March 16,1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD.- 
453 
so that it will distribute itself easily and uniformly, 
and enclose each particle of wood as perfectly as the 
shellac solution. The mixture thus produced is 
allowed to dry until it is only moist, not thoroughly 
dry as before, for in the latter case the curd would 
lose its cohesive power. The moist pulp is then put 
into heated mosaic moulds of the desired shape and 
size, and in these forms placed under the press. As 
a result of the heat the shellac softeDS, regaining its 
adhesive powers, and the curd cement hardens 
rapidly, so that both of the substances, the shellac as 
well as the cement, unite under the pressure so 
perfectly with the wood particles that the wood mass 
resulting may within a few minutes be taken out of 
the moulds without losing the form received .—Society 
of Ayts Journal. 
-- 
THE FLORA OF EQUATORIAL 
AFRICA. 
At the meeting of the Linnean Society held on the 
7th inst., Mr. G. F. Scott Elliot, who has been 
absent from England since September, 1893, on a 
botanical exploration of Mount Ruenzori and the 
country to the north of the Albert Edward Nyanza, 
and had returned home only on the previous day, 
gave an interesting account of his journey, and of 
the results—geographical, geological, botanical, 
zoological, and political—obtained by him. He had 
originally intended to proceed from the mouth of the 
Zambesi, by way of I.akes Nyassa and Tanganyika, 
to Mukambas, and so on to the Albert Edward 
Nyanza, but abandoned the idea in favour of the 
route from Mombasa to Uganda. The country lying 
north-east of the Victoria Nyanza was described as 
a large, rolling, grassy plain, some 6,000 ft. above 
sea level, and well adapted for colonisation. Pro¬ 
ceeding west from the Victoria Nyanza Lake to 
Mount Ruenzori, which lies north of the Albert 
Edward Nyanza, and is said to have an altitude of 
18,000 ft., four months were spent in exploring that 
district under the great disadvantage of a dense 
cloud hanging over the mountain the greater part of 
the day, which often prevented the party from seeing 
more than 50 ft. ahead. 
The sides of the mountain were clothed at the 
base with a thick growth of trees, resembling the 
Laurel of the Canary Islands ; above that Bamboos 
to the 10,000 ft. level, and above that again, what 
the explorer could only liken to a Scotch peat moss, 
into which the foot would sink at every step a foot 
or more. Large trunks like those of Erica arborea 
of the Canary Islands, but indicating trees 80 ft. 
high, were noticed. Amongst other plants especially 
noticed were a Viola, a Cardamine, a gigantic 
Lobelia, attaining a height of 5 or 6 ft., and a species 
of Hypericum resembling that found in the Canaries ; 
indeed, the similarity of the flora investigated by 
Mr. Scott Elliot to that of the Canary Islands was 
said to be remarkable, while, as might be expected, 
the similarity of the genera to the Cape flora 
increased as the traveller proceeded south upon his 
homeward route. Mr. Scott Elliot ascended Mount 
Ruenzori to the height of 13,000 ft., finding evidence 
of animal life and numerous insects to a height of 
7,000 ft. Above 10,000 ft. his Swali porters could 
not sleep without injury to their health, and it was 
only with a reduced number of men that he was able 
to ascend another 3,000 ft. Amongst the animals 
specially mentioned was a species of water-buck 
(Cobus), a new chamaeleon, a new snake, and several 
new insects. It was to be regretted that, for reasons 
stated, Mr. Scott Elliot was prevented from explor¬ 
ing Mount Elgon, as he had intended ; but his ascent 
of the Kagera river, and the discovery that it is 
navigable, was regarded as an important contribution 
to geographical knowledge, and to the political future 
of Africa. 
Mr. Scott Elliot concluded by advocating the 
route to Victoria Nyanza from the mouth of the 
Zambesi, by way of the Lakes Nyassa and 
Tanganyika, and was of opinion that this route 
would most advantageously open up communication 
between the Upper Nile and the coast at Chindi, 
and thus do more for International interests than 
could be expected to result from a railway from 
Mombasa. His remarks were listened to with great 
interest, and were criticised by Dr. Gregory, who 
was himself familiar with some of the country 
traversed; and by Mr. Carruthers, who testified to 
the value of the botanical results of the expedition. 
THE DAFFODIL TRADE 
OF SCILLY. 
The long continued frost has hit the flower growers 
of Scilly very hard. In former Februarys the fields 
have been all white and yellow with sweet-scented 
Narcissi and Daffodil; all was bustle at the farms, 
and in Hugh Towd, St. Mary’s, in preparation for 
the steamer which at this time begins running three 
times each week. This year, however, the fields are 
bare and blackened, bulbs have either been retarded 
or killed, and the steamer has hardly been carrying 
pound packages when she should have been carrying 
tons. Those larger growers who have been able to 
erect forcing houses stand the best chance of bring¬ 
ing their crop along, but even they must wait till the 
root springs a little, which in many cases it has not 
done. The situation has become so serious that 
some farmers have had to reduce their staff of work¬ 
men in order to curtail expenses. The farm labourer 
of Scilly, it may be interesting to note, is a very 
different individual from his brother on the mainland. 
He does not live laborious days striving with a 
niggardly soil for scanty crops. He is for all prac¬ 
tical purposes a gardener, having the care of bulbs, 
and the most tedious work he has is to pick the 
flowers and carry them to the packing house, where 
probably his wife and children are engaged. Until 
a few years ago his wages averaged from ten shillings 
to twelve shillings a week, and then he indulged in a 
strike, and ran his wages up to fifteen shillings per 
week. Then his family are engaged in the traffic, 
either at the farmer’s store, or by contract at his 
own house. Indeed, so all-important has the flower 
industry become that the schools are closed for a 
month in the height of the flower season to enable 
the youngsters to do their share of " picking and 
stripping.” It is seldom that a labourer can be 
congratulated on having a long family, but he can 
be in Scilly, for the more hands the more money 
earned. It is to be hoped that the crop will not be 
a complete failure, but that genial weather will 
settle in at last, and coax the wayward shoots to 
bloom. 
-- 
SEED SOWING UNDER 
GLASS. 
If there is one mistake more common than another 
among inexperienced amateurs, it is the practice of 
sowing seeds too thickly. Whether it be such flower 
seeds as Begonia, Calceolaria, Lobelia, Cineraria, 
and Musk ; or our early vegetables and salads like 
Cauliflower, Celery, and Lettuce, it is generally 
sown two or three times as thick as it should be. The 
waste of seed is not the chief item that lies in the 
harm accruing to the young plants when so un¬ 
reasonably crowded. 
Let us take the Celery as an example. How often 
when one wants, say, a couple of hundred plants at 
the most, do we find 3,000 or more seeds 
sown thickly in a box or pan. A mass of 
crowded and cramped vegetation results, and very 
few healthy and sturdy seedlings. It is the same 
with others, and the battle of life is begun under very 
unfavourable conditions with one crowding and kill¬ 
ing the other. 
In raising seedlings of any kind under glass, let the 
cultivator take into consideration the number of 
plants he requires, for, with the facilities of protec¬ 
tion combined with gentle heat and a little care, he 
will secure ample plants if twice the number, more 
or less, of seeds are sown. The seedlings can remain 
until much safer and easier to handle before being 
thinned, and will always be stouter and more 
healthy. 
It is a difficult matter to get young gardeners and 
amateurs to sow seed even half as thinly as they 
should, and much seed is wasted, plants spoilt and 
disappointment courted by this over-crowding. 
Moisture, darkness, drainage, and a gentle heat are 
the four chief means of securing even germination ; 
but we must have good seed, otherwise all labour 
and time is wasted. We get darkness in the majority 
of cases by covering the seed with soil, but this must 
not be overdone, or we shall bury the seed and often 
stop germination. 
Very small seeds, such as Lobelia, Calceolaria, 
and Musk should not be covered with soil, but 
simply darkened by a shaded sheet of glass being 
laid over the pan. When the seed has ger¬ 
minated, light is gradually admitted until the 
plants are inured to full exposure. Nor should 
these minute seeds be .watered, at all events it should 
never be necessary to water the surface of the seed 
pans until the little plants have gained a footing. 
Such disturbance injures the germ, and not 
infrequently washes these minute seeds into a heap 
and sometimes even out of the pan. If the soil was 
thoroughly saturated before the seed was sown, and 
then partially plunged, they will not dry to any 
injurious extent. 
Far more depends upon the manner of sowing the 
seeds and their management during the early stages 
than in following set dates too closely. Circum¬ 
stances and conveniences are of importance; it is 
not the difficulty of raising a number of seedlings, 
but the growing of these in a suitable atmosphere 
for each subject that needs our first consideration. 
If we cannot provide due accommodation, it 
will be wiser to wait until the natural increase of 
heat and light affords us more room of a suitable 
character. 
Generally speaking, seeds are kept in too high a 
temperature. It germinates freely enough, but the 
seedlings are soon weakly, and of comparatively 
little service when compared with those raised in a 
cooler atmosphere— Experience. 
DAFFODILS. 
Daffodils are now displayed in most of the florists, 
windows, with fragrant Lilies of the Valley, Roses, 
and other choice flowers from Southern Europe. 
There are bunches of single blooms, with a few 
sword-like leaves as a background; double ones, their 
cups fringed and jagged and toothed, with as many 
frills as "my lady’s petticoat; ” there are Emperors 
with crimson doublets, Queen Annes, Sir Wat- 
kin, and many others, all the favourites of the 
nature lover. Besides the modern species, we find 
the friends of old Gerarde, that quaint chatterer of 
the Elizabethan flower fancies, the designer of Lord 
Burleigh’s garden, and master of the Apothecaries’ 
Company. He enumerates several species known 
as Nonpareil Daffodil, Primrose peerless (the 
poet's Narcissus), King's chalice, Camel’s neck, 
and Longshanks. The Daffodil, in botanical 
nomenclature. Narcissus pseudo-Narcissus, not only 
blooms in our gardens, but is found wild in joyous 
profusion in many parts of England and Ireland. 
Curiously enough, it is very rare in Scotland, though 
a box of fine blooms has occasionally been sent from 
" the granite city,” Aberdeen, to grace a London 
drawing-room in the early days of June. 
Along the banks of the Shannon now, there are 
stretches of land in a blaze of yellow with these 
flowers. There is a hauteur in their mien, a “ blue- 
blooded” indifference in their gestures. Like the 
Green maidens in the fields of Enna, they are full 
of lissom grace and sprightliness. Wordsworth 
seeing them "fluttering and dan:ing in the breeze," 
added their bright beauty to his philosophic enjoy¬ 
ment of life. Herrick, the poet of the Devonshire 
hamlet, found in them a text for a sermon on the 
shortness of life. “ We have as short time to stay as 
you. We have as short a spring.” Daffodils, how¬ 
ever, are hardy plants, and the comparison is not as 
felicitous as it might be. Many of the flowers of 
spring are more fragile, less full of lusty vigour. 
The name Daffodil i; a corruption from Affodilly, 
which is derived from Asphodelus. Its other name. 
Narcissus, is fabled to have been derived from the 
legend of Narcissus, a beautiful youth of Boetia. 
He became enamoured of his own face, seeing it 
reflected in a stream, and thinking it the nymph of the 
place, he became spell-bound to the spot, and pined 
to death. His blood was changed into the flower 
that bears his name, and the cup in the centre of the 
blossom is said to contain his tears. Milton alluded 
to this in his " Lycidas.” Narcissus is derived from 
the Greek narke (stupor) in allusion to its strong 
narcotic properties. 
Like many another well-known flower, the Daffodil 
is gifted with medicinal virtues. An old herbalist, 
after describing in most outspoken language the 
diseases for which the plant is a remedy, adds, 
“ The fresh root bruised and applied to fresh wounds 
heals them very suddenly. Applied to strains and 
bruises, it is also excellent, taking away the swelling 
and pain.” In obscure country places the people go 
about chanting doggerel rhymes during the period 
the Daffodils are in flower. The blossoms are also 
held to be useful in sickness, and the lads and lasses 
are said to go " a-daffing’’ when gathering these 
flowers. 
