402 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Mey 19, 1887 
nobilis glauca, Picea pinsapo, Ilex stricta glauca, and Taxus japonica. 
Amongst these are planted Pasonia albiflora, Funkia Fortuni, Iris lurida 
Jacquesiana, Echinops Ritro, and many other choice herbaceous plants, 
which will render this segment gay all the summer. The other four 
segments are planted by Messrs. Little & Ballantyne, Carlisle. One is an 
entire mass of hybrid Rhododendrons, splendid plants full of bloom, 
and embracing both early and late varieties. The others are a mixture 
of hardy Conifer® of all sorts, specimen and half specimen. This quad¬ 
rangle is quite the fashionable i romenade ; all the courts have access 
to it. It is covered in at the sides all round, so that visitors during wet 
weather can be protected from the weather. The displays furnished by 
the nurserymen have given much satisfaction. They have all entered 
into it with a determination to do their best, though the weather has 
Jseen most unpropitious. 
Passing into the south court the next thing of importance in the 
gardening world is the magnificent collection of seeds exhibited by 
Messrs. Sutton, Reading, embracing all the best vegetables, such as Early 
Drumhead Savoy, Sutton’s Cluster Cucumber, six hanging together, and 
Tomatoes Earliest of All,Golden Trophy,and Sutton’s Reading Perfection. 
These and Apples, Pears, Potatoes, Cauliflowers, and vegetables of all 
-sorts are shown of their natural size in wax. The stand is most impos¬ 
ing, and has been thronged with visitors. The same firm also show 
their well known mixtures of Grass seeds for lawns, permanent pastures, 
heavy loams, water meadows, sheep downs, and chalky uplands. Messrs. 
Little & Ballantyne also have attractive seed stands. Mr. Jos. Watson 
■exhibits a stand, showing the mode of decorating rooms with Ferns in 
glass cases, with much good taste. In the opposite side of this court 
Messrs. Finney, Newcastle, and Messrs. Webb, Stourbridge, show in¬ 
teresting collections of seeds, well arranged. 
In the grounds there is a design of the old bridge of Newcastle, de¬ 
stroyed in 1771. This is most unique and attractive ; it has fancy shops 
on the bridge. The sides of the bridge are planted with Conifer® and 
bedding plants by Mr. W. R. Armstrong, nurseryman, Newcastle, in a 
most attractive way. This gentleman has also largely ornamented and 
embellished the stand where he sells his cut flowers. The garden attrac¬ 
tions are not here quite finished, but bid fair to be in keeping with the 
good taste of the rest of the Exhibition. There is an electric railway, a 
model coal and lead mine lit up with electricity, which is a great 
attraction. The promoters may be congratulated on their success. Over 
■20,000 people visited it the first day, and it is supposed that 25,000 season 
tickets will be sold. Should any of the readers of the Journal visit the 
Exhibition it would be almost well to go to Tynemouth or South 
Shields, both of which possess excellent lodging and hotel accommoda¬ 
tion within thirty minutes’ run to the Exhibition ; at Newcastle the 
hotels are all crammed. Both places mentioned are becoming fashion¬ 
able bathing places. There are also many places of interest to visit in 
the neighbourhood of Newcastle where the visitor will be sure of a 
genuine northern welcome. Itavensworth, Lambton Park, Red Rose 
’Vineries, and the Hermitage. Chester-le-Street, might be seen in a day or 
two. 
HVRDY OFFICINAL PLANTS. 
In the No. 10 issue of Mr. T. Christy’s excellent serial* we find the 
genus Strophanthus exhaustively treated and freely illustrated, also a 
■contribution by Mr. Lewis Castle on some officinal plants that may be 
grown in this country for commercial purposes. This article we 
reproduce:— 
The plants of medicinal value that can be cultivated advantageously in 
this c untry are comparatively few, and are chiefly natives of Europe, the 
temperate parts of Asia, or Ameiica. Some have been grown in certain 
districts of England rah-r extensivelv for many years, but the list might 
well be extended, for land like that at Mitcham and Hitchin, and some parts 
of Essex, seems to be admirably adapted for the purpose. In the case of 
several products it has bten found desirable to hav ■ them in a fresh r stat; 
than they can be obtained when imported, and this alone is a point in 
favour of their it creased cultivation in this country. 
Aconitcm napf.llus, L. (Monkshood or Wolfsbane). —A perennial 
plant; a native of Europe and temperate Asia, the roots yielding a 
poisonous principle that has been found useful in rheuma'ic affections. An 
allied species of A. ferox, producing the virulent poison Bisb, used in 
Nori hern India for poisoning ar ow->. In this country the native species 
has become notorious, owing to people occasionally mistaking the loot for 
Horserad sb, with fatal resul s, a mistake that might be most easily avoid- d 
as the resemblance is excaeding'y sight. With a few other species, it is’ 
cultivated in British gardens for ornament, and might be grown more 
externively, if necessary, for cfficinal purpores. It succeeds on almost any 
soil that is not very dry, but it prefers a shad d position, thriving und r 
trees or in any similar situation. Division of the roots is the readiest mode 
cf increasing it, as the smallest pieces will grow and make good 8'zed plants 
more quickly than from seed. The latter can, however, be s >wn in autumn, 
and ihe seedlings transplanted in the following sp ing, allowing a good 
tUst-rn'e between them, as they grow rapidly. Where the plant ( represses 
favourably the roots will be of fair b ze the second or third year. r 
Anemone pulsatilt.a, L. (Pasque Flower).—This beautiful plant is 
commonly seen in girdtns, on rockeri-s or in we'l-drained borders, but it 
might, be readily crown more extensively with a little care. Ir, i s advis able 
to raise the plant from seed sown in August in pans or pots of light sandy 
soil p’aced eith r out of doors or in a cold frame. The young plants can 
then be transferred in the following spring to their p rmanent quarters. 
Select a rather warm position and deep well-dug soil, light loam being the 
best, with a good natural drainage, as the plant is very impatient of stagnant 
moisture, b-ing found in a natural state on open hills in dry soils. The plant 
may also be increased by division of the roots, either in autumn or early 
spring, the latter being preferable in favourable seasons, though sometimes 
the flo wering is liable to be checked for that season. 
Anthemis nobilis, L. (Chamomile).—The d ied flowerheads of tlrs 
plant are familiar to all, and the plant itself is also well known, both in 
gardens and as a weed. The whole plant is powerfully aromatic, both leaves 
and flower-heads having been used to yield oil of Chamomile; but the latter , 
possess the most powerful proper ies, the double variety being that generally 
cultivat d, although it was pointed out many years ago that the yellow 
central florets, which are lost in the double form, contain more of the active 
princip'e than the white ray florets, which become mu tiplied in the varie y 
ordinarily used. The plant is a per nnial, easily grown and easily increased. 
It succeeds in a’most any ordinary soil, and divisions of the plant or eutti gs 
placed in a shady position and kept moderately moist will soon form roots, 
and when established can be transferred to their permanent quarters. The 
flowers are produced in July and August, and if cut in succession as they 
expand, others will open for some time ; but where many plants are grown 
it is necessary to cut as many as possible at one time to economise labour. 
Aristolochia serpentaria, L. (Yirg’nia Snake Root).—A native of 
Virginia, C srolina, and several others of the North American States, where 
it is collected and the dried roots exported. The roots a e perennial, and 
consist of a number of small interlacing fibres, from which arise the numer¬ 
ous herb iceous stems to a foot or more in height, flowering in May or June, 
and dying in the autumn. It was cultivate! by Tradescant, in bis “ Sou h 
Lambeth,” as early as 1632, but is not often seen except in botanic gardens 
containing collections of medicinal plants. The seeds sh >uld be sown under 
glass, either in a cold frame in the autumn or in heat in early spring, em- 
p oying a light Bandy soil and draining the pits thoroughly. Iu May the 
young plants can be placsd out of doors, se'eot ngawarm i-li It-red position 
free from stagnant moistuie, but where they are not l.kely to suffer in hot 
weather. A slight mulching over the roots after the s’ems have died or been 
cut away in autumn will provide a suitable protection for them until the 
succeeding spring. 
Artemisia absinthium, L. ( Vormwood).—A perennial plant, native of 
Europe, growing 3 to 5 feet high, succeeding best in sheltered stuvions. 
It is increased by seed, cuttings, or division of the roots, and as the leaves 
and Bhoots are used, the chief point is to induce as free a growth as possible. 
By providing a su'tab’e number of young plants to form a succession, the 
old plants caa be destroyed when they are becoming too woody or bar; of 
growth. 
Carum CaruI, L. (Carraway).—As usuilly grown th : s plant is a 
biennial, but it can be r ndered an annual, though not with any material 
advantage from a commercial point of view. It has been cultivated for a 
considerable period in England, E-sex being especially note! for its pro¬ 
duction. The old practice there, now to a great extent discontinued, was to 
plough up old pasture land as eirly in March as weather would permit, 
selecting for preference strong loam. Then on each acre were sown 12 lb--, 
of Carraway, 10 lbs. of Coriand r, and 12 lbs. of Teasel. The Coriander 
was cut i i July, the same month in the following year the Carraway was 
fit for eutti g, and iu the autumn of that year the Teasels we: e harvested. 
A good mode of treating it is to sow the seed in drills in early autumn 
orspiing, the latter being generally preferab'e, as the plants then have 
ample time to become strong enough before winter. The seedlings should 
be thinn id to 4 or 6 inches apart if they are strong, and the only subsequent 
attention nteded will be to keep the gro ind clear of weels. In the suc¬ 
ceeding ye r the plants will flower and produce their seeds. Iu harvesting 
these, care must be taken to cut th; stems before the se ds or fruits are ful y 
ripe, as they quickly fall, and a large portion of the crop will bo lost. The 
stems can be tied in bunches and the seeds threshed out when they have 
dried sufficiently. 
Chimaphila umbellata, Nuttall, (Winter Green).—This is a rather 
diffiiu t plant to grow satisfactorily in this c imate, not so much, perhaps, 
oa account of temperature, as because there are some essential soil con¬ 
stituents in its native North American home with which we are unac¬ 
quainted. It, with another species, C. maculata, the Spotted Winter Green, 
is found in woods, but not in damp situations, mostly frequenting the drier 
and higher parts. Iu England it requires a borderof light soil, well drained, 
and not too exposed either to the suu or winds. It can be increased by 
division, hut this is an operation that must be very carefully performed, or 
the plant will suffer, and several hare found that too great an tsgerness in 
increasing their stock has resulted in its total loss. 
CimiCIFuga racemosa, Elliott, (Black Snake Root, Begbane, or Coho h' 1 
—A strong-g-owing handsome plant, which has an excellent effect in the 
garden, especially at the back of herbaceous borders or in woodland situations, 
as in good soil it attains the height of 6 feet or more, producing beautiful 
feathery racemes ot white flowrrs. It is found in the United States from 
Maine to Vermont, the root, for which it is chiefly valued, beirg thick and 
knotted. The flowers have an unpleasant odour, aud to this circumstance 
it owes one of its popular names. It can be grown in any ordinary garden 
soil, hut mu t b>- allowed plenty of space, and is best in a slightly shaded 
position. Tne seeds should be Bown as Boon as they are ripe in a similar 
situation. 
Citrullus Colocvnthis, Schrad (The Co’ocynth) — A widely dis¬ 
tributed member of the Cucurbitacere, being fond in Souffi Europe, 
Northern India, Africa, and Japan, and valued medicinally for the pulp of 
the fruits, which is a powerful cathaitic. Like the Elaterium it is a 
perennial, with deeply laciuiated leaves, the fruit about the size of an 
Orange, ripening to a bright yellow tint, and containing a white spongy 
pulp with an intenselv bitter taste. It is easily increased by seeds sown in 
light loam and leaf soil, in moderate heat, and the plants either placed out 
in beds ot rich soil in warm situations, or grown in frames where the plants 
will succeed better and ripen their fruits freely. Like mo-t of the Cucur- 
bitace®, the fruits should, however, be gathered before they are fully ripe. 
The roots can be easily preserved from year to year if duly protect.d from 
frost and damp. 
• New Commercial Plants and Drugs” CXisty & Co.,25, Lime St e t, Lonlon.E.C. 
(To be continued.) 
