May 2, 1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
383 
- The presence in the sick room of flowers with delicate 
FRAGRANCE is generally beneficial. Certain colours are said to act 
favourably on the nervous system. Bed blossoms are stimulating, 
while delicate blue flowers are soothing. 
- Protecting Seeds from Birds.—I n “ Work for the Week,” 
page 369, we are reminded of protecting seeds by means of red lead. 
The writer has overlooked what he probably knows, that brickdust is 
very often sold as red lead, and does not act as a deterrent to birds as 
genuine leads, red or white, do.—T. 
- Weather in the Isle of Wight.—M r. C. Orchard writes 
“ We are having genial weather—mild bright days and showers at night, 
which is making everything that has survived the frost grow like magic. 
There is promise of a good bloom on all hardy fruits, and Strawberries 
are coming round, although they were apparently killed. We shall 
soon be able to see to what extent the more tender plants and half- 
hardy shrubs have suffered. Our usual summer visitors of the feathered 
tribe arrived not quite a week later than last year. Swallows were seen 
on the 9 th, the nightingale heard on the 10th, and the cuckoo on 
the 11th of this month. I cut a dish of 100 Asparagus on Friday 
April 17th, whereas I cut last year on March 31st. If we are fortunate 
enough not to have any late spring frost everything looks promising for 
a good season of vegetables and fruits. The spring seeds are germinating 
far better than one could have expected after the bad harvesting season 
last year.” 
- Coating Hot-Water Mains. —In reply to Mr. W. Bardney’s 
inquiry in ” Notes and Gleanings ” (Journal of Horticulture, April 11th) 
respecting the cost of coating hot-water mains with asbestos and other 
compounds. This can be done at a cost of 6d. per foot superficial 
measurement, and undoubtedly under any circumstances would effect 
a great saving in the cost of fuel. I regret I am not in a position to 
give Mr. Bardney an estimate of the amount of fuel that would be 
saved, as so much depends on the distance the mains have to be con¬ 
veyed. As a matter of course, the greater the distance the greater 
would be the saving. In the case of a steam boiler the difference 
between an unprotected and a coated one would be about 10 to 15 per 
cent, in fuel, and I presume the saving would be much greater in that 
of greenhouse boiler and mains, as it frequently happens that great 
lengths of the latter are often exposed. This is a subject which deserves 
more attention than it has hitherto received.—W. I. D. 
- Easter Decorations. —The tendency to use plants in flower 
for house and church decoration at Easter was, says an American con¬ 
temporary, stronger this year than ever, and was conspicuously 
manifested in the increased size of the specimens offered. Of course, 
there was a great array of Lilies, and plants were valued according to 
the number of flowers they carried, each flower being valued at 
25 cents. There were Dutch bulbous plants. Hyacinths, Tulips, and 
Daffodils in abundance ; Violets and Cyclamens in pots, and Spiraeas in 
great quantities, including some of the newer varieties under various 
names. Among many other shrubs forced into bloom Hydrangeas, 
Cytisus, and Azaleas were far the most numerous. Singularly beautiful 
plants of Acacia paradoxa commanded a ready sale. Among the other 
flowering shrubs specimens of the Tree Pasony Reine Elizabeth were 
very effective. Our native Laurel, Kalmia latifolia, Andromeda speciosa 
and A. japonica. Lilacs, Snowballs, Boronias, Metrosideros were more 
rarely seen, and the price for these varied according to their quality 
and size. 
-Violets in the Winter.— Such a structure as that suggested 
by Mr. Haggart on page 344 cannot but have its advantages over an 
ordinary two-light garden frame if we are to reckon upon having such 
severe weather as that passed through during the past winter. I fear, 
though, in ordinary cultivators’ hands much red spider would be the result 
with such a quantity of piping and such a small volume of air above the 
soil. If Mr. Haggart were to confine himself to a single row of 3-inch 
pipes around the pit, and not a flow and return both back and front, I 
think then the suggestion has much to recommend it. I do not agree with 
having a hotbed under the plants, no matter how slight. This is quite 
unnecessary. A space, however, for giving eflScient drainage is necessary. 
With the aid of hot-water pipes the difficulty of opening the lights 
during 30° frost is much minimised of course, but some care will be 
necessary not to employ the heat too freely. In the hands of such an 
able cultivator, however, as Mr. Haggart I have no doubt about the 
results. Growing extra plants in boxes on a shelf in a vinery or Peach 
house is a good plan to save the opening of the frame during exceptionally 
sharp weather.— E. Molynedx. 
- Electric heat has been successfully applied to the thawing 
of frozen water pipes. A wire is run into the pipe until it meets the 
obstruction, and the current is then turned on. 
- Kew Gardens. —Orchids at Kew, says a contemporary, always 
exert a fascinating influence over the numerous visitors to the Gardens, 
and at the present time the display is large enough to be of considerable 
interest to orchidologists. A few days ago there were about 120 distinct 
species of Orchids in flower in the two houses devoted to Orchid culture, 
and besides these there were a few hybrids and several varieties 
flowering. 
-Vegetable and Animal Parasites. —These are now known 
to be the immediate cause of many of the diseases of plants and animals, 
but we do not yet know what are the direct causes which set these low 
organisms in motion. The germs of these little organisma seem to be 
continuously existent in localities where they have been once known. 
But they are not active, and consequently not observed, except when 
some peculiar combination of conditions occur. There is no difference 
in this respect between them and the common Mushroom. Spores, or 
reproductive organs of the Mushroom, will lie in the ground for many 
years in a perfectly torpid state. It is only when the exact temperature, 
the same degree of humidity, and quality of food, all meet together 
in conjunction, says “ Meehans’ Monthly,” that the spores develop, and 
a full-blown Mushroom, with its cobwebby mycelium underground, 
rapidly grows. The millions of dollars spent by municipal corporations 
in “ stamping out diseases ” by various contrivances to destroy germs or 
spores are usually wasted, and though millions of germs may be 
destroyed, millions can never be reached, and these will make matters 
lively when the conjunctive conditions meet. Fortunately, Nature does 
not permit this often. The true effort lies in preventing the meeting of 
these conditions for germination, but until science tells us just what they 
are we are powerless. Bat it will come in time. 
-Wakefield Paxton Society. —At the usual weekly meeting 
of the members of the Paxton Society held on the 20th inst., Mr. J. G. 
Brown of Cutwood was in the chair, and Mr. Herbert Chapman occupied 
the vice-chair. There was about an average attendance. A very useful, 
seasonable, and practical paper on “ Rhubarb ” was read by Mr. W. 
Hudson, head gardener to Mr. W. T. Marriott, J.P., of Sandal Grange, 
one of the oldest and most active members of the Society. Mr. Hudson 
dealt with his subject in a thorough and most interesting manner, 
and his lecture was attentively listened to and warmly applauded. 
The essayist not only dealt with the question of the general cultivation 
of Rhubarb, showing how to grow it in the open garden and how 
to force it, but he referred to some of the many uses to which Rhubarb 
may be put, and also alluded to some of its medicinal properties. 
Mr. Hudson commenced his lecture by describing the best mode of 
planting with Rhubarb in early spring a plot of ground which had 
previously been well and deeply dug or trenched, and liberally 
manured. If the new plantation was to be made from old roots these 
must be divided with a spade into separate parts, no matter how small 
if only a plump and healthy crown was retained to each portion. The 
divided portions should be planted singly, 3 feet apart every way, 
and during the summer they should be encouraged to grow by waterings 
of liquid manure. Where plants from seeds were used no division 
of the roots was necessary, and such plants might be placed 18 inches 
apart each way, and at the end of the second year’s growth every 
other plant might be taken out for forcing. It was not wise to pull 
too freely the second year, but after that, if it was well attended to, 
they could scarcely hurt it by pulling. If they adopted annual 
planting, on however small a scale, it would bo advantageous both 
in productiveness and flavour, and also in earliness and size of stalks. 
He recommended the following three varieties to follow each other in 
succession :—Prince Albert, Linnseus, and Victoria. Of course, artificial 
means had to be resorted to in order that early productiveness and 
the desired colour might be obtained. There were many ways in forcing 
Rhubarb. One was to place large pots over the roots as they were 
planted in the open ground, and then to cover the pots with a quantity 
of hot manure ; but the practice most generally adopted was to dig 
up any number of roots and plant them in ranges of pits or frames 
heated by hot manure, hot-water pipes, or flues. Rhubarb made 
excellent wine, and he would not be surprised to hear that Rhubarb 
was responsible for a great deal of what is sold as champagne, and he 
would rather have good Rhubarb wine than bad champagne. A long 
and most interesting discussion ensued, in which several of the members 
took part, and then a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to 
Mr. Hudson for his excellent paper. 
