518 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 12, 1889. 
attain to a much finer development of flowers than attends trees that 
are kept constantly evaporating from the young wood through the time 
they are at rest by fixed roofs. The fogs, drizzling rains, and damp 
•of November and December, with the drenching rains and snow, seem to 
suit Peaches, the trees being invigorated and the soil enriched. 
Pines. —Judgment and considerable skill are required to maintain 
with limited means a successional supply of ripe Pine Apples throughout 
the year. The cultivator, with his tens or twenties, is often at his wit’s 
end how to obtain fruit at the right time, but with hundreds of suc¬ 
cessions there is no difficulty in maintaining an unbroken supply of 
fruit. Where a supply of ripe fruit is required in May and June, which 
is the time when home-grown fruit is most in request, and the plants are 
not showing fruit, it will be desirable to se'ect from those started last 
March, which have completed a stout growth and are now in a state of 
rest, such as show the best indications of starting into fruit when sub¬ 
jected to a higher temperature both at the roots and in the atmosphere. 
If the plants can be accommodated in a structure to themselves it will 
be an advantage, but failing such they should have a light position in 
a fruiting house. It is not desirable to start more plants at this season 
than are absolutely necessary, as the fruit will come up more readily a 
month hence and be much stronger. Continue former instructions as 
to temperature, etc., but in very severe weather a fall of a few degrees 
in the temperature is preferable to extra sharp firing, and wherever 
practicable a covering placed on the glass at such times will be desirable, 
being a saving of fuel and better for the health of the plants. 
PLANT HOUSES. 
Bouvardias .—Plants that flowered in early autumn and have since 
had a good rest by keeping them dry and cool, may now be started into 
growth. When good bushy plants are needed in one season from either 
cuttings of portions of root, it is important to make an early start. 
The whole of the old soil should be shaken from their roots, the plants 
potted in moderately small pots and started into growth in a vinery or 
Peach house, or in a temperature of 50° to 55°. Before potting them, 
however, if a stock is to be raised from root cuttings, a few strong roots 
should be taken from each plant. No injury to the old stools result 
from this treatment. The portions of root must be cut into lengths of 
half an inch and placed in the centre of 2-inch pots, just covering them 
with fine soil. If these are plunged in brisk beat in the propagating 
frame they will quickly start into growth and be out of the way by the 
time cuttings are ready or the busy season for propagating arises. The 
stools as well as the root cuttings may be potted in equal portions of 
loam and leaf mould, with the addition of a liberal quantity of sand. 
The stools, after being potted, should be dewed with the syringe only 
•until they display signs of growing. 
Lilium Harrisi .—Bulbs that were potted as early as they could be 
obtained have growth 2 feet high. Care is needed to prevent them 
drawing up weakly by maintaining a temperature of 50° to 55° at night, 
according to the weather, and with a little ventilation on all favourable 
occasions. Be careful not to overwater them, and watch for aphides, 
which usually appear at this stage in the tops of the plants. Slight 
fumigation with tobacco is the best means of destroying them, and this 
should be done directly they are observed. 
Hydrangeas .—Plants that were rooted early in 2^-inch pot3 and lost 
their leaves before they were housed may now be placed into 5-inch 
pots, the bud only being above the surface of the soil. One good crock 
at the base is ample. Soil is which Cucumbers have been grown is 
suitable, with the addition of about one-third leaf mould. Press the 
soil firmly into the pots. The plants can then be started in a tempera¬ 
ture of 50°. As soon as they commence growing place them close to the 
glass. Water carefully at first; this is important until they have com¬ 
menced growing, when liberal supplies may be given. Old stools that 
are kept in pots and have been cut back may be potted when opportunity 
offers, and plunged in frames. It is a mistake to keep those for yielding 
good heads too confined at their roots. Strong heads are the best 
because from these the largest and finest trusses are produced. Puny 
cuttings only develope small flower heads. 
Fuchsias .—A few plants that have enjoyed a complete rest may be 
pruned and started into growth. Shake them out and start in smaller 
pots, the same as advised for Bouvardias. 
French Pelargoniums .—Old plants that were cut back and started 
in moderately small pots should be placed into a larger size. Use for a 
compost good loam, one-seventh of manure, and sand. Drain the pots 
well, and press the soil firmly into them. This will insure dwarf sturdy 
growth. Arrange these plants close to the glass, and give no more fire 
heat than is necessary to expel damp, and maintain a temperature of 
40° to 45°. Young rooted plants in 3-inch pots should be given others 
2 and 3 inches larger. The strongest can be placed in the last size. 
Grow these on under the conditions advised for old plants. The shoots 
of these may be pinched from time to time as they need it. Those for 
early flowering that were pinched in September must be kept close to 
the glass, and in a temperature 5° warmer. Those showing flower that 
were grown through the summer for this purpose should not be in a 
lower temperature than 60°. Admit air whenever favourable to prevent 
the plants drawing up weakly. Supply water carefully, giving no more 
than is really necessary to prevent flagging. Too much water causes the 
foliage to be spotted, and induces soft growth. Fumigate with tobacco 
if aphides appear. 
Zonal Pelargoniums .—Those well prepared by being thoroughly 
ripened outside will continue to flower profusely if they are not over- 
watered, the atmosphere being kept moderately dry, and the tempera¬ 
ture about 60°. During fine mild weather admit a little air daily. 
Remove decaying leaves, and give weak stimulants every time water is 
needed. 
Cinerarias .—Late plants, now in 3-inch pots, may be placed into 
5-inch pots, and kept in any position where they will be safe from frost. 
Small late Primulas may also be potted, and subject to the same treat¬ 
ment. Plants potted now flower most profusely late in spring, and are 
the best from which to save seed. 
% 
f|l 
IE BEE-KEEPERM 
- - 1 -i -, -. - 1 -, -. - 1 -, - • - m- rrTi.i,, -■ 
GLASS SECTIONS—THE PATENT LAWS. 
Ox page 454 “ A Sussex Amateur ” complains that I have not 
fulfilled my promise, and given the instructions I said I would on 
page 528 for December 6th, 1888, as to how to make the above, 
and he also asks for information concerning the patent law and the 
rights of patentees. For the first part, I must refer him to the 
Editor, to whom I sent the drawings and descriptions long ago. 
No doubt “ want of space,” caused by so many shows in summer, 
has been the cause of their non-appearance. If “A. S. A.” cannot 
wait he can, perhaps, glean nearly all he wants from a Government 
Blue Book, published by the Comptroller of Patents, 25, South¬ 
ampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and sent post 
free for 2s. fid. In writing ask for “Blue Book on Bee Hives, 
A.D. 1888, No. 7660.” 
Answering the other part, which I feel quite qualified to do, as 
it is a subject I have studied, I may inform him that a patentee 
owns the exclusive property in his invention. No one has a right 
to make, use, sell, or even handle, what he holds his patent on 
without his consent, except for bond fide experimental purposes. 
Tbis is the only exception, so that he must not make for his own 
use. Everyone has a right to improve on, add to, or take from a 
patent invention, and get a valid patent on it, but he acquires no 
right to use his improvement without the consent of the original 
patentee. However, if terms are refused he can, under the Act 
of 1883, apply for a compulsory license, so as to enable him to 
work his patent, when the Court will fix the royalties and the 
securities. 
In this country a patent is a grant from the Sovereign in ex¬ 
change for a full disclosure of his invention. It is not granted as 
a matter of “ right,” therefore if an inventor first publishes his 
invention he cannot get a valid patent, because he has already 
parted with his equivalent part of the bargain. The only right 
that an inventor has is to keep his invention a secret, and if he 
decides on this course all the Courts in the country will protect him 
in his decision, and if he dies the secret may die with him, as was 
very often the case before the passing of the Patent Acts. This 
would be a loss to the community, so the Patent Laws were 
adopted in order that inventors should be induced to make their 
inventions public. 
In the United States of America every inventor is entitled to 
a patent as a matter of right, and of which the law cannot deprive 
him, if he applies within two years of first making it public. In¬ 
ventors there are thus allowed to publicly use or test their inven¬ 
tions before patenting them ; but it often happens, if the invention 
if a valuable one, a host of claimants spring up, hence the Courts 
are occupied for years in deciding these claims, which cannot arise 
under the British system. 
What is here known as “ nine months’ provisional protection ” is 
really no protection, as anyone can make, use, or sell the article 
“ protected ” until the date of acceptance of “ complete specifica¬ 
tion.” What it really does, and what it was instituted for, is to give 
inventors the benefits given by the U.S.A., and yet be essentially 
British. Therefore it only fixes the “ date,” and an agreement on 
behalf of the Crown to grant a patent if completed within nine 
months, but which may be extended to ten months by paying £2 
more. If the invention is kept secret in the meantime, the 
first application can be abandoned and a fresh one made ; but 
should someone else have made the tame discovery you can go on 
with the first and take priority over him. 
“ A Sussex Amateur ” particularly wants to know how he can 
evade the patent rights on metal cornered glass sections. Now Mr. 
Editor, I do not feel inclined to side with anyone who would cheat 
an inventor of his just rights by any quibble or sophistry. He has 
as much right to enjoy the fruits of his labour and make the best 
he can of it as a market gardener or writer has of his labour. The 
Copyright Acts protect the latter for his whole life and seven 
years longer, or if he die within thirty-five years then such a length 
