I\ 3 'oraary 14, 1806. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
133 
_Florida’s Crop op Pine Apples last year is estimated to 
reach 50,000 crates, or fully 2,300,000 Piae Apples. 
- Mr. John K. Ward, an old Kewite, who for the past twelve 
months has occupied the position of Superintendent of the Nagpur 
Botanic Gardens, India, died, we much regret to hear, quite recently. 
- The extensive and valuable botanical library of the 
LATE Prof. N. Pringsheim has been presented to the German 
Botanical Society, of which he was President, together with a sum of 
25,000 marks for its maintenance. 
- Phosphorus in Apples. —Mr. G. Searles recommends the 
eating of Apples just previous to going to bed. Its use at such a 
period of the day is said to assist the digestive organs, absorb any 
excess of acid in the stomach, and insure calm sleep to the eater. The 
Apple he contends contains more phosphorus than any other fruit or 
vegetable, and, after the fruits of the Citrus family, it is the best 
natural disinfectant of the mouth. 
- Koses from Australia.—A bunch of frozen Roses from the 
garden of the Editor of the New Zealand “ Truth,” St. Albans, Christ¬ 
church, has recently been an object of some interest at the Royal 
Aquarium. The bunch was of good size, and appeared to consist of 
blossoms of rose and red Bourbon varieties, mingled with which were 
blooms of Gloire de Dijon. The flowers had retained their colours in a 
very satisfactory manner, but of course soon fell to pieces after the 
block of ice in which they had been frozen thawed down to the edges 
of the petals. 
- Wakefield Paxton Society.—A t the meeting of this 
Society, held on Saturday, 2nd inst., there was scarcely so large an 
attendance as usual. Alderman Milnes presided, and Mr. J. G. Brown 
was in the vice-chair. The lecturer was Mr. Haigh of Sheffield, who 
has previously appeared in the same capacity before the Society, and 
who on this occasion dealt with “ The Sporting Character of Flowers ” 
in a very lucid and interesting manner. He spoke of the means that 
were adopted to obtain a superior form of plant, and pointed out that 
in the cultivation of plants we reversed the order of Nature, both 
the strong and the delicate being sacrificed to the weakly seedling. 
If we followed Nature, he said, we should have very few of our most 
chaste flowers. Mr. Haigh dealt also with cross-fertilisation and the 
variation of plant life, remarking that unless attended to plants would 
revert to their original type. The strongest would survive, but only 
in a degenerate form. A discussion followed, and at the close a vote 
of thanks was passed to the essayist. 
- Chickweed and Rheumatism.— I enclose slip on rheuma¬ 
tism, distributed for the public good by our octogenarian rector. 
Begonia raiser and gardener. He tells me of many cases that his 
remedy has cured. If you could find space for the same I expect there 
are many suffering gardening friends who would soon put it to the test. 
—G. Bolas. [We find the space below.] 
A Cure for Rheumatism within reach of all— I need not say 
how prevalent this ailment (Rheumatism) is, or how great is often the 
suffering from it—a ready and effectual cure for this ill, from which no 
one can claim to be always exempt, is a thing much to be desired. And 
having discovered such a remedy, or rather having led to the discovery 
of it, I wish to make it known as widely as possible. The remedy is very 
simple, and abounds almost everywhere where a garden is to be found ; 
and I now proceed to name it and to describe the way in which it is to 
be prepared. Almost everyone knows the common weed called Chick- 
weed. To prepare the remedy in question fill a bottle pretty closely 
with this plant, and then pour in spirits of wine sufficient to cover the 
whole. Cork the bottle, and let it stand any length of time. It will be 
ready for use in two or three days. To use the remedy, moisten the tips 
of your fingers with this tincture and gently rub it on the parts 
affected. Rheumatic pains will often take flight at the first applica¬ 
tion, as I have myself experienced more than once, and severe cases, 
whether recent or of long standing, will be effectually relieved by a few 
repeated applications—of this I have had abundant and satisfactory testi¬ 
mony. It will relieve also pains that often recur in old healed wounds upon 
change of weather, and the severe pains that many suffer from in hands 
with swollen joints, or chalk stones. Let no one despise this remedy 
because it is so common a thing, but if a sufferer, let him put it to the test, 
and I can assure him he will not be disappointed. Our commonest 
weeds, I doubt not, abound in valuable remedies, if we only knew how 
to discover them, not indeed by haphazard trial, but by scientific 
proving.—F. H. Brett, Carsington Rectory, Derbyshire, 
- Death of Mr. George Taber. —We much regret to hear 
that Mr. George Taber of Rivenhill, Essex, died on Saturday last at the 
age of 76. Mr. Taber was a Director of the well known seed firm of 
Cooper, Taber & Co., Limited. He was widely known in the trade, and 
highly respected. 
- Beautiful Cyclamens.— Messrs. Sutton & Sons have sent 
us from Reading a sample of Cyclamens, and having regard to their 
size, form and variety of colours, these ranging from pure white to 
ruby crimson, we have seen no blooms to surpass and few to equal 
them. The accompanying stout marbled leaves are also ornamental 
and indicate superior cultivation. 
- Ink for Zinc Labels.—V arious kinds of ink are used for 
writing upon large labels. A continental contemporary says that here 
is one of the best:—“ Dissolve one part of sulphate of copper and one 
part of chloride of calcium in thirty-six times their volume of pure 
water. Allow the writing to dry for two minutes, then wash with a 
good quantity of water, dry it, and wipe with a piece of cloth soaked 
in oil.” 
- The “Great” Class at Wolverhampton. —Our corre¬ 
spondent who favoured with the note on the Wolverhampton show 
(page 117, last week) was “quite shocked” when he saw it in print, 
but says he found consolation in the intelligence of his readers, who 
would be quick to perceive that the class is to consist of sixteen plants, 
not 116, as he wrote without his spectacles. He presumes also that 
London was under a fog, or his little accident would have been 
discovered in Fleet Street. The delicacy of the reference is appreciated. 
- African Mahogany. —Mahogany logs from the east coast of 
Africa have got as far west as Louisville, Kentucky, and an American 
contemporary says that it is much cheaper than the mahogany from 
Central America and Cuba. From these Mahogany forests in Africa it 
is said that 12,000,000 feet of lumber have already been cut and 
exported, and they promise to yield an immense revenue to the British 
and French colonists who have the territory. The wood has a tinge 
of pink in contrast with the somewhat reddish colour of the American 
variety, and some of the squared logs which have been imported are 
2 by 3| feet in size. 
-Early Cauliflowers.—W e may well expect to learn when 
a thaw comes that great injury has been done to white Broccoli. It 
seems impossible that the plants can have successfully resisted the 
intensely severe frosts without great harm being done them. That fact 
renders it all the more imperative that sowings of the Snowball section 
of dwarf Cauliflowers should be made at once, especially where not 
previously done. I always made a first sowing of Snowball in January, 
but in a cold house. Where there is some warmth, growth is rapid, and 
it is surprising how soon plants can be had several inches in height, 
and strong enough to plant on a warm border early. Those hard pressed 
for heads because of the loss of Broccoli should try and grow some plants 
in 24-sized pots, or even plant a foot apart in a large frame. Heads 
so obtained would be of the greatest value. To get them early, however, 
sowings must be made immediately.—D. 
-Weights and Measures of Fruits.—I n looking over the 
notes written, presumably by the late Mr. Collins, reference is made to 
Apples, “ profit and loss.” It affords me an opportunity of offering a 
few remarks respecting the present confusing system in different 
localities of weights and measures as applied to fruits and vegetables- 
Nothing seems to me more expedient than an Act of Parliament giving 
a scale of weights and measures to be used throughout the land. I 
must be pardoned if I am misleading in any of my quotations as 
applicable to Lincolnshire. There are 14 lbs. of Strawberries to the 
stone, 15 lbs. of Gooseberries, 16 lbs. of Currants, Cherries, and Plums ; 
16 lbs. of Apples to the peck, 18 lbs. of Pears, 20 lbs. of Potatoes ; and 
in other vegetables sold there must be—Cucumbers thirteen to the dozen, 
bunches of Radishes thirteen, Cauliflowers thirteen, and Lettuces four¬ 
teen. Young plants of Cabbages, Cauliflowers, and Brussels Sprouts are 
sold at six scores to the hundred. In almost everything produced from 
the garden there is some excess above the actual number, weight, or 
measure, according to produce sold. It is impossible to put 20 lbs. of 
Potatoes into a peck basket, white a bushel of such in a corn measure of 
that size would weigh 56 lbs. without the vessel. An Act of Parliament 
showing a definite scale of weights and measures, to be used compulsorily 
throughout the country, would prove beneficial to those dealing in such 
articles, by putting to an end much of the confusion which now exists. 
I shall be very glad if any one of your readers will give their opinions 
! on this important subject.— Geo, Dyke, Stubton Hall Gardens. 
