February 6, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
363 
small proportion of bone meal, but in the case of 
plants that will last some considerable time, any 
stimulant added to the soil in the way of an artificial 
compound or of a natural manure is not advisable. 
Only where the peat and loam are of indifferent 
quality would I use either Their use will give far 
better results when the plants have permeated the 
soil of their last shift with vigorous feeding roots. 
Firm potting is a most important matter, and it 
should always take a foremost place in the building 
up of an enduring stock. Too frequently the work 
of potting is not deemed anything more than a 
matter of secondary importance, part of the necessary 
work which must be done, but which is hurried 
through to get it out of the way as soon as possible. 
If the soil be good, and the potting indifferent, there 
will not be much to choose between this and inferior 
soil combined with good potting. In growing 
decorative plants that are to serve a useful purpose, 
we must not attempt to pot so many thousands, as 
some have been recorded to have done, in one day. 
Never to be induced to give any larger shift than the 
next size above the last, is a most important point 
to observe. If large shifts be given, the tendency 
naturally will be to promote a correspondingly 
vigorous growth, but this growth will not after¬ 
wards stand so long when the plants are subjected to 
rough treatment, nor will they be in a fit condition 
for use so soon after re-potting. It is of special note 
that the treatment of plants intended for purposes of 
decoration should start from their earliest possible 
stages. This being borne in mind and acted upon 
will give far better results. 
There are two distinct phases of plant culture— 
that of growing plants which are to remain in their 
growing quarters, being advanced from stage to 
stage, until the specimen is reached, and that now 
under consideration. The two modes of procedure 
by which the best results are to be obtained are 
totally different. Following the lines which are best 
suited to result ultimately in a well-developed speci¬ 
men, will not give the most satisfaction when applied 
to plants used for furnishing purposes. If a decora¬ 
tive plant is to withstand lower temperatures, and to 
endure other indifferent kinds of treatment, it must 
be hard and wiry looking,or to quote from those who 
take part in athletic pastimes, it must be “ in 
training." 
From the cutting stage,or whatever other mode of 
propagation be pursued, the endeavour should be to 
secure a compact and sturdy growth from the very 
start. If it be Croton cuttings, choose those as far 
as practicable that are short-jointed and of sturdy 
growth, single shoots of erect growth bring prefer¬ 
able, whilst good colour for the respective kinds is 
also an essential. (In starting, on the other hand, 
to grow a future specimen Croton I should prefer a 
cutting with less colour, but with lateral shoots, so 
as to gain time). If it be Dracaenas, do not let the 
plants draw one another up from the " eye ’’ stage, 
endeavouring rather to secure shorter but sturdier 
leaves. In the case of Pandanus Veitchii, from 
suckers, take those of small grass-like growth in 
preference to larger ones, which latter would be 
better defined as plants without roots. Should they 
be Caladiums, then small or medium sized tubers are 
preferable to larger ones, these being started in as 
small a pot as possible. With Ferns it is the same ; 
from the earliest stages, never over pot nor 
encourage too luxuriant a growth. In the case of 
Palms the same rule follows. Never over pot in the 
early stages, nor even later on. To imagine that a 
more rapid growth in the case of Palms will be had 
by potting, as it were, in advance, is a decided mis¬ 
take. Many Palms I have noted thrive best 
when quite pot bound, provided they are watered 
freely. Other examples could be quoted, such as 
the Aspidistra, the Heath, the Indian Azalea, and 
the greenhouse Dracaena, in which over potting is 
altogether wrong. I quote another instance viz., that 
of Spiraea japonica, when newly imported ; pot some 
of these in comparatively large pots, and others in 
smaller ones in which it is hardly possible to add 
any fresh soil, then afterwards note the difference in 
the leaf growth. In the latter case it will be con¬ 
siderably less, but the spikes will be quite as good as 
in the other instance. In this case the trade 
growers adopt the proper, or at least the mojre 
rational, method. 
Overcrowding. 
The evil of overcrowding young stock should be 
carefully avoided ; this, of itself, is a fertile source 
of ultimate failure. In the trade, those who are 
specialists in certain things devote houses to one 
kind of plant. Note in some cases how thickly the 
plants are stood together. The object is, of course, 
to turn out the greatest possible number of plants, 
and for doing this none would, I think, cast any 
blame; but does it afterwards tend to satisfactory 
results? I think not. If Palms be crowded together 
the result is readily to be seen in the increased 
length of the leaf stalks. The same kinds of Kentia, 
Areca, Seaforthia, or Livistona, as cases in point, are 
in quite different character when crowded together. 
Some may think these plants more light and graceful 
but they are certainly not so enduring as others 
grown at a fair distance apart. These drawn-up 
plants when put to the test will fail much sooner, 
for reasons quite apparent, and in conjunction also 
with too liberal treatment at the roots. Frequently 
I have had my advice asked in the case of Palms 
that have failed, the immediate cause of which would 
be either less moisture or a lower temperature, but 
the actual failure of which was brought about by an 
impaired constitution, overfeeding showing its effects 
as it does sometimes in the animal world. Propor¬ 
tionately smaller pots would counteract this in a 
great measure. 
No plants, not even those grown in ccol houses, 
should be used for purposes of decoration until they 
have filled their pots with roots since their last shift. 
The neglect of this has been the cause of many 
failures, as it will continue to be if still persisted in. 
Take any stove plant for instance, such as a Croton, 
a Dracaena, a Pandanus, or a Palm. When 
it begins to establish itself in its recent shift, 
it will throw out stronger roots than previously 
Any check to these must act injuriously to the plant 
itself; and when once such a check has been experi¬ 
enced it is not so easy a matter to set things right 
again. Leave these or kindred plants, however, until 
they are once more thoroughly established with plenty 
of wiry or fibrous roots, so that the moisture in the 
soil is taken up freely ; then there will be far less 
injury done to them Immediately a plant is taken 
into a lower temperature than that in which it has 
been grown it will need closer attention in respect to 
watering, on the whole taking less. This lower 
temperature in the surroundings also means a lower 
temperature at the roots. In order, therefore, to 
prevent harm beiDg done to these it is essential that 
they should nor be too freely supplied with water; 
if they are, it means a lower temperature still. 
Supposing plants, therefore, to be used which have 
not had time to re-establish themselves, it means 
this—the roots, by reason of the lower temperature, 
cannot assimilate the moisture in the soil as they 
should do ; hence in due course they receive a check 
—more or less—which must act to the prejudice of 
the plant, the soil being both wet and cold. If this 
continues, the roots will perish in proportion to the 
characteristic hardihood of the plant. Afterwards it 
will take considerable time to restore these plants to 
their former health and vigour, if ever it be done at 
all, the end being the souring of the soil. 
(To be Continued.) 
-*S«——- 
LILY OF THE NILE AND ECZEMA. 
Some time ago we published an account of the effect 
on the hands of some people who had much handling of 
the bulbs of Hyacinths. Dr. Morris, of Kew, exhibited 
raphides or needle-like bodies, consisting of oxalate 
of lime, taken from the bulbs of Hyacinths, at a 
meeting of the Linnean Society of London, on the 
5th of November last. Dr. Morris gave it as his 
opinion that these raphides were the cause of a form 
of eczema to which some people were subject, when 
working amongst bulbs, particularly Roman 
Hyacinths. As a result of this explanation, Mr. J. 
Y. Johnson, of Funchal, Madeira, sent a letter 
(which was read at the Linnean Society on the 21st 
ult) commenting upon Dr. Morris’ exhibit. Mr. 
Johnson mentioned a similar case in Richardia 
africana, variously known as Lily of the Nile, 
Trumpet Lily, and Arum Lily in gardens and 
markets. The laundresses at Funchal tried to utilise 
the starch obtained from the tubers of this well- 
known garden plant, but complained of a disagree¬ 
able irritation it caused to the hands. On examina¬ 
tion this was found to result from the presence of 
raphides in the tubers of the plant, and which had 
accompanied the extracted starch. Needle-shaped 
raphides are hard and very sharp, but microscopical 
in size, and therefore invisible to the eye. They are 
present in vast quantities in many plants besides 
Hyacinths and Richardias, but their presence is not 
felt except when the cells containing them are 
ruptured or broken. In the case of Hyacinths, this 
would readily happen by the crumbling up of the old 
and dried scales of the bulbs. 
-—- 
AN ANNIVERSARY APPEAL. 
When we are in distress how we cry for help, but 
when we are full with all manner of store how 
seldom do we think of the needy, the fatherless, and 
the widow. Now in this year of our beloved Queen’s 
reign all the world seems anxious for a joyful demon¬ 
stration of thankfulness to our Great Benefactor for 
all the blessings we enjoy, viz., peace, health, and 
prosperity. This shows a wise and true national 
spirit ; but for us gardeners who have begun a good 
work—I say for us who have bugun—how many 
thousands have never yet begun to think of their 
needy brethren, but when distress comes or the loss 
of the breadwinner ? Then the cry, I wish I had 
been thoughtful and frugal, to have subscribed my 
little to help the poor widow and orphans of that 
good, hardworking man, who has been taken from 
us, not being able to provide himself for the needy 
ones left to face the world and all the trials man is 
subject to. 
I have long thought—in fact every Saturday morn¬ 
ing I open the papers, expecting to see some welL 
written article, praying gardeners to lay this call to 
heart, and now in my humble way I have thought a 
more opportune time could not present itself for a 
little sacrifice to be made by all; and if I could but per¬ 
suade every gardener in the United Kingdom to 
make this one effort to contribute seven and sixpence 
each this year what a grand total it would make for 
the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. I am afraid Mr. 
Wood's idea is too far-fetched to ever succeed ; 
besides, our own duty as a craft is charity to our 
neighbours, not thinking so much about our own 
comfort, but to help those who have no means of 
helping themselves .—Charles Penny. 
--j--- 
ARAUCARIA IMBRICATA. 
In Devon. 
I meant to have penned a few lines two or three 
weeks ago, but pressure of work at this busy season 
prevented me doing this. As you are aware, we have 
a very fine avenue of this noble Conifer, 500 yards 
in leDgth, with a broad carriage drive running 
through. The distance of one row from the other 
is 58 ft., and the distance between each tree in the 
row is 50 ft. There are twenty-five on either side, 
and the average height is over 50 ft. 
The highest we have is 53 ft., and is a malo tree, 
with a spread of branches of 45 ft., and measures in 
circumference (the bole I mean) 10 ft. 2 in. at 1 ft. 
from the ground. We have one tree that measures 
12 ft. in circumference at 1 ft. from the ground ; this 
is only 50 ft. high. 
The trees are well sheltered on the eastern and wes¬ 
tern sides, but exposed to the north and south winds. 
They were planted on raised mounds 10in. or 12 in. 
above the surrounding level; and have been planted 
somewhere about fifty-four years. While some have 
lost their bottom branches, others are well clothed to 
the ground. They are only 90 ft. above the sea level 
here, and that probably accounts for their well-being 
— J. Mayne. 
In Yorkshire. 
A subscriber from Yorkshire writes us as follows 
" Your comments on Araucaria imbricata (Monkey 
Puzzle), as well as Ihose of your numerous 
correspondents, are very helpful and interesting, as 
they show how the tree behaves under very varying 
conditions. May I be allowed to contribute my 
quota by saying that there is a beautiful specimen of 
it in the grounds adjoining Aldboro' Manor, the 
residence of A. S. Lawson, Esq. It stands 56 ft. 
high, and is furnished right to the bottom with 
branches which have a great span, and they sweep 
the grass, Its girth at 4 ft. up is 5 ft. 3 in. I do not 
know its age. I have not seen any cones on it, but 
should say there are some. It is planted in a place 
sheltered from winds except from the east. The 
soil consists of a black loam on a gravelly subsoil.” 
In Bucks. 
There is a fine tree of Araucaria imbricata in the 
beautifully wooded grounds of Lady Fortescue, 
