336 
CONTEMPORARY WRITINGS. 
hedge ; pot the suckers or offsets in light, rich, 
soil, in four-inch pots ; head tbem down to 
within four inches of the surface of the soil, 
and immediately ingraft an olive scion, six 
inches long, on the stock, so that part of the 
scion is above the stock and a part below it ; 
the latter portion is inserted in a small bottle 
filled with water. Tie the scion and stock 
tightly together with bass, and put a little moss 
over the top, instead of clay ; then plunge them 
in a cucumber frame, where they quickly be- 
come united. Stocks grafted in spring make 
handsome plants by autumn, and flower early 
in the following spring. The olive, worked 
on privet stocks, produces flowers much larger 
and sooner than when propagated from cut- 
tings, suckers, or layers. The method deserves 
to be more generally adopted, because less 
wood and more flowers are produced. 
Maize or Indian Corn. — By the following 
treatment good samples of maize, plump and 
well ripened, were grown in this country dur- 
ing 1846 : — To obtain new seed is of the first 
importance. The Novia Scotia variety, which 
is that generally recommended, was the kind 
grown. The ground was prepared in the early 
part of winter by manuring and rough dig- 
ging ; lines were drawn three feet apart, and, 
at a distance of three feet apart along these 
lines, four holes about three inches from each 
other were dibbled, into each of which a grain 
was dropped. The patches of plants thus 
ranged in squares three feet distant. The 
seed was sown in the first week in April, which 
in ordinary seasons is at least a fortnight too 
late. When the plants were two inches high, 
the ground was carefully hoed, and this opera- 
tion was repeated several times, both to assist 
the plants, and to cleanse the ground. In 
September the bloom-stalk at top was cut off, 
and the loose leaves were removed to give the 
corn the benefit of as much sun as possible. 
In three or four weeks from this it was ripe 
enough to cut. The general appearance of 
the plot was not inferior to what may 
occasionally be seen even in the United 
States. This plan was practised in the county 
of Surrey, and the result was very successful. 
The maize, even when not grown for the sake 
of its ripe grain, furnishes, when the ears or 
heads of corn are cut in the green state, a very 
excellent vegetable for boiling. To bring it 
to this state there is no risk whatever, for 
after the ears are cut, the whole of the re- 
mainder is excellent food for cattle and for 
pigs. 
Poisoning by Parsnips. — M. Buehner 
quotes several cases of narcotic effects caused 
by the use of parsnip ( Pastinaca sativa) 
having been observed since 1829. It would 
appear that the root of the parsnip in the first 
year produces no injurious effects ; after the 
winter, however, as the formation of wood 
goes on, and the plant blossoms, it acquires 
poisonous qualities. M. Buehner directs at- 
tention to the fact that the celery also is some- 
times productive of narcotic symptoms, and is 
of opinion that the latter case occurs only 
with the root dug out the second year. He 
finally adds that it seems, as a consequence, that 
the water hemlock ( Cicuta virosa) may be 
less virulent the first year of its existence, 
previous to forming stalks, flowers, and 
fruits. 
Camellia, Countess of Orkney. — This is 
a seedling raised by Mr. Nicholson, gardener 
to the Earl of Orkney, at Taplow ; it is a 
vigorous growing variety, with good foliage 
and large flowers of a blush-white ground, 
striped with two shades of rose ; the four 
outer rows of petals are broad and well formed, 
and, in the fresh opened blossoms somewhat 
cupped, filled out in the centre with smaller 
petals ; in the older flowers these outer petals 
become reflexed. It is a distinct and showy 
variety; but hardly full enough of petals. 
Vermin in Hothouses. — Most people are 
aware that woodlice, earwigs, slugs, &c, are 
very destructive in hothouses. A visitor to 
Mr. Van Houtte's establishment, at C' ; '°.nt, 
recently noticed his freedom from these pt'sts, 
and on inquiry as to the means employed to 
keep the plants free, his attention was directed 
to a pretty lizard which basked its scales in a 
sunbeam, to some Carabi aurati which ran 
with agility among the pots, and to several of 
those innocent blindworms against which the 
peasants in their ignorance wage such dread- 
ful war. The mystery was cleared up ; 
two or three blindworms, as many lizards, 
several carabi — and there is no more 
harm to befeared from these pests in our hot- 
houses. 
To Cook Vegetable Marrow. — Have a 
gallon saucepan more than half full of boiling 
water : one minute before putting in the mar- 
row, throw in a tea-spoonful of salt, and half 
a one of carbonate of soda. Cut the marrow 
into four parts lengthways, always without 
peeling it; if small, they need only be halved; 
if large, divide each quarter transversely. 
Put them quickly into the water, keeping it 
rapidly boiling all the time ; they will take 
from a quarter to half an hour, according to 
age and kind. While the marrow is boiling, 
make about a third of a pint of melted butter, 
and a round of toast ; cut off the crust, dip 
the toast in the water they are boiling in, 
lay it in the dish, and pepper it slightly. 
When the marrow is done, take it up carefully 
with a fish slice, lay it on the toast, pepper 
it well, and pour the butter over it. It should 
be served up as hot as possible. Prepared thus 
it is delicious. 
