January 3, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
288 
from the more widely cultivated A. aurantiaca, A. 
fascinator, and their varieties. In common with those 
it resists fog remarkably well, as its behaviour during 
the month of December amply testified. 
Destroying Moss on Lawns. 
An old gardener of my acquaintance used to destroy 
moss on his lawn by applying soot. The subsoil was 
somewhat retentive, and by way of experimenting he 
applied lime to some parts, to others good soil, to 
others well-decomposed manure, and to others soot, all 
of which he found had a tendency to destroy the 
obnoxious intruder, but none so effectually as soot ; 
and he found it not only the best, but it was attended 
with the least trouble and expense. Soot he found to 
kill every particle of moss, and at the same time supplied 
its place with a beautiful herbage of luxurious growth, 
dark in colour, and of excellent quality.— It. I). 
Phylica ericoides. 
There are something like sixty-five species in this 
genus, mostly natives of South Africa. Many of them, 
including that under notice, have a bushy and Heath¬ 
like habit quite unlike the species of Ceanothus and 
Rhamnus, with which we are better acquainted. The 
leaves of P. ericoides are linear-lanceolate, revolute at 
the margins, deep green above, and white with 
tomentum underneath. The bush grows from 1 ft. to 
3 ft. in height, but flowers very freely while yet in 
a small state, and the small flowers are borne in 
terminal, and axillary sub-umbellate heads. The 
flowers appear white, owing to the dense felt of white 
tomentum with which the outer surface is furnished. 
The petals, as indeed the whole flower, is very small, 
consequently the interior is scarcely discernible. In 
the aggregate, however, they are pretty, and the plant 
is therefore useful for associating with Heaths from the 
same part of the world, as the temperature necessary 
for the one also suits that of the other. 
Pear, Josephine de Malines. 
When at its best the fruit of this Pear is above the 
medium size, but on old trees it is more often of 
medium or small size, short, and top-shaped. The 
skin is of a light green, or when well ripened under 
clear skies it is yellow, tinted with green on the 
shaded side, and with red next the sun. The flesh is 
yellowish, tinted with red, and when thoroughly 
matured is juicy, melting and sugary, with a delicious 
and agreeable flavour. It does not, however, always 
ripen in certain localities or gardens. In such cases 
successful results have been obtained by placing them 
over the hot-water pipes for a few days, or even a week, 
to stimulate or hasten their maturity. The tree is 
very hardy and bears well, as the old trees in the 
gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society at Chiswick 
testify, for they bear a fair crop even in bad seasons. 
The fruitripens about Christmas, and keeps sound till May 
iEchmea fasciata. 
The leaves of this species are of a dull mealy green on 
the upper surface, banded transversely with grey scales 
beneath, serrated with black spiny teeth on the margin, 
and arranged in a vasiform tuft of medium size. The 
plant flowers regularly when grown under favourable 
conditions, so that the suckers may attain suitable 
size in a given space of time. When in bloom it 
remains in an ornamental condition for many weeks. 
The bracts are the most durable, and are densely 
arranged in a rosette, with the upper part of the 
inflorescence forming a short pyramid in the centre. 
They are of a soft rosy pink, the colour being consider¬ 
ably toned down by a coating of white tomentum. 
The calyx is also pink, and the petals are blue fading 
to red. The flowers, however, on the whole are small, 
and the dense rosette and pyramid or cone of bracts 
therefore constitute the most ornamental part of the 
plant. The plant might be more extensively cultivated 
than it is at present for decorative purposes. 
Acrostichum aureum. 
The species of Acrostichum are numerous, mostly 
inhabiting tropical countries, but few of them are in 
cultivation. There is a great range of variation 
amongst them, some being adapted for hanging baskets, 
others for Wardian cases, and a third set for pot culture 
in the stove. A. aureum is sub-aquatic in its nature 
and is found in various parts of the world, both in the 
eastern and western hemispheres. Naturally, as might 
be supposed, it varies considerably in such wide locali¬ 
ties, and under favourable conditions attains wonderful 
proportions, the fronds varying from 3 ft. to 10 ft. in 
length, and from 1 ft. to 2 ft. in width. The fronds 
are pinnate, with oblong pinnae that vary from 3 ins. to 
1 ft. in length, and are of a dark green except where the 
under side of the fertile pinnae show themselves. The 
sori are dark brown, and cover the whole under-surface 
of the fertile pinnre, adding considerably to the noble 
appearance of the plant. This species constitutes the 
type of the genus, which now includes a number of 
other genera of different authors. 
Carex tristachya. 
Such is the name of the species of Carex that has come 
largely into cultivation for decorative purposes during 
the last few years. There is a green and a variegated 
form, the latter of which received a First Class 
Certificate about two years ago. Apparently it flowers 
but sparingly, at least under cultivation, notwith¬ 
standing that the green form grows very vigorously. 
It is notable for its densely tufted habit, numerous 
dark green, narrowly linear leaves, and its suitability 
for using in groups and arrangements of plants for 
decorative as well as exhibition purposes, in the same 
way as Isolepis or Panicum. The leaves are, however, 
more ascending than in either of those plants, so that 
Carex tristachya may be used more in the interior 
of the group than the other subjects named, which 
are best adapted for the margin of groups, and the 
front of the staging. The variegated form when well 
grown is very pretty, but it is less vigorous and weaker 
in constitution than the green or typical form. It is 
characterised by a white or creamy white stripe down 
the centre of each leaf. 
Liverpool Horticultural Association. 
The fourth annual dinner of this association was held 
recen tly at the Eagle Restaurant, Castle Street, and pro ved 
to be one of the most pleasurable gatherings ever held 
under the auspices of the association. The company 
numbered up wards of 120. Mr. Fletcher Rogers presided, 
and was supported by Messrs. R. W. Ker, T. Davies, H. 
Middlehurst, P. Harbordt, T. White (chairman of the 
association), and T. Powell (vice-chairman). After the 
loyal toasts, the chairman proposed “The Liverpool 
Horticultural Association,” congratulating the members 
upon the fact that, as regarded finances, this year had 
been one of the most successful they had experienced. 
He mentioned that the receipts at the recent Chrysan¬ 
themum show equalled the expenditure, a gratifying 
result which had never before been achieved. Mr. 
White, in responding, remarked that at the beginning 
of the year some of the old members of the committee 
left them, but the newly-constituted committee had 
worked hard, with the happy result that both shows 
had proved most successful. He hoped that they 
would be unanimous, that those who had separated 
from the committee would join them again, as they 
were valuable, practical members of the association. 
The chairman gave “The Horticultural Trade,” to 
which Mr. T. Davies and Mr. R. W. Ker responded. 
The latter gentleman made an important suggestion, 
which was to the effect that Mr. Fletcher Rogers, who 
was one of the best-known merchants on ’Change, 
might still further benefit the association by inducing 
his business friends to present a “ Cotton Brokers’ 
Challenge Cup” in connection with the Chrysanthemum 
show. He was sure that if Mr. Rogers took the matter 
up it would be successfully accomplished. As an in¬ 
ducement to the cotton brokers, he mentioned that his 
firm had decided to present a silver challenge cup and 
ten guineas each year until the cup was finally won. 
In reply to the toast of his health, which was heartily 
received, Mr. Fletcher Rogers promised to take the 
matter into his consideration, and see what could he 
done. 
How London Lives. 
In a useful little book bearing this title, and published 
by the Religious Tract Society, the author, Mr. W. J. 
Gordon, gives a great deal of information on the 
subject of how five millions of people are supplied 
with food, how the streets are lighted and cleansed, 
and protected, how our hospitals are managed, and many 
other things ordered for the common weal. Of the sup¬ 
plies of vegetables required to feed the vast population, 
some idea may be gained from the following summary:— 
Potatos for the whole of London, 400,000 tons, 
being about £ lb. per head per day ; Cabbages, of all 
descriptions, 110,000 tons ; Turnips, 60,000 tons ; 
Onions, 50,000 tons ; Cauliflowers and Broccoli, 30,000 
tons; Brussels Sprouts, 15,000 tons; Carrots and 
Parsnips together, about the same ; green Peas, 20,000 
tons (the Great Eastern alone brings in over 4,000 tons) ; 
Beans, 13,000 tons ; Lettuces, 2,000 tons ; Vegetable 
Marrows, 2,000 tons; Cucumbers, 300 tons; 200,000 
Gherkins have been cut in one morning by one gardener; 
Rhubarb, 900 tons ; Celery, 800 tons ; Asparagus, 300 
tons ; Radishes, 200 tons ; Turnip tops, Herbs, and 
other unspecified items, say 500 tons ; which amounts, 
duly cast up and divided, yield an average of about 
6 ozs. per day of green vegetables for each inhabitant of 
the metropolis. Give them each another ounce, and 
you would require another 50,000 tons ! 
A Novel Christmas Tree. 
In Paris the traditional Fir Christmas Tree has been 
discarded in favour of the odorous Spanish Furze-bush 
covered with golden blossoms and placed in a big 
earthenware jar. The candles attached to the branches 
by large bands of silver ribbon were pale pink and 
yellow, and at the foot of this novel and dainty 
Christmas Tree was a nest of silver, where hoveTed 
two white doves, each holding a sprig of Holly in its 
beak. On the top branch glittered a bright electric 
star. But what is the odorous Spanish Furze-bush 
which apparently flowers at Christmas ? 
-O-E*-*- 
FORCING AND HEATING IN 
THE OLDEN TIME. 
Judging from the writings of some of the Latin poets, 
there is reason to believe that the forcing of fruits, such 
as Peaches and Grapes, was not unknown to the 
Romans, although the practice never came into general 
use. The writer, however, complained or ridiculed the 
practice because the Peaches so grown lacked colour. 
This is not to be wondered at considering that talc 
was the material used as glass, while we with the aid 
of modern science have a difficulty sometimes in getting 
Peaches to assume the proper hue when grown under 
real glass. The Romans called talc Lapis specularis ; 
their stoves were specularia, and the glazier was 
specularius. It may be said, however, that specularia 
also applied to the windows of dwelling houses. From 
the description of the Latin poet it is believed that 
Grapes were not actually forced in the same sense as we 
use the term, but rather that the first crop of flowers on 
the Vines were destroyed with a view to make them 
produce a second. The stoves or hothouses with their 
talc windows were then serviceable in protecting Vines 
while they matured a crop late in the autumn ; so that 
it was really a case of retarding. Tiberius was enabled 
to enjoy Cucumbers all the year round from his hot¬ 
houses. The Cucumbers were grown in boxes, wheeled 
out of doors during fine weather, and brought indoors 
at night and during bad weather. Further, the 
Romans were well acquainted with the art of heating 
by means of flues, for the dwelling houses in all the 
colder parts of the country were heated in that way. 
This is also attested by the remains of Roman 
dwelling houses in this country. 
Hot-houses do not appear to have been much, if at 
all, in use in Britain about the beginning of the 18th 
century ; but heating in one form or other became very 
common by the middle of it. So much progress had 
been made by that time that heating by hot-water 
piping seems to have been foreshadowed, for an article 
appeared in the Gentleman’s Magazine for January, 
1755, advocating the heating of Melon frames by steam 
in metal pipes. 
The science of heating by fermenting materials, and 
by flues or both combined, had attained a considerable 
degree of perfection by this time ; for Philip Miller, in 
1759, said that- the skill of making hot-beds was better 
than in any other country of Europe. The subjects 
they forced on these beds were Melons, Cucumbers, 
Asparagus, and plants for salading. Horse dung, 
mixed with long litter and sea-coal ashes, and fer¬ 
mented, were considered the best materials for making 
hot-beds. All were shaken lightly together in a heap 
and allowed to lie six or seven days, after which the 
whole heap was shaken up afresh and allowed to 
ferment for five or six days longer. A pit was dug in 
the ground 1 ft. to 1| ft. deep in dry soil, and the 
manure wheeled into this and spread equally, then 
trodden down and covered with a layer of cow dung to 
prevent burning of the roots of plants should the heat 
be violent. To further guard against injury, the frame 
was placed over the bed, but no soil was put on till two 
or three days afterwards. If Melons or Cucumbers 
were to be planted, a hill of soil was placed on the hot¬ 
bed as soon as it was made up. Fresh manure was 
afterwards added to the outside to keep up the 
temperature inside as the heat of the bed declined. 
The increased heat of the sun towards spring rendered 
the addition of fresh manure less necessary ; but if the 
