Jannarj 6 , 1888. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
7 
seedlings. Last summer it bore only one ripe cone. Many other hand¬ 
some Conifers exist in the select collection at Valkenhurg. The soil 
is sand and peat. 
- Gardeninu Appointments. —Mr. Edward Burton, late of 
Lunefield, Kirkby Lonsdale, has entered on his new charge as head 
gardener to Dr. Tennant at the Great Hydropathic establishment, Ben 
Rhydding, near Leeds, where he will have scope for the exercise of his 
admitted abilities. Mr. J. Aslett, who was for upwards of five years 
under Mr. G. Norman at Hatfield Gardens, and also foreman at Lune¬ 
field Gardens for nearly two years, has been appointed head gardener to 
A. Harris, Esq., Lunefield, Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmoreland. 
- Referring to Vegetable Marrows, Mr. J. Muir observes : 
“ A correspondent at Kew sends me an interesting note on these. 
Amateur like, he kept a note of the produce of three different plants of 
three varieties, and the following was the result—Pen-y-byd thirty-five 
fruits. Long White thirty-one fruits, Improved Green Bush twenty-five 
fruits.’’ 
- Raphides in Plants. —At a recent meeting of the Jena 
Naturalists’ Society Herr Stahl read a paper of the significance of those 
excreta of plants known as raphides— l.c., crystalline needles often met 
with in the cells in large quantity. From experiments he inferred that 
they were a protection to plants against being eaten by animals. Many 
animals avoid plants with raphides, or eat them reluctantly ; and some 
animals— e.g., snail species, in eating plants that have raphides, select 
those parts that are without the crystals. Many plants held for 
poisonous— c.g., Arum miculatum, owe their burning taste simply to the 
very numerous raphides, which, forced out of their cells, enter the 
tongue and palate. The juice obtained by filtration has quite a mild 
taste. 
- Mr. Jno. Campbell, The Gardens, Mickleover Manor, Derby, 
sends the following records of the Rainfall at Derby in 1870 and 
1837, remarking that the rainfall for the past year and the year 1870 
totals so nearly alike I thought it might be of interest to your readers.'’ 
1870.—January, IAS ; February, 1-21 ; March, 1'72 ; April, 0'C9 ; May, 
0-73 ; June, 1-91 ; July, 1-32 ; August, 0'83 ; September, 1-13 ; October, 
1-50 ; November, 2-00 ; December, 2-22. Total for the year, 16-69 inches. 
1887.—January, 2-31 ; February, 0-27 ; March, 0-89 ; April, 1-21 ; May, 
1-31 ; June, 1-12 ; July, 1-03 ; August, 1-73 ; September, 1-70 ; October, 
1-54; November, 1-53 ; December, 1-56. Total for the year,‘16-24 inches. 
Mean for the past eighteen years, 29 inches per annum. 
- Florida Oranges. —We have recently had some fine examples 
of Florida Oranges submitted to our examination, and the fruits were 
remarkable alike for their thin, smooth rind, and abundant sweet juice, 
much superior to the ordinary Oranges now in the market. They were 
grown in the Jacksonville district. Referring to this subject an American 
paper says : “ A new undertaking in the fruit line is the shipment of 
Florida Oranges to Europe. The first lots were sent over on fast 
steamers last week, and others are being sent on every sailing day. 
During the months of November and Deeember, the markets throughout 
England and Scotland have no supply of Oranges except immature and 
consequently very ssur fruit from Spain and Italy. Florida Oranges 
ripen early, and will have practically no competition in foreign markets 
for two months. The transportation costs about fifty cents a box, which 
is less than the advance of English prices over our o-wn. Orange tree 
planting has been carried to such an extreme in Florida that nearly all 
of the suitable land has been utilised, and groves have been planted 
even where the soil is not of a proper nature for this fruit.” 
- White Shrew Mouse. —Mr. G. Abbey writes :* “ The Shrew 
Mouse is a well known pretty little animal, the formation of its hair as 
seen under a powerful microscope is very beautiful. In turning over 
a manure heap in the park an albino, or white variety of this interesting 
vole was found (December 23rd). It is one of the prettiest creatures I 
have ever seen, very lively, and very clear in colour, having the yellow 
tinge next the skin as present in most white-haired animals, and in 
white-feathered birds, otherwise it is of snowy whiteness without speck. 
It was found next to the soil beneath the manure, which is rather dry 
and littery, no doubt in quest of food, grubs, &c. White Moles I know 
are not uncommon, but this is the first time I have seen or heard of a 
White Shrew Mouse. I thought it might interest some of your readers 
if it be worth recording.” 
FICUS ELASTICA VARIEGATA. 
Though this plant is not new, it is not common, and when well 
grown is unquestionably beautiful. We first saw it at one of the 
Liverpool shows a few years ago. It was exhibited, if we remember 
rightly, by Messrs. R. P. Ker & Sons, and was awarded a first-class certi¬ 
ficate. Since then the plant has gradually spread and found its way 
into several collections, though it is by no means seen everywhere ; yet 
it appears to improve on acquaintance, and we know has been bought 
freely by some growers who anticipate it will prove good for the market 
and the million. In its early stages the variegation is not very clear, 
but the greenish yellow portions change with age to creamy white, and 
when the plant is healthy and the normal colour rich and deep the con¬ 
trast is highly effective. The specimen figured was grown by Mr. 
J. Forbes at Dover House, Roehampton, wh re so many other things 
Fig. I,—Plena elastics vari-ga'a. 
are done well, and the gardens of J. S. Morgan, Esq., are among the best 
kept in the kingdom. Ficus elastica variegata is valuable for decora¬ 
tive purposes in halls, rooms, and conservatories, and is suitable for 
arranging in effect groups at exhibitions. 
MRS. PEARSON GRAPE. 
Herewith I send you a sample of Mrs. Pearson Grape, that we are 
bottling to-day, in order that you m.ay judge of their appearance and 
quality ; but what I wish to make more generally known is the long 
keeping qualities of this Grape. We can keep it good well into April, 
it will finish a much heavier crop than Trebbiano or White Nice, and 
unlike those varieties is useable when ripe in autumn. The bunches are 
more compact and handsome, they are also of a more desirable size. 
We have had them 4 lbs. in weight. I am having a photograph of one 
taken which, when completed, I will forward to you, als(; one of our 
Gros Colmans, which are very large, but the colour is not quite so good 
as usual. I will give a description of their culture when I send the 
photos.—J. H. Goodacre, A.'/ emsYtui Gardcn.^i. 
[The bunch of Mr.s. Pearson is full, will shouldered and handsome, 
