January 31, 1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
93 
- Branches of Tangerine Oranges, each bearing a dozen fruits 
in a setting of dark glossy foliage, now make one of the most attractive 
features in the fruit stores of New York. The best of them come from 
glass houses in southern New Jersey, and sell at the rate of 25 cents 
for each Orange. 
- The American Forestry Association.—I n the report of 
the Executive Committee of this Association, at its recent meeting in 
Washington, it was proposed to introduce into Congress Bills to provide 
for obligatory courses of instruction in forestry at the agricultaral colleges, 
as well as a course of lectures at West Point, a post-graduate course at 
the Department of Agriculture, and scholarships for students in forestry 
to be sent abroad. 
- Chemical Manure for Alpine Plants. — Dr. Hugo 
Muller has concocted a mixture which he applies to all his rock plants 
with, he says, beneficial results. According to the “ Garden and Forest,” 
it is composed as follows :—40 gallons of water, 2^ ozs. potassium 
phosphate, 1^ oz. potassium nitrate (nitre), IJ oz. magnesium sulphate 
■(Epsom salts), oz. calcium nitrate. The calcium nitrate is prepared 
by taking 100 ozs. or less of chalk, dissolving it in dilute nitric acid 
until it ceases to give off carbonic acid. This leaves a solution of IJ oz. 
of calcium nitrate for each oz. of chalk. This is mixed in a paraffin 
cask, and the plants are watered with it about once a fortnight during 
the growing season, 
-Liquorice in America,—A s an instance of the increase in 
the importation of Liquorice root into America, where it is stated to be 
largely used in the tobacco manufacture, it may be mentioned that out 
of the total quantity of root and paste shipped from Batoum in 1893, 
16,720 tons were forwarded to the United States, the balance of 
1196 tons being shipped to England and France ; out of the latter- 
mentioned amount only about 300 tons were paste, and the rest 
pressed roots. Over-production has, says a contemporary, brought 
about more or less a crisis in this trade, and about lls. 7d. was being 
paid, towards the end of last year, to the peasantry for every ton of root 
delivered at the factories in the Governments of Baku and Elizavetpol. 
The result was that little or no root was being collected by the natives, 
and it is said that in consequence of the large numbers of pressed roots 
in stock two out of the three root-pressing works of the Caucasus 
remained inactive during a portion of the past year. 
- The Natural History of Plants. —We have to acknow¬ 
ledge the receipt of No=. 8 and 9 of this standard publication. The 
subject hag now reached the interesting stage of fructification and 
fertilisation. In the realm of organised tissue, whether vegetable or 
animal, the questions of impregnation and reproduction have always 
been those of absorbing interest to mankind. In the customs of savages 
and in the religious systems of all peoples we see the emblems, theories, 
and ceremonies (often grotesque and startling to the ordinary sense) 
which seek to explain these phenomena. With the advent of modern 
science the question of reproduction assumed an additional importance, 
and culminated when Darwin published his conclusions regarding the 
origin of species. These conclusions were to a great extent based on 
his investigations into what his grandfather poetically designated ” The 
Loves of the Plants,” but which he more materialistically named “ Cross 
and Self Fertilisation of Plants.” The results of his labours, together 
with those of his enthusiastic followers, are embodied in the pages now 
under notice, and persons desirous of obtaining the latest information 
on this question will do wisely to purchase the work, 
- Bacteria. —Most of the diseases that afflict plants and 
animals are now attributed to small minute organisms called bacteria, 
and yet the manner in which the work is performed is something of a 
mystery. Many believe that in animals the injury which bacteria do 
comes from their power to introduce nitric acid in injurious quantities. 
One singular feature about them is that different kinds do not seem to 
be able to live in harmony together. Vinegar, for instance, is the result 
of the action of a species of bacterium, and yet it is able to destroy 
almost all, or perhaps all, other species with which it comes in contact. 
It is bacteria which first by their presence turn sweet Apple juice into 
cider. After this has been accomplished they disappear, and a new set 
takes their place, which changes the cider Into vinegar. It is on account 
of this peculiarity of a bacterium of insisting on having the whole field 
to itself in disease, that vinegar is so useful in various disorders of 
animals, as this bacterium is found to destroy others of its family. In 
cases of cholera or similar diseases in animals, vinegar has been found 
to easily destroy the other bacteria which cause so much trouble.— 
(“ Meehans’ Monthly.”) 
- The Missouri Botanic Garden.—S ix years ago, under the 
will of the late Henry Shaw, this garden was formed at S". Louis. 
The fifth annual report received from Mr. W, Trelase, the accomplished 
director, forms a substantial volume, and contains, in addition to the 
record of the year’s work, the annual flower sermon, the proceedings 
at the annual banquet of the trustees of the garden, and several 
scientific papers of much value. 
- Disease in the Lombardy Poplar. — According to 
“Meehans’ Monthly” few trees have been so persistently cleared away 
by disease in America as the Lombardy Poplar. It is extremely rare to 
find any in Eastern Pennsylvania that have not been nearly destroyed 
out of the many thousands that have been planted at various times. It 
does not seem to attack the tree in its younger years, but after it has 
grown to some 20 or 30 feet in height the trouble begins, until the tree 
gradually becomes little more than a huge stump. 
- Liverpool Horticultural Association.—T he sixteenth 
annual general meeting of the above Association was held in the lecture 
room of the Free Library, William Brown Street, Liverpool, on Satur¬ 
day, January 26th, when there were present about seventy members. 
Mr. T. White presided, and called on the Sub-Treasurer (Mr. G. Black- 
more) to read his report, which showed a loss on the summer show of 
£226 03. 4d., and on the autumn show of £95 10s. 6d., or a total of 
£321 15s. lOd. In the bank and from other sources there is still left 
a balance to the good of about £140. A sum of 3 and 2 guineas was 
given respectively to the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent and Royal 
Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—R. P. R. 
- The Student Parsnip. — I was fortunate enough to meet 
with a true stock of this very excellent Parsnip the other day. The 
skin and flesh is very white, the form of a handsome tapering charaeter, 
roots never unduly large, long, or coarse, indeed in form more closely 
resembling that of a good new Intermediate Carrot. The top or 
shoulder is very much of the Carrot nature, being rather elevated than 
flit, and is much the reverse of that of the Hollow Crown. An attendant 
at one of the Surrey vegetable lectures kindly brought me a sample of the 
true Hollow Crown also, with its deep crown set in a round ridge of white 
flesh, to show the distinct characteristics of the two varieties. Student 
was reputedly raised by Dr. Buchanan from a cross between the garden 
and wild Parsnip, and when first introduced seemed very distinct. Of 
late Student stocks seem to have resolved themselves in many directions 
into older varieties.—D. 
- Quassia as an Insecticide —The original Quassia wood was 
derived from Quassia amara, L., a small tree of Surinam. The supply, 
however, fell short, and the Quassia of commerce is now almost entirely 
derived from the tree known as Jamaica Quassia or Bitter Wood 
(Picrmna excelsa, Lindl.). This is a large tree 40 to 60 feet high, with 
a trunk sometimes attaining a diameter of 1 to 2 feet. It has pinnate 
leaves not unlike an Ash, hence one of its colonial names. Bitter Ash. 
The flowers are small, yellowish-green in colour, followed by small 
black berries. Quassia is imported into this country in billets or logs. 
Usually the smoothish grey bark has been removed. The wood is of a 
pale yellowish colour; it has no odour, but is of an intensely bitter 
taste. Quassia chips are officinal in the Pharmacopoeias of Britain, India, 
and the United States. They possess tonic and stomachic properties, 
and are valuable in dyspepsia and debility. Bitter cups (in which 
water allowed to stand acquires a different flavour) are made from 
Quassia wood. The active principle is Quassin or Quassite, which 
appears in small white crystals, very bitter and inodorous. It is present 
in the proportions of about one-tenth per cent. Although an infusion 
of Quassia is harmless to human beings, it is remarkable that the drug 
acts as a narcotic poison to animals. It is used in what is known as 
papier mouri to destroy flies, and fruit and Hop growers also use large 
quantities at certain times of the year to destroy aphides and so-called 
“blights.” To prepare an extract of Quassia on a large scale it is 
recommended to use very fine chips and boil them in water with soft- 
soap. A simple infusion without soap is, however, quite as effective, 
and for use in greenhouses the latter is preferred. Quassia water is 
odourless, and perfectly safe to use. In these respects it is preferable to 
both kerosine emulsions and to tobacco water. There is always a 
certain amount of risk in using kerosine emulsion even in the most 
careful hands, and besides, the smell is specially objectionable. If 
more widely known, it is probable that Quassia extract, for delicate 
plants in houses, would almost entirely take the place of tobacco water 
and largely also of kerosine emulsion. If sprayed regularly over the 
plants it would keep them entirely free from insect pests.—(“ Kew 
Bulletin.”) 
