496 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ December 1, 1881. 
Silica. —Silica is always present in greater quantity in ordi¬ 
nary manure than garden plants require, and most soils contain 
an unlimited amount of it. We need not, therefore, say anything 
under this head. 
Iron. —This, needed in such small quantities, is always present 
in stable manure, and is being continually added to soil worked 
by iron tools by their wearing that it is never found necessary to 
add iron to soil. Indeed the trouble is too often to dispose of it, 
for in many soils it is present to an injurious extent. 
Magnesia. —The only form in which magnesia is to be had 
in the markets is as Epsom salt. Epsom salt is composed of 
sulphuric acid and magnesia. This compound has been applied 
with advantage to farm crops, but I do not know of any experi¬ 
ments with it on garden crops. Where magnesia is deficient its 
application would doubtless do good. In an impure form this 
salt is to be had very cheaply. 
As we said before, there are other mineral matters which enter 
into the composition of plants, but those we have named are those 
which are generally considered of importance and to be had in 
the market. All the matters required by plants are to be found 
in ordinary manure and in all fertile soils. In a concluding paper 
we shall say something on soils and some of their peculiarities. 
-Single-handed. 
(To be continued.) 
In reference to our remarks upon Rhododendron Princess 
Alexandra on page 476, Mr. Taylor informs us that the parents 
were R. Princess Royal and R. jasminiflorum, not R. Brookei 
as we stated. 
- Relative to Bush Fruit Trees for Yorkshire Gar¬ 
dens, a Yorkshire clergyman, who has had considerable expe¬ 
rience in fruit-growing, informs us that he will readily aid a 
“ Yorkshire Rector,” who recently sought information on this 
subject, if he will communicate with him through this office. 
- In a note referring to vapourisers, Mr. Warhurst asks 
“ If Bentley’s water-spray would answer the purpose described 
by ‘ A Lover of Horticulture ’ (page 449) for vapourising ?” 
Another correspondent, “ J. R.” directs attention to Keel’s blight- 
destroyer, which is applied through a vapouriter, and asks if any 
of our readers have proved its merits. 
- A NORTHERNER finds “ Salvia splendens very useful at 
this season of the year. Many gardeners plant it out, but the best 
way is to strike cuttings early and grow them on in pots, keeping 
them well stopped. It is not of much use for cutting, as it does 
not last long in that state ; but it is for conservatory decoration 
that I find it so useful, the colour is so telling.” 
- “ Another plant worth growing at this season of the year 
is Schizostylis cocciNEA. It is more often seen planted out 
during the summer, but I find it thrives best when potted, which 
should be done in April, placing the strongest plants together so 
as to have them all in bloom at once to make a show. Stand the 
pots in a shady place for the summer, keeping them well supplied 
with water.” 
- A paper advocating the use of river water for domestic 
purposes, and explaining a very simple and “ self-acting ” method 
of rendering it absolutely pure, was published a year ago by Mr. 
Shirley Hibberd under the title, “ Water for Nothing.” A 
considerable impression having been exhausted, Mr. Hibberd 
with Jrew the pamphlet, and it was reported “ out of print.” The 
demand for it continuing, he has now yielded to the persuasions 
of hi3 publisher, and a re-issue of the paper may be obtained from 
Mr. Effingham Wilson, 11, Royal Exchange. 
- A correspondent writes that in the Cambridge Botanic 
Garden several annuals were conspicuously valuable in pots for 
greenhouse decoration during the autumn. They were CALLIOPSIS 
Drummondi, Scabiosa atro-purpurea, Loasa vulcanica, 
and CUPHEA ZlMAPANl. , The two last are still in flower, and the 
Cuphea being of fine purple colour is much admired. The Calli- 
opsis has taken particular attention, perhaps from some novelty 
in its use as a pot plant, because out of doors it has not been the 
subject of remark. It is at least a bright flower, always useful for 
cutting wherever grown. 
- Mr. J. C. Barnham of ^Norwich writes'as follows re¬ 
specting Daphne indica —“I have often seen it stated that 
Daphne indica requires to be grafted on stocks of D. Mezereum ; 
but so far from this being absolutely necessary, I find that 
cuttings strike very readily, and the young plants so obtained 
flower the same year. Possibly this hint may be of service to 
some of your readers who grow this fragrant and useful plant.” 
- Parts 13, 14, and 15 of Messrs. Cassell’s re-issue of 
“ Paxton’s Flower Garden ” contain several handsome 
coloured plates, with descriptive and cultural notes, and a 
continuation of the gleanings and original memoranda. The 
coloured figures represent Odontoglossum Cervantesii, Oncidium 
hasmatochilum, Bejaria coarctata, Hoya ovalifolia and H. pal¬ 
lida, Phalcenopsis intermedia var. Portei, and Chionodoxa Lucilise. 
The last-named is especially well executed as regards the form 
and colour of the flowers and the general habit of the plant, 
but the leaves have a rather unhealthy yellowish appearance. 
- Mr. G. Abbey writes—“The Rose has been so much 
improved in recent years that we hardly dare venture to write 
complimentary of an old favourite ; but some notice is deserved 
by the still popular common China or Monthly Rose (Rosa 
indica odoratissima), for it has a profusion of blooms in succession 
from June to November. The blush-tinted or delicate pink buds are 
very beautiful, making a grand display with its many companions. 
Indeed this Rose makes a charming bed worthy of the most 
favoured position : in fact it is good in summer when Roses are 
plentiful, and is supreme in autumn when others are uncertain, 
more blooms being produced on a plant in November than is 
present on dozens of Hybrid Perpetuals. It is hardy ; but if the 
weather is so severe as to kill the head, shoots are produced from 
the base.” 
-- The Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland 
held their Winter Exhibition of Chrysanthemums and fruit on 
Thursday last in the new Concert Hall, Exhibition Palace. 
Chrysanthemums were well shown in the chief classes, the 
principal prizewinners being Francis Low, Esq., Avonmore, 
Stillorgan ; Richard Pim, Esq., Stradbrooke Hall, Blackrock ; 
Alexander Comyns, Esq., Ardcuaine, Glenageary ; and the Rev. 
F. Tymons, who contributed particularly fine blooms. Fruit was 
chiefly shown by C. S. King, Esq. ; Captain Shuldham, Gort- 
more ; Viscount Powerscourt; Charles Cobbe, Esq.; and Lord 
Annaly, Woodlands, Clonsilla. 
- A correspondent writes as follows relative to the 
Season in Durham —“The weather has been far finer lately 
than it was in what ought to have been the harvest months. In 
August and September we scarcely ever had twelve hours of fair 
weather ; in October we had a continuous succession of disastrous 
gales and cold weather. Since November came, however, with its 
“ brief summer of St. Martin’s,” we have had fine bright bracing 
weather, with the thermometer often as high as 66° during the 
day, and, as if to make this November more remarkable, we have 
not had a single fog. The benefit to all people engaged in the 
cultivation of the land is incalculable. Fruit prospects are being 
benefited very materially by the bright sunshine; while farmers 
are enabled to bring up arrears of work and get large breadths 
