284 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 23, 1892. 
- Broccoli Michaelmas White. —The fact of the bulk of our 
stock of this Broccoli turning in now proves how much this vegetable, 
like many others, is influenced by the weather. The great heat experi¬ 
enced during June and July brought the plants on fast. It is necessary 
in our soil to plant early to grow the plants into a good size before 
autumn. So good and close are the heads that it would be difBcult to 
distinguish them from Yeitch’s Autumn Giant Cauliflower, and they 
have proved very useful in place of the last named. One head measured 
was 22 inches in diameter, which is exceedingly large even for a Broccoli, 
and this was produced on land which has been devoted continually to 
the Brassica tribe for the last twelve years, in spite of the assertion of 
some that this crop will not succeed even two years in succession on the 
same ground.—E. M. 
- Education in Gardening at Edinburgh.—Jl*- bold and 
liberal scheme has been matured by arrangement between the Commis¬ 
sioners of Her Majesty’s Works and the Board of Agriculture, whereby 
working foresters and gardeners may secure at the Boyal Botanic 
Garden, Edinburgh, on very easy conditions, a thorough education in 
the principles of their arts and in the sciences on which they depend. 
The curriculum, which will extend over two and a half years, will be 
free of charge to those who are admitted, and the Council even 
propose to find employment at a moderate rate of remuneration in and 
about Edinburgh, and to some extent in the Botanic Garden itself, fir 
young men from a distance, with a view to enable them to support 
themselves during the period of study. It is also suggested that the 
County Councils and other bodies having control of the administration 
of funds which could be allocated to such a purpose might, in different 
localities, see their way to making small grants to aid men desirous 
of working through the curriculum, and that many individual proprietors 
would be glad to give some additional pecuniary help to young men from 
their neighbourhood for the same purpose. Details of the scheme, 
which will come into practical operation next month, may be obtained 
by application to Mr. I. B. Balfour, keeper of the garden. 
- Strawberries and Limestone Soil Formation, Clonmel. 
—I have been wondering why in some Strawberry experiments in my 
garden with numerous varieties some of them did no good whatever. At 
first I thought it might be position or relative richness of the soil, but 
after three years’ trial I have come to the conclusion that soil formation 
plays a decided part in the success or failure of particular varieties. 
My soil is of limestone formation, partly made or carted in, and with a 
considerable share of limestone rubbish and sand mixed with the old 
original to our garden soil of ages. British Queen and Sir Joseph 
Paxton do no good whatever for me I am sorry to say. Dr. Hogg 
and Eleanor give famous crops of foliage—that is all. Vicomtesse 
Heiricart de Thury and La Grosse Sucrde, poor results and little foliage. 
Of the newer introductions Noble is one of the first and heaviest 
croppers, and by no means deficient in quality, in a good sunny season. 
Scarlet Queen comes first of all my varieties for quality and earliness, but 
was rather small last season. Competitor is far and away the heaviest 
cropper, with it Auguste Nicaise (very liable to red spider) and Cardinal 
following close. I understand Mr. Laxton in his famous Strawberry 
nurseries at Bedford has somewhat similar results.—W. J. Murphy. 
- Sending Roses by Parcel Post. — I have just received a 
post-card from a friend at Bournemouth, about 150 miles away, to the 
following effect:—“ Thanks for the lovely Roses. They are very much 
admired. Mr. 0. thinks them splendid ; they arrived so fresh, and 
looked as if they had just been gathered.” Having received many 
similar testimonies from friends at long distances, perhaps a hint as to 
packing may be of use to some readers who may not have been so 
fortunate. In dry hot weather it is necessary to cut the blooms in the 
morning, with the dew on if possible, in order that they may retain their 
freshness and colour. They are then placed in water, with the stems 
several inches deep, removed to a cellar, and packed as soon as convenient. 
Small boxes of convenient sizes may be had from grocers or confectioners 
at a trifling cost, averaging Id. each. I choose a box as near as I can 
guess suitable for the blooms at command—say, two or three dozen. 
The blooms preferred are those from buds commencing to open up to 
half expanded. These lie close, and may be disposed compactly without 
damage. The box is first rinsed with water, the wood absorbing a little 
without being made too wet for the post, and a lining of paper is used 
to save chafing of the petals against the rough wood inside. The 
stoutest and firmest varieties are chosen to lie against the paper. The 
blooms are laid carefully to fit firmly, but without crushing. They are 
laid end to end, with the stems in the middle of the box. When 
sufficiently filled a little finely cut young grass, which should not be 
wet, is placed in hollow places among the blooms to prevent chafing,, 
and to impart moisture in transit. A piece of paper is placed over the 
blooms, and on the top across the stems a roll of crumpled paper, or 
what is better in some cases, a quantity of Lettuce leaves. The box 
should be filled so that the lid requires a little pressure to hold all firmly 
to prevent any friction. I object to moss for packing on account of the 
scent.—J. Hiam, Astwood Bank. 
- Prices of Outdoor Tomatoes.—“ We are getting 4s., 3s., 
and 2s. respectively per 12 lbs. for best seconds and thirds of outdoor 
Tomatoes,” said a grower who sends many tons into Covent Garden- 
Market during the season. The figures are far from being high, but 
they seem to be fairly remunerative. Outdoor culture iB not a costly 
process. The first thing is to have good early free-fruiting strains. 
Of these Earliest of All and Magnum Bonum, so far as I have seen, 
seem to be the very best, and both set and fruit wonderfully outdoors. 
Some of the choicer or handsome fruiters, whilst doing well under glass, 
are of little value outdoors ; and the grower who puts out thousands 
of plants soon finds out which sort suits his purpose. Then early 
strong plants fully 10 inches high should be ready to go out early in 
June. These should have ample room, and each one a stout stake 
some 3 feet out of the ground. Plenty of hard pinching and a little 
tying constitute the chief requirements of Tomato plants.—D. 
- Hedychium coronarium. —The first of the genus introduced 
in 1791 from the East Indies, and designated the Indian Garland 
Flower, this Hedychium is worthy of culture by those possessing a good 
roomy intermediate house or stove. Our plants grown in the former 
house are just opening their charmingly scented snow white flowers, 
which show to great advantage, carried as they are on stems 4 feet high 
and clothed with pale green leaves, which show the white flowers to 
perfection. The individual flowers are very beautiful, and closely 
resemble many of the Orchids, in fact they are more pleasing than some 
of these. As regards their culture it is simple enough. When the 
flower spikes die down reduce the quantity of water, finally giving none 
at all. They may then be stored away during the winter in any out-of¬ 
way place not too cold. In February or March the rhizomes may be 
divided, using a good strong loamy soil, allowing plenty of room in the 
pots, as all the Hedychiums are strong rooters. Place the pots in a 
warm house, merely syringing well about them until growth commences, 
when the water may be increased, and as the strong, stout growths 
begin to push well up the application of weak supplies of weak liquid 
manure will be found of immense benefit. The plant rapidly increases, 
and it is for the cultivator to determine as to what sizes he will allow 
them to grow, and so use the roots to his own satisfaction. Insects do 
not trouble the Hedychiums very much ; perhaps thrips may occasion¬ 
ally infest them, but they may soon be removed by sponging.—R. P. R. 
- The Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta. —In the report 
of the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta, for the year 1891-92, it is shown 
that the year was one of great activity as regards outdoor operations. 
The abnormally dry season proved very trying to many exotics, and, 
though for a time all other work was suspended and the whole garden 
staff was employed only in watering plants, many casualties occurred, 
especially among the finer and rarer plants. The attention of the staff 
was as usual largely directed to the cultivation and distribution of 
plants of economic interest. The chief event of the year under this 
head was the introduction of the Aloe, which yields “ sisal hemp ” 
(Agave rigida, var. sisalana). The Director of the Royal Gardens, 
Kew, in June, 1891, kindly obtained a consignment of plants for the 
Calcutta Garden from Florida, and kept these at Kew till they were 
strong enough to stand the voyage to Calcutta. The boxes reached 
Calcutta on October 29th, 1891 ; unfortunately a considerable percentage 
of the plants died on the way out, and it was necessary to nurse the 
survivors carefully before they could be distributed. Over 19,000 
specimens were contributed to the Herbarium during the year from 
various sources; while the distribution of authentically named 
specimens to other herbaria reached the high total of 10,505 sheets. 
The chief benefactor to the Calcutta Herbarium was again the Royal 
Herbarium, Kew, to the Director of which institution the Calcutta one 
“ owes a debt that can never be repaid.” Among other contributors 
was Baron von Mueller, who again sent a beautiful collection of 
Australian plants. The Herbarium was also greatly enriched by further 
accessions of Tibetan, Chinese, and Mexican specimens, and the Saha- 
ranpur Herbarium presented 954 plants from the north-west Himalaya. 
Dr. Prain visited the Andaman Islands, Mount Parashak, and the Khasia, 
and was thus enabled to add valuable collections. Much good work was 
also done by collectors employed by the Calcutta Garden.—(“ Nature.”) 
