424 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 6, ISS-t. 
attains considerable size, growing rapidly, and soon reaching under cultiva¬ 
tion a height of 10 feet, frequently requiring to be cut down to keep it within 
bounds. The flowers are round, 1 to 2 inches across, the petals similarly 
placed to those in P. aculeata, but broader, and of a rich rosy crimson colour, 
varying slightly in depth of tint, being sometimes more delicate in hue ; 
but all are pretty, as the flowers are borne in clusters or close panicles on the 
upper part of the branches, and are produced about the same time as 
P. aculeata, varying like that species. It is one of Humboldt’s discoveries, 
having been found on the banks of the Magdalena in New Grenada, but it 
was first received in Britain from Mexico, whence it was sent to the Glasgow 
Botanic Gardens in 1827. In America the native name for the plant is 
Bleo, and in some parts the leaves are said to be used as a salad. 
Owing to its quick growth, and the stem being stronger than P. aculeata, 
this would probably make a good stock for large specimen Epiphyllums ; 
but no instance of its being so employed has come under my notice, though 
it would be well worth a trial. 
Few of the other Pereskias are cultivated, but one, P. calandrinisefolia, is 
used on the Continent as a stock for Epiphyllums, though I am not aware 
that it is superior in any way to P. aculeata. Several are named after the 
resemblance of their flowers to other plants, as P. lychnidiflora, P. opuntise- 
flora, and P. zinniaeflora, most of the others having names referring to the 
form of the leaves, the flowers being generally rose-coloured, while in a 
few cases the leaves are small and almost as rudimentary as in some of the 
Opuntias 
CACTUSES OUT OF DOOBS AND IN COLD FKAMES. 
In the preceding notes some reference has been made to species that 
can be grown out of doors in England, but the following summary of Mr. 
E. G. Loder’s practice as described by him at the evening meeting of the 
Royal Horticultural Society in Burlington House, May 8th, 1883, will 
indicate what success may be expected under this system. When planted 
out of doors a dry sloping border is selected, or a position near the 
rockery where the plants are protected from rain by projecting ledges of 
stone, where some fifty species of Cactete and other succulent plants have 
endure! 16° of frost without injury. Of the Cacteas the following have 
been so treated ;—Echinocactus Simpsoni, Echinooereus phoeniceus, E. viri- 
diflorus, Mamillaria vivipara var. texensis, Opuntia arborescens, O. mis- 
souriensis, O. missouiiensis var. humilis, 0. m. var. trichophora, O. erinacea, 
O. Rafinesquei, and 0. vulgaris. No doubt many others could be given 
in the same way ; but a preferable mode of cultivating even these hardy 
species is in a cold frame, as the plants always have a better appearance. 
Mr. Loder’s method is to place the pots on planks raised slightly above 
tbe soil, and cocoa-nut fibre refuse is packed between the pots. No water 
is given throughout the winter, but in the spring and during the summer 
the plants are watered and syringed free'y, closing the frames early in the 
afternoon. By this means a quick healthy growth is induced, which is 
well matured in the autumn by removing the lights except in wet weather, 
and the plants flower even more readily than some of those grown in 
heated houses. The principal species that have been grown in such frames 
are E. chloranthua, E. Fendleri, E. gonacanthus, Opuntia comanchica, 
O. hystricina, and 0. Whipplei ; but, as was observed in the earlier 
chapters, a large number of Cactem are benefited by being so treated 
during the summer months. 
DISEASES AND INSECTS. 
Cactaceous plants are subject to few diseases, and the only one which 
gives any trouble to the cultivator is a decay of the stem, which is some¬ 
times very rapid. It is occasioned by excessive moisture in the soil, or 
more frequently perhaps by a drip from the roof of the house, and can be 
guarded against by the exercise of a little care. If a decay spot is ob¬ 
served it is a good plan to rub a little lime on it or cut the piece out, and 
fill the hole with lime ; but very often when the injury is first noticed it is 
too late to effect a cure, so that preventive measures are in this, as in 
many other matters, much the best. Numerous insects attack these 
plants—green fly, red spider, mealy bug, and various kinds of scale, but 
the two last-named are the most troublesome and difficult to eradicate. 
The mealy bug in particular harbours in the clusters of spines, and is not 
easily removed by syiinging, a small stiff brush being the most useful and 
ready means of cleaning the plants. Scale can be removed in a similar 
way, or with a small pointed stick, and green fly can be easily destroyed 
by moderate fumigation with tobacco. An excessively dry hot atmosphere 
causes the appearance and rapid increase of red spider, which soon 
effectually injures the plants. Cooler quarters, with frequent syringing, 
or sponging with softsoap and water, will soon diminish their numbers, 
while diluted petroleum is strongly recommended by some persons for 
the same purpose, Mr. Wright, who has charge of the Cromwell House 
collection, relying exclusively upon this as an effective insecticide.— 
Lewis Castle. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
Now that the show season is on us, I wish to point out that exhibi¬ 
tors from a distance are caused great inconvenience and expense by 
Secretaries either refusing to send back the exhibits or making it such 
a favour that gardeners do not like to ask. 
Now, I contend that if a gardener takes his exhibits and stages them 
(I do not include plants, only cut blooms), the Secretary is bound to send 
them back, the same as fowls in the poultry shows. If the Secretary 
does not do that, what has he to do ? He has none of the staging to do 
and none of the packing. 
I feel certain that shows would improve if Secretaries were to under¬ 
take the sending back of cut bloom exhibits, for the simple reason that a 
great number of amateurs like myself would send flowers to a greater 
distance if it were not for the expense of having to send a man on purpose 
to fetch the exhibits back, sometimes a distance of over sixty miles. I 
hope the subject will be well ventilated and receive the support of your 
valuable paper. —J. Freeman. 
FAWKES’ IMPROVED SLOW-COMBUSTION BOILER. 
Several improvements have been recently introduced into hot- 
water boilers by Mr. Fawkes, of the firm of Crompton & Fawkes, 
formerly T. H. P. Dennis & Co., of Chelmsford. The annexed section 
will illustrate very clearly of what these improvements consist. The 
boiler has a flat front, so that it can be easily built into a wall of a 
greenhouse similar to some other boilers. In this way tbe feed door and 
door for regulating draught and smoke flue are all outside the house, and 
consequently no fumes can injure the plants. The front is backed by a 
fire tile, by which means excessive radiation of heat into the open air is 
prevented. The boiler stands on a flat fire tile, in order that the true slow- 
combustion result may be obtained, as the air which is required to main¬ 
tain combustion is only admitted in front of the fuel instead of under¬ 
neath, so that complete control is maintained over the rate and manner of 
combustion. Not only so, but in consequence of no ash pit being required. 
a boiler occupying the same space as other ordinary boilers will, of course, 
contain a much larger furnace area and heating capacity. As will be seen, 
the back of the boiler is inclined, so that there is a greater tendency for 
the hot gases to impinge upon the water way than if the back were parallel 
with the front. In addition to this, by a very slight modification of the 
ordinary smoke flue cap, Mr. Fawkes claims to prevent all possibility of 
down draught. We understand these improvements would have been 
made public before, but Mr. Fawkes was anxious, by carefully testing his 
boilers, to ascertain that they were as near perfection as possible before 
introducing them to the public. This boiler has the additional merit of 
extreme cheapness, as we understand that by means of improved appliances 
and machinery in manufacture, a boiler powerful enough to heat 55 feet 
of 4-inch pipe with perfect ease can be delivered anywhere in England 
for 505. 
EALINQ CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW. 
November 5th. 
The seventh autumn Show of the Ealing and District Horticultural 
Society was held in the Lyric Hall, Ealing Broadway, on Wednesday last, 
and, to the great satisfaction of the officials and visitors, proved the best 
the Society has yet held. The Hall is a spacious and handsome building, 
admirably adapted for an exhibition of this character, and the arrange¬ 
ment of the exhibits being very carefully direeted an extremely pretty 
effect was produced. In the centre was a table upon which were arranged 
the cut blooms, the stands being divided by a number of handsome 
Crotons, Palms, and Dracsenas from Mr. Hudson. At the sides of the 
building were placed the groups of plants, and at the end near the plat¬ 
form was the charming group from Mr. J. Roberts. The energetic Secretary, 
Mr. R. Dean, deserves much credit for the admirable Show he has assisted 
