JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
270 
this locality is not to interfere with the trees until he can definitely 
ascertain what prospect he has of a good crop, and then to disbud 
and thin both foliage and fruit. This leaves the experienced 
grower a larger margin and wider direction in the distribution of 
what he is going finally to allow to remain, always excepting 
outward-growing shoots that cannot be utilised. Late thinning 
and disbudding is open to the objection that the tree is exhausted 
by so much as must finally be removed. Would some experienced 
grower state what practice he recommends, and why, for sash- 
covered wall Peaches?—W. J. M., Clonmel. 
THE EFFECTS OF ELECTRICITY ON VEGETATION. 
(Continued from page 148.) 
Mildew. —It is the general belief that fungoid growths arise 
from minute spores or germs conveyed by and deposited from the 
atmosphere, wherein they are said to abound, and consequently 
to be ubiquitous—existing in everything and everywhere—ready 
at all times to spring into growth whenever and wherever the 
required condition needed for their development shall present 
itself. Whether this be the case or not thera is no need for us now 
to inquire ; but one point is certain—we have in the Fern case and 
the Cress seed experiment previously alluded to (p. 266, last vol.) 
an unquestionable explanation of what that condition is. The 
seed in contact with the positive electrode, being rendered electro¬ 
positive, was thereby made to absorb and combine with the oxygen 
constituting the negative “ ion,” and thus forming an oxygenated 
carbon compound, for which there being no legitimate growth 
through the absence of a negative eliminating power, the cellular 
formation becomes differentiated into another character of non- 
eliminated growth—namely, the fungus mycelium. In the Fern 
case the confined air was also rendered negative instead of its 
normally positive condition, and the consequence was the whole 
atmosphere within became choked with fungoid growths accom¬ 
panied by their peculiar Mushroom odour. Now the chief point 
to be remarked is this, that as soon as the atmosphere was restored 
to its normal electro-positive state the fungi speedily dried up and 
disappeared. From this fact we have indisputable proof that a 
negative atmosphere is an absolutely indispensable condition for 
the fructification of mildew and other fungi. It fully accords 
with all other known facts bearing on the subject, such as the 
exposure of mouldy articles to the air and the thorough ventilation 
of cellars, &c.; whilst sulphur and lime, absorbing the oxygen, 
arrest the action of mildew. 
The part recognised as the Mushroom, being only an outcrop 
from the creeping mycelium, and requiring a special condition of 
the atmosphere for its development, and this being so different 
from the ordinary treatment required for flowering plants, it is 
not at all to be wondered at that, in the absence of any knowledge 
of what these conditions are, their cultivation should not be more 
uniformly successful. With regard to the atmosphere, the line of 
demarcation separating the electro-positive air from the negative 
surface of the earth is not at any particular fixed spot, but varies 
according to circumstances. It has been pointed out that plants 
in a dry state are almost non-conductors of electricity, but that 
they are made conductors by being filled with moisture. The 
same rule applies to both the air and the earth. If the surface of 
the soil be dry it carries the air-contact down to where it meets 
with a damper stratum. On the other hand, if the surface be 
saturated with moisture and the air be not in motion but stagnant, 
it extends the earth’s negative electric state some way up into the 
air so as to have a zone of negative atmosphere immediately over- 
lying the earth’s surface. Now it is in this stratum of stagnant 
negative air that Mushrooms and other fungi luxuriate. We have 
an apt illustration of this fact in the readiness with which Mush¬ 
rooms can be cultivated in damp cellars, and in the abundance 
annually produced in the caves of the quarries in the neighbour¬ 
hood of Paris. To imitate these conditions is, then, the first point 
to be considered in their artificial production. To have a pit 
1 or 2 feet at least below the level of the surface, and to have this 
enclosed so as to prevent too much disturbance of the atmosphere 
either by sun or wind ; any ventilation to be high up, and prefer¬ 
ably at the west or north-west side or corner. When growing 
abroad naturally in grass pastures, Mushrooms and other allied 
forms are mostly to be found in tufts of grass as high or higher 
than themselves, these preserving the damp negative atmosphere 
from being dispersed ; but artificially this duty is performed by the 
layer of straw usually had recourse to ; but it may be questioned 
whether some other more suitable material, either living or dead, 
could not be found. Then, again, it is not by any means impro¬ 
bable but that some foreign substance, such as decaying Oak roots, 
perhaps, or other material scattered on the surface of the bed 
might facilitate the production of the something like ganglionic 
[ April 7, 1881. 
nuclei from which the fructification developes. These are both 
worth consideration and trial. In reference to liquid manuring, 
it is highly probable that those solutions which favour the pro¬ 
duction of mildew will be beneficial in keeping sufficient dampness 
in both soil and air. Almost all manures are remarkable for 
being diliquescent, or turning wet from exposure ; and hence they 
owe a great part of their beneficial effects to the power of attract¬ 
ing moisture to the soil and air, and other part to their chemical 
changes exciting polar action. It should be kept in mind that a 
positive condition means dryness or a drying-up, whilst the negative 
state implies a uniform dampness or absence of drought. Thus, 
if Apples or Pears be kept in an attic or hayloft surrounded by a 
positive atmosphere, they will soon wither and shrivel up ; whereas 
let them be placed on the floor of a shed or other position con¬ 
nected with the earth by conducting materials, and they will 
retain their plumpness to the last. The only possible drawback 
in this situation is their proneness to decay and mould, which now 
brings us to the next most important subject—namely, ventilation, 
which I will refer to in a future issue.—W. K. Bridgman. 
(To be continued.) 
CAMELLIAS AT WALTHAM CROSS. 
During the past month Messrs. William Paul & Son have 
exhibited several large collections of Camellia blooms at Ken¬ 
sington, Regent’s Park, and elsewhere, which have, as usual, 
attracted the attention and admiration of hundreds of visitors. 
Not only have the varieties represented been numerous and well 
selected, but the blooms have been generally of good size and 
excellent form, thus indicating the large extent of the collection 
and the care bestowed on their culture. The favourable opinion 
formed by inspecting the cut blooms exhibited is fully supported 
by a visit to the nursery where they are grown, for there 
plants of all ages and sizes from the latest “ worked ” batch 
to large and handsome specimens are found in the most satis¬ 
factory condition, vigorous growth, rich dark green foliage 
and abundant blooms producing a most pleasing display. One 
large span-roof house over 100 feet long is entirely devoted 
to specimens in pots, from which many thousands of blooms are 
cut in the course of the season ; and yet about a week ago, so 
numerous were the flowers still open and expanding, that it seemed 
scarcely possible some of the plants could bear more. In several 
instances the branches were even bending under the weight of the 
massive blooms. More than two hundred varieties are grown, a 
number of course far exceeding those required in any private 
garden, but intending purchasers are thus afforded the opportunity 
of selecting varieties in accordance with their particular tastes, as 
all the best forms in commerce are represented. Several good 
lists of Camellias have been published at various times in this 
Journal, but for the advantage of the many new readers who have 
not seen those selections and have not the time to visit Mr. Paul’s 
nursery I will briefly indicate the respective qualities of a few of 
the best varieties in flower on the day I was at Waltham Cross. 
White. —The old but exceedingly useful and beautiful alba, 
plena is too well known to need description, and the same may be 
said of jinibriata ; both are invaluable. Ninfa Egeria. —A handsome 
variety, with blooms of excellent shape, very full; petals of good 
substance, and pure white ; foliage rich dark green, and habit of 
plant good. This deserves to be much more extensively grovrn 
than it is at present. Compacta alba. —Flower neat, symmetrica], 
of good substance, and pure white. Montironi vera. —Pure 
white ; flowers large, full, and of excellent form. Comtessc de 
Mastiana.— A handsome symmetrical flower of good substance; 
white, occasionally tinted or flaked with rose. 
Red or Crimson. — Heine dcs Fleurs. —Flower of excellent 
form, full, and rich dark red in colour ; a useful variety. Bealii. 
—Bright crimson, beautiful flower ; very free, and one of the best 
in its class ; late. C. M. Honey. —Comparatively new ; large 
flower, of good form and bright crimson, with somewhat of a 
scarlet tint. Madame Lebois. —Flower beautifully imbricate ; fine 
light crimson, very free ; an excellent variety. Corallina. —Colour 
deep coral red ; flower moderately large. Chandler i. —Rich bright 
crimson ; flower large, sometimes with few white blotches ; very 
free in flowering. Exivica .—Flower of medium size and good 
shape ; colour rich crimson. 
Rose.— Marchioness of Exeter. — Very handsome. Flower large, 
well formed; petals broad, bright rosy pink. L' Avenir. — 
A useful and pretty variety ; flowers symmetrical, rosy pink. 
Elegans. —Flower full ; petals neatly imbricated, bright rose. 
Magnificent. —Pink ; flower large, petals broad and rounded, very 
profuse. Livia Boromeo. —Well-formed flower, rose, with a few 
white streaks. Baron de Vriere. —Peach colour ; flower large, of 
good form, streaked with white. 
