COMMONPLACE NOTES. 



261 



COMMONPLACE NOTES. 



Clematis Stems Splitting. 



Mr. Chittenden, Hon. Sec. Scientific Committee, writes : 



" I find that some years ago (1899 I think) a discussion took place in 

 the 1 Deutsche G artner Zeitung ' on a disease of clematis which from the 

 account given seems to agree well with the appearance of the piece of 

 split stem recently brought to the Scientific Committee. In the course 

 of that discussion Dr. Sorauer stated that no fungi or bacteria were 

 present as a direct cause, but that he considered the trouble was brought 

 about by too much nourishment, too much water, and at times heat, 

 although occasionally frost seemed to have injured the plants. He 

 thought that well-drained land, a soil not too rich, and partial shade 

 would prove effective remedies for the trouble. 



" Messrs. Goos and Koenemann consider that the large fleshy roots of 

 the clematis have the power of absorbing large quantities of water. 

 Owing to this, after heavy rains greater amounts of water are sent into 

 the woody parts than they are able to take, thereby bursting the cells in 

 such parts where the pressure becomes too great. They think that with 

 good drainage and rich soil strong runners will be produced, when the 

 plant will be able to carry off any sudden flush of water. 



" Another cultivator, this time in Austria, found that weak liquid 

 manure acted as a stimulant to the plant and prevented any further 

 trouble with the disease. 



" The methods of treatment seem at first contradictory, but they 

 apparently tend to ensure that the plant shall not absorb more water 

 than it is able to make use of." 



PSIDIUM OR GUAVA. 



Novelties in fruits or vegetables, if of any merit, are always more or less 

 in demand, and although the cultivation of theguava in this country is by 

 no means new, it is more novel or rare than one would imagine, considering 

 how easy it is to grow, and how well it fruits. Possibly one reason it is so 

 seldom seen is that it is looked upon as a stove plant, requiring a good 

 deal of heat all the year round, but it will grow and fruit freely in a house 

 that is allowed to become comparatively cool during the winter months. 

 The Rev. W. Wilks grows it remarkably well at Shirley Vicarage in a cool 

 house, and the fruit is of a distinct and pleasing flavour. The variety Mr. 

 Wilks has is Psidium Guava, or the pale-yellow fruited variety, of globose 

 shape, and the size of a fair-sized gooseberry. The tree will grow from 

 five to ten feet high, and is of bushy habit. 



P. Cattleyanum is a larger-growing variety, and many years ago two 

 large plants were growing in lofty vineries at a gentleman's seat in 

 Derbyshire. While the vines were at rest the temperature was often as 



