10 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July S, 188^. 
garden foreman at The Firs, Lee, has been appointed gardener to 
W. Parsons, Esij, Norham Gardens, Oxford. 
- The Rev. John Stevenson is preparing for publication, by sub. 
scription, through Messrs. Blackwood & Co., a “Flora of British 
Fungi (Hymekomycetes),” with illustrations by Worthington G. 
Smith, F.L.S. The author states that he has the co-operation of the 
most eminent mycologists. It may be added that the value of the 
“Flora” will be greatly enhanced by embodying the views of Fries, 
contained in his “ Monographia Hymenomycetum Suecife,” a work, 
which cannot now be obtained, only 100 copies having been originally 
printed. The issue of the work will depend on a sufficient number of 
subscribers being received by an early date, in which case the first 
volume will be published without delay. 
- From the Hale Farm Nurseries we have received some hand¬ 
some Delphiniums, which admirably prove the value of these grand 
plants at this time of year. With compact spikes of brilliant blue and 
purple flowers in many shades, and 3 to 4 feet high, they have a most 
striking effect either as a background to borders of mixed plants or in 
shrubberies and near drives. Mr. Ware’s varieties comprise the follow¬ 
ing :—Hendersoni, single, an enormous brilliant blue flower ; one of the 
most handsome of all. Madame Stenger, single, rich purple-blue ; a 
majestic compact spike. Madame E. Geny, double, large, rich purple. 
Blue Giant, single, dark blue ; imposing habit. Madame Joigneaux, 
single, very handsome ; blue edged with purple. Life-guardsman, single, 
bright blue. Madame Richalat, double ; compact spike, purple centre, 
blue outer petals. George Taylor, double, pale blue with a slight purplish 
tinge ; handsome spike. Leona Bart, single, light blue. Mrs. James 
Helme, semi-double, light blue, very pretty shade ; and Conspicua, 
single, rich bright blue. With them were a number of unnamed seed¬ 
ling varieties of equal merit as regards size of flowers and spike, and 
brilliance of colours. 
- Boiling Potatoes in their “ Jackets.” —Mr. W. Mattieu 
Williams, in the “ Popular Science Monthly,” thus states his reasons 
why Potatoes should be so cooked ;—“ From 53 to 56 per cent, of the 
saline constituents of the Potato is potash, and potash is an important 
constituent of the blood—so important that in Norway, where scurvy 
once prevailed very seriously, it has been banished since the introduction 
of the Potato, and according to Lang and other good authorities, it is 
owing to the use of this vegetable by a people who formerly were in¬ 
sufficiently supplied with saline vegetable food. Potash salts are freely 
soluble in water, and I find that the water in which Potatoes have been 
boiled contains potash, as may be proved by boiling it down to concen¬ 
trate, then filtering and adding the usual potash test, platinum chloride. 
It is evident that the skin of the Potato must] resist the passage of the 
potash into the water, though it may not fully prevent it. The bursting 
of the skin only occurs at quite the latter stage of the cookery. The 
greatest practical authorities on the Potato, Irishmen, appear to be 
unanimous. I do not remember to have seen a pre-peeled Potato in 
Ireland. I find that I can at once detect by the difference of flavour 
whether a Potato has been boiled with or without its jacket, and this 
difference is evidently saline.” 
- Colours from Plants.—A German writer shows that a great 
variety of colours can be readily obtained from common plants found 
almost everywhere, the method consisting principally in boiling them in 
water at a high temperature, so as to produce a strong decoction. Thus, 
for instance, the well-known Huckleberry, or Blueberry (Vaccinium), 
when boiled down, with an addition of a little alum and a solution of 
copperas, will develope an excellent blue colour. The same treatment, 
with a solution of nut-galls, produces a clean dark-brown tint; while 
with alum, verdigris, and sal-ammoniac, various shades of purple and red 
can be obtained. The fruit of the Elder (Sambucus nigra), so frequently 
used for colouring spirituous liquors, will also produce a blue colour when 
treated with alum. The Privet (Ligustrum vulgare), boiled in a solution 
of salt, will furnith an excellent colour ; while the over-ripe berries yield 
a scarlet red. The seeds of the common Burning Bush (Enonymus), 
when treated with sal-ammoniac, produce a beautiful purple-red ; while 
the juice of the Currant, pressed out and mixed with a solution of alum, 
will furnish a bright-red colour. The bark treated in the same way 
produces a brown. Yellow can be obtained from the bark of an Apple 
tree, the Box, the Ash, the Buckthorn, the Poplar, Elm, &c., when boiled 
in water and treated with alum. A lively green is furnished by the 
Broom (Spartium scoparium), and brownish-green by the Genista. 
GARDENING TOPICS—MULCHING. 
Like “ A Thinker ” I quite agree with Mr. Iggulden’s ideas on 
mulching, most beneficial results attending it when applied judiciously. 
I have made it a rule for some years when I had the opportunity of well 
mulching plantations of Raspberries, Gooseberries, and Black Currants. 
Last year I partially mulched a row' of Gooseberry bushes, on one side of 
which was a row of Raspberry canes, on the other espalier Apple trees. 
At both ends where the mulch of dung was applied both Raspberries and 
Gooseberries are stronger and healthier than where not so treated. I 
have also had good results from mulching Peach borders, both indoors 
and out, but do not consider it so desirable in the latter. Nothing pays 
so well for mulching as Strawberries, especially if the mulch is half^ 
decomposed manure. It would be useless to enumerate all the advantages- 
to be derived from mulching and surface-dressing, Mr. Iggulden having 
so fully described its benefits. 
Some few years ago I had to deal with some Peach trees on the open 
wall, which were very stunted in growth and suffered from mildew ; the 
walls were very old, and supported at intervals by flying buttresses, the 
walls overhanging. The weather was showery, but the Peach trees 
derived little benefit from it. I had the soil for about 6 feet from the 
trees broken up, a mulching of farmyard manure laid on thick ; copious 
waterings were given, about 200 gallons to each tree and the result 
was the trees grew out of the mildew made clean sound wood, and 
ripened the crops in good condition. The same results were obtained 
from surface-dressing round Apple trees when bearing a heavy crop. As 
the season is particularly dry, and the wells in many places low owing ta 
the small rainfall last autumn and winter, anything that can be done to- 
assist our fruit and vegetable crops without being dependant on the 
water-pot is of value. 
Another matter during very hot dry weather is the value of some 
slight shading or mulching for newly-sown seeds. The best plan I can 
find to ensure their free germination is to well water the ground before 
sowing, and after the seed is sown to cover with dry fine-sifted soil, in 
which some wood ashes, charred earth, charcoal breeze, and a little guano 
or other fertiliser has been well mixed. This I invariably apply to all 
sowings of Radishes, Lettuces, Cauliflowers, Cabbages, Turnips; for the 
latter I have the drills drawn, well watered, the seed sown, then fill 
with the fine soil, and the result is they grow away from the fly, and we 
have the gratification of seeing a “ good plant,” as the farners say, and 
something to fill the pot afterwards.—J. Gadd. 
Attention cannot be too strongly called to such an important matter 
in gardening practice as mulching ; but the ordinary practice of placing' 
dry littery manure over the roots of plants is not the soundest practice. 
I often have seen bad results from that system. The litter may perhaps 
have received a good drenching of rain at first, and become battered 
together like a cake—sloping possibly from the collar of the plant like 
thatch. Every drop of rain is thus carried outside the young roots. 
This refers more to fruit trees, shrubs, and Coniferse than vegetables in 
the kitchen garden, which are generally on flat ground, or the plant close 
enough to allow the whole surface being covered. In the case of Celery 
we place mowings of lawns and such material, which also answer well 
for Lettuces, Carrots, and Turnips ; but with trees and shrubs we prefer 
good decayed manure (except merely as protection during winter) in 
quantity, and covered with the soil, which prevents waste of manorial 
properties, and prevents the sun drying the mulching. A quantity of 
soil placed over new borders of Roses (which were well mulched last 
season). Pansies, and herbaceous plants is now under the prolonged 
drought doing admirable service ; while some hundreds of Currants and 
Gooseberries, lifted and transplanted on fresh ground a few months ago,, 
are all we could desire. The soil was well coated with decayed cow 
manure, and over the latter a few inches of soil was placed, which is 
kept open and clean with hoe or prong. The Gooseberries are loaded 
with fruits, and the wood is about a foot long, the leaves unusually large. 
Plums, Cherries, and Pears lately planted and mulched, and the mulching 
well covered with soil, have made wood 2 to 3 feet long. Some maiden 
Peaches bought at 1.?. Qd. each are larger than more expensive trained 
trees planted at the same time. They are mulched with a thick turf laid 
over the roots, grass side downwards, and some loose soil is put neatly 
over the whole. The turves are matted with healthy roots, which are 
of course near the surface, the ground under the roots being rammed like 
a floor, and full of lime rubbish, stones, bones, and broken bricks, which 
is already showing its action by production of fibry roots. A quantity 
of evergreens, some hundreds of pounds worth. Conifer®, and deciduous 
trees in great variety, are battling admirably with drought ; all were- 
mulched with decayed cow manure, and the same covered neatly with the 
natural soil.— M. Temple. 
DOLICHOS SESQUIPEDALIS. 
As “ a remarkable Bean ” a correspondent has sent us specimens of a 
peculiar variety of Dolichos sesquipedalis, and as it is doubtless a stranger 
to many of our readers we give an illustration showing the pod of its 
natural size. The plant is a South American annual, which is cultivated 
in the south of France and other parts of the continent under the name 
of “ Dolique Asperge.” The pods were grown on a plant in a greenhouse. 
It is rarely seen in England, except as a curiosity, and as such it is 
worthy of a place in any garden, the extraordinary pods attaining a 
