April 18th, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
521 
sun is hotter, and the atmosphere much drier, more 
water is required, and the drainage in the pots 
should be perfect. When a plant requires water,' it 
will show itself by becoming dry on the surface ; and 
then a good soaking should be given, taking care 
that all portions of the soil about the roots be 
thoroughly saturated. When plants are re-potted, 
the operator should see that the centre of the ball is 
not too dry; if so, it should be soaked in water and 
allowed to drain before it is re-potted. 
Many plants die in consequence of the ball of earth 
becoming too dry, and though water may be given, it 
passes away down by the sides of the pot and does 
not reach the centre of the ball of roots. And when 
plants are repotted, the soil used should always be 
nicely moist, not too dry, and, on the other hand, not 
too wet. It is sometimes difficult to get the ball of 
earth thoroughly moistened when the soil used is too 
dry. Pots should always be clean when used, both 
inside and out, and the crocks also. If the pots have 
is seen, fumigate ; if left alone they increase with 
wonderful rapidity. But fumigation must be done 
with great care when the plants are in flower, and any 
in bloom that are not affected with green-fly should 
be removed before fumigation is done. Pelargoniums 
when in flower are very impatient of tobacco-smoke, 
and they should therefore be kept perfectly clean until 
they bloom, and be taken from the house when a fumi¬ 
gation is necessary. On no account should the amateur 
overdo his fumigating ; that is to say, harm may arise 
from sending too powerful a volume of smoke among 
the plants, as certain soft-wooded things, such as 
Calceolarias and Cinerarias suffer thereby. In the 
winter months watering should be done early in the 
day ; in the summer months it will often be necessary 
to do so two or three times a day, so much depends 
upon the state of the weather. During hot weather 
the plants should not be allowed to become very dry ; 
the foliage and flowers suffer as well as the roots. 
In hot summer weather shading is a great help, and 
house; covering up with newspapers when frost is 
without, and using a petroleum stove, Bippingill’s for 
instance, with a small hot-water apparatus fixed to it. 
—Quo. 
— g—. —- 
THE GARDENS OF SOLOMON. 
On our way down the valley towards Bethlehem, we 
noticed ancient terraces which had doubtless once 
been fruitful vineyards or olive-yards ; and on turning 
the angle of the valley towards the left, we beheld at 
our feet “ the Gardens of Solomon,” neatly laid out 
over the bed of the valley, and extending, according 
to Canon Tristram, for more than two miles in all, from 
the little village of Urtas. This spot was first 
reclaimed and cultivated about thirty years ago by 
Mr. Meshullam, a converted Jew, who settled down 
here with the object of proving that the land if 
cultivated was capable of producing a rich return to 
the cultivator. Soon after some fellaheen followed 
CAMELLIA C03IMENDAT0EE BETTI. 
been used before, they should be well washed inside 
and out before plants are again placed in them. The 
soil used should be fresh and sweet, and not sifted too 
fine. If the amateur is not aware what mixtures of soils 
are best suited to certain classes of plants, he should 
consult the columns of The Gabdening Would, or 
some local nurseryman or gardener. When buying 
plants see that they are young and healthy; buy only 
such as an amateur may be able to grow, and get the 
best information how to grow them successfully. If 
the amateur has a greenhouse he should look through 
it frequently, sponging the leaves, and syringing the 
plants in fine drying weather, keeping the plants tied 
up neatly, the surface of the soil stirred and clean, 
and the pots washed when they become coated with 
green. Then the plants should not be too much 
crowded, but have room to grow, and for the air to 
circulate among them; and they need to be kept as 
near the glass as possible. It is much better to grow 
a few things well than a larger number indifferently. 
In the spring and summer months green-fly is 
certain to appear, and a fumigation with the smoke 
of tobacco-paper should be given. As soon as the fly 
should be provided. Eoller-blinds on the roof of a 
greenhouse give the least trouble, and they are very 
useful in frosty weather, as by letting them down they 
keep the house warm and comfortable. Those who 
have no convenience for shading, either inside or out, 
will find it advantageous to place old newspapers 
temporarily between the glass and their plants in 
order to ward off the direct rays of the sun. On the 
other hand ventilation is of the greatest importance, 
even in winter, for it is hurtful to many plants to 
keep them closely confined. A little air should be 
given if the weather is not frosty, and then it should be 
done on the side opposite to that from which the rvind 
is blowing, so that a current of cold air does not 
play among the plants. During the winter the house 
should be kept as dry as possible; and in the act of 
watering, as little as possible should be spilt upon the 
ground. 
Those who have a greenhouse heated with hot water 
can easily dry up damp and keep out frost. But what 
of those who have not ? Well, the best thing to do 
is to keep all tender plants as dry as possible (short of 
killing them thereby), and in the warmest part of the 
and settled by his side ; Germans followed, and patch 
after patch was brought under culture, and now the 
whole valley has been converted into a series of well- 
tilled gardens, producing vegetables for the Jerusalem 
market, besides numerous fruit-trees, such as those of 
the Apricot, Peach, Almond, Fig, and Pomegranate. 
The hillsides are also being banked up into terraces 
for the growth of Vines and Olive-trees. It can 
scarcely be denied, after viewing the pretty picture of 
a garden valley, that Meshullam has succeeded in 
demonstrating that the vales of Palestine are capable 
of becoming as fruitful as in former ages, if only 
persevering industry be applied to the work of 
reclamation .—From Prof. Hull's “ Mount Sier, Blount 
Sinai, and Western Palestine.” 
Aoccbas from Seed.— I have a lot of Aucuba 
berries on my bushes, and shall be glad to hear 
if plants can be raised from them, and, if so, if they 
are likely to be different in the leaf from the parent. 
When will the seeds be ripe, and how should they be 
sown ?— Japonica. 
