JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 13,18S3. 
6U 
will rise before your eyes. Adventurers who have been attracted to 
Borneo with the hopes that an unknown country might prove itself an 
El Dorado, finding themselves face to face with forests that appear im¬ 
penetrable, to clear which would require considerable capital, are some¬ 
what disappointed. Visitors who have only seen the coasts of Borneo, 
being appalled by the magnitude of its jungles and swamps of Mangrove, 
pronounced it a worthless wilderness of vegetation. North Borneo, as 
seen from the deck of a ship, is, in the main, one dense forest, covering 
fiat or gently undulating ground. Between this mass of green and the 
ocean a strip of sand of dazzling whiteness forms a beach. Here and 
there a bluff of sandstone or a hummock-shaped hill crops up, while far 
in the interior, from many points, you see the rugged head of the pre¬ 
cipitous Kiui Balu, a mountain some 13,000 feet in height. At the 
principal settlements in North Borneo—of which there are two, Kudat 
and Elopura—paths have been cut through the forests. By walking 
along these a visitor easily obtains an idea of Bornean vegetation, which, 
in the phraseology of the residents, is spoken of as “ jungle.” That easily 
penetrable forests, consisting of magnificent trees, averaging from 100 to 
150 feet in height, capped with bush-like heads, which shut out the sun 
from Ferns and Palms which grow beneath them, should be called 
“jungles” is certainly calculated to create wrong impressions. These 
forests may be bought up at the rate of 1 dol. per acre. To fell and clear 
them costs about 12 dols. per acre. The hardness of the wood renders 
felling a difficult operation. After ground has been cleared it may be 
planted with Coffee, Tea, Sugar, Cocoa, Pepper, Tobacco, Plantains, and a 
variety of other tropical fruits. From the estimates which have been 
made of the cost of buying, clearing, and planting land it would seem 
that a settler possessing a capital of £2000 ought after his fii'st year’s 
iresidence to be in receipt of a handsome income .—(The Times.) 
LYSIMACHIAS. 
A short time ago, at one of the meetings of the Lancashire Botanists’ 
Association in Manchester, I noticed on the table of specimens for naming 
>and discussing a spray of the old but now rare and little known Lysimachia 
«tricta. It was contributed by our esteemed member, Mr. Jas. Percival, of 
Smithy Bridge near Rochdale, ■who grows it in his garden. The fact of 
seeing this unexpected member of the genus reminded me of others which 
I have grown, and a few notes of reference to the more important of them 
may prove of interest to some readers of our Journal. Several species are 
but little known in general collections, though possessing considerable value 
•as garden plants, and for this reason they are well worth attention. 
Lysimachia clethroides (Duby).—This Japanese species is one of the 
handsomest and latest introductions. The date of its introduction appears 
to be somewhat obscure. I recollect it nine years ago, at which time it was 
regarded as new to British gardens. Possiblv some reader of the Journal 
can give a little information regarding its introduction. Stems smooth, 
simple, 2 to 3 feet high, terminating in a dense raceme of white flowers, 
■which are scarcely half an inch across. Racemes 5 to 6 inches long, slightly 
curved or inclined at the apex. Leaves 4 to 5 inches long, alternately 
arranged, smooth, distinctly stalked, usually broadly lanceolate, but are very 
variable in outline. It commences to bloom about the end of July, and 
continues throughout August to September. This plant proved one of the 
most striking objects in the corridor here during the latter part of summer. 
I have just planted out a dozen strong self-sown seedlings, some of which I 
expect to flower next summer. Although it may be increased rapidly by 
•division in autumn or cuttings in spring, it appears as yet uncommon in 
gardens. The first plant which came to my notice in the neighbourhood 
cf Manchester was from the garden of a working-man botanist in 
Lancashire. 
L. Ephemerum (Linn.).—Stems 2 go 3 feethigh, simple, erect, terminating 
in a dense raceme of small white flowers. Leaves linear-lanceolate, sessile. 
Blooms from July to September. A native of southern Europe. It is the 
most common of the white-flowered species, and a most desirable plant. 
L. vulgaris (Linn.).—The most common of the erect-growing species in 
gardens, and apparently at home in all soils and situations. This is abun¬ 
dantly evident from the fact that it is found in the majority of small town 
gardens in Manchester. For moist places in the wild garden this is an 
indispensable plant. It is an erect branching plant 2£ to 3 feet in height, 
and is more or less downy throughout. Leaves usually in whorls of three 
or four, furnished with black glandular dots, broadly lanceolate to nearly 
ovate, very shortly stalked; those of the branches usually in pairs. Flowers 
generally in much-branched leafy panicles, yellow, and more than half an 
inch in diameter ; more cup-shaped than rotate. It is found occasionally in 
a wild state in Britain on shady banks and the borders of streams, and in 
similar places in continental Europe and northern Asia, and the fact of its 
reappearing in temperate Australia is a very marked example of the irregu¬ 
larity in the distribution of certain plants. 
L.punctata (Linn.).—This is allied to L. vulgaris, but of dwarfer stature, 
1 to foot in height. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, slightly stalked, opposite 
or whorled. Pedicels usually one-flowered, rarely branched, and confined to 
the axils of the stem-leaves. Flowers yellow, fringed with minute glandular 
hairs. Central and south-eastern Europe, and is said to exist in a wild state 
in Devon. 
L. ciliata (Linn.).—Stem erect, unbranched, to 2 feet high and glabrous. 
Leaves 3 to 4 inches in length, ovate-lanceolate, cordate, with prominently 
ciliated petioles three-quarters to 1 inch in length. Flowers about the size 
cf those of vulgaris, but flatter, more rotate, and of a paler yellow colour ; 
•slightly cernuous, disposed in pairs on long slender pedicels which spring 
from short stems or peduncles borne in the axils of the leaves, which are, I 
should have said, oppositely arranged. In the upper part of the plant this 
peduncle is wanting, and the slender pedicels spring directly from the axils 
cf the leaves. A North American species, flowering in June and July. 
L. verticillata (M. Bieb.).—This is one of the dwarfest of the erect-growing 
forms, but not the least in importance. It makes dense little bushes a foot 
or little more in height, and is admirably suited for a place towards the 
front part of the herbaceous border. Stem simple, densely furnished with 
leaves. Leaves in whorls of four, the lower one3 broadly ovate, the margins 
ciliate; petioles half an inch long, the upper ones ovate-lanceolate, with 
shorter petioles to almost sessile. The whole plant, especially the stems 
and petioles, densely pubescent. Flowers yellow, half an inch in diameter, 
on slender stalks three-quarters of an inch long, usually in whorls of eight, 
except the upper ones, which contain a less number and the leaves much 
reduced. Thus the terminal whorled raceme is seen to the best advan¬ 
tage. A native of eastern Europe. 
L. capitala (Ph.).—Like the preceding this is a low-growing species, and 
is one of the earliest to bloom, expanding its blossoms about May and 
remaining gay till July. Stems simple and spotted. Leaves opposite, 
sessile, lanceolate-acuminate, spotted. Flowers yellow, in compact heads, 
suggestive of its specific title. North America. 
L. stricta .—An erect, slender, and much-branched species, H foot high, 
the main stem terminating in an erect raceme of small yellow flowers, the 
whole plant quite smooth. Leaves opposite, lanceolate, those of the main 
stem 2 h to 3 inches long. Branch leaves small, not more than half the size 
of the others. One of the most distinct species. A native of North America, 
and flowers in July and August. 
L. longifolia (Ph.).—This is strikingly remote in its general characteristics 
from all the foregoing, and a very desirable species. The whole plant is 
glabrous. Stem erect, to 2 feet high, and much branched. Leaves 
linear, pointed, 3 to 4 inches in length. Flowers yellow, over half an inch 
across, in terminal and lateral umbels of four or five, springing from a more 
or less dense tuft of small linear and pointed leaves ; corolla segments 
serrulate; pedicels slender, 1 to Hinch in length. A North American species, 
and flowers in July and August. 
L. lanceolata (Walt.)—This uncommon and greatly interesting North 
American species is allied to longifolia, but the leaves are shorter, more 
lanceolate than linear, and less taper-pointed. Flowers yellow, and disposed 
similar to those of longifolia, but with shorter pedicels. Flowers from July 
to September. 
L. davurica (Willd.).—A little-known well-marked species from Siberia. 
Stem simple or slightly branched, foot high. Leaves glabrous, opposite, 
sessile, narrowly lanceolate, glaucous beneath. Flowers yellow, more 
campanulate than flat, in terminal, simple, or more or less branched panicles. 
Produces its flowers from July to September. A most desirable species, and 
well adapted for growing in swampy ground or as a sub-aquatic. 
L. thyrsiflora .—A native plant only occasionally met with under culti¬ 
vation, undoubtedly on account of its being a plant requiring a swampy 
place or the margin of a pond or ditch where to grow. It is so desirable a 
plant as to fully deserve a place being prepared for it in the absence of a 
natural pond or swamp. A strange-looking species 1 to 2 feet in. height 
with opposite, sessile, lanceolate leaves 2 to 3 inches long. F.owers in dense 
axillary racemes more or less pedunculate, but fall considerably short of 
equalling in length the leaves. Corolla segments very narrow and deeply 
cut, spotted as well as the calyx with orange. Stamens and styles much 
exserted, and the inflorescence has much a bottle-brush-like appearance. A 
native of Europe, northern Asia, and America. 
L. nummularia .—This is the most familiar member of the genus, and 
very much grown under the local name of Creeping Jenny. This name is 
unknown to the artisans of Manchester, except by the few who have made 
British botany a study. Moneywort seems to be the most popular appel¬ 
lation in this part of the north. So well known is this plant by one or other 
name that description is needless. Like L. vulgaris it does well in smoky 
towns, but is less disposed to produce its blossoms freely ; but the presence 
of its evergreen branches alone make it valuable for an urban garden. It is 
best known to the gardener through the variety aurea, the golden-yellow 
leaves of which make it a most valuable plant for a permanent edging. If 
it can get a position exposed to full sun the golden colour is richer ; indeed, 
its full beauty is never seen when grown in places that have but little 
sunshine. It is employed in some places in carpet bedding, with this in its 
favour—that it can be grown out of doors all winter. It is especially useful 
for associating with other plants for suspended baskets and for growing in 
pots for the conservatory, its gracefully hanging branches producing a 
pleasing effect when judiciously arranged with the other inmates.— 
T. Entwistle, Wood Lawn , Didsbury. 
MURRAY’S VINE COMPOSITION. 
A correspondent in your issue of November 29th asks if anyone has 
used Murray’s Vine composition. I have frequently used this composi¬ 
tion for the destruction of scale and mealy bug, and one dressing has 
always proved sufficiently efficacious. In one house which I had under 
my control the Vines were so bad with mealy bug, that after I had been 
pruning them my hat and coat were so covered with the bug that I had 
the appearance of having had a sheet of cotton wool drawn over me. I 
dressed these Vines with the composition, and the result is they broke 
strongly, and have borne an excellent crop of fine fruit. A Mareclial Niel 
Rose, too, was covered with scale, and I dressed it with the composition, 
hut applied the brush carefully so as not to rub off the scale, and in about 
two days the ground underneath the tree was covered with the insects. 
I will not trespass more on your space, but can strongly recommend this 
composition to any who may he troubled with these pests.—A. C. 
[We have received other letters on this subject. This composition 
should be advertised.] 
Late Peas — Frederick Roach. —Noting remarks in the Journal about 
late Peas, I should like to say a few words about a late variety that I 
have grown, Frederick Roach. It was sent out by Messrs. Sutton & Sons 
of Reading last spring. It grew with me about 5 feet in height. Its 
growth is remarkably strong and branching, the foliage dark green, an 
immense cropper, producing peas of a delicious marrow flavour; in fact 
it was the best quality Pea that I grew last summer out of about twenty 
