherto the preparation of India-rubber has depended upon the crude 

 hereditary art of a semi-savage people — the rubber-hunters — who explore the 

 depths of tropical forests, and obtain the rubber-milk at the sacrifice of millions of 

 trees which, owing to the recklessness with which they have been treated, are 

 yearly decreasing. 



The result is that many localities where rubber was once abundantly obtained 

 have almost ceased to produce it. New sources of supply have, it is true, been 

 found in West Africa, especially in Lagos, the Congo State, and Portuguese South- 

 west Africa. But here also the work of destruction is rapidly going on. The 

 collectors have to go further and further into the interior, and the cost of transit is 

 thereby greatly increased. An account was given by the lecturer of an important 

 discovery whereby rubber could be extracted from the milk in a perfectly pure 

 state. This is a mechanical contrivance on the principle of a cream separator. 

 This was likely to prove of great value in the preparation of Central American 

 and some West African rubbers where the milk flows in an appreciable quantity 

 and is capable of being brought in by the collectors. 



The rubber trees of Brazil were then exhaustively described, together with the 

 distribution of the various species yielding the Para rubber of commerce. The exports 

 from Para in 1897, including rubber received from Bolivia, Peru, and Yenezeul , 

 amounted to 22,650 tons. Of this amount fifty-one per cent, was shipped to the 

 United States and thirty-eight per cent, to the United Kingdom, leaving only about 

 eleven per cent, or 2,500 tons for all other countries. The price of Para rubber, 

 which regulated the price of all other sorts, has been steadily increasing since 

 1894, when it was 2s. nd. per pound ; in 1895 it rose to 3s 2d. ; in 1896, to 



3J 4d- 5 ^ 1897, to 3s. 6^d., while the average price for the first three months 

 of 1898 was 3s. gj^d. 



At the concluding lecture, delivered April 25, it was stated by Dr. Morris that 

 there is a consensus of opinion that in nearly all localities in Central America the 

 trees of Castilloa elastica are being gradually exterminated. Hence the supply of 

 rubber from Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and the U.S. of Colombia is steadily 

 diminishing. The interesting tree yielding Ceara rubber {Manihot Glaviovi) 

 readily propagates itself, and its area has not apparently sensibly diminished of 



M yea Jr' - The P eo P leare > however, being attracted more and more into the 

 rubber districts of the Amazon valley, and the amount of Ceara rubber exported is 

 comparatively small. Manabeira rubber, on the other hand, seems to be increasing. 

 i he tree (Hancornia spea\ osa) is found in the States of Pernambuco, Bahia, Rio 

 ae Janeiro, and extends westward to Matto-Grosso. The rubber is cured by means 

 ot alum ; it is of a pinkish colour, and the price is'generally only one-half of that of 

 nne 1 ara. Passing on to the rubber-producing areas of the Old World, it was stated 

 mat the rapid development of African rubber was one of the n.ost remarkable 

 incidents of recent years. As regards the world's commerce Africa now occupies 

 an important place as a source of india-rubher. The value of the imports of 

 African rubber into the United Kingdom during 1896 amounted to over a million 



anr in- u thlS forei g n possessions supplied rubber to the value of £205,972, 

 ana British possessions £844,804. Up to within a recent period all tne rubber 



/Tv C /!fi m Afnca was °°tained from climbing plants belonging to the genus 

 mhh* A " z \ wun sweet-scented flowers and edible pulpy fruits. In 1894 a new 

 value f iee 1™***) was foUDd at Lagos, from which in 1895 rubber to the 

 ruhrlr i nea y ^^ 300,000 was e *P 0Ited - More recently still another new 

 herh^ u ^ Car P° din " s ) has been discovered in Africa. This is of a semi- 



n,M~ r S cnaracler underground stems which are rasped in water and yield 

 mober of an excellent quality. ' 



"vf? °,. L Assam .' Burma . Penang, and Singapore were then dealt with. 



nly come into commerce within 

 run. n , .. - 0 . . closely related to the Landol- 



rubber i- si' P • A f nca ' and is generally of excellent quality. New Guinea 



to run it! y by a spe=ies of ficus * The natives are to allow the sap 

 into balk ,L • arms and bod y' and when hardened they remove it and roll it up 

 •upolie, of r °/ " icket halls - The P ros P ects of obtaining some of the future 

 »tes for nl. . • cultivated trees were favourably regarded. In selecting 



*ere alrJE V*^' P reference should be given to localities in which the trees 

 tie Govern,. lound - Para rubt >er trees introduced into the East at the expense of 



eylon, lenassenm, and 

 were estimated to yield one 

 the tenth year. This would 



uements th» J w " — invested. In the Straits 



a ">s Per arr T Cre found to y ield at an earlier *B* and the estimated 



^bber trees w We 'i P d as high as thirt y P er cent ' II was stated that where 

 a krRer auamw ™ ltl ^ ted under suitable conditions they would probably yield 



^«aad auen y than wi!d trees ; als ° that the rubber > from the g reater 



fae obtain a higher rice re ° eive ' would be m0re UQiform in quality, and there- 



^r bber ' althou 8h known since 179S, has onl 

 i>hL - I J yearS - k is y^Ided by climbing plants, 



PWtl of Ironical AfnW * n A ;/^_n°. *Lf ' 



xdrlTlL Smltmtnts - In Ce ylon such trees ^ 

 e a nrr r^Ki Wenty V°*nds or rubber per acre after mc t C „ ul ye* 

 tlemenfc ?uV e . turn of twem y P-rcent. on the capital invested. In the Straits 



Exhibitions and Meetings. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, April 26. 



Although somewhat crowded by reason of the multiplicity of exhibits, it was a 

 splendid display that was brought together on the above date at the Drill Hall, 

 Westminster. Daffodils and early hardy flowers of many kinds, azaleas and rhodo- 

 dendrons, roses in grand condition, ferns, gloxinias, dracaenas, orchids in variety, 

 fruits, and vegetables, were all presented in good condition and combined to make 

 up a most interesting exhibition. Novelties were fairly numerous, and there were 

 a few magnificent new orchids. 



Floral Committee. 



This body had a long sitting and much work to do. A charming collection 

 of roses came from Mr. George Mount, Canterbury, and was a great attraction, 

 for the blooms were all of the finest substance and size, well formed, beautifully 

 coloured, and on sturdy long stems; Catherine Mermet, Ulrich Brunner, Captain 

 Hayward, Niphetos, Anna Olivier, Caroline Testout, and The Bride, were the 

 varieties most fully represented. Altogether about ten dozen flowers were staged, 

 and none could be finer. A silver-gilt Banksian medal was awarded. Mr. 

 Rumsey, Joyning's Nursery, Wahham Cross, staged cut roses in quantity, showing 

 large boxes of good blooms of Niphetos and Marechal Niel, with Ulrich Brunner, 

 Ella Gordon, Caroline Testout, Mrs. Rumsey, and many others in lesser quan- 

 tities ; a roost fragrant exhibition, and one that gained a silver Banksian medal. 

 A magnificent lot of Marechal Niel roses came from Mr. J. Walker, Thame. 



Messrs. R. and G. Cuthbert, Southgate, put up some beautiful Mollis azaleas, 

 all represented by nicely-grown specimens. Nicholaa^ Beets, golden yellow ; 

 Anthony Koster, soft yellow ; General Vetter, large flowers, yellow with brown 

 markings ; Sebastopol, rosy fawn or salmon ; and Madame Anthony Koster, 

 creamy white with brown spots ; and J- J. de Vinck, were among the best of a 

 good set ; silver Banksian medal. Sir John T. D. Llewelyn, Penllergaer, 

 Swansea, showed a large number of trusses of handsome rhododendrons, all cut 

 from plants growing in the open air, and in shrubberies and woods ; there were 

 handsome bouquets of R. Thomsoni, and hybrids from it ; R. niveum, R. 

 oclivaccum, R. arboreum album, and R. campanulatum, in splendid form ; this 

 was a most interesting and instructive exhibit, and revealed to visitors the fine 

 climate of Penllergaer and the high standard of cultivation its owner maintains. 

 Mr. Fyte, gardener to Lord Wantage, Lockinge Park, sent a lovely lot of 

 Fortune's Yellow rose ; bronze Banksian medal. 



Messrs. Linden and Co., Brussels, set up a small group of extremely handsome 

 anthuriums, all scherzerianum forms or hybrids ; a variety named Beefeater was 

 remarkable lor its high colour, while My Love was notable for its clear pale pink 

 hue ; a silver Banksian medal was awarded. Celmesia Munroiand Azaleodendron 

 Edouard Andre were sent by Messrs. James Veitch and Sons. G. F. Wilson, 

 Esq., showed an assortment of blue primrose blooms ; also a deep violet purple 

 one, and some lovely crimson varieties from his Weybridge Gardens. Hardy 

 rhododendrons and a new hybrid polyantha rose with soft rose pink blooms, and 

 named Psyche, came from Mesrs. Paul and Son, Cheshunt, the same firm staging 

 f. B. M. Camm, a soft rose-coloured H. P. rose of good form. A pan of the 

 curious Lathrrea squammaria, a parasite, was sent by the Dowager Lady Bowman. 



An exhibit of anthuriums from Mr. Bain,'gardener to Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., 

 Burford Lodge, Dorking, contained large specimens of AJtriumphans, salmon pink ; 

 A alba, creamy white ; A. elegans, cream, spotted scarlet ; A. Rot hschildeanum 

 maximum, A. Lawrences, silvery white ; A. Andreanum, A. Laiogi, blush ; and 

 A. Perfection, a huge andreanum seedling. These fine aroids were greatly 

 admired, as they make most effective decorative plants when so well managed as 

 by Mr. Bain; silver Flora medal. Mr. Empson, gardener to Mrs. Wingfield, 

 Ampthill, Bedford, sent a magnificent specimen of Trillium grandiflorum albjm, 

 with probably a hundred of its beautiful blooms all expanded upon it. Messrs. 

 J. Peed and Sons put up a large semi-circular group of dracrenas of varied hues, all 

 well-grown plants, arranged over a bed of ferns and amid graceful palms ; all the 

 leading varieties were staged. A large cluster of blooms of the beautiful scarlet 

 Brownea Ariza, one of the finest of leguminous trees, was sent by Mr. F. Moore, 

 Glasnevin Botanic Gardens, Dublin. 



From Messrs. Paul and Son, Cheshunt, came a collection of early-flowering 

 hardy plants, mostly in pans; among the brightest were Geum Emodi, Caltha 

 mons'rosa, Saxifraga Lindisiana, Adonis vernalis, Trillium grandiflorum, Pul- 

 monaria arvenensis, Doronicum plantagineum excelsum, and Cheiranthes Harpur 

 Crewe ; Gerberi Jamesoni, with orange scarlet flowers, and the pretty Royal 

 Scarlet'Ro^e were both staged by the Cheshunt firm. Gloxinias from Messrs. J. 



variety lonn L,aing, nm — r vf. it Tt 



merited a silver Flora medal. A most interesting display came from Mr. H. B. 

 Mav Edmonton, and consisted of a group of gymaogrammxs, containing a great 

 iSnStS^n. P^ons, G. Liucheaoa, G. Allstoni, G. grandiceps supjba, 

 ^SL^SitSk with Celled and crested fronds; G. auratum, G. Mayi, 

 luSSJ SKSd?S $13SS* G. argenteo cristatum, G. Wettenhallianam 

 and G wruSa argyrophylla, the brightest *i ver form, were amon^ the best 

 ana Li. silver Flora medal. Mr. T. S. 



?Va^ a ^ a Sma " COll ?r ndoi"? 



vyare, riaic Anemone fulgens, Primula cortusoides, P. frondosa, F. 



plants inpotl £«dp»s , Anemone *Wg+^ condition. The firm also staged 



a ^ Andrew vill^ w Narcissus bulboco- • 



H-H^U t B M " Camm, Hofsdieldi. and large numbers of incomparabilis. 

 d T J >?« forms mxd; up a bright exhibit Some magnificent clusters of the 

 SSiSSSSSSSi *&ZZ*£ NuttalH were shown by Mr. Howe, gardens 

 hug wmtenowe Hill, and were greatly admired. Erythromums in 



/ £v w,« remarkably »cll shown by Messrs. R. Wal'ace and Co., 

 SA^^SlSSS?6ci« those who'have not already done so to culti- 



Vat To S^h^t'ure given during the afternoon Messrs. J. Veitch and 

 SonI sent a small collection of fragrant-leaved plants, such as eucalypti cape 

 pelargoniums, dio<mas, humea, prostranthnm, adenandra, &c From kew the 

 Director of the Royal Gardens sent a few sublets Jfor a similar purpose, these 



iWmdine the pimento, eucalypti, diosmas, pelargoniums, Myrtus communis, 

 including tne F . ^ g aQi and ^ Aq interesting exhibit 



SJafei^rfSSfew *»P <™». £3 * 11 -de in the West 



rnd es from dried palm frondage cut into patterns, fastened to light material, and 

 decorated with dried fern fronds ; small fronds of gymnogrammas and cheilanthei 

 wer- lamely used, and the effect was charming and elegant ; the exhibit was 

 made by Messrs Osman and Co., the horticultural sundriesmen of Commercial 

 S treet, and a silver Banksian medal was awarded it. 



Daffodils. 



A magnificent exhibit of daffodils came from Messrs. Barr and Sons, Covent 



