276 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 6, 18)3, 
- The Early Season.—A correspondent writes "Although 
we have not yet seen any swallows or martins in this neighbourhood 
(Cheltenham), it may interest some of your readers to know that we 
heard the cuckoo for the first time on Saturday, the 25th ult. As to 
vegetation, everybody is of the same opinion, that we are here fully a 
month more forward than we have ever been before. Our Plum trees 
have been in flower as long ago as the 19th ult., and we have two Apple 
trees already in leaf. We have been gathering out-of-door Mushrooms 
on and oS during the last fortnight—a most unusual occurrence, and 
one, my gardener says, unprecedented in these parts. As all the bush 
fruit and fruit trees are so forward, it will be a serious matter for 
gardeners if we have the usual April and May frosts.” 
- Early Flowers. —The season is so peculiar in forwardness 
that I venture to send a rough list of plants in bloom gathered 
March 29th, writes a correspondent to the Standard, in an ordinary 
walk of three miles. A few years ago there was skating on Good 
Friday (March 23rd), and deep snow on Easter Day (25th). Many 
more flowers might probably have been added had more research been 
given :—Wood Anemone, Small Celandine, Marsh Marigold, Helleborus 
foetidus and Helleborus viridis, Gorse, Ground Ivy, Dog Mercury, Colts¬ 
foot, Winter Heliotrope, Primrose, Cowslip, Daisy, Golden Saxifrage, 
Palm Willow, common Nut, Narcissus pseudo-Narcissus, Dog Violet, 
Sweet Violet, Hairy Violet, Barren Strawberry, Daphne laureola, 
Moschatel, Blackthorn, Draba verna, Whitlow Grass, Wood Sorrel, and 
Blue Speedwell. 
- Welsh Wine. — The Wine Trade Review says : “ We give 
in our present issue the result of several important sales of wines 
from private cellars. Some of the prices realised are noticeable, but 
the most interesting incident recorded is that at the sale at Birmingham 
of Mr. Lawson Tait’s wines by Messrs. Ludlow, Roberts and Weller, 
four-and-half dozens of wine grown on the Marquis of Bute’s Welsh 
estate were sold at the rate of 115s. per dozen. The wine is called the 
Castle Coch, and was produced in 1881. From the particulars given in 
the catalogue we learn that the vineyard on the Marquis of Bute’s 
estate in the Taff Valley consists of about 3 acres of volcanic soil favour¬ 
ably situated for the growth of the Vine. It is added that the 1881 
wines were exceptionally good, and all were secured by Mr. Lawson 
Tait. The Marquis’s vineyard has been frequently mentioned, but we 
think it will be a surprise to most people to learn that the produce, 
even of a good year, is considered to be worth 115s. a dozen. If the 
soil is suitable for an extension of the vineyard, perhaps the result of 
the sale at Birmingham will hasten the commencement of the work.” 
- Prunus triloba. —I can confidently recommend this Prunus 
as being one of the gems among hardy deciduous spring flowering 
shrubs. The flowers are produced from almost every joint of the 
previous year’s growth, somewhat after the manner of P. sinensis flore- 
pleno. They are, however, of a beautiful soft rose colour in some 
instances, in others white tinted with rose, so exquisitely shaded as to 
be beyond description. These flowers are about the same size of those 
of the well-known Prunus already named, but unlike that variety only 
a portion of the flowers come double, a point not without due signi¬ 
ficance from an artistic point of view. We have a half-standard tree 
of this fine Prunus in the grounds here. It is about 5 feet in height, 
with a head almost as much in diameter, while the outline (without 
pruning) is perfectly symmetrical. At the present time each of the 
numerous twiggy shoots are completely studded with expanded or 
opening buds, the countless numbers of which combine to create a 
picture of delicate and pristine beauty which the inmates of an 
English hothouse or the flowering trees in foreign lands could not easily 
surpass.— H. Dunkin, Castle Gardens, Warwick. 
- Dew on Plants. —The subject of dew appears to be still 
involved in some controversy. An experimental contribution to it has 
been recently made by Herr Wollny, who used plants in glazed pots 
with earth of varying moisture, some of these being allowed to radiate 
freely on favourable nights, while others were screened. The following, 
says “ Nature,” is a brief outline of Herr Wollny’s views :—Dew depends 
partly on evaporation from the ground, partly on transpiration. It is 
at present doubtful whether it precipitates from the air share in it or not. 
A cloudy sky weakens the cooling process without stopping it wholly. 
With copious radiation, the temperature minimum is at the surface of 
the plant-covering Cof the ground), and here the aqueous vapour rising 
from the warm ground is partly precipitated. With increase of the 
ground heat downward there is increase of the water brought up by the 
plants, which is given up as vapour and condensed. The more moisture 
there is in the ground, the more water is evaporated from the ground 
and the plants. Dew formation is usually favoured by the larger 
number of stomata on the under surface of leaves than on the upper. 
On a given surface of ground the dew is more plentiful the stronger the 
plant organs above ground, and the closer the plant growth. The 
temperature of still air increases from the surface to a certain limit (at 
about 5 feet over grass it was sometimes 4° or 5° C. warmer than on the 
ground). In experiments with blotting paper, cotton wool, featherSi 
and asbestos, the first was much moistened, while the others showed dew 
in drops. Bodies of organic origin attract more moisture than those of 
mineral (a case of hygroscopic absorption). For vegetation, the author 
considers the benefit of dew but trifling. Of the whole annual precipi¬ 
tation at Munich dew only gave 3*23 per cent. 
- Nitrate of Soda. —In a paper on the Santa Isabel Nitrate 
Works, Toca Chile, read lately before the Scottish Institution of 
Engineers and Shipbuilders, and now printed in the Institution’s 
Transactions, Mr. G. M. Hunter has something to say regarding the 
origin of “ caliche,” as nitrate of soda is called in its native state. 
Some contend that “ caliche ” is a marine deposit, others that it is an 
animal deposit, while others say it is a vegetable deposit. Mr. Hunter 
holds the first of these views. The coast of Chili has several times been 
disturbed and upheaved by volcanic agency, and he suggests that a large 
tract of sea was enclosed and heaved up to the present height of the 
nitrate region, and there formed an inland sea, which, after a lapse of 
time under a tropical sun, evaporated, leaving the salts to percolate and 
form the beds of nitrate. From the formation of the ground, showing 
depressions and ravines leading to the sea, it is evident that immense 
volumes of water at some remote period have passed through them. In 
proof of this, Mr. Hunter points out that no “ caliche ” is ever found in 
such places, the accepted opinion being that there has been a wash 
out,” as it is called. During a later period than that of the formation 
of the “ caliche ” great floods passed over the plains, as is shown by the 
deep tracks of rivers, and the smooth washed appearance of the surface. 
Such periodical floods are common in tropical, rainless regions, and 
would not call for special remark but from the fact that wherever these 
river tracks or washed surface appear no " caliche ” can be found. This 
is so well known that even the workmen never attempt to search for it 
in such places. The only surface indication for the presence of " caliche ” 
is rising ground covered with small black stones. The "caliche” in its 
native state is white, very compact and amorphous, not unlike rock 
salt, but when rich in iodine it assumes various colours, according to the 
composition and quality of the iodine it contains. For example, at 
times it contains masses of bright yellow, red, or blue, and again wholly 
composed of a dull black colour, in which state it requires an expert to 
distinguish it from costra or rock.— (^Nature'). 
MAGNOLIA CONSPICUA. 
The large white flowers produced by this deciduous tree are 
particularly handsome, and when seen in good condition invariably 
receive a large share of admiration. It should always be planted in a 
sheltered position, against a south wall if possible, because during the 
best of seasons we usually have a few sharp frosts while the flower buds 
are swelling, if not when the flowers are fully expanded. If in the latter 
stage 7° or 8° of frost quite spoil them, and blacken the unopened buds. 
This Magnolia is one of those plants which well repay the trouble 
involved in affording a canvas protection during the flowering stage, 
even a coping board or stone does much towards protecting the upper 
portion of a tree. I have several times noticed fully expanded flowers 
within a foot of such protection quite uninjured, while those on other 
portions of a tree have been much disfigured. It is also a great advantage 
to keep the shoots as close to the wall as possible, because when frosty 
nights follow bright days radiation affords a considerable amount of 
warmth, and often prevents the flowers being injured by frost. 
Where old trees have grown a considerable distance from the walls 
to which they are trained, the best time to set about the work of 
establishing growth nearer to it is as soon as the flowering period is 
over. The branches ought to be thinned freely, cutting out those which 
show signs of enfeeblement, and training those retained as near to the 
wall as possible. Numbers of strong shoots will then be produced 
during the growing season. A few of the strongest of these should be 
stopped, the others trained in thinly their whole length, removing all 
side shoots and growths made late in the season. Under this treatment 
numbers of shoots will be made, varying in length from 6 to 18 inches ; 
every one of these will give a flower at the point, and the following 
year, if they are retained, instead of being spurred back, will produce 
sturdy growth a few inches in length at almost every joint. Each of 
these short growths will carry a bloom. Tn this way a perfect mass of 
flower is obtained. When this system is established the only pruning 
necessary after flowering is to cut out a few of the oldest shoots to 
make room for young ones to be laid in during the summer, always 
bearing in mind that these young shoots carry one flower the first 
season, and flower the whole length the second year.—H. Dunkin. 
