July 5, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
3 
Instead of three breaks, which is customary with plants 
grown without being cut down, five, six, and even more breaks 
are produced by the system recommended. I do not mean to 
suggest that it is always prudent to leave so many breaks as 
are produced. I have seen eight and ten grand flowers pro¬ 
duced on Queens and Empress of Indias, but it has been under 
very high cultivation. The Beverleys, Bundles, Lady Hardinge, 
Mrs. Shipman, and such varieties, will carry a dozen exhibition 
flowers. The crown buds must be taken after this treatment in 
most cases, yet in certain seasons some of the varieties, such as 
White Globe, come very quick, then the terminal bud must be 
chosen. 
The plants, after they have grown about half an inch, should 
be placed in their flowering pots, taking care to use good soil, as 
this has much to do with the success that attends skilled culti¬ 
vators, although no two men treat them exactly alike in this 
respect. I do not use artificial manures until the flowers show 
their colour. I have confined my remarks entirely to incurved 
varieties, as these have been under discussion. I will say 
something on Japanese on a future occasion, as a few re¬ 
marks on them now will not be unseasonable.— Grower and 
Exhibitor. 
PARAFFIN OIL IN VINERIES. 
I was glad to see your note of warning at the foot of the article 
headed as above in your Journal of June 21st. Too great caution 
cannot be exercised in recommending paraffin oil for use as an insecti¬ 
cide. In the hands of men fully acquainted with its power no doubt 
it proves of benefit in clearing off insect pests ; but where its appli¬ 
cation has to be trusted to persons who either have not the knowledge 
or fail to exercise the requisite amount of caution there is great 
danger that disaster may follow its application. Even when much 
care had been taken to impress those who were trusted with the use 
of this oil when syringing, it has been found by the writer that failure 
to keep the paraffin thoroughly mixed with the water has occurred. 
When this happens something is sure to suffer. Unless the most 
stringent rules are laid down and carried out to the letter danger will 
always attend the use of paraffin, more especially.among enthusiastic 
amateurs, who, being troubled with some of the insects that annoy 
horticulturists, are eager to embrace any chance of easily ridding 
themselves of the pests. As in the case of painting the pipes with 
paraffin there is danger, so is there more or less danger attending the 
use of many insecticides, which are often freely recommended without 
a due amount of caution being given as regards their use. 
It should be borne in mind by all that the best insecticide is after 
all only a necessary evil to the plants to which it is applied. Fumi¬ 
gation is good and safe for many plants, but when too strong or when 
used to certain plants it proves disastrous. Sulphur is of use in 
checking the ravages of red spider. This, though disputed by some, 
I have proved to my own satisfaction, and it is safe when simply put 
on the hot-water pipes ; but I have heard of one case where igno¬ 
rance led to its being burnt in the vinery, with the result of bringing 
all the leaves off the Vines. This case happened when the gentleman 
simply told his gardener—who was not one in the highest ranks in 
knowledge and intelligence—that “ sulphur was recommended as 
good for killing red spider.'’ 
Most of the insecticides which are sold now-a-days require to be 
very carefully used, and a word of caution such as you have appended 
to the paraffin-painting receipt is very much required when they are 
likely to be used by anyone not well acquainted with their compo¬ 
sition and safe methods of application. “ There is nothing like 
personal experience,” some say, but it is a pity when evil is done by 
wrong applications of compositions which are capable of being used 
in such proportions and under such conditions as render them not 
hurtful but beneficial. Therefore all who possess the requisite know¬ 
ledge should freely impart it to others, giving words of warning when 
required, while words of commendation should in all cases be tempered 
with the most exact description of modes of application of insecti¬ 
cides and the quantities to be used. 
Such words of warning apply not only to insecticides but to many 
matters. A friend of mine, a keen amateur gardener, though not 
possessed of much skill or knowledge regarding the numerous sub¬ 
jects claiming the attention of the gardener, has suffered largely in 
his kitchen garden through the unduly large amount of guano he 
gave his vegetables in the form of a top-dressing. Another case 
came under my notice, where a fine lot of Vines suffered the 
loss of many of their leaves through the dressing the inside border 
with guano. The guano had been very heavily spread on the 
surface, then hoed-in and watered. Care had not been taken to cover 
it sufficiently with the earth, and in addition far too much had been 
u ed. Danger might sill have been averted had abundance of 
ventilation been provided, but this had not been done, the conse 
quence being great damage to the foliage. If it were always borne 
in mind that persons may use insecticides and manures who have 
not sufficient knowledge of their own to enable them to always escape 
disaster, writers recommending the use of various things would 
perhaps be more careful in giving exact details, and also words of 
warning. 
Vendors of patent manures and insecticides should also make it 
their aim to guard against all mistakes. When sufficient instructions 
and warnings have been given, then carelessness on the part of the 
persons using such things can be the only way in which disaster can 
happen.— Reader. 
BAUERA RUBIOIDES. 
It is surprising how many plants that possess far mire than 
ordinary attractions, and qualities suffinent to amply entitle them 
to the attention of cultivators, are allowed to remain in comparative 
obscurity, being only preserved as rarities in a few botanical col¬ 
lections. JBauera rubioides is one of these Deglected plants, which the 
following note and engraving are intended to bring a little more 
prominently into notice, for though it has now been in cultivation 
in a few gardens for abiut ninety years, it is very rarely seen, espe¬ 
cially in nurserymen’s collections. Yet the plant is of easy culture, 
floriferous in the extreme, the flowers being of a distinct form and 
Fig. 1.—BAUERA RUBIOIDES. 
pleas’ng deep rosy colour, the latter character alone being sufficient 
to recommend it strongly. The foliage, too, is pretty, the narrow 
dark-green leaves being arranged in whorls round the slender branches, 
resembling some of the Rubias, and not the Rubus, as was stated in 
the description accompanying the first coloured plate (an excellent 
one) in Andrews’ “Botanist’s Repository,” and subsequently corrected 
in 1801 by Dr. Sims in the “Botanical Magazine.” There is also 
some difference between the two above-named authorities respecting 
the introduction of the plant. Andrews states that it was “ first raised 
at the seat of the Marchioness of Rockingham, Hdlingdon, Middlesex 
in the year 1793.” Dr. Sims, however, states that it was first raised 
by Messrs. Grimwood & Wyke of Kensington. It was in the Kew 
collection early in this century, and is mentioned in Aiton’s “ Hortu3 
Kewensis ” as being originally from New Holland, introduced to this 
country by the Marchioness of Rockingham, thus corroborating or 
accepting Andrews’ account. 
The cultural requirements of this plant are few. A cool house such 
as a conservatory or greenhouse, or indeed a sheltered position out of 
doors in the southern counties, suit it well. Peat, a little turfy loam, 
and a small quantity of leaf soil form a good compost for it, draining 
the pots carefully and supplying water judiciously, as extremes are very 
