232 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, July 19, 1859. 
the commune or parish. The more rocky and steep places ar 
pastured by sheep and goats. There are three zones or Btages in 
the alpine pastures. The cattle are driven to the first and lowest 
stage about the end of May; about a month later, they ascend to 
the “middle Alps;” and by the end of July they reach the 
upper Alps. As the days shorten, they descend in the same 
gradual way, so that the whole “Alp-time” lasts about twenty 
weeks. The pastures are provided with huts for those who have 
charge of the cattle, who also convert the milk into cheese. Little 
butter is made. The departure for the “ Alps ” in spring, and the 
return in autumn, are made the occasions of popular festivals.— 
{Chambers's Encyclopedia.) 
NEW OR RARE PLANTS. 
Thunbergia coccinea ( Red-flowerecl Thunbergia). 
This beautiful and gigantic climber has been called, also, 
T, pendula and Hexacentris eoccinca. It is a native of the 
jungles in all the hilly regions of tropical India. It has at length 
bloomed in the ample space of the Palm-house at Kcw.—( But. 
Mag., t. 5124.) 
Rhododendron Shepherdii {Mr. H. Shepherd's 
Rhododendron i). 
Introduced by Mr. Nuttall from the mountains of Bhootan and 
Assam. It was named in honour of Mr. Shepherd, of the Liver¬ 
pool Botanic Garden. Its flowers arc deep crimson.— {Ibid., t. 
5125.) 
Cymeidium eburneum {Ivory-like Cymbidium). 
“This lovely and rare Orchid” is found at an elevation of 
5—6000 feet in the Khasia mountains of East Bengal. Flowers 
ivory-white, blooming in April. — {Ibid., t. 5126.) 
Ceanothus Veithchiaxus {Mr. Veitch's Ceanothus). 
This “ magnificent acquisition to our hardy shrubs ” was sent 
from California by Mr. W. Lobb to the Messrs. Yeitch. It sur- 
pases even the other species —floribundus, Lobbianus, and papil- 
losus “ in the abundance of its bright mazarine-blue flowers.”— 
{Ibid., t. 5127.) 
Datura chlokantha plore-pleno {Double yellow-Jlowered 
Thorn-apple). 
Sent from South Australia, where it produced “ its sweet- 
scented flowers for seven or eight mouths “ planted in the 
open borders in June it may be expected to bloom here during 
August, September, and October.” Probably a native of Europe, 
but raised in Australia from imported seed.— {Ibid., t. 5128.) 
THE FECUNDATION OF TOADS’ SPAWN. 
I mentioned, in my last paper on toads, that it was very 
difficult to decide if they can live without air. I now proceed 
to speak of the fecundation of their spawn—another part of 
their history extremely obscure. In connection with it, how¬ 
ever, I have to observe that it is only those that winter in ponds 
and ditches which deposit their spawn in spring some time 
before the toads on land appear. These, of course, do not 
spawn, at least in the same season, which shows that the same 
reptiles do not annually increase their species. However, to be 
convinced that toads enter the water in autumn, I have fished 
them up from the mud through broken ice full of spawn from 
which I have bred tadpoles ; but I should observe that these 
were only from the forward eggs, which were dark and not 
unlike Onion seed, while the light or less matured ones were 
absorbed. These, and other observations made during several 
years, lead me to think that they meet soon after they take to 
the water—probably in autumn. In this their eggs may be 
like those of other reptiles—for instance, snakes and slow-worms. 
I have reared young ones from those of snakes at least two 
months after the snake had been captured. I have also had 
slow-worms in captivity, which produced their young alive about 
the same date. However, this view of the case as regards toads 
is, of course, opposed to the belief of their spawn being fecun¬ 
dated somewhat like that of fishes—after, or rather in the act 
of being deposited. A superficial observer of toads at that 
particular time might easily imagine this to be correct; but I 
suspect that the females are only assisted at that time by their 
partners in the operation of depositing. In favour of this I 
may note that lately I put some toads of both sexes into two 
] separate pails, which kept calling, and answering each other, 
i and striving to get together. The females deposited their 
spawn with much difficulty; owing, probably, to the absence of 
that assistance which they receive in the ordinary process. 
Perhaps these remarks may equally apply to frogs, except as 
' regards the assistance of the males. I venture this, however, 
with some diffidence, for they are very shy at that time : in fact, 
it is almost impossible to get a sight of them, for they quickly 
descend to the bottom. But their manner of depositing spawn 
differs from that of toads. These lay it in two distinct rows 
like beads, about one yard in length ; whilst that of frogs is 
more like a sponge. The gelatinous matter of both may have 
some analogy with the white of eggs; and not only serve to 
keep the dark eggs, or yolks, afloat to bo hatched by the heat of 
the sun, but serve also as food for the freshly hatched tadpoles, 
j at least for a few days. Their time of production varies accord¬ 
ing to the state of the weather ; but even severe frost does not 
seem to affect the spawn.—J. Wighton. 
To make Aitle Jelly. —Peel and core the Apples—Spitzen- 
bergs are best; put them in a brass or porcelain kettle, with 
water sufficient to stew them without burning. 'When soft, 
press out the juice through a woollen cloth. To one quart of 
juice add one lemon, and boil ten minutes; then put in one 
quart of sugar, let it boil until it is thick enough (you can 
tell by cooling a little); then strain through the woollen cloth 
again, and it is done.— {American Country Gentleman.) 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
The present volume of The Cottage Gardener (A New Subscriber). 
—It commenced the first week in April last. 
Agapanthus Culture (Idem). —This requires a large pot, strong rich 
loam, much water in summer, and to he out of doors from May to 
October. It will also live out of doors in Ireland and the south half of 
England, with the same protection of coal ashes as is given to Fuchsias ; 
hut the leaves perish, which does not hinder its blooming in the least. 
Trofieolum Eleoans (Idem). —It does not come true from seeds, and 
must be yearly propagated just like Verbenas. T. Brilliant will not make 
a bed; and the one you call Velargoniflora we never saw or heard of. 
All our new subscribers, and a small fraction of the old ones, should bear 
in mind to name the part of the county or shire they write from when they 
ask about plants. 
Newfoundland. — A Friend wishes to know if there is a botanic garden 
in Newfoundland, or any well-known nurseryman there. 
Garden Vermin (J. V. Morgan), —Guano and gas ammoniacal liquor 
will drive ants from their haunts, and manure your neglected garden at 
the same time. AVireworms are not to be driven from a soil. Paring and 
burning six inches of the whole surface might rid you of them and many 
results of neglect. Have your old pits pointed and cemented; it -will keep 
the woodlice from harbouring there. 
Sweet AVilliams (IF. M. D.). —They are the finest varieties we have 
evef seen. 
Strawberries ( IF. Jones). —They will continue bearing for many years ; 
but, for very fine berries, should be renewed every third year. Nit ley’s 
Goliath is the largest. If you buy “ Florists’Flowers for the Many,” you 
will, for foul-pence, have full particulars relative to the culture of those you 
ask such general information about. 
Forming a Greenhouse of Frame-sasiies (It — d).— An answer to a 
ease similar to yours was given at p. 182, and another a short time before. 
The whole of your plan, as to the construction of the house, we approve of. 
The pathway with a four feet and a half platform in front will be rather 
narrow, better give it six inches more. The space below the platform will 
he useful. Perhaps it would be better to have the platform, if a fixture, a 
foot lower. You could then elevate small pots, or a pot, or temporary 
shelves when required, and you would thus give more room for taller 
plants. There should also he openings in the platform between it and the 
front wall, or the circulation of air will not he complete. Ill the case of a 
flue for such a house, we would never think of brick on bed, for then almost 
all your heat must come from its top. Brick on bed is good when strong 
constant heat is wanted, not when sudden heats to repel sudden frosts are 
requireS. Neither do we approve of covering the top with slate, as, when¬ 
ever the flue is hot, they will crack and fly to pieces. Better use tiles from 
one inch to one inch and a half in thickness. 
Roses Suitable for Pillar Roses (An Amateur, Derby).— 1. Rosa 
Ruga. 2. Jaunc Dcsprey. 3. Lamarque. 4. Aimee Fibert. 5. Souvenir 
dc Malmaison. 6. Eclair de Jupiter. The present is the best time for 
striking cuttings of Roses. The dwarf plant you sent is the Campanula 
pumila, variety alba, or the white dwarf Bellflower. The other appears to 
be (from the much-pressed bit sent), the double white variety of the Cam¬ 
panula persicifolia, of which there are several varieties. 
Greenhouse Building (A Subscriber). — The cost varies in different 
localities, and small structures cost more in proportion than large. The 
best way is to have an estimate from two or three builders. One so small 
might be well heated by gas, with due arrangements for carrying off the 
products of its burning. AVhat do you mean by “ A’erbena blight ? ” If 
the white mildew on the leaves, flowers of sulphur are the best application. 
Exhorting AA t ild Flowers (New Zealand). —AVe cannot tell what seeds 
