September 6, 1888. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
217 
In Dog Violet (Viola canina), the capsule is raised on a long stem, 
and at maturity opens by three valves, each holding a row of four or five 
seeds. The walls of the open valves now become dry, and contract, the 
two edges approaching each other. This after a time forces the seeds 
out with a jerk, throwing them 8 or 10 feet off. In Sweet Violet and 
Hairy Violet (V. odorata and hirsuta), the capsules are not so raised, 
the stem being almost absent, and the leaves all springing from close to 
the root. Here we find that their capsules simply open as they lie on 
the ground, suffering the seeds to fall out among the grass near by. 
Not being raised aloft, if the capsules shot their seeds, the latter would 
probably strike against the surrounding grass and fall back again, so the 
valves develope no contracting power, such being useless, and they 
simply open quietly. Dog Violet has found a better device for dis¬ 
persion, and so in many generations has gradually developed a tall 
stem, from the top of which its elastic capsules can do their work with 
good effect. 
In Common Balsam, or “ Touch-me-not,’’ the pod dehisces through 
its whole length, and at maturity, if we gently press the centre between 
the thumb and finger, it swells up under our touch, parts suddenly, and 
away go the seeds. I have stood at one end of a room 12 feet long, and 
by pressure caused a pod to throw its seeds with force against the oppo¬ 
site wall. Again, go and look at some of our Vetches, or at Broom in 
seed time, and you will find the pods split in two, with each half rolled 
or twisted on itself, and the seeds gone. The pods possess a layer of 
woody tissue at an acute angle to their axis. When this contracts the 
pod is, therefore, not curled up along its length, but twisted like a screw. 
Gorse, and some others of the Pea order, open with a sudden crackling 
noise and shoot out the seeds. On a hot August day you may stand by 
a clump of Gorse bushes and hear a series of tiny reports, as one by one 
the pods burst. 
Two singular instances are worth notice. The fruit of the Sand-box 
tree (Hura crepitans) of America is about as large as an Orange, with a 
dozen or more deep furrows, which indicate as many internal divisions 
into carpels. When ripe, and under a hot sun, each separate carpel 
splits simultaneously, the whole bursting with a loud explosion. From 
this fact the plant has earned the soubriquet of the “ Monkey’s Dinner- 
bell 1’’ Squirting Cucumber (Ecbalium Elaterium) is one of the Gourd 
order, and when ripe is full to tension of a viscid fluid. A very slight 
touch causes it to suddenly separate itself from its stalk, the sides con¬ 
tract, and through the end where it was attached, the whole contents, 
both fluid and seeds, are sent with a whizzing sound some feet in the 
air. An unwary traveller touching Ecbalium may quite easily obtain a 
baptism not to his liking. Intense heat causes spontaneous separation 
from the stalk without any touch. These examples of complete self¬ 
dispersion may suffice. 
Of the cases where a partial dehiscence takes place, we may name a 
few. Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium), found in almost any wild spot, 
has its capsule tilted laterally at the tip, and opens by ten minute teeth. 
The seeds rest safely until a high wind comes along, when they are 
shaken out and carried away. This places it in a superior position to 
that of ordinary Chickweed (Stellaiia media), which opens all the way 
down, the seeds falling on the adjacent ground. 
The beautiful Red Campion, with its bottle-shaped capsule, also 
opens by ten teeth, and is admirably fitted for wind-dispersion. The 
Catchfly of our corn fields, I'ink, and Primrose, open in similar 
f ishion. 
Another method is that of pores, or tiny circular holes near the top, 
through which the seeds escape under the action of wind after the plant 
has opened its “ windows.” These may be seen in Mignonette, Snap¬ 
dragon, Toad Flax, Canterbury Bell, and notably in Poppy, where the 
overhanging edges of the circle of stigmas protect the openings. The 
pores themselves are said to close in wet weather. This 1 have not, as 
yet, ascertained to be the fact myself. In those Canterbury Bolls whose 
fruits are pendent, the' capsules open at the base, which is of course 
uppermost in these cases. We see, therefore, that it is a useful provision 
that ensures the capsules opening above, so that the seeds may remain 
prisoners until the wind acts on their capsules, and afterwards on them¬ 
selves, to carry them far afield. 
In Pimpernel and Plantain the capsules open by a circular line 
entirely round the fruit, the top part coming off like a pill-box 
cover. Here, again, the wind can act when the seeds are ready for it.— 
H. W. S. Worsley Benison, F.L.S. (in the Journal of Microscopy). 
(To be continued ) 
RED SPIDER ON VINES. 
Of all the troubles which a Grape grower is heir to, none is so bad as 
an attack of red spider on the Vine foliage. Nothing that I am 
acquainted with prevents the berries colouiing so effectively as having 
the foliage covered with red spider. Perhaps Black Hamburgh is the 
variety most subject to spider of all the varieties grown, for the reason, I 
presume, that this has more fire heat through early forcing than all other 
sorts together. I never yet saw Grapes of this variety colour well 
when the leaves were badly infested at the time the berries were com¬ 
mencing to colour, and that is the period when this pest most often 
appears. 
Many remedies are recommended for its eradication, such as paint¬ 
ing the hot-water pipes with sulphur and making them hot, which is 
not the least use as far as my experience goes. I think this method of 
applying sulphur is bad in another way. Without much care is used 
in thoroughly cleaning it off the pipes the following season when the 
Vines are in bloom, the fumes arising from the pipes when hot some¬ 
times cause the berries to be rusted, which is a serious defect. I have 
seen this occur many times. Then, again, sponging the leaves with 
soapy water, tobacco water, and many other concoctions, but I never 
yet found any of these effective, not half so much as I have been led to 
believe. The best of all remedies is to dust the affected leaves upon 
the first appearance of red spider with dry sulphur, that of a brown 
colour is best as not being so conspicuous as the ordinary colour. With 
the use of a distributor the leaves can be covered with the sulphur 
without disfiguring the bunches.—S. 
COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE AND AMERICA. 
[Read before the Massachusetts Hort'cnltural Society by Mr. W. 3 . Stewart of Boston.] 
(i Continued from page 100.) 
Most of us can remember the time when the whole cut flower 
trade of Boston probably would not have sufficed to keep one of our 
modern flower shops going. About the only flowers which could be 
bought in this city were the few stiffly made bouquets that were 
brought to town every morning, and offered for sale in the windows of 
some provision dealer or druggist. 
What a contrast with the condition of the flower business of to-day ! 
There are plenty of men engaged in it who in general intelligence, 
education, and refinement are the equals of those in any other line of 
trade. It is rapidly becoming a business of vast importance ; with a 
large amount of money invested, with its wholesale, commission, and 
supply dealers, importers, jobbers, and retailers. It is no longer in the 
experimental stage, and cannot be successfully conducted at random or 
by guesswork. Competition and increased investments of capital have 
brought prices down as low as possible, and the man who does not 
manage his business carefully and systematically stands but a poor 
chance to succeed. Foresight, energy, and brains are what tell in the 
flower trade of to-day ; and there is room in it yet for more men who 
are blessed with these requisites. The man who raises the best flowers 
in the market of any variety is always pretty sure of good sales at good 
prices. With such perishable articles, which cannot be produced at will, 
there will always occur seasons of glut, and at such times it is the man 
that offers the inferior stock who must go to the wall first. 
The tendency of those engaged in growing flowers for the market 
nowadays is towards specialties. It is certainly better for a man to- 
grow two or three things well and gain a reputation for those specialties, 
than to produce a little of everything indifferently. Most Rose growers 
now limit themselves to a few varieties, which for one reason or another 
they regard as the most profitable, and the best success is attained where 
each variety has a separate house. The number of varieties of Roses 
which may be considered as staple, since they are quoted at wholesale 
in most of the large markets in this country, is about twenty-five, as 
follows—Bon Silene, Safrano, Isabella Sprunt, Niphetos, Perle des 
Jardins, Sunset, Papa Gontier, Souvenir d’un Ami, Madame Cusin,, 
Souvenir de Malmaison, MarGchal Niel, Cornelia Cook, William Francis 
Bennett, Pierre Guillot, Bride, Catherine Mermet, American Beauty, 
General Jacqueminot, La France, Baroness Rothschild, Madame Gabriel 
Luizet, Magna Charta, Anna de Diesbach, and Duke of Connaught. 
Other varieties which are grown for the market, but less generally, 
are Douglas, Duchess of Edinburgh, Yellow Tea, Royal Tea, Lamarque, 
Reine Marie Henriette, Climbing Devoniensis, Boule de Neige, and an 
assortment of Hybrid Perpetuals, which are forced for winter consump¬ 
tion. The most desirable points in a market Rose are continuous and 
abundant blooming, long sterns bearing single buds, and robust foliage, 
with fragrance, clear colour, and good keeping qualities in the 
flower. 
Quite a large proportion of Roses grown about Boston are shipped 
to other points in New England, Canada, and the West. The shipping- 
trade has grown to be a very important item, and is the outlet 
through which our surplus finds its way-, and which keeps prices up so 
as to afford a fair remuneration. There is no doubt that during the 
greater portion of the year there are more Roses grown about Boston 
than it would be possible to consume here, and if the shipping trade 
were to cease we should be swamped, and prices would at once fall far 
below the cost of production, bringing ruin to many. 
The popularity of the Rose seems not to diminish, and it probably 
will not as long as the demand for novelties is supplied by new varie¬ 
ties. Every year brings forth fresh candidates for popular favour, 
most of them from the other side of the water, but the proportion of 
really successful ones is small as compared with the number sent out. 
The conditions under which a Rose is fore* d for market in this countr are 
so different from those under which it is raised and grown abroad that 
many Roses of European origin, whose appearance has at first civen 
great promise, have proved utter failures, causing much financial sorrow 
to those who invested in them. 
The Carnation has taken a fresh hold upon popular fancy within 
two or three years, and deservedly so, for the new kinds which have 
been introduced recently are in many respects great improvements upon 
the old varieties. To be valuable now, a Carnation must produce its 
flowers on single stems, so that they can be cut long. The flowers must 
be distinct in colour, large and full in form, and not inclined to burst 
at the calyx. The Violet is a popular flower the world over. The only 
variety which is generally saleable here is the Marie Louise, and this is 
subject to a disease which has baffled the most experienced Violet 
growers and forced many to give up its culture. The result is that 
those whose plants have escaped the scourge have reaped a profitable 
