540 
December 13,1S94, 
i 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
- We learn from “Nature” that Dr. S. Nawaschin has been 
appointed Professor of Botany and Director of the Botanic Garden ac 
the University of Kiew ; and Dr. K. Schilbersky, Professor of Botany 
and Vegetable Pathology at the Hungarian Agricultural Institute, Buda- 
Pesth. 
- The Pomegranate, —Perhaps it will interest Mr. W. H. 
Divers (page 519) to hear that the Pomegranate flowered here several 
times within the last few years. About three or four years ago it 
ripened fruit which stayed on the tree for nearly twelve months. The 
Ghimonanthus has had fruit on it this season. They are both against 
the front of the house facing south.—D. H., Brympton Gardens, 
- Larch Trees. —It is reported that “ two of the original five 
Larch trees said to be first introduced into this country are to be seen 
in the Duke of Athole’s grounds, and near Dunkeld Cathedral. These, 
it is said, were planted in 1738, and when measured in 1888 were 
102 feet 4 inches high ; at 3 feet from the ground the circumference was 
17 feet 2 inches ; at 5 feet it was 15 feet 1 inch ; at 17 feet it was 
12 feet lOJ inches ; at a height of 51 feet they measured 8 feet 8 inches 
round ; while at 68 feet they were 6 feet 1 inch in girth.” 
Seed Potato Boxes. —Having toi store for the winter a 
number of picked tubers of various sorts of Potatoes for seed, I have had 
a number of cheap stout shallow wooden boxes made in which to place 
them, and have adopted the Jersey method so far as to have strips of 
wood fixed across the top down the centre to use as handles. I have, 
too, purchased cheaply some good clean egg boxes, and together with 
some 6-inch three-quarter board for ends, specially purchased thick 
material, cannot cost more than from2^d. to 3d. per box. Then allowing 
3d. each for labour, and assuming that because the boxes are strong 
they will endure for six years, the actual cost per box spread over so 
inany years would be Id. per year. The inside measurement is 15 inches j 
by 13 inches. The ends are of five-eighths thickness, side strips three- ' 
eighths, and bottom half an inch. The sides are open half an inch at ' 
the bottom, and 2 inches at the top, so that air can circulate freely. 
The handle is let into the ends, so that the tops being level the boxes 
may be stood one on the other as high as needed.—A. D. 
— — Publications op Messrs. Blackie & Sons. —We continue 
to receive from this firm numbers of that excellent work, “ The Natural 
History of Plants.” We would remind our readers that sixteen numbers 
make up the complete series, and the seventh has just appeared. It is 
probably the most exhaustive treatise on physiological botany which ■ 
has been published in this country, and should figure in the library of ' 
everyone interested in plants, Oliver’s “Systematic Botany” is 
another hook issuing from the same press, which is to be recommended 
as a succinct exposition of plant classification, and a useful handbook for 
reference. The earlier portion enters minutely into the question of the 
fructification and reproduction of the Cryptogams, giving the latest 
knowledge on this obscure subject in a very lucid and palatable form. 
The character of the Gymnosperms, as forming the connecting link 
between the higher vascular Phanerogams and the flowerless plants, is 
also developed tersely and clearly, and the whole book will be found a 
serviceable compendium with which to refresh the mind. 
- Sewage Grown Potatoes. —Mr. Joseph Witherspoon, the 
well-known fruit grower, is a member of the Chester-le-Street Rural 
Sanitary Authority, and as such is charged with the management of the 
Authority’s Sewage Farm at Chester-le-Street. He has this year been 
trying an interesting experiment in Potato growing on the farm, much 
against the advice of the Local Government Board official 3 , who pre¬ 
dicted failure. This is how he proceeded :—In the early part of the 
year he set apart IJacre for Potatoes. The land was ridged up, and 
the sewage turned into the furrows ; during February and March he 
had the ridges split, from time to time, and the sewage again turned 
into the new furrow's thus formed. In due season the land was planted 
with three varieties of Potatoes—Clark s Main Crop, Sutton’s Abundance, 
and Bruce. The sewage was turned off, and no more used there, the 
cultivation then proceeding on the usual lines. No other manure was 
used, and the crop has been lifted, and weighed out 19 tons, of 
which only 12 cwt. were small. This magnificent return, Mr. Wither¬ 
spoon says, fully justifies his oft-repeated assertion, that if farmers only 
fully recognised the hiehly fertilising properties of town sewage, they 
would compete for it as keenly as they now search for highly concen¬ 
trated artificial fertilisers. It is only fair to say that besides the 
extraordinary yield the crop was of most excellent quality, the demand 
for the Potatoes being far in excess of the supply. 
- Pigeons and Catapults.—I am much annoyed with wood 
pigeons eating my crops, and my employer wishes me to shoot them, 
but cannot bear the report of a gun. Can any of your numerous readers 
inform me as to the capabilities of the catapult gun ? Does it discharge 
shot or bullets? Will it kill a pigeon at 30 yards distant ? Where are 
these guns obtained ?— Catapult. 
- Gardening in Philadelphia. — A transatlantic con¬ 
temporary says :—“ Scientific gardening is to be undertaken on an 
extensive scale by the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia. 
Work has been begun in laying out a botanical garden for the use of the 
biological and medical students, and for the general instruction of the 
public at large. The available space is 7 acres. It is to be hoped that 
a botanic garden worthy of the name will be thus established.” 
- Axminster and District Gardeners’ Society.—O n 
Monday evening in last week Mr. Crook, head gardener at Forde Abbey, 
Chard, delivered an excellent address on “ Hardy Plants in the Garden,” 
at the Parish Room, on the occasion of the monthly meeting of the 
Axminster and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society. The 
Rev. J. R. Dummelow occupied the chair, and there was a large 
attendance. Afterwards a competition for vegetables took place. 
-Woolton Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society.— 
On Thursday in last week a meeting of the above Society was held in 
the Mechanics’ Institute, Mr. R. Todd presiding. The questions asked 
were—(1) “ How often should Eucharis amazonioa be potted, and what 
compost should be used ? ” (2) “ Is December too early to prune Goose¬ 
berries and small fruits generally ? ” The questions caused considerable 
discussion, the answer to the former being. Not too frequent potting, 
with compost good loamy soil of a retentive character, so as to avoid 
much watering, which was considered detrimental. To the second, the 
general opinion seemed to be. Thin out Gooseberries in September, 
avoid shortening young wood ; other fruits prune as soon as convenient. 
The questions being disposed of, Mr. Hitchman, gardener to Arthur 
Earle, Esq., Childwall Lodge, gave an interesting paper on “ Hardy 
Ferns,” dealing with the habitat, propagation by spores, and general 
cultivation. He also gave a list of some of the most beautiful varieties. 
The usual votes of thanks terminated the proceedings.—R. P. R. 
- Garden Refuse. —During the autumn and early winter months 
garden refuse accumulates rapidly, and in some positions degenerates 
into a great nuisance. If it cannot be conveniently dug or trenched in 
the ground then something ought to be done towards expediting decay, 
thereby obviating a nuisance, and at the same time creating a heap of 
valuable manure. To every five cartloads of ten barrowloads each add 
one cartload of either caustic or gas lime, and mix all well up together. 
Then if one or more turnings are given during the early part of the 
winter all will be fit for wheeling or carting on to the ground some time 
when it is frosty in January or February. All sticks and stems that 
are come across should be thrown out. These with prunings and such 
like ought to be burnt slowly, and the residue from this great “smother” 
will be found of great service forked into the surface of beds, to be 
sown with Carrots, Onions, Beet, and such like.—W. I. 
- Tea Cultivation in India. —In 1788 Sir Joseph Banks 
suggested to the Court of Directors of the East India Company that 
the effort should be made to cultivate Tea in India. Lord William 
Bentinck, on the eve of his departure for India, says the “ Kew Bulletin,” 
accordingly received instructions that he should give the subject his 
careful consideration. Some eight years previous to Sir Joseph Banks’ 
suggestion. Colonel Kyd had actually raised China Tea in the Botanic 
Gardens of Calcutta. Lord Bentinck, on his arrival in India, lost no 
time, however, in taking action. A Tea Committee was founded, with 
Dr. Wallich as Secretary. In addressing his Council on the 24th of 
January, 1834, His Excellency made it clear that he was to leave 
nothing unturned that might help to attain the object aimed at—viz., 
the acclimatisation of the best Chinese plants. The Tea Committee do 
not appear to have informed Lord Bentinck that Major Bruce (about 
1821), and subsequently Mr. Scott (in 1824), had found the Tea plant 
wild in Assam. Much expense and considerable de’ay was accordingly 
incurred in sending several expeditions to China to procure Chinamen 
and Tea seed ; but while a Commissioner was actually in China (on 
behalf of the Tea Committee), Captains Charlton and Jenkins 
re-discovered the wild Assam plant. It is perhaps needless to traverse 
the somewhat beaten path of the subsequent historic events, the 
repeated failures but ultimate successful establishment of the Tea 
industry in India. One point may, however, be specially mentioned. 
