279 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, Avgust 9, 1859. 
system of close-cutting induces the growth of a large number of 
shoots, in the same manner that withies are produced in England. 
Every twelve months these shoots attain the length of six or 
soven feet, and the thickness of a man’s finger. In the interim, 
the only cultivation required is repeated cleaning. The whole 
plantation is cut down at the proper period, and the sticks are 
then stripped of their bark by the peelers. These men are called 
“ Clialias,” and their labour is confined to this particular branch. 
The season being over, they pass the remaining portion of the 
year in idleness, their earnings during one crop being sufficient to 
supply their trifling wants until the ensuing harvest. Their 
practice in this employment naturally renders them particularly 
expert; and in far less time than is occupied in the description 
they run a sharp knife longitudinally along a stick, and at once 
divest it of the bark. On the following day the strips of bark 
are scraped, so as entirely to remove the outer cuticle. One strip 
is then laid within the other, which, upon becoming dry, contract 
and form a series of enclosed pipes. It is subsequently packed in 
bales, and carefully sewed up in double sacks for exportation. 
The essential oil of Cinnamon is usually made from the refuse of 
the crop ; but the quantity produced in proportion to the weight 
of Cinnamon is exceedingly small, being about five ounces of oil 
to half a hundredweight of the spice. Although the Cinnamon 
appears to require no more than a common quartz sand for its 
production, it is always cultivated with the greatest success where 
the subsoil is light, dry, and of a loamy quality.— ( Baker's 
Ceylon .) 
Sea-Anemones. —Sea-Anemones are extremely voracious, and 
almost every observer has his own anecdotes to illustrate it. Dr. 
Johnston relates one which at the same time remarkably illus¬ 
trates their power of reproducing organs of their own body. “ I 
had once brought to me a specimen of Actinia crassicornis, that 
might have been originally two inches in diameter, and that had 
somehow contrived to swallow a valve of Pecten maximus of the 
size of an ordinary saucer. The shell, fixed within the stomach, 
was so placed as to divide it completely into two halves, so that 
the body, stretched tensely over, had become thin and flattened 
like a pancake. All communication between the inferior portion 
of the stomach and the mouth was of course prevented; yet, 
instead of emaciating and dying of an atrophy, the animal had 
availed itself of what undoubtedly had been a very untoward 
accident, to increase its enjoyments and its chances of double fare. 
A new mouth, furnished with two rows of numerous tentacula, 
was opened up on what had been the base, and led to the under¬ 
stomach : the individual had indeed become a sort of Siamese 
twin, but with greater intimacy and extent in its unions.” 
( British Zoophytes, i. 235.) As inmates of the aquarium, Sea- 
Anemones are apt to prey upon their fellow-prisoners. “ Simple 
contact of the tentacula,” says Sir J. G. Dalyell, “is the prelude 
of destruction. Some animals, as if conscious of their inevitable 
fate, seem paralysed by the touch, and yield without a struggle. 
Others, whose size and strength should insure indemnity, are held 
in the relentless grasp ; the tentacula crowding faster and faster 
around, until the victim is speedily swallowed alive.” There 
appears to be in other marine animals an instinctive horror of the 
tentacula of the Sea-Anemone. The hermit-crab will instan¬ 
taneously flee out of its shell, if the shell is caught by them. 
It is now believed that, like the Acalephce and the Hydras 
the Sea-Anemones possess a power of benumbing then - prey. 
Sea-worms ( Nereides ) have been observed first to writhe, and 
then to become paralysed. Little elliptical capsules are in 
some species scattered over the whole surface of the body; in 
others, confined to the tentacula, or even to their tips. These are 
furnished with spicula or minute spears, by wliicli it is probable 
that not only are wounds inflicted, but poison is also conveyed 
into them. The sensations produced by the touch of the tenta¬ 
cula appear to be very different in the case of different persons, 
from a mere “ rasping feeling ” on the withdrawal of the hand, to 
a slight tingling, and even to a stinging as by a Nettle. The 
Anthea Cereus possesses the stinging power in a much greater 
degree than the ordinary Actinice. Probably the skin of the 
human hand is in general too thick or hard to be pierced by their 
fine spicula. Dr. A. Waller, of Birmingham, has recently found, 
that, on submitting the tip of his tongue to the tentacula, a 
pungent pain and stinging, as by a Nettle, were the constant 
result. lie has also found that a thin India-rubber membrane 
grasped by the tentacula retains the microscopic “poison-darts” 
sticking on its surface. Some of these are only two or three 
times the length of the capsule which contains them, or at most 
one-hundredth part of an inch ; but others are much longer, and 
when within the capsule are coiled up after the manner of a 
watch-spring. The capsules are, therefore, called filiferotis or 
thread capsules. This thread is highly elastic, and the expul¬ 
sion of it, as of the shorter spicula, is effected, Mr. Gosse tell us, 
by organs having this for their special otfice.—( Chambers's En¬ 
cyclopedia.) 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Gold and Silver Fish, — W. Godsall will be obliged by being informed 
if these fish may safely he left through the winter in a basin in the open 
air ; and if the said basin, lined with cement, will require any and what 
protection from frost. 
Very Small Farm ( A Schoolmaster). —Buy our “Allotment Farming 
for the Many for the threepence you will have much of the information 
you need. Mr. John Sillett’s pamphlet is called “A New Practical 
System of Fork and Spade Husbandry.” We gave some extracts from it 
in our 106th number. You may obtain it through your bookseller ; and 
so you may “ Our Farm of Four Acres,” a second edition of which is just 
published. 
Causing Variegation in Leaves (An Old Amateur).— There is not a 
gardener who can or could turn one single leaf from green to variegated. 
Chemists might turn a leaf from plain to variegated, but that kind of 
variegation could never go back to green again; but the new leaves would 
be green. Our correspondent bought a variegated Fuchsia, and as soon 
as she had it home it turned green. The trick seemed evident. We are 
just in the same fix. We had two cuttings last October of a variegated 
Fuchsia; we had two plants from them, one variegated, and one quite 
green. But we have not the right key to the greening of this variegated 
Fuchsia. We only regret the fact that it turns green of itself; not the 
same leaves, however,—the new growth only is green. 
Double Convolvulus (An Amateur).— There is such a plant as a double 
Convolvulus. We have scores of yards of wreaths of it just now in full 
bloom and beauty. Also the single of the same kind. Calystegia pubescens 
is the name of it, and if once you plant it, you will never get rid of it; 
therefore, plant it near evergreens, or some strong shrubs, and it will soon 
run up, and cover them with hanging wreaths of perfectly double and 
very beautiful flowers. There is just now a large Aucitba Japonica in the 
garden of the Wanstead Infant Orphan Asylum, literally in one mass of 
bloom of the single Calystegia pubescens —the prettiest thing we have seen 
this season in all our rambles. 
Roses for a North and North-east Wail (M. A. M.). —A good 
deal depends on what part of the kingdom you reside in; and we do not 
happen to know that. The best we can do is to say that, of all plants, Roses 
are the very worst to cover the front of a house anywhere : and the reason 
is, the perpetual war going on to keep down the green fly, caterpillar, and 
mildew. The nasty things that must be used so near one’s windows and 
doors are enough to breed typhus fever. We never recommend Roses 
for the front of a house. However, we will make a guess at the situation, and 
say use any of the evergreen climbing Roses, as the best for all places in 
the kingdom, and bud perpetual sorts on them afterwards. The La Marque 
is also a fine wall Rose. Jaun Desprey is as good as a tea-caddy in warm 
places; and Blairii No. 2 is the strongest summer Rose, but bad to bud 
others on; and the strong common Noisettes are the best for autumn 
bloom, where the climate suits them. 
Scolytus Destructor (A Constant Reader). —The holes in the bit of 
Elm bark sent are rather larger than the ordinary ones made by Scolytus 
destructor, although very similar to them. Your account, however, of the 
state of the trees quite agrees with that caused by the presence of the 
Scolytus, of which an excellent figure is to be found in “ Curtis’s British 
Entomology.”—W. 
Selection of Verbenas (IT. T.).—1o have any practical value, the 
answer to the above would need that all men should agree in one taste, 
and all women to agree with the men. When that happens, flower gar¬ 
dening will necessarily cease as an object of enjoyment, for every one of 
them would be the same thing. Every flower gardener you meet has 
certain best flowers, and no two men have exactly the same taste. It is on 
the same principle that we decline planting beds for people. Let that 
once he done by the most varied intellect, and it must soon come to repeat 
itself, and one style would pervade the whole kingdom. Take it in any 
point of view, and it will end in sameness. There are, say twelve best 
scarlet Verbenas, and twelve of all the other colours in tlial'family; then 
take the first twelve ladies you meet, and let each take “ the best ” Ver¬ 
bena of each colour, and eleven of them are gone at the first, and each lady 
has the best for her, and one goes without, because none of them will suit 
her. Then how is one man, or fifty men, to choose the best for hundreds 
and thousands? 
Various (J. P. M.). —Marcliantia will not injure the small Ferns among 
which it grows. Sink the troughs in the earth, and this will sufficiently 
preserve the roots of Nympha-a alba growing in them. All crossed flowers 
are liable to occasional sports on whatever soil they may be grown. 
Weeping Asii ( Ignoramus ).—Your plant is Escallonia rubra. By 
careful management you may move your Weeping Ash in the autumn, 
about the middle of November, if the weather is favourable. Dig a trench 
round the tree, six feet from the stem, and gradually remove the soil with 
forks from about the roots, and preserve them as much as possible. If this 
be done carefully, the tree will not suffer. 
Mealy Bug ( A Subscriber since October).— Remove your Oleander to a 
room where no other plants are, and wash it thoroughly with a solution 
of the Gishurst Compound, two ounces to the gallon. Follow the di¬ 
rections sent with the Compound. „ 
Mowing Machines (E. II.—A Young Gardener). —Any of those ad¬ 
vertised in our columns will answer for your grass. Keep the machine in 
good order. 
Grate (John Morgan).— The specimen you enclose is very curious; one 
growing inside the other. Had you observed the flowers that produced 
the fruit, you would have found there was one flower issuing from the 
