604 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 19, 1888. 
Mustard-grinding in the Olden Time. 
In certain rural districts, not a great many years ago, 
the inhabitants grew their own Mustard, and ground 
it as required much in the same way as Coffee in a hand- 
mill for immediate use, with the exception that the 
Mustard-grinding machine was of a much more primitive 
kind, reminding one of the mortar and pestle. Into a 
wooden bowl or basin the required amount of mustard 
seed was put with a small quantity of water. This was 
then ground by means of an iron ball resembling a 
cannon ball, and probably some of them had been used 
as weapons of war. The whole mill or machine being 
heavy in proportion to the size of the iron ball, was 
placed between the knees of the operator in a sitting 
posture, and with a swinging motion the ball was set 
rolling. In the course of twenty minutes to half an 
hour the Mustard was ground and ready for use, being 
then a thick pasty mass, curiously variegated with the 
brown skins of the seeds and the yellow flower of the 
embryo. The kind grown was the black Mustard 
(Brassica nigra), and after being thus prepared by our 
frugal ancestors, was no doubt unadulterated and as 
wholesome as Keen’s and Colman’s Mustard of the 
present day, although lacking in finish and refinement. 
Pentas carnea. 
"Where this is well grown, it is both effective and 
pretty as a stove plant, although one of those old- 
fashioned things that generally get neglected even by 
those who possess it. Being a soft-wooded sub-shrub, 
it requires to be propagated annually, and grown on for 
flowering at any particular season at which it may be 
required. In order to obtain bushy plants, pinch out 
the tips of the shoots, and shift into larger sizes as the 
pots become filled with roots. When they have attained 
the desired dimensions, stop pinching, assist with 
manure-water, and keep the plants as near the glass as 
possible to prevent drawing, to which this plant is 
subject if too crowded or when grown in a shady place. 
The flowers are of a delicate flesh-colour with a white 
eye, and greatly resemble those of a Bouvardia, but the 
corolla has five instead of four segments. A darker- 
coloured variety, named P. c. kermesina, has purple 
rather than carmine flowers, as the varietal name would 
lead us to infer. We noticed lately a fine batch of P. 
carnea in the nurseries of Messrs. John Laing & Sons, 
Forest Hill. 
Streptosolen Jamesoni. 
In this old greenhouse friend we have a shrubby plant 
that is closely allied to the Browallias, some of which 
are popular at the present day as decorative subjects 
for the conservatory. Being annuals they can be 
grown from seed, and then thrown away after they 
have done flowering. Only the present species is 
known to science, and it differs entirely in general 
appearance from the blue-flowered Browallias. The 
orange-coloured flowers have a long twisted tube, are 
borne in terminal racemes, and produced during the 
spring and early summer months. A cool airy green¬ 
house is that most adapted to the likings of this plant, 
which comes from Columbia. It grows rather slowly, 
and therefore does not require to be frequently 
propagated ; but when this is necessary, cuttings are 
readily procurable, and may be put in sandy soil in a 
propagating pit or unde; a hand glass. The plant 
itself is not particular as to soil, but delights in one 
that i3 sandy than otherwise. A specimen some 3 ft. 
in height has been flowering for some time in the 
nursery of Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill. 
Chlorophytum elatum medio-pictum. 
For their flowers alone, the members of this genus are 
not of much value as garden plants, although some 
forty of them are known to science. Four of them have 
been introduced to cultivation, but are seldom seen 
outside of botanic gardens, except C. elatum, which has 
attained some distinction from the two variegated forms 
into which it has sported. As decorative plants, both 
varieties are useful ; but that under notice is the finest 
and most attractive, owing to the broad creamy yellow 
or white band running along the centre of each leaf. 
This colouration is best brought out in a warm moist 
temperature, as is the case with many other variegated 
plants ; but this treatment is by no means essential to 
its welfare, as the plant will accommodate itself very 
readily to a cool greenhouse, where frost is merely kept 
out. The variegation, except when the leaves are 
young, will, of course, be less bright under this 
treatment. We noticed it in fine condition in the 
nursery of Mr. H. B. May, Upper Edmonton. 
Selaginella pilifera. 
The dwarf and compact subject of this name is rather 
rare in cultivation, although one of the prettiest of the 
tufted kinds. In general appearance it closely resembles 
the Resurrection Club Moss, which also hails from the 
same part of the world—namely, from Texas. The 
latter extends through Mexico, however, as far south as 
Peru, and has an interesting history, but does not seem 
to be much more frequently grown than S. pilifera. 
We noted the latter in the nursery of Messrs. J. Carter 
k Co., Forest Hill. The dense rosette of spreading, 
leafy, and much-branched stems do not, as a rule, 
exceed 3 ins. or 4 ins. in length, although they are 
frequently shorter, so that it would constitute a pretty 
and interesting species for those who make collections 
of them a hobby. The rosette being flat and table- 
formed, covers the soil in the pot in a similar way to 
Sempervivum tabukeforme or Saxifraga longifolia. 
Berberis Darwini. 
There can be little doubt that this is one of the best, 
if not the finest of all the Barberries. Its value is 
owing to the evergreen nature of the darkly-coloured 
spiny leaves, and the orange-yellow colour of the 
flowers, which are profusely produced in axillary 
racemes, particularly during the month of May ; but 
should the summer prove favourable, the bush 
frequently comes into flower again in the autumn. 
Although generally seen in the form of a bush, from 
2 ft. to 3 ft. in height, it attains a height of 5 ft. or 
6 ft. under favourable conditions, even in some of the 
counties north of the Tweed ; so that of its hardiness 
we are pretty well assured. The orange-yellow blooms 
are succeeded by deep bluish black berries, that are 
even as ornamental as the flowers themselves. It is 
now flowering finely. 
- ->$<* - 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
♦ 
Orchids in Scotland. 
As an example of successful Orchid culture, the private 
collection of Dr. Paterson, Bridge of Allan, stands un¬ 
rivalled. At the present time many of the plants are 
young and of recent introduction, and valuable varieties 
are expected amongst them, judging from the unique 
character of the bulbs. The growths made are healthy 
and vigorous, produced under quite cool treatment. 
It was surprising to notice the entire absence of artificial 
heat, the pipes being quite cold—probably the only 
Orchid house in the country under the same conditions 
on the same day, and this far from a hot one ; but if 
judiciously utilised, the heat of the sun on a spring day 
ought to take the place of artificial heat, and Dr. 
Paterson appears to recognise the full importance of 
this, with the happiest results to his plants. Another 
noted Scotch collection is that of Mr. Buchanan, of 
Edinburgh, under the able management of Mr. Grossart. 
Many of the specimens here are enormous. Lselia 
purpurata was flowering profusely, and also a specimen 
of Cattleya Lawrenceana, which is supposed to be the 
largest established plant of the kind in the country. I 
was particularly pleased with a flowering specimen of 
Epidendrum Wallisii, the canary-yellow of the sepals 
and petals forming a delicate contrast to the mauve 
markings of the labellum. The latter had been in 
bloom since December, and showed no sign of flagging. 
Many other plants too numerous to mention were in 
bloom, and a visit to this collection is always amply 
repaid by a view of something good.— J. H. Tacy Peck, 
Blaby. 
Odontoglossums from Rosefield. 
From Mr. De B. Crawshay, Rosefield, Sevenoaks, we 
have received some varieties of Odontoglossum crispum. 
That named 0. c. Stevensii is very distinct, and par¬ 
ticularly noticeable on account of the great length of 
the petals, which are unusually undulated and slightly 
twisted, as well as drawn out to a long slender point. 
They are white flushed with pale rose, and variously 
splashed and dotted with brown. The sepals have a 
few very large brown blotches, with a similar ground¬ 
colour, and the lip is richly blotched and beautifully 
frilled at the margin. 0. c. Bonnyanum is a flower of 
an altogether different character, with a single large 
brown blotch on the middle of the rosy sepals and on 
the white lip. The petals, on the other hand, are 
triangular, jagged at the margins, and pure white, with 
occasionally a brown blotch on the middle. The Rose¬ 
field variety of 0. Uro-Skinneri is characterised by the 
rich dark colour of the sepals and petals, and the deep 
rose of the lip. 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE STOVE. 
Poinsettias. —The old plants that were cut down 
some time ago should be taken in hand, and given 
more liberal treatment. "Water the old soil well some 
time previous to the operation. This will facilitate 
the removal of the plants from the pots without break¬ 
ing the roots. Very old plants give greater satisfaction 
when planted out than in pots ; and they produce a 
great number of heads of bracts, which must necessarily 
be smaller than those on strong, vigorously grown 
young plants in pots. For this reason the cultivation 
of this plant in pots should be chiefly confined to young 
specimens. "Where large plants are required for the 
decoration of the conservatory, it is necessary to use 
pots which may be removed at will; and plants for 
this purpose should now be re-potted and made to grow 
Vigorously. 
Winter-flowering Plants. —The cuttings of such 
things as Eranthemum nervosum, Peristrophe speciosa, 
Euphorbia fulgens, Thyrsacanthus rutilans, Rein- 
wardtia trigyna, and R. tetragyna should be potted off 
as soon as fairly well rooted to prevent them becoming 
drawn. The various species of Thyrsacanthus and 
Aphelandra are liable to lose their lower leaves before 
flowering time in autumn or winter, so with a view to 
prevent this as much as possible, they should be grown 
in a well-ventilated house, and exposed to all the light 
possible without endangering them. T. rutilans, how¬ 
ever, is seen to advantage when the stems are sufficiently 
long to keep the long slender racemes off the bench on 
which the plants are standing. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
The Conservatory. —With the recurrence of warm 
weather, the insect enemies of plants are liable to 
increase alarmingly in a short time. The difficulty of 
eradicating them from conservatories adjoining the 
drawing or other rooms of the mansion house lies in the 
objection to the use of Tobacco-smoke. Where it can 
be done, the removal of a few affected plants may make 
fumigation needless ; but permanent plants, such as 
Oranges, Camellias, and climbers in general, are now 
making growth rapidly, and require constant attention 
in order to preserve cleanliness and prevent injury. A 
piece of Frigi Domo or any tolerably thick kind of 
cloth may be saturated with water, and hung up against 
any door leading into the dwelling-house when fumi¬ 
gation is about to be carried out, and this will retard or 
quite prevent the entrance of smoke. 
Epacris. —Most of the late ones will now be out of 
flower, and should be cut down to within a few buds at 
the base of last year’s wood. Water should be partly 
withheld for a time, and the plants so treated placed 
in a stove or, rather, warm pit, where they will be 
encouraged to make young wood by a warm moist 
atmosphere and syringing. After being fairly started 
into growth they may be gradually inured to a cooler 
and more airy atmosphere. 
Winter Stuff. —In the midst of the hurry and 
bustle of spring work it will be necessary to keep an 
eye ahead as to the requirements of autumn and early 
winter, by attending to the rooted cuttings of Libonias, 
Eupatoriums, Sericographis Ghiesbrightii, Salvias in 
great variety, Chrysanthemums of the C. frutescens 
type, Schizostylis coccinea, and similar things. Plant 
Richardias in rich soil in the open air, and if in shallow 
trenches, where they can be heavily watered, so much 
the better. Solanum capsicastrum and its various 
garden forms should be similarly treated, in order to 
encourage a healthy fresh growth. The first batches 
of Cinerarias and Primulas should be carefully attended 
to in the matter of potting, and in seeing that they do 
not get damaged by exposure to the sun. 
THE FORCING HOUSES. 
Vineries. —White Grapes are generally considerably 
improved by having every bunch exposed during the 
period of colouring by the removal or pushing aside of 
a leaf that may be shading it. In doing this, however, 
great care will be necessary lest the berries should get 
scalded, especially after so much cloudy weather. 
Should the sun come out very powerfully, it will be 
well to avoid such full and perfect exposure as would 
otherwise have been harmless if sunshine had been 
more plentiful previously. Where Madresfield Court 
is grown in a house by itself, a drier atmosphere may 
be maintained, which will assist materially in pre¬ 
venting the cracking of the berries, a misfortune to 
which this variety is liable. In order to prevent the 
attacks of red-spider, by which the foliage in early 
