September 28, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
289 
- Frost in Surrey.—A Godaiming correspondent informs us 
that 5“ of frost occurred last Saturday night in that district which 
destroyed all the Runner Beans, Vegetable Marrows, and plants of a 
similar nature. 
- Cassia, corymbosa.—M r. H. R. Richards, Roche Court, 
Salisbury, writes:—This fine old plant has been flowering here'con¬ 
tinually since June, and seems likely to go on for another month at 
least. There are but few better plants for standing out of doors in 
vases, and a great point in its favour is the comparative immunity 
which it enjoys from insect pests. 
- A Sparrow Trap.— I want to make a fortune (vide page 265). 
Sparrows are easily tamed by feeding them regularly for a few days near 
the doorway of an outhouse, gradually introducing the food to the 
interior. The sparrows will soon enter freely and confidently. When 
many are inside close the door by drawing a string or other contrivance 
previously arranged. “Country Amateur” will then have them, and 
can send the fortune, care of the Editor, to—W. T. B. 
- Wakefield Paxton Society. —There was a brilliant display 
of Tuberous Begonias at the rooms of this Society on the occasion 
of a recent meeting, when Mr. Vere, gardener to Mr. W. H. Stewart, J.P., 
of Milnthorpe House, read a practical paper upon their culture. In 
the paper he pointed out that under suitable conditions Begonias 
would prove formidable rivals to the Pelargoniums. It was, he said 
a novel and pleasing change, beautiful alike in foliage and flower, and 
produced a display with which no other class of plants could vie. Mr. 
J. G. Brown presided, and Mr. Thomas was Vice-Chairman. There was 
a good attendance. 
- Microbes on Roots. —A correspondent sends us the follow¬ 
ing cutting;—“ ‘ Symbiosis ’ is a word used by scientists to describe 
the peculiar relations which have been found to exist between various 
microbes and the roots of plants to obtain necessary food. The Legu- 
minosae—such as Peas and Clover—are well known to be assisted very 
considerably by a microbe which forms tubercules on the roots, and 
multiplying exceedingly there little colonies of microbes ‘ manufac¬ 
ture ’ nitrogen in large quantities. The fungus or microbe feeds upon 
organic matter, but does not make it, whilst plants with green leaves 
make organic matter, but do not use it, so that both green-leaved 
plants and fungus work or ‘ manufacture ’ for each other, but not for 
themselves.” 
- The Kingston and Surbiton Gardeners’ Association.— 
This young Society means business, for it wound up its summer session 
by holding a largely attended and most enjoyable soiree at the Albany 
Hall, Kingston, on Wednesday evening last, and opens its autumn 
session on Tuesday evening next, October 3rd, in their new rooms in 
Eden Street, when Mr. Jas. Martin, the able foreman to Messrs. Sutton 
and Sons, Reading, will have an “Evening with the Begonia,” a theme 
upon which he is specially entitled to speak. J. P. Trew, Esq., the 
President, will take the chair on that occasion. The session will close 
on December 12th with a “Chat about Chrysanthemums” by Mr. H. J. 
Jones of Lewisham, when it is hoped that the President of the 
Chrysanthemum Society, Mr. Alderman Sherrard, will preside. 
- Sunderland Gardeners’ Improvement Society. — On 
Wednesday, September 20th, the members of this society (upwards 
of forty) held their excursion to Hutton Hall Gardens, the seat of Sir 
J. W. Pease, M.P. They were kindly met at the station by Mr. Meindoe, 
head gardener, and Mr. Funnel, estate agent. Mr. MeIndoe conducted 
the party, and explained the various fruits, including the cultivation of 
Vines, Figs, Tomatoes, and Citrons, the houses of which extend nearly 
three miles (/) The pleasure grounds were next visited, and the Coniferse 
were much admired, the marked difference in the atmosphere between 
Sunderland and that district being clearly apparent. The company 
then adjourned to the boathouse (a remarkable structure of rusticity), 
situated at the end of the lake, and on the invitation of Mr. Meindoe 
partook of a substantial luncheon. Mr. Funnel then conducted the 
party over the hills and estate, including the stables. The party next 
proceeded to Guisborough and viewed the priory, abbey, and gardens, 
then dined at the Buck Hotel, Mr. Bolam, F.R.H.S., the Chairman of 
the Society, presiding. Mr. Meindoe proposed, “ Success to the Sunder¬ 
land Gardeners’ Society,” and regretted that distance prevented him 
becoming a member, but he promised to read a paper on fruit growing. 
The health of Sir J. W. Pease, Mr. Meindoe, and Mr. Funnel were 
enthusiastically drunk, and also the host and hostess. The party arrived 
homo at 9.30 p.m., after enjoying a pleasant and harmonious day.— 
James Watson, Hoii . Sec . 
- A New Hybrid Clematis. —Monsieur Andr^ describes in a 
recent issue of the “Revue Horticole” a new hybrid Clematis, produced 
by a French horticulturist at Lyons by fertilizing Clematis Pitcheri 
with the pollen of C. coccinea. This new Clematis is said to have 
preserved the vigour and the numerous stems of the strong-growing 
C. Pitcheri, and the brilliant colour of the flowers of C. coccinea. 
- Destroying Weeds.— On page 265 “ W. R. Raillem” con¬ 
tributes an interesting note on eradicating fleshy rooted weeds. Like 
him I have been very successful in destroying Bindweed, Tussilago, and 
other fleshy rooted kinds, and like his informant I had my information 
from a grand old gardener—viz., the Journal of Horticulture, which 
also exposed the folly of allowing weeds to seed before attempting to 
root them up.—N. B. 
- Garden Guns. —Mr. E. P. Timmins, Balsall Heath, Birming¬ 
ham, claims by the invention of catapult guns to have overcome the 
difficulty of clearing cats, rabbits, and similar destructive animals from 
gardens. These guns are made in various sizes, are perfectly silent, and 
no licence is required to use them. Mr. Timmins has also produced a 
useful contrivance called the “ Beak-weeder,” by which Plantains and 
other weeds can be easily removed from lawns and walks. 
- Distribution op Surplus Plants at the London 
Parks.—A s winter is approaching it is announced that the surplus 
bedding plants will be distributed to the public on application to the 
superintendent at the various parks on the undermentioned dates ;— 
Battersea Park, 21th October; Myatt’s Fields, 2 Ist October; Ravens- 
court Park, 2l8t October; Royal Victoria Gardens, North Woolwich, 
11th October ; Southwark Park, 27th October ; Victoria Embankment 
Gardens, 13th October ; Waterlow Park, 18th October. Many amateurs 
in and around the metropolis will doubtless avail themselves of these 
opportunities to obtain plants. 
- Formosan Camphor. —One of the chief staples of Formosa is 
camphor, but the industry is carried on under somewhat unusual 
conditions. Mr. Hosie in his late report on Formosa says that the 
Camphor Laurel grows in the savage territory only, and the hillmen or 
Hakkas, who border on that territory, have to make arrangements with 
the savage chiefs to protect or refrain from destroying the stoves or 
stills which the former set up in their country. As soon as the hillmen 
have settled all preliminaries with the savage chiefs and a suitable spot 
has been fixed among the Camphor trees for the erection of a still, the 
former proceed to run up a shed or rough building, the size of which 
depends on the number of stoves it is intended to contain. If ten are 
to be erected the building would be about 20 feet long by 12 feet or 
13 feet broad. In the centre of the floor an oblong structure, some 
4 feet high, 10 feet long, and 6 feet broad is built of sun-dried mud 
bricks, having five fireplaces or holes at each side raised a foot or so 
above the floor of the room. The two ends of the structure are solid 
and without flreplaces. The latter are so built that an earthenware pot 
can easily be inserted above the fire in each hole. An earthenware 
cylinder connects the mouth of each pot with the surface of the 
structure or still; between the pot and the lower end of the cylinder 
there is a round thin piece of wood fitting both the mouth of the pot 
and the lower end of the cylinder, and perforated so as to allow the 
steam from the water in the pot to pass into the cylinder during 
distillation. The top of each cylinder is usually about a foot in 
diameter and is level with the surface of the still. Such a still would 
present to the eye a mud structure, with ten round holes on the top and 
five fireplaces at each of the two longest ends. To complete it, however, 
ten large earthenware jars are required. These during the process of 
distillation are placed inverted on the top of the still immediately over 
the upper ends of the cylinders so as to form condensers. To prevent 
the escape of steam from the condensers bands of jute are fitted firmly 
between their mouths and the top of the still. The pots are filled with 
water and the cylinders with camphor wood chips; the jars are in 
position on the top of the still, and the firewood is lighted under the 
pots. When the water boils the steam passes up through the perforated 
wood into the cylinders, heats and moistens the chips, and ascends to 
the condensers, carrying with it the camphor fumes which the chips 
have given forth. The steam then condenses on the inside of the jars, 
and when the latter are removed a layer of white camphor crystals is 
found adhering to them. This is brushed off by hand and placed in 
baskets. The chips are then withdrawn from the cylinders, fresh chips 
take their place, water is added to the pots, the condensers are again 
placed in position, additional firewood is thrown into the fireplaces, and 
the work of distillation recommences, 
