D«cember 21, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
555 
- Crystal Palace September Fruit Show. —Referring to 
this question, Mr. W. H. Divers, Ketton Hall Gardens, Stamford, 
writes :—“ I am not surprised at the correspondence which appeared 
on pages 508 and 531, as I have heard many regrets expressed by fruit 
growers in various parts of the country on this subject. As an exhibitor 
there for many years I have no hesitation in adding that I should be 
very pleased to support the exhibition as much as possible if it is 
revived. I know of no building so suitable as the Crystal Palace for 
shows, and I must certainly add the management of all the shows 
which I have attended there has been all that could be wished for 
under Mr. Head’s supervision. It is a pleasure to an exhibitor to go. 
The display of fruit has always been most interesting and instructive, 
and with the daily increasing interest in fruit culture, might reasonably 
be expected to advance.” 
- Begonia Gloire de Lorraine.— This is a hybrid between 
B. socotrana and B. Dregi, the latter a Cape species in the way of 
B. caSra and B. natalensis, with a tuberous rootstock, annual stems 
bearing soft green leaves and numerous bunches of white flowers. 
According to an English correspondent in our excellent transatlantic 
contemporary, the ” Garden and Forest,” the hybrid was raised by 
Mons. Lemoine of Nancy, and exhibited in flower at the Paris Exhibi¬ 
tion. It has been flowering at Kew for some time, and recently a few 
well-flowered examples of it were exhibited from the garden of 
L. de Rothschild, Esq. It is dwarf, rarely exceeding a foot in height, 
with numerous short branches, which are literally smothered with bright 
rose-pink flowers, which last a long time, a character peculiar to 
B. socotrana and all its progeny. This is the seventh distinct hybrid 
of which B. socotrana is one of the parents, and every one of the seven 
is worth a place in all good gardens. They flower very freely, usually 
in late autumn or winter, and their flowers are always pretty in colour 
and last a long time. 
- The Rings op Trees. —The annual rings in trees exist as such 
in all timber grown in the temperate zone, says the “Builder’s Gazette,” 
Their structure is so different in different groups of timber that, 
from their appearance alone, the quality of the timber may be judged to 
some extent. For this purpose the absolute width of the rings from 
year to year, and the proportion of spring wood to the autumn wood, 
must be taken into account. Spring wood is characterised by less sub¬ 
stantial elements, the vessels of the thin-walled cells being in greater 
abundance, while autumn wood is formed of cells with thicker walls, 
which appear darker in colour. In Conifers and deciduous trees the 
annual rings are very distinct, while in trees like the Birch, Lime, and 
Maple the distinction is not so marked, because the vessels are more 
evenly distributed. Sometimes the gradual change in appearance of the 
annual ring from spring to autumn wood, which is due to the difference 
in its component elements, is interrupted in such a manner that a more 
or less pronounced layer of autumn wood can apparently be recognised, 
which again gradually changes to spring or summer wood, and gradu¬ 
ally finishes with the regular autumn wood. 
- Fruit Preserving at Singapore.— The Netherland Con¬ 
sular report on Singapore for last year, published a short time ago in 
the Java “Government Gazette,” gives the folio wing particulars regarding 
the preserved Pine Apple trade : — “ The preparation of preserved 
tropical fruits, chiefly Pine Apples, increased again during the year 
under report, the export being estimated at 1,670,000 Pine Apples 
against 1,600,000 in 1891. This increase of 70,000 units is, almost 
exclusively, to be ascribed to the augmented export of 30,000 units to 
Great Britain, and 40,000 units to the Continent of Europe, mostly to 
France. The steady extension of this branch of industry is in con¬ 
sequence of the article becoming better known abroad, and of the 
considerable increase of Pine Apple cultivation in Singapore, Johore, 
and adjacent places, as also on neighbouring islets in the Rhio Archi¬ 
pelago. The Pine Apple crop was, moreover, very satisfactory during 
the past year. The price realised, on the average, fell to 2 cents for 
each Pine Apple against 6 cents in 1891, and this, too, in spite of an 
increase in preserving factories. During the year under report, at 
Singapore, five Europeans and five Chinese carried on the preserving 
business against four Europeans and three Chinese in 1891. From the 
above mentioned increase in the export it need not, however, be made 
out that the consumption abroad has grown in proportion. An incon¬ 
siderable portion of the export, indeed mostly to England, had to remain 
there unsold owing to a glut in the market, as also in consequence of 
inferior quality and less careful preparation of the product. These last 
mentioned consignments were largely from Chinese factories, of which 
during the past year several stopped business, while others were set up.” 
NOTES ON EUPHORBIAS. 
No lengthy description is necessary to add to the charms of these 
beautiful plants, for when well grown they are certain to be noticed, the 
rich glow of colour, together with their gracefully arching branches, 
rendering them very attractive. Although a large genus, only a few 
species are worth cultivating for general decorative purposes. Those 
most frequently met with are Euphorbia jacquini^flora, E. pulcherrima, 
and E. splendens. The last named, although very ornamental and 
nearly always in flower, is nevertheless not much appreciated on account 
of the stout sharp thorns which cover the stems. It succeeds best when 
planted out in tbe stove and allowed to remain undisturbed. The 
finest plant I have ever seen of this variety was growing under similar 
treatment to that described in the gardens of Dale Park, Arundel, 
Sussex. It had been there many years, and was never known to be 
without a flower. 
Euphorbia jacquiniasflora. 
Viewed either as regards its general usefulness or for the exquisite 
beauty of its bright orange-scarlet flowers, which are produced in long 
racemes all along the upper parts of the shoots, Euphorbia jacquiniae- 
flora stands quite unrivalled as a winter-flowering plant. Although the 
individual blooms are small, they are so elegantly arranged, and pro¬ 
duced in such profusion, that for general decoration they are invaluable 
either on the plants or when used in a cut state. The long, graceful, 
arching branches, thickly studded with flowers, also form a most 
charming wreath for personal adornment, for which purpose they are 
valued by ladies. No fear need be entertained in reference to removing 
a good portion of the stem with the flowers, for, unlike the majority of 
hardwooded plants, no damage is done by cutting, and its value is not 
deteriorated in any way other than by the loss of its flowers. 
This Euphorbia is not very hard to cultivate after it has fairly 
started, but it is frequently found very difficult to establish. I find the 
best way to propagate it is to prepare a sufficient number of small pots 
by filling them with sandy peat, then place about three or four cuttings 
in each pot, making the compost quite firm, afterwards placing under a 
bell-glass or hand-light in a temperature of 65° to 70°. It is very 
essential that the glass be removed every morning owing to the con¬ 
densed moisture congregating on it, which if not wiped off is liable to 
cause the cuttings to damp. When well rooted tilt the glass slightly 
every day, so that the young plants may not experience a severe check 
in removing. Where a sufficient number of cuttings can be obtained I 
should recommend that they when rooted be transferred from the pots 
in which they were inserted to larger ones, without disturbing the roots 
in any way. By this means much stronger shoots may be obtained, 
which will be a decided advantage at the flowering period. Although 
the general practice is to give this plant stove heat I think much better 
results may be obtained by growing it in an intermediate house, as 
flowers that expand under such conditions invariably possess more sub¬ 
stance and last much longer in perfection than those which are subjected 
to a higher temperature. As the plants go out of flower the supply of 
water should be gradually curtailed, eventually withholding it altogether 
and allowing them to remain quite dry for two or three months. 
Euphorbia (Poinsettia) pulcherrima. 
This species, which is more frequently met with under the name of 
Poinsettia pulcherrima, differs very materially from the foregoing. The 
best bracts are produced on plants which are grown from cuttings every 
year. The cuttings should be inserted singly in small pots. When the 
plants are established, free growth should be encouraged by maintaining 
a warm moist atmosphere with plenty of light. Where space is avail¬ 
able, I should recommend growing them in a cool house during the 
summer, in preference to cold frames. The advantages obtained by 
devoting a house to their culture are multitudinous, for not only are 
they more easily managed, but during a wet dull season they may be 
assisted by employing a little fire heat. If the roots are checked 
through cold or any other cause, the plants are liable to lose their 
bottom leaves, in which case they are disfigured for the remainder of 
the season. Plenty of air must be afforded them at all times, providing 
the weather is favourable. I have known some growers shade them 
lightly during the hottest part of the day, but I prefer letting them 
have the full rays of the sun, provided plenty of air is afforded, merely 
shading for a day or two after repotting. It is very important that the 
ends of the growth be kept near the glass, lowering them as occasion 
demands, as by this means much sturdier plants are obtained. 
A gentle dewing with the syringe every morning and evening during 
the summer is very beneficial to the plants, and keeps down red spider 
and other insect pests. When the bracts appear more heat may be 
given, and an occasional application of manure water at this period 
will also prove very advantageous to the plants. Judicious watering 
is essential, as much depends upon the manner in which this is 
performed. 
It has been repeatedly notified in previous issues of the Journal of 
Horticulture that there are two distinct varieties of Euphorbia 
pulcherrima, I will, therefore, restrict myself to merely one or two 
references on this point. Although both varieties are invaluable for 
intermixing with other plants, or where a succession of bloom is 
required, I should advise growers whose object is to obtain a mass of 
colour at one time to confine themselves to the earliest variety only. 
This is decidedly the better and most valuable of the two ; the bracts 
are much paler in colour and produced with great freedom. A consider¬ 
able number of plants are grown here annually under similar treatment 
