260 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 5, 1894 
- English Ehubarb in America.—A remarkable feature in 
the vegetable market of New York, for a week or two preceding Christ¬ 
mas, was in the shape of several tons of forced Rhubarb, of which it is 
said that over 10 tons were received from Liverpool. 
- The " Ceylon Observer,” reports that at the annual meeting of 
the Planters’ Association, held a short time since, it was resolved 
“ That the Government be asked to arrange for the appointment of an 
entomologist to be attached to the Colombo Museum.” 
- Spir^A arguta. —The branches of this Spiraea are some¬ 
what wiry, and by their charming drooping habit show off to the best 
advantage the profusion of pure white flowers which are produced 
during April on the previous season’s growth. An additional attraction 
is given this plant by the flower buds, these being of a pretty pink 
colour. This species is of easy cultivation, thriving in a diversity of 
soils. Propagation can be effected by means of cuttings of half- 
ripened wood placed in a close frame.—D. 
- Boring of Flowers by Humble Bees.—A large number 
of flowers are bored, as it is believed, by humble bees. They collect the 
nectar in this way, instead of entering by the mouth of the flower. 
Dr. J. Schneck of Mt. Carmel, Ills., a most observing botanist, says 
“ Meehan’s Monthly,” believes these are not humble bees, members of 
the genus Bombus, but belong to the genus Xylocopa, popularly known 
as borers, or carpenter bees. He has certainly seen these creatures 
slitting the tubes of Clover, and humble bees entering the mouth in the 
legitimate way. 
- Three Early Good Broccoli.—I am at the present time 
cutting splendid heads of Veitch’s Spring White and Early Penzance 
Broccoli. The first named is very distinct and valuable, the heads snow 
white, of a good size, and well protected. Early Penzance succeeds it 
and is affording beautiful heads. Maincrop will follow. We have 
about 1000 of the three varieties, planted in the open quarters from seed 
sown last May, the soil being drawn to the stems ridge fashion in due 
course; and although we registered 33° of frost, we have not lost 
any plants. Other sorts of Broccoli looking well are Leamington, 
Knight’s Protecting, Model, and Chelsea Favourite.— John Chinnery. 
- Flowers and Bees. —Out of many thousands of Snowdrops 
I do not see a single seed pod, the inclement weather having prevented 
bees visiting the flowers. A Wallflower indoors does not show a 
fertilised pod ; a spider has so interwoven its webs about the plant 
that insects have a poor chance of reaching the flowers, surely proof 
that bees are in many cases necessary for the fructification of plants. 
The question is attracting considerable attention at present, and plans 
are advised as test cases to prove or disprove the usefulness of bees in 
relation to flowers. One of the methods is to cover the flowers with 
netting. A much better plan is to have a rim of wire cloth covered 
with glass. The rays of the sun are essential towards pollenisation, and 
to obscure plants from the direct rays of the sun is courting defeat.—T. 
-Onions and Carrots.—A n old custom advocated by old- 
fashioned gardeners was to sow Onions and Carrots together, a “ mixum 
gatherum ” of the two as a preventive of the maggots peculiar to each, 
perhaps on the principle that the villainous marauders,whilst seeking what 
they might devour, might devour each other like the historical Kilkenny 
cats. The results I obtained on one trial did not prove much ; though the 
Onions came all right, [the Carrots went all wrong. The latter have 
always proved the most dilHcult crop with me, and are of but little less 
importance than Onions. Perhaps I did not allow the right proportion 
of Onions and its maggots to the Carrots and its wireworms, so that 
by sheer force of numbers the latter predominated. Has anyone 
experience of this old plan ?—E. K. 
- Preventing Importations of Injurious Insects.—F rom 
a note in “ Insect Life ” it appears that attempts are being made to 
introduce an effective system of quarantine against injurious insects in 
California. The State is now importing fruits, trees, shrubs, plants, and 
seeds from Europe, Australia, China, Japan, South Sea Islands, South 
and Central America, and other localities, and hardly a vessel arrives at 
its ports which does not bring such objects, many of which are infested 
with some insect or fungus pest. “ Nature ” says that at the Cape of 
Good Hope a quarantine law is in operation giving the Governor the 
power to provide by proclamation for protection against the importation 
and spread of pests, and providing a heavy penalty for its contravention. 
It is proposed to adopt similar legislation in California, and if the State 
succeeds in making its measures in this direction effective, its example 
will in all probability be widely followed. 
- Cardiff Horticultural Society. — The sixth annual 
Show of this Society will be held in the Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, by 
permission of the Marquess of Bute, K.T., on August 15th and 16th. 
A liberal schedule has been prepared, about £250 being offered in 
prizes. Mr. H. Gillett, 66 , Woodville Road, Cardiff, is the Secretary. 
- Horticultural Congress at Paris.—W e are informed 
that the tenth congress organised by the National Horticultural Society 
of France will be held at Paris during the General Horticultural 
Exhibition, between May 23rd and 28th. Among the special questions 
to be discussed are the following :—Chlorophyll in relation to the 
vigour of cultivated plants ; capillarity in relation to the preparation 
of the soil; the means of promoting the nitrification of nitrogenous 
substances, and of rendering the nitrogen more readily assimilable. 
- Spiraea Thunbergi.— Being the foremost of the shrubby 
Spirmas to open its blossoms, this species is deserving of much more 
attention than it at the present time receives. The habit of the plant 
is distinct from any other Spiraea ; the leaves are linear, 1 inch in 
length, and are on somewhat thin graceful branches. The flowers are 
produced during March and April in great abundance, and being pure 
white contrast admirably with the bright green of the young foliage. 
At maturity this Spiraea rarely exceeds 3 feet in height.—D. 
- Dahlia Henry Patrick. —In “ E. M.’s ” Dahlia analysis in 
the Journal of Horticulture of March 22nd I notice the above variety 
is omitted. Whether it is because it is not admissible as a show flower 
I know not ; nevertheless I consider it a most desirable variety. Its 
pure white, well-formed flowers, which are produced in great abundance, 
are most beautiful. It has also the recommendation of throwing its 
flowers well up above the foliage, and it is valuable for many purposes ; 
a variety I would strongly advise anyone to grow.—J. J. Craven. 
-WooLTON Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society.— 
The last meeting of the session was held on Thursday in the Mechanics 
Institute. A variety of subjects were discussed, the principal of these 
being “ The Pruning of Koses,” and a most profitable evening was 
spent. Mr. R. Todd, gardener to Holbrook Gaskell, Esq., Woolton 
Wood, was awarded certificates of merit for a eharming collection of 
Orchid blooms, in all fifty-four varieties. The same exhibitor also 
showed a good collection of spring flowers in sixty varieties. The 
meetings throughout the season have been well attended; the library has 
been of inestimable service ; the Secretary, Mr. W. Disley, and the 
remainder of the officials, are the right people to make a society 
successful. They contemplate holding an autumn exhibition again this 
season.—R. P. R. 
- The Cultivation of Flowers.—T he last of a series of eight 
lectures was one on “ The Cultivation of Flowers,” given by Dr. Clarke 
of Yorkshire College, in the Board Schools, Wrenthorpe, on Tuesday 
evening in last week. The lecturer first of all remarked upon the 
characteristics of the Potovens soils, which generally he would consider 
to be loamy—not light, not very strong, but between the two. They 
were poor in phosphates and lime, and most of them were rich in potash 
and nitrogen. Soils that were rich in nitrogen, he said, would grow 
nothing but leaves on our plants. Most of the soils were sour, but the 
sourness could easily be taken away by using lime, say about a pound of 
quicklime for each square yard. It was possible to grow flowers with 
farmyard manure, but they, especially annuals, wanted plenty of potash. 
The lecturer explained at considerable length the best way of treating 
soils by means of chemical manuring for the growth of plants, and gave 
a few useful hints as to the best way of watering plants in pots. 
- Emigrants’ Information Office, 31, Broadway, 'West¬ 
minster, S.W.—The April circulars of the Emigrants’ Information 
Office and the new annual handbooks with maps, just issued, show the 
present prospects of emigration. This is the best season in the year for 
emigrants to seek work in Canada, but it is not so easy as it was formerly 
for men to get work on farms, unless they are accustomed to ploughing 
and looking after stock. The Department of Agriculture in Victoria is 
promoting the establishment of seri-culture, and the manufacture of 
scents from flowers. In Queensland there is no demand for more labour, 
except for a few ploughmen. In Tasmania there is no demand for 
more labourers. In Cape Colony the supply of labour is sufficient. A 
report from Natal states ;—“ There is no demand for farm labour, but a 
few white men are kept in some places as overseers of coloured labour. 
There is a good demand for general female servants and for governesses, 
but not for dressmakers ; while laundresses can make 63 . to lOs. a day, 
working for themselves.” 
