222 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ October, 
outright, or never form pitchers freely, the absence of which latter, from a 
cultural point of view, renders them of no interest. Instead of placing them in 
the situations described, hang them up or elevate them in any way until the top 
of the plants is not more than 1 or 2 ft. from the glass ; under the ridge is the 
best, as there they will get more light as well as the necessary air they require 
from the ridge ventilators. Shade with thin materials when the sun shines, but 
never when it does not. Use pots proportionately small as compared with the 
requirements of most other plants, and give liberal drainage. Soil: the best 
fibrous Orchid peat three-fourths, with one-fourth chopped sphagnum, sand, 
and crocks about the size of horse-beans. Water at the root once a day during 
the growing season, twice or three times a week during the season of rest. 
Syringe overhead in the evenings whilst the plants are making active growth, 
and keep them clear from insects. As to temperature, all they require is such 
as will grow Cucumbers all the year round. By following these simple directions, 
success is almost reduced to a certainty. In conclusion, I may say that, of all 
plants introduced for culture under glass, I know of none possessing more 
general interest.”—T. Baines, The Gardens , Southgate House , N. 
BLIND CABBAGE PLANTS. 
uffffns may seem a very odd title. The expression is, however, applied to 
Cabbage plants when they have lost their hearts,—a malady the cause of 
which is uncertain. In some seasons blind Cabbages are scarcely heard 
of, but during the present season there has been a great outcry about 
them among gardeners and cottagers. So general, indeed, have these blind 
cabbages been, that in most gardens vegetables of the cabbage tribe have had 
to be planted afresh, and still in many cases the evil prevails. I have heard of 
the same complaint among Swedish turnips. Some persons ascribe the injury to 
a small u black insect,” somewhat like the one which attacks young turnips, 
especially in dry weather ; but it is more probable that the mischief is done by 
the larvae of a small insect, which attacks the tender hearts of the plants in the 
seed-beds. They certainly do not perforate or eat the “ seed-leaves,” nor those 
of aftergrowth, as does the turnip-fly, which often devours the whole crop of 
turnips. It is not so in the case of plants of the cabbage tribe ; these may be 
u blind,” and yet appear to be all right, until we look closely into their hearts. I 
am not aware that any writer has noticed this subject; indeed, until this season 
I had given it but little attention, and therefore I am at a loss to prescribe a 
remedy. It may, however, be mentioned that most of the “ blind plants ” were 
among the early-sown ones, while the hearts of those in the late seed-beds were 
sound; perhaps by that time the larvae had undergone their natural change, or 
what is more probable, they may have got past the lifetime of the insect which 
affected the others; or the chrysalids may pass the winter in the ground, ready 
to appear as perfect insects to renew the plague in spring. If so, deep trenching 
may destroy them; or it may be efficacious to sow the seed as late as possible, on 
