April 18, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
527 
logically distinct from the first mentioned. It would, 
however, be improper for me to draw any general con¬ 
clusions from observations as yet incomplete. Another 
measure which may be ultimately shewn to be practic- > 
able, is that of absorbing the most poisonous substances 
in the fog by using some substance as an absorbent, 
itself innocuous to vegetation. 
A more practical method is to keep the fog out of 
the plant house, rather than to try and neutralize its 
action after it has entered. So long as cultivators 
grow plants susceptible to the impurities of fog in 
houses with open glazings in winter-time, of course 
this is impossible. It is to be hoped some metropolitan 
grower will pluckily face the situation and construct 
a range for winter use, which can be made at will 
absolutely fog-proof, with close glazing, triple doors, 
and padded ventilators. The horticultural engineer 
could easily manage this. Filtered air could be 
supplied, as it is to the House of Commons, by pump¬ 
ing through several inches of cotton wool or by some 
other method ; whilst the illumination could be 
supplemented by a judicious use of the electric light. 
Herve-Mangin showed, so long ago as 1861, that a 
plant could manufacture organic matter by the aid of 
artificial light, and the results of Siemens’ more recent 
experiments are familiar. 
An ingenious person has suggested to me an alter¬ 
native method for excluding fog without interfering with 
ventilation, by an arrangement of tricklers, such as 
one sees on ice factories in summer for cooling. In 
this way a greenhouse might be completely enveloped 
in a thin mantle of dilute hydrogen peroxide, perman¬ 
ganate of potash, or other absorbent, which could be 
collected in gutters pumped up again and again. A 
considerable objection to this plan would be liability 
of the absorbent to freeze in cold weather, fog and 
frost being very frequently concomitant. 
In conclusion, I have to thank my colleagues on the 
committee for their constant help and sympathy. To 
my assistant, Mr. F. E. "Weiss, B.Sc., I am indebted 
for his continuous devotion to the research ; without 
his aid, the investigation could not have progressed as 
it has. For the making of the chemical analyses of 
injured tissues, &c., as well as for advice on many 
questions of a chemical nature, I must thank my 
former pupil, Mr. J. T. Leon, B.Sc., now Lecturer in 
Chemistry at St. Mary’s Hospital.— F. TV. Oliver. 
- ->X< - 
ARDENING fjlSCELLANY. 
—— 
Primrose, James Nimmo. 
This variety is of a different shade of blue from that 
of its parent, Oakwood Blue. The flowers are large, 
with broad obcordate segments, and at the base of the 
rich blue portion is a ring of violet-purple surrounding 
the golden yellow, five-angled eye. The flowers are 
slightly and agreeably fragrant. An Award of Merit 
was granted it when shown at the Drill Hall, on the 
14th inst., by G. F. "Wilson, Esq., Oakwood and 
Wisley, Weybridge. 
Begonia, Triomphe de Nancy. 
The habit of this plant is entirely that of B. manicata, 
except that the peculiar scales on the leaf-stalk are 
absent, and the flower stems are shorter. The leaves 
are roundly-cordate, cuspidate, doubly toothed and 
bright green. From amongst these, numerous much- 
branched scapes arise, bearing a large quantity of 
flowers, which are of a deep carmine externally, best 
seen in bud, and distinctly rose-tinted internally. 
They are much larger, darker in colour, and more 
showy than those of B. manicata. An Award of Merit 
was granted it when shown at the Drill Hall on the 
14th inst., by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., 
Burford Lodge, Dorking. 
The Ear-shelled Slug. 
This snail slug, known to scientific students of the 
Molluscs as Testacella haliotidea, is undoubtedly car¬ 
nivorous, and therefore is not an enemy to occupiers of 
gardens. I had at one time a doubt on this point, 
though it had been confirmed by a personal friend. 
But when I actually found one of them in the act of 
devouring a worm, my doubts vanished. There are 
other members of this family of a carnivorous dis¬ 
position, but not exclusively, as I believe the Testacellas 
are ; these not only feed upon worms, but upon land 
slugs. I do not think this species is indigenous to our 
country, for it is not by any means common. Where I 
found it, the particular soil of the district was a strong 
loam. Those belonging to the genus Limax also eat 
the small shell-less slugs that are so great a worry to 
gardeners, but most members, if not all of the Limax 
will eat green stuff as well as fleshy and animal refuse. 
These are natives of Great Britain I believe. The 
study of Molluscs is very useful to gardeners, at least I 
think so.— T. TV., Yelverton, Norwich. 
The Melon Pear. 
At the Birmingham spring flower show, Messrs. R. H. 
Vertegans k Co., nurserymen, Chad Valley, exhibited 
fruits of Solanum guatemalense, to which the judges, 
two well-known horticulturists, Mr. Owen Thomas, of 
Chatsworth, and Mr. Bennett, The Gardens, Range- 
moor, after tasting the fruits, awarded a Certificate of 
Merit. I had also the opportunity of tasting it, and 
the judges described it as partaking of a Melon and 
Banana-like agreeable flavour, and the fruit solid and 
juicy. It seems to be of very easy culture, such as the 
Tomato, and judging from the specimen, a useful 
winter fruit.— TV. B. 
The Pasqtie Flower. 
The flowers of Anemone Pulsatilla, unlike those of 
many other species, appear more an object of curiosity 
than beauty in the bud state, even although on the 
point of expanding. This arises from their being 
covered on the back with a dense covering of silky 
hairs, which have the effect of giving the flowers a 
dried-up appearance. This covering is no doubt meant 
by nature as a protective one, either from cold in early 
spring or from the effects of drying east winds. Both 
reasons maybe equally near the truth, for it grows and 
succeeds in dry, exposed situations on soil of a droughty 
and chalky nature. The leaves are finely divided and 
closely hug the ground—another point which enables the 
plant to subsist in such a habitat. In consideration 
of these points the cultivator will do well to plant in 
well-drained soil in an open situation, preferably on a 
rockery. It would be well to water the plant during 
the first season, if at all droughty, until it can establish 
itself by sending roots well down in the soil. 
Erica carnea. 
Of all the cultivated hardy Heaths few are more 
deservedly popular than the subject of this note. In 
mild seasons it commences flowering soon after Christ¬ 
mas, and in cold winters like what the past has been 
its blooming has been delayed till a much later period. 
At present it is in full beauty, and, to all appearance, 
will be gay to the end of the month. Most plants of 
the Heath tribe are partial to a peaty soil, although a 
number will succeed without it, provided the soil is 
naturally moist and of a friable but moderately 
retentive nature. E. carnea is one of these, and for 
that reason may be largely planted as an edging to 
beds of shrubbery. Old plants are as suitable for 
planting as young ones, and all that is necessary is to 
bury the old stems with soil, not necessarily to any 
great depth, but merely to insure their being covered, 
so as to encourage the development of fresh roots from 
the young wood. Sandy mud and the scourings of 
ditches or ponds, and which have lain sufficiently long 
to become mellow, form excellent material for mixing 
with the natural soil, if not previously of a suitable 
nature for the growth of this Heath. 
Oriental Henbane. 
Our native species of Henbane is an annual or biennial, 
and only cultivated more as a curiosity as a rule 
than for its beauty. The Oriental Henbane (Hyoscy- 
amus orientalis) on the contrary is perennial, and 
although not strikingly showy is sufficiently conspicuous 
to merit a place in collections on account of its early- 
flowering habit. The flowers are purple with a hoary 
calyx, and are produced in a dense, terminal, compound 
cyme. The stems are now 6 ins. to 8 ins. high, but will 
ultimately attain at least twice that height after the 
flowering period is over. The plant is perfectly hardy, 
and has been flowering from the beginning of the 
month. The leaves are ovate and somewhat hoary, so 
that the appearance of the flowers is somewhat toned 
by them. In mild seasons it commences flowering in 
March, and in late ones continues till May. The 
species is also known as Physochlaina orientalis, and is 
a native of Spain and Portugal. 
Effects of the Winter: Taking Stock. 
As we all hope that winter has at last left us, it is but 
natural that we should look around and see what 
effect it has had, especially on fruit trees and bushes. 
Taking a walk on Good Friday, I called upon Mr. 
Slarlc, market gardener of Thorpe, and it was easy to 
see what sad havoc had been wrought amongst the 
Brassica family. Indeed, it must be a very serious 
thing for those who have to depend upon such crops. 
The only piece of green stuff I saw was a quarter of 
Turnip-tops, which had escaped ; and, by-the-by, the 
only Turnip that stood well here was the Chirk Castle 
Black Stone, and I regret I did not sow more of it, 
as, whilst others went rotten, this one stood until all 
were used. Strawberries seemed to have suffered, but 
the effect on them cannot be told yet. It is to be 
hoped there will not be so many blind among them as 
there has been amongst the pot plants. The bush 
fruit 3 looked very promising. The Pears were especi¬ 
ally well set with flower bud, notably a large number 
of Doyenne Boussoch. The Apples, Plums and 
Cherries looked clean and healthy, and the early sorts 
well set. The birds do not seem to have visited Mr. 
Slark very much. "While going through the houses I 
noticed they were chiefly planted with Tomatos. 
Mr. Slark is relying very much on Sutton’s Earliest of 
All, and for Cucumbers on the good old Telegraph 
Improved. I noticed a good crop of Mushrooms 
growing under the stages, the latter being filled with 
Strawberry plants nicely in flower, and the Mushrooms 
were pretty fully exposed to the light. Our fruit trees 
here are also showing well for flower, but, alas, our 
Raspberries are nearly killed. This I attribute to 
their not being well ripened in the autumn.— A. J. 
Brown, School of Handicraft, Chertsey. 
The Lesser Daffodil. 
Of the numerous forms of Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus, 
the variety minor recommends itself for rockwork 
where the larger kinds would be less suitable. It is 
also choice in its way for pot culture, on account of its 
neat habit, for taken altogether, the flowers are of 
good size relatively to that of the leaves. The perianth 
is of a deeper yellow than the common Daffodil, and 
the deeply-lobed trumpet is several shades darker. 
Owing to the shortness of the stems, the variety is not 
particularly well adapted for planting on grass, unless 
the latter is kept neatly mown during the latter part of 
the summer, at least so that the flowering period may 
be over before the grass gets too rank in spring. It is 
moreover of hardy constitution, and clumps of it may 
be made in the better kept part of the garden, and in 
the herbaceous border, where it will flower profusely 
every year, and not require to be disturbed beyond 
keeping the border clean and top-dressing it. 
Pulmonaria mollis. 
The flowers of this species are the first to put in their 
appearance in spring, and are blue, but, like the rest of 
them, somewhat changeable. The leaves are lanceolate, 
gradually tapering into the long-winged petiole, and 
are of a rusty green in early spring, but assume a 
clearer tone as the season advances. The spotting is 
even less marked than in P. officinalis, and certainly 
cannot rival P. saccharata in that respect. But the 
plant assumes a gay appearance as the weather becomes 
warm, so as to bring out a large number of flowers 
together. It is a native of Europe and Siberia, but is 
less common than the other three known species of this 
genus. The changeable nature of the flowers is common 
to many other members of the Borage family, but the 
spotting of the leaves is less common. In some parts 
of the country the Pulmonarias are known as Joseph’s 
Coat, a term applied in reference to the various hues 
and markings of the flowers and foliage. 
Daphne Blagayana. 
This species is suitable alike for culture out-of-doors or 
in pots, as it is hardy, dwarf and of slow growth, 
producing short, stout, woody shoots, at the apex of 
which the white flowers are developed in dense clusters. 
As in the case of other species they are agreeably 
fragrant, and expand in spring when hardy flowers are 
not over plentiful. Of course, when grown under glass 
the flowers come a little earlier. The dark green, 
leathery, oblanceolate leaves are evergreen. Owing to 
its slow growth and dwarf state, it should never be 
planted in shrubberies, otherwise it will get overgrown 
or lost in a short time. Being a native of the mountains 
of eastern Europe^ it is suitable for planting on rock- 
work, where the stones amongst which it should be 
planted will keep it properly drained, and afford it 
protection from being overrun by plants of a grosser 
nature. The flowers are much larger than those of D. 
Cneorum, and entirely different in colour, so that both 
might be grown in proximity to one another with 
perfect propriety. 
