408 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 4 1888. 
servant. The weather proved calm most of the way, but we suffered 
considerably from the heat, the vessel not being fitted np for the 
accommodation of passengers. The usual mode of procedure of the 
skippers of these boats, while on such voyages, is to frequently go close 
in shore, cast anchor, and then for the greater portion of the crew to land 
under the pretence of obtaining supplies of food, &c., retarding he voyage 
several hours each time of landing, but on this occasion the ship stood 
well off the land during the whole trip of nine days from port to port. 
True, we never lost sight of land, but objects were only dimly visible. 
The cloud-capped western Ghauts looked very grand all day long, and a 
line of vegetation was just visible, fringing the coast line nearly all the 
way, but the nature of this vegetation was a puzzle to me until my 
arrival at Calicut, when I found that this continuous belt of everlasting 
green extending for the 700 miles consisted of the Cocoanut Palm (Cocos 
nucifera), and a very magnificent and glorious belt it is, beginning within 
reach of the waves, and extending from one to three miles inland. The 
Phoenix dactylifera, or Date Palm of the Egyptian delta, is a stately and 
graceful tree, and one greatly to be admired, its stout straight stem and 
long feathery fronds giving a striking effect to the landscape. The 
Cocoanut Palm with its much taller stem, and almost invariably crooked 
withal, is not nearly such a handsome tree individually, but collectively, 
as seen in this glorious Malabar belt, and on the islands lying off the 
same coast, all lying within the influence of the south-west monsoon, it 
is beautiful beyond description. This was my first view of real tropical 
vegetation, and a grand one it was.— Planter. 
(To be continued.) 
We are informed that Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, have 
been awarded a gold medal for their fine display of seeds, Grasses, 
models, &c., at the Edinburgh International Exhibition of 1886. 
-“B.” writes:—“ Please let me thank those who have kindly 
taken the trouble to assure me that the Apples Warner’s King and 
Bramley’s Seedling are distinct. I have been so often ‘ taken in ’ 
with names, though I do not in the least reflect on those who were the 
unwitting cause, that my doubts are perhaps too easily revived. Also let 
me add my testimony to that of ‘ P. H. P.’ (page 382) as to the pleasure 
derivable from Apple culture. It is the one hardy fruit which can be 
successfully grown in our climate, and which gives us a lengthened supply 
of fruit for any little trouble we may lay out on them.” 
- Samples of chemical manures have been sent to u? by 
Messrs. Yiccars, Collyer, & Co., and the Alluvial Manure Company. It is 
obviously impossible that we can do more than say that the former is a 
dark brown, dry, and rather gritty mixture not disagreeable to use, and 
that an analysis of its constituents are embodied in an advertisement. 
The alluvial manure is lighter in colour, softer in texture, and its consti¬ 
tuents vary according to the plants and crops for which it is prepared, as 
indicated in the circular of the vendors. 
- Mr. G. R. Allis sends us from The Gardens, Old Warden 
Park, Biggleswade, a bunch of Gros Maroc Grapes with the following 
note :—“ The Grapes is a sample grown without fire heat. They were 
produced in a house containing plants, with air on day and night 
throughout the season. The hot water has only been turned on about a 
fortnight, merely to drive damp out of the house. I have two or three 
Vines of Black Hamburgh planted in the same house, but in a better 
position as regards soil, Sea. The Gros Maroc is planted in a shallow 
narrow border on the back wall of the house, which the sun does not reach 
before 10 or 11 o’clock. It ripens with the Black Hamburgh and appears 
to bo very easy to grow ; besides, it is a fine showy Grape, and I should 
think it would take well as a market Grape.” The Grapes referred to 
are of a good size and admirably coloured, and, though the flavour is not 
fully developed, such examples would, no doubt, “take well” in the 
market. 
- Madame Barthelemy Levet Rose. —“ W. R.” writes:— 
“Will you kindly say in Journal whether Rose Madame Barthelemy 
Levet is a Tea or a Hybrid Tea J It is differently classed in catalogues— 
Messrs. W. Paul & Son have it a Tea, Cranstone a Hybrid Tea.” When 
high professional authorities differ we think it advisable to give some of 
our accomplished amateurs an opportunity for expressing their opinion 
on this subject, 
- A correspondent, who occupies a rather prominent position 
in the horticultural world, alluding to the Ripening of Fruit asks 
“ If the writer of the article on the shrivelling of Grapes on page 379 is 
correct in his statement as to tartaric acid being converted into sugar 
during the ripening of Grapes?” And further observes, “That starch 
mucilage, and cellulose is converted into sugar cannot be disputed, and 
the change may be, and probably is, effected in part by the agency of 
acids, but that the acid itself is converted into sugar is a proposition that 
can scarcely meet with general acquiescence. If the tartaric acid in 
Grapes is really converted into sugar it would be interesting to know the 
process. The signature of your correspondent implies that he writes 
from the teachings of experience, and it would be instructive if he would 
oblige by stating how he arrives at his decision on the subject in ques¬ 
tion.” 
-An American paper says, “ The Tomato Market has been 
very dull since September 1st, the fruit selling wholesale at only 20 cents 
(101.) per bushel. We suppose the canning establishments know their 
own interests, and think they are wise in buying as low as possible, but 
20 cents per bushel barely covers the cost of picking and carting to 
Boston, and indeed many thousands of bushels this year will be 
neglected and allowed to decay upon the plants on account of the low 
prices.” 
- We are reminded of the approach of winter, and of the desira¬ 
bility of keeping the feet dry in wet weather, and preserving boots and 
legging?, by a sample of Gishurstine. This dubbing we have used for 
several seasons and shall continue to use, because we have found it as good 
as it is stated to be by the manufacturers. Not in outdoor work alone is 
it useful, but equally so to young gardeners under glass, whose boots are 
much oftener wet than dry, through watering, syringing, and cleansing. 
Like its insect-destroying progenitor, “Gishurst,” Gishurstine appears to 
be a preparation of sterling value in gardens. 
- Reports on the Onion Crop.—A note from America says that, 
“ Owing to a smaller acreage, dry weather, and the maggot, there is a 
reduced yield. The Onions, though not as large, are, in most cases, of 
better quality than those harvested in 1885. Complaint of the maggot 
appears to be pretty general, with very few suggestions of a remedy. 
Special reports to the New England homestead, October 2nd, place the 
yield of the crop in Maine at from 200 to 450 bushels to the acre, prices 
ranging at 50c. to 1 dol. per bushel. The yield in Massachusetts averages 
from 250 to 500 bushels to the acre, according to quality of soil, 
culture given, freedom from pests, &c. Prices range at 50c. to 1 del. per 
bushel, the same as in Maine. In Connecticut the Onions are smaller, 
but of better quality than last year. Cut-worms and maggots were 
unusually prevalent, half the crop in East Hartford and South Windsor 
having been ploughed up on account of their ravages. The price varies 
from 75c. to 1 dol. per bushel. Only about 250,009 bushels will be 
harvested this year from the great Onion fields of Orange county, N.Y., 
which usually produce between 500,000 and 600,000 bushels on the 
2500 to 3000 acres planted. The new Onion weevil, which proved so 
destructive last year, and the cut-worms are responsible for this.” 
- In a small lean-to Melon house in the garden of R. K. Wyndham 
Esq., Corhampton House, Bishop’s Waltham, is an excellent plant of 
Bougainvillea glabra trained along the back wall, covering a space 
about 30 feet long and 5 feet wide. It flowers very freely, and is re¬ 
markable for the very rich colour it assumes. There are about six branches 
growing from the main stem ; from every eye along these numerous shoots 
grow, all of which are pruned closely during the winter. In the spring, 
when new growths are made from the eyes on each main stem, the plant 
is given a good soaking of water at the roots. Flowering commences 
early in May, and continues until the middle of November ; many shoots 
bearing blossoms the whole length are cut quite 3 feet long. The 
quantity of flowers which can be cut from a plant growing so freely as 
this one renders it most useful, and its culture reflects much credit on the 
gardener, Mr. J. Cox. 
- Tobacco Growing in Scotland.—T he Scotsman states that 
there has been a fine crop of Tobacco in the gardens at Sunlaws, near 
Kelso, which Mr. Keir, the gardener, planted in a wall border, after a crop 
of early Potatoes. The seed was sown under glass, the plants grown in 
pots, and planted out after the middle of July. It might be thought from 
the late date of planting that the crop would be useless, but such is not 
the case, for the plants grew rapidly, and reached 6J or 7 feet high, with 
