August 7, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
117 
fruiting handsome variety, obtained from a packet of Vick’s Criterion, 
which it resembles in shape of fruit; the habit of plant also is 
similar but darker in colour of foliage, and the fruit is red. I con¬ 
sider this a gem, but have only one plant. I send you a fruit for 
inspection. 
In the case of plants in pots I may state that as the roots came 
through the bottom of the pots on the walk they were covered with 
about an inch depth of soil to save water. Tomatoes vary so much in 
growth, and strength, and setting that each requires particular treat¬ 
ment. With some it is a good plan to cut a portion of the leaves off, 
by so doing it sends them into fruit, especially the Trophy.— Stephen 
Castle, West Lynn Vineyard, Lynn, Norfolh. 
[The fruit sent is much like Vick’s Criterion in shape, but quite 
distinct in colour, being more of a scarlet shade. It is handsome, 
even, and of good flavour.] 
THE CULTURE OF NEPENTHES. 
These plants ai’e very ornamental and interesting, and should 
find a place in every garden where there is a stove. They will 
do well in either pots or baskets, but if grown in the former and 
arranged on the stages they occupy space that might be more 
profitably devoted to other plants. If suspended from the roof 
in pots or pans constant labour is required to keep them clean. 
Baskets are preferable ; they look neater than pots hanging 
from the roof, and cause less labour. A stove now-a-days scai’cely 
appears finished without a good number of these plants sus¬ 
pended, which, when well grown and bearing plenty of pitchers, 
arrest the attention of visitors sooner than almost any other 
occupants. 
When the cultivation of Nepenthes is commenced healthy 
vigorous young plants should be selected, and placed after 
recovery from tbeir journey, if obtained from a distance, in a 
warm, close, moist structure for a time, and afterwards in baskets. 
They generally form pitchers freely in a small state, in fact until 
they attain a height of 18 inches or more, and after this the 
pitchers produced are few in number. 
The only method by which they can be induced to form 
pitchers freely is to cut them close back, leaving two or three 
joints above the surface of the compost in the baskets. From 
these eyes new shoots will be produced, and in the course of six 
months they will be growing vigorously and forming pitchers. 
If large specimens are required quickly the stem may be left 
longer and pegged upon the surface of the basket, when a larger 
number of shoots will be produced. If they have been cut down 
several times and are bare at the base, they should, after the 
young shoots are a few inches in length, be pegged on the sur¬ 
face of the baskets and layered, and in a few months roots w'ill 
be emitted, and the plant will be entirely independent of its 
former supporters. 
The plants are inci'eased by cutting the stem into lengths, 
which should consist of two joints, leaving both leaves upon the 
portion intended for the cutting. The cut at the base should be 
made with a sharp knife and sufficiently low not to injure the 
lower leaf. These cuttings must be inserted singly into 2-inch 
or 3-inch pots in sphagnum moss and sand, placing a good pinch 
of the latter for the base of the stem to rest upon. The top eye 
only should be above the sphagnum. A good watering after 
insertion may be given, the pots being plunged in brisk bottom 
heat and covered with handlights made airtight to prevent any 
evaporation. Under these circumstances they will form roots 
before more water is needed if kept shaded from strong sun. It 
matters but little when the cuttings are inserted, for they will 
root equally well at any season, and nearly every one will be 
found to root if treated as described. 
After they are rooted the greatest possible care is needed in 
hardening them ; if too much air is admitted into the handlights 
they will hag and perhaps die. This hardening process is the 
most tedious operation connected with their culture, and takes a 
long time before they are capable of withstanding full exposure 
to the drier atmosphere of the stove. Air should, however, be 
gradually admitted and increased from day to day until the 
lights can be safely dispensed with. 
By the time the young plants will bear safely the atmosphere 
of the stove or any heated structure in which they are to be 
grown, they will have commenced forming shoots from the top 
eye and may be at once transferred to baskets. A layer of 
crocks should be placed at the base, and then covered with 
sphagnum moss, and the space between the ball of the plants 
and the sides of the baskets filled with peat fibre and small 
crocks or portions of charcoal. ' They will do well in moss or a 
mixture of both, but peat is the most satisfactory, as it does not 
decompose so quickly. When placing them in baskets the old 
stem from which the new shoot has issued should be covered 
with the compost, and then the whole surfaced with a layer of 
moss, which adds much to their appearance. When in active 
growth and the roots are working freely into the new soil the 
old leaves may be removed, and the plants will soon commence 
forming pitchers. 
Nepenthes do not need large baskets, but when a larger 
size is required the transfer is easily accomplished in early 
spring. In doing this the wires that hold the corners of the 
baskets together should be severed, and then the plant can be 
lifted out without much trouble. As much of the decayed 
material as possible should be removed without injury to the 
roots, and fresh supplied. 
Experience convinces me that their successful cultivation 
does not depend so much upon the material or the amount of 
soil they have to grow in as an abundant supply of water. 
During summer the baskets should be well soaked daily, and the 
plants syringed libei’ally at least twice. During the winter less 
will suffice, but they should never be allowed to approach dry¬ 
ness. They delight in heat and moisture, and the house in 
which they are grown during the summer cannot well be kept 
too warm or too moist for them, pi-oviding the heat is derived 
from a natural source. The tempei’ature during summer should 
range at night from 70° to 75°, with a rise by day from sun heat 
of 10° or 15°; the winter night temperature 60° to 65°, with a 
corresponding rise of 5° or 10° by day. They enjoy light, but 
the strong rays of the sun should be broken by means of blinds, 
which can be drawn up or down at will. 
Nepenthes are not troubled much by insects. Scale will 
sometimes appear, but this is easily eradicated by means of a 
sponge and a weak solution of sof tsoap and water or Fir tree oil. 
The following are six good and ornamental forms :—Hooker- 
iana, Rafllesiana, Henryana, Lawrenciana, Williamsii, and Out- 
ramiana. The beautiful N. Mastersiana should be included, for 
it is the finest Nepenthes I have seen.— Scientia. 
Grapes at Newcastle. —Mr. C. Portsmouth, Tho Rectory, 
Morpeth, writes :—“ I notice in your report of the Newcastle-on-Tyne 
Summer Show that ‘for two bunches of Grapes Mr. E. Douglas was 
first with Black Alicante, and Mr. Edmonds second with Madresfield 
Court,’ which is incorrect, as I was adjudged first prize for Black 
Prince, the class being for ‘ two bunches Black ^Grapes, Hamburghs 
excluded.’ ” 
-Increasing attention is being paid to Apple culture in 
New Zealand, and one Auckland nurserymen is said to grow 600 va¬ 
rieties. The same man has obtained some trees of The Queen, which 
variety is obtaining much favour there, and will be largely increased. 
An American variety. The Jonathan, is described as likely to be the most 
generally suitable for the climate. 
- At the recent Royal fete at Kensington Messrs. James Cutbush 
and Son, Highgate, had two large and handsome groups of greenhouse 
and other plants, which were duly appreciated by the visitors. They 
included a fine collection of healthy Heaths and similar hardwooded 
plants, for which this firm is deservedly noted. 
t 
- The Cabbage Butterfly in America. — Mr. William 
Saunders of Ontario, in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Canada, 
states that the Cabbage Butterfiy (Pieris rapm), which has proved such 
a pest to the market gardener, made its first appearance in that country 
at Quebec during the period of the American Civil War, and is supposed 
to have been brought over with fresh vegetables supplied to the British 
troops sent to Canada at the time of the Trent difficulty. The insect 
has since spread over an immense area and multiplied enormously. It 
now extends from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, all through the Eastern 
and Middle States, as far west as Nebraska, and south to the Gulf of 
Mexico. 
- Clove Carnation Gloire de Nancy.— Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale 
Farm, Tottenham, sends us a box of this handsome white Clove, as pure 
, and fragrant as could be desired by the most fastidious. It is un- 
