JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
358 
Government as firewood reserves, and the trees have grown up 
splendidly. The only drawback to the success of the experiment 
has been that the Acacia melanoxylon has been greatly injured 
by Loranthaceous parasites ; in fact, this species will apparently 
in course of time be exterminated by these indigenous pests. 
Besides Eucalyptus globulus the following species of the genus 
have also been introduced and thrive well:—E. sideroxylon, E. 
obliqua, E. fissilis, E. rostrata, E. viminalis, E. amygdalina, and 
E. perfoliata. In addition to the two species of Acacia already 
mentioned the following have also been added to the list of 
healthy-growing exotics on the Nilgiris—viz., A. pycnantha, A. 
salicina, A. longifolia, A. decurrens, A. cultriformis, A. elata, and 
others might also be enumerated. As regards other Australian 
plants on these hills we have Hakea, Banksia, Myoporum, Kunzea, 
Tristanea, Pittosporum, Beaufortia, &c. In short, there is a very 
considerable Australian flora flourishing on the 1 Blue Mountains ’ 
of Madras, and so extensively have the trees been planted out 
about the principal stations that they have given quite a new 
character to the scenery. Some of the Acacias have a consider¬ 
able resemblance in shape and colour to the Scotch Fir, and this 
likeness has, to some visitors, added a fresh charm to the beauties 
of the scenery.” 
EPIDENDRUM BICORNUTUM. 
Amongst the numerous species of Epidendrum there are many 
that are not really worth cultivating, though in such an extensive 
genus we might expect to find many species that would be worth 
a place in any Orchid collection. This is by no means the case, 
though a dozen good sorts could easily be found that would 
please most cultivators, and the one I have chosen for my subject 
should certainly be included. 
Epidendrum bicornutum is rarely seen even in large collections, 
and the reason is, that it is an Orchid which has baffled the skill of 
most growers to cultivate satisfactorily. It is undoubtedly the 
finest species of its genus, and in colour and general appearance 
it will bear comparison with Phalfenopsis amabilis ; it is a little 
smaller, but that is more than counterbalanced by the delicious 
perfume its flowers possess. The best way to grow it is in baskets 
suspended from the roof, or on pieces of Tree Fern stem. I have 
grown and flowered it under both systems, and if grown in baskets 
a compost of very fibry peat, moss, and charcoal should be em¬ 
ployed. The plant roots freely in its natural habitat, but is rather 
shy-rooting under cultivation. The plant is a native of the West 
Indian Islands, particularly Trinidad, consequently it requires 
the temperature of the East Indian house. Having a friend 
living in Trinidad, I wrote him for particulars with regard to 
where it was found and under what conditions, and, as it may 
interest some of the readers of the Journal, I will give his reply 
as I received it. He writes, “ With regard to your questions re¬ 
specting E. bicornutum, if I tell you how I collected it no doubt 
that will suffice. I went out one day last week, hired a boat to 
carry me to the Five Islands, a group of irregular size, standing 
at no great height out of the water, in one bend or basin of our 
harbour, which may be called rocks left after the severance of 
that part from the mainland by the encroaching influence of the 
sea. Bound these islands one can sail and soon load his boat by 
pulling the tufts off the ledges of the rocks or any cavity. It is 
subject to drenchings of water by the action of the waves, is 
generally fully exposed to the sun, and as it is surrounded by 
water the plant must be subject to heavy dews owing to the great 
variation in temperature of the land at night. I soon collected a 
load, though I am afraid they are too much advanced in growth 
for travelling.” 
By these remarks the readers of the Journal may easily perceive 
that the three most essential requirements of E. bicornutum are 
heat, exposure to sun, moisture, and a moderately low night tem¬ 
perature, and if these be carefully attended to it should make 
satisfactory progress. Any trouble bestowed on it will, I am con¬ 
vinced, well repay the cultivator, for when once seen the blooms 
cannot fail to be appreciated. The imported pseudo-bulbs average 
about 9 inches in length, they are hollow and of a dark brown 
colour inside. At the base of each there is a small cavity or 
opening, through which insects, and more particularly ants, find 
their way and make their nests in them.—W. K. 
THE BLACKjCURRANT. 
Since the publication of the notes on “ Fruit Growing for 
Market,” wherein Mr. Luckhurst refers to an article in vol. xix., 
page 97, of this Journal, the demand for that number has been so 
great that the whole of the issue has been sold ; and as many 
applicants have been disappointed in obtaining the number, we 
[ May 5, 1881. 
now by request reprint the article, which was communicated by 
Mr. Luckhurst in 1870. 
Of all the kinds of bush fruit grown for the markets, the Black 
Currant is undoubtedly the most profitable. Its easy cultivation, 
the vigour with which it grows in almost all soils, and its great 
fruitfulness are all points in its favour. It flourishes in the cold 
Wealden clay, in which but few other fruit trees will thrive, and it 
is considered" poor soil indeed in which the Black Currant will not 
grow ; nor is its crop so much affected by being shaded during its 
growth as that of other fruits would be, for most flourishing planta¬ 
tions of it may be seen growing around and under standard trees. 
But while all this may be said in its favour, it must also be granted 
that it is a gross-feeding plant, increasing in vigour in proportion to 
the quality of the soil, and it will well repay the fruit-grower for all 
the manure he can bestow upon it. Some little care is, however, 
necessary in regard to the way in which manure is applied; no 
practice can possibly be worse than to dig in manure in the way in 
which it is sometimes done, the fork going into the ground so deeply 
as to tear off quantities of the young roots, thus doing more harm 
than good. This deep culture may answer very well when the plants 
are young, but as they attain a larger size, and the roots gradually 
spread farther and farther, manure is best given as a top-dressing or 
in a liquid state. 
In propagating the Black Cun-ant it is a common practice to leave 
a clear stem of nearly a foot in length; now this is not only un¬ 
necessary, but is altogether a mistake, as it is impossible for such 
trees with their long stems to continue to produce such fine fruit as 
others, the branches of which spring from the ground erect and 
strong, and whose vigour and size is constantly increased by the 
sturdy suckers springing up and taking the place of the older wood. 
As an example of what can be done with such bushes, I may 
instance two fine rows of Black Currants growing in the gardens of 
the Earl of Bomney. These bushes are upwards of twenty years 
old; they were planted G feet apart, but have grown with such 
vigour that, notwithstanding the freedom with which they have con¬ 
stantly been pruned, they are now 5 feet high, and the side branches 
of every tree touch those of its neighbour. Nothing can exceed the 
robust appearance of these splendid bushes. The soil about their 
roots has not been disturbed for some years past, with the exception 
of being deeply hoed on the surface a few times in summer, in order 
to work-in the annual top-dressing of hotbed manure. In favourable 
seasons the fruit crop averages four gallons on each bush ; this year 
it will not be so good, as the crop has suffered from the late spring 
frosts. 
The sight of these large bushes, which from the vigour of their 
young growth appear likely to flourish for twenty years longer, and 
the large crops of fine fruit which they produce, are enough to set 
one thinking; and after making a calculation of the value of their 
produce at the rate of 4 d. per quart, as given by “ A Lancashire 
Subscriber,” in No. 470 of this Journal, so enormous is the total, 
and so much in excess of what it is customary to speak of, that one 
hardly likes to put it on paper. However, here are my facts, and I 
would ask all growers of fruit for profit to give them the notice they 
deserve. An acre of such trees planted 6 feet apart will contain 1210 
plants, and taking the crop at 4 gallons or 1G quarts per bush, at 4 d. 
per quart, we have the astounding sum of £322 13s. 4 d. per acre. 
Now, I do not pretend to say that an acre of Black Currants has ever 
produced such a crop, but here we have forty-two bushes growing 
side by side, the yield of which has been up to this average in every 
favourable season for some time past, and therefore there can be no 
reason why an acre, or many acres, of such trees should not be capable 
of producing some such desirable results. 
And this leads to the inquiry, Why is it that such fine Black 
Currant trees are not more frequently to be met with ? It may be 
that the answer is contained in the fact that the hardy and accom¬ 
modating nature of the Black Currant causes it generally to be 
planted in poor soil and in an equally bad situation, and so it is 
very rarely indeed that the requisite conditions are afforded to 
enable it to attain its fullest development. 
Now these conditions are few, simple, and easily understood. 
Large juicy fruit always commands the best sale. Such fruit is 
only produced on the young vigorous growth of the preceding year ; 
it must, therefore, be our aim to obtain an abundance of such wood 
by planting in a deep rich loam, by manuring freely, and by cutting 
away the old and thinning the young wood, so as to admit air and 
light. Such being the case, it must be admitted, that while no fruit 
tree is so useful as the Black Currant for planting in poor soil, yet 
none thrives better or yields such rich returns when enjoying the 
advantages of a good soil and generous treatment. 
SOLANUM VENUSTUM. 
This beautiful plant deserves to become better known in the 
horticultural world, as it merits a place in any stove for training 
to the roof, and then its fine pendulous panicles of soft lavender 
or mauve-coloured flowers can be seen to the best advantage. 
When in good condition it somewhat resembles Petnea volubilis, 
especially after the calyxes of the latter have fallen ; and it is also 
suggestive of its ally, Solanum jasminoides, which, however, 
thrives in cooler quarters. Its treatment is simple ; a good turfy 
