1S70. ] 
MONSTEEA DELICIOSA. 
279 
This overbalancing of the tube causes it to descend, so that the metal point comes 
into contact with the pillar on the side to which it is inclined, and thus the 
current is established. The tube being formed of one length of thin glass, 
exposing a great surface to the air, is very quickly affected by heat or cold. 
To the gardener, or the maltster, or to anyone who requires an even tempera¬ 
ture in a building or apartment of any kind, the Victoria Thermometer especially 
commends itself, on account of its reliability, its power, its accuracy, and its 
extreme sensitiveness. In large buildings it might bo of the greatest service, in 
case of fire, by ringing an alarm-bell on the top of the building. The instrument 
is not liable to get out of order.—G. Eothnie, Victoria Nursery^ Holloway. 
MONSTERzi DELICIOSA. 
S HE Monstera deliciosa is described as a new fruit-bearing plant, with 
acricxl roots as thick as one’s finger. The fragrance of one of its ripe 
f fruits is said to be equal to that of a whole houseful of Pine-apples. 
This fruit was introduced to public notice by being shown ripe at a meeting 
of the Fruit Committee of the Eoyal Horticultural Society, and it was also shown 
at the Manchester meeting. Those at a distance who have not seen this novelty, 
but who hear its high-sounding name, will naturally feel anxious to get some 
reliable details respecting its character, for surely it must be a veritable magnum 
bonum amongst fruit. I have seen fruits (of the gourd) exhibited at Chiswick 
that would have filled a wheelbarrow, and in the absence of information, the un¬ 
initiated might conjecture that the Monstera might be as great as these. 
Grapes are luscious, and Pine-apples are smartly-flavoured, but this fruit is said 
to be delicious :— 
“ Kings may bo happy,— 
Tam was glorious.” 
When the veritable fruit of the Monstera deliciosa lay before me at Manchester, 
I could not help thinking that indeed the “ mountain had been in labour and had 
brought forth a mouse !” Gentle reader, save yourself the expense and trouble of 
travelling to Chatsworth or to Cliveden, for you need only picture to yourself a 
fruit of the Typlia., of a light pea-green colour, with a very thick flower-stalk and 
a long thin fruit, say of the length and thickness of the tail of the domestic cat, 
and you will have a very good idea of the fruit, as exhibited, of the Monstera 
deliciosa. It has been stated that this plant is turned out in summer in a 
sheltered situation at Cliveden, on the banks of the Thames. Now this may 
deceive the unwary, and lead them to suppose that it is half-hardy. The planting 
out at Cliveden or elsewhere is, however, not to obtain fruit, but to give a sub-tropical 
air to the group of which it is certainly a very odd member. J. F.” honestly 
states that the fruit takes a whole year to ripen, after it has done flowering, and 
as the frost on the banks of the Thames will always put in an appearance at least 
once in the year, the Monstera must betake itself to the hothouse, of which it is a 
legitimate inmate. The old name Philodendron (phileo to love, dendron a tree). 
