550 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Jane 20,189t. 
to light mauve by expansion. One of the best of doable Lilacs is Michael 
Buchner, rosy lilac in the bud, paler when expanded. Amongst the 
newer single-flowered varieties Souvenir de Louis Spath is perhaps the 
most showy of all, rich purple red, which colour is retained after 
expansion. G4ant des Batailles—The single-flowered buds are red at 
first, changing by expansion to deep lilac. Beranger bears enormous 
clusters of large lilac-purple flowers, and is quite one of the best of 
single varieties. Liberti has compact clusters of lilac-bUe flowers with 
a metallic reflex.—E. M. 
PRUNINGS. 
Apropos of restoring “Kollo’s Oak’’ by masonry (page 474), some 
years since I repaired by this method a venerable Beech—too grand in 
its decaying glory to leave to its fate. Half way up the trunk an exten¬ 
sive [cavity—probably caused by the loss of a limb—collected the rain 
water, not only hastening decay, but becoming at times offensive from 
the smell. This cavity was scraped out, filled up with bricks and Port¬ 
land cement, and the latter smoothly surfaced over the brickwork, thus 
by its colour being hardly distinguishable from the natural bark. 
Eventually the bark closed in over the mason work, and this bit of 
surgery gave complete satisfaction. 
“ Food Requirements of the Vine ” (page 466) and the discussion on 
“ Express Grape Growing ’’ are both interesting and instructive. For 
renovating old Vines I pin my faith on Thomson’s Vine manure. As a 
tonic, where the system hss gone down, it works wonders. Those 
troubled with shanking, and unable to clear out the old stock, should 
try it. I never fail to fork a light dressing of it into the border at 
starting time, and, it must be added, never fail to grumble at the cost. 
The veteran Potato grower’s text “ Powder ’’ (page 479), and a 
promise of shot to follow, we may be sure is no flash in the pan. 
Presumably many a sieve will scatter Tait and Buchanan’s anti-blight 
powder o’er many a Potato patch, so we will keep our powder dry, and 
use it dry. Without diving into trade secrets, one may suppose that 
copper in some shape or form is present in the composition, hence the 
thought arises whether this will have any deleterious effect on the 
operator. _ 
Each number of the Journal of Horticulture forcibly impresses the 
more liberal spirit of the new order of things. An illustration to the 
point is “ Free Growth of Peach Trees,’’ by Mr. Iggulden (p. 490). 
Modestly he says, “ . . . there is nothing very novel in this ; ’’ and 
that we may allow in noting the practical instances he quotes, Possibly 
there is nothing new in it—so far as theory goes—but there is an army 
of cautious ones loth to attack an old custom until they can see their 
way clearly defined by some practical leaders, Mr. Iggulden introduces 
the thin end of the wedge so cautiously, yet so convincingly, that 
many will, I wot, strike a blow for freedom—the freer training of Peach 
trees. 
“ Battle of (flowers at) Hastings,” see note (p. 497). Not exactly the 
Norman invasion. “ . . . £300 has been promised . . . ” to 
provide the sinews of war. True flower lovers will not regard with 
unqualified satisfaction this continental innovation. Poor flowers 1 I 
would suggest a slight alteration in the programme, viz., flour instead 
of flowers. At one time when touring in the Emerald Isle, being in 
Dublin on a gala day, 1 was struck (literally and figuratively) with the 
manner in which the students of Trinity College used small paper bags 
of flour, and the excellent sport it gave (to them). I merely throw out 
this flour as a suggestion and a plea for the flowers we love. 
Marantas. —These beautiful foliage plants do not readily lend them¬ 
selves to utilitarian purposes. To this—in this age—we may attribute 
their decline. Mr. Row’s paper (p. 499) clearly points to a matter of 
vital importance in successful culture, viz., atmospheric moisture ; 
consequently the removal of these plants for but a short time from these 
satisfying conditions will show they do not like it. M. Veitchi, an old 
variety, but taking high rank in the family, recalls a difficulty—not in 
growing it for exhibition, but in getting it to stand for the few hours it 
was needed for such. On some occasions when reaching home it 
required, and had, a warm bath to get it out of the sulks. M. zebrina 
and M. Warscewiczi, grown in cork-covered tubs, are noble objects in a 
tropical conservatory. _ 
Bees. —The two bee-keepers (“ Lanarkshire ” and “ English ”) keep 
us au courant with apiarian work. It is a matter for surprise to find 
that in so many fine gardens bees are not. Perhaps it is considered 
that the work of the modern bee expert is too intricate to be lightly 
engaged in. Setting aside considerations of profit, I have found one or 
two of Neighbour’s cottage hives—which by-the-by are not cottage in 
price—with the bell-glass supers give agreeable results. Although honey 
can to-day be purchased so cheaply, a bell-glass with its virgin contents 
is ornamental and useful, and especially esteemed, when home produced, 
on the breakfast table. To a beginner the question of more stings than 
honey is obviated by a veil and gloves. 
Onions. —Some time since a correspondent advocated the sowing of 
Onions with a dash of sulphur in the drills. This was pruned out for 
trial, and results are, so far, highly satisfactory, This season must be 
looked upon as highly propitious for the maggot. The attack has been 
made, but the maggot on reaching the sulphur “ gave it up.” Nothing 
else was done as a preventive. A good sprinkling of nitrate was given 
in anticipation of rain (which did not come). This exultation may be 
premature, but present appearances when viewing the Onion plot call 
forth blessings on your correspondent and his sulphur remedy from— 
Saynob. 
Cheysanthemum Miss M. M. Johnson. 
This American variety, a deep golden yellow incurving Japanese, 
raised by Messrs. E. G. Hill & Son, is reputed to be very dwarf, and an 
early October bloomer of some merit. It has been illustrated in the 
leading American gardening papers, and should be a valuable companion 
to Mrs. E. G. Hill, which came from the same source. 
Chrysanthemums in Australia. 
These flowers seem to be holding their own in the Colonies. A 
friend in Sydney has just sent me a recent number of the “ Australian 
Agriculturist,” in which appears a large illustration of Mr. Ernest 
Calvat’s seedling, Mdlle. Th^r^se Key, which is now being distributed in 
Australia. Chrysanthemum shows are reported to have been held at 
Sydney, Goulburn, Cootamundra, and Albury. The one at Sydney is 
said to have been a great improvement on those previously held there 
in many respects. 
Recent Chrysanthemums. 
The above is the title of Bulletin No. 91 of the Horticultural 
Division of the Cornell University, and is edited by Mr. Michael Barker. 
It contains notes on varieties grown at Cornell last year, the majority of 
them being, of course, of American origin, although we notice among 
them Beauty of Exmouth, Charles Davis, Enfant des Deux Mondes, and 
William Seward. Mr. Barker, who is also the editor of the “ American 
Chrysanthemum Annual,” deals with methods of cultivation and 
insect friends and enemies. There are several illustrations in black and 
white. 
American Chrysanthemums. 
Mr. Michael Barker, the editor of the “ American Chrysanthemum 
Annual,” gives a list of new American varieties for 1895, which numbers 
sixty-seven. But the total, if we include what are now known as 
Californian seedlings, will probably be much larger. Along the Pacific 
coast are raisers and importers who introduce into the States from Japan 
the best of the new kinds as they ccme out there, and many of these come 
to be looked upon as American varieties. If these are included it 
may be safely estimated that there will be no fewer than 150 new 
Chrysanthemums for 1895 distributed by the American growers. 
Chrysanthemum Madame Lucien CHAUEff. 
There is a coloured illustration of this variety in a recent number 
of the “ Moniteur d’Horticulture ” of Paris. It was raised by M. de 
Reydellet last year, but like many others from this grower of late is 
hardly known to English cultivators. Seven or eight years ago we had 
a fair proportion of M. de Reydellet’s seedlings on our exhibition tables, 
but the keen competition of the American and English varieties seems 
to have placed his recent seedlings at a disadvantage. As depicted 
Madame Lucien Chaur^ is a Japanese flat-petalled variety of only 
medium size, but the colour is warm and rich, a mingling of violet 
crimson buff, tipped golden yellow. It was certificated at Chambery.—P. 
THE R.H.S. EXAMINATION PAPERS. 
I AM glad that “ Reader ” (page 500) has offered a little criticism, 
encouragement, and correction to my answers on page 470. I may tell 
him I was not a candidate at the recent examination. With reference 
to the absorption of food by the roots of plants, “ Reader ” says that the 
assumption that roots absorb compounds through their surfaces does not 
accord with scientific teaching. I infer he does not challenge the state¬ 
ment that compounds do constitute the food of plants. Plants I know 
do not receive their food in a solid form, it must be either in a liquid or 
gaseous form. Certain chemical elements combine to form chemical 
compounds, says Mr. G. Abbey in the Journal of Horticulture, and as 
such are imbibed by the roots of plants. He also says that they receive 
the food by the absorbent surfaces of the roots. 
I did not say that the “ spongioles ” were the only medium by which 
the food of plants was received. I am fully aware that the root’s hairs 
are of considerable importance, but I likewise claim that the spongioles 
are of equal importance as absorbents of moisture, which of course is 
food to the plant. Thompson’s “ Gardeners’ Assistant ” says that “ The 
function of spongioles consists in absorbing moisture and conveying it 
into the structure of the plant.” Further, “Spongioles absorb fluids 
with great force.” I would further ask “ Reader,” What causes Calceo¬ 
larias to collapse suddenly when in full growth and flower ? My answer 
