124 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 14, 1884. 
Melocactus COMMUNIS, Linh and Otto .—“ "Who can but marvel at tbe 
care and singular workmanship shown in this Thistle ?” wrote old G-erarde 
in his “ Herbal],” 250 years ago, and the question might be re¬ 
peated at the present day with equal point. It is, indeed, much more 
peculiar than beautiful, but it is interesting historically as one of the 
earliest known members of the family. Most of the early English writers on 
plants notice it, and the author named above gives a particularly good 
engraving, showing the cap and spines very clearly. He terms it Melo- 
caxduus Echinatus, the Hedgehog Thistle, and says concerning it, “ This 
admirable Thistle groweth upon the cliffes and gravelly grounds neere unto 
the sea side in the islands of the West Indies, called St. Margarets and St. 
John’s Isle, neere unto Puerto Rico, and other places in these countries, by 
the relation of divers travellers that have journied into these parts who 
have brought me the plant itself with his seed, the which would not grow in 
my garden by reason of the coldnesse of the clymate.” It was thus intro¬ 
duced early in the seventeenth century, but some time elapsed before it was 
generally known. Parkinson described it in his “ Theater of Plantes,” lG40,as 
“ Melocarduus Americanus,” and gives a figure very similar to G-erade’s. Bay 
also fully describes it in his “ Historia Plantarum,” 1G86, and states that it 
was then cultivated by Bishop Compton at Fulham. In Bradley’s “ Works of 
Nature,” 1739, a small figure is given, and he mentions having seen speci¬ 
mens in the Eoyal Gardens, Hampton Court, and in the Physic Garden at 
Amsterdam. Miller grew plants of the species and several varieties at 
Chelsea, and it was included in the Hew collection of 1811. 
Turk’s Cap, Englishman’s Head, and Pope’s Head are some of the popular 
names that have been applied to this plant, all referring to the peculiar 
crown on the summit of the stem, a character by which it is easily recognised. 
It is found in several of the West Indian Islands, particularly on the island 
of St. Kitts, where it grows in large quantities in barren rocky districts. It 
is also found on the mainland, and specimens exceeding a yard in diameter 
are not uncommon, some being reputed to he two or three hundred years old. 
In places w'here it abounds the mules and other cattle are said to eat the 
plants after removing the spiny outer portion with their hoofs, as the fleshy 
substance of the stem affords a welcome supply of moisture. As grown in 
this country, the stems are from 12 to 18 inches high and about a foot in 
diameter, with from twelve to twenty ridges 1 inch to 1^ inch deep, conical 
in shape, and bearing clusters of eight or nine spines quarter to 1 inch long, the 
centre one being erect, and the clusters an inch apart. The flowers are 
about 1 inch long, large tubular, and rosy red, somewhat suggestive of some 
of the small-flowered Fuchsias; these are followed by red oblong fruits 
resembling those of the Mamillaria.-. 
The seeds are small, and in germinating produce two very minute coty¬ 
ledons at the base of a globular fleshy stem. There have been overlooked by 
some botanists, and the plant regarded as a monocotyledon. In Decandolle’s 
“Vegetable Organography” a figu'e is given showing the true form of a 
young s.edling with the diminutive cotyledons at the base of the plumule or 
gemule. 
Numerous varieties have been named and described, such as macrocephalus, 
oblongus,.conicus, acicularis, spinosior, magnisulcatus, and others, the names 
of which indicate the leading characters, but seedlings seem to vary so much 
that these names are not of much value. 
The engraving (fig. 24) is a reduced representation of a plant of M. 
communis, showing one of the conical type, and one-sixth the natural size; a 
flower is also given of the full size.— Lewis Castle. 
(To be continued.) 
DEATH OF MR. ALEXANDER IIONEYMAN. 
Our readers will be prepared for the event that it is our melancholy 
duty to announce—namely, the death of our talented correspondent 
“ Single-handed,” which occurred after a painful illness on Sunday last 
at West Brighton, Sussex. On a future occasion we hope to publish a 
portrait of this estimable man, and give some particulars of his career; 
at present we insert the following letter, by his especial wish and in his 
exact words—his last words to ourselves and our readers. It is a noble 
yet pathetic communication that would be weakened by any comment 
at the present time. 
A LONG FAREWELL. 
“SINGLE-HANDED’S” LAST COMMUNICATION TO THE EDITORS AND 
READERS OF THE JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE. 
Dying! —for his medical advisers tell him his last chance has failed. 
It is hard. Only thirty-three. Life only beginning. My sun just rising. 
Doors of usefulness opening everywhere—radiant promises beaming, when 
the King comes! 
I had hoped and worked to be second to no practical man in Britain, and 
the first in science. I had hoped to revolutionise gardening in the coming 
years, and on a scientific base to move it up. But for me the fight is ended. 
It is hard; but I have all along been used to hardness, and can lay down 
my begun work even with a smile at the vanity of human things. 
But one thing no philosophy can help me in. There nothing can temper 
the grief that consumes me, and that is leaving penniless, helpless, a poor 
wife and five little ones. Ob, my pets! my bairns! Five hundred miles 
from friends, and all I had saved for them swallowed in my year-and-a-half’s 
illness and idleness. I can write no more : strength fails : reason swims. 
Farewell for ever! 
In reference to the last paragraph, Mr. Wright desires to add that by 
the responses of generous hearts he hopes to meet the immediate and 
pressing wants of the bereaved family. He has received several sums 
during the week, which he has acknowledged privately where addresses 
were given, and a valued contribution of £2 3s. is announced through 
Mr. Bardney from the Committee of the Liverpool Horticultural 
Association, which calls for public acknowledgment. “ A Stranger,” 
“ W. B., Rothbury and a “Working Gardener,” are also thanked for 
their aid. In accordance with the wishes of many who have helped, a 
subscription list will not be published, but the amount raised and 
handed to Mrs. Honeyman will be announced in the course of a week 
or two, and in the meantime Mr. Wright will take charge of any further 
sums that may arrive at our office. 
The remains of Mr. Honeyman will be interred at 2.30 this day 
(Thursday) at the Hove New Cemetery, Brighton. 
CULTURE OF THE BOUVARDIA. 
The Bouvaraia is one of the most useful winter-blooming 
plants we have, for the same specimens may be kept continually 
in flower from October till April, as the plants can be brought 
on in two or three batches. After the plants have flowered they 
are placed in a lower temperature and gradually dried so as to 
give them a thorough rest. They should then be cut back to 
the ripened wood and placed in heat. If they are syringed once 
or twice a day they will soon commence growing vigorously, 
and cuttings may be taken, but not with a heel of the old wood 
attached; only use the young soft growths, inserting them in 
well-drained pots. The soil should consist of two parts of leaf 
soil, one of loam, with a liberal addition of silver sand, and 
half an inch depth of this latter on the surface. After the 
cuttings are inserted give a thorough watering and place them 
in a close propagating frame, where they will soon root if 
properly attended to as regards shading and moisture. After 
they have rooted and grown a little pinch out the points, and 
when they have started again place them singly in small pots, 
using the same soil as the above. Keep the plants in the same house 
until established, when they may be removed to one of an inter¬ 
mediate temperature and growm steadily on, pinching out the 
points as required to make them bushy. They should not be 
allowed to become root-bound before repotting, which should be 
this time into 48-size pots. The soil may then consist of two 
parts fibry loam, one of leaf soil, and one of well-decayed cow 
manure, w r ith a liberal addition of sand. 
At the commencement of June place the plants in a cool 
frame, removing the lights on warm nights to gain the benefit 
of the dews and warm showers. The stopping should be regu¬ 
lated according to the time they are required in bloom. After 
the plants have filled the pots with roots a few may be repotted 
if large specimens are required, and the rest supplied with weak 
liquid manure, Clay’s fertiliser, or Standen’s manure, shading 
them slightly during very bright and hot weather. It is a 
great mistake to allow them to remain in the frame too long. 
By the first or second week in September they should be trans¬ 
ferred to a house, and at the end of the month a batch may be 
introduced into an intermediate temperature for early blooming. 
The others can be placed in heat as required, but the temperature 
for the later batches should not be allowed to fall below 50°. 
Some recommend planting Bouvardias out in the open air and 
in frames, but I think the system has little to recommend it. 
As regards varieties, those of the Yreelandii type are the most 
useful, but Bridal Wreath and jasminoides are not to be despised, 
or the new doubles. Some prefer Humboldti corymbiflora, being 
the largest flower, but if this is grown it must not be pinched 
late, or the result will be few or no flowers.—A. Yohng. 
MIXING PETROLEUM WITH WATER. 
It may not be generally known that petroleum maybe used as an 
insecticide rendered soluble in water to any degree of strength 
required by a very simple process, it merely being necessary to expose 
Gishurst compound previously cut into fine slices, and petroleum 
separately to the action of several degrees of frost for a few hours, 
and then pouring the oil on the compound and stirring vigorously; 
the oil w'll cause a vapour to arise, in fact to melt the Gishurst while 
in a frozen state. I herewith send you a sample of the compound 
and oil, united in the manner above described twelve months ago. I 
have kept it so long to ascertain if the oil would revert to its former 
state, but you will perceive that the blend is a fixed one, and that 
boiling water has merelj r to be poured on from 1 to 4 ozs. to obtain 
what I know from experience to be one of the most efficient and 
cheapest insecticides known. I find it certain death to all insects it 
comes in contact with, while harmless to the most tender foliage, and 
the oil being equally distributed and held in solution by the Gishurst, 
the advantages of the united and well-known excellence of both can 
w r ell be imagined. 
Asa winter dressing for Vines, Peach, and other trees Gishurst 
has few rivals, and petroleum none. The difficulty with the latter 
has been to trust its use to a careless or indifferent person. In careful 
hands warm soapsuds answered very well, but still the danger 
remained, but now with the aid of our friend a child may be trusted 
to use it to any extent or for any purpose. 
I have sent this method of uniting the two insecticides to the 
manufacturers of Gishurst compound, as I hope they will prepare it 
and introduce it in different strengths for different purposes, as it will 
