18 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 1,1861. 
lemon juice, my wife makes as a sort of stop-gap in cases of being run out 
of better things. They come in useful too for children who occasionally 
have to “ wait till the cows are milked,” spread upon bread, or, what the 
youngsters like still better, upon bread and butter. These two jams and 
the Strawberrj' are all that the Judges condescended to adjudicate upon 
at my stand. 
Apple Jellies, both plain and flavoured with lemon juice. The 
sourer the Apples the better they are for this purpose. I never used to 
grieve about the early windfalls or grub-eaten fruits. When the 
Apple jelly is under weigh, plus the pulp, after the juice is strained off, 
is more than an equal to Vegetable Marrow juice when sweetened and 
made into a pie. 
The humble Blackberry in jam, either by itself or mixed with 
Apples, we find very acceptable, and the juice when extracted and made 
into jelly is “ equal to Guava ” of that ilk, I have heard people say. 
Jelly made from the fruit of the Berberis Aquifolium ; I grow a 
quantity of this shrub both for ornament and use. The beauty of its 
flowers in the early spring, and the pollen comes in so handy as bee 
bread directly the Crocuses are over. I think this jelly is equal, and 
to my palate even better than Currant, with roast mutton, say venison, 
in all probability. I use the ripe rich coloured fruit in the manfacture 
of home made wine. I crushed nearly a bushel of the berries along with 
any omnium gatherum fruits this season. 
Now I arrive at the Damson jam. This, the last, must not be con¬ 
sidered as least, for who in civilisation do not like Damsons preserved ? 
I grow two kinds, the Farley or Crittenden and the Prune or Shrop¬ 
shire. It would be difficult to improve upon these two. 
Thus ends the eventful history of my wife’s jams. In the order of 
season my fruits should have been given precedence. It would never 
do for the J. of H. to forget the amenities, to let it be whispered even 
that gallantry has escaped from its pages; but the fruits named 
in connection with the preserves will not be mentioned again.— 
SOBT. Fenx. 
(To be continued.) 
ALOCA.SIAS. 
This interesting group of stove Aroids includes a considerable number 
^of distinct species and varieties, some of the latter of garden origin 
being among the finest warm-house foliage plants, while several of the 
■original types are equally desirable. There is much diversity in the 
'form and marking of the leaves of the various sorts, so that most of 
■them are readily recognised. 
They are natives of the East Indies and various portions of the 
Malay Archipelago, though probably not at any considerable altitude, 
•and therefore enjoy warm-house treatment and plenty of moisture 
■during the period of growth, and these conditions will be found essential 
to their well-being. At the same time it should be remembered that 
during the winter most of the Alocasias make but little growth, and 
therefore require but little water; in fact, some of them grow better 
after a season of entire rest, A. Jenningsi and A. Marshalli being 
.«,mong this class. 
In regard to soil, the Alocasias prefer a light, open compost, as their 
thick, fleshy roots will not make much headway in a heavy or sodden 
•soil, and for varieties such as A. metallica, A. Sedeni, A. Veitchi, A. 
•Sanderiana, and A. Thibautiana, and others of like characteristics, a 
■mixture composed of rough fibrous peat, with perhaps one-fourth of 
•chopped sphagnum and some sand, will be found most suitable, while 
A. macrorhiza, A. zebrina, A. Jenningsi, and others of this class make 
most satisfactory progress when potted in a compost formed of the 
above ingredients, with the addition of a third part of coarse turfy loam 
and some dry cow manure, these species being comparatively gross 
feeders. These plants should in all cases have good drainage, for while 
they enjoy copious waterings when in full growth, they soon lose vigour 
when exposed to stagnant moisture. In bright weather they may be 
syringed freely, especially underneath the leaves, to keep away the red 
spider ; otherwise the Alocasias are but little subject to the attacks of 
insects. 
Pi-ominent among the older varieties may be mentioned A. metallica 
(which is also recognised under the name of A. cuprea), a handsome 
kind, with large bronzy green leaves, which are purplish on the under 
side and strongly outlined by the prominent veins. This species was 
introduced from Borneo some thirty years ago, and will still bear com¬ 
parison with some more recent introductions. A. Sedeni is somewhat 
similar in form and ground colour to the preceding, but is improved by 
the addition of ivory white veins. This variety is one of the finest for 
exhibition purposes, producing very large foliage and also being of rapid 
growth. 
A. Sedeni was the result of a cross between A. Lowi and A. metallica, 
and has been in cultivation for a number of years. A. Veitchi is another 
effective species when well grown, its leaves being of rather different 
form from those above mentioned, and standing up well on long foot¬ 
stalks. They are deep green on the upper side, with whitish veins, and 
of a peculiar slaty hue on the reverse side. This is also a native of 
Borneo, and has been long in cultivation. But probably the most 
striking in appearance of the whole genus is A. macrorhiza variegata, 
which forms immense leaves of bright green, more or less marked with 
pure white variegation. The variegation is somewhat irregular, fre¬ 
quently appearing in large patches, while on other leaves it will be so 
mixed with the green as to give a marbled effect. A. macrorhiza varie¬ 
gata is one of the strongest growers in the family, and enjoys plenty of 
heat and an occasional watering with liquid manure. It is said to have 
originated under cultivation in the island of Ceylon, and may certainly 
be considered one of the many botanical prizes received from that 
favoured home of tropical vegetation. 
Among the smaller growing sorts may be menijioned A. Jenningsi, 
which has leaves about a foot in length, bright green in colour, with the 
spaces between the chief veins occupied by lar^ blotches of dark 
chocolate colour, sometimes almost black. This'species is of quick 
growth, and produces a large number of offsets from its bulbs, w’uich 
render it of very easy propagation. Of similar cnaracter is A. Mar¬ 
shalli, though possibly more ornamental, its foliagfe having in addition 
to the dark markings of A. Jenningsi a central band of greyish white. 
These two species are natives of India, and have jbeen known in our 
gardens for more than twenty years. * 
Another fine species, and one that is not very qommon in American 
collections, is A. zebrina, which produces almost ertect, sagittate leaves 
of dark green, these being supported by strong footstalks that are light 
green in colour and banded zebra fashion with a much darker 
shade. > 
The later additions to the Alocasia family have also been numerous 
and valuable, many of them being hybrids of gjreat beauty, while a 
number of remarkably fine species have also been introduced. 
One of the newer sorts that should not be o'ferlooked is A. San- 
deriaua, a remarkably fine species with sagittate! leaves, the margins 
of which are deeply sinuated and marked with white, as are also 
the ribs. ; 
Other fine species are A. Chantrieri, a hybrid ffom A. metallica and 
A. Sanderiana ; A. Thibautiana, a species from Borneo ; A. Luciani, 
the result of a cross between A.. Thibautiana akd A. Putzeysi, and 
A. Lindeni.— W. H. Taplix (in Garden and Forest'). 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Vines. — Earliest Forced. —Severe frosts and sunless weather are 
against the early forcing of fruit trees, and necessitate great care in 
avoiding chills, particularly such as those resulting from injudicious 
ventilation, or admitting air too freely after a dull,;Cold period. Supply¬ 
ing borders with cold water also adverse to root action and free growth ; 
therefore, now root action is being excited, encourage it by supplies of 
tepid water or liquid manure at a temperature nbt less than the mean 
of the house nor more than 90°, but not if the soiDis already sufficiently 
moist. If fermenting materials are used do not ^llow them to decline 
in heat at this critical s^age. It is a good plan to keep a heap of leaves 
and stable manure in reserve, from which the supply may be drawn as 
required. Disbud and tie down the shoots before they touch the glass, 
but do not hurry about that or stopping. In stopping two joints should 
be left beyond the show of fruit, but three or four are better, as a good 
spread of foliage aids food absorption and its elaboration, but it is 
essential that the foliage be well developed, having full exposure to 
light, avoiding overcrowding. Remove superfluous bunchesas soon as the 
best can be selected, which will assist those retained to form more perfect 
flowers and set better. Afford a night temperature of 60° to 65°, and 
70° to 75° by day artificially as the flowers open, maintaining a rather 
drier condition of the atmosphere. 
Vines in Pots. —As soon as the fruit is set these should be well 
supplied with b'quid manure, and have surface dressings of rich com¬ 
post, maintaining a moist atmosphere. Let the berries be thinned as 
soon as they are fairly set, removing the smallest, but remember they 
usually do not swell so large as those of Vines planted out. Damp the 
paths two or three times a day, and occasionally with liquid manure, 
keeping the evaporation troughs charged regularly. 
Houses to Afford Ripe Grapes in June. —The Vines that are to 
supply these should be started at once. The outside border being 
protected with a thickness of leaves, fern or litter, fermenting materials 
may be dispensed with, and if wooden shutters or glazed lights are at 
command for throwing off rain or snow it will be an advantage. 
Fermenting materials, however, are advantageous in promoting activity 
at the roots and keeping them near the surface, but soapy cold 
material is more injurious than beneficial. Supply the inside border 
thoroughly with water at a temperature of 90°, and economise fuel 
by the free use of fermenting materials inside the house. Leaves and 
stable manure in equal parts are better than the latter alone. Damp 
the house and Vines two or three times a day when the weather is 
bright, but in dull weather once, or at most twice, a day will be ample. 
The temperature should be 50° to 55° by artificial means and 65° from 
sun heat. 
Succession Houses. —Vines from which the Grapes i have been cut 
may be pruned now. Cut to a plump bud as near the main stem as 
possible. There may be two eyes or more, which will cause the spurs in 
course of time to become long, but it is easy to train up young canes for 
WQKK.Fo^^WEEK. 
