March 8, 1S8?. ] 
JOUKi\aL OR HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
1?1 
can be readily removed in the daytime. The flowers come much better 
in colour and last longer in this way. H. niger angustifolius is our 
favourite amongst the white varieties, H. purpurascens being one of the 
best dark-coloured forms.” 
- Mb. J. Hiam, Astwood Bank, writes as follows respecting 
canker in Apple Trees— “It may be of sufficient interest to un¬ 
prejudiced readers and those who took part in the discussion on this 
subject last winter and previously, to record the fact that my trees 
which I have experimented upon remain perfectly healthy and free 
from this so-called disease. Three years ago worse specimens of trees 
it would have been difficult to find, although young and naturally 
healthy. The drainage remains the same, no lifting has taken place. 
Frost has surely been severe enough to try them this winter, following on 
one of the mildest of autumns, which induced sappy young wood to 
grow, and even trees to bloom until November. I have no more doubt 
about curing trees on my system of getting rid of insect parasites than 
I have of the sun rising in the morning.” 
-An instructive lecture on the Climate of England was given 
to the members of a political club, at their hall in Argyll Square, on 
Saturday evening,by|Mr. A. W. Clayden, M. A.,Fellow of the Royal Meteor¬ 
ological Society, and Science Master at Bath College. With the aid of 
illuminated maps and diagrams the lecturer drew attention first to the per¬ 
manent regions of heat and cold existing on the globe. He then touched 
on the distribution of rain, pointing out why the rainfall in Britain was 
much greater in the hilly ranges of the western side of the island than 
on the eastern lowlands, The range and direction of the trade winds 
were clearly exhibited and explained, and special prominence was given 
to the main flow of the Gulf stream itself as distinguished from the 
Gulf stream and of the Gulf-stream drift which affects these northern 
regions. The formation and usual course and effects of cyclones and 
anti-cyclones were very clearly pourtrayed by Mr. Clayden, whose 
mastery of the subject and practice in teaching enabled him to deal 
with it in a popular and intelligible manner. The data furnishing 
weather forecasts were indicated, and the course of western cyclones 
traced from their origih on the Rocky Mountains, their passage over 
the American continent, and their route across the Atlantic. Having 
thus explained some of the broad features of climatic law as known to 
modern science, the lecturer showed that to the absence of overpowering 
heat in summer and to the presence of sufficient cold in the British 
winter to engender hardihood the people of this country owed that 
strength of character which enabled them to regard difficulties as things 
to be overcome. The comparative equability of our climate he regarded as 
the mainspring of the commercial advantages of Great Britain. 
- A much-praised insecticide, Buhach Powder, employed in 
North America, is thus noticed by the Florida Dispatch “ Buhach 
powder is made by pulverising the flower heads of a variety of Pyrethrum, 
P. cinerariaefolium. The flowers, which look much like Daisies, are 
gathered before they quite open, and should be dried under cover, as 
the heat of the sun seems to injure them. So does the heat of stoves, 
or other artificial heat. After drying, if only a small quantity is to be 
pulverised, the flower heads can be put into a mortar, and covered with 
a piece of leather, through which pestle can pass. After pulverising, 
the powder should be sifted through a fine sieve, and then, if not wanted 
for immediate use, put up in an air-tight glass fruit jar. Buhach is 
usually used in the evening or in the early morning, because the dew on 
the leaves will make the powder stick to the insects and kill them. The 
powder should not be used on rainy days, for it will wash off from the 
leaves and do no good. The insufflator, a little invention for holding in 
the hand and throwing the powder, is the best arrangement for applying 
buhach. The powder never injures the leaves of plants. It can be 
applied mixed with water. Prof. Riley says that in a mixture where 
1'200 of a pound was used to the gallon of water the solution proved 
fatal to caterpillars. The water mixture is the most economical way of 
using buhach on plants, although, in order to prevent the too rapid 
evaporation of the mixture, add some glycerine, about half a gallon of 
crude glycerine being added to 40 gallons of water. This mixture kills 
both the red spider and the scale. The use of buhach in liquid solution 
in this country dates from 1880, when the United States Entomological 
Commission discovered that it could be so used, and the Government 
Entomologist, in his report for 1881-82, says that “ the finer the spray in 
which the fluid is applied the more economical is its use, and the greater 
the chance of reaching every insect in the plant,” 
- “ As far as I have been able to ascertain from personal observa- 
tionaud study of various books,” says a writer in the Indian Forester, “ the 
principal Forest Species of Japan appear to be as follows :—Metz 
(Pinus Thunbergi and densiflora), both of which species appear to be 
very common throughout the empire. Hinoki (Chamsecyparis obtusa 
and pisifera), both of which species form extensive forest in the central 
and northern islands. Suji (Cryptomeria japonica), found planted 
throughout the length and breadth of the country, and especially near 
villages and round all shrines and temples. Keaki (Zelkowa Keaki), 
kuri (Castanea vulgaris), much used for railway sleepers. Twenty-one 
species of Oaks, twenty-five kinds of Bamboos, thirty species of Cherries, 
many species being grown simply on account of their flowers. Numerous 
kinds of Azaleas, Camellias, and Laurels, besides various species of Elms, 
Maples, Deutzia, Hornbeam, Viburnum, Holly, Olive, &c. As regards 
characteristic plants of Japan, they may probably be enumerated as 
follows :—Azaleas, Camellias, Cryptomeria japonica, Cydonia japonica, 
Chrysanthemums, Hibiscus, the Japan shrub Pmony, the famous Water 
Lily (Nelumbium surcifera), Asters, &c. The principal forest trees 
common to Europe, which are mainly confined to the northern islands, 
are Elms, Beech, Larch, Aspen, Wild Cherry, Ash, Yew ; whilst amongst 
shrubs and other plants, the following are most common Ivy, Honey¬ 
suckle, Lily of the Valley, Monkshood, Marigold, Wood Sorrel, Poppy, 
Chickweed, Dock, and Dandelion. Palms are by no means common, and 
are confined principally to the southern portion of the empire.” 
ANNUALS OUTDOORS. 
The season for ordering our yearly supply of these flowers, as 
well as the season for sowing them, is now at hand, and no time 
should be lost in making the necessary calculations, both as to the 
varieties and the quantity required before sending the orders to the 
seedsmen. Every facility is now at command for the rai»id trans¬ 
mission of seeds, and unless at a particularly busy period little time 
is lost from the despatch of the order to the receipt of the seeds. 
Many of the catalogues issued by the leading houses are brimful of 
the information most needful to the amateur, minute as well as 
general instructions being given as to time of sowing, nature of the 
soil required, and the best situation. To the ever increasing number 
of growers this is a great boon, and if followed closely and atten¬ 
tively, each noting for himself the peculiar circumstances with regard 
to soil, situation, &c., under which he is placed, two or three years’ 
experience will enable him to compete with his neighbours. Cot¬ 
tagers and small growers deserve all the praise they receive for their 
taste as well as their perseverance under the many difficulties they 
have to encounter in the course of the year, but in many instances 
they grow the same class of annuals year after year, the same race of 
Stocks and Marigolds, when for a few pence additions might be made 
annually. I am not finding fault with the cottar’s dearly loved flowers, 
but I should like to see a greater variety and a little change occa¬ 
sionally. Keep to your Marigolds, Gillyflowers, and Canary Creeper, 
but lessen the quantity and make the variety greater. 
All the seeds ordered should be marked hardy annual, though 
many of the half-hardy sorts will be found to germinate with care 
in the open ground. Avoid, however, those marked tender, for unless 
the grower possess a frame and hotbed, failure will result. In sow¬ 
ing care should be taken not to cover the seeds too deep, arid it is 
always better to sow thinly than otherwise. Sowing in a circle or 
other system should be adopted throughout, the chance of mistaking 
the seedlings from weeds being avoided, and greater facility will be 
given for using the hoe freely. As soon as the seedlings are ready 
to handle they can be thinned to 3 or 4 inches apart. Nothing is 
lost, however, by giving plenty of room, admitting a free supply of 
air, resulting in sturdy well-branched plants. The greatest care 
should be taken in the matter of staking if such be required. Those 
of an upright habit will be all the better for support; but many 
annuals, such as the Callichroas, Oxyura, &c., have very weak stems, 
and, moreover, they are all more or less of a procumbent habit, and 
are far safer left to themselves than tied to a stake where every 
breath of wind will be liable to wrench it off. 
To the flora of California, and the exertions of Mr. Douglas and 
others, we are perhaps more largely indebted than to any other coun¬ 
try for the many bright and striking colours that delight us during 
the summer months. We can give by description but a meagre idea of 
their real worth, or the impetus they alone have given to hardy flower 
gardening within the last few years. Besides their use as border 
flowers, mauy of them are mere surface-rooting plants and excellent 
covering for permanent bulb beds, &c., where, if thinly sown, they 
do not materially affect the perfect ripening of the bulbs, and yield a 
constant supply of flowers throughout the summer. Almost every 
family of popular or cultivated flowers has been considerably re- 
