580 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Deoember 30, 1886. 
instead of a given quantity of good produce fit for the market, 
there will be an inferior quantity small in size and of a quality 
which I would not care to give a fatting pig. But under the sys¬ 
tem of carefully protecting two or three first shoots they are sure 
to become the monopolisers, and the result generally happens that 
no weaker sprout will be able to make growth ; thus a superior 
quantity and an even quality of good produce is the consequence. 
(To be continued.) 
CUSCDTA CHILENSIS. 
The profusion in which the very pretty fragrant flowers are borne 
over the whole of this leafless plant cannot but excite admiration, nor 
can its habit of growth and the inevitable consequence of its vigour, when 
growing on many of its foster plants, occasion any but feelings of wonder¬ 
ment. It has been cultivated under the erroneous name of 0. chinensis, 
a species of only annual duration, whereas the one under notice is indis- 
Fig. 85.—Cuscnta chilensis. 
putably a perennial, and it may be easily inferred the confusion as to 
names bas arisen simply through an inadvertent clerical error. Many 
Cuscutas have been introduced from various countries, and these are 
more numerous than may be generally imagined, more than thirty being 
enumerated in Steudel s 11 Nomenclator Botanicus,” and this does not 
include the well-known indigenous Dodder, an account of which has 
previously appeared in this Journal. 
It has been stated that Dodders grow only upon herbaceous plants 
and the smaller shrubs, yet Shakespeare employed the term “ doddered ” 
to the Oaa., from which it has been assumed that the word formerly was 
not only applied to parasites generally, but figuratively, in describing 
trunks of trees clad with vegetation. As expressed by its name, the 
C. chilensis is a native of South America, and it so much resembles the 
Peruvian Cuscuta, C. odorata, that it is very probable the question as to 
whether they are not identical has yet to be determined. Those who 
have had an opportunity of witnessing its wonderful growth and effect 
when cultivated under favourable conditions in this country may be able 
to form some idea of the character of this plant when growing in wild 
luxuriance on some of the most fitting of its foster plants, and readily 
realise the regard in which it is held by the Spanish Creoles, who have 
applied to it the popular name of Cabellos de Angel (Angel’s Hair). 
Whether this exotic parasite, which appears to have been introduced from 
Chili in the year 1821, is capable of being acclimatised, is uncertain, but 
shouli it prove to be so, it would be difficult to imagine a more un¬ 
desirable plant to introduce amongst some of our field crops. It certainly 
is sufficiently hardy to withstand 3° or 4° of frost, hut flowering as it 
does rather late in the summer, when growing in this climate out of doors, 
there does exist for agriculturists the assurance that it would only, in 
very exceptional seasons, ripen its 'seeds ; were it otherwise they might 
fairly be appalled. 
When observed in a small state, growing on some suitable softwooded 
plant to which it has been allowed to attach itself for the purpose of 
preserving it through the winter months under glasa, there is nothing 
particularly striking in its appearance, and, under such a condition there 
is relatively nothing to suggest the extraordinary spectacle it will present 
when its growth is fully developed. It is only necessary to have an 
established piece, even though it be growing on such a plant as would 
ordinarily occupy a 48-sized flower pot, and so soon as the late spring 
frosts are over to remove it to a suitable place to demonstrate its amazing 
characteristics. Supposing it to have been placed close to a dwarf Ivy- 
clad wall, sheltered and shaded by deciduous and evergreen trees of a 
large growth, here and there a Lilac, a Flowering Currant, or Box tree, 
and then large Elders, the latter perchance draped with that always 
picturesque British climber, Traveller’s Joy (Clematis Vitalba), in such a 
place as this the Chilian Cuscuta would soon manifest its prodigious 
growth. Attaching itself to the nearest plant, herbaceous or otherwise, 
its nude stems presently embrace those of others within reach one after 
the other, in snake-like coils, sometimes singly, but not unfrequently in 
twos and threes, and in its progress completely fixing itself by penetrat¬ 
ing their epidermis with its root-like tubercles. The more it becomes 
established the more vigorously it grows, sending out strong thong-like 
lateral shoots, in some cases several feet in length, and these soon take 
possession of the branches of the surrounding shrubs and trees, for a 
distance as much as 15 feet from the spot where it was originally placed. 
At the same time a portion of the parasite will be luxuriating amongst 
the Ivy, elevating itself above the branches in the most fantastic fashion, 
some of the more thread-like stems coiling themselves round the larger ones, 
and together eventually forming an inextricable densely matted mass of 
as curious an example of vegetation as it is possible to conceive. It is, 
perhaps, on Ivy that it best displays itself, so incredibly luxuriant does it 
become as to almost conceal it, and it is from a spray of this plant that 
the accompanying figure has been produced. As has been stated, it does 
not commence flowering until somewhat late in the summer, but then its 
delicate diapanous flowers are produced in clusters over the whole of the 
plant in the greatest abundance. These are clear white faintly spotted 
with a purplish hue, and emit a fragrance alike suggestive of both Hoya 
and Heliotrope. This rather uncommon species of Cuscuta deservedly 
claims attention as worthy of cultivation, not only on account of its being 
so free floweiing, but as well of the fact that there are very few flowers 
that can vie with it for retaining a fresh appearance when cut and placed 
in water, more especially if a portion of its foster plant be cut with it, in 
which case it will remain a pretty object for as much as three or four 
weeks. In combination with other flowers for table decorations it can be 
made to present quite a unique appearance, and for this purpose its value 
cannot be over-estimated.—S. P. E. S. 
RHUBARB FORCING. 
I OESERYE “ W. P. R.” at page 537 says, “ Market gardeners never 
use anything but a hotbed of manure for the purpose,” but this is incor¬ 
rect. Much Rhubarb is forced hereabouts by market gardeners, and they 
all have houses erected for the purpose, shelved at different elevations— 
three and often more shelves—depending upon the height of the walls. 
Some use no material to cover the roots, but the soil adhering to them, 
and some may occasionally throw in a little rubbish. The structures are 
commonly heated by flues, and the roots supplied regularly with water of 
the same temperature as that of the house, aud the whole kept dark ; but 
I may add that if a slight opening is left at the eaves the Rhubarb is all 
the better for it, and pushes ahead faster. With the constant steam 
wooden structures do not last long. I have advised turf walls, having a 
galvanised roof, well lined with straw underneath. The posts and runners 
for supporting the shelves too should also be galvanised angled iron. 
Such erections would in the end be more economical, and any labourer 
could erect one in a short time. Small houses of this sort would be found 
very useful for other purposes than forcing Rhubarb. 
Rhubarb for forcing purposes should be lifted two or three weeks 
before it is placed into the forcing house, and if well frozen all the better. 
Rhubarb lifted and placed immediately in the. forcing house neither 
yields a crop in bulk nor quantity like that exposed to the frosts after 
being lifted. 
Regarding the last sentence in “ W. P. R.’s ” article, it will require 
“ A Thinker ” to elucidate it. He says “ Lukewarm is the temperature re¬ 
quired in forcing Rhubarb, and to be of service it must be underneath the 
roots and not above them.” Heat no doubt ascends, and no one, I think, 
would think of placing the heating apparatus or material on a high shelf ; 
but a great heat at the roots of anything while the tops were in a much 
lower temperature would be detrimental. I observe growing in ashed 
here some shoots of Gloire de Dijon Rose perfectly fresh, while the roots 
